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Huatulco Eye Living and Loving the Oaxacan Riviera Issue No. 3 April, 2011 FREE In this issue... Shopping guide Green team Cacaluta Huatulco Moment by Frances Lopez www.huatulcoeye.com All day Happy Hour on Select Cocktails Maguey Bay, Huatulco Baseball Volleyball Ambulante Film Fest Whales
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Page 1: APRIL 2011

Huatulco EyeLiving and Loving the Oaxacan RivieraIssue No. 3 April, 2011

FREE

In this issue...Shopping guideGreen teamCacaluta

Huatulco Moment by Frances Lopez

www.huatulcoeye.com

All day Happy Houron Select Cocktails

Maguey Bay, Huatulco

BaseballVolleyballAmbulante Film Fest

Whales

Page 2: APRIL 2011

Around Huatulco...Hemingway`s Oscar Party

Best Dressed Winners

Gabriel... Winnerof the Old Road Bike Race

Artesanos Event at Villa Aurora

Alfredo, Ron and Greg Mónica, Jacobo and Maria Hosts Howard and Julie with Bulmaro and wife

Valerie

Maguey Fun

Celeste Mezcal Tasting

Wes and Neal

Page 3: APRIL 2011

Graphic design, Offset, plotter,

Awnings, Signs, Publicity materials

Gardenia 501, La Crucecita

Shopping Huatulco Those of us who live here have

our own favorite places to shop

for food and necessities. Most of

us haunt the same stores with

some regularity, and each has

something to offer, yet not

completely. Who among us has

only made one stop on “shopping

day”? More like 3-5 stops. It is

completely subjective of course,

my dependable standbys may not

be yours, but eventually we get

our routines down and know

where to go and what to expect

from those particular stores.

There are always surprises

though. Every now and then one

finds something totally

unexpected that it feels like a

treasure hunt when we shop.

Every Tuesday and Friday we

visit Fruver and/or Hermanos

Lucas soon after the produce has

come in, to pick over the fresh,

often local, fruits, vegetables, and

herbs, alongside our neighbours

and friends. You could delay the

trip to say Wednesday or

Saturday, but it's not the same.

For us Northern Californians,

this is like farmers' markets on

Saturday morning, and the

traditional markets in the local

communities around our area.

There are several fruit and

vegetable stores in the area, and

we cruise them as well.

(Although a Monday trip to the

Pochutla market is well worth the

effort, as they have an incredible

array of fruits and vegetables

from the local farmers that are

not seen in Fruver or Hermanos

Lucas). Tuesdays and Fridays

also bring people from the

surrounding communities to sell

their fruits, vegetables, pastries,

herbs, honey and my personal

favorite street buy, the coconut

tortillas. The ritual of baking

these disks of coconut cookie-like

tortillas (a pleasure with a cup of

coffee), is unique. Ovens in the

ground,

Pane Italiano on Ocotilo, sells the

best foccacia in the world--try the

tomato or black olive. Stefano

also has great Italian breads and

pizzas. Soon gelato will turn up

in Little Italy (we hear) --we are

missing Franco's former life (as a

gelato maker).

There is fish street (Macuitle),

and chicken and meat markets

tucked in here and there in this

area around the public mercardo.

We buy fish at the local markets

here. It is almost always caught

that day (or night before,

whenever they fish), they filet,

scale, etc. You can smell the fish

and check the eyes like you were

taught. As for chicken, Mexicans

like their chicken fresh. My

Mexican friends scorn me when I

say we buy chicken at Che. It's

old they tell me, not good. I like

the chicken from Che, and

chicken here is quite good by the

way. Buy any of those fresh

roasted chickens in the shops in

La Crucecita and they will tell

you all you need to know about

chicken... it's all good (even Che's

rotisserie chicken).

We do try to stick to locals when

shopping, places like the store we

all call “Colorin” (what is that

store really named?) on Colorin,

which carries such items as 3 kg

(6.6 lbs!) Nestle chocolate bars for

cooking (a steal), frozen meats

(thanks to Enrique when he

closed his freezer store) that can

include hard to find items like

duck, and yeast when you can't

find it anywhere else. Also, in an

emergency search for a plunger,

(ahem), it was Colorin that had it!

But some chain stores are in the

mix, like Che, because they are

easy, and shamelessly sell things

that lure the Canadians and

Americans, like real maple syrup,

blue cheese, all things Thai, and

a conveniently located

imported/domestic wine section,

right near the front door. They

know their market. I get my cake

mix there, I admit it. But Che

does have a pharmacy (so

convenient), and always

interesting seasonal stuff that

lets you know that almost

everything is commercialized here

too. (See my collection of world

cup soccer beer mugs.) For meat

like “home” Papaloapan, on

Bugambilia, fixes us up with

prime rib, rib eye steaks cut to

order, bacon and other cuts of

meats that Canadians and

Americans might be more

familiar with. As North

Americans, we often ponder cuts

of meat here. Read “The Sausage

Rebellion: Public Health, Private

Enterprise, and Meat in Mexico

City, 1890-1917 by Jerry

Pilcher, if you really want to

know what's what with meat in

Mexico.

We have favorite coffee stores (if

we haven't been up to Pluma

Hidalgo recently and need coffee

now), popsicle stores (because

those Michoacan stores have

really amazing popsicles and they

are a perfect desert on warm,

sultry nights). There are so many

great little stores that sell

specialty items, and the public

mercardo is a must (worth a visit

even if you live here), it has

things like mole, tamarind paste,

hard to find herbs, and other

Mexican cooking essentials with

vendors eager to educate you on

the finer points in Oaxacan

cooking. Huatulco is full of

stores and sometimes you have to

make an effort to locate your

favorites, but that's the joy of

living here. Please feel free to let

me know what your favorite

shopping find is, as I don't think

I'm done with this topic yet.

tortillas are slapped up on the

walls like tandoori chicken, and

out comes these crunchy, slightly

sweet, like a coconut/corn tortilla

that hints of fortune cookie. One

vender is often on the corner of

Carrizal and Guarumbo.

Occasionally, you can find these

in Fruver, but they are best on

the street. Also on Carrizal is the

Abarrotes de Santa Cruz, another

grocery store worth checking out

when in need of all things Che

doesn't have. Calle Carrizal is

always worth a cruise, even on

non-delivery days.

There is also in this vicinity a

lovely woman, who sells her

homemade pastries. They are

light, flaky and delicious. There

are more than a couple of good

bakeries in town though. I'm not

saying Che is bad, but the guys

in town are way better, way.... BC

(before Che) we had found

Panaderia Alejandro on

Flamboyant - fabulous bakery!

Then friends brought me a pie

from Elschers on Macuitle.

Another terrific bakery. Baking

here is left to the panaderias. If

you visit the local's homes, you

will note not many have ovens.

There are several other good

bakeries in town, check them all

out. They all have goodies that

are particular to the baker, and

there are some yummy finds.

There is a little Italy, of sorts,

over on Gardenia or near, and

another Italian bakery is in the

works on Gardenia. Giordana, as

local celebrity goes, had a great

Italian restaurant, but it took up

her life more than she wanted.

Now she runs a pasta shop on

Palma Real, around the corner

from Mamma Mia (across from

Hemingway's). I'm suspicious

though, as I see she has added a

couple of tables; that's how the

last restaurant started.

Upholstery, seat covers, carpets, shades,

curtains, furniture reupholstery, boat interiors.

Best Quality in Huatulco!

Decoratec

Free EstimateColorin 307, La Crucecita,

Bahias de Huatulco, OaxacaTel/Fax 958 587 1505 [email protected]

By Doreen Woelfel

Page 4: APRIL 2011

I love fish, and I love fishing. One

of the wonderful aspects of life in

Huatulco is the abundance and

variety of fresh fish available. I am

particularly lucky because I have

great friends who love to fish, are

great fishers (the new PC term for

fishermen and women); they are

great friends who take me fishing,

and when they have their fill, give

me fish.

I also have a new hobby. I smoke

fish, here in Huatulco, mostly

billfish. This past season I have

smoked blue marlin, striped

marlin, sailfish and Dorado. The

most popular by far has been the

striped marlin, with the sailfish

coming last in popularity. That I

have a smoker in my courtyard is

yet another of those miracles of

circumstance that occur while

living in Huatulco. I literally put

my request into the Universe, and

poco a poco, an unused Little

Chief smoker was unearthed.

Experiments with a variety of

marinades has resulted in one

clear winner – equal amounts of

soya sauce and brown sugar, add

enough water to cover, a bit of

Chinese five spice, a handful of

peppercorns, and a few star anise.

Marinate for 24 hours, smoke with

Jack Daniels flavoured chips for

about 8 hours. We have been

serving it with cream cheese and

crackers for a handy hors

d'oeuvre. I have also chopped it

into mashed potato, added some

finely chopped onion and fresh

parsley, shaped into patties and

fried to a golden brown, marlin

hash patties, a wonderful supper

with a poached egg on top. But the

hands down favourite has

been a quirky recipe I found on

the smoked fish forums, a quirky

place for quirky smokers. Here is

the recipe for

Smoked Fish Dip (aka sailfish

“crack” – so good you'll get

addicted!)

6-8 ounces smoked fish,

skin removed, meat

chopped in coarsely (so as

not to burn out the motor

on your food processor!)

1/2 block (4 oz)cream

cheese (most Mexican

cream cheese comes in 190

grams (6.5 oz)packages vs

the northern size - 225

grams (8 oz))

2 jalapenos (I often use

rajas)

juice of one lime

1 tablespoon old bay

seasoning

1/4 cup light mayo (or less,

depending on how wet your

mixture is and how well it is

blending)

salt, pepper to taste

Puree ingredients in a food

processor until well blended. I like

to make mine almost whipped so

as to easily spread on crackers.

Smoked or fresh, there is little of

any fish that is not used by local

cooks. Even the prize billfish that

are caught during fishing

tournaments are donated to local

kitchens, or in some coastal cities,

auctioned for charity to high end

restaurants. But it is the fish

palapas on Huatulco's beautiful

beaches. What to buy? What to

order?

This month I have included a

guide to Mexico's most popular

eating fish. There are others that

are eaten, others divers get to

enjoy, and some that get away!

But these are the ones most often

found in the market and on the

menu.

To buy fish in the market, apply

the old adage of appearance and

smell. If the eyes are clear, flesh

firm, and there is no “fishy smell”

then buy it. I like mahi mahi best

of all, and usually treat it like

halibut or sablefish- marinated or

simply seasoned, then grilled.

Make an Argentine style

chimichurri and drizzle it over to

take the fish to a completely

different level. Combine some

salsa with cream and spoon over

the fish – delicious. A chipotle

mayonnaise makes a great dip, or

baking sauce. (Try it at Caray

Beach Bar at Maguey Bay). A

whole Sierra or Red Snapper split

and grilled with lime and butter

and garlic, zarandeado style, is

one of the coolest ways to

entertain your friends. But the

quintessential test of fresh fish is

ceviche. As many ocean states as

there are in Mexico, there are

styles of ceviche. Almost all of

them share the same basic list of

ingredients –raw fish “cooked” in

lime juice, salt, onion, cilantro,

tomato, and chile. Jalisco style

ceviche is usually very finely

chopped, and includes the usual

cast of characters, but often with

the addition of grated carrot. The

Oaxaca/Guerrero style is “tiritas”

with the fish cut into long strips,

marinated, and then dressed with

a healthy amount of chile, onion

and cilantro. My favourite ceviche

is a cross between recipes from

Rick Bayless and my good friend

Guadalupe Dipp, owner of the eco-

resort Los Arroyos Verdes in

Puerto Vallarta.

My Ceviche

About 1 kg of fresh white fish –

sierra or mahi mahi - cut into ½

inch dice.

Lime juice to cover.

At this point, mix it around a bit,

and put into the fridge to marinate

for a few hours. When the fish

becomes “cooked”, no longer raw-

looking, strain and add the other

ingredients which you have

prepped.

About a kilo of tomatoes (around

5), chopped about the same size.

A small red onion, chopped or

sliced (I tend to slice it thinly –

easy to pick out if you don't like it)

A chopped bunch of cilantro.

One or two jalapenos, stemmed,

seeded and chopped.

Juice of one orange.

Salt to taste, about ½ to 1 tsp.

Optional ingredients: chopped

avocado, sliced manzanillo olives.

Serve with tostadas or saladitas.

All of these ingredients can be

adjusted to your personal taste.

Buen provecho! Eat more fish.

Check out www.rickbayless.com

and www.losarroyosverdes.com .

Smoked Fish Dip courtesy of

www.grillgrrrl.com

Kathy Taylor is a freelance writer

who arrived in Huatulco in

December 2007 by sailboat. She

writes about life in Huatulco on

her blog,

www.lavidahuatulco.blogspot.com

Fish Talk

Popular Fish In MexicoEnglish - SpanishAnchovy - Anchoa Sea Bass - MeroCarp - Carpa Clam - Almeja Crab - CangrejoCrayfish - Langostino Eels - Anguillas Grouper - GarropaLobster - Langosta Mahi Mahi – DoradoManta Ray – MantarayaTilapia - Mojarra Needlefish - AgujonOctopus - PulpoOysters - Ostiones Perch - Perca

Pompano - Pampano Red Snapper - Huachinango Sailfish - Pez VelaSalmon - SalmonScallop - Callo de Hacha Skipjack - Barilete Shark - Tiburon Shrimp - Camaron Sole - Lenguado Spanish Mackeral - Pez Sierra Shark - Cazon (Tiburon)Snook - Robalo Squid - Calamar Swordfish - Pez Espada Trout - Trucha Tuna - Atun Yellowtai l Tuna-Jurel

Popular Fish In Mexico

www.huatulcoeye.com

By Kathy Taylor

Page 5: APRIL 2011

Alfredo Patiño

Caryl Delaney

Julie Etra

Kathy Taylor

Doreen Woelfel

Carminia Magaña

Marcia Chaiken

Jane Bauer

Johnny Gonzalez

Pat Hudson

Jose Maria Filgueiras Nodar

Opinions and words are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Huatulco Eye. To be a collaborator please send us an email [email protected]

Quintessential Mexico! That is

the Pochutla Market on Mondays

experience. See the colourful

bags, shoes and produce on

display down corridors of tarp

covered stalls. Vendors come

from the Oaxaca Valley to sell

their goods. This is not a tourists

market- no shot glasses or t-

shirts emblazoned with 'Mexico'

on them here. This is a market

for things that you live with,

necessities.

Hear the vendors calling to you

with their best auctioneer voices

as you pass 'Epazote Guera,

Flores, Sopes....' Bargain if

buying several items, however,

respect the sellers. Listen to what

the person in front of you is

paying to get an idea of the price.

The sounds of women laughing

and children playing- these are

the small business owners that

make this country so diverse and

interesting.

Pochutla MarketSmell the salted barrilete stacked

in baskets, fresh flowers, the

hanging meat (not for the feint at

heart), shrimp, fresh herbs you

have never heard off and pine

furniture as clever as IKEA.Walk

through the market and your

body will invariably brush up

against others; all of you sticky

with sweat from the hot sun.

Human contact is unavoidable-

there are no shopping cart

boundaries here, it is pushing,

shoving and bargaining and

always with a big smile.

Taste the fresh masa. Women

selling fresh street food- warm

tortillas, the saltiness of the lard

as it heats up- best sopes hot off

the comal. Spicy salsa, always

several kinds available;

habanero, jalapeno, chile de

arbol.

Feel the excitement of the sale,

the vendors at work, the promise

that all your purchases hold-

meals to be made throughout the

week and served up with love.

10% OFF

GUADALUPE SILVA BURRICertified in Europe

Facials and MassageManicure and Pedicure

Sector “M” Mza. 6 Lote 4

Cel. 044 (958) 58 7 82 44

Bahías de Huatulco, Oax.

Tel.: 01 (958) 58 7 11 27

Huatulco Eye CollaboratorsWelcome to the Huatulco Eye. If you are

reading this then you know what a paradise

and vibrant community Huatulco is. Huatulco

Eye is an effort to integrate and inform the

English speaking community about what is

happening around town, with the hope of

getting this important section of Huatulco

involved. This is the work of many people.

Contact us if you would like to be a

collaborator.

Cold Beer

Great FoodPalma Real & Gardenia, La Crucecita

Tuesday to Sunday Open at 5 pm

Cel. 958 107 08 04

www.hemingwayscantina.com

5 to 7 Happy Hour

By Jane Bauer

Page 6: APRIL 2011

Cacaluta Bay, a virgin beach,

is one of the most beautiful

places on the Oaxacan coast.

Sadly its future is under

discussion and could be changed

into a luxury condo site and golf

course. The biological wealth of

the Cacaluta area is impressive;

40 species of mammals among

them the fishing bat, the pigmy

skunk, more than 110 species of

birds, 35 species of mollusks,

145 flower species, amazing

water vegetation that includes 43

species of macroalgae and the

most well preserved coral reef

along the Pacific coast. From an

ecological point of view, the

development of Cacaluta would

be barbaric and cruel.

Sometimes the projects turn out

bad or don´t have the expected

outcome.

Consider Fonatur´s Master Plan.

Huatulco should be a place of

international class and a beacon

of economic development for the

whole coastal area, but in reality,

it is a tourist destination that

simply hasn't taken off. There's

no doubt that building a golf club

and living spaces could

bring about some sort of

economic benefit for a while.

Although golf tourism is currently

in good shape, there is the risk

that it will collide head-on

against a new trend that

numerous experts are talking

about: the emergence of the new

tourist, very different from the old

models, a tourist who is very

concerned about the social and

ecological impact of his behavior.

How many of these tourists will

be willing to play golf on a course

that is located in a protected

natural area?

Huatulco already has a beautiful

golf course in Tangolunda which

is almost always empty. Building

a new courses, in Cacaluta,

Conejos or between Huatulco and

Puerto Escondido–simply means

that a bad business will be

multiplied by the number of

courses. Although many golfers

don´t like to go to a place where

there is only one golf course as

they want to vary their game and

have choices where to play.

However, right from the start,

this place would have to be made

known as a great place for golf,

an ideal golf destination. It would

take huge investments to

convince people play to golf here.

But so far it just hasn´t

happened; in the last twenty

years, not even half the expected

tourists have arrived.

The lack of tourists is due to lack

of effective marketing that has

been missing in the development

of the Bays of Huatuclo. This is a

fact that even Fonatur admits to

in its document about the first

“relaunching” of Huatulco, where

they recognize that more

aggressive marketing needs to be

carried out. Marketing that

effectively promotes the tourism

market, that defines promising

goals, that is capable of giving

tourism product designers the

information needed to create

attractive offers and that is

capable of giving Huatulco an

image that is clear in the minds

of the prospective tourists.

Without this type of marketing,

whether there is one golf course

or ten, people will keep on

travelling and golfing, but they

won´t come to Huatulco!

With the right marketing, we can

see a future for Huatulco much

more interesting options than

golf, such as building a

convention center or exploring

eco-tourism options that will not

cause the destruction of a truly

exceptional natural area like

Cacaluta.

Dr. José María Filgueiras is a

Tourism Marketingprofessor and

founding member of the Red

Sustentable Ocho Venado de

Huatulco, A.C., an environmental

group.

By Jose Maria Filgueiras Nodar

Why a Golf Course in Cacaluta is Bad Business

The Huatulco Green Team (Equipo Verde) Coordinating Committee is a group of representatives of key organizations and volunteer community leaders, including the group's President, Monica De La Peña, who have taken on responsibility for maintaining the wonderful environment in Huatulco that so many of us cherish and tend to take for granted. In 2002, core members began discussing how to promote education and activities for sustaining our natural resources and enhancing our economic and communal development. By 2003, Green Team was formally organized and decided to associate with the international organization, Earth Check, formerly called Green Globe, which certifies tourist facilities for compliance with its standards in seven categories that include energy use, emissions, community involvement, and waste handling.

According to Yvonne Kraak, Managing Director at Camino Real Zaashila, who is considered the spiritual leader of the Green Team, motivation for participation consists not only in commitment to achieving specific Earth Check benchmark objectives but also a shared passion for sustaining a very high quality of life in Huatulco. She sees this commitment and

The Team that Keeps Huatulco Green and Pristine

passion as key to the remarkable coherence of the group membership over the last eight years. And she justifiably points to the long-term cohesion of the group as a major accomplishment.

One of the first steps the group took was to agree on a mission statement: “To be a leading citizenship group in the integration and organization of the different social participants of the Huatulco Bays tourist destination, generating synergies that allow to define a procedure towards sustainability in joint and strategic manner.” To achieve this mission, the Green Team divided into seven working groups, each focusing on a different set of activities needed to achieve one of the seven Earth Check benchmarks, with the goal of having Huatulco certified as a model community.

Residents still remember the flurry of initial activities launched by the Green Team. Schools were organized to clean up beaches, FONATUR provided recycling containers, and an intensive publicity campaign was carried out to educate the community about the value and necessity of recycling, weekly events were held to promote responsible use of natural resources. Less visible to the community as a whole were the still ongoing education

and training of hotel staff and administration in practices for conserving the natural environment, including composting of organic waste.

By June 2005, the hard work was rewarded. Huatulco was awarded the Green Globe Sustainable Tourist Community International certification. The Green Team began to spin off some of their initial activities to other agencies. For example, beach clean-ups were taken over as a municipal function. However, Green Team continued year after year to pursue the coveted Green Glove Award.

According to a 2008 case study conducted by Earth Check, the community more than meets major benchmark objectives. The study noted that energy consumption was 64.3% better than Earth Check's best practice standard with 23% of used energy produced by renewable sources; according to Kraak, primarily by the windmills in Ventosa. For the Green Team members, Green Globe certification is important, yet not as important as the ongoing practices that keep Huatulco a sustainable community. They know that continued efforts are needed to maintain and improve sound practices. Ongoing efforts include increasing recycling in the community by creating a new

recycling center located at the entrance to Sector N, and increasing community education. Every first Saturday of the month, beginning on April 2, at 9AM in Rufino Tamayo Park, across from the Pemex Station, the Green Team will have entertaining and educational activities geared to teach useful ways to recycle.All community members are urged to actively become involved in Green Team activities. In addition to decreasing our use of water and energy, increasing our individual recycling efforts and purchasing tree certificates, those among us who have special knowledge and know-how are invited to attend Green Team weekly meetings held on Wednesdays, at 5PM, at the Camino Real Zaashila. Please confirm that the meeting will take place by contacting the coordinator, Lorenzo Alfaro Ocampo at

.-Marcia Chaiken, Ph.D. is delighted to provide information about the Green Team collaboration carrying out best practices in her home town in Mexico.

[email protected]

Above: Cacaluta Bay

Below: Green Team-Monica De La Peña, Lorenzo Alfaro Ocampo,Maricruz Melchor Miz, Feliciano Calderon Nava, Verónica R. Gómez Rojo, Cecilia Flores,Hugo Montejo, Virginia Hernández Viera

By Marcia Chaiken

Page 7: APRIL 2011

It is important to distinguish between erosion control and sediment control. Erosion control is source control and the soil never moves in the first place. Sediment control is after the fact, clean up the mess after it moves, and this is much more expensive. There are rules and regulations in place for pollution control in many countries although enforcement varies. The United States of America began with the Clean Water Act (1977), and we now have the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Mexico does not have this kind of regulatory structure, but I have developed two SWPPPs for projects in Mexico (Guadalajara, Justice Center for the State of Jalisco, and Bombardier factory, Queretaro), so they can be done. Erosion is a natural process, occurring over centuries. It is the human engineered infra-structure changes in land use that if the most detrimental; road construction, timber harvesting, mining, and especially agriculture, contributing to the loss of native vegetation. Although agriculture may be the

Erosion and Sediment Control in Huatulco and Surroundings Although agriculture may be the largest source of pollutants, these other sources are also large contributors. What appears to me most problematic in this region are tourist developments, roadway projects, storm water control, and timber harvesting. A gross example of an unprotected site, with a huge potential to damage the environment, is the Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) Project. Widening of this short-cut between the Bahia de Santa Cruz and La Crucecita began in 2009, and local outrage was reported in the Huatulcostas on-line paper in May of 2009

The site sits above the Santa Cruz marina, and large stockpiles of soils and debris remain unprotected in the drainageway. The steep slopes themselves are largely granite, and geotechnically stable, but not the stockpiles. Although lack of precipitation in the dry season is unlikely to result in massive pollution now, once the rainy season sets in the risks increase exponentially. This is just one rather large example of this problem; drive around town and it seems that every construction site has similar issues.

www.huatulcostas.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=235&Itemid=1

What can be done? There are lots of tools in the toolbox and not are all high tech or expensive. In the USA we are required to control temporary erosion, and use a lot of silt fences, which are expensive and not cost effective or really green as they are often left in place and become pollutants. We have switched to using fiber rolls or sediment logs, which are cigar-shaped bundles (like a fascine) currently made out of a variety of materials such as straw and wood chips, usually with a plastic netting enclosing the material (not very green either!). Here in Huatulco we could use palm fronds tied into cigar-shaped bundles with native sisal from agave (Agave sisilana) and place these in a keyed trench around the perimeter of the project. This would be a locally available waste product (everyone has seen the Fonatur trucks "harvesting" the palm fronds) that could be used. Gravel can also be used as an infiltration berm, and gravel is certainly readily available. Gravel berms are what my team designed for Copachisa (http://www.copachisa.com) in Guadalajara and Queretaro. It seems the only method I see around here are gabions, those wire-filled baskets developed by the Romans (gabion is descended originally from Italian "gabbione"

originally from Italian "gabbione" and means "big cage”). This is sediment control and not erosion control. There are a lot of 'green' changes that I hope are coming to Mexico soon, but until it's mandated, "That's the way we do it" (or don't do it) will probably prevail.

Julie Etra, MS, Principal of Western Botanical Services, Inc., a 25-year old consulting firm located in Reno Nevada, is a botanist and restoration specialist with an avid love of flora and fauna and Huatulco. She currently serves on the International Erosion Control Association Board ( ) of Directors as Director of International Development and is the liaison for the Iberoamerican Chapter

www.ieca.org

[email protected]

By Julie Etra

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Quinta Avenida

Page 8: APRIL 2011

A Mexican documentary has been

making international headlines.

Not only as the highest-grossing

documentary film ever screened

in Mexico but for its provoking

subject matter. The documentary

examines the Mexican legal

system in which you are

presumed guilty until proven

innocent, through one case. In

the dramatic retrial for murder of

Antonio Zúñiga, two young

married lawyers, Layda Negrete

and Roberto Hernández, bring

cameras into Mexican

courtrooms to expose a justice

system which they see as corrupt

and fatally compromised by a

medieval concept of guilt and

innocence. Convicted without any

conclusive proof. Zúñiga was

sentenced to 20 years to prison.

Despite a temporary ban, which

has now been lifted. Presumed

Guilty has taken top prizes at

several film festivals all over the

world including London, Morelia,

Dubai, L.A. and New York.

Presunto Culpable

Each year, the AMBULANTE Organization, in collaboration

with Canana, Cinépolis and the Morelia International Film

Festival, organizes a travelling documentary film festival

that tours to 12 cities in Mexico with a selection of over 50

documentaries shown in over 140 venues. It creates a space

to exhibit ground-breaking documentaries, both current and

classic, that we consider socially or cinematically relevant.

Travelling with these works, sharing them in different cities,

towns and communities, provides the essential ingredient

for exchange, fostering a critical vision and generating a

collective conscience around how we perceive and

understand our realites. AMBULANTE is one of the film

festivals with the largest scope in Mexico and an important

platform for the exhibition of Mexican documentaries.th th

Ambulante Film Festival is coming to Huatulco April 9 , 10th.

and 11

“Matchless in tonal magnitude,

tuneful fluency and concentrated

teamwork,” says The Washington

Post of the Cuarteto

Latinoamericano formed in 1982.

It is known worldwide as the

leading proponent of Latin

American music for string

quartet. This award-winning

ensemble from Mexico consists of

the three Bitrán brothers,

violinists Saúl and Arón and

cellist Alvaro , along with violist

Javier Montiel. The Cuarteto has

recorded most of the Latin

American repertoire for string

quartet, and the sixth volume of

their Villa-Lobos 17 quartets'

cycle, recorded for Dorian, was

nominated for a Grammy award

in 2002 in the field of Best

Chamber Music Recording as well

as for a Latin Grammy.

The Cuarteto has performed as

soloist with many orchestras,

including the Los Angeles

Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka

Salonen, the Seattle Symphony

under Gerard Schwarz, with the

National Arts Center Orchestra in

Ottawa, Orquesta Filarmónica de

la Ciudad de México, the Dallas

Symphony and the Símón Bolívar

Orchestra of Venezuela. The

Cuarteto has toured extensively

around the world including

performances in Europe and the

Quarteto LatinoamericaAmericas, as well as in New

Zealand and Israel; they have

appeared in a wide range of

venues and festivals like the

Concertgebouw, the Kennedy

Center, Santa Fe Chamber Music

Festival, Dartmouth College,

Cornell University, Dartington

International Summer School

and the Ojai Festival. They have

collaborated with many artists

including cellist Janos Starker,

pianists Santiago Rodriguez,

Cyprien Katsaris and Rudolph

Buchbinder, tenor Ramon

Vargas, and guitarists Narciso

Yepes, Sharon Isbin, David

Tanenbaum and Manuel

Barrueco. With Mr. Barrueco,

they have played in some of the

most important venues of the

USA and Europe, have recorded

two cds, and commissioned

guitar quintets from American

composers Miguel del Aguila,

Michael Daugherty and Gabriela

Lena Frank.

The Cuarteto was in residence at

Carnegie Mellon University in

Pittsburgh from 1988 until 2008.

Under the auspices of the

Sistema Nacional de Orquestas

Juveniles of Venezuela, the

Cuarteto has created the Latin

American Academy for String

Quartets, based in Caracas,

which will serve as a training

ground for five select young

string quartets from the Sistema.

The Cuarteto visits the Academy

four times a year.

The Cuarteto has been awarded

for the third consecutive time the

México en Escena grant given by

the Mexican government through

FONCA (National Fund for

Culture and the Arts) for the

2009/2011 period. The project

revolves around the Bicentennial

Celebrations of the Mexican

independence and features

Mexican music for string quartet

from the 19th, 20th and 21st

centuries.

...they play with more fire, precision and taste than most of their North American peers... one of the most satisfying performances of Schubert's music that I've heard.

- Houston Weekly

An exceptional group because of their clean playing, energy, and freshness.

- Le Monde de la Musique

Not only do the members of this ensemble play with a rapport that verges on telepathic, but they investigate a repertoire of which most other such groups evidently are ignorant.

- The Pittsburgh Press

FRIENDS OF MUSIC HUATULCO

are proud to present this

exceptional ensemble with a well-

balanced repertoire on April 7, at

Hotel Camino Real Zaashila,

20:00 Hrs. General Admission is

a donation of $150 pesos/person

and tickets are available at the

Hotel itself, Foto Conejo,

Residencial Chahué, Yamaha

Musical and REMAX. DON'T

MISS IT!

By Carminia Magaña

Sometimes

you gotta create

what you want to be

a part of.

Geri Weitzman

By Alfredo Patiño

By Carmina Magaña

Page 9: APRIL 2011

Humpback whales are

mammals, and they are of the

species of whales known as

baleen whales. They are found

all around the world, but

most importantly for us, they

frequent the waters in the

Bays of Huatulco. They are

well known for breaching, and

their complex songs. The

name humpback whale

describes the motion it makes

as it arches its back out of the

water in preparation for a

dive. The breaching and tail

slapping we have been

fortunate to witness is part of

the mating ritual for these

whales. They come to the

warmer waters of Huatulco to

breed, and to give birth.

Humpback whales breathe air

at the surface of the water

through 2 blowholes located

near the top of the head.

Their blow is a double stream

of spray that rises 10-13 feet

(3.1-4 m) above the surface of

the water and is easily visible

from a long distance away.

The tail flukes of a humpback

whale, which are lifted high in

Have a Whale of a Time in Huatulco!the air when they dive, have

wavy rear edges. Their flukes

(tail) are up to 12 feet (3.7 m)

wide. An adult usually ranges

between 12-16 m long and

weighs approximately 36

tonnes.

The pectoral fins are up to one-

third of a humpback's body

length, and have rough edges.

They are the largest flippers of

any whale. Humpback whales

also have many throat grooves

that run from the chin to the

navel. These grooves allow their

throat to expand during the huge

intake of water during filter

feeding.

The female usually breeds

every two or three years

and they are pregnant for

eleven months. Some

females can breed in two

consecutive years. A calf is

about 4-4.5 metres long

when born and weighs

approximately 700 kg.

Calves are nursed by their

mothers for their first six

months, they eat a

mixture of mother's milk

and independent feeding

the air when they dive, have

wavy rear edges. Their flukes

(tail) are up to 12 feet (3.7 m)

wide. An adult usually ranges

between 12-16 m long and

weighs approximately 36

tonnes.

The pectoral fins are up to one-

third of a humpback's body length,

and have rough edges. They are

the largest flippers of any whale.

Humpback whalesfor a further six.

months. Calves leave their mothers

at the start of their second year,

when they are typically 9 metres

long..Both males and females are

ready to breed around the age of

five. Full adult growth is achieved

at around 15 years. The largest

ever recorded specimen was 19

metres long and had pectoral fins

measuring six metres each. A

Humpback Whale can live for 45–-

50 years.

Punta Santa Cruz

A few Sundays ago in March

when the newest of the Oceania

liners Marina tied up at the dock

in Santa Cruz, and I found out

about the Lalique chandeliers

and Ralph Lauren suites, the

Wine Spectator “pairing”

restaurant, the Bon Appetit

onboard cooking school, The

Studio where artists-in-residence

teach fine arts, etc., etc… I

thought, wow, there's the “Eye”

story. And then, when the more

“casual cruising” 965 foot Coral

Princess sailed in and tied up on

the other side of the dock, almost

dwarfing the 782 foot Marina, I

got even more excited. Here were

two ships that represent the

outermost styles of the broad

spectrum of cruising options,

together disembarking 3500

visitors into Huatulco for that day

to enjoy its unique splendours.

And if that couldn't get more

interesting, we went for a sail on

our little sailboat Paloma, and as

we were rounding Punta Santa

Cruz, we witnessed one of the

most spectacular shows that

nature has to offer – a breaching

From My Balcony

nature has to offer – a breaching

humpback whale splashing walls

of water with each leap and fall,

the emotional slap of one flipper

over and over as she called her

babies, her charging breach along

a tour catamaran, thrilling and

frightening the passengers, many

from the big ships, with the big

ships a backdrop for this

extravaganza. Now, how can that

story be beat? From my balcony,

from the water - nature,

technology, luxury, adventure,

the big ball of wax that forms the

anomaly that is magical

Huatulco.

More photos and stories about

Huatulco at my blog

http://lavidahuatulco.blogspot.c

om

It used to be one of the most

important weekends in the pre-

development times in Bahia Santa

Cruz; I remember all the prep that

went in to getting ready to receive

all the pilgrims that came to

honour the Holly Cross of

Huatulco. The pilgrims came from

all over the Sierra Madre and even

further, from Miahuatlan which

took over a week of travel on

mules, horses or walking and on

the trucks that were used to

transport the coffee to the Puerto

Angel Port to be shipped out. It was

so much excitement as a kid to

watch all the people and rides

arrive and get all the products that

was only available this time of the

year that my mother use to trade

for dry-salted fish with the

serranos and the people from the

valley of Oaxaca.

Now, I don't know if I'm

getting old or it is the times that

change or is it the development

that took its toll on my perspective

and feelings about these festivities,

or is it that now I just see things

differently, like all the mess Santa

Cruz was during this celebration, It

is sad for me to see the pilgrims

been accommodated in an

abandoned unfinished building

Municipality and

Fonatur Unprepared

for PilgrimsBy Alfredo Patiño

next to the banks where the

conditions are so bad for them that

it is putting them at risk of falling

off, no doors or windows, getting

sick because of the unsanitary

conditions. The noise pollution is

another great problem for the

people that live or work in Santa

Cruz area they had the worst

weekend of the year, to the point

that some businesses, like La

Terraza Restaurant decided to

closed in the last week of high

season and some residents decided

to spend the weekend elsewhere. It

is time for the authorities to wake

up and realize this is not a small-

town fair anymore; Huatulco

deserves something better than

this unsanitary, loud, disorganized,

and not good business for anyone,

fair.

It is awkward to see places for sale

in the hundreds of thousands of

dollars next to where you can see

people squatting and cantinas full

of drunks when FONATUR and the

Municipality are promoting a high-

end tourist destination. To

convince people to invest we to find

the balance of a commercially

viable destination that has

traditions and events which are

enjoyable for everyone in Huatulco,

By Pat Hudson

By Kathy Taylor

Page 10: APRIL 2011

Sports

Four years ago, Giovanni

Rodriguez, a first year student at

the UMAR Huatulco, tried, without

success, to start up a baseball

team. Now, with the help of UMAR

English professor José Ponce, the

dream is up and running and

Giovanni is back at bat.

José Ponce has always had

baseball in his heart. In the 90's, he

played for Borough of Manhattan

Community College (BMCC) in New

York City, where he went on to

become assistant coach.

In Huatulco, Ponce planned to just

be a coach for this local team, but

has ended up as player, captain and

fundraiser.

“There was some leftover equipment

from the old team, but it was

somewhat worn out,” adds Ponce.

Although resources were scarce,

enthusiasm was high among

players. It was all about sacrifice.

Giovanni Rodriguez, the assistant

coach, said it best

“This sport is not an obligation. We

are here because we want to be here.”

The team practices two days a week

during lunch at their “home field” in

Chahué. As expected, the majority of

the players had to learn the game.

“They were not conscious of the

fundamentals and didn't realize just

how difficult baseball actually is,”

says Ponce, “but I like to teach the

sport. I realize it is a gradual

process.”

During the Christmas holidays,

Ponce traveled to New York City.

He managed to get donations from

the youth support organization

C.A.R.E, run by fundraiser

Mr. John C. Calhoun and Juan

Colon. The donations include bats

and balls, gloves, helmets, and

uniforms that bear the name

“C.A.R.E Reds” – the former name

of the team in the Hector O'Neill

League in New York City

sponsored by C.AR.E. They are

used, about seven or eight years

old, but worn with pride here.

“The university donates water for

the players for home games and

gives us transport for the away

games,” Ponce explains, “Thanks

to a couple of players, Sol

sponsors the team with 25-30

chairs and a couple of tarps for the

sun during home games.” The

police at the Municipal building

have also been very supportive.

The UMAR competes against other

teams from Santa Maria de

Huatulco, Pochutla, Barra de la

Cruz and Puerto Escondido .

“Win or lose, it doesn't matter, says

Ponce, “the fact that we have an

actual team and are able to

compete is an accomplishment in

itself.”

The baseball team has received

positive feedback from the UMAR

and the Huatulco community,

evident by the attendance at the

games. The future certainly looks

promising. Many students and

professors are interested in

forming a woman's softball team in

the near future.

Games are usually played

on Sundays at the baseball field in

Chahué, near the municipal

building at 12:00. Check calendar

in the Huatulco Eye for game times

in April.

Baseball on the Pacific coast

Names of the ballplayers.

Top row, from left to right: José Ponce, Omar Sanchez, Giovanni

Rodríguez Paz, Alex Matos, Vladimir Iriarte, Octavio Gandarillas,

Didier Espinosa

Bottom row: Ismael Luis Pérez, Alexis Castillejos Fuentes, Raúl

Valdivieso, José Edwin García

* Players not in the photo: Mara Toledo, Luis Flores UMAR, Puerto

Angel

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Invitation to BUY a piece of paradiseCasa Cassandra in Sueno Realwww.casacassandra2002.comCasa Anita and Los Suenos in Sueno del Marwww.casaanita2007.comwww.lossuenoshuatulco.com

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SERVICESGARAGE SALE furniture gifts clothes accesories pillows, bed sheets, glasses, table, beds, tvAll month, just knock on the door. 416 Chacah st. La Crucecita

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589 0866 or email

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BIRDWATCHING TOURS

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Bill and Donna Feffer would like to meet other Christians

to begin share time together with them for fellowship, Bible study

and, perhaps someday, a church. They are non-denominational

and do not push any denominational distinctive. They are

available to anyone, regardless of beliefs, for prayer, counseling

or any other need. Bill is an ordained evangelical minister. Local

phone number is 958 583 4763 or they can be reached via email

at or . [email protected] [email protected]

Ten weeks of Monday Mixed

Team Drop In Volleyball wound thup on March 14 . From a few

emails sent the first week of

January, and a notice in the

Huatulco Eye, sometimes over 40

people showed up on the Beach,

players and fans!

Life's a Beach and then you play….VOLLEYBALL!

See you next season!

Competitive Volleyball Players are invited to play on Sundays in Chahue at 4.30pm More info:[email protected]

Bahía Santa Cruz Calle Mitla,

Oaxaca, Mexico.

Cel. 958 100 7339

www.yogahuatulcomexico.com

21-day 200 hr. Yoga Teacher Training*Yoga Alliance Certified

Thirty minutes from Huatulco International Airport at the base of the

Sierra Madre, on the Pacific coast in Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico,

is the ideal location for rest, relaxation and learning.

SUMMER: July 4th- July 25th

FALL: Sept. 5th- Sept. 26th

Cost: $2400 USD includes course,

all meals and accommodations

21-day 200 hr. Yoga Teacher Training*Yoga Alliance Certified

Thirty minutes from Huatulco International Airport at the base of the

Sierra Madre, on the Pacific coast in Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico,

is the ideal location for rest, relaxation and learning.

SUMMER: July 4th- July 25th

FALL: Sept. 5th- Sept. 26th

Cost: $2400 USD includes course,

all meals and accommodations

By Caryl Delaney

Page 11: APRIL 2011

AprilMON TUE WED THR FRI SAT SUN

1 2 3

4 6 8 9 10

11 12 13 15 16 17

18 19 20 22 23 24

25 26 27

14

21

5 7

28

To announce your event for FREE on our calendar, email details to [email protected]

Important Phone Numbers:

PORT CAPITAIN 587-1674, 587 1013Fax.587 0726

FIRE DEPARTAMENT 068, 587 0047Tel. / Fax.587 0847

FEDERAL ELECTRICITY COMISION 071, 587 2664587 1124

RED CROSS: 065, 587-1188, 587 1548

STATE TRANSIT DELEGATION NUMBER 30Tel.587 0186

MUNICIPAL POLICE:587 0675

29 30

Taxi 587 2217

Fool's Day/

Fair in Santa

MaríaRecycling

workshop 9am

Park Rufino

Tamayo

Green Team

Every Monday

2x1 haircuts at

Cronos in

Madero Mall

Concert Quarteto

Latinoamerica

Camino Real

Hotel

Festival

Ambulante

8 pm Parque

Crucecita

Senor Puck's

International

Food Night

Senor Puck's

International

Food Night

Every Monday

2x1 haircuts at

Cronos in

Madero Mall

Good Friday,

Earth Day

8am Free

Morning Yoga

at El Faro

Easter Sunday

Dia del Nino

COCOTILLO 218, LA CRUCECITA BAHIAS DE HUATULCO, OAX. C.P. 70989

[email protected]

.

587 06 05 044 958 1060912

www.kristalrose.com.mx

Festival

Ambulante

8 pm Parque

Central Sta. Maria

Huatulco

Festival

Ambulante

8 pm Parque

Teatro del Mar

Sta. Cruz

Copalita Duathlon

Expo Cafe at

Pluma Hidalgo

Competitive

Volleyball

Chahue 4.30 pm

info:

[email protected]

Competitive

Volleyball

Chahue 4.30 pm

info:

[email protected]

Competitive

Volleyball

Chahue 4.30 pm

info:

[email protected]

Page 12: APRIL 2011