Travels with Robin in 2020

Buenas tardes,

I just returned from leading a group to San Miguel de Allende where we celebrated Semana Santa (Holy Week) with the locals.  I had such a great group of people from Alexandria - Minnesota, Tucson - Arizona, Houston - Texas, Chicago - Illinois and of course Denver.  It was a wonderful ten days that I am sure everyone will treasure for quite a while.  I know I always do after one of my tours.

I have been asked by quite a few who have traveled with me on many, if not all of my trips, what I have in store for my "Travels With Robin" tours for 2020.  I have three exceptional trips planned!

First trip planned is The Magic of the Maya World, a nine day guided tour in the state of Chiapas: February 20 - 28.  It's an opportunity to visit a forgotten corner of the world few people will ever see.  Chiapas is best known for its colonial cities but above all for its Mesoamerica's most stunning Maya ruins such as Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilan. 

I have visited these ruins many times and often there are little if not any tourists at all.   The area is also known for its diverse landscape from

the stunning Canyon de Sumidero (one morning we will enjoy the Canyon in our private boat up the Grijalva River),

to the mountains in the highlands where we will visit some of the villages known for their textiles to the dense tropical rain forest.  Chiapas is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet and it has one of the largest and most diverse indigenous populations in Mexico, with approximately 960,000 native language speakers over the age of five, which represents one quarter of the state’s population.

Next April, I am repeating that same trip I just lead for Semana Santa in San Miguel de Allende, seven days during Holy Week which is such a colorful time of year with the option to add four extra nights to the trip which everyone except one couple did this year. 

Full of pageantry, processions, decorated churches and homes, just a special time to be in this 475 year old colonial town to witness the spirit of the people as they partake in celebrating Semana Santa. 

April 3 - 9, 2020 with the option of signing on for an additional four nights, departing on the 13. 

Travel the ages... From the lavish culture of Mexico City, to the colonial town of Puebla to

ancient Oaxaca for El Dia del Muerto, The Day of the Dead

October 21 - November 3, 2020

Mexico City is cosmopolitan and cultured with world class museums where part of the city was built directly on top of the capital of the Aztec Empire.

It will be four days of exploring museums, visiting the homes of Luis Barragán, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, taking in all the sites around the main square (the zocalo), and experiencing some of the best cuisine Mexico City has to offer.

Off to Puebla for a few days, a colonial town with its Renaissance and Mexican Baroque architecture.  A city famous for mole poblano, chilis en nogada and Talavera pottery.  Staying right in the historic district close to the many magnificent churches.  We will visit the Museo Amparo with one of the finest collections of pre-Columbian and colonial art in the country and the Taller Uriarte where we will have a private tour of the Talavera pottery workshop.  A morning at the International Baroque Museum, not only is the collection phenomenal, the building itself is something to see.  And of course some exceptional dining.

Final stop, Oaxaca for five days over El Dia de Los Muertos!  An experience you will never forget.  We will be staying a block from the main square (the zocalo).  One day will be a side trip to Ocotlan de Morelos, famous for its Friday open air market, a visit to the ex-convent and Morales museum, lunch at a fabulous restaurant in the countryside and a few stops at some of the local artisans known for their ceramic figures, Alebrijes (hand carved and painted wood figures) and weavers using their back-strap looms.  The days spent in Oaxaca City, we will be right in the thick of the celebrations for El Dia de Los Muertos.  And of course, the cuisine in Oaxaca is some of the best in all of Mexico.   It is such a popular time to be in Oaxaca, that I have already reserved the hotel rooms.

Semana Santa and Dia de Los Muertos are such special times to be in Mexico.   Please let me know if one or all of these trips are of interest to you and I will add your names to the list.  I already have some folks ready to sign up.

Soon I will sending a detailed itinerary on The Magic of the Maya World.

Dates:  February 19 - 25, 2020.

Look for the Semana Santa in San Miguel de Allende email the end of May.

Dates:  April 3 - 9, 2020  (with the option of staying on until the 13th)

And look for the Travel the ages... From the lavish culture of Mexico City, to the colonial town of Puebla to ancient Oaxaca for El Dia del Muerto, The Day of the Dead email the end October, after I have returned from leading a tour to Mexico City and Oaxaca.

Dates:  October 21 - November 3, 2020

I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully traveling with you in 2020!

Robin

Robindsg@aol.com