Hola Mexico!
My all-time favorite country to visit is Mexico! It has so much to offer including a rich history, beautiful countryside, mountains, beaches, cities, night life, natural resources, friendly people, fabulous and consistent weather, archeological sites, ancient pyramids, art, museums, fishing, diving, snorkeling, wedding destinations, retirement opportunities, beautiful churches and cathedrals, silver mining, the Copper Canyon and so many more amenities. It’s also a great place to purchase furniture, jewelry, artisan crafts and art while also enjoying music, Mexican culture, delicious food and drinks.
One of the great benefits of living in Texas is our proximity to Mexico and how easy it is to fly there in about 2-3 hours, depending on where you are flying from and to. Our family loves the country and all it has to offer! If you have never been to Mexico, I suggest you go! I have been traveling to Mexico most of my life and have visited Mexico City, Guadalajara, Cuernavaca, Taxco, San Miguel de Allende, Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Playa Del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Tulum, Akumal, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey, Saltillo, Puerto Escondido, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo and Lazaro Cardenas, to name more than just a few. All the towns and cities have something different to experience.
When we were younger and more adventurous, and long before the internet, we use to travel on buses up and down the Pacific coast of Mexico with no real plans at all. We would just wing it with the latest editions of Frommer's travel guides as we went from town to town finding places to stay and things to do! Throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s, we often went to the border towns of Nuevo Laredo, Juarez, Piedras Negras, Hidalgo, Reynosa, Nuevo Progreso, and Matamoros. We mostly went to Nuevo Laredo where we would shop and eat delicious food for super cheap! The margaritas were awesome, too! Anyone remember the Cadillac Bar in Nuevo Laredo? While we miss traveling to the border communities, we still visit many other fabulous Mexico destinations and feel very safe. We also had a time share in Cabo San Lucas where we vacationed every year with our kids and built great memories.
While crime is always a concern anywhere, including Mexico, travelers just need to always be aware of their surroundings, not stay out super late, don’t hang out in remote areas, and use good judgement. I live in a large American city and are surrounded by daily crime, too. Unfortunately, crime is everywhere. The same safety rules apply no matter where you travel or live.
In addition to tourism, Mexico is also a place where many people retire, something we have often considered. There are quite a few expat communities throughout the country and the cost of living for Americans is very affordable as compared to the United States. American dollars can go a long way. While it’s certainly helpful to be fluent in Spanish, we have been able to get by on limited Spanish and a little help with Google Translate when we need it. We find the more time we spend in Mexico that our confidence and Spanish-speaking skills do improve when we are there!
If you have not explored Mexico, I encourage you to do so! It’s so easy to get to and the local people are very friendly and welcoming to tourists. For those considering retiring to Mexico, I found a few links to sites that provide some very useful information and resources.
The Silver Lining: If you’re looking for a fabulous place to live or visit, Mexico has so much to offer!
Resources for retiring to Mexico
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