“The Route of Cortés”
MEXICO 2009

ITINERARY

Sat. Aug. 29:            Welcome to Veracruz, Mexico’s most vivid city!  “When it comes to atmosphere, effervescence, music and gaiety, it is the place to be.  Its zócalo is the liveliest in Mexico.  By day, and for much of the night, it vibrates with trios, marimbas, salsa and danzón.  The pretty, palm shaded square is filled with restaurants and cafés.  The entertainment goes late into the night.”

Rebelling against authority, Hernando Cortés sailed from Cuba with 555 men and 16 horses to land at Veracruz in 1519, and began the conquest of Mexico.  Montezuma II, the Aztec emperor became aware of their invasion coinciding with violent natural phenomena, which caused him to suspect they were gods.

The city’s streets are lined with shops displaying amber jewelry, leather goods, and unusual carvings.
HOTEL: (VERACRUZ)

Sun. Aug. 30:            Transport and entrance fees will be provided for Baluarte de Santiago, fortifications that house a collection of beautifully intricate pre-Hispanic gold jewelry; the historic Museo de la Ciudad; and the Acuario de Veracruz, the largest and best aquarium in Latin America.  The fine restaurants feature extensive menus excellent seafood.
HOTEL: (VERACRUZ)

Mon. Aug. 31:            This morning, we follow the Conquistadors’ route for 1½ hours to the town of Jalapa.  All overland transport will be by First-Class, air conditioned buses with reclining seats, movies, and restrooms.  “Chicken buses” are a thing of the past.

Cortés’ difficulties with native dialects would have been insurmountable without the assistance of La Malinche, the beautiful captive concubine who was a gift to Cortés from a Tabascan chief.  She later came to be thought of as a traitor to her people.

El Agora is the center of Jalapa’s lively arts scene with galleries and cafés. Transport and entrance fees will be provided to the outstanding Museo de Anthropología; then on to the Cascada de Texolo, the spectacular waterfall where Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner filmed “Romancing the Stone”.
HOTEL: (JALAPA)

Tue. Sept. 1:            This morning we ride for two hours to the town of Tlaxcala.  We will stop for a visit to the Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares where entrance fees will be provided to the “living museum” where local craftsmen and women demonstrate the intricate work involved in producing some of the town’s wonderful handicrafts.  We will also explore the Basilica de Ocotlán.  The interior is an explosion of baroque giltwork.

3,000 Tlaxcalteca, bridling under the domination of the Aztecs, joined the conquistadors on their march to Cholula.  It was there that Cortés’ men were to fall prey to an ambush plot discovered by La Malinche.  In retribution, the Spanish massacred thousands of the unarmed nobility at the central plaza, then burned down part of the city.

We follow their path for ½ hour to Cholula, then on to the magnificent city of Puebla.
HOTEL: (PUEBLA)

Wed. Sept. 2:            Today you can explore this beautiful colonial city on your own, and at your leisure: the Cathedral is magnificent, Bilblioteca Palafoxiana is the oldest library in the Americas; the Museo Amparo displays an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts and colonial art and furniture.  Also of interest is the Casa de Los Muñecos (House of Puppets) and El Parián, the extensive crafts market where you can find the famous Talavera pottery.
HOTEL: (PUEBLA)

Thurs. Sept. 3:            Today, we cross the Paso de Cortés, the saddle between two beautiful snow-capped volcanoes, Popocatépetl (17,883’) and Ixtaccihuatl (17,342’); then dropping down to the typical, small Mexican town of Amecaemeca.  Its inhabitants live their lives in the shadow of the occasionally erupting Popocatépetl.  Those who would like to, can disembark here, and attempt a two-night, two-day climb of Ixtaccihuatl, “The Sleeping Lady”.  This is an ideal first climb; yet, challenging enough to be exciting for those who are more experienced.  Having climbed it, we will be glad to give advice; however, Mexico’s Volcanoes, A Climbing Guide, published by The Mountaineers, and their video, are the definitive sources.  Those who make the attempt can meet us in Mexico City in time for the Farewell Dinner.  We then have a 1½ ride down into Mexico City.  It is the largest city in the world.  There are restaurants, hotels, museums, theaters and shops that are some of the most elegant on our continent.  We will be staying right in the heart of the plush Zona Rosa: street after street of sidewalk cafés, fine shops and art galleries.  (A worldly gentleman who travels with us often, named one of his daughters after our hotel.)  The nightlife is sophisticated to the point of decadence.
HOTEL: (MEXICO CITY)

Fri. Sept. 4:               Explore at your leisure the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a beautiful baroque museum that houses the largest work of Louis Comfort Tiffany: the theater curtain, all of glass, depicting the volcanoes by which we passed the day before; the Museum of Anthropology; and the National Palace in vast Chapultepec Park.

This center of the Aztec empire known as Tenochtitlan was the largest city in the world when the Spanish soldiers arrived in 1519.  They were amazed!  Montezuma II allowed them to enter and gave them lavish gifts of gold, which enticed them to plunder.  Cortés took Montezuma II into hostage in his own house.  Later; the emperor was killed by his subjects and Cortés and his forces managed a narrow escape across a causeway and fled back to Tlaxcala.  Eventually, Cortés returned with reinforcements from Cuba to conquer the Aztecs.

HOTEL:  (MEXICO CITY)

Sat. Sept. 5:             You can explore the heart of this great metropolis at your leisure.  Most of the city’s finest shops, cathedrals, museums and restaurants are an easy walk from our hotel.  Tonight, there will be an unlimited Farewell Dinner from the menu at the Angus, an excellent steakhouse, with an ambiance of the Old West, including attentive servers in calico pioneer dresses.  It will be quite a celebration!
HOTEL: (MEXICO CITY)

Total cost of $1,100.00, per person, double occupancy, includes all hotel stays; transport and entrance fees to Baluarte de Santiago, the Museo de la Ciudad, the Acuario de Veracruz, the Museo de Anthropología, and the Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares; all overland transport in First Class buses; and, an unlimited Farewell dinner from the menu at the Angus.

A non-refundable payment of $550.00, payable to W.S. DONAHOO and received at:

Post Office Box 3415
Winter Park, Florida 32790, USA

is required for a reservation.

AVAILABLE SPACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS, UPON RECEIPT OF INITIAL PAYMENTS.

ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE; Payments are not transferable to other passengers nor other trips.  Credit cards are not accepted.

Final payments will be due in May, 2009.  Failure to pay on time will result in the cancellation of your reservation and forfeiture of your initial payment.

Items in italics are not included, but are suggestions based on location and time available.  International flights and gratuities are not included.

Passports valid for 6 months after the duration of the trip will be required.

Buz Donahoo, Condor Adventures
Post Office Box 3415
Winter Park, FL 32790,  USA
Tel/Fax (407) 645-0490
buz@condoradventures.com