Wouldn’t You Love to Ride a Train to the Beach … or Mayan Pyramids?
Many Americans and Canadians love riding trains. While the use of practical trains for commuting is returning, far more interesting are the tour trains that run through picturesque locations with beautiful scenery and stopping at interesting little towns. Why We Love Trains So Much For myself, I remember riding a train through the countryside back...
NAR Mid-year Meetings, Washington, D.C.
As usual the midyear meeting of the National Association of Realtors ® (NAR) had a truly international flavor. The Global Networking Reception presented an opportunity for REALTORS® from around the Globe to renew acquaintances with old friends and make new ones. Dr. Lawrence Yun NAR’s Chief Encomiast shared the podium with La Vaughn Henry from...
Retirement Trends in Mexico
http://www.topmexicorealestate.com/
I was recently perusing some survey results which had been posted online (here and here.) The surveys are fairly outdated (2006) but I think they still shed some light on trends that we can see among U.S. retirees coming to Mexico. These are some of the interesting numbers I pulled out: Activities Top activities which...
Museo Dolores Olmedo
Tranquillity in the Big City
You can travel thirty-two kilometers from the zocalo (town square) to the quaint canals of Xochimilco and still be in Mexico City. Just short of this is a retreat, the sixteenth century monastery/hacienda/Museo Dolores Olmedo, home to the largest private collection of original Diego Rivera paintings, Frida Kahlo works and the largest private collection of...
Uruapan, Michoacan – a city of Festivals
All year long there are festivals occurring in Uruapan. The two most noteworthy and that fill the hotels are; Noche de Muertos (Night of the Dead) and Semana Santa (Holy Week) The first is November 1 and the second is Holy Week. Michoacan is the center of the part pagan, part Christian celebration of Noche...
Mexico’s Fighting IRISH
“From the great gales of Ireland / Are the men that God made mad / For all their wars are merry / And all their songs are sad.” – G.K. Chesterton For the United States Army they were more hated than the vilest enemy soldier — traitors, deserters, defectors. They are best forgotten. For Mexicans...
Trip Report – Ixtapa, Mexico – Feb 27 – Mar 13, 2013
Last year we opted for a spontaneous trip to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo to attend the International Guitar Festival. We loved it so much, we decided we needed to return this year. We booked a condo through VRBO (Home Away) and our airfare through Westjet, using our trusted travel agent. The value of a good travel agent can’t...
Exchanging Money in Mexico
If you’re coming down for a few weeks or even for the entire “high season,” you can convert your funds in three ways. First, you could bring U.S. (or Canadian) cash and trade it in for Mexican pesos at either a bank or a casa de cambio (a money-changing station). Second, you could arrive with...
The Taste of Mexico – Chocolate
THE DIVINE DECADENCE Cocoa is a complex blend of over a hundred flavor components. Among the great pleasures of Pre- Hispanic Mexico, nothing could compare to a jicara ( a mug made from a hollowed dried fruit or guaje) of frothy hot chocolate, which for the Aztecs was the symbol of hospitality and wealth. Cocoa...
Ritmos de Brasil, Brazilian guitar teachers leave smiles and 100 new guitarists in Zihuatanejo
Photos by Margaret Reid and Olga Grishkova Ritmos de Brasil, workshop and concert series was held January 20-30 and was part of the 10 year anniversary of the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival. The event was sponsored in large part by the Brazilian government. Our special invited guest, Arnaldo Freire from Goiânia,...
Mexico in Real Estate Spotlight for 2013
International Real Estate Spotlight Shines on Mexico The National Association of Realtors® has announced a new program to Spotlight A level affiliated, premium countries. During the first year (2013) the Spotlight will be on Mexico. Australia will be in the Spotlight in 2014 and Canada in 2015. What does it mean? Below are just a...
Ritmos de Brazil, Workshop & Concert Series – Jan 21 – 30, 2013
The Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival is proud to announce that they have invited renowned classical guitarist and teacher, Arnaldo Freire, along with a select group of musicians and teachers from Gaoiania, Goias, Brazil, to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo from January 21 – 30, 2013 to offer a series of workshops and concerts. Children´s Guitar Workshop Monday, January 21...