Long ago, the Aztecs prepared spicy sauces called "molli." They used chili peppers, tomatoes, and seeds, and served them with turkey or whatever else they had on hand. Simple, yet effective: it was spicy, warming, and impressed the gods. Then, in the 16th century, the Spanish arrived with their exotic spices (cinnamon, cloves, almonds, etc.) and their chocolate (yes, cocoa was already native to Mexico, but the Europeans "improved" it by adding sugar). Forced culinary fusion:

It's easy to be afraid when you travel. Afraid of spicy food, afraid of people who smile too much (suspicious, right?), afraid of a way of life that's nothing like our well-ordered routines. But when you open your mind – and especially your heart – everything changes. Magic. It was thanks to this openness that I met Elísabet. We had crossed paths once or twice on the street. And then, when I saw her again, she asked me to watch her bike while she ran an errand. Me, the passin

Come on, admit it. When you hear "the largest pyramid in the world," you immediately think of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the pharaohs, camels, and Indiana Jones. Well, think again! The real champion is hidden in Cholula, Mexico, disguised as a hill with a church perched on top, as if to say, "Nothing to see here, move along." Imagine the scene. In 1519, Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador, lands, massacres just about everyone, burns the local temples, and, to top it all o

It's sometimes difficult to express a feeling, to share a sensation, a state of mind. Since arriving in Mexico, I've been experiencing life differently. Before leaving, I read a lot to try to understand the change, but nothing had prepared me for the reality. A reality that pleasantly surprises me every day. I think one of the biggest differences is people's smiles. A genuine, warm, welcoming smile. Time to live Here, people take their time. A traffic jam... it's a great oppo

Since my arrival, Mexico has been in full party mode. Any excuse is good enough to celebrate the joy of life. Carnival, Day of the Dead, Cinco de Mayo... In September, it was the "Beginning of the War of Independence" celebration, which lasted from 1810 to 1821, and at the end of which Mexico became independent from Spain. The Beginning of the Revolution Today is the "Beginning of the Revolution" celebration. A revolution that began on November 20, 1910, and lasted 10 years.

For the past few days, I've been relaxing in Valle de Bravo. This little town, nestled in the mountains of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, had caught my eye before I left Canada, and it was even at the very top of my list. I must confess that it hasn't disappointed me; quite the opposite. The town and its inhabitants have even surpassed all my expectations. credit: Luis Guzman Since my arrival, I love everything, I am amazed by everything. From my daily visits to the "mercad

Mexico is a land of contrasts. Scorching heat on the coasts, eternal snow on the mountain peaks, volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes. But Mexico also boasts year-round spring-like temperatures in some regions, refreshing cenotes, and above all, a welcoming, smiling, warm, and sometimes even… fiery population, just like their country. Credit: Grok, cenote Earthquakes Mexico, located at the junction of several tectonic plates, is one of the countries most prone to earthquak

Since arriving in Mexico, I've been slowly changing my diet. The stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, which haven't had to be refrigerated or travel thousands of kilometers before reaching my table, are too tempting. This cornucopia may explain why Mexico has one of the lowest cancer mortality rates in the world. The cancer rate is half that of Canada, and the survival rate is 60% higher. So, it's up to me to take advantage of it. credit: Grok While browsing the market

Today I'm moving. Morelia, in the state of Michoacán, has been very welcoming, but it's time to continue my discovery of Mexico. So I'm heading west toward the Pacific Ocean. State of Jalisco The road to Bucerías, a small town near Puerto Vallarta, is beautiful and mountainous. We go up and down... my ears pop and pop and... I discover new landscapes. Candle cactus. Mexico is considered the "hotspot" for cacti. It is home to the largest number of species. Tequila All around m

Since I've decided to use the next year to find the perfect place for me, I'm taking the time to explore Mexico. To help me in my process, I'm talking... For the past year, I've been talking about my project with the people I meet so that everyone can share with me what the perfect place in Mexico is, from their point of view. I'm pleased to see that people from Morelia often choose... Morelia as the best place to live in Mexico, but several other cities regularly come up: Gu

I've been in Morelia for two weeks and I'm slowly settling into my new life. The hectic beginnings are slowly giving way to discovery. I increasingly turn to people when I need help... like finding an item at the grocery store, figuring out how to take the bus, or requesting an extension to my car's import permit at customs. I could figure it out on my own, with the help of Google, but these small daily interactions are strengthening my self-confidence and... my Spanish skill

It's done, I'm now in Mexico. I had some doubts about the proper way to cross the border, but in the end everything went very smoothly. I had prepared a nice list of all my belongings. The customs officer took a quick look at the list, opened the trunk of the car, and finally, inscribed a beautiful phosphorescent pink sign on my windshield. After a few trips between the different offices, I have my temporary car import permit and my immigration form. So here I am in the Unite

It's true, it's really true. I left for Mexico. The house and motorcycles are sold, and all my remaining possessions fit in the trunk of my car. I had to drastically cut down on my dresses and shoes to make room for "essentials" like my partner's tools and... my kitchen knives. As someone who loves to cook, my knives were what I missed most in the AirBnBs I stayed in around the world during my travels. A few minutes after signing the deed of sale for the house, I set off on a

Six years ago, I was thinking about moving to Costa Rica. Arenal volcano, Costa Rica In fact, it was more than just a dream, as I had sold my house and everything in it. And then... the pandemic arrived and, partly due to health regulations, my mother's health declined rapidly. So my plans were delayed by a few... years. During this delay, I continued to dream and search for the location of my next adventure. Even though I couldn't move abroad, I could travel. I crisscrossed

Today, I received a priceless gift. The island of Koh Tao decided to affirm its love for me and offered me a perfect dive. credit: KohTaocompleteguide.com It started with the diving conditions. Tanote Bay was my first love two years ago, but since my arrival, I hadn't been able to fully appreciate it. Too much wind, too many waves, poor visibility, rain, downpours... Today, when I arrive at Tanote, the conditions are perfect and visibility is at least 20 meters. The first mom

Just for fun, I decided to tell you about the differences between Thailand and Canada. When you think about visiting a foreign country, you expect to speak another language, but it's much more trivial details that create the real change of scenery. The sun and the moon The first difference is the behavior of the sun and the moon. Yes, yes, here they don't act the same way. Who would have thought. Let's start with the sun... which sets faster. In half an hour, it's over, the s

I tried to resist... I swear... but the call of paradise was stronger than anything. Two years ago, when I arrived in Koh Tao (Turtle Island) by... accident, it was a wonder from beginning to end. For those who don't remember, I was supposed to spend three months in Vietnam but, after five weeks, I decided to take a little trip to Thailand. In fact, it's all thanks to my partner who has a knack for creating and maintaining connections with people he meets on the road. When we

Luang Prabang When I get off the boat, I take a few days to visit the city before continuing my journey. Despite the fact that Luang Prabang is listed as a World Heritage Site for its pre-colonial and colonial heritage, despite the fact that it was the capital of Laos for a long time, despite... all the efforts I make to find it beautiful and interesting, I don't succeed. Luang Prabang seems to me to be tasteless, without flavor. And yet, I have always found something interes

ຫ້ວຍຊາຍ - Houei Sai - Huay-Xai One of the highlights of my trip is looming ahead of me, a cruise on the Mekong from Huay-Xai to Luang Prabang. All this requires a bit of organization but the magic of the internet accompanies me in my efforts. Obtain my visa to cross to Laos Find transportation to the border Find a hotel in the village where the cruise leaves, another halfway in Pak Beng and a last one in Luang Prabang Choose the company and the type of cruise I want and give

A snack? Leaving Tha Ton I head towards the Mae Hong Son loop. On the way, I stop at a small cafe, like there are thousands in Thailand. The lady serves us a drink but what catches my attention is what is placed on the table. Bamboo sticks and small banana leaf packages. I examine everything carefully, trying to guess what it is. No use… The lady, seeing my perplexity, comes over and explains that these are snacks. The bamboo stick can be peeled like a banana and, inside, the