Peace March in Guadalajara © Alfredo Cortez Romano, 2011

Ask an old gringo about Mexico border smiles, Barbie dolls and captured catapults

Question: There is so much bad news along the border. Does anybody ever smile? Answer: Of course — and sometimes we laugh out loud. With all hell breaking loose around them, Border Patrol agents in the Juarez region caught a crowd of bad Barbie dolls trying to sneak into the United States. These were not genuine Barbies […]

Continue Reading
Puerto Escondido © Geri Anderson

Ask the old gringo about Mexico welcome mat, value system, jail time and hot billboard

Question: Are gringos really welcome in Mexico? Answer: Some guests are an aggravation, others are a pain, but it appears their folding money is well received. Officials of the beach community of Puerto Escondido, in the state of Oaxaca, threw a December party to celebrate foreigners. A few hundred attended. Free food and drink remains an exciting lure. […]

Continue Reading
San Blas, the fishermen's home town © Christina Stobbs, 2009

Mexico lost-and-found fishermen still waiting for massive payday

Three Mexican fishermen, lost at sea for nine months and nine days, were world news for a few minutes in 2006. Their survival was a miracle of faith and fierce determination, or the biggest fish tale ever told. As you may recall, shark hunters Salvador Ordonez, 37, Jesus Vidaña and Lucio Rendon, both 27, ran […]

Continue Reading
San Patricio by the Sea, an interdenominational community church on Mexico's Pacific coast

San Patricio by the Sea on Mexico’s Pacific coast

Age-old question: Were great churches built to the glory of God or to satisfy puffed-up egos of men? Mexico has many magnificent cathedrals in a variety of architectural styles and craftsmanship, some with spires and bell towers reaching for the sky, some featuring spectacular art, some with lavish decorations, some of historical significance, some tourist […]

Continue Reading
The Bijou, docked at Punto Morelos, Quintana Roo © Roger Cunningham, 200o

Ask an old gringo about Mexico economy, Guerrero recovery, anchovy gelato and Yescka

It appears much of the world is very interested in Mexico. A surprising number of Mexconnect readers asked the old gringo about the economy, reforms, boats, Guerrero recovery, Michaocan dangers — and hospitality. Some questions are far out. One asked about anchovy gelato. Another asked about Yescka. That got my undivided attention. Question: I was reading […]

Continue Reading
Narrow city streets near the plaza in Guanajuato, Mexico © Geri Anderson 1997

Ask an old gringo: Mexico questions about tuna war, holidays, spelling errors and dinosaurs

Readers of MexConnect ask exciting questions about Mexico, about sea to shining sea, the mountains and most of the villages in between. Where to live, where to visit, where to park in Guanajuato? Own or rent and what to eat on the streets? Should I drive or take the bus? How about health care and bandits and topes? […]

Continue Reading