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A little about Playa Zipolite, The Beach of the Dead . . .

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.

Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.

A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.

Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.

Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.

I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.

REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.

ivan

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Fiesta Psycodelica H2O, 29/30/31 Diciembre 2013


7 Air Passenger Rights You Might Not Know About


7 Air Passenger Rights You Might Not Know About

rss link Airfarewatchblog


7 Air Passenger Rights You Might Not Know About

Posted by Ed Perkins on Friday, September 27, 2013

When something goes wrong on a trip, the first question many flyers ask is, "What are my rights?" The short answer is fairly simple: The U.S. and the European Economic Community (EEC) have established some very specific rights for air travelers. In addition, contracts of carriage between passengers and carriers establish some promised rights, but those heavily one-sided contracts seldom call for any specific compensation or enforcement teeth in the event the carrier fails to meet its "promises." Either way, it's important for passengers to know their rights when faced with air-travel snafus, from delayed flights to overbooked planes. The following is a primer on basic air-passenger rights in the U.S. and Europe.

Honest Fares in Europe and the U.S.
When booking a flight, the price you see is the price you pay—that's the law. The EEC and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) require airlines to display the full cost of an air ticket, including all mandatory airline charges, governmental taxes, and user fees, in online postings and other advertising. Travel providers, from online travel agencies (OTAs) to airline websites, must clearly display full prices or face penalties.

U.S. Air-Passenger Rights: Bumping
The DOT mandates certain air-travel rights, including passenger rights in cases of involuntary bumping, by requiring airlines to cover them in their contracts. (Check the DOT's FAQ sheetfor full particulars.)
When an airline bumps you involuntarily due to overbooking, it may owe you compensation—unless the airline can get you to your destination within one hour of your scheduled arrival, in which case it owes you no compensation.
If your airline can get you to your destination between one and two hours of your scheduled arrival on a domestic flight, or between one and four hours on an international trip, it owes you compensation of 200 percent of the one-way fare to your destination, up to $650. If the airline can't make these time requirements, it owes you 400 percent of the fare, up to $1,300. If your airline elects to arrange alternate transportation on another airline, it must cover all of the expenses and extras that the new airline might assess.
In any case, you get to keep your original ticket, which you can use for a subsequent trip or have refunded. DOT adjusts compensation values for inflation every two years.
As a practical matter, only about 10 percent of overbooked travelers get involuntarily bumped. Instead, most accept airlines' offers of confirmed seats on later flights, plus vouchers for up to several hundred dollars toward future tickets and cash for meals. These rules also apply to "zero fare" tickets, most notably frequent-flyer awards, with monetary amounts based on the prices of similar tickets. They apply to all domestic flights and international flights departing from the U.S. but not to inbound international flights. And travelers must have confirmed reservations on scheduled flights and meet the airline's check-in and gate-arrival deadlines.
Involuntary-denied-boarding rules do not apply to flights on planes with fewer than 30 passengers (this is not a serious flaw, as almost all regional airlines now use larger planes). And, most importantly, these rules do not apply when an airline bumps a traveler for any reason other than overbooking—for example, as a result of a switch to a smaller plane, for weight-and-balance issues on planes that seat 30 to 60 passengers, or if a flight is delayed or canceled.

U.S. Air-Passenger Rights: Delays and Cancellations
If, for any reason, your flight is canceled, substantially delayed, or rescheduled, you have the right to reroute at no extra cost or to receive a full refund, even on a nonrefundable ticket. Airline policies vary, however, about what constitutes a "substantial" delay or schedule change.
Federal rules require that domestic airlines and foreign carriers flying into the U.S. file "Customer Service Plans," which describe what the airline promises to do in the case of a long list of circumstances, including delays, cancellations, and diversion events, among others. (For the most part, these commitments are restatements, in plain language, of the more detailed legalese of each airline's official contract of carriage.) Contracts and service plans generally call for meal vouchers when a delay extends over a normal meal time and for hotel accommodations in the event of an overnight delay. But implementation varies by airline.
In the event of a delay, a few airlines say that they will transfer you to another airline if that carrier can get you to your destination earlier than your original flight. A few others say they "may" transfer you, but the decision is theirs, and still other airlines only offer a seat on their own next-available flight. Neither customer-service plans nor contracts of carriage call for specific compensation when an airline fails to meet its commitment. See our Ultimate Guide to Airline Contracts of Carriage for details.

U.S. Air-Passenger Rights: Tarmac Delays
During a lengthy tarmac delay in the U.S. (upon either arrival or departure), the DOT mandates that an airline may not keep you on a plane for more than three hours (on a domestic flight) or four hours (on an international flight) without allowing you to get off if you wish, subject to security and safety considerations. Each airline is also obligated to provide food and water after two hours of delay, provide updates to passengers every 30 minutes, and assure that airplane lavatories are operable.
When an airline violates the tarmac rules, you receive no compensation. Instead, the DOT fines the airline.

Europe Air-Passenger Rights: Bumping and Overbooking
The EEC's Regulation EC261 establishes passenger rights similar to—and generally exceeding—U.S. DOT requirements. The current rules apply when you board a flight on either a scheduled or charter airline at any airport within an EEC member state and also when you fly into an EEC airport on an airline based in the EEC, Norway, or Switzerland. As in the U.S., you must meet check-in deadlines and other airline requirements for the rules to apply. And compensation applies if you're on a frequent-flyer ticket.
If an airline is unable to get you to your final destination within three hours of your scheduled arrival, EEC requirements call for "Article 7" compensation: €250 for passengers on flights of 1,500 km or less (in distance); €400 for passengers on flights of more than 1,500 km within the EEC or flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km outside the EEC; and €600 for passengers on all flights of 3,501 km or more outside the EEC. All flights from the EEC to North America are longer than 3,500 km (2,175 miles). On connecting flights, the distance is calculated to your final destination, not to some intermediate hub. Upon request, airlines must also offer "Article 8" assistance, either rerouting bumped passengers or offering them full refunds.
If you're bumped, the EEC regulation also requires that airlines provide "Article 9" care: meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to waiting time, hotel accommodations in cases where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary, and transport.
The EEC directive does not limit this bumping compensation just to instances of overbooking. It applies to any instance.

Europe Air-Passenger Rights: Delays and Cancellations
EC261 says that if your flight is canceled, you're entitled to Article 7, Article 8, and Article 9 provisions. The Article 7 financial compensation does not apply, however, if an airline notifies you of a cancellation more than two weeks before departure, if the airline notifies you seven to 14 days in advance and reroutes you to arrive in your final destination within four hours of your originally scheduled time, or if you're informed less than seven days in advance but the airline can reroute you to arrive at your destination within two hours of your original arrival time. And cancellation penalties do not apply when the cancellation is caused by "extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken."
In the event of a delay of three hours or more, you are entitled to the standard Article 7 compensation. Also, if the delay exceeds five hours, you are entitled to an Article 8 refund. These provisions also apply to extended tarmac delays.

Europe Air-Passenger Rights: Enforcement
EEC studies have uncovered many cases in which airlines did not inform travelers of their rights to compensation or offer the compensation outright, as well as some cases in which airlines stonewalled legitimate claims. Reports also indicate that some U.S. citizens have had difficulties receiving compensation from European airlines for delays and cancellations on inbound flights covered by the EEC regulations. The situation is apparently bad enough that several online start-ups are offering legal assistance to travelers attempting to collect from recalcitrant airlines. Among the start-ups are refund.meFlight-Delayed, and EUclaim. Typically, these outfits assess either a flat fee or 25 percent of the recovery.

Friday, December 13, 2013

A Landslide Victory

A Landslide Victory

Thank you to those that participated in the landslide vote for tile here at the Calypso Couple’s beach casa (Casa La Punta Es).  After viewing the Blog entry on several computers we realized the colors of the tiles were widely different depending on the monitor and video cards – so tough to make a decision.
And the WINNER is…
But since it was pretty much unanimous color was probably not a limiting factor. The consensus was the other two options were too busy and perhaps dizzying.
In any case with such overwhelming support for Tile Option 3 – we went ahead and ordered it – 14 boxes of some very large (55 X 55 centimeters or 21.5 inches square). Here is some irony. Anita tipped the two delivery hombres that transported the tile from the bed of a huge truck in the road to our driveway. The distance was about 12 feet. I, on the other hand, carried all 14 boxes upstairs to the second level. Thirteen steps and about 40 feet – no tip whatsoever!
Later we returned to Zetuna for trim tile. We wanted a contrasting colored edge running along the long sides of the room. We had samples to take home – but at the last minute we made a decision. We went with Oaxaca Rojo (44 X 44). Cut in half they will provide a burnt orange 22 centimeter border.
Then to Autocad to see if this was all going to work without a tile wet saw to make many cuts. In the salon we recently tiles we had to cut but one tile (nothing short of a miracle that).
 The Bedroom Tile Layout
We did go for number three and now have 14 boxes waiting to be laid. We are incorporating a trim tile on the long sides of the room. Our choice (and we almost put it to vote) is a tile called, “Oaxaca Rojo”. The name seems appropriate if nothing else.
A word about porcelain tile these days. During the last decade the tile industry has reinvented the way ceramic tiles are decorated and produced.  With the advent of new inkjet printer technology there is no longer a need for screen or roller printing methods.  Like screen and roller printing, the image of the design is first scanned, then modified on a computer.  However, with digital imaging the design can be almost instantly transferred to an inkjet printing machine, capable of printing any design with any desired color; virtually an infinite possibility of designs on not only flat surfaced tile but relief tile surfaces as well.
This is done by using a print style called Drop on Demand (DoD) and by utilizing a special type of printing device called a piezoelectric print head.  With these new tools the printer creates an identical picture of the digital image by propelling tiny drops of ink (measured in pico liters) onto the tile.  Because the inkjet machines fit perfectly into the manufacturing process they have been able to improve efficiency and allow for a higher degree of customization by allowing virtually an infinite possibility of design.
And possibly the best part of the new technology is the GREEN FACTOR!  With less set-up, less waste and vast speed increase to produce tile this process is a winner.
Tomorrow we start laying tile – pictures and experience report to follow. Stay Tuned!

Pimientos...salads and sandwiches made to order! In the Roca Blanca, Zipolite...

  • Pimientos...salads and sandwiches made to order! In the Roca Blanca, Zipolite...
    Located on the main street of zipolite

Casa Orquidea Zipolite



  • feeling chilly?? come visit Oaxaca! Have an excellent vacation at Casa Orquidea Zipolite in Playa Zipolite !!
    We just do it better!


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Viva Veracruz & Viva Puerto Escondido, Time to Pay Up

Time to Pay Up

Following along lately? Then you know we are in full Home Improvement mode here at Casa La Punta Es! Now we need your help.
We are tile flooring fans – even more so than wood flooring (the defacto U.S. standard). This is a good thing when living in Mexico – Mexico is all about TILE.
Locally here in Puerto Escondido there are a half dozen or more tile vendors and many installers. Our favorite, while somewhat frustrating occasionally, is Zetuna.
Lorena is our GO TO Salesperson – very knowledgeable 

We have some tile options for the master bedroom. We want your opinion on the best of a few choices we have narrowed things down to. Please don’t be shy – help us out here.
We will call this Sample 1:
We call this Sample 2:
Sample 3:
Please concentrate on the main tile(s). The rose border tile and the small designer trim does not count – just looking for your choice of best tile.
Please place your votes in the comment section. We need your help on this.
We have our work cutout for us – literally – Stay Tiled and Stay Tuned!

Viva Veracruz & Viva Puerto Escondido, More Banking News

Viva Veracruz & Viva Puerto Escondido

More Banking News

We interrupt our work in progress entry for this important update regarding expats and visitors to Mexico and the U.S. banking system.
If you have been reading along here then you know Bank of America has recently changed its free ATM withdrawal agreement with Santander Bank and Scotia Bank. Previously Bank of America customers could make ATM withdrawals for free at those Mexican banks.
Additionally they provided a favorable exchange rate of about two tenths of a peso fee for each U.S. or Canadian dollar exchanged. That was increased to one half peso taken from the exchange of each dollar to pesos.
Bank of America ATM withdrawals are now costing  from about $2 USD to as much as $20 USD..
Many expat residents in Mexico have maintained Bank of America accounts specifically for the reason of free ATM withdrawals and favorable exchange rates. Many.
There is now a petition circulating which it is important for everyone to sign.
Please sign the petition. Sign it even if you are not currently in Mexico or currently exchanging dollars for pesos.
In regard to all this Karina a member of Puerto Escondido Tom Zap Forum writes (we reproduce here with permission) BOLD emphasis is mine:
Karina [ PM ] [hide msgs from this user]Re: Bank of America Petition
December 05, 2013 12:51AM
Registered: 6 years ago
Posts: 124
I spent a rather unremarkable hour yesterday with the assistant manager, Scott Poindexter, at my local B of A branch in the U.S.
When I initially asked Scott to verify the new rules regarding ATM withdrawals outside of the U.S., he had not heard anything about it.
Fortunately for me, Scott and his new wife are interested in buying a place in the Playa del Carmen area and so will be spending some time in Mexico. Therefore, he had some particular motivation to find out the answer to my query.
After a number of phone calls on his part, he verified that B of A is no longer allowing withdrawals from Santander ATMs without a $5 transaction fee and a 3% foreign currency conversion fee. He wasn’t very happy about it either. According to the information he was given, B of A has not left the Global Alliance Network and still allows fee-free ATM transactions in other parts of the world. It was just severed its relationship with Santander/Scotia.
When I told him that there was a petition being circulated online against this move by B of A, he encouraged me to sign it and said that B of A actually pays attention to this sort of action by its account holders. So, for what it’s worth, it can’t hurt to sign the petition. For those who think it isn’t their problem because they don’t bank with B of A, your bank/credit union may be next.
And from another source:
“It’s fair to say that Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) is the pariah of the banking world. It found itself at the bottom of the heap in a J.D. Power survey of mortgage customers; it was the worst-performing bank on last year’s American Customer Satisfaction Index; and the industry publication American Banker recently announced that it has the lousiest reputation among both customers and noncustomers of any large lender in the country.” (Source HERE)
‘If I want to ruin my day, all I have to do is call up Bank of America,’ one commenter noted. ‘Bank of America engages in the biggest legal thievery in the USA,’ noted another. And ‘[Bank of America] takes perverse pleasure in hurting its customers,’ said a third.”
As suggested within the many comments made on our Forum taking all your money out of Bank of America has a profound effect on them. We suggest you consider changing banks if you have that option before you. Our current pick is Charles Schwab – you can read about that Here and Here.
Next time back to what we are up to.  Stay Tuned!

Poor Man’s Wood Posted on December 2, 2013 One knot in the clear finish of life at the edge of the Ocean is termites. Here at Casa La Punta Es and all of Puerto Escondido the termites are endemic.

Viva Veracruz & Viva Puerto Escondido

Musings from and about living in Mexico




Poor Man’s Wood

One knot in the clear finish of life at the edge of the Ocean is termites.
Here at Casa La Punta Es and all of Puerto Escondido the termites are endemic. A cannonade of these bugs were here before us. Our beach casa came with a lot of pine furniture. We are not sure what the previous owner was thinking because soft pine is a consistent treat for these wood recyclers.
They are quite simply insuperable when owning anything of wood including but not limited to picture frames, books and doors: for example:
Three Years Ago This Was a Regular Looking Door
The Calypso Couple came to the beach as neophytes when it comes to termite experience having lived most of our lives in arid climes. Of course everyone has heard of these insects, but truly their ability to rapidly destroy wood is quite amazing to experience. Clean a sawdust pile from the base of a table leg only to find a still more heaping handful from their handiwork the next day.
A nice stout china cabinet was a feature of buying our beach chateau. It represented a reparation to the battle of hammering out a deal. But alas in short order we had to sadly cut the cabinet up in garbage collection sized pieces to remove it and the insect city within. As we pieced it out it was amazing to see the tubular paths winding within the thin cellulose remains of that fine cabinet.
Disappointed to be losing all the pine furniture we went on a mission to learn how we might battle these bugs. According to Wikipedia we read:
“As eusocial insects, termites live in colonies that, at maturity, number from several hundred to several million individuals. Colonies use decentralised, self-organised systems of activity guided by swarm intelligence which exploit food sources and environments unavailable to any single insect acting alone. A typical colony contains nymphs (semimature young), workers, soldiers, and reproductive individuals of both sexes, sometimes containing several egg-laying queens.”
SWARM INTELLIGENCE! OMG this was starting to take on the flavor of Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. We were under attack!
In the end we felt one needs to accept the vagaries of termites at the beach if we are to be happy here. So we started to convert everything wood to plastic and metals (which have their own susceptibilities to the beach climate).
All this while remaining wood lovers – especially me. Mostly known to the Calypsos in hearsay and cartoons termites soon became a total vexation.
Eventually we learned about some hardwoods that were termite resistant, even perhaps impervious to the critters. High on the list of surviving madera was Parota wood, described as “A poor man’s Koa Wood.”
We checked into Parota finding there were few if any poor men that could afford the stuff! Nothing was falling down. We tried to ignore the problem. Now in our third year here the framework around the side door which as is often the case is our principal entry portal was alarmingly exposed to rot (see top photo). Atop our things to do to the casa punch list became a new door and frame – side door.
Our neighbor Fernando who recently built some beautiful apartments contiguous to our property (short-term rentals – contact us for more information on availability) had some beautiful woodwork done there. We inquired as to who did the woodwork.
That tied us into Primitivo Soriano; better known as Tivo. A wood craftsman with a good reputation in our area.
Tivo came out and assessed all of our six wood doors (we have inside and out) as well as surveying our cabinets, tables and chairs etc.
One of two nice pine armoires that were here was on our list as the next item to be deconstructed for garbage pickup. Tivo declared it to be salvageable – for a price. Money was rapidly becoming a ‘price is no object’ condition – we wanted the bugs GONE!
With Tivo we prioritized the mission to eliminate termites! First would be the entry door, then the frame around the front door, then the munched armoire. The list started to grow and ‘price is no object’ started to swing back towards reality (you know how that pendulum sways).
Saturday the first item from our agreed upon list arrived for installation.
Undeniably Lovely Grained Parota
Three hours with Tivo and assistant working finally achieved door number one.
Installation Complete!
If you are moving to any of the fine beaches of Mexico consider termites; the bottom-line.Stay Tuned for more to this story.