Costalegre Jalisco Mexico

It is now confirmed that the trip will run on the most eventfull day of Carnaval Autlan 2007

- Fat Tuesday – Mardi Gras – Martes de Carnaval - February 20th

Join us on a fun and event filled bus trip to the final and most exciting day of Carnaval Autlan 2007. Carnaval Autlan is now in its 175th year so you know these folks know how to throw a party!



The bus departs:
Barra @ 9:00 am. corner of Veracruz and Michoacan, in front of Dona Tours
Melaque @ 9:30 am in front of Hotel Vista Hermosa by Banamex.

We will arrive in Autlan about 11:45, in time to see some of the Bull Riding and Equestrian events being presented at that time.

After that we will have lunch and there will be time to enjoy the carnival street activites and a concert by a norteno group or Banda el Grullo before we head out for...

The bull fights at 5:00 pm, featuring Rodolfo Rodriguez El Pana, and Guillermo Martinez (Mexico), Jose Mari Manzanares (Spain) and the bulls of Xajay. We'll have good seats on the shady side of the stadium.

After the bull fights (about 7 pm) we’ll have dinner, spend more time in the street and main-square for the parades and other fun Fat Tuesday - Mardi Gras – Martes de Carnaval festivities and then we’ll head back to the coast in our comfortable bus about 9:30 or so.

The ticket price of $950 pesos per person includes:
- bus transportation from Barra, Villa Obregon and Melaque on a nice bus
- three experienced English speaking Mexican guides equipped with radios and cell phones who will stay with you so no one gets lost in the crowd
- lunch with a choice from three menu selections, also included are two beverages (beer or soda pop)
- dinner with a choice from three menu selections, also included are two beverages (beer or soda pop)
- beer, soda pop and water on the bus
- entrance fee to the afternoon rodeo
- entrance fee to the afternoon banda or norteno concert
- entrance fee to the bull fights with seats on the shady side
If there is anyone that does not want to partake of the bull fights one of the guides will take those folks on a walkabout of Carnaval street and plaza festivities during the time the bull fight is on.

Tickets are for sale in Barra de Navidad at:
- Sea to Sierra, Veracruz #204 across the street from the Jardin (main square by the ATM) 355-5790
- Dona Tours, Veracruz 226 on the corner next to the bus station, 355-5667

In Cihuatlan at:
- Dona Tours, Obregon 74 (the main street that in one way towards Barra and Melaque) On the corner near Bancomer and Banamex.

Sorry, we don’t have a point of sale in Melaque but anyone from Melaque is welcome to drop over to Barra and buy a ticket. My office is open Sunday 9 – noon and Monday through Saturday 9 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm.

Nan ...

I followed the activities through a new site http://www.degrana.com (spun from http://www.columistas.com). The site did a very good job at keeping up what happened all around the town.

So ... How did the trip up to Autlán de Navarro work out?

I'll bet the bullfights were the "Talk of the Town".

Hi, how have you been, I guess you didn't get down our way this year?

I actually pulled the poster artwork from my post above off of the http://www.degrana.com site they did do a good job of keeping up with things. By all accounts everyone who went had a good time and enjoyed the bull fights.

I missed the trip entirely because I was in Vancouver freezing my butt off for 4 days right then. Pelos went along with Donato from Dona Tours and Tino a tour guide friend of mine from Manzanillo and they all enjoyed it. Carnaval Autlán with bull fighting will be set up as an overnight trip for next year though, it's too much for one day with the two hour drive each way.

Thanks for the reply Nan ... good to hear from you!

We've been very well, thanks.

I know you and Pelos are staying busy and that's good. Please, say hello to him for us.

Glad to hear the new adventure turned out well ... it's always good to offer something special once in a while. We did not get down this past winter, we needed to catch up with some family obligations. The 2008 Carnaval is in our plans. I have an invitation from some friends in Autlán and as you know it is impossible to say "no" when this sort of invitation is extended.

Hope we get to see you next February.

We will be at next year's Autlán Carnaval and at the Carnaval celebration in Villa de Alvarez (between Colima and Comala) as well. The Villa de Alvarez celebration have the bull fights too but in a rather unique petate bull ring and they throw a good party too. However, as I mentioned above, we are going to do both trips as a overnighters for 2008. It's too far (two hours each way) and there is way way way too much to do at both events to make them day trips again.

So, we'll hope to see you either up in Autlán or in Barra next February.

I am sending positive thoughts out to the Universe to make all things drop into place ... Sandy's new position as 36th Street Garden Center Manager is taking way too much time away from our travelling. We also got an opportunity to do some custom growing for next spring.

Long and short of it ... we got to get out of doing so much crap and get back into visiting Mexico!!

I thought we had made the "step in the right direction" back in '03 ... but with three trips under our belts to Mexico's Central coast areas (we started up in San Blas and got down as far as Manzanillo) ... we fell back into the "Rat Race" called Living in America.

Maybe I just need to be more 'assertive' with Sandy and not take 'maybe' for an answer.

Anyway, "I" definitely want to make a long trip next year and revisit Barra (get in a bike ride and some snorkeling at Tenacatita) and Melaque and get up to Autlán ... need to experience some of Carnaval and to see the Santana 'stuff'.