Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico

During the summer months in Mexico, head for the highlands.  Most parts of central Mexico are being cooled of daily by rain, the hills glow green, patches of color begin to appear.  Tapalpa, a Pueblo Magico two hours south of Guadalajara, fits the bill at 6800 feet above sea level.   Surrounded by pine forest, quaint, lots of cool little hotels.

Serendipity Patzcuaro Style

My wife and I have this ongoing contest between Spanish and English to see which one wins.  "Serendipity" put a win in the English column, there's just no way to communicate this as accurately in Spanish.  It also happens to be a great way to enjoy Patzcuaro, Michoacan on any given Sunday afternoon.  You don't need an agenda, just go to the main plaza and wait for something cool to unfold.

Hillside of Ferns Near Cuetzalan, Puebla, Mexico

The rainy season has started in earnest here in Michoacan, reminding me of a trip to Cuetzalan, Puebla.  Located in the somewhat remote, mountainous north of the state of Puebla, accessible only by curvy mountain roads engulfed in fog, this Pueblo Mágico is well worth the effort.  I went there during the dry season, can't imagine what it's like now that the rains have come.

Find the Fishermen

Zihuatanejo, Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.  If you're at one of the many beach resorts in Mexico and looking for something different than the normal resort photo, search out the local fish market.  Colorful boats, lots of action, dramatic light.  At markets like this one in Zihuatanejo, the fishermen are used to tourists with cameras so they just go about their daily routine without paying you much mind.  I tend to look for shots without people, in which case fishing nets make an interesting foreground like in the photo above.