Life Part 2 - Latest Comments

Re: Sheltered American Kids and the Rest of the World

Crystals Travels — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:17:41 -0000

I completely agree. We moved to a suburban area about 2 years ago because of my husband's job. I was shocked when my 11 year old said there was nobody outside to play with and equally dumbfounded by the way kids were permitted to speak to their parents. We are also one of the few families that require chores to be done in order to get allowance money. My husband and I both grew up in single parent households on the low end of the economic scale. We both as agreed to raise our kids to have a work ethic and to always give more love than stuff. Thanks for a likeminded .

Re: Street Food | Doriantojos

Raabs — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:22:08 -0000

Our local ice cream lady does the same thing and parks right in front of our house every day haha. Take any bag of chips offered (Flamin Hot Cheetos, Lays, Taquis, Doritos, etc...) and you can add chili, nacho cheese, chamoy, lime, or jalapenos for around $2.00. Viva Long Beach.

Re: Street Food | Mexican Taco Carts

Sherry Hardage — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:17:04 -0000

As a fellow Texan, the Doriantojos sound like a variation on the famous (ancient recipe) for Frito Pie. If they were doctoring Fritos in the bag, I might stop, but Doritos? Sorry, I'm a purist. Plus the taco stands down the street are WAY better. Good blog. Thanks.

Re: Street Food | Doriantojos

Brukz — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:25:14 -0000

Yum! what a great idea

Re: Street Food | Doriantojos

Debbie Lybrand — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:20:56 -0000

Innovative cuisine!!

Re: El Chiflón Falls in Chiapas, Mexico

LeonGutherz — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:41:24 -0000

I am happy you love San Cristobal. Unfortunately you are 30 years too late.

Re: Meet Your Food

thetravelchica — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:28:42 -0000

Traveling in countries with a "market tradition" definitely helps you realize where your food comes from. It is also nice to know that it is at least fresh and not being frozen and shipped from across the world.

Re: Photo | Multnomah Falls Near Portland, Oregon

Goodyralph — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:38:38 -0000

Amazing pics! thanks for sharing!

Re: Foggy Morning in Chiapas

pearweed — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:09:42 -0000

unlike many photographers, i love shooting in mist or fog. it's an acquired taste i suppose. beautiful image.

Re: Photo of the Day | Textiles at the Artisan Market

Brookechaplin — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:09:39 -0000

I have been to Chiapas and am glad that you took the picture of those particular textiles because they are so lovely and I was thinking about importing them to sell online in the US. Wanted to find a picture to send to friends and this one of yours is great!
Thanks!

Re: Mixed Metaphors

Sherry Hardage — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:23:06 -0000

I shared your post on FB and will see what the response is as I have a number of very conservative friends too. Wow. Excellent analogy. Couldn't agree more. Keep up the good rants. Actually a rant would highly emotional, so this was even better. Kudos to you.

Re: Street Food | Mexican Taco Carts

LifePart2 — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:27:52 -0000

Thanks guys! Look for more to come. Tell your friends.

Re: Street Food | Mexican Taco Carts

Marnie (and Keith) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:52:30 -0000

Just found your blog today and my husband and I are having a great time exploring it. We have traveled extensively in Mexico on at least 9 different occasions (with a pop-up camper sometimes and a tent other times) for 6-8 months at a time. On our very first trip we were lucky to run into experienced travelers who advised us neophytes to watch for two things when eating at taco stands 1) that locals were eating there 2) that the person cooking wasn't also handling the money unless he/she washed their hand after the money handling.

Re: Photo of the Day | Sunrise at Arches National Park

©juanderfulpinoy.com|Chino — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:50:29 -0000

wow this is so beautiful!

Re: Photo of the Day | View of San Cristobal de las Casas

Rachel Larsen — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:26:23 -0000

Jon, your site is amazing. I like your weekly charity blog. How did you get so social media savy?

Re: Photo of the Day | Three Amigos

Monica Alley — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:16:09 -0000

Wonderful!

Re: Consistent Giving

Edgar Guerrero — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:49:26 -0000

Hi, Jon and Vonda;
Congratulation by your website, the photographs are excelent.
I am pleased to greet you in this way and say it was a pleasure to meet you and have worked together to contribute to the noble cause foundation directs an inspired way ESCALERA.
Those three days dedicated to service and conviviality in Nichnamtic were wonderful, full of good feelings, learning and capacity (physical and spiritual).
Always surrounded by great people, great experiences, motivational scenes and beautiful landscapes.
Definitely help those who have less, strengthens.
Be happy and I send them a big hug and greetings.
Until next time.

Edgar Guerrero

Those three days dedicated to service and conviviality were wonderful, full of good feelings, learning and capacity (physical and spiritual).

Re: Photo of the Day | Spider Web at Sunrise

Puravida0217 — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:59:59 -0000

It starts with being mindful of each breath.... By acknowledging the sun on your skin, bird on the wing, wind singing in your ear, etc...... Just stop...... take notice and give a thankful breath.

I remember when I first felt what you are expressing above. It was the "first" time I was laid off by big blue.

I was laying in a hammock looking past my costly manicured toes to the sun setting into the blue sea, on an little island off the coast of Belize.

My belly was filled with a home made meal, my heart was filled with the warmth and love of some amazing people, (who only met me a day before) - but still, invited me into their humble home and shared with me what they had, what they had learned to honor and treasure the most. A meal with their family and friends.

I lay there, moved and honored,...... and for the first time, in a long time, I felt what it was like to have people want ONLY one thing from me..... to be my friend.

They gave me the BEST they had, "food with family and friends"....

Right then, in that hammock it struck me for the first time.... and planted a seed deep.

I was giving the best of ME - the best of what I had to give..... to corporate america. And my soul desperately wanted to give the "best of me" to wonderful people like this... to the people at home in my life. To everyone I met going forward.

So the journey began....

But it was not untill the second time big blue spit me back out.... 6 years later...... that I REALLY began to live this dream.

Now this is my "BLISS" - sharing my time, love, resources, talent & Joy... with anyone who is willing to receive it really :-)... esp in developing nations where the circle of this kind of love is realized.

This is my BLISS friends...... This is my BLISS

Blessings in abundance - Karen

Re: Photo of the Day | Candy Vendor in San Cristobal de las Casas

RobertSDF — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 13:37:32 -0000

I have enjoyed reading your comments. I do find many of interest mostly to those who know nothing of Mexico. And I understand, I was wowed by many of the normal parts of life when I first came to Mexico.
I live in San Cristobal for awhile and am finding the prices are really escalating rapidly due to its popularity. I returned to Merida for the winter and find the cost of living lower, especially in regards to housing. I usually avoid the expat crowd but did enjoy my mornings for coffee at Cafe Yik in the San Chris center, with a really interesting and diverse expat group. I find in many places, the expats only socialize with other expats but not so in San Chris---they are very much a part of the local community. I will return to San Chris when the weather warms a bit.
Enjoy.

Re: Excuses not to Live Your Retirement Travel Dream

Daniel O'Brien — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:33:39 -0000

This is so true. I've felt a lot of mixed emotions after deciding to try out life in other, more affordable (and more exotic) locations. My grown children say they feel a bit abandoned, but I hope you're right that, in the long run, I'll be a role model for getting more out of life.

Re: Photo of the Day | Candy Vendor in San Cristobal de las Casas

LifePart2 — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:11:21 -0000

Hi Jimmie,

Yes. I am working on an article about it now. Suffice to say there was nothing wrong with the beach per se it was mostly a function of the isolation. One of our goals for our first year was to get a good handle on the fundamentals of Spanish. Out on the isolated beach road near Xcalak opportunities to learn were a little limited. Having said that we loved our time there and have no regrets.

San Cristobal de las Casas is also an amazing place and I hope you will continue to follow along as we learn our way around here. Please, tell your friends and sign up for the newsletter. And also, please continue to post here a well. We love feedback.

Re: Photo of the Day | Candy Vendor in San Cristobal de las Casas

Jimmie Berg — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:55:05 -0000

So, have you moved from the ocean to Chiapis?

Re: Escalera, Building a School in Chiapas

Stephanie - The Travel Chica — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:40:13 -0000

Cute photos and a great project.

Re: Mexico Dental Visit

Puravida0217 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:35:53 -0000

Listen - I am "CLEARLY" all about the mexican dentist. You could even day committed to getting all my future dental work done in Mexico. I have had literally thousands & thousands american cost dental work completed in Mazatlan where my dentist is.... for only hundreds. Crowns, Implant replacement, basic cleaning and maintenance. I was really afraid when i lost my big corporate job in America & the puffy medical insurance with it....I can say i actually stressed for the better part of the year. THEN... after making new friends in Mexico, going to their recommended Dr's & Dentists.... I see that I have nothing to worry about. The health care providers in my experience, thus far, in Mexico have been absolutely perfect with NO complaint.
The last run of dental work I had done require replacing components of a dental implant that went south on me. The american dentist were quoting 6-7,000 american dollars. I got ALL the work done - clear to a perfect finish for just under a thousand. When the oral surgeon found out I was taking the public bus back to my hotel... he called out to his receptionist to cancel his next two appointments. He drove me to the pharmacy for my medication, then drove me to my hotel. THEN.... paid a house call two days later to check on the swelling and stitches.
And I will only make mention... of the blood work, mammo & annual that ALL cost less than 250$ INCLUDING an after visit to the Dr. Again to have him review my blood work up because it was all in Spanish and my Spanish is not so good YET !

So my testament is...... Mexico offers no risk on my part thus far for receiving medical care. In fact it offers me a great relief and comfort knowing I can get this great care by really, really nice people.

Blessings everyone - Karen

Re: Our Experience with the Mexican Health Care System

Rebecca Dare — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:25:05 -0000

I've had dental work twice in Mexico: a root canal ($150 compared to $1500 in US) and a double crown (I think around $325) in Ajijic. The second time I went to a dentist in Guadalajara that had been recommended by a great spa nearby (now closed, I think) called Rio Caliente. That dentist was very professional and my crown was something like $300. While reading your article I've been thinking about trying to find a dermatologist for a possible pre-cancerous condition that I've had for years. Because our medical is so expensive here (high deductible HSA) I have delayed seeing a dermatologist. If you have any ideas of someone to see in Mexico, I'd appreciate it.