for today,,,

First topic message reminder :

New Requirements for Bringing Foreign-PlatedCars into Mexico

Post by dean on Fri Jun 24, 2011 10:27 pm


http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/new-requirements-for-bringing-foreign-plated-cars-into-mexico-banjercito/

New Requirements for Bringing Foreign-Plated Cars into Mexico: Banjercito
Posted on June 17, 2011 by yucalandia

The Mexican Ministry of Finance and Public Credit has issued a new decree affecting expats bringing foreign plated cars into Mexico: “New Requirements for Bringing Foreign-Plated Cars into Mexico: Banjercito”. From the Banjercito website:

“IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) has issued a decree which states that beginning on June 11th, 2011 anyone applying for a temporary import permit for vehicles must make a deposit in the amount determined by the following table:

Vehicle Year Model:…….Amount to be paid in Mexican Pesos*
2007 and later…….USD $400
2001 until 2006…….USD $300
2000 and earlier…….USD $200

*Peso amounts are based on applicable exchange rate

This deposit is compulsory and can be paid by credit card, debit card, or cash (in US Dollars only).

Users must keep in mind that if the deposit is charged to a credit card, the charge will be made in Mexican Pesos and will be calculated based on the exchange rate of the day on which the payment is made. This deposit will be refunded to the same credit card on the next banking business day after the vehicle is fully returned and based on the exchange rate of that day.

The vehicle must be returned on time and within the time period stated on the temporary import permit. If the vehicle is returned after the stated time period, the entire deposit amount will be transferred to the Office of the Treasury on the day following the expected return date, as allowed by current law.”


Last Item:
Another clause in the new updated regulations requires FM2 Rentista and FM3 holders to notify Aduana within 15 days of when they renew their FM2 or FM3, otherwise Aduana is allowed to confiscate/keep these “new” deposits. Aduana’s address is listed in Yucalandia’s main article on cars in Mexico: “Importing & Driving a Car in Mexico”

* * * *
This post is meant as a public service announcement (not meant as legal advice), so, we here at Yucandia will keep the post updated with further understandings and clarifications as they develop.

* * * *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
'Noise quenching' curtains open window to quiet

Post by dean on Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:51 pm
great new product for noisy rooms

http://news.cnet.com/noise-quenching-curtains-open-window-to-quiet/8301-17938_105-20059612-1.html
'Noise quenching' curtains open window to quietPost by dean on Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:06 am
Water, I have tasted it when not brushing my teeth and it is not salty. My meter reads about 1750 ppm which is about 1000 ppm less of what we use to have. But the taste tells me it is it is lower. My meter reads correctly on bottled water about 40ppm so not sure.

bookmark this site/thread as I will add pictures and issues from time to time.

here is a picture of one of the water tanks by the shrimp factory that will have the de-sal water. you will bring your own jugs here to fill up. a real watering hole...

right now they have the de-sal hooked up to the city water, our water is good but not great, 560 ppm disolved solids. I was told by the workers the plant can do 300 cubic meters per day. that is probably about 1/2 our requirements in the summer and 1/3 when everyone is here. I was told another well will be dug for the desal plant. also they ran a three inch line to all these tanks.

here is the tank in progress picture


here is the first structure being built in the campground by a comercial business. note the total area via the orange markers.


second commercial business in the campground. not sure, coffee or taco stand. white building to the right of the gate.


the first arroyo to the north of the campground, the new concrete fence with barbwire to stop people from parking there?


and finally in parting, we had a real cloudy morning here a week or so ago, this is the sunrise...




and lastly here is my suggested air seperation piping to keep water bills low, i have a discussion of it in the water section under building in this forum.

when the tide went down it was reported to me they did pour the other half yesterday. so it is usable so to speak... reported there was an issue with someone bringing in a boat at low tide today.

after thinking about it..... I am thinking they expect the ramp to sink over time is my guess.

very good wind day....

the upper part to the ramp is half done, they were there this morning to pour the enxt part but the wind was causing waves to come in too high. this was about 1.13 meters high tide at about 9am

we had good wind...

From Roberto of Banditos Bar.

"I'm trying to offer a more economical transportation service between Los Cabos Airport to La Ventana -- There is a cheaper option, which is to take a ecobaja minibus at the airport in Los Cabos to La Paz by the route of Los barriles. In San Antonio have the driver drop you off, BajaFishHunter vans, will be waiting. the cost of the ecobaja bus is 400 pesos, BajaFishHunter vans cost 200 pesos. total is 600 pesos, from Los Cabos Airport to La Ventana.

Sometimes the problem is to find an available seat on the minibus. You have to confirm with the bus driver whether you go to La Paz through Los Barriles, do not take the todos santos route. My cellphone is 6121202306 // this is the link with the bus information, and my mexico toll free number you call from the airport to confirm is 01800 841 4965
http://www.ecobajatours.com/InfoHorarios.aspx
http://www.bajafishhunter.com/shuttle "
roberto@bajafishhunter.com

you must have a reservation with both to be picked up.

BPE

IMMIGRATION ALERT
The new immigration law and by law is now been applied across the country:
If one has an expired FMM and presents a request for normalyzing his immigration status after 60 days from the expiry date one must exit the country and come back in (the order gives 30 days to exit, if one does not exit in time one will face fine and jail and possibly loose Right to come back to Mexico.
If one comes in Mexico one must request the FMM at port of entry , if one waits to ask at any immigration office in the country one will be told to go back to point of entry and get the FMM, in other words: FMM will only be issued at point of entry.
LIC. JACQUES-EDOUARD BEAULNE,

road report

some friends just road down via motorcycles and said all was good... just our road to lapaz has the issues, bad potholes and sand in the low areas.

here they are putting in the rebar work for the upper part of the ramp.

weather is great now, the mornings are finally nice.... bo bos are a problem now. not much in the wind area yet...

Skype has a potential threat, http://countermeasures.trendmicro.eu/skype-worm-spreading-fast/ this worm can hold your computer randsome.

Obviously if you receive a strange message from a friend do not click on it. Here is the one ““lol is this your new profile pic? h__p://goo.gl/{BLOCKED}5q1sx?img=username” or “moin, kaum zu glauben was für schöne fotos von dir auf deinem profil h__p://goo.gl/{BLOCKED}5q1sx?img=username”

I think everyone by now has some sort of virus blocker here is a link to microsofts free one http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/security-essentials

Breaking news..... We will have a ATM here in LaVentana at Banditos in a few weeks...

Also you can now pay your electric, phone, sky, and add time to your telcel phone at Banditos too. For these there is a nominal charge of 3 pesos to 20 pesos. And you will be able to eventually sign up for automated payments with them when we depart end of season..
fees as follows :
Telmex 15 pesos
Telcel 3 pesos
CFE 20 pesos
Sky 15 pesos

all the slabs are in, next they need to do something for the approach.

I was there during todays low tide about 0.2 which is not close to our lowest tides. This ramp is not usable to retrieving a boat at this level so low tides are not launchable from this ramp. I think they got the levels wrong.

So make sure you look at your tides for the day before launching. here is a great link but remember this is LaPaz levels so add and subtract 40 minutes for leading edge or trailing edge.

http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/tideshow.cgi

at about 1 pm they were putting in the 4th piece of the ramp. as seen here. we were roughly at 0.5 meters tide level and if I stood on the farthest slab out it appears to be about 3 feet deep, and a drop off after the slab. So extreme low tide tide days bringing in the boat could be an issue for the trailer wheels.

Obviouslythe mountain did not get the rain quantity as we did, the road is in decent shape, just many potholes still not nearly as bad as other years. There were no critically dangerous areas. Just one area heading north that the edge is a bit narrow. Usually these are 2 feet into the lane.

they put in two of the slabs that were made, 6 sitting on the gound and two loaded on the truck that places them. you can see one of the slabs in the below picture.


also note the two surfers out and a SUPer

ok we are getting some consistant rain.. serious amounts of rain... i proclaim the drought over...

if at this rate for many hours the people in the campground may have to leave it.

just turned on my tv to see if the signal can get through the clouds... nope... off and on


no winds still and only projected 20-25 if we do get them.

8 am update,

it is raining hard now and my road below me is flooding. if it keeps up like this the people in the campgound are in trouble...

I will take pictures



9am update, it has backed off significantly.





very low drizzle now 9:45 the map shows it is now going east so we dodged the brunt of it...

most of the campers in campground have moved their rigs from the front row are now at a high spot and ready to move if it changes direction.


7pm
all clear... almost no damage to our roads from campground to El Sargento. but the soil at the edges is eroded in many areas. just on my hill is a very small not into the driving area cut out.

just felt another one 4.2
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000cwwg#summary

and just a small amout of rain

good soaking rain today

they were working on it this morning, from what it appears they now just need to put the concrete ramp forms that have been made awhile back down.

bpe

b. Twice Yearly Sun Outage Cycle Begins For TV and Internet Communications Satellites - September 27 marks the start of the twice-yearly sun outage cycle in Baja California Sur as the sun lines up behind the communications satellites on it's movement South each fall. In the northern hemisphere, sun outages occur before the March equinox (February, March) and after the September equinox (September and October). You may experience a loss of TV channels or Internet service for a few minutes each day thru October 06, 2012. Sun outage will affect all satellite users of Dish Network, Shaw Direct, HughesNet, Starband, SKY, Dish Mexico and VSAT Internet systems. Start and End times will be different for different satellites. Sun outage will occur again in March, 2013, as the sun once again moves north in the spring. - Alan Thompson, alan@BajaSatellite.com, www.bajasatellite.com, (530) 903-4257/33 8421 1142(MX), Todos Santos

we just had a significant earthquake two tremors about 30 seconds apart. interesting we are getting a very light drizzle too. and hurricane is way out west.


mag 6.2
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000cw0l#summary

no damage that I can tell. I immediately went outside of my building and stood in the sprinkling. my hammock was swinging pretty good.

no progress on the boat ramp.

second camper in the campground today. sept 22

a few more over the weekend sept 24

our morning temperature has dropped to be very comfortable in the morning.

for those driving down I had noted that there is a extended back-road per se past a lot of the traffic in ensenada. found it last trip because I was on a motorcycle so it is easy to backtrack when trying new routes. and it seemed like to many cars were going further than before so tried it and it gets you basically to the back of walmart area missing the zillion lights on the madhouse mega road. probably under travels section by road is where I posted it.

first person camping is here.... he is hiding under a tree.

A friend in LaPaz said the weather forecast said the heat should switch to mild in 2 weeks.

http://bajagoodlife.com/2012/09/11/world-suppaddle-championships-2012

World SUP/Paddle Championships 2012
By Aura - Online Editor on Sep 11, 2012 Total Views : 14 Daily Views : 2 No Comments
CABO SAN LUCAS – World SUP/Paddle Championships 2012
Time: November 1, 2012 to November 4, 2012
Location: Royal Solaris Resort
City/Town: Cabo San Lucas
Organized By: World SUP

During the four days of the event there will be a variety of races: 4-mile race, novice races, kids races and relay races. The headquarters of racers will be Royal Solaris Resort, and all races will start from Palmilla Beach. Participants will enjoy other attractions and activities on the beach: food and drinks, a live DJ, board demos, vendor booths, raffle tickets, beach concert and turtle release. The fun will start on Thursday with a cocktail party open to all athletes, family and sponsors that stay at Royal Solaris Resort. The event ends with an awards dinner taking place at Don Sanchez restaurant in San Jose del Cabo.

note the layering of rock sizes and leveling. this picture is at about 1.12 meter high tide.

This is the first year for me that flys have been a problem in the last month. When I was in LaPaz had the same issue and do not remember having a problem with flies before. So I would suggest you bring things you know work on flies down this year as a pre-caution, if the numbers drop I will mention it.

bo bos are here but not as bad as usual from the rains.

Another one I can not remember in number like these is the butterfly... The butterflies are a very welcome addition there are so many, so bring some extra windshield wash solution with you. and when driving down you may want to check your radiator when filling up with gas and if they are coated rinse it clean to prevent overheating.

low bo bo count at this point even though we had the rains. sting rays are rave, have not seen one in 1-2 months. and man-o-wars are also rare now, they were a problem early in the season.

bring Benadryl spray down, as I have now used it effectively with very positive on, sting ray stings, man-o-wars, ant bites, spider bites, jelly fish, bee stings.

big winds last night, lost power from 1am? to 8am. from tropical storm I guess. no rain.

working on the ramp again today

saw one truck go by with a load of half a foot to 1 foot rocks and go to the ramp location. This I would assume is for above the 2-3 foot diameter one they just were burying.

they are working on the ramp today.

http://www.gizmag.com/saltwater-lantern/24018/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=9113c6d79e-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

Given the catchy name of GH-LED10WBW, it’s presented as a saltwater lantern, but a magnesium/carbon lantern is more accurate and the design is simple compared to other saltwater batteries. The 680-gram (23.98-oz) lantern uses 16 grams (0.56 oz) of salt dissolved with 350 cc (11.83 oz) of water in a proprietary measuring bag and then poured into the lantern. The salt acts like an electrolyte in a simple wet battery, that uses a magnesium rod as an anode and a carbon rod as a cathode. The magnesium rod is replaceable because it is slowly destroyed by electrolysis as the magnesium ions travel to the carbon rod, generating electricity.

The 1.5 volts of DC power produced by the lantern is enough to run its ten-LED white light, which puts out 55 lumens of light. The lantern also includes a USB port to charge devices at 4.5 volts. The GH-LED10WBW runs for eight hours before the saltwater needs replacing, and the magnesium rod lasts 120 hours.

bo bos bad right now.

yesterday windsurfable.

they were working on the slabs and burying the boulders thursday the 6th

about half to 2/3rds the boulders are somewhat underground now. still more to go and I can see they are working again today friday the 7th right now 11 am.

Thank you for your e-mail. The Consular Agency has returned to its normal schedule and is open Monday-Friday from 9 am to 2 pm, with the exception of this Friday, September 7, when we will not be accepting applications. We look forward to seeing you soon.


Sincerely,

U.S. Consular Agency in Los Cabos
Las Tiendas de Palmilla Local B221
Carretera Transpeninsular Km. 27.5
San José del Cabo, BCS, Mexico 23406
Telephone: (624) 143-3566 Fax: (624) 143-6750
E-mail: usconsulcabo@yahoo.com
Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:45pm
Monday through Friday

In case of an after-hours emergency involving U.S. citizens, please contact the Duty Officer. From Mexico dial 001 (619) 692-2154, from the U.S., call (619) 692-2154.

went there and when heading south once you see km 27 it is the next exit. take a right going away from the water and at the first right again go there to the shoppes at palmilla. At the end of the strip mall in the corner there are stairs going downstairs and there is a elevator nearby. their office is very well marked.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/29/world/la-fg-mexico-police-20120830

seems they were CIA agents.

this is amazing. my fridge which is an energy star one uses about three times that in actual use but my fridge is outdoors.

http://www.gizmag.com/panasonic-most-energy-efficient-refrigerator/23949/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=6fbbeef168-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

Appearing at IFA, Panasonic has unveiled a brand new refrigerator which the company states is the first-ever A+++rated two-door refrigerator – making it the most energy-efficient two-door fridge, worldwide. Named the NR-B55VE1, it consumes 262 kWh/year of electricity, which by our reckoning amounts to a mean power consumption of 30 W. Gizmag was on hand to take a look.

Despite its green credentials, the NR-B55VE1 still offers features which one may associate with an energy-guzzling refrigerator, such as Panasonic's patented "Vitamin-Safe" technology, which is designed to store fruit and vegetables in isolation from the rest of the fridge contents in order to keep them fresh. In addition to its own high-humidity environment, the Vitamin-Safe compartment makes use of twin flashing LEDs intended to activate the natural protective mechanisms of fruit and vegetables, and keep the natural vitamins locked in.

The NR-B55VE1 also features a door alarm, child lock, a holiday function and Panasonic's "Super Freeze" feature, which cools food placed into the freezer compartment very rapidly. In addition, the NR-B55VE1 is said to run “at a whisper” – or 38 dB, to be precise.

The black model pictured is at present a concept model only, though the NR-B55VE1 will be available in grey from November. Its price has yet to be confirmed.

anywhere from 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch is what is in my empty hot-tub.

and we have some light drizzle now.

no work on ramp. The forms for making a ramp are not at this location anymore. I checked at the other location they said another ramp would be made and there is not any indication or forms at that location.

More rain in LaPaz and up in the mountains but not LaVentana this week.

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/press-releases/statement-regarding-a-shooting-incident-on-august-24.html

U.S. Embassy Statement Regarding a Shooting Incident on August 24

Mexico City, August 24, 2012 – This morning two U.S. Government personnel and a Mexican Navy captain were in a U.S diplomatic vehicle driving to a training facility, when they were ambushed by a group of individuals.


The vehicle attempted to escape, was pursued and sustained heavy damage. They called for assistance from the Mexican armed forces, who responded. The two U.S. wounded personnel were taken from the scene, given medical treatment and are in stable condition. The Mexican Navy captain sustained no serious injuries.

The Government of Mexico has acknowledged that members of the Federal Police were involved and fired on the U.S. Embassy vehicle. The Government of Mexico has begun an investigation and detained members of the Federal Police who were involved.

The Government of Mexico has stated it will conduct a full and thorough investigation of this incident. The Embassy has been cooperating closely with the Mexican authorities and will assist in every way possible.

boy are they close but a lyre snake is so close so is the pacific gopher snake. about 20 people were saying it was one of these with that majority one is confident of it being one of these. and all are almost identicle... and very safe.. and the winner is :

http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Hypsiglena&species=torquata
Hypsiglena torquata
night snake...

http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.b.lyrophanes.html


look how close a Pacific gopher snake is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pituophis_catenifer_catenifer_(Carrizo_Plain).jpg



they are so close but the v on the head is distinctive for the lyre. And this baby does not have it.
so picked him up today and he is so friendly.... he is not aggressive at all. not quite as attaching as a boa but he is just playful.



and the actual night snake from this website, referred to me.

no boat ramp work done here, I will check the other area to see if the forms are up there.


but can anyone identify what kind of snake this is. Very cute....

gal that cleans here was going to kill it but knows I like reptiles. She said was a rattlesnake.

I have had many pet snakes and in general know what is the tell tale for venomous vs non venomous by the shape of the head. But this one is a baby, i looked on the internet and even baby rattlesnakes have the wide heads to dispense the poison and some indicator of a future rattle. This one as you can see has very rattlesnake markings, no indication of a rattle and a long head that is not that of a poisonous snake.






for size reference I placed a 5 peso coin underneath the container.

This is hatching time from what I read on the internet for rattlesnakes, and probably most others too.

He also does not coil up in a defensive position like I would expect a rattle snake to. I did have a pet rattlesnake for about 2 years. A 1-2 yo one that was the meanest darn snake I had ever encountered. I now have the nicest rattlesnake shoes you could imagine. (just kidding)

...............................................................................................................................................
good pictures of some reptiles of baja.
http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.o.oreganus.html
here is a person bit by a baby rattler.
http://www.chigiy.com/the_gardeners_anonymous_b/2011/05/the-baby-rattlesnake-bite-debate.html
Baby Northern Pacific Rattlesnake

I read everything I could by Sean Bush and went straight to Harry Green; one of the world’s leading authorities on snakes, and this is what I learned:

When rattlesnakes are babies they are too small to eat what adult snakes eat. Adult’s diet consists mainly of mammals like rodents. Baby rattlesnakes eat mostly reptiles such as little lizards.

The baby rattler’s venom contains more neurotoxins than the adult’s because reptiles react differently to adult rattlesnake venom.

Neurotoxins are more dangerous than cytotoxins, which make up most of an adult rattlesnake’s venom.

Therefore, baby rattlesnake venom may be slightly more toxic than adult venom. However all snake experts agree that being bitten by an adult rattlesnake is far more dangerous than a bite from a baby rattlesnake because of the sheer quantity of venom that an adult snake can produce.

http://today.slac.stanford.edu/feature/2008/snakes.asp
http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_rattlesnakes2.php#rules

http://www.spirit.com/Default.aspx

Spirit Airlines Announces New Schedules to/from Mexico: San Diego - Los Cabos, Dallas/Fort Worth - Los Cabos, Dallas/Fort Worth - Cancun
Miramar, Florida (August 16, 2012) - Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ: SAVE) today announced schedules for new service to/from Los Cabos and Cancun, Mexico starting November 8, 2012.

Daily nonstop service between Los Cabos, Mexico (serving Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo) and San Diego starts November 8, 2012, with connecting service to Dallas/Fort Worth.

they were removing the forms from the ramp parts today. They still have all the large boulders above the ground level so they are not ready to place the ramp sections yet.

we had a heavy rain come through that did minor run off. maybe 20 minutes and it was as much rain as all the other days.

no progress on the boat ramp this week again.

Ok, I can call this rain, has been raining for over an hour, not hard but a good soaking downpour. 9: am ish

optimistic about 1 cm of rain.

here is a good LaPaz weather site that has humidity. switch F to C is easy.

http://smn.conagua.gob.mx/wxmap/pruebaWSI.html?icast_page=/Local/Hourly&icast_location=MXBS0006&icast_unit=F&icast_day=Today&icast_chart=Temperature#icast_chart

island socked in with clouds

update, has been drizzling off and on with gentle rains. I would say we are at about 0.2500000 inches of rain so far. yeee haaa... also very cold day... 824pm..

gentle sprinkle if lucky 1/20th of an inch so far 11am.

someone stole the island...



yesterdays did not even end up being 1/10th of an inch.

here is a copy of the redacted IRS ruling on a persons fido.

ADVANCE RELEASE Documents,IRS Information Letter 20110052,(Apr. 26, 2012)

2012ARD 084-102

Internal Revenue Service: Information letter: INFO 2011-0052: Information reporting: Mexican residential real property: Mexican fideicomisos






DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20224

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF COUNSEL

November 17, 2010

Number: 2011-0052

Release Date: 6/24/2011


GENIN -141622-10

CC:INTL:B01:

UIL: 6048.00-00

Dear *****:

This is in response to your request for general information regarding the information reporting obligations with respect to Mexican fideicomisos that own certain Mexican residential real property on behalf of U.S. persons who are not also Mexican citizens.

Under section 6048(a) and (c) of the Code, 1 a U.S. person who makes a transfer to or receives a distribution from a foreign trust generally is required to report certain information on Form 3520, Annual Return to Report Transactions with Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign Gifts. Under section 6048(b) of the Code, a U.S. person who is treated as the owner of a foreign trust under the grantor trust rules (sections 671 through 679 of the Code) is required to complete Part II of Form 3520 and to ensure that the foreign trust files Form 3520-A, Annual Information Return of Foreign Trust with U.S. Owner. Section 6677 of the Code imposes significant penalties (up to 100 percent of the gross reportable amount) for failure to comply with section 6048.

The rules for determining whether an entity is classified as a trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes are found in section 301.7701-4 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations. The rules for determining whether an entity that is classified as a trust is a foreign trust are found in section 7701(a)(31)(B) of the Code and section 301.7701-7 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations. Any U.S. person who transfers property to or has an interest in a Mexican fideicomiso that is classified as a foreign trust must comply with section 6048.

This letter provides general information only and does not constitute a ruling. See Rev. Proc. 2010-1, §2.04, 2010-1 I.R.B. 7. If you would like a definitive determination as to whether a particular fideicomiso is classified as a foreign trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you must request a private letter ruling pursuant to the procedures set forth in section 7 of Rev. Proc. 2010-1.

We hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any questions, please contact *****, Identification Number *****, at ***** (not a toll-free call).


Sincerely,



M Grace Fleeman

Senior Technical Reviewer, Branch 1

(International)

http://www.thenews.com.mx/index.php/mexico/M02-26626.html

Rumbo de México

MEXICO CITY – Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) Deputy Nazario Norberto Sánchez said on Monday that Mexican drivers lose more than 600 million pesos a year to fraud at the gas pump.

Sánchez said that lawmakers should introduce more severe penalties for those who tamper with gas pumps for their own benefit, adding that state and local authorities must step up inspection of gas stations to prevent this type of theft.

“(The federal) bureaucracy has been incapable of supervising the more than 9,000 gas stations in the country with its new rules,” Sánchez said.

“(The government should instate) the law immediately, and not make an announcement that the law will go into effect in months, especially since the federal government itself recognizes that almost 32 million gasoline and diesel consumers pay more than 600 million pesos for gasoline that they never receive because the gas pumps don’t distribute the proper amount of gasoline.”

Broken or manipulated gasoline pumps increase the cost of basic products and services, he said, adding that trans

http://www.thenews.com.mx/index.php/mexico/M01-26622.html

MEXICO CITY – The Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) reported on Monday that in the month of June, tourists spent more than $1.39 billion, according to data collected by the Bank of Mexico’s (Banixco) in its International Visitors Report.

Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara Manzo said foreign travel to Mexico increased by 9.3 percent compared with the same period in 2011.

The agency stated that more than 1.2 million international travelers visited the interior of regions of the country in June, an increase of 11.7 percent over June 2011.

Overall, 1.9 million international visitors traveled to Mexico, a 2.6 increase over last year.

The Tourism Secretariat also reported that about 952,000 travelers arrived to Mexico by plane, an 8.9 percent increase in air travel since June of last year.

During the first half of 2012, the agency said that 11.6 million foreign travelers visited Mexico, 0.23 percent higher than the first half of 2011, the Sectur reported.

From January to June of 2012, average spending grew 8.3 percent, and spending by border tourists incrased 12.5 percent.

The Sectur added that during this period, international visitors spent $6.6 billion, a 6.18 percent increase over last year.

The agency noted that the tourism sector is one of the most important in the Mexican economy.

It contributes approximately 9 percent of GDP, and produces about 2.5 million direct and 5 million indirect jobs.

The most frequently visited sites include the Mayan Riviera, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Acapulco, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Manzanillo, La Paz and Los Cabos.

International tourists also visited Magical Towns, towns along the Gastronomic Route, World Heritage Sites and archaeological sites.

we actually have light rain coming down, lets see how much we get, could be a good slow drenching. i will post a picture hopefully shortly. 10 minutes of light rain...