Foot Prints in Mexico

The Maya People and the prophecies

Posted on December 21st / 2012 by vozmex

by: Carlos Quintana
Everybody has something to say about today, so it was my intention to write another version about December 21st, the calendar, winter solstice, its prophecies and doomsday. I guess I am not up to it today too much has been said, so I will have to wait at least another 5126 years for another 13 baktun cycle to come by and see if we are still here.

The subject is immense and diverse so writing a note on all said to this date, I believe would require more of the same and a great amount of space than expected.

The whole story on todays final moments starts with Mayan Estela, No.6, found in the Tortuguero site in Tabasco, Mexico, and the knowledge of what the Mayan Calendar is, the Long Count, Haab, Tzolkin cycles and how they work. Around their interpretation and readings of the glyphs is that scholars and prophets have delved. Arriving at all sorts of conclusions and to our sorrow non very conclusive and somewhat confusing.
Fortunately a new page is on the web served and written be people that know what they are writing about. Enjoy it.

The Meaning of 2012 – Living Maya Time, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

Tortuguero Glyphs Estela6 & Maya Calendar

Posted in Ceremonial sites, Culture, General Notes, Maya, People, Traditions, Unexplained | Tagged Central America, Macuspana, Mexico, Tabasco, Tortuguero | Comments Off

Book Review: Plants of the Mayan World

Posted on December 18th / 2012 by vozmex

Traditional Remedies, Food & Art is a treasure trove of colorful photos and valuable information about regional plants.
by Tere Carpinelli

PLAYA DEL CARMEN – Svetlana Aleksandroff’s grassroots-funded book, Plants of the Mayan World: Traditional Remedies, Food & Art, has won the Mexico selection of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards’ “Best Sustainable Food Book” category.
Placing in this prestigious competition, in which books will be judged against candidates of the same category from other countries, is a testament to the explosive growth of interest in Mayan culture and the region’s plants, from cacao (chocolate) to agave, which have taken root as subjects of interest for the whole world.
With a lifelong love for plants and flowers, Aleksandroff – an excellent photographer Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, Gastronomy, Local dishes | Tagged Akumal, Playa del Carmen, Tulum | Comments Off

The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Posted on December 16th / 2012 by vozmex

Imagen de la Virgen María de Guadalupe

From: The Community of the Franciscans of the Renewal
(based on the original account)

December 9th, 1531, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Juan Diego, a recent convert to the Catholic faith, was walking to attend the early morning Mass in Mexico City. Passing by Tepeyac Hill he heard the beautiful singing of birds, seemingly from heaven. Looking to see where the celestial music was coming from, he suddenly heard a young woman’s voice affectionately calling his name, “Juanito.” Reaching the top of the hill, he saw a radiant woman clothed in splendid light – the Ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of God. She told Juan that she desired him to be her special messenger to the Bishop of Mexico City. Juan was to tell the bishop that Our Lady wanted a church to be built where she could manifest her Son and hear the petitions of her spiritual children.

After being put off by the bishop’s servants, Juan was finally granted an audience with Franciscan Bishop Fray Juan Zumarraga. The bishop didn’t initially believe Juan Diego and asked him to return another day. Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremonial sites, Culture, History, Magic places, Religion | Tagged Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal, Mexico | Comments Off

Maya Museum in Cancun

Posted on November 6th / 2012 by vozmex

Entrada Museo Maya de Cancún (Foto: INAH)

by Carlos Quintana
After years of haggling for the resources to have a new museum, with an investment of nearly 200 million pesos (+- 15,400 K.Dlls US) and almost six years in the making the Mayan Museum in Cancun was inaugurated by Mexican authorities in the early days of November, 2012. The original museum built in 1982, was closed after being badly damaged by several hurricanes; with important losses to it’s collection and building.

The museum, which is second in importance in Mexico with a collection of 3,500 pieces, is located at Km. 16.5 of Kukulcan Blvd. in Cancun’s hotel zone, adjacent to San Miguelito archaeological site Continue reading →

Posted in Arqueology & Anthropology, Culture, History, Video | Tagged Cancun, Chetumal, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Yucatan | Comments Off

Day of the Dead

Posted on November 2nd / 2012 by vozmex

La Catrina – Posadas

by La Voz de Mexico

It sounds ominous to those of us from European backgrounds. Naturally we think of Halloween, the ancient Celtic festival which has come to represent the return of ghosts and goblins and a night of evil lurking in the dark, representing the fear of death and what lies beyond life. Well, caste those dark thoughts aside and enter into the embrace of the uniquely Mexican celebration of death, where its inevitability is accepted as part of life, not feared but accepted.
The essence of The Day of the Dead is one of celebrations and remembrances full of respectfulness and joy. It is a time of family reunion and feasting where loved ones who have passed to the other side return to share in the joy of the family once again. Families reunite at the burial sites of their loved ones. Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremonial sites, Culture, General Notes, Magic places, People, Religion, Traditions | Tagged Cancun, Mexico, Michoacan, Oaxaca | Comments Off

Live love at Bacalar

Posted on March 23rd / 2012 by vozmex

Bacalar, Lagoon of Seven Colors (photo: Turismo Bacalar)

Fall in love with the beauty of this Quintana Roo location where the “sky arises”
From Turismo Bacalar

Those who have been to Bacalar assure to have fallen in love at first sight with this small Quintana Roo destination located about 22 miles from Chetumal, the state’s capital.
The town’s name comes from the Mayan words Siyan Ka’an (where the sky arises) and Bakhalal (surrounded by giant reeds).

By itself, it is a town possessing all the features to be named a Magic Town, a title it received in 2006, with its colonial architecture and history that interweave with the blue turquoise waters of the lagoon with the same name. This lagoon of shallow waters and soft sand, also called “of the seven colors”, is the area’s main attraction. Continue reading →

Posted in Colonial cities, Forts, Gastronomy, Kayaking, Lagoons, Magic places, Planet Earth, Swimming | Tagged Bacalar, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Sian Ka'an | Comments Off

Authentic salsa recipes

Posted on March 12th / 2012 by vozmex

Green tomato for the sauce

From mexicanrecipes.me

The burnt salsa (salsa quemada)
The roasted tomato Mexican salsa (Salsa Quemada) is characterized by a pleasant smoky or “burnt” taste because of the roasted tomatoes and chilies. It is used as a side to other dishes in Mexican cuisine such as tacos, nachos and enchiladas or you can serve it with fried tortillas (totopos); serve as an appetizer, perhaps with other Mexican sauces such as guacamole or any other basic Mexican “salsa.”

Mexican recipe for Salsa Quemada
Ingredients for 4 guests:
* 5 ripe whole large red tomatoes that are perfect, without cuts or bruises (it is important to pick nice ones)
* 1 or 2 red chili pepper (arból, cherry pepper, cayenne pepper or serrano; the only thing that matters is that they be colored red)
* 3 cloves of garlic with the skin still on, for roasting
* 1/2 white onion, chopped
* 1 small bunch of fresh cilantro
* 1 tablespoon lime juice
* 1 tsp. salt, to taste

Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Gastronomy, Salsas | Tagged Mexico, Michoacan, Monterrey, Oaxaca | Comments Off

Mexico parks explained

Posted on March 7th / 2012 by vozmex

Calakmul (photo: GIS project)

By Ron Mader

When is a national park a national park and a biosphere reserve a biosphere reserve? There are some big difference among parks and reserves in Mexico, and it is important to review how Mexico classifies these protected areas.

Background
In Mexico there are 93 protected areas cover 11.7 million hectares or 6 percent of the national territory.
There are nine different types of natural protected areas in the National System of Natural Protected Areas (Sinap):

Biosphere Reserves
Special Biosphere Reserves
National Parks
Natural Monuments
National Marine Parks
Natural Resource Protected Areas which include Forestry Reserves
Flora And Fauna Protected Areas
Urban Parks
Ecological Conservation Zones Continue reading →

Posted in Biosphere, Ecology, Natural Reserves | Tagged Altar, Calakmul, Chacahua, El Cielo, Oaxaca, Pinacate, Sian Ka'an, Sonora, Vizcaino | Comments Off

History and Symbolism of México’s Flag

Posted on March 5th / 2012 by vozmex

Mexico's Flag

By Elizabeth Kelly
Housesitting in Mexico

If you happen to be in Mexico on February 24th, you will see the flag paraded through the streets of villages and towns. You will also see the citizens raise their right arm, palm down, and then place it on their chest parallel to the heart. This is the salute given to the national flag, and you’ll see it the most on the Mexican Dia de Bandera: Flag Day. While the pledge of allegiance pays honor to the heroes of the land, it’s the flag itself that most serves as a tribute to the rich heritage of Mexico and her history. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Fun facts, History | Tagged Mexico | Comments Off

Nature reserves and protected areas

Posted on February 29th / 2012 by vozmex

Banco Chinchorro (foto: Arquemex)

by http://www.cancun.travel
(photos via: FootPrints)

There is a plethora of beautiful nature reserves and protected areas you can visit near Cancun. You will get the opportunity to observe monkeys, flamingos, whale sharks, marine turtles, crocodiles and many more creatures in their natural habitat. The flora and fauna is also incredible! You can arrange guided tours lasting from one day to several days where you can pursue activities such as kayaking, hiking, snorkeling and diving.

Cozumel Reef National Park
On July 19, 1996, an 11,988-hectare (29.623 acres) area of sea and coral reefs, was declared the Cozumel Reef National Park. Continue reading →