Christmas in Mexico is a festive and joyous occasion. Celebrations typically combine religious traditions with family gatherings, cultural customs, and a lot of noise. Though department stores start selling Christmas decorations as early as September, most towns will not start decorating in earnest until the second week of December. With mild temperatures, colorful architecture, and…
Our moms teach us from an early age never to pay full price for anything. This life lesson extends from prom dresses to Black Friday deals. It’s also true if you live abroad. Mexico is known for its low cost of living and inexpensive food prices, but at certain times of the year, price tags…
Our mornings start with a sprint down to the park. Once we arrive, I unclip the leash and jog around the park with Kiko leading the way. We are on a quest to find his best friend Guapo. He looks back at me with an encouraging grin and an expression that says “Keep going! You’re…
Tom and I had a discussion the other day about renting or buying. While we both agree it’s a good idea to rent for the first year or two when you arrive in a foreign country, we differ in opinion for the long term. While he prefers the benefits of buying a house, I like…
One of the reasons why we chose to live in Queretaro was because of its multicultural food scene. Queretaro’s restaurant scene may not be as well-known as Mexico City or San Miguel de Allende, but its flair for traditional, contemporary, and international cuisines cannot be denied. Queretaro has restaurants ranging from Korean BBQ and Indian…
Whether you are moving across the country or across the sea, packing can be overwhelming. How did you acquire so much stuff? If you’re lucky, your company will pay for most of the relocation costs. If you are doing this on your own, it’s time to “clean house”, decide what’s really important, and become a…
Rainy season in Central Mexico has begun. Flowers are blooming on the cacti, grapes are plumping up on the vines and the desert dust is washed away. As romantic as this all sounds, the rainy season in Mexico brings with it a lot of good, a little bad and some ugly. Weather in Central Mexico…
Eating while traveling is a given, but where should you eat? Tripadvisor and other review websites are great resources, but are they bolstered by tourists or locals? Around Jardin Zenea alone there’s plenty of choices easily within walking distance. You’ll see people in the parks eating ice cream and dancing. Visit around the holidays and…
Buying a car in Mexico is nothing like the United States. In the States, the process takes an afternoon. In Mexico, it can take weeks. We’ve bought two cars in the last four years, one brand new and the other used. Here are our experiences buying a car in Mexico with cash and on credit….
It’s one thing to SEE a tradition in another culture, it’s a whole other world to be a part of it. Living in Mexico has allowed us to get to know our neighbors and learn about Mexican traditions and culture. One of those traditions is Las Posadas. Posadas is Spanish for lodging or accommodation. This…
Experiencing Christmas in another country is always exhilarating. What will be similar? What will be different? This is our first Christmas in Queretaro, Mexico. Lights shaped as Christmas trees and stars hang from the lamp posts. Stores are draped in garlands of poinsettias and sparkling lights, and Christmas music blares out of every doorway and…
If you think you’ll experience peace and relaxation when you visit or move to Mexico, keep dreaming. Mexicans are party animals. If there is something to celebrate, there will be music, dancing, singing, fireworks and most especially, the loud booms of cohetes and palomas. Cohetes and Palomas 24/7 Today, December 12, is the religious holiday…