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Letters From Mexico

January 1, 2024

Café Arté, Tepoztlán

Let's take a tour of this small intimate café in the heart of Tepoztlán, highly rated online, and with unique features.

December 4, 2023

Laguna Bacalar

Bacalar is the second largest inland body of water in Mexico. Located in the state of Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan, it is about two hours south of Tulum, and attracts tourists for many reasons.

November 6, 2023

Tepoztlán's Mushrooms

A local professional widlcrafter guided our weekly hiking group on a  mushroom walk. He showed us medicinal and edible ones, and pointed out others that were poisonous. This article shows photos of the mushrooms he identified.

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October 2, 2023

Religious Icons: Part One

Catholicism is the major religion south of the US border. But it is different here.

September 4, 2023

Murals in Tepoztlán

Part of the magic of the "Magic City" of Tepoztlán comes from its many colorful murals adorning buildings. Some are quite imaginative and whimsical.

 

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August 7, 2023

The Santiago Trails in Tepoztlán

Tepoztlán, where I live, is a "magic city' in the central Mexico volcanic region. It is in the state of Morelos. Santiago is a small village that's part of the Tepoztlán municipality on the outskirts of the city.

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July 3, 2023

Chalcatzingo-

Morelos Archeological Site

Chalcatzingo is an ancient Olmec site (1,500 BC) an hour's drive from Tepoztlán, where I live. The Olmecs are the oldest known Mesoamerican civilization. A group of us went on an excursion there. we first examined the bas-reliefs carved into the rocks and protected with overhanging roofs.  We took a long hike up the mountain. After coming down, and before leaving, we investigated the pyramids at the site.

June 5, 2023

In the Time of Nick

Nick Kruser's talents are multifaceted and highly developed.

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May 8, 2023

Valle de Bravo

Valle de Bravo is a two hour drive southwest of Mexico City. Its Lake Avándaro was man-made in the 40s as a water reservoir for the city.

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April, 3, 2023

La Sombra, Tepoztlán

La Sombra del Sabino, a bilingual bookstore and restaurant, is a cultural center in Tepoztlán.

March 6, 2023

Carnival Tepoztlán, 2023

Carnival in Tepoztlán is a big production. The population doubles from added celebrants during this four day event, with the focus in the town Centro. A lot of work is involved in setting it up and cleanup afterwards. It brings in a lot of income to the community, but also generates problems mostly stemming from drunkenness.

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February 6, 2023

Tepoztlán Hiking Club

Our hiking group began as a mushroom expedition led by a professional mycologist on September 24, 2022.

January 2, 2023

Consejo de Visiones, Tepoztlan, 2022

Consejo de Visiones, Vision Council, is an annual week long camping event in the fall in Mexico that brings together different organizations promoting care of the earth by educating, sharing and networking.

December 5, 2023

Dia de Los Muertos-  Tepoztlán

Dia de Muertos is an important fiesta celebrated in all Latin American countries. Every town in Mexico has different customs, and Tepoztlán is no exception.

November 7, 2022

Ulli Visits Tepoztlán

As do many tourists, Ulli enjoyed visiting Mexico. After enjoying exploring beaches for a few months, she wanted to be at a cooler place and heard about Tepoztlán.

October 3, 2022

Camps in Tepoztlán, Part Two: Meztitla

Outdoor recreation areas abound in Tepoztlán. This article is about the Boy Scout Camp, Meztitla, which is a major jamboree site in Mexico, hosting both national and international events.

September 5, 2022

Camps in Tepoztlán

Part One: Camohmila

In Tepoztlán, there are two major camps within the city limits. This is about the YMCA camp, Camohmila.

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August 1, 2022      

Parks in Tepoztán

Parks are outdoor public recreation areas. There are several types in Tepoztlán, and we'll not cover all of them here. Many have mixed uses.

July 4, 2022

Eli Pig Sanctuary

Eli Pig Sanctuary is in a remote part of Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. It was founded by Janis, a Mexican, in 2019. She follows a vegan diet and believes that animals have personalities just as we do and should not be treated as resources.

June 6, 2022

Dagen Visits Mexico

Mexico attracts many creative people. Dagen Julty is one of those.

May 2, 2022

DaVida:  Artivist Priestess

DaVida, originally from Spain, now lives in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. Mexico attracts many internationally acclaimed creatives like her.

March 26, 2022

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Valle de Atongo

Valle de Atongo is the largest section of metropolitan Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. It is mostly residential and it is the wealthiest neighborhood.

February 26, 2022

Morelia, Michoacon, Mexico

 

Morelia, the capital of the state of Michoacan, is in central Mexico. It's a four hour drive northwest of Mexico City.

January 29, 2022

World Rainbow Gathering at Palenque: December 2021

During the month of December, the World Rainbow Gathering, an international event, had its camp out at a site near the ruins of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico.

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November 27, 2021

Construction in Tepoztlán:

Part Two

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.

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.

September 25, 2021

Pets in Tepoztlán

Pets are very popular in Mexico. Like everywhere, their owners love them. They become part of the family.

August 28, 2021

Lana Visits

Tepoztlán

Are you interested in how a first time visitor experiences this place?

July 31, 2021

Hikes to  Pyramids

This documents the two main pyramids in Tepoztlán, focusing on nearby back trails.

June 26, 2021

Mountain Hike/Retreat in Tepoztlán

Follow my adventure climbing a mountain and sleeping in a cave.

May 29, 2021

"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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April 24, 2021

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.

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March 27, 2021

Trails From Tepoztlán Centro

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.

February 27, 2021

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.

January 30, 2021

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.

December 26, 2020

Food Markets in Tepoztlán, Mexico

It's fun to shop for fresh vegetables and fruit at the outdoor markets.

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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?

October 31, 2020

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.

September 26, 2020

Rainy Season

There are two seasons in Tepoztlán: rainy and dry.

August 29, 2020

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My Neighborhood in Tepoztlan

Part Two

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.

July 24, 2020

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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.

June 27, 2020

Gardens in Tepoztlan

The climate in Tepoztan is temperate, making it an ideal place to grow plants. The soil is from volcanic deposits, and very rich.

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May 30, 2020

Trash in Tepoztlan

In order to continue the federal funding normally paid to a "magic city" in Mexico, Tepoztlan needs to meet a certain level of cleanliness.

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A Mexican

Abstract Painter

Christina Del Valle Macleod is an abstract painter who lives in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.

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April 25, 2020

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.

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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.

January 25, 2020

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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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Housebuilding in Mexico

Dec. 28, 2019

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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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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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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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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Aug. 31, 2019

A Mexican Artist

Alejandro Aguirre Hernandez is an artist and musician in Tepoztlan, Mexico.

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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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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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May 25, 2019

The Silver City

Taxco, pronounced Tasko, is noted for its finely crafted silver.

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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March 2, 2019

Trails In Tepoztlan, Mexico

The most used trail in Tepoztlán is the one to its pyramid, Tepozteco.

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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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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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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.

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October 27, 2018

Sacred Plant Medicine

In Mexico, where law enforcement is more relaxed than elsewhere, one finds numerous ceremonies using psychoactive plants.

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.

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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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July 28, 2018

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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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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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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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.

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March 24, 2018

Murals of Tepoztlan

This Letter features murals feeding the eye and soul the colorful nourishment of the Latino culture.

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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.

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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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