We have learned that our suggested field trip from Mexico City to Xalapa (Veracruz) will not be included in the formal offerings of field trips of the Economic Botany meetings.  None the less, we are interested in guiding a small group of you who have traveled with us on previous field trips or who have expressed previously interest in this trip.  We will plan the trip to be as economical as possible.  We suggest the following itinerary: 

1)     arrive in Mexico City by Wednesday (2 June) and all stay at the same hotel where we plan to rent the van

2)     start trip on early Thursday morning

3)     arrive in Xalapa on Saturday evening (5 June) – please note that you will be responsible for making your own hotel arrangements as part of the regular meeting.

We will plan to rent a van the cost of which we will have to divided among the participants.  At the moment, that cost is 13,000 Mexican pesos and includes gasoline, tolls, chofer and his expenses; we anticipate that he will watch the vehicle with our valuables while we wonder around.  If we are 10 people, that will run about US$110. Each of you will be responsible for paying for your food, lodging and entrance fees to the sites (see list below).  Depending upon those of you who participate and the interest of the group, we may need to modify the trip plan.  Also, there may be travel restrictions due to road conditions and weather.

The suggested themes to be covered on the trip are: 

The tentative route is as follows:

·         3 June

 - Mexico City to Tepalcingo [Ceiba of Tepalcingo]

 - Oaxtepec [former Aztec botanical garden]

 - Chalcatzingo [Olmec rock art with plants] 

 - Jonacatepec [“cuezcomates”]

·         4 June 

- E slope of Iztacciuatl-Popocatepetl National Park: Atlixco [original site of historic avocado tree] 

- San Nicolas de los Ranchos [“huacales” or Aztec crates made from Salix coppice] 

- Huejotzingo [ex-monastery; “cidra” - local apple cider factory although it will not be the cider making season]

·         5 June 

- Cholula [Botanical Garden; church on top of pyramid; baroque religious art at Santa Maria Tonanzintla] 

- Cofre de Perote [base of mountain; National Park] 

- Xalapa

Hotel options en route – approximate costs in US dollars; you will need to pay in Mexican pesos (ca. 12 pesos per US dollar)

Holiday Inn CIUDAD DE MEXICO-TRADE CENTER, AVE. REVOLUCION #583, MEXICO CITY, NA, 3800, MX / tel. 52-55-5278-9950

For food, we will eat in restaurants so you can select your own meals.  We anticipate that the cost per day will be about USD$ 60.

If we have fewer travelers, we may qualify for a smaller, less expensive van.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you will participate.  You can write Edelmira Linares at:  mazari@ibunam2.ibiologia.unam.mx

Our home phone number is: + (52) (55) 5515-0819.  If we do not answer, the recording machine will pick up and you can leave a message.  We are usually available between 19 and 21 hours (Mexico City time zone).

We look forward to continuing the pleasant tradition of the SEB pre-meeting field trip.

Best wishes,  Bob Bye and Edelmira Linares

DELTA CONFIRMATION #:  C6W0MA
TICKET #:  00623238702704
                                 Bkng                          Meals/ Seat/
Day Date       Flight     Status Class       City        Time  Other  Cabin
--- ----- --------------- ------ ----- ---------------- ------ ------ -------
Sat 29MAY DELTA 1558        OK     A   LV HONOLULU      925P     S     **
                                       AR LOS ANGELES   545A#         FIRST

Sun 30MAY DELTA 8055*       OK     I   LV LOS ANGELES   720A     B     **
                                       AR MEXICO CITY   1255P         BUSINESS
          *Operated by AEROMEXICO As AM Flt 18

Sat 12JUN DELTA 8008*       OK     I   LV MEXICO CITY   930A     B     **
                                       AR LOS ANGELES   1125A         BUSINESS
          *Operated by AEROMEXICO As AM Flt 19

Sat 12JUN DELTA 1559        OK     A   LV LOS ANGELES   310P     D     **
                                       AR HONOLULU      600P          FIRST

Nancy Furumoto

DELTA CONFIRMATION #:  C6W0MA
TICKET #:  00623238702693
                                 Bkng                          Meals/ Seat/
Day Date       Flight     Status Class       City        Time  Other  Cabin
--- ----- --------------- ------ ----- ---------------- ------ ------ -------
Sat 29MAY DELTA 1558        OK     A   LV HONOLULU      925P     S     **
                                       AR LOS ANGELES   545A#         FIRST

Sun 30MAY DELTA 8055*       OK     I   LV LOS ANGELES   720A     B     **
                                       AR MEXICO CITY   1255P         BUSINESS
          *Operated by AEROMEXICO As AM Flt 18

Sat 12JUN DELTA 8008*       OK     I   LV MEXICO CITY   930A     B     **
                                       AR LOS ANGELES   1125A         BUSINESS
          *Operated by AEROMEXICO As AM Flt 19

Sat 12JUN DELTA 1559        OK     A   LV LOS ANGELES   310P     D     **
                                       AR HONOLULU      600P          FIRST

Hotels
Holiday Inn Trade Center (Mexico DF) May 30 - June 2 (depart June 3): 4 nights
Confirmation number: 66558820  
Requires AAA membership card   
Hotel Mary (Jonacatepec, Morelos) June 3: 1 night
Hotel Real de los Naturales (San Pedro Cholula, Puebla): June 4: 1 night
Crowne Plaza (Xalapa, Veracruz ) June 5 - June 10 (depart June 11): 6 nights
Confirmation number: 66519020
Hilton Airport (Mexico DF) June 11: 1 night
Confirmation number: 3377811266

General Travel Info
36 hours in Mexico City (NY Times)
Lonely Planet Intro to Mexico City
Mexico City dot Com
Insider's Guide to Mexico City (CNN)
Three Views of Mexico City (blog)

Botanical Gardens
Texcotzingo (first botanical garden?)
Mexico's Giant Mountains
List of mountains