Inside a Supermarket in Campeche, Mexico

If you've ever wondered what a supermarket in Mexico might look like, this is a great video to watch. If you're concerned about feeling at home or not being familiar with the food products that Mexico has to offer, it may be a good idea to visit the bigger supermarkets where the prices are nicely placed and the feel is much more American than a smaller, local grocer.

Cities in Mexico Retirement Guide

Most Americans flock to Mexico due to its close proximity to the U.S. and for the beautiful weather year-around. It's also well-known that with such a large community of American and other English-speaking expats, it's very easy to pass on just English.

The reality is that Mexico is a place of unmatched cuisine, culture and lovely people. Here is a guide to Mexican Cities that will show you a map with a brief description of the city so you can decide on which places would suit you best.

I hope it's useful and feel free to leave me your comments!

Travel and Leisure's World's Best Awards

Check out this amazing list of world's best awards 2011, courtesy of travel and leisure magazine, that will show you the best hotels, cities, cruises, islands, family hotels, and spas in the world. For the 16th year in a row, the magazine has successfully listed all the must-be places in the world!

Which are your favorites? Feel free to leave your comments below.

Guanajuato City - Mexico's Second World Heritage Site

Guanajuato City, Mexico, decreed a city in 1741 by King Phillip V of Spain, was declared a “World Heritage Zone” by UNESCO in 1988 and holds a wealth of attractions for the visitor. It is one of those cities that is perfect for seeing on foot: "The narrow, winding streets are lined with old colonial structures and wrought iron balconies, fountains and plazas, and romantic nooks and crannies that can only be fully appreciated by close inspection."

Take a closer look at what this colonial city, one of the prettiest in all of Latin America, has to offer.

1st Arts and Craft Fair in Oaxaca, Mexico

Photo courtesy of planeta

Among the wide variety of events in Oaxaca this July is an arts and crafts fair, starting tomorrow, July 16th, that will offer a variety of things to see like typical clothing from the region and silver jewelry.

"How and Why We Moved to Mexico"

If you're looking for an in-depth article with tons of great information on moving to Mexico, this is it. This article recounts the real-life experience of one couple that moved to Mexico and found happiness. But first, they did their homework. Take advantage of what they've learned and share with us, by reading this insightful, accurate blog post.

Rare Archaeological Collection Coming to Mexico City in 2012

Coming to Mexico City in 2012 is a new collection from the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico City which expects to be the host to approximately 300 pieces. "The pieces showcase Aztatlan culture from 200 to 1350 AD and feature ceramic objects, shell and greenstone beads, copper rattles and travertine zoomorphic urns." The artist, donating the pieces is located in Riviera Nayarit. According to archaeologist Mauricio Garduño Ambriz, from Nayarit INAH Center, “This information will allow completing the scheme about religious conceptions and ritual practices linked to the Aztatlan ceremonial complex of the Post Classic period."

Click here to view the full article.

Rosa Mexicano: Gold Standard of Mexican Cuisine

In the states and missing Mexico?

Here's event information for a Mexican-style clambake this week, starting as soon as July 13, in different locations across the U.S. As the web site suggests,"Dig into a selection of our fresh Clambake flavors, classic favorites and famous cocktails. Mingle with our chefs and experts and put your chile knowledge to the test. Reservations are required so make sure to go to their website for details. As they say in Spanish, ¡Que aproveche!

"Americans Should Know Much of Mexico is Safe"

This photo of Punta de Mita is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Read this account of the real Mexico, courtesy of a resident who is now living in beautiful Punta de Mita, Mexico, in the Riviera Nayarit region,'saddened by all of the negative media stories about Mexico.' The stories, in general, are very misleading and don't explain the reality of this beautiful country- one of the best countries to retire in in the world.

How Mexico Attracted 5 Million U.S. Retirees Last Year

Via MexPro.com:

Last year, Mexican President Calderon, made statements that he was proposing the expansion of retirement benefits and medical tourism to U.S. citizens in Mexico, in an attempt to attract millions of American retirees.

In 2010, Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S., Arturo Sarukhan, told Miami Herald columnist, Andres Oppenheimer, “It’s one of the pillars of our plans to trigger economic and social well-being in both countries. We will be seeking to increasingly discuss this issue in coming months and years.” Over a million U.S. citizens already live in Mexico and it's expected that the number could grow to be five million in 2025, according to estimates based on U.S. Census figures.

Increasingly, hospitals are receiving certification by the U.S. Joint International Commission that certify that they meet U.S. Standards. Here's a list of hospitals that have already been certified. Click here for the full list.

Hospitals certified by the U.S. Joint International Commission:

American British Cowdray Medical Center IAP Observatorio Campus
Mexico City
Accredited December 6, 2008

American British Cowdray Medical Center IAP Sante Fe Campus
Mexico City
Accredited December 12, 2008

Christus Muguerza Alta Especialidad
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Accredited July 22, 2007

Clinica Cumbres Chihuahua
Chihuahua, Chihuahua
Accredited April 23, 2008

Learning Spanish in Mexico

As this article mentions, the most difficult part of learning Spanish in Mexico is choosing among the myriad options. There are many schools to choose from, depending on where you decide to stay, and all cater to the non-Spanish speaker, making the registration process easy.

There is also, for those that are open-minded, the option of staying with a family, that will be a huge help with learning the language as well as a great cultural experience since you're able to see the day to day and how real Mexicans live. This is an ideal choice for those children or grandchildren that are serious about finally learning Spanish.

Click here to read about all of the options for those interested in taking on Spanish.

Rolex, Golf Digest Create Mobile Apps for 100 Greatest Golf Courses

Golf Digest has teamed up with Swiss watchmaker Rolex to unveil 3 new golf-centric mobile phone apps as the latest edition to the partnership's 100 Greatest Golf Courses franchise.

One of the best apps is the new 'Course Critic' app for the Android devices and iPhone, along with the '100 Greatest Plus' app for iPad. The release of the apps is timed with the U.S. Open, a tournament that Rolex has been a longtime sponsor.Read more about this fun innovation for golfers.

Exploring Mexico? How About Trying an RV Tour?

Can you imagine? Beautiful weather, beautiful beaches, delicious meals, all throughout Mexico and at your own whim? RV tours through Mexico are one of the best ways to travel in the country because they ensure that motorists are provided with all the necessary amenities for any adventure, giving them the capability to visit any of Mexico's beautiful destinations at their own will.

In an article by Clinton Hesler from Digital Recording, Hesler said, “The Mexicans are steadily improving their toll road system between cities,” resulting in safer travel and increased commerce. More efficient highways and bypass roads are also in the process of being built throughout the country.

Mexico Real Estate: 5 Most Important Changes in the Past 10 Years

For many Americans, the trip abroad to buy real estate in a foreign country was a time of nervousness and anxiety. Would the people speak English? How would we know if we were getting a good deal? Would they try to trick us, thinking we were just another pair of gringos?

The situation today is very different. Over the past decade, the Mexican real estate field has become better and better for expat buyers. It has become more professionalized, with the creation of the Mexican Association for Real Estate Professionals, more accesible, due to important improvements in the country's infraestructure and there are increasingly attractive ludic activities and services. A very different place to buy a home nowadays, see what 5 game-changing fixes the Mexican real estate field has made over the past decade.

Click here.

Princess Cruises Cancels Calls in Puerto Vallarta

Yesterday I was shocked to hear that Princess Cruises is canceling calls in Puerto Vallarta. This means that it will no longer stop in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, leaving millions of tourists without the Riviera experience.

I think that Puerto Vallarta is not only a perfectly safe destination, but one of the best places in Mexico to retire, and I'm concerned about the fact that Princess Cruises is disparaging Puerto Vallarta. Part of the problem is that in recent travel advisories, the U.S. State Department has been unclear about which regions present a risk to tourists in Mexico.

Mexico is a very large country and there are many great places in Mexico. I think that not traveling to Mexico because of violence at the border is like not going to L.A. after hearing of violence in New York City.

Puerto Vallarta is better than ever, it has fabulous food, wonderful weather and amazing cultural sights and events.

What are your positive experiences in Puerto Vallarta, Nayarit and Mexico? Are you happily involved with retirement communities in Mexico?

I'd love to hear about them in a guest blog!

More Vacationers Choose Mexico

Reading the Financial Times on Friday, I found an interesting article on tourism in Mexico. It talks about the latest official figures on travel to Mexico and how the number of foreign visitors rose 8.1% in April of this year, compared to the same month in 2010. The level of visitors is back up to 2008 levels, when the amount of travelers reached an astonishing 22.4 million.

Moreover, Mexico continues to be the most important destination for US citizens traveling abroad, representing 14.7 per cent of the total.

As the article says: "And, even if you don’t believe it, the world’s big hotel and tourism companies appear to: private investment in Mexico’s tourism sector grew to more than US$900m in the first three months of this year – an increase of 127 per cent compared with the same period last year."

Impressive figures that clearly express the surge in tourism to Mexico and interest from investors in this wonderful country.

Nuevo Vallarta - Vallarta Yacht Club Event

This July 4th - July 8th join the Vallarta Yacht Club for a sort of "summer camp" that will show you the ways of the water in Riviera Nayarit, and will give you a big taste for the sun, sand and sea of the Riviera Nayarit region.

Click here to go to the events page of the Vallarta Yacht Club.

Landscaping with Native Plants

Whether you have a charming backyard, a proper garden, or a small porch, this list of native plants is perfect for enjoying the outdoors as well as a great way to keep your community beautiful and show your knowledge of native plants.

Also, did you know that using native plants supports native birds and wildlife, conserves water, and requires very little upkeep to maintain gorgeous outdoor areas? Here are some suggestions...

The Coconut Palm: Shade to lie under, coconut water to drink, coconut meat to eat, and a perfect place to hang your hammock...

Plumeria Tree: Famed for its sweet fragrance and stunning beauty, the plumeria tree is a must in any local garden.

The Guamuchitl: The most beloved tree of our local wildlife. Put one of these in the corner of the yard, and you are guaranteed sightings of exotic birds, green iguanas and more as it fruits.

Click here for a better look at what these native plants have to offer and some interesting facts on the Ceiba flower, pictured above.

72-Hour Sale Gives Big Discount on Travel to Riviera Nayarit

Funjet Vacation has just launched an exclusive 72-hour sale where travelers can get big deals on regular package prices - of up to 56% off for July departures exclusively at six resorts in Las Vegas, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Those lucky travelers will be able to grab a deal from as little as 349.99 per person for stays at resorts such as the Marival Resort & Suites in Mexico's Riviera Nayarit near Puerto Vallarta.