Before visiting San Miguel de Allende for the first time several years ago, I thought that I wouldn't like it. From what I had heard and read, I got the impression that it was overrun with expats and retirees, English spoken everywhere, with little of the real Mexico that I know and love about it. As it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised by San Miguel. The architecture is lovely. It's clean. There are tons of interesting shops and boutiques - they are pricey in comparison with what you may find in other Mexican destinations, but certainly make for good window shopping! I did hear a fair amount of English spoken there, but there weren't nearly as many foreigners as I anticipated from the comments I had heard about San Miguel (my visit was during the spring, it's quite likely that there are more foreigners about during the winter). Like the other beautiful Mexican colonial cities that I love, it has a rich sense of history all about it; you can feel that important things happened there.

Opinions vary about San Miguel de Allende:

Kathleen Crislip, About.com's Guide to Student Travel says: "I think you can safely give this town in Mexico's hilly country east-ish of Guadalajara a miss without worrying that you've missed too much."

Barbara Weibel who writes the blog Hole in the Donut writes: "...it may just be that seeing Guanajuato first has ruined me for all other Mexican cities, but basically, I couldn't wait to leave San Miguel de Allende."

Jim Johnston, author of Mexico City: An Opinionate Guide, lived in San Miguel de Allende for nearly a decade and staunchly defends it, declaring that it's the most beautiful town in Mexico.

Learn more about San Miguel de Allende or take a virtual walking tour of San Miguel de Allende. Have you visited San Miguel de Allende? What was your impression? Please leave your comments below.

_{Photo © Suzanne Barbezat}

From Espiritu Santo, a UNESCO-listed nature reserve off of Baja California Sur, to Cozumel, Mexico's largest port of call for cruise ships, Mexico's islands hold diverse charms. You can experience an up-close encounter with nature, take a romantic escape with your sweetie, or embark on a tequila-fueled weekend of fun. Whatever your idea of a good time may be, one of Mexico's top five islands is sure to fit the bill.

_{Creative Commons photo by GoGap}

_{DreamPictures/Getty Images}

El Día de las Madres (Mother's Day) is celebrated in a big way in Mexico. Mexicans pamper their moms, serenade them, give them flowers and gifts, and treat them to a nice meal out in a restaurant. In Mexico this celebration always falls on May 10th, unlike in the U.S. and Canada where it's celebrated on the second Sunday in May (May 13 this year).

One of the ways Mexicans celebrate their mothers is with a serenade. The serenade is ideally sung in the early morning, to wake up your mom in the nicest way possible. (If your mom's not an early riser, she may prefer to sleep in and save the serenade for later in the day, though.)  The favorite song to sing to moms on Mother's Day, and to anyone on their birthday or to congratulate them for some special occasion, is Las Mañanitas. This is a traditional Mexican song that dates back to at least the 19th century. The writer of the song is unknown.

Have you considered using music to show your mom how much you care about and appreciate her? Hire a mariachi band, or if you're musically inclined, sing for her yourself.  Here are the lyrics of Las Mañanitas (with translation), and a video so you can learn how to sing Las Mañanitas.

For a really special Mother's Day gift, treat your mom to a luxurious Mexican vacation. Here are some ideas: Mother's Day Getaways.

¡Feliz Día de las Madres!

The Mexico Report is a blog that is dedicated to highlighting the good news about Mexico travel and culture, and provides an alternative viewpoint to the headlines that, more than often, dominate mainstream news today. By providing positive news stories and inspirational features, The Mexico Report shows that there is more good in Mexico than meets the eye. The writer behind The Mexico Report, Susie Albin-Najera, is a freelance writer and avid Mexico traveler. She is committed to shining a light on the good things that happen in Mexico. One of her most recent projects is called Real Heroes of Mexico. This project aims to find and acknowledge people and projects making a positive difference in this beautiful country. The Mexico Report is accepting nominations for Real Heroes of Mexico. If you know of someone in Mexico who goes above and beyond to make a difference, please submit a nomination. Nominations are open until the end of May, and the Real Heroes will be announced in June, in conjunction with the blog's three year anniversary.

From The Mexico Report: "Every day people throughout Mexico are doing amazing things in their communities, in business, in the environment, in homes, and in non-profits. The goal of this project is to recognize and showcase their efforts, bravery, kindness, achievements, and their positive, inspirational stories, and share them with the world."

Learn more about The Mexico Report, which was one of the finalists for favorite Mexico blog in the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards. Or go to The Mexico Report to nominate a Real Hero of Mexico.