Your Handy Guide to Holiday Shopping in Huatulco
So here you are in Huatulco, and it’s hot and sunny, and it’s hard to pick out the poinsettias from the bugambilias and flamboyants. Only a few Christmas carols are making it through the mariachi Muzak at the supermarket. But . . . you’re shortly due back in the land of holiday celebrations. Is it […]
Archeological Sites of Mexico
By Jan Chaiken and Marcia Chaiken When we first started to explore the major archeological sites of Mexico such as Uxmal, Tulum, Chichen Itza and Palenque, each visit was an adventurous trip to an out-of-the-way destination. Few people were willing to chance the rough roads and limited places to stay. So the ruins were pretty […]
Tiritas – Mexican Fish Strips
My discovery of tiritas happened a while ago, when my Mexican partner said on a Sunday morning, “I want to take you to eat tiritas today.” I had never heard the word and didn’t know what they were. “They’re fish stripes.” Yes, he said “stripes.” “You know, fish that is cut like […]
Top 5 Historical Excursions in Mexico
1. Monte Alban Monte Alban was once the ancient capital of the Zapotec people. Overlooking the Valley of Oaxaca, Monte Alban is one of the top archeological sites in Mexico. There are spectacular views over the valley! 2. National Museum of Anthropology The Museo Nacional de Antropología is both the largest and most visited […]
Casting Your Deep Sea Fishing Line Above a Volcano
Word has it that the folks who fish the waters off Puerto Ángel really know how to find fish—tuna, red snapper, bonito, saltfish, and shark, along with lobsters, octopus, and conch. The fishermen go offshore, out to open ocean, over a shallow area with a well developed, multi-layered coral reef. Hmm. How did a […]
The Rich History of Mezcal In Mexico
Perhaps the story of distillation and mezcal in Mexico begins with the arrival of the Spanish during The Conquest in the first quarter of the 1500s. Or with Filipino seamen in the Manila galleon trade who reached the country’s western shores that same century. Or with Olmec or other indigenous cultures some 2,500 years […]
Bioluminescent Bucket List
I didn’t see a firefly until I was 31 years old. Of course, like any child who had seen them in the movies or depicted in animation, I was captivated by the idea. A bug that lights up! Magic! And, even at 31, my childlike wonder was ignited when I peered into a dense […]
24 Hours in Oaxaca City
The Oaxaca City is rich in museums designed with architectural brilliance, craft shops featuring the best that state artisans have to offer, colorful marketplaces, colonial churches, arguably the finest cuisine in all Mexico, and world renowned archaeological sites only minutes away. Yet some travelers only want to visit for a couple of days within the […]
Traveling with Children in Mexico
Many view Traveling with Children in Mexico like running out of gas at a busy intersection. Frustrating, irritating, embarrassing, and you have no one to blame but yourself. Why bother, they say, believing that travel with children is a prolonged duration of tears, bathroom breaks and meltdowns. Travel with children they contend, will never be […]
Traditional Mexican Sweet Dessert – Tres Leches Bread Pudding
One of the best things about being on vacation is hitting the “pause” button on your diet and indulging in the delectable desserts that the local area has to offer. Who doesn’t love the delectable, sweet treats from a different region, culture and kitchen? You’ve probably heard the expression, “It always tastes better when someone […]
