Polaroid of the Week: ¡Viva México! Celebrating Mexico's Independence Day

We had just arrived in Guatemala and spent a couple of days in Flores, a picturesque island town on Lake Petén Itzá. One sunny afternoon, lounging on the dock, a friendly Guatemalan anciano (elderly gentleman) approached to chat. He introduced himself as Miguel de San Miguel from the village of San Miguel across the lake. At 85 years old, Miguel had lived his entire life by the lake, dedicating most of it to extracting chicle from sapodilla trees in the nearby jungles. His warmth captivated us,

Though our remote beach house on Mexicos Costa Maya had few neighbors, it was alive with dozens of geckos of all sizes. These natural pest controllers kept mosquitoes and bugs at bay. Jess adored the tiny newborns—barely an inch long—but our favorite was this bold green gecko. He loved hanging out nearby as we cooked, read, or dined, and was incredibly photogenic, striking poses for the camera instead of scurrying away.This morning, we said goodbye to him, the other geckos, and our faithful beac

As we wrap up our final week in Mexico, the nation commemorates the 200th anniversary of its independence on September 16—coinciding with Jess’s birthday! Celebrations begin every year on September 15, when Mexico’s President rings the bell at the National Palace in Mexico City, waves the flag, and shouts ¡Viva México! from the balcony to crowds in the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo). Over 1 million gathered for this year’s bicentennial spectacle. That evening, a national military parade marc