Mexican Lifestyles

To take advantage of the increased holiday season passenger traffic, Mexican discount airline Viva Aerobus is offering a daily, direct flight between Chicago O’Hare and Guadalajara, from December 7 to January 13, 2020. Prices will be from $US149 one way.

Airfares to Cancun and hotel rates in the Riviera Maya have dropped considerably this summer due to negative publicity, including U.S. State Department travel warnings on the risks of traveling to the area.

In a city with a corazón de plata (heart of silver) and a U.N. World Heritage designation based on its historical, artistic and mining culture, few visitors seem to focus on Zacatecas’ meteorology, geography, geology or topography.

When I told a family friend I was moving to Mexico their eyes lit up and they exclaimed, “You have to go to Merida!” Since coming to this country, whenever I’ve brought up this city it’s been met with enthusiastic comments about the beauty, food and surrounding nature.

Those keen to travel through Mexico’s glorious Copper Canyon in luxurious grandeur are now getting the opportunity thanks to the May 17 launch of the Chepe Express, a premium tourism concept that compliments the popular – but more modest – train ride, Ferromex’s Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico, more commonly known as “Chepe.”

If you read last week’s account of several days spent in Oaxaca City exposed to what a San Francisco-trained chef – Julio Aguilera of Oaxaca-cathedral-adjacent El Destilado – likes to sink his teeth into on the city’s wide spectrum of gustatory options, plus an account of his restaurant’s 12-something-course tasting menu, then you may recall where we left off.