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Experience a Complete Taste of México in Washington D.C.
 For the first time in history, the Embassy of Mexico, in conjunction with the Mexico Tourism Board and the Mexican Cultural Institute, will host A Taste of Mexico in Washington, D.C., a festival to honor Mexico’s uniqueness and diversity.
This week-long event will be dedicated to giving residents of Washington a complete journey through Mexico's culture, travel destinations, cuisine and traditions.
For Mexico, gastronomy is an essential part of any society. People who have visited the country know it very well! But those who haven’t been there must get ready!
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| Tabasco: as Hot as the Sauce!
 Most Americans associate the word “Tabasco” with the famous hot sauce, a standard condiment on the tables of many restaurants and households. Yet Tabasco is actually a state in Mexico and it has more spice than one might think! Unlike the sauce which was founded in Louisiana in 1868, the state of Tabasco dates back to pre-Columbian times when the Olmecs and Mayas still ruled the region.
The word Tabasco is derived from Tla-uash-co, meaning “place that has owner,” in the Mexican language, although some translate it as “Waterlogged Earth.”
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Highway to Heaven, the Route of the Gods
 Imagine traveling to those primordial times when people held a different perception of nature; times when man had a closer relation with the elements and forces that surrounded him. Moon, sun, water, rain, thunder… all gods that needed to be indulged, delighted. To communicate with them, to have a strong relation with these forces was part of daily life for pre-Hispanic cultures.
Mexico’s past is rich in gods and myths. Today the archeological sites stand as enigmatic remains of a unique worldview. Today you have the chance to discover and learn about the Totonacas, the Mexicas and the Mayan; about their deities and sacred offerings through a journey of culture and mysticism, The Route of Gods. From the Gulf of Mexico all the way to the Pacific Ocean, there is a unique pathway of nature, ceremonial and sacred archeological sites and colonial past; a trail full of history.
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Foreign Tourists Increase Their Expenditures during the First Half of 2008
 Mexico Secretary of Tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo Torres announced that between January and June of 2008, tourism in Mexico brought in $5.136 billion dollars, an increase of 7 percent from the same period the previous year.
Elizondo Torres also explained that based on the most recent data on international travelers from the Bank of Mexico, 11.5 million foreign tourists arrived during the first six months of 2008, an increase of 4.6 percent from the same period of 2007.
The Secretary emphasized during the inauguration of the 2008 World Tourism Forum in Mexico City, that even though there will be a complex international economic situation during the next three months, up until now tourism has been a profitable source of income for Mexico.
“These figures allow us once again to report that during the first semester of this year tourist activity was constant and was not affected by problems facing the airline industry or the slowdown of the U.S. economy,” said Elizondo Torres.
The minister added that the average expenditure of travelers during the first six months of this year was $800 dollars, a record for a semester.
He also explained that the balance of tourism maintains its positive figures in the first six months of 2008, with a total of $3.256 billion dollars, an increase of 11.3 percent from the same period of 2007.
For more information visit www.visitmexico.com |
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Spectacular Maneuvers in the Pipeline Waves of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
 The Mexico Tourism Board, the Mexico Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Secretariat of Tourism of the State of Guerrero, the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Hotel Associations, and the Delegation of Tourism in Iztapa-Zihuatanejo will make possible the most important surf tournament in Latin America, for the second year in a row.
The beaches of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, in the state of Guerrero, will enjoy a festive atmosphere from September 18-21, when more than 100 competitors from Argentina, Costa Rica, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Venezuela participate in this pro championship.
The “Squalo Latin Pro Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo 2008” is a six-star championship (the highest category in surf tournaments), making it the most important Latin American competition in the sport.
The tournament will take place on Playa Escolleras beach, at the end of Playa El Palmar beach in the Ixtapa marina, where the pipeline waves guarantee spectacular maneuvers. The contest will include the following event categories: junior (less than 20 years old), women’s open, men’s open and long board.
As well as excellent and consistent surf, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is also world renowned for its scuba diving and big game fishing. There is excellent shopping, dining, disco, live entertainment and rustic old Petatlan, famous for its church and gold shops. Visit the La Soledad archaeological site, spend a day in Barra de Potosi - a wildlife reserve - and enjoy the delicious seafood.
To learn more, visit:
http://www.zihuatanejo.net/
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Travel to a Spot of Veracruz and Try Its Unique Cuisine in the Heart of Miami
 The Mexico Tourism Board brings the delicious and authentic food of Veracruz to the backyard of the locals of South Florida. Direct from the Gulf coasts of the state of Veracruz, regional succulent dishes will be served at La Terraza Café & Bar at the JW Marriot of Miami, from the 18th through the 21st of September during the culinary festival, A Taste of Veracruz.
As part of the celebrations of the Mexican Independence month of September, the festival
will kick off on September 18th at 6:30 p.m. with a reception at La Terraza Café & Bar in the JW Marriot Hotel, 1109 Brickell Avenue, Miami. The inaugural cocktail party will be hosted by Ivan Hillman, Ministry of Tourism for the State of Veracruz; Juan Miguel Gutierrez Tinoco, Ambassador of Mexico in Miami; and Teresa Villarreal, Director of the Mexico Tourism Board in Miami.
The renowned Veracruzan Chef Jose Burela will personally prepare a menu for lunch and dinner at La Terraza Café & Bar throughout the four days of the festival. The Café will be decorated in the typical atmosphere of a quaint Veracruzano eatery and feature regional music. Among the menu choices will be: fried beans with shrimp pulp in garlic, tostadas de minilla (fried tortilla with a regional spice), fish ceviche (marinated raw fish), chipotle shrimps, shrimp tacos, fish Veracruzana style and pescado empapelado (fish steamed inside paper) in green sauce.
To learn more about Veracruz, visit:
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/veracruz/veracruzindex.html
www.visitmexico.com |
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Arts & Crafts at the First International Santa Lucia Festival in Monterrey
 The city of Monterrey, whose increasing cultural offerings make it an obligatory route for tourists, will be celebrating the First International Santa Lucia Festival from September 20th through the middle of October. A direct result of the International Forum of Cultures held in 2007, the festival aims to present Mexican culture: its senses, its arts and crafts, its people and its exhibitions while attracting more than one million tourists to the city.
Although the complete list of festival participants will not be out until the middle of September, it has been confirmed that the Cervantino Festival, held in the state of Guanajuato, will be sending seven groups to Monterrey, including a Gospel Group and street performers from Spain.
In addition, the festival will present two popular exhibitions: a film by Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at the Nave Lewis. Figueroa is accredited for the look of Luis Bunuel’s films. His most well known work with Buneul is Los Olvidados, known in English as“The Young and the Dammed.” Also on display will be a 300 piece exhibition of Teotihuacán art and culture.
Most of the events for the Santa Lucia Festival will be held at the well known Macroplaza-Paseo Santa Lucía-Parque Fundidora Circuit, allowing guests to enjoy the city’s 19 different museums focusing on contemporary art, glass, cars, baseball and puppets, among others topics.
Some of the most well-known museums are the Contemporary Art Museum of Monterrey, MARCO, located in front of the Grand Plaza, which has a permanent collection of important contemporary works of art by Latin-American artists, and The Museum of Mexican History in the center of Monterrey, where you will find the “Ojos de Agua de Santa Lucia,” the site where the city was founded.
The Museum of Regional History of Nuevo Leon stands as one of the principal architectural and historical buildings of the city; the Museum of Science Art and Technology, distinguished for its Planetarium, which gives the theater, located within the Cultural Center, its name; and the Municipal Palace, located in front of the Zaragoza Plaza, in the heart of the historical center of the city, which hosts the Metropolitan Museum of Monterrey.
For more information visit: http://www.turismomonterrey.com/english/ |
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Guadalajara to Host 15th Annual International Mariachi and Charro Festival
 Mariachis from all over the world will reunite once again for the 15th Annual International Mariachi and Charro Festival from August 28th to September 7th at the famous Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara, the state of origin and home of Mariachis and Charros in Mexico.
For the past 15 years, Mariachi groups from Mexico and all over the world have united to host a variety of events and to showcase some of the most amazing and entertaining Mariachi music ever heard anywhere, right in the heartland of Mariachi.
Mariachi dates back to the 18th Century in Cocula, Jalisco. Routinely dressed in traditional Charro (Mexico’s take on “cowboy”) and wide-brimmed hats, Mariachis express an eclectic and vibrant music composed with guitars, violins, trumpets, vihuela (five string guitar), and guitarrón (a six-stringed, acoustic, bass guitar).
Ranging from a variety of parades, food, galas, Charro contests and of course the great Mariachi competition, this year’s festival is sure to be one of the best and most important traditional events Mexico has to offer!
For further information about the International Mariachi Festival and/or about Jalisco, please visit: www.mariachi-jalisco.com.mx/index.html
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Modern Lenses Depict Past and Present Monterrey
 In the last few years, the city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon (in the north of Mexico) has experienced a major cultural and urban transformation. Consequently, Monterrey is now recognized as one of Mexico’s most important cities for the promotion of urban and cultural tourism in Latin America. Monterrey offers a wide array of urban promenades, museums and events that set a perfect foundation for unforgettable moments.
A total of 50 pieces are presented in the photography exhibit: “The Profile of Monterrey in the 21st Century.” After its successful display in Rome and Madrid, the exhibit continues to tour around the world making its first U.S. appearance in Chicago’s Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St. Chicago, IL 60602, from September 2nd through the 13th. The exhibit will then travel to Detroit where it will be showcased throughout October 2008 at The Compuware Building,1 Campus Martius, Detroit, MI 48226.
Featured will be the works of seven renowned Nuevo Leon artists: Cartagena, Estrada Bellmann, Huerta Gutierrez, Maldonado Espejo, Ortiz Giacoman, Sandoval and Taboada Moron. Each presents through their photographic work, motionless expressions of this city’s transformation. Do not miss these opportunities to enjoy a visual experience of the grandness and beauty of this imposing Mexican metropolis.
For more information on this city and travel to Mexico, please visit: http://www.turismomonterrey.com/english/ and www.visitmexico.com |
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Welcome to the Mayan Underground: Cancun’s Secret River by Alltournative
 Only a few minutes away from Cancun, you can find what for a thousand years was considered one of the best kept secrets in the Mayan world: Rio Secreto, the Secret River.
Rio Secreto opens doors into a fantastic voyage, offering a magical journey that brings alive the mystical tales from the Mayan underworld. Today its secrets are uncovered thanks to an amazing tour through an underground river where you can admire crystal clear water hollows framed by beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations. This live natural museum is unique in the world.
The adventure begins onboard a Unimog, an all land vehicle, which takes you on a 20 minute trip into the jungle to the Natural Reserve of Rio Secreto. Once there, you’ll be greeted by an expert guide who will provide you with special equipment to ensure safety and comfort so everybody enjoys this fantastic underground experience.
The trip through Rio Secreto lasts about an hour and a half. In some areas, you’ll walk, while in others you’ll swim. During the trip, you’ll be able to experience and admire the unbelievable offerings of Mother Nature. You’ll discover these wonders at the rhythm of an amazing concert performed by water drops in a silent, quiet and peaceful atmosphere; undoubtedly, a unique moment to share with friends and family.
At the end of the underground adventure you’ll be able to share impressions of your magical experience while enjoying a healthy lunch, or resting in the middle of the jungle lying in our traditional hammocks.
Rio Secreto is much more than a tour, its part of a fundamental and responsible development plan in a privileged natural area where a protection agreement has been signed. This agreement promotes the use of clean and environmentally-friendly technologies and a culture of respect and conservation for the region’s natural resources. Our commitment is to preserve the beauty of our state and pass it on to future generations in better conditions than it was given to us.
For all this and much more, Río Secreto is “a fantastic life experience.”
Please visit: www.alltournative.com
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| Interested in writing about Mexico? Learn more about our upcoming Fam trips and see how you can experience Mexico first-hand. |
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The following FAM trips are available for the remainder of the year: |
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- Guerrero
- Riviera Nayarit (Golf)
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- Durango
- Sinaloa
- México City
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