-
A visit to the El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
The journey to the village where I went to see the monarch butterflies at their winter home began at the bus terminal. Heading into more remote parts of Mexico with winding narrow roads meant switching from large comfortable buses to cramped rickety minibuses. In many ways, it held similarities to my visit to Nepal. The…
-
Malinalco, an Artisan Hill Town in Mexico
I arrived in Malinalco after the typical succession from big bus, to local bus, to combination mini bus. This seems to be fairly routine now that I’m visiting towns more off the beaten track. That’s not to say it wasn’t a tourist town. It certainly earned the title more than the last charlatan on the…
-
Yuriria…yawn
Yuriria, I knew, was a gamble. I’d seen it listed as one of the Pueblos Magicos (Magic Towns) of Mexico, but I knew not all those towns belonged on the list. It was also one of those places that all the pictures I saw online seemed to be of the same single building, which always…
-
The Grand Canyon of Guadalajara, Part 2
I awoke at sunrise, ready to make my trek into the Barranca de Huentitan. I took a couple of photos from the balcony of my view room, and then headed out to see if I could find a better viewpoint. Unfortunately, the mirador (lookout) across the street was not yet open so I headed to…
-
The Grand Canyon of Guadalajara, Part 1
I worked two months at La Manada dog hotel, which is among the longest stays I’ve had in one place in several years. Not that I’m complaining; I love being on the move, and I’d spent the previous two weeks counting down the days until I would be back on the road.There was talk about…
-
The Artisan Made Cast Iron Skillet
Like the US, Mexico seems to prefer budget to quality. I think every hostel skillet I’ve used in Mexico has a loose handle, and more often than not, half the Teflon surface has been scratched off. The skillets are made of cheap metal which quickly sears anything cooked in them. Sometimes, there’s a broken handle…
-
Dog trainer, laborer, arborist, hero
With a work exchange, there are often many responsibilities. Such was the case yesterday when I held several different titles: dog trainer, laborer, arborist and hero. The day began with the regular feeding and cleaning up after the dogs. After those chores were done, we let each of the dogs out to play in “the…
-
My Own Magic Town
I’ve been to Puerto Vallarta so many times that it’s hard to find something to entertain myself here that I haven’t already done. In fact, every time I pass by the guy on the street in front of my place, I have to say, “I’ve already done that” to his entreaties to get me to…
-
Tapalpa plaza, where I accidentally learned to meditate
Recently I’ve been talking with a couple friends about meditation. I’ve been resistant to it for a long time due a number of reasons. Primarily, I am already a perpetually happy and relaxed person. Secondarily, I felt like I needed someone to tell me what I’m supposed to be experiencing while meditating so I know…
Category: Blog
Browse by category:
