Posts filed under 'Other Blogs We Like'
Be sure to check out the adventures of Jerry and Karen (from whence comes yesterday’s gorgeous photo - at right). Their blog chronicles the adventures of an American family that’s been in and around Bucerias.
Also - you may get as big a laugh as I did from “Is that a Gun in your Pocket” at one of the most prolific of Baja California bloggers’ blogs I’ve Found My Home; An Englishman Finds a New Home in Mexico. here’s a taste:
Now: I live in Mexico. Last year we went to Puerto Nuevo for lobster. It was wonderful. The lobster was huge, the shrimps were lobster-sized, it was amazing. Lobster. Huge lobster. Really cheap, really big, lobster. I was stunned. When I returned to school, after the weekend, someone asked what I’d done at the weekend. I started to tell them I’d visited Puerto Nuevo. They got excited, asking where I’d been. I told them the name of the restaurant and they immediately jumped in with: BEANS! Eh? I started to explain about the lobster, the shrim….BEANS! What were the beans like? Well, I remembered there were beans, beans are always served, in a little pot beside the main course, or as a part of the dish. But, but, they were beans. No! Beans are the most important part of a Mexican meal. Beans are everything. Beans are the staple. Beans are, well people will travel miles and miles for good beans. Everyone has a recipe for beans. Seriously, Maria has a recipe for beans which (and I should say now, I really love), if you should ever eat, you have to say (have to, I say) they are the best best beans you have ever tasted. The rules of being a Mexican state: You never (NEVER) insult their mother. You love their beans.
Both blogs above are welcome additions to the LWOB blog-roll.
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August 25th, 2008
Well, with all the festivities coming up in Yucatan (nicely detailed here by Yucatan Living), it’s good to know there’s just as much going on underground as above.
From Reuters today:
Mexican archaeologists have discovered a maze of stone temples in underground caves, some submerged in water and containing human bones.
Clad in scuba gear and edging through narrow tunnels, researchers found the stone ruins of 11 sacred temples at the site on the Yucatan peninsula.
Archaeologists say the Maya believed the underground complex of water-filled caves leading into dry chambers, including an underground road stretching about 330 feet, was the path to a mythical underworld known as Xibalba.
The illustrations here are from the unmatchable Authentic Maya website that has comprehensive information on all things Maya, including a detailed look at all the Maya Caves and an exciting gallery of photography and artwork from some of them. Strictly for the pros, The Mesoamerican Cave Archaeology Network is the on-line resource for researchers who contribute to the advancement of Mesoamerican cave studies.
For a simpler take on Xibalba itself check the Encyclopedia of Myths, where we learn that
In the mythology of the Maya of Middle America, Xibalba (place of fright) was an underground realm of the dead. Caves and pools of water served as entry points to the realm. During the later part of its history, the Mayan empire was sometimes called the empire of Xibalba.
The GodChecker has plenty more on 117 Mayan Gods, Legends and Mythology. That said, if you want to check out your own piece of Xibalba, join us in Merida on September 20, 21 and 22. Remember, the Autumn Equinox is the perfect time to visit Chichen Itza!
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August 16th, 2008
If you want a quizzical dilemna, something to really ponder this week or this weekend… and this is written with the understanding that we really do have Generation X readers… (and plenty of boomers who remember the Shaggs,) then consider this video… 
The image at right links to the source at Current.com. But I was turned onto this video by Jeremy Schwartz post at his Austin American Statesmen blog Uncovering Mexico. It’s always an exciting way to get news about Mexico from a Gringo source. The video is from independent journalist iongrillo.
Schwartz links to another Mexico City / LA based blogger, Daniel Hernandez, who has chronicled the Emo-events of the past few months in Mexico - and who is featured in the Video. His chronicle began here if you are interested in piecing the whole story back together in some detail.
The shocking and disturbing part of the video, in this blogger’s mind, is the images of the supposed “punk-rockers” shouting “Puto-Puto-Puto” - as if that is some sort of insult in the first place. The thing to ponder is - is there really something to the odd prevalence of those Nazi t-shirts that you can occasionally find in certain puestos in Mexico City? Is there more than a whiff of intolerance in Mexico’s otherwise impeccable tolerance for difference and otherness and just plain oddity ?
Maybe the lesson of the day should be - just love your local emos. There’s always going to be some oddity in life that rubs us the wrong way. And why not just accept it? What’s really disturbing is people getting bent because of someone else’s hairstyle.
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July 23rd, 2008
Who loves Mexican doggies more than Expats? (H/T to Cristina in Livtopia Customer Service). Heather at HeatherinParadise took it a step further with an online campaign to raise money for the lost and stranded in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen.
I can’t say enough about the impact Andy and Jen [of Peanut Pet Shelter] are making in Playa del Carmen. Their no-kill shelter is the first of its kind here. In the one year of the shelter’s existence, Andy and Jen have managed to rescue, heal, and rehome hundreds of stray dogs and cats who would have otherwise lived out their sad, bleak, and short lives with no one to love or care for them. One thing that I will never get used to, living here, is the stray animal situation.
Why get used to it? LWOB salutes Heather’s efforts to raise money for the shelter and all the thoughtful posts, pictures and information about the animals and the situation on the ground in Playa del Carmen. The photo above is from the slideshow of all the dogs being helped at the shelter.
In just a few days they’ve topped US$1000 for the dogs, and we’d like to see donations go over US$2000. Each of the entries here has a link to the paypal account where you can donate $10 or $20 to help them out too. And here’s the post that started the ball rolling.
Feeling indifferent? - just watch the slideshow!
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July 17th, 2008
We’re just now getting the ball rolling on our new Facebook Group and already we’ve got lot’s to show for it. Whether you’re interested in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic or some of the other places we’re just introducing…
Livtopia is passing more and more information through our Facebook group, including updates to our ever growing calendar of events and we’d like to see you there.
In addition to all the fun you already have on Facebook, now you’ll find an increasing number of Livtopians.
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July 13th, 2008
The AP Photo above is from this fascinating story on CNN.com about the playing of the Aztec whistles of death. You must view the slide show that accompanies the story to hear these haunting recordings.
For years, many archaeologists who uncovered ancient noisemakers dismissed them as toys. Museums relegated them to warehouses. But while most studies and exhibits of ancient cultures focus on how they looked, Velazquez said the noisemakers provide a rare glimpse into how they sounded.
More for the archeology and pre-history lovers out there, it’s a surprise that ancient and pre-Columbian history isn’t making more headway in our list of Top Ten Reasons to Move to Mexico this year T-Shirt Contest!
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July 2nd, 2008
With the success of our English Language Blog Roll, we’ve been looking more and more at extending the linking capability that Livtopia.com offers.
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March 12th, 2008
A big thanks to RiverGirl from Cancun for directing us to the really exciting travel video collection at Rincones de mi Tierra. RiverGirl’s a prolific blogger who’s section on Living in Cancun is not to be missed, especially these exceptional Photos from Tulum and even more so if you are thinking of living or traveling in Cancun, maybe one of the most mis-understood places in Mexico.
And that said, these are some rather unusual tourist videos too. Not exactly for the international tourist crowd, they’re for the more seasoned visitor who understands that Mexico is a big country crammed absolutely from shore to shore with fascinating and exciting little places and neighborhoods and pueblos, every one more interesting than the last. But beyond tourism, the videos touch on places like Bacalar in Quintana Roo and Tonatico and Metepec in Estado de Mexico, the site has a heavy dose of places you’ve likely never heard of. If you think you’ll run out of things to do in Mexico, you’ll definitely want to glance through a few of these videos. The image above is from their video on Tepoztlan in Morelos.
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December 18th, 2007
In coming years we are going to see better and better information about where foreign people are going in Mexico, who they are and maybe even what they doing - where they’re buying houses and real estate, etc. The last time I wrote on this topic it was with a map that is already some 3 years old.
John P Schmal at LatinoLA took things a step further and goes back over foreign populations in Mexico since the census in 1895. Surprises? After the 1940 census:
[…] the number of people who spoke foreign languages dropped from 8,223 in 1930 to 6,465 in 1940. German was the most widely spoken foreign language (with 5,111 speakers), followed by English (1,159 speakers). It is likely that many people tallied in the census simply did not admit that they spoke foreign languages.
It’s only with the 1950 census that American citizens started outnumbering foreigners from Spain. And they’ve maintained a majority ever since.
7 years after the 2000 census, it is still amazing to look back on the numbers below:
1. United States (343,591 natives)
2. Guatemala (23,957)
3. Spain (21,024)
4. Cuba (6,647)
5. Argentina (6,465)
6. Colombia (6,215)
Those figures are likely a bit low. The US State Department estimates the number of US Citizens living in Mexico at at least half a million. Not a number likely to decrease in coming years.
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December 11th, 2007
Some of you may have noticed the BlogRoll button above is working now. I’ve listed all of the blogs that I’ve enjoyed reading, many of them for better than the past year. And I would be making a bigger splash about it, but where are the Dominican Republic bloggers?
If you’ve got a favorite, please leave a comment. In fact, if there is a blog anywhere in the region that you enjoy, please do us all a favor and post it below. I am always happy to try to keep up with one more.
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November 18th, 2007
From the Monaga blog, I learned of this really nice bit of American newspaper writing. A Boston Globe story on the father of writer David Abel and his decision to start farming in Dominican Republic some 25 years ago. All the changes that have taken place over these past 25 years provide a moving backdrop to the unlikely story.
Many of the changes reflect the nation’s economic growth, which last year amounted to 10 percent. They also reveal the influence of New York, where thousands of locals have lived or have relatives. Then there’s the effect of all the tourists who come to visit the nearby Pico Duarte, the tallest mountain (10,164 feet) in the Caribbean; raft down the pristine, ledge-filled Yaque del Norte; and trek to the town’s large waterfalls, Salto Baiguate and Salto Jimenoa.
You hear it often enough, but this is one of those newspaper stories you really will enjoy reading in its entirety.
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October 30th, 2007
Readers seem anxious to point me to this new Manu Cron Article in the Escape Artist, perhaps knowing that I linked to Cron’s last article. I can’t say I have given the new article a close read, though I promise to this weekend. I hope some other readers, and especially Panama residents, retirees and hopefuls will too and let me know what you think.
I have been dwelling on the subject of Panama’s less-savory side recently because Client Services forwarded me a very intelligent email that they received on the just the same subject. Maybe it is time we revise everything we’ve been thinking and saying…
We love Panama, but this bubble may be about to burst; given the exaggerated “hype” about the features and benefits that attract North Americans to Panama. We WANT Panama to succeed and continue it’s progress toward becoming a haven for “Boomer” retirees (or anyone else), but fear that growth is threatened by unscrupulous promoters, greedy builders, and a government that tolerates BOTH, far too much! […]
If you tell the truth about what they will find here, Panama (and Mexico, for that matter) STILL has a solid case for relocation from N. America, Europe and beyond. BUT, if promoters continue to exaggerate the claims of
- how much English is spoken here
- the quality of the beaches and buildings
- the cost-of-living differences
- and the readiness of Panama to build infrastructure to support an incredibly fast rise in population…
about 97 of every 100 people who get off the plane for an exploratory visit will not only never return, they will “enthusiastically” criticize the “Panamanian phenomenon.” (We are observing the increasing number of “returnees” who are doing just that. And THAT spells “crash” for the building boom here.
IF promoters “tell the truth:”
- You DO need to learn Spanish to function well here
- the Pacific Beaches are NOT pristine, you must go to the islands on the west coast or the Caribbean for good snorkeling
- the “cost-of-living” differential disappears IF you live and shop in Punta Pacifica, and life outside the city is for the adventurous and independent [there are lots of us],
- and Panama’s utility and transportation infrastructure are stretched to their limits…
BUT there are plans and CONTRACTS in place to address those issues… THEN those with a brain and realistic expectations WILL come, stay, invest, and contribute. We think THAT is Panama’s [Latin America’s] best strategy for continued growth and long-term prosperity. THEN of every 100 who visit (with realistic expectations), you can expect a much higher percentage to STAY!
Panama (Central America) has a solid case for relocation/investment WITHOUT the hype - climate, great people, pace-of-life, and a reasonable cost-of-living differential - to attract boomers and investors globally. You don’t NEED the hype!
Again, there will be more on this topic next week. I would love to hear from more readers and expats and people in Panama. Lengthy comments will be re-posted, or if you want to send me an email I will be happy to consider posting it here. -editor[@]livtopia.com
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October 26th, 2007
Well worth a few minutes of the time of anyone considering a Voluntour or Eco-tour type trip, as many of our readers do to Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic, is the exchange going on between Scott Pralinsky, Executive Director of the Casa Milagro Foundation at the blog Crazy Jungle and Rob Meyer who writes the blog GoBudgetTravel.
You can follow the whole argument which starts with Rob’s post on the Ethics of the Voluntourism Industry and continues with Pralinsky’s lengthy and thoughtful reply at the bottom of the same post. (I caught it off the feed from the
