Happy New Year

Best Wishes...
 
May your good health be confirmed by your dentist, gastro-endocrinologist, urologist, psychologist, optician, fortune-teller, and may your physiotherapist, chiropractor, therapist, witch-doctor and your slimming clinic tell you don't have to come anymore.
 
May your doctor know where to begin and may your masseuse know where to stop.
 
May your salary, your housing subsidy, the contents of your house and all your shares increase in value, and may your blood pressure, weight, house loan, tax and cholesterol all decrease.
 
May all your friends remember you and may the taxman forget you exist.
 
May hijackers, car thieves and rapists overlook you and may your loved ones always see you.
 
May your walls be too high for the neighborhood’s thieves but low enough for you to hop over when you have forgotten your keys.
 
May you have an honest government and a dishonest beauty therapist.
 
 
Happy New Year
 

Huatulco

Mexico’s best kept secret: this Oaxacan

gem, is a cozy tourist favorite that conveys

a small-town charm with all the comfort and

beauty of a major resort. Like the mountains?

The Sierra Madre del Sur, Southern Mexico’s

lush coastal range, forms a regal backdrop

to Huatulco’s four main areas. Looking for

some sun and surf? The coastline here

comes chock full of beaches, bays, coves

and serenely beautiful rocky shores. Thinking

of some shopping and sight-seeing?

Charming Santa Cruz is well-equipped for

a fun day of browsing, awash in cafes, small

shops and sidewalk spots perfect for sipping

a cordial and soaking up some rays



Brief History

Pre-Columbian Mexico probably saw a mix

of native peoples either traveling through or

living briefly in Huatulco, the Zapotecs most

likely among them. In the early 16th Century,

after Hernan Cortes conquered the region

for Spain, Huatulco became a favorite stop

for Spanish merchants and colonists, supporting

growth along the Pacific Coast. That

didn’t stop other New World explorers—

notably Sir Francis Drake—from dropping

anchor and clashing with the locals. Thereafter,

Huatulco enjoyed a few centuries of

relative calm and prosperity (the sunny, mild

climate still favors growing and processing

coffee). In 1984, the government arrived

with a new game plan—tourism—using a

template similar to that of Cancun. The result

was a boost in business and infrastructure

development flavored by a host of resort

amenities, from hotels and nightclubs to

recreation and other tourist activities.



Highlights

Soft white sand and shimmering • turquoise

water—that’s the ticket at many

of Huatulco’s three dozen beaches.

A relaxing option for experiencing the

area’s nautical joys should include a

swim at Santa Cruz beach and a spin

around gorgeous Tangolunda Bay.

• Attention history buffs: Huatulco’s Copalita

Point Eco-Archaeological Centre

is not merely an interesting day trip. It’s

Mexico’s most remarkable archaeological

find in more than a generation, an

ongoing excavation and careful compilation

of remarkable ruins (from pyramids

to burial sites) dating from 500 B.C.

• Whether creating or dining on it,

Mexican cuisine provides an endless

source of delight. Don’t just take our

word for it, though. Join restaurateurs

Thierry and Tina Favre for a culinary

cook-and-dine session at their renowned

Huatulco bistro, Lechalote.

• Take in lovely La Crucecita the way the

locals do via an informative, albeit leisurely,

stroll around town. The sights are

many: the bountiful flora and fauna of

Zocala, the city’s Central Park; the colorful

church of the Virgin of Guadalupe; and

more than a few arts and craft stores for

cool souvenir shopping.

Acapulco, Mexico

Glittering and glamorous. Spontaneous

and splashy. From the people to the bay,

sensual Acapulco, Mexico is known for

its beauty. Its world-famous beaches offer

up the sun and surf for different agendas,

whether you’re in the mood for exhilaration

of serenity

Brief History

When Spanish conquistador Gil Gonzales

Avila arrived in 1512, he recognized

the potential of this excellent harbor. For

the next 250 years, the Spanish colonial

empire tapped the wealth of Asia with

great fleets of galleons that crisscrossed

the Pacific. From Acapulco, ships sailed

to Asia to exchange Mexican silver for

spices, silk, ivory, precious stones, pearls,

and other fine wares. Upon their return,

the cargo was unloaded in Acapulco

and carried overland to the gulf port of

Veracruz, for eventual shipping to Europe.

However, as new trade routes around Africa’s

Cape of Good Hope opened at the

end of the 18th century, the importance of

Acapulco began to decline.

Highlights

Acapulco delivers an action-packed,

24-hour-a-day exuberance with an array

of attractions and activities… all set in a

breathtaking harbor that rivals the most

beautiful in the world. Highlights include:

Resort Area: beginning south of Acapulco

Bay is the “Playa Revolcadero” area, a

long flat stretch of open ocean beach

backed by an enormous tropical lagoon.

Just to the north is the “Puerto Marques”

area. This once tranquil bay is full of multimillion

dollar developments that include

resort hotels, golf courses, condos, and

marinas. And finally, there is “Acapulco

Bay”, the mountain-framed natural harbor

that is famous for its natural beauty. The

appropriately named “Carretera Escénica”

(Scenic Highway) connects the three

areas.

La Quebrada: located across the peninsula

on its rocky seaward side, this

observation point is ideal to see one of

Acapulco’s most famous attractions - the

“clavadistas” (cliff divers). From a ledge,

more than 150 feet above the sea, each

diver prepares himself, waiting for the right

moment when incoming wave floods the

canyon. An error in timing would mean

certain death on the rock below, so each

dive is truly an amazing accomplishment.

Downtown: here you can find the Public

Market, a fascinating place with a wide

variety of merchants; Old Acapulco or the

“Zocalo”, perfect for people-watching, the

city’s main square is where you will find

the Cathedral.