I’m someone who loves moving! I don’t love the physical labor involved, but I love a new start in a new location I can explore. However, it is a lot of work, and can be a bit stressful. I know the dogs feel my excitement and their own stress too.  Olive is especially sensitive to moving and takes a few days to adjust to a new place.

It was hard to narrow down what I wanted to take on this trip, but ultimately I want to settle in Mexico and have a home and I didn’t want to buy things like kitchen utensils and pots and pans. So, the car is packed with kitchen stuff and also some warmer clothes and shoes, brought out as needed.

Because the weather changed so much here in the last few weeks, and because I did quite a bit of cooking at this location, I unpacked the car more than usual at this rental.  

When I was leaving the US I had to liquidate a whole household including furniture and everything!  I sold a lot and gave away a lot. If you’ve ever done this you know how many things a person can accumulate. 

Since I’ve been traveling I’ve given away a few things too. Do I really need 10 pounds of sugar?  I used to shop at costco and had a well stocked kitchen. But the more I give away the more I like it.  It also shows you what you really need on a daily basis.

I have a bit of a time concern when it comes to checking out of a rental, and then checking in to the next one.  When we’re doing that, we are essentially homeless, with everything packed up, the dogs in the back seat. The dogs can only stay in the car for so long, and I need to time it right especially when it’s very hot outside or rainy.

The way to Tequisquiapan was pretty easy, though my cell service went out and I made a wrong turn on a highway. I soon got readjusted, even without a working map, and thought, not for the first time, that I should have a back up map if my cell service goes down.  

After a while we passed through the high desert and on to more farmland, with green fields and tall trees.  

Tequisquiapan!

Did you know Mexico has a wine and cheese region? I didn’t until I started looking into visiting this part of the country. In the state of Queretaro, on the Mexican plateau is a tourist town, which mostly caters to weekend visitors from Mexico City and the city of Querétaro.  It’s called TEQUIQUIAPAN, and it’s beautiful!

Tequisquiapan is the second most important tourist destination in the state of Querétaro. The major tourist attractions for the town include the food, the hot springs, the crafts and the climate. And the gorgeous town itself!

Grape production began in the early 1960s and The town hosts the annual Feria Nacional del Queso y el Vino, (National Cheese and Wine Fair) which showcases southern Querétaro’s cheese and wine production. Unfortunately I missed this event because it happens in May and June!

Another attraction of the town is shopping, especially for handcrafts and folk art. The two most traditional crafts of the area are baskets and furniture made from wood, wicker, and rattan. I loved looking into some hotels that are using the lovely rattan furniture that’s made here. If I had a house that needed furniture I’d be tempted to buy it all here!

The narrowness of the roads means that traffic is sometimes jammed, especially on weekends. I read that modernization has destroyed many of the town’s old trees; however, most of the original junipers along the river remain. Away from the historic center, many of the newer sections of town consist of subdivisions of weekends homes more recently built.

I liked how the town is small and outside of it are green fields and rolling hills. I liked how clean and beautiful it was. Very walkable. 

Though most of these videos were taken on a Wednesday morning, you can tell the town is used to seeing many more people. 

The owner of the house we are staying says on the weekends the town is very lively with lots of people, coming from Queretaro and Mexico City, and during the week it’s more quiet and tranquil.  

I have heard that there is a small but tight knit group of expats living here and that they love it!

As you can see by the lovely rooftop restaurants and bars, there is a capacity for many people.  And with wineries and cheese makers close by you could spend a nice time touring and tasting.

I found Tequis to be about average in expenses when it comes to other parts of Mexico I’ve been to. Airbnbs seem slightly more expensive, maybe because it’s wine country and touristy. 

There are many nice airbnbs here, and many people from Mexico city have second homes here.  It is a small town so housing might be limited for long term stays. There is a big variety of restaurants throughout the town and many with lovely patios surrounding the beautiful zocalo.

Queretaro is only about an hour away for any shopping or hospital needs you may have, a big airport, and is a beautiful city in its own right.

Tequisquiapan enjoys a semi-arid climate with warm days and cool nights throughout most of the year. The surrounding mountains influence the climate, creating a relatively temperate environment.

To sum it up, I think Tequisquiapan’s geography combines natural beauty with cultural richness, making it a unique destination in central Mexico for both relaxation and exploration of historical and natural attractions. It’s laidback atmosphere, great climate, and proximity to a larger city, make it very attractive for anyone in Mexico.