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Jeff - The Rubel Family

After 16 years of law practice and working as a partner in a mid-sized law firm I said, "enough!" I checked-out and started teaching at a University. I love it and will never go back. My wife and I like to travel and in 2003 we spent a week in Queretaro, Mexico. We thought it was great. So, we are moving the family to Queretaro for six months beginning in December of 2006. We are all struggling to learn spanish and hope to have it mastered during our stay. Haley and Madison have been tutored for almost 3 years. We will try to blog the whole time we are in Queretaro. So check out our journal entries below!

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Joined on: June 14th 2005
Last Login: July 2nd 2009

Blog Entries: 14
Photos: 606

TB Code: [blogger=4216]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Jeff, order by Date newest first.

By Jeff
June 26th 2009

Crossing the Border North America » Mexico » Tamaulipas » Nuevo Laredo

The Border

June 24, 2007 We arise early and are on our way. We realize that we will arrive at the border late in the afternoon. I do not want to cross at a Nuevo Leon in the middle of the day, so we head to the Laredo-Columbia Solidarity Bridge. I have mixed feelings about us crossing at Columbia. I know that it is about an hour to an hour and half out of the way. But I also know that you can wait in line even longer if you cross at Nuevo Laredo. Moreover, there are the obvious safety concerns. We take [View Full Entry]

By Jeff
July 10th 2007

Our Trip Home North America » Mexico » San Luis Potosí » Real de Catorce

Our Home

June 23, 2007 We drive about 5 hours to real de Catorce. The drive was very easy all on a major cuota. Let me just start by saying this: Oh My Gosh, Real de Catorce is flat out amazing. Of all the cities we have visited none were more amazing. It is almost surreal. Real de Catorce is another example of the boom to bust towns of the silver mining era in Mexico. It is located at an altitude of over 9,000 feet, in the dry mountains of north-western San Luis Potosi. A spectacular view awaits. Silver was discovered in the [View Full Entry]

By Jeff
June 30th 2007

Our Last Week in Queretaro North America » Mexico » Querétaro » Querétaro

Our Favorite Place to Eat

Leaving Mexico Our last week in Mexico was bitter sweet. The kids are ready to return. They miss there friends and want to be back in our home. I am sad, but also excited about our drive home. On Monday we agree on the departure date and set the weeks plans. We spend a lot of time talking about our time in Mexico and how we have all enjoyed the experience. Out last 3 days proved to be a bit rough. First, we planned to leave on Saturday morning. Wednesday morning I was working on the blog when suddenly, I started [View Full Entry]

By Jeff
June 11th 2007

Moving to Queretaro Part 11 North America » Mexico » Veracruz

Map of the State of Veracruz

[url='/Videos/3924.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3924.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'] Voladores in El Tajin Week of June 11-18, 2007 Before departing Mexico, we decided we needed one final road trip. This trip was to be the best yet. We were hoping to keep it around 7 or 8 days. First we looked at the Oaxaca Coast on the Pacific side. Then I realized the climb over the mountains was a seven hour trip of hair pin curves with many bloggers warning that you must take motion sickness medicine. Then several of my Mexican friends strongly discouraged the trip [View Full Entry]

By Jeff
May 12th 2007

Moving to Queretaro Part 10 North America » Mexico » Quintana Roo » Cancun

Bus ride to Toluca

Week of May 12-17 My classes ended this week. I turned in my grades and we all decided to do the tourist thing. We went to Cancun. It is a long trip from Queretaro to Cancun, Quintana Roo. So we took the luxury bus from Queretaro to the Toluca Airport (just west of Mexico City) and flew on Interjet Airline to Cancun. We stayed at The Moon Palace Resort and had a great time. Nothing to do but drink, eat, lay in the sun, and go to the shows at night. All-in-all a very relaxing week! A few interesting things [View Full Entry]

By Jeff
May 5th 2007

Moving to Queretaro Part 9 North America » Mexico » Querétaro

On the Road to Zimapan

Zimapan This weekend we decided it was time to venture into the Sierra Gorda mountain range. Along the northern edge of the state of QuerÃ©taro, are the Sierra Gordas. An amazing culmination of canyons, rivers, jungles, mountains and desert, it is an area profoundly effected by the forces of nature. The temperatures at the highest points (10,000 feet above sea level) can be below freezing, the deepest canyons (900 feet above sea level) can register temperatures of up to 110Âº F. At the upper elevations, the terrain is forested. At the lower elevations, it is tropical and hot, and the [View Full Entry]

By Jeff
April 27th 2007

Moving to Queretaro Part 8 North America » Mexico » Zacatecas

Hotel Condesa

04-27-07 Talk about last minute plans! We have been talking about going to Zacatecas for several weeks. We were attracted to this city for many reasons. Zacatecas ("Z") is 8,000 feet above sea level on Mexico’s high-desert plain. It was the first of Mexico’s great colonial-era silver mining cities. The cathedral in Z is considered one of Mexico’s most magnificent. Because of its location, Z has very few American visitors (yippee!) but it is loved by Mexicans. The city has a swiss cable-car that transports passengers to the top of the rocky peak Cerro del Bufo. We wer [View Full Entry]

By Jeff
April 12th 2007

Moving to Queretaro Part 7 North America » Mexico » Estado de Mexico » Teotihuacán

Teotihuacan

April 12 - 17 This week I met the “Policia de Mexico.” I now realize it was never a matter of if, only when. Both times (yes twice in one week) I was driving. The first time was in Queretaro. My brother Lance was visiting. We picked him up at the airport and decided to take him on a little tour in the city. After stopping for cake and then tacos we decided to head home. I thought I could find a shortcut by driving into an area where I had never been. I took a couple of turns and [View Full Entry]

By Jeff
March 31st 2007

Moving to Queretaro part 6 North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta

Agava plants along the road

Driving from Queretaro to Puerto Vallarta It is about 750 kilometers from Queretaro to Puerto Vallarta. That's about 450 miles. I know that it can be driven in one day. But I also anticipated that it would be about an 8 hour drive with the last 3 being over and around the mountains. So, to do it in one day you have to start at the crack of dawn and drive all day. That did not sound appealing to me. Guadalajara is about 4 hours from Queretro and an hour or so northwest of Guadalajara is the small town of [View Full Entry]

By Jeff
March 24th 2007

Moving to Queretaro part 5 North America » Mexico » Querétaro

Queretaro

I am sorry for my 3 week absence -- I can’t believe it has been that long! I have a lot to report. My parents were here for a two weeks stay followed by a quick 4 Â½ day visit with my brother. I will summarize some of the highlights from each week. Week #1 Four Cities in One Day! San Jose Iturbide - A small town with a very nice central square (it had some really pretty trees that had just bloomed with beautiful purple flowers). We walked around the central square, enjoyed the beautiful day and visited a [View Full Entry]

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Jeff - The Rubel Family

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