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Casa
Crayola |
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House Instructions and Info |
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Scroll Down for: *House Instructions and Info Communication *Transportation and Illness *What to Do in San Miguel *Listing of Local Businesses |
KEYS: You have two keys during your stay. 1) The round key is for the top lock in the front door when you enter from the street. To exit from the property, push the round button on the right side and the lock will pop open, and just close the door behind you. 2) The other key (octagon shape) is for your room. These keys are used like door handles. Feel free to lock your door and take the key with you when you leave or leave it open; it’s safe within our property. The maid, gardener and Carly have keys to all rooms. We thoroughly trust our employees. EMPLOYEES: Graciela, our housekeeper, comes several days a week (normally Tues, Thurs, Sat) and cleans your suite. She does not speak English. Javier, our gardener, comes Mon, Wed, Fri. from 11-1. WATER: Purified water is provided for your use. There is a water shortage in San Miguel. Visitors are asked to help conserve by taking moderately short showers. The tap water is not suitable for drinking, but purified water is always available for brushing teeth and drinking. The dry climate in San Miguel with the addition of the elevation of over 6000 feet dehydrates many visitors. Visitors are reminded to drink plenty of water and Gatorade and be conservative with alcohol intake during the first 48 hours. It is customary to use the water out of the faucets for washing dishes. Just be sure they are dry before using again. TOWELS: Please leave towels on the shower or bathroom floor if you would like them replaced when the maid cleans your room. Towels will automatically be replaced after 5 days. KITCHENETTE: To light the burners on the stove, turn the knob and hold the clicker-lighter to the burner. Be careful not to turn on the gas, and leave it on without a flame. LIGHTS: If you’re going out in the afternoon or evening and plan to come back at night, please remember to leave the light on outside of your casita. The switch is located inside the front door of your casita and is one of the switches mixed with your interior lights. The light just inside the front gate is motion sensitive and should illuminate automatically as you enter the gate or approach that area.
TIPPING: |
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Communication, Transportation, & Illness |
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EMERGENCIES: CONTACT INFO/PHONE: Our phone number, if dialing from the states, is 011 +52 (415) 152-8900. From San Miguel, just dial 152-8900. Available for guest use is a shared phone for local phone calls, located in the main kitchen. Local numbers are 7 digit numbers. Cell phones begin with 044 followed by the area code and the 7 digit number. INTERNET / FAX / MAIL: There is wireless internet access here at the house. Casitas having varying degrees of reception. For good reception, use your laptop in the community living room/dining room. When your computer is searching for wireless connections, choose to connect to Casa Crayola. No password is required. For those who do not bring laptops, there are many internet cafes throughout San Miguel. Most have high speed cable connections, although there is a large discrepancy in cost (from 10 pesos an hour to 50-60 pesos an hour). Cost is often determined by atmosphere. There are three internet “cafes” on Aurora. For faxes, visit Papelero San Miguel down the street or Border Crossings corner of Reloj & Mesones open M-F 9am – 6:30 pm, Sat 10am – 3pm. You may also send mail to the U.S. from Border Crossing using the U.S. postal system or make international phone calls. If you’re not in a hurry to post your letter, you can mail your letter from the post office on Correo, one block out of the jardin. AIRPORT VAN SHUTTLES: We can arrange van service for you between San Miguel and Leon’s airport. Please ask for this at least 24 hours in advance and consider that the office for making reservations is closed on Saturday and Sundays although van service runs 7 days a week. TAXIS: Taxis operate at a fixed rate of 25 pesos within the center of town. No tip is expected. Gringos are often charged more, so just hand the driver 25 pesos or 30 if you want to be generous. Some taxi drivers are insisting that the in-town rate is 30 pesos, but the taxi union has not approved that hike yet. To go to destinations outside of centro (Gigante, Mega, Tuesday Market, the bus station, etc.) expect to pay 30-35 pesos). For fares outside of the city (i.e. hotsprings), negotiate a price before leaving and arrange for pick-up if going to an isolated area. To take a taxi from the house, there’s no need to call one, within 2-5 minutes you should be able to flag one down right outside the door on Aurora. Late at night or very early morning taxis are always available on the corner of Aurora and La Luz. ILLNESS: All visitors run the risk of being sick and suffering from ‘turista’ (stomach ailments). Guests are encouraged to avoid drinking tap water or eating foods that could be contaminated i.e. vegetables right from the market, street food, food from unreliable restaurants, strawberries, etc…. However, despite the greatest care, some visitors still contract a stomach bug. As individuals are exposed to the different ‘bugs’ in México, they develop resistance and tolerance. Pepto and Tylenol are our best defenses when turista strikes. The normal bout with turista lasts for 1-3 days. If you get ill, pharmacies are well stocked and you can get just about anything, usually without a prescription. The pharmacy down the street is very convenient. If you are sick and don’t speak Spanish, go to the drug store at the corner of Canal and Hernandez Macias. They are open every day from 10:30 AM TO 11 PM. Phone 152-1198. This pharmacy is owned by a doctor, so she can advise you. To avoid altitude illness and dehydration….DRINK a lot! Dehydration and altitude affect people without them knowing it! We are at an altitude of 6200 feet! I can’t emphasize this enough. DOCTORS: For a good doctor to come to the house, call Dr. Martinez at 044 415 153-8832. He speaks English and the cost is about 400 pesos ($40 US) for a house visit. Another option is Dr.Quiroz at 152-2233 who does not make house visits. His office is in the Hospital de la Fe and his office hours are M-F 11-2. MAP:
Here's a great on-line interactive map
of San Miguel
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What to Do in San Miguel? |
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SHOPPING There are two great bakeries on Aurora. San Sebastian is known all over the city for its baked goods and bolillos (rolls). You can get bolillos (rolls) or any other treat. Across the street and slightly to the right from us is a little store where you can get most things you might need. Eggs are behind the counter and you can get cheese, cookies, cereal, milk, etc. Milk comes in small cartons, not refrigerated. For a larger store, try Bonanza located at Mesones #43A…and two doors from that is a good fruit/vegetable store. Open 8:30 to 8, Sundays til 5. About a 5-7 minute walk from here. Every Tuesday there is a Tuesday Market. Farmers and vendors from all over come to sell their wares. It is a rich and full experience of the colors and sounds of Mexico and well worth an hour or two of wandering. Go anytime between 10 and 3. It is located at the edge of town. A taxi will take you there for 20 pesos. Or take a bus marked Gigante (4pesos) and ask the driver to tell you when to get off for the Tianguis. WHAT TO DO: Be sure to purchase an Atención. It comes out on Fridays and has all the information that you may want for the events of the week. The calendar is in the middle of the paper in a section called. Buy it in the Jardin or in the Biblioteca (library) or at Border Crossing on Mesones/Relox. DAY TRIPS: Dolores Hidalgo-This town is one of the major tile centers of Mexico, full of fabulous ceramics. Dolores is very different from San Miguel. It is worth a trip…be sure to stroll around the town square before you start shopping! You could go by bus…buses leave every 40 minutes from the central de autobuses…or hire a taxi. Guanajuato-DEFINITELY worth a trip. We recommend hiring Angelica as your guide since this town is hard to get around on your own. Should you wish to cut the cost, ask her if you could be part of another group. Angelica speaks English and has an incredible depth of knowledge about almost everything Mexican, from history to art to plant life to culture….ask her anything and you will have a great learning experience. You will have a choice of what to do for the day because there are too many options for a one- day visit. Also, Angelica could combine Dolores Hidalgo with Guanajuato. 044 415 15 35067 Hot Springs: Our favorites are La Gruta and Escondido. Try them both! If you are a real swimmer and want to do laps, go to Taboada. If you have kids and want to visit one with a water slide, try Xoté. Hiking: There is WONDERFUL hiking right from the house. Walking to the entrance of the botanical gardens takes about 20 minutes, the last 13 minutes uphill all the way. If you aren’t up for this, hire a taxi to take you to the entrance. Admission is 20 pesos. Biking: Bici-Burro located on Hospicio #1 rents mountain bikes and leads tours to Atotonilco and Pozos. 152-1526. Mon – Sat 9-2 and 4-7. Horseback Riding: Hiladio is a wonderful horseman…He takes you on a lovely flat trail ride OR a more adventuresome mountain ride, depending on your ability. The cost is 350 pesos per person for a two hour ride. Take a taxi to the entrance to the Club de Golf Malanquin. The golf entrance is on the right, but Hiladio will be on the left where there is a cobble-stone road that leads off in a straight line to the mountains in the distance. Call him at least 24 hrs before at 044 415 100 4838. If you get a recording, that means he is out of the area…call at night for best results. Mondays are his best day for riding. MASSAGE: Sylvia comes to the house for 300 pesos per hour. (often she runs overtime…no increase in price) She is fabulous! Enough said. She doesn’t speak English, but it all works out. 044 415 15 39021 If you don’t speak Spanish, just say you are friends of ours and could she come to Calzada de la Aurora #48…she will get it. Or try Jasmine Spa at Jesus #25-A (upstairs). Massages, facials, body treatments, manicure/pedicure, deep tissue massage is their specialty.
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Listing of San Miguel Businesses |
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ART GALLERIES:
ART
SCHOOLS:
BOOK
STORES:
CINEMAS
/ MOVIES:
GROCERIES:
FITNESS:
LAUNDRY:
LIBRARY:
MONEY
EXCHANGE:
REAL
ESTATE:
SHOPPING:
SPANISH
SCHOOLS:
TENNIS:
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Carly Cross (202)391-0004 or 011-52-415-152-8900 carly@gomexart.com Calzada Aurora #48 |
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