THE LATIN FANTASY: A SCAM YOU MUSTN’T GO FOR: They’re WAITING for you Don’t get caught!

Strolling down a sunlit street in Cancun (or another Mexican beach resort town), a sea breeze gently tossing your hair, window-shopping in a luxurious mall, passing along a beachfront boardwalk, day-dreaming of fresh, succulent seafood as its aroma wafts from a nearby restaurant. “Excuse me”, you hear. You stop and turn to see a smiling face. “Where are you from?”

I’m from ?, you respond politely.

How’s your vacation?, the smiling face continues. You exchange pleasantries.

Can I offer you a free pass’a night’s stay’a free lunch or dinner’a day at this new resort hotel??, the smiling face offers. It’s to promote a new hotel, “resort-facility” or service that isn’t well-known to foreign tourists yet. And we want our hotel-facility resort or service to be known so you can tell your friends about it.?

You receive a genuine-looking piece of paper and perhaps a brochure and map. (somewhere in the back of your mind, your parent’s words- or mine- appear, “There ain’t no free lunches in this world”) But, “Looks good”, you think, and accept.

Take this and go this afternoon-tomorrow or whatever and everything will be taken care of with no obligation, the hook advances.

And then the clincher words strike home, like a harpoon in the side of a great white whale, Be sure to bring your credit card! Oh, it’s not essential, the smiling face continues, Maybe you’ll just have to flash it, to show you’re not Mexican, or a serious tourist, or whatever.

At this point BAIL OUT – drop everything and leave  go, keep going and don’t listen or look back. If you don’t, you’ll be sorry  for years and years to come.

What they want is your credit card number, by any means necessary – your signature too, if possible, on anything; a ticket stub, free car rental agreement or thank you note; anything. It’ll be used to charge dozens, scores, even hundreds of items  next week, next month, next year, etc., etc., etc. Getting the charges off your card will be a next to impossible nightmare and cost you hundreds in legal fees. You won’t be able to get back at them or recover the merchandise, products, even real estate charged off to your account. Millions are made by them and irretrievably lost by unsuspecting tourists each year. Don’t YOU be next! Just say, NO. And keep saying NO.

MORE PLACES TO STAY IN CANCUN:

If you’re still checking out digs in Cancun, here are more inexpensive hotels you can add to your list. No Bunky, you’re still not going to be staying on the beach, but there IS air conditioning and sometimes even a nice pool.

Hotel Novotel
Avenida Tulum No. 75 (near the bus terminal)
884 – 2999
Fax: 884 – 3162

Rooms here are a tad pricier than on the Avenida Uxmal but all rooms are air conditioned and comfortable although rooms fronting the street can be noisy at times. The location is good and transportation conveniently available on the Avenida Tulum for zipping all around town. Expect to pay $300 pesos to $360 pesos during the slow periods from May to June and from October to mid December, which is hurricane season in this part of the Caribbean. The Summer months of June and July are slow enough that you can haggle a pretty good deal for an extended stay of a few days to a couple of weeks or so. Prices will sky-rocket during the peak Winter season.

Hotel Best Western Plaza Caribe
Avenida Uxmal (directly across the street from the bus terminal)
884 – 1377
Fax: 884 – 6352

This is the priciest of the accommodations mentioned in our listings. If you arrive very late into the city and speak little (or no) Spanish, don’t get yourself into a dither or risk any danger tromping around the area late at night. You don’t want to run into any of the “late-night” people who frequent the vicinity. You can just pop right across the street and book a room for the night here (staff speaks English) and do your search in earnest for a more moderately-priced room the next day. Don’t run the gauntlet of undesirables (including taxi drivers) late at night here ? especially without a solid command of Spanish. The $40 USD you’ll pay is well worth your health and safety if it comes to that.

Casa de Huespedes Punta Allen
Punta Allen No. 8 (half a block off the Avenida Uxmal)
Cancun
884 – 0225, 884 – 1001

A small place with economical, but rather Spartan, unattractive rooms. Quality of the rooms varies somewhat, although most I saw were fairly tight quarters and not too well lit. All have at least a fan and many are air conditioned. Their singles are priced at $170 pesos, while doubles go for $230 pesos. And these are the LOW season prices. Negotiate the rate if you’re going to be around more than a few days. Peak season prices fluctuate based on what the traffic will bear and the economy at the moment.

GETTING TO AND AWAY FROM CANCUN:

Getting to and away from Tulum and Playa Del Carmen

Buses headed south from Cancun aren?t that hard to come by. A number leave from the main first-class terminal on the Avenida Uxmal just off the Avenida Tulum. Others across the street on the Avenida Uxmal from one of the smaller bus companies specializing in trips to the surrounding small towns. Expect to pay around $40 pesos one way to Tulum and make sure to leave early and return by early evening if you?re just making a day trip.

To Playa Del Carmen

Playa Del Carmen costs around $15 or $20 pesos one way and takes barely an hour to reach. Frequently you can cop a deal for a slightly better price if you?ll shop around a little (your Spanish permitting!) The Playa Del Carmen terminal is an over-crowded, open-walled eye-sore of a building a block or so from the beach and is absolutely packed during the summer months making it a hot, steamy, sticky experience you won?t enjoy.

Be VERY careful with your belongings. The arrival terminal and the departure terminal are in different locations a few short blocks apart. Don?t forget to ask around for it before you?re ready for the return trip. Go early for more comfort and to beat the heat plus crowds combination. Buses either way depart as frequently as every 15 minutes or half hour. Plan to stay overnight in Playa del Carmen or return by early afternoon on day trips, otherwise? Madre Mia!

Getting to and away from Merida and Chichen-Itza:

Headed for Merida or want to be dazzled by the awe-inspiring ruins at Chichen Itza? No problem. Same terminals but the buses are headed in a different direction. Both Chichen-Itza and Merida are West of Cancun. For a fare in the neighborhood of $70 pesos you can make the four to six hour jaunt to sizzling Merida. From here, the Mayan astronomical complex at Dtzibilchaltun (a definite must-see), the beach-fronted Progresso and other north coastal towns are only a short hop away. Roughly half-way to Merida, along the same route, lie the magnificent ruins of Chichen-Itza, one of the most visited archeological sites in the western world. They?re so commonly known that they?re recognizable by most people in the northern hemisphere. Fares run around $50 pesos to reach the site. Cheaper routes take up to three and a half hours to reach the ruins while the more expensive express buses (up to $70 pesos one way) make the trip in as little as two hours.

Imagine yourself enjoying a warm breeze on a January morning. The scent of exotic flowers taints the air. Although it’s quite warm by mid-day, the evenings are cool with refreshing breezes that cut the sting of the humid air. Hold that thought as we continue. Listen now to sounds of tropical birds flitting through the palm trees lining grassy park where you lazily recline on a soft wood bench. A vendor strolls by with chilled mango, papaya, pineapple or oranges dripping with fresh, natural juices. It’s sweet and bursting with flavor like you’ve never known back home. Delicious, isn’t it ” The price? ” mere pennies! Now add in the friendly people ” unique with their shimmering, straight black hair, tanned, smooth skin and slightly almond-shaped eyes. Everyone smiles at you. Some wink or say “Hello” pleasantly.

“Shine?”, a passing shoeshine boy asks. He’s not a boy though, and when he finishes you swear you can just see your reflection in those snazzy kicks you’re now sporting. He takes the 60 cents from you smiling broadly. After all you’ve been nice enough to add in a 20-cent tip for his quarter of an hour’s work!

Where are you” Heaven” Paradise” Why, the Parque del Castillo, of course! Tranquil and serene, yet full of activity at times, shopping, food, music, or almost whatever else you might like is mere steps away from this downtown oasis in Orizaba. Tourists are sometimes plentiful, but foreign residents are not. You’ll be accepted and appreciated as much as a friend as a neighbor.

If you’re a movie buff, I have great news for you. The movie theater, Cine-magic Aries, on Oriente 6 between Sur 5 and Sur 7, is a first-run theater with movies in English (with Spanish subtitles) and costs only 25 pesos per person EXCEPT Wednesdays when it’s 25 pesos for TWO people! (would you like to guess what day of the week my wife and I go?) Seating and film quality are excellent, (I saw the movie “Vertical Limit” there) and the concession stand sells the usual plus freshly popped popcorn with ” can you believe it ” chili peppers on it! Really, Mexicans will eat almost anything with chili on it!

A TREK YOU SHOULDN’T MISS:  La Cascada

The best hotel in Orizaba is reputedly the Hotel Fiesta Cascada , and only a score of feet beyond the hotel to the west begins a trail through the forest that descends into a stunning canyon that runs beside the hotel. Once near the floor of the canyon, the trail branches off with one path following the river while the other crosses the footbridge to the power station before turning into a rugged, strenuous climb through forest and field then up into the mountains. The name “cascada” means “waterfall” in Spanish. Starting the trek , a beautiful falls greets you as it bursts from virgin forest before plunging into the depths of the canyon before your very eyes – unbelievable! This is definitely NOT to be missed!

For English language teaching leads see the companion articles, “Teaching English in Mexico: Orizaba Language Institutes” and “Teaching English in Mexico: Orizaba Jobs. Additional aspects of living and working in Orizabab can be found in the series, “Traveling in Mexico: The City of Orizaba”, “Traveling in Mexico: Hotels in Orizaba”, and “Traveling in Mexico: The Food in Orizaba”.

GETTING AROUND ORIZABA: Well you have feet, don’t you?

Getting around the city of Orizaba couldn’t be easier. Taxis are readily available and very cheap, fares are only a few pesos from anywhere to anywhere in town. The cheapest way to get around of course, is to walk. The compact size of the city allows you to stroll casually between many locations in a matter of minutes, especially in and around downtown.

The city is divided into quadrants by MADERO, a street which runs North and South and COLON, a street which runs East and West. The streets to the West of Madero, paralleling Colon are named Ponientes. The ponientes to the north (the northwest quadrant) have even numbers; two, four, six, eight, etc.; while the ponientes to the south (the southwest quadrant) have odd numbers, three, five, seven, nine, etc. When the ponientes cross Madero they become Orientes. The orientes have odd numbers north of Colon and even numbers to the south of Colon. In the other direction (North and South) are the streets named Norte, that have odd numbers to the West of Madero (the northwest quadrant), and even numbers to the East of Madero (the northeast quadrant). The streets called Norte become Sur when they cross Colon, and have even numbers in the southwest quadrant, but odd numbers in the southeast quadrant.

The Parque de Castillo, marking the city’s hub, contains the Parish Church of San Miguel, while the Rio de Orizaba (Orizaba River) ambles serpent-like through the city’s western half. A ten-block square area encompasses more than 90% of Orizaba’s majesty, excepting volcano-related places and activities. If the city layout sounds complicated, relax, about five seconds with a city map and you’ll be all clear. A decent map will be found in the telephone directory at your hotel. It’s all you’ll need. Some hotels have simple ones that you can take with you.

SO HOW’S THE FOOD ? : Well let me tell you?

Good food is easy to come by in the city. There’s a generous variety of offerings as well. Local fare centers on huge sandwiches of beef, pork, chicken or turkey complete with assorted HOT peppers. Roast meat dishes and typical fast-food fare is likewise plentiful, as are the ever-present pizza and burger joints. Even in the majority of these, the platters are sizeable, filling and tasty. The central city area is brimming with choice places for almost any budget. Here are some to check out:

Name: Merendero Rosey
Address: Oriente 7 at the corner of Norte 2

A “torteria” or sandwich shop specializing in HUGE, freshly-made sandwiches of beef (carne), lamb (cordero), chicken (pollo), or turkey (pavo) priced from 5 pesos to 9 pesos. A wonderful bargain.

Name: La Gran Torta
Address: On Colon at the Parque del Castillo

Another great “belly-buster” sandwich spot which has more variety, including some piping hot meals as well. Their sandwich specialty is turkey and they will pile it on until you say “Ouch!”. Prices are so low that I fail to understand how they can possibly make any money – it MUST be the staggering volume of business they do. The place is knee-deep in people from opening until closing. That should tell you something. You’ve just got to try this one !

Name: La Pergola
Address: Oriente 6 and Sur 7 (on the corner)

A small, family-run restaurant with a full menu of local dishes including some pasta. Service is quick and the food though uninspired is inexpensive, tasty and filling. Entrees range in price from 25 to 60 pesos. The are such a bunch of other local eateries along this stretch of Oriente 6 that there’s absolutely no danger whatsoever of going hungry on this street.

Name: Mariscos Boca Del Ri?
Address: Poniente 6 and Norte 3

This local seafood restaurant is the best in town and legendary for its seafood cocktails, shrimp dishes, mariscos, squid, fish fillets and other seafood menu offerings. Prices are more than reasonable, at around 40 to 50 pesos. There are two locations, the principal one being near the Hotel Pluviosilla to the west on Poniente 7. Treat yourself to at least one lunch or dinner here while in the neighborhood.

For English language teaching opportunities see the companion articles, “Teaching English in Mexico: Orizaba Language Institutes” and “Teaching English in Mexico: Orizaba Jobs”. Additional aspects of living and working in Orizabab can be found in the series, “Traveling in Mexico: The City of Orizaba”, and “Traveling in Mexico: Hotels in Orizaba”.

THE CITY OF ORIZABA: What goes up (the volcano), must come down.

This city of about 100,000 Indians and mixed Spanish blood inhabitants is named for Mt. Orizaba (Citlaltepetl), Mexico?s highest peak and the third highest peak in North America at an elevation of about 18,406 ft. (5,610 meters). Only Mt. McKinley in Alaska and Mt. Logan in Canada are higher. Also referred to as Pico de Orizaba, it can have snow at its upper levels year-round but the climbing season is in Winter, which is just the opposite of the other North American climbs. That makes Orizaba a very popular destination from November through February. The climbers (and tourists) come principally from all over North America with some from Europe and beyond. They almost all speak English, so the English language teaching trade is booming. EFL and ELT professionals, local schools and businesses want and need your services!

There are several interesting websites with information on the volcano, which apparently last erupted in 1687 with prior eruptions in 1613 and 1537. The point is that unlike Mt. Popocatepetl, you won?t have to worry about flying hot rocks, molten lava or steaming craters of asphyxiating volcanic gas and suffocating ash. As with other mountains and natural features in the regions of the Aztecs, there is a legend attached to Citlaltepetl, a name that means ?Star Mountain? in Nahuatl ? the language of the Aztecs. Legend says that the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl, was first consumed by sacred flames emerging from the heart of Pico de Orizaba, then took on human form and finally sailed from the Veracruz coast across the sea, vowing one day to return to his beloved people.

GETTING TO AND AWAY FROM ORIZABA:

Orizaba is conveniently located on the main turnpike route between Mexico City in the mountains and the city of Veracruz on the Gulf Coast. There are frequent buses in both directions connecting to the smaller towns and pueblos, so getting there is a snap. Xalapa, the capitol city of the state of Veracruz, and the city of Puebla, which overlooks Mexico?s current volcano-in-action, can be easily reached as well. Travel by first-class ADO bus services is as follows between Orizaba and M?xico City – 4 hours, Veracruz – 2 hours 15 mins., Xalapa – 4 hours, Puebla – 2 hours 30 mins.

There is train service (El Jarocho) on the Veracruz ? M?xico City line, the fare is about 160 pesos one way. Check for an updated schedule in Mexico City or Veracruz in the train ride interests you. Presently, there is one train each way per day. In Orizaba, the train station is on the corner of Poniente 19 and Sur 10.