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I could see Bernal long before I entered this small town in the middle of Mexico’s central highlands. The Peña de Bernal—a towering rock monolith similar to Devils Tower in Wyoming—stands 1,148 feet above its base in the high desert, dominating the landscape for miles around. This volcanic dome is said to be the third-highest of its type in the world...
Tequisquiapan fills up every weekend with day-trippers who come from Querétaro, Mexico City, Guanajuato, and other cities in central Mexico to enjoy its mild, pleasant weather and relaxing ambiance. Tequisquiapan, one of Mexico’s pueblos mágicos, or magical towns, is a charming village famous for its vineyards...
Since moving to Costa Rica, “I’m decompressing” has become our catchphrase for when one of us sighs spontaneously. It’s a little counter-intuitive, I’ll admit. The idea that we would even needed to decompress after moving here was a surprise. We thought we had lived simply in the U.S. At the time, it was pretty plausible...
From knowing the best spots to catch a sunset, to mastering the language—going where the locals go and doing what they do uncovers a whole new side of a city. Paris, especially, is a joy when you know it well. Let’s get started.
“We decided to sell our Lisbon apartment and look for a house with some land, but we ended up buying a farm,” Bill says. In central Portugal, the quaint village of Figueiró dos Vinhos is where they found their dream home, casa da lomba. Situated on a large plot of land with fruit trees, vegetation, and even a bio pool, the property offers the couple...
All around the world communities celebrate the holiday season in unique ways, and one of the joys of expat life is getting to experience those traditions. Read how IL's contributors are celebrating Christmas in their adopted countries—France, Colombia, Belize, Italy, and Costa Rica.
All roads lead to Rome, but I was driving in the wrong direction. The hot and dusty chaos of the Italian capital disappeared from my rear view mirror. Heading eastward, I was entering a different kind of Italy. Green, mountainous, traditional, and laidback. An Italy still somewhat undiscovered by the masses who take to the Amalfi Coast, the Lake region...
There's something magical about a white Christmas. Being cozy by the fire…watching kids playing in the snow….having a hot drink after being out and about shopping for the holidays. But on the other hand, you do have to contend with gloomy skies and bone-chillingly cold weather. So why not trade the boots for sandals, the big coats for swimsuits?
My wife, Vivien, and I never miss the opportunity to hit the road and get out and about in Thailand, particularly when the route takes us deep into lesser known parts of the Thai Kingdom. While Thailand is one of the most visited countries in the world, its largest region—nearly one third of its landmass—is still off the beaten track.
When people want details about my life in Costa Rica, I never fail to brag about its excellent medical and dental services. There’s a multitude of choices on tap for locals, expats, and tourists alike. Newcomers here are often pleasantly surprised by the attention that doctors and dentists give to their patients.