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Learn Spanish Today  - Learn Spanish on-line for free, using interactive audio/visual lessons.     Jaltemba Sol...the heartbeat of the Riviera Nayarit September 16th 2009   Ok so lets name that animal,! Become a Friend of Riviera Nayarit on Facebook click here Almost Free caravan to La Penita Rv Park still has some openings Anyone wanting to travel on the Caravan? There is room. We leave Tucson Oct 27 to arrive in La Penita November 1. Email me Carole@lapenitarvpark.com Headline News   Viva Mexico! It's the 199th Anniversary of the independence of Mexico: It was on this day on September 16, 1810 when Mexicans revolted against Spain after 300 years of Spanish rule as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain….Click Here For Original Article Where do American medical tourists go abroad for treatment? Just as we have no idea how many Americans go overseas for medical, dental or cosmetic treatment we have no figures on where they go….Click Here For Original Article Movistar Is Targeting A Third Of Mexico's Mobile Market Mexico lost its second-ranked position in the Business Environment Rankings as its Telecoms Market score took a hit, allowing Brazil to overtake it once again. ….Click Here For Original Article Former President of Mexico Vicente Fox Will Be Guest of Honor at the World Debut... Celebrate the world debut of The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato exhibition with former President of Mexico Vicente Fox at the Gran Noche de Estreno World Debut Preview Event on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Detroit Science Center. ….Click Here For Original Article  Museum show is monument to Aztec ruler The one-tonne, 1.5-metre stone sculpture known as the Teocalli of Sacred Warfare was commissioned by the great Aztec ruler Moctezuma II. ….Click Here For Original Article Mexico, Argentina top G20 low-carbon shift -study Mexico and Argentina are leading a shift to make the global economy more climate friendly, according to an index of "carbon competitiveness", the London-based thinktank E3G said on Sunday. ….Click Here For Original Article ICOP Wins Award in Queretaro, Mexico ICOP Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICOP), an industry-leading company engaged in advancing digital surveillance solutions, announced today the sale of ICOP Model 20/20®-W digital in-car video systems to the Highway Patrol in the State of Queretaro, Mexico. ….Click Here For Original Article Mexican American astronaut isn't changing course on immigration stand He might have soared a gazillion miles into outer space, but back here on Earth, U.S. astronaut Jose Hernandez has stepped knee-deep in controversy. ….Click Here For Original Article   Mexico Werner Co. Announces Expansion Into Mexico Werner Co., the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of ladders, climbing equipment and ladder accessories, announced that it is entering the Mexican market by launching a full line of products designed specifically for Mexico. ….Click Here to Read More RIL to bid for pipeline project in eliance Industries (RIL), India’s largest private sector firm by market capitalisation, is planning a foray into the global pipeline construction business with a bid for building Rs 3,000 crore worth of oil and gas pipeline in Mexico. ….Click Here to Read More Rain floods Mexico City homes, subway Heavy rains have flooded hundreds of homes in the Mexico City metropolitan area and turned streets into rivers that dragged cars in their currents. ….Click Here to Read More   Driving Safely in Mexico Driving safely in Mexico tips by Bill and Dot Bell Click here to read more   Fishin Mission How one man is trying to help Mexican orphans and catch bass click here to read more H1N1 Flu Tests to be Done in Local Lab Rumbo de Mexico go to original August 27, 2009     Nayarit Governor Ney González Sánchez Xalisco - Nayarit will no longer depend on laboratories in Canada or Mexico City to confirm suspected cases of H1N1 influenza, because it will have its own lab to carry out such testing beginning in September. "In the State Public Health Laboratory we have the equipment to determine as quickly as possible whether a patient has influenza," said Nayarit Governor Ney González Sánchez. "If it is influenza, we can determine what type it is, to know how to deal with the illness and save the patient's life." Nayarit is also taking sanitary measures to prevent an outbreak of influenza or dengue fever. The governor spoke to students and teachers at the Technical Secondary School Number 2 in Xalisco, reminding them that as winter approaches, the influenza may reappear. He addressed rumors that the influenza was a fiction of the federal government, politicians, and the media. He asked, "If the flu was an invention, why did so many people die? In Nayarit two people died: a woman in Tepic and a girl in Bucerías. For them it wasn't made-up, it wasn't a lie." González reminded students that controlling the flu is a matter of washing hands frequently, not touching their eyes, nose and mouth with dirty hands, and if they sneeze to cover their mouths with the inside of their elbow. In addition to addressing health concerns with the children, he spoke of the value of education. He talked about the obstacles many local children have to overcome to get an education. Many of them have to travel long distances, leave their parents, and live in a different place with a different lifestyle, even with a different climate. He asked the students, "Is this effort 'just because'? Is it just because you have to? Education opens a new path in your life. Take advantage of your schooling, education is the master key, it opens all doors in life." González spoke about the vicious cycle of poverty, and told children that they won't escape poverty by getting into drugs. He said, "Neither the person selling nor the person taking drugs is rich. Nobody who has to live in hiding, who experiences danger every day, can say that they are rich. And people who have to take drugs to be happy, to escape from what is happening in the world, they are not rich either." Education, not drugs, is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty governor said. Yikes...land dispute in Michoacán forces RV Park owners to shut down To all of our dear friends, Sadly, we have some very bad news to share with you. Within the past few months this area has experienced a land dispute. The land that was in question was very near to us and we were concerned about opening this season due to the safety of our guests. Recently, a threat has been made that puts our land in dispute as well. A lot is unclear at the moment. What is clear to us is that this situation is not going to be resolved anytime soon making it impossible for us to open this season. We hope that in the future we are able to open again and have you as our guest. Until then, we hope you have a wonderful winter season in beautiful Mexico. Thanks. Sandy & Cynthia Left over hurricane wreaks havoc in San Carlos & Highway 15 Well, 36+ hours of continuous rain, and strong winds. We are not sure   how many of you are here in town, and if you are you might have seen   some of these images already. For those of you that aren't in town,   we just wanted to give you a glimpse of what Jimena did to our area.   We hear on the Mexican radio stations that Guaymas and the valley did   not do very well either, and we understand that help is slolwly   arriving.     Electricity is out, and so is water. Some houses that have a   generator can get internet through Telmex, as the land lines are   working OK. We understand that Highway 15 is broken both south of   Guaymas and North of Guaymas, and we read in the newspaper that a 5   km long line of cars going southbound in Hermosillo are stopped,   waiting for the road to be reopened.     As you can see in the pictures, the main boulevard is broken, so San   Carlos is split in two. Comisario says that they are working on   opening an alternate route so people can at least come and go to   Guaymas, but we have not tried it yet.     The road going up to the Caracol is mostly broken before the gates,   only high profile vehicles can pass through, though we have seen some   brave ones in smaller vehicle attempt to go up or come down.     We have heard of major damage in Guaymas and Enpalme and to the   east. We wish them well.     Regards,   Mark & Miguel U.S. Consulate General Hermosillo American Citizens Services Office Ave. Monterrey 141 poniente Ph: (662) 2893500 ext 3595 E-Mail: hermoacs@state. gov Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Warden Message, Hermosillo 9-8-09. This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens to the road conditions along Highway 15 between Hermosillo and Obregon. The tropical rains and flooding produced by Hurricane Jimena resulted in severe damage to the highway. Parts of the toll road are closed and all southbound traffic must go through the City of Guaymas. The road is open to all forms of traffic, but drivers must slow down for occasional detours and frequent single lane traffic in each direction. U.S. Consulate General Hermosillo urges all travelers to allow extra time for these delays and to drive cautiously. We will continue to monitor road conditions, and will issue updated messages as necessary. U.S. citizens are urged to monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. Updated information on travel in Mexico may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Please continue to monitor the Consulate's website for updated information, http://hermosillo. usconsulate. gov/. For further information please consult the Country Specific Information Sheet for Mexico, available via the Internet at http://travel. state.gov. For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Consulate General Hermosillo's Consular Section, located at Monterrey 141 Poniente, Col. Esqueda, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; telephone 662 289 3500; after hours emergency telephone cell: 662 256 0741, ACS unit fax 662 217 2571; e-mail is; hermoacs@state. gov; web page http://hermosillo. usconsulate. gov.     Fishing for Bass Helps Mexican Orphans 'Viva Mexico,' the Cry that Led a People to Independence Allan Wall - PVNN September 14, 2009   Mexico's President Felipe Calderon delivers a speech during an event marking the beginning of celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Mexican Independence and the 100th of the Mexican Revolution, in Mexico City, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009. Both anniversaries will be commemorated during 2010. (AP/Eduardo Verdugo) The Fiesta Patrias is Puerto Vallarta's greatest patriotic holiday event, with festivities, entertainment and activities going on almost every night from September 6th through 16th. Click HERE for list of 2009 Puerto Vallarta Fiestas Patrias events. Mexico’s Independence Day is celebrated in the month of September, on the 16th (and the previous night). This is surprising to many Americans, who think Cinco de Mayo (May the 5th) is Mexican Independence Day. Not only is Cinco de Mayo not Independence Day, it’s not even a very important holiday in Mexico. Many Americans are surprised to learn this, but I try to convince them that’s the way it is. Every nation needs symbols, traditions and celebrations to affirm its identity and pass its traditions to the next generation. That’s why national holidays are important elements of a national identity. Independence Day is probably the most popular Mexican patriotic holiday. In Spanish it’s called Diez y Seis de Septiembre (the 16th of September). It celebrates the independence of Mexico from Spain in the early 19th century. As Independence Day approaches one sees more Mexican flags, of various sizes, being sold on street corners. Mexico's flag is green, white and red, containing a coat of arms with an eagle, a serpent and a nopal plant. Mexican Independence Day really begins on the night of September 15th, at the traditional Grito observance. Grito means “shout” or “cry.” It commemorates the manner in which Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, considered the father of Mexico, publicly initiated what became the Mexican independence movement, in 1810. This occurred in the town of Dolores, now renamed Dolores Hidalgo, in central Mexico. Hidalgo, a priest, gathered the people in front of the church on the plaza, where he gave a speech and rang the bell, and called the people to action. In commemoration of Hidalgo’s original Grito, the time-honored tradition is for Mexicans to gather in plazas in Mexican cities large and small. There are speeches and performances. At 11:00 p.m., the President, governors and mayors, on a balcony, wave a flag and shout vivas in honor of Hidalgo and other Independence figures, and of course “¡Viva México!” Then fireworks are detonated. On the 16th no school is held. There are parades, including a massive Mexican military parade in Mexico City. Another custom is the bullfight on the afternoon of the 16th. It might seem ironic to stage a bullfight to celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spain. On the other hand, though Spanish political control was ended Spanish culture never left Mexico. In fact, it’s still the principal cultural influence. The study of the Mexican War of Independence is a fascinating one. It is complex, and marked with little-known ironies. Mexican Independence was not achieved in a vacuum. It was closely linked to what was going on in Spain and Europe. (In a similar fashion, the American War for Independence was also closely linked to international developments and the situation in Britain.) The period in which Mexico became independent lasted 11 years (from 1810-1821), it consisted of several phases, and it was led by men of diverse ideologies. Before independence, Mexico was part of a vast Spanish Empire stretching from California to Tierra del Fuego, in the chilly southern extremity of South America. But in 1808 Spain was conquered by Napoleon. What then became of Spain’s Empire? Napoleon was famously disinterested in the Western Hemisphere (which is why he sold the Louisiana Territory to the US). This created a power vacuum in the Spanish Empire, and nature abhors a vacuum. So Napoleon indirectly triggered various independence movements throughout the Empire. In Mexico, Miguel Hidalgo’s insurgency, which began in 1810, was not officially directed against the deposed Spanish monarchy, but against the Spanish authorities who were then running Mexico. Hidalgo was captured and shot in 1811. The most famous leader of the next phase of the movement was Jose Morelos, another priest, who had been a student of Hidalgo. It was during the Morelos phase that an independent Mexico became the concrete public goal of the insurgency. Morelos was captured and executed in 1815. By this time Napoleon had been driven out of Spain and the Spanish government attempted to reel its Empire back in. But the damage had been done, and the Spaniards were soon to lose all their mainland possessions in the Western Hemisphere. After Morelos’ death, Mexican guerrilla movements led by Vicente Guerrero, Guadalupe Victoria, and others continued to resist the Spanish government. But the insurgency didn’t really amount to much. Ironically, it was the Mexican royalists’ switching sides that brought about independence. In 1820, a new government took power in Spain. Suddenly the Mexican royalists, who had been loyal to Spain all these years, decided that they would rather rule an independent Mexico. So they sent General Agustin de Iturbide (who had been leading the royalists against the insurgents for years) to make a pact with the insurgent leader Guerrero, who agreed to it. In August of 1821, the Spanish viceroy in Mexico recognized the independence of Mexico and signed the Treaty of Cordoba. On September 27th Iturbide’s army entered Mexico City, and on the 28th of September an independent Mexico was officially declared. There is also a curious correspondence of dates in Mexican history. The year 1810 is celebrated as the beginning of what became the independence movement, and 1910 is celebrated as the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. That means that next year (2010) marks the bicentennial of Hidalgo’s Grito of 1810, and the centennial of the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Some big festivities are being planned for the dual anniversary. The Fiesta Patrias is Puerto Vallarta's greatest patriotic holiday event, with festivities, entertainment and activities going on almost every night from September 6th through 16th. Click HERE for list of 2009 Puerto Vallarta Fiestas Patrias events. Allan Wall is an American citizen who has been teaching English in Mexico since 1991, and writing articles about various aspects of Mexico and Mexican society for the past decade. Some of these articles are about Mexico's political scene, history and culture, tourism, and Mexican emigration as viewed from south of the border, which you can read on his website at AllanWall.net. Click HERE for more articles by Allan Wall.   September is the Month of Mexican Pride By Tara Spears A proliferation of local parades, Mexican flags, music festivals and two federal holidays celebrate the tenacious spirit the Mexican people. Septemb er is a weaving of the present with the past to create an intricate fabric that reflects the unique heart and soul of Mexico. The month begins with the President’s annual State of the Union address from Mexico City, followed by the commemoration of two significant 19th century political events:  September 13 honors Los Ninos Heroes, six teenage military cadets who died defending Mexico in the 1847 Mexican-American war; and September 16, Mexican Independence Day, celebrates the day in 1810 that Miguel Hidalgo delivered El Grito de Dolores, announcing the Mexican revolt against Spanish rule. Battle of Chapultepec:  This battle outside Mexico City contains all the dramatic elements that inspire: beleaguered and outnumbered common people, an exotic setting in an elegant castle, violence and bloodshed.  In 1847 the Mexican-American war had reached deep into the country, with North American Marines laying siege to the nation’s capital. Chapultepec Castle was a remnant from the hated Spanish rule and was used as a military academy.  Although the young soldiers-in-training had been ordered to retreat,   with the invincible conviction of youth they choose to stay in the castle and fight for their belief in Mexican independence.  Battling against professional soldiers, these six teens sacrificed their lives defending their country. The Chapultepec  castle is presently a national museum in a public park that also is the site of a memorial to the Los Ninos Heros.  The left picture (below) illustrates the castle in 1847, the present day memorial is pictured to the lower right.    In the Riviera Nayarit area, one of the youth, Juan Escutia, who was born in Tepic, Nayarit, is especially revered for his extraordinary bravery.  Although Juan had only been admitted to the Academy  days before the siege, he courageously  chose to protect and honor his country’s flag by wrapping himself in it and leaping from the roof to prevent the flag from falling into enemy hands.  The Chapultepec castle complex contains a large mural above the stairway that depicts Juan’s patriotic actions.   Miguel Hidalgo: Cleric Leader Promotes Independence from Spain Intellectual, charismatic, priest, and rebel leader describe the man who helped initiate the Mexican revolt from Spanish rule. Originally promoting the interests of the wealthy Creoles in Guanajunto, his native state, Hidalgo expanded his appeals to include the Indios and castes, thus garnering a large militant fighting army.  In his impassioned speech, Grito de Dolores, on September 16, 1810, Hidalgo invoked the Virgin of Guadalupe as patroness which inspired all classes to revolt against the Spanish overseers.  Hidalgo’s platform of social change (he advocated the end of slavery, social classes, and to return the land to the Indians- issues that are still being fought in southern Mexican states today,) angered his original Creole supporters. In early 1811, Hidalgo and other rebel leaders were captured north of Saltillo. He was executed and decapitated on July 30, 1811.  It wasn’t until years later that Hidalgo’s efforts were recognized and he was lauded as a patriotic hero. Modern Mexico celebrates the date of his revolutionary speech as Mexican independence day, a national holiday. Fusion of Song and Dance: Mariachi Festivals In addition to the serious reasons to celebrate this month, September is also the commemoration of the birth of mariachi music. This truly Mexican style of music, performed by strolling musicians in traditional charro garb (silver studded sombreros, jackets and pants,) is accompanied by horns, guitars, bass and violins.  The passionate songs tell of politics, love, betrayal, animals, and death.  Even without knowing the words, the haunting rthymn pulls the listener to their feet.  Folk dances have evolved that accompany various types of mariachi songs- truly a fantastic entertainment to experience.       Every small town, pueblo, and city will have parades, food, music and celebrating throughout the month, so join the lively activities to experience the joy of Mexico. Bravery, passion and independence: lots to celebrate in September, making it a great time to visit!   Email:   tara.sprs@hotmail.com  Click the ad to go to our site La Penita de Jaltemba Beach Boomers May Soon Overcome Top Objection to Retirement in Mexico Jim Scherrer - PVNN September 08, 2009     Puerto Vallarta has several modern clinics and hospitals with sophisticated diagnostic and surgical equipment, staffed with highly trained and experienced English speaking doctors. (photos by PromoVision) As retirees and 12 year residents of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, it’s quite easy to extol the benefits of living in Mexico. Of course, not every part of Mexico is the same (as is true in the US or Canada); however, we can certainly vouch for Puerto Vallarta. With its beautiful climate and landscape of the Sierra Madres cascading down into Banderas Bay, its kind and friendly local citizenry, its proximity to the US and Canada, and its lower cost of living, what’s there not to like in this wonderland south of the border? English, as a second language, is widely spoken throughout the city, the safety of expats is of highest priority for the authorities with the rate of violent crime at a fraction of that back home, corruption significantly reduced, poverty virtually eradicated, and the cleanliness of this city make it a favorite resort destination for millions of visitors from throughout the world. All of the “Big Box” stores such as Sam’s Club, Costco, Wal-Mart, Builders Square, Office Depot, nine beautiful signature golf courses, world class deep sea fishing, high speed internet, satellite TV, VOIP telephone service, etc. are all available in this beautiful city in the center of the Mexican Riviera. The face of Vallarta has been dramatically altered during the past decade with well maintained city parks, esplanades, a new Malecon walkway along the beach, new water treatment facilities and miles of new water distribution lines, new or upgraded power distribution system throughout the city, new downtown above ground and underground parking garages, a new University of Guadalajara branch, a new Convention Center, the tripling in size of the Maritime Terminal, the quadrupling in size of the International Airport, and the addition of four new hospitals with modern and sophisticated diagnostic and surgical equipment, staffed with highly trained and experienced English speaking doctors. Now that we’ve established the fact that Vallarta is a fine place to live or retire, let’s take a closer look at the last item above related to medical care. With high quality medical care readily available in Vallarta, the cost of it, even though at a fraction of the cost in the US, can be a deciding factor when considering Mexico as a retirement location. Assuming that most retirees have reached or are fast approaching their 65th birthday, the availability, quality, and cost of medical care are of high importance. The quality of medical care in Vallarta is generally equal to or better than that received in the US and the cost varies from one third to one half of that in the States (speaking from experience and with authority!) Having high quality medical care available in Mexico is one thing but paying for it is another since US provided Medicare for seniors fails to cross the border at this time. Various supplements to Medicare cover seniors traveling abroad for a limited period of time (for example, supplement F covers the holder for the first 60 days of international travel), however, they are inadequate for full time residents living abroad. Although Mexican Social Security (IMSS) is available to expats, most under the age of 65 have their own private international health insurance which is somewhat costly as discussed in numerous articles and covered on websites such as MedToGo. For many years, we have used IHI/BUPA and can state emphatically; their coverage and service is absolutely great for expats living in Mexico and traveling worldwide. Now, let’s assume you’ve reached the age of 65 and are considering Mexico as your retirement destination. It’s very difficult to abandon your free Medicare that you’ve contributed to for a lifetime, the cost of private insurance is almost prohibitive, and you can’t afford to take the risk of being uninsured. This is the main dilemma for seniors considering retirement abroad. Even so, there are more than five million (some reports indicate six million) Americans living abroad, of which more than a million reside in Mexico per the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO). In fact, there are more US expats living abroad than reside in 24 of the states in the US as reported by Republicans Abroad! Well, perhaps we’re on the verge of overcoming this top objection to retiring in Mexico! The US government has been approached by numerous expat groups such as the Puerto Vallarta based chapter of Democrats Abroad and the bipartisan group of American Citizens Abroad with the intent of promoting the advancement of Medicare for expats living abroad. Before Congress can enact such a law change, they must conduct demonstration projects in order to determine the feasibility and cost effectiveness of such law changes. The Americans for Medicare in Mexico, A.C. (AMMAC) have put forth a tremendous effort in promoting this benefit to eligible retirees and have encouraged many members of Congress to initiate such a demonstration project. They argue that not only have these eligible Medicare recipients paid into the fund over a lifetime, but the cost to the US taxpayers will be significantly reduced because rather than returning to the US for expensive and long term medical care, the majority of these expats will merely elect to have their medical care provided near their foreign residence at a fraction of the cost. Proponents of the law change such as Professor David C. Warner of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas have written books and papers on the subject of “Getting What You Paid For: Extending Medicare to Eligible Beneficiaries in Mexico” and the newly appointed US Ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Pascual, has been following the current efforts to establish a demonstration project for the initiation of Medicare in Mexico as a pilot program. In fact, Ambassador Pascual recently accompanied President Obama to a North American Summit in Guadalajara where one of the topics covered was Medicare in Mexico as reported by the Guadalajara Reporter. In summarizing, we are anticipating the availability of Medicare for eligible retirees residing in Mexico in the not too distant future. Once this obstacle to retiring abroad has been eliminated, not only will millions of baby boomers in search for a less expensive and better quality of life be heading south of the border, but so too will millions of retiring Mexican Americans desiring to return to their homeland. Combined with all of the other obvious benefits of living in Paradise, free and high quality medical care for boomers will just be the icing on the cake! The founder of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers' Agents (PVREBA), Jim Scherrer is a retired entrepreneur who has owned property in Puerto Vallarta for more than 25 years. Utilizing his experience and extensive knowledge of the area, Jim's series of informative articles about travel to and retirement in Puerto Vallarta reveal the recent changes that have occurred in Vallarta, while dispelling the misconceptions about living conditions in Mexico. For more articles by Jim Scherrer, click HERE or visit PVREBA.com.                                        Invasion of the Caterpillars-Don’t  Spray!                                                                         Tara Spears   Besides the heavy seasonal rains last week, lots of spiny caterpillars have appeared in Riviera Nayarit yards and on sidewalks. For many people, the first response is to stomp them or spray these creepy crawlies with insecticide. But there is another, easier way to deal with these invaders-peaceful coexistence.  Yep, just ignore them!  Yes, they do eat a lot- I have several plants that are stripped to the bare stem whereas a week ago they were lush flowering plants.  The leaves will grow back and the flowers will rebloom in time for the adult butterfly or moth to sip the nectar.  By remembering that caterpillars are the larval growth stage of butterflies and only temporary should help one ignore their scary presence. Click to read the entire story   From Guanajuato Mexico

 

Reproduction:                 Mexico Hijacker is Singing, Gunslinging Evangelical Catherine Bremer - Reuters go to original September 11, 2009     Mexican Federal Police present to the media Jose Mar Flores Pereira from Bolivia accused of hijacking an AeroMexico plane in Mexico City, September 9, 2009. (Reuters/Jorge Dan Lopez) Mexico City - A man who hijacked a Mexican plane is a singing evangelical minister, marksman and martial arts whiz who friends nicknamed "Crazy" as he turned to religion to escape a life of drug addiction and petty thieving. Bolivian-born Jose Mar Flores, 44, set off a national security alert on Wednesday when he hijacked a plane flying from Cancun to Mexico City. He wielded a Bible and fruit juice cans filled with earth and bound with silver tape and wires to look like bombs. The AeroMexico plane landed safely and all on board escaped unhurt after a senior crew member reasoned with Flores, who read from his Bible, wept, prayed and said he needed to warn Mexican President Felipe Calderon of an impending earthquake. "I love this nation, I love God's people. I want us to pray because tremendous things are ahead," Flores told reporters after his arrest. "There is only one way to avoid it - by uniting, by crying out wherever we are, whoever we are, whatever our religion, by begging God for this not to happen." Security Minister Genaro Garcia Luna said Flores told police he picked the attack for September 9, 2009 because the date 9-9-9 is the inverse of 6-6-6, a number associated with the devil, and that the Holy Spirit accompanied him on his mission. He has yet to be charged. Worshippers at Flores's evangelical church near the southern Mexican city of Oaxaca said he was gifted at healing the sick, and neighbors described him as quiet and respectful. But Internet video footage shows a bizarre character with an obsession for cowboy-style gun tricks and martial arts. Friends nicknamed him "Crazy Flores", the daily Reforma said. In one video clip, Flores shows off pistol-spinning skills, does some tricks with nunchucks - fighting sticks joined by a chain - then tosses a coin in the air and shoots it, dramatically falling down afterward and rolling on the ground. He then shoots a hole through his wallet and inspects the damaged banknotes inside. CHRISTIAN SINGER Flores is then shown under a plastic sheet in a boat in a deep canyon in southern Mexico begging God to stop a raging storm. When the weather clears, he tosses his gun into the river and throws his arms in the air as friends applaud. "I was the meanest shot in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. But Christ showed himself to be all-powerful," Flores tells worshippers in a sermon about the incident that was also filmed. "I promised Jehovah that never again in my life would I pick up a gun," he says, addressing a crowded arena from a stage filled with plants and conga drums. Flores's wife Elizabeth Melgar apologized for the hijack of the plane, which had 104 passengers aboard, and said he only wanted to get the media's attention about a dangerous earthquake he believed would soon hit. "He just wanted to be listened to," she told reporters. "Only time will tell if it was truly God who sent him." Flores arrived in Mexico a decade ago from Bolivia, addicted to cocaine and having served jail time, and began busking in Mexico City's seedy Plaza Garibaldi square, Reforma reported. He also resorted to begging and thieving until he was befriended by a man who took him to his evangelical church and Flores became a preacher who tried to help drug addicts. Under the stage name "Josmar" he recorded compact discs, decorated with his beaming photograph, of Christian songs sung in his vibrato-heavy voice accompanied by electronic organ.                             Hummingbirds of the Riviera Nayarit                          By Tara Spears  When I lived in the northern US, the window of time for sharing the garden with these gorgeous, diminutive birds was very short. And like most career people with a family and a packed schedule, I’d have to plan time to sit and watch the hummingbirds… I could “smell the roses” on the run but without putting ‘sit in garden/ 30 minutes’ on my ‘to do’ list, I’d often miss these transient birds’ visit. But since living in tropical western Mexico, which is the natural habitat for hundreds of hummingbird species, seeing them year round is a daily joy if you have the right flowers in your yard.  To read more of Hummingbirds click here     Mexico Now Enduring Worst Drought in Years Elisabeth Malkin - New York Times go to original September 13, 2009     A farmer rides past a carcass in Tabasco State, which has lost about 7,000 animals. (Jaime Avalos/European Pressphoto Agency) Mexico City — As the end of the four-month rainy season approaches here in Mexico City, it has finally begun to rain. But the daily downpours, which have overwhelmed the city’s drainage network and flooded subway stations, arrived too late. Mexico is enduring its worst drought in six decades. Crops are drying up in the fields and water is being rationed in the capital. Residents of poor neighborhoods have hijacked water trucks, and there are other signs of social tensions building. El Niño, a weather pattern that warms water in the Pacific Ocean and leads to changing weather around the Pacific Basin, is causing the drought, Mexican officials say. The rainy season typically begins here in June. Rain falls almost daily in most of the country, irrigating the spring planting and filling reservoirs before the dry months. But this year, the first three months of the rainy season were dry. Officials warned that the reservoirs were falling to dangerously low levels. Some of Mexico’s neighbors have been grappling with similar problems. Guatemala declared “a state of calamity” last week, because the drought has caused shortages of staples like corn and beans. The government plans to deliver food packages to 400,000 families, Reuters reported. In Mexico, almost 40 percent of the farm land inspected by the government has been affected by the drought, causing shortfalls in the harvests of corn, beans, wheat and sorghum. The Mexican government is spending more than $100 million to buy emergency crop insurance and to dispense direct aid to farmers. The drought has forced the 20 million residents of Mexico City and its suburbs to confront the vulnerability of their water supply. The Aztecs built Mexico City, or Tenochtitlán, on an island within a network of shallow lakes. Dykes and canals regulated the flow of water across the vast basin and held back floodwaters. But the Spanish conquerors set about draining the lakes, and a century ago, the city began to extract water from wells drilled to the water table below. About 70 percent of Mexico City’s water is now pumped out of the aquifer at a rate more than twice as fast as rainfall is able to replenish it. The other 30 percent of the city’s water is pumped — uphill — from reservoirs 80 miles to the west. As the level in those reservoirs, which are known as the Cutzamala system, was depleted this spring, the city began to restrict water supply in different areas for several days at a time. The city also began to exhort residents to save water, recommending that they install low-flow showerheads (city officials even handed out a few hundred in poor neighborhoods), fix leaky faucets and check for leaks in toilets and cisterns. As much as a third of the city’s water supply is lost to leaks, in homes and in pipelines. The city government heavily subsidizes the cost of water, and Ramón Aguirre, the official in charge of the water supply, said last month that he would lobby the city assembly to drop the subsidy for large consumers. Households pay only 15 percent of what it costs to supply their water. On the wealthy west side of Mexico City, green lawns and shiny cars are evidence of how much water households use. A study by the National Polytechnic Institute estimated that the city’s wealthy households consumed four to fives times as much water as poor households on the city’s east side. In many poor neighborhoods, the water supply has been cut off frequently, and many people start lining up at 4 a.m. to ask for water trucks to fill tanks in their houses. Last week, after the most intense downpour in ten years, reporters immediately asked Mr. Aguirre whether all the rain would ease the shortage. But it turned out that nature had played a trick. For the rain to enhance the water supply, it had to fall to the west of Mexico City, over the mountains where the reservoirs of the Cutzamala system were built. Instead, the rain fell on the city’s streets, got swept down into the drains, piped to the city’s north and eventually emptied into the Gulf of Mexico. “It would be difficult for a few weeks of rain to compensate for months of drought,” Mr. Aguirre said. “Even though they are welcome.” Mexico Political Deal the Stuff of Drama Ken Ellingwood - Los Angeles Times go to original September 13, 2009   Rafael "Juanito" Acosta, seen here at Mexico City's Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, was originally part of a ploy by the country's chief leftist. (Rene Soto/Milenio Diario) Under an elaborate plan by the nation's chief leftist, peddler Rafael Acosta was to relinquish his new post as a sort of mayor in the capital's most populous district. But then he balked, or has he? Mexico City - His emblem is a headband dyed the red, green and white of Mexico's flag and emblazoned with his one-word stage name, "Juanito." From the working-class streets where he peddles used clothing and holiday decorations, he muses about running for president. If anyone has spiced up the drab aftermath of Mexico's July 5 legislative elections, it is Rafael Acosta, an exuberant hawker-turned-activist-turned-politician-turned-spoiler who may end up in charge of Mexico City's most populous borough, which has more people than metropolitan Las Vegas. For two months, Acosta has been the lead character in an odd political drama that has made Juanito a household name, while providing enough cautionary lessons to rival Aesop's fables. In the July elections, Acosta was elected chief of the teeming Iztapalapa borough, a kind of mayor in miniature, thanks to a maneuver orchestrated by Mexico's main leftist figure, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Acosta was supposed to be only a bit player in Lopez Obrador's plan, whose main purpose was to block the election of a candidate from a rival wing of the Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD, after a disputed nomination process in the fractious party. Under the plan, Lopez Obrador urged his supporters in the PRD to vote for Acosta, an ally who ran as a candidate of the fringe Labor Party. The script then called for Acosta to step down, if elected. According to the plan, Clara Brugada, a former congresswoman in Lopez Obrador's faction, would be put forward as a replacement. Brugada had been disqualified as the PRD candidate less than a month before the election by a federal electoral tribunal that found "irregularities" in the party's primary. The strategy seemed to work. With Lopez Obrador's backing, Acosta won easily in Iztapalapa, a PRD bastion. Acosta publicly promised to step down after winning. But it wasn't long before the plan went awry: Acosta started having second thoughts about leaving. He blamed Brugada, saying she wouldn't answer his condition that at least half the key borough jobs go to his backers. Lopez Obrador warned him not to fall prey to the "siren song" of power. The Mexican press was there every time Acosta got to mulling whether he should keep the job for himself. The street vendor was suddenly a media sensation. He has assumed the role with gusto. During a television interview last month, Acosta declared that he didn't need Lopez Obrador or Brugada. "I would have won with any party by running only as 'Juanito,' " he said. (He adopted the nickname years ago after coaching a youth soccer team in which 11 players were named Juan.) Acosta said he planned to run for mayor of Mexico City in 2012, and hinted at a possible run for president. "If the people elect me, why not?" he told one journalist. The drama over whether Acosta would relent -- and the spectacle of a scheme blowing up in the faces of its makers -- has been delicious grist for pundits eager to find a moral to the story. "Juanito is the little Frankenstein who disowned his creator," commentator Raymundo Riva Palacio wrote. Acosta is new to electoral politics but long a fixture at leftist protests, including those supporting the claim that the 2006 presidential election was stolen from Lopez Obrador. Acosta noted proudly during the recent campaign that he had appeared, stripped to his underwear, in a Mexican fichera movie, a once-popular genre full of scantily clad women. If Acosta keeps the job of running Iztapalapa, a crowded place of 1.8 million, he would inherit some of the most difficult problems in Mexico City, including deep poverty, infrastructure in disrepair and frequent water shortages. But the budget is big, about $280 million this year, and the borough chief makes about $90,000 a year. Acosta sounded resolute about retaining the job the other day. The swearing-in is Oct. 1. "The people have spoken," he said during a visit to pray at the famed Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, with a battalion of news cameras in tow. But then Thursday, Acosta stoked the intrigue by meeting with Brugada over lunch. He said the two ate well, but did not reach a deal. Juanito, vendor-activist-politician-spoiler, also played master of suspense: He promised more news in a few days. ken.ellingwood(at)latimes.com       Mexico Wal-Mart to Relaunch Bank Noel Randewich - Reuters go to original September 10, 2009   Mexico City - Wal-Mart de Mexico plans to relaunch its Mexican bank in coming months, using its thousands of store cashiers to take deposits, in a bid to gain a foothold in an industry dominated by Citigroup and Spain's BBVA. By far Mexico's largest retailer, Wal-Mart de Mexico plans to offer savings accounts and credit cards to the 3 million customers who visit its stores every day, two-thirds of whom currently have no relationship with any bank, Chief Executive Eduardo Solórzano said on Wednesday. "By year-end, we'll offer our consumers almost 20,000 cashiers for the bank. That's all the cashiers we have," Solórzano told analysts on a conference call. Wal-Mart de Mexico, controlled by Wal-Mart Stores Inc, first unveiled its bank in 2007 but made little progress in opening branches at its retail stores. "You're going to see a relaunch of the bank, something maybe between 100 and 150 branches," Solórzano said. "You'll see that the footprint of the bank will be much clearer than it has been so far." As well, Wal-Mart de Mexico expects to open 270 stores in 2009, 18 more than previously forecast, Solórzano said. In the United States, authorities have prevented Wal-Mart from moving into the financial industry, to protect small banks. In Mexico, government officials say the banking sector is not competitive enough and have authorized Wal-Mart de Mexico and other retailers to open banks to shake up the industry. The bank's relaunch will include the installation of automated teller machines, currently being tested, in Walmart stores, as well as an advertising campaign. Solórzano said the company is well positioned to focus on Mexicans with little or no experience with banks. Shares of Wal-Mart de Mexico were up 0.21 percent at 47.90 pesos.     Become a Friend of Nayarit on Face book click here Mexico Telmex Freezes Prices for 10th Straight Year Noel Randewich - Reuters go to original September 10, 2009   Mexico City - Mexican fixed-line telephone operator Telmex said on Wednesday it will freeze prices for a 10th straight year in 2010 as increasing competition pressures the one-time government monopoly. Telmex, controlled by billionaire Carlos Slim, has 80 percent of Mexico's fixed telephone lines but faces growing pressure from smaller operators like Axtel (AXTELB.MX) and Maxcom (MXCMCPO.MX) as well as from cellphone operator America Movil (AMXL.MX) (AMX.N), also controlled by Slim. Also, technology changes in recent years have lowered the profitability of long-distance as consumers make use of Web-based services like Skype. Since 1991, Telmex's (TELMEXL.MX) (TMX.N) prices have fallen 73 percent in real terms, Telmex said in a statement. In the April-June period of this year, Telmex's revenues declined 3.7 percent compared with the year-ago period. (Editing by Gary Hill)      Learn Spanish Today  - Learn Spanish on-line for free, using interactive audio/visual lessons. Photography by Bill Bell  to view Mexico Photography click below Colonial Cities and Towns   Archeological Sites       Click the ad to go to our site Speak Spanish - That Should be Your Goal! Learn Spanish Today   Make 2009 the year that you learn Spanish Can you Speak Spanish? How long have you been studying Spanish? Between high school classes, college classes and you own efforts you could easily have a couple years already under your belt. During this time you have likely built up a good Spanish vocabulary, along with a basic understanding of Spanish verb conjugation. But can you speak Spanish? Why is speaking Spanish so hard? Would you feel comfortable approaching a native Spanish speaker and starting a conversation? Why not? Why is it so hard to speak Spanish evenBeginning high school and college Spanish classes, as well as most self study Spanish courses start off by teaching vocabulary and verb conjugation. You practice speaking, but the focus is on the individual word or phrase. Lists of words are memorized and tests are given on verb conjugation. So when it comes time to speak, the words and phrases are separate in your mind. It becomes a matter of trying to pull all the pieces together and form them all into a sensible sentence, not just speaking. The key to becoming more comfortable in speaking situations is to practice and learn the sentences as a whole, not in separate pieces. This way when you are trying to remember what to say, the whole sentence pops in your mind, not just one word. You will speak Spanish more correctly, more fluently and more confidently than ever before. The Visual Link Spanish Course allows you to utilize this effective way of learning and practice speaking Spanish. In our free online demo lessons, you can see how we utilize these strategies to truly teach you to speak Spanish. You will be able to recall everything you learn and words will come into your mind as a complete sentence not separate individual words. You will already be on your way to speaking Spanish more fluently and more confident  Learn Spanish Today  - Learn Spanish on-line for free, using interactive audio/visual lessons.

New with travel guide information added! Pacific Coast Road, Driving and Travel Guide Log 2010 We are confident that our road logs and driving guides will make your highway experiences just that much better and easier. Regardless of whether you are driving an RV or a suburban, a bike or a pick-up, our road logs will assist your journey. Even 20 year veterans of the route have benefited from the information. We decided to present the road from a driving perspective going SOUTH. When your are looking at the Log, you read from the bottom of the page and read up. The Pacific Ocean, for example, would always be on your right, just as you would view it from your driver's seat. The KM markings are the markings that you will see as you drive. It doesn't matter if your vehicle reads in miles or kilometers. You just read the signs on the road to get your bearings. Sometimes one highway combines with another and old kilometer signs are left up. Not to worry, just continue to read the guide. Some of the best navigation points are the Pemex Station numbers clearly marked on all gas station signs. Topes (Mexican speed bumps) are marked in the guide just to remind you to go slow. We included Military and Agriculture check points even though we know these can change frequently. (Generally they are on one side of the state border or another between the Mexican states.)   How to download and buy the Road Log Click on the buy now button and you will be directed to a merchants page.  Once you pay for the road log you will redirected to an easy to use download page where you will be able to receive your product immediately.  Now only $9.99                             Jaltemba Sol Copyright 2009 Custom Search