Mexico City is one of the most dynamic cities in the world with its collection of neighborhoods, world class cuisine and an endless list of attractions for the young and old. As a major airline hub for the Americas, its easy and affordable to fly in for a long weekend or extended vacation. Stroll in…
One of the most asked questions to any expat is “What’s the cost of living?” Mexico is a big country, and the cost of living can vary. Housing in cities with international airports are going to cost more than smaller towns an hour or so away. Meats and produce tend to be cheaper in Mexicothan…
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…
Wine lovers love to share their passion of wine with us. It could be a bottle of Rioja Gran Reserva from Spain or an Italian Barolo from their summer road trip through Piedmont. Wine lovers are picky and while they will smile and be happy with any gift, you want to get them something more…
Tequisquiapan is the perfect escape from city life. Surrounded by dairy farms and vineyards, Tequisquiapan is an oasis for relaxation with its spas, boutique hotels and countryside activities. Spend the morning hot-air ballooning over the agricultural fields, soak in the special mineral waters at numerous spas in the afternoon, shop at the Mercado de Artisanas…
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…
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…
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…
Buyer beware, you get what you pay for… During my thirty-five years in the wine business, I often came across instances where you didn’t get what you pay for. Fifteen-dollar wines were often just as good as twenty-five-dollar wines. Sometimes fifty-dollar wines were better than one hundred- and fifty-dollar wines. But there is one area…
It’s bound to happen. With parking lots being few and far between in Centro and the one-way roads stressing you out, a little space may seem like a gift from heaven, but later comes with a price tag. Here’s a short explanation on what to do if you get a ticket in Centro in Queretaro,…
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 with cash and on credit. It’s funny…
It’s hard to believe we’ve been living in Mexico for four years. It really doesn’t seem that long. Time moves at a different pace when your life isn’t consumed by work and a commute. That’s not to say it’s a vacation every day. Sometimes it’s far from it. But we will say that the good…