You'll really enjoy this special way to help the Children of OaxacaEdited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady Oaxaca is one of Mexico's most intriguing destinations, offering a rare natural beauty, dynamic culture, magnificent Zapotec and Mixtec archaeological sites, and some of this country's finest and most varied regional cuisine. The vibrant pageantry of the Guelaguetza traditionally held the last two Mondays of July attracts thousands of international visitors and participating ethnic groups from all seven regions of the state. Fireworks, music, age-old dances, magnificent costumes and more offer an exciting glimpse into well-preserved traditions, many followed by Oaxaca's indigenous groups to this day.
 One of the most impressive festivals in the Americas, with roots dating back nearly five centuries, the Guelaguetza celebrates giving - the gods providing rain and a good harvest and the community sharing these gifts for the betterment of all. And since Oaxaca recently emerged from a most difficult time in its history, its economy largely dependent on tourism and a protracted strike affecting everyone from chambermaids to craftspeople and their families, Mexico Boutique Hotels members are pulling together to help.
 Mexico Boutique Hotels is delighted to announce that in honor of The July Festival of Guelaguetza held in the lovely colonial city of Oaxaca, when you stay at any participating MBH member anywhere in the country during the month of July for three nights or more, a percentage of your entire bill will be donated to a local Oaxaca charity that helps children
This is an excellent opportunity to not only enjoy a unique Mexico Boutique Hotels experience you will treasure forever, gaining a privileged perspective of this warm and welcoming country, but to exercise your social conscience and benefit others. The funds raised will help rehabilitate children with physical disabilities, CRIT Oaxaca providing them with a better tomorrow by combing love with top medical science, while emphasizing the importance of dignity as an individual and a nation - < http://www.teleton.org.mx/critoax.php> KNOW BEFORE YOU GO OAXACA
Oaxaca, the name of the state as well as its capital city comes from the Nahuatl word HUAXYACAC which means "in the hose of the guajes", (edible pods that grown on guaje trees) because of the abundance of guajes that were growing there.
GEOGRAPHY
The State of Oaxaca is located in Southern Mexico. It borders on the states of Puebla and Veracruz to the north, Chiapas to the east, Guerrero to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Covering 95,364 sq. km (over 59,000 square miles) of hills, valleys, canyons and beaches, Oaxaca is Mexico's most biologically diverse state. POPULATION
The State of Oaxaca has over 3 million inhabitants, mainly mestizos. Sixteen ethnic groups, each with their own language or dialect, inhabit different geographical areas of the state. As a result, the state of Oaxaca boasts one of the richest and most varied concentration of distinct cultures, not only in Mexico, but in the world.  LANGUAGE
Spanish is Mexico's official language. However, 8 percent of the population speaks 54 autochthonous language. Seventeen languages and several dialects are spoken in the State of Oaxaca.
CLIMATE AND SEASONS
Because of its topography, the state of Oaxaca has a variety of climates. In Puerto Escondido, Huatulco, and other coastal areas, the average temperature is 27.7 C. In the city of Oaxaca, which is located in the Central Valley, the average annual temperature is 22C. MEZCAL
Some 25,000 people in the state of Oaxaca depend on the agave plant for their livelihood, Agave growers, who call the plant maguery, tend to their plants for 7 to 10 years before the fruit, which weighs between 27 and 54 kg. is ready for harvest. At harvest-time, the plants are cut and carted by mule and truck to a local distillery. After a three day roasting process, the fruit's starches have been converted into fermentable sugars. The mezcalero then places the chunks on a rustic stone-and-cement treadmill, where an aging horse goes round and round, crushing the fruit. The fruity pitch is dumped into big wooden or clay vats for fermentation. WHERE TO STAYCamino Real Oaxaca
5 de mayo No. 300, Centro
Tel. 5016100
http://www.caminoreal.com/english/index.html Hacienda Los Laureles
Av. Hidalgo No. 21, San Felipe del Agua
Tel. 5015300
www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com/loslaureles
Toll free US and Canada: 1-800-728-9098 TRAVELLADY'S FAVORITE RESTAURANTSMy very favorite restaurant is La Fonda de Santa Domingo which serves traditional Oacacan foods. The presentation was of the traditional dishes was beautiful, a delight for the palate as well as the eye.
5 de may #411
Centro Historico, Oaxaca
52 (9) 514 89 24
fondasantodomingo@hotmail.com BEST PLACE TO LEARN TO COOK LIKE A OAXACANSusanna Tilling's Seasons of my Heart Cooking School offers a unique opportunity to learn about and experience Mexican food. In the foothills of Oaxaca, a half-hour drive from the center of town, Susana Trilling, teacher, chef, writer and television host will teach you to work with the native foods of Mexico. Held at Susana's home in a hillside farm overlooking the pueblo of San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, you will discover how the food you cook is grown, gathered and prepared for use in the many forms of Mexican cuisine. BEST PLACE TO TASTE MEXCALRanchZapataa
Tel/Fax 01 (951) 51-470-05/51-479-92
www.mezcalbeneva.com
beneva@mezcalbeneva.com WHERE TO BUY GREAT JEWELRYTeller del Orfebre Joyerias More about MexicoGUIDEBOOKS A TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE JEWISH CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN
By Ben G. Frank
A practical, anecdotal, and adventurous journey through historic Jewish Caribbean and South America including Kosher restaurants, cafes, synagogues, and museums, plus cultural and heritage sites. LET'S GO MEXICO
Edited by Anthony Gabriele
ST.MARTIN'S PRESS
www.letsgo.com MOON HANDBOOKS PACIFIC MEXICO
By Bruce Whipperman
Avalon Travel Publishing
www.Moon.com Lonely Planet Mexico
Well organized with great pictures and maps
Terrific section on shopping
www.lonelyplanet.com EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES MEXICO
DK PUBLISHING, INC
WWW.dk.com TRAVELERS TALES GUIDES
MEXICO
Edited by James O'Reily and Larry Habegger Michelin Tourist Guide to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize MOON HANDBOOKS OAXACA
By Bruce Whipperman
Avalon Travel Publishing
www.moon.com Oaxaca
The Spirit of Mexico
Judith Cooper Hayden
Workman Publishing
www.artisanbooks.com EAT SMART IN MEXICO
A travel Guide for Food Lovers
By Joan & David Peterson
Ginko Press
www.gingkopress.com LIVE BETTER SOUTH OF THE BORDER
By Mexico Mike Nelson
Fulcrum Publishing
www.fulcrum-books.com ON MEXICAN TIME
By Tony Cohan
An American writer and his wife find a new home-- and a new lease on life--in the charming sixteenth-century hill town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico BEST SOUVENIRS OF MEXICO legal drugs. I always get Retin-A for myself and friends. I know people who also buy antibiotics and other prescription drugs that are available over-the-counter in Mexico
Damiana. A sweet liquor believed to be an aphrodisiac. I think it works because it is so yummy you drink too much. And the bottle could be a collector's item, it is shaped like a voluptuous nude woman
Mexican sea salt. Easily available in supermarkets. A wonderful gifts for gourmet foodie friends.
Other food gifts include mountain grown coffee, Mexican vanilla, and sweets made of tamarindo and coconut. MOST REQUESTED THINGS TO BRING BACK FOR FRIENDS RETINA- if you are old enough to need it, you know what it is and will appreciate that it costs about 90% less if you buy it in Mexico. If you have lots of friends who want it, it may be worth a trip to Walmart. But call ahead and tell them you want to order some, the day I was there they only had 3 tubes in stock. I had had four disappointed friends.
Kahlua
Mezcal with a worm MY FAVORITE MEXICAN DRINK Dirty banana (recipe compliments of Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa)
˝ oz. condensed milk
˝ oz. coconut cream
˝ oz coffee liquer
1 oz. brandy
˝ banana Combine all ingredients and blend with ice
Serve in tall glass garnished with a banana slice TO GET A TASTE OF MEXICO AT HOME LA COMIDA DEL BARIO
By Ron Sanchez
Latin-American cooking in the USA
Sanchez is one of the cohosts of MELTING POT on Food Network
Clarkson Potter Publishers
www.randomhouse.com
www.clarksonpotter.com A YUCATAN KITCHEN
By Loretta Scott Miller
Regional recipes from Mexico's Mundo Maya
Pelican
www.pelicanpub.com SPEAK LIKE A NATIVE HIDE THIS SPANISH BOOK
Berlitz
The cover gives this warning: Highly inflammatory text inside, so not open near Spanish teachers, not for classroom use. Inside, you will find the lingo on sex—before, during and after, and fashion trends and styles.
www.berlitzbooks.com/hidethisbook.htm About Mexico Boutique Hotels:
Mexico Boutique Hotels is a collection of upscale independent hotels throughout Mexico offering outstanding attributes and a unique vacation experience. Desirable destinations in their own right, each member of this prestigious group has been chosen by a team of bicultural travel and hospitality professionals with an in-depth knowledge of Mexico. Savvy travelers appreciate the emphasis on highly personalized service and a level of distinction and intimacy rarely found, each hotel unique and typically smaller than 50 rooms. Madelyn Miller is a food, travel, and wine writer who loves Mexico. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com and www.TeaAtlas.com | 