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- November 18th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Bottles on the rebar Quiz
I've heard tons of stories of why the bottles are placed on top of rebar on the roofs in Mexico. My builder just gave me the only answer that makes any sense to me. No it is not to keep them dry and i…
- November 15th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Manzanillo - Colima, Mexico
Constaño Cafe in Las Brisas
I've always admired this little Cafe in the Las Brisas beach section of Manzanillo but have never gone in. Now that I'm building a little place up the coast I'm always looking for ideas. I seldom see…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Space Needle in Melaque?
If you really need to see the ocean but build on the other side of the highway in Melaque ... this is what you are forced to do. I just wonder after a few trips up those stairs ... will it continue to…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Melaque on the Costalegre
Butterflies and Flowers in Pinal Villa
I guess I could have tried 50 times more to get the butterflies in focus but I had to go talk to our electrician to check on the best routing for house wiring. The lot next door is full of these wildf…
- November 5th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Chinese in Mexico
From Manila to Mexico
GEMS OF HISTORYFrom Manila to MexicoBy Go Bon JuanWhen people talk about the galleon trade between Manila and Acapulco (1565 to 1815), much attention is placed on the trade itself, its economic signif…
- November 1st, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Manzanillo - Colima, Mexico
Manzanillo boat harbor off the Malecon
Much on the Manzanillo fishing fleet moors off the Malecon close to downtown. There is also a fish market in the middle just off the street. You can now easily walk from downtown to the main harbor…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Melaque on the Costalegre
Cloudy day from El Mirador
Mari had been feeding a construction crew from Guadalajara that were working on a fancy house just past the Mirador parking area. Hoping to see what they were up to I drove up only to find them all he…
- October 30th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
A Sunday at Tenacatita with Ron and the kids
Ron, a long time buddy, just got down from Seattle and spent a week with me here in Melaque. He and his wife Dora who is from Mexico are moving down once again and he will meet her in Vallarta in a fe…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Barack Obama 30 minute special
If you missed Obama's special last night or would like to watch it again ..
- October 22nd, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
'Happy Families' by Carlos Fuentes
BOOK REVIEW'Happy Families' by Carlos FuentesBy Tim RuttenOctober 22, 2008It once was said of James Joyce that he had abandoned everything about the Scholastic philosophy of the High Middle Ages that…
- October 15th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Bamboo in your yard
We have this beautiful clump of bamboo in the lot nextdoor and I would love to bring some over eventually. The problem is controlling it's growth. We had it in a garden when I was a kid but remember m…
- October 12th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Did I dump this Blog - Not really
It's just the construction project has finished it's third week and were a few weeks before that of gathering permits, finding workers, checking my construction vocabulary and clearing the lots. It's…
- October 1st, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Condom-mobile missing in Mexico
October 1, 2008BY ASSOCIATED PRESSMEXICO CITY--— Missing in Mexico: One truck carrying 5,000 condoms, 800 HIV tests and a 23-foot inflatable prophylactic.The coordinator of an HIV/AIDS awareness tou…
- September 29th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Dengue Inspection
Today we had a Dengue inspection to make sure our yards where not full of water collectors where mosquitoes lay eggs. This was not the usual young kids with bags of mosquito poison to dump in every re…
- September 28th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Banamex 7.5 peso charges
I've seen the "warnings" come and go on various ATM machines for over 6 months ... but yesterday was the first time I had to choose ACCEPT the extra charges to continue. Other banks have had these cha…
- September 25th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Melaque on the Costalegre
Bienvenidos a Melaque
I guess it had to come eventually since so many other towns have similar welcome signs (monoliths). This will be the largest one in the immediate area of the Costalegre that I know of. This is on the…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Manzanillo - Colima, Mexico
Surfing at Bora's
Stan, who lives in Santiago invited a few of us to lunch at LuLu's near the market in central Santiago yesterday. it worked out well for me since my fumigator showed up and I needed to be out of the h…
- September 15th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Barra de Navidad on the Costalegre
Barra de Navidad Malecon
Is it really as white-hot as it looks - well almost. It was a very warm day and this was just after I'd walked the beach from Melaque. This was first day using this camera and all my exposures were of…
- September 14th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Colima
The Filipino roots of mezcal
The Filipino roots of mezcalPublished by Luigi on June 11, 2008“Clash of civilizations” is a common rhetorical trope these days. But it is as well to remember that good things can — and often do…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Independence Day - September 16th
On September 16th, 1810, Father Hidalgo started the Revolution that was to lead to Mexico's independence from Spain. He rang the church bells and called on the people to take up arms.On the night of t…
- September 11th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Melaque on the Costalegre
High water in the Lagoon
I'd heard the Laguna de Tules was filling up again after about 3 days of steady rain from Tropical Depression Lowell as it passed by. Sure enough, the docks along the Malecon (andador or walkway) are…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Manzanillo - Colima, Mexico
Road side fruit stands
If you want some good fruit and probably things you've never seen before - try some of the road side stands. This one is about 5 miles north of Manzanillo on highway 200 along with 5 or six other st…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Home Made Tamales
Just find yourself a huge sack of fresh corn and a large family and go to work, and everyone did including the three year old. The smaller ears just get shucked and husks thrown away. The husks from t…
- August 31st, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Central Cultural Cihuatlan
The plaque and paintings are on the entrance to the Cultural Center in Cihuatlan that's located on the corner near the central traffic light. I've seen a display of very old Cihuatlan fotos in one bui…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Manzanillo - Colima, Mexico
National Institute of Fisheries and Ventanas
Ventanas is the local name for the opening to the Cuyutlan lagoon and the jetty at the mouth of it on the ocean side. The name is as informal as the way surf locations are named. Also next to the jett…
- August 30th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Colima
Colima Regional Museum of History
Address1 Portal Morelos and Reforma St., Downtown, Colima, Col., 28000. Phone (312) 312 9228Admittance and ServicesVisiting hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00. Admission fee $34 MXP. Children…
- August 28th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Manzanillo - Colima, Mexico
Starbucks comes to Manzanillo
Why they chose Manzanillo at this point I'm not sure. Maybe someone that owns a franchise up north wanted something to do on vacation. Maybe drug money is under invested. The article below just says S…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Melaque on the Costalegre
- August 24th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Primary school books
Here`s an assortment of Primary school books that are free from the Mexican governemnt. Usually different colors for each grade - and nice art work. The bindings of these paperbacks are the weak point…
- August 21st, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Melaque on the Costalegre
Primaria Juan Escutia has a new stove
Here's the storyThere are actually two schools on the campus (common for Mexico schools). Virginia Torres is the morning section and Juan Escutia is afternoon. Each section has a coopertiva of the par…
- August 20th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Primary School Stove Fund
Attention: We have reached our goal for the stove. Anything further in small denominations will be for kitchen repairs and paint. Gracias a todosWe are trying to buy a $300us, 6 burner stove for Prime…
- August 17th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Dealing with Telmex
I lost my wireless modem in an electrical storm about two months ago and never considered that Telmex would replace them for free. You just have to jump through the hoops that phone support wants you…
- August 7th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Evening rains
I hear people up and down the coast tell stories of afternoon/evening rains almost like Hawaii. Maybe they are residents or maybe only short time visitors. Don't know but it sure is not that way here…
- August 6th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Baja Ferries Information
Daily Trips from/to Mazatlan with two boats
LA PAZ- MAZATLÁNYMAZATLÁN - LA PAZThis route will be operating with the vessels California Star and Chihuahua StarFrom .........To ........................... Departure Days ......... Departure Time…
- August 5th, 2008
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Cell Phone Scams
So what are you going to do with a small town Mexican woman even at age 54Mari won a cel fone in the local school lottery (Nokia no less) and it works fine. I don't know how universal these things are…
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sparks has posted a new entry on: Sparks Mexico Blog
Return to Mexico
Back after 3 weeks in Seattle feeling that I had very little to say. Anymore stays in the US feel like the twilight zone or necessary business trip. It surely is not a vacation.Flight costs are up abo…
