When I came back from my tour to the indigenous village of San Juan Chamula just 20 minutes outside of San Cristobal, my teeth were buzzing with excitement as I blurted out to Don all I had seen that day. He said, “You had better write all this down before you forget it,” and he was right. Continue reading
(pronounced or-KEE-DEE-us MOSH-va-keel ) Or “OM” for short…ooommmmm….as it certainly feels like a sacred paradise!
I was slowly but surely working on reversing a bad ending to my vacation with Don after my meltdown over having to cut our time at the beach short. I had made my apologies, however, still “chasing my space,” I was not yet ready to join him where he was staying at his dear friend Cisco’s B&B. But after having heard such wonderful stories of such an interesting character, I was eager to meet the infamous Cisco, at long last. Where better to make my introduction than in the midst of his passion, Orquideas Moxviquil? Continue reading
Is it possible to find sunshine and warmth on a cold, rainy day in San Cristobal de las Casas?
Yes, by walking through Bela’s front door!
After having a serious “disagreement” with my brother Don over whether or not to evacuate the then “Tropical Storm Carlotta,” I arrived in San Cristobal all alone on a very gray day. Continue reading
Imagine, if you will, lying on the most idyllic, secluded beach. Crescent in a shape reminiscent of the thumbnail of a new moon. Flanked on both sides by lush, verdant green cliffs.
Beach bed swing at Bahia de la Luna
You have an exclusive on the beach “swing bed,” a full size mattress covered in crisp clean white sheets and surrounded on all four sides by billowy white sheer curtains fluttering in the salty sea air. Continue reading
Just a few miles outside of the city of Oaxaca are two archaeological sites recommended as “don’t miss” side trips: Both reported to be fine examples of pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican architecture, the ruins of the Zapotec city of Monte Alban and Mitla can all be seen in one full day. However, since we were on a “whirlwind tour,” trying to make as much fit into my corporate-structured-two-week-time-off-for-good-behavior as possible, I didn’t have a full day to spare. I had to make a choice between one or the other. It was a tough decision, but I went with Monte Alban. Continue reading
I absolutely fell in love with Oaxaca ( pronounced “wuh-HAH’-kuh” for those not familiar,) though I feel like I say that about every Mexican city that I visit. I found it so warm and welcoming, with the nicest people and such a festive atmosphere in the evenings. Continue reading
Adios on the first class ADO!
We had decided to leave on the first available bus early Saturday morning in order to maximize my two weeks of vacation. The taxi would pick us up at 6:15am for the 7:00am bus bound for Oaxaca. Continue reading
Don makes good use of the professional style grillMy favorite, roast peppers from the grill
When one is house sitting, there’s a fine line in knowing how to behave like guests versus “making oneself at home.” Is it still acceptable protocol to treat the house as your own, as long as you do so respectfully? Continue reading
I always figure a good way to judge the historical beauty and cultural richness of a destination is to check the UNESCO World Heritage Listing. At 31 sites, Mexico has more than most, but for good reason.
Whenever I tell my friends I am vacationing in Mexico, I usually get comments like “Which coast?” or “Just throw in a swimsuit, some sunscreen, and a pair of flip flops, and that’s all you need, right?” It is such a pity that as Mexico’s closest neighbor, US citizens probably have the least amount of knowledge of all that the country has to offer. Thankfully, UNESCO has not taken the same “sun-centric” view.
UNESCO World Heritage Marker, Morelia, MX
Before they left for Italy, the owners of the house where we are staying threw a little dinner party to introduce us to some of their closest friends so we would have contacts while they were away. Over dinner, there was talk of “the ranch,” and how we simply must go for a visit. I am thinking, “Okay, well after growing up on a farm, you’ve seen one ranch, you’ve seen ‘em all,” Continue reading