Los Alteños in Guadalajara, Mexico

By now I am sure you are very aware of my love for tacos. Los Alteños is one of the tacos spots I regularly frequent when I am visiting Guadalajara, Mexico. You bet they always have a good variety of fresh salsitas, from the pico de gallo, to salsa roja and verde and my ULTIMATE FAVORITE salsa de aguacate! Yum, my mouth is watering...ahaha

At  Los Alteños they serve the most common kinds of tacos; pastor, bistec, chorizo, mixto, cabeza, carnaza, lengua (cow tongue) and sesos (cow brain). You can also choose to eat some vampiros/volcanes and gringas. 

It seems like every time I visit Los Alteños I get a minimum of 4 tacos de bistec. I like that the guys at Los Alteños are generous with the meat portion because I can make 4 tacos into  8 little tacos and add as much salsas as I want, without them looking like mountains hahaha. Tacos range in price from $8 MXP (about 60 cents) and $12 MXP (about 90 cents), VERY affordable!

To drink they offer  juice, milkshakes and aguas frescas in many flavours in a small (1/2L) or large (1L) option. I have personally only tried their lima and horchata aguas frescas which were refreshing and light.

They also offer a couple of dessert items, none of which I have tried yet because I am always to full of tacos, hahaha. Maybe next time? If you are ever in Guadalajara, Mexico you should definitely visit Los Alteños. They are open Sunday to Thursday 10am- 1am, and Friday/Saturday 10am- 2am.

Los Alteños

Av. Tepeyac # 1207 esq. Cubilete Col. Chapalita

Zapopan, Jalisco

Mexico

"La Casa Azul" Museo Frida Kahlo: Room #1 and #2

Third time's a charm...

I had always wanted to go to el Museo de Frida Kahlo on our previous trips to Mexico City, but for one reason or another, it never worked out. So, it was a DREAM COME TRUE when we finally went to Frida Kahlo's home, "La Casa Azul"  in November 2012.

As soon as we drove up to La Casa Azul, I couldn't believe it! Everything I had seen and read in books was right before my eyes. And I got a rush of excitement and energy that I could't contain, I was BEAMING, smiling from ear to ear! I was eager to dedicate a whole day to feeling Frida, to walk through her home and astounding garden I had read so much about. 

The first five rooms in La Casa Azul are dedicated to Frida Kahlo's paintings, sketches, personal/family photographs, Diego Rivera, and ofrendas (devotions). The following images are from the room #1 and #2 in La Casa Azul. 

It was an amazing feeling to be in the presence of Frida Kahlo...

[Above: Frida and the Cesarean Unfinished]

[Above: Don Guillermo Kahlo, Frida's dad]

[Above: Portrait of a Girl Unfinished]

[Above: Self Portrait Unfinished]

[Above: Frida's Family Tree Unfinished]

[Above: Viva La Vida Watermelon]

Coyoacán, Frida's Barrio #MexicoMonday

[Above: Fuente de Los Coyotes]

Coyoacán, is a beautiful Historic borough in Mexico City. It is where you can find La Casa Azul, home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. You can also find Anahuacalli, the museum that Diego Rivera's  designed, which houses his personal collection of Pre-Hispanic art and much of his amazing work. 

I love Coyoacán because it is bursting with history, culture, tradition and great food! Plaza Hidalgo is at the center of Coyoacán, it is a garden/park with Municipal building, Parish San Juan Bautista, Cafe's, Restaurants and the Mercado Artesenal Mexicano (Flea Market).

Gabriel and I usually start off with taking a stroll in Plaza Hidalgo, then we head on over to the Mercado Artesenal Mexicano for some vintage and one of a kind goodies. After a couple of hours of hunting for unique things, we grab some food at one of the many restaurants. After eating our meal, we always grab a cafecito at a cafe!

Have you ever been to Mexico City?

[Above: Casa Municipal on the right]

[Above: Parish of San Juan Bautista]

[Above: Coyotes at Mercado Artesenal Mexicano]

[Above: Kiosk de Plaza Hidalgo]

Visiting the Children's Home [Puerto Vallarta, Mexico]

When my husband and I travel, we like to spend time with children who are in care of the government/non profit organization. During our visit to Puerto Vallarta, we visited a facility that housed a wide variety of children; newborns/babies, toddler, even school aged kids (5+). 

The older kids were all at school, so Gabriel and I got to hang out and play with the toddlers. We even got to hold a few of the babies for a bit. It's amazing how children can welcome strangers with open arms and load them with hugs and kisses. We were lucky enough to spend a couple of hours with the kids in the playroom, moments that will always be with me.

Kids need to be loved, they need to know that someone out here cares about them. They need to hear those three words, I love you. They don't care about toys, as long as they have our undivided attention and some hugs! It is so important to NURTURE these children, they are the future.

Have you ever thought about visiting an children's home? It is an amazing feeling to know that you can bring a smile to a child's face by just visiting and playing with them. Try it.

Road tripping in a Volkswagen

Road trips were a huge part of my childhood and adolescence; my parents would haul from Vancouver- Honduras, Vancouver-New Orleans (USA), Vancouver-Tennessee (USA), and Vancouver- Houston (USA). It's always important to be travelling in a roomy and comfortable vehicle.

The Volkswagen van pictured above happens to be my dream car. In the near future, I see my husband, our kids and I travelling throughout North and South America with one of these bad boys. 

I'm positive we'll find our Volkswagen in Mexico, when we decide to shift South. These retro Volkswagen's look amazing in any color and have enough room for our future clan. Since I have such amazing memories from road trips with my parents, and three siblings, I can't wait to start this tradition with my husband and our future kids.

Have you been on any road trips? Si: What was the route? No: Where would you like to take a road trip to?

Nayarit, where dreams are born

"So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!"

-Peter Pan

 Buenas tardes (boo-eh-nas tar-dez. good afternoon)!

These photos are from the day we arrived to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico!

Like the Peter Pan quote above, this is my Never Never Land. It is definitely where many of my dreams are born, and come true! It is my "happy place." Whenever I am feeling blue, this is where I go to, in my mind. I can't help but feel all warm and smile, when I think of think of being there.

Never Never Land, it's your dream paradise, where everything makes you merry!

Everyone should have their own Never Never Land, it'll make you happy, always.

Where is your Never Never Land?

Calaveras y Diablitos

 It's me again, Sophia. In honor of the Dia de Los Muertos holiday, I'd like to share with you pictures straight from the national museum of the dead in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico. It's a small state in Mexico where my dad's mom's family was from, or easier put, my great grandma ha.

Me in my teaching clothes. It was a short trip.

We were like, "LOL."

La Catrina tan fina

http://museonacionaldelamuerte.uaa.mx/ Here is the link to the official site of the museum if you wanna check it out.

Even if you aren't into the skulls, and the art, and the painted faces of it all, might be nice to take a day to remember your loved ones who have passed on,

LaSophia

A Happy Halloween in Puerto Vallarta

I am the one in the mask and the lovely lady to my left, is my beautiful sister in law, Mariana! I am currently in Mexico,preparing for my wedding (November 11,2011). I am honoured to have three of my inspiring friends (Sophia, Nikki and Des) guest blog, while I am away for three weeks! I know you will be amazing to them! I would like to ThANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your kind words and blessings!!