Alberto the Whimsical Artist
A sea serpent rises out of the water just behind the four arches, spitting at pedestrians; a mangy street dog drives a Volkswagen along...
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Sandra Cesca
- May 5
- 3 min
Alfonso's Leather Museum
One day while leading my walking tour along the cobblestones of central Vallarta, we happened upon several people dressed in old frontier...
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Sandra Cesca
- Mar 29
- 3 min
Preserving Traditions in San Sebastian
She caught my eye because she looked just like a dear friend I hadn’t seen for a long time. I was walking through the Olas Altas Farmers...
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Sandra Cesca
- Feb 22
- 3 min
Visit to a Nopal Cactus Farm
Pablo manages his family nopal farm about two hours north of Vallarta in the state of Nayarit. He has one hectare, about 2.5 acres,...
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Sandra Cesca
- Jan 13
- 2 min
Shining Sprouts
Sprouts have always fascinated me since my hippy days in Oregon when everyone was growing their own along with making yogurt, baking...
168 views3 comments
Sandra Cesca
- Dec 20, 2020
- 2 min
Hand-blown Glass Christmas Ornaments
The ancient art of glass-blowing is still practiced in several Mexican towns. In Tlalpujahua and Chignahuapan, creating unique and...
98 views2 comments
Sandra Cesca
- Nov 28, 2020
- 2 min
Rosie’s First Organic Garden
My friend Rosie Rubio started her first organic garden this past spring just outside of Los Veranos south of Vallarta. She first became...
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Sandra Cesca
- Oct 31, 2020
- 2 min
Uncork Mexico Knows Their Wines
Wine tastings have always attracted me ever since I lived near Napa Valley, California, one of the meccas of American Wineries. So, after...
64 views2 comments
Sandra Cesca
- Oct 13, 2020
- 3 min
Imperial Bee Organic Honey
The honey bee is so small it hardly seems important. However, without the pollination work of these little creatures, our food supply...
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Sandra Cesca
- Sep 16, 2020
- 2 min
Corazón Vallarta
Shortly after I moved to Mexico in 2008, I happened on a woman selling whimsical paintings of hearts as I strolled along the Malecon,...
217 views2 comments
Sandra Cesca
- Aug 19, 2020
- 3 min
It’s Mango Season in Mexico!
To truly enjoy a mango, you must eat it whole, with your hands, tearing the skin off with your teeth and sinking into the firm yellow...
87 views2 comments
Sandra Cesca
- Jul 18, 2020
- 2 min
Empanadas El Tuito
Anyone who has taken the pleasant ride south from Vallarta to the mountainous valley of El Tuito knows the famous panaderia about 15...
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Sandra Cesca
- Jun 10, 2020
- 3 min
Juan and My First Cabalgata
Juan Gomez has been a cowboy forever. In fact, I think he was born riding a horse! He led us on my first cabalgata, Mexico’s answer to...
88 views2 comments
Sandra Cesca
- May 20, 2020
- 2 min
Making Salsa While Drinking Tequila!
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...
150 views2 comments
Sandra Cesca
- May 8, 2020
- 2 min
Ada Colorina: Painting the Simple Life of Mexico
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...
50 views1 comment
Sandra Cesca
- Apr 7, 2020
- 1 min
Cultural Travels from your Armchair
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...
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Sandra Cesca
- Mar 28, 2020
- 2 min
40,000 Tortillas a Day
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...
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Sandra Cesca
- Mar 8, 2020
- 2 min
The Rise of Rural Raicilla
The stories about El Tuito’s local “moonshine” have existed for ages including its shadowy history of being illegally produced in remote...
95 views2 comments
Sandra Cesca
- Feb 4, 2020
- 2 min
Oaxaca Textiles in Puerto Vallarta
Walking down Calle Aquiles Serdan recently, I was surprised to see a new shop which beckoned me in with its brilliant colors and unusual...
108 views1 comment
Sandra Cesca
- Jan 20, 2020
- 3 min
Coconut History and Folklore
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...
36 views0 comments
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