More Workshop Information
What are you interested in doing in a week?
VISITS Visits to old and new vaulted roof sites-- lots to see-- we will need to visit something most afternoons. Old and new vaults and other masonry construction of interest.
WEATHER Sunny,clear and cool. It can go down to the 30's at night (winter) but is 60 degrees by 9:30 am
ARRIVING SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE (SMA)
GENERAL San Miguel is just about in the geographic center of Mexico. 180 mi NW of Mexico City in the state of Guanajuato
ENTERING MEXICO
You need a certified, stamped birth certificate (any old copy won't do) or a Passport.
Remember you WILL need a passport to return to the US.
FLYING FROM THE USA OR CANADA
Flying to Leon (BJX) or Mexico City (MEX) No need to speak Spanish. Bring some cash but beware of pickpockets at airports. Try to avoid "unauthorized" transportation on the ground. Workshop price does not include transportation from and to airport. Please contact me for options.
Leon airport (BJX) only an hour and a half from SMA -- $25 taxi/van to SMA -- scenic drive in the daytime -- I can help arrange this. flights into Leon are typically 25% higher than into Mexico City Customs is friendly in Leon -- staying in Guanajuato (capital city) for one night is easy and a highlight.
Mexico City (MEX) lots of arriving flights / best prices ---- arrive to big city madness, next door to 20,000,000 people ---
heaven and hell --- good bus connections (until 6 pm) to QUERETARO then SMA -- first class 4 hours- $25 -- write me for more bus info.
BUSING FROM THE BORDER
The best thing is to arrive Laredo Texas on Greyhound. There you need to take another bus to cross the river and the border (or pay $30.00 for a taxi if you arrive late in the evening) arriving at the bus terminal in Nuevo Laredo , Mexico.
For more info about crossing into Mexico at Laredo see: City of Laredo Texas crossing information ***Please note that you will need a passport or other WHTI approved document to re-enter the US.***
From the station in Nuevo Laredo, take a first class bus to Queretaro- about 13 hours , $60 -$80. First class buses leave in the morning and cost about $60. Executive class buses leave in the afternoon and these buses just have 3 seats across, are MUCH more comfortable than Greyhound, are good for sleeping and cost around $80 one way.
Arriving at the first class terminal in Queretaro, you need walk 400 yards to the second class terminal where there are buses every half hour to SMA. (until 8 pm). Getting off the first class bus, the best thing to do is to hire a porter $2 - 3 (US) to take you to the connecting bus. Just say "San Miguel de Allende" and it will all be taken care of as if by magic. The 2 bus lines from Queretaro to SMA are Herradura de Plata and Flecha Amarillo.
ARRIVING SMA
Try to make plans to arrive in San Miguel at a reasonable hour. Try to arrive Saturday (or Friday). The real workshop action starts on Sunday.
HOTELS
Hotels are about $50 a night (more or less) and staying in town can be (almost too much) fun. Bring your wife for the great shopping.??
One hotel our guests like a lot is Posada de Las Monjas -- small clean rooms, colonial, great sunset terraces, close to the centro. $34 single, $50 double. Reservations 3 weeks in advance recommended. We can make your reservations.
Please request my separate hotel mailing.
HOUSE RENTAL?
We could possibly rent a whole house in town big enough for everybody for the week.
WORKSHOP MIXES
Link to the mortar and concrete mixes we will be using in the workshop
VISITS Visits to old and new vaulted roof sites-- lots to see-- we will need to visit something most afternoons. Old and new vaults and other masonry construction of interest.
WEATHER Sunny,clear and cool. It can go down to the 30's at night (winter) but is 60 degrees by 9:30 am
ARRIVING SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE (SMA)
GENERAL San Miguel is just about in the geographic center of Mexico. 180 mi NW of Mexico City in the state of Guanajuato
ENTERING MEXICO
You need a certified, stamped birth certificate (any old copy won't do) or a Passport.
Remember you WILL need a passport to return to the US.
FLYING FROM THE USA OR CANADA
Flying to Leon (BJX) or Mexico City (MEX) No need to speak Spanish. Bring some cash but beware of pickpockets at airports. Try to avoid "unauthorized" transportation on the ground. Workshop price does not include transportation from and to airport. Please contact me for options.
Leon airport (BJX) only an hour and a half from SMA -- $25 taxi/van to SMA -- scenic drive in the daytime -- I can help arrange this. flights into Leon are typically 25% higher than into Mexico City Customs is friendly in Leon -- staying in Guanajuato (capital city) for one night is easy and a highlight.
Mexico City (MEX) lots of arriving flights / best prices ---- arrive to big city madness, next door to 20,000,000 people ---
heaven and hell --- good bus connections (until 6 pm) to QUERETARO then SMA -- first class 4 hours- $25 -- write me for more bus info.
BUSING FROM THE BORDER
The best thing is to arrive Laredo Texas on Greyhound. There you need to take another bus to cross the river and the border (or pay $30.00 for a taxi if you arrive late in the evening) arriving at the bus terminal in Nuevo Laredo , Mexico.
For more info about crossing into Mexico at Laredo see: City of Laredo Texas crossing information ***Please note that you will need a passport or other WHTI approved document to re-enter the US.***
From the station in Nuevo Laredo, take a first class bus to Queretaro- about 13 hours , $60 -$80. First class buses leave in the morning and cost about $60. Executive class buses leave in the afternoon and these buses just have 3 seats across, are MUCH more comfortable than Greyhound, are good for sleeping and cost around $80 one way.
Arriving at the first class terminal in Queretaro, you need walk 400 yards to the second class terminal where there are buses every half hour to SMA. (until 8 pm). Getting off the first class bus, the best thing to do is to hire a porter $2 - 3 (US) to take you to the connecting bus. Just say "San Miguel de Allende" and it will all be taken care of as if by magic. The 2 bus lines from Queretaro to SMA are Herradura de Plata and Flecha Amarillo.
ARRIVING SMA
Try to make plans to arrive in San Miguel at a reasonable hour. Try to arrive Saturday (or Friday). The real workshop action starts on Sunday.
HOTELS
Hotels are about $50 a night (more or less) and staying in town can be (almost too much) fun. Bring your wife for the great shopping.??
One hotel our guests like a lot is Posada de Las Monjas -- small clean rooms, colonial, great sunset terraces, close to the centro. $34 single, $50 double. Reservations 3 weeks in advance recommended. We can make your reservations.
Please request my separate hotel mailing.
HOUSE RENTAL?
We could possibly rent a whole house in town big enough for everybody for the week.
WORKSHOP MIXES
Link to the mortar and concrete mixes we will be using in the workshop
TYPICAL WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
(Previous Workshop - Illustration of Workshop only)
SUNDAY
Pour test tiles that need to cure.
Start two sculpture projects.
Picnic lunch at Tim's House
Photos and discussion.
MONDAY
Remove, move and rest formwork from a section that has already been poured earlier.
Put on the lath and initial 3/4" "casco" /shell on the formwork.
Pour reinforced concrete columns
Visit Tina's House
Visit Harris and Leslie's House
TUESDAY
Pour 6 inch roof on existing shell
Work on sculpture projects and do a stair rail section.
Visit-- older vaulted structures in the area
WEDNESDAY
Plaster walls with tirolessa hopper sprayer.
Set windows and possibly a door.
Work on sculpture projects and roofs.
Visit Adria's
THURSDAY
Pour roof section on the shell we placed on Monday.
Overhead plastering plus more of all of the above
Visit new (and best yet) construction at Bill M's, Adams house
Sunset cocktails at Kayden's
FRIDAY
Morning swim at La Gruta hot springs (bring a bathing suit). Neat cave construction.
Continue work on ongoing projects. Once again, move formwork.
Possible trip to Pozos (old mining ghost town) or wherever interest takes us.