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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

Friday, June 27, 2014

Fårup Sommerland! - Eiqu's Rollercoaster Review

The circus music of Oaxaca's Pasatono Orquesta is magical PRI's The World Contributor Betto Arcos June 26, 2014 · 1:15 PM EDT

Credit: Daniel Robles
Pasatono Orquesta in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca, Mexico
Maroma is the new album by the band Pasatono Orquesta from Oaxaca, Mexico. Their music is festive with a touch of nostalgia, like the circus they named their most recent album after.

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La Maroma is the name of a circus that's been around for more than a century. Performers travel from village to village.
The travelling circus doesn't include animals or a big top, but has a clown who also serves as a trapeze artist, a comic and a wandering poet. The clown is accompanied by a string band and that's where Pasatono Orquesta comes in.
Pasatono Orquesta reinvent the sounds of an indigenous, village band. They include strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion.
Half of the songs on the band's album include new arragements of this traditional music; the other half are new pieces composed by the band's artistic director Ruben Luengas.
Pasatono Orquesta is made up of nine musicians. I like to think of them as 21st century Oaxacans, who move comforatably between the ancient and modern.
Maroma includes references to Dixieland jazz, melodic lines from Hungary via gypsy caravans as well as Polkas and pasodobles.
I find this video to their song "Obertura Maromero" simply amazing. Enjoy!
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San Agustinillo: One Main Road and a Spectacular Beach

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By Carole Reedy
Although the distances between pueblos are short when measured in kilometers or hours, a visitor traveling the Oaxacan Coast and touring villages from Puerto Escondido to Huatulco will feel diverse emotions and can anticipate a variety of unique experiences.
San Agustinillo is the place for you if you seek tranquility: a place to lie in a hammock on the beach and read. Or a quiet cove in which to build a sandcastle, a shore on which to stroll, viewing the seagulls, garzas, and pelicans that dot the rocks, sea, and sand. A tiny, quiet café/bar in which to sip an icy beer or margarita…or a strong, hot espresso.
With a local population of about 300, most residents of San Agustinillo are native to the area or hail from other parts of Mexico. A few foreigners have settled here over the years, mostly from France, Spain, Italy, Canada, and Britain. If you stand on the beach, you can see the whole town. One main road with some arteries weaves off into the hills.
Swimming and surfing are the main water sports. There’s also a small library (La Biblioteca de San Agustinillo) located in the Casa Municipal, with a fine selection of books for all ages in several languages. Need something to read? The library lends books to everyone, locals and tourists alike, for no fee.
If that sounds like paradise, it is.
Maximum relaxation often includes massages and yoga. The best masseuse on the coast is Azeneth Aguirre, who offers massages by appointment at her home on Cerro Largo. There are yoga classes given by Mario Corella, owner of Cerro Largo cabañas (a peaceful, remote spot for those seeking pure isolation).
San Agustinillo is a delightful place for children. You won’t find the usual frenetic beach activities like wave runners, jet skis, parachute rides, and bungee jumping. But, here your children can run on the beach, collect shells, splashin the water and learn about turtles and the local flora and fauna. During certain months of the year, there are also workshops and a reading program at the library.

On the main road you’ll find an internet office and, across the road, an interesting Oaxacañan artisan store, Arte Sano, owned and managed by the friendly, delightful, and knowledgeable Isis and Hugo, who can explain the origin of the crafts and the various mezcals they sell. There’s also an ice cream store, various tiendas for incidental items, and here on the main road you’ll find entrances to most of the restaurants and hotels. There are no banks or nail salons in town.
Up the hill a bit (look for the signs), there’s a true Irish bar run by a bonny Irish lass and her son. Called Casa Magica, there’s a pool table, TV with channels for foreign sports, and a nice selection of cocktails. A recent addition to their business, the owners now offer charming, spacious two-story cabañas with kitchens.
Don’t despair if you’re the type of person who yearns for an evening of music, dancing, and socializing after a lazy, quiet day. The swinging villages of Mazunte and Zipolite are a stone’s throw away: Mazunte a mere 1 kilometer from San Agustinillo and Zipolite 3 kilometers.
In these two pueblos the streets don’t roll up after dark as they do in San Agustinillo. Day and night in Zipolite there are activities at El Colibri, a beach bar that attracts many foreign tourists. Owners Kevin Kelley and Gilda Torres know how to entertain, bringing years of experience to the coast, he from Chicago and she from Mexico City. There are major league American football, basketball, and hockey games shown on satellite TV during the appropriate seasons. You’ll also discover live music, chess tournaments, and card games here. This bar is reminiscent of the one in the former TV sitcom Cheers, where “everybody knows your name” after your initial visit. Consider making it your first stop when visiting Zipolite to orient yourself to this beach.
Zipolite also boasts the best restaurant on the Costa Chica, called La Providencia. Owners Javier and Paco (originally from Mexico City) offer a fine dining experience in the magical jungle-like ambiance off the beaten path in Zipolite. Paco creates the sumptuous evening dinners in the kitchen while Javier attends to your every need. Both are amiable, and it is obvious that Providencia is their labor of love. Popular favorite main dishes are the medallions of beef, tuna or dorado, and the jumbo coconut shrimp. The appetizers, soups and desserts are also prepared with the freshest ingredients and most interesting spices. Reservations are suggested during the busy tourist season.
Businesses of the beach: cabañas and restaurants of San Agustinillo
The majority of people who visit the Oaxacan Coast for a vacation want to sleep in a beachside accommodation, dreaming to the sounds of the waves crashing the sand in a comfortable, reasonably priced room. There are no high-rise hotels here, no room service, and no business centers (though most of the accommodations listed here do offer wireless internet service). Be aware that most hotels and restaurants do not take credit cards. Just recently cell phone service came to the area–there still are no land line phones. Most of the beachside businesses listed here serve two purposes: they provide comfortable cabañas and excellent dining experiences.
La Mora Posada and Café
Located on the main road right in the center of town is the three-story La Mora, owned and operated by super-friendly, efficient, and helpful Mexico City natives Rosa and Nacho. Service is excellent at their café on the first floor, open 8 am to 2 pm for breakfast or lunch. The food is fresh, healthy, and cooked to order, with excellent homemade desserts, coffee, and Mexican specialties. In the evening, the space is converted into an Italian restaurant with tasty specialties created by native Italian Angelo.
On the second floor there are three pleasant rooms, one with a kitchen and the other two with small refrigerators and safes, one double bed, and showers with hot water (another amenity not available everywhere). The balconies face the beach so you can sit at your table and check your email while enjoying nature. Floor three is a one-bedroom apartment with a bird’s-eye view of the sea and sand. A king-sized bed in the bedroom and futon in the sala make this a comfortable space for one to three people. There’s also a full kitchen and terrace. Un Sueño
Walk out of your white-washed individual cabaña onto the sand and into the beach breeze. Your home here with happy-go-lucky Julien Pardinilla (French and Spanish by way of Mexico City) is an attractive one-bedroom cabaña, one double bed with mosquito net, spacious bathroom, and porch. The palm-lined beach is your front yard.
Punta Placer
As you walk the beach, you’ll see the clients of Punta Placer relaxing on their terraces, watching the fishermen come in and go out to sea. All rooms face the ocean and have lovely interiors and bathrooms. There’s also a small restaurant and impeccable individual service given by Claire and David, expats from France.
México Lindo y qué Rico
This was one of the first successful businesses on the beach and it remains so today due to the attentiveness of its proprietor, the lovely Leyla. Located on the end of town closest to Mazunte, the restaurant tables sit right on the beach, where you can enjoy meals from 8 am to 11 pm. There is fresh fish always, as well as pizza and Mexican specialties. The adjacent rooms are clean and comfortable with the expected excellent views. The repeat clientele itself speaks for the fine reputation of the hotel/restaurant. People come back every year and stay for weeks, even months!
Paraiso del Pescador
The beautiful, air-conditioned rooms of the new Paraiso del Pescador now sit beachside. Old-timers will remember when native San Agustinillo resident Theresa Rodíguez’s hotel and restaurant was located on the other side of the road. This new building is larger much more deluxe. She and her family serve the same popular meals they have for the past 18 years, in the restaurant on the first floor.
Posada La Termita
Beautifully decorated deluxe spacious rooms on the beach surround the lovely patio restaurant owned by the dazzling, vivacious Isabel from Italy and her handsome and amiable husband Ricardo from Argentina. The specialty here is pizza, and we challenge you to find a better one. The calzones are also to die for!
El Pelícano
Barbecued dorado is the specialty of lifetime Puerto Angel resident Lourdes and her family, who own and manage this beachfront restaurant. Be sure to try it. The excellent desserts are hard to pass up. There are a few rooms to rent and, of this writing, it appears that they are expanding.
Palapa Evelia
Evelia and her husband Mario are long-time residents of San Agustinillo. According to her clients, she prepares the best huachinango on the beach. Right on the beach, next to Mexico Lindo, Evelia serves breakfast through late lunch. She also rents a few basic rooms above the restaurant with beautiful views at reasonable prices.
The small area of the coast that includes Playa Ventanilla, Mazunte, San Agustinillo, Zipolite, and Puerto Angel offers a vacation of interior discovery rather than a blast of external stimuli. Few people leave dissatisfied.
¡Disfruta la tranquilidad!
Carole Reedy, a resident of Mexico City, lived in San Agustinillo for 10 years from 1999 to 2009. She is happy to answer any questions you may have. carolina_reedy(at)yahoo.com

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Thursday, June 26, 2014

A surfer’s guide to Puerto Escondido Everything you need to plan a surf trip to the legendary 'Mexican Pipeline' June 25, 2014 by Justin Cote

LIVING LOCALINSIDER TRAVEL INFORMATION


A surfer’s guide to Puerto Escondido

Everything you need to plan a surf trip to the legendary 'Mexican Pipeline'


Puerto Escondido local Oscar Moncada is one of the many talented surfers to call this place home; photo: Corey Wilson/Surfing magazine
Puerto Escondido local Oscar Moncada is one of the many talented surfers who call this place home. Photo: Corey Wilson/Surfing magazine
Once a tiny port town that specialized in getting coffee to market, Puerto Escondido has grown into a small city, yet hasn’t lost its old Mexico charm and authenticity. Yeah, it can be a little rough around the edges, but it gets a ton of swell, is inexpensive, has great dining options and cheap accommodations, and just about every morning offshore winds groom intense barrels at the world famous Playa Zicatela, a.k.a. the “Mexican Pipeline.” Most surfers choose to stay in the Zicatela part of town, where everything is in walking distance and life is based around the surf. Here’s an insightful guide to Puerto Escondido should you choose to make it your next surf trip destination …
When to go
April to October is the season in Puerto. Generally speaking, May and June see the biggest swells, while September and October are cleaner and more user-friendly. The rainy season usually begins in June and afternoon thunderstorms can create offshore winds in the afternoon, which make for great surfing conditions.
puerto escondido
Playa Zicatela is a serious wave, as evidenced by this memorial that pays tribute to surfers who have passed away over the years. RIP amigos. Photo Justin Coté
How to get there
Flying out of Tijuana, Baja California, is the way to go. Before you say, “That’s crazy!” listen, the international airport in TJ is awesome! Cocktails at the airport bar are half the price they are in the U.S., and Interjet doesn’t charge for surfboards! As of June, Interjet allows up to 110 pounds of checked-in luggage. Your boardbag can’t be over 9 feet, but flying with up to five boards is no problemo. The only issue with Interjet is that it only flies into Puerto a few times a week.
Although there are a ton of options, Bungalows Zicatela is where many surfers stay during their trip to Puerto Escondido; photo Justin Coté
Although there are a ton of options, Bungalows Zicatela is where many surfers stay during their trips to Puerto Escondido. Photo Justin Coté
Where to stay
If you want to be among the action and right on the strip, Bungalows Zicatela is the place. For about $50, three people can share a room. Spend a bit more and you’re looking into the barrel at Carmelita’s with the AC blasting. Other options on the strip are Hotel Ines, Aquario, and for the baller, Hotel Santa Fe. A lot of people like to stay on the hill overlooking Playa Zicatela—it’s quieter and has a nice breeze and killer views. Check out airbnb for more options.
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It’s crucial to bring proven surf gear to Puerto Escondido. The John John Florence fins from Futures and the heavy duty “Survivor” series leash from Pro-Lite will get the job done. Photo Justin Coté
What to bring
It’s hot and sunny, with the occasional afternoon thunderstorm, so it’s a good idea to bring a lightweight rain shell. The dress code in town is as casual as it gets; trunks and T-shirts are all you need. Extra surf gear (leashes, wax, surf shirts, etc.) is always a good idea, too. While there are surf shops in town, it’s imported from the States and generally more than you’d pay at home.
puerto escondido
Mana is one of the many great places to eat along the Playa Zicatela strip in Puerto Escondido. Photo Justin Coté
Where to eat
Mana is a local and ex-pat favorite. Formerly a tiny vegetarian café called “La Gota De Vida,” the owner of Mana is a gregarious Italian named Franco who has been in Puerto for over 30 years. Located right on the beach in front of the main peak at Playa Zicatela, Mana is the best place to eat on the strip. It’s more expensive than most places, but the quality of ingredients, Italian vino tinto, and warm atmosphere are worth the extra pesos. Other great options are Café Cito, Greko’s, and for the authentic Oaxacan cuisine seeker, La Juquileña in downtown.
puerto escondido
Take note of local surfer Coco Nogales’ quiver and think “the bigger the better” when choosing your boards to bring. Photo Justin Coté
What to ride
When Playa Zicatela is four- to six-foot, it packs an incredible punch. Double that size and it’s a serious, expert-only type of wave. On smaller days you can get away with a shortboard, but when Playa Zicatela starts shaking, it’s time to break out the heavy artillery and guns in the eight-foot and longer range are the norm. Think big, thick … pintails. It will take you a few days to get used to the power and intensity of the surf, but once you get a feel for it, the wave of your life is there for the taking.
Miguel Ramirez is the man to see when you inevitably ding up your surfboard in Puerto Escondido; photo Justin Coté
Miguel Ramirez is the man to see when you inevitably ding and/or break your surfboard in Puerto Escondido. Photo Justin Coté
Where to get your board repaired
If you surf Playa Zicatela for even a handful of sessions, chances are your board is going to need some repair. And whether it be a creased nose, broken fin, or snapped in half, there’s no better place to get your board fixed than Puerto. Ask for Miguel Ramirez; he’ll have your precious stick as good as new by the next day for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
puerto escondido
If the beachbreak gets too grande, head down to “La Punta,” which is a $2 taxi ride away. Photo Corey Wilson/Surfing magazine
Where to surf if it gets too big
If the surf gets too big, and it probably will, there are a ton of options. “La Punta” is an excellent left pointbreak at the end of Playa Zicatela. Beat the crowds there by surfing in the midday heat. Your other options are to explore up and down the coast—some of the best pointbreak surf in the world can be found in the state of Oaxaca. Another option is to simply chill on the beach with a coco frio and watch a handful of surfers pull into some incredibly large barrels.
Dorado fishing in Puerto Escondido is world class and makes for excellent flat day fun; photo http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-116824984/stock-photo-lucky-fisherman-holding-a-beautiful-dolphin-fish.html?src=poTr3lH7yqDurhNds2_CNg-1-16
Dorado fishing in Puerto Escondido is world-class and makes for excellent flat day fun. Photoshutterstock.com
What to do if it goes flat
The sportfishing offshore of Puerto Escondido is world-class. Dorado and sailfish are common, and pangas can be chartered for a fraction of the price you’d pay in the States. Ask around for Rudolfo—he’s the best fisherman in town. It’s also fun to check out the outdoor mercado on the weekends, when vendors come down from the mountains to sell their goods. Chocolate-covered grasshoppers, fresh fruit, vegetables, and all sorts of strangely delicious treats can be found on the cheap.
Handy tips
-A lot of the bars, restaurants, and hotels have WiFi. The net speed is good, not great.
-Don’t worry about vaccinations.
-Use the ATMs in town at one of the banks; the ones on the Zicatela strip charge too much per transaction.
-The lineup can get packed, but a midday session in the blazing sun is a great way to beat the crowds, just make sure to lather up on the sunscreen.
-Don’t drink the tap water … duh.
-If you’re not a strong swimmer be extra cautious; rip currents can suck you out to sea in the blink of an eye. Drownings are an unfortunate yet common occurrence.
-Respect the locals—drop-ins can be hazardous in more ways than one.
Handy phrases
A dónde ere? Where are you from?
Dale, dale! Go, go!
Quieres una cerveza? Would you like a beer?
Lo siento! I’m sorry
Taxi! Taxi
Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave below, and I will do my best to answer them!—JC
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Getting Your Dental Work Done in Mexico Topics: Health Care Written by: Mex perience Published: Monday, June 23, 2014

Getting Your Dental Work Done in Mexico

Topics: Health Care
Written by: Mex
perience
Published: Monday, June 23, 2014Dental Work
Los Algodones, Baja California is one of the most unusual places in Mexico, or anywhere in the world for that matter. Located just across the U.S. border, about eight miles west of Yuma, Arizona, this small town with a population of just over 5,400 plays hosts to tens of thousands of visitors from the USA every year. Can you guess why?
While Los Algodones has some of the things you might expect from any border town in Mexico—vendors in open air markets selling souvenirs, sunshine, music, outdoor cafes—what you may not expect are the literally hundreds of dentists, doctors, opticians and pharmacies that line the streets. Many claim that there are more dentists in the four blocks square of el centroof Los Algodones than in any other four blocks in the world. There are so many dentists tucked into every corner that they defy counting as this attempt demonstrates.
Snowbirds (migratory retirees) and citizens from both Canada and the U.S. flock to Los Algodones for inexpensive dental care, medicines, eyeglasses, and medical care. For many, a trip to Los Algodones is an annual ritual. And why not? Dental procedures are a fraction (typically 25-35% percent) of what they cost on the U.S. side of the border and most of the dentists and their staff members speak English. The dentists are licensed, some are members of the American Dental Association, some were trained in the U.S. and while the work varies in quality somewhat based on the training and experience of the dentist and the quality of the materials used, it is generally good to excellent.
But the real benefit of a place like Los Algodones is that there are important dental options available to patients that are simply not offered to patients of modest means by dentists to the north, namely: those procedures based on dental implants. Why not? Because these procedures are so expensive in the U.S. and Canada that many dentists never or rarely do dental implants and seldom offer the option to those living on a fixed income. If a single tooth is missing, they offer bridges involving healthy teeth to either side of a missing tooth with an artificial tooth filling the gap. If several teeth are missing they offer “partials” or other dental devices. And if a patient needs all or nearly all of their teeth replaced, they are told they need dentures.
In Mexico the recommended solution in all of these instances is much more likely to be a solution based on the technology of dental implants. This is by far the preferred treatment if you qualify. For example, All-on-Four and All-on-Six solutions, where a full-arc bridge is permanently affixed to four or six dental implants, is a much more satisfactory long-term solution than removable dentures for patients who don’t have health issues that might eliminate them as candidates.
From the U.S. side, Los Algodones is most easily reached via the international border at Andrade, California. From Andrade, visitors can park their vehicles for a fee in a Native-American owned lot (no overnight parking) and walk across the border, or simply drive across to Los Algodones.
Monica Rix Paxson is an expert in the field of Mexico healthcare. She is author of the English Speaker’s Guide to Medical Care in Mexicoand The English Speaker’s Guide to Doctors & Hospitals in Mexico – eBooks available for immediate download.  She resides full-time in Tepoztlan, a beautiful highland town situated about 50 miles south of Mexico City.

Comments about “Getting Your Dental Work Done in Mexico”

  1. If you’re not in a border state and would have to get on a plane, you might consider going to Mexico City. You can have a crown placed from a lab that will guarantee the materials for five years in the U.S., by a well-qualified dentist, for around $300. Even extensive periodontal work, with or without laser, can be done for less than half of the cost in the U.S., while enjoying everything that a huge, cosmopolitan, culturally-rich city has to offer. Implants, as mentioned, are also available.

Monday, June 23, 2014

¡Vive La Guelaguetza! An Encounter with Oaxaca Posted By Iana Robitaille on Sat, Jun 21, 2014 at 8:00 AM

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014

¡Vive La Guelaguetza!

An Encounter with Oaxaca

Posted By  on Sat, Jun 21, 2014 at 8:00 AM

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    Every summer at the end of July, indigenous groups in the Mexican state of Oaxaca gather together to celebrate La Guelaguetza—a “mutual offering” of traditional music, dance, crafts, and food. The world-famous festival is an annual celebration of community and cultural diversity in Oaxaca, with origins in earth-based religious ceremonies predating the arrival of the Spanish. Since 2009, the Grupo Folclórico de Poughkeepsie (GFP) has promoted and preserved Mexican culture in the Hudson Valley with its own La Guelaguetza festival. Offering traditional dance performances, music from indigenous marching bands, and an array of festive food vendors, the event has become a local favorite.
    This summer, GFP hosts another special event: “Vive La Guelaguetza: An Encounter with Oaxaca,” a colorful, vibrant exhibit commemorating the Oaxacan festival. The exhibit will feature original photographs of the state of Oaxaca and its festival, additional photos of the local festival at Waryas Park from past years, and beautiful paintings by Mexican-American artist Miguel Angel Mendoza. Visitors will also have a first-time opportunity to admire a series of authentic traditional dance costumes from Oaxaca.
    click to enlarge10396332_708296505900496_37143253_n.jpg
      GFP’s exhibit will open on Saturday, June 21 at the Mid-Hudson Heritage Center in Poughkeepsie, with a reception from 5-7pm that is free and open to the public. The series will remain on display until its closing reception on July 19, 5-7pm.
      Grupo Folclórico de Poughkeepsie will host its sixth annual La Guelaguetza festival on August 3 from 1-4pm at Waryas Park.

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