COLONIAL MEXICO, LAND OF THE AZTECS.

Feb , 2010 (with optional 3-day extension Feb ) with Jim Cline

Cost: $TBD includes all ground transport, all 9 nights hotel accommodations, breakfasts and dinners, entrance-fees at tourist sites, guides, and drinking water.  
The price is based on double occupancy.  A single supplement of $ applies. 
The trip will be limited to 9 participants.

Discover the incredible diversity of Mexico on this photographic journey through
the heart of Mexico. We'll start in Mexico City, the center of the ancient Aztec
empire, now the center of modern Mexico. We'll visit the ancient pyramids at
Teotihuacán, Tenochtitlan, and Tula; and travel to the beautiful colonial towns of
Taxco and Puebla. We'll also witness the monarch butterfly migration, as millions
of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the northern U.S. to the
mountains of central Mexico each year. A 3-day optional extension to the
beautiful artist colony of San Miguel de Allende and the colonial gem of
Guanajuato is also offered.

Mexico City, today home to 20 million people, is the largest city in the western hemisphere. It is the center for the arts, commerce, transportation, communications, finance, and politics of Mexico. Even when the Spaniards arrived in 1519 it was the center of the Aztec empire, and home to 200,000 inhabitants, one of the world's largest cities at the time. Today Mexico City offers tremendous photo opportunities - from the colonial splendor of numerous buildings and churches in the city center, to the surrounding area with the magnificent pyramids at Teotihuacan and the giant Toltec stone warrior figures at Tula. We'll go to all the best locations at the best time for the light to capture great images.

The nearby towns of Puebla and Taxco are also host to many wonderful photographic subjects. When the Spaniards discovered the Great Pyramid of Cholula outside of Puebla, they built a church right on top of it. It now stands as a symbol of the Spanish domination of the ancient cultures of Mexico. The city of Puebla preserves its Spanish imprint and is home to more than 70 churches and, in the central area alone, a thousand other colonial buildings - many adorned with the hand-painted tiles that make the city famous. The old silver mining town of Taxco is a gorgeous colonial antique, and one of the most picturesque and pleasant places in Mexico.

Finally we'll have the opportunity to witness the famous monarch butterfly
migration. Every winter millions of monarch butterflies migrate from locations all
over North America and arrive in the mountains of central Mexico. It's truly an unforgettable sight to see (and hear!) as hundreds or thousands of thebutterflies
take flight at the same time. We'll have numerous opportunities to photograph
them up close as they rest on the branches of trees and as they take flight.

To see Jim's images from the 2007 tour click here

To see Jim's images from the 2005 tour click here

Day one:  Arrive in Mexico City from your flight and transfer to our hotel located in the heart of the historic city center.
Those who arrive early will go for a photo shoot in the city center for the last light. We'll have an informal dinner
overlooking the Zocalo, or central plaza. We'll spend the night in Mexico City.  

Day Two:  We'll spend the day in the capital. We'll photograph the Cathedral - the largest one in Latin America; the
Basilica de Guadalupe; the Templo Mayor - Aztec ruins of their capital, Tenochtitlan; Aztec dancers in the Zocalo; and
the many colonial buildings in the historic city center. In the afternoon we'll photograph the giant stone warriors at the
Toltec ruins of Tula. We'll spend the night in Mexico City. Day

Day Three: We'll head for the colonial city of Puebla. On the way we'll stop at the Cacaxtla ruins, with their vividly
colored frescoes of warriors in battle. In Puebla we'll photograph some of the many beautiful colonial buildings and
churches, We'll spend the night in Puebla. 

Day Four: In the morning we'll have some free time in Puebla for shopping and taking photos. In the afternoon we'll
go to Cholula, home ot the world's largest pyramid. We'll explore the tunnels running through the pyramid and
photograph it in the last light from a nearby hilltop. It's the ultimate symbol of the conquest - a Catholic church built
directly on top of a giant Aztec pyramid. With a little luck we'll be able to see the smoking 17,990 foot high volcano,
Popocatepetl, looming in the distance. We'll spend the night in Puebla..

Day Five:  In the morning we'll head for the silver city of Taxco. We'll arrive in Mexico's picturesque silver capital in

time for lunch. In the afternoon we'll wander Taxco's winding streets in search of photos (or silver). We'll have a late
afternoon photo shoot from our hotel's rooftop bar, which affords the best view of the picturesque Cathedral. We'll then
go up to a vista high up on the hill to take photos of the town as the lights come on at twilight. That night we'll have
dinner at a rooftop restaurant with a view out over the city. We'll spend the night in Taxco.  

Day Six:  We'll have an early morning photo shoot of the first light playing on the hills and colonial buildings of Taxco.

After breakfast, we'll make the drive to the mountains in the state of Michoacan, home to the migrating monarch

butterflies, stopping in Toluca for lunch on the way. In the late afternoon we'll photograph the picturesque highland town

of Angangueo. We'll spend the night in Angangueo...

Day Seven: In the morning we'll visit the butterfly sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to millions of wintering

monarch butterflies who have journeyed thousands of miles to get here. After photographing the butterflies we'll eat a

delicious lunch prepared in the local style, then photograph some of the local residents of the village of El Rosario, and

then return to the town of Angangueo for some rest. We'll spend the night in Angangueo. .
.

Day Eight: We'll get up early and drive up to the butterfly sanctuary. After photographing the butterflies we'll make

our way back to Mexico City for one last afternoon shoot in the city center. We'll spend the night in Mexico City. .

Day Nine : In the morning we'll visit the amazing Anthropology Museum located in Chapultapec Park. We'll
photograph the many artifacts recovered from the various archeological sites in Mexico - Aztec, Maya, Toltec, Zapotec,
Miztec, and more. Then in the afternoon we'll visit the magnificent ancient pyramids at Teotihuacán, and stay to shoot
them in the last light. We'll spend the night in Mexico City...

Day Ten : Those who are leaving will catch their flights
home (Feb 25).

....
OPTIONAL 4 day / 3 night extension : GUANAJUATO & SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

Feb , Cost $ ......... ..

Day Ten: In the morning we'll head for the colonial gem of Guanajuato. We'll arrive in Guanajuato for an afternoon
shoot, and then photograph the city at twilight from a viewpoint above the city. On this night callejonados, or groups of
musicians in traditional costumes play their music as they roam the ancient alleyways of the city with spectators in tow.
We'll spend the night in Guanajuato...

Day Eleven: We'll get up early and photograph more of the beautiful architecture and sights of the city. In the
afternoon we'll head to the charming colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, home to an international art community.
We'll spend the night in San Miguel de Allende. ..

Day Twelve : We'll spend the day shooting the many colonial churches, plazas, people and beautiful vistas over the
plains and distant hills. We'll return to Mexico City in time for the last light . We'll spend the night in Mexico City. ..

Day Thirteen : Catch your flights back home ( ).

Reservation Form

What past participants of Jim’s tours to Mexico had to say:

“Thanks for putting together such a great trip! I am happy that I got to experience some new places and become
reacquainted with places I'd seen before.  Your willingness to help with photography tips, knowledge of the area and
language made the trip really special.  Thanks again for a terrific trip.”        Wille Oelbaum, San Diego

“Hi Jim, thanks for the group photo trip.  It was a great trip and you are an excellent guide.  You really know your way
around Mexico.  You steered us safely around the roads and the restaurants, too!  May your business prosper!”    
Nancy Petitti, San Diego

"Jim, I just wanted to thank you again and tell you how impressed I was with our trip. I will definitely recommend your
trips to anyone I come across who may be interested (and don't be surprised if I end up on a few more myself). Thanks
again and happy shooting in the future!" Joe Italiano San Diego, CA

 "Jim, I wanted to tell you thanks for a truly amazing trip last month. Your trip gave me an opportunity to relax, enjoy the adventure
and concentrate on my photography. It was obvious you had spent a lot of time traveling in Mexico. You made this trip an awesome
adventure. Thank you! I will certainly be joining you again on another trip to Baja in the very near future!" Dan Megna, Ramona, CA.
.
Jim's photos of Mexico have won numerous awards, and have been exhibited at the San Diego Natural History Museum.

  To see Jim's photos of the 2007 tour click here T

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