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 There are some places so cool, so strange, so wonderful, it’s hard to imagine you didn’t dream them. Mis Amores is one of those places. Everywhere you look there are handmade devils and skeletons and virgins so perfect, so unique, you have to love them. Some people don’t get it, of course, but if you like very oddball, very Mexican handicrafts, you will love Mis Amores. More! Devils and Virgins, Katrinas and Mariachis: A Visit to Mis Amores  Sometimes when you are lucky, you find an incredible place and wonderful friends right near home, as we recently did. If you don’t live in Guadalajara, then come visit. And when you come, stay with Stan and Jose at the Casa de las Flores. More! Casa de las Flores  Omar and I will appear on the History Channel’s new series, “Food Tech,” in an episode about Mexican food! We make our debut sometime in May–stay tuned for the exact airdate. Make sure you see all photos of the shoot below!  Everyone is different, so it is impossible to tell ahead of time how you will get along in Mexico. But after years of observing and speaking with visitors and foreigners who live here, we have come to some conclusions. Take our quiz and see how you do!  We love our movies. New ones, old ones, good ones and bad. Every once in a while we like to comment on one. More! Batman, the Joker, and Journey to the Center of the Earth  You’ve heard about the food crisis in developing nations, and can feel it at home. Here is how we are experiencing it in Mexico. Make sure you read Part II below. More! The Crisis in Mexico  We’ve been lucky that our animals have only needed routine care until now. Although many people mistreat animals in Mexico, there are also many, many people, including knowledgeable veternarians, that are here to help our pets. In this installment, Bruno the Kitten needs emergency surgery.  You will need to check the rules and regulations for your country and the airline you are flying, but this is what we’ve experienced in flying with dogs between Mexico and the United States. It isn’t hard, and folks are helpful, but it takes a little planning ahead and you’ll pay. Note: This post will get an update soon. Of course everything has gone up.  This post is only tangentially about Latin America, but a good story always deserves to be told. Although I would never wear a hairpiece now, years ago it seemed like the thing to do. But did it cause troubles! More! Hairpieces in Mexico  We love vegetarian food, and certainly understand and respect your decision if you eat a vegetarian diet. There are many good vegetarian restaurants in Mexico, but we think that, in general, it is a little tougher to find varied vegetarian food in restaurants here. Of course, cooking for yourself is another matter–our fruits and vegetables are gorgeous!  Being able to swear in Spanish is incredibly useful and fulfilling–but can get you into some pretty mucky water. Everybody knows the words, but you also have to realize the weight each one carries. If you really want to improve your volcabulary we could give an on-line course, but you’d have to present proof of age (and it would be nice if you paid us). For now we’ll keep it (reasonably) clean. More! Swearing in Spanish  When I’m in Mexico, I miss Ma’s cooking. And when I’m in New York, I miss goat. Goat, glorious goat. Everybody asks “What does it taste like?” Well, the first time I tried it I admit I thought “Ewww, this can’t be right,” and wondered if I would be able to finish. But by the second bite I was hooked. It is stronger flavored than beef or pork–gamey, even–but we just love it. Now when they ask what its like, I just smile and say “Heaven….”  Mexico is hard to describe. It is so different from where I grew up, but in some ways it is so the same. Just like in New York, we couldn’t wait for “Sex and the City” to open!  Surprisingly, the rainy season is a great time to visit Guadalajara. It is cooler, and everything is green and lush, and the frequent thunderstorms often only last an hour or so–perfect for a coffee break from your touring around! More! Rainy Season is Here!  Omar and I are concerned about global warming and pollution, and try to eat locally and not be part of the problem. We’ve got a long way to go, but we are giving it our best shot. Trouble is, in a developing country the lack of environmental education, coupled with the very real lack of money, makes old habits die hard.  Last week we headed for the coast, to Guayabitos and Los Ayala. During a breakneck schedule of floating in the sea and eating fresh seafood, we managed to explore the beautiful little town of Sayulita. Omar made shrimp coctails and fantastically fresh aguachile–and shows you how! More! Fresh Mexican Shrimp Cocktails in Guayabitos and Sayulita  In which we eat at an incredible buffet, and visit a miniatures shop in the fancy Zona Rosa. Write us at e365mexico@yahoo.com and tell us what you think!  In which we climb high above Mexico City at the Villa, visit Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in beautiful Coyoacan, eat (all we do is eat!) at an incredible and classy buffet, and explore the Zona Rosa at the Angel de la Independencia and get lost in a shop of miniatures!  In which we go to the market for a great breakfast (with an outstanding waiter!), to an old-fashioned candy store, and to the Villa to the site of the Virgin of Guadalupe’s visitation to San Don Juan Diego. Come visit us and we will show you around!  In which we explore the town and visit the Cathedral, Bellas Artes, la Casa de Azulejos, and Churros y Chocolates. Don’t miss any of the episodes of our Mexico City adventure! Mexico City is a lot like New York. You can see Times Square, Macy’s, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and the Plaza Hotel in a couple of hours, if you keep moving. The same in Mexico.  We LOVE Mexico City. Adore it. It is the capitol, the center for art and culture and history for all Mexico. Television and movies come from there. The antiquing is great. The food is amazing. There are ruins in the subway stations. Did I mention we love it?  OMG. We’ve seen and even met lot’s of stars and famous people here in Guadalajara. But no one rocked us like Liza did!  Part of living in Mexico is in celebrating the milestones in life–births and funerals and weddings and birthdays and baptisms– –all with lots of family and friends in tow.  There are a lot of good restaurants in Mexico, from marketplace holes-in-the-wall to famous eateries in Mexico City. We love going out–especially for breakfast–and trying something new and surprising. More! Chai—A Mexican Café  Have you ever seen those dark grey stone bowls and wonder just where they came from? Just south of our house, is where! Making sauce in a molcajete is an essential part of Mexican cooking.  I have all the respect in the world for folks who are out there making a living. But why do they always approach me with their wares? I must have a hungry, lonely look. No I don’t–I just checked the mirror and I still look like Winnie the Pooh. Go figure.  Don’t throw away your winter coat when you move to Mexico. You won’t need it all the time, but there are days you’ll be glad you have it. Lots of snow just outside of Mexico City right now. More! Snow in Mexico  One of the cultural differences you’ll notice here is that there is less personal space in Mexico. People here are very comfortable with being close together in lines, on buses, and at home. It’s all what you grew up with. Takes some getting used to, though! More! Personal Space in Mexico  You could spend a lifetime learning interesting facts about Mexico. Here is some nickname trivia. More! Nicknames in Mexico  Not make-out kissing–although Mexicans are sure experts at that! I mean the social kissing–that little smooch in the air over your right shoulder. What’s up with that? More! Kissing in Mexico  The Virgin of Guadalupe is mother of Mexico, and I went to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City to celebrate her feast day, December 12. It was like Mexico in New York–just  We run tours in Mexico, but only with neat people who want to do fun and interesting things! Leanne sure fit the bill. If you want to come visit, write us at  Omar and I are devotees of the Virgin of Guadalupe. When everything seems to be going wrong, she sure comes through for us. She keeps an eye on us on the good days,  Before you go to Mexico, talk to us! If you are planning a trip to Mexico, or thinking of moving here, or even if you are an armchair traveler, talk to us before you come! We often have good ideas of things to do or places to go that only the insiders know about. Or if you want to have an “off the beaten track” experience, we can tell you how.  Ricky Martin is one of our favorite people on earth. Here he is in Guadalajara with our friend  Mexico has more than it’s share of interesting and scenic locations, but Guanajuato really is special. Historic, charming, its hills full of silver veins and its cemetary full of mummies–there’s no place quite like it. Omar and I had a wonderful few days there a while  The best Mexican food is made of fresh ingredients in creative and innovative combinations. They should be colorful, tasty, and maybe offer up a little surprise. Nothing fits the bill better than that traditional holiday dish chiles en nogada, in which roasted poblano peppers are stuffed with roast beef and dried fruits, topped with a creamy nut sauce, and liberally sprinkled with gleaming gem-like  Am I nuts? After my first experience (see previous post), I went back to Belize City. Why? Well, if you look at a map of the area, you’ll see that if you are going to Guatemala from the Yucatan, there aren’t too many roads that don’t pass through Belize (and they are primative). Plus I wanted to give the city another chance. I had more travel experience and wasn’t so jittery about rough spots. I’m glad I went back–I had wonderful adventures in Belize. But you know what? The city was still a dangerous and colorful mess.  Nothing against Belize. The country is just gorgeous and full of nice people and jaguars and orchid-dripping jungles. Maybe all the warnings in the guidebooks spooked me, but I found Belize City to be the most dangerous place I’ve ever been. As usual, it would have been much more welcoming and safe if I had been traveling with an expense account. But as a backpacker seeing the world economically, I felt at risk in Belize City.  Since I was a little kid I always wanted to climb a volcano and play with lava. I thought if I put a beetle in molten rock I would get a really keen fossil. The reality is a little different. I did melt my sneakers, though. I’m so happy I did it then, because I would NEVER do it now! Here is another action-packed chapter from our book, “Wandering Magical Lands.” We have climbed many volcanoes over the years, but none more dangerous or more spectacular than Guatemala’s Pacaya, which was in full  Mexico is an incredible destination for familes! Mexicans love children, and you’ll find they are welcome everywhere. There are so many kid-friendly things to do in Mexico, your family is guaranteed a great  I never feel more alive than when I am on a walking adventure. The trip is at least as important as the destination, and you really see the details when you are moving at three miles an hour. You can’t cover as much ground, but what you do experience you feel at a depth that is astonishing. Especially in Mexico, on the road to Tequila, where anything can happen and usually More! Walking to Tequila  We love working on our websites and watching them grow! After you’ve read the new posts at 365Mexico, check out one of our other sites about vintage movie memorabilia or food! And tell your friends! More! Our Other Websites  I’ve lived in Guadalajara 14 years. I chose it because it’s gorgeous and classy, not too far from the beach, is big enough to find work, and the people are friendly and beautiful. My first visit was in the freezing rain at 1AM, while wrapped in a pink flannel More! Why Guadalajara?  Sometimes a dumb question gets you a smart answer, and a new experience under your belt! Don’t be afraid to ask directions, and be open to the destinations they More! Dinosaur Land  Shipping items back and forth to Mexico is not as convenient as it could be. Here are some More! Shipping to Mexico  We’ve often written about language, and especially the mistakes we’ve made. It’s fun! Everybody makes mistakes. Don’t wait to speak until you are perfect. Get out there and start talking. As the ads say, there are 350 million people waiting to talk with you. And if you make a mistake, have a laugh over it and  We always love to hear from readers, to exchange stories or answer questions about our life in the Mexican countryside. It is an especially nice surprise when we get “fan” mail. And when we get a glowing book review–hijole! We’re on the top of the More! Adventure, Adversity and Amazing Good Fortune—The “Wandering” Review  We love birthdays–and anniversaries and graduations and Fridays. Any reason to get More! Mexican Birthdays—Mine! |
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Dan and Coco of 365Mexico. You know you've arrived when a famous illustrator draws you! Art by the incredible J.D. King. Click on Coco for J. D.'s site.