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May 2013 - Posts

Our first day in Oaxaca City was all about relaxation...and food! We all slept in and spent a leisurely morning at Casa Palomita (named for the bird not the movie snack) before going for a stroll into town. A working vacation for Rob, he had hours of emails to attend to and I took that time to acquaint myself with a city map and pin down some restaurants to check out. Oaxaca is known for its cuisine and the city is home to many fine Chefs. Read More...
Fortunately, the next day Rob was feeling much better and, after spending so long in the hotel alone, was ready to get on the road. We had planned to spend a day or two in Puebla but decided just to stop for a nice lunch instead and then continue on to Oaxaca City. We picked up our car at a rental place near the airport and with a little help from our iPhones and Google maps, we were on our way. Read More...
Today was the day we were scheduled to leave for Oaxaca. A car rental had been arranged in advance and the plan was to drive to Puebla, spend a day or two checking out the city and then carry on to Oaxaca where we were to spend the remainder of our vacation time. What we did not plan was for Rob to come down with a horrible stomach bug that would keep him in our hotel room and in bed in definitely! Read More...
A few years ago, our family road trip took us through San Cristobal de las Casas in the state of Chiapas. The highlight of our time there was a trip to Na Bolom, the home of Franz and Gertrude Blom, now preserved as a museum and a monument to their life together and their work in a remote region of south Chiapas, home to the Lacandon Maya. This intimate museum made a big impact on us so, of course, a visit to the home of Frida Kahlo was high on our list of "must-sees" in Mexico City. Read More...
One of the things that first attracted me to Rob when I was first dating him was his interest and appreciation of good food, good wine and quality spirits. At the time, I was selling wine for a very nice importer/distributor so we always had plenty of great wine on hand to pair with delicious food with my favorite restaurant accounts! Throughout our almost 15 years together, and especially during our travels, we have always enjoyed seeking out not just the best restaurants but also the best representations of regional food and drink. We are both adventurous eaters and up for trying anything and everything. Read More...
Our first full day in Mexico City was sunny and warm. Warm enough for shorts and flip flops but, having learned my lesson in Monterrey and Guadalajara, I knew that more formal attire would be expected. So, despite the weather, Rob and I wore long pants and closed shoes. While our scheduled trip to the zoo in Chapultepec Park would be a casual time, I was yet uncertain where we would be dining and decided to play it safe with somewhat dressier clothes. Read More...
In our eight years in Mexico we have never had the chance nor the inclination to explore Mexico City. In fact, the only time we have ever been there was for an overnight layover on the way to Acapulco for our honeymoon in 2001. I was so intimidated by the "idea" of Mexico City that I booked us into a hotel right at the airport and didn't even consider venturing into downtown. Read More...
f you have been hanging around the "Life's a Beach" blog for a while, you already know that we try to take one big road trip every year during the kids' semana santa break. We have explored Belize, Guatemala, Chiapas, Campeche, the Yucatan and pretty much anywhere we could easily reach by car. This year, no one was interested in roughing it. Rob and I have been itching to see Oaxaca, so flights were booked, accommodations secured and we were on our way. Read More...
So, here's something you might not know about us. Every year, we (notice I said we) spend months talking about and planning our big family vacation. It never takes us long to decide on location as we know we will have a great time no matter where we end up. The actual trip planning falls mostly to me. I book the flights, investigate and secure hotels and other accommodations and develop an itinerary of "must-do", "must see" and "must eat"s for the region we are exploring. Read More...
Last Tuesday, the Playa del Carmen Seaside Rotary Club had the honor of hosting the official launch of The Queen's Trilogy, a series of autobiographical novels penned by well known Playa resident, business owner, yoga teacher and performer Paula Liebe. Read More...
Stop the presses!! Breaking culinary news out of Puerto Morelos!! Entrepreneur Catriona Brown (The Little Mexican Cooking School and Casa Caribe B&B) and Chef John Gray (John Gray's Kitchen and John Gray's Merida) are partnering up in May this year! Read More...