ADIP Nov 2007 by ADIP

paradise another day in

November 2007 / 52

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

paradise another day in

Patzcuaro over the summer and enjoyed it so much I am continuing here in Z, with Centro de Idiomas Mesoamericano, (check our classifieds for info on both). If grammar courses are not your idea of fun, maybe an art course, a yoga retreat, a Buddhism seminar, or a cooking class…check our upcoming events, Ixtapa-Z has all of this to offer.

EDITOR - PUBLISHER

Catherine Krantz info@adip.info COLUMNISTS - CONTRIBUTORS

Aniela Arzate Castelán Raul Cedeño Patrick Corcoran Jay Eshbach John Glaab Samantha Hernández Gorrión Ed Kunze Juliet Lambert Gladys Tena Ley Abigail Lovett Linda Neil Priyanka Sharma Frank Sheppard Lisa Sheppard Maura Taylor John Wilcock

W 2007-2008 season.

DESIGN

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

elcome to Another Day in Paradise. And welcome to November and the beginning of our

When life is good, it is important to stop and notice. It’s November, so that means we just got back from a nice long vacation, hope you did too! And hope you filled your vacation with rest, relaxation, and inspiration (or you’ve come here to do just that!). If an educational vacation inspires you, may I recommend taking some courses—improving your Spanish is always a worthy goal. I spent a month attending Spanish courses at CELEP in

Another highlight of my summer vacation was last month’s Morelia International Film Festival. The dreamy quality of festivals, where so many experiences are crammed into a few days can produce sensory overload—that exhausted, euphoric state, where you get lost in your own distracted musings and everything takes on heightened significance. A favorite fest memory was the irresistible pull of the sidewalk cafés; taking a seat, having a glass of wine or a cup of tequila with friends, discussing our latest favorite film. Marveling that probably less than 1% of the world’s population is so fortunate to live as well as we. Now that’s a good reason to thoroughly enjoy, and so we did. When life is good, it is important to stop and notice. I might be wrong—you might be having a really bad day—but chances are, if you are here, if you are holding ADiP in your hand, you are doing ok. And that’s worth celebrating, because really, it could be a lot worse. I know—I occasionally watch TV. It is ugly out there. Some of us have to go deal with it, do something about it. But for the rest of us, us who dare not look reality in the face—for us, there is bliss. So don’t resist, pull up a chair, take a seat, and enjoy this fleeting moment with me. Until next time,

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES (755) 554-6525 and (755) 544-8023 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 WE WELCOME ARTICLE & PHOTOGRAPH SUBMISSIONS info@adip.info FOR GUIDELINES ON THE COVER: CHILES Photo by Jorge Luis Delgado ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

www.adip.info

November 2007 / 52

8 History

30 Art & Entertainment

Mexico National Anthem

Profiles: Fashion Designer Sergio Alcalá

10 Food

34 Upcoming Events

Ingredients of Mexico: Chiles 14 Sports

40 Home & Garden

Fishing Calendar

A Look Under the Palapa

16 Flora & Fauna

36 Real Estate Law

Don’t Pet the Tarantulas

Checklist for Buying in Mexico

18 Books

40 Real Estate News

Looking Back: Mexico on $5 a Day 20 Community

National & International News Desk: Latin American Investment Seminar, Florida. New Post for Hornberger.

Get Involved: Community Project Directory

41 Real Estate Finance

22 Z-Scene

46 Classifieds

24 Art & Entertainment

41 Real Estate Listings

FICM: Morelia International Film Festival

Getting Ready for Retirement

For Sale, For Rent

ADiP 8

By Patrick Corcoran

he Sunday night national radio hour in Mexico is not an exciting affair. A bit like NPR’s This American Life (minus the forced quirkiness), the weekly program gives government broadcasters a chance to clue listeners in to, for instance, a new health program in some state far, far away. Not surprisingly, most Mexicans tune out. But in the program’s closing minutes, a palpable excitement sets in, and not simply because it’s finally giving way to the rock, ranchera, and reggaeton. No, the wave of enthusiasm is generated by the Mexican national anthem. The Mexican national anthem is no ordinary anthem. It doesn’t lull you to sleep with a tired chorus and confusing lyrics; no, it riles the blood. The Mexican anthem is a raft trip down a raging river, while the others are a gentle drift in a suburban reservoir. Fittingly for such a song, the anthem has its genesis in Mexico’s turbulent 19th century. With the War of the Reform and the French invasion just around the corner, and the Mexican-

American War just past, Mexico’s government took advantage of the relative calm of 1854 to begin encapsulating the national spirit in song. President Mariano Arista sponsored a contest in November 1853 to pen the lyrics to the anthem. The winner, Francisco Gonzalez Bocanegra, was announced in February of the following year. Arista followed that up with a contest for composers, choosing from 15 different compositions. In August of 1854, Jaime Nunó, a Spanish transplant, emerged as the winner with his song, “God and Freedom.” A month later, during Mexico’s independence day celebration on September 16th, the new anthem was released to the masses. Not surprisingly, given the tumultuous state of affairs in Mexico at the time, the song penned by Gonzalez Bocanegra was a feverish call to arms, an exultation of the Mexico that had overcome a series of devastating conflicts. Fortunately, today Mexicans don’t need bloodshed to feel proud of their nation, but Gonzalez Bocanegra’s writing remains poignant:

Chorus Mexicans, at the cry of war, prepare the steel and the steed, and may the earth shake at its core to the resounding roar of the cannon.

Although I’d heard it many times before, it was the World Cup of soccer in 2006 that really made me appreciate the song fully.The Mexican team may have been a slight disappointment, but the nation’s anthem emerged as one of the world’s finest (although the all time anthem champ has to be France’s La Marseillaise). Unfortunately, as I write we still have another three years to wait before the next World Cup. That’s three more years before the next time I get to see an entire nation’s nervous

Mexicanos, al grito de guerra El acero aprestad y el bridón; y retiemble en sus centros la tierra Al sonoro rugir del cañón.

pride captured in its soccer team, as it sings its national hymn in the tense moments before kick off. But thanks to Mexico’s national radio hour, I can scratch my Mexican anthem itch every Sunday night. 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.

Raciel Gaffare

Coro Patria! patria! Tus hijos te juran Exhalar en tus aras su aliento, Si el clarín con su bélico acento Los convoca a lidiar con valor. Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva! Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria! Un laurel para ti de victoria! Un sepulcro para ellos de honor!

Emilia Castillo

Chorus IV Oh, country, country, your children swear to breathe their last in your honor, if the trumpet with warlike accent should call them to fight with courage. For you the olive branches! A reminder for them of glory! A laurel of victory for you! For them a tomb with honor!

Gigi Mizrahi

Antes, patria, que inermes tus hijos Bajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen, Tus campiñas con sangre se rieguen, Sobre sangre se estampe su pie. Y tus templos, palacios y torres Se derrumben con hórrido estruendo, Y sus ruinas existan diciendo: De mil héroes la patria aquí fue.

�� &��

Chorus III Oh country, ‘ere your children defenseless bend their neck to the yoke, may your fields be watered with blood, may they trod upon blood. And may your temples, palaces and towers collapse with horrid clamor, and their ruins live on to say: This land belonged to a thousand heroes.

Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente De la patria manchar los blasones! Guerra, guerra! Los patrios pendones En las olas de sangre empapad. Guerra, guerra! En el monte, en el valle Los cañones horrísonos truenen Y los ecos sonoros resuenen Con las voces de Unión! Libertad!

THE TIDES Playa la Ropa 755 554 7774, monday through saturday 11 AM - 2 PM & 4 to 6 PM

Chorus II War, war without truce to any who dare to tarnish the country’s coat-of-arms! War, war! Take the national pennants and soak them in waves of blood. War, war! In the mountain, in the valley, the cannons thunder in horrid unison and the resonant echoes cry out union, liberty!

LA RT

Más si osare un extraño enemigo Profanar con su planta tu suelo, Piensa, oh patria querida, que el cielo Un soldado en cada hijo te dio.

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

Ixtapa Ciña oh patria! tus sienes de oliva De la Paz el arcángel divino, Que en el cielo tu eterno destino Por el dedo de Dios se escribió

www.galart.net

I Gird, oh country, your brow with olive the divine archangel of peace, for your eternal destiny was written in the heavens by the hand of God. But if some strange enemy should dare to profane your ground with his step, think, oh beloved country, that heaven has given you a soldier in every son.

galart@prodigy.net.mx

Mexicanos, al grito de guerra El acero aprestad y el bridón; y retiemble en sus centros la tierra Al sonoro rugir del cañón

Zihuatanejo

Mexicans, at the cry of war, prepare the steel and the steed, and may the earth shake at its core to the resounding roar of the cannon.

ADiP 10

By Pryanka Sharma Photos by Pablo de Aguinaco ne of the most frequent flavorings in cuisines as diverse as Indian, Chinese, Moroccan, Hungarian and Mexican is the chile or chili. Some believe that it is perhaps the most commonly used spice in the world. The chile pepper is native to Central and South America. Research into its origins suggests that chile peppers were domesticated at least 6000 years ago. There is also evidence to the effect that they were used as currency in South America, and that they were amongst the first cultivated crops in the Americas. The Mayas used them as medicine to treat stomach and throat problems, and they also considered them an aphrodisiac. Christopher Columbus was amongst the first Europeans to encounter chiles, and he gave this new spice the name pepper. This could have been in part due to his search for the spices of India, and in part due to the fact that the new discovery also had a pungent hot flavor like that of the Asian peppercorn. The chile pepper was brought to Asia via European and Arab traders. This was a happy development for the Asians who perhaps because they were already used to embellishing their foods with a wide variety of spices, took to them eagerly. So much in fact, that today India is the largest producer of chile peppers in the world. d

ile

a og nN

P a,

Ca by

The chile belongs to the same botanical family as the tomato and the potato, and most common varieties fall under the botanical sub-groups of Capsicum Annuum and ÂŠAnother Day in Paradise ÂŽ, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

r eK

Capsicum Frutescens. Currently, about 400 different varieties of chiles are grown the world over, the principal producers being India, Japan, Thailand and Mexico. Chiles come in a vivid variety of shapes, sizes, and colors – ranging from yellow, orange, red to various shades of green. They can be small and slender – as in the birds’ eye chile – or large and conical – such as the poblano – or even small and rotund – such as the habaneros. Obviously, apart from the varieties of shapes, sizes and colors, chiles also come in different grades of heat. The substance that gives the chiles this notorious heat is known as capsiacin, which has the ability to produce hot and burning sensations both when ingested and when applied topically. In fact, capsaicin is one of the primary ingredients in pepper sprays! The heat contained in a chile is measured by the scotville unit. This measure is named after its developer, Wilbur Scotsville, who devised a method of measuring the quantity of capsaicin contained in different pepper varieties, usually by diluting and tasting them. To give you an example, bell peppers measure in at a scotsville unit of 0, a jalapeno between 2000 and 8000, and the habanero between 100,000 and 325,000 units! There have been various claims as to the hottest chile in the world. While results, on the whole, remain inconclusive, there was a claim by four Indian scientists that the hottest chile in the world is the Naga Jalokia from Assam, India, which measured at 855,000 on the scotsville scale. Chile is a nauhatl word, that was subsequently adapted into Spanish and finally to English where the spelling changed to chili. It has been, and continues to be, amongst the most important ingredients in Mexican cooking, alongside other staples such as frijoles, or beans, and corn tortillas. Chiles are perhaps the most distinguishing feature of Mexican cuisine, and are also amongst the most inexpensive foods available in Mexico, in addition to the price-controlled tortillas. In fact, the poorest in Mexico can be seen frequently dining on fresh hot corn tortillas from the tortilleria, eaten with a few fresh chiles. Apart from providing heat to a meal or a dish, chiles add a depth of flavor to food that can be subtle and very appealing. Mexico boasts a great variety of chiles which are used fresh, dried and smoked. A visit to the tianguis in Mexico provides one with a crash course on chiles. As you walk past the stall, you will see a myriad of chiles, ranging in color from red to brown ad some are almost black. Chiles are used to make or flavor salsas, in moles, in seasonings (such as a generous sprinkle of chile piquin over fresh fruits) and as cases used to enclose stuffing. It is the one common thread that runs across all manner of Mexican foods, and is relished by all irrespective of class or regional differences.The most commonly used chiles in Mexico are the serrano, the jalapeno, the poblano, the pimiento,

the tabasco and the habanero. In northern Mexico, the use of chiles is a little restrained compared to the central and southern parts. The habanero is native to the Yucatan peninsula, where it is served in an escabeche, pickled with sliced red onions, in vinegar. The jalapeno too, most frequently appears on the table sliced into an escabeche that includes carrots and onions in seasoned vinegar. The fresh serrano is an essential ingredient of both cooked and raw salsas. The poblano is frequently charred, peeled, seeded and sliced into rajas, which are then mixed with cheese to stuff empanadas, or cooked with onions and creama mexicana to form a delicious rajas con crema. Poblano is also one the chiles of choice for stuffing, and is the principal ingredient of chiles rellenos and chiles en nogada. The dried chiles of Mexico can be further categorized into dried or smoked, and this usually depends on the region. The drying is done either in the sun or by commercial dehydrators, while smoking is usually done over small, artisanal wood fires. The most frequently used varieties of dried chiles include pasilla (which is a dried chilaca chile that provides heat and is an essential ingredient in the mole poblano), the ancho (which is a dried poblano and imparts a lovely dark red color to dishes), the guajillo, (which is a slim, dark reddish brown chile frequently used in cooked salsas for its rich and mild flavor), and the chile de arbol (which is usually powdered and used in table sauces, and to sprinkle over fruit). Amongst the most popular smoked chiles are the justifiably famed chipotles. A chipotle is made by wood smoking, over several days, a vine ripened red jalapeno. The state of Chihuahua is the largest producer of chipotles, and the name given to this Chihuahua variety is chile morita. Chipotles have a wonderfully earthy, haunting flavor and mild heat levels, and are an essential ingredient in adobo style marinades. The humble chile that traveled from Central America – and from Mexico – to the rest of the world roughly 600 years ago now finds itself firmly entrenched in most world cuisines. Nowhere else in the world, however, are chiles used in so many different forms and ways as in Mexico. 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

CHILE Y ELOTE CON CEBOLLA By Lisa Sheppard I am a big enthusiast for green chiles, especially combined with corn in any recipe. When I lived in New Mexico, September and October were the months when the cotton woods and aspen turned golden and the chile harvest arrived. The smell of fire-roasted green chiles perfumed the air with their spicy bite. Here in Mexico I have found my all-time favorite green chile, the Poblano. Large, fat, waxy tear drops, piled high in the market stalls, they bring flavor to almost everything savory. Stuffed with picadillo en Chiles en Nogada, or queso fresco for Chiles Rellenos they are glorious, mild, and muy sabroso. When I first came to old Mexico I mourned the loss of fresh sweet corn, with its pale kernels that squirt sugary juice when pressed hard with a thumbnail. Over the years I came to love the chewy kernels of tender young hard corn sold here as elote. Its sweetness is more subtle, the tenderness a bit more fibrous than say, Silver Queen sweet corn, but so fresh and full of flavor it has given me an outlet for my cravings. Corn on the cob is a treat when it comes to market packed high in wooden-sided trucks decorated with the green ears tucked into the upper rims of the side panels making a lovely design and advertising what the owner is selling. Just recently I put them into this simple combination of elotes and cebollas intriguing our Lupe into taking the recipe home for her family table. Chile y Elote con Cebolla Recipe feeds 4 hungry people

RAJAS CON CREMA Serves four with warm tortillas

2 good sized pobano chiles 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, sliced 1⁄2 teaspoon chicken stock granules 100 ml water 100 ml sour cream Warm corn tortillas to serve Char the poblanos directly over a flame, or in the barbecue, until the skin is completely black. Immediately put in a plastic bag and leave for 10 minutes. During this time the steam from the bag will loosen the skins of the chiles. Now peel the charred skins off, discard the seeds and the membranes, and cut the flesh into long thin strips. Heat the oil in a pan, and when hot, add the onions, and cook, over moderate heat, until transparent. Now add the chile strips and fry for 1 minute. Sprinkle the chicken stock granules into the pan, add the water, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Now uncover, raise heat to medium and dry off some of the liquid. Add the cream and stir to combine. Serve over warm tortillas. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

3 ears of corn 4 Poblano peppers 2 white onions 3⁄4 cup of stock 1 tb olive oil salt and pepper to taste Roast the Poblano peppers over the open flame of a gas burner, charring each side and both ends to a dark brown/black, then place them inside a folded towel or a covered bowl to sweat and soften. Shuck the corn, and cut off their kernels, setting them aside in a bowl, (you can use the remaining cobs to flavor a chicken or vegetable stock). Peel and coarsely chop the onions. Take the chiles from their sweat and remove the core by cutting around the periphery of the stem and tugging out the ball of seeds attached to it. Slit one side of the chile and open it flat, scrape the charred skin off using an angled knife, you can use your fingers but the knife method is much more efficient and less messy. Turn the chile over and remove any remaining seeds and fibrous ribs. Slice and cut the chile in 1/4 –1/2 inch squares. You do not have to be accurate with this size it is just a suggestion. Sauté the onions in the olive oil until they begin to go limp, and then add the corn and chiles, stirring for another 2-3 minutes or until the onions are translucent and completely limp. Pour in the stock, cover the pot and turn down the heat to low, simmer until the corn in just tender and most of the liquid is evaporated. Season to your taste with salt and pepper. This can be used as a side dish or a taco filling, or for the more adventurous a tamale stuffing.

ADiP 14

By Ed Kunze Sailfish: We get a large influx of sailfish here in November through January, and maybe a couple of weeks into February. They are the year round bread-and-butter game fish of the sport fishing fleet. In most non-winter months you can expect a per-boat average of two fish a day caught, tagged and released. The winter months can yield up to 15 to 20 fish a day. A 10 to 12 fish day is not at all unusual. Often overlooked for sailfish is the great month of July. Its not clear whether its local fish returning from their migration or a whole different set of new fish, but there can be excellent fishing for sails in July. In any given month, we have decent fishing right up and until the full moon, but then it tapers off on the second day, until about six to eight days after. Fly fishing is best when you can get the most shots, which means most fly fishermen come during the dark of the moon period until the date of the last quarter moon period, of the winter months: November, December, January, and February. Marlin: The blue and black marlin start showing as soon as the water starts cooling in the fall. November can be an outstanding month. Depending on the current, it may take as long as early January to get the desired 78º water. In April there are many marlin, but you may have to pay a fuel surcharge and travel 35 to 45 miles to find the blue water (see below). Our favorite times would be after the first week of May until the middle of June. This is when the water is cooler, yet the blue water current is close. The fish are within two to 20 miles. A few years ago, on May 6, 2002, my client released an estimated 700-pound blue less than 4 miles off the beach. Striped marlin, like they have in abundance in Cabo San Lucas, are not common here. They are a cooler water species. Besides the April current, another reason to hold off on making a trip down here until after the first week of May is the 30 years plus sailfish tournament held in Zihuatanejo on the 1st weekend of each May. This annual ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

120 to 160 boat tournament really flogs the water and the game fish need a few days to settle down. April: We get an annual cold green water current here in April. Sometimes it can come about the middle of March and sometimes it will linger through the first week of May. But by the second week of May it is always gone.

Tuna: The big tuna (200 to 350 pounds) basically follow the same pattern as the marlin. Smaller tuna (up to 60 pounds) are here year -round. Live bait is the best method for getting them. Slow trolling a large mackerel or a threepound bonito will get a 200 pound plus tuna almost every time you can locate the school. Tuna is the one species that seems to be very active during the full moon period.

This green water current shoves the blue water out to 25 to 45 miles. The big tuna and the marlin are here, but in the blue water. To go after them takes a fuel surcharge that varies with each boat.

Roosterfish: The roosterfish here are huge. I have rarely caught a fish under 20 pounds. The average seems to be between 30 and 40 pounds. Several fish are caught at 50 pounds and a couple every year go 75 and 80 pounds.

The Full Moon Period: The full moon period (from the day after the full moon, to almost the first quarter) affects several species of game fish here. Most people think it is because they are able to see and feed at night. This may be true to some extent, especially being that most game fish are opportunistic feeders. But I am more inclined to believe it is something else. The full moon period, due to gravitational pull, is when the tides are at the highest, so I believe this is when the migratory bell goes off and fish use the moon and the strong gravitational pull as a sort of guiding beacon. Once new fish have moved into the area and have gotten settled down, they start actively feeding again.

The best times for roosters seems to be late May through late December. However, they are here year-round, because they are not a highly migratory species like the tuna or billfish. Find the concentrations of fish, and you will get fish in any month. If I had to pick the slowest time of the year, I would say it would be March and April, whereas June, July, and December are probably the three best months of the year. The months of August through October can be hit hard with monsoon type rains. The debris carried out of the rivers, which are all up and down our coast, can reduce the clarity of the water, making for very tough conditions to catch a rooster.

Fly fishing is a real challenge because you generally get only one shot at a rooster. A sailfish can be brought back to the boat several times, but a rooster hits the bait once, and takes off. However, combine the hot jack crevalle action we can get into while looking for the right rooster, and you can have a great day on the water. Live Bait: A cheap insurance policy. Live bait here consists mostly of the 6 to 8-inch goggle eyed scad (called ojotones). The goggle eyes sell for about $5.00 a dozen, and are not usually included in the price for the boat charter. The bait is generally bought from the bait pangas anchored about 30 yards off the end of the municipal pier. Supply of the live bait is very good, and only affected by the full moon or hard rains at night.They use gas lamps at night to attract the bait, and with a full moon, the bait becomes too scattered to catch efficiently. A hard rain and wind makes it too dangerous to go out after them. Every panga has a live well, which holds only about 2 dozen bait, so getting large quantities of sardines to use for chum is not an option. Most cruisers do not have a live

well, and usually only troll dead bait. But, if you request a live well in advance, they can hook up a barrel and pump. Dorado: Year-round. They are most abundant in the heavy rain months of August and September (and often into October and November) because the weeds, trees, etc. are washed out of the rivers. This gives the dorado structures to identify with and will concentrate the smaller school sized fish. In the other months of the year, the dorado are an incidental catch while trolling for sailfish. They are mature fish and travel as individuals, or mating pairs. They will still identify with floating structures, such as a wooden pallet which has fallen off a ship, and having live bait on board is always the best ticket for these types of situations. But, normally they are free swimming and searching, just like the sailfish, and will readily take the same trolled baits the sailfish does. November through January seem to be the best months for catching these larger adult fish. The average is between 20 and 25 pounds, but several fish are caught each week tipping the scales in the 45 to 55 pound range.

Wahoo: An incidental catch that occurs in the blue water. When the blue water is close to the beach, they can be caught trolling around the rock pinnacles. The white rocks are always a good bet when the blue water is there. Unfortunately when you target them, you may get five today, and then they will be gone tomorrow. Bottom Fishing: Within 25 miles in each direction of Zihuatanejo Bay, bottom fishing is not a very good option. There are so many hotels and restaurants; the demand for fresh fish is incredible. There is a day fleet of about 25 pangas, fishing at least 6 days a week, and another 30 panga night fleet. The close-in areas have simply been fished out.

Ed Kunze is Zihuatanejo’s IGFA Representative and a charter fishing boat captain. He lives in IxtapaZihuatanejo year-round and can be reached at 755-5537141 or edkunze@gmail.com For more information on Captain Ed and his boats go to www.sportfishingixtapa.com or www.zihuatanejo.net/seaandsand.

ADiP 16

By Abigail Lovett Photo by Frank Sheppard

hat’s what my friend Marcial, a pesticide salesman at Clayton Pesticides behind the market, says as he explains how the tarantulas in Zihuatanejo are different than the ones commonly sold as pets. I have to take his word for it because most of my first hand experience with tarantulas has been from a distance, post-mortum, or from what I’ve read on the Internet. The root of the word tarantula, despite a lack of deadly spiders in Europe, is the folk cure for a wolf spider’s bite in the Italian town of Tarantola; the Tarantella is a crazy jig danced in the belief that you can sweat out the poison from a spiders’ bite. The nocturnal Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula, the one most common to the coastal deserts here in Zihuatanejo, is quite popular in the movies possibly because its hairy ten inch red-kneed leg span and three to five-and-a-half inch black or dark brown body show up well in the camera lens and its docile nature makes it easy to work with. Although the movies are counting on our innate fear of tarantulas, a fear that seems more prominent among those of European decent, I try to curb my innate arachnophobic reaction by putting myself in their shoes: I imagine the spider thinking to itself, “Oh, my God! Look at that huge, pink, hairless thing!” Perhaps that’s not a bad way to think because tarantulas have several good defense mechanisms. First and foremost they are alarmingly good jumpers, luckily they do so mostly to get away from whatever is bothering

them. If they are too close when threatened they can have a fairly painful bite; which can tear the skin. These are just the obvious defenses. Some tarantulas, like the Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula, can defend themselves by flicking what are called urticating hairs from their abdomens and back legs. These hairs are quite caustic and can end up in the eye, nose, and/or lungs of hapless humans, or pets who attempt to look too closely at these tarantulas. A mistake that could result, at the worst, in blindness or the necessity for an eye operation and, at the least, a burning and itching on the skin and mucus membranes. Be wary of those hairs if you come across a molted skin or find a dead tarantula, they can rub off easily. Tarantulas start to breed at two-years-old.The female is larger than the male, and has a 25

year life span compared to the male who has a seven year life span –that is if he can manage to escape the female who is quite likely to eat him after mating. This is probably because spiderlings don’t need much parenting. After the rainy season, the female lays from 400 to 1000 eggs in a silk cocoon in her silk lined burrow in arid ground or dry bark. She then spends the next six to eight weeks rolling the egg sac in and out of the burrow so it can get some warmth from the sun during the day. When it’s time the female helps the spiderlings by chewing a hole in the egg sac. The spiderlings are out on their own in another two to three weeks. A thousand baby tarantulas may sound duanting but they have loads of obstcles to face before they reach adulthood. Tarantulas have many predators such as spider-eating-birds, lizards, snakes, and some species of wasps. As a matter of fact the Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula is on the endangered species list because of . . . you guessed it: Man. Property development and tarantula trafficking are mentioned as main culprits but I would bet highway traffic fatalities also contribute to the decimation of the species; not to mention frantic midnight whacking or insecticide spraying: a common human defense mechanism. A tarantula who escapes humans or other predators but loses a leg can grow it back in seven years, a good thing because tarantulas depend on their leg hairs to help them feel their way around. Although they look wary and alert the eight eyes on their heads, which can see front and back, are about as useful as human noses. Tarantulas smell and taste through palps on the end of their legs, which is one of the reasons they seem to shift around all the time. If you take the time to look closely at a tarantula it seems to have ten legs, but only eight of those are for walking and they have claws on the end of their legs to help them climb trees. Like other spiders, a tarantula holds on to its prey with its two front legs that act more like arms while it injects venom from its hollow fangs to dissolve its meal, from the inside out. This movie star tarantula has become my new best friend upon learning that scorpions are a part of their diet, as well as millipedes and other spiders, and insects, which I hope includes flies and mosquitos; I try not to think of the small birds and frogs they are said to eat too. For all the fuss made over tarantulas here in Mexico, unless you live in or on the border of the jungle, you just don’t see them that often. I can honestly say that with all our travels throughout the country I can probably count on both hands how many I’ve actually seen dead or alive in 22 years. So if you have the opportunity to see one while on vacation try to overcome your arachnophobia long enough to take in this remarkable creature.

ADiP 18

n the early 1960’s, John Wilcock spent months traveling across Mexico on the cheap, sleeping in hammocks on beaches and busing from one far-flung side of the country to the other, researching what would become a classic of south of the border travel. Writing for Arthur Frommer, who helped create modern tourism by encouraging people to venture out on their own without tours, Wilcock created an extremely detailed, invaluable guide that led intrepid travelers across Mexico for decades. In the 1964-65 edition, Zihuatanejo ranked large enough only for a mention as a side trip from Acapulco, and now 40 plus years later, we are still charmed to revisit the impressions of a much smaller, much simpler Zihuatanejo. – (CK) Excerpt from, Mexico on $5 a Day An Arthur Frommer Publication 1964-65 Edition, By John Wilcock Side trip to Zihuatanejo It’s likely that for many years to come, one tiny fishing village after another along the Pacific coast will be “discovered” by advance guards of tourists, each gradually becoming more popular, eventually to adopt all the trappings of the typical up-to-date resort. At present, Zihuatanejo (pop: 1,380), a town where the electricity shuts off before midnight, seems quite content with its fishing, coconut harvesting and the handful of tourists who fly in or make the lengthy, exhausting bus ride from Acapulco, about 140 miles to the south. Work has been proceeding on the road to Zihuatanejo for some time now, and it is paved for all but the last 30 miles of its length. This part gets very muddy after especially heavy rains, but the buses almost always get through. The trip itself is an interesting one through semi-tropical scenery, with occasional glimpses of the coast and three or four small villages, the largest of which—Petatlan—

has an interesting modernistic church and an excellent view from the bridge, where you can stand and watch the women of the town do their daily washing under makeshift “huts” erected in the river. Zihuatanejo itself is absolutely beautiful. The beach curves around a small, natural bay in which fishing boats and an occasional sailboat bob at anchor, and in the small town behind, you’ll still see more people riding about on burros than in automobiles. The town is utterly uncommercialized, with nothing to do but walk, lie in the sun and read, or go to the town’s outdoor movie theatre (films projected on a bare wall inside what appears to be an abandoned church), where a film is presented about two or three times a week. The town’s electric system shuts off at 11p.m. each night. There are boats to rent and it’s also possible to go hunting but predators of this sort don’t need any help from me. WHERE TO STAY: There’s an expensive hotel, the Zafari, just as you reach town—ten minutes’ walk from the center—and two others the Irma and the Catalina, on a rocky headland around the bay to the south. The latter two can be reached only by car along a rugged road, and have only American-plan rates (Catalina: 180 pesos double, 100 pesos single; Irma, 10 and 20 pesos cheaper), so both can pretty well be discounted, except for visits. The 18-room Catalina, much the prettier of the two, charges 20 pesos for lunch or dinner; the Irma charges 15 pesos. The Catalina is closed from April to November. All along the beach, in Zihuatanejo itself, are small, one-story “hotels” or guest houses which charge about 50 pesos double and will sometimes be reluctant to take singles because of the shortage of rooms. The Hotel Belmar, with its tiled balcony, is the best value for the money: 25 pesos per person without meals; 50 pesos per person with meals; and a big room, with three beds that can be bargained down to 70 or 80 pesos. I’d advise taking room without meals, because the meals are better next door at the Hotel Avila, where the rates are higher (about 75 pesos with meals). Next best bet is the Casa Arcadia, boasting a sheltered, foliage-filled patio with hammocks, which charges 40 pesos per room without meals; the Casa Eugenia, 40 pesos; Casa Elvira (usually booked up with long-term residents), which charges 40 pesos daily but lowers the rates to as little as 25 daily, with meals, for a month’s stay; Casa Marina and La Palmas, both

50 pesos per double room. All of these places are within 200 yards of each other, along the edge of the beach. Back in town, maybe 200 yards down the main drag, is the Bungalows Estrellita, a one-story, wooden structure divided into 10 simple rooms—not too clean, but about what you’d expect in a small fishing town, miles from anywhere. The rooms cost 25 pesos, single or double, and their main drawback is that they’re away from the cooling breezes of the beach. The same applies to the small Hotel San Pablo, a two-story concrete structure also on the main street where the one-room units rent for 16 pesos single, 20 pesos double; bathroom outside the room. In the main plaza, right opposite the Municipal Building, there’s a simple, primitive-type Casa de Huespedes (boarding house) which offers rock-bottom-in-budget accommodations: 50 pesos double, daily, including meals. I spoke to a young, beat couple staying there, and they said it was okay if you can live without frills. No mattress, just plain canvas bed with sheets. WHERE TO EAT: There are adequate eating facilities here, but some slight discomfort may result from the fact that all the hotels hold off serving dinner until 8 p.m. The Catalina and the Irma are good, of course, if you have a car; in town the best is Hotel Avila (not much choice but a good fried fish or steak dinner with soup and fruit for about 12 pesos) or the Casa Elvira. There are two little restaurants, the Nati and the Martinez Conchita, down the main drag, but neither is much to write home about. GETTING TO ZIHUATANJEO: A secondclass bus runs in daily from Acapulco—a fairly exhausting seven-hour ride. The line is “Estrella de Oro;” the buses leave at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., charge 21 pesos each way. Courtesy of John Wilcock, excerpt re-printed with author’s permission. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Wilcock, British author, travel writer, and underground publisher, was one of the original founders of the Village Voice and Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine, has written over 20 travel books for Arthur Frommer and Insight Guides, as well as other books on diverse topics. He publishes a semi-monthly journal, the Ojai Orange. His influential 1971 book on Andy Warhol, who he spent several years profiling, is being rereleased, hopefully by the end of this year, and his colorful auto-biography is being serialized on his website, check www.ojaiorange.com for more information.

ADiP 20

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, A.C. 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 underfunded primary schools and kindergartens. Contact: Lorenzo Marbut, home: 755-554-2115, cell: 755-1024463, 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 3 groups: 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 ZGuitarfest, 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, 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 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.

This month’s featured organization is the Zihuatanejo Red Cross. ADiP’s community news desk is being manned this season by student reporters.

By Aniela Montserrat Arzate Castelán, Samantha Hernández Gorrión, and Gladys Tena Ley.

he Zihuatanejo Red Cross was founded in 1975, The Red Cross received an ambulance, donated by the Mexican State Government. We decided to go to where the Red Cross has been located for the last 20 years on Las Huertas Avenue # 116 (just past Telmex) and learn more about this institution by asking Red Cross Chairman Debbie Mione some questions: What is your job at the Red Cross? It’s not a job. It’s a non-paid position. I’m part of the board of directors. I am the president, or chairman of this board. There is also a vice-president, a treasurer and a secretary. Our most important job is to decide how to raise money and the best way to spend it. We are not involved in the day to day activities, that is a paid position. How do you get the money? I ask for it, of everyone from the governor to small businesses, hotels and restaurants. When it is time for the annual fund raising drive we get spare change from everyone. We host breakfast and dinner events, fund raising dances and sales. There is a program called Donativo Huesped in Ixtapa hotels, where every guest in the hotel is asked if they want to donate five, ten, or fifteen pesos. We have proven that we have a respectable institution, a clean institution, an honest institution and that’s why people give us money. Without the money we couldn’t exist, because we are not dependant on government funds. Does the Red Cross have Volunteers programs? Everyone can be a volunteer in the Red Cross. All you have to do is go in and say, “I want to help.” How can I be a volunteer in the Red Cross? People who are interested take a three month training course, on weekends. You buy your own uniform and if the Red Cross gets an emergency call you assist them, but only in First Aid, until the patient is taken to a hospital or a clinic, wherever they ask to be taken. If you are under 18 years of age and you want to help out at the Red Cross there’s a kids club for 8 to 12 year olds and a teenagers club for 13 to 17 year olds and its nationwide. There’s a national and international network and they organize summer camps and activities to prepare you to be a socorrista and they teach you what to do in case of an accident. That’s the first step and there are groups for every age … if you are older, you can join the veterans, and if you are a women but don’t want to do first aid or disaster response training, you can join the women Volunteers, they are a volunteer club and they do fund raising. Does the Red Cross have a website? The Red Cross has a web page but it needs to be updated… http://www.cruzroja-ixtapazihuatanejo.com. They need someone to do it, any volunteers?? The Red Cross helps everyone. Who helps the Red Cross? What’s going on in November? National Convention… It’s at the end of November in Veracruz. At the convention they give away ambulances, we are hoping to get one… (TV Azteca raised 93 millon pesos and they bought 40 ambulances and they will be raffling them off to different chapters) We have 4 ambulances and they don’t have the newest equipment, if we get one, that will be a huge help but everything happens little by little. Thanks. Now we understand better the job that the Red Cross does and all the things that they must do to offer a good service to the Zihuatanejo community. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

ADiP 22

Photos courtesy of FICM

Honored Guest Bertrand Tavernier arrives

President of Mexico FeIipe Calderón Hinojosa, with FICM President Alejandro Ramírez Magaña & FICM Director Daniela Michel.

Gael Garcia Bernal on the red carpet

ADiP Press Crew covering the cafe scene

Actress Camila Sodi

Director Hector Babenco

James Crespinel

Judy Brown,Teresa Prater

Grand Opening of Fruity Keiko Boutique

Fruity Keiko owner Eva Robbins, with architect Karina Cabana

Rocio Madrazo, Rob & Lupita Whitehead, Eva

Catherine, Judy Brown, Eva, Fruity Keiko manager Diana

Marian Hatfield, David & Maura Connell, Ann Merritt

Andy Smith Birthday Party at De Donde Eres

Isahrai Azaria performing a birthday opera

ADiP 24

By Catherine Krantz

he 5th Annual Morelia Film Festival was held October 5 – 14, 2007, in Michoacan’s picturesque capital city. Just four hours north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and well worth the trip, this film festival just gets better every year. Well on its way to becoming a truly important event for international cinema, I highly recommend attending. But be forewarned, this festival is no longer a secret. Book your hotel early or risk being shut out of central Morelia where almost all hotels were booked solid for the entire week. I recommend staying in central, most events are at the centrally located Cinepolis theater, four blocks from the cathedral, or within walking distance. This year’s Guests of Honor were Stephen Frears, (director of Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity, The Queen, et al), Bertrand Tavernier, (writer, director, producer, film historian), and Arthur Penn (director of Bonnie and Clyde, Little Big Man, The Miracle Worker, et al). The special Invited Guests were Hector Babenco, (director of Kiss of the Spider Woman, Carandiru, El Pasado, et al), Alfonso Cuarón (director of Y tu mama tambien, Children of Men, et al), Gael Garcia Bernal (actor and director of Deficit) and Alejandro González Iñárritu (director of Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel, et al). This year’s show stealer was again Gael Garcia Bernal, whose arrival—as in years’ past—caused a near riot on the tiny street in front of the theater. The affable Gael was in attendance to greet fans and to attend multiple festival events including his two world premiers held during the week. The first premiere was of Hector Babenco’s enjoyable, El Pasado, in which he starred—a dark and wry look at a lasting love that just won’t quit; And the second his very own directorial debut, Deficit, which created an unlikely buzz. Whether is was the attractive young cast, the attractive young director, or the attractively serious themes of social, racial and class struggles in today’s Mexico that drew the buzz...Deficit, raised a lot of questions. A deceptively simple film about class and race struggles with a good dose of misspent youth, depicted by a bunch of rich kids throwing a party; Garcia Bernal stated that he felt it was

Adrien Jolivet as Jakub in Voleurs de Chevaux. Photo courtesy of Versus Productions.

In addition to the films in competition, the fest also hosted a selection of touring films from the Cannes film festival. Including Cannes’ 2007 Palme d’Or winner, Cristian Mungiu’s, 4 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days, about the unforgivable indignities faced by two young women during Ceausescu’s Romania, an extremely impressive work likely to ruin your whole day. Another one of those beautiful

Photo by Catherine Krantz

Director Pável Antonio Aguilar Martínez answering questions after the priemere of his documentary film, Quien soy tu?

Photo by Catherine Krantz

the responsibility of filmmakers to tackle social issues, and of young people to call attention to the struggles of their times, and judging by the amount of politically minded documentaries on show at this year’s fest he is not alone in that stance. Many of this year’s most thought-provoking documentaries focused on class struggles, political protests, searches for national and personal identity, and the rights of indigenous people to protect their heritage, some even focused on all of the above. Pável Antonio Aguilar Martínez’s documentary debut, Quién soy tu?, held enough diverse footage of global protests and conflicts to lead one to believe that we are all pretty intolerant when it comes to our own opinions, and what a loud screaming mess this world is in. The festival’s categories for competition were shorts, documentaries and feature length films, all of a wide range of themes and some of especially high quality. Last year’s FICM winner, 25-year old Elisa Miller, went on to win Cannes’ Palme d’Or for her short film, Ver, proving that the Morelia fest not only provides a good selection of what talent Mexico has to offer, but that Mexico’s talent is world class.

Director Micha Wald (r) answering questions after the showing of his film, Voleurs de Chevaux

Director Stephen Frears. Photo by IMAGEN LATENTE / Paulo Vidales, Photo courtesy of FICM.

works that can effect you so much you’re likely to be depressed, was the Edith Piaf bio-pic, La Vie en Rose, that was shown as one of the selected feature films in wide release. Not likely to depress but very likely to impress was Micha Wald’s feature debut, Voleurs de Chevaux (Horse Thieves), shown as part of the Cannes International Critics week that focuses on emerging talent. A simply and beautifully effective film, its sharp fluid directness called to mind Leonardo Da Vinci’s obsession with the perfect circle. Da Vinci believed that only a true artist could draw a complete perfect circle with one unbroken line and he often showed off by drawing circles of unbroken lines in his paintings. Micha Wald’s story feels that tight, that technically executed. Seamless story telling that effortlessly sweeps the audience along is enjoyable in any film but for a debut, quite remarkable. Wald said his story of two sets of brothers had been something he had been working on since his childhood, where growing up with four siblings taught him about the complex relationships among siblings and how hate as often as love can define brotherly love. And for an even bigger plus, the Belgian director who came from Europe to attend— one of the few Cannes participants who came to Morelia—not only seemed genuinely

Deficit press conference, in Morelia’s Biblioteca Publica. Photo by IMAGEN LATENTE / Paulo Vidales, Photo courtesy of FICM.

pleased to be here, but genuinely thrilled with the audience’s enthusiastic praise. Those are just a few of the great films I was fortunate to see in the short time I was in Morelia, and there were many more I was sad to miss. As usual, having to go home is the only real disappointment of the Morelia International Film festival. For my cine-obsessed brain, there is not much better way to spend a weekend than in a movie theater, soaking up hours upon hours of wildly diverse stories. But even for the casual film enthusiast the festival has lots to offer: shorts, documentaries, feature films: indie and wide-release, as well as great films from the past, retrospective and homage to Mexican and international film greats. A well made film can often be the closest substitute to travel, a way to experience other cultures, other views—step into other realities, and with this diverse and dynamic festival taking root just up the road, there is really no reason not to go see for yourself what all the buzz is about. Check www.moreliafilmfest.com for more information. Gael Garcia Bernal, Actor / Director. Photo by IMAGEN LATENTE / Paulo Vidales, Photo

ADiP 30

By Juliet Lambert Photos by Raul Cedeño

ergio Alcalá is one of the most recognized fashion designers in México, and at only 23 years old, he is also considered one of the most innovative. Elle Magazine calls him the Jean Paul Gaultier of México, saying that his focused style makes him one to watch. His show at Fashion Week México Autumn / Winter 2007, with its lively mix of colors and textures was the talk of the event. Alcalá’s self-described “Mexican Kitsch” designs for his fullpatch collection use the colors of México, and are based on modes of transportation used by people living in México City. This idea of traveling through the capital is represented by orange for the Metro, green for the taxis, yellow for the stop lights and pink for traveling on foot. Alcalá explains, “Mexico City is a surreal capital. You see things here daily that just don’t happen anywhere else in the world – and it is always colorful. When I went to Germany everything was gray. Then I came back home to D.F. and kitsch and color were everywhere, beginning with the taxi that I took back from the airport with its Virgin Mary altar on the dashboard.”

The designer with models after his sucessful Fashion Week showing.

His work is inspired by his background in photography, digital art, film and live performance. “When people think of Mexican fashion, they think we are all still sitting around making huaraches. I want to take Mexican fashion to a new level.” Sergio Alcalá is the youngest designer ever to show at Fashion Week in Germany, debuting last year at age 22. He was received very well by the fashion industry in Europe. “Sometimes when you are in your own house (México), you don’t get any recognition. You need to leave and go to Europe or Japan and then everyone wants you.” Sergio Alcalá’s products include baseball hats, purses, dresses, skirts, corsets, shirts and blouses, key chains and bracelets. The clothing is colorful and uses different types of cloth to achieve his unique look. Some skirts and pants have over 200 pieces of cloth sewn together, all done by hand. Alcalá has two labels for his fashions. “Sergio Alcalá” is the upscale, one-of-akind fashion label, available through boutiques or commissioned pieces. He is also developing “YetSerch” by Sergio Alcalá, which will offer lower priced fashions in a more commercial format.

Sergio Alcalá’s urban-conceptual style has made him a designer to watch. His unusual designs comprised of different materials represents the mixtures in Mexican identity. His take on urban kitsch has already made him an icon of Mexican fashion. By the time you read this, he will have shown his latest collection at Fashion Week Mexico Spring Summer in late October. Stay tuned! You can purchase Sergio Alcalá at Dime, a boutique in México City: Álvaro Obregón 185 B, Colonia Roma. Tel. dialing from IxtapaZihuatanejo 01-55-2454-6790, dialing from the U.S.: 011-52-55-2454-6790. His web site is www.sergioelbailador.com The designer is his Mexico City studio.

NOV 1, 2: The Day of the Dead Nationwide. The Day of the Dead as observed today, has its origins with the indigenous people of the American continent. It is believed that on this day the dead re-join their families and loved ones. It is a religious holiday, a time to remember and honor the departed with joyous celebrations rather than the somber sadness usually associated with death. Originally, Día de los Muertos was celebrated at the end of July, but in an effort to facilitate the conversion of the indigenous Mexican people to Catholicism, the Spanish later altered the tradition and moved the annual celebration to November 1 and 2 so that it would coincide with the Christian celebrations of All Saints and All Souls Day. NOV 1, 2: GALART, both locations THE TIDES, Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo, & RESTAURANT VILLA DE LA SELVA, Ixtapa, GRO., will be exhibiting DAY OF THE DEAD Folk Art by José A. Madrazo, incorporating the traditional elements of Mexican culture, humor, materials and artisan legacy to make pieces on the cutting edge of design. Exhibition will go through November. galart@prodigy.net.mx, www.galart.net

NOV 21-25: 13th Annual International Festival of Jazz and Blues, San Miguel de Allende, GTO. The Festival International de Jazz and Blues is an educational organization dedicated to the appreciation and development of jazz and blues music in Mexico. The festival offers free concerts and free music clinics, outdoor events and forums for the spontaneity of jams and impromptu performances and is one of the leading Jazz events in Mexico. www.sanmigueljazz.com, for more information. 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.

Nov 2: ba Galeria Season Opening Zihuatanejo,GRO. 10am-6pm, ww.bagaleria.com ba Galeria is located at Casa Bulmaro in Colonia Madera on Calle Adelita directly across the street from Hotel Irma, the purple building. NOV 7-11: Barra de Potosí, Sea To Sky Yoga retreat, Barra de Potosi, GRO. Expand your world and join us on this magical retreat as we explore yoga, meditation, kayaking, ecology, and local culture. The cost includes 30 hours of yoga and meditation instruction, daily lunches, our kayaking excursion, and guest speakers and gratuities. This yoga retreat is designed for those with at least one year yoga experience. For more information visit Sea to Sky Yoga Adventures. All international inquiries should be addressed to Ruth via email at ruthbw@shaw.ca Local inquires can be made to Rocio at rociomadrazoeventos@y ahoo.com, www.seatoskyyoga.com, $390 USD per person. NOV 10-24: Morelia International Music Festival “Miguel Bernal Jimenez” Morelia, Mich. Named in honor of the founder of the Morelia Children’s Choir who wanted to make Morelia the Salzburg of the Americas. 15 days of concerts from artists from 17 different countries, including: Great Britain, Denmark, Hungary, Poland,Austria, Ireland, Spoain, France, Romania, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, Germany & Mexico. www.festivalmorelia.com for more information. ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

DEC 8: ZIH GALERIA painter Marco Bustamante exhibition opening, Zihuatanejo 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. ZIH Galeria is located at Juan N Alvarez #290, just behind the pier in central Zihuatanejo. Tel. (755) 554-8054, 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 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 depections of saints, archangels, and of course, the Virgin of Guadalupe, in miniature. DEC 28: Intercultural Communication, Book-signing, Q&A, at Restaurant

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. TBA DEC 2007: Mexican Traditional and Alternative Medicine Conference, Zihuatanejo, Gro. Workshops on ancient practices for health and healing offered by healers or curanderas working with these techniques. Date & Location TBA. 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, David Román Porcayo, M.A., www.mesoamericano.org, davidroman88@hotmail.com

DEC 22: Mexican Rock Concert, 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

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RealEstate November 2007

another day in paradise

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

ADiP 40

By Maura Taylor Photo by Catherine Krantz

hink Palapa and suddenly visions are evoked of tropical places, white sandy beaches, cool ocean breezes and deliciously refreshing fruity alcoholic beverages. The actual word palapa has several different meanings, depending on which culture it is being used in. The Indonesians define it as fruits of labor, the Mayans use it to refer to a home, a place where daily rituals and celebrations are performed, and in general use, the word palapa refers to any of the thatched roof covered structures, we see today. And while palapas may seem exotic to us extranjeros, they’ve actually been in Mexico for about 2,000 years now. Simple versions of the palapa can be found in coastal regions anywhere from Bali to Brazil, although the palapa rooftops that dot the scenery above La Ropa beach are a bit more refined. These palapas are typically made from a specific type of palm called the Mexican Fan, a heavily armed species of palm native to canyons and wet marshes throughout North Western Mexico. The palm frond of this species is sought because of it’s durability against the natural elements.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Maura Taylor lives in Zihua and serves as intermediary and design consultant for home remodeling, restoration and condo finishing projects in Zihua and the surrounds. She can be reached by phone or email: zihua cell# (755) 556-2624 or destinozihua@gmail.com

Palapas are fairly easily constructed; the fronds are cut from the palm trees and are either already dried (they dry up when the palm no longer needs them) or they are laid out to dry in the sun. Then the dried fronds are woven snugly through a wooden support structure and even if the palapa comes apart, it can usually be reassembled. When constructed correctly, palapas are particularly effective in resisting heavy winds by letting the air flow through the fronds, and are effective in resisting the salt spray and significant rainfall common to tropical areas like Zihuatanejo. In most cases, the fronds are not chemically treated, though a coat of varnish can be used underneath, which makes the woven fronds look more attractive from the inside. Some palaperos (a person who builds palapas) will also use what is called a petate or woven mat that covers the underside of the palapa and acts as an additional waterproofing layer. Though easily constructed, palapa roofs are

not always the most economical choice. Palm fronds are often priced per frond, so depending on the size of the palapa you want to build; you may be looking at a pretty hefty price tag. Some less expensive palm fronds can be found, however they are usually of a lesser quality and will have to be replaced more often than the Mexican Fan Frond, which generally has a life span of about five years. Palapas can be formed to any size, from a small poolside umbrella to the impressive rooftop palapa and open sided construction found at La Casa Que Canta hotel, which keeps its guests cool, even on the hottest and most humid summer days. Simply constructed and elegant to look at, from outside or in, palapas are a mainstay of coastal architectural design and a palpable choice for those who decide to construct their dream home or business here in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

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exico is a wonderful and very beautiful country. If you enjoy your visit you may begin to think about acquiring a bit of our paradise. We have mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, deserts and seashore in Mexico. We also have history, ancient cultures, handcrafts, folklore and many other things to share. Buying property in ANY country can be stressful. A property purchase in Mexico can be just as safe and secure as in the U.S. or Canada… IF it is done correctly! Here are some guidelines for success in a real estate acquisition in Mexico: 1. Be sure the agent you select to represent you is a member of AMPI, the Mexican National Real Estate Association. Ask for references, check them out. Be satisfied the person representing you is experienced in Mexican transactions. 2. Insist that the person representing you, represent ONLY you, the buyer, and not also the seller unless you understand, agree to and sign an agency disclosure agreement. 3. Consider only the purchase of PRIVATE property. Ejidal property is often offered at a far lower price but it cannot legally be sold or promised to be sold until it becomes private property. 4. Be certain that you and your agent are dealing ONLY with the owner of record or his or her legitimate power of attorney. Insist upon receiving a copy of the seller’s deed as a condition of your offer. If you and /or your agent don’t understand Spanish, get it translated. 5. Avoid costly and time consuming litigation, insist upon including a binding arbitration clause in your contracts with the seller and other parties involved. 6. Get a title investigation and buy title insurance for the full amount of your purchase price. While the initial search may seem expensive for some areas, the title policy transfers the risk to

the insurance company and minimizes your risk as the buyer. 7. Think carefully about how you acquire title in order to avoid or minimize probate and transfer costs in the future. 8. Closing costs may run from 13% to 20% of the cost of a $50,000 dollar property! The multimillion dollar property will be about 3.5% of purchase price. Certain costs are fixed regardless of value. Be sure to budget for closing costs and get a full estimate in writing from the company supervising your transfer. 9. The major portion of your payment for the property should be withheld or held in escrow until the deed has been signed by the seller and, if applicable, the bank trustee (if a fideicomiso). 10.INSIST upon receiving a registered title document for your property. If the seller is financing the property, sign a document protecting his interests in the event of your default. Be SURE you know the amount that is declared on your deed and understand the tax implications of same. 11. Use an experienced neutral third party to supervise the transfer of title to you.

Copyright 2003, 2004, Courtesy of Linda Neil and AMPI Honor and Justice Commission, Los Cabos. All rights reserved by Consultores Phoenix, S.C., and The Settlement Company ABOUT THE AUTHOR: LINDA NEIL is the founder of The Settlement Company, which specializes in real estate transfers and escrows. Licensed as a California real estate broker, she has pursued her profession in Mexico for over thirty years. Memberships: FIABCI, AMPI and NAR. Linda is serving her second term as a member of the National Advisory Council of AMPI and is the AMPI Coordinator for the state of Baja California Sur. She is a co-author of the NAR course, “Doing Business in Mexico.” For further information, please contact The Settlement Company: in Mexico: 01-800-627-5130 International: 1-877-214-4950 or 011-52-612-123-5056, E-mail info@settlement-co.com, http://www.settlement-co.com

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By John K. Glaab, CIPS Hornberger in NEW NAR® Post For more than a decade, Jeffrey Hornberger served as International Market Development Manager for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) during that time, he made many friends and contacts in AMPI Los Cabos, AMPI across Mexico and within NAR’s 57 affiliate associations. In addition to his achievements in working with AMPI, he was successful in various projects in Brazil, Panama and Spain. I first met Jeff in Aguascalientes at the first annual meeting of the 43% Club.This group had been established the year before at the AMPI Conference in Merida. It brought together AMPI members from the restricted zone, places such as Acapulco, Cancun, Mazatlan and Los Cabos. Its purpose was to exchange information and discuss problems common to those marketing Mexican real estate in the “Forbidden Zone.” Jeff, Jan Tarnow (then Manager of NAR’s Resort group) Linda Neil and I met in Chicago, following NAR’s 2001 Annual Conference. Jeff and Jan came to Los Cabos in the summer of 2002 to check out facilities for the first annual Resort Marketing Forum. This took place in Los Cabos in February 2003. Several would follow in places like Cape Cod, Hawaii and Vail. According to feedback from resort marketers, the one in Los Cabos was the best in terms of location, organization and educational content. AMPI celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2006. This was marked by the signing of a joint venture between AMPI and NAR®. There are many benefits to AMPI members, including automatic membership in NAR®. Jeffrey Hornberger was one of the architects of this initiative. He will be missed by many in our industry. Jeff has become Managing Director Member Development, Commercial Real ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.

estate for NAR®. Meanwhile at AMPI headquarters, Barabara Gaxoet has replaced Vanessa Finson as Director, International Relations AMPI/NAR®

CIPS instructor, Jorge Cantero of Miami

Latin America Real Estate Investment Conference, Florida Real Estate Investment World Latin America is the gathering place for experienced players and new entrants in this growing market. Twenty seven industry sectors were represented at the gathering held September 26-28th at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida. Among the Sectors represented were Institutional and Private Investors, Asset Management Companies, Insurance and Pension Funds, Hotel Groups, Investment Advisors. Lawyers, Property Securitization, Real Estate Brokers and Agencies, and Regulatory Bodies. Among the topics discussed were: Real Estate Financing in Latin America, Trends and Innovation, Latin American Real Estate, The Latin American Growth Story, Country Sector Analysis of the Latin American Market: What’s Hot and What Isn’t, Mexico’s Increasing Appeal, Trends in the Leisure and Resort Market and Growth in Primary and Secondary Housing Development.

Linda Neil

Panelists for the Growth in Primary and Secondary Housing Development session represented a variety of special practitioners. Contributors to the panel included, Dr. Marcus Engleman, CEO, One World Healthcare Group, Mathew Bishop, CEO Cortez Development Group. Tom Kelly Real Estate Editor/Journalist, and from Baja California Sur, Linda Neil, Director, Linda Neil Properties. Sam Zell, a U.S. born billionaire, real estate entrepreneur and Chair of Equity Group Investment made the following observation, “Big picture economic fundamentals, politics and recent laws welcoming foreign investments

John McCarthy, former General Director of FONTATUR

are helping to trigger building sprees in residential and commercial properties: The Latin market has changed dramatically over the years and is becoming increasingly sophisticated.” Moon Over Miami Jose Manuel Palli left Cuba in 1960 for Buenos Aires, Argentina. There he graduated from law school. Next stop was Miami. He became involved in title insurance first with the First American Title Insurance Company and later with his own company, World Wide Title. A real pioneer, he is considered by many as the Grandfather of title insurance in Mexico. Jose Manuel worked very hard in the Los Cabos area and helped issue many of the first title insurance polices in Baja California Sur. Recently José Manuel and his lovely wife Marcia, hosted an Argentinean style BBQ at his home in Coral Gables. The purpose was to host a group of colleagues and friends who were in Miami to attend, Real Estate Investment World Latin America. Those attending represented a large spectrum of people from the Mexican real estate industry. Coming from Stewart Title Guaranty Company, in Houston were Michael Skalka, Chairman & CEO. Stewart International and Mitch Creekmore, Senior Vice President with Stewart. John McCarthy former Director General of FONATUR, (the economic development arm of Mexico’s tourism department) and his partner Gustavo Ripol were there from Mexico City. John is now with Altavista Partners as CEO. This company is working on a large new development on the East Cape of the Baja Peninsula. Arriving from La Paz, Baja California Sur were myself, John Glaab of The Settlement Company, and Linda Neil of Linda Neil Properties. Tom Kelly was there from Seattle. Tom is referred to as, “The Real Estate Communicator.” He co-authored with Mitch Creekmore, the book, “Cashing In On a Second Home in Mexico.” It had been a rainy week in Miami. At one point during the evening, Jose Manuel pointed at the clear sky and said, “Look, moon over Miami!” ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Glaab was in attendance at Real Estate Investment World Latin America reporting for Another Day in Paradise magazine where he has acted as national and international Real Estate correspondent for over three years, and will have more posts from this important event and others next month. For more information contact: john.glaab@settlement-co.com

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By Jay Eshbach

ill you to run out of money in retirement? What happens if the “boom” in “boomer” is the sound of your retirement portfolios running out of money long before you’ve run out your youthful life force? If unprepared many baby-boomers face the prospect of running out of money in retirement! As a Financial Planner I am suggesting to more and more of my clients’ that their retirement portfolios include some form of guaranteed income. I am seeing more baby boomers who are woefully ill prepared for retirement. Based on numerous statistics it wouldn’t surprise me if the unthinkable--running out of money in retirement--happens to 50% of them. And that % could be even higher. Baby boomers have their heads in the sand when it comes to retirement. Two-thirds of Americans believe they will have the same lifestyle in retirement as they do now, even though less than 42% have ever bothered to calculate their retirement needs, according to a study by the Employee Benefit Research

Institute (EBRI). The U.S. Department of Commerce reports the average savings rate is now close to (-)1.7%, (yes that is a minus) and the average savings for retirement is a pitiful $50,000. According to Price and Associates, 80% of top executives who are making between $500,000 and a million dollars a year in income (not net worth!) are worried about running out of money in retirement, and with good cause, as it is likely to happen at all levels of society. To compound the situation, boomers will have a longer retirement than any other generation. I have clients that have been retired for as long as 30 years! Some people might end up being retired longer than they actually worked! So let’s connect the dots: Baby boomers are likely to run out of money in retirement. It is going to be a big surprise to them. Investors hate surprises. Retirees who have run out of money do not have many alternatives, and the alternatives they do have are unpleasant. A retiree than runs out of money can: (a) go back to work (if they are physically able and they can find someone willing to hire them);

(b) decrease their spending dramatically; or (c) die. These are some of the reasons more and more people are looking for guaranteed income during retirement. Options? With CD rates on the decline what is a retiree to do? I would suggest looking at higher yielding Corporate Bonds, Fixed Annuities (with guaranteed income for life) or Variable Annuities (with guaranteed income for life). Sure with these options you are not going to have 10% and 20% rates of return each year, but you are also not going to run out of money. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jay Eshbach is 62 and has been a Financial Planner for 20 years. He manages over $100,000,000.00! 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@esbach.com or www.eshbach.com. Securities offered through J.W. Cole Financial, Inc.

Books Mother Nature/My Nature, Owen Lee’s new book on ecology now available through amazon.com. Prisoner in Paradise, also available through amazon.com, for delivery in Zihuatanejo, call Owen 755-102-7111 or owenzih@yahoo.com.

Employment 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. 755-544-8023, info@adip.info. AD SALES - SALES MANAGER for Bar & Restaurant Guide – must be able to work evenings and nights. Full time position, salary plus commission. Must be dependable, reliable, professional with computer skills, sales skills, people skills. Bi-lingual a plus, own transportation a plus. 755-544-8023, info@adip.info. 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. 755-544-8023, info@adip.info.

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.

Investment and Business Opportunities 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.

Language Schools ¡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

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.

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

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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. $385,000 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. $385,000 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

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@mexicobeachpro perty.com

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

*Spacious floor plans Tel. 755 555 0382

Beachfront home on one acre for sale in Pantla Beach. This furnished 2 bedroom 2 bath 2700 square foot home with 1000 square foot casita has 40 meters of beach frontage, marble floors, high ceilings, modern kitchen and is offered at $575,000. Contact John Murphy at (755) 554-0719 or email john@mexicobeachproperty.com.

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

ACCESS TO PLAYA EL PALMAR, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. It’s a condominium like the must exclusive resort. $510,000 USD Just make an offer!!! Gloria Pérez, Prudential California Realty Ixtapa/ Zihua, Tel. 011 52 (755) 544 8787, 011 52 (755) 544 8788 www.pruzi.com.mx, info@pruzi.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

Brand New 2 & 3 Bedroom Condominius in small and private complex located on the golf course. Each condominium is finished with wood cabinetry, closets and doors, high quality kitchen appliances, tempered glass in the bathroom showers and beautiful detailing throughout. STARTING AT $165,000.00 USD. Gloria Pérez, Prudential California Realty Ixtapa/ Zihua, Tel. 011 52 (755) 544 8787, 011 52 (755) 544 8788 www.pruzi.com.mx, info@pruzi.com.mx

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

Perfect Investment Opportunity in Saladita Over one acre land with beachfront, amazing views of the ocean and simply stunning Mexican sunsets. Direct access to water, electricity and the public road. It is a must-see. One look and you will fall in love. Price $350,000 USD Gloria Pérez, Prudential California Realty Ixtapa/ Zihua, Tel. 011 52 (755) 544 8787, 011 52 (755) 544 8788 www.pruzi.com.mx, info@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

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 $530,000 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 www.remaxixtapa.com

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 $750,000 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 $245,000 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 $380,000 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

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$235,000 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

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. Cynthia@lacasaencantada.com Tel. (01) 434-342-3492 ©Another Day in Paradise ®, Mexico 1999. All Rights Reserved.