Home - Kathryn Reed

“… blogging about life, travel, books, food and the outdoors”

Corona virus an opportunity to bring much-Needed change

Mar 21, 2020 | Expressions, Featured | 18 Comments

If this is the end of the world as we know it, is that such a bad thing? I was talking to someone about how long she thought it would be until things return to normal. I said I didn’t believe they would return to normal. I’m not sure I would want to if we could. Was...

Leave work behind, head to The Office on the beach

Mar 25, 2020 | Eat and Drink | 0 Comments

Where do people often conduct business. At an office, right? In Baja people do the same thing. Only difference is sand, margaritas and the Sea Cortez are involved. In this day of working remotely or needing to be connected to the boss or clients 24/7, people wouldn't...

Corona virus an opportunity to bring much-Needed change

Mar 21, 2020 | Expressions, Featured | 18 Comments

Array of choices to solve medical ailments in Mexico

Mar 20, 2020 | Eat and Drink, Expat | 1 Comment

Long before big pharma came into existence people used the land to cure what ailed them. They still are. I tried it earlier this month. The main ingredient in my homebrewed tea was a handful of leaves from the nicle plant. Having never heard of the plant didn’t...

Acknowledging what I am grateful for

Mar 18, 2020 | Expressions | 4 Comments

Life can be full of stressors. There are times when only the negative prevails. It doesn’t matter where one is in life, there is always stress. Sometimes it seems out of our control and then inevitably casts a pall on the rest of the day, maybe causing a restless...

Book Review: ‘Dangerous Divide’ delves into border issues

Mar 15, 2020 | A Great Read | 0 Comments

Often when the border wall between the United States and Mexico is talked about it has to do with keeping immigrants out. Discussions seldom occur about the drugs being brought in as well as the guns going in the other direction. A wall isn’t a new idea. Presidents...

Baja Sur ranch community celebrates artisanal work

Mar 14, 2020 | Destinations | 2 Comments

Tradition. That is what El Mercado Ranchero in Todos Santos is selling. For the last four years, ranchers and artisans have gathered in front of the store on Calle Morelos to celebrate their culture, share with locals and expats what they have made, and demonstrate...

Femicide no longer a hidden nightmare among Mexican women

Mar 9, 2020 | Expressions | 4 Comments

Women in Mexico not only marched, they boycotted work to make International Women’s Day (March 8) a two-day event. In Todos Santos on March 9, they marched and essentially went on a one-day strike. While it’s not known how many local women didn’t go to work,...

Collapsing infrastructure a concern in Todos Santos

Mar 9, 2020 | Expat | 3 Comments

Water, garbage, sewage and roads. They are the infrastructure fabric that binds most communities. When they aren’t working, they are what can unravel a town. The growth in the Todos Santos-Pescadero areas is straining what was built for a smaller population. On...

Mexico in the news: Avocados, renaming Baja Sur, 3D neighborhood

Mar 7, 2020 | A Great Read | 1 Comment

What would a world without women look like? Mexico may find out March 9, according to the Los Angeles Times. Mexican drug cartels are infiltrating the lucrative avocado business, according to this WBUR report. Some would like it to be known as California, Mexico – as...

Persistence leads to waterfall in Sierra de la Laguna

Mar 3, 2020 | Outside | 0 Comments

Finding water in the desert, even headed into the mountains, can be a challenge, especially when the rainy season ended months ago. We were determined. It only took two outings for success. Seeing flowing water made the trip worthwhile. At that point a...

Book Review: Biography on Mt. Rushmore sculptor a good read

Mar 1, 2020 | A Great Read | 3 Comments

A monument like Mount Rushmore probably would not get built today because of environmental reasons, as well as government regulations. It’s a good thing it was constructed when it was – between 1927 and 1941. Even then there were plenty of hurdles to overcome. In the...

Disappointed in San Jose del Cabo’s Flora Farms

Feb 29, 2020 | Eat and Drink | 2 Comments

If it had not been located on a dirt road, I’m not sure I would have believed I was in Mexico anymore. That’s what going to Flora Farms is like. I might as well have been in the United States based on the prices and concept. This 56-acre organic farm in San Jose del...

Punta Chivato — a remote enclave of expats in Baja

Feb 26, 2020 | Destinations | 2 Comments

Isolated, tranquil, welcoming and devoid of native Mexicans is what Punta Chivato is all about. Located on the Sea of Cortez in Baja California Sur, Mulegé is to the south and Santa Rosalía to the north. It’s about eight hours from Todos Santos. For the expats who...

Priceless views, expensive drinks at The Rooftop

Feb 24, 2020 | Destinations, Eat and Drink | 1 Comment

Sometimes you have to splurge. That’s what going to The Rooftop in Cabo San Lucas was all about. Oh, and the view. It’s the iconic arch that Cabo is known for that is the big draw. The rugged rocks protrude from the coast like a border of sorts. Which they are. At the...

Immersed in the desert while cycling in Todos Santos

Feb 22, 2020 | Outside | 3 Comments

With multiple options for turning, it was good to know we were following a seasoned guide who is from Todos Santos. While Trino Castillo was a man of few words, and Spanish only, he was the perfect guide. He is one of two guides at Over the Edge Baja bike shop in...

Scientist on crusade to save Mexico’s sea turtles

Feb 19, 2020 | Expressions | 1 Comment

Turtles caught in fishing nets are tossed aside to become food for creatures in the sea. They are byproducts of an industry that can be cruel. Stephanie Rousso, who is a wildlife biologist, marine scientist and spatial ecologist, is one of many who are working to make...

A mountain of fun despite never finding our destination

Feb 16, 2020 | Destinations | 4 Comments

Some of the best adventures are misadventures. “I’ve seen this before.” We all said it more than once. We were wrong each time. Another U-turn. Our destination was Marco the pottery guy who lives and works in the mountains near Todos Santos. Two of the four of us had...

A woman’s best friend at age 17

Feb 14, 2020 | Expressions | 13 Comments

I know that every day AJ is with me is a gift. Today she turns 17. She’s a different dog than she was even a year ago. Slower, sleeps more often, but is more affectionate. She uses stairs most of the time to get onto the bed. She usually needs a helping hand to...

Lake Tahoe snowshoe guidebook just published

Feb 12, 2020 | A Great Read | 2 Comments

Snowshoeing Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Treks provides snowshoers with an invaluable guide for adventures in the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond. Whether it is traipsing through virgin snow or on a worn path, this book contains a route for everyone who likes to play...

Art walk in San Jose del Cabo like a treasure hunt

Feb 11, 2020 | Destinations | 0 Comments

Art was in every direction while meandering along the cobblestones of downtown San Jose del Cabo, including inside the stores. Every Thursday during the busy season several streets in the art district are closed to vehicle traffic so people can more easily stroll...