This is the story of my experiences living as an ex-pat in Mexico since 2003. It's to culminate in a published book. With your help, I'll be editing, selecting a title, and cover art. This is a participatory project.
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June 26, 2017
Get Lost!
Is getting lost an entirely bad thing? It’s disorienting, disturbing, and problematic. But I think there can be upsides.
READ MORE . . .
Letters
Letters from Mexico
July 29, 2017
Myths About Mexico
First, I am piggy-backing off of the last letter, Get Lost! And 'll describe some of the logistics of living and traveling in Mexico after.
Aug. 26, 2017
Mexico's
Click and Clack Culture
I’m walking along one of the main streets in the center of Tepoztlan where I live. I bump into a friend. CLICK!
Sept. 30, 2017
Fiasco with the Federales
At three AM the red-eye bus going home from the coast ends at a service control stop.
Oct. 28, 2017
Beaches of Mexico
Not long after I moved to Mexico (2003), I spent two weeks in Tulum. It’s the best for swimming I’ve visited.
READ MORE . . .
Nov. 25, 2017
Mexico Is Fiesta!
Fiestas were the major reason I moved to Mexico. I love this part of the culture! The music and dance, costumes, foods, parades, and ceremonies—different for every occasion.
READ MORE . . .
December 30, 2017
My Daily Life in Mexico: Tepoztlan, Morelos
What’s daily life like living in Mexico? I’ll share experiences of what I do.
January 27, 2018
Becoming Mexicanized--
Living in Mexico on a LowBudget
When you live in another country don’t expect it to be the same as yours. It’s an adaptation requiring patience. This is what I call “becoming Mexicanized.”
February 24, 2018
Acapulco--
More Than Beaches and Banana Boats
When Mexicans and international visitors think of Acapulco, beaches, water sports, and the famous cliff divers come to mind. Less seemly images are narco trafficking and high homicide rates.
March 24, 2018
This Letter features murals feeding the eye and soul the colorful nourishment of the Latino culture.
Murals of Tepoztlan
April 28, 2018
Fiestas of Tepoztlan
The major factor that drew me to move to Mexico was experiencing it's fiestas. They are loud and colorful, a feast for the senses, with nothing like them in the US.
READ MORE . . .
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May 26, 2018
Sounds of Tepoztlan
Tepoztlan, in Central Mexico, is a "magic city." It is tourist oriented and the streets are crowded on weekends. During the week there are many fiestas.In a prior blog, I wrote of how noisy Tepoztlan is, and how one acclimates to the noise in time. What kinds of sounds are there?
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June 30, 2018
Water In Mexico
Mexico is a dry country. Then how does it deal with water? In this blog, I'll be introducing a local organization, in Tepoztlan, state of Morelos, that develops and educates on different aspects of water sustainability.
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July 28, 201
Watery Places
In this blog, I’ll introduce you to two places where water runs year round. These places have been “spiritual sites” since antiquity.
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August 25, 2018
Jose of Tepoztlan
I interviewed Jose Rodriguez, an expat from the US with relatives in Mexico. He’s an excellent filmmaker/photographer.
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September 29, 2018
Healers and Healing
From the regular mainstream practitioners to far out forms of alternative healing and traditional indigenous medicine--you'll find it all, side by side, in Mexico.
October 27, 2018
Sacred Plant Medicine
In Mexico, where law enforcement is more relaxed than elsewhere, one finds numerous ceremonies using psychoactive plants.
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November 24, 2018
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico. Only an hour away is Mexico’s largest fresh-water lake, Lake Chapala.
December 29, 2018
Christmas In Tepoztlan
In Mexico, the holiday is celebrated differently than in the US or other parts of the world.
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January 27, 2019
Climate in Tepoztlan, Mexico
The elevation of Tepoztlán is midway between that of Mexico City and Cuernavaca, at 5627 ft. It is 19 degrees north of the equator. These are some of the factors that make its climate a very favorable temperate one.
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March 2, 2019
Trails In Tepoztlan, Mexico
The most used trail in Tepoztlán is the one to its pyramid, Tepozteco.
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March 30, 2019
Tlayacapan, Mexico
Tlayacapan, a Pueblo Magico (Magic City), in central Mexico is noted for it’s dancing Chinelos, 26 small chapels, and pottery made from the red clay in the hills.
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May 25, 2019
The Silver City
Taxco, pronounced Tasko, is noted for its finely crafted silver.
June 29, 2019
Cuernavaca Part One
Cuernavaca, with a population of 350,000 is the capital of the state of Morelos.
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July 27, 2019
Cuernavaca
Part Two
This is a continuation from the previous blog, Cuernavaca Part One.
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Aug. 31, 2019
A Mexican Artist
Alejandro Aguirre Hernandez is an artist and musician in Tepoztlan, Mexico.
Sept. 28, 2019
Deer Sanctuary-- Tepoztlan, Mexico
The Deer Sanctuary (Santuario de los Venaditos) is a beautiful nature preserve with two main trails--one to a cascade, and the other to an overlook with petroglyphs and a cave.
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Oct. 26, 2019
A Musician in Tepoztlan
Jim Doney is a drummer extraordinaire! Not only is he a skilled and creative jazz drummer, but also a good teacher, and an inventor of a special musical instrument, based on his research of tunings.
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Nov. 30, 2019
A Music Festival in Tepoztlan
This was an all day outdoor music festival in Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico, on Sunday, November 3, 2019.
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Dec. 28, 2019
Housebuilding in Mexico
Buying land and building a house in Mexico is no easy feat. This article tells the story of a friend of mine who has done it and in a very innovative and artistic way.
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January 25, 2020
Cloud Atlas Tepoztlan
In central Mexico, there are two seasons—dry and rainy. During the rainy season, we often see spectacular skies, with clouds oozing down the strange mountain shapes that characterize Tepoztlan.
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February 29, 2020
Tourists in Tepoztlan
Tepoztlan, in the state of Morelos, is in central Mexico, in the "volcanic region." It has the designation, "Magic City." The federal government recognizes its tourist potential and provides funding.
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March 28, 2020
A Bilingual Hiking Group In Tepoztlan
Tepoztlan has many incredible trails that I've explored over the years. A man named Jesus contacted me to be a trail guide and help form a bilingual hiking group here.
April 25, 2020
A Mexican
Abstract Painter
Christina Del Valle Macleod is an abstract painter who lives in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
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May 30, 2020
In order to continue the federal funding normally paid to a "magic city" in Mexico, Tepoztlan needs to meet a certain level of cleanliness.
The climate in Tepoztan is temperate, making it an ideal place to grow plants. The soil is from volcanic deposits, and very rich.
Trash in Tepoztlan
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Gardens in Tepoztlan
June 27, 2020
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July 24, 2020
My Neighborhood in Tepoztlan Part One
This is a personal description of my neighborhood in Mexico. It is not just any neighborhood, or an average one.
August 29, 2020
My Neighborhood in Tepoztlan
Part Two
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I’m sharing what my neighborhood is like in Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico. This is the second part, where we explore the streets away from the my apartment.
September 26, 2020
Rainy Season
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There are two seasons in Tepoztlán: rainy and dry.
October 31, 2020
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Equinox Ceremony at Finger Rock
On September 22, the day of the fall equinox, I hiked alone into the mountains near where I live, in Tepoztlán, to honor the transition of seasons.
November 28, 2020
Off-Grid Living in Mexico
Have you ever thought of simplifying your life? Living off-grid and in closer harmony with nature?
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December 26, 2020
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Food Markets in Tepoztlán, Mexico
January 30, 2021
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The Sacred Fire
Community
Around the world, at the Sacred Fire, people take part in one of humanity’s oldest traditions—sitting together around a fire.
February 27, 2021
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A Trail in Amatlán
Amatlán is an ancient village in the municipality of Tepoztlán. It is the birthplace of the Nahuat god Quetzalcóatl. Its name derives from that of the Amate tree, from which a form of paper was made. I am going to introduce you to one of the trails there.
March 27, 2021
Trails From Tepoztlán Centro
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There are many trails in the area through the mountains and woods. Recently I discovered two trails that are only a fifteen minute walk from Centro.
April 24, 2021
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Craig Lewis:
Cultural Creative/Mexican Immigrant
In this article, we'll look at how Craig Lewis, a refugee from the US, adjusted to living in Mexico, and we'll explore his projects.
May 29, 2021
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"Jazz Is"-Tepoztlán
This newly formed jazz trio had their debut on Sunday, May 2, at La Sombra del Sabino, in Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico.
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June 26, 2021
Mountain Hike/Retreat in Tepoztlán
Follow my adventure climbing a mountain and sleeping in a cave.
July 31, 2021
Hikes to Pyramids
This documents the two main pyramids in Tepoztlán, focusing on nearby back trails.
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August 28, 2021
Lana Visits
Tepoztlán
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Are you interested in how a first time visitor experiences this place?
September 25, 2021
Pets in Tepoztlán
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Pets are very popular in Mexico. Like everywhere, their owners love them. They become part of the family.
October 30, 2021
Construction in Tepoztlán: Part One
Across the street from me a crew started pouring the cement roof on a house. I grabbed my camera to film the work.
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Construction in Tepoztlán:
Part Two
November 27, 2021
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Adobe is the characteristic and distinctive building material in this region. Continuing from Part One, we'll look at this material and how it is used locally.