[ Official Mexico Guide ] Your Passport to Mexico Travel, Culture, History, and Mexican Food

Mexico, The Giant in Latin America?

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:21:21 GMT

North Americans are not aware of the importance of Mexico in Latin America. What I tell everybody is that this Latin continent is one with two great superpowers: Brazil and Mexico, but with a great influence from Washington.

For what I understand, Latin America is divided into two hemispheres. One goes from the South US, to Colombia. The second hemisphere goes from Venezuela to the Patagonia. The northern hemisphere is lead by Mexico and Colombia, and the approach is "Total Wall Street Capitalism". The influence of the United States is evident, especially in Mexico. Not only for the economic relations, NAFTA, Mexican immigrants in the US or the American expats in Mexico, but for the orientation of POLITICS.

But these days on CNN you'll see Hugo Chávez leading the southern hemisphere of Latin America. These guys are fighting against George Bush's Power. Some leaders like Lula and Fernández are trying to buid capitalist régimes with a "social touch".

Above all, Mexico is trying to have the leadership of the region. Even though, the real Giant in Latin America is socialism, the ghost of Che Guevara, the ideas of Fidel Castro, and over all, populism.

What do you think?

Email us at:
officialmexicoguide@gmail.com

Security in Mexico and Travel Alerts

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:01:55 GMT

So you decided to come to Mexico and are having second thoughts? Maybe it's because of the security alerts in the news. All over Canadian and American media, they fill up their TV segments with travel alerts about Mexico, Asian countries, Central America, etc. Let me give you my point of view in some facts:

- There's just as much crime in Mexico as there is in other countries.

- Crowded cities like Mexico City have more crime than the rest of the country. But of course, if you go to Tehuacán, Puebla, the odds of getting robbed are slim to none.

- Maybe, I'll give you the point about border cities like Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Ciudad Juárez and Tijuana. They have had violent crimes, just like the American border has its crime scene, but I've never seen tourists in trouble.

So let me give you some advice:

- Look like a Mexican and speak some Spanish. Believe me, in cities like Mexico City or Puebla, they have seen many foreigners, actually they like us. A good look would be jeans and a t-shirt, it looks perfectly normal.

- Don't walk around wearing a big sombrero, sandals, and those big tube European backpacks, they will know that you're a tourist and that you carry money with you.

- Bring pesos with you, don't carry foreign currency around expecting that people think you're from another country, it's obvious.

I think I'll talk about this in the next Mexico Travel Tips.

Let me know if you have a question: officialmexicoguide@gmail.com

Teotihuacan: A Mexico Favorite

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:43:41 GMT

Hey guys,

Today I want to talk to you about one of Mexico's favorites. I'm talking about Teotihuacán. Many people have heard of these great pyramids, located at Estado de México (State of Mexico), minutes from Mexico City. It's great, because from the moment you get in the area, the valley is shown in front of your eyes.

Teotihuacán was a religious place for the Teotihuacanos. They believed that the sun and the moon were created there, so they built enormous pyramid monuments to venerate their Gods. The monuments look like the remainings of a great city, along with 3-mile streets (Calzada de los muertos).

Tourists and people get to visit temples, constructions, and museums. I love the fact that the energy this site has accumulated is very powerful, a feeling that something happened there.

My favorite is the pyramid of the sun. You'll have to climb up 162 steps to get to the higher level. During the spring, people get to the top of the pyramid to get energy, they dress in white and spend the whole morning charging their batteries.

I'm going to post a little video I found for you. I hope you like it.

[ Mexico Travel Tips ] Audioshow #3 Top 10 Mexico Beaches

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Sun, 04 May 2008 07:37:05 GMT

SHOWNOTES:

It's finally here, Mexico Travel Tips, Audioshow #3. On this episode I'll talk about the best beaches in the country.

#10. Acapulco.
#9. Mazatlán.
#8 Puerto Vallarta.
#7. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo.
#6. Cancún.
#5. Isla Mujeres.
#4. Cozumel.
#3. Puerto Escondido.
#2. Huatulco.
#1. Los Cabos.

Enjoy!

Management and Business Culture in Mexico

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:13:54 GMT

Hi, today I start writing about Mexican Business Culture, for those executive who read my website. I decided to blog on that topic because I believe it's something that people want to know about. They want to answer the question: how can I do business in Mexico? Without cultural misunderstandings and without offending Mexican people.

So, before we get initiated on this issue, I would like to recommend a book to all of you. It's called Management in Two Cultures, Bridging the Gap between U.S. and Mexican Managers, by Eva Kras. It's just a great book, I read it in two days. It will be useful to all of my European and Canadian readers, because it outlines comparatively the management differences between Mexico and the US.

Inside the book there's many topics we can talk about, on the debate of how to treat with Mexicans. Today I'll talk about the regions of Mexico and how they approach differently to management. First of all, you have to understand that there's 5 regions in the country:

1. The North.
Their capital is Monterrey, they have a fast-paced life, hard workers, they think differently, Influenced by the US managerial culture.

2. The Center.
Guadalajara is the main city, representative of conservative people and autocratic leadership. They have developed sophisticated methods inside companies.

3. The Southeast.
Comprising places like Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Yucatán. Low presence of industrial complexes. The business environment is traditional and a one-man orchestra. They are very relaxed and almost like their counterparts in Central America.

4. Mexico City and sorroundings.
Cosmopolitan environment. Mix of poor and rich. You can find everything, it's just like Paris or Moscow, with all their problems and contrasts.

5. Oil-producing states of the Gulf.
Mainly Southern Tamaulipas, all of Veracruz, Tabasco, and Campeche. These states have been blessed with resources and their management culture is laid back. Lots of people work in Mexico's state-owned oil company: Pemex.

Oh, that was a long one. I'll be posting the podcast today. I'll be getting deeper into the Mexican Business Culture very soon.

Lou Dobbs On Immigration Reform

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:19:11 GMT

Well, sometimes I just feel that it's too much. If you're like me and watch CNN there's wonderful shows like Larry King and AC 360, but Lou Dobbs is way off the limit. By times, this man turns the people against Mexico, he shows everything that is violent, perverse and ugly about the Mexicans. From that point of view, anything will be against the American interests. This means generalizing that all Latinos are the same, that they are all illegal immigrants.

I can't talk about one of Lou's positions, I would have to talk about many of them. For example, Mexican teamsters, border crossings, the Arizona law, and so on. It's just amazing to see how this man is against anything that comes south the border.

In my own dictionary, that's intolerance. I can tolerate everything, except for consideration. The people of Mexico deserve consideration. Why don't they show the Latino Generals that were awarded some day ago? What about all the American exports that Mexicans buy? For what I know Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola are doing just great in Mexico. Lou, you could be more balanced.

What do you think? What is the problem with Mexican truck drivers? Don't forget to send me your comments: officialmexicoguide@gmail.com

Mexican Architecture

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:07:35 GMT

In its vigorous advance, Mexican architecture is viewed as producing works of quality and of strong plastic interest. Its character, now rich in depth and in future, was originally formed by blending French and German ideas. To this, Mexico has added a unique enrichment, a fundamental fusing of the principles of modern architecture with those of its past.

This fusion is a merger of simplified forms with the needs of today's Mexican living, all in bond with the country's traditions. These traditions are more than simple, they are inherent of the people. They not just come from mind or the blood. Actually, one walks on underlyinf strata; evidences of centuries past continue to be found underfoot. And so, instinctively and with faith in her talents, the architecture of Mexico, like her murals, has strength, sincerity, and pronounced individuality.

My aim is to show the approach and strides into what the Mexican home is. It is by no means technical and savvy. It's just my impressions. And so it happens, that in a country which today is far from being homogeneized, there is a lack of uniformity in its contemporary domestic architecture. Change of design with its differing adaptations and versions is apt to become enmeshed in local custom, reflecting regional artifacts and color preferences. In designing Mexicans become bored, as do the Chinese, with copying. To them it is far more enjoyable, in fact easier, to think something new.

Doctors in Mexican cities, Visiting The Medicine Men

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:19:10 GMT

For those of you who travel a lot, getting sick when you're away from home is a difficult endeavor. For others who have considered moving, health care should be one main concern. In Mexico, generally speaking, you'll find good hospitals, and they will cost you half of what it would cost in the US or Europe.

Any medium to large city across the country has at least two or three hospitals that offer good care for locals and visitors. I know what you're thinking, travel can seem very difficult because you're away from home and don't know what to expect if you get sick. And you're right, if you get sick when you go abroad, that reminds you of how fragile you are, and how much you like it back home.

It could be the case that you miss constant communication with your physician, and on top of that, understanding doctors in a different language might be a big deal for some. To add it all up, getting injured in a place like Mexico can get expensive if your medical coverage won't take the bill.

Many Americans travel all the way south to Mexican hospitals around the country to get medical treatment. Mexican, American, and multinational hospitals want the rules to change. People are trying to get medical coverage in all of North America for the same ticket, this means, with your same insurance.

If this happens in the future, I'm sure the number of Americans opting for health care in Mexico will reach an unprecedented level.

Here's a video to open your eyes on Americans seeking cheap drugs in Mexico pharmacies.

Housesitting South The Border

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:46:42 GMT

Hi guys. I just read an article about the number of Americans and Canadians retired in Mexico. It's amazing. About a million have homes in Mexico.

For that reason, there's people traveling to and from Mexico, and sometimes leave their Mexican homes alone. So, locals have invented the concept of housesitting, which basically means that a homeowner leaves his home entitled to someone else (a housesitter), while he is away. Of course, there's some kind of agreement between the parts, that contemplates responsibilities and obligations. You'll be very well covered.

This innovative practice allows you to avoid burglars. It's mostly like a lease, where you decide to charge or not (in this case, since it's not commercial, and you're not planning to declare you're income, let's suppose it's a free ride). You would also decide who qualifies to be a house sitter and the final candidate, as well as any other arrangements to be protected.

Even when you don't receive a payment, you can receive benefits like free maintenance, and your housesitter can take care of paying taxes, repairing, etc. And on top of that, the tranquility that you'll be traveling back and forth without remorses.

The sitter can even take your mail, and resend it to you somewhere else, or even inform you about events going on with the house. You could even have birds and, the sitter is taking good care of them.

So this could be a great option for people who want to own a house in Mexico, take a vacation, and travel, without the preoccupation of burglars in your home.

One Of The First Ecofriendly Buildings In The Mexican Capital

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:39:09 GMT

We're talking about a new 32-story tower, located at the Angel of Independence on México City’s main avenue Paseo de la Reforma. One of the massive world banks, HSBC, has built one of the first green office building in México.

Although the company pays a flat fee for water and doesn’t save money by reducing consumption, it nevertheless put in place a treatment plant to capture rainwater and drainage from bathroom sinks for reuse in its air conditioners. They even considered a system for treating sewage.

This will be the first office building in Latin America to receive the certification of the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification covers not just the building but also the behavior of the 2,200 employees who use it, which has led to HSBC introducing changes in the work environment.

Some have been straightforward, such as using stylish, comfortable chairs made of recycled materials. Others take more time to get used to, such as waterless urinals and motion sensors that turn off the lights in the conference
rooms (requiring people to periodically flap their arms to remind the room’s sensors that someone’s inside). The general reaction among employees has been one of cooperation and pride. The building’s 180 parking spots reserved for carpoolers (defined as three people per vehicle) are always full. And yet the contrast of having a green building in a city noted for a lack of environmental consciousness is apparent, as in the garage where a
single bike was locked up in an area designed for hundreds.

Ashes and Snow Museum Mexico City

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:27:30 GMT

I was just recently in Mexico City for a business trip, but also to visit Gregory Colbert's Nomad Museum. This place is magical, not only for the inside, but because it's located in the center of the D.F. (Federal District), the heart of the country. There's something special about this building, made of bamboo, and absolutely isolated inside. You never think back to the city, people get lost in the photographs.

Colbert has traveled the world to impress people in different countries, to show everybody who's willing to attend an example of the man and nature, living together, in constant meditation. I really recommend this event, it will be the city's main event. You can still visit in April.

I'm sorry that this is just a quick post, but I'll post a video for you to enjoy this.

[ Official Mexico Guide Podcast ] EPISODE 6 - Puebla: Cinco de Mayo, Battle of Puebla, Chiles en Nogada

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:12:32 GMT

On this episode:

- Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day.

- Food segment: Chiles en Nogada.

- Facts about Puebla.

SHOWNOTES:

Puebla is a very special state for many reasons. First of all because it's polemic, and some of the countries heroes have been born in the state. Some other villans have been born in the state.

This state is very patriotic, maybe just like Jalisco. They keep traditions, history, and culture. And on top of that, they have great food.

Cinco de Mayo and The Battle of Puebla

This holiday is misunderstood around the world. As a matter of fact, one of the biggest mistakes people make is calling Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) Mexico's Independence Day. That's not true, the correct date would be September 16, the holiday for nationals.

People celebrate this day with a marvelous parade. They have great pride of being poblanos, and their also proud to be the hosts of a national holiday, and a great parade. They even have a reenactment of the battle that took place there on Cinco de Mayo: Battle of Puebla.

Chiles en nogada

It doesn't get more Mexican than this. These delights are comfort food for people around the country. Chiles en nogada are only available from July to September.

It's very typical in the center of the country, especially in the states that neighbor Puebla. The dish is historic, and was presented to the first Emperor of Mexico: Iturbide, during the period of consolidation of the Independence from Spain.

The initial preparation of the chilies is similar to jalapeno poppers. What makes this dish truly special is the stuffing of pork and fruit, a classic combination throughout the culinary world. On top of this, they add a walnut sauce and palmgranate seeds.

Poblano peppers are recommended for this. You can easily get them in North America, and in Europe maybe in some Indian or Pakistani shops.

Facts about Puebla

If you're thinking of a trip to Puebla, you should consider in your vacations:

1. Fourth largest city in Mexico, with about 3 to 4 million people. Connected to other suburbs like Tlaxcala.

2. The state capital is home to the African Safari, a drive-through zoo, animals run loose. Cool experience if you travel with kids. If you're concerned about security during your tour, don't worry, they don't allow people to get out of the car.

3. New Beetles are produced in the area. They used to produce the old Volkswagen Beetles, that were used like taxis, but not anymore.

4. Mexicans love talavera from Puebla, the finest pottery. It's normally blue and white, and artisans still use ancient techniques to produce it.

5. Cholula is a site to fantastic pyramids. A guide will tour you around in the little town of Cholula, and you might be able to get in the local market, to see how poblanos lived.

6. Great food made by poblanos:

- Mole Poblano

- Cemitas

- Camotes

- Chile poblano

Mexico Will Be The Fattest Country On Earth

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:17:30 GMT

OK, there's a lot of talk going on around the blogosphere. The topic: obesity in Mexico and it's possible consequences. People are talking that pretty soon, the US will no longer be the chubbiest nation. But before we begin the discussion here, I want to express my top 10 reasons why Mexicans are getting obese:

1. Lots of fast food. Everything's fast these days, and unfortunately it's high in calories, too.

2. No sports. Unfortunately, for what I've seen, commercial real estate around the country has invaded all the green areas.

3. More and more stress. With globalization, Mexicans are obliged to be more competitive, just like any other country.

4. Genetics and metabolism. It's been discussed around the media that Mexican genetics have high risk of gaining weight.

5. Trans-fats. These days food is fried, and the bottomline is that it makes people fatter in a 3 to 1 ration (300% quicker than if you avoid fried tacos and chicken).

6. Social trends. Since everybody is gaining weight, there's always someone more overweight than I am.

7. Artificial chemicals. The Aztecs used to ingest just natural products.

8. Restaurant meals. We'll, we all know this, the more you eat in restaurants, the less healthy you'll be. Let's face it, few people order from the salad menu.

9. Lack of vegetables. Our ancestors ate vegetables all the time, we've substituted it with pizza and hamburger.

10. Too many Coronas. Beer is the reason why many are overweight these days, or at least it's the reason for the big belly.

I guess I'll be posting some more data and info on this. It's so sad that people are not eating well.

Easter and Holy Week, Time for Great Travel and Cultural Experiences

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:17:33 GMT

Mexico is a place of profound catholic devotion. I've said before that Mexicans keep their traditions alive. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a great display of culture and a wide variety of customs. One example of the faith people show is the Passion of Iztapalapa in Mexico City.

Iztapalapa was once a city of the Aztecs. Now it is one of the largest communities in Mexico City. For these people Holy Week is their most important celebration and they feel proud of it. Every year, the locals get involved in the preparation of The Passion, and a young man gets chosen to reenact Jesus, which is the greatest honor in a man's life.

Iztapalapans plan everything in advance. The participants need physical and mental training. As a matter of fact, the man who represents Jesus must be a local, born in the area, and a man of faith. The prep begins 6 months before Semana Santa, and the actors are obliged to carry 200 lb crosses, some barefeet.

Crowds gather for the Procession. It's Thursday, the ritual will take about two days. They play the Last Supper, Judas' betrayal, the Crucifixion, and the reenactment ends with Judas hanging from a tree.

I've heard on the news that a crowd of 4 million believers attend the event. By far, the largest event in Mexico City, and maybe one of the most impressive gatherings of catholics in the world.

Well, that's it for today. Let me know what you think about the article at officialmexicoguide@gmail.com

P.S. I'll post a video so that you get a chance to take a look at this Mexico tradition.

[ Mexico Travel Tips ] Audioshow #2 Spring Break Tips for Your Mexican Vacation

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:47:57 GMT

SHOWNOTES:

1. If you're driving down the Mexican roads, take precautions.

2. If you drive, pack emergency items.

3. Packing light and wisely.

4. Hotels can break your budget.

5. Tricks to have a great Mexico trip.

Mexican National Anthem

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:50:11 GMT

Many of you have heard Mexico's National anthem in soccer games or international events. I think it's very nice, and it's profoundly patriotic. It has been used since 1854, when it was adopted.

The chorus reminds us of the wars that took place in Mexico between 1810 and 1910, as well as other patriotic events. It goes: "Mexicanos al grito de guerra..." (Mexicans, at the cry of war...).

Listen to it by clicking on the play button below, there's also a video attached to it.

March and April Traditional Celebrations in Mexico Cities

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:27:48 GMT

Hi everybody. I'm starting a new tradition on the blog today. I'll be posting the events for the following months. This means touristic happenings in different Mexico cities. Unfortunately for some events all the info we have is the approximate date, but for the most part, we have the dates for all of those of you thinking visiting Mexico.

Date and City	Event	Description
March 11-13, Guanajuato	Mexican Corona Rally	Two days of races in the cities of León, Guanajuato, and Silao. It's about 550 mi of intense driving. There's plenty to see and there's festivities along with the event. For more info, go to: http://www.rallymexico.com
March 17-20 Saltillo, Coahuila	Saltillo Motorcycle Festival	Riders from Texas and the Mexican North will be holding this event. It starts on the American side, and the finish line will be set in the Mexico city of Saltillo, Coahuila. It's a three hour ride. The website is: http://www.amoden.com
March 20-27 Countrywide	Holy Week	For those of you who want to see the religious traditions of the country (catholic customs). The celebration starts from Sunday (Palms Sunday), all the way to Easter Sunday. One place where the reenactment of the Passion of the Christ is enormous is Iztapalapa in Mexico City, about 2 million people assist every year. If you're thinking of something less crowded, Taxco, Guerrero might be your best choice.
March 15-21 Tajín, Veracruz	Cumbre Tajín (Tajín Summit)	A celebration of the Totonac culture, along with the incoming Spring. It's all about the renovation of the energy. Great cultural celebrations! The site is in Spanish, go to http://www.cumbretajin.com
March 21 Chichén Itzá, Yucatán	Spring Equinox	The worldwide famous shadow of the snake comes down the stairs of the pyramid of Kukulkán. This is unique in the world, it's one of those things you have to do once in your life.
March 29 Morelia, Michoacán	Guitar Festival	As I said on one of the Official Mexico Guide Podcasts, lots of factories produce guitars in Michoacán. To celebrate this instrument they offer recitals, conferences, and expos with people from around the world and other Mexico cities.

For April, I'll be posting this the first day of the month. See you!

[ Official Mexico Guide ] EPISODE 6 - Special Edition on Veracruz

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:11:56 GMT

SHOWNOTES:

- Interview with Mr. Mike Vondruska, from Discover Veracruz Tours.

- The state of Veracruz is one of those great states. It has oil richess, beautiful landscapes and beaches that face the Gulf of Mexico.

- A place unique in many ways, with every possible attraction, as Mike mentions on his website: www.discoververacruztours.com

Discover Veracruz Tours, LLC

515 Winston Dr. Suite #6
Bolingbrook IL 60440, USA
630-274-5341
800-516-1437
815-846-2503 (fax)

info@discoververacruztours.com

TOPICS OF THE SHOW:

- Veracruz tips.

- General Mexico travel tips.

- Touristic places: Papantla, Tajín, Catemaco.

- Wonderful volcanoes: Pico de Orizaba and Popocatépetl.

Dance Of The Old Men (Danza de los viejitos) in Michoacán

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:48:58 GMT

It´s been a while since I lasted posted a video. This time, I want to talk to you about a dance that saw in Michoacán some time ago, it´s called the Dance of the Old Men, and it´s presented by the Tarascan peoples of West Mexico. This is a tradition that has been preserved for centuries, it´s now part of a long story.

These kinds of dances can be seen in many states like Tlaxcala. But for right now watch the video and let me know what you think.

[ Mexico Travel Tips ] Audioshow #1 Museums and Mexican Architecture

Lou Mexican Travel Guide — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:59:43 GMT

On this show of Mexico Travel Tips, we present The Best Mexican Museums and Architecture Wonders.

As I promised, this is the first edition of our bimonthly audio. I decided to call it Mexico Travel Tips.

It’s all about bringing you the first class tips, top destinations, recommendations of things to do, cultural activities, etc.

It is a complement to Official Mexico Guide Podcast, where we bring you the stories and a more in-depth look into travel. This new show is about lists. I’ll try to bring you concrete recommendations. Please don’t forget to contact me at officialmexicoguide@gmail.com, I want to hear your comments.
Let’s get rolling.

SHOWNOTES:

- Puebla's Capilla del Rosario: Exemplary chapel of baroque art.

- Puebla's Museo Amparo: Pre-Columbian and colonial art.

- National Anthropology Museum (Museo Nacional de Antropología): One of the world's most outstanding museums.

- Museo Frida Kahlo (Frida Kahlo House & Museum): Valuable private collection. Rooms are preserved as they were when the couple lived there.

- Palacio Nacional: Former home of the presidential office.

- The Templo Mayor: Variety and splendor of the Aztec Empire.

- Santa Prisca y San Sebastián Church: Baroque church, in Taxco.

- Morelia's Cathedral: Blend of architectural styles, and monumental height.

- Museo Virreinal de Guadalupe: Southeast of Zacatecas in Guadalupe. Franciscan convent and art museum.

- Xalapa's Museo de Antropología: Olmec and Totonac sculpture and ceramics.