Raquel Solves: From Spain to Mexico, An Unexplored Journey of Adventure and Success

Raquel Solves, a native of Valencia, Spain, is a name that resonates with adventure, exploration, and a deep love for Mexican culture. Her journey from Spain to Mexico has been one of discovery, professional growth, and personal fulfillment. Raquel has embraced every aspect of Mexican life, from its diverse climates and delicious cuisine to its rich traditions and welcoming people. In this exclusive interview, Raquel shares her story, experiences, and future plans, giving us a glimpse into her fascinating world.

The Mexican Adventure Begins

Why did you decide to come to Mexico?

Touristically, I have always considered myself an adventurer, and I knew that going to Mexico would be a great adventure. In Spain, we hear a lot about its beaches, its food, its people, its culture, its history, the pyramids, and all of that I had to explore, know, feel, and live firsthand. Mexico is an enormous platform for artistic growth. Every day in Spain, there is talk about film or television productions being made in Mexico, and important broadcasters like Televisa or TV Azteca or these new streaming channels like Netflix, Amazon Video, HBO, Disney+, Prime Video are constantly producing and broadcasting TV shows, series, movies, or telenovelas. Undoubtedly, it is important for consolidation in Latin America, a springboard to make the leap to the United States and, although it sounds laughable, also to the European market. Many Spaniards who now succeed in Europe first passed through Mexico before developing in our own continent. Who would believe that I came just to try my luck and stay for a short time, but I have been living here for ten years, I consider myself proudly Mexican, very identified with the people and all the culture of Mexico. Nobody can move me from here.

What do you like most about Mexico?

Just when I was planning my trip to Mexico, I made the resolution that I had to know it all, from end to end, from north to south, from east to west, and see it without the intention of comparing it with my country. I have experienced all kinds of climates, from the extreme heat on its beaches, the softness of the sand, the abundance of blues in the different marinas. The sky blue of Acapulco is not the same as the turquoise blue of Cancun or Los Cabos or the light blue of Manzanillo, not to mention the emerald green in some areas of the Riviera Maya. On the other hand, the cold in the high mountains and in the north of Mexico is a biting cold but enjoyable, you feel it, it’s different. The food is exquisite, wherever I go, I try to taste the typical dishes, savor different seasonings. For example, quesadillas are not the same when you eat them at a street stall in Mexico City as they are in Chiapas, the flavors, the way of making them, everything is different. I have eaten cochinita pibil in Mérida, cabrito in Monterrey, a torta ahogada in Guadalajara, a tlayuda in Oaxaca, corundas in Morelia, and even indigenous communities have prepared native food with insects for me. And the drinks, you know? The wine from Baja California, the wine from Querétaro, or the wine from San Luis Potosí are different from each other. A tequila, a mezcal, or a pulque… delicious, a real treat for the palate! And you know what? Even other international drinks like a rum and coke, a whiskey, and other mixologies, in Mexico, they are prepared and taste different. About the people, well, I am very excited about all the rituals they perform. Although the 16th of September celebrates Mexico’s independence, seeing how this festivity starts from the first day of September, with the streets decorated with flags, Mexican music everywhere, and I love to see people proudly wearing their beautiful traditional costumes. It is the only country where tribute is paid to death in a unique way, dressing up as skeletons, dedicating special days to set up an altar with food and waiting for the arrival of the faithful departed. It’s impressive to see the crowds of people who walk for days to the Basilica of Guadalupe in December to give thanks to the Virgin. Christmas with the detail of the shepherds’ plays, and well, let’s not even talk about when they celebrate the goals and victories of their soccer teams, which we also do in my country, but here they sing the ‘Chiquitibúm’ chant, and it’s a real party. They are very ‘chida’ (cool) people, hahaha. So, returning to your question, I like everything about Mexico, everything I have already discovered, and although it sounds strange, I already like everything I still have to discover.

Professional Growth and Unexpected Success

Did you find in Mexico what you were looking for professionally?

Yes, and even more than I expected. I came here to try my luck as an actress. I have participated in TV and film productions, playing secondary roles, and I have also been a master of ceremonies at some shows and advertising events. But look, life gives surprises, and before I knew it, I was also called to model; I have done fashion runways wearing beautiful clothes, graced the covers of important magazines, and worked with photographers on their personal projects. But what has left the best taste in my mouth so far, and was not in the original script, is the production that I have been able to combine with hosting. Inexplorado came into my life, and thanks to this program, I have been able to know a large part of Mexico. I would dare to say that I have known more than most Mexicans. As its name indicates, I have reached unexplored places, virgin beaches, discovered jungles, lagoons, cenotes, waterfalls, deserts; I have lived with birds and other flora and fauna that I am sure have not yet been registered; I have known and gotten involved with wonderful communities, adapting to their customs and trying to experience, even if only for a little while, the life they lead. It is very nice to know how I have influenced many people, as they tell me that thanks to me, they learned about ‘x’ place and decided to go explore it; I have also been moved to tears by comments that, thanks to me, many young people decided to study and dedicate themselves to Tourism or simply follow my steps, take a backpack with a simple change of clothes, cleaning equipment, and some medications, and go on an adventure. Some, like me with ‘Zanahoria’ and ‘Pepinillo’, even take their dogs on trips and make them part of their odysseys. I am going to uncover everything about Mexico until I discover it completely.

How did the idea of creating ‘Inexplorado’ come about?

Some time ago, I was invited to make a pilot program of tourist content, and I called it ‘Una maja en México’, in which I shared information about everything a foreign woman does in Mexican land, and it was well received, but I wanted more, and my intuition led me to make Inexplorado with a special format for cinema. At first, the intention was only to present unexplored places or those that few people know about, but now I am designing a series with international places. Then came the search for resources, sponsorships, but above all, convincing television stations and platforms. First, Mexico Travel Channel bet on me and were the first to schedule me, then the executives of Claro Video liked the project and broadcast the first series. Also, open television channel 6, Televisión Mexiquense found it interesting and put us in their programming, and one of the jewels in the crown was the ‘Benito Juárez’ International Airport in Mexico City, where on their television screens throughout the place, some capsules are continuously seen.

Getting to Know Raquel Solves

We have already learned more about your project and your interest in Mexico, but who is Raquel Solves?

I am from Valencia, Spain, the land of paella. Besides knowing places and traveling wherever the wind takes me, I love nature, I love animals, especially dogs, which is why when I came to live in Mexico, I adopted ‘Zanahoria’ and ‘Pepinillo’, who have become my inseparable adventure companions and are already celebrities because they appear in my programs, and people ask me a lot about them. Besides traveling, one of the things I have liked most about Mexico is making friends who are already like my chosen family.

How do you manage to look so beautiful and have that great body?

I love to exercise, I do it every day, at least one hour. Every time I travel and stay in a hotel, before looking for the pool or restaurants, I always look for the gyms and try to use all the equipment. I also love doing pilates and yoga. While I like to eat everything, I try to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. And although I love partying, I have adopted some habits like sleeping eight hours a day and meditating, which, whether you like it or not, also helps the body.

I suppose you must have many suitors; how is Raquel’s heart? Does it already have an owner?

Yes, I have many suitors, there are many in line, but the ‘owner’ of my heart is myself, and I share it with my two furry babies ‘Zanahoria’ and ‘Pepinillo’, they are my loves. Currently, I do not have a partner, I am happily single. I have so much work that having a partner is not in my plans for now, although I must admit that Mexicans are very handsome, and I might fall in love with one of them someday.

A Deep Connection with Her Canine Companions

You mention your two little dogs a lot; how did they come to you?

As I told you, I love animals, so when I arrived in Mexico, I immediately looked for a way to have one. I always seek to adopt them rather than buy them, and that’s how ‘Zanahoria’, a beautiful Chihuahua dog, came to me just days after starting my life here. A few years ago, ‘Pepinillo’, also a Chihuahua, came to me; both were rescued because no one wanted them, and they were going to be put down.

Besides traveling, what else do you like to do in your spare time?

I really like to read, I love detective novels, I am very much a fan of Sherlock Holmes, of Agatha Christie’s Poirot, who is a detective, well, that’s why I named my program ‘Inexplorado’ because I have a passion for investigating. I also like to watch series and movies, and I don’t know if it’s a hobby, but I really enjoy eating. As you can see, I love being in touch with nature, enjoying long walks, and being close to animals. I also take care of my social networks, it amuses me a lot, I always have my cell phone and a camera handy to record everything, and I spend hours editing photos and videos.

What do you have in store for your followers?

Besides my series ‘Inexplorado’, I have many plans and projects in mind that I want to execute. I have plans for a new series, possibly with a different concept, but always with the same passion for discovering new places and cultures. I also want to continue exploring new media and platforms to reach a larger audience. The future is full of possibilities, and I am very excited to see where my journey takes me next.

Rapid-Fire Round with Raquel Solves

To wrap up our conversation, we engaged Raquel in a quick round of rapid-fire questions to get to know her even better.

Mexico or Spain? I wouldn’t know how to choose… I was born in Spain and I love my country, but since I got to know Mexico, I feel Mexican at heart.

Mexicans or Spanish? Mexicans

Americans or Europeans? I wouldn’t know how to decide.

Cold or Hot? Hot

Beach or City? Beach

Explored or Unexplored? Unexplored. What nobody knows is always more attractive.

Open television or streaming platform? Both

Zanahoria or Pepinillo? They are both my loves, it’s impossible to choose just one.

Swimsuit or bikini? Always bikini so I don’t get tan lines.

Land transportation or air transportation? Land transportation to enjoy the journey and the landscapes more.

When you travel by plane: window or aisle? Window.

Cinema or theater? Both are my passions.

When you go to the movies, popcorn or nachos? Popcorn

Victoria Abril or Penélope Cruz? After watching the movie ‘Jamón Jamón,’ Penélope Cruz became one of my role models.

Aitana Sánchez Guijón or Paz Vega? Paz Vega

Antonio Banderas or Javier Bardem? Both are great actors

Albert Serra or Pedro Almodóvar? Pedro Almodóvar

Yalitza Aparicio or Salma Hayek? Both are prominent actresses with different qualities.

Real Madrid or Barcelona? Real Madrid

Chivas or América? Chivas is a very Mexican team because all the players who play there are Mexican.

Miguel Bosé or Julio Iglesias? Two very important talents of my country.

Plácido Domingo or José Carreras? Both

Martha Sánchez or Mónica Naranjo? Both marked a special time in my life.

Name of a footballer? I admire Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo a lot, their careers, their playing style, both are excellent.

What’s god for you? For me, God represents the concept of a higher entity that transcends human life and the universe, although I acknowledge that there are diverse interpretations and beliefs about this idea.

Favorite state in Mexico? I love them all: Baja California, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Jalisco, Guerrero… each one has something special and unique that sets it apart from the others.

A place in Mexico I wouldn’t return to? There are some pink water salt flats in Yucatán that are promoted as a beach but are actually salt flats, which can confuse people.

A place in Mexico you would visit plenty more times? A place in Mexico I would visit many times over is Puerto Vallarta; I am fascinated by it, but I would also visit each and every one of the places there again and again.

What do you think about Raquel Solves? She is a positive, cheerful, humble, loyal, honest person with many goals, passions, and dreams who always enjoys discovering and learning new things.

Conclusion

Raquel Solves’ journey from Spain to Mexico is a testament to her adventurous spirit, professional dedication, and deep appreciation for Mexican culture. Through her show ‘Inexplorado’ and various other ventures, she has not only explored the vast beauty of Mexico but also inspired countless others to embrace adventure and discovery. Raquel’s story is far from over, and we look forward to seeing where her curiosity and passion will take her next.