ADIP Dec 2007

paradise another day in

December 2007 / 53

M E X I C O

A RT H I S TO RY F O O D R E A L E S T A T E ENTERTAINMENTSPORTS MUSEUMSGALLERIES TRAVELARCHITECTURE DESIGNBUSINESS E C O N O M Y R E A L E S TAT E L I S T I N G S R E A L E S TAT E N E W S R E A L E S TAT E L AW R E A L E S TAT E F I N A N C E BOOKSCOMMUNITY C U LT U R E P E O P L E SHOPPINGSOCIALEVENTS RESOURCESCLASSIFIEDS

M E X I C O

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

paradise another day in

EDITOR - PUBLISHER

Catherine Krantz info@adip.info COLUMNISTS - CONTRIBUTORS

Raul Cedeño Patrick Corcoran Jay Eshbach Agustin Galindo John Glaab Michel Janicot Nancy Seeley Lisa Mower Sheppard Priyanka Sharma Maura Taylor Gregg Thompson

DESIGN

W

elcome to Another Day in Paradise.

Optimism, is it a decision, a delusion, or a force of nature?

Jorge Luis Delgado picassojld@hotmail.com jorge@adip.info Tel. (755) 554-6525 Cel. (755)104-5057 WEB DESIGN & HOSTING Zihrena Sistems La Ropa, Zihuatanejo webmaster@zihua-ixtapa.com (755) 554-0719 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES (755) 554-6525 space is limited, deadline for materials and payments is the 1st of the month previous publicidad@adip.info SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES Check out our web page for more info: www.adip.info

When the mirage that shimmers just out of reach, that unique special thing that you want above all, one day all-of-a-sudden, careens sharply into focus and within your grasp…it makes you wonder; especially in this holiday season when occasionally great gifts do arrive unexpectedly. It makes you wonder about unfounded, unjustified, unwarranted, (dare I say fanciful) optimism, and where it just might get you.

Everyday, every action, every decision, every step you take, opens some doors and closes others forever. This notion need not be some heavy weight of responsibility, it can be an inspiring realization that every day has an unlimited amount of possible outcomes. If we were the mathematical type, we could devise an exact formula to illustrate for you just how many possible ways your life can be changed

in one day. Just how many opportunities you could be welcoming in with each conversation, each step down the road, each wandering thought. (Or perhaps that is just ridiculous optimism, to think one could actually calculate the infinite.) But before we rush off and sharpen our pencils, let’s just agree, it’s a pretty large number. And it’s that indefinable number—the mere scope of possibility—that keeps me optimistic. Even now as we come to the close of 2007, with the static and the strife of the outside world increasingly clamoring at the door of our (ever-more-teeming, nolonger-so-little) beach town…I feel a decision, a delusion, or a force of optimism, is definitely in order.

Here’s hoping you get everything you want for Christmas and that the New Year brings you even more than you hoped for!

Until next time,

WE WELCOME ARTICLE & PHOTOGRAPH SUBMISSIONS info@adip.info FOR GUIDELINES

ON THE COVER: MAIZE Photo by Jorge Luis Delgado ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

www.adip.info

December 2007 / 53

8 History

The Battle at Buena Vista 12 Food

Ingredients of Mexico - Maize 16 Food

Recipes: Pozole 18 Sports

The organized chaos of Lucha Libre 22 Books

Intercultural Communication, A Practical Guide 24 Art & Entertainment

Mexican Superstitions

36 Upcoming Events 40 Home & Garden

Bamboo 42 Real Estate Law

Escrow Accounts 44 Real Estate Finance

Getting Ready for Retirement 46 Real Estate News

AMPI International 50 Classifieds 52 Real Estate Listings

For Sale, For Rent

28 Z-Scene 34 Community

Get Involved: Community Project Directory

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 8

In a must-win fight, U.S. General Zachary Taylor, in retreat, squares off against Alamo victor General Santa Anna.

At stake - Taylor’s Presidential bid, and America’s “Manifest Destiny.”

Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican-American War, painting by Carl Nebel. Originally published in the 1851 book,The War Between the United States and Mexico, Illustrated.

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By Gregg Thompson oments before the shooting started, officers leading a small United States Army contingent deep inside Mexico moved quickly from one strongpoint to another, reassuring their men while struggling with their own fear.

survived multiple encounters with both hostile Indians and equally hostile Army superiors.

His men affectionately called him “Ol’ Rough ‘n Ready,” on account of his shoddy dress and unkempt appearance; the five-foot-eight Taylor appeared to one soldier like “a toad on horseback.”

To their front, bayonets and sabers glistening in the rising sun, lay a force of 14,000 Mexican soldiers, not well led, nor fed, nor paid, but determined nonetheless to rid their land of the foreign invader.

Frivolities aside, Taylor’s leadership - and luck in the coming hours would assign him to either infamy or the White House. The outcome of this, the Battle at Buena Vista, aside from making or breaking Taylor, would also describe forever an entirely new continental relationship - physically and otherwise - between the United States and Mexico.

Behind the American line, conspicuously mounted on a white horse, rode the man responsible for placing these young American soldiers in such terrible peril - Maj. General Zachary Taylor, a 61-year-old, unlettered frontiersman whose long Army career had ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

On this day, February 23, 1847, as Mexican cavalry prepared to charge the American line, Mexico and the U.S. had been at war for nine

months. The causes of the conflict were many, but essentially the conflict was about land who had it, vs who wanted it.The United States, a young and aggressive republic searching for new territory, was quickly expanding, and looking westward. This area, today comprising the states of New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, Nevada and parts of Colorado and Wyoming - 500,000 square miles - was under the nominal ownership and control of Mexico.

But it had always been under populated and meagerly defended; it was there for the taking.

In 1844 James K. Polk won the Presidency on a ticket promoting U.S. expansion to the Pacific Ocean; “Manifest Destiny” was the catchphrase embodying this idea of empire .

Efforts were made by the Polk Administration to buy large tracts of western territory from the Mexican government - armed conquest was not necessarily Polk’s first choice. But the

offers were rebuffed, and in 1845 Washington annexed Texas outright, knowing the move would be seen as an overt act of war by Mexicans. Like opposing tectonic plates, the two nations chaffed at each other, tauntingly, along the disputed Rio Grande River. Something had to give, and in April, 1846, it did. A Mexican force ambushed an American mounted patrol north of the Rio Grande - 16 U.S. soldiers died.

Polk told Congress that “ American blood had been shed on American soil.” The war was on.

After early successes against the Mexicans in 1846, at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Zachary Tayor’s force stumbled and in early 1847, near Saltillo, Coahuila found itself overextended and in trouble deep inside Mexico. This was not all entirely Taylor’s fault; most of his experienced regular troops had been transferred to another command, leaving him with largely untrained volunteers. But Taylor’s dilemma was also of his own making.

Taylor was a simple man, a bit homespun, and it showed. Lacking formal military training, Taylor sometimes showed a dim appreciation of broad strategic considerations during the campaign. On two separate occasions, Taylor’s dilly-dallying allowed defeated Mexican armies to retreat intact, when prompt pursuit might have led to their destruction. Gen. Winfield Scott, the Army’s top commander, considered Taylor to be “slow of thought,” and “unused to the pen.” Certainly, routine military staff work bored Taylor to death; as a result his logistical homework often went undone. He moved his troops about impulsively, with scant regard for their supply and sanitary needs, while fever and dysentery put 30 percent of his men on sick-leave. (About 15,000 American servicemen died in the war; 1,750 in action, over 13,000 of disease.)

Taylor could be gruff and tactless with his junior officers (one of whom was Ulysses S. Grant), and insubordinate with those his senior.

His disdain for military pomp and ceremony implied a certain lack of discipline, which showed not only in the general’s haphazard personal appearance, but also in the behavior of his volunteer army. “One costly mass of ignorance, confusion and insubordination,” wrote Lieutenant George G. Meade, future Union general and Gettysburg victor, of Taylor’s lawless troops. Taylor threatened to court-martial unruly soldiers in his camp, but two-thirds of American troops in Mexico were volunteers on one-year contracts; they had to be handled carefully.

Taylor’s great asset, indispensable but not always present amongst senior Army officers, was that he loved to fight. His reputation for toughness never in doubt, his coolness under fire and courage at moments of extreme personal ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

danger marveled his men. During one firefight, a colonel suggested Taylor retire to safer ground in the rear. “Let us ride a little nearer,” replied Taylor, “and the balls will fall behind us.”

Such martial insouciance matters immensely to common soldiers in a command, and in the Mexican War, as in earlier innumerable scraps with Indians on the American frontier, this made Zachary Taylor a magnificent leader of men, if not an accomplished general officer.

But Taylor’s tactical bungling had recently cost his army an entire supply depot, abandoned and burned when advancing Mexican troops nearly overran his position. Taylor retreated and took up a defensive position at a hacienda called Buena Vista. Here, at the narrowest point of a narrow valley, the men of Taylor’s force - outnumbered three-to-one - waited with dry throats for the Mexican onslaught.

Zachary Taylor

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

The sense of terror felt by the Americans was well-placed, for the Mexican army they opposed was commanded by the infamous General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the self-titled “Napoleon of the West,” victor at the Alamo and Mexico’s pre-eminent caudillo and political con-man. Santa Anna was an often-competent battlefield commander, but his preferred combat arena was politics, where his mastery of the feint and the double deal seldom failed him in his vanity-fired search for power.

Good-looking, personally charming and with an enhanced sense of style (unlike Zack Taylor, the one-legged Santa Anna loved fancy dress uniforms), Santa Anna turned heads and seduced the politically unwary repeatedly over the course of 30 years. Ever duplicitous, Santa Anna’s modus operandi was the doublecross; there was no national interest that could not be subverted to further his own.

Santa Anna held Presidential power no less than 11 times, and was a plague on Mexican political development for an entire generation.

Mexican historians hold a dim view of him.

When things went wrong, as they usually did, Santa Anna simply folded his tent and slipped away into the night of exile. It was from exile in Cuba, in fact, in 1846, that Santa Anna hatched the grand scheme that brought him to

the battlefield at Buena Vista. In contact with the Polk administration in Washington, Santa Anna offered to broker a peace and end the war. Naively, Polk agreed, and arranged to have Santa Anna slipped through the U.S. Navy blockade and returned to Mexico.

Once landed, proclaiming himself savior of Mexico (and being received as such) Santa Anna raised an army and marched north to annihilate Taylor’s diminished force at Buena Vista. It wouldn’t be the first time Santa Anna had humbled the Americans. It was he, after all, who had led the successful assault on the Alamo in Texas in 1836. For the nervous U.S. volunteers facing Santa Anna this chilly winter morning at Buena Vista, when they “remembered the Alamo” they recalled that Santa Anna took no prisoners.

Of the ten major engagements fought by the U.S. Army during their U.S. – Mexican War, The Battle of Buena Vista was unique. It was the only battle fought almost entirely with volunteers, it was the only battle fought on the defensive, and it was the only battle that the U.S. nearly - very nearly - lost.The Mexican attack fell entirely on Taylor’s left flank, a weakness in the U.S. position ably exploited by Santa Anna. Hit very hard by Mexican artillery and infantry assault, two American volunteer regiments, one from Indiana and another from Arkansas, broke and ran; later attempts to get them back into the battle were only partially successful. With the American line reeling, Zachary Taylor sent in his former son-in-law to save the position. Jefferson Davis, future President of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, quickly went into action with his Mississippi Volunteers. (Davis had married Taylor’s daughter, Knox, not many years before, only to watch her die of malaria seven weeks after the wedding.) At the same time, Braxton Bragg’s mobile artillery blasted the rushing Mexican horde, forcing them back, badly mauled.

Night fell, and Taylor’s battered army waited without fires in near-freezing temperatures (at 6,000-foot altitude) for the certain Mexican attack at first light. It never came; Santa Anna’s army had had enough. Dawn revealed to the astonished Americans an

opposition camp abandoned and marked only by the dust clouds of retreat. Ol’ Rough ‘n Ready -- hardly an emotional type -- but aware he had survived to fight another day, hugged a nearby subordinate officer in relief.

The Battle at Buena Vista signaled the end of fighting in the north of Mexico. The strategic impact of Taylor’s narrow win -- if a bit by default -- was enormous and decisive; Santa Anna’s precipitous retreat meant Mexico had abandoned its northern territories forever. It might have been otherwise. A Taylor defeat at Buena Vista would have provoked a U.S. retreat back into Texas, and would have torpedoed plans for General Scott’s planned attack on Mexico City, through the Gulf port of Veracruz. The whole character of the war, and its final outcome, would have been distinct from what actually came to pass.

The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the U.S.- Mexican War, defined the new boundary between the two countries, largely as it exists today. Mexico paid no indemnities, and in fact received $15 million dollars in cash from Washington. But the young republic, only 27 years independent from Spain, had lost over half her national territory.

Taylor returned home to the acclaim due a winning general - he had not lost a battle and

his victories helped secure vast new lands for American settlement. Taylor left the military and chose this moment of fame to launch his political career - a run at the Presidency.

For several months Taylor had been touted as a prime Whig candidate for the Presidential elections of 1848. His credentials were simple yet impressive: he was a slave-holding Southerner viewed favorably enough in the North, and a victorious general with no political debts, burdens or liabilities. In fact, Taylor had few political convictions and, until the Mexican War, had shown little interest in politics. As recently as 1846 Taylor had written that he would decline the Whig candidacy even “if preferred and I could reach it without opposition.”

And in August, 1847, Taylor had declared to not giving “a fig” about the Presidency.

But winning the crucial battle at Buena Vista made Taylor a household name across America. He was marketable; he could win.

Taylor entered the race and on the fourth ballot won the party’s nomination, defeating Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and fellow general Winfield Scott. The Democrats nominated Lewis Cass, but the Democratic Party was split, especially in New York, and on election day Taylor carried that key northern state and eventually the entire country.

Despite honest intentions, Taylor’s Presidency got bad press almost from the beginning.

Early in his administration, Taylor allowed a corruption scandal involving members of his Cabinet to carry on without timely resolution.

And, ever insubordinate, Taylor frustrated his Whig handlers and split his own party on the delicate question of the expansion of slavery, which Taylor declared he would resist with force, if necessary.

Taylor’s Presidency was remarkable only in that it was so short-lived - 16 months. After braving bullets all his life, Taylor’s end was quietly ironic. On July 4th, 1850, after laying a cornerstone at the Washington Monument, Taylor fell ill after eating a bowl of cherries with iced milk. America’s 12th President died five days later of gastroenteritis. Taylor’s battlefield foe at Buena Vista survived Taylor by more than a quarter-century. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna died in 1876, allowed to return to Mexico for that express purpose after spending decades living abroad, again, in exile.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gregg Thompson has lived and worked in Mexico for 12 years. Along with his wife, Angela, he operates Angela´s Hotel & Hostel, located at 25 Mangos Street, one block behind the central market.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 12

By Pryanka Sharma Photos by Jorge Luis Delgado

M

aize has an inextricable link with Mexico, and at various levels - cultural, historical, economic and folkloric. So much so, in fact, that the Mayas have historically called themselves ‘the corn people,’ reflecting and acknowledging the pivotal role that corn played in their socio-cultural ethos. Maize has been the principal source of nourishment for the Mayas for the past 9,000 years. Even today, almost 40 percent of the calories consumed by the average Mexican come from corn, mostly, of course, in the form of tortillas. Maize, or corn, is a grass that is native to Central America, and was completely unknown elsewhere until 1492. Maize is a cereal grain, and the name is derived from the Spanish equivalent (Maiz) of the name given to the plant by the Arawak Native Americans - the natives whom Columbus first encountered when he landed in the Americas. Genetic evidence suggests that maize was probably first domesticated at least 9,000 years ago in Mexico, between the highlands of Oaxaca and Jalisco. The earliest corn plants bore only a few kernels on each stalk. By selectively breeding these plants ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Tacos de mariscos, Fortino´s, Zihuatanejo

over thousands of years, Native Americans developed a variety of types of domesticated corn, which bore large cobs holding hundreds of kernels. The maize plant grows from two to three meters in height, and is cultivated throughout the world, with Mexico coming in as its fourth largest producer after the United States, China and Brazil.

There are several varieties of maize cultivated today. However, the most common ones are: Flint corn which has a hard outer shell and kernels, and colors that range from white to red. This variety is the one that is widely produced in Central and South America. Field corn or dent corn which can be either white or yellow, is mainly used as livestock feed and to produce industrial products, and is the variety that predominated maize production in Canada and the United States. Another variety is Sweet corn, which is often eaten on the cob, and is almost never processed into flour.

Apart from its use in human consumption, maize is used to feed livestock. It can also be converted into plastic and fabrics, used to make sweeteners and corn syrup, and fermented and distilled to produce the famous bourbon whiskey.Apart from central and south America, maize forms a part of the foods consumed in Italy (polenta), India (makki-ki-roti), and Africa (ugali or mealie). Sweet corn is an important vegetable in South East Asian cuisine, and is frequently enjoyed in stir frys, curries and salads all over the region. And in countries as diverse as Mexico, the United States and India, whole ears of corn are eaten on the cob.

They may be either boiled or roasted over a barbecue, and are flavoured with lime, salt and chile (both India and Mexico), mayonnaise (Mexico) or simply butter (United States).

Guacamole con totopos, Fortino´s, Zihuatanejo

Favorite Mexican maize based foods Corn, along with beans and chiles, forms the basis of Mexican cuisine. It is an indispensable ingredient, and for most Mexicans, not a single meal goes by in which corn does not play a central role. At its most simple, corn is consumed in the form of tortillas, which is the basic Mexican food, the equivalent of bread for the Americans and potatoes for the Irish. Tortillas are made from masa, a dough-like paste of ground maize and water that is patted into thin and round tortillas using either a tortilla press of the hands - and cooked in a comal. Tortillas are rolled up and eaten alongside frijoles or beans, various guisos or stews or even with just a salsa made of onions, tomatoes, lime and chiles. Tortillas are ŠAnother Day in Paradise Ž, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Empanadas de camaron, Fortino´s, Zihuatanejo

also the essential ingredient in a myriad of other Mexican culinary staples such as enchiladas (a dish of tortillas wrapped around a filling and then dunked in a sauce), tacos and sincronizadas (a hot sandwich made of two tortillas with a filling of ham and cheese grilled over a comal). Masa is also made into tamales, for which it is beaten vigorously for a long time with manteca or lard to lighten it. A portion of the resultant dough is then stuffed, wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves and steamed to provide a most delicious hot and satisfying breakfast. A variety of fillings are used, and amongst the savoury ones the favorites remain pollo con mole which is chicken with the famous chocolate mole, pollo en salsa verde or chicken in green sauce, cochinita pibil which is a Yucatan style spicy marinated pork and rajas con queso which are strips of roasted and peeled poblano peppers with local cheese, while raisins and almonds provide a nice sweet filling. The sweet tamales are sometimes dyed pink to make it easy to distinguish them from the savoury ones. Tamales are almost always accompanied with atole, an ancient hot drink made of masa and flavored with a variety of different fruit or with chocolate.

Tostadas de maiz

ŠAnother Day in Paradise Ž, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

In Mexican cuisine there is a whole category of foods, called antojitos, that are based on

masa. Antojitos literally mean ‘small whims’ or ‘little bites’ and are the blanket term used to refer to a variety of fried masa based snacks that may be enjoyed informally, and in Mexico, usually from a street vendor.The most popular antojitoes are quesadillas or masa turnovers with a variety of fillings such as chicken and pork stews, cheese, rajas, potatoes, mushrooms and zucchini blossoms; sopes which are small disks of masa that are fried and topped with a variety of seasoned meats, chopped onion, cilantro, creama mexicana and local cheese, gorditas which are disks of masa that are stuffed with different fillings and shallow fried, tostadas or crisp fried tortillas that are served, at room temperature with toppings of frijoles or refried beans, onion, cilantro, salsa, crema mexicana and local cheeses; huaraches which are almost identical to sopes, except that they are larger in size and elongated rather than circular in

shape; and tlacoyos which are a smaller version of a huarache. Maize of a very different kind, known as hominy in English and maiz pozolero in Mexico, forms the basis of another popular Mexican classic, this time a stew called pozole.

Pozoles combine hominy with meats, chiles, and seasonings that are cooked together for hours, and are served with a variety of condiments, such as chopped onions and cilantro, shredded lettuce, chili piquin, lime, Mexican oregano and chopped radishes. Pozoles are usually enjoyed with a crisp tostada spread with crema mexicana served on the side. There are, of course many versions of pozoles. The most popular ones are pozole rojo (red): pozole with the addition of pureed red chiles, pozole blanco (white): in which there are no chiles added to the broth and pozole verde (green): pozole with the addition of tomatillos, herbs and pumpkin seeds.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Priyanka is a mother, trained social worker and a food and writing aficionado. She has worked in local and international NGOs in India and Mexico. Priyanka has recently completed a cookbook entitled Indian Cooking for Mexico, which is available in both English and Spanish. She is currently working on a series of articles on regional cuisines from her native India, as well as on a cookbook on Mexican food. Her interests are travel, cooking, reading and cinema. She can reached at priyanka.mex@gmail.com

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

By Lisa Mower Sheppard Photo by Jorge Luis Delgado

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hen I lived in the freezing winters of northern New Mexico, in the United States, in a tiny village at the foot of the Sangre De Cristo mountains I discovered the local way to beat the chill of the 20 below zero nights. I cooked on a wood stove in those days and lived without electricity in a yurt, (for those unfamiliar with yurts they are circular tents used by the nomadic tribes of Mongolia). Mine was definitely a modern version but every morning I woke up with ice over the windows and my breath steaming out of my nose and mouth.There I learned to make a simple stew of green chile, pork, and hominy called pozole (poh-zoh-lay). Later, we moved into the mountains of Michoacan and discovered that—despite Mexico’s reputation for having warm winters—here on Lake Zirahuen at almost 8,000 feet above sea level, there are definitely chilly nights and Michoacan Pozole, although still used for fueling your body against the cold, has a whole different flavor here than its cousin in the far north.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lisa Mower Sheppard lived for many years in Berkeley, California where she absorbed and experimented using the mix of flavors from the lively restaurants and markets of its multi-cultural community.

Lisa and her husband Ian now own a small organic farm near Lake Zirahuen, Michoacan.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Celebrations or community gatherings in Michoacan center around a large steaming pot of pozole made with either the head of a newly butchered pig or most often whole pieces of chicken. It still is flavored with chile, not the long green New Mexico chile but the wider, milder, green poblano (poh-blah-noh) and the smoky burnt red, chipotle (chih-pote-lay) -type chile canned in a sauce of adobo (ah-doh-boh), a vinegar based red sauce that packs quite a punch. This small smoked jalapeno pepper is absolutely deliciously hot but its bite can be controlled by the amount used to flavor your dish. I buy chipotle peppers canned in very

tiny amounts by La Morena; the can is half the size of a can of tuna and can be found in any market. One of these flavors an entire stock pot. Pozole in Michoacan is served in deep pottery bowls topped with shredded white cabbage and thinly sliced radishes, giving the pozole a wonderful crunchy texture and fresh flavor. There are always round crisp tostadas (toh-stah-duhs), sort of like large tortilla chips, to use as scoops along with regular spoons. We personally like the tostadas that have sesame seed or ajonjoli (ah-hone-holy) for a bit of roasted flavor.

Most farm cooks make a five-day pozole starting with whole kernels of dried corn, maiz (my-eez) laboriously slaking it by boiling it over wood fires until the kernels swell and burst through the thin hard outer skin.

Slaking is done by adding cal (cahl) or calcium hydroxide to the water, (this is the same calcium used in the whitewash on most adobe houses). This process releases the niacin in the corn making it available to our bodies. The cal provides calcium to our bones and teeth helping ward off the dreaded osteoporosis, notice the beautiful white smiles that surround you in the markets. I don’t have five days to make anything so I use a large, 108-ounce can of Teasdale maiz blanco, white hominy, found in every grocery store. I have tried the new vacuum-sealed packs of prepared hominy but they taste a bit “preserved,” the texture rubbery, and the kernels are oddly hollow. This amount of hominy makes a lot of pozole but “ni modo” (nee moh-doh) or never mind, as the locals say—we scoop off dinner-size portions into ziplock bags and freeze them to enjoy instant home-cooked meals later.

Michoacan Pozole 1 whole cut-up chicken—including the feet and back (I remove these before serving) plus two extra whole legs and thighs 1- 108 oz. can Teasdale Maiz Blanco, White Hominy *1 tiny can La Morena Chipotle en Adobo *5 large poblano peppers 2 medium white onions 6 fat cloves of garlic, I use ajo rojo (ah-ho ro-ho) the big purplestreaked garlic, packed with intense nutty garlic flavor and easier to peel; please do not resort to using the pre-chopped bottled garlic everyone seems so enamoured of these days: it just will not give you the same flavor, depriving you of a depth of flavor in your pozole 3 large stalks of celery 3 large carrots 3/4 cup of coarsely chopped cilantro leaves 3 cubes of Caldo de Pollo (cahl-doh day poi-yoh) or large chicken bouillon cubes, this is a cheat but I am not going to do a reduced chicken stock unless I have it in the freezer ready-to-go 3 bay leaves salt and pepper to taste, please use freshly ground black pepper I cannot emphasize what a difference this makes in its flavor 1/2 head of finely shredded white ball-head cabbage (our local cabbage has a hint of onion in its flavor) 1 bunch of lovely red radishes washed and sliced paper thin 1 package of tostadas con ajonjoli, always buy the locally made brand they are usually better and fresher Begin with a large eight qt stock pot, somehow I think it tastes better cooked in one of the large turquoise enameled pots you find in the market but this is probably all in my mind. Add the following into the pot: the pieces of chicken (it is important to cut each half breast in half cross-wise to make it the same size as the other pieces of chicken for equal time in cooking, I also remove the skin from it, the back, legs, and thighs), peeled and sliced carrots, sliced celery, peeled and coarsely chopped onions, peeled and minced garlic, bay leaves, seeded and de-ribbed poblano peppers coarsely chopped, the entire contents of the can of hominy (including the liquid which adds a bit of salt but a lot of flavor), and the cubes of stock which also add salt. Empty the contents of the can of chipotles into a blender, add half cup of water and hit the pulse button three to four times, making a slurry of the peppers, water, and sauce. Pour the chipotle slurry into the pot. Now add water to within one and a half inches of the top of the pot and place covered over high heat.This amount of water can quickly boil over, so when you see the bubbles beginning to appear quickly re-cover the pot and drop the flame to low. Continue to cook on low until the chicken is cooked thoroughly, about one hour at our altitude, sea level will require a bit less time. Add the cilantro leaves, adjust the seasonings and cook at least five more minutes. Remove the feet and back of the chicken to avoid offending (my cats love these cold). To serve, ladle into deep bowls and let each person top with the fresh cabbage and radishes, use the tostadas to crumble over as well or use them to scoop out lovely pieces of chicken and soft white kernels of corn. * Note, chipotle peppers are fairly spicy and even this small amount can give a bit of bite, if you are unsure of your tastes, add the slurry a spoonful at a time after the chicken is cooked and taste after each addition making sure to thoroughly stir it into the pozole to see if it is to your liking. If you can’t stand any bite at all, substitute green bell peppers for the poblanos, eliminate the chipotle chiles, and add two chopped ripe tomatoes for color and flavor. It’s a cheat, but a half tsp of liquid smoke or three slices of chopped bacon will add the smokiness you miss without the chipotles. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 18

S

undays in the United States are impossible to disassociate with football.

Not so in Mexico, where futbol americano enjoys regular television airtime, but it hasn’t reached the level of importance that the sport now enjoys north of the border (slightly less important than breathing, but far more important than governing the country).

So how, in fact, do you pass the Sunday leisure time in Mexico? Well, there are walks in the park with loved ones, books, and trips to the local art gallery. Or, if you need something to make the heart race a little more, there’s always lucha libre.

What is lucha libre? Anyone familiar with Hulk Hogan or Steve Austin can give you the basic rundown. A pair of colorful guys (or gals) in tight outfits with big muscles shout insults at each other and the crowd, at which point they engage in a highly choreographed, highly entertaining bout of flips, somersaults, slaps, and elbow drops until one of the wrestlers is subjected to a pin for a count of three.

There are some important differences between lucha libre (“free fighting” in Spanish) and America’s pro wrestling. For one, most lucha combatants have the added twist of fighting while wearing a mask. The lucha mask follows the basic blueprint of an executioner’s mask but features brighter colors. And often flames and tassels.

The organized chaos of

By Patrick Corcoran

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Photos By Raul Cedeño

But the mask, although often quite pretty, is not just for show. The mask is to luchadores what the scalp was to Indians. The humiliation of losing the match is multiplied ten-fold for any wrestler who suffers the indignity of having his mask removed and his disgraced visage revealed to those watching at home.

Sometimes, a maskless eunuch seeks to recover his headgear along with his dignity by besting the wrestler who had previously revealed his face to the world.

The masks, in fact, have reached such a level of pop culture popularity that they now exist almost independently from wrestling, much the same way Converse All-Stars were not merely basketball sneakers. Lucha masks are sold by street venders throughout the country and, consequently, worn by street vendors’ patrons across Mexico. Their use transcends

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Nacho Libre was actually just the Englishlanguage pioneer of a long tradition of lucha flicks. Lucha stars of yesteryear oftentimes transferred their skills at wreaking havoc in the ring to the big screen. The 70’s-era lucha flick has much in common with a low-budget

RESTAURANT VILLA DE LA SELVA Paseo de l a Roca 755 553 3151 monday through saturday 7 to11 PM

Ixtapa www.galart.net Many of you reading this are probably already familiar with the organized chaos of lucha libre thanks to the recent work of the actor Jack Black. Black introduced millions of Americans to the sport with his movie Nacho Libre, which came out in the summer of 2006. Black’s take on lucha libre was sympathetic and mostly accurate. Although at times it seems the movie was written merely to show off his (amusing) version of a Mexican accent, it did a good job of giving viewers a sense of the atmosphere surrounding the sport.

galart@prodigy.net.mx

In addition to the masks, another Mexican quirk is that lucha rings are six-sided, rather than the square that one sees north of the border. While this may sound like a meaningless detail, for those fans schooled on the four-side version, the hexagon is like a breath of fresh air: more places from which to leap, more angles to bounce yourself or an opponent off of the ropes, more escape routes, and, generally speaking, more mayhem.

Zihuatanejo

society: devoted sports fans, ironic partygoers, and students eager to torment their teachers all sport the mask. Even social activists aren’t immune: Superbarrio, decked out in bright red mask and matching tights, gained fame in the 1990’s for his work organizing labor protests in the capital.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Charles Bronson vehicle: lots of bravado, boom mikes invading the upper reaches of the camera shots, and peculiar delivery of lines. While they did not win any Oscars, these older lucha films deliver as many laughs as Nacho Libre (albeit unintentionally), and are a gold mine of kitschy styles.

Today’s wrestling superstars, while they don’t invade the silver screen quite as frequently, are every bit as charismatic as their forebears.

Latin Lover, as the name would suggest, is universally recognized both for his status as a sex symbol as well as his pile-driving prowess.

Universo 000 is a longtime fan favorite and current champion. El Hijo del Santo (the Saint’s son) is well-known for his famous conversion from the white hat-wearing good guy to the villain in black. A growing number of Mexican wrestlers, Rey Misterio, Konnan, and Juventud, among others, have also found success north of the border.

Mexican wrestlers, just like their American counterparts, have a number of different organizational venues in which they can ply their trade. The best known of these is the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (World Lucha Libre Council, or CMLL). A visit to the CMLL website is a great way to get a sense of what lucha libre is all about, even if you don’t speak Spanish (the loud colors and vivid masks really say it all).

The CMLL claims to be the oldest pro wrestling association in the world. Whether or not this is true, pro wrestling certainly has deep roots in Mexico. Pro wrestling was alleged to have been a diversionary pastime for distressed Mexicans in the 1860’s, when French armies were marching up and down the countryside, but the sport did not catch on until a few decades later.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

The father of pro wrestling in Mexico is Salvador Lutteroth Gonzales, a Jalisco-born haberdasher who had fought for General Alvaro Obregón in the Mexican Revolution.

Lutteroth put together his first pro wrestling event in 1933 under the banner of the brand new Empresario Mexicano de Lucha Libre, the CMLL’s forerunner. It was a smashing hit, and Lutteroth had found his calling in life. Over the next 40 years, he led his promoting company to the peak of the pro wrestling mountain.

Lutteroth, now known as the Father of Lucha Libre, centered his company in Mexico City.

Ambitious wrestlers across the nation sought out Poppa Lucha, and the best were given a place in his stable. Lutteroth also had the good fortune to find a home on Mexico’s Televisa network, which owned a monopoly on the television airwaves for most of the twentieth century.

Mexican wrestling fractured a bit after Lutteroth retired in 70’s, with rival organizations staking out their own turf. Despite the challenges to its hegemony, the CMLL has remained the big cheese of Mexican wrestling, the place that every future star wants to be.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Patrick Corcoran is a writer and teacher living in Torreón, Coahuila. He struggles daily to impart English skills to local middle school students, and feels confident that any reader who finishes one of his articles has learned more from him than 90 percent of his adolescent charges.

To make sure those future stars have the talent and skills necessary to shine, the CMLL has an in-house pro wrestling school. For a monthly fee of only 300 pesos (about 27 dollars), students can spend two hours a day learning from one of three different instructors and studying the very best luchadores. Students are, of course, given Sundays off; after all, that’s when lucha libre is on TV.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 22

only for people who choose to live outside their native countries. The world has gotten smaller in every possible way and our business and social interactions are now being played out on an international field—a playing field fraught with invisible obstacles. Rest assured, there are rules to every game—even if they aren’t the rules you learned at home.

Venturing out into this totally new territory, you will do well to find a guide to assist you, and luckily one exists. With a multicultural, multilingual background and a lifetime of traveling, Tracy Novinger knows about culture differences. She has written a book, Intercultural Communication, A Practical Guide, which should be required reading for anyone who lives in Mexico, does business in Mexico, or is considering doing either.

By Catherine Krantz

D

o you often find yourself frustrated or confused in your business or social interactions in Mexico? Do you feel like your simple, reasonable or logical requests are often met with incomprehension, disdain or indifference? Do you sometimes find yourself in situations that are inexplicable, flabbergasting or infuriating? Welcome to the world of culture clash, where just because it is different does not mean it is wrong…and just because it does not seem logical does not mean that it isn’t.

BOOKSIGNING Tracy Novinger will be in Zihuatanejo for a discussion and book signing at Coconuts Restaurant, Friday, December 28, starting at seven pm. She will be speaking about her experiences with intercultural communication as well as offering insights and answering questions. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Cultures have been clashing, probably since the very first humans left their homes and went exploring. Every country has its stories of invaders coming in and finding the natives to be heathens, pagans, and uncivilized brutes.

(The natives—it should be no surprise to find out—felt exactly the same about the intruders.)

These early cultural clashes often resulted in wars, massacres and the overthrow of civilizations, but even our modern non-violent culture clashes can leave more than bemused confusion in their wake.

Intercultural interaction, especially in this age of globalization, is a modern reality, and not

Communication barriers are often thought to be language-based, but language is just the tip of the iceberg. Novinger spent seven years researching this book and wrote it while she was getting her master’s degree in Communications.

Having spent her childhood and young adulthood in multiple countries and fluent in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish, she became attracted to the study of intercultural communication after noticing her own communication style would differ depending on the language she was speaking. She sometimes felt as if she had multiple personalities, so distinctive were her interactions in one language or another.

Novinger began to realize it was not merely her language fluency that allowed her to communicate effectively, but the nonverbal cues she was expressing, contributed as well.

These cues played very different roles in different cultures. More importantly, being able to understand these nonverbal cues was the difference between effective communication and misunderstanding. This realization led her to pursue advanced studies in communication and to write two books on the topic.

In our home environments, being able to share ideas and effortlessly communicate one’s thoughts, wishes, or needs is something we often take for granted. The amount of misunderstanding routinely faced in foreign environments, whether they are languagebased, culture-based, or both, can be overwhelming.

These miscommunications can leave you feeling isolated or alienated on the personal level, and can cost you money and opportunity on the professional level.

Whether your interactions in Mexico are for business or for pleasure, a little understanding of the cultural forces at work under the surface can go a long way in alleviating the amount of frustration and friction you experience (or cause).

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 24

A&E

By Nancy Seeley

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

E

very country has its superstitions, and it’s been fascinating learning some of those still prevalent in Mexico today. Unlikely as many might seem, they do add spice to life. For those who believe, they help to explain things people often can’t control, such as love, illness, jealousy and bad luck. And – they can bring comfort.Think of superstitions as the grownup version of a child’s beloved but ratty blanket.

What got me started on this story was a chance incident while chatting with a Mexican friend. Another woman walked by to ask directions and happened to be holding an adorable child. My friend complimented the mother and made a point of gently grasping the little girl’s arm for several seconds. “What was that all about?” I asked. “Well,” she said, “you’ve got to touch a niña you’ve admired to show you’re not envious…or, worse yet, thinking inappropriate thoughts.”

I can’t count the number of times waiters in Zihuatanejo restaurants have lifted my purse off the ground and given it to me to hold.

Why? Your money won’t last if you set the bag on the floor, I am warned with a smile.

The moon plays a big part in many folkloric beliefs. The maid at the place I live is convinced a pregnant woman who goes out during a lunar eclipse may give birth to a damaged infant. But if the expectant mom puts a red rag over her stomach, trouble can be averted. Yet another take on the way to prevent trouble is to carry a bunch of keys around your waist so they hang over the baby and deflect the light.

Bizarre? Maybe, but then think about the people you know who carry a rabbit’s foot as a lucky charm or have some other bauble that – to them – keeps bad luck at bay.

The color red is important in other superstitions too. Holding a lit red-tipped match in front of someone with the hiccups supposedly cures them, and red beads tossed at a newlywed couple will allegedly bring them good luck.

Remember the one about not putting your purse on the ground? If you’re determined to plunk it down there anyway, at least take the precaution of keeping garlic wrapped in a RED cloth tied with a gold ribbon inside. That, I’m told, will keep it from being stolen. Well, I’ve never tried that trick, and I have had my purse stolen, so maybe it’s time I took heed.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

A&E

Then there’s the belief that a blue honeymoon bed sheet will make the marriage a happy one because it enhances the husband’s masculinity and makes the romantic side of marriage more successful. But if it rains on the night of the wedding, according to some, the bride will cry throughout her married life. Hmmmm…

Before you dismiss all this, remember our north-of-the-border custom of throwing rice for good luck and banging pots and pans outside the honeymooners’ bedroom window to ensure good luck in the years ahead.

Now here’s a peculiar-sounding remedy for folks who have trouble staying asleep, but for my many insomniac friends, what the heck? It’s worth a try. Wait until the person finally does drift off, then put an open pair of scissors crosswise behind the sleeper’s head and squeeze a few drops of lamp oil on the person’s forehead. The Mexican gardener who told me this one said his family has been using it for generations.

We’re all familiar with the bad luck implied by Friday the 13th. Not so in Mexico, but Tuesdays in general are thought to be ominous. There’s even a short, rather Biblical-sounding poem about this that, translated, says: “On Tuesdays, neither be thou married, nor start anything new, nor separate thyself from thy house.”

And if Tuesday falls on the 13th, beware! That’s worse luck, a carryover from Spain where staunch Catholics say Jesus was arrested on a Tuesday and remind us there were 13 persons at the Last Supper. Historians claim Mexico’s former capital city of Tenochtitlan ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Once upon a time, Nancy Seeley lived a conventional lifestyle in the U.S. Then, 11 years ago, she quit her secure government job and fled to Mexico to escape the rigours of yet another Wisconsin winter. Three years later, she met the man of her dreams, Canadian Nick Dubeski, under a palm tree on the beach in Zihuatanejo. The two of them have lived happily ever after in a somewhat vagabond fashion, traveling as much as possible and gathering information to write stories for this magazine.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

was conquered on Tuesday, August 13, 1521 – hence bad vibes for the next five centuries.

Here’s another one I learned from a friend’s maid: When you’re doing household chores, don’t switch from “cold” to “hot” assignments or you’ll get arthritis. Translated, that means don’t do something like cleaning the fridge right after ironing the clothes.You could sweep the floors in between to ensure no ill effects.

Well, thought I, whatever works. I have my own routines and rituals and don’t like people monkeying around with them, so who am I to insist on somebody else doing things my way?

Two workers showed up at the house where I live recently and were commiserating about a seriously ill friend battling cancer. To help him out, they had commissioned someone to find a zopilote (turkey buzzard). Supposedly, if you cook up the bird – feathers, innards and all -- and feed it (including the liquid in the pot) to the person who’s ailing, it will bring relief.

Sound farfetched? Well, maybe, but think of all the things desperate people north of the border do when their lives are at stake.

On a lighter note, I was told by another Mexican maid that if your nose itches, it means someone is thinking about you. At the time, I was plagued by allergies and swiping at my nose constantly while doing e-mails. Given that my significant other was in Canada at the time, her explanation made me feel much better.

Some superstitions cross borders. Ever since I was a

little girl, I was told wishing on a falling star would bring good luck. Here, I’m told, you can make up to three wishes on a falling star and they’ll all come true. Lucky me for relocating!

Just as a black cat crossing your path in the United States can be a sign of bad luck, seeing a black cat licking and cleaning itself down here may be a warning of danger ahead.

Don’t step on cracks in the sidewalk! Don’t walk under a ladder! Sound familiar? Telling friends down here those warnings elicited looks of wonder, but they were completely serious about how important it is never to be given the “evil eye,” which can cause sickness, bad luck, and even death. The problem is how to avoid it, since cultural beliefs dictate this mal de ojo often comes from strangers.

However, more talk with Mexican acquaintances points to a fairly simple solution: Try not to put yourself in harm’s way. Avoid unnecessary risks. Sometimes fear of a rotten result is enough to keep a person on the straight and narrow, and if you achieve a happy ending, why worry too much about how you got there?

Looked at from a broader perspective, dealing with some superstitions can run a parallel course to plain old common sense, but there’s more mystery and intrigue connected with the former than the latter. Just to be on the safe side, though, I’m going to throw some salt over my shoulder for good luck.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 28

Ayeisha Morgan & Adam Mesinger Wedding, Zihuatanejo

Ayeisha & Adam

Parents of the bride and groom Sandy Mesinger, Sonia Morgan, Jay Mesinger

Linton, Ayeisha, Sonia and Chris Morgan

Chelsea, James, Judy, Greg, Jessie

Sandy Mesinger, Teresa Koby, Cindy Atlas

ŠAnother Day in Paradise Ž, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Women from Canada & Zihuatanejo with yoga instructor Ruth Burton at the retreat that took place in Barra de Potosi

Group from Canada & locals that participated in the retreat in Barra de Potosi with Ruth Burton and Rocio Madrazo.

Lisa, Carolyn & Eva from Whistler & Ruth Payne, Canadians at Villa Don Manuel, Barra de Potosi during the Sea to Sky Yoga Retreat put together by RM eventos

ŠAnother Day in Paradise Ž, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Capricho’s Grill House - Zihuatanejo Patzcuaro

Isahrai Azaria & Daniel Sotto

Day of the Dead flowers, Patzcuaro

Phillip Spolin & Judith Whitehead Folk Art Exhibition by Jose A. Madrazo at Galart, Restaurant Villa de la Selva, Day of the Dead, Ixtapa

Maru & Joaquin Caraza, owners of Capricho’s (R) with Maru’s parents Monica Gray & Judy Brown, Patzcuaro

Judith Whitehead, Tania Scales & Catherine Krantz ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Suzy of Mistonga at Judith Diem’s grave in Patzcuaro.

Day of the Dead candy skulls, Patzcuaro

Olivia Racey & granddaughter Dana visiting Galart at Restaurant Villa de la Selva.

Nicolas, Lucia, Rick, Judy, Guadalupe, Salvino, at Meson de San Antonio in Patzcuaro

Jeff See Housewarming Party

Enma Morris de Cano, Pamela & Anna Cano

Monica and Paul

Jeff See ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 34

Community Directory Fundacion Rene Ferguson A.C This Foundation was set up in memory of Rene Ferguson and its objective is to support able young women, who are suffering financial hardship, through a degree course by assisting them with the expenses of college tuition and books. Donations to the foundation are tax deductible in the United States through The Rene Ferguson Foundation. Please contact Erica Islas at La Quinta Troppo or at mexdrop@prodigy.net.mx The Netza Project The Netza Project is a U.S and Mexico registered non-profit that works to advance literacy, education and economic opportunity for all, in particular supporting the vision and expansion of The Netzahualcoyotl School and Kindergarten for Indigenous Children in Zihuatanejo, which today educates over 400 migrant, native and street children - many of whom speak Nahuatl, Mixteco, Amusgo and Tlapaneco, and who otherwise might not be in school. The Netza Project also advocates equality and social justice through dormitory shelter, health programs, women’s micro-finance, adult literacy, scholarships, and international volunteerism by fostering respect for diversity and celebrating native culture. See www.netzaproject.org; contact Lisa Martin info@netzaproject.org; US cell 508-284-0078; Mexico cell 044 755 10 01173.

Por Los Niños de Zihuatanejo, AC. is the community-based, non-profit association, founded by the Zihua SailFest, to provide educational opportunities to economically disadvantaged children in Zihuatanejo. Por Los Niños supports learning and school repair projects at more than 12 under-funded primary schools and kindergartens. Contact: Lorenzo Marbut, home: 755-554-2115, cell: 755-102-4463, Lorenzo@porlosninos.info The Rotary Club is a world-wide social organization with the purpose to help to those in need. In Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo there are three groups:

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Club Rotario Ixtapa Nuevas Generaciones New Generations Rotary Club Ixtapa Hotel Presidente Inter-Continental in Ixtapa, Phone :(755) 553-0018 Club Rotario de Zihuatanejo, A.C. Zihuatanejo Rotary Club Hotel Catalina, road to Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo, Phone :(755) 554-9321 Club Rotario de Zihuatanejo Tercer Milenio Third Millennium Rotary Club of Zihuatanejo Hotel Riviera Beach Ixtapa Phone: (755) 554-7645 S.O.S. Bahia, A.C. - Local non-profit group dedicated to the rescue and long-term preservation of the ecological integrity of the Bay of Zihuatanejo. Promotes environmental awareness, advocates the sustainable development of the bay’s surroundings, and works to stop water pollution and the destruction of wildlife habitat in and around the bay. Collects and distributes information about the issues concerning the bay and organizes periodical beach cleanups. Gladly accepts volunteer contributions and donations. www.sosbahia.org, info@sosbahia.org.

SPAZ-HKP “Helene Krebs Posse” Humane Society of Zihuatanejo (Sociedad Protectora de Animales de Zihuatanejo Helene Krebs Posse) Offers sterilization clinics, free adoptions, educational out reach programs, treatment and rehabilitation for wounded, homeless or abandoned animals. Sells t-shirts and memberships to raise funds, gladly accepts donations. Located at Casa Marina, next to the basketball court facing the bay in central Zihuatanejo. Casa Marina, Paseo del Pescador #9, Col. Centro 40880 Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, México, Tel. (755) 554-2373. www.zihuatanejo. net/spaz/, animales.zihua@hotmail.com

Zihuafest A.C. The Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival Now in its fifth year, the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival brings international musicians to Zihuatanejo from all across the world. 10 days of live music in Paradise includes many genres and including two free-to-the-public concerts, one for the school children of Zihuatanejo and the other for the people of Zihuatanejo. The Festival is a registered not-for-profit association in Mexico and a percentage of festival proceeds go toward supporting Music, Art and Cultural Education in the community. Sponsors, Donors, and Volunteers always needed. www.zihuafest.info info@zihuafest.info Zihuatanejo SailFest SailFest is a six-day festival that combines fun and games, heart-felt volunteerism and an outpouring of international friendship.

Although the tone of the event is light-hearted, the cruisers’ goals are serious – to raise funds for the education of Zihuatanejo’s poorest children. Cocktail parties, live auctions, sailboat and dingy races, poker chases, kids day, beach parties, seminars, ham radio tests, chili cookoffs, street fairs, regattas and just some good old fashioned manual labor at the schools are just some of the events that highlight this gathering of “free spirits.” For more information, contact Sail Fest Cruiser Coordinator: Rick Carpenter - Rhcarpe@aol.com, or visit Rick’s Bar, Calle Cuauhtemoc #5, El Centro, Zihuatanejo (in front of basketball courts near waterfront).

Tel 755-554-2535 or visit the SailFest website www.zihuasailfest.com If you don’t see your organization listed here, please send us your mission statement and contact information to get on the list, info@adip.info.

S

By Catherine Krantz with Francys Tapia, Ximena Rivera del Nino, and Patrica Armstrong contributing even high school students from Zihuatanejo’s Instituto Lizardi were invited to attend a Model UN conference, MINUBA 2007 (Modelo Internacional de las Naciones Unidas de Buenos Aires), International Model United Nations of Buenos Aires, October 8-11, 2007, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In attendance were 800 high school student delegates from seven countries: Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Bolivia. Zihuatanejo’s delegation was the only school from Mexico.

The Zihuatanejo delegates were: Luis Felipe Solís, Oscar Soberanis, David Martinez, Ximena Rivera del Niño, Lino Pimentel, Juan Arturo Gutiérrez, and Francys Farias Tapia, who was their Ambassador. Accompanying the students were their teacher Patricia Armstrong and Instituto Lizardi director, Letica Gomez.

Model UN, as its name implies, uses the actual United Nations as a model to put international high school students on delegations and committees representing various countries (the Zihuatanejo delegation was representing the country of Panama) and then lets them work through current global concerns to propose resolutions. This allows the students a chance to better understand the heated international affairs of the day, such as: Methods to combat labor discrimination

of people with HIV/AIDS; The role of the State in the elaboration & implementation of strategies in the prevention of HIV/AIDS; Methods to eliminate the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists; Guarantees for member states which do not have nuclear weapons from the employment or threat of nuclear weapons; The protection of indigenous cultures from globalization; The human rights of religious minorities; and the situation in Darfur, among other topics that were debated. At the end of the conference the delegates present their resolutions on these global matters, and the best proposals are actually sent to the United Nations for consideration. Model UN is a challenging extra-curricular activity that requires a lot of work and preparation, but the students felt it was worth it. They enjoyed the opportunity to debate relevant themes, to meet new friends from around the world, and to travel and see Buenos Aires. They visited Buenos Aires’ main attractions like the governmental seat, the Pink House, and saw Tango demonstrations.

Including the Argentina trip, the Instituo Lizardi has been to six conferences so far, three in Mexico City, and two in Havana, Cuba. They will be going to another conference, TAEMUN (Model UN of Thomas Alva Edison School) in Mexico City in February.

Juan Arturo Gutiérrez, Luis Felipe Solís, Francys Farias, Ximena Rivera del Niño, Lino Pimentel, David Martinez & Oscar Soberanis

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 36

DEC 4: 2nd Annual “Inn at Manzanillo Bay” Golf Tournament, Ixtapa, GRO. Sponsored by “Big Boy” Tequila, Palma Real Golf Course, Ixtapa. $1358 pesos per golfer. Package Includes: Golf, cart and caddy included, lunch, tequila tasting, dinner and live entertainment at the Inn. Manzanillobay@aol.com for more information.

Lama. He has given seminars and conferences in over 20 cities across Mexico, Central, and Southern America, and is director of the Center of Tibetan studies, “Lhundup Lam Rim Ling,” in Morelia. $800 pesos per person, space is limited, reserve early, rociomadrazo eventos@yahoo.com, Tel 755-554-7774, 755553-3151.

DEC 12: Virgin of Guadalupe Day / Laura Rodriquez Exhibition Opening, Restaurant Coconuts, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Rodriguez has studied Fine Arts and Architecture and has exhibited nationally and internationally. Her colorful Nichos, folk art shadow boxes, contain scenery with depictions of saints, archangels, and of course, the Virgin of Guadalupe, in miniature.

**Correction** DEC 8: ZIH GALERIA painter Marco Bustamante exhibition opening, IXTAPA GRO. Originally from Oaxaca, Bustamante has studied at the National Music Conservatory, as well as print making techniques at Rufino Tamayo Graphic Arts workshop, among other disciplines. Since the 1980’s he has worked to create an intense, meticulous painting technique. He will be showing at ZIH Galeria’s new location on the Ixtapa Boulevard in Plaza Ambiente, just across from Park Royal Hotel, and next to Restaurant Soleiado. Tel. (755) 553-0364, zihgaleria@gmail.com for more information.

DEC 8,9: Buddhism Course, Working with Our Emotions II, Ixtapa, GRO. Presented by Israel Lifshitz, who has practiced and studied Tibetan Buddhism since 1992 and has received teaching from over 20 Tibetan and Buddhist lamas including the SS Dalai

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

DEC 15,16 2007: Mexican Traditional and Alternative Medicine Conference, Zihuatanejo, Gro. 9am-5pm. Workshops on ancient practices for health and healing offered by healers or curanderas working with these techniques. Location TBA. Contact David Román Porcayo, M.A., for reservations and location www.mesoamericano.org, davidroman88@hotmail.com, Office: (755) 112 20 42; Cell Phone: (755) 110 80 75. Or for more information, contact: Estela Román Porcayo, M.A., estelaroman@hotmail.com, http:cicel.org.mx/english/tmedicine.htm. Sofía Díaz Hernández, Curandera, Mayahuelcalli_ 13@hotmail.com DEC 21, 2007: Traditional Mexican Posada, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Starting at 6: 00pm, Colonia/Playa La Madera Invites everyone to a traditional Mexican Posada, on Calle Adelita between the old foot bridge and Rufo’s Restaurant. Calle Adelita will be decorated with traditional Mexican Christmas Decorations, traditional food and drinks will be available for sale. Piñatas for the children, everyone is welcome! For more information, Lucila Mairen Martinez Fernandes 755-554 5985.

DEC 22: Mexican Rock Concert, Ixtapa, Gro. 5 national & local bands, at Los Mandiles Ixtapa 9:00 p.m. Buy your tickets early, (limited seating) For more information, contact: Mezon de Chon Tel. 554 6278 or Internet Zihuana Tel. 554 65 25 www.revistasociable.com, jorge@adip.info DEC 28: Intercultural Communication, Book-signing, Q&A, at Coconuts, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Writer and expert in communicating across cultural barriers, Tracy Novinger, will be in Zihuatanejo signing copies of her insightful and helpful book, Intercultural Communication, A Practical Guide, which focuses on the most common pitfalls facing North Americans from the United States and Canada in Mexico, when communicating or conducting business, or attempting to do so. Friday, 7pm at Restaurant Coconuts, in central Zihuatanejo, Pasaje Agustin Ramirez. info@adip.info for more information.

JAN 14: Benefit Concert for Josie Kuhn, Zihuatanejo, Gro. A concert to benefit local

artist Josie Kuhn (originally from Nashville,TN) who was in a horrible car accident. Josie has been in the hospital for the past 5.5 months and has exceeded everyone’s expectations in her recovery, although she is still greatly in need of physical therapy and medical followups. Concert will include performances from some of Zihuatanejo’s finest musicians. El Sanka Grill, 8pm, $150 peso cover charge.

JAN 29 – FEB 3: Zihuatanejo SailFest, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Six-day festival combining fun, games, heart-felt volunteerism, and an outpouring of international friendship to raise funds for the education of Zihuatanejo’s poorest children. Cocktail parties, live auctions, sailboat and dingy races, poker chases, kids day, beach parties, seminars, ham radio tests, chili cook-offs, street fairs, regattas and just some good old fashioned manual labor at the schools are just some of the events that highlight this gathering of “free spirits.” For more information, contact Sail Fest Cruiser Coordinator: Rick Carpenter - Rhcarpe@aol.com, or visit Rick’s Bar, Calle

Cuauhtemoc #5, El Centro, Zihuatanejo (in front of basketball courts near waterfront).

Tel 755-554-2535 or visit the SailFest website www.zihuasailfest.com MAR 2-9: The Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Now in its fifth year, the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival brings international musicians to Zihuatanejo from all across the world. Ten days of live music in Paradise includes many genres, including two free-to-the-public concerts. One for the school children of Zihuatanejo and the other for the people of Zihuatanejo. The Festival is a registered not-for-profit association in Mexico and a percentage of festival proceeds go toward supporting Music, Art and Cultural Education in the community.

Sponsors, Donors, and Volunteers always needed. www.zihuafest.info, info@zihuafest.info

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

RealEstate December 2007

another day in paradise

another day in paradise magazine, where real estate is bought and sold in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, México

Home & Garden Design - Real Estate News - Real Estate Law - Real Estate Finance - Real Estate Listings ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 40

By Maura Taylor Photos by Catherine Krantz

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

tools, as long as they are kept sharp in order to slice through the thick outer layer. Roofing and shingles made from bamboo shavings have a thick layer and are exceptionally wind and rain proof.

As furniture and design elements The delicate grain of the bamboo, whether natural or amber-toned, makes it a distinctive, elegant, and subtle material for fine furniture, flooring and decor. Bamboo can withstand a great deal of use without damage. It’s stronger even than oak, considered the most durable hardwood. When laminated, bamboo is nearly as strong as soft steel. Bamboo doesn’t swell or shrink as hardwoods do, making it ideal for furniture and floors.

B

amboo is one of the fastest growing grassy plants on this planet. It’s also plentiful in tropical areas such as Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

Locally grown and cultivated, its uses are many.

A viable replacement for wood, bamboo is one of the strongest building materials. Unlike hardwood trees, which, once cut, are gone forever, bamboo renews itself readily. It is an endlessly renewable resource. Ply bamboo can be used for wall paneling, floor tiles, raw material for housing construction, and rebar for reinforced concrete beams. Bamboo can be essential in landscape design, as it grows quickly and its diversity (over 1,000 species of bamboo on earth) allows it to adapt to most any environment.

As a building material Bamboo is one of the oldest construction materials. As infill for flooring or walls, bamboo provides a good insulating material and is often used for load-bearing structural elements because of it’s high tensile strength, which is higher than steel. As bamboo has a lowweight, it’s very easy to work and transport.

Its elasticity makes it an attractive building material in earth-quake endangered zones and because of its high content of silicate acid, it can withstand temperatures of 400 degrees Celsius, making it practically fire-resistant.

Bamboo can be worked with the simplest of

Landscaping with bamboo Bamboo is not a tree—it’s a grass, and it grows like one. Many species of bamboo can grow two feet or more a day. When it’s harvested, it need not be replanted, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It enhances the environment, stabilizes the earth with its roots, preventing erosion. It takes in greenhouse gasses and produces oxygen, 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. It can also provide habitat for birds and animals.

Where can you find Bamboo locally?

At the corner of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios and Adelita streets is a small workshop where bamboo stalks and rattan are transformed into furniture, home accessories all made to your custom specifications. The owner, Hannibal Galeana Solis, has been crafting diverse handmade pieces of furniture over the past eight years. He and his skilled craftsman have created furnishings for local clients as well as for customers across the country. Hannibal also repairs or replaces worn out rattan and will fashion bamboo and rattan into practically anything his customers request.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Maura Taylor lives in Zihuatanejo and serves as intermediary and design consultant for home remodeling, restoration and condo finishing projects in Zihuatanejo and the surrounds. She can be reached by phone: cell (755) 101- 9711 or e-mail: destinozihua@gmail.com. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 42

By Agustin Galindo, Attorney at Law “Money is nothing, but a lot of money, that’s another story.”

-George Bernard Shaw

T

his time I do not want to write about a specific issue of the Mexican law or technicalities. I am writing this article just to share with you some of the experiences I have had during real estate transactions between foreign buyers and Mexican sellers, and I can tell you that one of the most relevant culture clashes in doing business in Mexico is when a United States or Canadian citizen wants to acquire property by transferring the funds into an escrow account.

I do not intend to explain how an escrow account works because a reader from a common law system will understand it perfectly, but I want to raise attention to the fact that in Mexico the concept of an escrow account is not common or well known by an average Mexican.

In order for you to have an idea of the difference in cultures regarding this concept is that just to start with, an exact translation for the word “escrow” in Spanish does not even exist. Some people would say that it is a “deposit” or a “conditioned deposit,” but the fact is that there is no precise word in Spanish that matches this concept exactly, and any attempt of translation would invariably be an explanatory phrase of the concept that “escrow” entails.

My experience has been that transactions between foreigners from a common law system include the use of an escrow account as a normal and mandatory condition of a real estate transaction. Occasionally, between a foreigner and a very sophisticated Mexican (let’s say a Mexican broker living in New York and owning property in Mexico) it might be possible, but not for the average Mexican because she/he would not understand how an escrow account operates and would want to receive the payment directly, as is regularly done in Mexico. Often powerful Mexican developers or already “Mexicanized” Canadian or U.S. citizens doing real estate business in Mexico are not willing to accept payments ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

through an escrow account, not because they do not understand how it works, but because they need the financing.

For a buyer from a common law system, either Canadian or American, it is inconceivable to buy and pay a certain amount in advance directly to a seller, and for a Mexican seller (again, an average Mexican buyer or seller) it is inconceivable not to pay the seller directly and that the money go into someone else’s account. Therefore we have a problem.

So, how does it work in Mexico? Normally, a preliminary contract is signed and a certain percentage of the price (a down payment) is paid directly to the seller and a provision in the contract and payment receipts for such purpose are prepared. This way, the buyer has a binding contract that can be enforced before a Mexican court.

Which is the customary percentage? Normally it can be between 10 percent to 20 percent of the price, but can vary to a higher or lower percentage, depending on your negotiation skills, the negotiation skills of your realtor, or most important, the percentage requested by the seller, which is always negotiable.

The balance is paid when the transaction is formalized before a notary public in Mexico.

A down payment (anticipo) in Mexico is similar to the concept of “Earnest Money”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Agustin Galindo is an attorney at law, founder of Galindo Abogados, S.C., and has an International Master of Laws (LLM) from Southern Methodist University (SMU) and a tax degree from Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM). Fully bilingual, he specializes in real estate, tax, civil and commercial matters including litigation. You can visit the firm’s website at: www.galindoabogados.com and you can contact him by e-mail at agustingalindo@prodigy.net.mx, or his office by telephone (755) 554-9915 and (755) 554-9916.

(A deposit paid -often in escrow- by a prospective buyer, especially of real estate, to show goodfaith intention to complete the transaction, and ordinarily forfeited if the buyer defaults” as is provided by the Black’s Law Dictionary), with the understanding that in Mexico the down payment goes directly to the seller.

Therefore, in a real estate transaction documented by a preliminary contract there is a penalty provision for the parties in case of default, with the basic idea that the contract is prepared in accordance to Mexican law and can be enforced by a competent court.

There are some U.S. escrow companies trying to accomplish this purpose in Mexico in addition to certain efforts made by Mexican banks to provide the service of “conditioned deposits” (escrow) for foreigners acquiring property in Mexico. Some of the problems normally faced in these situations are those that appear at the time of setting up the escrow account which can take some time, and normally the buyer doesn’t want to wait very long because the seller could possibly withdraw, or other buyers may appear suddenly who are willing to pay a higher price or a higher down payment…sound familiar?

In these cases the buyer usually prefers to take the risk and pay something in advance to secure the deal. Also, sometimes realtors or lawyers offer to accept the money in escrow, but the problem here is that the buyer does not always feel secure because the realtor or the lawyer is not an institution…so what would happen if the realtor or lawyer dies before completing the transaction?

So how do you get protected? My approach is: check that the title from the seller is clear, negotiate the percentage of down payment into a lower percentage, provide for a penalty in case of default, and who knows…maybe the seller can be convinced to use an escrow account in addition to an enforceable contract.

The main purpose of this article is to give you a general scenario of acquiring property in Mexico in relation to how the price is paid so that buying property does not become a frustrating and unexplainable process. As I always like to finish my articles, there is no recipe that will apply to every situation: every transaction needs to be tailor-made. There are some transactions whose down payment is so low that there is no reason to set up an escrow account, but in other cases, the stakes are too high not to use an escrow account, so please look for professional advice so you can have a smooth, safe and practical acquisition. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 44

By Jay Eshbach

H

ow much is one million dollars worth?

If you were to begin saving today, how long would it take to accumulate a million dollars for retirement?

Assuming a worker contributed 13,000 dollars to a 401k retirement plan each year beginning in 2004, and the account earned a hypothetical six percent average annual return, the balance would surpass 1 million dollars in 2037. So in order to retire with one million dollars at age 65 using this strategy, the worker would have to be about age 35 in 2007.

Of course, there are other ways to accumulate a million dollars. The point is that having this much money at retirement is possible for many individuals who set such a goal. But is a million dollars enough to pay for the kind of retirement lifestyle you envision, and will it last for as long as you are retired?

Go Figure.

The first step in deciding how much you should accumulate for retirement is by estimating the income you may need after you stop working.

In addition to basic living expenses, consider factors such as trips you would like to take, whether you will still have a mortgage, the

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

type of car you would like to drive, and how often you plan to buy a new one.

You also should consider the effects of taxes and inflation. Withdrawals from employersponsored retirement plans such as a 401(k) are taxed at ordinary income tax rates.

A single filer who withdrew 75,000 dollars and took only the standard deduction would pay about 13,000 dollars in U.S. federal income taxes on the withdrawal. At the same time, we have clients living on 45,000 dollars in Social Security plus retirement income and paying no U.S. federal income taxes each year.

Inflation can take away even more spending power than taxes. For example, an item that cost one dollar in 1983 would cost about 1.85 in 2003. At that rate, something you could buy with today’s dollar might cost nearly twice as much in 2027.

Establishing the amount of money it will take to maintain your preferred retirement lifestyle — and then taking into account the effect of taxes and inflation on your retirement savings — can help you determine how much

money you will need to accumulate. Only you can decide whether a million dollars will be enough for you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jay Eshbach is 62 and has been a Financial Planner for 20 years. He manages over 100,000,000 dollars! His office is about 25 minutes from downtown Houston, Texas.

In 2001 Jay was recognized as one of the top four Financial Planners in the United States by Research Magazine. His first book was published in 1996.

In 2007 his second book, “Mistakes Retirees Make with Their Finances” was published. He tries to spend one week each month in Ixtapa. He can be reached at eshbach@eshbach.com or www.eshbach.com. Securities offered through J.W. Cole Financial, Inc

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 46

By John K. Glaab, CIPS

T

he Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) celebrated its XXXVIth Annual Conference, October 28 November 4, 2007, this year on the high seas.

This was not the only factor, contributing to this international assembly. The National Association of Realtors® and its members were active at the Conference. More than forty Realtors® participated in the events.

The Carnival Pride set sail from Los Angeles, California, on a Sunday. The next day, the inauguration was held as the ship headed for its first stop in Mazatlan, Mexico. As part of the opening ceremonies, Charles McMillan First Vice-President of the National Real Association (NAR) addressed the conference.

He was followed by Jose Manuel Galinda from Madrid, Spain. Jose Manuel and AMPI President Mario Aviles signed a document of affiliation between the Real Estate Association of Madrid and AMPI. Norma Figueroa, from AMPI, Hermosilla received the Medal of Honor and lengthy applause. She was the driving force behind the licensing act passed in Sonora. The government of Sonora will subsidize tuition for AMPI members wishing to study for the real estate license.( Coahuila is the second state to award licensing to real estate professionals who are members of AMPI.) On the first day of the conference, two NAR courses were presented. “Doing Business in Mexico, Part I” was presented by co authors of the course, Adrian Arriaga from McAllen Texas and Linda Neil from La Paz, BCS. They were joined by James Maddox, Past President of the Nevada Association of Realtors. Both sessions were presented in the Butterfly Salon.

This prompted Linda Neil to say, “First time I have ever taught a class in a bar!”

Rounding out the day were two rather interesting sessions. One was, “How the good turn into the best.” And “Negotiating like a

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Phoenician.” Simultaneous translation was available for these and several other sessions.

On Tuesday, Part II of “Doing Business in Mexico,” was offered. Again a full house for this popular course. Another NAR course, “Transnational Certification” was also offered on Tuesday. Fifty-two realtors® qualified for their certificate. This is a process where agents are assured of receiving commissions when completing an International transaction. The course will be offered in Panama in December.

I am told the number of transations taking place with the use of Global Properties.com has increased significantly.

Puerto Vallarta was the port of call on Wednesday. The AMPI Section there provided a tasty buffet at a local five star hotel. Next, a bus tour of the Vallarta market. The afternoon was free and at six o’clock, the ship weighed anchor. That evening a Halloween party was held and Noche de Muertos was celebrated.

Thursday was Mazatlan and AMPI’s Annual General Assembly. It took place in the auditorium at the Chamber of Commerce.

A feature of this session was an address

by Deputada Federal, Martha Garcia Muller.

Señora Muller is championing the new real estate licensing law with her colleagues in the Mexican Congress.

Ten new members were elected to the National Advisory Board. They represent a good cross section of the Republic.The new members will replace ten who have finished the normal twoyear term. Linda Neil of La Paz will return for a second term. Pedro Trueba of Mexico City was elected Vice-President. President Mario Aviles made his final address. He outlined the progress and growth made by AMPI in 2007 and the success of having the department of education recognize real estate as a profession.

Mario will leave office in January. The incoming President is Sergio Duenas of Guadalajara. It was decided, at the Assembly to hold next years Conference in the Maya Riviera.

Following a bus tour of their community, the Mazatlan Section and the state Department of Tourism sponsored a luncheon in a night club setting. Entertainment featured folkloric dancers, a mariachi singer and a troop of colorfully costumed dancers who performed a ritual which included climbing a tall post and descending using ropes.

On Friday the good ship Carnival Pride arrived in Cabo San Lucas. The local Section had organized a trade show at the dock.

Real Estate Companies from Los Cabos and La Paz participated in the event. A tour was conducted with buses taking the groups up

the corridor to San Jose. Of course as the buses approached San Jose, they stopped to allow a photo opportunity of the spectacular view of the coast heading toward Punta Gordo.

On return to Cabo San Lucas, the AMPI Section had arranged a Mexican Fiesta with Mexican style food and even a Mariachi band. (The site was a delicatessen called Greenberg’s) One delegate was overheard saying tongue-incheek, “Wow, you could almost believe you were in Mexico.”

Saturday, on the way to Los Angeles, three sessions were held, ”Real Estate before the sub prime crisis,” “Real Estate and the Internet-the good, the bad and the ugly,” and “Your professional executive image.” Saturday afternoon the closing ceremony was held and then a gala dinner.

About the author: John Glaab has been a member of NAR’s International Section for over a decade.

He has earned the Certified International Property Specialist designation and is a founding member of AMPI Los Cabos. He spends half the year in La Paz, Baja California Sur and the other half in Uruapan, Michoacan. For further information John.glaab@settlement-co.co

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

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©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

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©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Employment

Investment and Business Opportunities

Be part of the team that makes this magazine.

AD SALES - ADiP magazine needs ad sales representatives for Ixtapa-Zihua, and Patzcuaro, Uruapan, Morelia, Michoacan flexible hours, full and part-time positions, salary plus commission. Must be dependable, reliable, professional. Bi-lingual a plus, own transportation a plus. 755-554-6525, info@adip.info.

DEVELOPER INVESTMENT/JOINT VENTURE OPPORTUNITY Playa Blanca Resort Development - Low density master plan featuring vernacular and ecologically friendly design of villas and resort amenities.

We have recruited the development team and have obtained the necessary approvals to proceed. Please contact us at 312.925.9238 or playa.blanca@sbcglobal.net for more details.

COMMUNITY EDITOR – Ideal candidate will be Bilingual with magazine or newspaper experience, superb organizational, management and writing skills, a sincere interest in Mexico, and the philanthropic aims of the publication.

755-554-6525, info@adip.info.

Language Schools

Fellowship IXTAPA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. Non-denominational English language service every Sunday at 10am at Villas Paraiso in Ixtapa.

Contact Ron 755-554-5919 or John & Joan at 755-553-1618 for more information.

ZIHUATANEJO CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. Non-denominational English language service every Sunday morning in Zihuatanejo, Contact John &Betty 755-5547178 for more information.

Furniture FOR SALE: Beautiful Coconut Palm, Custom Bar, all Stainless Interior! Built-in Coolers, Plumbed for a gas grill, seats 6. “One of a kind craftsmanship,” 2 meters x 1 meter.

A stand-alone business, if you have the local!

Ask $1,000.00 USD OBO. Phone 755-5532884 FOR SALE: Round Glass-top dining room table, with bamboo & wicker base.

Good condition. $2,500 pesos. Tel. 755-5546525.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

¡LEARN SPANISH! Centro de Idiomas Mesoamericano - David Roman, M.A. (University of Georgia, UGA). Over 26 years teaching Spanish as a second language.

Addrtess Edif. O Dept. 101, Villas del Pacifico (next to Bodega Aurrera) Tel. (755) 110-8075, Cyber: www.davidroman88.com, e-mail: davidr oman88@hotmail.com, www.paseosculturales .com, www.mesoamericano.org ¡SPANISH IN MAGICAL PATZCUARO! Live the language in one of the most magical places in México, on beautiful Lake Patzcuaro. At CELEP we believe that learning Spanish should be an enjoyable process, and that studying a language in a cultural setting can be especially effective. Classes from 1 week to 1 month. Centro de Lenguas y Ecoturismo de Pátzcuaro, Navarrete 50 Centro, Tel. [01] (434) 342-4764, celepatz@prodigy.net.mx, www.celep.com.mx Recovery “12 STEP HOUSE” English speaking recovery groups. Directly across from the biblioteca (library) on Cuahtemoc, AAMonday and Friday 6:00 PM NA- Wednesday 6:00 PM. Additional meetings November - April. For more info call Tom (755) 112-1919 or Mike cell 044-755-104-4544

ADiP

Services LEGAL CONSULTING - Buying Property?

Condo Associations? Starting a new business?

Forming a Mexican corporation? Immigration papers? If you need assistance please contact Stefano Maci, Attorney at Law, fluent in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian, at s_maciattorney@prodigy.net.mx or call 755111-1813 locally, or from the U.S. 011-52-755111-1813.

LAS GATAS BEACH CLUB offers Live Stories by Owen Lee and Live Music with Mark Provo with boat/food/cocktails and love. (2pm to 6pm or …) by appointment only groups <8 persons -$60/per. More, $50/per by request.

Phone 755-102-7111 owenzih@yahoo.com or use agent.

SOLD YOUR PROPERTY HERE 400 PESOS PER MONTH Contact: TEL. 755-554-6525, info@adip.info, publicidad@adip.info or jorge@adip.info

Tours HIKING TOURS – Discover beautiful local trails with knowledgeable guide. Tours can be arranged for fabulous coastal views, native or medicinal plants, bird watching, or can include trips to hidden beaches for picnics and snorkeling. 1/2 day or Full day trips available.

Horseback riding tours also available. Call Ignacio, 044-755-559-8884, 755-544-8315, English spoken.

ENRICH YOUR VACATION WITH A “BREATH WALK” The science and art of combining walking and conscious breathing to create vitality and harmony. December 26 – January 6, 9am-10am and 5-6pm. Meet at Ixtapa Public Beach Access (by the Barcelo); Fee: $10 USD per session. Contact Arlene Englander, (755) 553-3719.

Cozy Cottage - Patzcuaro - Escape the heat in beautiful Patzcuaro. Spacious 2brdm, 1 bath, duplex, in quiet hilltop ex-pat enclave, with lake and mountain vistas y brisas. For Rent by the week. Fully furnished with kitchen, patio, parking, 3 fireplaces.

Wireless internet. 20 min. walk or 20 peso taxi ride to central plazas. $350 US/ week. Contact Catherine for more info, info@adip.info

For rent. Bungalows sol dorado. We are located on playa larga, a beatiful 15 km open beach in the same area as Barra de Potosí. We have 4 bungalows furnished with two double beds, ceiling fan, equipped kitchen.www.zihuatanejo.com.mx sol dorado. Phone 755-554-2344 Arturo Ramírez Perezcano. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 52

Marina Del Sol Ixtapa #201a Spacious, 2nd floor apartment for rent in Family oriented Complex with 4 bdrms, 4.5 baths. Excellent beach front location with beach front infinity swim-ming pool with wading pool, beach palapas and more. Contact Tim Sullivan for rates and availability at Ixtapa Real Estate (755) 553 3218 ixtaparealestate@prodigy.net.mx

Preciosa on the Bay #402 This unique 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment located within the 10-unit condominium, Preciosa on the Bay, offers style, comfort and spectacular views of Zihuatanejo Bay and the Pacific Ocean. $385,000 U.S. Contact Tim Sullivan at Ixtapa Real Estate (755) 553 3218, ixtaparealestate@prodigy.net.mx

Cascada # 821 This 1 bdrm, 1.5 bath apartment located in the La Ropa Beach area of Zihuatanejo is the perfect choice for the discerning buyer looking for prime location and strong rentability. $165,000 U.S. Contact Tim Sullivan at Ixtapa Real Estate (755) 553 3218, ixtaparealestate@prodigy.net.mx

Amara Ixtapa Penthouse #2 B Luxurious Penthouse apartment for rent with 4 bdrms, 4.5 baths. Excellent beach front location with 3 swimming pools, gymnasium & business center.

Contact Tim Sullivan at Ixtapa Real Estate (755) 553 3218, ixtaparealestate@prodigy.net.mx

Bay View Grand Residences # 801S Fabulous luxury condominium with 3 bdrms, 3 baths.

Excellent beach front location with 2 swimming pools, gymnasium & business center. $550,000 U.S. Contact Tim Sullivan at Ixtapa Real Estate (755) 553 3218, ixtaparealestate@prodigy.net.mx

Real de Palmas #204-II Comfortable, 2nd floor 1 bdrm, 2 bath apartment for rent in Family oriented Complex with excellent beach front location with large swimming pool, beach palapas and more.

Contact Tim Sullivan at Ixtapa Real Estate (755) 553 3218, ixtaparealestate@prodigy.net.mx

Patzcuaro - For Rent- 1, 2, & 3brdm apts and houses for rent by the week or month in quiet hilltop ex-pat enclave, with lake and mountain vistas. Semifurnished with kitchens. 20 min. walk or 20 peso taxi ride to central plazas and shopping. Contact Monica for more info, monagris@yahoo.com, Tel 434-342-7019

Patzcuaro - For Rent - 1, 2, & 3brdm apts and houses for rent by the week or month in quiet hilltop ex-pat enclave, with lake and mountain vistas. Semifurnished with kitchens. 20 min. walk or 20 peso taxi ride to central plazas and shopping. Contact Monica for more info, monagris@yahoo.com, Tel 434-342-7019

Patzcuaro - For Rent - 1, 2, & 3brdm apts and houses for rent by the week or month in quiet hilltop ex-pat enclave, with lake and mountain vistas. Semifurnished with kitchens. 20 min. walk or 20 peso taxi ride to central plazas and shopping. Contact Monica for more info, monagris@yahoo.com, Tel 434-342-7019

ŠAnother Day in Paradise Ž, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Beautiful Taos-Style Modern Adobe 3,000 sq ft house in a private valley with gated access, 5.5 acres, gardens, pressurized water, grounded electrics, internet, SKY TV, stables, vineyard, old-growth pines, and tranquility by Lake Zirahuen. For more info and photos see: www.mexatua.com

For Sale or Rent - Flamingo Golf Villas (before Marina in Ixtapa) 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and all with mini split a/c, pool, TV/Internet, professionally decorated, additional maids room with bath. 24hr security, administrator to pay bills. $234,900 (619) 840-4884 (USA) 011-52-755-553-12-97 RBellack@hotmail.com search “Flamingo Golf Ixtapa”

Zihuatanejo Bay Views- Selected lots located above La Ropa Beach. All with unobstructed views of the Zihuatanejo Bay and Pacific Ocean. For information call (755) 553-3221, or cell 044 (755) 104-6220. or email gone2zwhat@aol.com

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

Club Intrawest - Zihuatanejo *Private terraces with plunge pool *Zi - The Restaurant at Club Intrawest Tel. 755 555 0382

Club Intrawest – Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo *Visit the Discovery Center. Open daily. *Variety of ownership opportunities available Tel. 755 555 0382

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

Punta Ixtapa Condominium with private pool - Ground floor 3 bedroom 4 bath in Ixtapa’s most prestigious neighborhood. Security, private club, beaches, all services. Price reduced to $568,000. Contact John Murphy at (755) 554-0719 or email john@mexicobeachproperty.com

*Spacious floor plans Tel. 755 555 0382

Pantla Beach Beach front palm tree covered 1/4 acre lots between Ixtapa and Troncones now reduced to $200,000. Water, electricity and road access within 6 months. Environmental permits included. Contact John Murphy at (755) 554-0719 or email john@mexicobeachproperty.com

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Monte Cristo Zihuatanejo - See full page ad for more information. www.montecristomexico.com, Tel. 755-102-7728

For Sale Beachfront Lot in Saladita - Access from main highway. Still undiscovered area for investors 250 mts (800 ft) of oceanfront x 400 mts (1,312 ft) deep. Reduced pricing for lots with at least 4 hectares / 10 acres from $25/m2 to $15/m2. Gloria Pérez, Prudential California Realty Ixtapa/ Zihua, cel. 044 755 102 81 47, office 011 52 (755) 544 8787, 011 52 (755) 544 8788 gperez@pruzi.com.mx www.pruz i.com.mx

Patzcuaro For Sale – Villa La Jacaranda. Large landscaped grounds, trees. Spacious house 3 bdrms/2baths+casita 1 bdrm/1 bath+covered workshops++. Sculptured cantera fireplace, unique features. 15 min. walk to center. US$445,000. Owner www.novinger.com/patz-jacaranda.htm or Re/Max 11 Patios 434-342-20-30

Monte Cristo Zihuatanejo - See full page ad for more information. www.montecristomexico.com, Tel. 755-102-7728

For Sale – Enchanting Beachfront Residence 3-story, 5BR/5BA, elevator-served, private beachfront residence on La Madera Beach, 50’ lap pool, palapa-covered kitchen, Fabulous original detailing throughout, murals by local Mexican artists, custom woodwork, DSL wireless, 2 phone lines, satellite TV, private office. Maura Taylor, Prudential California Realty – Ixtapa/Zihua, Cel. 011 52 1 (755) 101 9711, Tel. 011 52 (755) 544 8787, 011 52 (755) 544 8788.

Patzcuaro For Sale - 3 bdrm/2 bath colonial home 2 blocks from Plaza Grande in Historic Center.

Interior courtyard, gated parking, quiet street. Newly built with traditional materials. Sol #1 US$224,000.

Owner www.novinger.com/patz-homes.htm or Re/ Max 11 Patios 434-342-20-30

Monte Cristo Zihuatanejo - See full page ad for more information. www.montecristomexico.com, Tel. 755-102-7728

Spectacular Ocean Front residence $651,500 USD Starting. Naiví- an exclusive ocean view development located in Contramar, one of the most beautiful areas in Ixtapa. 3 to 5 BDRM – 4 to 6 BATH, A/C, private pool, garden and terraces. Gloria Pérez, Prudential California Realty Ixtapa/ Zihua, cel. 044 755 102 81 47, office 011 52 (755) 544 8787, 011 52 (755) 544 8788 info@pruzi.com.m x, www.pruzi.com.mx.

Patzcuaro For Sale - Spectacular lake view!

Colonial home 3 blocks from Plaza Grande in Historic Center. Atrium, striking design. Lge rooms, 3 bdrms/3 baths, garage. Newly built, traditional materials. One of a kind, must see. Abad 37.

US$295,000. Owner www.novinger.com/patzhomes.htm or Re/Max 11 Patios 434-342-20-30

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Quinta Mar Lots Beautiful ocean front lots to build your dream home. These lots for the person that wants only the best! In the area of La Roca, over looking the bluffs of Las Brisas, the views will simply take your breath away. One lot even has its own private beach. This exclusive community has a beautifully decorated, paved road complete with lights and security cameras, it has electricity, sewer and all services. REMAX IXTAPA 755 553-0000 www.remaxixtapa.com

Bay View Grand $400,000 Bay View Grand is a luxury high rise building that offers everything for the most exclusive tastes. Located directly on Ixtapa Beach, BVG has 2 Las Vegas style swimming pools, tennis courts, gym, and spa which offers massage and all the treatments. It doesn’t get much better than this! REMAX IXTAPA 755 553-0000

Punta Ixtapa. Come to REMAX Ixtapa for a private tour of one of the most exclusive private communites in Ixtapa.

Offering the most secure premises in Ixtapa with 24 Hour guards, the finest details in every aspect, 2 sandy private beaches and 2 beach clubs. This development is extremely exclusive. Prices starting at $568,000 usd. Only for those wanting the very best! Punta Ixtapa is the living end!

REMAX BEACH PROPERTIES 755 553-0000 www.remaxixtapa.com

Villas Flamingo $240,000 Private Gated Community, 24 Hour Guards, Gorgeous pool, views of ocean, river, and golf course. Easy to rent! 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms plus maid’s quarters. Beautiful domed ceiling. Private Jacuzzi off master bedroom patio. Furnished and ready to move in. REMAX IXTAPA 755 553-0000 www.remaxixtapa.com

Doce Soles $425,000 Spectacular Views of Las Brisas Beach and Ixtapa Beach make this condo a real treasure. 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, enjoy sunsets in your private spa on balcony. It’s perfect for someone with distinguished tastes. Many details in design and décor including gorgeous travertine floors. Completely furnished and ready to move in. Very exclusive! REMAX IXTAPA 755 553-0000 www.remaxixtapa.com

Porto Ixtapa $365,000 Unbelievable panoramic views of Ixtapa Beach, the marina and the ocean. 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms. Open layout. Gated community, 24 hour guards. Amazing infinity pool right on ocean. Tennis courts.

Private Club house, gymnasium, restaurants. Take water taxi to marina anytime for shopping and more restaurants.

Keep your yacht close to you. Furnished and ready to move in! REMAX IXTAPA 755 553-0000 www.remaxixtapa.com

Casa de la Sirena For Rent in Troncones: Beachfront private villa (kings) with private pool, 2-story bungalows (queens) with pool. Open air kitchens/living rooms, a/c, BBQ/wet bar, WiFi, www.casadelasirena.net, www.houseofthemermai d.com

Casa de la Sirena For Rent in Troncones, Very private,. Very romantic, Very upscale. Weddings Corporate Events, Family Reunions - Honeymoons Perfect for couples or rent the entire compound. www.casadelasirena.net www.houseofthemermai d.com

Casa de la Sirena For Rent inTroncones: Beachfront 1 bedroom (kings) mini villas with open air kitchen and living rooms. Swim up pool bar, entertainment center, BBQ/wet bar, WiFi. www.casadelasirena.net www.houseofthemermaid.com

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

For Sale: La Ropa Condo - Just above Hotel Villa del Sol. Brand new 2 BR, 2 bath in newest development in La Ropa.

Open living area w/ full terrace and mesmerizing bay view.

Fully furnished, internet access, satellite TV, equipped kitchen w/stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Large infinity pool. Elevator and gated entrance. Can be excellent rental unit. US$400,000. Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)-557-0078, www.paradise-properties.com.mx

For Rent: Ixtapa - “Arcano” - Private home. Serene retreat in beachfront gated community. Full staff. Beach club, tennis courts and a tranquil lake. 4 A/C’d BDRMs, with bath. Private pool. A very special property. High season: US$1,200 per day, Low season: US$900 per day.

Holiday: US$1,500 per day. Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx,Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)-557-0078,. www.paradise-properties.com.mx

For Sale - Las Palmas Condominiums - A new development of only 18 two or three BR lovely condos, located within close walking distance to La Ropa Beach.

Be one of the first to own while they are in pre-sales prices. Starting at US$168,000. Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)-557-0078,. www.paradiseproperties.com.mx

For Rent - Pto. Mio Residence-Simply elegant! Divine 4 BDRM home overlooking Zihua Bay and the ocean beyond.

View marine life passing by from your tranquil front row seat. Complete privacy & perfect service staff. Low Season: US$10,000 per week High Season: US$15,000 per week Xmas/Holidays: US$20,000 per week. 1 week min. Judith

Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226 www.paradise-properties.com.mx

For Sale - Bay View Grand Luxury Beachfront Condo - 2 BDRM - 2 BATH, 1,600 sq.ft. beautifully decorated, completely equipped for a delightful vacation retreat at the beach. A/C, Cable TV, Vonage phone, wireless internet access, jacuzzi on terrace. Priced to sell at US$325,000 Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)-557-0078,. www.paradiseproperties.com.mx

For Sale - Tucan Ixtapa Condo - Extremely nice, attractively furnished 3 BDM - 2-1/2 bath condo measuring just under 1,500 sq. ft. in a serene and tranquil gated residential condominium development. Offered at US$160,000. Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)-5570078,. www.paradise-properties.com.mx

For Sale - Beautiful Ixtapa Beachfront- Private Villa, 2-story, 4 BR/5 Bath + Maid’s room. Large Pool overlooking beach. Shopping and restaurants within walking distance. One of a kind property and all you could ever want! US$1.7M Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties,

For Rent - Playa Blanca Beachfront Home - Charming 2 Story, 4 BR-2-1/2 Bath, large pool, poolhouse and outdoor kitchen BBQ with bath, A/C BR, caretaker on property.

Attractive and comfortable, 5 minute walk to Barra de Potosi. US$2,200 p/week. Judith Whitehead, Paradise

Palma Real Golf Course Villa - On a quiet cul-de-sac on the 7th hole of the golfcourse, this 2-story 3 bdrm, 31/2 bath villa in a group of only 9. Lovely furnishings, large rooms, A/C, satellite TV, telephone with DSL internet access, a large pool with sunning pools and jacuzzi, well equipped kitchen, off-street parking and 24-hour security. Improve your life, move in tomorrow! Listed at US$300,000 Judith

jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)557-0078,. www.paradise-properties.com.mx

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx,Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)-557-0078,. www.paradise-properties.com.mx

Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)-557-0078,. www.paradise-properties.com.mx

For Sale - Madera Beach - Unique 5Bdrm/Bath home w/perfect location and access right off the beach. Could be a B&B, each bdrm has kitchenette. 3 levels, pool, outdoor leisure area under palapa w/adjoining dining area and kitchen al fresco. A/C, fans, furnished, satellite TV, phone & internet access. Ready to be loved by a new beachlover.Offered at US$1.3M. Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52-(755)-557-0078,.www.paradise-properties.com.mx

For Sale - Casa Bonita Ixtapa - A fabulous 4 BR, 4 bath condo. 2 Flrs., Beautifully decorated.

Jacuzzi on terrace with great view of Palmar Bay. A perfect family home at very good price. Offered at US$300,000. Judith Whitehead, Paradise Properties, jude@prodigy.net.mx, Tel. 52-(755) 554 6226, 52(755)-557-0078,. www.paradise-properties.com.mx

Private 5.5 Acre Valley and Taos-style modern adobe 3,000 sq ft house by Lake Zirahuen with gated access, gardens, pressurized water, grounded electrics, internet, SKY TV, stables, vineyard, old-growth pines, and tranquility.

For more info and photos see: www.mexatua.com

For Sale.Beachfront lots in La Saladita and the surrounding beaches. Prices from $25.00 to $100.00 USD per M2. GRUPO PIA Real Estate, “The company you can trust”. Tel/Fax:.01 755 54 4 81 81 / 01 755 54 4 7870 E-mail:piabienesraices@ya hoo.com.mx. www.grupopia.com.mx

For Sale. In “Paracaná”, an exclusive Development in Ixtapa this beautiful Condo in front of the golf course, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living, dining, kitchen. tennis courts, pool, security. 252m2 Price$ 250,000.00 USD. GRUPO PIA Real Estate, “The company you can trust”.

Tel/Fax:.01 755 54 4 81 81 / 01 755 54 4 78 70 E-mail: pi abienesraices@yahoo.com.mx. www.grupopia.com.mx

For Sale. Beachfront and oceanview lots in La Ropa area. Impressive view of Zihuatanejo Bay. Prices from $180.00 to $300.00 USD per M2. GRUPO PIA Real Estate, “The company you can trust”. Tel:01 755 54 4 81 81 / 01 755 54 4 78 70 E-mail: piabienesraices @yahoo.com.mx. www.grupopia.com.mx

Tierra Blanca 1.55 Acres wooded meadow building site in private valley by Lake Zirahuen. With internet, water, electric, and gated access. Beautiful old-growth pines, fairly level but off the valley floor, views of mountains to the west. For more info and photos see: www.mexatua.com

Troncones Beach Bungalows, For Rent, from $98.00 per night. Surf Shop, Gourmet Dining, on Pristine Manzanillo Bay. Visit our website at www.manzanillobay.com or call 755-553-2884

For Sale Lot Patzcuaro: Awesome location just a block away from Patzcuaro’s elegant Plaza Grande!

Great potential... Some wonderful view potential on 362.88 sq meters or 3906 sq feet of property with some very usable existing building. Priced at $295,000 USD ryan@lacasaencantada.com or call Julieta at Tel. 434-342-3492 ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.