The colorful currency of Mexico honors history
revolution, religion, arts and sciences
Mexican Bills come in six denominations: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and the newly unveiled 1000 peso note. The 20 peso note (re-issued in 2001 in a plastic form) shows dapper Benito Juarez. Born in March 1806 in a village in the state of Oaxaca from a poor, illiterate peasant family. Juarez didn’t know how...
Zihuatanejo’s Private Animal Shelter on the Move
This unique collection is the creation of Richard and Rebeca Payne who began “collecting and rescuing abandoned stray animals” 20 years ago. The majority of those “had been sick, brutalized, shot, mistreated and traumatized by their previous callous owners,” said Rebecca. Many are also in danger of extinction and are on the Mexican government list...
A New Community Center at Boca Lagunillas
Boca Lagunillas, located some 40 kilometers northwest of Zihuatanejo, is a small, dusty, one street poor village of approximately 150 souls, whose living is derived from basic agriculture: the raising of pigs, cattle, corn, mangoes, coconuts, sorghum (for the animals); and small family-size plots of chiles, tomatoes and vegetables grown for individual needs. Children tend...
Sailfest 2007
For the sixth consecutive year, Zihuatanejo will be host of the annual SailFest Regatta, an event whereby sailors (cruisers), locals and tourists participate in a fun-filled week of races, raffles, auctions and sailing-related activities designed to benefit the city’s poorest schools. The fun begins January 31st at Rick’s Bar on Cuauhtemoc Street, home of the...
Consider the Hammock, Señor
“More than 100 million people of diverse cultures and countries use hammocks as beds or furniture every day.” Think of those master Mayans out there a long time ago – extraordinary astronomers and mathematicians, those who produced the most accurate calendar, built awesome pyramids and stone palaces and created their own writing system – they...
Day trips from Zihua – La Cholle: A Site to be Saved
“There are also four small pyramids and two caves with ancient petroglyphs located upon an area known as El Cerro de Los Brujos...” For those interested in the history and archeology of Mexico while vacationing here, there is a small magical village named La Cholle (La Soledad de Maciel) on the way to Petatlán from...
Daytrips – La Union: a Perfect Town to Hide
Overstressed? Is the IRS looking for you? Need to chill? Then La Union is for you. Located 90 minutes north/northeast of Zihuatanejo by bus, this sleepy silent town of 6,000 souls is the county seat of the Municipio de La Union de Isidoro Montes de Oca. The county is the union of 140 villages. The...
Architecture and Accents – Adobe and Bamboo
Ancient Babylonians, ancient Egyptians and Native American cultures of North and South America have all used adobe…” If you are planning on building your dream home here in Zihuatanejo or are just curious about local architectural materials, adobe bricks top the list. Adobe is Spanish for a sun-dried brick or the clay soil from which the brick is made....
Day trips from Zihuatanejo – Petatlán, just an hour away
“…hundreds of thousands from all over Mexico come to visit the church for it is a well known pilgrimage site.” If you get bored with the beach scene of Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa and are in need of a diversion for a day, jump aboard a bus to Petatlán (petlatl and tlan), meaning the place of...
A Short Historical Note on Mexican Paper Currency
“Netzahualcóyotl built elevated hanging gardens similar to the famed ones in Babylon…” Mexican Bills come in five denominations: 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 pesos. The 20 peso note shows dapper Benito Juarez. Born in March 1806 in a village in the state of Oaxaca from a poor, illiterate peasant family. Juarez didn’t know how...
Less is More: Souvenir Shopping in Zihuatanejo
In Zihuatanejo, there are many inexpensive Mexican objects you can find to bring back to all those waiting at home for your return. For a few pesos, you can buy detectores de tremblar (earthquake detectors), wooden or ceramic animal shaped curios that are designed to wag their heads. Also to be found are miniature clay...
Historical Sites in Zihuatanejo
Plaza y Paseo de los Heroes Zihuatanejo’s Homage to the Republic Just a five minute stroll northward from the municipal beach on Calle Cuahtemoc is the Plaza y Paseo de los Heroes, a quiet tree shaded square with concrete benches, dedicated to the illustrious men of the Mexican republic. There are three stone-carved statues on...
