Culture

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How to NOT look like a Newbie in Mexico

If you are a new resident of Mexico, I am sure you are trying hard to learn the social norms of your new community. You want people to find you agreeable and to want to engage with you. The more you focus on learning these norms, the easier your transition will be – and in my opinion – the richer your life will be. So, here are my suggestions to get you started! Always greet people when passing them on...

Where’s the Adventure?

A friend of mine from the México Today bloggers group I was a part of a decade ago made me think when I read his Facebook post below. (thanks, David!) ” The internet/social media has taken Discovery out of travel.  #dumbquestions “ This is a bit of a hot button issue for me, as the questions asked on forums and Facebook location pages show a remarkable lack of adventure from those traveling or living away from their home country. Do...

El Dia de Los Muertos – 2021

The Day of the Dead is one of my favorite holidays in México. No matter where you happen to be, the key is to head to the main plaza at dark to see what is going on. Usually there will be lots of altars, generally for local business, church, and government people who have died in the past year. If you walk around the neighborhood, many families will have altars to their loved ones either in a doorway, garage, or...

La Frontera with Pati Jinich

Many of us don’t know much about the border area between México and Texas. I’ve driven over the border a few times, but never through Texas, and I’ve always been curious what it’s like. We have always enjoyed Pati Jinich’s cooking shows where she explores her native México – both the cuisine and the people. We just finished watching a two part special about the México-Texas border called La Frontera and I highly recommend it. There were so many surprises...

Thoroughly Modern Us

A friend here in México posted on Facebook that she was excited to receive a book – a hard copy – of Francisco Goldman’s new book Monkey Boy. I’ve read his books before and have been planning on reading this one, too. But that’s not why I bring it up. It’s that she bought a book – a hardback book – and made a bit of an anti- ebook comment. I do miss books once in a while but I...

Plumeria blossom

Strange Times

These are strange times we’re living in, and not just because of the pandemic. Never could I have imagined living in a time where so many people behave in a way that is contrary to their own best interests. For example, many people in the US are refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19. It just makes no sense to me (or the rest of the world) – but then I guess that’s the point I’m making. People also refuse to...

What I Have Learned from Living in Mexico

We have lived in Mexico for thirteen and a half years. I have learned a lot living here, and these lessons have made me a better person. Here are a few of the things I’ve noticed. I am more patient. You get a lot of chances to practice patience living here. When driving, you’ll often wait behind someone unloading furniture – or grandma – or stopping to say hello to a friend. The thumb and first finger motion means “un...

What In The World Is Happening?

Most people I know are good people. Or at least I have always thought they were. These days, I’m not sure what to think. I can’t believe the wholesale refusal by many to live in a world of facts and truth. It truly feels like we are in the End Times, to describe it in words from post-apocalyptic fiction. The entire world watched with horror as the US Capitol was overtaken by a mob called into action by the previous...

The Sounds of Mexico

Life in Mexico is never quiet. Punctuating our day are the various trucks that announce themselves to be nearby, just in case you need their service. The first sounds most people are aware of are the various gas trucks. Below are recordings of Zeta Gas and Gas Milenium. They are carrying the four foot tall cylinders to exchange full for empty. The knife sharpener walks through the neighborhood every week or so blowing his whistle. It’s the same whistle throughout...

What I Like About Living Lakeside

Every day I read the news and think about how lucky I am to live here. Today, I will tell you a few of the reasons why. Life is so much simpler. I walk to most places to do my shopping. Within a couple of blocks of us are the Monday Market, the Friday fruit and veggie tianguis, and a Saturday organic market at the vegan restaurant. Also within a few blocks are a healthy supplements store and a mostly...

New Year – New House – More Fun

We are settled in our new house and have been having a good time making it comfortable. We like the way the house works for us, lots of space but not too much, a good sized garden but again not too big. The dogs seem to love it too – we have a magnetic screen door on the back so they can come and go as they please. The picture at the top is our new orchid-ish plant tillandsia fasciculata....

Getting Settled in Our New Home

We are so happy to be settled in our new home! This was our third move in two years, hopefully it is our last for a very long time. Our new home is in the little town of San Antonio Tlayacapan. San Antonio (or SAT as it’s sometimes written) is on the shore of Lake Chapala in between the towns of Ajijic and Chapala. We love San Antonio for a lot of reasons – but mostly because of its friendly,...

Paul Theroux on México

Here is my gift to you – if you have not read On The Plain of Snakes – A Mexican Journey by Paul Theroux, buy it or download it or put a hold on it at your library, now. You can thank me later. Just don’t miss this book. I have read (and loved) most of Theroux’s books but this one is really special. His perspective as an elder and his serious curiosity and need to understand Mexico and Mexicans...

The Met – Opera in HD comes to Lakeside

Yesterday was the first of many wonderful afternoons of opera here at Lake Chapala. With thanks to the Opera Guild of Chapala probably around 200 – 250 locals (my guess) were able to watch the HD live performance of Puccini’s Turandot simultaneously with many thousands of people around the world. Bringing the Metropolitan Opera of New York HD simulcast to Lakeside was no small feat, I’m sure. There are substantial costs involved and it couldn’t have been done without the...

A Few Movies to Inspire You

I’ve been knitting a lot lately and have been enjoying some wonderful video while I knit. I thought I’d share some of the best. These are all available on Netflix here in México – hopefully you can find them wherever you are. This first one is the full documentary, 53 minutes titled Living on One Dollar. In it four friends and their video camera head to rural Guatemala to do just that. It was a very moving and thought provoking...