Hacienda Xcanatún in Mérida, Mexico

Local residents of the city of Mérida, consider 'Casa de Piedra' at the Hacienda Xcanatún as one of the must-shows for their visiting guests. Why? Well, the building, the history and the restaurant are all can make up a very special day.

The Hacienda Xcanatún hotel opened in 2000 as an exclusive small luxury hotel with 18 distinctive suites. Aside from its cultural and historical vibes, it is simply very beautiful. There are two unique and refreshing swimming pools with bar service, and local and exotic tropical flora in three acres of gardens, pools, and fountains. The hotel has earned innumerable awards which celebrate and praise its excellence.

Mérida as one of the top ten colonial cities in Mexico

Mérida, the capital city of the Yucatan peninsula, is a must-see colonial city in Mexico, especially because of its large offer of Mayan culture. From Mayan ruins, to traditional Mayan dishes, indigenous fashion and Yucatecan dances and rituals, Mérida offers a host of things to do and see that will be an exciting way to learn about Mayan culture. Mérida has notable Spanish influence and is full of architectural and cultural gems. For instance, take a day trip to see the ruins at Chichen Itza & Uxmal and try the “salibutes” when you are in town. Besides discovering the ruins, the town and local fare, Mérida hosts a generous amount of free cultural events on a regular basis throughout the city. There’s also tourist information in the office on the main square.

Puerto Vallarta Beaches will Host Beach Volleyball Tournament for PanAmerican Games

During the Pan American Games being held in Guadalajara, Mexico this October 2011, Puerto Vallarta's stunning beaches will hold a volleyball tournament this October 16-22.

In a newly-built Pan American Beach Volleyball Stadium created solely for the tournament, will host Mexico, who finished fifth last year at the Rio de Janeiro tournament, as well as Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, United States, Argentina, El Salvador, Puerto Rico and Nicaragua.

Riviera Maya Jazz Festival Takes Place this Fall

This November 24-26, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival 2011 will be taking place in Mexico. Leading musicians such as Jeff Lorber, Alex Ataola, Jon Anderson and Natalia Lafourcade will be playing at the 4th annual Riviera Maya Jazz Festival. In addition to these jazz legends and up and coming stars, the legendary band The Yellow Jackets (video above) will also be performing from their new album at the festival.

Surreal Jungle Palace in the Heart of Las Pozas, Mexico

Follow this link to learn the story behind this beautiful and bizarre jungle architecture, constructed in Las Pozas, Mexico by a British poet, Edward James.

Advisory: One Beach in Zihuatanejo Registers Slight Pollution

Via The Associated Press:

Mexican health authorities say two beaches in Acapulco are severely contaminated and one in Zihuatanejo registered pollution slightly above permitted levels. The commission said Zihuatanejo's Principal Beach has bacteria levels of 233 units, slightly above accepted levels. The Zihuatanejo beach is among the most crowded at the resort spot favored by both Mexican and U.S. tourists alike. Gastrointestinal illnesses as well as eye, ear and skin infections could result from exposure to the bacteria.

Although the pollution level is only slightly above the permitted amount, it would be wise to avoid the water until further notice by the commission.

Loreto, Mexico: Where the Desert Meets the Sea

Loreto is a fabulous place to relax and enjoy the plentiful natural wildlife around you, as well as the scenic setting of the village. In this video, one Loreto native talks about how people come to Loreto and "are transformed", inspired by the offering of wildlife and natural beauty that is second to none. What Jacques Costeau called, "The Aquarium of the World," Loreto is one of the top kayaking destinations on the planet, as well as for whale watching, among other activities...you don't need binoculars to see all of the wildlife that's present here...

Ensenada, Mexico: One Man's Travels

This morning, an article was posted on the Los Angeles Times about one man's travels into Enseñada, Mexico this past weekend. He speaks of the his day-trip filled with music, spirits and authentic Mexican foods, as he crosses the border and describes a day in the life of a traveler in that region of Mexico.

Technology for Expats: The VOIP Phone

If you've ever thought about how to move to Mexico and what will come along with moving to the best country to retire in, I'm sure you've had a lot of questions. One of them that often pops up is how to stay in touch with loved ones while living abroad. You would probably learn these things from retirement communities in Mexico eventually, but it's good to have as clear an idea as possible on what living in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico would be like.

Welcome to this 101 session on Technology for Expats

The VOIP phone is a great system and a very clever service for those living abroad. A VOIP phone is essentially a normal telephone that can be easily used without any special devices, so long as you have a connection to the Internet. The ingenious part is this: the VOIP service that you choose will give you a local phone number with the area code of your choice so that friends and family can call you (the call is diverted from that phone to the Internet phone) with with no extra cost to either parties. A definite must-have for those living overseas.

If you have any fun tips for using a VOIP phone in Mexico, please write me below!

How to Plant Tomatoes

I was interested in growing fresh vegetables myself and I found this great article on how to plant tomatoes. Tomatoes are a vegetable that thrive in warm weather and they give off a large yield, so it's always rewarding. It's also a fun, easy way to start planting vegetables because you don't even need a garden - you can start from seeds in plantable pots or use a ledge or the railing of a balconette.

I definitely recommend trying it, home-grown tomatoes taste delicious and are a great way to start a garden! Click here to find out more about tomatoes.

Retirees Head to Mexico for Sun (and Health Care)

Some retired Americans say that the cost of living is just too expensive in the States. Especially for those that live in bigger cities, the cost of living -- and health care -- can break retirees budgets. So what are many people doing to avoid such high priced living and health care? Flock to Mexico.

Watch this video about how many smart retired Americans are going to Mexico to receive treatments and undergo procedures and surgeries with the same level of medical sophistication, for less money.