Tips and Guides

Category

Bernal and Tequisquiapan; Querétaro’s Most Beautiful Pueblos Magicos

Bernal and Tequisquiapan are both Pueblos Magicos or "Magic Towns" located in Querétaro, Mexico. In order for a town to be considered a Pueblos Magico, it is required to hold special characteristics that make it a unique and/or historically significant town. There are 111 Pueblos Magicos in Mexico and if you are in Querétaro you can hit up two quintessential Pueblos Magicos just 40 minutes from one another. Bernal and Tequisquiapan also both happen to find themselves nestled along the…

The Ultimate Guide to Driving in Mexico: Getting a Vehicle in Mexico + Driving Safety +

Whenever friends, family, or my students discover that I have a vehicle here in SLP they immediately ask “How do you like driving in Mexico?” some with a small smirk stretching across their face (often locals) others (foreigners) paralyzed in fear at the thought of driving anywhere besides their home country. Granted it can be intimidating when you start driving in a new place prior to factoring in the differences of driving in a new country. Learning to drive abroad always…

An Expat’s City Guide to San Luis Potosí, Mexico: Things to Do + Where to Eat, Drink, Shop and Sleep

I've hit a year in San Luis Potosí and I am finally going to churn out the post that I started this blog for - a city guide to San Luis Potosí. When I found out that we would be moving to the expat-friendly city of San Luis Potosí, Mexico I was shocked to find next-to-nothing on both the city but also on what life was like as an expat in San Luis Potosí. It has taken me so long…

4 Things to Do in Real De Catorce Other Than Peyote

The village of Real de Catorce is located in the state of San Lui Potosí and sits on the side of a mountain at more than 2,743 meters (9,000 ft). It is located in the Sierra de Catorce range, one of the highest plateaus in Mexico, where summits may extend over 10,000 feet (3,000 m). Real de Catorce ('Royal Fourteen') is named for 14 Spanish soldiers killed here in an ambush by Chichimeca warriors. Although a town had been there for many years, silver…

A Street Art Guide to San Miguel’s Art District: Guadaloupe

During my third trip to San Miguel de Allende I was finally able to check out the street art located in Guadaloupe where I was meting up with Lauren from Northern Lauren and Kiona from How Not to Travel Like a Basic Bitch before heading on our road trip in the states of Queretaro and San Luis Potosí. The previous weekend we were in town for a friend's birthday and the city was super packed as it was the…

Northern Lauren: Mexico - Latin American Expat Blogger Series

  This article is the first of a new series on Always a Gringa that features other gringas living as expats throughout Latin America. They will be sharing their experiences, encounters, and thoughts on living in a Latin American country. I'll be kicking off this series with Lauren Cocking from Northern Lauren. Lauren is a Mexico City expat and blogs about Mexico travel, culture, food, and feminism. Her blog encompasses dreamy Mexican music playlists, reflections on living abroad, and guides to finding the…

19 Destinations in Mexico You Need to Visit

When considering a trip to Mexico you might picture sandy beaches, beach cabanas, and margaritas. I like relaxing on the beach just as much as the next person, but resorts and tourist towns are such a small piece of what Mexico has to offer. In an effort to crush that status quo belief that Mexico is just overcrowded beaches and taco stands, I collaborated with some top travel bloggers to create a list of the best spots in Mexico. Prepare yourself for some…

A Guide to San Miguel de Allende; An Artist’s Paradise

San Miguel de Allende has been on everyone's radar - making it to the top of Travel and Leisure's list of cities to visit. What's not to like from this colonial UNESCO World Heritage site - small cobblestone streets covered in brightly colored bugambilias, art museums, and cafes around every corner, street art from international artists, parades led by 10-foot paper mache bride and grooms and donkeys with glasses. Getting There and Around San Miguel de Allende By Plane There…

Visiting the Botanical Gardens of San Miguel de Allende

Jardín Botánico El Charco del Ingenio The botanical gardens are about 1.5 km Northeast of the main part of town in San Miguel de Allende. This 88-hectare (over 170 acres) space is not only a garden, but also a recreational and ceremonial space and a wildlife sanctuary. El Charco hosts an extensive botanical collection made up of cacti and other succulent plants, many of which are rare, threatened or in danger of extinction. In 2004 El Charco del Ingenio was proclaimed a Peace…

6 Tips on How to Land an Expat Assignment

This post was written by my husband who worked really hard to land us an expat assignment in Mexico. Some of you may have the desire to travel but want to keep your current job or stay in your career field. Not all companies offer international opportunities, but if yours does and you are interested in living abroad, check out this article! 1.) Review your company's "International Mobility" Policy An International Mobility (IM) assignment is ALOT of work so make sure…