Letting go in Mexico: Young teens on their own Wendy Devlin

Josh, fourteen, and Rose, twelve, were keen to discover Mexico in their own way in San Patricio/ Melaque. As they were six and eight when last they frolicked in the waves, they now felt mature and open... read more

Paricutin, the volcano in Michoacan Luis Dumois

On February 20th, 1943, after a couple of weeks of ominous earth tremors and strange underground sounds, the Paricutín volcano in Michoacán, erupted among prayers and rogations, fire displays and int... read more

exploring-tourism Michoacán

The fake ID that brought me to Mexico Karen Blue

This is the second in a series of excerpts from a book I'm writing that consists of interviews with women who have come to Mexico alone. Join me and Virginia as we sit at the kitchen table of her two b... read more

perspectives Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

In the parish church of San Andres Dale Hoyt Palfrey

The graceful 18th century Parroquia de San Andrés, is not only Ajijic's chief landmark, but also the hub around which village life revolves. It is the focal point for those important milestones that b... read more

culture-customs lifestyles Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

Cockfighting in Mexico: Chicken soup for the soul jennifer j. rose

The Sunday Mexican fiesta at Guadalajara's Camino Real promised cockfighting. I should have expected the "cockfight" would amount to a quick display of two cheerfully bored roosters who could have... read more

culture-customs Guadalajara, Jalisco

Guadalajara and the Iztepete archeological site Tony Burton

Very few visitors to Guadalajara and, indeed, only a minority of Tapatios (Guadalajara residents), realize that several ancient pyramids, built more than a thousand years ago, still stand in silent pri... read more

archeological-sites exploring-tourism museums Guadalajara, Jalisco

San Patricio Melaque revisited Wendy Devlin

Five years ago, I visited the Mexican sea-side resort of San Patricio (Melaque), Jalisco. I arrived with my family and small trailer to join an amiable colony of recreation vehicle campers at the free ... read more

culture-customs perspectives travelogue Melaque, Jalisco

Driving from Guadalajara to Laredo and back Allan Cogan

My wife and I have driven from the Lakeside area to Laredo a few times on what always seemed to us, looking at the map, to be the shortest route, taking Highway 23 to Zacatecas and highway 54 from there to Saltillo, finishing the trip on Highway 85 via Monterrey. Starting early in the morning, it was easy to make Saltillo by early afternoon. Laredo was an easy hop the next morning. However, a couple of experiences on that route made us reconsider. read more

driving-routes hotels travelogue Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Guadalajara, Jalisco

People I saw passing by Luis Dumois

The streetlamp on any street, in any city, sees so many people passing by... Alberto Cortez I live now in this junkyard. It is not such a bad life. The open sky, the s... read more

lifestyles perspectives Guadalajara, Jalisco

Food and frolic in and around Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico Karen Blue

It's been my pleasure over the past year to meet many new friends through this column. They've stopped by for a day, stayed for weeks or months. They've rented homes, stayed in hotels and B&Bs. T... read more

exploring-tourism Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco Central Highlands

Lake Chapala: attractions for all Tony Burton

The earliest human inhabitants of the Lake Chapala area were probably nomadic tribes of Indians who had settled on the shores and islands of the lake, catching fish, extracting salt, and trying to herd... read more

exploring-tourism Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

Murals come to life in the Florence of Mexico: Guadalajara Tony Burton

In Guadalajara with a short time to spare after a business meeting or a long wait between flight? Even an hour or two will suffice to see something of the artistic heritage that Mexico's second city, G... read more

art exploring-tourism Guadalajara, Jalisco

Friday nights in Guadalajara Camille Collins

I had had a bad day. I had gone back to work after being sick for three days with the flu. People who were supposed to pay didn't. My appointment this morning didn't work out as well as I could have ho... read more

exploring-tourism lifestyles perspectives Guadalajara, Jalisco

Mazamitla: its scenery, kitchens and customs Tony Burton

One of the prettiest towns in the state of Jalisco is Mazamitla, set high in the pineclad mountains near the Michoacan border. Among its many attractions are some fine restaurants specialising in Mexic... read more

exploring-tourism Mazamitla, Jalisco

Driving - Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta? Discussion Thread Forum

I'm driving fro Guadalajara to PV and back. I would appreciate comments on routes and places to visit and things to see. Via Manzanillo ? Via Tepic, San Blas ? Hola!!!

Mexcaltitan, Nayarit: an island city in the swamp Sophie Annan Jensen

The mangrove swamps of Mexico’s Pacific Coast shelter a seldom-visited jewel of a day-trip destination. Legend has it that the man-made island city of Mexcaltitan, was Aztlan, the ancient home of th... read more

exploring-tourism Nayarit Nayarit Riviera

Candelaria's Cookbook Reviewed by Sophie Annan Jensen

Candelaria is back, with her special logic, folk wisdom and Mexican home-style recipes in the bilingual ‘Las Recetas de Candelaria,’ or ‘Candelaria’s Cookbook.’ Readers of Dane Chandos�... read more

book-reviews Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

Impressions of Mexico: interview with a couple from Calgary Karen Blue

This month, I'm interviewing a couple from Alberta, Canada who've come for a six-week vacation. This is the end of their third week. I actually met Julia and Marc over the Internet as a result of this ... read more

exploring-tourism Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

What's the down side of living in Mexico? Karen Blue

My editor asked me to share with you some of the down sides of living in Mexico. He said, "no one will believe it's all wonderful." He's right of course, but for me, the good far outweighs the bad -- u... read more

lifestyles Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

The geology and geography of Lake Chapala and western Mexico Jack Leyden

The following is a story concerning an ancient lake that covered a large area of the State of Jalisco and spread into Michoacan and Aguascalientes. This map is a visual portrayal of the lake superimpos... read more

geography geology Jalisco Michoacán Aguascalientes

Monarch butterflies in Mexico Tony Burton

Early in 1980, exploring various off the beaten track areas of Mexico looking for potential geography fieldwork sites, one fateful Saturday morning found me standing in the main plaza of the small Mich... read more

exploring-tourism fauna Michoacán

Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico: drinking, dining and dancing Karen Blue

The most often asked questions by visitors when they get here is "Can I drink the water?" followed closely by, "Is this okay to eat?" Okay, I admit I asked those same questions when I first got down h... read more

lifestyles retiring Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

Day of the Dead: things to do around Guadalajara Dale Hoyt Palfrey

In response to all the positive feedback on my Day of the Dead article, here are a few related activities you might pursue in the Guadalajara - Lake Chapala area during late October - early November. I... read more

day-of-the-dead exploring-tourism Guadalajara, Jalisco Jalisco

Celebrating the Days of the Dead: The Heart Speaks Clearly in Michoacán Cat Gonzales

The Days of the Dead, celebrated throughout Mexico, coincide with the Christian All Souls and All Saints days, November 1 and 2nd. People who have died in the past year are remembered, their pictures p... read more

culture-customs day-of-the-dead Michoacán

Mexico: a typical day in paradise Karen Blue

One of my readers asked me to describe a typical day here in the Lake Chapala area of Mexico. Others have asked, "What do you do all day?" So, I am inviting you to spend this day with me in the charmin... read more

lifestyles perspectives retiring Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco