During our final week in Oaxaca, we took a cooking class. We were driven to a private home in the town of San Agustín Yatareni where Susan, our cooking instructor, welcomed us as our cooking instructor. We prepared fresh salsa, masa, and refried beans and used them to create traditional Oaxacan dishes, all cooked on a hot comal, the flat griddle that has been the center Mexican kitchens for centuries. A comal is a flat griddle used in Mexico for…
The city of Oaxaca sits in the Valles Centrales (Central Valleys), a region made up of hundreds of towns and villages. Many of these communities are predominantly Zapotec-speaking and are known for a particular craft, food tradition, market, or festival that has been passed down through generations. A lot of these villages are easy day trips from Oaxaca City. One of our goals during our time in Oaxaca was to explore some of these communities and learn about the traditions…
Before arriving in Oaxaca, we knew it was famous for its food, colorful markets, and stunning architecture. What we did not fully appreciate was just how deep its history runs. The state of Oaxaca lies within what archaeologists call Mesoamerica, a large cultural region that stretched across central and southern Mexico and into parts of Central America. Long before Europeans arrived, this region was home to great civilizations such as the Maya, Aztecs, Mixtecs, and Zapotecs. Each had its own…
We are now in our second week in the city of Oaxaca. After spending our first days exploring on foot and taking a walking tour of the historic center, we have finally gotten our bearings and become familiar with our neighborhood. Our apartment is located just a short walk east of the Zócalo, the heart of the city, making it easy to wander into the center whenever we choose. As with other long stays, Oaxaca is beginning to feel less…
Heat Reprieve Summer has arrived in Florida. Early morning temperatures already hover between 75 and 80 degrees, with humidity levels nearly as high. By late morning, the mercury has climbed into the upper 80s and low 90s—and it’s only June. It’s shaping up to be a long, hot summer in Sarasota, so we decided to head south in search of cooler weather. Wait, south for cooler weather? It sounds backwards, but that’s exactly what we found in Oaxaca, Mexico. Sitting…
After a week in Marrakech, we were ready to see more of Morocco. Our first stop was Rabat, the country’s capital. With a population of two million, Rabat is Morocco’s second-largest city and sits on the Atlantic coast. So, of course, we were excited to try fresh seafood prepared the Moroccan way, something the city is known for. Rabat To get there, we took the train, which was our favorite way to travel around the country. Morocco has a well-developed…
After two weeks of festivities and fun in the Canary Islands, we hopped on a plane for a quick 1½-hour flight to Marrakech. We must admit we weren’t quite sure what to expect. Would we be able to navigate the city? Would we be able to communicate and fall into the rhythm of daily life? We began to find out shortly after landing, when we took a taxi to our apartment in the heart of the old city. One of…
After a week in Tenerife, we went to the island of Gran Canaria, another hugely popular destination for European tourists. To make the short hop between islands, we boarded a high-speed ferry for an hour and a half trip. The boat docked in the northwest port town of Agaete, framed by steep cliffs and dramatic coastline. From Agaete, we caught a bus for the half-hour ride across the island to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. After settling into our apartment,…
he Canary Islands feel like a little world of their own. Even though they’re part of Spain, because they are just off the coast of Africa, they have that perfect year-round “endless spring” weather that’s hard to beat. There are 8 main islands in the Canary Islands archipelago. While historically known as a group of 7, the islet of La Graciosa was recognized as the 8th inhabited island in 2018. Each island seems to have its own personality. Some feel…
A year and a half ago, we hiked the Camino de Santiago route. We loved the landscape, culture, and slow pace of travel. After completing the Camino, we spent two weeks in Seville, in southern Spain. During that time, we talked about crossing the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco. It felt so close, geographically, yet we never made the trip — something we’ve regretted. On this 2026 trip, we’ve decided to visit Morocco. This time, though, we’re beginning with a…