Cultivating curiosity and wellbeing in Mexico
Commercial, canned coconut milks can contain preservatives and flavor enhancers that many of us want to avoid. But making fresh coconut milk is easy, particularly for those of us living in Mexico or in tropical areas where the coconuts practically fall from the trees at our feet. How lucky can Continue Reading →
Recently, I saw several references on-line to a “heart vein opening drink” that is purported to open up blockages in the heart. The blog entries and recipes I saw were based on a testimonial submitted by someone who supposedly had used this method to improve heart health. Please see the Continue Reading →
Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, is Mexico’s beloved patron saint and patroness of the Americas. She is also affectionately known as the Empress of Latin America and is particularly regarded as a protectress of unborn children. According to the Catholic church, shortly after the Continue Reading →
Garlic is a staple in our household. I can’t get enough garlic: squashed, sliced, chopped, baked, dried, powdered, or roasted whole, garlic fits into almost any recipe. The healthful properties of garlic are purported to be many; garlic is considered a digestive aid, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, immune system booster, blood pressure Continue Reading →
Things were hopping today at Zihuatanejo’s Saturday organic and natural products market on Playa Principal at Plaza del Artista in downtown Zihua on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Juanito Zihua and Banda Cuatro-Cuarenta were playing, and many who stopped by the beachfront market took advantage to dance off the excess energy after Continue Reading →
A tiffin carrier or tiffin box is usually round, multi-tiered stainless steel container, the tiers of which conveniently clamp together. A handle on the top level provides for easy transport. Some tiffins come with insulated carrying bags. What is tiffin? Oxford Dictionaries (1) online defines tiffin (noun) as a snack, Continue Reading →
This Recipe has been curated from MindBodyGreen Parsnips are one of those vegetables I used to pass by in the grocery store in favor of more familiar choices. If you’re like me and haven’t tried cooking with parsnips, it’s time to give them a… Continue Reading →
For the third year, I am continuing my tropical garden experiment, trying to determine what are the best vegetables for our area (Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico, on the Pacific coast). Here we’re most definitely in what is called climate Zone 11, the hottest zone in the North American classification, which means Continue Reading →
(If you’re just joining us, this is the last of a series of posts about our travels to Istanbul and Barcelona. Check prior posts for more info.) We spent two-plus unforgettable days wandering the streets of Istanbul. We took a bus from the old sector over the Galata Bridge, through Continue Reading →
There’s one thing that a visitor to Istanbul must not miss: the Turkish bath! Suleymaniye Hammam On the evening before our flight out of Istanbul, we moseyed into a Turkish bathhouse that we’d seen advertised. It was the Suleymaniye Hammam next to the Suleymaniye Mosque in old Istanbul. It was Continue Reading →
I don’t know much about mosques, but their immense proportions, sweeping arches, majestic domes, towering minarets, intricate tile work, and auras of devotion inspire awe and quiet contemplation. The major mosques we visited in Istanbul permitted visitor access between the five prayer times, when the Islamic call to prayer echoes Continue Reading →
Some of the most fascinating aspects of Istanbul are its bazaars, and once we had our breakfast at the hotel, we were set to go out into the streets and discover them. But first, a few words about the breakfast buffet that was included in the Agan Hotel room price. Continue Reading →
After our visit to Barcelona, we boarded another Turkish Airlines flight back to Istanbul, where we were scheduled to spend three nights and nearly two and a half days before flying home. It was our first visit, other than having spent three or four hours in the Ataturk airport on Continue Reading →
Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery lies about 48 kilometers (30 miles) outside of Barcelona, Spain, and is accessible by train or by road. Trains from Barcelona to Montserrat leave from both the Plaça de Espanya and the Plaça de Catalunya stations. The train ride from Barcelona takes approximately one and Continue Reading →
Spain means paella and Spain means tapas, with a lot of seafood, cheese, and meat products mixed in. Eating vegan in Barcelona was a hard nut to crack Continue Reading →
First stop: The streets of Barcelona. Barcelona bustles day and night. It is a walker’s joy, with wide, tree-lined promenades, frequent watering holes for the hungry and thirsty, and fascinating architecture in styles that span the ages.There are people out walking their dogs at all hours; the old and the Continue Reading →