OUR LIVES SO FAR

Our Four Hour Oaxaca Photography Tour

October 18, 2022

What better way to practice my photography and work with my new camera than to hire a photographer for a few hours in a new city? (March 2022)

Oaxaca City is a magnet for photographers and workshops, and I scoured the Internet for one that might take place during our time there. I came up with nothing.

Workshops were on the wrong dates (so many around Dia de Los Muertos), the wrong price (wow, can those be out of our budget), or the wrong itinerary.

I just wanted to have a photography coach and guide. Someone who knew the city’s best spots and could help me with the workings of my Canon Rebel t8i. Continue Reading…

San Miguel de Allende

One Hell Of A Party

July 16, 2022

We just pulled off a Big Bash, a Grand Fiesta, a Shindig, a Hoopla!!

And it was better than we ever thought it could be.

Sure, it was my 64th birthday, and we were celebrating our Permanent Residency for Mexico (received in April) and our 5th wedding anniversary, and Glenn’s 61st birthday (both in May) – those were definitely reasons to celebrate and kick up our heels.

But, it was the friends who joined us that really made the evening what it was. Without them, Glenn and I would not have had the event that really solidified our coming of age in Mexico. Continue Reading…

Musings, San Miguel de Allende

Inking For Change

June 9, 2022

Yesterday I did something brave.

At least it was for me.

I walked into a tattoo studio and got inked. Continue Reading…

Musings

Why My Camera Is Better Than A Dog

June 6, 2022

I, Ria, have a camera with no name. I could have a dog named Sam, but that would mean responsibility and I am launching myself into freedom and curiosity and a dog is too much baggage to bring along.

San Miguel is a town of dogs and cameras. They are everywhere. Some people accumulate both, others settle for one or the other. Both bring attention to their owners.

If you have a dog, especially a cute one, one with personality and a wagging tail – people stop. They coo and want to cuddle, have it lick their outstretched hand. Ask its name, find out its story. It is a conversation starter. A friend maker. Continue Reading…

Chiapas

A Cafe in San Cristobal de las Casas

April 21, 2022

We can sum up our visit to San Cristobal de las Casa with a cafe. Frontera Artisan Food and Coffee Cafe reminded us of Kathmandu; the Kathmandu Guest House, to be exact.

It had that traveler vibe – this time complete with Macs and iPhones. Gone are the days of Post Restantes. Not so paperbacks and cocktails, which were richly scattered about. When people weren’t working on computers, they were TALKING between themselves, in groups, about politics and philosophy. Of music and artists and books and Mexico and beyond. Commonalities and differences. Opinions, stories, and jokes. You could, and we did, sit there all day. Continue Reading…

Quintana Roo

Bacalar is a Gastronomic Wow

April 12, 2022

Bacalar was a surprise!! A fabulous feast!

We gave ourselves a week this time to explore the town on the colorful lake of the same name. It was an increase from our first time there, two years ago, when we made a Christmas hop from Merida for a few days.

And, now we put the week into a top 20 list of places visited since we moved to Mexico in 2018.

The town has swirls and blocks of color – murals abound, hotels can be bright – and your eyes stay occupied. Continue Reading…

Oaxaca

We Played Swiss Family Robinson

March 14, 2022

When we saw the listing on Airbnb, we knew we would be in for a treat!

Just how much of one really surprised us.

We had our Airbnb host send a driver to take us from San Agustinillo to Puerto Angel – a small traditional fishing village with one good beachfront restaurant, an OXXO, a few great fruit and veggie stands, a nice little town beach, another one nearby, and not much more. Continue Reading…

Oaxaca

It’s All in the Family

March 12, 2022

The threesome.

Mazunte, San Agustinillo, and Zipolite.

There they are, on a strip. If you visit one, chances are you will visit the others. You might enjoy all of them, but you will also probably have a favorite.

Each member of the family has a distinct personality. Continue Reading…

Oaxaca

Dirt Floors and Ginger

February 26, 2022

I disliked Cozumel with a passion, and my shoulders rose an inch. Warning bells bounced around my brain.

I knew this was going to be a place that drained my soul from me as I skirted around obnoxious touts selling ridiculously priced tours – 14 people on a small boat – COVID restrictions relaxed, breeding grounds, small talk, and lots of beer.

We stepped foot on the island, and horror descended on me.

Cruise ships were throwing up their passengers in Hawaiian print shirts with bellies that overflowed their pant tops as they headed to Hooters or Señor Frog’s, and The Hard Rock Cafe for watered-down margaritas and chips gouging out from the fake guacamole bowl. Continue Reading…

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