Deep in the Ozarks a most beautiful AND INSPIRING chapel During our travels Stew and I visit local places of worship of any religious persuasion, a quirky habit that has taken us from tiny, remote country chapels in Iceland to landmark churches that mark the center of some cities. Religious edifices can be imposing, as …
While in San Antonio, a side trip to Wåhdeføkken land IKEA's San Antonio store is hard to miss. A hulking box-like structure, with about twice the floor space of the average Walmart Super Center, rises slightly over its surroundings and is painted the bright yellow-and-blue colors of the Swedish flag, which flies alongside the U.S. …
This Halloween the news was particularly unnerving I always thought of myself as an optimist, at times perhaps a delusion-ist. For sure, I've suffered bouts of the blues but usually sprung back quite readily, convinced that most problems can be solved if broken down into smaller, more chewable bites. But this Halloween, and the following …
A welcome addition to San Miguel's bustling musical scene While some travelers favor shopping, museums or natural wonders, Stew and I head for places of worship regardless of their religious affiliation. Neither one of us is particularly religious yet sitting silently under the soaring vaulted ceilings of a gothic church, rays of sunlight filtering through …
How far is San Miguel from San Antonio? Not far at all. The 2006 film Babel, written by Guillermo Arriaga and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, both supernovas of the Mexican cinema, is an intricate psychological drama starring Gael García Bernal, Brad Pitt, Adriana Barraza and Cate Blanchett, a Japanese cast, plus a number of …
Medical evacuation seems frivolous until it isn't Five years after we moved to San Miguel, around the time we turned 65 and eligible for Medicare, Stew and I bought medical evacuation insurance with a company called SkyMed, based in Scottsdale, Arizona that promised to fly us back to the U.S. in case of a major …
An emergency tested our Medical plans Given the group's demographics, it's not surprising that health care, along with finances, rank high on the list of preoccupations among San Miguel's expats, as they realize they are on the last lap around the racetrack. Some planning is in order. At this stage, eightieth birthdays call for special …
An afternoon of muscles, posing and flaunting Two weeks ago, when Stew and I were looking for the pickleball courts at a municipal athletic center—a first-class facility open to all—we noticed a poster for the Mr. San Miguel 2023 Contest, to be held the following weekend at the center's assembly hall. For some time we …
It's assumed to be a wonderful experience, but many beg to differ. Stew and I love to travel, and have done so quite a lot since we retired at age 57. And so we've zigzagged across Mexico, from Chiapas to Chihuahua, and abroad from Antarctica to Iceland. We've wondered why some people are not only …
Gay pride month celebrated at two vastly different venues "Life is a cabaret, young chum." In Mexico, "gay" has long been part of the vernacular, along with "feedback" and hundreds of other anglicisms. But for some reason "queer" hasn't quite yet crossed the border. Establishments may fly rainbow flags and proclaim their support for LGBTQ …
El Rancho Santa Clara 