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…
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…
For over 70 years, San Miguel de Allende has well been known as an artisan community and expat haven. Travel & Leisure has named it the Best City in the World in 2017 and 2018 and we can see why. Cobblestone streets, multi-colored buildings, a culinary scene that ranges from street food to fine dining,…
Many of you probably had big plans to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Maybe it was a beach barbeque in Australia, skiing in Switzerland or one that we’ve talked about doing; celebrating in the Puerto del Sol of Madrid eating our 12 grapes at midnight. We, on the other hand, did not have any plans for…
We were thrilled to receive a notification from the Worlds Fifty Best Restaurants during our month long European vacation that Ana Ros was bringing her world renowned restaurant, Hisa Franko, to Madrid for a residency at the NH Hotel while we would be visiting. Within moments we had reservations on what would be the last…
Amealco de Bonfil is one of the oldest towns in the state of Queretaro and is one of the newest on the list of pueblos magicos. Founded in 1538, Amealco de Bonfil is a place of history and tradition, agriculture and waterfalls. Amealco de Bonfil is located a few minutes from the state border of…
The historical area of Queretaro is a UNESCO World Heritage site studded with beautiful architecture and monuments. Queretaro has grown from an agricultural region to the birthplace of the Independence movement, and helped shape Mexico into what it is today. The museums of Quertaro are an easy way to learn about the history and…
The freedom to explore the country with your own set of wheels is exhilarating, but just like with all things, it does come with a certain amount of responsibility. Car maintenance and ownership in Mexico is not much different than the United States, but there a few adjustments. Gas is not self-serve, registration is not…
Have you ever wondered about how to make tortillas or tamales from scratch? It is a lot more work than using prepared Maseca. It’s an artform and it takes time. A lot of time. Our friends at Cal y Maiz specialize in heirloom corn, and showed us how to make masa at high altitude. The…
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…
11 million people living within 23 districts of the dynamic city of Lima. These districts are more like individual cities rather than neighborhoods. The upscale San Isidro District, known as the financial center of Lima, is home to 21 bank headquarters and 38 embassies and consulates. Most people stay in the Miraflores District for its…
You’ve heard the saying that you “gravitate towards people like you”. I have found in my travels and many moves across the USA and overseas that this saying is very true. When making friends in a foreign country, you attract people like you. Recently I received an email from someone who wanted to move…