May 18, 2007

Although it was another Let's Go Mexico recommended budget number, the Hotel Isabel was brilliant.

Our massive room had a double vaulted ceiling, reading lights beside the bed, a stuffed reading chair, and tall French doors that opened to a balcony and the bustling street life on Isabel La Catolica below.

It even has a basic restaurant beside the lobby where we ate our breakfast a few times.

The hotel is also only three or four blocks from Mexico City's massive zocalo (main plaza) where the week before American contemporary photographer, Spencer Tunick, had set a personal record by convincing 18,000 Mexicans to doff their clothes for his photo shoot.

Several other of Mexico City's important attractions were also within easy walking distance of the hotel, including the Templo Mayor Aztec ruins, the Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico and the 44-story Torre Latinoamericano skyscraper.

The only downside is that the part of the Centro Historico completely clears out at night, which left us feeling a little uneasy when we ventured out after dark. The Oxxo convenience store two blocks down from the hotel locks its doors after dark night and only takes "orders" through a small window slot.

We had arrived in Mexico City after spending one day/two nights in Queretaro, another charming colonial city with an impressive early 18th century elevated aqueduct that gets favourable reviews but that, in our view, didn´t compare to Guanajuato.

Because we weren't been keen on driving in the big city, we had parked the van at Pepe's campsite in Tepoztlán, about 40 kilometres north of Mexico City. We had then journeyed into the city centre by way of the public "toreo" bus to the Cuatro Caminos metro stop, then the metro to the Allende stop and then walked the final six blocks to the Hotel Isabel.

Somehow it made sense that on our first night in Mexico's capital city - the second largest metropolitan area in the world - we opted for an all-you-can-eat Chinese food buffet.

Key Facts & Figures:

-Parking, Pepe's campsite: $9/day
-Bus, Tepoztlan to Mexico City (one way): $1.20/person
-Hotel Isabel: $30/night