Travel Mexico News, Articles and Resources. Hotels,Food,Resorts,etc.

Travel Mexico

2006-06-05T17:16:00.000-06:00

Mexico is a wonderful country full of magic and history. Every year thousands of Americans and other foreigners travel to this country in search of all the good things this country can give to the tourist ; beautiful beaches, charming towns, a rich cultural life, etc. However Mexico has demonstrated that it’s not only a vacation destiny but also, as many people in America and Canada already know, the country has showed all of them that they can live the good life retiring to Mexico where they will find a land that can give them more than just a trip, but also a great life experience that will last for years.

Travel Mexico

Mexico: Party Time

2006-04-22T22:17:00.000-06:00

Mexico is the land of fiestas. What this word means exactly is celebration but also to indicate a party or holiday. Mexicans will have a party or celebration for any or no reason at all.

I asked my wife, who had just finished a feature article on Mexican fiestas, exactly how many fiestas Mexico has. Her response: "Only God knows."

When I tried looking into this, I found she was right. There are so many fiestas that I found it difficult to get any accurate list of all of them.

Here's the deal: Although there is an official list of national fiestas, each little town, and even the neighborhoods in those little towns, have traditional fiestas that they celebrate. Sometimes they make up new ones as they go along! You never know and you cannot possible keep track of all of them. It is dizzying to say the least.

Try going to www.google.com and type in "Mexican fiestas" and then get ready for your eyes to bug out of your head. I got 67,800 hits for this search term. Yahoo will give you 134,000 hits. How do they do it? How do they find the time to celebrate them all and just who keeps track of all of them—apparently, someone does!

For an example, here is what is on San Miguel de Allende's calendar of fiestas:

January – Six holidays

February – Five holidays with one of them lasting 3 days.

March – Seven holidays

April – Nine holidays with two of them lasting 5 to 6 days.

May – Eleven holidays!

June – Nine holidays with one of them lasting 2 days.

July – Five holidays with two of them lasting 5 to 7 days.

August – A slow month with only two but one lasts 15 days!

September – Eight holidays

October – Six holidays

November – Four holidays

December – Four holidays with the Posada lasting 7 days

The mother of all fiestas occurs in our town of Guanajuato during October. It is the Festival Internacional Cervantino. This is an international celebration of the arts (some locals call it the celebration of the booze!) which lasts a whopping three (count them!) weeks! Can you imagine partying for an entire 21 days?

What I want to know is how does anyone find the time to do anything else but attend these fiestas?

What makes my head spin is that this isn't all the fiestas. Each little town and even barrio (neighborhood) can and does have its own unique fiestas which it also celebrates with all the trimmings. You can walk through a particular neighborhood and see people setting up colorful flags and banners, tables for loads of food, and hauling in whatever they will need for the night's festivities. Once you hear the fireworks going off then you know the party has begun.

The Spanish government, sometime in the 18th century, alleged that San Miguel de Allende was having "too many" fiestas. Now, what they meant by that is anyone's guess and how it was suppose to be affecting the city badly I simply do not know. Nevertheless, in usual Mexican fashion (the Spaniards should have seen this as a sign of things to come), a protest was organized and lodged, and the Spaniards repealed the allegation. The point is that Mexicans love their fiestas and no one had better mess with them!

One of the most mysterious fiestas of which most gringos know little is The Day of the Dead. This is celebrated November 1 & 2 and is not a morbid remembrance but rather a festive celebration. It is pre-Spanish and has roots all the way back to the Aztecs.

I've been to some of these fiestas and all I can say, in agreement with the words of George Carlin, American comedian,

"One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor."

Expatriates Doug and Cindi Bower have successfully expatriated to Mexico, learning through trial and error how to do it from the conception of the initial idea to driving up to their new home in another country. Now the potential expatriate can benefit from their more than three years of pre-expat research to their more than two years of actually living in Mexico. The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico answers the potential expatriate's questions by leading them through the process from the beginning to the end. In this comprehensive guide, you will learn not only how-to expatriate but will learn what to expect, in daily life, before coming to Mexico. BUY BOOK HERE: http://www.universal-publishers.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1581124570

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Douglas_Bower

Maya Spa’s new chocolate therapies guarantee zero calorie total indulgement

2006-04-16T22:59:00.000-06:00

(PRLEAP.COM) MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TULUM, Mayan Riviera (Jan. 10, 2006) – Maya Spa, EcoTulum’s holistic healing center, has brought a zero calorie way to indulge in the sinful seduction of chocolate with new therapies featuring the cacao bean. “Chocolate’s aphrodisiac properties have given it a sexy reputation but the cacao bean has been used for centuries by ancient cultures for its healing properties,” says Maya Spa manager Lucrecia Bloomquist. “Now we’re able to our line of traditional Mayan therapies with some truly decadent options that lifts the spirits and gives people a feeling of total indulgence without the guilt.” Maya Spa’s cacao bean exfoliation and cacao butter massage bring new meaning to the term “chocolate therapy” by tapping into the natural relaxing, hydrating, anti-stress and antioxidant powers of cacao, beans from the Theobroma tree which grow in the southern jungles of Chiapas, Mexico. Cacao beans contain phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, calcium and vitamins, and trigger the production of endorphins – the mood enhancing hormone – which in turn stimulate the production of serotonin, the neurotransmitter associated with happiness and feelings of positive well-being. The ancient Maya believed cacao (kah-kow in the indigenous language) to be a gift from the serpent god, Quetzacoatl. Shamen would offer it to the gods in religious ceremonies, and believed it has strong powers that bridge heaven and earth, and allow lucid dreaming to other dimensions. Maya Spa is already known for its extensive holistic spa menu featuring innovative therapies that address total body, mind and spirit wellness, and mesh traditional Mayan healing methods with modern Western spa services. Several screened in therapy rooms in the jungle, along with beachside tented spa spaces and private in room service provide the ideal backdrop for Maya Spa to tap into the authentic sacred Mayan spirit which defines Tulum, located just one hour south of resort playground Cancun. Treatments unique to Maya Spa include Mayan clay massages, healing massages, energy cleansings, crystal therapy, floatation chamber, and the ancient temezcal sweat lodge purification rite. Other new therapies to debut at Maya Spa’s sandy holistic escape include: medicinal clay massage which utilizes a full-body collage of several colorful regional clays from various parts of Mexico that have distinct healing and curative properties; and henna hair treatment which restores life and luster to damaged hair, as well as improving circulation, dandruff, growth and hair roots by way of natural plant extracts used in many ancient cultures. Read about Maya Spa’s full range of services and therapies online: http://www.maya-spa.com/.

ABOUT ECOTULUM RESORTS & SPA
Zahra (www.zahra.com.mx/) offers 22 remodeled rooms and cabañas nestled between two private beaches in Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. Electricity is provided from sunset until 11 pm. Azulik (www.azulik.com/), a 15-villa retreat next door carries rustic luxury to the max with lounge beds and hand carved wooden soaking tubs. Cabañas Copal (www.cabanascopal.com/) features 47 candle lit cabañas hidden in the jungle with total wellness, and a clothing-optional dress code. Maya Spa (www.maya-spa.com/) offers holistic spa services and traditional Maya therapies to all properties. Amilik (www.amilik.com/) in Patagonia’s lake region is EcoTulum’s first South American wellness center and luxury eco-spa.

For more details, please contact:
Mexican Pacific Marketing
press@mexicanpacific.com
Tel: (949) 340-2602 (US)
011 +52 (314) 335-3207 (Mexico )

Who Was “El Pipila”, Famous Mexican Independence Hero?

2006-04-05T14:08:00.000-06:00

The territory embracing what is now known as México was once one of the richest and most important colonies of Spain’s Kingdom. Under the name of the “New Spain” it was the main source of gold and silver for the Kingdom during the 400 years of Spaniard domination of this territory, contributing highly to the emergence of Spain as the great power of its time.

But things were not going very well for the locals in the colony, many of whom were treated as slaves, mainly the Indian and African population; and many others as “second class” and even “third class” citizens of an empire that at the beginning of the XIX century was a decadent shadow of its past greatness.

The new ideas of the French Illustration and the American Revolution had influenced a number of intellectuals and progressive personalities of the colony making them think about gaining independence from Spain and implement a number of reforms that would make the territory a new country under many of the values proclaimed by the Illustration.

Among the people thinking seriously about gaining Independence from Spain, gains great notoriety the figure of Miguel Hidalgo, a non-traditional catholic priest that had been living in the town of “Dolores” in what is now the Mexican state of Guanajuato. He had contributed to the betterment of the native population, making him very popular, by teaching them a number of crafts and to some, even how to write and read. Many of these crafts have survived until our current days; for example, the world famous “Talavera” ceramic pieces that you can find in what is now known as the town of “Dolores Hidalgo”. Besides his popularity he was also the lider of the local conspiration against Spain’s rule.

It was the year 1810 when the conspiration again Spain was finally mature enough to be implemented. It was in the month of September when, accelerated by the sudden discovery of the conspiration by “Realist authorities”, the struggle for Independence was initiated. It was the night of September 15 when Hidalgo and others decided to go ahead and gather the people of Dolores to constitute the first army that would march against Spaniard positions.

The long column of peasants and the few trained officials constituting the “Insurgent Army” marched during a number of days through the region gathering more people and resources. Once they felt strong enough they aimed to the biggest Spaniard post in the zone. The world famous mining town of Guanajuato.

And it’s during this episode that the figure of “El Pipila” comes to scene during the first battle of the Independence struggle. Insurgents had put an old grain storage building under siege. All Spaniards had gone into this big building and were using it as a fortress to resist the “Insurgent Army” until some reinforcements could come from the capital or some other post.
Insurgents were desperate. The building seemed to be inexpugnable and they were losing many men trying to approach one of the two doors or climbing the walls. Besides, “Realist” reinforcements could be approaching and they were stuck at that position. Hidalgo and other officials had come to the conclusion that only by destroying one of the doors they could hope for a victory. But who would do it? Who would dare to approach the door, dodging bullets and put it on fire?…It seemed there was no one willing to take such a high risk to his life. Until “El Pipila” appeared from among the peasants. He approached Hidalgo and told him he was willing to go ahead and burn the door. He had been thinking how to approach the door and he had come to the conclusion he would use a piece of thick stone laced to his back as protection against bullets and then crawl to the door.

And that’s how he did it. With the heavy piece of stone on his back and a torch in his hand he slowly crawled under enemy fire until he finally reached the door and with his last forces set fire to the door made of wood allowing the Insurgent Army to enter the building and claiming the first victory of the struggle for independence of the country that is now known as Mexico.

Very few things are known of what happened to ‘El Pipila” after this historic episode.

Guanajuato Mexico, Land Of History.

2006-03-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

The history of Mexico is full of vibrant episodes along its history; beginning with the first indigenous settlers arriving from the north of the continent, continuing with the Colonial period started by the arrival and occupation of the lands that are now part of Mexico by the Spaniard soldiers and missionaries. And stretching until our modern days with all its contradictions and beauties; but with its people always maintaining the peculiar identity that has identified them through the centuries.

Among the many Mexican cities that are vivid testimonies of periods of this history, there is one that has, along with history, a very particular charm and identity.

This city is called Guanajuato and is situated 400 km north of Mexico City, near the geographical center of the Republic. It has a pretty mild climate with a spring-like weather during most of the year.

Guanajuato is not a big city and its origins go back to the settling of the first Spaniard explorers in the XVI century, who found and exploded the huge richness of the hills that surround this peculiar town. This richness of silver and gold of its mines was of such importance to the Spanish Crown that the city was given the title of “Real de Minas” and its fame, along with its gold, traveled all over the world.

The strange topography of the city is one of the main sources of its peculiarities. All of the houses and buildings were built on the skirts of hills and together form a conglomerate that reminds you of a “cubist” painting by Picasso, with all those square houses in different levels, as in an artist canvas, and a maze of alleys barely separating each house from the other.

Guanajuato was not only witness of great richness but also was one of the starting spots of the Insurgent revolution leading to the independence of the country. The first major battle of this struggle for freedom against the Spanish Crown took place in this city, more specifically at the building known has the “Alhondiga de Granaditas”. This is a huge building that used to be a corn and wheat depot and that, considering the situation of the insurrection, was used by the Spaniards and their alleys has a refuge during the battle. At the end Insurgents conquered the “Alhondiga” thanks to the local hero known as “El Pipila”, who burned the main entrance door protecting himself from the bullets fired from above with a stone plate laced to his back.

This along with other vibrant episodes of Mexican history have made of Guanajuato an important historical place to visit by many people around the world, that now can enjoy the tourist vocation of the city with its many hotels and amenities.

Regional Cuisine Of Mexico

2005-10-02T17:02:00.000-06:00

Just south of the United States and bordering the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, Mexico is quickly advancing both culturally and economically. The devaluation of the peso in 1994 threw the Mexican economy into a frenzy, lowering their per capita income to a mere quarter of that of the United States. Through repeated social and economic turmoil, the rich cultures of the original Yucatan civilizations has remained, though somewhat jaded after their emersion from under Spanish rule in the 19th century.

It isn't hard to research the rich history of Mexican cuisine. When the Spaniards first landed in Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City) they carefully chronicled every aspect of life there in Mexico, especially the food and cooking techniques of the natives. During their observations, they noticed that the Mexicans had a lot of corn-based foods. This was due to the fact that maize was Mexico's chief crop at the time. A lot of these notes have carefully been preserved in the name of history--not that that is necessary. The Mexican culture has continued to live on through food, if through nothing else at all.

Be warned: Mexican food is not for the faint of stomach. Consisting of such rich, heavy foods as tortillas, chili peppers, and beans, many bodies cannot take the richness and spiciness of Mexican cuisine.

Mexican food is one cuisine that will always have a taste and sabor (flavor) all its own. Present-day Mexican food is a mixture of original Mayan and Aztec cuisine combined with the influence of the culture of the Spanish conquistadores. While Tex-Mex and local "authentic" Mexican restaurants have become very skilled in mastering the style of Mexican cooking, there is no comparison between the Americanized "restaurant" version and the real thing. Mexican food is known for its wealth of spices and intense, deep flavoring.

Tortillas are the staple of Mexican cuisine. Tortillas are made by curing maize in lime water, kneading the mixture into a dough, and cooking the thin patties on a flat grill. The most common tortillas in the United States' version of Mexican food are made of corn, although this version of the corn tortilla is quite unlike the original, authentic version. Authentic corn tortillas are made by hand on a flat grill (called a comal). The corn is ground by hand, resulting in thick tasty tortillas that the grocery store versions pale in comparison to. Flour tortillas were implemented only after the Spaniards introduced wheat to the Mexican region.

Chiles are another staple in traditional Mexican cuisine, adding color and dimension to many traditional Mexican dishes. Bell peppers, tabasco peppers, and paprika peppers add the color and the flavor kick that Mexican food is so known for.

It is also important to take into consideration that Mexican cuisine varies in reference to the region it is coming from or being made in. Northern-style Mexican food normally consists of dishes with a lot of beef, while southern-style Mexican cuisine consists more of chicken and vegetables such as bell pepper, radishes, and broccoli, more than anything else. Veracruz is also another common style of Mexican food, coming from the coastal areas in Mexico. Veracruz cuisine, which was named after a state in Mexico and its largest city, consists of seafood such as fish and shrimp. More indigenous areas have even been known to incorporate spider monkey and iguana into their meals. Especially while in Mexico, "Mexican Food" does not always imply tacos and burritos.

Authentic Mexican cuisine is not to be confused with the Americanized Tex-Mex or New Mexican food (versions of Mexican food in Texas and New Mexico).

About the Author

Kirsten Hawkins is a food and nutrition expert specializing the Mexican, Chinese, and Italian food. Visit http://www.food-and-nutrition.com/ for more information on cooking delicious and healthy meals.

All About Cancun, A User-Driven Internet Forum, Tells Cancun's Good and Bad Points

2005-10-01T13:57:00.000-06:00

(PRWEB) September 1, 2005 -- "We offer the good and bad about Cancun," says Tim R. Sissel, owner of CancunMX.com (http://www.cancunmx.com), Cancun's most popular user-driven web community, online since 1997. The site provides independent information about Cancun from people who have been there, enjoyed it, and keep going back. The users are active in forums, frequently updated special sections, trip stories, reviews, surveys and ratings, among other features.

Tim is from Muscatine, Iowa. He used to work at the University of Iowa College of Education, and lives in Iowa City. He visits Cancun at least two to three times a year, often with his brother and mother. He's also the owner of http://www.cancunandrivieramaya.com. Running the sites is a full-time job, but Tim's constant presence on the Vacationing Here Forum (http://www.cancunmx.com/vacation/config.cgi) ensures civil behavior without suppressing the often-amusing back and forth that makes CancunMX a true community.

"I remind people that I try to answer questions about the area first," he says, "then have fun." Some of the boards' regular contributors are well-known Cancun experts, such as Laura McFarlin (whose CancunMX handle is Laura Mapchick), co-publisher of the best-selling Cancun Can-Do Map.

In addition to providing a constantly renewed flow of information, opinion and recommendations, CancunMX assists people in tight spots such as personal emergencies, severe weather situations, airport and transportation blockages by getting good information out there. The forum has helped people get out of crooked timeshare contracts, connected folks trying to locate relatives and friends in Cancun, assisted in fights against bad charter airlines, and generally served as a communications center for all aspects of Cancun vacation life.

"I'm constantly amazed, and grateful, with my many 'Regulars' who are willing to give of their time and talent to help others with questions about the Cancun area," Tim observes. "During 9/11, we really came together to support those on the board who are from the New York city area and work in New York city," Tim recalls. "One of our subscribers could see the towers. Those of us who could watch TV and could be on the computer at the same time gave out information to those who couldn't. In the days after, we gave the best advice we could to those who were wondering whether they should continue with plans to go to Cancun or not. About a third or more cancelled, but Mom, Kent and I did go."

Looking forward to the coming vacation season, CancunMX.com has gone through a redesign. In addition to Public Cancun Tours, Private Tours are now available to: Chichen Itza (with options to Ik Kil and Ek Balam) http://www.cancunandrivieramaya.com/chichen-itza-private.htm ; Xcaret http://www.cancunandrivieramaya.com/xcaret_private.htm ; and Tulum & Xel Ha, or Xel Ha http://www.cancunandrivieramaya.com/Tulum-XelHa-private.htm *

Many new pages have been added this year, including Cancun Wedding Planner http://www.cancunmx.com/weddingrpt.htm and Mexican Recipes http://www.cancunmx.com/recipes.htm
and an updated Weather Page http://www.cancunmx.com/weather.shtml

Among the other new pages, you'll find:
Golf http://www.cancunmx.com/golf_report.htm
Auto http://www.cancunmx.com/driveinmexico.htm
Traveling with children http://www.cancunmx.com/travel_w_children.htm
Disabled children http://www.cancunmx.com/disablility_child.htm
Disabled adults http://www.cancunmx.com/disablility_adult.htm
Diarrhea http://www.cancunmx.com/travelers_diarrhea.htm
Just for kids http://www.cancunmx.com/just4kids.htm
Business travel http://www.cancunmx.com/businesstraveller.htm

How (and Why) to Roam Mexico in an RV or Van

2005-09-30T10:22:00.000-06:00

Traveling in Mexico by RV led us to wonderful experiences we could only have had that way. Camping by a remote ferry landing on the Gulf of Mexico, deepening our immersion in the ancient ruins of El Tajín by spending the night in the parking lot, having brunch in our motorhome with a taxi driver in Xalapa, watching an informal rodeo by a restaurant in Chihuahua - these are some of our treasured memories. Many other small moments of beauty or interest came from this way of traveling too.

There were drawbacks, though. Getting lost, having to maneuver the motorhome out of tight spots, the ever-present need to find a place for the RV for the night, the challenge of visiting cities while in an RV... it was rather like having a third person along with my husband and me, one who needed regular meals of gasoline, water, and electricity and needed to dump the water frequently.

In the U.S., it's easy. You just take off in your motorhome of any size or shape, and everywhere you go, you can find public or private campgrounds. There are huge national directories listing them. You can have a general idea what to expect wherever you go.

Mexico isn't like that. Some parts of the country are more developed, most notably the Pacific coast beach towns where American and Canadian RVers have been going for years. But if you get off the beaten path, RV travel in Mexico is bound to be an adventure.

Why travel by RV? We found it enjoyable, flexible, economical, and convenient.

Enjoyable

We greatly enjoyed having a mini-home with us wherever we went. Having our own bed, kitchen, and bathroom gave the trip a kind of simplicity and stability that we liked. We were both writing a lot during the trip, and having a table for our two laptops was another benefit. We liked cooking most of our meals, only eating out when we wanted to rather than because it was the only choice other than snacking. It was worth something not to be living out of a suitcase - and for us, since the laptops and Kelly's video equipment were necessary parts of our business reasons for the trip, it would have been several suitcases!

Flexible

We treasured the flexibility too. Without plane tickets, we could go when and where we wanted spontaneously. And while it's true that the outstanding bus system in Mexico does go everywhere, I doubt we would have gone to many of the more remote places we explored if we had had to do it by bus.

Economical

RVing is an economical way of traveling, unless you are going long distances in a rig that gets poor gasoline mileage. Our Toyota Dolphin averaged 17 miles per gallon - we kept track. So even though gas prices were higher in Mexico than in the U.S., our transportation costs were not bad at all. You do have to buy Mexican car insurance - American insurance is not honored there.

We averaged well under $10 a night for campgrounds, specially since many nights were free. With grocery costs maybe 60% of U.S. prices, we ate avocados and mangos galore. I'm not a big beef-eater at home, but I loved the flavorful (though generally tougher) Mexican beef. Fresh bread and bakery goods were inexpensive, and I was pleased to see whole grain breads from time to time.

Convenient

Taking care of the basics was generally convenient. Bottled water is sold in even the tiniest villages, and you can buy a large container full and then exchange the plastic bottle for another one elsewhere when you're done. I was really pleased to see how widely available clean water was. It's a terrific step forward in public health for Mexico. At just over a dollar for roughly five gallons, the cost was inconsequential for us though still a challenge for poor Mexicans.

Groceries and housewares are easy to come by - all the cities have chain-store supermarkets which also carry housewares and pharmacy items. The public markets offer a wide selection of produce and meats. Even in small towns, there are "mini-supers" (that's what they call them) of varying sizes.

Of course, all this cost money, and we were pleased that the Mexican ATMs accepted both our credit cards and the debit card from our checking account at home. The receipts often told us how many pesos we had in the account, which made me feel rich indeed until I remembered the exchange rate. We did take more than one card with us, as we heard stories of ATM machines sometimes not giving back people's cards. This was our first long trip outside the U.S. without travelers' checks, and it worked fine. We did have a couple hundred dollars, in twenties and smaller bills, tucked into a secret place in the motor home, just in case.

Staying in touch with family, friends, and our business was easy with the internet. Everywhere in Mexico, we found nice little internet cafes. Once in a while the connect speed was prehistoric, but usually it was okay and sometimes very good. It tended to cost between one and two dollars an hour. We were online about twice a week. A couple of times, we left idyllic spots because they didn't have connections there, but we never had far to go to find them. Mexicans are embracing the internet, and few of them can afford computers at home - and many of them have cellphones because the regular phone service can be hard to get and expensive - so the cafes meet a real need and are far more numerous than in the U.S.

How much Spanish should you know?

The further off the beaten tourist path you go, the fewer Mexicans who speak English will you meet - though we did notice that in the northern states, far more people spoke English than further south. However, we found that even when Mexicans spoke English, we often relied on our Spanish to verify that we had understood them correctly. In many cases, their accents are quite thick (which I find charming). Like us with Spanish, they had learned more in school about reading and writing than about speaking clearly.

It's really a personal thing. If your Spanish is minimal or nonexistent, are you comfortable communicating with gestures and a few words, even if you should have some health or vehicle problems? Despite being able to handle daily chores with ease, Kelly and I found ourselves constantly challenged by the limits of our Spanish. With my chatty personality, I found it frustrating to think of some little thing I wanted to say to someone and not quite know how to do it. If we end up spending a considerable amount of time south of the border, I will probably take an immersion Spanish course somewhere, to move to a higher level.

What's it like to drive in Mexico?

Kelly did all the Mexican driving on our trip, as I tend to be a klutz with motorhomes. He realized immediately, and I did a bit later, that even though Mexicans drive quite differently from Americans, they are no less interested in staying alive. We noticed that just as Mexicans make more eye contact and relate to each other more in public places than Americans do, so too in their driving habits, they expect each other to be alert to what they are doing. Someone may pass in a situation that would be madness in the U.S., knowing that both the people that they are passing and any oncoming traffic will be alert if things get tight.

Once, after a hair-raising taxi ride in Guadalajara, I came to the conclusion that our driver had mastered the underlying principle of the universe, that matter and energy are the same. I decided he had changed our taxi into energy at several crucial moments!

Mexican accident rates are reported to be somewhat higher than American. The evidence of my eyes bore this out. In about 3000 miles in Mexico, we saw one totaled small car, two different places where accidents had happened and huge trucks were burning, and one flipped pickup where the ambulances were on their way. That seemed like a lot to me - I am grateful that we didn't see any accidents occur. These were all daytime events; the standard advice for traveling at night is DON'T. Livestock like to sleep on the warm pavements, all the busyness that you see during the day is still going on but you can't see it so well, and there is probably a higher risk of being robbed. (Though not as high as most Americans seem to imagine.) In my reading on Mexico, I did take comfort that Carl Franz and John Howell - who have both traveled extensively in Mexico and written a lot about the country - have gone many thousands of miles. Each can tell some hair-raising tales, but neither has ever suffered a serious accident.

Another feature of driving in Mexico is getting lost. Kelly and I don't get lost at home, but we frequently found ourselves missing poorly marked turnoffs or having to guess at intersections. We had the best maps available, but they were not always correct either. It seems to me that since relatively few Mexicans travel long distances by car to unfamiliar destinations, putting up good road signs for travelers hasn't been a governmental priority. We found that when we were on the main touristic routes, the road signs were better. For example, the northbound bypass road around the city of Chihuahua could not have been better. Well, except for that one corner where we did guess right!

Throughout Mexico, especially at state lines, you will come up to army checkpoints. They are looking for drugs and guns. We were pulled over and checked several times, and it was never a problem. The young men were unfailingly courteous, and the searches were minimal. One soldier did find some white powder among our nutritional supplements, but he had no problem believing us that it was vitamin C. We did not crack inappropriate jokes that might have triggered more searching, nor were we transporting anything questionable. We did think that we were pulled over more often than other vehicles, but chalked it up to their being curious about us and our rig.

What size RV to take?

If you handle your large rig like you were born to it, if narrow curvy roads without shoulders don't faze you, if you can stop on a dime, if you can go with the flow in city traffic like a New York taxi driver, and if you don't mind spending a small fortune on gasoline, then a larger rig might be just fine.

It would also be fine if you were just going a little way into Mexico, to one of the campgrounds on the West coast that are popular with tourists.

It must be obvious that I have a bias here. For several years, Kelly and I full-timed in a bus conversion motorhome, a former Gray Line tour bus the size of a Greyhound. Kelly did handle it almost as deftly as described above, but we chose never to take it into Mexico. It was just too big a thing to enjoy there, with the way we like to explore back roads.

In talking with other Americans in the campgrounds, we found that the people in the smaller RVs were generally having more fun and going to more remote places. Our small Toyota did quite well.

I think that the ideal vehicle for versatile Mexican driving is some form of van. It could be one of the nice van conversions with all the trimmings or even just a regular passenger van to which you added some basic camping supplies or built in a bed, table, kitchen, and maybe a bit of a bathroom. This would allow you to use it for sleeping and eating when you wanted to, but you would still be able to stay in hotels and get the vehicle under the common short entry gates.

Choosing your route and finding campgrounds

On our recent trip, we were able to boondock more than most RVers because Kelly had added a couple of extra batteries that charged when we drove. (We haven't put solar panels on our RV, but may well in the future.) Also, we were at times willing to conserve water in order to boondock, even if it meant shorter showers, or no showers for a bit. But even so, we couldn't go more than 3 or 4 days without wanting hookups. This was partly because we were both writing a lot and needed to keep our laptops charged. On our 1979 trip, we didn't need hookups and had correspondingly more freedom.

The essential key to finding Mexican campgrounds is a book called "Traveler's Guide to Mexican Camping, by Mike and Terri Church." Don't leave home without it, to coin a phrase!

As a librarian, I know that no one book has everything, and we did find additional information on campgrounds in Lonely Planet and other guidebooks aimed at the budget traveler. These books were also invaluable in choosing our routes, as I pored over their descriptions of various places. I thought I had a lot of guidebooks with me, but I would take even more another time!

In choosing your route, consider the availability of campgrounds, the weather at that time of year, how much driving it would be, and what your interests are. Be aware that Mexican highways vary considerably in the speeds you can go. We averaged about 35 mph in the state of Veracruz but a lot faster on the four-lane highways in Chihuahua. We rarely went over 55 - that's part of how we managed to get excellent gas mileage.

We chose our route as we went along, but we did set out with some general ideas. We had never been along the Gulf coast and wanted to see some of it. We wanted to go to some archaeological sites. We were curious to see if we could find places we might want to return and live for some months. Well aware that the more miles you travel, the more the trip costs and the less time you have not driving, we planned to only cover part of Mexico this time. Once there, I found it hard to give up some of the places I wanted to see that were further away, but we didn't give in to those impulses. It was much more fun to have a relaxing journey.

When there is no campground

Whenever we were going to stop for the night and there was no campground, we started talking to local people and asking their advice about a place to stay. We had done that all over Mexico in 1979. Travelers say that it is more risky now. If that's so, I don't know by how much, but on this trip we did always ask, where on the earlier trip, we didn't always bother.

By asking, we were directed to one of our favorite spots, the ferry landing near Tampico. By asking, we were welcome to stay in the parking lot at the ruins of El Tajín, where there are two night guards. By asking, we were warned away from a small town where a couple of young girls had disappeared ten days before. As we drove away from that one, I remembered the persistent Latin American rumor that Americans steal babies for their body parts. A chill ran down my spine, and I was grateful for the kind local woman who had warned us we should leave. That night, we soon found another spot behind a café, intended for truck drivers to pull in and sleep.

When we spoke with the people where we stayed, we felt included in their network. Mexicans are so hospitable that it was a lovely feeling. Sometimes children would bring us warm tortillas their mother had just made, and we would scramble around to find some tiny gift we could reciprocate with.

I must admit that I slept somewhat better when we were in campgrounds. In some of the other places, I would wake in the night, wondering what that sound had just been. Rural Mexico is not a quiet place, and it took a while to get used to sounds at all hours. Kelly generally felt safer than I did, and that is true of us no matter where we are. One night in a rare Mexican government campground, the only other visitors were a jolly group of Mexican men drinking, singing, and conversing all night. I was uneasy, though there wasn't any danger really.

I discovered that if we had a little dry dog food for the local street dogs, they would immediately adopt us for the night. I liked it that they would bark if someone came close, though of course when that happened once, it did wake me up.

In a nutshell, it's a matter of using common sense and finding your comfort zone.

Danger and crime

We heard scary tales of guns and crimes in Mexico, though the scariest came from a librarian in Texas whose ex-husband carried guns around Mexico himself! Like attracts like, they say.

We had one experience of petty theft. One Sunday afternoon, we were camped at a popular balneario or hot spring, and we put our bathing suits and towels on the back of the RV to dry before taking a walk. I had an old pair of sandals with me, and they were quite wet. I set them on the hood of the Toyota to dry, where they were more visible to people going by. I thought to myself that if someone did take them, it really wouldn't matter much. I had a better pair with me.

Sure enough, when we got back from our walk, my sandals were gone. Kelly noticed that a rather rowdy group of young men were also gone.

End of story? Not quite. When we left that spot a couple of days later, my sandals were tied to a tree by the front gate, at just about the height someone in the back of a pickup could easily reach. The sandal straps were undone. It seemed that someone had tried them on but had been no Cinderella!

Of course, there are risks greater than that of losing a pair of sandals. But there is also a risk of staying at home and missing out on wonderful experiences. I have a sign over my computer: "If you don't do it, you'll never know what would have happened if you had done it."

We always pulled the curtains and locked the doors of the RV when we were gone. With both our current vehicle and the van we took on an earlier trip, Kelly installed simple sliding door latches on the driver's and passenger's doors, which we used in addition to the regular door locks. We came and went through the side door of the vehicle, which had an extra lock as well. In this motorhome, we decided not to use the oven but to make it our electronics center. We kept our laptops and cameras in there, and Kelly created an arrangement which locked the oven without showing. It involved removing a drawer next to the oven and poking a small screwdriver into a hole. Also, he installed an extra electrical box right beside our other one, in the closet. We kept our extra money in it, along with photocopies of our credit cards, passports, and Mexican tourist cards.

Beyond that, we just kept our spirits up. I've noticed many times that the better mood I am in, the more likely things will go well. Hey, I won't claim 100% for this philosophy, but overall it works.

In my opinion, RVs are well suited for certain kinds of trips: if you want to explore various regions, as we were doing, or where you drive to a destination and stay there, perhaps at a beach. If you want to spend most of your time in cities, you might be happier staying in hotels in the heart of town. If the driving would make you too nervous, go some other way instead.

So - for yourself, what do you think? Whatever you decide, may you enjoy it!

Rosana Hart has traveled to Mexico many times. Her website, http://www.mexico-with-heart.com , contains the full text of a book she wrote about traveling in Mexico, as well as information and travel tips on a variety of Mexican cities popular with tourists.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

The Plain Truth About Living in Mexico, by Doug and Cindi Bower.

2005-09-29T13:56:00.000-06:00

(PRWEB) August 26, 2005 -- SUBJECT: Special Announcement from Book Authors Doug & Cindi Bower.

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Mexico RV expert Dot Bell will be giving a seminars in Vancouver BC, Seattle WA, and Tucson AZ for first time RV travelers to Mexico. The seminar is g

2005-09-28T16:23:00.000-06:00

(PRWEB) August 29, 2005 -- The weather is about to turn and you are dreading the impending rain and cold. You dream of traveling to far off exotic places with palm-lined beaches but you don’t think your budget can stretch that far. Or maybe it can.

Mexico RV expert Dot Bell will be giving a seminars in Vancouver BC, Seattle WA, and Tucson AZ for first time RV travelers to Mexico. The seminar is geared towards independent travelers who want to RV without the expense and restrictions of an expensive caravan, but want the confidence and know-how to journey safely.

“You can easily RV safely in Mexico” says Bell who has traveled in Mexico for the last 18 years with her family. She and husband Bill have created the largest RV Mexico website on the internet (www.ontheroadin.com) and receives over 2 million hits per month. “The trick is to be prepared before you go and to know the differences between Mexico and US driving, camping and cultural norms.”

The course is a comprehensive 4-5 hour presentation that includes safety, water and health issues. Bell discusses driving techniques for a safe trip, where to travel to suit your taste and budget.

Thousands of snowbirds from Canada and the US stay 6 months or longer, enjoying the beach and sun, exploring the cities and ancient ruins and otherwise avoiding the grey dreariness of winter back home. Travel by RV makes this extended vacation or trip of a lifetime entirely possible.

Gas and diesel prices are regulated by the Mexican Government and remain low: $2.23 USD per gallon for gas, $2.61 for premium and $1.89 per gallon for diesel. The average RV Park charges $15-20 per night or $350-450 per month for full hookups including electricity. Experienced travelers know where to get the best bargains.

“There are some fantastic no-frills camping spots on the Baja, for example, that cost approximately $7 a night. These spots are right on the sand on Sea of Cortez with a 180 degree view of the water. While they offer little in terms of services, the location is as close to paradise as you can get and the memories will remain with you forever,” says Bell.

“My students want to continue their big adventure when they retire. They are smart enough to want to know the tricks and tips before they go to ensure a safe and economical journey.”

The course will be held at the September 10th in Vancouver, September 14th in Seattle and October 20th in Tucson. Cost is $40 per person or $70 per couple and includes a CD Rom with maps, locations of 400 camping places in Mexico with pictures, reviews and directions. Pre-registration is required.

Phone 1-360-283-5534 for more information.

Contact
Dot Bell 1-360-283-5534.

Copper Treasures in Mexico

2005-09-27T19:19:00.000-06:00

Traveling the world will take you to many places and in some of them you may even find treasures. But treasures are not always made of gold or diamonds. Treasures are also made of copper. And in Santa Clara del Cobre in the Mexican state of Michoacán you will understand why treasures are also made of this modest and noble metal. Copper, the 29th element, is believed to have been mined for about 5000 years now accompanying humanity and civilization through most of his great technological accomplishments. In modern times copper is an ever present element in the electrical and electronic industry. But that's not the only area of our modern lives where copper is present. Since ancient times Mexican artisans have used copper as a valuable material to fabricate beautiful and intrincate artisan works, among them there is one branch of artisans that combine practicality and art in their work. They are those dedicated to fabricate beautiful raw copper sinks in Santa Clara del Cobre.

These sinks are fabricated entirely by hand using the same ancient techniques of their indigenous ancestors. Even gas is forbidden to heat and soften the metal, they use only charcoal in small fires in the shops and helped by their inseparable hammer artisans give life and form to the copper plates placed into the fire. But this is not all, after getting the desired shape, the sinks surface has to be treated so that they will last and look like new for many years. For this they use a process called "patination" which is done under heat and that gives the surface of the copper sinks their characteristic color and durability. Many people may think that copper sinks are soft or fragile but that's not so. They are sturdy enough to substitute a regular, series made, stainless steel sink. It is sturdy enough that even bathtubs are fabricated entirely on copper. And due to the "patination" process they won't acquire a greenish color or get rusty as those old pennies that didn't have the luck of being "patinated". The charming town of Santa Clara is full of shops that work day after day to bring to life this wonderful pieces that are considered a national art. They are so proud of their skills that every corner is adorned with copper, even street lamps have their share of copper. If you ever have the chance to visit Mexico, make plans and include Santa Clara del Cobre in your schedule. Who knows and you may even end cooking in a copper pan and relaxing in your own copper tub while your dinner is being cooked under a copper kitchen hood.