PS ee, 22 - Sunday, September 10, 1989 - North Shore News TRAVEL iscover the color, magic of Mexico ONE OF the compensations of winter is that Mexico is not far. away by airliner and is conveniently in the same time zone, but is a world apart for ail that. That’s why so many travellers love Mexico, for its color, confu- sion, friendly smiles and ferocious drivers, or, as one tour guide once said, ‘‘we don’t have pedestrians here, senor, we have survivors...” Others hate the place, fearing they will be poisoned, garotted or caught up in a revolution. None of these things, of course, has ever happened to anyone from Van- couver, at least not all on the same day. I happen to like Mexico because of the Mexicans, and also because there is such a variety of ways to vacation there. travel talk David Wishart eee Perhaps the easiest way is to buy an air and hotel package from a travel agent. Ask your agent’s ad- vice and flip through the brochures, such as that of Fiesta West, which flies to 11 destinations in Mexico. Fiesta West, incidental- ly, will be using Canada 3000 Airlines’ new Boeing 757 for many flights, including the seven-hour non-stop to Cancun. One week there starts at $699. Then there are travellers who prefer to fly a scheduled airline, perhaps stay on a hotel of their choice or a condo, which brings us to Mexicana’s service out of Seat- tle. Here your Mexican experience ‘starts when you board the aircraft. Their Boeing 727s are all one class, so everyone gets French cham- pagne and very good service. The Seattle connection has im- proved to an astonishing degree in the Jast few ycars; there are now 20 flights a day from Vancouver, half of them by AirBC. Mexicana allows for a litde more flexibility, such as stopping off in Mexico City on your way to the new resort area of Huatulco. If it’s CRUISING THE Mexican Riviera is one relaxing way to spend a winter holiday. took the jeep, their money and clothes, leaving the man and from Vancouver. woman to hitch a ride back to the Cruise ship is a wonderful way elegant resort wrapped in newspa- to experience Mexico, even more pers. ; so if you are nervous about picking Finally, while most Mexican up a traveller’s aiiment, because resorts have top class hotels, with passengers can have all their meals _ prices of $100-plus U.S. regardless just Mexico City you want Japan Airlines has a non-stop service on board. A flotilla of ships plies between Los Angeles and Acapulco, and this year the Ber- muda Star will be based in San Diego, itself not a bad spot to spend a few days. Some of the most cautious indi- viduals, however, have loosened up by the time they get to Mazatlan, where they buy margaritas at Senor Frog’s and then try to pick out the supposedly tainted ice, when in fact it’s the rocket-fuci tequila that’s going to make theur eyeballs contra-rotate. Driving to Mexico is another op- tion, but be aware that ICBC in- surance is not valid there. However buying Mexican insurance at the border is simple and inexpensive. Roads off the regular. tourist tracks are not without risks, though, and a tail-gunner would be useful. Last winter a couple staying at the elegant Las Brisas resort in Acapulco rode off in pink jeep to a remote beach where they went skinny-dipping. Back at tie jeep they found several bandits, who SHOULD | STOP WRITING THESE ns K'he-1 | receive letters like this, | sometimes think | should leave the writing fo our customers. Dear Mr. Titey: Alex Tilley Huntsvse, Ontano | have been meaning to wnte this fetter for Several months | xept teling people how marvellous your cottons were, and fnaily someone suggested I let you know Unlortunately did not wear my two cotlon outhts in any reqon of ine word more exotc than Toronto Last summer, af the peak of the heat, | was taking a 6-week teacners course, and Inving in the heart of the city ina Norrait-cond@oned building | tne many diferant outfits to cope with the heat and perspiration. and all the other unpleasant concomitants ot ihe dreagtul heal. but none were as satstactory as my Tiley Cottons. I have a Strawberry outfit aad an aqua-coloured one - top ard siurt in eacn case. 1 s.nply couldn! believe the atlerence between inem and other sometimes more expensve) Outhts They Certanty helped tne cope with the heat and aise the change in temperature at OISE. whien 1s au-conditionen They truly were the mast corlortaple outtis | owned. Keep on producing them ~ and at those reasonatie oncest Barbara Tilley 1537 West Broadway Hours: 10-5:20. Mon-Sat. Suncerety. Maura Chsnoim Ph. 732-4287 Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1W6 or SEA-HATS oie of the plunging peso, there are also many places where an acceptable’ room costs $20 ta $40 a night. Last winter I met a Vancouver couple in a flight to Acapulco where they had a long-stay book- ing for $20 a night. Such hotels are listed in the Hidden Mexico guidebook (Raincevast Books, $17.95) or Baja California, a travel survivor’s guide (also Raincoast, $12.95). If you choose to go this route you might want to make a reserva- tion for a couple of nights, which will enable you to check out your selection and others as well. When you are there it doesn’t take long to meet people and get the lie of the land, compare prices and experiences. 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