Arrested Development - Ex-Pats Mexico

36) End of the Road in Yucatan, Xcalak. The last stretch of undeveloped land on the coastline. An "easygoing fishing village" of Xcalak. http://www.xcalak.info/visit/uk/xcalak-uk.shtml Once a major Mayan trading port. Strict ecological laws to prevent large-scale tourism. For example, no buildings can be higher than two stories, mangrove trees cannot be cut, no jet skis, no open fires. There is also a eco-protected barrier reef, the second largest in the world. Opportunities for snorkeling, bone fishing and bird watching

37) A Clutch of Museums for all interests, Mexico City. A world cultural, there are many museums tucked away in old buildings throughout the city - most free or nominal fees. Two blocks off the zocalo, opened in 2006, is the Museo del Estanquillo http://www.museodelestanquilla.com. Its theme is "an entertaining, idiosyncratic display of memorabilia commenting on the social and physical transformations of Mexico City in recent decades". A more traditional vision of cultural heritage Museo Nacional de Arte Popular, also opened 2006 near Alameda park. A lot of crafts and example of regional artisan work, including a well stocked gift shop http://www.map.df.gob.mx. It also mentions the Museo de Geologia, Museo Universitario del Chopo hosting often offbeat shows and emegring artists http://www.chopo.unam.mx. The Museo Nacional de Cartografia is an interesting building with maps. Casa de la Bola, an 18th century mansion decorated in the period style. Museo Dolores Olmedo Patino includes two dozen Kahlo paintings and over a hundred works by Rivera.

38) Edible History, Merida. The unique history and culture of the Yucatan, has given rise to a rich and unique cuisine. The article mentions many examples of this and recommends the Los Almendros restaurnt in Merida, run by an American chef who also offers cooking classes http://www.los-dos.com. He calls Yucatecan cooking "the first fusion of European and New World cuisines."

39) Northern Frontier: Land of Pancho Villa, Chihuahua. The bustling city offers "a taste of Mexican urban life without lots of tourist frills." The 50 room mansion (I'm not clear whether it was owned by Pancho Villa or by Anthony Quinn) is now "Museum of the Revolution" including the bullet pocked Dodge roadster Villa was fatally ambushed in 1923.

40) A Modern Cocktail: La Paloma. A history as elusive as the margarita. For years, rum and brandy, served with Coke were the pick's of Mexico's sophisticates. In the 1990's, a big price rise started a drift to Tequila. Then came mixing with Squirt or Fresca (grapefruit flavored). I always have added sparkling water too - but this is not mentioned. The paloma, or dove, is the result, although there is no story behind the name. Herradura has a canned version of the cocktail called "New Mix" which they sold 100 million last year.

o no a
http://www.museodelestanquillo.com/

Museo Diego Rivera - 'Anahuacalli'
http://sparks-mexico.com/mex2005/Cuerna ... index.html

The Dolores Olmedo Patino Museum
http://sparks-mexico.com/mex2005/Cuerna ... index.html

There was another site that was kind of a directory of Museums .... nicely done but I can't find it

Thanks Gary for typing out this list.
(Hoping you are not a one-finger typist. Otherwise, an additional thanks)

Had hoped that the ex-pat resident/travellers among us, would comment on the list-pro-con, from personal experience. Which is why I posted what I did, earlier.

Mexican foreign tourism industry (2nd after PEMEX towards Mexico's measureable GNP) or so have read, might be hugely impacted this coming winter.

Although, mass tourism might be a somewhat 'mixed' blessing to the Mexican economy, there could be a very strong economic impact in many Mexican beach towns, in many ways. Given the number people that migrated over recent years, to said beach towns, to make a living for their families, denied them,economically speaking, where they migrated from.

#36 Xcalak. I've been going there for many years, first to dive and more recently to volunteer at a vet clinic. Compared to 10 years ago, it has many more services. There is electricity in the village and for about a kilometer outside it. There is a new road that cuts across the mangroves and doesn't get washed out as badly in hurricanes. There are more gringos living there and visiting, there are guest houses and small resorts and more options to stay. We had this lovely spot last January for the vet clinic. There will be another one there soon, we've had requests for another and once the vets get lined up it will happen. Here's a link to my blog entry from Xcalak on the vet clinic last January, there are pictures as well.




#38 Mérida One quibble on this, the owner of Los Almendros is not the the chef at the cooking school Los Dos. Los Almendros is a very old restaurant with several locations, started in Ticul, Yucatan by Rubén González González in 1962. It's a landmark now, especially the main location in Mérida Centro. They serve traditional Yucatecan food, panuchos, salbutes, relleno negro, pollo pibil, etc. They play it really safe and most reveiws now are rather lukewarm. Los Dos cooking school is owned by Chef David Sterling from New York and teaches traditional Yucatecan cooking. I have some friends who just took his one day course and loved it. Martha Stewart did a show from there as did Rick Bayless. One of these days, I may take the one day course as well. As an aside, it is located just around the corner from my house in Mérida in a beautifully renovated colonial.