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Published: 
26 January, 2009
It's a little known fact, but Hollywood producer, casino owner, aviator, defense contractor, billionaire Texan and American icon Howard Hughes spent his last days in Acapulco, Mexico. The official story goes that Howard Hughes died on an airplane en route to Houston. However, this seems suspect for two reasons. First, why would Hughes suddenly and uncharacteristically want to return to his boyhood home? Secondly, and more importantly, former staff of the Acapulco Princess have recounted publicly that Hughes died at the hotel and witnessed his lifeless body being removed. It's likely the story of Hughes dying in the air was concocted... more»
Published: 
26 January, 2009
Legend of Acapulco The mystery of Acapulco is heightened by a local legend, first told many centuries ago in the dwellings of the indigenous Yope, and retold many times over, down to the present day. The shield of Acapulco is said to represent this story, but the link between the drawings and the narrative is a bit abstract. Perhaps that just adds to the mystery. Many, many years ago, long before the spade-bearded Spaniards arrived at these shores, a small tribe of Yope Indians lived peacefully on the coast, fishing the azure waters, harvesting coconuts, tamarinds and mangos, and living the pleasant... more»
Published: 
26 January, 2009
To make sense of Acapulco’s geography, you need to take a look at the whole state of Guerrero. Guerrero has an area of 26,000 square miles (somewhat smaller than Austria and larger than Switzerland). The state runs for 250 miles along the coast, and extends inland 140 miles. About 3.3 million people live in Guerrero. Almost 2 million of them live in Acapulco and its immediate environs. Guerrero is blessed with a wide variety of landscapes – from the lush tropical coast with its beaches and mangrove swamps, to the “Cloud Forest” high in the mountains, overlooking the sheltered valleys below. Acapulco... more»
Published: 
26 January, 2009
The whole coastline is pretty much devoted to palm trees. There is the ubiquitous Coconut Palm, one of the best plants that has ever come along. The fruit yields oil, the fiber provides matting, and the leaves offer a great roofing material. It is quite a noble specimen. Other palms include the Royal Palms -- the tall, smooth ones in the middle of the Costera Alemán with green trunks. Look for the Bottle Palm and a favorite, the Travelers Palm, which is more of a relative of the banana. Some of these specimens are native to Acapulco, but several... more»
Published: 
26 January, 2009
While the Beatles were about to blow Elvis' musical empire to smithereens and change the world of music forever, Elvis was busy defending his crown making B-movies like the this classic starring a young, beautiful Ursula Andress. (The Beatles actually went to see this movie when they came to the States in 1963.) Like most of Elvis' movies, the production is faux-everything from beginning to end. The movie contains some good numbers. "Bossa Nova Baby" is one, if you overlook that the Bossa Nova was native to a different country, several thousand miles away. Another is "I think I'm Gonna... more»
Published: 
25 January, 2009
"Sueño Americano" means "American Dream." Maybe it should include "Sueño Canadiense" (Canadian dream), since the dream really amounts to heading north to make money and / or escape a bad situation at home. In Acapulco, it is very common to meet locals that have gone to the U.S. or Canada to work (both legally and illegally). It also seems a large number of the locals you meet have vague plans to do so themselves one day. Immigration Facts The myth in the US is that everyone in Mexico would like to be working in the US, and, of course, that is far... more»
Published: 
25 January, 2009
Mexico, glad to say, has modernized its immigration system. Now the rules and requirements are posted on the Immigration Department's website at: http://www.migracion.gob.mx/ A section of the website is in English: http://www.inm.gob.mx/EN/index.phpz. Where do you go in Acapulco? Instituto Nacional de Migracion located at Juan Sebastian Elcano #1 Fracc. Costa Azul. It's located across the street from the Cici. Tourist Visas for Mexico If your are from one of the larger English-speaking countries (like the US, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand) obtaining a tourist visa to enter Mexico is so easy that it is hardly worth fretting over. The tourist visa is... more»
Published: 
25 January, 2009
These tips help you avoid a few pitfalls of traveling to and from Mexico. Take the Minimum Take the minimum with you. If this is your first trip to a Mexico beach location, you will be astounded at how well you will do with only a couple of bathing suits and tops. Everyone navigates in "flip-flops" (called "chanclas" in Acapulco). If you need a pair, they sell for a dollar or two at the super markets and other stores all over town. There is no need to import a bunch of them. You may want a couple of "nice" changes of... more»
Published: 
25 January, 2009
Sunday February 6, 2005 was a historic day. Not only was it super bowl Sunday in the U.S. where the New England Patriots were about to become a football dynasty, but it was also a day when Mexico held a series of state elections with major national significance. Gubernatorial elections were held in three states including the state of Guerrero (the state in which Acapulco represents the largest population center). The gubernatorial election pitted two former mayors against each other. The ruling PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) fielded the former mayor of the state capital, Chilpancingo, Hector Astudillo Flores. His coalition... more»
Published: 
25 January, 2009
Mexico's currency is the "Peso." It comes in coin denominations of 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 peso, 2 pesos, 5 pesos, 10 pesos, and 20 pesos. Except for the half-peso coin, the "cents" denominations are rare. Folding money comes in $20, $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1,000. Peso means "weight" in English. It's not hard to see that the peso got its name from the weight of the metal that made up the coin. The Mexican Peso was inspired by colonial Spanish silver bullion, which was cast into coins worth "ocho reales," and became known as "pieces... more»

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