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November 2006 / 46

M E X I C O

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M E X I C O

paradise another day in

EDITOR - PUBLISHER Catherine Krantz info@adip.info COLUMNISTS - CONTRIBUTORS Carina Carriedo Patrick Corcoran Agustin Galindo John Glaab Juliet Lambert Jason Merritt Linda Neil Nancy Seeley Isaac Ávila Segoviano Priyanka Sharma PRODUCTION Lithoquality Uruapan, Mich. DESIGN

Jorge Luis Delgado picassojld@hotmail.com Tel. 554 65 25 Cel. 755104 50 57 WEB DESIGN & HOSTING Zihrena Sistems La Ropa, Zihuatanejo webmaster@zihua-ixtapa.com (755) 554-0719 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES, (755) 544-8023 (spaces are limited, deadline for materials and payments is the 1st of the month previous) info@adip.info

elcome to Another Day in Paradise.

And welcome to just the beginning…as we kick off our eighth season here in IxtapaZihuatanejo. Today is the first day of the rest of your life, so the saying goes. That can be either an exciting or a scary proposition. It all depends on the state of your life, the state of your retirement planning, or just the state of you and your outlook on change. Change, it is the one constant on a planet that hurtles around a sun, in an organism comprised of billions or pieces, parts and cells—all in constant motion...change it is what happens. Here at ADIP, we embrace change—we jump right in with both feet. ‘Cause well…we have short attention spans…and often times, change gives something better, an opportunity to arrive. In a seasonal town, November is a little like New Year’s Eve. November is when

the new season starts, the time to scheme and dream and make big plans about all the new, bigger, better and more glorious things you will do this year. If you are contemplating a big change in your life, perhaps a retirement or vacation home in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, then you’ll be happy to know we have an entire issue of fun facts, and useful information to help you on your way. If the changes you are contemplating at the moment are not so drastic, perhaps merely a change of scenery, a change of opinion…perhaps a change of cocktail. (Looking for a unique signature cocktail that will define you? Ehh, with reinvention all things are possible, may I suggest the Whiskey Daisy.) Regardless of what you are looking for, we are sure you will find a little bit of something you just might need here. And the simple truth is, whether you like it or not, something today will change for you…here’s hoping it’s something for the better.

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NOVEMBER 2006 /46

6 History Dia de Los Muertos… The Mexican Day of Death

14 Community Karma Surf National Surfing Tournament 2006

8 Food Mexican Cuisine, Over five centuries in the making

18 Z-Scene

10 Sports J.C. Superstar ! Julio Cesar Chavez, Boxing legend 12 Shopping The Bookstores of Donceles Street

20 Art & Entertainment Diana Kennedy book signing 22 Travel & Tips Exchanging Money in Mexico 28 Upcoming Events

31 Real Estate Guide 32 Architecture & Design Interior Design, Getting Started 36 Real Estate News AMPI and NAR Sign joint venture agreement 38 Real Estate Law The Value of Private Contracts when acquiring property in Mexico 40 Real Estate Financing Financing now available for foreigners in Mexico 42 Real Estate Listings For Sale, For Rent 46 Classifieds & Resources

By Linda Neil

ispanic people in the United States and Mexico have an important annual observance, beginning on the last day of October. Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, has considerable religious significance and predates the Spanish conquest of Mexico. The festive period begins on the night of October 31 and continues through All Saints Day and All Souls Day, celebrated November 1st and 2nd respectively. On the night of October 31st, in rituals that recall the ancestor worship of their Indian forefathers, many Mexican families erect altars to the dead in their homes. Included in these altars are ofrendas, offerings of the favorite foods and drinks of the departed, to be enjoyed by their spirits when they return to visit their loved ones. The altar is laden with bright orange marigolds (the zempoalxochitl, flower of the dead) and lighted with a multitude of candles. Traditionally, the altar is lighted on the 31st to await the arrival of the dead children, los angelitos. At twilight on November 1st until dawn of the 2nd, the altar is again lighted and this time the vigil is for the departed adults. A Happy Time of Communion This is a time of happy communion with the dead, not a time of sorrow. Nobel Prize winner, Octavio Paz, in his essay, “The Labyrinth of Solitude” explores the Mexican fascination with the duality of life and death. “Our relations with death are intimate”, Paz writes, “more intimate perhaps than those of any other people.” He further described this almost ghoulish celebration as an escape from the difficulties of every day existence – not only the poverty, but also a kind of blackness in the soul which perhaps has its roots in the joining of two antagonistic groups, the Indian and the Spanish. Whatever the reason, this Mexican fiesta is a full-blooded affair, colorful, highly emotional and it lasts for days. On Dia de Los Angelitos, “Day of the little Angels,” the souls of the little children are

said to return home. They find an abundance of candies, cookies, milk and honey and other favorite foods awaiting them. Nearby toys are placed for them to play with after they finish eating. The following night, November 1st, is for the returning adult souls. They are greeted with more abundant fare: turkey with mole (chocolate and chile sauce), chayote a potato like vegetable and pan de muertos, bread shaped in the forms of skulls and skeletons. Additionally, tequila, pulque, or other local fermented drink is available in abundance. Friends and family usually celebrate both nights, often talking with the departed ones in a very convincing manner. They rarely partake of the food prepared for the spirits, but later give

Friends and family usually celebrate both nights, often talking with the departed ones in a very convincing manner. They rarely partake of the food prepared for the spirits, but later give it to friends or less fortunate neighbors. In rural Mexico it is not uncommon for the local curandero (healer or wise man) to say a mass for the recent dead.

it to friends or less fortunate neighbors. In rural Mexico it is not uncommon for the local curandero (healer or wise man) to say a mass for the recent dead. This is followed by great amounts of tequila, tamales for the living, and a night of dancing, song and bonfires. On the Island of Janitzio in Michoacan The most colorful celebration in Mexico is probably on the Island of Janitzio, in the middle of Lake Patzcuaro high in the mountains between Guadalajara and Mexico. As night falls the lights of thousands of candles are seen in the hands of the Tarascan Indians as they make their way to the cemetery. The women, wearing heavy black pleated skirts, embroidered aprons and blouses, their black braids adorned with yarn and ribbons carry offrendas (offerings) of elaborately formed bread, to the graveyard where they will sit by graves of their loved ones to await the souls who travel through the pines and over the lake to visit with them. Sounds of violins and guitars drift across the waters to the mainland with melodies of ancient times. Early on the morning of November 1st, the Tarascan men climb into their dugout canoes

and paddle out on the lake in search of wild duck. They circle around the ducks and hurl harpoon-like weapons, called atlatl, at the ducks. When this long bamboo spear, a prized weapon for the Indians since 2000 B.C., hits its mark it stands upright in the water. The ducks are prepared in spicy sauces on open fires throughout the village and feasted upon by all. Death in the Marketplace For weeks before the celebration, death is marked in the stores and on the streets in Mexico in the form of tiny skulls of spun sugar, elaborately decorated sugar skeletons and many coffins of candy. Children are eager to have death’s head masks and amuse themselves with toy funeral processions and miniature altars made of wood or clay. Death is also the theme of the Calaveras (literally skulls, or skeletons) which are mock obituaries or satirical versus appearing in local newspapers at this time of the year. The verses and writings often spoof politicians and film stars and may touch on matters that cannot be otherwise discussed. Life Depends on Death While the Spaniards arriving in the new world brought with them the Catholic All Saints’ and All Souls days, the Indians they found in the Americas already believed that life depended on death. The Mayans, who believed man sprung from the corn plant carved corn plants into the tombstones. The corn plant is the Mayan symbol of life and fertility. The Aztecs believed that the god Quetzalcoatl poured his blood over the bones of his ancestors gathered from Mictlan, “home of the dead,” to begin the human race.

Photos by Linda Neil

Glimpses of the festivities can be found in towns and cities throughout the United States where there is a Mexican population. In Mexico, the most colorful celebrations are found in the states of Michoacan and Oaxaca. However the visitor has only to visit the cemetery in any small village on November 1st to find it adorned with bright gold flowers, candles and the remnants of a feast prepared for a departed soul. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linda Neil, lover of rural Mexico, maintains homes in Uruapan, Michoacan and La Paz, Baja California Sur. The former is less than an hour’s drive from Lake Patzcuaro and the Island of Janitzio. Linda is the founder of The Settlement Company and Linda Neil Properties. She is a real estate broker and writes articles on real estate. She is in demand on both sides of the border, as a speaker. Linda is one of authors of a new real estate course “Doing Business in Mexico.” For Further information: info@settlement-co.com

By Priyanka Sharma

exican cuisine is one of the best known and loved the world over, and for a reason, its flavors, sometimes robust and varied and sometimes mild and subtle, always have a haunting, mysterious quality that hints at the range of spices, herbs and condiments that it uses. Mexican food can be delightfully different from the stereotypes of the greasy and excessively spicy versions that are often served in less than authentic restaurants around the globe. In terms of diversity of tastes and textures, Mexican cuisine is one of the richest in the world. It is essentially a ‘hybrid food’ that developed over five centuries of blending of the Prehispanic cooking traditions with ingredients and techniques borrowed from Europe, mostly Spain and France. Prehispanic Cooking The Spanish conquistadores (led by Hernan Cortes) arrived in the Aztec capital (the area where current Mexico City is situated) in 1521. They observed that the local populations subsisted largely on corn-based dishes such as tamales and tortillas, beans, and squash which they flavored with herbs and a large variety of chiles. Historical research suggests that even though the Aztecs ate a variety of different stews and roasted meats, their diet relied extensively on plant life. The cornerstone of such a diet was provided by maize, squash, beans, chile, and agave, which together formed the culinary base of Prehispanic cuisine. Over the years, ingredients such as chayote, amaranto, avocados, sweet potatoes, and other aromatic plants and herbs were added to the everyday diet. However, maize continued to be the dominant food in Prehispanic culture, and it was (and is) prepared and consumed in solid, powdered, and liquid forms. The Aztecs consumed the entire corn plant using a variety of cooking and preparation techniques. Young and tender ears of corn were consumed fresh without any cooking. The more mature corn was boiled, steamed, or roasted and used in stews. The most exotic maize product the Aztecs used was huitlacoche, which is a purple colored corn fungus. This was (and is) typically combined with squash blossoms and served in stews or stuffed into tortillas. The corn silk was boiled into a tea, and corn worms were eaten in stews or in tortillas. Masa – dough made of ground corn - was used to prepare tamales and tortillas. Prehispanic tamales were filled with meats, fruits, beans, corn, corn tassel, frogs, fish, and worms. The tamales varied in shape from elongated to square. For special occasions, the surface of the tamale was decorated with drawings made with beans. There are historical accounts of a three-foot long tamale that the Mayas prepared in honor of their beloved departed. Before the conquest, tortillas ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

also served as a symbol of status: the tortillas eaten on a daily basis by the members of the upper class were white, warm, folded, and served covered with a white cloth. The working classes ate tortillas that were white, thick, large, and coarse. Tortillas known as tortillas decoradas or tortillas ceremoniales were prepared for special occasions, and ranged from purple, bright yellow, blue and red in color. In addition to corn, Prehispanic cuisine utilized an enormous variety of plants, vegetables, fruits, condiments and aromatic herbs that were used to flavor, garnish, and decorate. The avocado garnished different kinds of foods and served as filling in tacos. The avocado leaves were used as a flavoring for different varieties of beans. Another important plant in the culinary base of Prehispanic cooking was the tomato; the Aztecs used both the green (tomatillos) and the red. Tomatoes were an important ingredient in all manner of stews, sauces, and beans, and garnished other foods, like tacos and avocados. Chile added the zing to many kinds of foods. There were many different kinds of chiles: green, yellow, red, dried, and smoked, and their sizes ranged from the small to large. Over one hundred varieties of chiles were sold in the marketplaces. The vegetables, fruits, chile sauces, and cooking techniques that were the result of the merger of Spanish and Prehispanic traditions continue to influence modern Mexican cuisine. The result of this gastronomic marriage is the development of a Mestizo cuisine which is the everyday food of most modern day Mexicans. Conquest and Introduction of Spanish Ingredients The original diet of the conquistadores consisted of rice, beef, pork, chicken, wine, garlic, and onions which they brought with them from Spain. Over the years, they expanded their repertoire to include ingredients of pre-Columbian Mexico – most notably chocolate maize, tomato, vanilla, avocado, papaya, pineapple, chile pepper, beans, squash, sweet potato, peanuts, and turkey. Additionally, the Spaniards imported into Mexico animals such as horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens. Among the condiments that they introduced were olive oil, cinnamon, parsley, cilantro, oregano, saffron, cloves and black pepper as also nuts and grains such as almonds, rice, wheat, and barley; and fruit and vegetables such as apples, oranges, grapes, lettuce, carrots, cauliflowers, potatoes and sugarcane. During colonial times, the more prolific Spanish women and members of Spanish religious orders invented much of today’s more sophisticated fare. Nuns pioneered such delights as the candy called cajeta, the fritter like buñuelos, and the egg-based liqueur called rompope. Dishes such as Lomo en adobo (pork loin in a spicy sauce), chiles rellenos

(chilies stuffed with cheese, beef or pork), guacamole (avocado, tomato, onion, chili and cilantro), and escabeche (marinades) were also widely used during the colonial period. Alongside the nuns, the priests planted trees and vegetables and raised cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and other animals. Apart from the meat, milk was also produced, and this led to the production of cream and cheese. The priests introduced a calendar of festive events that related to the religious life cycle, and, over the years, typical foods and dishes became strongly associated with these. Between 1864 and 1867, Mexico was ruled by the former Austrian archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, and during this period French-inspired Mexican dishes such as chiles en nogado (stuffed chilies in a walnut sauce), and conejo en mostaza (rabbit in mustard sauce) were introduced. Modern Day Mexican Cuisine Modern day Mexican cuisine is a blend of the Prehispanic and Spanish traditions and, being a hybrid cuisine, contains a very rich variety of vegetable, and meat and seafood dishes. There is also a very rich tradition of baking and bread making, with a special focus on sweet breads (Pan de dulce). The Caribbean influence in Mexican cuisine can be felt particularly in some regional dishes from the states of Veracruz and Yucatan. Mexican food varies by region because of local climate, geography and ethnic differences among the indigenous inhabitants, and also because the different populations were influenced by the Spaniards in varying degrees. The north of Mexico is known for its beef production and meat dishes; southeastern Mexico, on the other hand, is known for its spicy vegtable and chicken-based dishes. Veracruz-style is a common method of preparing seafood. Mexican cuisine has also been combined with the cuisine of the southwest United States to form TexMex cuisine. During much of its recent history Mexican society has been divided into fairly distinct upper and lower strata, and these two strata eat different foods. The upper classes benefited disproportionately from all the various influences and additions to the local fare over centuries. The lower classes and particularly the indigenous peoples still live on a diet that consists mainly of beans and corn tortillas, with a smattering of other foods, acquired locally. One could thus conclude that we do have amongst us even today people whose diet differs little from what their ancestors ate almost 600 years ago.

Photo by Pablo de Aguinaco

About the Author: Priyanka Sharma is a mother, trained social worker and a food and writing aficionado. She lives in Mexico City with her Economist husband and her 2 and a half year old daughter. She has worked in local and international NGOs in India and Mexico. Priyanka is currently working on a series of articles on regional cuisines from her native India. She is also taking an advanced Spanish language course at the UNAM. Her other interests are travel, cooking, reading and cinema. She can reached at priyanka.mex@gmail.com

Chocolate and Vanilla? In 1519, when the first Spanish conquistadors entered the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, they found that the Aztec emperor Montezuma was extremely fond of a drink made from vanilla and chocolate, which was sweetened with honey. This was a native Mexican-Indian food that was probably introduced by the Maya and later relished throughout Mesoamerica. Vanilla planifolia - whose fruit-pod is popularly known as a vanilla bean – comes from a species of the Mexican orchid. Chocolate comes from the fruit of the Mexican Theobroma cacao tree .The plant was regarded by the Aztecs as being of divine origin. They used the tree’s beans as currency - 100 beans would buy a slave, 12 beans the services of a courtesan and 10 beans a rabbit.

Nutritionally Mexican Corn and beans were the two main foods of indigenous Mexicans, and much of modern day Mexican cuisine is based on these two ingredients. The extraordinary thing about this is the fact that corn and beans have “complimentary amino acids.” Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which the body absolutely needs. If any one of several amino-acids is missing from a person’s diet, then the production of protein is restricted, and the body ceases functioning, or performs at a diminished level. On their own, neither corn nor beans supply the full complement of amino acids needed for protein synthesis. However, put together, they supply the full complement of amino acids needed. Interestingly, other combinations, such as rice and corn, wheat and rice, corn and potatoes, or potatoes and beans, do not provide the full complement of amino acids.

By Patrick Corcoran

f you mention the words “J.C. Superstar” to an American, the chances are they will think you are talking about a Broadway play. Utter those five syllables south of the Rio Grande, and get ready for an onslaught of words about Mexico’s most beloved practitioner of the sweet science. Julio Cesar Chavez is emblematic not only of Mexican boxing, but of Mexico itself. Always willing to absorb punishment in order to dish it out, always moving forward, and always throwing endless left hooks to the body, the ex-champion has come to represent the Mexican boxing ideal much the way Hemingway was known as the prototypical American writer. Chavez cut his teeth in the hardscrabble town of Culiacan, Sinaloa. Whereas American boxers often have more than the 100 amateur bouts to hone their craft, Mexican fighters are typically thrown to the wolves with little experience or seasoning. Chavez was no different. After an amateur career that was reportedly a mere fifteen fights, the Lion of Culiacan debuted as a professional in his hometown on February 2, 1980, at the tender young age of 17. He won by knockout. By the time the year was out, he was a developing prospect with a 10-0 record.

commission, which conveniently enjoyed the services of Chavez’s manager as a member, changed the official verdict to a first-round knockout victory for the initial loser, and Chavez fought on with an unblemished record.

Early in his career, he often fought as a bantamweight, with a maximum weight of 118 pounds. As his body developed, Chavez hit his stride fighting as a junior lightweight and lightweight (130 and 135 pounds, respectively). Cruising through the early stages of his career, he developed a reputation for a fan-friendly style, heavy hands, and a granite chin.

The Sinaloan fought 12 times in 1981 and 13 more in 1982, a blistering pace for a professional fighter. With a record of 35-0 going at the start of 1983, Chavez was beginning to make a name for himself. Even so, he was still untested, with most of his opponents an assortment of has-beens or never-weres. It was not until September 13, 1984 that Chavez, at that point 44-0, received a shot at the 130-pound belt, which he then wrapped around his waist after an 8th-round knockout of Mario Martinez.

Chavez did have one scare, which is illustrative of the political gamesmanship that is omnipresent in boxing. Although officially undefeated until 1994, Chavez “lost” his first fight 13 years earlier, via disqualification to a rather weak opponent named Miguel Ruiz. However, the next day, the local boxing

Although he was the World Boxing Commission’s champ, Chavez was still nowhere near being the legend he is today. He had a gaudy record and an entertaining style, but he didn’t have any American names on that long list of losers, and he’d had limited exposure outside of Northwest Mexico.

In his second title defense, that all changed. Squaring off against Roger Mayweather, a showy puncher from one of boxing’s most famous families, Chavez showed off the qualities that endeared him to a generation of fight fans. Fighting for the first time in Las Vegas, the Mecca of boxing, Chavez did as he always had: he planted himself right in front of his opponent, eager to eat punches in order to throw fire of his own. Liking what he saw, Mayweather landed a series of monstrous right hands in the first hand, punches that knock out all but the hardest of men. Not only was Chavez not put down, he was seemingly energized, treating the blows as one would an unexpectedly stiff breeze. Relentless as a piston in a revving engine, Chavez went right after the future champ. Mayweather, with nothing more in his bag of tricks, was knocked down twice en route to a brutal 2ndround knockout loss. The legend was born. Culiacan’s favorite son had the good fortune of coming into his prime at a time when the golden era of lower weight boxers, that of Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, and Roberto Duran, was fading. Chavez moved up from 130 pounds to pick up the lightweight belt (135 pounds) in 1987. Two years later he scooped up the junior welterweight title (140 pounds), once again beating Roger Mayweather to do so, making himself a household name and the first three-division champ in Mexican history. As the 1990s dawned, after Mike Tyson, there was no young fighter as adored as Chavez, by Mexican and American fight fans alike. More than once, he paraded around the streets of his nation’s capital city, and won himself a loyal fan in President Carlos Salinas de Gotari. Like Tyson, Chavez was promoted by the flamboyant Don King, with whom his relationship eventually turned sour. In 1990, however, they were still on good terms, and King set his Mexican fighter up with the toughest challenge of his career: Olympic gold medalist Meldrick Taylor. Chavez, now with an astonishing record of 69-0, had never faced a fighter like Taylor. Schooled in the iron-tough gyms of Philadelphia, Taylor was naturally bigger, faster, and with a wider array of punches. He was, just like Chavez, coming into the ring an undefeated champion, having beaten Buddy McGirt for the International Boxing Federation junior welterweight belt in 1988. In the early stages of the fight, it seemed that all of Taylor’s advantages would be too much for Chavez. For the first several rounds, Taylor laid a hellacious whupping on his smaller opponent, beating him to the punch as well as dancing circles around him. Despite the damage, Chavez was unbowed. Displaying the greatest virtues of the Mexican boxing ideal, Chavez repeatedly took three punches from Taylor in order to land one of his own. He continued throwing left hooks to the body in order to slow down his supercharged adversary. As the fight went down the

stretch, Taylor began to show signs of fatigue. His punches lost some of their snap, and Chavez began to land more regularly to his head. Going into the final round, Chavez was still behind on the score cards, but was physically in better shape. Taylor, incorrectly thinking he had to win the twelfth round to win the fight, traded punches with the fresher Mexican. With 16 seconds left in the fight, Taylor was dropped by a Chavez right hand. Although he beat the count, Taylor was unresponsive when questioned by Referee Richard Steele, who then stopped the bout with a mere two seconds left. This controversial win, which some claimed was ensured by Steele’s allegedly close ties to Don King, was the acme of the Chavez arc. Like his King stablemate Mike Tyson, Chavez began to lose focus on boxing, and stories of drinking bouts the night before a fight began to emerge. Chavez’s biggest challenges from then on out were decreasingly successful. He moved up in weight to challenge welterweight champ Pernell Whitaker in 1993. Although most observers agree that Whitaker, the greatest defensive fighter of his era, trounced Chavez, the Mexican somehow escaped with a draw (many attributed it to King’s influence) and maintained his undefeated record. But that too was to come to an end three fights later, with an unexpected decision loss to Frankie Randall. Although he never topped his physical peak of the victory over Taylor, Chavez’s fame continued to grow through a series of attention-grabbing maneuvers, both in and out of the ring. He fought before the largest crowd in the history of the sport, some 136,000 people, in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, destroying American Greg Haugen in five rounds. (Haugen had earned Chavez’s ire by dismissing the possibility that there were 130,000 Mexicans who could afford the pricey tickets.) Chavez enjoyed the attention of a new segment of fans when writer Cal Fussman fought one round with him as the basis of an article for Esquire magazine. Chavez also enjoyed a romance with Mexican actress Salma Hayek. Like all great fighters, Chavez had to cede the championship stage to a younger generation of fighters. He was stopped twice by Oscar de la Hoya in the late 1990a and embarrassed in a 2000 knockout loss to Kostya Tszyu. Although the man kept fighting until 2005, Julio Cesar Chavez the champion was a thing of the past. But for diehard fans, there is a new reason for enthusiasm. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a leaner and lankier man than his father, is now a budding prospect and a fixture on Las Vegas undercards. He is an undefeated welterweight, with a record of 270-1 as I write this. The future is bright, but he’s got a long way to go before he catches dad. He is, after all, chasing a legend.

tep into any one of the dozen or so bookstores on Donceles Street in Mexico City´s historic center and you might find yourself in a predicament similar to the following: Do you stick to the game plan, zeroing in on that novel about the Mexican Revolution that you haven’t been able to find anywhere else, or do you let the precariously stacked corridors of books offer up a little tome that you didn’t even know, before this very second, you couldn’t live without: Bonne Cuisine pour Débutants et Gens Pressés?

By Carina Carriedo

Of course, you don´t have to decide. Donceles Street bookstores have a little bit of everything for everyone: from novels to tour books, mainly in Spanish but also in English, French, Italian, and German, used and new. Although it has been called “Mexico´s Used Book Heaven,” Donceles houses many stores, such as Bibliofilia, the Libreria de Viejo, Inframundo, and El Tomo Suelto, that offer a varied selection of new and used books. The area´s fame as a booklover´s paradise dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. At that time, one could find book merchants lining the streets surrounding the Plaza Mayor. What is today known as Academia Street, for instance, was once home to the first book merchant in Mexico. These area bookstores sprouted up to serve the burgeoning student population of the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, and the Law, Medicine, and Dentistry schools located nearby. Though the schools have closed or moved to the south of Mexico City, the bookstores remain. One with the oldest lineage is the Librería de México on the corner of Palma y Donceles. This bookstore belonged to Andrés Botas, founder of the Librería Botas on Bolivia Street in 1907. Donceles Street is located in Mexico City´s Historic Center, just north of the Zócalo. The closest Metro stop is Allende.

Photos by Carina Carriedo

To learn more about the history of Donceles Street, check out Las calles de México by Luis Gonzalez Obregón and Historia de las librerías de la ciudad de México: evocación y presencia by Juana Zahar Vergara.

By Isaac Ávila Segoviano and Catherine Krantz

he 1st National Championship of the Mexican Surfing Circuit, Karma 2006, took place this year from September 12 through 17, at Playa Escolleras in IxtapaZihuatanejo. This was the fourteenth year for the annual invitational surfing tournament; it was comprised of 12 categories and for the first time included adult and children’s categories in a National competition. Over 200 surfers competed—25 of them under the age of 14—coming to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo from all across the Republic: Baja California, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Colima, Tamaulipas, DF, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Jalisco and Guerrero, including nationally and internationally ranked competitors. With a tropical storm hovering nearby and rain all week, the surfers had to contend with difficult weather and conditions, but the sun came by the end of the week and the finalists were rewarded with up to 11-foot waves. The winners of this event will go on to compete in the 2nd National Championship Circuit to be held in Cancun, Quintana Roo, in January 2007. The 3rd and final circuit, which determines the Mexican National Surfing Team, will be held after, sometime in 2007. The Mexican National team that is selected will go on to represent Mexico in the World Surfing Games in 2008. This year’s World Surfing

Games was held in the famous surf town of Huntington Beach, CA . The location of the 2008 Games has not yet been determined and work is underway to bring it to Mexico. Karma Surf Tournament Director, Leonel Perez, of Catcha La Ola Surf Shop in Ixtapa, seems to think it could happen. A recent poll of the world’s top 44 surfers, who have surfed the best waves across the globe, listed a little known spot in southern Oaxaca as one of the world’s best waves. The spot, says Perez, that they are hoping will be chosen to host the World Games in 2008. Other projects in the works for the Ixtapa area, are a children’s surfing tournament, Festival Infantil de Surfing, scheduled for December 2-3, at Playa Linda. It will be open to both boys and girls, and children will compete in two divisons: ages six to ten years, and ages ten to fourteen years. We encourage every young surfer who has an interest to sign up. You can contact Leonel Perez at Catcha La’ Ola Surf Shop in Ixtapa, Tel. 755-553-1384 or Adrian Tellechea at Restaurnat Bananas in Zihuatanejo, Tel. 755-102-7058, for more information. For more information of the Guerrero State Surfing Association, go to their web site at www.aseg.tk

ABEL ESTOPIN (COL) Photo: Epitacio

Photo: Epitacio

Free Category

Karma Surf 2006 Results Playa Escolleras Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Guerrero México Short Board Children Ages 6 to 10 years

Body Board

1.- AARÓN E. HERNÁNDEZ (BCS) 2.- SASHA DONNANNO G. (OAX) 3.- MELCHOR PERALTA (GRO) 4.- SEBASTIÁN CRUZ (GRO)

1.- MOISÉS VALDEZ (BCN) 2.- JUAN MANUEL SUAZO (GRO) 3.- RAMON GARCIA (SIN) 4.- ANTONIO VALDEZ (NAY)

Short Board Children Ages 11 to 14 years

Body Board Women

1.-QUETZAL ESTRADA (OAX) 2.- ANGELO DONANO (OAX) 3.-ROBERTO C. MAIZLAND(OAX) 4.- PABLO PIZA ( BCS)

1.- KENIA LEON (BCN) 2.- NATALIE BROTHARD (BCS) 3.- ALBA SANDOVAL (BCS) 4.- EVERLY CAMPOS (GRO)

Short Board Youth

Senior Class

1.- ROBERTO OLGUIN (GRO) 2.- CARLOS DE JESÚS (BCS) 3.- FELIPE DE JESÚS (NAY) 4.- OMAR MARICHE (GRO)

1.- HERIBERTO RAMÍREZ (OAX) 2.- RAUL NOYOLA (Q ROO) 3.- RAFAEL HERNÁNDEZ (BCS) 4.- CARLOS FERNÁNDEZ (MICH)

Women

Master Class

1.- VANESA GONZALEZ ( NAY) 2.- MONICA AYALA (BCS) 3.- SOFIA MELGOSA (BCS) 4.- SOLEDAD CASTRO (OAX)

1.- RAFAEL GREEN (BCS) 2.- SIXTO MENDEZ (MICH) 3.- JEAN P. KERVOR (BCN) 4.- JUAN C SALCEDO (GRO)

Free Category

Grandmaster Class

1.- DIEGO CADENA (NAY) 2.- DAVID RUTHERFORD (OAX) 3.- RAUL MEDINA (MICH) 4.- ABEL ESTOPIN (COL)

1.- ROBERTO SAURI (COL) 2.- FRANCISCO VALENCIA (GRO) 3.- MIGUEL A. GARCIA (GRO) ) 4.- FERNANDO POLIDURA (DF)

Body Board Youth

Long Board

1.- HUGO COLLINS (BCS) 2.- CESAR PETRONI (OAX) 3.- SERGIO AMEZCUA (BCN) 4.- ISAÍAS CALVARIO (BCN)

1.- PABLO BONILLA (BCS) 2.- ANGEL SALINAS (COL) 3.- ADRIAN MORALES (BCN) 4.- LEONEL PEREZ (GRO)

DIEGO CADENA (NAY)

DAVID RUTHERFORD (OAX)

ABEL ESTOPIN (COL)

Photos: Epitacio

RAUL MEDINA (MICH)

Photo: Epitacio Photo: Epitacio Photo: Beto Barbosa

LEONEL PEREZ

2.- JUAN MANUEL SUAZO FROM ZIHUATANEJO (GRO)

Body Board

Z-Scene

Grand Re-Opening Party at Restaurant Coconuts

Juanito Zihua & Mayo Tuku performing in the garden.

Dawn, Catherine & Gina

DJ Gamma, David & Joel

Paulina Pearce & Mauricio Silva, Manager of Veruna - Ixtapa

Hey Hey its your birthday: Birthday Brunch for Judy Brown (center) at La Cantina at Hotel Villa del Sol with Claire, Judith, Margo, Catherine & Lois

Spotted in Patzcuaro: Lisa B. Martin and Bill Underwood dining at Casa del Real Aduana in Patzcuaro

Ladies who lunch: Monthly Ladies Luncheon at Mama Norma & Deborahs Restaurant in Ixtapa

Partying Like SurfStars: Ernesto Silva & Karma Surf Tournament Director Leonel Perez, and several of the tournament champions ham it up with the trophies at the Carlos n’ Charlies after party

Scene in Patzcuaro: New Chef Carlos and Owner Rick of Restaurant Cha Cha Cha in Patzcuaro with Antonio, Enrique & Ruben

By Juliet Lambert

prah’s best efforts notwithstanding, books have taken a serious hit at the hands of competing media. It’s easier to watch a movie, listen to a CD or turn on cable than it is to read a book, and unfortunately, most people do prefer easy. Additionally, buying books in México can be an expensive undertaking, assuming you can find the titles you are looking for. Regardless, savvy independent book merchants manage to position their stores as “must-see” destinations, as the co-owners of La Sombra del Sabino, can attest. Located in Tepoztlán, Morelos, a town know for its’ artist community, spirituality and natural beauty, La Sombra del Sabino opened in November 2005. During it’s first year in business, the owners Bridget Estavillo, Sheila Urquidi and Susan Cajiga have been successful in creating a calm oasis just a couple hours drive from México City. The setting is beautiful, with cozy bookstore, patio café and a large enclosed garden with a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains. In addition to offering a wide variety books and magazines in English and Spanish, La Sombra del Sabino hosts a monthly author series, “Rondas Literarias”. This program attracts Mexican and internationally known authors who give readings and presentations of their works for free to the public. The twice a month events are held in the outdoor garden, or you can listen from the patio café and enjoy a delicious lunch during the talk. The guest author for September was Diana Kennedy, the “high priestess of Méxican Cooking.” Kennedy is the author of seven cookbooks on Méxican cuisine, including the kitchen shelf staple: The Art of Méxican Cooking. During the hour and a half talk, Ms. Kennedy spoke on a variety of subjects, from tamale making to the importance of buying local produce that is in season. Although most of the authors give their presentations in Spanish, there are also English speaking authors. The two guest authors for November are Elaine Feinstein and Victor Hugo Rascón Banda. Feinstein is an English born novelist and poet. She will be reading from ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Photos by Juliet Lambert

a collection of poems and answering questions during this event on November 12th. Rascón Banda is President of the General Society of Writers of México (SOGEM) and a highly respected playwright, whose work includes La mujer que cayó del cielo [The Woman who Fell from the Sky] (1999). Recently, he received the Xavier Villaurrutia medal, an award given by México’s artistic community through the National Institute of Fine Arts and the National Council for Culture and Arts, as recognition for his life’s work. He will be presenting his latest work ¿Por que a mí? November 19th. The author’s series events are always held on Sundays at 1pm, making it an easy day trip from México City or a great excuse for a weekend trip from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo,Tepoztlán is about eight hours from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Events are free and open to the public.

La Sombra Del Sabino, Av. Revolución #45, Barrio de San José, Tepoztlán, Morelos C.P. 62520 México http://www.lasombradelsabin o.com.mx To get on the mailing list for the author’s series and other events, send an email to: informes@lasombradelsabino.com.mx

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Juliet Lambert is a business owner, radio host and culture writer. She owns and operates a catering company in Mexico City called Spice Catering. Juliet also hosts a weekly online radio show called “Hear From Mexico” on the president on Mexico’s website: www.mexicoe nlinea.gob.mx. Every Tuesday, she and her co-host Richard provide information and guest interviews about art and culture in Mexico. Juliet lives in Mexico City with her boyfriend Oscar, who is a web designer and drummer. Her other interests are traveling, scuba diving and politics. She may be reached at juliet@spicemexico.com

�� Diana Kennedy

��

By Nancy Seeley

xchanging money in any foreign country can be a rather daunting prospect if you’ve never done it before, but like most things, it’s a whole lot easier the second time around. Here in Mexico, you’ll also have a head start if you know what your options are and decide ahead of time which choice is right for you.

If you’re coming down for a few weeks or even for the entire “high season,” you can convert your funds in three ways. First, you could bring U.S. (or Canadian) cash and trade it in for Mexican pesos at either a bank or a casa de cambio (a money-changing station). Second, you could arrive with a whole stack of travelers’ checks and exchange them for pesos at those same places. The third possibility is coming down armed with a couple of ATM cards. One will do the trick, but keeping a second squirreled away in case you misplace the first or lose it inside a cajero (ATM machine) can provide extra peace of mind while you’re relaxing in paradise. The frequent traveler who ends up with a Zihua address and spends less and less time north of the border may want to open up a Mexican bank account for convenience, but it really isn’t necessary. Take it from someone who’s lived happily without one for more than a decade. So, going back to the first three options, which one is best for you? If you’re just not comfortable depending on a piece of plastic, then bring cash or travelers’ checks. Travelers’ checks used to be the most convenient way to carry money. You could replace them easily if they were lost or stolen as long as you remembered to keep the check numbers safe elsewhere and knew how to get in touch with your financial institution back home to report your bad luck. Now, Zihua and Ixtapa banks often refuse to exchange them unless you bring your passport with you (the original – not a copy!), and some banks restrict the hours when such transactions are done. Additionally, the exchange rate may be a little lower than that given for cash, a small commission is usually charged, and do be sure your counter-signature looks like a carbon copy of your autograph when you bought the checks.. Another blip in the travelers’ check arena is that the American Express office so long a fixture in Ixtapa at the Dorado Pacifico Hotel has closed up shop, and as of this writing, there’s not another one in the area. American dollars are accepted in many commercial establishments and can be exchanged at area banks, but many banks won’t even let you trade CASH for Mexican pesos without a passport…very frustrating! Canadian dollars are an iffier proposition; some banks will take them and others won’t. If you elect to use a bank, try to avoid Mondays and Fridays, which tend to be the heaviest business days, and bring along a book or a magazine in case there’s a long line. The 15th and 30th (or 31st) are busy too, but early birds any day are usually in and out quickly. Banamex issues numbers to its customers as they come in the door, but at some of the other banks (Bancomer, Banorte, Santander/Serfin, HSBC), the lines snake back and forth, and it’s not unusual to see locals faced with the prospect of cooling their heels in the cue for half an hour craning their necks to find a pal further up the human chain who might handle their business. I’m a Nervous Nellie when it comes to carrying substantial sums of cash over the border, so you won’t find me waiting in line here. Some banks have Saturday hours, but schedules change frequently, and there’s no uniformity from bank to bank. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

The many casas de cambio are open longer hours than the banks but, as mentioned earlier, generally have a slightly lower exchange rate for both cash and travelers’ checks. Banks don’t want foreign coins, and in all my Mexican travels, I’ve only noticed one casa de cambio in Puerto Vallarta that traded American and Canadian coins for about two-thirds of their face value, so it’s better just to leave the pennies, quarters, and dimes at home. If you don’t mind the lower exchange rate, this method is very convenient. One other option not mentioned as one of the three biggies is hiking over to a business called “Intercam” in Ixtapa (in the shopping center behind Señor Frogs, across the parking lot from Bancomer) to exchange cash. Although you must have an account with them to do other business, they will exchange American or Canadian currency without a passport, and there’s usually not a very long line during their weekday business hours. That brings us to ATMs, my personal favorite. While the other two options are getting a bit more difficult with the passage of time, this one keeps getting easier. The days when the machines ran out of money every weekend and “ate” inserted cards with horrifying regularity are few and far between, and nearly all cajeros in tourist destinations, which definitely includes Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, have instructions in both English and Spanish. Many north-of-the-border financial institutions are linked into the Mexican banking system, so you can often get a receipt printing out the number of pesos you withdrew from your account. Sometimes, you’ll even be told your remaining balance, also in pesos. Plus, this way of doing business usually gives you a higher exchange rate than the other two options, and

you can transact your business anytime. In Zihua, outside of the banks themselves, both Comercial and Bodega have ATM machines, and there are also a couple of outlets located on the main boulevard in Ixtapa. As in all things, use common sense. Don’t head for the ATM at midnight or brandish your newly-acquired cash outside the cajero. Also, remember that there are usually fees at both ends for the convenience of getting your money this way, so don’t be stopping every few hours to take out another $20. That could get expensive by the end of a week or two. Oh…and don’t forget you’re doing business in pesos. Asking for “$100” when amount choices are listed on the screen would net you almost $11 USD! In the increasingly unlikely event that your card does disappear within the innards of a Mexican bank’s ATM machine, go to that bank as soon as possible to report the problem. The more Spanish you know, the better. Sometimes, you’re able to get the card back – sometimes not – which is why it’s good to have a second one on tap. But, to repeat, this DOES NOT happen often, so don’t be scared off by these instructions. For the first time in more than 11 years, I inserted my ATM card into a machine recently, got no money, but found to my dismay when I checked my U.S. account balance the next day that $400 had been deducted from the total. It turned out the machine had malfunctioned, but the good news was that my credit union contact up north was able to straighten out the mess within a week, without me ever setting foot into my Ixtapa bank. THAT would never have happened back in 1995!

OCT 31: (Halloween) Grand Re-Opening Party Rick’s Bar, central Zihuatanejo, Gro. Season kick-off, 8:00 pm to 12:00 pm. Free draft beer (while it lasts) live music. Rick’s Bar, Av. Cuauhtemoc #5, Central Zihuatanejo Tel. 755-5542535. All month long NOV: “Hear From Mexico” - Online English Radio Program. Art and Culture from around México, current events and interesting guests are all a part of this weekly show broadcasted on the President of México’s Website. Every Tuesdays from 5pm –6pm and via podcasts. www.mexicoenlinea.com.mx Cooking Classes with Chef Gabriela Braña, Ixtapa, Gro. Enjoy a morning cooking class with Mexican trained Chef, Gabriela Braña, known for her Asian – Mexican fusion and her lovely restaurant, Al Cilantro, located inside her B&B Tres Puertas in Ixtapa, here she focuses on authentic Mexican dishes. A 2-hr demonstration and lesson is followed by a sit down luncheon with wine to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Classes are held on Tuesdays, 10:30 – 2: 30, and occasionally by special arrangement, contact Gabriela at 755-553-0610.

NOV 2: Day of the Dead. All over Mexico. Patzcuaro, Michoacan & Oaxaca, Oaxaca. For two of Mexico’s most colorful and magical displays of Day of the Dead, visit the charming lake side village of Patzcuaro in Michoacan or the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca City in Oaxaca. Local markets burst with preparatory activities, and playful skeleton imagery adorns storefronts and home windows. The festival formally begins on October 31st, where families pay honor to their ancestors or deceased loved ones with the careful and sometimes elaborate construction of an in-house altar. Over the years, the altars have evolved into objects of art, making this celebration a true exhibition. Typically, homes are open to those interested in paying homage to their dead. For more information, visit www.michoacan.gob.mx or www.oaxaca.gob.mx. NOV 2: Inauguration Reception, for GalArt’s extravagant ofrenda to John Lennon / the Day of the Dead alter, Zihuatanejo, Gro,- with an exhibition of folk art by José A. Madrazo, and handicraft items from Mujeres Nuevas Creaciones, at Villa de la Selva Restaurant, Ixtapa, 7:00pm – 9:00 pm - On display through November 15. For further information contact Rocío Madrazo 554-7774 galart@prodigy.net.mx www.galart.net ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

NOV 2 – NOV 15: Exhibition of Galart’s ofrenda / the Day of the Day alter. 11am - 3pm, 6pm – 9pm, except Sundays. Zihuatanejo, Gro. With folk art by Jose A. Madrazo, gallery at the Hotel Villa del Sol, Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo. For further information contact Rocío Madrazo 755-554-7774 galart@prodigy.net.mx www.galart.net NOV 1-4: Day of the Dead Celebration with Live Music, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Enjoy Live Music, AfroCaribbean Jazz Fusion with Sylvie Henry & Kombit ensemble at Caprichos Grill House. A Cempazuchitl Flower alter and ofrendas will be on display. A preset Special Menu will be offered in addition to the signature recipe selections from their main menu. 7:00pm – 11:00pm, $100 peso cover charge, RSVP 755-554-3019. DOWNTOWN ZIHUATANEJO DINING EXPERIENCE, Av. Cinco de Mayo #4, Central Zihuatanejo next to the Church. NOV 3: RMeventos’ Costume party celebrating the Day of the Dead at Los Mandiles Restaurant, Ixtapa, Gro. Featuring an art exhibition Viva la Muerte by Grupo Arte en la Playa, lots of fun, prizes for the best costume and more surprises, 10:00 pm. rociomadrazoeventos@ yahoo.com

NOV 9: Aztec Sunset Spectacular, at Amuleto, high above La Ropa Beach, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Join new amigos and old friends in your most colorful, festive dress for a picturesque celebration of native indigenous culture, language and literacy, with cocktails, creative light cuisine and comraderie ...all to benefit The Netza Project, an international and local non-profit dedicated to equal access to eduction for all, 6:00 pm - 8:00pm. Suggested donation $400 pesos ($40 USD) per person.Advance reservations/tickets required. Call 755 55 42511, 044 755 10 01173 or email info@netzaproject.org. Project info at www.netzaproject.org. For advance dinner reservations after the event at the beautiful and intimate Amuleto, call also 755 54 46222. www.amuleto.net NOV 11 – 12: Modeling seminar, IxtapaZihuatanejo, Gro. New model training, by professional model Fanny Gutierrez, 10:00am to 3: 00 pm. For more information: rociomadrazoevent os@yahoo.com

NOV 11 – 25: Morelia International Music Festival, Miguel Bernal Jiménez. Morelia, Michoacan. Named in honor of Michoacan’s most illustrious composer, this year the festival is dedicated to Cuba. The festival features daily concerts and recitals by orchestras, ensembles, choirs and the famous children singers of the Conservatorio de las Rosas, with exhibitions and seminars throughout the month. Concerts are held in Morelia’s greatest architectural and historic buildings: the Cathedral, churches, historic theaters, palaces, and plazas. The c ity of Morelia, a cultural center for over 500 years, founded the first music conservatory in the Americas, in 1743, and with 24 concerts, 260 artists, and 35,000 spectators the Morelia International Music Festival is proving to be a fine legacy. Check www.festivalmorelia.com for more information. NOV 15 – 18: Tecate Score Baja 1000, OffRoad Desert Race. Ensenada, Baja California. Nearly 200 000 spectators turn out to this annual race, off-road desert racing’s most prestigious event. Its grueling course runs along the rugged terrain of the barren desert and through villages along the peninsula. A rugged peninsula odyssey of 1,016.3 miles from Ensenada in Baja California to La Paz, in Baja California Sur. www.score-international.com/ baja1000/index.ihtml

NOV 18 Rock & Reggae Bay Cruise, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Cruise on the Fiesta Ixtapa with Live Music. Space is limited, reservations and tickets at Internet Zihuana in Juan N. Alvarez, Tel. 55 4 65 25. $50. pesos per person in advance, $80 pesos day of event. For more information www.ixtapazihuatanejo.ws

NOV 25 – DEC 3: 20th Annual Guadalajara International Book Fair, Guadalajara, Jalisco. Publishers, literary agents, promoters of reading, translators, distributors, librarians and more than 1,500 publishing houses from 39 countries gather every year in the most outstanding reunion dedicated to books in Spanish. With 26,000 sq meters of exhibition space and over 50,000 daily visitors the book fair, part of the University of Guadalajara, is the most important publishing event in the Spanishspeaking world.This year the community of Andalusia will bring its literature and art as the featured Guest of Honor. Open to the public: November 25, 26, 30 and December 1, 2 and 3 from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. (Nov 27 – 29, are exclusively industry trade days). See www.fil.com.mx for more information.

DEC 2-3: Festival Infantil de Surfing, Ixtapa, Gro. Children’s Surfing Tournament, Playa Linda 8am – 12pm. Open to all boys and Girls, in two categories ages 6-10 and ages 11-14. For more information contact Leonel Perez at Catcha la’ Ola Surf Shop in Ixtapa, Tel. (755) 553-1384 or Adrian Tellechea at Restaurant Bananas in Zihuatanejo, tel. (755) 102-7058.

DEC 1: Cave Photo Exhibition, Race to the Center of the Earth Expedition, ZIH Galeria, Zihuatanejo, Gro. José Antonio Soriano and 40 international teammates will dive, rappel, and dodge razor-sharp karst in hopes of breaking into Cheve Cave, deep in Mexico’s Sierra de Juarez region in Oaxaca State. Previous exploration of the submerged cave passages in the Santo Domingo canyon area of Central Mexico indicated the potential for a world-record height difference between sink and resurgence. With this in mind, this team decided to utilize the latest technology in re-breathing equipment to eliminate the need for extensive cylinder re-filling and staging. Unfortunately, progress in the Cueva Cave resurgence was sDecember 1, 2006 topped by boulders after 1.5 km, and although dives in the Sistema Huautla resurgence found a continuation, progress was curtailed at an airbell after 300m when time ran out. Several members of the team exhibited symptoms of the fungal infection histoplasmosis, whose spores thrive in bird droppings in the soil. Photographer, José Antonio Soriano, will be on hand at ZIH Galeria in Zihuatanejo to discuss the on-going expedition and will speak about the necessities to complete this adventure in which all we can participate. Zih Gallery, Juan N. Alvarez # 290, Centro Zihuatanejo, 1 block up from the pier, 7pm. Photos on display through December.

NOV 23: Thanksgiving dinner, Rick’s Bar, central Zihuatanejo, Gro. Traditional Thanksgiving meal, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. All you can eat turkey, yams, dressing,Waldorf salad, pumpkin pie and more! $250 pesos per person (Zihua Cruisers Club $200) Reservations required. Sign up at Rick’s Bar, Av. Cuauhtemoc #5, Central Zihuatanejo Tel. 755-554-2535.

NOV 26 – DEC 12: Feria Nacional de Tequila - National Tequila Fair, Tequila, Jalisco. This fair features an exposition of the primary tequila makers throughout the country, with demonstrations on how this famous spirit is made. The fair also features charreadas, Mexican rodeos, cockfights, mariachi serenades, and fireworks. www.tequilajalisco.gob.m x/feria.htm

NOV 23 - GalArt presents Emilia Castillo, Ixtapa, Gro. Jewelry fashion show and art object exhibition “jungle” concept, at Villa de la Selva Restaurant, Ixtapa. For further information contact Rocío Madrazo 554-7774 galart@prodigy.net.mx www.galart.net

Last week in NOV: International Jazz Festival. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. San Miguel de Allende Jazz festival finds a demonstration of great music performers that will find a space for their expression. Many international recognized teachers of Jazz will interpret majestic melodies for all audiences. www.guanajuato-travel.com Telephones +52 (415)1522491 and +52 (415)1527599

NOV 25 – DEC 3: Feria Nacional de Plata - National Silver Fair, Taxco, Guerrero. Top craftsmen, artists and silversmiths compete for prizes in this festival which includes concerts, dances, fireworks and a huge range of silver items for sale. The festival showcases the amazing depth and breadth of Taxco’s silver industry. www.taxco.gob.mx/feriaplata

DEC 16: MARTINI tasting Party at Rick’s Bar, central Zihuatanejo, Gro. Fund raiser for Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival 5 tastes for $100 pesos! (Full drinks 2 tickets!) Rick’s Bar, Av. Cuauhtemoc #5, Central Zihuatanejo Tel. 755-554-2535. See details on web site : www.zihuafest.info

DEC 23: GalArt presents Patricia Webber, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Painting exhibition and Trova concert at La Barca Bar in Hotel Villa del Sol, Playa La Ropa. For more information contact Rocío Madrazo 755-554-7774 galart@prodigy.net.mx www.galart.net . DEC 24: (Xmas Eve), Traditional Christmas Dinner at Rick’s Bar, Zihuatanejo, Gro. 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, menu to be announced, $250 pesos per person (Zihua Cruisers Club $200). Reservations required. Sign up at Rick’s Bar, Av. Cuauhtemoc #5, Central Zihuatanejo Tel. 755-554-2535. DEC 28: Jewelry Fashion Show, Ixtapa, Gro. Jewelry fashion show from different national and international designers at Villa de la Selva Restaurant, Ixtapa. For further information contact Rocío Madrazo 554-7774 galart@prodigy.net.mx www.galart.net DEC 30: GalArt presents Arthur Koby, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Jewelry fashion show at Hotel Villa del Sol. For further information contact Rocío Madrazo 554-7774 galart@prodigy.net.mx www.galart.net JAN 31 - FEB 4: Zihua Sail Fest 2007, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Five days of fun and frolic to raise funds for Zihua schools. See web site www.zihuasailfest.com for more details. FEB 14: Valentine’s Dinner/Dance, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Flowers, music and romance at Rick’s Topside Steak House. Dinner, wine, roses and fun $300 pesos (Zihua Cruisers Club $250). Rick’s Topside Steak House upstairs at Rick’s Bar, Av. Cuauhtemoc #5, Central Zihuatanejo Tel. 755554-2535. MAR 11 - MAR 18: 4th Annual Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Live music from great international artists, see website for details www.zihuafest.info

elcome back to town for the 2006-2007 season in IxtapaZihuatanejo. To those of you that are still in the construction process, or close to finishing, I congratulate you. Congratulations on your new investment. Building a home or investment property in Mexico will change your life and hopefully bring you many years of smiles, friends, and adventures. By Jason Merritt

This month I want to focus on basic interior design. Basic interior design is achieved through the assembly of furniture to create an environment that feels like a personal and perfect space. Interior Design is very much the process of shaping the idea of an interior space through spatial volume, lighting and surface modification. Seeing an empty space after closing on a house or condo can be mind boggling.You know what you what you like, but how to achieve it is the real question. Do you hire a decorator? Can you design the space yourself? I believe that designing your own space is very possible. I believe there are very few decorators in the business that can really grasp what a project does and doesn’t need from its conception. I would also argue that decorators are born and not taught. Certain individuals are able to see a space. They can design and decorate a space quickly. These individuals can use any source (estate sales, discounters,

markets) to decorate any type of project. If you find someone like that you are fortunate, if not designing your space can be an ongoing process of trail and error. Keep in mind, decorators, on the first consultation, have a potentially endless budget. They will come up with a few thousand ideas. The process is the same as the process you had with your builder. After looking through the first numbers, you will always tend to eliminate certain things from the budget. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you get an understanding of what to look for when you start furnishing your house: What do you want to get out of the house? Who will be using the house? What has worked for you in the past? What are the things that you really don’t like (colors, styles)? How do you feel about color? What kind of function do you want the house to have?

Will the home or condominium be used as a rental? Will the home’s furnishings be enclosed, with air conditioning, or will the furnishings be exposed to the outside elements? After answering those questions, you will find that your design search becomes easier. I usually start out looking at the size of the walls. The furnishings should not all be the same height. One piece should be high, the next grouping should be low. A variety of height, width, and texture makes a space more interesting to the eye. The variety can be achieved through the use of tall objects, low tables, plants, rugs, interesting lighting, and massive pieces of furniture. Without variety of texture and objects, your house, your space, will seem smaller and less interesting. Say you want to furnish a home for comfort and entertaining. For an entertainment Condo, I will put in great dining tables, fabulous sectionals and use some kind of wooden furniture for the walls. I use this concept because these areas are public and really need to make a statement about who you are and what you like. Next, I would use wooden casing and buffets on my walls and then focus on separating the

rooms. A great example of this can be seen in lofts. Separate the rooms by placing the living and dining areas facing opposite directions. A simple rug underneath the table and another underneath the living room will tie your furnishings and your spaces together. An entertainment condo will need a plush master room and some conservative guest rooms. I like to put a great mattress and a stunning bed set in the master. The night stands don’t have to match. Eclectic, nonmatching furniture selections are always in style. Bedrooms need large mirrors, a guest chair, and a dresser. Put in a few pieces of art, lamps, small accessories, and your room will look finished. Big walls need big pictures. You can get to the size you want by placing smaller pictures together, or by staggering pictures down a wall. Cover the walls you see most with big art and large furniture. Homes in Mexico are very bold. Don’t sell yourself short by buying small furnishings. So far we have discussed the following: •New house, now what? Don’t panic. •High Low - High Low •Comfy plush common areas •Great master •Save on guest rooms •Art, Art, Art! Super important! Art makes a house a home, shows style, and shows your personality. Good luck with your new house, hope this helps you get started. We will see you next month! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jason Merritt is owner of Interiores Zihuatanejo – IZ, a custom, handmade furnishing and home accessories store in Zihuatanejo, backed by 32 years of experience in the home furnishing and décor industries. IZ stocks a wide assortment of fine furniture and art prints in many styles and price ranges. They also offer custom design services through their extensive network of artisans and suppliers across Mexico. They are located on Calle Benito Juarez in central Zihuatanejo and can be reached at Tel. (755) 544-8420.

By John Glaab

National

Association

of has formally signed its first joint reciprocal membership agreement with a foreign real estate organization. NAR President-elect Pat Vredevoogd Combs executed the agreement with the Mexican real estate association, Asociation Mexicana de Professionales Inmobiliarios, (AMPI) at AMPI’s 50th anniversary meeting in Mexico City, in October, 2006 Because of this historic partnership, all of Mexico’s AMPI members will become in January. “This is an important initiative. Not only will it create a wealth of new business opportunities for NAR’s members in the United States and AMPI members here in Mexico, but also it will help promote standardization of international real estate practice,” Vredevoogd Combs said. She went on to mention, “It is time to build bridges, not fences,” a theme that was mentioned several times during the AMPI Conference. The agreement between the two organizations means that as official dues-paying members of NAR, AMPI members, who will join NAR in the international membership category, will be able to use the logo and registration mark. “NAR chose AMPI for this groundbreaking partnership, in large part, because its members adhere to a strict Code of Ethics like that of NAR. AMPI’s high standards of practice will help increase the positive perceptions of worldwide,” Vredevoogd Combs said. The new relationship highlights the increasing level of business cooperation in real estate markets in both countries, as a growing number of United States citizens opt to acquire second and retirement homes in Mexico and residents of Mexico are buying property in the United States more frequently.

AMPI’s new President Mario Aviles with Linda Neil, who was elected to the National Advisory Council of AMPI, at the AMPI Conference, in October in Mexico, D.F.

Mexico is attractive to second home buyers from the United States, thanks to the availability of properties near the ocean and mountains, reasonable costs of resort properties, and lifestyle considerations. Thanks to a favorable legal and financial infrastructure, the No. 1 foreign destination for retirees from the United States is Mexico, with over 1 million Americans living here. Mexican President Vicente Fox keynoted the AMPI meeting. Expansion of the housing sector and homeownership opportunities has been a major focus during the Fox administration. Government policy has promoted programs that have expanded mortgage lending, assistance to low-income families and development of a secondary mortgage market similar to that in the United

States. As a result, more than 2.4 million families have become new home owners during the six years of Fox’s term, which will end in December. He saluted AMPI for its role in fomenting the housing market. The noted Mexican economic and political analyst, Federico Reyes Heroles, followed President Fox on the podium. He reviewed Mexico’s recent economic history dating back to the “peso crisis” and dealt with the future. His conclusion is that the Mexico economy is strong and the country can be optimistic about the future. Later in the Conference, Manuel Medina Moro Director General of Banamex and City Bank came to the same conclusion.

A special recognition was awarded to Carlos Gutierrez Ruiz, for his important work as the Commissioner of National Housing. To help in the United States increase business opportunities with AMPI members, NAR launched a four-hour course titled “Doing Business in Mexico,” at the Conference. It will be presented again at the NAR annual conference in New Orleans in November. Authors of the course are Sergio Dueñas of Gudalajara, Adrian Arriaga of Mc Allen Texas and Linda Neil of La Paz, Baja California Sur. The course has been designed to help teach in the United States about business opportunities in Mexico and help them connect with their AMPI counterparts. . “This joint venture reflects AMPI’s desire to be more closely linked to international business standards and practices, and opens up opportunities for members on both sides of the border to do more business together,” said Galo Blanco, AMPI’s 2006 president. AMPI, the Mexican national professional organization of real estate brokers and agents in both commercial and residential real estate, was established in 1956, and presently has 2,500 members, who represent companies located in all regions of Mexico. Further information about AMPI is available at http: //www.ampi.org. AMPI is also a founding member of the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations. Information about ICREA is available at http://www.worldpropert ies.com. The National Association of , “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. For further Information, you can contact the author: John.glaab@settlement-co.co

By Agustin Galindo

¡A las palabras se las lleva el viento! Words are gone with the wind - Mexican saying

hen I meet with a client who has the idea of acquiring property in Mexico with a private contract between buyer and seller, my recommendation is always the following: 1. First, Obtain a copy of the registered title of the seller, and 2. Once a title search is performed, sign a private and preliminary contract to acquire the property formally. It is very important for me to clarify that to acquire property in Mexico the contract needs to be signed and formalized before a Mexican notary public as provided by law and then registered before the Public Registry of Property, so you can become an owner of record. As a matter of fact, the acquisition of property can be handled by a notary public without the need of a private or preliminary contract, so then the question becomes: Why do I need to have a private preliminary contract??? It has been my experience, when parties have tried to complete real estate transactions before a notary public directly, without a private or preliminary contract in order to save time and money, very frequently (not in general, but frequently enough) the seller has withdrawn or tried to change the terms of the transaction at the last minute, making the transactions fall apart. By having a preliminary contract you can be sure that you will have a binding document that can be enforced before a Mexican court in case of a breach. Legally speaking, a private and preliminary contract to acquire property in Mexico shall contain two essential elements—the property and the price—with the understanding that the law provides the general terms of this type of transaction. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

By having a preliminary contract you can take the time to check that everything is in order and to fulfill any special conditions. Depending on the transaction, the private and preliminary contracts that can be prepared are the following: • A promise to transfer the property into a trust, or • A promise to buy-sell or a buy-sell, in case of a Mexican corporation, or • A transfer of beneficiary trust rights. In many cases foreign buyers need a bank trust and if the property is for residential purposes, in my opinion the contract to be signed is a promise to transfer the property into a trust considering that by constitutional mandate (article 27 fraction I of the constitution, article 11 of the Foreign Investment Law and article 2210 of the Civil Code of Guerrero), a foreigner cannot acquire property directly, so a buy-sell contract can be challenged as null and void. When you are acquiring property for commercial purposes through a Mexican corporation then a buy-sell private contract can be signed or a promise to execute a buy-sell contract in case that the corporation is not yet fully incorporated, with the understanding that in both contracts the

obligation to formalize a buy-sell deed before a notary public shall be provided. If you are acquiring trust rights for a property transferred into a trust, then the contract to be signed is an assignment (transfer) of beneficiary trust rights, this contract is generally used if a foreigner is transferring property to another foreigner, with the understanding that legally and technically speaking the beneficiary trust rights for the property is what is being transferred. It is important to mention that for real estate transactions, the law provides that the notary public’s fees and expenses (including registration expenses) can be paid on a 50% basis by both parties, unless otherwise provided (article 2203 of the Civil Code of Guerrero). The custom in Mexico is that closing costs are fully paid by the buyer except for Income Taxes, which are paid by the seller. Therefore, be aware that if you are acquiring property and you are paying for the notary public’s fees and expenses, you have the right to choose the notary public of your preference. The fees, taxes and expenses that the buyer has to pay are: Real estate acquisition tax (2% of the price) Certificate of non encumbrance Property tax clearance certificate

Governmental survey Appraisal Registration percentage (point .64% of the price) Notary public fees (1% – 2%)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Agustin Galindo is an attorney at law and founder of Galindo Abogados, S.C. Fully bilingual, he specializes in real estate, tax, civil, and commercial matters including litigation. You can visit the firm’s website at: www.galindoabogados.com and you can contact him by e-mail at agustingalindo@prodigy.net.mx or his office by telephone (755)554-9915 and (755) 554-9916.

Please be aware that this article can not be applied as a recipe for all situations, but merely a guideline regarding common private and preliminary contracts to acquire property in Mexico. Every transaction has its own peculiarities and prior analysis needs to be done before determining the appropriate contract. ¡A las palabras se las lleva el viento!, nobody wants to see their words gone with the wind, especially during a real estate transaction.

By Catherine Krantz

raditionally, foreigners buying property in Mexico had few options other than to pay in full in cash, and the little financing that was available usually required substantial down payments, short terms and very high interest rates. In the past financing for foreigners in Mexico just did not work. From the difficulties in closing escrow in a timely manner, to the more complicated and lengthy process of purchasing real estate here, combined with the—up until a few years ago—vaguely defined process of taking back a property in the event of default, and the fact that the mortgage industry back in the States was doing just fine. There was never any real incentive for a finance company to tackle the market, it had great potential but it was still untested waters. All that has changed in recent years. The US market is slowing down, the process in Mexico is getting more streamlined and accessible and American baby boomers are racing to Mexico in record numbers, for investment, vacation and retirement. With the introduction of financing for foreigners the expectation is that growth in the Mexican real estate market will continue more than ever, the number of American-owned properties is expected to double in the next several years. That has brought an influx of American financing companies into Mexico and with them, more choices for people dreaming of owning property in paradise. Founded in 1993, Platinum Capital International is a Residential, Commercial & Development Financing firm that has just added Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo to the list of regions they service in Mexico. Platinum Capital

was the first company to offer financing for foreigners in Mexico, and is the largest company currently lending to Americans here, with the most loan volume to date by a large margin. As both bank and broker they have unlimited funds, with multiple products and investors to give customers choices. They offer loans that are very similar to loans Americans are accustomed to getting for real estate purchases in the United States, low and competitive interest rates, short or long terms (up to 20 – 30 year terms), without substantial down payments. In perhaps a telling nod to the state of growth in foreign-purchased real estate in Mexico, Platinum Capital was named in the top 10 on Inc. Magazine’s list of Top 500 fastest growing companies. President of Platinum Capital, J. Gregory Pyeatt, who is now based in Los Cabos, Mexico, has said bringing real estate financing to Americans buying in Mexico had been a dream of his since the mid 1990s, but that he speaks to people every day that are not aware that foreigners could own property in Mexico, finance the purchase and deduct the interest. As the company continues to grow and offer financing in ten markets across Mexico, they are spreading the word. Since real estate financing in Mexico is relatively new, they offer these tips to potential buyers considering financing for real estate purchases in Mexico: -Get your financing set before you go house hunting. A pre-approval is vital as it will allow you to negotiate as a cash buyer. Use a company who really knows the Mexican closing process

Photo by Jorge Luis Delgado

and has a proven track record of accurately approving loans here in Mexico. You don’t want to lose tens of thousands of dollars in deposit money just because your lender didn’t understand the process. (Platinum Capital says their loan process is completely automated and in most cases can get you a decision in 48 hours.) -Make sure the property you are buying has a clear transferable title. The most common delay in closing is due to a property that was not properly transferred to the original buyer. This happens more often than you would think. Your financing company can help ensure the property changes hands legally.

-Watch out for capital gains! If the seller has not properly registered the home or taken legal possession, you may end up paying their capital gains. And Don’t let anyone try to talk you into recording the sale for less than the amount you agree to pay. This has been a common practice in Mexico but will cost you thousands of dollars in capital gains taxes when you decide to sell -Experience counts, don’t trust your transaction to just anyone. Buying in Mexico is not the same as buying in the United States— you don’t have the same legal recourse here in Mexico as the United States, but as long as you choose to work with only experienced and

reputable firms, the process can go smoothly. Kurt Christian is the new Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Regional Manager for Platinum Capital International and, as a surfer, he is especially happy to be representing the area--he has heard about our famous coastline and is looking forward to visiting. You can talk to him by phone or email, US Telephone: (877) 210-8542 Ext 235, (260) 469-7000 Ext 235, Fax (775) 417-2236, e-mail: kurt@platinumcapital mx.com or you can visit the firm’s website for information, guidelines and pre-qualification forms, www.wefundmexico.com.

FOR SALE – Penthouse, 3 BDRM en suite 2-story condo with stunning view of La Ropa Beach and Zihuatanejo Bay. Satellite TV, telephone, washer/dryer, a/c & ceiling fans, fully furnished. Large pool, 24 hour security. 5 min. walk to beach. Excellent rental history. US$395,000 Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)-557-0078,. www.paradiseproperties.com.mx

FOR SALE - Punta Peñasco Zihua Bay View Studio 80 sq mts, furnished w/Jacuzzi, pool in complex, $130,000 US. Also 1 lot with same view, 271 sq mts, sacha2001mx@yahoo.com.mx Or DF Tel. 0155-528-24356

URUAPAN – QUINTA MAGNOLIA. A forest within the city. 3 suites, rental by day, week or month. www.quintamagnolia.com tel. (01) (452) 523-8223 zebrauruapan@hotmail.com

PORTO IXTAPA VILLAS MARINA Nº B3 THIS 2 BDRM, 2 BATH CONDOMINIUM LOCATED IN THE “VILLAS MARINA” SECTION OF THE EXCLUSIVE GATED COMMUNITY OF PORTO IXTAPA. A SPACIOUS, SPLITLEVEL LAYOUT, PICTURESQUE, NAUTICAL SETTING WITH MARINA AND OCEAN VIEWS. $255,000 U.S. Tim Sullivan Ixtapa Real Estate (755) 553-3218, www.ixtaparealestate.com

Casa Puesta del Sol at Barra de Potosí Bungalow and duplex accommodations located on a beautiful, quiet beach with safe swimming, kayaking, hiking and fishing. Established rental business with onsite caretakers. Website: www.casa-puesta-delsol.com e-mail: info@casa-puesta-del-sol.com

FOR SALE - Airy and clean 2 bedroom condo in Las Bugambilias, on the Palma Real Golfcourse with nice view to the fairway. Well maintained gardens, pool, 24 hr. security. Listed at US$150,000 Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52(755)-557-0078,. www.paradise-properties.com.mx

Mexico Beach Property - Beachfront and beachview lots, homes, condominiums in Zihuatanejo and the surrounding beaches. Contact John Murphy at (755) 554-0719 or email: john@mexicobeachpro perty.com

Punta Ixtapa Condominium with private pool - This ground floor 3 bedroom 4 bath apartment is located in the most exclusive neighborhood in Ixtapa. 24 hour security, private club and beaches, $630,000. Contact John Murphy at (755) 554-0719 john@mexicobeachproperty.com

100 meters of beach frontage with over 1 acre of total land in La Saladita. This lot is suitable for investment, development or subdivision. Priced to sell at $400,000. Contact John Murphy at (755) 5540719 or email: john@mexicobeachproperty.com

CASA BONITA, IXTAPA 230M2 construcción 4 recamaras, 3 baños, 1 estacionamiento, cuarto de lavado, vestidor, amueblado, a/c, salón de juegos, vigilancia, áreas verdes, alberca, cancha de tenis, terraza, elevador, vista al club de golf. Tel. 544 87 87 , 544 87 88 Cel. 755 102 8147 $230,000 USD

Lots For Sale – at $200 US/sq mt, all services, inside Punta Peñasco complex. Magnificent view of Zihua Bay, overlooking Playa La Ropa. soflozano@yahoo.com, tel. 0155 37-31-3345

FOR RENT – Punta Peñasco Zihua Bay Views Apts , 1 Bdrm bungalow, furnished, with kitchenette, and terrace and 1 furnished Studio w/Jacuzzi and pool, from 350-600US/week. sacha2001mx@yahoo.com.mx Or Call locally Tel. 755-554-4225 or DF Tel. 0155-528-24356

BEACH FRONT CONDOMINIUM164M2 construcción, 2 recamaras, 2 baños, 1 estacionamiento, area de lavado, cocina integral, a/c, vigilancia, areas verdes, alberca, terraza, playa. Tel. 544 87 87 , Cel. 755 102 8147 Pre-sale $ 240,000 USD

Dazzling views of the beach, bay, & beyond! This 2 BR/2bath Playa La Ropa luxury condo at La Casa Que Ve Al Mar is magical. Infinity pools, A/C, security, fitness room,Wi-Fi, easy beach access, parking. Short or long term rentals. www.zihuatanejo-condos.com

PASEO DE LAS GOLONDRINAS Nº. 66 A MUST SEE, ONE OF A KIND SINGLE STORY RESIDENCE! CONSISTING OF THE HOUSE, A 3 AMPLE BEDROOMS WITH FULL BATHS, INDEPENDENT GUEST APARTMENT AND LARGE SWIMMING POOL WHICH BORDERS THE 2ND. FAIRWAY OF THE PALMA REAL GOLF COURSE. $245,000 U.S. DOLLARS.Tim Sullivan Ixtapa Real Estate (755) 553-3218, www.ixtaparealestate.com

Resort Ownership on Playa La Ropa Club Intrawest *1,2 & 3-bedroom Vacation Home *Sweeping ocean views *Spacious floor plans

Club Intrawest - Zihuatanejo *Private terraces with plunge pool *Zi - The Restaurant at Club Intrawest

Club Intrawest – Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo *Visit the Discovery Center. Open daily. *Variety of ownership opportunities available

MARBELLA PENTHOUSE Nº. 1 IF LOCATION IS IMPORTANT TO YOU THEN THIS LUXURY CONDO IS WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR. FROM THIS 2 BEDROOM, 2 BATH FURNISHED APARTMENT YOU WILL SAVOR AN IMPRESSIVE PANORAMIC VIEW OF IXTAPA BEACH, AS WELL AS THE PALMA REAL GOLF COURSE WITH THE MOUNTAINS IN THE DISTANCE. $325,000 U.S. DOLLARS. Tim Sullivan Ixtapa Real Estate (755) 553-3218, www.ixtaparealestate.com

CASA DE LA SIRENA - Beachfront Vacation Rentals, Troncones, Mexico *Private villa with pool *2 story Bungalows *Mini Villas Open air kitchens/ living rooms, a/c, Pool w/swim up palapa bar, WiFi www.casadelasirena.net

Bernie’s Bed & Breakfast “Playa Calli” on the beach at Playa Blanca, For Rent. ECOLOGICALLY BUILT 5 BDRM Home with separate lounging, dining, kitchen area over looking fresh water pool, right on the beach in Playa Blanca (near Barra de Potosi.) For Rent, Rooms $110 USD per night. www.zihuatanejo.net/playacalli

Casa de Los Espejos – Club de Golf – Ixtapa. Vacation Home, perfect for large groups, family reunions: Accommodations for up to 18 persons, 6 Bedrooms with A/C and private bathrooms. Fully equipped kitchen, pool, daily maid service, rates by the day, week or month. Contact Yolanda Tel. # (755) 553-0082, (755) 554-0813, cell: (755) 558-5138

Zihuatanejo – Town Living with Style, Charming 1 BR + loft, 2 story home with garden. Centrally located, close to transportation and shopping. Fully furnished down to the computer. US $95,000. Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52(755)-557-0078,. www.paradise-properties.com.mx

Casa Frida- Unique home for sale Barra de Potosi – Custom built 4 bed 5 bath, 3 separate buildings.ain house with master bedroom, dining, living, kitchen and terrace with ocean view. Lush tropical garden with swimming pool, open aire kitchen and dining room and separate caretaker’s house. Can be used as a B&B or private residence. $350,000 US www.casafrida.net, casa-frida@zihuatanejo.net Tel. 755-557-0049

Zihuatanejo Bay Views - Five selected lots located above La Ropa Beach and Las Gatas, each with spectacular views of Zihuatanejo Bay and Pacific Ocean. For information call (755) 553-3221, 044 (755) 104-6220 or email gone2zwhat@aol.com

Panoramic beach & bay views, pools, Gym, 24 hour security and parking in “La Casa Que Ve Al Mar” overlooking La Ropa Beach. Gourmet kitchen, A/C, Satellite Plasma TVs, phones, marble & teak finishes. Rentals from $150.00/day and Special Rates available. Contact: Tel: US toll-free (866) 358-5268, www.beachviewzihua.com or mollie@eagle2.net

ZIHUATANEJO OCEAN VIEW LOT 455m2 Superficie, vigilancia, areas verdes, cancha de tenis, casa club, uso de suelo habitacional, Tel. 544 87 87, Cel. 755 102 8147 $75,200

paradise another day in

Where Real Estate is bought and sold in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Over $1million dollars in property have been sold from these pages If you property is not listed here, it’s not for sale At only $400 pesos a month per property, it’s the smartest investment you could ever make Let us know when you buy or sell your property here...

Classifieds: ¡Learn Spanish! Centro de Idiomas Mesoamericano - David Román, M.A, (University of Georgia, UGA) Over 26 Years Teaching Spanish as a Second Language! Address: Edif. O Depto. 101,Villas del Pacífico (next to Bodega Aurrerà) Tel. (755)112 20 42 Cyber: www.davidroman88.com Email: davidroman88@h otmail.com www.paseosculturales.com Ixtapa Christian Fellowship. Non-denominational English language service every Sunday at 10am at Villas Paraiso in Ixtapa. Contact Ron 755-554-5919 or John & Joan at 755-553-1618 for more information. Zihuatanejo Christian Fellowship. Non-denominational English language service every Sunday morning in Zihuatanejo, look for the signs, stop by La Casa Cafe in La Madera or contact John 755-554-7178 for more information. Troncones Christian Fellowship. Non-denominational English language service every Sunday in Troncones. Contact Ron 755554-5919 for more information. English Speakers Wanted – Language exchange with students learning English. Great way to learn or practice your Spanish with Basic and Intermediate level English students. Classes held from 7:30 am – 9pm, Mon-Fri, they would love for you to attend. Contact Centro de Informatica Administrativa Director Jorge Castellanos Tel. 554-3880. HELP WANTED - Receptionist for real estate office. Must speak and write English and Spanish fluently. Computer Savvy. Experienced. References Required. Call (755) Call 554 6226 or 554 0406

Whiskey Daisy 2oz. Bourbon or Whiskey Juice of 1 lime 1 tsp raspberry syrup or grenadine 1⁄2 tsp powdered sugar crushed ice Put all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass. Add 1 cube of ice and decorate with fruit.

Resources: Information Resources for Foreign Travelers in Mexico Mexican Consulates in the US and Canada: www.mexicoline.com/consulate.htm Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico: www.sre.gob.mx Immigration Mexico: www.inami.gob.mx Electronic Guide to Mexican Laws: www.llrx.com/features/ mexican.htm Mexican Tourist Board: www.visitmexico.com For the latest security and information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the American State Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling1-888407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers from Mexico, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department’s travel registration website at https: //travelregistration.state.gov For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-555080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ccs@usembassy.net.mx The Embassy’s Internet address is www.usembassy-mexico.gov/ Consulates: Ciudad Juarez: Avenida Lopez Mateos 924-N, telephone (52)(656) 6113000. Guadalajara: Progreso 175, telephone (52)(333) 268-2100. Monterrey: Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone (52)(818) 345-2120. Tijuana: Tapachula 96, telephone (52)(664) 622-7400. Hermosillo: Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (52)(662) 289-3500. Matamoros: Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (52)(868) 812-4402. Merida: Paseo Montejo 453, telephone (52)(999) 925-5011. Nogales: Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (52)(631) 313-4820. Nuevo Laredo: Calle Allende 3330, Col. Jardin, telephone (52)(867) 714-0512. Elizabeth Williams, US Consular Agent Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo US Consular Agency Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo: Hotel Fontan, Ixtapa. Tel: From U.S: 011 52 755 553 2100 (FAX 553 2772) From Mexico: 01 755 553 2100 Locally: 553 2100 Cell: Locally 044 755 557 1106 From U.S: 011 52 755 557 1106 eMail: lizwilliams@diplomats consularixtapa@prodigy.net.mx Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 1:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. Closed for all Mexican and American Holidays:

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