Life on the Border

Two children are born on the same day, and live two hundred feet from each other. They speak the same language, and are maybe even related going back a few generations. And yet, these two children will have completely different lives. One will have opportunities the other cannot even dream of. And this is all…

A Day in Juarez from El Paso

“Call me as soon as you’re back across the border,” said my mother. “Text me every hour,” said my girlfriend. “Just don’t go to Juarez. It’s not safe,” said pretty much everyone I told of my plan to cross the border from El Paso for a day. However, despite all the trepidation from both my…

Mexico and Puerto Rico: How to Help

Today's blog post was supposed to be light and fun, written about last weekend's visit to the LA County Museum of Art. But after another week of devastation in the world, to two destinations I love, I feel compelled to ask all of our readers out there to join in and help. This week's 7.1…

Why I Went to Mexico

If you watch or read the news, no doubt you've seen headlines featuring our southern neighbor. The August 2 issue of USA Today read, "Violent Crime in Mexico Vacation Spots." On December 13 of last year, the New York Times published "Mexico Grapples With a Surge in Violence." And of course, we all remember then-candidate…

One of the Best Meals of My Life

In addition to being an avid traveler, I am also a foodie. One of my favorite parts of travel is trying the cuisines of new places. Whether ribs at Rendezvous in Memphis, brisket at Franklin BBQ in Austin, or chili at Skyline in Cincinnati, food is a large part of the travel experience. So when…

Mexico City: Coyoacan

About five miles south of both the Historical Center and Chapultepec Park lies the neighborhood of Coyoacan. Considered by many to be the most livable section of town, it has a nice hipster vibe. Shaded small street, cafes, art galleries, and parks combine with modest homes and buildings to create a lovely scene to walk…

Mexico City: Teotihuacan

Located about 35 miles from Mexico City lie the ruins of Teotihuacan. Best known for the huge Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, visitors find much more: a significant amount of a city that, in the first centuries of the common era, was home to roughly 200,000 people, before being abandoned around the year…

Mexico City: Chapultepec Park

A few miles west of the Historical Center, one finds a huge green area in the middle of this vast urban sprawl: Chapultepec Park. It is the cultural center of Mexico City, featuring a number of museums, the zoo, gardens, and a nice lake for peddle-boating. Oh, and it also has a castle! Chapultepec Castle…