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…
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 are…
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…
We don’t regret moving to a new country, but living abroad isn’t all rainbows and butterflies every day. In the beginning, we struggled with the language, setting up internet and cable, getting lost countless times with Google Maps, and experiencing a car accident three days after buying a car. Most of the stories you hear…
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…
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…
**This post has been updated with known 2023 requirements from the Mexican government, but still retains our 4 year experience getting both the temporary and permanent visa.** For our first four years, I shared our experiences of getting the temporary visa. In december 2021, we qualified for the permanent visa and are ecstatic that we…
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…
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…
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…