Wednesday, October 22, 2008
This hostel is NOT a bed&breakfast as the name implies. It is a short walk from metro station Insurgentes although it may be a tad hard to find due to the sharp angles of the dissecting streets. Thankfully, it sits right on a corner. Like most, if not all, Mexican hostels one has to ring the buzzer to enter and at the B&B you also have to buzz to get out so, yeah, coming and going gets old after a short while.
B&B's reception has cable television, lots of DVDs and novels, and free Internet on the one computer. There are also storage cabinets for safe-keeping valuables. The young guy at the front desk is super cool and helpful.
I slept in the basement dorm for $110mxn. Aside from poor lighting it was fine. Sufficient showers and toilets but the water didn't get pass lukewarm.
I called the racist owner a jackass and checked out the next morning
Breakfast is not worth getting out of bed unless you particularly fancy eggs. At the time (early October) the staff was busy painting the place. Future guests can expect a more youthful decor of eccentric hues and colored squares. Guests, however, can no longer expect to receive calls or messages via the front desk---at least that's the case if you are black. A few of the white guests received calls but when a call came for me--international, no less--the owner himself blocked it because, in his words, it was his phone. To make matters worse, I was sitting in the room when he lied to the caller about my even being checked in. We argued and he told me to leave if there was a problem. I called him a jackass and checked out the next morning.
I always find racism to be a problem. Contrary to Mexicans' beliefs, Sí, there is racismo in their Third World country.
Calle Durango #145 (and Calle Tonala)
Colonia Roma
Colonia Roma
+52 55 5207.5585
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Very jovial, backpacker atmosphere which is to say boisterous, party-hardy gringo good time! The night and day staff are happy to encourage a good time. In fact, every night the bar loudly celebrates "La vida!" and shares free tequila shots. When I checked in, a fiesta was in full swing with (clumsy) dancing and booze. "C'mon and join the party!" the guests shouted.
I paid $150mxn for a dorm room. Some boards of the wood floors (and doors) squeak without mercy but the bunk beds in my dorm did not! The matress was thick and firm. A sizeable foot locker comes with each bed. What's more, guest can enjoy free breakfast and dinner meals. Not bad.
Free Internet is available through the four consuls in the lobby and has fast service. Showers have hot water, strong pressure and, thanks to etiquette reminders above every urinal, facility, and light switch, Hostel Amigo stays clean, energy efficient, hospitable for all guests.
"C'mon and join the party!" the guests shouted.
With its downtown location in Colonia Centro (metro stop: Isabel de la Catolica) I chose to stay here on my first night in town. As it is in the downtown area renting beds here should be convenient for people who like to get party-hardy outside of the hostel without much worry in using taxis to return home after a late night.
Isabel de la catolica #61
Colonia Centro
toll free: 01 800.7.467.835
As a youth hostel in D.F. it is very attractive and affordable with an easy enough location from either of two metro stops (Insurgentes or Sevilla). Insurgentes might be closer but if you're toting serious luggage, then the less congested walk from Sevilla will be more appreciated after riding ass to elbow on the subway. All beds cost the same $120mxn irregardless of length of stay and all are dorm room style.
As of this posting, word has it that said rate will go up soon in response to the country's banks response to America's recession.
I liked the beds here. Very thick mattresses. Although some squeak I manged to snag a quiet one each time. The two showers and three toilets served us well but I can imagine things maybe not flowing so smoothly when more gests are here. Ditto the kitchen. There's free Internet access on the one computer--can't beat free Internet!--and a small exchange library of novels and magazines. Hostel Home has a small and friendly staff who gave me no problems or attitude whatsoever.
I met so many characters here! No other hostel has come close to the colorful assortment of guests that have bedded here...a middle-aged junkie ex-pat, a self-exiled (American)refugee, a porn actor, plus the obligatory young German couples and Austrailian backpackers.
On the downside, the hostel lacks a smoking terrace. Since smokers tend to be 
inconsiderate of others' breathing space from the start and with most foreigners regarding it bothersome to have to buzz in and out of the place, the smokers generally went to the front room window/balcony façade to suck on cancer, allowing the breeze to make second-hand smokers of the rest of us inside.
inconsiderate of others' breathing space from the start and with most foreigners regarding it bothersome to have to buzz in and out of the place, the smokers generally went to the front room window/balcony façade to suck on cancer, allowing the breeze to make second-hand smokers of the rest of us inside.No other hostel has come close to the colorful assortment of guests that have bedded here...
Also, the owner, for all of her politeness, came off too money oriented. She smiles because you paid, not because of hospitality. Greed is never attractive. One of the more queer things she did was to put "Afuera de servicio" sign on the perfectly working microwave---in order to deter its usage. Greenpeace, my ass! An unflattering inside name for her developed among some of us.Calle Tabasco 303
Mexico City (Colonia Roma)
+52 5511.1683
Saturday, October 18, 2008
In looking for the hostel of the same name I mistakenly walked into this place which is right next door. Honestly, there is not too much difference between the two save for the boisterous imbibing of tequila and revelry and, perhaps, a younger clientele.
This much I found out from the friendly and professional front desk before finding out that I was at the wrong front desk:
- single room costs $160mxn (just ten pesos more than a dorm room in Hostel Amigo!)
- shower was down the hall although some rooms have private facilities but cost more.
- no free Internet or breakfast
- bright and clean looking lobby
- restaurant on premises
Centro Histórico
Calle Isabel de la catolica #63
metro: Isabel de la catolica
+52 5518.1213 al 17
website
hotelisabel@prodigy.net.mx
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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One of the drawbacks of being in Guadalajara is that the majority of Tapatios apparently have never actually seen a black person in person so their reactions are curious and, if you stick around long enough, eventually, off-putting. It would be one thing if I were in a remote spot like the mountains or a one-well pueblo but for a people who like to claim, nay insist, parity with America it is hardly excusable, then, to stare and point at others just because they have different skin color. Nor is it excusable to walk up and actually say, "I like your color," or "I like black people," or "How many inches do you have?" ¿Huh?
Americans don't do that. Mexicans, sí.
Although everyone claims the girls here like black men I have never met nor ever been introduced to any such girl. My friends assure me their "friends", who always remain nameless and faceless, exist but like the song says, It's not make believe if you believe it too. I, however, don't buy their make believe. Therefore, when a Mexican tells you, as so many tell me, that he has a friend who likes black men be on guard. Chances are high that he is the "friend". It's the old requesting-information-for-my-friend-ploy. Insegure closet cases! Besides, what Mexican would really invite one of their women to get to know someone else?
Accuse me of generalization, if you please, but machismo is VERY real in this culture.
Don't misunderstand: Tapatios are hospitable yet delusional Third World citizens. But I'm not calling them racist.
What a comforting thought. The red, white, green badge of ignorance. Viva NAFTA!
One of the drawbacks of being in Guadalajara is that the majority of Tapatios apparently have never actually seen a black person in person so their reactions are curious and, if you stick around long enough, eventually, off-putting. It would be one thing if I were in a remote spot like the mountains or a one-well pueblo but for a people who like to claim, nay insist, parity with America it is hardly excusable, then, to stare and point at others just because they have different skin color. Nor is it excusable to walk up and actually say, "I like your color," or "I like black people," or "How many inches do you have?" ¿Huh?
Americans don't do that. Mexicans, sí.
I know Tapatios are not racist because each and every one of them says, "Mexicans are not racists."
Although everyone claims the girls here like black men I have never met nor ever been introduced to any such girl. My friends assure me their "friends", who always remain nameless and faceless, exist but like the song says, It's not make believe if you believe it too. I, however, don't buy their make believe. Therefore, when a Mexican tells you, as so many tell me, that he has a friend who likes black men be on guard. Chances are high that he is the "friend". It's the old requesting-information-for-my-friend-ploy. Insegure closet cases! Besides, what Mexican would really invite one of their women to get to know someone else?
Accuse me of generalization, if you please, but machismo is VERY real in this culture.
Don't misunderstand: Tapatios are hospitable yet delusional Third World citizens. But I'm not calling them racist.
Look mommy! A chocolate man!
Far from it. I know Tapatios are not racist because each and every one of them injects the non sequitur "Mexicans are not racists" in conversation. It's just a case of ignorance. I know this too because every Mexican in GDL explains with surreal pride, "Mexicans are not _____(nosey/racist/possesive/dishonest/lazy/selfish/gay/etc). They're just ignorant. That's all."
What a comforting thought. The red, white, green badge of ignorance. Viva NAFTA!
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