Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a favorite holiday of the Mexican people. While death is a somber experience in many parts of the world, the Mexicans have created a 3-day celebration filled with music, laughter, and of course, food. If you are planning a trip to Mexico in the future,…
Halloween in Mexico has many similiarities to the Anglo version. Since this is our first Mexican Halloween we wanted to make sure we were honoring the tradition correctly. We asked our neighbors and they confirmed that kids dress up and go around door to door asking for candy. They don’t say “trick or treat”, but…
Our boxes have arrived! All 63 of them… Yes, we packed WAY too much. The kitchen stuff alone was 42 boxes. No, we didn’t bring our own stove and refrigerator, but Tom is a self-made chef, so he has plenty of “toys.” We shipped a cryovac machine, 22 cutting boards (I don’t know why we…
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…
Getting mail in Mexico is one of the great mysteries of living here. Before moving to Mexico, we had heard that mail delivery was slow, even non-existent. If we want to receive mail from the United States, it may arrive a few weeks or months later, or maybe not at all. And the same if…
We did quite a bit of research before selecting the greater Queretaro area to relocate to. One thing we did not look into was what are the local food specialties? Call it dumb luck but we were fortunate enough to stumble onto some fairly remarkable local delicacies, most notably carnitas and barbacoa. Carnitas Santa Rosa…
Did you know that Mexico produces and supplies 45% of the world’s avocados? And did you know that Mexico grows 14 varieties of mangoes? One of the highlights of traveling around the world is visiting local markets. Now that we live in Queretaro, the Mercado La Cruz isn’t a tourist attraction for us. It truly…
Deciding where to stay in San Miguel de Allende can be a tough decision. Location isn’t much of a problem since many choices are within a kilometer of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, the pink church in the heart of San Miguel. Beautiful boutique hotels are on every street, all with their own particular…
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…
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…