Fredrick Catherwood’s Lasting Legacy

Fredrick Catherwood’s Lasting Legacy


In  the early 1840’s, two haggard men on mules emerged from Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula telling stories of a lost civilization discovered and unknown cities explored, long before the days when Nikon cameras and National Geographic magazine told us of these things. Between the years of 1839-1842, American John Lloyd Stephens...

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Buying on the Beach

Buying on the Beach

Defining Mexico’s Federal Maritime Zone


  Defining and measuring the Federal Maritime Zone The Federal Maritime Zone is legally described as the 20 meter wide strip of land that is transitable and next to the beach (playa mar). Let’s break this down to make sure we are clear on what we are talking about: 1....

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The Secret to Raising Fish

The Secret to Raising Fish

The Holy Trinity of Resonance


Do some boats raise fish better than others? You bet they do, but why? And, how can a 25 foot Mexican panga raise more fish than a “no expenses spared” 45 foot sport fisher? It is all about the Holy Trinity of Resonance, Vibration and the Horsepower to Weight Ratio....

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Wine and Cheese

Wine and Cheese

Breaking with tradition


The theme of an eternal discussion among sommeliers, the pairing of wine and cheese is without a doubt the most difficult.  This despite the fact that both are a result of the blending of yeast and bacteria.  A good cheese can better a low quality wine or a powerful cheese...

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Pacific Coast Pirates


…a 27 year old English Captain by the name of Thomas Cavendish, was bearing down on him with distinctly unfriendly intentions.”   An account of the Manila Galleon and English pirates off the coast of Mexico The Spanish galleon Santa Ana slowly tracked the coast of Baja California in November 1587 under clear skies and favorable sailing conditions. She was four months out of Manila and only days away from dropping anchor at her home port of Acapulco. She carried in her hold an immense fortune in Oriental treasure: gold, pearls, silks from the China, ginger, cloves and cinnamon from the Spice Islands, jewels from Burma, Indian ivory. Lookouts from the Santa Ana spotted distant sails as the overloaded ship passed by Cabo San Lucas. Captain Tomas de Alzola reduced sail and ordered camouflage netting to be hung. Weapons were issued to those among the 160 passengers and crew capable...

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Latest ADIP Articles

Uncle Sam & Your Mexican Home

“If you qualify, the benefit of a $25,000 deduction can provide significant tax relief.”   Like many a traveler, you’ve come to Zihuatanejo, lets say from from Portland, Oregon, looking for an escape from the cold and the office. A little romance in a tropical paradise would be nice too! What you did not expect...

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Art in Zihuatanejo – Galeria Ixchel Maya

“For the past decade, Mr. Macias has been working on his ongoing sculpture series, Goddesses and Women of Mexico.” The name Zihuatanejo is derived from the Nahuatl Cihuatlan which means, Land of the Women. For many centuries Zihuatanejo was an important matriarchal center in Mexico. In keeping with this tradition, Galeria Ixchel Maya on Nicolas...

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Z-Scene – January 2001

Took my friends, SANDRA and JAY MESENGER of Colorado to see the “fab-ienda” being built by TONY and CLAIRE PIAZZA of the TRISTAR. Tony was nice enough to give us a tour and Jetsales magnate Jay, whose mother is columnist MAXINE MESENGER of the Houston Chronicle, was so impressed that he asked Real Estate Agent...

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Consider the Hammock, Señor

“More than 100 million people of diverse cultures and countries use hammocks as beds or furniture every day.” Think of those master Mayans out there a long time ago – extraordinary astronomers and mathematicians, those who produced the most accurate calendar, built awesome pyramids and stone palaces and created their own writing system – they...

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Daytrips – Acapulco´s Fort of San Diego Museum

“Pacific pirates” profiles Sir Francis Drake and tells the story of English and Dutch pirate raids.” If the delicate design of antique Chinese porcelain or the romance of square-rigged sailing ships hold any fascination for you, take a break from surf and sand for a day and visit the historic Fort of San Diego museum in...

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Traveling Mexico – Oaxaca City

“Do not miss strolling around the many markets of Oaxaca, so many foods and smells and crafts to delight any traveler.” Mexico is a country that is so diverse, one could spend a lifetime trying to see all the places and peoples and still not know the country completely. Oaxaca City is just another example of the diversity...

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Meet The Captains – Chiquis

“He flat out produces marlin when other people do not think they are even in the area.” Captain José (Chiquis) Alberto Hernandez is the owner/operator of the 36-foot diesel powered sportfishing boat named the Intruza. With an extremely wide beam and spacious cabin, the Intruza ensures a very comfortable ride for as many as 6 passengers under any...

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Traveling Mexico - Mayan Ruins

Traveling Mexico – Mayan Ruins

“Like the pharaohs of Egypt, he built a pyramid tomb as though it was his direct gateway to the underworld.” “Noble white robed ladies draw blood from their tongues next to pot-bellied dwarves.”   The Maya have eluded scientists and researchers for years. Their language, their religion, their societies, basically their entire way of life,...

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Our Lady of Guadalupe – Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

The image is one of the Virgin surrounded by the light of heaven and the stars of the winter solstice sky.”   December 12th is traditionally known in Mexico as the Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) celebrating the manifestation of the Virgin Mary appearing to the Aztec Native...

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Fishing Report – December 2000

We have it all this month and we must be the envy of other world wide fishing hotspots. Here it is December, the middle of winter, and we are catching blue marlin, giant yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and dorado.   Most of the marlin are being taken with a live 2 to 3 pound barrilete (black...

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Meet the Captains - Captain Jose Angel Lada

Meet the Captains – Captain Jose Angel Lada

This month’s article is a deviation from Ixtapa – Zihuatanejo’s sport fishing boat captains and their methods. It is true that this month’s featured captain is a good fisherman… but he does not fish for a living. It is also true that he maintains and operates a boat… but it is neither a private yacht...

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The Secret Spots – MARISQUERIA LOS CUATES

“As for your friendly restaurant reviewer, the stuffed avocado with shrimp was one appetizer that vanished quickly from my table. Delicioso!”   I realized as I was thinking of places to review this month that I like seafood. The last restaurant I reviewed was a seafood place and the restaurant review from April 1999 also...

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