September 6, 2010 

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Heavy Rains Wash Out San Pancho Bridge
Mariano Montes de Oca - PVPulse.com
September 06, 2010

Heavy rains in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay continue to cause flood damage. Six to ten inches of rain fell in a seven hour period on Saturday, causing the San Pancho bridge to collapse and the flooding of area streets, homes and businesses. (photos by Octavia Jolley)

Heavy rains in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay continue to cause flood damage. Streets, homes and businesses are reportedly flooded after six to ten inches of rain fell in a seven hour period on Saturday.

As a result of the continued rains in Riviera Nayarit, the San Pancho Bridge washed away. Witnesses say that the flow of water swept several Huanacaxtle trees towards the bridge on Saturday night. The bridge finally caved in after sustaining enormous pressure from the water and debris that continually pushed against it.

at the scene on Sunday morning, Bahía de Banderas Mayor Hector Paniagua explained that they will attempt to build a pedestrian bridge as soon as possible to re-establish communication with San Pancho. People were urged to stay clam and to stay away from the edge of the river due to concerns of more land slides.

Gerardo Navarrete from Riviera Tours commented that people getting in to San Pancho hotels or leaving to catch their flights were taking pangas or water taxis from San Pancho to Sayulita and vice-versa. He also explained that the road from Sayulita to Punta de Mita had been affected by land slides and that crews there were trying to open the road for larger vehicles to cross.

Landslides are causing traffic problems from as far north as Mesillas to as far South as Mismaloya. Critical points on HWY 200 are Mismaloya, Garza Blanca, Nogalito, and Sayulita. Traffic from Sayulita to Puerto Vallarta is being diverted through Punta de Mita due to a large land slide that covered both sides of the road on Sunday.

Bahía de Banderas Mayor Hector Paniagua commented that the water washed away at the foundations of the highway and that it will require major repairs. No time line is available as of now. Until the road is repaired, all traffic will have to divert to Punta de Mita to cross this area.

Life continues in San Pancho today as authorities and crews managed to set up a pedestrian bridge to grant access to people in and out of San Pancho. Vehicles will not be able to leave or enter San Pancho until the bridge is repaired. No time line for vehicular access has been issued.

Source: PVPulse.com

Watch some you tube video of the floods

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkudpOROHys   & this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvQmrYtv2yo&feature=related ,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJKvtC_OzKw&feature=related ,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElUprYUpXBc&feature=related , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12K7BBJdsoE

     Park of Angels a Reality

                           © Tara A. Spears

From the dream to its inception, local business woman and mother, Mateja Mikunda, has worked tirelessly to build a playground for children in Guayabitos. The Park of Angels is now open for use. “I could not have accomplished this without the help of many generous people,” said Mateja, “now the park is about 80% complete.”  The community of Colonia La Colmena, where the children’s park is located, is on the east side of highway 200 just south of the Pemex gas station.

The original land is bordered by the baseball field on the west and two dirt roads on the other sides. “When designing the park, in order to make the playground safe and useable all year round, including the rainy season, I decided to raise the playground above the street level and enclose it with fencing. The border between the baseball field and play area has a ‘see through’ section to enable parents to watch both older children playing baseball and younger children at the same time” explains Mateja.  “I also insisted on three exits for safety reasons.”  Visiting the park after record setting rainfall, this author noted the wisdom of the raised design: the playground was water-free and useable hours before streets and yards would be. Mateja said it was worth the expense of adding 18 large truckloads of pea gravel to the playground. If you notice the brick wall/fencing in the pictures below, Mateja plans to add painted murals with fun juvenile characters that will appeal to young children to enhance the area. Individuals or companies that wish to donate or sponsor a wall section painting should contact Mateja for details at 322-147-6383 or email: matejasmexico@hotmail.com.  

The last phase of the park construction includes adding bathrooms, additional play equipment, a water pump, garbage collection, trees, benches, and lighting. Donations and sponsors are still needed to accomplish this goal. Watch the community calendar on Jaltembasol.com for the upcoming fundraisers at Mateja’s.  As one of the residents of the neighborhood, Guillermo, said, “This park was really needed. It is wonderful to finally have a safe place for the children to play that isn’t in the streets.”  Without Mateja’s vision and effort, this park could not have been achieved- thanks, Mateja! 

   Los Ayala Gun Incident

On Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 at approximately 5:30 p.m. a group young men were drinking at Palapa Santos in Los Ayala. The men were tourists, under the influence of alcohol and were being rude to a waitress.

    The waitress asked the group to leave the restaurant; advising that if they did not leave, she would call the police. One young man became angry, pulled out a gun and began shooting at the sky. Several people and children in the immediate area, were afraid, and went in the Hotel Quinta Minas seeking safety. 

   Later that evening a group of young men,  driving 6 or 7  late model trucks entered the area by driving in from Madre Perla and Bahia de Jaltemba, turning towards the Town Plaza and on to Avenida del Coral. They parked the trucks in front of the Quinta Minas Hotel.  The group of young men, who police think  were tourists from Guadalajara exited the trucks and began shooting at the sky and at bricks in the ground. They entered the Hotel Quinta Minas, looking for one particular person; and as they did not know where this person was, they entered several different rooms in the hotel, breaking doors and windows; until they found a group of 5 or 6 men who they took with them.

    The individuals taken were later released, unharmed. The police think that one person may not have been released and suspect that the incident involved repayment of a monetary debt.

    The individuals returned to the hotel; and promptly took off, leaving the hotel vacant. The tourists, who were part of the group involved in the first incident, were kicked out of the Quinta Minas hotel earlier in the evening, when the police arrived. The Quinta Minas Hotel had no involvement in the incident, other than the misfortune of being the site of the incident.

Report submitted by Romy Mora, Juez of Los Ayala

Drop off Donations for 2 Sisters’ Conalep Tuition

At Petra’s Deli and Don Pedro’s Market

Kalina Itzel and Daiana Monserrat Aguirre lost their mother earlier this week to a stroke. Both sisters are excellent students at Conalep but without financial help due to the unexpected death of their mother on Tuesday, they will not be able to enroll. Older sister, Daiana, with a 9.7 out of 10 grade point average, is in her final year. Local residents and business have rallied to help the girls stay in school.

Headline News

Tropical storm Hermine threatens Mexico, Texas

Tropical storm Hermine has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and warnings have been issued from Tampico, Mexico to the Baffin Bay on the south Texas coast, the National Hurricane Center said on Monday.Hermine, the eighth tropical storm of the season, carried maximum sustained winds of 40 mph was located about 190 miles east-southeast of Tampico, Mexico. it was moving north at 8 mph…..go to original article

Guanajuato, Mexico, where Old World still lingers

In the City Made from Silver, the Basilica is a bright gold, bistro table tops are hammered copper and the Spanish balconies are black iron. At the moment, however, I'm just trying to climb a twisty stone street without being flattened by Toyota steel.

Life is elemental in Guanajuato, a slice of 17th century Spain dropped into central Mexico, where one of the richest silver mines in history filled Spanish coffers and built the remote village into a pocket-size metropolis of Baroque churches, welcoming European plazas, a classic opera house and, apparently, medieval street planning…..go to original article

Third migrant survived Mexico massacre, El Salvador's president says

San Salvador, El Salvador (CNN) -- A third migrant survived a massacre that left 72 dead in a Mexican border state, and could play a key role in authorities' investigation of the crime, El Salvador's president said.

"He is already in the United States and fortunately avoided being killed," President Mauricio Funes told reporters Sunday as the remains of 11 Salvadorans who were killed in last month's massacre were returned to their families in a somber ceremony…..go to original article

Mexican paramedics run the gauntlet of gang wars in quest to save lives

Ambulance crews continue to aid victims of drugs violence despite their members being threatened and attacked

Ambulance crews and paramedics have learnt to distinguish between the handiwork of professional assassins and amateur gunmen from the carnage of crime scenes in Ciudad Juárez.

When an experienced hitman – a sicario – has done his job well, victims have no need of medical attention, said Benito Miranda, 30, an ambulance crew member. "He knows the key points in the body to kill immediately. All we find is a corpse."….go to original article

UPDATE 2-Mexico consumer confidence climbs in August

* August consumer confidence at 88.7 from 87.4

* Analysts had expected a drop to 87.0

* Consumers see improved economy; worry about future (Recasts, adds bullet points, byline)

The economic outlook of Mexicans unexpectedly brightened in August but concerns remain as the country struggles out of a deep recession, a consumer survey showed on Friday….go to original article

Mexico Speeds Up Digital-TV Transition, Will Compete With Grupo Televisa

Mexico will accelerate its transition to digital-television broadcasts, boosting competition against Grupo Televisa SA and freeing up airwaves that can be used for high-speed wireless Internet access.

The transition will begin next year and will be complete in 2015, six years earlier than planned, President Felipe Calderon said today in Mexico City. In a presidential order published today, he told government officials to begin preparing Mexicans for the transition by assuring that digital tuners will be imported and sold at fair prices….go to original articles

Carlos Slim's Telmex Plans to Quadruple Internet Service Speeds in Mexico

Telefonos de Mexico SAB, the telephone company controlled by billionaire Carlos Slim, is planning to quadruple Internet speeds for some parts of the country to as much as 20 megabits per second…..go to original article

Mexico`s Tourism Sector Sees Tremendous Growth Despite a Lagging World Economy

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The number of international tourists reaching Mexico by air experienced a 35.2 percent increase in June 2010 compared with the same month last year marking an impressive first half of the year for the Mexico tourism industry.

During the same period, 818,278 tourists from different nationalities visited Mexico, versus 605,435 who visited in June 2009. Of those, some 573,016 travelers arrived by air from the United States, representing a 23.7 percent growth over June 2009. Even more impressive are the 41,184 tourists that arrived from Canada; 21,322 more than in June 2009 - a whopping increase of 107.4 percent…..go to original article

Mexico's Anthropology Specialists Identify Name of Maya Ruler

MEXICO CITY.- The name of a Maya ruler that did not appear in the dynastic line of the ancient city of Tonina was recently identified by specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) based on hieroglyphs found on a sculptural fragment. This is the fourteenth ruler registered in the city that was enemy of Palenque.
Epigraphist Carlos Pallan Gayol, director of the INAH Maya Hieroglyphic and Iconographic Heap (AJIMAYA) explained that the fragment of stone contains inscriptions that read the name K’awiil, seignior of Po’, as the ancient city of Tonina was originally denominated, word that may mean “white” in the ancient Zoque-Mixteca language…..go to original article

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera to be reunited on Mexican bill

The Bank of Mexico said Monday it would place in circulation a new 500-peso bill featuring the well-known faces of two of the country's best-known artists, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. In the bank's official video to promote the bill's anti-counterfeiting features  two figures resembling the celebrity couple stroll in costume around traditional and modern sites in Mexico….go to original article

Ameca Bridge Reopened for Light Traffic
PVPulse.com
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August 31, 2010

 

UPDATE: The south-bound 'new' bridge that connects Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit has been re-opened for taxis and passenger cars heading both north and south. Authorities recommend that people avoid the bridge unless it is an emergency to keep traffic flowing and to avoid traffic jams.

Bridge Collapsed on Ameca River

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RivieraNayarit.com
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September 01, 2010

Vehicular transportation has been restored between Puerto Vallarta, the International Airport and Riviera Nayarit.

One of two bridges linking Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit collapsed yesterday due to torrential rainfall

Marc Murphy, Director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to advise that vehicular transportation has been restored between Puerto Vallarta, the International Airport and Riviera Nayarit; Traffic is again flowing in both directions.

Yesterday at 2:30 am, one of two north/south bridges just north of the airport was washed out by torrential downpours.

Authorities from the Federal Government as well as the states of Jalisco and Nayarit checked the structure of the remaining bridge and pronounced it sound, again permitting the flow of vehicular traffic between the two tourism regions by 2:00 pm yesterday afternoon. The two bridges were parallel, each providing two lanes in one direction. Now traffic in both directions will travel over the one bridge until a second is built, and the bridge will be carefully monitored to assure safety at all times.

"We thank all of the parties who joined together to assure that our visitors did not encounter any travel interruptions and minimal inconvenience." said Marc Murphy. "We are happy to report that this situation was addressed and resolved so quickly, making it easy for travelers to visit the beautiful resorts of Riviera Nayarit."


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

Wed., Sept. 15 - Sat., Sept. 18, 2010

In Los Ayala's Town Plaza for a series of events & celebration of

Mexico's 200th ANNIVERSARY of Independence Day...

For further details please refer to

http://www.losayalalife.com/upcoming_events.html

Canadians' eviction from land they bought adds to mistrust among investors and tourists

'When you buy with a title signed by the president, it feels secure,' says evicted landowner

By David Agren, Postmedia News August 30, 2010

Photograph by: Map By Postmedia News, Postmedia News

Siegfried Schiffmacher thought he had found an idyllic slice of paradise in 2006 when he purchased a large lot at Tenacatita, a spit of land in Mexico with spectacular ocean views to the front and a calm bay with clear water and a golden-sand beach to the back.

He thought he had found a sound investment, too: The 1,007-square-metre property -- once part of a communal farm known as an "ejido" -- came with a title validated by then-president Vicente Fox.

Those illusions were shattered Aug. 4, when more than 150 state police officers raided Tenacatita, acting on an eviction order won by a Guadalajara-area businessman, Andres Villalobos, who claimed title to 42 hectares of land -- including Schiffmacher's lot -- that he purchased in 1991 from the widow of a former Jalisco state governor.

"When you buy with a title signed by the president, it feels secure," said Schiffmacher, a retired telecom entrepreneur from Surrey whose wife, Margarita, is a Mexican national. "We never thought this would happen."

Schiffmacher's plight highlights the perils of investing in paradise and, he estimates, affects at least 15 Canadians.

It also highlights the problem of purchasing in a country with lingering conflicts over land and titles -- two key grievances that fuelled the Mexican Revolution, the centennial of which is being observed this year -- and how these unresolved squabbles are affecting foreigners a century later as they move south in increasing numbers and, unwittingly, into areas with histories of property disputes.

And it once again shows the risks of purchasing land on ejidos and former ejidos, the dismally unproductive communal farms created from broken-up haciendas after the revolution for the landless campesinos (peasant farmers), which long have been sources of legal conflicts, title disputes and murky governance.

Ontario resident Barbara Hancock and another Canadian have owned a two-storey house at Tenacatita since 1988 and acknowledged it was originally built under risky circumstances. She later obtained a title for it after a federal agency known as Procede surveyed and titled the area, allowing her to put it in a bank trust -- an obligatory step in Mexico as foreigners are forbidden to own property in coastal and border regions without one.

A letter from Banorte, the bank holding her trust, reads: "You have the advantage that your rights are protected under Mexican law."

She's unsure about that now.

"This was supposed to be our retirement," she said.

The deeds Schiffmacher, Hancock and about 40 other foreign investors purchased in Tenacatita in the Costa Alegre region of Mexico -- which is popular with Canadians -- appeared valid. The land was surveyed and titled, and the 220 titles granted at Tenacatita were validated by Fox and President Felipe Calderon.

Those validations came despite the apparent existence of another claim to Tenacatita by Villalobos and his development company, Inmobiliaria Rodenas. Media in Guadalajara report the company's legal representatives based their claims to Tenacatita on a 1977 Mexican Supreme Court decision in favour of the original property holder, Paz Gortazar de Gonzalez Gallo, declaring the disputed property was never ejido land -- making it ineligible for titling through Procede.

The dispute leaves the case in legal limbo and could further risk the reputation of a country already beset with drug violence in some areas that has claimed 28,000 lives since December 2006 and scared off untold numbers of tourists and foreign investors. Mexico is the second-most popular travel destination for Canadians after the United States, according to Statistics Canada.

"This action could undercut trust in Mexico across the board -- and not just in real estate," said Daniel Hallas, a real estate agent in the community of La Manzanilla, across the bay from Tenacatita. "If they want to improve investment in Mexico, these papers have to have validity."

For many, the signature on the title sealed the deal -- a critical mistake, says political science professor Aldo Munoz Armenta of the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico.

"Designations with presidential signatures are not infallible," he said, adding that land distribution decisions by past presidents have been overruled by the courts. "In all the country, you'll find cases like this."

A state circuit court judge in the municipality of Cihuatlan effectively overturned the 220 titles issued by Procede -- and endorsed by the president -- with his eviction order, which Jorge Diaz Topete, lawyer for Inmobiliaria Rodenas, told the newspaper Publico was based on a complaint originally filed in 1993.

Diaz Topete told the Guadalajara Reporter, an English-language weekly, that he had never seen any of the Procede titles.

Jalisco state police officers, acting on the eviction order, cleared out hundreds of locals who lived and worked at Tenacatita, a working-class beach full of sun-seekers, seafood shacks and one-star hotels and known as one of the best snorkelling spots on the Pacific.

State police guard the seized land, denying access to the beach and titled lots. Adding insult to injury for Schiffmacher, police officers lounge, smoke and play cards in the shade provided by a large tent taken from his property and erected next to a barricade on the only road leading into Tenacatita.

The state human rights ombudsman said the lingering police presence after an eviction was unprecedented. The municipal government of La Huerta, which contains Tenacatita, asked why beach access was being impeded -- a violation of the Mexican constitution.

The investors and locals working the beach are filing for individual injunctions known as "amparos" against the Aug. 4 evictions and blockade. Class action cases are not permitted in Mexico, and the litigation is expected to drag out for years.

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.

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.

EFE
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September 01, 2010

Mexico City – Five people have been charged in the explosion that injured 20 people at a bar in Puerto Vallarta, the Attorney General’s Office said.

The men accidentally detonated a grenade inside the Pink Cheladas club on Francisco Villa, according to prosecutors.

The blast occurred around midnight last Wednesday, when the bar was filled with around 150 people. Two of the injured had to have limbs amputated.

The five defendants face charges for illegal possession of a grenade, terrorism and criminal association, the AG’s office said.

Investigators say the five suspects were drinking at the bar when one of them – apparently drunk – produced a grenade, pulled the pin and accidentally dropped the device on the floor, where it exploded.

The suspects, who were also injured in the blast, are currently under military guard at several different Puerto Vallarta hospitals and will be jailed pending trial once they have been discharged.

The AG’s office has opened an investigation into the suspects’ possible links to organized crime elements in the resort town.

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.

Captured Mexico Drug Kingpin 'The Barbie' Says in Video He Knew Top Capos, Transported Cocaine
Mark Stevenson & Paul J. Weber - Associated Press
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September 01, 2010

Texas-born fugitive Edgar Valdez Villarreal, alias "the Barbie," center, is presented to the press in Mexico City, Tuesday Aug. 31, 2010. Valdez, the third major suspected drug lord to fall in Mexico in the past 10 months, is wanted in the United States for allegedly smuggling tons of cocaine and inside Mexico and is blamed for a brutal turf war that has included bodies hung from bridges, decapitations and shootouts as he and a rival fought for control of the divided Beltran Leyva cartel. (Associated Press)

Mexico City — A former Texas high school football player and petty street dealer who allegedly rose to become one of Mexico's most savage assassins says he personally knew the country's top drug lords, shipped cocaine from Colombia through Panama and had a film made about his exploits.

In a video released by Mexico's federal police, Edgar Valdez Villarreal, known as "the Barbie" for his fair complexion and green eyes, told his interrogators that he transported cash hidden in trailers and spent $200,000 to make a film based on his life.

The flamboyant suspect — he once owned a bar in Acapulco called "XXXoticas" — decided not to release the movie because it might reveal too much information about him.

Authorities described him as a drug hit man who went on to become a major trafficker who shipped a ton of cocaine a month and thought he would never be caught.

Instead, with his arrest Monday, Valdez became the third major drug lord brought down by Mexico in less than a year. The 37-year-old Valdez faces charges in three U.S. states for trucking in tons of cocaine.

"I have work ... investments, there in Colombia," he said, laughing, on the tape that was broadcast late Tuesday and provided to news organizations, including The Associated Press.

When asked if he worked in drugs, he replied yes.

U.S. prosecutors say Valdez has been the source of tons of cocaine smuggled into the United States.

The arrest was portrayed by the Mexican and U.S. governments as a victory for President Felipe Calderon, who is trying to recover public support for his war on organized crime in the face of escalating violence.

Authorities also said Valdez could provide intelligence on other top traffickers, including Sinaloa chief Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, Mexico's most-wanted drug lord.

Valdez told interrogators that he knew the principal leaders of the drug cartels, such as Guzman, the brothers Arturo and Hector Beltran Leyva, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Jose Gerardo "El Indio" Alvarez, whom he called his friend.

During the video, Valdez sometimes looked up and laughed. He constantly wiped sweat with a tissue or shirt sleeve, though he did not look nervous.

Local media also showed a video from inside the three-level residence where he was arrested, including paintings of religious subjects, horses and flowers, Gucci and Cartier boxes, big-screen TVs, a pool table and a bar.

Mexican police said they chased Valdez across five Mexican states for a year, a pursuit that intensified in recent months as they raided home after home owned by the drug lord, missing him but nabbing several of his allies.

His arrest also yielded computers, telephones and other equipment authorities said would likely provide more information about his group.

Valdez's presentation before the media Tuesday coincided with an announcement that Colombian authorities had detained 11 people allegedly linked to the Mexican kingpin in that South American cocaine-producing country. Mexican Federal Police Commissioner Facundo Rosas said the arrests were likely related, with Colombian authorities taking advantage of a break in his organization.

As a U.S. citizen living illegally in Mexico, Valdez could be deported to the United States if Mexico agrees, or he could face prosecution in Mexico for drug-related crimes. Mexican authorities say he could be responsible for dozens of murders.

Born in the border city of Laredo, Texas, Valdez grew up in a middle-class subdivision popular with Border Patrol agents, police officers and firefighters. His father was a nightclub and bar owner.

The former Laredo United High School linebacker became a small-time street dealer as a teen, before rising to become the head of a group of assassins for Mexico's notorious Beltran Leyva gang, allied with the powerful Sinaloa cartel, according to U.S. and Mexican officials.

After leaving Texas for Mexico, Valdez quickly rose through the ranks of the Beltran Leyva cartel, police say. He was anointed head of Acapulco operations by cartel leader Arturo Beltran Leyva after serving as the drug kingpin's top bodyguard, Rosas said.

In Mexico, Valdez built up a life of luxury, with homes in the most expensive neighborhoods of Mexico City. Valdez said in the tape that he commissioned a movie on his life and invested $200,000 in it, but it was never released.

"He was flamboyant, he felt like he was untouchable," said a senior U.S. law enforcement official, who wasn't authorized to speak on the record.

That life started to crumble as Mexican law enforcement took on the Beltran Leyva gang. Two years ago, a widespread corruption probe toppled the cartel's top government protectors, including Mexico's former drug czar.

The biggest coup came in December, when Mexican marines killed cartel lord Arturo Beltran Leyva during a gunbattle in Cuernavaca.

That unleashed a gruesome fight between Valdez and Beltran Leyva's brother, Hector, the only one of the cartel's founders who was still at large. Decapitated and dismembered bodies littered the streets of Cuernavaca and Acapulco — and often hung from bridges — along with messages threatening one of the two feuding factions.

Valdez confirmed on the tape that he berated one accomplice for shooting Paraguayan soccer player Salvador Cabanas during an argument at a Mexico City bar in January, an attack that led to the arrest of a minor henchman, who later told police about Valdez's fury over the incident.

Valdez said he hid the suspect, Jose Jorge Balderas, also known as "JJ", who is still at large.

More of his allies fell in a series of raids and shootouts in Mexico City, Acapulco and other towns. Fifteen Valdez henchmen were killed in a battle with soldiers in June in Taxco, a mountain hamlet outside of Mexico City.

The pursuit intensified six weeks ago when Mexican security officials began getting tips on Valdez's whereabouts and approached U.S. agents for help, according to U.S. law enforcement officials in Washington, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity surrounding the arrest. U.S. intelligence helped pinpoint his location Monday.

An elite, U.S.-trained Mexican federal police squad arrested Valdez and four accomplices at the entrance of a ranch outside Mexico City.

"We were on his heels for the last six weeks, receiving tips, but Mexican law enforcement would show up and they would miss him," one U.S. official said. "He was feeling the heat of Mexican law enforcement."

Associated Press writers Mark Stevenson reported from Mexico City and Paul Weber from Laredo, Texas. AP writers Eduardo Castillo and Istra Pacheco in Mexico City; Ramit Plushnick-Masti in Houston; Mat Otero in Dallas; and Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California, contributed to this report.

RivieraNayarit.com
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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

Mexico's 500-Peso Bills to Feature Frida, Diego
Associated Press
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August 31, 2010

 

The Bank of Mexico displays samples of Mexico's new 500-peso bills that bear the images of Frida Kahlo and DiegoRivera, two of the country's best-known painters, August 30, 2010. (Xinhua/AFP)

Mexico City - Mexico's new 500-peso bills will bear the images of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, two of the country's best-known painters.

The Bank of Mexico says the bills will go into circulation Monday and are a tribute to the artists, who were married twice and worked in the early- and mid-20th century.

The bills will be coffee-colored and have on the front a self-portrait of Rivera, who along with Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros were Mexico's top muralists in the previous century.

The back will have a self-portrait by Kahlo, who was known for her tortured subjects.

Federico Rubi, the bank's director of external relations, called them Mexico's most prestigious artists.

Five hundred pesos are worth a bit less than $50.

 

Mexico Tourism Booming, Officials Say
Joshua Rhett Miller - FoxNews.com
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September 01, 2010

Several airlines, including Virgin America, have recently announced additional direct flights from U.S. destinations and elsewhere to Mexico resorts like San Jose del Cabo and Cancun. Despite the ongoing drug-related violence there, Mexican officials say tourism is thriving. (AP/Virgin America)

As Mexican officials investigate a bloody attack that left eight people dead in one of the country's most popular vacation destinations, officials there say the drug wars appear to be having little effect on tourism.

Six women and two men died Tuesday in a fire at a bar frequented by locals in the resort town of Cancun. Employees at Castillo del Mar have told police that gunmen tossed gasoline bombs at the establishment, which is located in a low-income area far from the city's main tourist zone.

Quintana Roo state Attorney General Francisco Alor told a local radio station that the cause of the blaze remains under investigation and that the bar has had problems in the past, although he did not elaborate.

Businesses throughout Mexico are often hit up for protection money by drug cartels, which sometimes set fire to those that refuse to pay, the Associated Press reports. And while Cancun has largely avoided the drug-related violence that has killed more than 28,000 people in Mexico since 2006, drug cartels and immigrant traffickers are known to operate in the area.

But the violence appears not to be deterring vacationers, who are scheduling trips to Mexico even after the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning on Aug. 27, advising American citizens to delay unnecessary travel to the central Mexican states of Michoacan and Tamaulipas, as well as Sinaloa, Durango and Coahuila.

The warning also ordered children of all U.S. government employees to leave Monterrey amid a high number of kidnappings there and following an Aug. 20 shooting near the city's American Foundation School. An earlier warning that authorized the departure of relatives of U.S. government personnel from U.S. consulates in the northern Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros also remains in effect.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to "stay within the well-known tourist areas," according to the warning.

"Although narcotics-related crime is a particular concern along Mexico's northern border, violence has occurred throughout the country, including in areas frequented by American tourists," the warning read. "U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times … In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens living in Mexico have been kidnapped and most of their cases remain unsolved."

But despite the danger, the number of international tourists visiting the country by plane increased 35 percent in June compared to the same month in 2009, according to Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) statistics.

MTB officials say nearly 820,000 people from destinations worldwide visited Mexico in June, up from 605,435 in June 2009. Of those visitors, the tourism board said, roughly 573,000 were from the United States, a 23 percent increase from the same period a year ago. Canadian visitors, meanwhile, skyrocketed more than 100 percent compared to the year before, up from 21,322 to more than 41,000.

But figures provided by the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries paint a different picture, indicating that the number of U.S. air passengers to Mexico actually declined by 2.5 percent this year and by nearly 11 percent in 2009.

MTB officials say cruise travel is also on the rise, as the number of American cruise passengers in the first four months of 2010 increased 6 percent compared to 2009 levels. Passengers from Canada also increased 9 percent from a year ago, MTB officials said. Mexican ports welcomed 5 million cruise passengers last year, and that figure is expected to reach nearly 6 million this year.

Despite the recent suspension of service on Mexicana Airlines, MTB officials are touting increased service by AeroMexico - the country's largest transcontinental airline - from Miami to Monterrey and Houston to Monterrey. Other airlines have also begun offering additional direct flights to Mexico's hot spots, or will begin to do so shortly. British Airways is scheduled to begin flying direct between London and Cancun in November, and China's Hainan Airlines will begin flying direct to Mexico City. U.S. airlines, too, are offering new direct routes from San Francisco to Los Cabos and Charlotte, N.C., to Puerto Vallarta.

"We feel these numbers are evidence of the strength and quality of Mexico's destinations," Mexico's Secretary of Tourism, Gloria Guevara, said in a statement.

Online travel agencies agreed that Mexico remains a top tourist destination despite its deadly drug war.

Genevieve Shaw Brown, a senior editor for Travelocity, said Cancun remains the country's most popular destination and ranks No. 13 among the travel site's domestic and international locations.

"Two of the reasons Mexico remains popular are value and convenience," Brown said in a statement to FoxNews.com. "There are direct flights to Mexico’s major tourist destinations from nearly every major city in the U.S. That competition among airlines helps to keep pricing down. Average international airfare from the U.S. this fall is $769 round trip as compared to airfare from the U.S. to Mexico at $443 round trip."

Marita Hudson Thomas of Orbitz.com said Mexico's resort towns are "largely unaffected" by the ongoing travel warnings. In fact, she said, Cancun was just named the company's top international destination for the Labor Day weekend.

Popularity of Mexico's Gulf Coast resorts aside, the State Department travel warning makes it clear that travel South of the Border is not without risk. And recent news reports bear out the potential danger.

At least 16 people were injured last week when a grenade exploded at a bar in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta. And other tourist hot spots like Acapulco, Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo and Cuernavaca aren't immune to the drug-related violence.

"In April 2010, three innocent bystanders were killed in a shootout between Mexican police and drug-trafficking organization members in broad daylight in one of Acapulco's main tourist areas," the warning reads. "In the same month, numerous incidents of narcotics-related violence occurred in the city of Cuernavaca, in the State of Morelos, a popular destination for American language students."

Associated Press
go to original
August 26, 2010

It has long been common practice in Mexico for pharmacies to supply antibiotics to anyone who asks for them even though the law requires a prescription.

Mexico City — Mexican authorities have begun enforcing tougher rules designed to ensure that people have a doctor's prescription to buy antibiotics.

It has long been common practice in Mexico for pharmacies to supply antibiotics to anyone who asks for them even though the law requires a prescription.

Officials announced in March that new procedures would be imposed to crack down on the practice as a way to address the growing problem of drug-resistant infections from overuse of antibiotics. The Health Department estimates half of Mexicans self-medicate without checking with a doctor.

Miguel Toscano, director of Mexico's federal commission on product safety, announced the start of the crackdown Wednesday.