I lowered my camera, sniffing the air around me like a dog. Jim and I looked at each other with the same silent question reverberating between us. Where was the smell of roasting coffee coming from? We wandered around corners and down cobblestone alleys, never quite finding what we were searching for, that elusive scent seeming to ebb and flow with each turn. Reluctantly, we returned to our hacienda for dinner, unsure that we hadn’t dreamed the entire olfactory experience. Tired, we called it an early night, sure that our quest for the coffee of Alamos was for naught.
Tag Archives: mexico
La Cava Restaurant ~ A Little Piece of Paradise in Guerrero
One highlight of our Trafalgar trip to Mexico last month was our “Be My Guest” lunch at La Cava Restaurant in Guerrero. Guerrero sits high in the apple and fruit orchard region of Chihuahua, and is famous for it’s fruit and cattle ranching.
The Road to San Carlos
Cactus. Giant Cactus. Tree-like Cactus. Small, blooming Cactus. The drive to San Carlos is filled with Cactus! We began in Phoenix, driving south and over the border. The continuing display of cactus followed as we went, ebbing slightly at times, but a nearly constant reminder that we were not in Oregon anymore!
Finding Color in El Fuerte
As mentioned in my last post, we are making it a quest on our long drive south to visit all of the Pueblo Magicos, the Magic towns of Mexico. On our recent trip with Trafalgar, we were fortunate enough to not just visit vibrant Alamos, but also colorful El Fuerte.
A Step back in Time in Alamos ~ Mexico’s Pueblo Magico
We have long dreamed of visiting Alamos, one of the Pueblo Magico towns of Mexico. In fact, one quest on our route south is going to be our attempt to visit ALL of these magic towns, an epic quest if there ever was one, with 64 currently on the list! On our recent Trafalgar trip around Northern Mexico, we were lucky enough to check three of the list. All wonderful, but alas, all scream out to be further explored at a later time!
A Less Touristy Side to Mexico
Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows how totally IN LOVE we are with Mexico. Having just returned from a trip into the less touristed regions of Sonora, northern Sinaloa and Chihuahua states, our love affair has only increased. Stories are racing through my head, all to come out on these pages soon enough, but below please enjoy a short photo essay of our magical time away to whet your appetite.
Mexico on My Mind
Pinned to the wall of my cubicle I have a picture of a map of the world and the caption “Forgive me for not seeming all here, but my mind is ELSEWHERE”. While this may be true with great regularity, recently my mind has been in Mexico.
Back to the Beach….and Mexico!
The waves sloshed onto the shore, as the sun warmed us. Having walked a couple of miles from camp down the beach, we stopped for a rest on a downed log, luxuriating in the absolute solitude. Not another soul disturbed our peace, other than a few pesky sea gulls, but even they seemed more subdued than normal. Aspen took a break from exploring to come in for pets, as Porter leaned back against me, raising his head to the sun, eyes mere slits, the picture of complete contentment. On this uncharacteristically warm, non-windy day, at the Oregon coast in FEBRUARY, life was good.
My Fascination with Doors
Doors are my favorite photography subject. I am fascinated, not just by the doors themselves, but by the stories I imagine they could tell if only they had the words.
Puerto Vallarta – a Flashback!
We have spent more time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico than anywhere else on earth, except home. Our most recent trip showed that, in spite of some inevitable changes, much of the city retains the charm and culture that we so appreciate.









