COSTAMAYABLOG.MAHAHUALLIVE.COM

Ahorita, Manana and Time Disparity in Mexico

2010-10-26T14:41:00Z

Once again the Costa Maya gratefully slipped by with only minimal damage after Storms Karl, Paola and Richard touched the area. Paola and Richard only brought a few waves and some windwhile we watched thunderous black clouds in the distance. Karl did some damage,however. The worst affect to many of us was the fact that the internet towerblew over and as of the writing of this newsletter many homes north and south ofMahahual still don't have service.

Now the reasons we don't have it arecomplex - but Jesus--not the one we worship on Sundays-- but the internet Jesus,kept telling us we would have it in the "afternoon," or "MANANA" until finallywe got the sense we would have to search for a different alternative. Whichbrings me to AHORITA and MANANA. If you are here in Mexico, it is pointless torest your hopes on something happening MANANA - because in reality - MANANAmeans "just not today." It is best to find out which MANANA they are referringto. Once you learn that - you can be relieved of a little stress. But even morecomplex is the meaning of the word AHORITA.

If you look up AHORA in aSpanish - English dictionary you will find the meaning to be "now." Look alittle further and you will see the word AHORITA. The translation says "rightnow." But "NOW" in Mexican culture seems to have a surreal meaning and attentionneeds to be given to which "NOW" you are referring to. When someone says AHORITAto you, they don't really mean "right now" they mean "in a little minute" or"when I get finished with what I am doing," or even worse - "when I get aroundto it." I had a guest from Mexico city - a young entrepreneur who had traveledextensively and who described to me that AHORITA is one of the problems stoppingMexico from being a 1st world country. It frustrates everyone the amount of timeit takes to get anything done here. So what do you say if you want somethingdone "right now, this very minute" and you don't want to wait?

AHORAMISMO - literally, the same now. Say it with a smile and it might happen. Ifnot, maybe MANANA.

A friend of mine from Bolivia sent me the following:

". . .I struggle with their real meaning since I came to Mexico several years ago. What I learned is that here if you want something done you need to stay on top. You need to request it several times to send the message you are not just saying. Asking once means you are not serious and you do not need it anyway.

More sayings that basically means the same. . .: "

Sayings	Literal translation	Meaning
Ahora	Now	In the future
Ahorita	Right now	In the near future
Ahora mismo	Right now	Faster than ahorita
Luego	After, next	After I finish what I'm doing ………
Luego, luego	After, next	Next of no time……….
Ya, ya	Right away	I will start right away but finish sometime in the future
En chinga	f** fast	I will start right away but finish sometime in the future
De volada	Flying	In a little while
Manana	Tomorrow	Not today
Pronto	Pronto, soon	Soon in the future
En ocho dias	In 8 days	Ask me again in a week

I'd love to hear from anyone that has some insights into this phenomena of time disparity in Mexico.

Carnival Mahahual 2010 - review

2010-03-07T00:53:00Z

	Mahahual's 2nd Carnival held the 26th and 27th of February was actuallymy first! Despite lots of waiting around and delays, the paradestarted started about 6:30 - about bug eating time. As the crowdsstood around Barudi's, waiting for the main float to arrive, Aroma'sand Barudi's did a brisk business selling beer.

	Lots of beautiful girls and costumes - like any carnival! After the parade, the show went on until 11:00 PM after which the band played most of the night.
	And of course the guys have to get into it too!

Bus from Belize only running on weekdays

2010-02-09T13:12:00Z

If you ever plan to take the bus from Belize or other parts of Latin America into Mexico, please note the following. According to the Reporter, a Belizean newspaper, Buses, cargo containers and trucks are no longer allowed to enter Mexico during the weekends as all vehicles must be screened by gamma rays, a new security procedure to prevent contraband, human trafficking, arms and drugs. This would impact travelers between Belize and Mexico who want to travel on weekends via bus.

The reason? No screening can occur over the weekend since the office is closed. This is part of a modernization project to protect the borders of Mexico. Only private vehicles and foot traffic will be able to cross the border. Actually, this has been a regulation that has been in place since 2006 and equally restricts Mexican buses from entering as well, but it was only on January 30 of 2010 that it was implemented at all border crossings.

On weekdays, the gama testing office is only open between the hours of 9am and 7pm. The solution would be to open the offices on weekends. I don't know about offices along the US border, but as of January 30 2010, the offices are closed at the Belizian crossing.

The solution? Get off the bus at the border and walk across the border. Taxi's will be waiting.

Security Meeting Feb. 3, 2010

2010-02-03T20:41:00Z

The Alcaldia, or Mayor of Mahahual hosted a meeting of foreigners living in and around Mahahual. Most owned property and some had been at one time or another victims of some sort of theft along the beach. Needless to say it was well attended. If nothing else, it was an opportunity to meet other neighbors.

The most important thing that came out of the meeting was that if you don't report it, as far as the police are concerned, the theft didn't happen. Further more, without a report, you cannot reclaim your property. Most recently thefts have primarily been of solar panels and computer equipment. The process is that you must report the incident to the Ministario Publico or District Attorney , and then it will get into a queue and be investigated. Therein lies the problem for most people who insist that incidents are never investigated. The queue happens to include All of Opon P. Blanco, the biggest Municipio in Mexico - 150 pueblos or towns, of which Mahahual is one of them. Still, a report is essential for insurance purposes and recovery of your items, if for example, the items are later found in a storage facility.

If you happen to see a crime being reported, you can call '066' and they will come and investigate immediately. If, for example you discover something stolen just moments after the occurrence, they can set up road blocks. HOWEVER, and this is a big however for some people, the phone is manned by Spanish speakers only. Learning some emergency words would be very beneficial, such as 'Ayuda' the word for 'Help.' Alternately, non-Spanish speakers can to to the Alcandia's office (Mayor) and talking to one of the two English speaking staff members, Cesar or Maria who will help them navigate the system.

Office of the Alcaldia de Mahahual located on Mahahual highway

If you see an occurrence happening to a neighbor's property and want to make an anonymous call, you can do so by calling '089.' Still, most reports are after the fact and are not very satisfactory. It could take days to get the police to come out, only continual reminders and promptings can help get their attention. However true the statement, It was not too comforting when the group of home owners were told "Remember that you are living in Mexico."

PREVENTION:
Since after the fact investigation by the police is poor, prevention seems to be the best recourse. Some tips were given to the group:

If you are going to hire someone from Mexico, make sure they don't have a record. They should have a report from the police stating this information.
Employees should have official ID with their picture.
Report incidents or suspected offenders in the area immediately. The Police do have a database of past offenders in Chetumal (however, do not report someone without cause - laws are similar as to those in the USA and Canada)
Protect your property.
Hire a care taker
Have dogs on the premises - fenced is better so they stay on the property
All doors should have good locks
Bars on windows
Gates
Exterior lights left on all night long are not necessarily a good thing. Don't be a target by advertising everything you own by turning exterior lights on all night long. It is far easier to spot someone with a flashlight. It is better to have timed lights that go on and off randomly.

The police do not have the money to patrol the entire coast. Gas is expensive and it is not in their budget. Further more, they don't have sufficient vehicles. Suggestions were made to get ATVs and have them patrol the coast. The City could apply for a couple more police, but home owners would pay for the ATV and gas. The idea has merit and they promised to look into the idea.

Mahahual upcoming events and schedules 31-Jan-2010

2010-02-03T19:06:00Z

The meeting of the Mahahual Businesses had several noteworthy announcements. It also brought to light the problem of traffic in the town. This was the major point of discussion at the meeting. As more and more businesses spring up on the South end of Mahahual it becomes ever more difficult to get through town to access those businesses. Add the traffic from the cruise ships and traffic jams occur on a regular basis. A committee was formed to study this problem and come up with some solutions.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A new Museum is planned for Mahahual - Museo Maya. The plan for this museum will be coming on the end of February and will be located close to the Soccer field, but I didn't catch the exact location.
The Turtle museum is also being restored. This is the round building that is located on property that SEMARNAT gave/loaned to the town several years ago. With very little funds, it was almost restored but Hurricane Dean ripped off the roof. This property is just North of Super Carolinas
Meeting for foreigners in Chetumal Feb. 21at the Convention center. Sponsored by the Municipality.

TOURNAMENTS AND FESTIVAL DATES

Carnival - this year, carnival in Mahahual is scheduled to occur on 26, 27 and 28 of February
Governor's cup - April 30th, May 1st and 2nd. This is the annual fishing tournament that brings in hundreds of fisherman to fish for Marlin, Mahi Mahi and other trophy fish. This year a children's fishing tournament will be added to the event.
Copa de Plata - This fishing tournament is scheduled for June 10, 11, and 12 of June
Toyota/Coca Cola Tournament - date yet to be announced.
Jats'a-Ja' (pronounced HAHT-sa-HAH) is scheduled for August 13, 14, and 15 or the week before the anniversary of Hurricane Dean.

Photo Tour of Mahahual and the Costa Maya

2010-02-03T18:29:00Z

Photo tour of Mahahual new projects

North of the Light house and South are two very different experiences. If you take a look at the fun beach restaurant and Camping spot El Faro (Spanish for lighthouse) compared with the new and modern Lapis store and handicrafts shops - the difference is night and day. Is there room for both in Mahahual? ABSOLUTELY! If you click to play the YouTube video slide show below, you'll see a lot of new shots of Mahahual and maybe a few you have already seen. Most of the shots were taken on the 21st of January, 2010 early in the morning - so they are up to date!

The YouTube slide show presentation below shows these two very different areas. This is specifically geared to new development in the Costa Maya, but is of interest to anyone wanting to know more about the Costa Maya.

The Red Pase Light at Customs

2010-02-03T13:36:00Z

If you have ever visited Mexico you know about the red-light/green-light "Pase" at airport customs. When crossing the border from Belize into Mexico, you go through the same thing. I knew you could bring in 3 bottles of liquor into the country, but I found out the hard way, that if you have an address here in Quintana Roo, you can't bring in any liquor. I was coming through the border from the Belizean Free zone with 3 bottles of liquor for Mayan Beach Garden's Bar when I hit the red light. No Problem, I thought - I never go over the 3 bottles anyway. When they looked at the three bottles, they told me that I couldn't take any because I was a Quintana Roo citizen. No problem. . .I figured I'd just pay the duty and be done with it. That was until I was given the amount of the duty - it was 153% of the original cost of the liquor plus a fee. That means that the $32 USD worth of Bombay Gin and Flor de Cana would have cost me close to $700 pesos! Now I chose to just leave the liquor there. After all, I can buy Flor de Cana in Chedraui's for about 120 pesos, so why would I pay double? But I couldn't just leave, I had to fill out an "Acta de Abandono" stating that I was leaving the 3 bottles there. Was I being taken because it was 3 days before Christmas and they wanted the liquor? What other things are lurking out there that I can't cross over the border with? If anyone has any similar experiences, I'd sure like to know!

Apparently Quintana Roo is in a special duty free category of its own. IVA, or the value added tax that you pay on goods in Mexico is 11% in Quintana Roo and 16% in the rest of Mexico. So citizens of Quintana Roo have a benefit that other states do not. Had my FM3 said I was from another state, OR had I entered the free zone with just my Passport I would not have had to pay the duty.

Mahahual International Beach Clean-up day, Sept 19th

2009-10-20T03:02:00Z

Despite clouds and the occasional downpour, Beach clean-up day in Mahahual was an interesting event. Mostly because of the National support and aid it received from Mexico City based Project Aware.

July Minter from Blue Ocean Safari was instrumental in organizing the event which included attendance by Mexican pop singer Chavo. At the end of the day, he even performed a free concert in Tequila beach. He was very interested in all the Columbian labeled garbage we found up in the Placer area, so I left him a gift of a bag of well preserved Columbian Beach trash as a gift. In return I received a CD of his new album, Chavo Nueva Tierra.

The Project Aware group may very well be instrumental in finally bringing recycling to Mahahual. I will keep you informed! Again, the problem seems to be location, location location.

Piles of garbage collected on Beach clean-up Day

Creating Spanish Accents on your Laptop or Computer

2009-08-26T03:17:00Z

Creating Spanish accents on letters on your computer

Ever wondered how to make the accents in Spanish on your computer? You have several options for this, and it can be kind of convoluted. I've explained several of the options below.

Cheat. Go to Google language tools, write the word in English and then hopefully it provides the proper translation with all the accents. The problem is that words often have many meanings, so only rely for this for spelling, not for translation. Copy the word and paste it into your document.
Copy and paste the accented letters from some other Spanish document (also something I used to do - still cheating here)
Add the Spanish Keyboard option to your PC computer or Laptop . This is easy to toggle on and off with an icon at the bottom of your keyboard. This is what I use because it is easy to Toggle on and off when you choose the option to show it on your task bar. However, the keyboard acts slightly differently. If you've used an Internet café and found you couldn't use the apostrophe key, you will know what I mean. Instructions are included below the ASCII codes.
Use the ASCII codes. This is a series of keys you press to create the accents. This works in any program that supports the ASCII codes, which all Microsoft products do as well as standard forms on the Internet (including Mozilla browsers). I can't prove that these codes will work on a PC or a Mac, but I've tested the PC Laptop codes since I work on a laptop. On laptops, you have to press the Num Lk or "Numbers Lock" to make the keys in the center respond to the codes - you may also have to turn on Num Lk on regular PC keyboards as well. There is a light that indicates when it is on.

	PC ASCII (use numbers on number pad while holding down the Alt key)	Laptop PC ASCII Use numbers in color in the center of the keypad. Mine are on the M J K L U I O 7 8 9 keys- NumLk must be on	Macintosh ASCII Press option+__, then release and press the letter you want. For example, "option+e then the letter e" gives you é
á	Alt + 0225	Fn + Alt + 0225	Option + e then a
é	Alt + 0233	Fn + Alt + 0233	Option + e then e
í	Alt + 0237	Fn + Alt + 0237	Option + e then i
ñ	Alt + 0241	Fn + Alt + 0241	Option + n then n
ó	Alt + 0243	Fn + Alt + 0243	Option + e then o
ú	Alt + 0250	Fn + Alt + 0250	Option + e then u
¿	Alt + 0191	Fn + Alt + 0191	Opt + shift + ?
¡	Alt + 0161	Fn + Alt + 0161	Opt + 1
Á	Alt + 0193	Fn + Alt + 0193	Option + e then Shift a
É	Alt + 0201	Fn + Alt + 0201	Option + e then Shift e
Í	Alt + 0205	Fn + Alt + 0205	Option + e then Shift i
Ñ	Alt + 0209	Fn + Alt + 0209	Option + n then Shift n
Ó	Alt + 0211	Fn + Alt + 0211	Option + e then Shift o
Ú	Alt + 0218	Fn + Alt + 0218	Option + e then Shift u

Adding the Spanish Keyboard option to your PC computer or Laptop .

Log On
Click the Start button
Click on Control Panel
Click Regional and Language Options - a new window will pop up
Click the Languages tab
Click on the Details button
Click the Add button - a new window will pop up
Select United States-International (keyboard layout menu)
Click OK
Click Apply
Read the instructions for "Using the U.S. - International Keyboard" below.

Note: You will now have a keyboard icon on the task bar (usually on the right side). To switch between keyboard layouts click the keyboard icon on the task bar and choose which layout you want to use. Changing the keyboard layout will only affect the log on profile used. No other users will be affected.

Windows Vista

Start-->Control Panel-->Clock, Language, Region-->Change Keyboards
New Window: Click the Change Keyboards button
New Window: Click the Add button
Select United States-International keyboard
Click OK
From drop down menu (Default Input Language) select United States International

Using the U.S. - International Keyboard on your PC or Laptop

Once you have the international Keyboard working, you will find it now reacts differently. When struck, the single apostrophe (') key, does nothing. To type the single apostrophe now, you must strike the single apostrophe key and then strike the space bar. When you strike the space bar, the apostrophe will appear.

The next thing to note is that the quotes (") key behaves the same way as the apostrophe key. You must first strike the quotes key and then strike the space bar in order to create the (") symbol. These two minor inconveniences are more than made up for by the ease with which you can now type the special characters.

To type the special characters, two keystrokes are required. To type the á, you need only strike the apostrophe key and then the letter a. The other characters are just as easy:

To type the special punctuation characters, you need to hold down on the Alt key while you strike the appropriate punctuation mark. On some keyboards, only one of the two Alt keys will work for this, usually the left.

Key combinations

á = ' + a

é = ' + e

í = ' + i

ó = ' + o

ú = ' + u

ñ = ~ + n

¡ = Alt (hold down) + !

¿ = Alt (hold down) + ?

Spanish Immersion in Guatemala - EcoEscuela, San Andres, Peten, Guatemala

2009-07-16T23:21:00Z

If you live on the Costa Maya and don't already speak Spanish , before long you start wishing you spoke the language better. When you speak English most of the day to other Gringos or to other Mexicans who speak Spanish, it is difficult to learn. Before long, you've been in Mexico 6 years (in my case) and your Spanish is not all that great. I've reached the point that I'm frustrated that I can't speak better. So I decided to take a Spanish immersion class. After looking all over, I found that there are programs everywhere, including Chetumal. I knew that if I took something in Chetumal, I would not be concentrating on Spanish, but trying to run my business.

So I opted for Something that was close - within a day's drive, rural and something that would force me not to hear English. After researching the web, I found EcoEscuela to fit the bill. We were able to drive there in about 10 hours from Mahahual, even stopping for lunch along the border. Buses are also available out of Chetumal to the town of Flores, the Tikal tourist town on an island in the middle of lake Flores. Next time, I'll just take the bus, since it seems to be easier than taking a car across the border and the return trip from Guatemala was only $170 Quetzales - the equivalent of $22 USD. I don't know the price in Pesos from Chetumal. If you are not familiar Guatemala, EcoEscuela is located in the town of San Andres in northern area of Guatemala, or the Peten and across the lake from Flores. The Peten is where the Mayan Ruins of Tikal are located, and one of the largest jungle reserves in all of Central America. Coincidentally, lake Flores is one of the most beautiful lakes I've seen, rivaling Bacalar.	First view of San Andres, Peten, Guatemala
The reason I chose EcoEscuela over other Spanish immersion programs was: Proximity (#1) One-on-one classes with options of 4-8 hours of class per day Very Inexpensive ($150 per week includes room and board and 5 days of classes) The town is situated on a beautiful lake The program includes daily activities such as volunteer work in the school, meeting with locals, visit to farms and nature preserves, cooking classes, learning how to make Mayan herbal remedies, etc. Living with a local family. Great activities in the area, such as visiting the ruins of Tikal.	Neighbor hood kids coming to visit a family of another student
Here is my review of the immersion program at EcoEscuela: The one on one teaching is very good, although it took a couple of days for the teacher to figure out where I stood. The website said that they would test me when I arrived, but apparently it is a verbal test. Had I stayed a week, I might have felt cheated by loosing a couple of days to testing. I stayed two weeks, which wasn't quite long enough. The extra activities were great, but I'm not sure that they helped my Spanish. Still, I liked most of them, especially making herbal remedies with the woman of San Jose (picture at right). The little town was very safe and incredibly friendly. A large portion of the town makes some amount of money from the school, which in some form or another provides employment for 35-50 families. A larger portion of the town has to leave Guatemala to work in the US - Sad. I came away learning quite a bit about grammar, enough that I understand far more than I did before I left - especially when reading. My speaking is slower because I know all the things that I was doing wrong. The benefit? My staff is now correcting me more as they see me searching to say things correctly.	Making Alo Vera Soap with Iris - part of a woman's cooperative of 35 women who make items with local herbs and plants. I also learned how to make Chaca soap (antidote for Chechen and other itchy things). When I take another coarse, I will split the days with Iris and the school. For $350 Quetzales (exchange rate of 8x1) you can spend a week learning Mayan Remedies. Or for $700 Q get room and board at one of the women from the school and spend the time learning to make Mayan Remedies. She only speaks Spanish as do all of the activities in the town. You will already need to have an understanding of Spanish for this program.
The home stay with Families was a mixed bag for me. The first family was not very clean so I asked to be changed and was accommodated without comment. The second family was a delight and helped coach my Spanish. It made a world of difference to my perception of my stay. I talked to other students and all of them loved their families, so I think my first family was unique. Beds at both homes were relatively comfortable, but I was not accustomed to some of the noises. Most notably the sound of roosters crowing outside your window and Masa grinding machines starting up at 4:00 in the morning. Luckily the time difference was an hour, so it was really only 5:00. I could have used better light for studying - I was busy in the extra activities and running into Santa Elena (the largest town in the area) that I didn't really study in the day. RECOMMENDATIONS IF GOING: I wish they had given me a list of things that make it more comfortable. The program is geared mostly to students and backpackers, not to 50-somethings.	Courtyard of the second family I stayed at. We nightly stayed outside and visited and then at 8:00 went into watch the Soap Opera "Manana es Siempre" or something like that!
Make it clear in advance your level of Spanish and insist on a clean family. Bring a pillow- I woke up with a headache many mornings missing my memory pillow. Bring a flashlight - there were several times with no power, or in the middle of the night I didn't know where to find light switches or didn't want to bother the family turning on the lights. Hand sanitizer is a must - almost every day there was a time where for a few hours there was no soap. The second family always had water to pour over your hands, the first unclean one had neither water or soap. If you want better light, bring a battery lantern. I had a little Barbie light to read by. It wasn't sufficient for studying. I did do some reading by flashlight. Surprisingly - all the toilets had seats. This was a very different experience than in Mexico. BUT toilet paper was scarce in every public space. The good news was that bathrooms were free and cleaner than they are in Mexico. For sure take a day and visit Tikal. There are buses going there. The school is very good at helping you get around if you don't have a car. Visit the market in Santa Elena - market days are Tuesdays, Fridays and weekends. The Internet is fast there (slow in San Andres where the school is) and there are several ATMs.	Tikal is 90 km away on a good road. The site is huge, so allow a full day. We didn't arrive until noon and at 6:00 PM had not seen everything we wanted to. shopping for Guatemalan items is best done in Tikal. The market in Santa Elena has some Guatemalan fabrics you can purchase by the yard.

Jats'a-Ja' - 2nd annual festival to celebrate the rebirth of Mahahual

2009-07-16T22:00:00Z

On August 21st of 2007, Hurricane Dean, the 3rd worst hurricane ever to hit land slammed into Mahahual. The small town was devastated. Not only was the town in shambles, the the main source of income, the cruise ship dock was damaged. A Year later, in 2008, the annual festival of Jats'a-Ja' was created to celebrate Mahahual's rebirth.

This year, they have moved the festival up to July 17-19. Not enough time to promote it accurately, but it is a great celebration that you will enjoy if you can make it to Mahahual.

The Mayan Word Jats'a-Ja' means the moisture that enters house when it rains - there is no equivalent in English or Spanish and it has little to do with hurricane, but it is a beautiful word for a lovely ceremony.

Schedule of Events

Friday, 17th of July

6:30 PM opening ceremonies at Plaza Martillo
7:00 PM Nautical procession of Jats'a Já - Participants are requested to wear white
8:30 PM Mayan Ceremony and offering to the gods - Mayan prayer to Mother Earth, seeking mercy towards her people in order to keep hurricanes away and bless this land.
9:30 PM fire works
22:30 PM Disco at Tequila Beach

Saturday, 18th of July

9:00 AM Photographic exposition opens
11:00 AM - 1:00 - Kite flying and Kite creation contest
2:00 - 4:00 PM Gastronomica - Flavors of the world
5:30 PM Aquathalon
10:00 PM - Dance on the Malecon/Tequila Beach

Sunday, 19th of July

8:00 AM - Sand sculptures - between the Lighthouse and Tequila Beach
1:00 PM - Soccer Match
2:00 PM Skating tournament - "Free Wheels"
3:00 PM Thanksgiving Mass
5:00 PM Closing ceremonies and awards

All photos shown are from 2008

Eventos

Viernes 17 de julio

18:30 hs Inauguración en la Plaza Martillo
19:00 hs Procesión náutica y ofrenda floral al Jats'a Já -En el trayecto, se lanzarán al mar las ofrendas florales que previamente se distribuirán en cada embarcación.Desembarcarán frente a Capitanía de Puerto, donde estará preparado el altar para la Ceremonia Maya. Se solicita a los participantes ir vestidos de blanco.
20:30 hs Ceremonia Maya - Ritual Maya ofrecido por sacerdotes provenientes de Tihosuco, Q. Roo que consiste en una oración a la madre Tierra, solicitando su clemencia hacia sus pobladores con el fin de mantener los huracanes y malos tiempos lejos del lugar y bendecir estas tierras.
21:30 hs Juegos pirotécnicos
22:30 hs Baile música disco - Tequila Beach

Sábado 18 de julio

9:00 hs Exposición y Concurso Fotográfico “Vive Mahahual”
11–13 hs Concurso de papalotes “Echa a volar tu imaginación”
14–16 hs Muestra gastronómica “Sabores del Mundo”
17:30 hs Acuatlón
22:00 hs Baile en la plaza Pargo

Domingo 19 de julio

08:00 Concurso de figuras de arena “Es...culturas en Mahahual”
13:00 Partido amistoso de Futbol Mahahual vs ?
14:00 Torneo de Patinaje “Ruedas libres”
15:00 Misa de acción de gracias
17:00 Clausura y premiación

Lion fish spotted, and captured, in Mahahual- Info on Lionfish

2009-06-15T14:10:00Z

If you don't know what a Lion fish is - you;re not alone, but the more people that know about this exotic fish, the better. Last week, a flier was circulated via email to all the dive businesses and eventually forwarded to me because a lion fish Pterois volitans (Linnaeus) has been spotted, captured and killed in the Sian Ka'an. There are quite a few along the cost of Florida with spottings in Cancun, Playa and it appears to be moving further south. Why is it dangerous?

Lion Fish are member of the Scorpion fish family whose beautiful spines are venomous creating a danger to divers and fishers if stung. Although there have been no known fatalities caused by lion fish stings, they are reportedly extremely painful. Researchers urge caution to anyone who encounters these fish.Secondarily, it has no natural predators in the Atlantic and its a voracious predator eating fish larger than its 1 foot length and consuming 2-3 times it's weight a day.

This image is from a NOAA article on Lion fish

Most observations of lion fish occur in waters more than 100 feet deep, so divers and those fishing in deep waters are most likely to have encounters with the fish. Wading, snorkeling or swimming in shallow water will not pose a threat to tourists.

Other names: fire fish, lion fish, ornate butterfly-cod, red fire fish, red lion fish, turkey fish, zebra fish

Ichkabal - Important new ruin 90 km West of Bacalar

2009-06-10T01:31:00Z

The following article is taken from the INAH English version their announcement about Ichkabal. You can read the original at: INAH - search for "Ichkabal" from the home page.

Ichkabal Archaeological Site is located in Quintana Roo, where answers to important Maya questions might be found, such as their agricultural system, the scopeof their relation with Teotihuacan, and early history of Kaan reign, the most powerful among Maya States. Ichkabal's link to Prehispanic civilization, turns it into a priority project of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

Two and a half months after the beginning of the exploration work, Dr. Enrique Nalda, head of the Project, announced that the first stage of excavation and reconstruction of 4 buildings will take 2 years to complete.

He commented that one of the most interesting mysteries regarding Mayas that might be cleared up in Ichkabal is related to the Kaan dynasty (represented with a serpent’s head glyph), the most powerful dynasty in the Classic period.

Recent findings at Dzibanche, 10 kilometers away from Ichkabal, where INAH has conducted work for over 22 years, demonstrate that the dynasty settled the area between 450 and 620 AD and later, in Calakmul, Campeche. Ichkabal is the right place to look for the beginnings of the Kaan dynasty”. Although many monuments at Ichkabal are covered by growth, they're size is outstanding, pointing out its former relevance.

Dzibanche

The first excavations have discovered a series of structures from the Pre Classic period (beginning of the Common Era), with the possibility of some structures dating from the middle Pre Classic, according to ceramic ware found with the Peten style.

The INAH specialist commented that the relation between Teotihuacan and the Maya area, mainly during the peak of the High Plateau (Altiplano) city in the Classic period, is another polemic issue that research at Ichkabal could uncover. they hope to determine if Teotihuacana influence was just symbolic, since vestiges of Teotihuacan influence are found at the Maya region later on.

This would confirm the hypothesis that motives other than war, commerce and migration determined Teotihuacan presence in the area.

“We concluded at Dzibanche that its abandonment did not take place in 9^th century, during the Maya Collapse of the Classic period, because we found evidence of intense occupation that might have extended until Spaniards arrival to Yucatan during the 16^th century”.

“This dwelling continuity surprises us; Ichkabal exploration may end the Maya Collapse myth, which points out that great ceremonial centers were abandoned by the end of Classic period, around 900 AD, remaining like that until European contact”.

Another important aspect related to Maya population sustenance that can be figured out based on Ichkabal research, is the agricultural system. A method different from “tumba y quema” (cut down and burn) was employed at Ichkabal, a method that has been used since 1970’s decade, but archaeological evidence has not been found to prove it with Mayans.

The thesis developed by North American archaeologist Peter Harrison points out that Maya built lifted fields, similar to Chinampas placed on rivers’ meanders.

NOTE: the state of Quintana Roo head of tourism announced a new road to Ichkabal that would start at Bacalar and continue on to Ichkabal and on to Dzibancheand Kohunlich.

June/July festivals in Mahahual/Majahual and the Costa Maya

2009-06-07T14:49:00Z

Mahahual has a couple of planned events occurring this summer that are worth noting. If you have information about other events, such as in Bacalar or Xcalak, please add to comments so they can be included in this schedule.

Date	Event	Details and Schedule of Events
June 12-14th 2009	International Tournament - Silver Fishing Tournament - Silver Dorado (Mahi Mahi) Torneo de Pesca Deportiva Internacional "Dorado de Plata" NOTE: select hotels and restaurants are providing 20% discounts during the festival, including Mayan Beach Garden	June 12: Sign up at 8:00 PM at Tequila Beach June 13: 8:00 AM Presentation of a video of all the tournaments of 2009. 9:00 AM - Tournament begins and ends at 6:00 PM June 14: 7:00 boats leave 5:00 PM Tournament ends 1st Prize: Ford Pickup F150 2nd Prize: 4 Penn International reels and Motor cycle 3rd Two Pen International reels and Prize Motorcycle Simultaneously, during the fishing tournament, there will be beach volleyball and a football tournament. Fees: Fishing, $4,000, volleyball - $400 pesos per team, Football, $400 pesos per team Information : Tel (52) 983-10 79 238 carlos_peza@hotmail.com
July 17. 18. 17 2009	Jats'a-Ja' - 2nd annual Created as a commemoration of the one year anniversary of Hurricane Dean, the annual festival of Jats'a-Ja' celebrates Mahahual's rebirth. Coverage of Jats'a-Ja' 2007	(times and details to be announced closer to the event.) July 17th - Mayan Ceremony to bless the boats and the water, Parade of boats, Disco at Tequila beach July 18th - Juried Photography show with awards including free night's lodging and food at a Mahahaul hotel, plus dinner for two for 2nd and 3rd place. Gastronomic - chance to taste the best of the restaurants of Mahahual for 10 - 20 pesos. Dance at Tequila Beach July 19th - Biathlon (bike and run), Sand castle contest, Kite making and flying contest, closing ceremonies Contact Marcia Bales at info@mayanbeachgarden.com for more details about the Photography contest.

The Day President Filipe Calderon came to Mahahual

2009-06-07T01:37:00Z

Living in the US for all of my life before coming to Mexico, I was surprised on Thursday when I was handed a personal invitation to meet the President of Mexico at 8:00 AM Saturday. Never mind my last name was spelled Vales instead of Bales - and my hotel was named Maya Beach instead of Mayan Beach Garden - it was clear it was for me! I had wondered why the place was getting so cleaned up - I'd never seen Mahahual so clean! Even the metal sign debris left over from Hurricane Dean was finally removed.

On Friday, dark blue federal helicopters flew so close you could see the faces of the people in them. This had all the markings of serious stuff. So I called up the RSVP number on the invitation and stumbled through my poor Spanish as I was passed from person to person until I finally got to the right one to confirm my reservation. They told me to wear white. WHITE!!! I don't own white - beige maybe and khaki beige at that. Still, this was the president and all, so I managed to come up with something suitable and drove to Mahahual.

Mahahual cleaned up

Arriving at 7:30, I expected to find the place packed. Not so - I should have known better. In Mexico, if they want you there at a certain time, they don't tell you the real time. I was first in line and told to wait for a few minutes as they set up the metal detectors. After showing my invitation, I had to wash my hands with hand sanitizer. They had me lay my purse on a table as I walked through the metal detector. They didn't even look at it! Now my purse is big - big enough to put a gun in. The security, while good was certainly not up to what one would see in the US. But that was also part of the charm. Calderon is a man who daily does very brave things, yet he also puts himself in front of people and in apparent harms way. I was very impressed even though the visit was incredibly short - he showed up at 10:00 and was gone by 11:00. There were maybe 150 people there to listen to the brief speech. Speakers were the Governor, the head of Fonatur, the head of Tourism and a couple of generals. No flowery talks, but straight to the point info: (The following has been corrected from a previous entry. There was NO mention of Phase two of the Malecon in the transcripts of the speeches as previously reported)

Cruise ships come back in July
Mahahual is different - the environment is key to its success. Protecting the environment, the reef, the mangroves and the sea life is important.
Calderon reiterated his dedication to tourism, (translated from the transcripts: "And we are here today in Mahahual, because we want to tell Mexico and the world that this wonderful corner of Mexico is alive, happy and everyone is waiting with open arms. Mahahual is ready to receive the national and world tourism."
Announced a temporary employment program for workers in the tourist industry who lost jobs due to the influenza.
Repeated his dedication to the environment (translated from the transcripts: "Any effort to generate tourism that is devoted strictly to respecting the environment and ecosystems will be heavily supported by my Government"

Interesting note: Although dressed in white shirts, Mexican secret service men look the same as in the US - Tall (everyone over six feet), wearing dark glasses and those ear phones and their arms crossed at the wrists. None of the pictures I took of them turned out unfortunately!

Calderon greeting the business owners of Mahahual. The Governor of Quintana Roo, Felix is to the left. They are both very short. I was not standing on a chair to get this shot!

Calderon addressing the business owners - the bay of Mahahual is to his back

Mahahual Post 2009 Flu "silliness"

2009-06-04T02:57:00Z

June 2009 - POOR MAHAHUAL - Mahahual is a sad town these days. The streets are empty, the stores are closed and only a few hardy stores stay open. If you come into the town you might be accosted by workers in the streets begging you to come eat at the one or two restaurants that are open. Many have chosen to close down as a result of the lack of people coming to the area. The reasons to come to Mahahual - cheap accommodations and no crowds have been eliminated - you can get great deals on hotels in Cancun and Playa del Carmen and there are no people! Pablo Villegas, a cinematographer from Mexico city visited here the week after the flu. He took the picture below of the beach with the malecon on the right - the deserted beach sums up Mahahual. Granted, Pablo favored things deserted - something unattainable in Mexico City. Most of my guests love it this way too - the cruise ships can stay away forever as far as most of them are concerned!

In an effort to bring tourists back to Mexico - the large hotels in Cancun are offering incredible deals. Of course, if you stay up there, you miss one of the best times of the year for Costa Maya nature lovers. The weather has been spectacular, the water great for diving, fishing and snorkeling . We had a nice little rain in the early part of the month which made all the flowers explode. Due to a cool winter, the migrating nesting birds continued on in large numbers into early May. The parrots and Ibis seem to still be flying in great numbers across the mangrove swamps. Days are hot - but the breeze makes it comfortable. It's also fishing season! The Mahi-Mahi are running along with sail fish, Wahoo, Cero and Marlin. While much of the town is absorbed in figuring out how to make ends meet, one has to stop and be grateful as mother nature continues to astound with its beauty. Those who aren't here taking advantage of it are missing out!

More information about what's happening in Mahahual at Costa Maya Newsletter June 2009

Welcome

2009-06-02T23:16:37Z

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.