Posts Tagged ‘Mexico’
Personal Vision
For those planning a Mexico vacation, a visit to the Sierra Madre in the western region of the country will be one of the highlights. This is the homeland of the Huichol Indians, one of the few indigenous peoples to resist the Spanish conquest and the catholicism brought with it.
Numbering less than 20,000, their greatest concentrations can be found in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. Their settlements are scattered in an area that is ruggedly beautiful with mountains, high mesas, and steep canyons.
Their origin is as mystical as their art. Some say they are descendants of the Aztecs, others suggest they originally came from Asia (which would give credence to the thought that they are connected to certain coastal tribes), and others believe they are related to the Hopi Indians of Arizona.
Devotedly spiritual and deeply connected to nature, they believe all life is sacred. Ceremonies revolve around their trinity: deer, corn, and peyote. Inspiration for their art is believed to come from these ceremonies. The vivid colors within the art are part of their interpretation of these visions.
The Huichol believe they evolved from spirit animals, and in some circles they are known as the wolf people. The ability to transform oneself into a wolf is a very old shamanic skill, passed through the ages. However, there are only a select number of shamans who are able to master this technique, and are held in high esteem by their neighbors. The shaman is the vital link between the Huichol and their gods.
Their traditional dress of vibrant colors and exquisitely embroidered symbols on white cotton provides an unmistakable identification. Symbols include deer, jaguar, serpent, eagle, corn, peyote, scorpion, wolf, and many more. Each of these animals is honored and respected in the symbolic world of the Huichol.
The beadwork and yarn paintings of the Huichol are available throughout the country, but commercially, the greatest concentration of their art can be found in Tepic, Nayarit. Some of them set up tables along the west end of the plaza which are then filled with a varied selection.
If the selection at the zocalo is not enough, there are several stores in the vicinity that can provide you with more options. There is also a Huichol co-op with a great selection of beadwork and yarn paintings. If you’re able to establish a connection with one of them, perhaps you’ll be fortunate to visit their community overlooking the city.
The beaded pieces begin with a wood-carved figure that has been allowed to dry. Then a mixture of beeswax and pine resin is applied to the surface of the wood. The artist will use a long pin, quill or any object small enough to insert through the hole of the beads, which are then applied onto the beeswax, one bead at a time. Men, women and children all participate in this application. The women, due to their smaller fingers, are a bit more nimble when applying the beads. All, however, are a pleasure to watch as they move rapidly from color to color and symbol to symbol. Masks, animal figures, offering bowls and ornament pieces are the end result of this tedious process.
For the yarn paintings, a similar technique is employed with the exception that they now work on a flat surface, working with scissors. Today’s yarn paintings are produced using tightly spun acrylic yarn. Older yarn paintings, if you’re lucky enough to find one, were made with wool.
Purchasing Art
When considering a beaded art purchase, there are several things to remember. The bead art comes in two bead sizes: very small and very, very small. The spacing of the beads determines quality. Tightly placed beads with complex designs command higher prices. Even more so with the smaller beaded pieces. With the yarn paintings, look for tightly spun yarn and, like the bead work, closely placed yarn strands.
Because the beeswax mixture is a primary part of the artwork, exercise caution when leaving the piece in extreme heat for extended periods of time. If that occurs, be careful in handling it, placing the piece in a more temperate climate, and your artwork is safe. Properly displayed in your home or office, it will provide years of enjoyment and a glimpse into an other worldly vision.
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Jan 25, 2011
I want to start this discussion by defining three words and they are frugal, austere and cheap.
As used in this Hub, frugal refers to being careful and smart in order to get the most from one’s hard earned money. People who are frugal are not adverse to living well and enjoying the material things in life. They also view money as a tool or means to other ends and not as something to simply accumulate for its own sake.
Austere, on the other hand, refers to rejecting or at least placing little value on material things. Austerity can be both a choice that some people choose in which they limit material goods and comforts to whatever they define is minimally needed and necessary. Austerity can also be imposed by oneself or creditors as a means of digging out from under a load of debt.
Finally, cheap is simply a reluctance to part with money other than when absolutely necessary.
In this Hub, I will discuss cruise using the definition above for frugal. The focus will be on ways to get the most bang for one’s vacation cruise buck rather than limiting travel and travel comfort to what is absolutely necessary or seeking to spend as little as possible when vacationing.
Cruising is a luxury way to travel. However, I discovered it doesn’t have to be expensive. The key, I learned is to understand their business model and know what you want.
The first thing to know is that the fare is pretty much all inclusive. The fare generally includes your cabin, meals and most of the recreational facilities – swimming pools, hot tubs, exercise rooms, rock climbing walls, etc. on board – as well as on board entertainment which includes movie theaters, auditorium with live shows nightly and access to cocktail lounges with live music.
When comparing cruise fare prices to other types of away from home travel you have to divide the total fare by the number of days you will be cruising and then compare that daily rate to what you would normally pay for hotel or motel accommodations per day, the cost of eating out in restaurants each day, car rental or other local transportation costs and the cost of admission fees to activities you expect to engage in each day. Looked at it this way the cost of a cruise can be lower than other types of vacation travel.
In theory, it would be possible to enjoy all of this for the price of your fare and not pay anything else other than optional tips for your cabin steward, restaurant waiters and servers. At the end of the trip you will receive a notice with envelopes and suggested tip amounts for these people. Because of their friendly and excellent service, I always include these tips in my cost planning and pay them.
Fares on a ship vary widely depending upon the type and location of your cabin.
Size varies as it does in motels. However, like motels all cabins generally have a single or double bed, TV, bath closet, bath, desk, a small couch and a couple of chairs. Larger rooms have more room and additional furnishing. Many upper deck larger rooms also come with an outside private balcony. Finally, there are luxury suites.
Location varies from lower to upper decks and interior to exterior rooms. Interior rooms have no windows while exterior rooms along outside walls have windows. Rooms on lower decks tend to feel the the motion of the ship more than other rooms so I usually seek a room on the fifth deck or higher.
If you want to just get away from it all and relax, a larger room with a balcony makes sense and is worth the extra money as you will probably be spending much of your time in your cabin. With thousands of passenger and crew the common areas on deck can become crowded and noisy.
However, if you plan to use your cabin mainly for sleeping and storing your clothes, then it makes sense to pay for a less expensive interior cabin as you will be spending most of your waking hours outside your cabin either somewhere on the ship or on shore excursions while in port.
The above items are one component of a given cruise fare. However, be sure to look at the bottom line fare which is the fare plus taxes and port fees. Depending upon where the cruise takes place and what ports it visits these taxes and fees can sometimes result in the doubling or tripling of the original fare when they are added to the fare. If this is the case search for another cruise that visits different places.
Finally, unless you live in the city from which your cruise is departing, check the airfare from your city to the cruise departure city. Cruises to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Alaska, Mexico, etc. leave from different cities and, depending upon competition and other factors affecting airfares, you might save a considerable amount in airfare by departing from a different city.
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Summer is one of the favorite times to travel, both near and far. But a successful trip takes a lot of detail and planning – especially if you’re ripening in years (I won’t use the -getting old- phrase). It’s true as we ripen we may soften and get a few more bruises and wrinkles and resemble a prune rather than a plum, as they say.
But so what? Don’t let that stop you from traveling! There is fun to be had at any age, no matter what your challenges may be. And we’ve got a ton of ideas to help you plan and organize.
So first ask yourself what your travel goal is. Having an actual goal makes it ever-so-much more exciting. (You do have one, right?) Gourmet cooking perhaps? A winery experience – maybe abroad? A hobby? Historical info? Are you into high adventure? How about metal detecting?
That, in fact, is a fascinating experience. I know an elderly man who metal detects all over the world on a regular basis. He also brings along groups and teaches them how. One of his favorite spots is the beaches of Mexico. He now has a shoe box of diamond and jeweled jewelry that he hauls out for his extended family a couple times a year at gatherings. And they all get to sift through the shoebox and take home a souvenir. Or two. Because he and his wife now have so much gold and diamonds of their own they don’t need or want anymore. All from metal detecting.
Even if you’re a last-minute planner, you’ll want to be at least comfortable. And if you’re a senior, you may have many special considerations to think about – do you know them? Especially if you’re going overseas. Do you really know about the food, drink, sanitation, and-er-bathroom facilities? I mean-really? I can tell you first hand, it is not always what they say in the glossy brochures.
And the way you pack will not only quickly get you through those lines, avoid checking in early, ensure cheaper tips, but will also help you immensely if you end up having to walk all over due to delays and connections. And what about the all-important Thank-God-I-Brought-That Kit? And I’m not just talking about extra underwear, aspirin and a book. I used to be called The Packing Queen, and have lots of ideas for you.
So if you’re considering a trip this summer or fall, stop by at www.elder-one-stop.com (it’s great info for all ages really), and check out our Travel section. And get ready for some fun!
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Puebla was one of the first cities established by the Spaniards which was not built upon the ruins of conquered indigenous settlements making it the most European of all the colonial cities. This led to the rapid development of the Spanish culture and traditions in Mexico. The Spaniards elected an ideal location for their new city, between one of Mexico’s major port cities, Veracruz, and the capital, Mexico City, which made Puebla one of the most important cities in the colonial period.
The population of Puebla was 1,290,094 in 2000. Locals are called Poblanos. The indigenous language of the region, Nhuatl, is still spoken in some areas of the Puebla Valley. The busy city of Puebla, Mexico lies approximately 129 km southeast of the country’s capital, Mexico City and sits at approximately 2,149 meters above sea level. Only 8 years after the city’s founding, Puebla was well on its way to becoming an important industrial, cultural, and educational center. Puebla is well-known for its characteristic colonial architecture, flavorful cuisine, exquisitely decorated Talavera pottery, onyx figures, and unique textiles.
PUEBLA’S NICKNAMES
Puebla has a diverse history as shown in its many nicknames, Angelopolis (City of Angels), City of Tiles, and Heroic City of Zaragoza.
According to fable, a band of angels appeared before one of the founders of Puebla, Bishop Julian Garcs, instructing him on where to locate the new city. Consequently, Puebla has been known as Angelopolis or the City of Angels.
At the Battle of Puebla, only four decades after Mexico’s independence, General Ignacio Zaragoza’s army defeated the French expeditionary forces on May 5, 1862. The much celebrated holiday, Cinco de Mayo and Puebla’s new nickname, Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza, are results of the Battle of Puebla. The citizens of Puebla sided with the French refusing to help the Mexican soldiers. This infuriated Ignacio Zaragoza to write a letter back to Mexico City petitioning to burn down the city. The officials in Mexico City weren’t quite as angry with the Poblanos for not helping the Mexican troops; and instead of having the city torched, they decided to give the city a mockery nickname, Heroic City of Zaragoza, as punishment.
Talavera has been produced in the city since its foundation, and any visitor to Puebla will quickly notice the exquisite pottery that lines many of the churches and streets of the city giving the city yet another nickname, the City of Tiles. This pottery is known as Talavera Poblana, named after the Spanish city, Talavera de la Reina.
TOURISM
Puebla is situated in a moderate climate with sunny day and cool nights. Daytime temperatures generally range from 21.1 – 26.6 degrees Celsius cooling down to 4.4 – 10 degrees Celsius at night. From November to March rainfall is almost obsolete. However, from April through October afternoon rain showers are quite common.
The city streets of Puebla are laid out systematically. Streets running East or West are even-numbered north of El Zocalo, the center square and odd-numbered to the south. Streets running North or South are even-numbered to the east of El Zcalo and odd-numbered to the west.
There are numerous things to do in the city for travelers and tourists. Tours through historic downtown Puebla are given on double-decker busses letting tourists enjoy the city’s architecture, museums, and monuments without the trouble of finding those places on their own. Some of the most popular sites to visit are the African Safari Zoo, the Amparo Museum, and the pyramid of Cholula. The pyramid of Cholula is the largest by base-size and total volume in the New World. The National Museum of Mexican Railroads and the Chihuahua Pacific Railway are also two stops that many visitors make while in Puebla. At the National Museum of Mexican Railroads you can find old steam engines, passenger coaches, diesel engines, and cabooses. The Automobile Museum is a must stop for anyone with love for rare and classic vintage cars. The Automobile Museum houses the Popemobile which was used by John Paul II on one of his visits to Mexico. El Barrio del Artista, located in downtown Puebla, is exceptional for viewing and purchasing great works of art created by local artists.
Built in a mixed neoclassical style, the Puebla Cathedral is one of the most astonishing colonial structures in Puebla. Another impressive structure is the Capilla del Rosario in the Iglesia de Santo Domingo. The Capilla del Rosario, inlaid with gold, is a wonderful example of Mexican baroque. The Biblioteca Palafoxiana, located in the Casa de la Cultura, is a baroque-style library. The library houses 42,000 volumes donated on September 5, 1646 by Spanish bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza. The volumes are beautifully displayed in a carved wood setting.
There are many fascinating archeological sites around the Puebla Valley. The Texcal Cave, near Lake Valsequillo, became a home to humans around 7,000 B.C. Another captivating site is the Tenapa Pyramid in Cholula, which is one of the largest pre-columbian structures in the Americas with a height of 1,315 feet. Another archeological site worth visiting are the polychrome murals at the fortress of Cacaxtla. The polychrome murals date from 600 – 1100 A.D. and are located in the adjacent state of Tlaxcala.
Situated in the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt, the Puebla Valley is the home of many intriguing geologic features. Four volcanoes, Popocatpetl standing at 17,883 feet above sea level, Iztacchuatl standing at 17,338 feet above sea level, La Malinche standing at 14,632 feet, and Citlaltpetl, also known as the Pico de Orizaba, standing at 18,855 feet above sea level, surround the city of Puebla creating an impressive view. Popocatpetl is an active volcano, occasionally spouting water and ash from its core. Snow-capped Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl are located approximately 40 kilometers east of Puebla. La Malinche is situated north of the city and Citlaltepetl is situated to the east. The Valley of Puebla is home to three rivers, the Atoyac, the Alseseca, and the San Francisco River. The Atoyac River runs through the northern, eastern, and southern portions of the Puebla Valley. The Atoyac River flows into the Lake of Valsequillo.
El Centro Histrico, is comprised of approximately 100 blocks in the middle of the city, however, the majority of historic sites lie within a four-block radius of El Zcalo, the central square. In the historic center of Puebla you can find many Spanish colonial-style buildings. Several buildings were severely damaged in the earthquake of 1999. However, most of the historical buildings have been restored while only a few were left in unrepairable condition.
LOCAL CUISINE
Two of Puebla’s most popular dishes are mole sauce and camote. Mole, which is known as Mexico’s national dish, is a spicy cinnamon chocolate sauce served with turkey or chicken, and Camote is baked sweet potatoes topped with crme. Other popular Poblano dishes include chiles en nogada, which is meat-stuffed chilies covered in a walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds, and tacos arabes, which is seasoned pork served in puffy wheat tortillas. A traditional Poblano beverage is rompope, an egg and rum based drink similar to eggnog drank in the United States. The chalupa, a corn tortilla topped with salsa, onions, and meat is also very popular in Puebla.
EDUCATION
Today, there are many options for students in Puebla, with more than 20 universities located within the city. Puebla and its surrounding metropolitan area is home to many top universities, including the state university, Benemrita Universidad Autnoma de Puebla (BUAP), the Universidad de las Amricas, Puebla (UDLA), the Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA), Tecnolgico de Monterrey (ITESM), Universidad Anhuac, Universidad Madero(UMAD), Universidad del Valle de Mxico (UVM), and the Universidad Popular Autnoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP).
HEALTH & SAFETY
If you plan to visit Puebla, you should be aware of some health and safety precautions so that you may enjoy your trip to the fullest. You should not consume tap water in Mexico. With that in mind, you should also be very cautious of home-made beverages, such as horchata and jamaica, and water-based desserts, such as ice-cream, snow-cones, gelatins, and popsicles sold by street vendors. Also, you may want to request your beverages without ice. If you are unsure of the beverage, it is best to get a bottled water or soda. You may consume fruits with skins or hulls such as melons, oranges, peaches, and bananas. Strawberries should be avoided since they are grown on the ground and cannot be peeled.
You should carry Pepto-Bismol tablets, antacid tablets, a small bar of soap, and plenty of towelettes or tissue with you at all times. Many public restrooms do not provide tissue or soap; so you will want to keep these two items handy. Toilet paper should be tossed in the waste basket and not in the toilet due to the out-dated sewage system.
CURRENCY
The majority of stores only accept Mexican pesos as payment. Therefore, you should always carry plenty of cash for shopping, taxis, buses, etc. Many stores will not accept bills larger than $200 pesos which is approximately $20 USD. You will want to carry around $100 Mexican pesos in small change for buses, taxis, and tips. You may exchange your traveler’s checks at any large bank, but traveler’s checks are not recommended due to extremely long waiting periods. The banks in Mexico always have extremely long lines due to the use of cash, instead of checks and cards and the lack of people using internet banking and automatic check deposit. However, if you must go to the bank, you should draw your number, sit down, read, and wait your turn. It is not unusual to wait an hour and even sometimes two hours before the clerks can attend you. The line for the ATM is much shorter. It is advisable to withdraw only small amounts of money at a time. You may use your credit or debit card to make withdrawals from an ATM. However, you should call your bank or credit card agency to inform them that you will be traveling out of the country so that they can activate your card for other countries if needed.
Puebla is an ideal place to vacation, to learn Spanish, or even to relocate with its moderate climate, great location, delicious cuisine, and friendly residents!
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When planning your vacation, if you have decided on Mexico, but want to stay in a smaller city, try Puerto Vallarta. A port city, yet also one with former agriculture as its biggest means of income, some of the reminders of that long gone era are still there. There are still the cobblestone streets in the main area of town, chickens in the streets as are commonly seen all over Mexico, there are locals who are quite friendly and welcoming, the area is close to the ocean as well as the mountains, and there is a flood of visiting people from all over the world almost year round. Puerto Vallarta is truly a popular gay travel vacation city.
There are a variety of fun filled ways to spend your days and nights in Puerto Vallarta. Some gay travelers rent bicycles and work on keeping their leg muscles strong as they bike along the Cuale River. There is sunbathing, sunsets, walking upon miles of white beaches, whale watching on Banderas Bay, horseback riding, and if you are up for a nightlife, there are dance clubs, which are also gay friendly with drag queen shows and in Mexico, the American dollar is worth almost twice as much as the Peso. This means your dollar goes a lot further, making for a very affordable vacation.
Puerto Vallarta is known as a gay friendly city and also boasts five star hotels for all its vacationers. Add in the artistic and magnificent scenery, cozy, quaint, little houses and you’ll understand why visitors come to Puerto Vallarta from not only the United States, Canada and British Columbia, but other countries as well. Because gay travel has increased with the need for more gay friendly vacation destinations, Mexico has become a favorite among all gays, especially in Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. In the latter, if you love art and music, vivid sunsets, amazing sunrises, biking along trails or long strips of sandy white beaches, an exciting night life with over eighteen clubs to choose from, then Puerto Vallarta will quickly become one of your favorite vacation spots for years to come.
There also is Acapulco. Acapulco is famous for its beautiful stretches of white beach, warm, aqua colored ocean, to the comfortable and exotic hotels and home like villas. If you would rather stay in a condominium, those are available to rent also. For an exciting night life, there are gay bars and nightclubs where you and your partner can dance the night away.
Acapulco receives gay tourists from all over the United States and other countries because they cater to gays, making Acapulco an attractive destination. Some of the favorite gay clubs you won’t want to miss are Moons, a fantastic dance club; Club Savage, if you wish to saunter on over to the drag queen performances; Demas, another dance club with loud music, and the place to listen to Latina and American music, is at Cabare Tito beach. Fortunately, Acapulco realizes that their tourism relies on gays vacationing in safety and spending money, so Acapulco makes gay travel more attractive, safer, and more popular every year.
There is even a gay beach in Acapulco called Playa Condesa where partiers frequent, and is also known for its jet ski rentals and para sailing. A little further down are restaurants and a bar, all gay friendly. If you simply want to soak up some sun or sit in the shade, a vendor will be along to rent you an umbrella, chair, and sell you cool refreshing drinks. Gay travel to this beach is the highest in Mexico.
Casa Condesa situated on a hill from the beach, is a very popular gay guesthouse run by gay managers. Gay travelers who have stayed there haven’t wanted to leave Acapulco because the atmosphere is so friendly and safe. When you feel safe, you can relax and have fun. In fact, some felt such a wonderment in Acapulco, they have come back to live permanently.
Still, even if you are going for a vacation only, and you want a friendly, affordable, gay travel destination where you are sure to have fun, privacy when you desire, and acquire many new friends, relax, and enjoy your stay, because you will never regret traveling to Acapulco.
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