Ruben has been a chef and restaurant owner for years here in Vallarta. He had his own Greek restaurant, worked with his sister who owns Coco’s Kitchen, and n...

Ada has been a friend since I first met her at an outdoor art show on the Rio Cuale here in Puerto Vallarta and was drawn to her colorful paintings. This is...

Her name was Mabel and she was the perfect grandmother. She was a plump soft woman and when she gave me a hug, it was so comforting. She always wore a dress,...

Hi Everyone! Yep, that's me! Thought it time I write a personal message to you during these trying times. The stories and photos in this blog are from my exp...

While visiting Eugene, Oregon last summer, I had the chance to sit down with my good friend and longtime potter Brian Gorrin. I wanted to know more about the...

Alex has been working in his family’s tortillaria in El Tuito since he was ten years old. He happily greets me every time I bring folks by to see the whole p...

The stories about El Tuito’s local “moonshine” have existed for ages including its shadowy history of being illegally produced in remote back woods areas and...

Walking down Calle Aquiles Serdan recently, I was surprised to see a new shop which beckoned me in with its brilliant colors and unusual lighting. The deeper...

Who hasn’t had coconut in some form or another? Here in Mexico it is part of the regular diet. During the 16th century, Pacific coconuts were introduced to M...

Visit Chico’s Paradise along the Los Horcones River just south of Boca de Tomatlán and you will often see the crazy diver ”Marco Loco.” His real name is Marc...

Ever been to the island of Naxos? While visiting the Greek Islands, my friend and I spent a few days there. The countryside interested us most…rolling hills,...

When I was little, the smell of vanilla as my mama added it to the chocolate chip cookie dough would send me into a state of bliss such that I would begin ea...

Blue and white pottery has always been a favorite of mine since my grandmother gave me a small pitcher from Italy. So, imagine my joy when I discovered Señor...

I recently caught up with Alondra Maldonado Rodriguera from Tepic, Mexico. She is a chef, author and much sought after lecturer and teacher. Her beautifully ...

In some of the artisan shops here in Vallarta, we can find curious skeleton figures of porcelain or ceramic, hand painted or covered in the Huichol style of ...

I can usually tell who are tourists visiting our lovely city. They either have nasty bites on their legs from the sand fleas or some part of their anatomy is...

Walking around Vallarta I see many palapas, especially along the beach as sun umbrellas or protection over the bar so you and your drinks will stay cool. Wha...

Situta de Peón, once one of the largest hacienda plantations for the production of natural fiber rope, was established in the 1800’s just outside of Merida, ...

I’m in fresh food heaven…tomatoes that don’t taste like cardboard, luscious peaches with so much juice it runs down your arm, sweet and tender corn on the co...

Okay all you old hippies and deadheads! This is the fair for you. Held the second weekend in July on rural farm land 13 miles outside of Eugene, Oregon, this...