Native to Mexico, poinsettias grow in a variety of colors. © Diodora Bucur, 2009

The poinsettia, Mexico’s Christmas gift to the world

Holiday poinsettias are as much a part of the Christmas fabric as the Nativity scene or the traditional wreaths. Native to Mexico, poinsettias are classic winter bloomers. Commonly known here as flores de nochebuena, or flowers of the Holy Night, have come to resonate with Christians beyond the country’s borders. As many as 500 million fire plants […]

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Mexico's Aguascalientes-born bullfighter Miguel Espinosa, also known as "Armillita Chico," performed in 1,330 corridas de toros throughout his career. © Diodora Bucur, 2010

San Marcos fair: an opportunity to visit colonial Aguascalientes

Preparations are in full swing in Aguascalientes for the traditional Feria Nacional de San Marcos, a three-week spring fiesta the city of natural hot springs is best known for. About seven million revelers are expected to descend upon this central colonial city between April 17 and May 9, for the festival that promises to entertain […]

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Hammering out a future for young people in Chapala

Hammering out a future for young people in Chapala, Mexico

The men and women in the Chapala-Ajijic area whom I admire the most are those who can give so generously of their time to help others (without expecting anything in return), and Lakeside seems to be overrun with them. One such humanitarian organization (it is, I believe, truly humanitarian in the same league as those […]

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The Mexican Postal Service celebrates 100 years of the Mexican Revolution and the Bicentennial of Mexico’s Independence

Mexico likes to celebrate, and this year it has two monumental events to celebrate. On the very day (September 16) of the Bicentenario, the Bicentenary celebrating Mexican independence — I leisurely looked over the collection of stamps of Mexico that I have accumulated over the past couple of decades. Celebrating independence from Spain is nothing new to […]

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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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Mouth of the spring at Las Huertas. © Julia Taylor, 2007

Adventurous Mexico – exploring volcanoes, hiking, sailing, kayaking and more

Climbing Mexico’s volcanoes Pico de Orizaba (Citlateptl) 5700m 18,700ft Popocatepl 5452m 17,887ft Iztaccihuatl 5286m 17,342ft A Mexican Mountaineering Expedition On Pico de Orizaba, Mexico’s highest volcano (Citlaltepetl in Veracruz) – with PHOTO GALLERY Exploring caves in Mexico: the speleologist’s new frontier El Pozo de la Pestilencia, La Cueva de la Villa Luz, Naica caves and […]

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