The Guadalajara Reporter

Worsening bird flu sees egg prices skyrocket

Egg prices continue to rise with the avian flu outbreak in Jalisco having now claimed the lives of over 10 million livestock.

Legal eagle talks turkey on immigration matters

Chapala’s Century 21 AccessMex real estate company drew a full house for a free seminar on Mexican immigration and customs policies presented by bilingual legal eagle Spencer McMullen of InterCasa Financial Services.

US Consulate updates visa procedures

New regulations at the U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara aimed at speeding up visa applications do away with interviews for visa renewals from applicants whose visa is less then four years out of date.

Help for foreigners driving in Mexico

For American and Canadian RV travelers, road trippers and backpackers who might have a little trepidation these days about a sojourn through the lands of their southern neighbor, Paul Beddows has started mexicotravelbuddies.com to ease their expectations and facilitate meet ups and group trips in Mexico.

Be an Absentee Voter, not an Absentee Citizen—VOTE!

This slogan, from a U.S. Navy veteran, has particular significance to the large community of American ex-pats and dual U.S./Mexican citizens who live through-out Mexico.

Mexico remains ideal for retirees

Many Reporter readers will already know this but now it’s official: Mexico is one of the best places on earth to retire.

Consumer survey - May 26, 2012

BBC hosts Mexico month

With television programs and online content exploring different facets of life in Mexico,  the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World News is dedicating February to all things Mexican, as part of a new series highlighting a different country each month.

‘Supermoon’ to rise Saturday night

Those of you who like to gaze into the night sky should not go to bed early Saturday.

US voting laws change for overseas residents 

New absentee voting laws are in effect for the 2012 elections in the United States. Voters will no longer automatically receive ballots based on a previous absentee ballot request.

Consumer survey - April 21, 2012

Feasting on the bread of kings

During the first week of January, Mexican bakeries and grocery outlets will be stocked with rosca de reyes, a crown-shaped lightly sweetened bread decorated with jewel-like candied fruits that is the traditional Kings Day holiday treat.

Before the loaves go in the oven, the baker stuffs one or more tiny baby dolls into the raw dough. The infant figures symbolize hiding of the Christ Child for protection from the bloodthirsty King Herod.

Families and friends customarily gather on January 6 to share a rosca, on the understanding that anyone who cuts a slice studded with a doll will be designated as a godparent of the Baby Jesus and by extension, host for a traditional Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas) tamale feast to be held on February 2 as the holiday season finale.

Consumer survey - March 31, 2012

Mexico’s lucky new year traditions

A New Year. As that fateful moment rolls across the globe from Kiribati to American Samoa a multitudinous collection of traditions dot the human landscape. Fireworks burn sulfur and charcoal across the skies, the ball drops in Times Square, “The Blue Danube” pours through the streets of Vienna, and 108 strikes ring from the gongs of Buddhist temples across Japan. People seize on the changing of that last little number in the date to update themselves, to refresh their goals and molt the accumulation of misdeeds, heartache, apprehension, and plain old ill luck. Latin people are especially fond of a number of superstitions to birth an auspicious new year, Mexicans being no exception.

Turn out the lights!

For the sixth year running, participating cities, citizens and businesses around the world will curtail their energy consumption for one hour, Saturday, March 31, in a show of support for conservation and to raise awareness for climate change. 

Electricity charges rise steeply for high-end users

Prudent consumers of electricity paid less than four percent more for their power in the last 12 months, whereas high-end consumers paid nearly 18 percent more.

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is an important time for relaxation for Mexican people and many businesses will close their doors for the entire week.

Putting Mexican violence into perspective

The way Mexico is portrayed in some corners of the media you could be forgiven for thinking the entire country is one giant war zone; that it is unsafe to walk the streets for the risk of being gunned down by bloodthirsty drug gangs.