The Riviera Maya, Where Nature Heals
The beach at Xpu-Há in the Yucatan I’m posting this from the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, now known to most visitors as the Riviera Maya. Yes, this is one of those carefully coined tourism catchphrases, but at least in this case it’s not too far-fetched. One glance at the photo to the right and you’ll [...]
Finding a Cure for Back Pain at Rancho La Puerta
I went to Rancho La Puerta, the legendary wellness retreat and spa in Tecate, Mexico, to whip myself into shape and get healthy and centered. Certainly those goals seemed ambitious enough for one week. What happened instead was quite unexpected; I discovered a series of classes and activities that allowed me to focus on alleviating [...]
Best Healthy Aging Advice Ever from Rancho La Puerta
One of inspiring aging-related messages at Rancho La Puerta I haven’t had a lot of examples of healthy aging in my personal life; sadly, both of my parents died at relatively young ages. So I find myself constantly on the watch for role models to learn from; I’m hungry for the example of others as [...]
Rancho La Puerta: A Wellness Retreat Ahead of Its Time
Sunrise on Mount Kuchumaa This week I have a chance to visit a place I’ve been hearing about all my life. Legendary Esalen, the Big Sur retreat that everyone raved about while I was growing up in the crazy ’70s? Nope, not Esalen — Esalen was modeled on this place. It’s Rancho La Puerta, founded [...]
A Special Welcome at the Hotel California, Todos Santos
Sometimes the various worlds that we keep carefully compartmentalized come crashing together. That’s what happened to me when I visited the Hotel California in the tiny Baja town of Todos Santos. (Not the Hotel California the Eagles sang about, or at least not exactly, but I’ll get to that later.) In addition to being a [...]
Saving the Abandoned Animals of Zihuatanejo
On a tour of downtown Zihuatanejo yesterday, we stumbled into a great story. Sitting outside at Cafécitos drinking café helado, we started playing with a mournful looking mutt. Soon Rash, whose family owns Cafécitos, was telling us all about the Helene Krebs Posse Pet Rescue foundation, created in honor of his grandmother. Which, it turns [...]
Rows of Empty Beach Chairs Line Ixtapa/Zihua Beaches: Are They Calling to You?
Mexico’s had a really hard time lately. In fact let’s be honest; this poor country’s gotten a really bum rap. Crime wave? It was limited to a few border cities most Gringos rarely visit. Swine flu? It turned out to be worse in the states. The last thing they needed was a hijacking — which, [...]
Yikes — No Ice Cream in Mexico?!
More than 95 percent of the desserts sampled from restaurants in Mexico tested positive for coliform bacteria, according to research to be published in the April issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. The researchers from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, selected a random sample of desserts from restaurants in [...]
Live Large in Loreto – And Not in a Gringo Condo Village
It’s finally possible to stay in central Loreto — right on the Malecon, mind you — in a hotel worthy of this gorgeous city. La Mision Loreto, which just opened this winter, takes full advantage of its gorgeous setting. Every room overlooks a tranquil courtyard and the island-studded bay beyond, while from the halls and [...]
