Columns
Boys Town shows how education can beat poverty
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- Published on Friday, 06 January 2012 11:59
- Written by John Pint
“This Saturday we’re going to hike up to a lookout with a gorgeous view—hope you can come,” said the email I sent out to people on my list of Caminantes (hikers).
Archaeologists launch Teuchitlan walk program
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- Published on Thursday, 29 December 2011 16:43
- Written by John Pint
The Guachimontones Interactive Center of Interpretation is buzzing with activity these days as archaeologists, museographers, artists, designers and a new corps of “Dynamic Trail Interpreters” gear up for the museum’s imminent Grand Opening.
It had been expected that the impressive building, designed by architect Francisco Perez Arellano, would open its doors a year ago upon completion of the stunning mural by artist Jorge Monroy which now graces its 30-meter long, curving inner wall. However, expected funds “failed to materialize,” according to administrator Leticia Aguirre.
At the same time, a project to widen the two-lane highway connecting Tala to Teuchitlán was mysteriously halted, meaning some unlucky tourists will still be forced to creep along the 13-kilometer stretch while stuck behind slow moving trucks piled high with sugar cane bound for Tala’s huge ingenio (sugar refinery).
Polishing one’s English: The Self-Correction Technique
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- Published on Friday, 09 December 2011 12:12
- Written by John Pint
Most foreigners living in Mexico have been asked the following question by one of the local people: “Do you have a little time to help me practice my English conversation?”
The price of nature photography: sleepless nights and years of patience
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- Published on Thursday, 22 December 2011 13:15
- Written by John Pint
Every year Guadalajara naturalist Jesús Moreno produces a desktop calendar/agenda featuring first-class photographs of Mexico’s flora and fauna. Curious to learn about this year’s publication, I caught up with him at his home on the northern edge of the Primavera Forest.
Japanese leaf blowers hijacked Mexico’s Spotless Sidewalk Syndrome
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- Published on Friday, 02 December 2011 12:33
- Written by John Pint
Many years ago, I taught English in Querétaro, which was then so small you could easily reach every part of it on foot. The first time I crossed the town early in the morning it was so quiet I expected to see nothing but empty streets. To my surprise, I found neither the streets nor the sidewalks empty. It was, in fact, downright dangerous to walk around at that hour, because, without warning, gallons of water (clean, fortunately) might come sailing out of any doorway at any time. This was my first introduction to a curious and charming Mexican custom which, for lack of a better name, I will call the Spotless Sidewalk Syndrome.
Surrealistic ruins and perilous pits: Mineral de Pozos was once ‘Mexico’s Paris’
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- Published on Friday, 16 December 2011 12:36
- Written by John Pint
The old mining town of Mineral de Pozos, located in the state of Guanajuato, is a five-and-a-half hour drive from Guadalajara but works well as a delightful day trip from nearby, ever-charming, San Miguel de Allende.
Return to the great monoliths of San Esteban: Crowing roosters, ambling cows and deprickled nopalitos
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- Published on Friday, 25 November 2011 13:11
- Written by GR Staff
The little town of San Esteban – located only seven kilometers north of Guadalajara – is overshadowed by a steep mountain bristling with tall, rocky spires as numerous and as pointy as a hedgehog’s quills.
A week of historic dates: December 7, of course; December 9, the Virgin of of Guadalupe makes her first appearance
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- Published on Friday, 09 December 2011 13:10
- Written by Allyn Hunt
Days of commemoration, remembrance, glorification — and questioning.
Could Jalisco open the world’s next geopark?
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- Published on Friday, 18 November 2011 12:21
- Written by John Pint
“Geoparks are the fastest growing kind of parks in the world,” announced Ross Dowling, coordinator of the third Global Conference on Geotourism, held in Muscat, Oman last week. Naturally, the Guadalajara Reporter was there to cover the event, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Jalisco’s Casa San Matías, distiller of Pueblo Viejo tequila.