Aug 27, 2010 

..the heartbeat of the Riviera Nayarit

Mexico Celebrates in Style as It Turns the Big 200

…go to original article

To celebrate the Bicentennial of Mexico's independence from Spain and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution, Mexico has created eight commemorative tourism routes that pass through 100 different destinations and 17 states, highlighting the historical settings and emblematic monuments of the country. The routes can be covered between one week and 10 days and because of their circular paths, travelers can start from any point on the circuit.

The country’s fascinating history truly shines in the following eight commemorative routes, with the first four celebrating the bicentennial and the latter celebrating the revolution:

La Ruta de Hidalgo Centro (The Hidalgo Route - Center)

La Ruta de Hidalgo Norte (The Hidalgo Route – North)

La Ruta de Morelos (The Morelos Route)

La Ruta de Guerrero y el Ejercito Trigarante (The Guerrero Route)

La Ruta de Zapata (The Zapata Route)

La Ruta de Villa (The Villa Route)

La Ruta de Madero y Carranza (The Madero and Carranza Route)

La Ruta de las ciudades de la Revolucion (The Revolution Cities Route)

La Ruta de Morelos celebrates the life of the “Servant of the Nation,” Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon. Born in Valladolid and passing in San Cristobal Ecatepec, this route recounts the many miles that Morelos traveled in his five military campaigns, and during his civil and religious life. The route takes travelers through the emblematic sites of his career and the regions where he lived and fought, such as Acapulco, Taxco, Iztapa, Uruapan, Morelia Charo and Jantetlco, just to name a few.

La Ruta de Guerrero y el Ejercito Trigarante recounts the life of revolutionary general Vicente Guerrero and his army as they fought against Spain for Mexico’s Independence. The route manages to gather key sites of the life and work of Guerrero and many of the places where army head, Agustin de Iturbide, carried out crucial military and political actions. The route welcomes visitors to travel to destinations where they can both discover the exploits of Guerrero, as well as the multitude of natural beauties along the path. The extensive route passes through Oaxaca, Santa Cruz, Huatulco, Acapulco and Veracruz, just to name a few cities.

La Ruta de Hidalgo Norte retraces the footsteps of independence leaders Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama, Jimenez and their army, as they desperately attempted to reach the United States to buy arms and mount an offensive that never came. To travel this route is to travel the same distances and view the same scenery that these men did in Mexico’s fight for independence. This route passes through several important cities including Monterrey, Matehuala, Real de Catorce and Monclova.

Although each route is special for several reasons, a “must-see” is La Ruta de Hidalgo Centro. This route celebrates the life of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, “the father of the nation.” Born in Costilla and executed in Chihuahua, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla traveled heavily between these two locations in his struggle for Mexico’s independence. This historic route takes travelers through the states of Guanajuato, Queretaro, and Michoacan, which house many of the sites that represent his career as a priest, philosopher and military leader. Of particular interest is the city of Chihuahua, where travelers can visit the Palacio de Gobierno de Chihuahua (Government Palace of Chihuahua), where Hidalgo was executed by a Spanish firing squad. Today, the Altar of the Motherland stands in the exact spot where the father of the nation died, allowing visitors to step into Mexico’s history.

One of the most important stops on this route is in the Guanajuato town of Dolores Hidalgo, which has been declared the “Capital of the Bicentennial.” Here, one can visit the church in which Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla delivered his famous “Grito de Dolores,” the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence. Guanajuato is also the location of two much-anticipated parades on Sept. 16 and Nov. 20, celebrating Mexico’s Independence and Revolution, respectively. The site of the two major parades will be the new Expo Guanajuato Bicentennial, a park and entertainment complex named after the bicentennial, and host to several commemorative events. Tourists may also be interested in visiting the Casa de Allende Museum, the Museum of Dolores Hidalgo and the Alhondiga de Granaditas, which have all been remodeled in preparation for the bicentennial celebrations.

Aside from Guanajuato, another bicentennial “hot spot” is Mexico City, the home of several commemorative locations such as the Palacio Nacional (National Palace), which houses murals by famed artist Diego Rivera, depicting important moments in Mexico’s rich history. Starting in August, the Palacio Nacional will be transformed into a museum, the Palacio Galeria Nacional, where visitors can enjoy an art exhibition dedicated to Mexico’s independence. The National Palace is also housing the bones of 13 founding fathers and one founding mother in honor of the bicentennial celebrations. On Sept. 16, a military parade celebrating Mexico’s independence will take place through the streets of Mexico City, followed by an air show and a fireworks and pyrotechnic show at the Mirador Torre Latino Observatory.

Mexico City is also the location of the Museo Nacional de Historia, a national history museum housed in the 18th century Chapultepec Castle. Other preparations in the country’s capital include a commemorative arch on Paseo de la Reforma, which will join El Angel de la Independencia in observing Mexico’s fight for independence.

Although the country has been celebrating since the beginning of the year, the bicentennial will come to a head on Sept. 15, 2010, 200 years after revered Mexican hero Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla first rang the revolutionary bell that sparked Mexico’s independence movement. Across the country, cities will erupt into joyous festivities, celebrating what has truly been an exciting year for Mexico, one which also saw two new UNESCO World Heritage sites being added to the country’s already-long list.

For more information about Mexico’s bicentennial and centennial celebrations, as well as the eight commemorative routes, please visit bicentenario.visitmexico.com. Please note that for non-Spanish speakers, the Web site may be translated into English using Google.

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Headline News

Gay marriage opens rift between church, court in Mexico

Mexico City's gay-marriage law has prompted an ugly dispute between the Roman Catholic Church and the nation's Supreme Court, which earlier this month upheld the law and on Monday reaffirmed the right of gay and lesbian couples to adopt children.

Gays in Mexico's capital today can marry and adopt children, broad rights that go beyond anything offered in much of the world and enshrined now by a remarkable series of rulings by the nation's Supreme Court.

But reaching this point has left casualties along the way……Go to original article

Mexico City mayor demands cardinal apologize for bribery allegation, threatens legal action

Mexico City's leftist mayor said Tuesday he will take legal action if a Roman Catholic cardinal doesn't apologize for suggesting he bribed the Supreme Court to uphold a city law allowing adoptions by same-sex couples.

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard says that if Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez does not apologize by midnight, he is going to file a slander complaint.

The church opposes the Mexico City law, but the Supreme Court has ruled it constitutional.

Over the weekend, the cardinal suggested the justices may have been paid to uphold the law, using a slang word for corruption that refers to giving feed to livestock….go to original article

Don't judge drug war based on deaths, violence, Mexico's Calderon says
President Felipe Calderon urged his countrymen last week not to gauge the drug war by the relentless rise of the death toll.

In early April, newspaper tallies put the toll at around 18,000, but legislators then leaked a higher official estimate: 22,700. This month, the nation's intelligence chief said 28,000 people had most likely been killed since Calderon took office, in late 2006.

"The number of murders or the degree of violence isn't necessarily the best indicator of progress or retreat, or if the war ... is won or lost," Calderon told opposition party chiefs at a meeting called to pull the nation behind his counterdrug strategy. "It is a sign of the severity of the problem."…….go to original article

Mexico TV station Televisa hit by blasts

Attacks on the media in Mexico are becoming increasingly frequent

Officials from Mexico's largest television network Televisa say an explosive device went off in front of their station in the northern city of Monterrey. The attack followed a similar incident at their studios in Matamoros, in the north-east, just hours earlier. …..go to original article

Mexico moves to defend financial system against future crisis

Mexico's Finance Ministry inaugurated a council Wednesday to protect the country's financial system from future economic crises. A technical committee at the Stability Council headed by Deputy Finance Minister Alejandro Werner would study the vulnerability of the financial system under different scenarios, the ministry said in a statement….go to original article

Sport fishing: Best places to get reel in Mexico
Even tourists who don't know a rod from a reel are well aware whenever they come within 20 miles of the ocean that the country's fecund waters are teeming with sport fish. U.S. travelers and the Mexico tourism industry have anglers to thank for turning places like Baja Sur, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta into tourist magnets — fishing lodges were the original all-inclusive resorts. Even the lower reaches of the Mexican Caribbean coast, recently dubbed the Costa Maya and just beginning to draw significant numbers of tourists, have been known to fishermen for decades….go to original article

Lessons from the tequila museum: How to drink tequila like a local

Given the drink-dance-and-shout sensibilities of party-hearty Cancun, cultural institutions don't get a lot of foot traffic in this mega Mexican resort city.

But a new museum in the heart of the Hotel Zone plays perfectly to the sun-soaked, boozy mentality of the place.

Its subject: Tequila!.....go to original article

U.N. climate pact could be three treaties-Mexico

* Rich nations, poorer nations, U.S. could have own treaties

* Mexico wants comprehensive package of decisions in Cancun

By Nina Chestney

BONN, Aug 5 (Reuters) - A U.N. climate pact to extend or replace the Kyoto Protocol could be a set of up to three legally binding instruments, not just a single one, Mexico's climate chief said on Thursday.

A U.N. summit in Copenhagen last year failed to produce a legally binding agreement to combat climate change, leaving around 190 nations with no choice but to go back to the negotiating table this year….go to original article

Ex-Mexico president calls for legalizing drugs

Former President Vicente Fox is joining with those urging his successor to legalize drugs in Mexico, saying that could break the economic power of the country's brutal drug cartels.

Fox's comments, posted Sunday on his blog, came less than a week after President Felipe Calderon agreed to open the door to discussions about the legalization of drugs, even though he stressed that he remained opposed to the idea….go to original article

Cardinal criticizes Mexico's high court for upholding law allowing gay marriages in capital

Cardinal Norberto Rivera sharply criticized Mexico's Supreme Court on Sunday for upholding a law allowing homosexuals to marry in the capital, calling the ruling "aberrant" and "immoral."

The Roman Catholic archbishop said it was wrong to go against Christian doctrine that recognizes only marriages between a man and a woman….go to original article

PVNN
August 26, 2010

Mariachi music goes beyond entertainment; it embodies the unique Mexican culture, spirit, and traditions. Originating in Jalisco, today this popular grassroots music encompasses the essence of all Mexico and its people. The month long Guadalajara music and arts festival is a must-see event that promises to be even more spectacular this year as the country celebrates its bicentennial. The first series of performances, The International Mariachi Festival of Guadalajara, runs from August 23 through September 11. There are numerous parades with hundreds of mariachi floats, folk ballet dancers, rodeos, and art exhibits besides the ubiquitous street vendors with delicious traditional Mexican cuisine. This year the mariachis will also perform in churches and cathedrals during masses. The world’s largest mariachi competition, with 500 mariachi bands, is staged at the beautiful Benito Juarez Theatre, with many other concerts held in city parks and at various concert halls. ...Go here (page 3) for complete article

Road Report – Happy Trails to Your Place in the Sun

(Editors Note: We have been inundated with letters regarding the following article and have had hundreds of requests to be put on a mailing list for future articles. We intend to do this very soon.

Obviously safety in Mexico is a very big concern right now and we take it very seriously. We intend to do some concerted writing and will have many articles posted that may help you with your decisions and the routes you wish to take down to paradise. In the interim we have a very rough skeleton of a blog that we will be adding to shortly. Click here to go to the Mexico Highway Travel road blog

Our Jeep blew up in North of Moab Utah. We hitched to town. Got a tow and the ultimate news that the Jeep was no longer viable.

Moab. No bus. No one way rentals. Rented a car (that must be returned to Moab) drove 150 kms to Grand Junction Colorado. Rented a one way rental car to Seattle, returned 150 kms to Moab to return car #1. Drove to Union Washington for a 400 person wake for our beloved cousin and traveller Bill Woodcock.

NOW.... bought another Jeep and are on the road to Vancouver. All is good.)

By Bill and Dorothy Bell

Carole Thacker of the La Penita Trailer Park requested that we give a concise road report regarding safety and driving to the West Coast of Mexico. We are writing a major article that will be published shortly, however many of you need advise now. If you wish to be put on our mailing list for this article, please write editor@jaltembasol.com and ask us to ensure that it is mailed to you.

This summer we have driven thousands of miles updating our Mexico Road Logs and Mexico RV and driving website www.ontheroadin.com. We have touched on all but three of Mexico’s 31 states this summer alone, and while there are many new changes that we have seen on the road, we have not personally witnessed or experienced anything different regarding safety than we have seen in previous years.

We understand many of your concerns about driving and vacationing in Mexico. The US and Canadian government has issued travel warnings and the media has certainly had a hay day reporting many of the grisly details of the current drug cartel situation. There has been acceleration in murders in Mexico in the last two years, but by all accounts the rise has been attributed to drug turf wars and the government’s crackdown on these criminals. We do not believe that there has been any increase in murders or violence toward tourists.

The border cities have always been problematic and crime ridden. Other areas become “hotspots” for a few years and the violence then passes and changes to another community. Things have not changed in this regard over the 20+ years we have been road travelers through Mexico.

We travelled the length of the West coast from Nogales to Guatemala, the length and breadth of the Baja, as well as the diagonal route from Laredo to Guadalajara. We have also scooted around Mexico City and routed along the gulf coast around the Yucatan and through the highlands of Chiapas. We went to campgrounds in small towns and large cities and spoke to the locals about violence and the “situation.”

At the time of this report, the border traffic is very light, roads are clear and even the severe flooding in and around Monterrey (bridge and road repairs are well underway) should not deter your travel to your second home in la Penita.

Having completed this experience our base, 20 year old advice still stands:

1)      Drive early and stop early

2)      Never drive at night

3)      Get far away from the borders as soon as you can

4)      Don’t boon dock

5)      Travel with others if possible

We have always taught that you shouldn’t let your guard down as Mexico is a 3^rd world and developing country. In reality we understand how easy it is to become relaxed and easy going in this charming and enchanting country. We think it is time to reevaluate lax behaviors, pay close attention to travel precautions and stay on the straight and narrow.

WE WOULD NOT LET THE CURRENT DRUG WAR VIOLENCE DETER US FROM TRAVEL AT THIS TIME. If you wish to travel with a friend or other RV, stay tuned. We are currently creating a Mexico Road Report Board where you and others can hook up before crossing the border.  Click here to go to the Mexico Highway Travel road blog

If you wish to be put on our mailing list for a more detailed article about Mexico Road Safety, please write editor@jaltembasol.com and we will ensure it is mailed to you.

Dorothy and Bill Bell have lectured about Mexico Road and RV travel in colleges, RV Shows and private seminars throughout Western Canada and the US. They have travelled to all 31 states over a dozen times and are considered experts on road travel in this amazing country. Visit www.ontheroadin.com to view photos and articles about Mexico.

 Lightning Punctuates the Dog Days of Tropical Summer

©Tara A. Spears

In August and September the conditions are optimal for the formation of thunderstorms and lightning strikes. Lightning is a form of electrical discharge between clouds or between clouds and the ground. The discharge may take place between two parts of the same cloud, between two clouds or between a cloud and the ground. Thunder is the sound waves produced by the explosive heating of the air and the lightning channel during the return. While it is gorgeous to watch on hot summer nights, lightning can be deadly. Visitors from northern latitudes- that don’t have lightning- are usually unaware of the hazards and therefore do not take precautions. Mexico has the highest number of lightning fatalities, averaging 223 each year. 70% of all lightning strikes occur in the afternoon or early evenings, so plan your outdoor activities accordingly. Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors during the summer months. Lightning seeks the path of least resistance. If you are taller than your surroundings, or are standing next to a tall object (such as a tree or palapa), you are a prime target for a lightning strike.

Lightning Specifics:

Voltage in a cloud to ground strike is 100 million to one billion volts; most lightning strikes occur either at the beginning or at the end of a storm; the average lightning strike is six miles long; lightning reaches 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, about four times as hot as the sun’s surface!

You can’t change nature but you can reduce your chances of being struck by recognizing the early approach of a lightning storm.  Avoiding exposure to strikes is the best defense. All outdoor activities such as swimming, golfing, hiking, should be stopped and you should seek shelter when the lightning is within 6 miles. Wait a minimum of 30 minutes for this storm to pass before going outdoors again.  According to Dr. Robert Allen, D.O., with the United States Air Force, if you are outdoors and caught unawares by a storm, follow these steps:

Avoid high ground, water, solitary trees, open spaces, metallic objects. Search for low ground, ditches, or trenches. If the low spot contains water or if the ground is saturated, then find clumps of shrubbery or trees that all of uniform height.

Remove all metal objects, bracelets, watches, rings, if possible. It is best to crouch down on the balls of your feet with your hands over your ears. There should be at least 20 feet between you and other people. Do not all huddle together in a group.

If you are in a fully enclosed metal automobile, seek refuge with all the windows rolled up and your hands in your lap.

Avoid all metal shelters and sun shelters. If golfing, put down the clubs and get off the golf course. People fishing should put down the rods and return to shore.

Stop all bicycles and motorcycles and get away from them.

How to handle lightning victims:

Seek medical attention as soon as possible. If necessary, begin CPR. Make sure before doing CPR that the person is absolutely not breathing or there is no heart rate before starting resuscitation. Victims DO NOT retain an electrical charge. They are safe to handle. Check for burns along the extremities and strike areas. Treat the burns the same as other types of burns. Very common after effects of personal lightning strike include: metallic taste in the mouth, disorientation, numbness, short term impaired eyesight and loss of hearing.

Consider Indoors Safety Measures

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service, besides the outdoor procedures, there are indoor lightning safety measures that apply. Bolts can be conducted into a building through tree roots, telephone lines, water pipes, electrical wires, cable TV lines, computers, steel reinforcement rods and concrete.  It has the power to tear through roofs, explode walls of brick and concrete, start fires and destroy valuable electronic components. Knowing these facts, it is wise to stay out of the bathtub or shower, avoid contact with piping, including sinks, baths and faucets, and have your electronics unplugged during a storm. Unplug your electronics before a thunderstorm, as wide-screen TVs, multiple computers and other devices are costly to replace after lightning fries them. Not using the telephone except for an emergency is also a good precaution.

Following basic safety guidelines can greatly reduce your chances of injury or death from lightning. The NOAA suggests watching for the warning signs of high winds, rain and darkening clouds. While many lightning deaths happen at the beginning of an approaching storm, more than 50 percent of lightning deaths occur after the thunderstorm has passed, says NOAA. That's why it offers the "30/30 Rule" for personal safety: If it takes less than 30 seconds after you see lightning to hear the thunder, you should get indoors and stay there for 30 minutes. Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000, according to NOAA so living in a lighting zone simply requires a few lifestyle modifications for safety.   I’ve happily lived with lightning storms for twenty years without mishap by following the above guidelines.

They Tore Down the Russell Hotel

A Story of Change in Small Town Mexico

Local Resident Dave Easby announces that his first book is now available. To order the book simply click on the cover.

Dave writes:

As you know, La Peñita de Jaltemba, Mexico is a community in transition.  It’s a town where you still might see a woebegone donkey tied in the back of a rusting pick-up truck right across the street from a ritzy, new Italian Restaurant.

Anne and I choose La Peñita as our retirement home and you folks welcomed us into your little piece of paradise.  We gradually adapted to the Mexican way, adopted a beach dog we name ‘Amarillo’ and eventually went from being visiting beach bums to active, and enthusiastic, volunteers in the community. 

This collection of funny, and sometimes moving, short stories follows our adventures in trying to adapt to a very different way of life.  Over our time there, it is not just La Peñita that changes, we change too.

I hope that the stories will resonate with you as I'm sure you have many of the same experiences - your early fears as you first drove that dark highway from PV, the Bull Ring, the No Tell Motel, volunteer teaching and many others.

Here’s what others had to say about it:

What a great story. I admire Dave and Anne’s sense of adventure, envy their new way of life, but most of all I love the humour in this collection of riotous short stories.  Such fun to read.  …   Ann O’Farrell, Author of Norah’s Children  and Michael.

You can find a sample story and more information on ordering the book on Facebook.  Simply search for the group: “They Tore Down the Russell Hotel" or go directly to  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126144070764881&v=info

I will also bring copies to La Peñita this winter and hope to arrange a formal launch.

I hope you enjoy it.

Dave Easby

RivieraNayarit.com
go to original
August 26, 2010

San Blas is a small fishing village of about 12,000 people on the Pacific Coast of Mexico located between Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. (photos by PromoVision)

Carol Claire is 85 years old, and for more than 20 years she's been visiting San Blas. Every year she takes the road from California or Arizona to come to this port located in Riviera Nayarit, and she always goes back home with a smile on her face. This 2010 won't be the exception, and she says there's nothing that makes her think things will be any different this time.

"This year I'm going to convince every single person I know to come to San Blas, so that they can enjoy a wonderful experience of getting in touch with a different culture that has different traditions, a rich history and that offers privileged sights," Carol wrote in a letter to the San Blas Hotel and Motel Association.

Despite the economic turndown and swine flu issues of 2009, and even though the result of such events was a decrease in the number of tourists coming to San Blas in 2010, this year has been a favorable one for a destination that combines an impressive biodiversity, an enviable gastronomy, beautiful beaches and that gives us the opportunity to experience a little part of Mexico's history.

Last February, the International Festival of Migratory Birds brought hundreds of bird watchers to San Blas. This place was chosen not only because it has the largest number of species in the American continent, but also because of the warmth of its people, which guarantees a memorable event every year.

Participants who attended the Festival until the last day were able to experience some of the oldest traditions in this port: the San Blas Fiesta, where the patron saint of this port is honored with a procession aboard boats and ships, reaching its climax with dancing and a festival in front of the church at the main square.

The 2010 Fishing Tournament of San Blas was especially festive, as this year marked its 50th anniversary. The celebration of its first 50 consecutive years assembled almost 80 fishing teams and more than 320 high-end consumers, who competed for five days to get the largest catch amidst an ambiance of comradely and lots of fun.

Another major festivity is coming to San Blas next October, inviting us to visit this port: the celebration in honor of the Virgen Marinera, a tradition that came to San Blas through the Spanish missionaries and which was eventually lost. However, ten years ago, on August 7th, 2000, a new replica of this Spanish Virgin from the port of Cadiz was bestowed to the port of San Blas by Miguel de la Cuadra-Salcedo, founder of the Quetzal Route and a descendant of Captain Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Cuadra, one of the first commanders of the Naval Department of San Blas.

"This year we celebrate the bicentennial of Mexico's Independence, and as Mexicans we must commemorate this event by understanding what Mexico is today and what we are as Mexicans. However, Mexico's history is significantly larger than the events that have happened in the last 200 years; our nation wasn't created overnight, or solely through the beginning of the Independence, which took place at Dolores, Hidalgo. To the people of San Blas, La Marinera is one of the symbols that confers them their identity, and we celebrate it by creating a very special festivity," explained Doris Vazquez, president of the Hotel and Motel Association.

Events as successful as this one, as well as the large number of people who have visited this beautiful city in Riviera Nayarit this year, and stories like the one of Carol Claire give us reasons to believe this is a destination where one can come back time and again.


About Riviera Nayarit: Mexico’s newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, stretches along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains just ten minutes north of accessible Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay. Riviera Nayarit offers countless activities, all pleasantly affordable, such as: PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, turtle release, zip lining, surfing, record deep sea fishing, bird watching, international cuisine, and shopping for local artwork and traditional Huichol handicrafts. The region attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including chic luxury resorts, eco-tourism boutique hotels and quaint B&B inns. Visit the website at RivieraNayarit.com

Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Tropical Sun 

                                                     © Tara A. Spears

One of the first things that a visitor to exotic coastal Riviera Nayarit usually does is strip down and hit the beach.  It’s so beautiful and the water is so warm, before you know it, you have spent hours basking in the sunshine. Imagine your dismay when you go to take a shower: Ow, pain! Ugh, lobster red! What most visitors (and seasonal residents, too) don’t realize is that at tropical latitudes the sun is closer and more intense than at northern latitudes, therefore, even if you can spend five hours in full sun in Canada, that equates to less than one hour here-even in January.   Before going sunbathing you should consider information on how to avoid sunburn in the first place. It is wise to take proactive measures and protect yourself against the harmful ultraviolet and infrared damage than to spoil your vacation with pain and unsightly peeling. This article includes suggestions for soothing inflamed skin because, even with the good intentions, sometimes you still get a sunburn.

To read more of the sunburn story click here

Crowds Flock to Mexico Drug Museum
Jon Decker - Reuters
August 20, 2010

(Reuters)

Mexico's drug museum - the Museo de Enervantes - has seen in a surge in the size of its collection over the last three years. Reuters' Jon Decker reports.
Celebrating Mexico’s Bicentennial/Centennial
Allan Wall - PVNN
August 21, 2010

Mexican Independence (Bicentennial Office of the Instituto Nacional de Estudios Historicos de las Revoluciones de Mexico)

The Mexican Revolution (Bicentennial Office of the Instituto Nacional de Estudios Historicos de las Revoluciones de Mexico)

It’s 2010, and Mexico is celebrating its dual bicentennial/centennial. The Mexican government has been planning the festivities for the past four years. The pace is picking up now since the actual anniversaries take place within the next few months.

This may seem rather puzzling to those unfamiliar with Mexico’s complex history. What is being celebrated ? How can 2010 be both a centennial and a bicentennial?

An interesting feature of Mexican history is that the years of some key historical occurrences coincide with each other across the centuries.

For example, Spaniard Hernan Cortes and his Indian allies defeated the Aztecs in 1521, laying the foundation for modern Mexico. Three centuries later to the year, in 1821, Mexico became independent from Spain.

Even though Mexico became independent in 1821, the 1821 date is not remembered much today. It’s the 1810 anniversary, marking the beginning of what became the independence movement, that is celebrated each year on September 15/16 (Mexican Independence Day).

(In a somewhat similar, though not identical, fashion, the U.S. celebrates the 1776 date of the Declaration of Independence, and not a date in 1783 or 1784, when the independence-recognizing Treaty of Paris was signed and ratified).

Thus in Mexican history, the 1810 anniversary is celebrated as Mexican Independence Day. And that leads us to another notable coincidence, that of 1810 and 1910.

The Mexican Revolution began on November 20th, 1910. Therefore, by the standard reckoning, the calendar year 2010 marks both Mexico’s Bicentennial of Independence and Centennial of its Revolution, two historical periods separated by an intervening century.

That’s the reason for the festivities and observances. It’s been calculated that over 700 activities related to the bicentennial/centennial are being held.

The bicentennial/centennial is being marked by various cultural, artistic and educational programs. There are ceremonies, conferences, radio shows and art exhibitions. Mexican television stations are broadcasting related programming, and highways are marked with Ruta 2010 signs indicating historical routes.

Besides the federal government, all 31 Mexican states and the Federal District (Mexico City) are holding observances. Furthermore, the celebrations are expanding beyond Mexico’s borders as Mexican embassies and consulates host related events in other countries. All in all, it’s a big celebration.

There’s even a song, announced as the official bicentennial song, entitled, El Futuro Es Milenario, written by Jaime Lopez and interpreted by various artists. The principal version has been recorded by Mexican pop star Raul Escajadillo, better known as Aleks Syntek (This artist has been compared to Elton John, whom he physically resembles.)

Nevertheless, there’s been some confusion over the “official nature” of the bicentennial song. Although the SEP (Mexican Education Department) announced it as the official bicentennial song, subsequently another SEP official said it wasn’t. Anyway, the song is out there. It’s catchy.

The Bicentennial also involves the exhibition in a crypt of the earthly remains (now just bones) of 13 Independence heroes and one heroine. On August 15th these mortal remains were escorted by hundreds of Mexican soldiers to Mexico’s National Palace for display in a glass crypt.

These remains had previously been removed (in May) from urns interred in the Mexico City landmark known variously as Monumento a la Independencia, la Columna de la Independencia, or El Ángel de la Independencia. They are to be returned there in 2011.

According to an inscription on the monument, there were 12 individuals buried there, famous Mexican heroes of the independence movement whose names you can see on street signs throughout Mexico. Their names are Miguel Hidalgo (considered the father of Mexico), Ignacio Allende, Juan Aldama, Mariano Jimenez, Mariano Matamoros, Jose Maria Morelos, Javier Mina, Vicente Guerrero, Leona Vicario, Guadalupe Victoria, Andres Quintana Roo and Nicolas Bravo.

However, after removing the remains, forensic investigators discovered that there were also two other, less well-known Independence heroes interred there, namely Pedro Moreno and Victor Rosales, who both died in 1817. It’s just that their names hadn’t been on the inscription. But now their remains are included in the crypt for public viewing.

That means that when the remains are returned to the monument in 2011, the names of Moreno and Rosales should also be part of the inscription.

The Mexican national anthem, in singing of Mexico’s defenders, calls for ¡Un sepulcro para ellos de honor! (a sepulcher of honor for them). Moreno and Rosales certainly had a sepulchre of honor, but their names weren’t on it. Now, thanks to the Bicentennial, they should get their names on it too.

Allan Wall is an American citizen who has been teaching English in Mexico since 1991, and writing articles about various aspects of Mexico and Mexican society for the past decade. Some of these articles are about Mexico's political scene, history and culture, tourism, and Mexican emigration as viewed from south of the border, which you can read on his website at AllanWall.net.