I’ve just heard from my friend, Patrice Wynne. She’s having fun traveling around Mexico—again. Patrice likes to visit hidden markets, view art galleries after hours, and tour private homes of architectural interest. (The owners never seem to mind her showing up.) Patrice used to travel to these places for fun—but these days, she gets paid to do it…
In fact, Patrice has started a new venture that focuses on her penchant for travel. And her love of learning. (Before moving to Mexico, she owned an infamous bookstore in Berkeley, California, called Gaia.) She’s interested in art, literature, and architecture. And she’s found that there are few places better in the world to immerse yourself in that than Mexico…and especially in Mexico City, just a few hours down the road from San Miguel de Allende, where Patrice lives.
Patrice is also a very social person, and she loves to share her experiences. So it’s only natural for her to combine her business acumen with her affection for people, travel and learning. And thus she hit upon her latest business: custom tours designed specifically for art and culture lovers.
“Most of my tour business comes through word of mouth referrals,” Patrice says. “From people who know me from Berkeley or from others who have taken my tours. A group of architects, for instance, recently asked me to design a tour of Mexico City’s most fabulous buildings. Over the years I’ve gathered the contacts that allow me to take groups like this where the average tourist wouldn’t get to visit. My tour groups love these intimate peaks at extraordinary places: hidden markets, private homes, contemporary art galleries with special tours by the owners. At this point in my life, that’s what it’s all about…doing something I love and sharing my love for Mexico with others. And getting paid for it…well, that’s just divino!”
If you’d like Patrice to custom-design a tour for your group, contact her at sanmiguelpatrice@mac.com.
And of course, you can lead your own tours—especially if there is something that really interests you and you have some knowledge of. Start with what you love the most…whether it’s hunting for pottery in the craft villages of Mexico…experiencing the bullfights of Spain…or taking art workshops in Ecuador. If it appeals to you, chances are it’s something that a few other people will want to experience, too. Start small with a handful of like-minded travelers. Soon, not only will these little tours pay for your vacation…but they could hand you an impressive second income.
Suzan Haskins
For International Living
P.S. By the way, the custom-tour business is Patrice’s second successful business launch in Mexico. I’ve written about her first (and highly successful) business before. See http://www.sanmigueldesigns.com/. Patrice designs colorful items using Mexican-themed fabrics…aprons, kimonos, shower curtains, and more. And she works in partnership with local seamstresses to create the products, which are then sold at exhibitions and shipped and displayed around the world.
