An arched walkway surrounds the courtyard of San Sebastián Mártir Church in Bernal, Querétaro. In the center of the atrium stands a beautiful cross of carved quarry stone. © Jane Ammeson 2009

The magic of Bernal, Queretaro: wine, opals and historic charm

Sometimes in the evenings, after the sun has set behind the monolith that towers over the small village of San Sebastián Bernal, ánimas, or restless souls who sleep in the small graveyard near the old chapel, rise up and move silently through the quiet streets. The ánimas mean no harm. They are just continuing their daily round – what […]

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Cobblestone walkway that leads to the mine

La Valencia – one of Guanajuato’s richest silver mines

The stairs that take me down hug the curves of the mine as it twists and turns. The walls are coarse with cut stone. I have followed the narrow Carretera Panoramica (Panoramic Highway) that winds up from the Colonial city of Guanajuato to La Valencia, a charming village that overlooks the broad valley where the […]

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Zacatecas Cathedral - photo by Alan Cogan

The state of Zacatecas, Mexico – resource page

Zacatecas – a place to return to! Millions of Americans today look to the Mexican state of Zacatecas as their ancestral homeland. In this section, we focus on the fascinating state of Zacatecas, which supplied so much of the country’s wealth during colonial times. Main articles for this section: Zacatecas – A Labyrinth of Riches […]

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The splendid church in Guadalupe, Zacatecas has three chapels -- the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Dark Chapel and the Chapel of Naples -- each seemingly more ornate than the next. This is the Capilla de Nápoles, or Chapel of Naples. © Jane Ammeson, 2009

Guadalupe in Zacatecas: masterpieces of colonial art

Located just east of Zacatecas city, Guadalupe’s palm-fringed Jardín Juárez has the special charm found in so many Mexican towns. Here vendors sell the local crafts that this colonial town, founded in 1578, is famous for – including tooled leather belts and soft, pliant jackets along with large carved rustic furniture and wall hangings, newly woven […]

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Independence parade, Dolores Hidalgo

Colonial charm, Talavera and shrimp ice cream in Dolores Hidalgo

Someone has mistakenly put shrimp into the ice cream or else I’m reading the sign incorrectly — always a possibility as my Spanish certainly needs some work. But then again, when I order camarones at restaurants, I get shrimp and so camarón must be shrimp, right? But then what is it doing in the ice cream? The answer, according […]

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Tamazunchale: natural beauty, a slow-paced lifestyle, and Mexico’s native peoples

Have you ever found a place in Mexico that mirrors your own life? For me, it’s Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosí. “Every bend of the road reveals a more stunning mountain panorama,” gushed Nicki, a first-time visitor to Mexico. “Yeah. And there are lots of bends to this road,” I muttered, trying to keep one eye […]

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White sand beaches, the blue Pacific and the magic of the tropics make Los Ayala on Mexico's Nayarit Riviera a special place. © Christina Stobbs, 2011

Los Ayala on Mexico’s Nayarit Riviera: so special it’s magical

Los Ayala remains one of Mexico’s best kept secrets. It’s a “real Mexican” town that has kept its quaint ways, a paradisiacal beach town where smiles are abundant and freely passed around. This quaint Mexican town is commonly referred to as a “small town with a big heart,” and a piece of paradise that one is compelled […]

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