200 Years

THOSE OF YOU old enough to remember 1976 will understand that the 200th anniversary of a nation’s independence is a very big deal.

This month’s commemoration of 200th anniversary of the beginning of Mexico’s liberation struggle has been long anticipated and will be marked by hundreds of special events around the country.

Sadly, as this proud nation enters its third century, there are storm clouds threatening to rain on the grand parade. Concerns about crime and security, national institutions under attack, economic uncertainty and the possible loss of the nation’s flagship airline - - this was not the context hoped for when planning for the celebrations began.

But Mexico’s turbulent history has demonstrated the remarkable resilience, strength and determination of its people. As the nation wraps itself in green, white and red, there is reason to be proud and optimistic as we honor the heroes of the past and celebrate an amazing heritage whose popular culture, culinary traditions and history have inspired the world.
-- Warren Sharpe, Editor


Keep those letters and stories and photographs rolling in, you here?

-- Warren Sharpe, Editor

June, 2010

Football & Politics

THINKING ABOUT THIS month, the word passion springs to mind. Over these coming weeks, most people here will be focused on two distinctly different phenomena, but for which they harbor extremely passionate emotions: football and politics.

Football, that is, as it is known in most of the world, foot plus ball, kicking, no hands, no helmets, no pads. Mexico is always soccer crazy, but every four years, especially if the national squad has earned a berth - - and they have - - enthusiasm for the sport reaches a fever pitch.
Actually thinking about this, it isn’t even close. Politics will have to take second place. However this is an important election that’s coming up. Just as in the U.S. these are the “mid terms” much beloved by the pundits who will seeking signs of what might come in the 2012 presidential races.
These are some of the passions we explore in this issue, along with some of own, of course: where to go, what to see and how to get the most out of your stay in Puerto Escondido.

I HOPE I’M NOT to blame: Last issue’s theme about “Waiting for the Rains” has perhaps proven too prophetic. Here at this writing, a good two weeks into the season, hardly a heavy mist has fallen here. In fact local water officials are planning on implementing water rationing for the city to protect diminishing supplies.

So please be extremely careful with your water usage.

I’m doing my bit; by commiting this to print, I am tempting the deities to strike me for hubris by unleashing a good downpour. Might even wash my car.

THANKS THIS MONTH to Alan Viautin who sent us his observations on a return to Puerto which still retains its magic allure for him. We invite you, also, to submit your Puerto views, stories, anecdotes and photos. (elsolinpuerto@gmail.com.)

And join us in welcoming back Barbara Schaffer with some important information on the new immigration regulations. And for those of us who are nocturnal stay-at-homes, she also shares some of her notes on Puerto nightlife in On The Town.

- - Warren Sharpe, editor

National Pride: Salvador Arizmendi, father of El Cafecito’s Carmen was a star footballer in his day, playing for the famed Atlante team in D.F. In the ‘40s, he was selected to join the national squad. No World Cup, though, it wasn’t held in that year.
That’s him, second from the left in the first row, next to the trainer.

May, 2010>

IWaiting for
the Rain

SOME WOULD CLAIM THAT there are no real seasons here in Paradise. This is nonsense, of course. While we might not sedately pass through the storied Four Seasons of more temperate zones, the passage of time here has its cycles, familiar, identifiable and reassuring. They just don’t necessarily conform to an arbitrary calendar.

Take this month for example. We are in the season I like to call “Waiting for the Rains.” Some of the characteristics of the season: The supply of cheap, sweet oranges comes to en end, but it is raining mangos; as the ground cover withers and the hills borrow a palatte of browns and grays, many trees and plants burst into flower in a desperate bid to survive as the water diminshes; the “ice backs” and other winter residents have left, which means wide open beaches and no waiting at our favorite restaurants; the great surf swells return;

Late afternoon clouds begin to form, teasing us with the promise of relief from the heat and humidity.

Waiting for the rains is not without its stress; as the temperature soars and mugginess builds, a communal anxiety, if not a group psychosis, seems to take hold. We become cranky, parents get short with the kids, lovers quarrel, domestic violence increases. When is it going to rain!

MAY is one of the best kept secrets of Puerto Escondido. Once the rains do start, there’s relief the smoky skies from burning brush in preparation for planting corn and your neighbor can no longer burn his trash next door.
For fisherman it’s a good time to try to hook a prized pez gallo, rooster fish, renowned as the fiercest fighting fish in coastal waters,

Nor is there any lack of cultural activity, parties and fiestas this month. It seems that just about everybody is either being celebrate or yhey are celebrating somebody or something in May.
Check our"What's Happening" page regularly

The rainy season also brings the gift of the Awesome Surf.
Life is good. Pray for (frequent and gentle) rain.

BRIEFLY NOTED Remember that Super Highway from Oaxaca to the Coast? Well it appears that the project is on again, with a new contractor selected by the federal government and a projected completion in 2012. We’ll see.

That same federal department, the SCT, the transport and communications ministry, Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes, has solicited bids for anther major infrastructure project for Puerto Escondido: The construction of a wharf to accommodate Puerto’s fishing boats and excursion operators. The idea is to remove the boats from Playa Principal, where their kamikaze-style beaching puts beach strollers and swimmers at risk. The proposal also includes building a real boat ramp. Early days, it’s not yet part of the government’s infrastructure priorities. Again, we’ll see.

It’s election time in Oaxaca at stake is the governorship and control of numerous of counties, municipios. It’s Mexico’s “mid-terms”, a bell weather for the 2012 Presidential showdown. State polling takes place in July, but intense campaigning is already underway to select the various parties’ candidates to contend for local offices, including presidente municipal of San Pedro Mixtepec.

elsolinpuerto@gmail.com
- - Warren Sharpe, editor