In the 1970s, Tom spent a few of his summer vacations visiting his grandmother in San Miguel de Allende. Back then the roads were not as convenient as they are today, nor was the bus transportation. Roads were not always paved and potholes could swallow a small car easily. The bus was what you…
From Our Restaurant Archives: A few years ago we were in Copenhagen, where we met a food critic at Geranium who enthusiastically recommended going to Relae. We were glad we listened to her. Relae has it all; the food, the location, and the people watching. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere, while the food is…
From Our Restaurant Archives: We have had incredible restaurant experiences, but only a handful of restaurants stick in our minds as the”best”. Martin Berasategui is one of those. It’s a restaurant that is continuously on the cutting edge of new gastronomical techniques, and experiments with flavors and textures, but also offers age-old favorites from past…
Did you know that Spanish is either the official or majority language spoken in twenty countries and the territory of Puerto Rico? It’s true! A basic understanding of the language can get you around, but the different nuances of each country can throw a wrench into comprehension. When I lived in the Dominican Republic, I…
Most people are familiar with French and California wines. Oenophiles will rave about Italian and Spanish wines. Chile is known for its cheap, but very delicious wines. And Mexico? Yes. Mexico makes great wines, too. The country of Mexico may not be in the top 10 (or even 20) for producing wine, but that doesn’t…
This post was written about our experience in 2018. Prices have gone up significantly, including financial requirements for residency and having an RFC for big purchases. This post was updated in 2022. Living overseas, our goal is to not have a mortgage. The less expenses we have as we get older, the better. Buying property…
Renting was a smart idea when we first moved to Mexico. This gave us a chance to be based somewhere that we thought would be good for us, plus have time to explore the different neighborhoods and amenities before settling into a more permanent home. The decision to design and build our semi-dream home came…
Queretaro’s landscape and climate might not seem like ideal growing conditions with its summer hail storms, but if you look around the world, some of the best wines come from semi-arid climates and high elevations. Queretaro wineries plant their vineyards between 6200-7000 ft elevation which leads to hot days and cool nights. This drastic swing…
Getting into a car accident is extremely stressful no matter where it happens. But when it happens in a foreign country where your language skills are less than a 3-year-olds’ comprehension, it adds a whole new level of worry, anxiety and stress. Are the procedures the same as in the United States? Will we be…
San Miguel de Allende has been named the Best Small City in the World in 2017, 2018 and 2020 by Conde Naste Traveler readers, and rightly so. Its location in the heart of wine country probably had something to do it. You can’t beat a combination of colonial architecture, colorful festivals, fine dining and wine…
The boutique hotel La Casa de la Marquesa is a landmark in Queretaro. It is one of the premium boutique hotels in the Colonial Highlands of Mexico, and it all began with a love story. You can ask any local and they will give you a slightly different version every time, but the foundation of…
Some of our most treasured memories started in the kitchen. Some of my fondest memories were making gingersnaps with my mom at Christmastime. Tom remembers spending weekends in the kitchen with his grandmother making bread and gathering pecans and avocados from her fruit trees. Many recipes are easy for one person to make, but…