Book Review: Walking Tours of Queretaro of Santiago By William J. Conaway

Book Review:
Four Stars Walking Tours of Queretaro of Santiago
By William J. Conaway
Print Length: 39 pages
Publisher: Publicaciones Papelandia; 1 edition (January 1, 2008)
Kindle Price $5.99
Publication Date: January 1, 2008 ASIN: B008I51A2Q

I chose to buy Conaway’s book for several reasons. He came to Mexico in June of 1961 and published a series of short books about walking tours of various cities of Mexico including Guanajuato, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Taxco, Morelia, etc. He also shares information about driving tours, Mexican food and history for Gringos.

The second reason I bought the book: four of us headed out at noon for Queretaro from San Miguel de Allende. I had a doctor’s appointment at 5:30. I figured that we would have plenty of time to see a little of the city and have lunch before my appointment. However, I got lost on the way, I chose to go to Celaya then to Queretaro. Getting lost and wading our way through long construction lines took over four hours, so we didn’t get to see much at all.

I want to go back and do it right.

Conaway spends the first 40% of the 39 pages telling us the history of the people who lived in the area and gives us a list of 25 places to see on the two walking tours. They can be accomplished on one day, but with so much to see, it sounds like one should spend two days. The history is very interesting as are the places to see.

I would give the book five stars for the writing and the history except for lack of maps and several errors that should be corrected. My downloaded copy has two opening pages and two bios. In addition the author’s picture comes out muddled.

I would like to see more photos of the sights to see on the tour and arrange the photos so they can be seen on one page instead of being split over two pages.

Puebla’s Tunnels Will Open Soon to Public

From Mexico News Daily, "Five months after the discovery of ancient tunnels beneath the city of Puebla, the centuries-old passageways are being opened as part of the Secretos de Puebla, or Secrets of Puebla, project.

Believed to be as many as 500 years old, the tunnels were originally constructed within the foundations of the city, possibly to provide underground passage between monasteries, or to function as a drainage system.

The tunnels are also rumored to have aided Mexican soldiers in their celebrated fight against French troops, which they won on May 5, 1862.

Located in Puebla’s historical center as well as on the fringe of the area known as Las Fuertes, the tunnels reach seven meters in height and 3.5 meters in width and extend for an estimated total of 10 kilometers in length.

The president of the State School of Civil Engineers, Ricardo Olea Ayala, believes that the tunnels were used as secret passageways between a network of monasteries, including Santo Domingo, San Agustín, La Merced and San Javier.

Sergio Vergara Bermejo, manager of the Historical and Heritage Center of Puebla, remarked that the discovery of Puebla’s tunnel network was the confirmation of a popular urban legend. He said, “We talked of the tunnels of Puebla, but nobody had seen them.”

Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History will assist in the recovery of the remaining tunnels, but on February 17 the first recovered sections will be opened to the public. Secretos de Puebla will introduce about 2.5 kilometers of uncovered tunnels in addition to its other catalogued historical sites, including the Puente Bubos.

They are calling on visitors to create videos to recount their personal experience with the tunnels, stories of which have been passed down through generations.

Total restoration of the subterranean passageways, whose existence was confirmed last September, is expected to take 10 years.

Sources: El Economista (sp), Puebla Capital (sp), Union Puebla (sp)

Rosewood Remains Bullish On Mexico

Claudette Covey at TravelPulse writes "Last month, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts announced plans for a fourth ultra-luxury hotel in Mexico, a country that it believes provides all the ingredients for the type of experiential vacations that its discerning and intellectually curious clientele demand.

That property, Rosewood Puebla, which will feature 79 guest rooms and suites, is scheduled to open next year.

“Our guests are sophisticated travelers, and they are interested in visiting destinations that offer authentic journeys of discovery,” said Radha Arora, president of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. “The diverse landscape of Mexico, particularly the settings where our properties are located, offer unique opportunities for our guests to become fully immersed in the Mexican culture.”

Puebla, of course, is no exception to that rule. “Puebla is renowned for its colonial architecture, traditional cuisine and colorful ceramics and offers endless opportunities for our guests to fully immerse themselves,” Arora said, adding that the city is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Puebla property will comprise a collection of buildings encircling a walled courtyard whose centerpiece is a 300-year-old chapel. It will house a restaurant, spa and two bars, one of which will be set on the roof along with a swimming pool. Like all Rosewood properties, the hotel will offer highly personalized service and top-of-the-line amenities.

To read more go to http://www.travelpulse.com/news/hotels-and-resorts/rosewood-remains-bullish-on-mexico.html

Freak Hailstorm Slams Puebla, Mexico

Freak hailstorm hits Puebla, Mexico according to Jon Erdman at the Weathernews.

Hail covers streets in Puebla, Mexico on July 8, 2014. (Carmen Salyastep Sanchez via The Weather Channel Facebook page)

Photos submitted to The Weather Channel Facebook page by Carmen Salyastep Sanchez shows streets covered in accumulated, small hail. According toEl Universal.mx the city's municipal department of civil protection urged residents to avoid driving, if possible.

Cars are submerged in a combination of accumulated hail and flood water in Puebla, Mexico on July 8, 2014. (Carmen Salyastep Sanchez via The Weather Channel Facebook)