Tiled dome against blue sky in Morelia

By David Wix

The beautiful, rustic, old, colonial city of Morelia issituated about halfway in between Guadalajara and Mexico City and has a thriving population of around 1,000,000people.  It has everything from historical buildings and monuments to modern-day conveniences, shopping centers,restaurants, movie houses, universities and colleges, etc.

What makes Morelia special, though, is its people.  Theirbackgrounds vary from native Indian to French to Spanish and other nationalities.  Their greatest asset, however, is their warmth and friendliness.

What brought me to Morelia

Most of my life I have studied foreign languages and other cultures.  I spoke Spanish as a child and then went on to other languages.  In 1996, I was attending Central Washington University in Ellensburg for a degree to validate my business experience.  Then, one day, a visiting international programs speaker came to one of my history classes and shared her experiences about living in the country of Sri Lanka (an island country just south of India).

As I was in a transition period of my life and needing a change, I checked on nearby countries where I could go on an exchange program to re-establish my Spanish language skills.  My school had such a program with Centro Mexicano Internacional (CMI) in Mexico that really appealed to my sense of adventure and interest in other cultures.  So, I signed up for Spring Quarter 1997 and headed off to Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico.

Morelia would be my home from March 1997 until I moved to Guadalajara to enroll in a more advanced Spanish language program in August 1997.  Even now, though, if given the choice of living in Morelia versus Guadalajara, Morelia would always win out.  The city is vibrant with a deep sense of culture and history dating all the way back to the 1500s.

Every day, on my way to school and back, I walked by old colonial style structures, buildings, statues, monuments, fountains and parks, each with a story about the past.  For instance, an aqueduct (called El Acueducto in Spanish), built in the 1700s to carry Morelia’s water supply goes right through the center of town (El Centro).  I passed this marvelous structure every time I walked the avenue (Calzada Fray Antonio de San Miguel) leading up to my school.

Next to the Calzada is a wide cobblestone pathway with benches to sit and relax, read or visit with friends. On one side of Calzada Fray Antonio de San Miguel are churches and schools.  The other side has shops, art galleries and a restaurant or two.  All of the buildings appear to be at least as old as the Acueducto or older and are fairly well maintained.

Paying the bills

When I first arrived in Morelia, I was depending on financial aid from my school in the US.  Within a week or so of arriving at my new school I was asked to substitute for an ill teacher to teach Mexican students enrolled in CMI’s ESL (English As A Second Language) program.

I found out that I loved teaching the Mexican students.  And, as the school was very impressed with my teaching skills, they offered me a part-time job teaching all levels of English and linguistics classes.  Also, I began to work in the school’s computer laboratory as a supervisor in the evening after classes were done for the day.  Together, both of my positions paid about $3 per hour.

With the surplus from my financial aid and from what I earned, I lived on approximately $500 a month or less.  Out of this amount I paid for rent, food, travel, entertainment and obligations I had back in the US.  After paying my US expenses, I usually had about $300 or less for my day-to-day living.

My monthly expenses generally amounted to approximately: $50 rent, $150 food, $25 clothing, $25 transportation, $50 other personal expenses (laundry, haircuts, entertainment, etc).

Now, some people may think one can’t do too much on $300 or $400 a month.  It can be done if one does not have to worry about the ownership and upkeep of an automobile.  Granted, things were tight at times, but I always managed to go see movies at least a couple of times a month.  And, I went to a lot of free or other low-cost events such as concerts put on by some of the local schools or musicians.  Movies, haircuts and restaurant meals only cost about $2.

Finding a place to live

Before I even left the US, I checked Morelia’s hotels on the Internet and asked for recommendations from officials at my new school.  The first place I found that I liked and stayed at was the Mintzicuri Hotel at Vasco de Quiroga No. 227. The rooms were very clean and comfortable at a rate of about $8 a night.

Within a week of arriving in Morelia my school’s housing director, Charly (a dear, sweet lady), took me to look at local apartments.  I found one at the Posada de Villa located at Padre Lloreda No. 176 for about $150 a month.

Then, after a few weeks, I decided to see what was available in the local paper.  I found a rooming house that offered a room for about $50 a month at Vincente Santa Maria No. 1925.  When I went to check it out, I found a large, comfortable room with a bath shared by 3 other roomers.  We also had access to cooking facilities as well as a mini fefrigerator in each room.

Day-to-day life in Morelia

I lived a basic, simple life.  I would stop at a local bakery and buy rolls, bolillos (small loaves of bread) and/or galletas (large cookies) for breakfast on my way to school.  Then, I ate sandwiches and fruit at my school’s snack bar for lunch.  For supper, I would either eat at a local cafe or buy groceries and fix something in my room.

My favorite item at the cafes was milanesa, a thinly sliced beefsteak, chopped up and mixed with fresh avocado and eaten with tortillas.  Or, I would have milanesa sandwiches and other local dishes.  Usually, if I cooked at home, I would eat spaghetti-type meals or fruit and vegetables.

Routinely, Monday through Friday, I took Spanish classes and taught English between the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m.  From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. was siesta (break) time.  Afterwards, I taught and worked in my school’s computer lab from 4:00 to around 9:00 p.m.  After 9 was suppertime.  Saturdays, I taught classes half-day.  I devoted the rest of the weekend to either resting or other personal activities.

When I wasn’t busy working or studying, I oftentimes walked around town or took a combi (Morelia’s VW Van Mini-Bus system) or taxi to various cultural sites such as the city library, the government buildings, other buildings of historical interest (example: Mexican Patriot Jose Morelos’ birthplace and house or mercados (open markets either outside or housed in large buildings) and did a little exploring.

José María Morelos, hero of Mexico's independence, is the namesake of the city of Morelia. It originally was Valladolid, but the name was changed in 1828.

I almost always felt safe in Morelia, not because of the visible presence of gun-toting policemen, but because of the very low crime rate.  El Centro (downtown) was generally always crowded and busy.  Many of the side streets off of Avenida Francisco Madero (Morelia’s main downtown street) had shopping bazaars and mercados with every imaginable item from food to clothes to leather goods to electronic items and much more.

The one area I did not care much for was right around the bus depot (long-distance buses).  There are x-rated theatres and other nefarious activities close to that location.

One thing I came to really appreciate in a hurry was that I did not have to wash my own clothes.  There are no self-service laundries that I am aware of in Morelia.  I usually took my clothes to the laundry service in the block just down the street from my room.  The two young ladies that ran it were efficient, prompt and always welcomed me with
smiles.

The people of Morelia

Generally, the people of Morelia were very friendly, warm,
and caring. Two of my friends at a local Internet cyber caf�
were especially helpful to me. When I first went to Morelia,
my spoken Spanish consisted of only being able to speak in
the present tense. I had never really learned how to
properly conjugate verbs. Even though I could read and
understand Spanish very well, I was very limited in my
ability to converse. At first, I carried 2 very helpful
books � Practical Conjugation of Verbs and a Spanish
dictionary, both published by Larousse. For 2 months I
carried these books everywhere I went and referred to them
almost constantly. One day, my friends Genaro and Marcos
took me aside and told me to put the books away, try to
think and talk as best I could in Spanish and let them help
me to correct errors in my grammar. That was the very best
thing I could have done. It worked! It was not long at all
before I was able to converse fairly freely. The key is
immersion in a language � thinking, speaking, and living it.

Other people and families also befriended and “adopted” me.
Two of my students took to me like an older brother and
included me in their family activities and meals and
recreation and also acted as my personal guides around
Morelia. One of their favorite activities was gathering
around a big-screen TV and watching f�tbol (soccer).
Sometimes, we would go to a local park or concert. Another
of my students took me to events like the local fair and
flea market.

Places of interest for tourists

Places I would recommend for visitors to Morelia to see: The
sidewalk cafes and food stands, the shopping bazaars and
mercados, Morelia’s Zoo, the annual Feria in April-May (the
local fair), the cyber caf�s, local book stores, church and
government buildings, museums and art galleries, the parks
and fountains (ex: Bosque Cuauht�moc and the Three Sisters
fountain in El Centro), the local universities, movie
theatres (generally $2 or $3 for an adult ticket), musical
entertainment � one place that comes immediately to my mind
is El Colibri restaurant (located in El Centro just off of
Francisco Madero). El Colibri has a live band that plays
both local music and soft rock as well as a show called El
Baile de los Viejitos (The Dance of the Little Old Men), a
delightful presentation and musical score.

The shopping bazaars and mercados have all kinds of clothes,
leather goods, electronic gadgets, and food items. They even
sell birds � big birds! There are shopping areas or mercados
all over Morelia. Some that I frequented are: 1). on the way
towards the central bus station � several shops selling food
items and leather goods; 2). Mercado Revolucion � between
Francisco Madero and Plan de Ayala in El Centro; 3) Mercado
Independencia � on Avenida Lazaro Cardenas just off of
Vincente Santa Maria. One word of caution � when eating at
the local food stands, make sure the food is fresh and has
not been sitting out for an extended period of time. And,
always, always ask for agua purificada (purified water). One
more word of caution, this time to women, Mexican, American,
or any other nationality � always take along a companion or
stay in a group.

Morelia’s weather

I was not there during winter months; however, I have heard
that the winters are fairly mild. The summers can be very
hot at times, but, for the most part, I found them
moderately warm to hot. I have heard that it is wise during
late summer, fall, and winter months to carry an umbrella,
though.

Do your homework before you go

If you are really serious about visiting Morelia � do your
homework before you go. Many excellent hotel deals,
information about sites to see, historical background,
information about language schools, etc. can be found by
looking on the Internet. Other great sources of information
are travel guides you can either purchase or find at your
local library.

My experiences in Morelia were generally positive mainly for
the following reason � I went there expecting to live like a
native, not a foreigner and I kept a good attitude and sense
of humor.

If you are looking for a place to start a new life or to
seek a little culture and adventure then, this little hidden
gem, Morelia, could be your ticket.

About the author

The author, David Wix, lived, worked, and traveled extensively in Mexico during 1997 and has degrees in history and languages. Currently he is working as an insurance broker in California.  He and his wife both have articles or books that have been published in their areas of expertise. Author’s websites: http://www.dave-wix.com and http://www.travelwriters.com/davewix.

Article Source:  http://www.articlealley.com/article_68513_29.html

Catch and release with marlin off Baja

By Anita Mckenzie

Copyright (c) 2008

Baja’s sport fishing is an exhilarating adventure and many say that Baja sport fishing is unparalleled. Anglers flock from various parts of the globe to get a piece of the big-game sport fishing action in Baja California Sur. Baja sport fishing either on the Pacific or the Sea of Cortez is amidst a wonderland of the deserts in Baja Mexico.

Baja’s sport fishing waters are becoming increasingly active each year. The fishing is so fantastic that the 1,070-mile travels south along Baja Mexico’s peninsula has been no deterrent. The state of Baja California Sur has three major international airports located in Loreto, La Paz, and Los Cabos. Many people simply choose the short 2-hour flight available from San Diego.

It is obvious that the main Baja Mexico fishing centers are now expanding with growth and crawling with tourist activity; however, as you fly over Baja or cruise along either side of the coasts the Pacific side or the inside Sea of Cortez, you’ll see that Baja is still very much that wild and rugged land. The larger portion of development is concentrated over only a small percentage of Baja’s land.

Fishing in Baja Mexico is still amidst a wonderland of the desert’s harsh beauty which is available to fulfill an exhilarating life-enriching adventure.

A squall of development over the last ten years in the Los Cabos Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo has drawn a tremendous amount of attention; and unfortunately as a result, Baja’s natural beauty is at times difficult to see and often overlooked. Fortunately for those who wish to experience and enjoy Baja’s amazing and natural wonders it has not disappeared, you just need to know where to look.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Baja sport fishing, it’s important you be aware that this elongated rocky desert peninsula, surrounded by ocean waters has the potential to display a whole host of faces; all dependent on your approach to it.

If you’re of the folks who choose to drive south along Baja’s major highway (Mex 1) you can feel more at ease knowing that this highway has received many improvements over the last several years. During your travels along Baja’s highways for the first time you’ll soon recognize that this highway is far from the well-groomed spacious highways or freeways we have all grown accustomed to in the US or Canada; however extra care and attention is recommended while driving.

You’ll want to be on the alert for are variable numbers of grazing cattle and other unique Baja wildlife that frequently clutter the banks of the highways. Taking your time and planning your trip to Baja will help ensure a safe and enjoyable travel south. Make frequent stops so you may absorb the breath taking ocean and red desert scenery.

La Paz fishing

The first of the Baja sport fishing centers I’d like to introduce is La Paz. La Paz the capital city of the state of Baja California Sur, offers a welcoming and charming atmosphere. This large city has a warm and inviting traditional friendly Mexican population.

La Paz features a beautiful waterfront known as “El Malecon”, this is where the focal points of activities are centered. The Malecon is a popular and beautiful sea walk stretching along and beyond the downtown water front. Throughout the summer months this boulevard offers both locals and visitors alike an enjoyable place to hook-up with friends and enjoy many of Baja Mexico’s traditional foods, grab a taco, a special coffee or take in the various choices of vibrant night life.

La Paz also is host to some spectacular fishing; especially during the warmer months when the migrating dorado, roosterfish, tuna, and billfish travel up the channel between the Baja mainland and Isla Cerralvo in order to blend with the inhabitant leopard grouper, pargo, and various reef species.

Isla Cerralvo is situated directly over top of one of the globe’s best roosterfish holes. Espiritu Santo Island is a breath-taking island and designated as a natural park near La Paz and has incredible big-game fishing and reef fishing. Espiritu Santo is easily available by way of safe fast boats positioning you right where the action is. Tuna, marlin fish, wahoo, and the giant t,revally are just a few of the species caught in these amazing crystal clear blue waters.

Million Dollar Point is known as a focal point for snorkeling. This is where the Americans discarded massive amounts of war surplus in 1945. See almost everything from vibrant corals, shipwrecks, bulldozers and forklifts; that are populated with various species of resident fish life. If you’re not a scuba diver….try the snorkeling. There is so much to see when you visit these unspoiled reefs.

Although La Paz Baja’s fishing is a major attraction, La Paz has so much more to offer; La Pa has a traditional Mexico charm, distinguished yet energetic Mexican lifestyle not found elsewhere in Baja. Cobblestone streets provide an old world appeal as well as fun and interesting places to walk. Take a moment to sit on one of the many beachfront benches and gaze and enjoy the lovely bay of La Paz, or go in search of great bargains, explore the fascinating history and culture as you stroll through the many narrow alleys that open to a whole host of shops specifically catering to the tourists.

Cabo San Lucas fishing

The Cabo San Lucas fishing areas include the Cabo Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. These areas in particular have undergone the largest and most rapid amounts of growth above and beyond any location in Baja California.

Over the course of the last decade these communities have exploded with multi-story hotels, condos and new golf courses. Because this community is rapidly changing it is easy to find yourself twisted around with difficulty finding the street you’re looking for; because it may buried within a new large development neighborhood.

One thing that hasn’t changed; the Cabo Baja fishing is always fantastic! San Jose del Cabo host to the world famous double Gordo Banks; is also known to be Baja’s most consistent all year round off-shore fishing hole. The Gordo Banks hole can be easily accessible within a panga boats range of approximately six miles off-shore.

This hot fishing hole is filled primarily with resident bottom fish; of which are attractive to hordes of migratory tuna, wahoo, dorado, and marlin ranging in the 1,000-pound range. The winter months are exceptionally good fishing at Gordo Banks, mainly because it is situated within the wind shadow of the range that forms the tip of Baja known as “The Sierra de la Laguna Mountain”.

Cabo San Lucas is located at the very tip of Baja California Sur and is also where a nice sized marina exists. Some of the many attractions for visitor to Los Cabos are the energetic night life as well as the variety of beach front hotels, superb and fine restaurants; and or sunning on the beaches while watching the cruise ships come and go daily.

Cabo San Lucas sits right on the meeting place of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. From the geographical perspective this is the reason for the consistency of terrific fishing on either side, or often both, for wahoo, tuna, dorado and various types of billfish. Cabo’s sport fishing industry is famous for its Striped Marlin Core Zone; the striped marlin makes its home just off the southern tip of Baja California Sur. Many who experience an exhilarating sport fishing extravaganza claim the thrill and excitement of it all to be unparalleled.

A Baja sport fishing adventure is not limited to fishing; it can include snorkeling in the revitalizing crystal azure waters, or perhaps a visit amongst the assortment of sea life and coral reefs off the Baja coasts, or explore any of the many remote white sand beaches and islands near La Paz or Los Cabos Baja.

If you’re interested in learning more, Baja sport fishing and sport fishing charters and packages that can be tailored to suit your needs are available in the Baja.

About the Author

Baja Sport Fishing & Luxury Yacht Charter Information Visit Virtual-La-Paz for information on Baja Mexico

]]> http://touringmexico.org/2009/02/109/feed/ 0 http://touringmexico.org/2009/02/moest-european-of-colonial-cities-puebla-also-offers-great-food-crafts/ http://touringmexico.org/2009/02/moest-european-of-colonial-cities-puebla-also-offers-great-food-crafts/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:27:37 +0000 admin http://touringmexico.org/?p=103

By Jessica Ojeda

Puebla was one of the first cities established by the Spaniards which was not built upon the ruins of conquered indigenous settlements, making it the most European of all the colonial cities. This led to the rapid development of the Spanish culture and traditions in Mexico.  The Spaniards elected an ideal location for their new city, between one of Mexico’s major port cities, Veracruz, and the capital, Mexico City, which made Puebla one of the most important cities in the colonial period.

The population of Puebla was 1,290,094 in 2000. Locals are called Poblanos. The indigenous language of the region, Náhuatl, is still spoken in some areas of the Puebla Valley. The busy city of Puebla, Mexico lies approximately 129 km southeast of the country’s capital, Mexico City and sits at approximately 2,149 meters above sea level.

Only 8 years after the city’s founding, Puebla was well on its way to becoming an important industrial, cultural and educational center. Puebla is well-known for its characteristic colonial architecture, flavorful cuisine, exquisitely decorated Talavera pottery, onyx figures and unique textiles.

PUEBLA’S NICKNAMES

Puebla has a diverse history as shown in its many nicknames, Angelopolis (City of Angels), City of Tiles and Heroic City of Zaragoza.

According to fable, a band of angels appeared before one of the founders of Puebla, Bishop Julian Garcés, instructing him on where to locate the new city. Consequently, Puebla has been known as Angelopolis or the City of Angels.

At the Battle of Puebla, only four decades after Mexico’s independence, General Ignacio Zaragoza’s army defeated the French expeditionary forces on May 5, 1862. The much celebrated holiday, Cinco de Mayo and Puebla’s new nickname, Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza, are results of the Battle of Puebla.

The citizens of Puebla sided with the French refusing to help the Mexican soldiers. This infuriated Ignacio Zaragoza to write a letter back to Mexico City petitioning to burn down the city. The officials in Mexico City weren’t quite as angry with the Poblanos for not helping the Mexican troops; and instead of having the city torched, they decided to give the city a mockery nickname, Heroic City of Zaragoza, as punishment.

Talavera has been produced in the city since its foundation, and any visitor to Puebla will quickly notice the exquisite pottery that lines many of the churches and streets of the city giving the city yet another nickname, the City of Tiles. This pottery is known as Talavera Poblana, named after the Spanish city, Talavera de la Reina.

TOURISM

Puebla is situated in a moderate climate with sunny day and cool nights. Daytime temperatures generally range from 21.1 – 26.6 degrees Celsius, cooling down to 4.4 – 10 degrees Celsius at night. From November to March rainfall is almost obsolete. However, from April through October afternoon rain showers are quite common.

The city streets of Puebla are laid out systematically. Streets running East or West are even-numbered north of El Zocalo, the center square and odd-numbered to the south. Streets running North or South are even-numbered to the east of El Zócalo and odd-numbered to the west.

There are numerous things to do in the city for travelers and tourists. Tours through historic downtown Puebla are given on double-decker buses letting tourists enjoy the city’s architecture, museums, and monuments without the trouble of finding those places on their own.

Some of the most popular sites to visit are the African Safari Zoo, the Amparo Museum, and the pyramid of Cholula. The pyramid of Cholula is the largest by base-size and total volume in the New World.

The National Museum of Mexican Railroads and the Chihuahua Pacific Railway are also two stops that many visitors make while in Puebla. At the National Museum of Mexican Railroads you can find old steam engines, passenger coaches, diesel engines, and cabooses. The Automobile Museum is a must stop for anyone with love for rare and classic vintage cars. The Automobile Museum houses the Popemobile, which was used by John Paul II on one of his visits to Mexico. El Barrio del Artista, located in downtown Puebla, is exceptional for viewing and purchasing great works of art created by local artists.

Built in a mixed neoclassical style, the Puebla Cathedral is one of the most astonishing colonial structures in Puebla. Another impressive structure is the Capilla del Rosario in the Iglesia de Santo Domingo. The Capilla del Rosario, inlaid with gold, is a wonderful example of Mexican baroque. The Biblioteca Palafoxiana, located in the Casa de la Cultura, is a baroque-style library. The library houses 42,000 volumes donated on September 5, 1646 by Spanish bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza. The volumes are beautifully displayed in a carved wood setting.

There are many fascinating archeological sites around the Puebla Valley. The Texcal Cave, near Lake Valsequillo, became a home to humans around 7,000 B.C. Another captivating site is the Tenapa Pyramid in Cholula, which is one of the largest pre-columbian structures in the Americas with a height of 1,315 feet. Another archeological site worth visiting are the polychrome murals at the fortress of Cacaxtla. The polychrome murals date from 600 – 1100 A.D. and are located in the adjacent state of Tlaxcala.

Situated in the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt, the Puebla Valley is the home of many intriguing geologic features. Four volcanoes, Popocatépetl standing at 17,883 feet above sea level, Ixtaccíhuatl standing at 17,338 feet above sea level, La Malinche standing at 14,632 feet, and Citlaltépetl, also known as the Pico de Orizaba, standing at 18,855 feet above sea level, surround the city of Puebla creating an impressive view.

Popocatépetl is an active volcano, occasionally spouting water and ash from its core. Snow-capped Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl are located approximately 40 kilometers east of Puebla. La Malinche is situated north of the city and Citlaltépetl is situated to the east. The Valley of Puebla is home to three rivers, the Atoyac, the Alseseca and the San Francisco River. The Atoyac River runs through the northern, eastern and southern portions of the Puebla Valley. The Atoyac River flows into the Lake of Valsequillo.

El Centro Histórico, is comprised of approximately 100 blocks in the middle of the city, however, the majority of historic sites lie within a four-block radius of El Zócalo, the central square. In the historic center of Puebla you can find many Spanish colonial-style buildings. Several buildings were severely damaged in the earthquake of 1999. However, most of the historical buildings have been restored while only a few were left in unrepairable condition.

LOCAL CUISINE

Two of Puebla’s most popular dishes are mole sauce and camote. Mole, which is known as Mexico’s national dish, is a spicy cinnamon chocolate sauce served with turkey or chicken, and Camote is baked sweet potatoes topped with crème. Other popular Poblano dishes include chiles en nogada, which is meat-stuffed chilies covered in a walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds, and tacos arabes, which is seasoned pork served in puffy wheat tortillas. A traditional Poblano beverage is rompope, an egg and rum based drink similar to eggnog drunk in the United States. The chalupa, a corn tortilla topped with salsa, onions, and meat is also very popular in Puebla.

EDUCATION

Today, there are many options for students in Puebla, with more than 20 universities located within the city. Puebla and its surrounding metropolitan area is home to many top universities, including the state university, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), the Universidad de las Américas, Puebla (UDLA), the Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA), Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM), Universidad Anáhuac, Universidad Madero(UMAD), Universidad del Valle de México (UVM) and the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP).

HEALTH & SAFETY

If you plan to visit Puebla, you should be aware of some health and safety precautions so that you may enjoy your trip to the fullest. You should not consume tap water in Mexico. With that in mind, you should also be very cautious of home-made beverages, such as horchata and jamaica, and water-based desserts, such as ice-cream, snow-cones, gelatins, and popsicles sold by street vendors. Also, you may want to request your beverages without ice. If you are unsure of the beverage, it is best to get a bottled water or soda. You may consume fruits with skins or hulls such as melons, oranges, peaches, and bananas. Strawberries should be avoided since they are grown on the ground and cannot be peeled.

You should carry Pepto-Bismol tablets, antacid tablets, a small bar of soap, and plenty of towelettes or tissue with you at all times. Many public restrooms do not provide tissue or soap; so you will want to keep these two items handy. Toilet paper should be tossed in the waste basket and not in the toilet due to the out-dated sewage system.

CURRENCY

The majority of stores only accept Mexican pesos as payment. Therefore, you should always carry plenty of cash for shopping, taxis, buses, etc. Many stores will not accept bills larger than $200 pesos which is approximately $20 USD. You will want to carry around $100 Mexican pesos in small change for buses, taxis, and tips.

You may exchange your traveler’s checks at any large bank, but traveler’s checks are not recommended due to extremely long waiting periods. The banks in Mexico always have extremely long lines due to the use of cash, instead of checks and cards and the lack of people using internet banking and automatic check deposit. However, if you must go to the bank, you should draw your number, sit down, read and wait your turn. It is not unusual to wait an hour and even sometimes two hours before the clerks can attend you.

The line for the ATM is much shorter. It is advisable to withdraw only small amounts of money at a time. You may use your credit or debit card to make withdrawals from an ATM. However, you should call your bank or credit card agency to inform them that you will be traveling out of the country so that they can activate your card for other countries if needed.

Puebla is an ideal place to vacation, to learn Spanish, or even to relocate with its moderate climate, great location, delicious cuisine and friendly residents!

The news service said RBS Greenwich Capital Markets in Greenwich, Conn., is predicting  another 3.8 percent drop by June 30.

A cut in oil prices and exports also is impact the currency, marking the worst performance for the peso since the “Tequila Crisis” in 1995′.

Zurich-based UBS AG, a major foreign exchange trader, is predicing the peso could hit 15 to 1 by year-end.

Such a fall makes the U.S. and Canadian dollars worth far more in Mexico, giving visitors added buying power. Because of the rapid decline, it’s likely that the actual exchange rate offered to tourists will vary widely throughout Mexico and even from merchant to merchant in a given community.

Take along a calculator and keep an eye on the current rate when making purchases and getting change.

By Graciela Saldivar

You only have one month left to travel to Mexico City to visit the Mural Museum of Diego Rivera as part of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA).  The exposition called “Diego Rivera y la Inquisición, Un puente en el tiempo” is on display until March 2009 and features various works of art by Rivera.

Diego Rivera, the famous Mexican painter known not only for his paintings but also for his frescos, is considered by many to be the greatest Mexican painter of the twentieth century.

For 14 years, Rivera traveled the world studying painting in Spain, France and Italy where he was undeniably influenced by Picasso, Gris, Cézanne, Gaugin, Renoir, and Matisse.  Upon returning to Mexico, he focused on developing art for all to enjoy by painting large frescoes on the walls of public buildings.

You see, Rivera believed that art should be enjoyed by all and his subjects were the everyday people of Mexico.

The Mural Museum of Diego Rivera is located in the Historic District of Mexico City near the intersection of Balderas & Colón.  The museum opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.; admission prices are $15 a person. Free admission is available to students, teachers and Sunday visitors. For further information you can call 011-52-55-21-5318.

If you find you can’t travel to Mexico City before the end of March you can visit his most popular murals on display in the United States, Detroit Industry (1932 – 1933), at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

About the author
Graciela is a young professional from Dallas, TX that has a passion for traveling and appreciating culture. Traveling to over 10 countries and visiting more than 30 cities around the world, Graciela’s main goal is to share her experiences with others so they may have a rewarding travel experience.

If Ed Bagley’s “slice of heaven” got you thinking about a trip to the southlands this winter, you’ll want to get more detailed information. Frommer’s has a Portable guide to Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Guadalajara and Travelscope has a 27-minute video that approaches the trip from a different angle.

One nice aspect of the Frommer’s guide is that it will allow you to compare Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.

With the video, you can look at Manzanillo and the Costa Alegre. Producer Joseph Rosendo, by the way, says this resort village was the setting for the movie “10.”

By Ed Bagley

Copyright © 2008

I had some serious doubts about whether my first trip to Mexico would be a success. Now I can report that my first trip to Mexico was fantastic because I found a slice of heaven at Vida del Mar in Manzanillo (Mon-zah-knee-oh).

There are apparently some very famous places to vacation in Mexico, not the least of which are Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Acapulco and Cancun. Most of these destinations, to my knowledge, are resort areas with high traffic. Vida del Mar in Manzanillo is not.

Manzanillo, like Puerto Vallarta, is on the Pacific Coast, perhaps 150 miles south of Puerto Vallarta as the crow flies.

My first impression on landing at Manzanillo’s airport was that it was the smallest airport I have ever been in and also the cleanest. Vida del Mar is not a huge tourist area crawling with young adults looking for drinking holes and social action, but a perfect place for senior citizens to enjoy the beauty of the area in a quiet setting.

Vida del Mar is a gated, guarded, closed community of condo owners whose residences sit halfway up a mountainside looking onto a gorgeous bay. There is exactly one road in with a guard on duty 24/7. I felt safer there than in any major metro area in the United States.

We were staying with my son’s family in a condo owned by a couple whose children go to the same private Catholic school as my grandson does in Lacey, Washington. Their unit was on the corner of the second floor in 1 of the 13 condo buildings with 3 swimming pools in the development. The units faced south in the middle of well-manicured lawns and lush tropical gardens.

I thought sleeping at night might be a problem as the clear, sunny days were hot and there was no air conditioning. Imagine my surprise when night arrived, and we felt the cool breezes off of the Pacific Ocean by leaving our screened in patio doors open.

The coastline in Manzanillo lies more east to west than north to south, you can even get sea breezes during the day. Because the condos face south, the air rises up into the neighboring Sierra Madre Mountains, cools off at 14,000 feet, and at night comes gently floating back down to the sea, producing excellent sleeping conditions as the condos are above sea level.

Apparently condos at sea level in that area get what most resorts get, very little breeze at night and insects. Sitting high up the mountain is a distinct advantage to the condo owners.

Only a few minutes away from Vida del Mar is Club Santiago with the “Beach Club” that most condo owners join. Club Santiago is the most exclusive housing area in Manzanillo, with homes starting at $12 million pesos ($1 million in United States dollars). The beach at Club Santiago reminded me of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

The architecture in Mexico is excellent. There are no wood-frame homes; everything is built in cement; even the cushions for the furniture in the condo had a cement base. The doors have archways that are far superior to our rectangular American construction. The floors are all in tile, again, far superior to our American rugs and laminate wood floors.

The Hispanic architectural influence is also efficient, effective and downright utilitarian. Condos are space sensitive and creative use of the space available is a premium. I saw a washer and dryer in a single unit that fit to the inch in the space available within the designated laundry area. It was impressive use of space to say the least.

In the United States, everything that is bigger is supposed to be better. Careless and useless wasted space is not nearly as neat and tidy, not to mention just plain more ostentatious. The judicious use of built-ins for storage areas was also efficient, effective and helpful.

Romantic restaurant

Vida del Mar also has one of the most romantic restaurants, La Recief, which is located on a cliff high above the Pacific Coast. Looking out to the Pacific Ocean, a halogen light at night beams light out to the waves as they come cascading into the shoreline below. The food is top notch and the servers are performance servers, preparing dishes at your table.

Given the choice of any romantic setting at a restaurant that I could find to impress my date, I would take her to La Recief.

Outside of the Vida del Mar complex, the local Manzanillo citizens are rarely bilingual, except for some restaurant owners downtown and a few of their servers.

On the second floor balcony of the unit, looking out to the surrounding bay, I thought that this is EXACTLY the sort of place that Ernest Hemingway would have retreated to when writing his next novel—low key, secluded, quiet and beautiful.

I almost selfishly thought about not writing about my trip to Manzanillo and Vida del Mar as word may get around and then everything that makes it a little slice of heaven might be less so in the coming years. Because Vida del Mar is what it is, I could not restrain myself.

http://www.edbagleyblog.com/MovieReviews.html

Source: www.submityourarticle.com

By Elena Piccini

With the centennial of the Mexico Revolution coming in November 2010, you might want to read up on your revolutionary history.

The most prominent actor in that tragedy is certainly Pancho Villa, who also is the best known of the players in the United States.

Fortunately, thanks to decades of diligent research by Friedrich Katz of the University of Chicago, there is a cyclopedic biography of Villa that doubles as a great read. While it’s a biography, it’s also a history of the Revolution, since Villa and the event which created him are inseparable.

At 1004 pages, “The Life and Times of Pancho Villa” has room to tell his complete story. With an ability to do research in Germany and Austria, as well as in Mexico, Katz also was able to tell an accurate story of Villa’s (and Mexico’s) relationship with the Kaiser’s Germany during a time when there was fear in America that Mexico would be entering World War I on the side of Germany. (The details of Villa’s raid into Columbus, N.M. in 1916 are worth the price of the book.)

Katz looks at the background of Porfirian Mexico that created the need for men like Villa, both in his manifestation as a highwayman in his early life and then when he finds purpose, thanks to Francisco Madero, as a revolutionary. It explains the hardships and subsequent micro-rebellions of the peasants and Indians of Chihuahua long before the full-blown revolution got under way.

And it does its best to explain mercurial Villa, who at one moment is a socialist governor stamping out corruption and educating poor children and at the next is willing to order his troops to fire into a crowd of women.

As all good military biographies do, it discusses not only the campaigns of the Revolution, but the men with whom Villa surrounded himself and those to whom he listened — and didn’t listen. You will understand clearly why Villa could not have come out on top of the heap at the end of the Revolution.

Katz goes into great detail explaining Villa’s extreme attempts to maintain good relations with the United States and President Wilson’s inability to understand what was going on in Mexico. He also explains how and why the relationship with America broke down.

Because the panorama of the Mexican Revolution is so vast, “Life and Times” doesn’t have to be absorbed straight through. You can take a bit of it now, a bit later and a bit a few months down the road, all without losing the continuity of the story, simply because there are so many stories. The Revolution, Mexico and Villa himself, needless to say, are extremely complex.

While you can read Katz’ work simply as an appreciation of history and of a man who made history, there will be another perk: You’ll come out of it with a far better understanding of Mexico, which is playing an ever-greater role in the everyday lives of Americans. And, of course, you will be a better traveler in Mexico, learning about some of the out-of-the-way places you’ll want to see.

Katz also published, more recently, a book of photographs of Villa and his times: “The Face of Pancho Villa: A History in Photographs and Words.”

Pancho and Luz in later years

By Gary Dillard

There’s an understanding that many visitors to the United States will hit Disneyland, Vegas and the Grand Canyon and then go home.

It’s likely that many Americans who travel to Mexico see nothing but Cancun, to make use of its beaches, or the line of shops next to whatever port where the cruise ship docks.

In either case, it’s a shame that so much has been missed. With Mexico, it’s a double shame simply because there’s so much close at hand, within a day’s travel of the border, that gives a truer look at the nation’s culture.

Yet getting off the beaten path isn’t easy. Even at home, most folks end up driving by interesting territory many times because they won’t get off the freeway. That’s certainly true in Mexico.

Let’s take, for example, the birthplace of Luz Corral, the woman who claimed to be Pancho Villa’s only true, legal wife and who was considered by the government to be his only widow. We know a lot about Maria Luz Corral de Villa and can see what Pancho chose to leave to her the Quinta Luz in Chihuahua City, where she would live until 1981.

Luz Corral residence in Chihuahua City

Today the army runs that home as a museum and it’s an impressive look not just at Mr. and Mrs. Villa, but the entire history of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920, more or less).

But just as we might expect to travel to Independence, MO to get the skinny on Harry Truman, rather than expecting to find it in Washington, so there is something to be found in San Andres, Luz Corral’s birthplace, rather than in Chihuahua. Because there is no “revolutionary leader’s widow’s library,” we have to dig more, but what we get straightway in that small village is a sense of place.

San Andres, on a backroad midway between Chihuahua and Cuauhtemoc, hasn’t changed a lot in the century since the revolution. It’s still an agricultural community with a prominent meeting hall for the local cattlemen’s association. It has narrow streets, many of them unpaved, unassuming adobe houses and no restaurant. And it’s clean.

When I first visited about a decade ago, we ate in the park, consuming boxed lunches prepared at the last big city stop. School was getting out and the kids swarmed around us. Most had never seen a videocam and were enthralled to see themselves in playback on the tiny video screen. It was a good day for dieting, since they were most accommodating about consuming all our desserts.

Though it was a small town, we couldn’t find Luz’ house ourselves since it wasn’t marked. A trip to city hall (H. Ayuntamiento) obtained for us not just directions, but a proud guide and the key. (City hall also offers the only public restroom within 50 miles, primitive as it is.) Inside the Corral family house was a small collection of photos and artifacts, but also a harsh look at the poverty of Luz and an understanding of why she would choose to leave her town behiind in the company of a charismatic young revolutionary.

Villa’s first major action of the revolution was in San Andres, which provided some of the first troops of the conflict, enabling him to quickly defeat a demoralized federal garrison and setting Villa on a fast-track path to stardom.

The townfolk joke about the marriage. Villa, they say, was told by the priest that before the wedding, Villa would have to go to confession. Villa replied that it would take him fully seven days to confess all of his sins and that he planned to be married the next day. He was.

If you’re traveling through Chihuahua, and admittedly, few gringos make this trip, San Andres is certainly a must-see stopover. I doubt that even in the decade since they’ve converted the old Corral home into a museum, the folks there have been inundated with tourists. With the coming centennial of the revolution, that may change a bit, but it’s likely they still will enjoy the company of the occasional visitor who takes an interest in their most notable citizen.