All Content from Inside Mexico

Mexico City, 1942

margot — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:40:54 -0400

How many times have you wondered what it would have been like to visit Mexico City back in the day?

We don't have footage of the pre-Columbian chinampas that once characterized this metropolis, but a 1942 MGM travel film tours us through the city's characteristic landmarks-- Reforma, el Monumento de la Revolucion, Angel de la Independencia-- and makes us long for a simpler, more romantic era in one of the world's great cities.

Click here to see the video on Youtube.

Thanks to La Ciudad de Mexico en el Tiempo for posting this great video! Follow them on Twitter at @cdmexeneltiempo

Pescado a la Veracruzana...in Campeche

aran — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:46:01 -0400

You might never have heard of Champotón, Campeche. In fact,while most of you will have heard of the Mexican State of Campeche and its capital city of the same name, my guess is that few will have visited. I'll write more on Campeche in a later post. For the moment, I will say that it is a gem of a city, well worth a visit.

Champotón, population less than 30,000, is the state's third biggest "city." A Spanish expedition, lead by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, landedin this Mayan settlement in 1517. Today, it's a sleepy little fishing town whose main road runs by an old Spanish fort and right along the seawall that protects the town when the Gulf gets rough. On one side of the street the fishing boats are lined up along the rocky shore below the seawall. On the other are the restaurants. You get the idea. It's all about fresh seafood.

On the weekends the restaurants fill up with day trippers from Campeche City; during the week, they are pretty quiet.

We chose a restaurant called Los Pelicanos and made it to a table just before the kitchen closed. I ordered the Filete de Pescado a la Veracruzana, a fish fillet smothered in asavory sauce of tomatoes, onions, olives and garlic. The serving that appeared was easily big enough for two. A large fillet of red snapper had been lightly battered and fried and then generously smothered in the "Veracruz sauce."

Sometimes, the fish in this dish is nothing more than a vehicle for the condiment. For a la Veracruzana to really work the sauce has to be savory (bay leaves are key) and fish has to have presence. To my mind a fairly thick piece of flaky white fish works best.

In the port of Veracruz I've sampled a deliciously gourmet version of Pescado a la Veracruzana that was cooked "empapelado" or with the sauce and the fish baked together in a tinfoil envelope. But, for a hearty, big flavored meal, the Los Pelicanos version can't be beat.

Margot ordered the shrimp cocktail. It too, was a generous serving that came on a plate rather than in the more typical cocktail glass. The shrimp were small, succulent gulf shrimp in a light bath of lime and olive oil, with a touch of onion and cilantro. It was a perfectly simple, fresh dinner.

Driving from Campeche City to Champotón takes about 45 minutes. Another 15 to 20 minutes along the road south, brings you to a mammoth real estate development called CampechePlaya, brought to us by the Spanish developers, Grupo Mall. When (and if),the Campeche Playa development takes off, with its estimated 3,000 real estate units, plus hotels, etc., it will most likely have a gentrifying impact on Champotón.

For now, Champotón is a great place for eating hearty servings of seafood prepared with a regional - Gulf, Yucatan -- touch.

Oasis: A Roadside Restaurant Near Punta Mita

aran — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:11:34 -0400

The view from the restaurant at the Four Seasons Punta Mita is incomparable. The food is good and the pricey beers are deliciously cold. But, if you are tooling around that stretch of the Riviera Nayarit and are feeling the urge for something other than five star service, there's a restaurant you shouldn't miss.

On the right hand side, a few kilometers from the entrance to Punta Mita along the road that runs by Litibu and ends up in Sayulita, look for a modest sign advertising the Restaurante Oasis. You pull off right there and sit under a simple palapa. There isn't much of a view, but the home cooking is to die for.

They serve up hand made tortillas, bean quesadillas, and delicious slow roasted salsas. That's just for starters. I have never been a big fan of the spicy, lime cooked shrimp dish called aguachile de camaron. While I really enjoy fish ceviche, I tend to prefer my shrimp grilled, roasted or steamed.

The Oasis completely reinvented aguachile de camaron for my tongue and mind. The shrimp were fresh and melt-in-your-mouth savory. The cucumber and red onion offered perfect counterpoints to the tangy, chilied lime. The plate is big enough to share, but with help from a few sips of beer it was gone in a flash. The other seafood dishes proved to be equally fresh and the total bill came to less than the cost of a couple of beers inside the resorts.

The people who work at the Punta Mita and Litibu resorts eat at the Oasis. I wondered, as I watched them enjoying their food, if they might not be enjoying the best Mexican restaurant around.

Two New Hotels in Veracruz

aran — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:17:23 -0400

The Hotel Emporio,Veracruz, Veracruz

The Hotel Emporio, built in the 1940s, is only a ten minute cab ride along the shore from the World Trade Center if you are attending a conference or expo there.

The hotel itself is a great choice for events of up to 400 people. There are 223 simple but tastefully decorated sleeping rooms; a 5,170 square foot banquet hall that can be divided into four separate spaces; a stand alone 700-square foot meeting room; three business centers; three restaurants; and a stylish lobby area that is comfortable and practical, perfect for impromptu meetings and break-out sessions. Free wi-fi is available in every room and in the public spaces. In addition, the hotel boasts a spa, three swimming pools, a gym (not yet open at the time of visit) and a rooftop lounge and bar.

The energetic staff members greet you with smiles, eager to show off the hotel, excited to be working in the famous Emporio, once again considered the jewel of Veracruz's colonial center. Employees, from the managers to the maids, worked around the clock prior to launch, doing whatever needed to be done to ready the property for guests.Their teamwork and sense of pride was evident in every interaction with them.

Most hotel employees speak conversational English or better,a pleasant surprise given that Veracruz is not an international tourist destination like Cancun or Puerto Vallarta. But Grupo Diestra, the management company that owns and operates the hotel is experienced: three of their nine hotels are Marriott franchises, and they operate in major tourist markets, including Acapulco, Mexico City and Ixtapa.

One of the hotel's opening events was a three-day executive meeting by the pharmaceutical giant Lilly.

Hotel Emporio is located in the historical center of Veracruz, right next door to the the famed café and restaurant Gran Café LaParróquia, a meeting place for local media, politicians and movers and shakers of all types.The lovely central plaza is just a ten minute walk away. In the evenings the plaza is a meeting place for locals and tourists, and most nights you can listen to a band playing traditional music, as couples dance the elegant local danzón.

The city of Veracruz, for more than four hundred years a hub of international commerce, is in the early phases of a much-needed renovation of its historical center. However, if you like the gritty authenticity and historical feel of the old port city, the Hotel Emporio lets you experience it from a comfortable and stylish base.

Hotel Isla Tajín, Tuxpan, Veracruz

The concept of Hotel Islan Tajin -- luxury in a remote natural setting -- feels more akin to what a traveler might expect to find inCosta Rica. With a few exceptions, developers in Mexico tend to build their upscale hotels in clusters. However, if Isla Tajín marks a new tendency in hotel development here, it could be an exciting one; Mexico has innumerable spectacular natural settings that could draw boutique travelers looking to get away from it all, bird watch, or hike jungle trails.

Tuxpan is located (300 km) up the coast from the port of Veracruz. Once in Tuxpan, however, you park your car at an unassuming dock and board the Hotel Tajin launch for a thirty minutes ride through an estuary, separated from the ocean by banks of mangroves and a long tongue of sand. The skipper opens a cooler full of soft drinks, bottled water, and beer, and as the boat pulls out into the channel, leaving the small city behind, you lean back and feel the day-to-day life stresses melt away.

About halfway to the hotel there is a curious moment, when a huge thermoelectric plant juts into view, looming above the mangroves. But it soon recedes and all you see is water, sky, mangroves, and the occasional fisherman tossing and pulling his net through the brackish water. By the time you turn the corner into the tuck of cove that cups the hotel, the electric plant is completely out of site, and your attention turns to the tan buildings set among the intense tropical green of mangroves, coconut palms, and pines.

The maître d'hôtel greets guests at the dock with a cocktail, while the boat driver hustles luggage to a room the size of a New York studio apartment with its own sun bed, a plunge pool and a terrace larger than the room itself. The room successfully integrates indoor and outdoor spaces so that you spend your time in an easy flow between the ocean breeze and privacy of the cozy interior.

Isla Tajín takes its food seriously, and has two chefs on staff: one, an old local fisherman and self-taught cook, expert in bringing out the best from the local seafood.The other is a professionally trained chef who works on the presentation of the plates and translating local dishes to more cosmopolitan palates.

The result is exceptional. The quality and freshness of the shrimp and fish, bought right off the hotel's dock, are evident, and as good as you'll get anywhere. The greens in the salads were crisp and full of flavor. The spicy fish stew, chilpachole, a regional specialty that might be described as a hearty bouillabaisse, tantalized the tongue.

One of Isla Tajin's specialities is the pungent zaragaya,a fish dip accompanied by crispy tortilla chips (totopos). It's an excellent appetizer that goes well with a glass of red wine or a cocktail. The fusillifrutti di mare (seafood pasta) is great choice for dinner.

For lunch on a hot day, the seafood salad - octopus, crab and shrimp in a light mayonnaise and dill sauce-- is a great choice. Each of the trio de ceviches - mango, tamarind and traditional pico de gallo, offers a distinct tangy flavor together with firm and succulent chunks of white fish that go down well with a beer or a glass of white wine.

Even the simple huevos rancheros, a Mexican breakfast staple, with homemade salsa and crispy tortillas deserve a mention. Coffee,fruit, and the breadbasket, with banana bread and sweet corn bread (pan de elote), are a satisfying start to most mornings.

The quality and variety of the menu will keep you from feeling the urge to dine elsewhere, which is a good thing since "elsewhere" is a hike.

Isla Tajín is set up to accommodate couples or groups of up to about forty people. It's a great choice for honeymooners who want to spend lots of time alone together in plush comfort and with delicious food just a room service call away.

It's also well appointed for small weddings, yoga retreats, bird or snorkeling tours and executive off-sites. The enormous central restaurant and lounge space can easily accommodate 200 people. There is also an indoor meeting space with space for up to 80 people, complete with projectors and a business center. FreeWi-fi is available in rooms and in the common rooms.

The hotel offers a full service spa with an extensive menu of massages, beauty services and other local and international therapies and healing techniques.

For travelers who like to get away from it all, but aren't interested in roughing it, Isla Tajín is worth a visit.

How much worse can it get?

jose.fernandez — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:33:33 -0400

More than a jubilant grito marking both independence and revolution, people in Mexico are getting ready to let loose a Ginsbergian howl.

Are you making plans to celebrate the grito at a special place?

I was getting in the mood when a plane ticket I had bought from a former airline known as Mexicana went down the drain.

Now other carriers are offering to take me and many other bystanders where we want to go...as long as I buy tickets from them.

Then, as I was almost done convincing myself to buy a new ticket, the US Embassy comes out with a new travel warning. I'm sure they don't want to spoil the party; they are only doing their job.

My security consultant friends assure me that there is nothing to fear since the DEA is settling into brand-new offices in Mexico City with state-of-the-art gear to nab narcos and give peace a chance.

After all, mis amigos tell me that the navy secretary has publicly requested that those corporations called cartels avoid any actions during fiestas patrias, especially any that might affect civilians (see press conference video).

Since even the CEOs of those criminal corporations can be sensitive guys and need days off during holidays, one can be pretty sure that the sound of firecrackers on grito night will be real, not the result of some random gunfight. Right?

Inside México Today: Friday April 16, 2010

margot — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:21:49 -0400

Deadline extended on cancellation of Mexican cell phone lines

Mexico's Communications and Transportation secretary Juan Molinar Horcasitas says that the government won't suspend service on unregistered cell phone numbers until it finishes processing the 82 million numbers that were registered.

The federal government passed a law in 2009 requiring registration of all cell phones in the Registro Nacional de Usuarios de Telefonía Móvil (Renaut), or National Registration of Mobile Phone Users.

Via El Universal: Alargan plazo para cancelar lineas (Deadline extended on cancellation of phone lines)

Inside México Today: Thursday April 15, 2010

Insidemex.com — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:12:30 -0400

Mexico's No Longer Listed As One of the World's Most Polluted Cities

Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard announced that Mexico City has been removed from the list of the world's most polluted cities. He credits efforts such as "Hoy no Circula" (the program that limits the days that a car is permitted to circulate in Mexico City, based on license plate) for the improvement."

"A little more than 20 years ago, it was nearly impossible to see blue skies in the city. Birds died. We were all terrified about the impact [of the pollution] on our health. Today, based on the results of an international study that just came out, Mexico City is being removed from the list of cities with the world's worst air quality...Mexico City's air quality is improving, improving, improving."

Via SND Noticias: Festeja Ebrard retiro del DF de lista de ciudades más contaminadas

The Tax Man Cometh

Attention American expats: you have until June 15th to file your taxes. However, if you owe the government money, you will be charged interested from April 15th.

Confused? Don't be: Mexico based business consultant Leonard Purcell sets the record straight about expat tax requirements.

Insidemex.com Exclusive: Tax Tips 101 for Expats

Inside México Today: Wednesday April 14, 2010

margot — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:51:19 -0400

First Lady Michelle Obama visits Mexico

First Lady Michelle Obama arrived in Mexico today for her first state visit. She continued to emphasize her focus on children's issues, saying in a video message distributed by the White House, "My message to the young people is that success and possibility doesn’t know a race, a background, a gender, a socioeconomic class."

Mrs. Obama met with Margarita Zavala, the wife of Mexican president Felipe Calderon.

Via the New York Times: "Michelle Obama Arrives in Mexico."

Mexican Peso Hits 18-month High Versus the US Dollar

The Mexican pesos hit an 18-month high of 12.1357 versus the dollar in intraday trading on Wednesday. The pesos has increased 7.5% against the dollar since the beginning of 2010.

Via Businessweek: "Mexico's Pesos Rises to 18-month High on US Economic Outlook"

US Consulate in Nuevo Laredo reopens

The US has reopened its consulate in Nuevo Laredo, which was closed after a grenade attack over the weekend.

US Ambassador Carlos Pascual says the government does not know who is behind the attack.

Via Global Times: US Consulate in Northern Mexico Reopens

We interrupt your tequila to bring you the following message...

margot — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:12:51 -0400

We're huge fans of tequila, mezcal and other libations a la mexicana, but every once in awhile it's nice to mix things up. The British Society and BBVA Bancomer's Preferred Customer Unit (PCU) is holding a whisky tasting, complete with a world-renowed whiskey expert who will expound on the beverage's subtleties.

Date: Thursday September 24th, 2009

Time: 7:30 PM

Place: Parish Hall of Christ Church Parish, 405 Montes Escandinavos, Lomas de Chaputepec, Mexico City

Reserve by clicking http://bancomerpcu.com/

Cheers!

La Teca: One of Oaxaca's top chefs prepares traditional cuisine from the Isthmus region

margot — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:46:48 -0400

If you're a fan of Mexican food, you're probably well-versed in the delicias of Oaxaca: mole, quesillo, tlayudas. Perhaps you've even developed a taste for chapulines (dried and seasoned grasshoppers). But what about garnachas, and other specialties from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec?

From September 23rd through the 27th, Deyanira "La Teca" Aquino, one of Oaxaca's best known chefs and culinary anthropologists, will be in the kitchen at Polanco restaurant Vinomio. She'll cooking a special tasting menu, showcasing the depth and variety of the Istmo cuisine. The menu will be available for both lunch and dinner.

Inside Mexico profiled La Teca in its October 2007 issue, as one of 25 brilliant, visionary and innovative Mexicans. Click here to read the story.

Click here for Vinomio's reservation line.

La Gloria, Veracruz after the Swine Flu scare

aran — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:26:10 -0400

I rode into the town of La Gloria, Veracruz, alleged "ground zero" of the AH1N1 flu outbreak, as the tide of world media began to withdraw. I was hired as a news assistant for an international newspaper to help investigate the cause of the outbreak. But as an independent observer, I witnessed how a media frenzy sweeping through a small town can turn it on its head, and then leave it, just as suddenly, to its own struggles.

Driving into town several pairs of big brown eyes peered at us from the edge of a freshly paved road. We were obvious outsiders, but people here were coming to expect new things.

At the end of April and beginning of May, reporters from all over the world descended on the small town, and then the state government began pumping in resources: Crews lay pavement over what had always been dirt roads; a portable kitchen in a caravan cooked free breakfast, lunch and dinner for all 3,114 inhabitants; another caravan offered access to computers.

In the central plaza, a team of men busied themselves on the gardens around the pedestal of a statue wrapped in black plastic. Only a little hand holding a frog, said to symbolize plagues, poked through the wrapping.

This was the now infamous tribute to five-year-old Edgar Hernandez. Edgar´s was the first known case with the AH1N1 virus. Cases predating his were confirmed later, yet it was with his positive diagnosis that the world first learned of this new virus.

The bronze statue was to be dedicated to "el niño milagro," the "miracle child", for having survived the AH1N1 flu and putting La Gloria on the map. On May 25, The New York Times reported that the Governor of Veracruz, Fidel Herrera, hoped the statue would bring tourists to the town. The inauguration of the statue has been delayed due to conflicts in the Governor's schedule, so it remained covered in garbage bags.

Some local residents thought the statue had no place there because the "miracle child" had performed no miracle at all. Edgar was just a little boy in town, who happened to get sick. Others saw the tribute as a political ploy to distract attention from the real issues plaguing La Gloria, such as alleged environmental contamination from the hog farms nearby. Still others didn't care one way or another.

On April 27, when Governor Herrera flew in on a helicopter to visit Edgar, the whirl-wind for this boy, his family and La Gloria began. By the time I arrived, reporters and news media from all over the world had already passed through. Stories covering every angle had already been printed and aired.

Some news that got back to the local residents sounded negative.

"They are calling us "Muertos de Hambre," said a high school student, walking the plaza with her friends. Muerto de Hambre, translates literally to "Dying of Hunger" but is a profane coloquial term implying that a person is "low class" and worthless. An English language equivalent might be ¨asshole¨.

"But it's not true," she protested.

At the center of it all was Edgar. It was easy to find him. "El enfermito?" a woman asked, "The little sick boy?" and pointed to a light green house down the street.

Everyone must know where he lives, I thought. But then again, it's a small town, maybe they always did. I knew by a child's drawing in the window of the door with "Edgar" written on it, that we had arrived.

His father answered the door, and when we explained who we were and that we'd like to speak with his son, he stood quite for a moment. Then he told us Edgar was not there. Edgar´s mother, Maria del Carmen Hernandez, a diminutive 34-year-old woman, came to the door. She explained how Edgar had been affected by all the interviews.

"He used to pay attention in school, and now he doesn't," she. His appetite and attitude had also changed; he seemed distant and didn't want to eat. When she asks him what is wrong he responds, "Nothing." But she can see something is different. Edgar told her he didn't want to talk to anymore reporters.

"Do you want to see him?" his father who had been sitting quietly on the couch asked suddenly.
"Only if it's alright with you," I said, not wanting to push what seemed like a complicated subject.
Edgar had been next door with an aunt and, after a few seconds he came bouncing in the door. "Hello little boy," I said trying to appear harmless.

"Hello," he said, shaking my hand and immediately retreating to his mother's side. She wrapped a protective arm around him.

"How are you?" I asked. He didn´t respond, but whispered in his mother's ear.

"You want to go play with your brother? Ok, go," and with that, in less than a minute, he was back out the door.

His mother said that people believed all the attention had been a blessing for their family. Before the flu, they had lived a normal life, free of criticism. Now people in town gossiped about them and even blamed them for the outbreak and deaths throughout Mexico and the world. It hasn't just affected Edgar she said, "it has affected us all."

Others, however, like the 76-year-old farmer Guadalupe Serrano, have used the sudden attention to find a wider audience for their grievances against Granja Carroll de Mexico, the hog farms owned by Virginia based Smithfield Foods Inc.

Granja Carroll has 16 hog farms along the border between Veracruz and Pueblo states, according to the company website. They breed more than 1 million hogs a year, which accounts for about 12% of Mexico's national hog production. They employ 907 people, 99.90% of them they assure us are Mexican.

Serrano, a resident of La Gloria and an activist, has been speaking out against Granjas Carroll for years, accusing them of not properly disposing of hog cadavers. He alleges the cadavers and other waste are buried in ditches without a membrane that would keep the decomposing pigs from seeping into the ground water.

Serrano´s revolutionary fighting father and grandfather inspired his activism and he is a member of Pueblos Unidos del Valle de Perote (United Villages of the Perote Valley), a group of activists from the area who seeking to force Granja Carroll to employ more rigorous sanitary practices.

A documentary titled, "Chronicles of the fight between the United Villages of Perote against the transnational Granjas Carroll," produced by Agraviados Fillms shows the groups' protests dating back to 2005 and news reports of their activities date to 2006. (Video clip of documentary: www.youtube.com/user/agraviadosfilms).

Serrano claims that due to his activities predating the AH1N1 outbreak, he was arrested on false charges for blocking a road during a protest at which he wasn´t present, and that he was offered a bribe to keep quiet. He asked us to tell the world that the people of his town need help. He called for university students to come study the contamination that he says is occurring in La Gloria.
But even his family's disdain for the media was apparent. "What is the benefit for him?" his wife asked as soon as we entered their house. "Reporters come and he talks to them and he doesn't work, and we depend on that."

It is difficult to tell where the struggle between the people of La Gloria and Granjas Carroll de Mexico will lead, if anywhere. But, Serrano and his colleagues will try to make sure it continues.
And who knows what little Edgar will think when he is older and looks back at this whole experience.
As outsiders we can put the paper down, turn off the computer and television, but the relationship between La Gloria and Granjas Carroll and the effect of having the world´s attention, however briefly, has no off button.

We may never know if swine flu originated in La Gloria or not. But that might not be the most important thing; maybe the most important thing would be to learn the lessons that would improve the lives of poor people who work on and live by industrial farms. And, the study and implementation of these lessons move far more slowly than the attention span of the 21st century news cycle.

Carol Shapiro on how moving to Mexico changed her life

Shauna — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:22:19 -0400

Carol Shapiro talks about her decision to stay in Mexico

Shauna — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:43:19 -0400

Westhill Graduates Celebrate Persistence and Diversity

aran — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:42:21 -0400

A total of 43 Westhill Institute seniors - the largest graduating class in the school's 16-year history - attended commencement services at the Santa Fe campus' outdoor auditorium on Friday, June 19.

After the 12th-graders filed onto the stage to Edward Elgar's traditional processional march, "Pomp and Circumstance," Westhill board president José María Riobóo Martín offered a brief welcome to both students and parents, along with a few words of advice on how to best use the knowledge that they had culled from their academic experience in their future lives.

Although many of the graduates would be leaving Mexico in the coming months to attend universities around the globe, Riobóo Martín said, "the extraordinary friendships and wealth of global citizenry" that they had enjoyed during their time at Westhill Institute would always be with them.

Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Mexico Muneer Ibrahim al-Benjabi, who offered the ceremony's keynote speech and whose son Ibrahim Marwan was among the graduates, noted that the students were blessed to have attended a trilingual school with a multinational composition and perspective.

"My 22 years of services within my country's diplomatic corps gave me the opportunity to get to know many diverse cultures and civilizations," the ambassador said.

"As a result, I have come to the conclusion that exposure to so many different nationalities and ethnicities gives us all a better understanding of people in general."

Al-Benjabi added that that international sophistication was crucial to the establishment of global peace and the elimination of ethnic stereotypes.

Westhill Institute class of 2009 valedictorian Kim Jae Hong later spoke about the importance of persistence despite initial failures in life.

"We all faced failures on one level or another during our four years of high school," he admitted, "but the important thing is that after those failures, we picked ourselves up and tried again, and now, here we all are, graduating and looking forward to the next stage of our academic and personal development."
Kim, who will attend college in the United States next year, said that, in the end, it does not matter how many times a person may fail, as long as they continue to strive towards their goals, which will make eventual success inevitable.

Ezequiel Elias, the class salutatorian, echoed Kim's comments, comparing the high school experience to a rollercoaster ride with endless ups and downs that takes students to the portals of adulthood.

Before the graduates received their degrees from Westhill headmaster Jerry C. McGee, the school's curriculum coordinator Albert Wynder reminded them to follow their dreams, even if those dreams did not promise financial enrichment.

"Do what you want to do in life, no matter what others may tell you that you should be doing," he said.

"Find something that will set a fire in your soul and never give up on that dream."

Most of the Westhill graduates said that they would be going on pursue advanced studies at colleges in Mexico, including the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Tec de Monterrey, the Universidad Iberoamericana, the Universidad Anahuac and Westhill University.

Some of the students will be attending colleges abroad, such Texas A & M, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia and Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah.

With two campuses offering classes from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, Westhill Institute in a trilingual school accredited by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the AvancEd in the United States.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau Observatory set to open in Mexico

aran — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:13:43 -0400

The first Mexican-French joint virtual observatory is set to open in Baja California Sur later this month as part of a binational effort to establish a shared archive on the environmental changes occurring in the world's oceans.

The new on-line observatory, which will be named after the late French naval officer and underwater explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, will constitute the first such two-way interchange of coastal and oceanic data between Europe and the Americas, according to French Ambassador to Mexico Daniel Andre Joseph Parfait.

"There is no other country in the world with which France has developed this type of information-sharing observatory," Parfait explained during a press conference at his residence.

"We are hoping that it will be a prototype for other binational marine observatories across the globe."

The virtual observatory will include information gathered by Mexico's National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt), the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semanart), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Northwest Center for Biological Research (Cibnor), along with studies and reports from various scientific and academic institutions throughout the country.

On France's side, data will come from the Cousteau Foundation, the Cousteau Society, the University of Montpellier and the University of Nantes.

"The idea is that the observatory will collect and concentrate information on crucial global issues such as red tides, over-fishing and climatic changes induced by human activity," said Conacyt director general Juan Carlos Romero Hicks

"This information will be made available to legislators and policy makers to help them to make more informed decisions on how to best protect and preserve our oceans."

Rosa Delia Cota Montano, mayor of the city of La Paz, Baja California Sur, where the observatory will be headquartered, said that the information provided by the shared research will prove vital in helping her state and municipality to choose economic developmental projects that can be both sustainable and non-destructive for the region's delicate ecosystems.

The Jacques-Yves Cousteau Observatory, which is due to be inaugurated on June 22 with a three-day binational seminar of marine and coastal studies in La Paz, will also be made available to students and researchers throughout the world.

"We are taking the vast wealth of information that has been gathered in Mexico and combining it with the ample experience and expertise of French marine scientists," said Cibnor head Sergio Hernández.

"We chose to establish the observatory in Baja California because it is one of the richest marine ecological areas in Mexico."

Hernández noted that roughly 40 percent of the state's total territory is currently designated as an ecological reserve.

He also pointed out that nearly 70 percent of Mexico's fishery harvests are gathered in the northwestern coastal region that extends down to Sonora.

A subsidiary division of the observatory is slated to open in Merida, Yucatán, in late November or early December, Hernández said.

Romero Hicks noted that for the moment, the binational observatory will have no specific operating budget, but by its very nature, it will encourage joint-venture research products that will be funded by private and governmental organizations.

"The issues of climate change and marine exploitation are very close to France's heart, and we know we can only achieve a more balanced oceanic environment through international cooperation and information exchange," Parfait said.

"The oceans of the world belong to all of us, and they do not recognize political borders. The Mexican government shares France's urgent interest in halting global warming and producing a safer world for our children and grandchildren. That is why this project is so exciting."

The inauguration of the observatory will be attended by Cousteau's widow, Francine Cousteau, along with Baja California Sur Governor Narciso Agúndez Montaño and high-ranking representatives from the French and Mexican academic and scientific community.

Chef Ana's ceviche recipe

margot — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:42:12 -0400

Chef Ana Garcia is owner of the Tepotzlan, Morelos-based cooking school La Villa Bonita. She is currently working on a television show about Mexican food and culture called My Mexico.

Today on her blog she writes about a recent trip to Puerto Escondido, where she prepared a fresh ceviche right on the beach from just-caught Sailfish and Mahi Mahi. Ceviche is one of Mexican cuisine's delights, but I daresay most of us would shy away from preparing it ourselves.

Never fear! Chef Ana provides us with a simple ceviche recipe that I'm sure will be debuting at your next dinner party!

Click here to download the recipe PDF.

Mexico's Best Kept Secrets: El Fish Fritanga

margot — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:32:54 -0400

Via Cancun Canuck's blog:

El Fish Fritanga is a hole in the wall in the middle of Cancun's hotel zone, and Cancun Canuck gets our mouths watering with a description of the food:

"Here you'll find a great selection of seafood, from the 10 peso "pescadallas" (deep fried fish tacos) to the special Mayan style "tikin xic" fish (prices vary by season), anyone who loves "mariscos" will find something to suit their tastes. I'm quite fond of their "dedos de pescado" (fish fingers), always fresh and delicious and at around 50 pesos, a bargain. "

She raves about the service, and you just can't beat that name. What more can you ask for? I don't know about you, but I'm ready to jump on the next Interjet flight to make it in time for a late dinner on the playa.

Read her entire postc here and see pics. Thanks to Cancun Canuck for the heads up!

Visa study: 84% say AH1N1 will have no impact on their travel plans

margot — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:18:15 -0400

According to a recently published Visa Inc. survey, "Tourism Outlook USA", 84% of travelers say that the cost of travel and economic concerns will play a greater role in their travel decisions than fears of the AH1N1 flu virus.

The credit card and financial services company surveyed 1,000 US adults in May 2009 about their travel plans for the year, and the vast majority said that they would not alter plans because of the recent epidemic.

The results are consistent with recent statistical and anecdotal evidence that Mexico's tourist industry is bouncing back from the devastating blow of the influenza outbreak.

83%, however, say that they will curtail travel plans based on the economic environment, including traveling closer to home (31%) or traveling off-peak (46%).

Via CNBC

Facelift Mexico

Shauna — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:43:26 -0400

Take a hike: Six parks to visit

catherine — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:15:58 -0400

With 22 biosphere reserves, 47 national parks and nine protected areas covering about 12 million hectares, Mexico is a paradise for hikers, campers and kayakers. there’s everything from remote conservation areas to ecotourism hotspots, many with the added bonus of signifi cant historical and archeological sites. We’ve picked out a few to get you started.

Parque Nacional Desierto de Carmen
20 km southwest of Mexico City on Hwy 15; 10 am – 5 pm daily

A great place for day walking, cycling or running along the 25 km of trails through old growth pine and oak forests. Falcons, swans and other wildlife are abundant. Bring your lunch for a picnic among the remains of the 17th century Carmelite monastery that is the park’s namesake.

Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca
48 km southwest of Toluca on Hwy 134

Serious hikers will get a big thrill out of the short but steep climb up the extinct volcano of Toluca (aka xinantécatl). A road takes you through the park to the base of the crater. In the crater are two clear lakes, the Sun and the Moon. The surrounding area has pine, cedar and fir forests where you can pass a pleasant day, and shelters for overnight stays. You must register when you arrive and pay a small fee that goes toward conservation.

San Nicolás Totolapan
Kilometer 11.5 of the Picacho-Ajusco Hwy; 10 am – 5 pm daily

In the late 1990s the ejido of San Nicolás Totolapan created the fi rst community-run recreational park near Mexico City. There really is something for everyone here: easy hiking or running along the forest trails, paintball, camping, picnic shelters along the river or under the trees, a plant nursery and excellent mountain bike trails. There’s also a four kilometer hike or cycle up one of the mountains to a shrine where you can pay your respects to Guadalupe. There is a small daily use fee and a restaurant at the gate.

Parque Nacional Insurgente Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (La Marquesa)
32 km southwest of Mexico City on Hwy 15; 10 am – 5 pm daily

A very popular destination for families. Ride a horse, rent an ATV, go for a cycle, or buy your lunch and have a picnic by the water. Hikers of all abilities can find something to challenge them on the large number of trails.

Barrancas del Cobre (Copper Canyon)
Southwest of Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua

A must-see natural wonder. 20 connected canyons, some thousands of feet deep, carved 80 million years ago. It’s four times larger than the Grand Canyon, with 300 species of birds, 87 reptile varieties, 20 types of amphibians and 50 kinds of freshwater fi sh. The canyons have impressive waterfalls, which you can appreciate up close or from lookouts. Treat yourself and take the Copper Canyon Railway from Los Mochis, Chihuahua. Consult barrancasdelcobrewebsite.com to plan your trip.

Parque Nacional Cascada de Bassaseachic
140 km northwest of Creel, Chihuahua

If you’re in the Copper Canyon area, don’t miss this park which has the highest waterfall in Mexico. It plunges 310 m and is surrounded by superb wooded mountain scenery. Cabins and a camping area are nearby. Rock climbers can rent equipment and try one of the 50 routes around the falls.

For more information on Mexico's national parks, visit: gorp.away.com/gorp/location/latam/mexico.htm and mexicodesconocido.com.mx.