There is a beautiful, tree-lined boulevard in Merida, Yucatan called Paseo de Montejo. It provides four lanes for traffic separated by a wide median planted with shrubs and flowers. The sidewalks are wide enough for two further lanes of traffic each way and are interspersed with statuary, benches, conversation chairs and trees. Notwithstanding its charm, […]
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Alongside the railroad tracks at Divisidero, two Tarahumara Indian ladies silently weave pine needle baskets. Pine scent permeates the air. The tracks begin to vibrate. Soon the Chihuahua-Pacifica train screeches to a halt. For 15 minutes, tourists rush past the Indians and the maze of souvenir and burrito stalls to catch a glimpse of interlocking […]
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Arroyo Guacamaya is one of the closest ecotourism sites to the City of Oaxaca, accessible by private vehicle in about an hour, or via public transportation. La Guacamaya has most if not all of the features and attractions of the more distant ecotourism locales in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, including mountain biking, nature trails […]
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In rural Canada, I live close to the land and to a farming lifestyle that was once traditional. Therefore, when I’m in Mexico the countryside draws me to its peoples and traditions. It seemed natural to me to seek more information about the charro (cowboy), heir to Mexico’s charrería or equestrian tradition. The search led me to people on […]
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The proverbial bat in the belfry, a boy trapped in a bathroom, and a witching hour wander deep into the heart of a century old tunnel provided the eerie highlights of my recent overnighter at Mina Dos Estrellas, not far from Tlalpujahua in northeastern Michoacan (see map). Yet one resident phantom, reputed to be a […]
Continue ReadingAll too many Mexican hospitals have complained that they have treated foreigners who later skipped on paying their bills.If you run into legal trouble in Mexico, the U.S. and Canadian consulates may be able to provide limited assistance. Remember that the consulates have no legal jurisdiction in Mexico. Their main purpose is to provide you […]
Continue ReadingMany Mexican hospitals have worked to affiliate themselves with top U.S. and Canadian medical centers and have earned stringent international accreditations. Mexico has long been the number-one destination for North Americans and Canadians retiring abroad. A hospitable country, Mexico has some of the most beautiful weather and coastlines in the Americas. It is an easy […]
Continue ReadingMexico’s prime cruising season is between November and June (once the hurricanes have stopped) and these are the favored times for sailing in Baja as well. Sailors do, however, warn of periodic strong winds from the north, northwest and east on Baja’s Pacific Coast. Some note that the Sea of Cortés can be dangerous from […]
Continue ReadingIf you travel, knowing what symptoms to watch for may be helpful. If you are a patient with heart disease, you should still be able to enjoy travel. Knowing your limits and what to do when symptoms present can be lifesaving. If you have known athlerosclerosis (clogging of the arteries of the heart with cholesterol […]
Continue ReadingIn recent years, thousands of North Americans have traveled to Mexico to purchase pharmaceuticals at a fraction of U.S. costs. While there are obvious benefits to this practice, there are and always will be questions about the authenticity of the medications. With the exception of controlled substances such as narcotics, stimulants, sleeping pills, and barbiturates, […]
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