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miamiario

Mar 13, 2010, 2:28 PM

Post #1 of 17 (15677 views)

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Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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My son's school is planning a trip to El Molino camp in Erongaricuaro. The group (37 children ages 10-12 and 12 adults) will arrive in Morelia at 3 am and will take a bus to Eronga at that hour. I am trying to get a sense of whether or not I should be concerned about the safety of this plan. I don't want to be alarmist, but I also don't want to be naive! Would appreciate any input from those familiar with the area. Thanks!

esperanza

Mar 13, 2010, 3:14 PM

Post #2 of 17 (15657 views)

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Re: [miamiario] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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My first question is why in the world they want to get to their Erongarícauaro destination at 4AM. It only takes an hour maximum to get from Morelia to Erongarícuaro.

My second question is about the road they are taking from Morelia to Erongarícuaro. They can travel either from Morelia to Quiroga and then to Erongarícuaro or they can travel from Morelia to Pátzcuaro and then to Erongarícuaro.

IMHO, the road between Morelia and Pátzcuaro is very dangerous at the hour they'll be traveling. At least once a week a horrendous accident kills someone on that highway, usually in the wee hours of the morning and almost always caused by a speeding drunk hitting another vehicle. The 'other vehicle' is occasionally a bus.

The road between Morelia and Quiroga is winding, rural, and dark, bordered on both sides by farmlands. There are often large farm animals loose on the road. Great caution is necessary as one drives.

As far as other dangers--it's the luck of the draw, really. That hour of the morning might be dicey, but it might not be.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

tashby

Mar 13, 2010, 4:14 PM

Post #3 of 17 (15639 views)

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Re: [miamiario] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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I'm with our esteemed moderator on this one.

A 3 a.m. (???!!!) arrival into Morelia? Are they arriving into Morelia at the airport or by bus? From where?

And why?

Will there be a chartered bus waiting at either location to whisk them on to Erongarícuaro?

I'd ask some questions of the person who's organizing the tour for sure, and see how comfortable you are with the answers. The 3 a.m. arrival time is just stupid, and they better have a good answer.

sparks

Mar 13, 2010, 4:15 PM

Post #4 of 17 (15638 views)

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Re: [miamiario] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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Bad planning whom ever designed that tour - the rule of thumb for the sane is 'don't drive at night' anywhere in Mexico if you can help it. The 3am arrival could have been avoided.

They'll also wanna sleep the first day and will have missed the scenery

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

miamiario

Mar 13, 2010, 5:27 PM

Post #5 of 17 (15620 views)

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Re: [sparks] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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Thanks for the information. I believe that the flight arrives that late (3am) and that the plan was just to go straight to the camp. Since the flight probably cannot be changed, is there somewhere near the airport that they could stay until morning?

La Isla

Mar 13, 2010, 5:37 PM

Post #6 of 17 (15612 views)

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Re: [miamiario] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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I wonder why the organizers chose a flight that gets in to Morelia at such an ungodly hour. Could it be because it was cheaper than some other flight that would get in at a more reasonable time?

dmhaun

Mar 13, 2010, 5:39 PM

Post #7 of 17 (15610 views)

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Re: [miamiario] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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The new Airport Hotel is half a block from the airport, just outside the gate. Buen viaje, David
.
The Michoacan Net
Supporting the Arts in Michoacan
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tonyburton / Moderator

Mar 13, 2010, 5:44 PM

Post #8 of 17 (15607 views)

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Re: [miamiario] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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As a past organizer of hundreds of similar trips, I would wish to know whether the bus (or buses plural given the number of students and adults?) in question is/are public bus or private bus/coach. If public bus, it's probably preferable to stay in Morelia until day-break at least. If it's a private bus, I would have absolutely no hesitation going along with the organizer's plan for the transfer to Erongaricuaro.

esperanza

Mar 13, 2010, 5:49 PM

Post #9 of 17 (15601 views)

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Re: [miamiario] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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I believe that the Morelia airport closes at about 1.30AM, after the last flight arrives (from Chicago's O'Hare). The airport re-opens at about 5.30AM.

Is this a chartered plane?

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miamiario

Mar 13, 2010, 6:06 PM

Post #10 of 17 (15594 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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Thanks for responses. A private bus from the camp (El Molino) will be transporting the group, so I am glad to hear that that is preferable! I will pass all of this information on to the organizers.

miamiario

Mar 13, 2010, 6:14 PM

Post #11 of 17 (15592 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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No, it is not chartered --it is a mexicana airlines flight that arrives at 3:20am from san jose, ca. I suppose it probably was the cheaper option....

Anonimo

Mar 14, 2010, 3:57 AM

Post #12 of 17 (15547 views)

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Re: [miamiario] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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It's likely that if arriving at 3:20 a.m., passing Immigration and Customs; getting organized on the bus, a possible breakfast stop, by the time the bus actually gets moving, it will be daylight.

The Hotel Aeropuerto Morelia rates are $750 MXP and up.
http://www.directfrommexico.com/tp2100.html

There is no real food availablea t the hotel itself. The "Continental breakfast" is a joke; weak coffee and crappy pan dulce from Sam's Club. The tea bags were nice, though. ;-)
However, the spacious rooms are nice enough. We have stayed there twice, about a year ago.

We'd rather bus 5 hours to Mexico City than use MLM airport.But, that's another topic.
All generalities are suspect, including this one.

Saludos,
Anonimo

wearechange

Mar 15, 2010, 7:35 PM

Post #13 of 17 (15467 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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Try giving the Federal Police in Morelia a call and request a police escort. After the incidents in Juarez I would like to think that the Mexican authorities want to avoid any more bad press.

Anonimo

Mar 16, 2010, 2:56 AM

Post #14 of 17 (15439 views)

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Re: [wearechange] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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In Reply To

Try giving the Federal Police in Morelia a call and request a police escort. After the incidents in Juarez I would like to think that the Mexican authorities want to avoid any more bad press.

I think such a request would be in excess of protecting the children, and it wouldn't be effective anyway.
All generalities are suspect, including this one.

Saludos,
Anonimo

wearechange

Mar 17, 2010, 3:59 PM

Post #15 of 17 (15396 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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Anonimo- yeah, sometimes I'm a dreamer.

gpkgto

Mar 17, 2010, 4:47 PM

Post #16 of 17 (15388 views)

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Re: [wearechange] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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This might even make the bus a target for the narcos.

Anonimo

Mar 17, 2010, 5:19 PM

Post #17 of 17 (15385 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Travel from Morelia to Erongaricuaro- El Molino Camp

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The URL I posted is, of course, totally wrong. (It was left on my computer's clipboard.)

The correct URL for the Hotel Aeropuerto Morelia is http://www.hotelaeropuertomorelia.com
All generalities are suspect, including this one.

Saludos,
Anonimo