Weekend In Tequila - Tour And All

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We left early Thursday morning meeting the group at the airport in Monterrey.  It was early as the flight left at 7:00 a.m.  Everyone was there on time and VivaAerobus makes sure you do that or you don't get on the flight.  

The airline is a super-discounter but they charge for every possible extra.  No printed boarding pass, that's $10 U.S., you want an assigned seat that's another 60 to90 pesos, 10kg of carry on includes your carry on and anything else you have in your hands.  Over that, without previously declaring will run you up to $50 U.S. plus the cost of the weight.  I was .2 kilos over my weight but they asked who I was traveling with and one person had less than the 10 kilos so they let me go.  We did pay for all of us to sit in two rows to reduce confusion.  Some are not very seasoned travelers so it was worth it.

We rented an AirBnb and we were on a group budget, but low-budget.  This place is low budget.  But it works for the two nights we will be here.  I'm going to report it to AirBnb when we get home.  We needed three bedrooms and at least two baths.  It works and we have had a meal or two prepared here at home.  Anything beats a hotel when you are traveling in a group because it's hard to communicate with each couple and make decisions.   We had a project in mind when coming anyway so the target was looking for birth and death documents.  We pretty much hit a dead-end but it helps to put some things to end and bring comfort.  

Several in the group have trouble walking long distances so we took a traditional tour.  The guide took us in a trolley to a tequila plantation, walked us through the agave and explained how the plant grows and produces the precious liquid for making tequila.  Then back to town for a tour of the town and historical places.  After, we picked up another group and we went to a distillery and toured the production, took pictures, toured the gardens and did quite a bit of tasting.   We were gone for over three hours and the tour was 150 pesos.   We started at 250 per person and we agreed for the group 150 pesos was a good deal.  It was! 

The town is really beautiful, well-maintained, good streets and sidewalks.  Lots of history, museums, and of course Tequila.  The production is controlled by the government although now there are only two producers that are still Mexican owned.  The Japanese bought one distillery and it is now a very commercial operation.

Tomorrow we head back to Guadalajara around noon to catch our 4:40 p.m. and when we get home we have a wedding to go to.  The wedding is our near our house so it will be fun and we won't be home too late.