GUELAGUETZA: A Traditional Pre-Hispanic Festival in Southern Mexico November 16, 2009

A peculiar colorful celebration in the America takes place in the core of the southern of Mexico. The guelaguetza is one of the most important celebrations in the country it consist in dance typical music of the zone of Oaxaca Mexico. This event year to year is celebrated in a hill, and names ‘Lunes del Cerro’.

The 2009 celebrations were in July 20 and 27. There is in an auditorium like the antique Greek theater and is in the Fortin Hill, this event also is realized in other towns like Central Valleys, Zaachila, Cuilapan de Guerrero, San Antonino Castillo Velasco, Tlacochahuaya, Reyes and Villa de Etla etc.

 Guelaguetza is a festival that has a base the religion of the indigenes of theregion and it is appropriate to the party of Saint Carmen that is two Mondays after July 16; however the event is a mix  of religions because also the festival is dedicated to indigenous gods particularly Miztec the god of Corn, Centeotl and the Zapotec. In the celebrations a woman is chosen to represent the god of corn, she participate the Sunday before the event.  

The word Guelaguetza has many means but the more recognized are that comes from the Zapotec language and means ‘reciprocal exchanges of gifts and services’ confirm by the historians. The people want to represent the exchange of food and everything that they can give, this tradition was of their ancestors Zapotecas.

 For that Guelaguetza derives of the Zapotec term guendalezaa that means present and offer basically nevertheless this term was distort by the Spanish colonization but the essential mean of first give and then receive has been maintained until our times

The presents or gifts in Guelaguetza is different depend the region, the work of the people are voluntary but exist a tradition names tequio where the work is obligatory and is a social function.

The dances represent the culture and the expressions of each zone of Oaxaca. The 7 regions that represent the guelaguetza are these:

• Los Valles Centrales
• La Sierra Juárez
• La Cañada
• Tuxtepec
• La Mixteca
• La Costa
• El Istmo de Tehuantepec

When the dance of the region is finished, the represents of the zone present to the public many peculiar things like vegetables, fruits and part of their costumes. So the public catch the presents and somepeople return the gifts in form of appreciation.

 The Guelaguetza is not only the dances of the two days on the hill; also consist in folk and gastronomic presentations that were the last two weeks of July. The most important events that were occurred wile guelaguetza are the exhibition of Donaji and the legend of Bani Stui Gul. The Saturday before the dances in the hill is celebrated a parade with the delegations of Guelaguetza, they have a guide of figures of Mache paper that name calendars.   

Article by Saul

Entertainment in Mexico November 14, 2009

This is a very big topic because there are a lot of things that you can do for entertainment, and have fun with those things. I will give you some examples: music, sports, TV, concerts, music reviews, Mexican movie reviews, etc.

In Mexico, there are a lot of things that you can do for entertainment. Entertainment is to have fun with the intention of fixing the attention of an audience or its participants. There are different ways to entertain people, but it depends on the taste of each person, and something very important about how to entertain people is the age of the person, because we know that you are not going to entertain an adult, a child or a baby with the same thing. Obviously they have different ways to have fun.

For example:
- An adult likes to see football games, some cultural expositions, to know about what is happening in the world, to read the news paper, etc.
- A child likes to play football instead of watching it on TV, to see animated cartoons, listening to music, saw movies, etc.
- A baby  likes to cry, to play with his toys, to eat, to destroy the things that he takes, etc.

Mexico is one of the biggest stages of entertainment worldwide. Our culture is unique and it is showed every day in shows, performances and exhibitions to which they are invited to participate. In Mexico you will find that all space is used for cultural expression. The number of theaters and auditoriums is remarkable, but you may also find that even in a simple square you can enjoy a show.

But Mexico also receives the best of art and show business. If you visit the biggest cities of Mexico, you can see the concert or recital of some world-renowned artist, or also to met important people in some shows.

After the excitement of witnessing a show, you’ll want to continue the party. That’s why the Mexican people know how to enjoy the nightlife and for that purpose it has hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs to do so. Furthermore, we like to share these spaces and our joy with those who visit us.

Guanajuato has a lot of shows that are recognized in Latin-American, and also in the entire world, I will tell you some of them:

   -Festival Cervantino
   -Expresión en Corto
   -Festival de Órgano
   -Rally Corona
   -Guanajuato en Globo
   -Muerte en Cartelera
   -Muestra de Cine de Horror

If you are from another country or also if you want to know more about Mexico and its mystery, even if you are from here, you can visit a lot of places where you can see the history of this wonderful republic and all its magnificent cultures.

I will tell you some current places that you have to see if you want to be impressed.

   -Chichen Itzá
   -Cancún
   -Guanajuato
   -Ixtapa
   -Monterrey
   -Palenque
   -Rivera Maya

Mexico has a lot of places that are very important and if I put all of them here, I will not have enough room.

Because of this and all the things that make Mexico a magnificent place, you have a lot of things to do for entertainment and I swear you that you will not get bored  at any time.

*Article written by Saul*

Mazatlan November 12, 2009

Mazatlan is known as the Pearl of the Pacific for the beauty of its beaches and its rich marine life.

Since long before the Spanish arrived in these lands, the place of Mazatlan and was known to sailors who ventured in these latitudes and was known as the “Islands of Mazatlan.”

In Mexico Mazatlan is known as a paradise and a place to vacation. For Easter break most tourists go to celebrate Easter and the carnival that is celebreted in that city.

From the way to the Zona Dorada, Mazatlan is a jewel that every Mexican tourist, is required to visit.

Each year during Holy Week thousands of tourists come to celebrate Easter to have fun on the beach like everyone else.

The city is concentrated in two areas: In the north, there is the Zona Dorada (Golden Zone) where the majority of hotels and restaurants are located. In the south there is El Centro (downtown) where the heart of the city is. These two centres are linked by Avenue Del Mar, also known as the Malecón, which is a scenic beach-front avenue that bridges the gap between the two areas.

Mazatlan on the other hand is a city that discovered it had a beach out front and became a resort almost as an afterthought.

Because of its lengthy focus on industry, Mazatlan came late to the discovery that its miles and miles of sand beaches offered an asset that had never been exploited: a prime tourist attraction. The first couple of hotels, in the area of Old Mazatlan called Olas Altas, served primarily as lodging for sportsfishermen from the U.S. and Canada.

Mexico: A country full of history, entertainment, beaches and more! November 9, 2009

Mexico, a country full of natural and cultural wealth, is full of endless activities, as are the cultural, sports and even the food is converted into entertainment because of variety of products.

In Mexico, you can enjoy extreme sports, a day of culture and history, monuments, museums and cities or towns.

Would you like a ride to the past? As this is the right place, Mexico is rich in historical sites, since history is present in every corner of this beautiful country.

You can see ancient pyramids of our biggest civilizations such as: Aztecs, Olmecs, Mayas, Toltec’s and more. But certainly you should never pass through Mexico without having visited the ancient Teotihuacan City, and both pyramids: the Sun and the Moon. Without a doubt, these pyramids are the two most impressive constructions in Mesoamerica. In addition, you can visit the 10 colossal heads of the Olmec and its 80 monuments found in the region of Tabasco.

It also has one of the 7 wonders of the world and major archeological sites in Chichen Itza, founded in the year 525 b.C in the state of Yucatan. It was a ceremonial center of many civilizations which is considered as the heritage of humanity.   

Not only has this ancient civilization left its footprint, but you can also enjoy the buildings from our fist emperor to the porfiriato. An example of this may be the corn exchange of Grandaditas where the famous “Pipila”, Juan Jose de los Reyes Martinez Amaro made his major achievement, putting a big stone on his back, up to the door and set fire to help achieve undertaken Mexico’s Independence.

There is also the castle of Chapultepec, which was enacted in 1883 as headquarters of the military academy and that the September 13, 1847 was the scene of an attack bye the Americans who were confronted bye six cadets.

Or maybe you’ll prefer come to our famous Cervantes Festival, taking its origins thanks to Miguel de Cervantes, who began with student groups from the university of Guanajuato, which began with students groups making street theater, took prominence and in 1972 took its present name Cervantino. The plays are famous in almost all parts of the world and are performed on streets and in squares.

But if you do not like history and would like to relax, you can do and visit our beautiful beaches such as Acapulco, Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta where you can enjoy nightclubs, parks, restaurant, and shopping malls, among many other things. Besides enjoying various water activities like diving, or even of you like fishing is also a good option you can enjoy a high-teach yacht, whether for walking, having a romantic dinner, parties or even stay away a bit of noise and either relax in the middle of the ocean, or maybe in a comfortable-luxurious spa, as the eastern spa or Health Club, among others.

If you prefer a little more active activities such as extreme sports, come and visit San Luis Potosi where you can enjoy nature and outdoor visiting their villages, ruins, waterfalls, rivers, caves and more. With a lot of:  fun, sun, action and adventure!

Article written by Sim

Yucatán, a place to visit November 7, 2009

Yucatán is a Mexican state located in southeast of the country and in the north of the peninsula which has the same name. Although the weather there is extremely hot, it´s one of the most advanced states of this country and surprisingly the safest. There are a lot of interesting things in this Mexican state, but some of the most important are:

Chichen Itzá: This is one of the most important archaeological sites in Yucatán and the most important vestige of the Mayan culture, also considered a wealth for humanity by the UNESCO. Chichen Itzá is made up of  several Mayan constructions but the most interesting and important is the Kukulcan´s pyramid. In the main stairs of this pyramid, during the equinox day  a snake can be seen  going down from the top of the pyramid to the base. This show of shadows and movement represents the travel of Kukulcán from the top of the pyramid to the earth. It should be mentioned that Kukulcán was the most important god for the Mayans. Well this is the most worth while place in Chichen Itzá.

The crater of Chicxulub: This crater is located in the Yucatan Peninsula, in the town which has the same name of the crater. According to the NASA, this is the place where a meteorite of ten kilometers of diameter impacted sixty five million years ago ending with all the dinosaurs in the earth. The Mexican government is going to open a new ecological interactive park, called the “Meteorito Park” in the nearby area to the crater. This park will be formed by an Interactive museum, a planetarium an observatory and a minizoo. This park will have the support of the special Agency of the United States, the Navarra University of Spain and the National Geographic Society.

Finally, you must visit, a beach called “Progress Port”, which is one of the best beaches in Yucatán. This is an ideal place to practice all sort of aquatic sports, like Tablavela, Wind surf and Kayaking. In this place you can walk over the main malecon and enjoy of the traditional food of Yucatan such as Cochinita Pibil and Stewed Deer. The water of this beach is so clear and quiet that it makes doing windsurf easy and fishing tournaments fun. Besides the quiet water make this beach the ideal place to swim for people of all ages from old ones to little children, without being at any risk.

These are some places you should visit in Yucatán. Enjoy your stay!

Mexico and Ecotourism November 7, 2009

In México there are 22 natural reserves, 47 national parks and 9 protected areas. In these places you can see several landscapes like forest, jungles, deserts, and others. In all the 32 states you will find ecotourism.

Barrancas del Cobre: Is found near the settlement of Urquel and Creel, the gullies are in the center of the national park of gullies of copper, this gully has a depth of 1300m and its name is because in this place there were copper mines.

Chichén Itzá: Here you can find the cenote of Dzitnup and Zací, the cenote is a underground camera, in which you can see the turquoise color of the water, you also can go diving in the cenotes. These cenotes were the first resources of water of the Maya culture.

Zona del Silencio: It is located within the Biosphere Reserve Mapimí Bolson, 318 km northeast of the city of Durango. It is a mysterious area characterized by the absence of sound. Here you will find fragments of meteorites, and species of desert flora and fauna, such as grasslands and cactus and jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, foxes, coyotes, owls and desert tortoises.

Zona arqueológica de Palenque: Located only 8 km from the town of the same name, is one of the main cities that the Mayans inherited and it is  a delight for lovers of ecotourism, as it has trails that lead through the forest to various temples and to the beautiful waterfalls where Montiepá, with the passage of time and running waters, have come to form certain shapes with special features on the rocks.

Sótano de las Golondrinas: Cave of Swallows. It is located over 300 km southeast of San Luis Potosi, on highway No.. 70. This is a protected natural area of 285 ha.,  an important geologic its 512 m deep that protects a unique ecosystem. Here, at dawn and dusk, you can witness the flight of hundreds of birds and bats who have made this their natural habitat.

Kayaking, motocross, climbing, swimming, base jumping, you name it. Mexico has a world of natural resources where you can do a infinite number of recreative activities.

If you have more interst about Mexico you can search in this website: http://www.visitmexico.com/wb2/Visitmexico/Visi_Home?show=regions

HERMOSILLO November 6, 2009

HERMOSILLO, SONORA  A city full of culture.

   

The intention of this city in its beginnings was that the Spanish people were detaining the advance of the natives of the seris and tepocas, two important cultures in this city. But that Holiest so called Trinidad del Pitic expands now proudly, loaded with history, traditions and a promising future.

 

One of the most important capitals of Mexico opens the doors to his visitors every day to give them a taste of the great city.

Besides being an industrial city Hermosillo offers a lot of options for those that look for entertainment, art, culture, history or beautiful beaches like could de Kino’s Bay. Anyway, this city will make you get really surprised.

If you come to Hermosillo and you don’t know where to have dinner, a meal or something, here I give you this three options for you to come here. You will enjoy it.

STEAKS DEL HERRADERO

This is a very nice restaurant where you will find a lot of great meals. It’s speciality is the meat, and you know that in the northern part of this country the meat is better than any other in the whole country. Besides the atmosphere is great, it has someone playing the piano while you eat.  Here  is the address:

(662)214-4045  (662)215-8406
BLVD NAVARRETE 85, Col. LA HUERTA, C.P. 83208 

 

CESARETTI CAFE-ARTE

In this cafe you’ll learn about everything, because this is a cafe with an art exhibition area. This cafe loves everything relationated with art, paintings, photography’s and other things that you can enjoy watching them at the same time you have your coffee. Also, sometimes they sell the art that are in exhibition. Here is the address: 

(662)212-3914
OAXACA 148, Col. HERMOSILLO CENTRO, C.P. 83000

 And finally…

TOPETES MARISCOS

As you know, Hermosillo is very closed to the sea, indeed it has a very nice seafood. So if you don’t want to miss a new experience by tasting the seafood that “Topetes Maricos” offers you, you can’t forget to go to this place. Also it has a nice place, where kids can play on the outside. Here is the address:

(662)260-3713
LUIS ENCINAS SN, Col. OLIVARES, C.P. 83100

 

 

And if you want to have some fun, enjoying the sun you should go to Puerto Peñasco. It is a paradise newly discovered. It is famous for being a refuge of adventurers and fishermen. Thes beaches are the mainly attraction for the visitors because in them it is possible to practice the jet ski,  boat riding, fishing,  sailing, or simply going on a relaxing walk.

 

Also you can come and visit San Carlos, New Guaymas that is characterized for being a beautiful port.  The landscape, desert vegetation and a sea of blue color are the combination of a special touch that makes a desire to explore the place, going fishing and entering to the submarine world.

 

And finally you can come and visit the Kino’s Bay (Bahia de Kino). Here the visitor finds the ideal place to relax and enjoy a lot beach activities like aquatic sports, also you can swim in its calm waters, diving, practicing other sports like fishing or walking along its nice sand.

 Remember that there are so many more things to do here in Hermosillo. This city is full of history, and good experiences that you can live with your friends and family. You just have to pick a date and come to visit us. We will be waiting for you here!. 

BY: Maria Soto Ferraris 

Beaches in Mexico November 6, 2009

Mexico is surrounded on two sides by sea, has many coast zone and many beaches. On the west side we finde the Pacific Ocean and on the east side is the Atlantic Ocean. The best known beaches in Mexico are the beaches of Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, Playa del Carmen, Cancun,etc. The Mexican beaches have many places to go to visit and relax.

Acapulto is very attactive thanks to it natural beauty, and it  always have a surprise for you! It is guaranteed fun for adults, kids, teenagers, etc. It is recognized worldwide as a synonym of relaxation and fun. Although lately Acapulco was bad cared for and the tourists came to a dirty place, the water is not as clear as the Puerto Vallarta beaches.

Puerto Vallarta is the friendliest city in the world for tourists who have never visited Mexico. Visiting  around Puerto Vallarta is recommended because is really beautiful. It has the best hotels you that can imagine and water sports of all kinds and for all ages. Also you can rent “jet skies” and the classic… the parachute to watch the city from the high…

Ixtapa is a very well known place for its “handicrafts” and small beaches. Thanks to its location the climate is very pleasant as it is not a humid beach like other beaches and it is so warm, you will like it.In conclusion, Mexican beaches are well know around the world, their location helps with warm water since it is not cold like other beaches around the world, and the culture, the people, and the hotels make a great experience to feel.


Cancun has a very good tourism  place due to their Mayan history and culture. Something really interesting is the amount of  festivals that the people do there! They are so crazy. The sand is very beuatiful there and it is the beach with the “softest” sand of all mexico. One of the most popular activities in this beach is diving due to its crystalline waters. This is a great experience –  you need to try it!

Pyramids in Mexico November 6, 2009

Mexico has a lot of pyramids in all its territory, but more in the center of the country. We can find them in Guanajuato, Mexico, Puebla, etc. where we can see the culture of our ancestors, seeing their buildings that are now one of the most important things of our country of great value.

The Mayan culture had ceremonial architecture, including temple-pyramids, palaces and observatories, made of stone and without tools. They having their buildings in areas of forest and jungle, with good land, where they  practice the agriculture. The most important pyramid is the Great Pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtepetl which means “artificial mountain” located in Cholula, Puebla. It was dedicated to their god Quetzalcoatl. You can see the Popocatepetl volcano that is near to the architecture. It has five miles of tunnels into the pyramid that everyone can see.

But the most recognized pyramids in Mexico are the ones located in what is now the San Juan Teotihuacán municipality in the State of México, approximately 40 kilometers northeast of Mexico City – the pyramids of Teotihuacan. It has a lot of pyramid structures and having a place called “Avenue of the Dead” that connects the pyramids being like a large street. The name of the civilization was called “teotihuacanos” and was one of the principal cities of the region and of a long period until the Aztecs arrived. This is one of the most archeological places visited in Mexico.

About their religion…

They have a lot of gods, each have a meaning or represented something of the nature (rain, dark, corn, etc), between the most important are the Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl) and Rain God (Tlaloc).

They sacrifice humans and animals since a ritual for them was killing their victims and in some occasions offering that bodies to their gods in some of the architectures that they made. The animals have for them a meaning of power like the wolf, eagle, snake, etc.

The principal pyramids were the Pyramid of the Sun making it the third largest pyramid in the world behind the Great Pyramid of Cholula and the Great Pyramid of Giza; and the Pyramid of the Moon being older than the other and constructed in 200 A.D. It´s  real name is Tenan which in Nahuatl means “mother or protective stone”.

In Guanajuato we have a lot of variety of pyramids in all the state like The Peralta (Abasolo), Cañada de la Virgen (San Miguel de Allende), El Cóporo (Ocampo) and Plazuelas (Pénjamo).

So don’t wait to see these amazing places with a lot of culture and history, being some of many important things that we have in Mexico.

Tourism in Cancun!! November 4, 2009

CANCUN 

Cancún  is a coastal city in Mexico’s easternmost state, Quintana Roo, on the Yucatán Peninsula.

 TOURISM

Cancun is a  veru big place that have 24,000 rooms and 380 restaurants. Many visitors come to Cancun daily.

Cancun have a hotel zone where you can choose the best option for you. Every hotel have a swimming pool, lobby and many attractions.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Cancun features all kinds of tourist attractions and entertainment, which are based both on and away from Cancun’s beaches.  In this big city you can find a lot of thing to do and have a lot of fun like…

Water Sports / Scuba Diving
Water sports, scuba diving and snorkelling have all become leading attractions aroundCancun. Practice this sport is very funny if you like extreme sports!!!

Dolphin Discovery
If  you like animals like dolphin ”Dolphin Discovery” is the best option. In this place you can interact with the dolphins. Is located in Isla Mujeres and you can live a good experiences.

 

Interactive Aquarium Cancun
A great way to spend a day out is to visit the Interactive Aquarium Cancun, where a host of quality attractions await.  Here you can find fish of all sizes and colors. You can see them closely.

MayaVentura

And finally Maya Ventura  is a unique and most attractive place of Cancun. Because you have to find all the treasures and is a great challenge. You can do it!