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

Wouldn’t You Love to Ride a Train to the Beach … or Mayan Pyramids?

Many Americans and Canadians love riding trains. While the use of practical trains for commuting is returning, far more interesting are the tour trains that run through picturesque locations with beautiful scenery and stopping at interesting little towns. Why We Love Trains So Much For myself, I remember riding a train through the countryside back...

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NAR Mid-year Meetings, Washington, D.C.

NAR Mid-year Meetings, Washington, D.C.

As usual the midyear meeting of the National Association of Realtors ® (NAR)  had a truly international flavor. The Global Networking Reception presented an opportunity for REALTORS® from around the Globe to renew acquaintances with old friends and make new ones. Dr. Lawrence Yun NAR’s Chief Encomiast shared the podium with La Vaughn Henry from...

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Retirement Trends in Mexico

http://www.topmexicorealestate.com/


I was recently perusing some survey results which had been posted online (here and here.) The surveys are fairly outdated (2006) but I think they still shed some light on trends that we can see among U.S. retirees coming to Mexico. These are some of the interesting numbers I pulled out: Activities Top activities which...

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Museo Dolores Olmedo

Museo Dolores Olmedo

Tranquillity in the Big City


You can travel thirty-two kilometers from the zocalo (town square) to the quaint canals of Xochimilco and still be in Mexico City. Just short of this is a retreat, the sixteenth century monastery/hacienda/Museo Dolores Olmedo, home to the largest private collection of original Diego Rivera paintings, Frida Kahlo works and the largest private collection of...

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Uruapan, Michoacan - a city of Festivals

Uruapan, Michoacan – a city of Festivals

All year long there are festivals occurring in Uruapan. The two most noteworthy and that fill the hotels are; Noche de Muertos (Night of the Dead) and Semana Santa (Holy Week) The first is November 1 and the second is Holy Week. Michoacan is the center of the part pagan, part Christian celebration of Noche...

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Mexico's Fighting IRISH

Mexico’s Fighting IRISH

“From the great gales of Ireland / Are the men that God made mad / For all their wars are merry / And all their songs are sad.” – G.K. Chesterton For the United States Army they were more hated than the vilest enemy soldier — traitors, deserters, defectors. They are best forgotten. For Mexicans...

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Trip Report – Ixtapa, Mexico – Feb 27 –  Mar 13, 2013

Trip Report – Ixtapa, Mexico – Feb 27 – Mar 13, 2013

Last year we opted for a spontaneous trip to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo to attend the International Guitar Festival. We loved it so much, we decided we needed to return this year. We booked a condo through VRBO (Home Away) and our airfare through Westjet, using our trusted travel agent. The value of a good travel agent can’t...

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Exchanging Money in Mexico

Exchanging Money in Mexico

If you’re coming down for a few weeks or even for the entire “high season,” you can convert your funds in three ways. First, you could bring U.S. (or Canadian) cash and trade it in for Mexican pesos at either a bank or a casa de cambio (a money-changing station). Second, you could arrive with...

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The Taste of Mexico - Chocolate

The Taste of Mexico – Chocolate

THE DIVINE DECADENCE Cocoa is a complex blend of over a hundred flavor components. Among the great pleasures of Pre- Hispanic Mexico, nothing could compare to a jicara ( a mug made from a hollowed dried fruit or guaje) of frothy hot chocolate, which for the Aztecs was the symbol of hospitality and wealth. Cocoa...

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Ritmos de Brasil, Brazilian guitar teachers leave smiles and 100 new guitarists in Zihuatanejo

Ritmos de Brasil, Brazilian guitar teachers leave smiles and 100 new guitarists in Zihuatanejo

      Photos by Margaret Reid and Olga Grishkova   Ritmos de Brasil, workshop and concert series was held January 20-30 and was part of the 10 year anniversary of the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival.  The event was sponsored in large part by the Brazilian government. Our special invited guest, Arnaldo Freire from Goiânia,...

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Mexico in Real Estate Spotlight for 2013

International Real Estate Spotlight Shines on Mexico The National Association of Realtors® has announced a new program to Spotlight A level affiliated, premium countries. During the first year (2013) the Spotlight will be on Mexico. Australia will be in the Spotlight in 2014 and Canada in 2015. What does it mean? Below are just a...

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Ritmos de Brazil, Workshop & Concert Series - Jan 21 - 30, 2013

Ritmos de Brazil, Workshop & Concert Series – Jan 21 – 30, 2013

The Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival is proud to announce that they have invited renowned classical guitarist and teacher, Arnaldo Freire, along with a select group of musicians and teachers from Gaoiania, Goias, Brazil, to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo from January 21 – 30, 2013 to offer a series of workshops and concerts. Children´s Guitar Workshop Monday, January 21...

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