Category Archives: May 2012

Waves and Tides

Jan Chaiken and Marcia Chaiken

So many ways to enjoy the ocean along the Oaxacan Riviera! Maybe you like to sit or lie on the sand and listen to the waves while you read or daydream. Maybe you enjoy snorkeling while bobbing up and down on the waves. Perhaps you go further out from shore in a boat, for fishing or diving or just cruising. In all of these activities you are affected by the waves and tides but may not give much thought to them – they are just a kind of gentle background to your activities. But if you have ever wondered where the waves come from, or why the tides occur when they do, read on… Continue reading Waves and Tides

10 Reasons I Love DF

Screen Shot 2015-10-27 at 4.30.09 PMBy Carole Reedy

The patient people.

“Grace under pressure” are the words author David Lida uses to describe the calmness with which the people of this great metropolis tolerate the long lines and delays they experience daily. Whether it’s waiting in line for voter registration, motor vehicle verification, or a bus, they demonstrate absolute tranquility. No one is huffing and puffing, complaining, or peeking over the heads of the people in front of them to see if the line is moving. If anything, there’s simply a shrug of the shoulders and a quiet ni modo (what can you do?). If you’re late for an appointment, no one chastises you. They wait patiently. If a business isn’t open during designated hours, patrons return at a later time. Remember, mañana means more than just tomorrow (or morning)–it refers to a time somewhere in the future. A favorite word of advice heard on the streets is tranquilo, or be calm. Why not? Continue reading 10 Reasons I Love DF

Junior Sailors

By Kathy Taylor

Screen Shot 2015-10-27 at 4.24.39 PMSome breezy Saturday you might have noticed a fleet of tiny sailboats bobbing in the choppy waters of Bahia Chahue, tacking back and forth across the bay, and wondered, rightly so, just who would go out there in such a tiny vessel. Well, the answer is the young sailing students of the Huatulco Sailing School! They are sailing Optimists, a one design boat whose original criterion was that it could be built out of a single sheet of plywood. Daring? Absolutely! But then, according to the IODA (International Optimist Dinghy Association), over 150,000 kids between the ages of 8 and 15 in over 100 countries are sailing these little boats at any given time. An astonishing 85% of the skippers of the medal-winning boats in the 2008 Qingdao, China Olympics were former Optimist sailors. Continue reading Junior Sailors

Rotary’s 3 Annual “Have a Heart/ Da tu Corazon”

By Elizabeth E. St. Germaine

This Rotary Club event took place at the Hotel Las Brisas  on February 18th and was once again a smashing success with more than 250 people in attendance. Dignitaries present included Huatulco’s Mayor, Lorenzo Lavariega and his Municipal staff, as well as the commander of the Naval Base & his staff. Over 50 raffle prizes and 7 major bingo prizes were awarded from generous businesses and sponsors in our community. The net profit was $115,000.00 pesos, up from $85,000.00 the previous year. Continue reading Rotary’s 3 Annual “Have a Heart/ Da tu Corazon”

Great Ocean Movies & Stories

The Cove 2009

Documentary Academy Award® Winner for Best Documentary, The Cove” follows an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers as they embark on a covert mission to penetrate a remote and hidden cove in Taiji, Japan, shining a light on a dark and deadly secret. Utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, including hidden microphones and cameras in fake rocks, the team uncovers how this small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action. www.thecovemovie.com Continue reading Great Ocean Movies & Stories

A Tale of Two Sea Sides

By Brooke Gazer

Screen Shot 2015-10-27 at 2.08.18 PM

Growing up in Calgary, a trip to the Pacific Ocean was a really big deal. Before western Canada developed its modern Highway system it took two full days driving to reach Vancouver. The winding drive over the Rocky Mountains, just to the interior of British Columbia was similar to the trip from Oaxaca to Huatulco… except it was a dirt and gravel road. Once we were underway my father stopped for nothing short of a life threatening emergency and since I was prone to car sickness I do not have fond memories of those road trips. None the less, it was worth the suffering to spend a few glorious days in the Pacific surf. Continue reading A Tale of Two Sea Sides