Why We Love Mexico City and Visit Again and Again
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 peaceful silence in Parque Chapultepec, visit a castle, dine at world famous restaurants, visit art and history museums and pump up the adrenaline at one of the many theme parks. From ancient Aztec ruins to being named the World Design Capital in 2018, Mexico City is the perfect big city getaway. There aren’t many cities…
Can I Drink the Water in Mexico? -And Other Cultural Expectations
Living in Mexico gives us a very different perspective than when we were on vacation. Common questions that were once in our heads have been answered and incorporated into our daily lives. When people come to visit, we are a little surprised by some of the questions about Mexico like ” Can I drink the water?” and “Is the ice safe for my drink?” Why would we choose to stay here if there were questionable health risks? But we understand. We all wonder what the water is like and how people greet each other in places that are foreign to us. We want you to feel comfortable while visiting, so…
San Miguel Restaurants with a View
San Miguel de Allende may be known as an artist community and expat haven, but the town is also known for it’s incredible restaurants. Mexican cuisine reigns in this colorful town with regional specialties from the Yucatan and Oaxaca. But for those with more finicky palates, or for locals who just want something different, international cuisine from pizza to sushi can be found on every almost street. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links which means we will receive a small commission when you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. One glance at tripadvisor.com for San Miguel de Allende restaurants, and you’ll see that there’s…
Amealco, a Pueblo Magico of Waterfalls and Maria Dolls
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 Queretaro and the State of Mexico. It’s an hour south of Queretaro and just over 2 hours from Mexico City off of Highway 57. Evidence of prehistoric settlements and mammoth bones have been found in this region. Today it’s a peaceful town surrounded by corn fields and sheep farms. You’ll find more barbacoa restaurants in…
Discover Art, History and Culture at the Museums of Queretaro
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 culture of this vibrant city. We’ve put together a list of the best Queretaro museums for you to visit. Many works from the Barroque period are displayed in the cloister rooms of a former convent in the Museo de Arte Sacro. The Regional Museum of Queretaro and the Conpiracy Museum highlight the history of Queretaro.…
Where to Swim With Whale Sharks
I’m on a boat bobbing up in down in the blue expanse of the Caribbean Sea. A sucking sound off the starboard side, like water draining in a bathtub catches my attention. The speckled blob of a whale shark moves past the boat slowly, mouth open wide. Another one approaches, and I swing my legs over the side and jump in. Moving clumsily through the water, the beast to my right glides smoothly past, ignoring my feeble efforts to keep up. As it moves off into the deep blue, another approaches, and I turn to admire the star-like pattern down the length of its body. Luckily, these creatures have no…
How to Make Masa at High Altitude
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 heirloom corn varieties Cal y Maiz works with are grown in the small state of Tlaxcala east of Mexico City. There are a variety of colors; white, yellow, pink, blue, black and red. Below is a recipe for making masa in Mexico City. Altitude affects cooking times. The higher the altitude, the longer the cooking…
9 Mexican Wine Brands You Should Recognize and Try on a Wine List
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 mean their wine quality isn’t superb. French, Italian and Spanish varietals grow well here in the semi-arid terrain. Mexico has the perfect combination of hot days and cool nights in 3 distinct wine regions in Mexico: The North region encompasses Baja and Sonora. La Laguna covers Chihuahua, Coahuila and Durango. The states of Queretaro, Guanajuato,…
Restaurants in Centro Queretaro – Where to Eat for Every Budget
One of the biggest unknowns of traveling, is where are you going to eat? You can search through Tripadvisor and other review websites, but are those places marked 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 plazas are transformed into markets or music event venues. Because Queretaro’s Centro is so walkable, we’ve put together a list of restaurants for you to stay close to all the action. Whether you just arrived, want to celebrate a special night or looking for a particular atmosphere, we have…
Los Sapos and Street Markets in Puebla
Puebla is a shopper’s paradise, and at the heart is Barrio de Los Sapos. From antique shops to street markets, fine dining to street food, Los Sapos is the perfect base location to discover treasures from all eras. While everyone has different tastes and prefers different things, we created this overview of Los Sapos and the street markets in Puebla, plus suggestions on where to stay and eat, to make your shopping experience easier. Why is it called Alley of the Toads? Back in the 19th century, Barrio de Los Sapos was a low-lying neighborhood and when it rained, it flooded. The floods attracted croaking toads, and so the Barrio…
