Fredrick Catherwood’s Lasting Legacy

Fredrick Catherwood’s Lasting Legacy


In  the early 1840’s, two haggard men on mules emerged from Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula telling stories of a lost civilization discovered and unknown cities explored, long before the days when Nikon cameras and National Geographic magazine told us of these things. Between the years of 1839-1842, American John Lloyd Stephens...

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Buying on the Beach

Buying on the Beach

Defining Mexico’s Federal Maritime Zone


  Defining and measuring the Federal Maritime Zone The Federal Maritime Zone is legally described as the 20 meter wide strip of land that is transitable and next to the beach (playa mar). Let’s break this down to make sure we are clear on what we are talking about: 1....

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The Secret to Raising Fish

The Secret to Raising Fish

The Holy Trinity of Resonance


Do some boats raise fish better than others? You bet they do, but why? And, how can a 25 foot Mexican panga raise more fish than a “no expenses spared” 45 foot sport fisher? It is all about the Holy Trinity of Resonance, Vibration and the Horsepower to Weight Ratio....

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Wine and Cheese

Wine and Cheese

Breaking with tradition


The theme of an eternal discussion among sommeliers, the pairing of wine and cheese is without a doubt the most difficult.  This despite the fact that both are a result of the blending of yeast and bacteria.  A good cheese can better a low quality wine or a powerful cheese...

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Pacific Coast Pirates


…a 27 year old English Captain by the name of Thomas Cavendish, was bearing down on him with distinctly unfriendly intentions.”   An account of the Manila Galleon and English pirates off the coast of Mexico The Spanish galleon Santa Ana slowly tracked the coast of Baja California in November 1587 under clear skies and favorable sailing conditions. She was four months out of Manila and only days away from dropping anchor at her home port of Acapulco. She carried in her hold an immense fortune in Oriental treasure: gold, pearls, silks from the China, ginger, cloves and cinnamon from the Spice Islands, jewels from Burma, Indian ivory. Lookouts from the Santa Ana spotted distant sails as the overloaded ship passed by Cabo San Lucas. Captain Tomas de Alzola reduced sail and ordered camouflage netting to be hung. Weapons were issued to those among the 160 passengers and crew capable...

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Latest ADIP Articles

Fishing Report – October 2000

The end of the rain season is near. The humidity starts to lower and the temperature starts to decline as we go into our Fall.  Not so the fishing. This is traditionally the start of the season for us. Calm seas, a plentiful bait fish supply, and as my Captain Tino Salas said: Bastante pescados (a lot...

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Taking the short bus to Ixtapa

There are a large number of Taxis in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa that will take you just about anywhere you want to go at a pretty reasonable rate (20 pesos for anywhere in Zihua, 35 from Centro to La Ropa or 50-55 to Ixtapa depending on the time of day). But if you want something a little more interesting and economical, take...

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Driving Adventures In Mexico – Nogales to Zihuatanejo

“They tried to confuse us into thinking we were in California by asking us if we had any fruits or vegetables. Just as in California a simple “no” allowed us to pass.”   Bloodthirsty banditos around every corner! Extortionist Federales on the straight-aways! No gas stations and disgusting washrooms if you find one. Ominous warnings...

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Travel – Shopping Lake Pátzcuaro

“Never send three women traveling on a shopping excursion with an empty Suburban.”   I was asked to go on a scouting/shopping expedition to Michoacan, specifically the area in and around Pátzcuaro, with a friend. I have been to Pátzcuaro before and thought a return to the city I had become so enchanted with would be a wonderful...

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Beach Reading – The Rum Diary

“This is the Thompson who still read Hemingway, who was still enchanted with palm tree paradises and seedy gentlemen in linen suits sipping gin on shady porches.”   The Rum Diary Hunter S. Thompson When the rum drinking starts before noon, you rarely make it through the night. Or so goes the tale of Hunter...

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Tropical Drinks to beat the heat

Tropical Drinks to beat the heat

“For other tasty daiquiris replace the strawberries with any other tropical fruit: bananas, mangos, kiwis, papaya…” As the weather gets steamier there’s nothing better than a tasty frozen tropical drink. Old standards such as the “rita” and the “piña” are always great but why not branch out and try something more exotic. Guaranteed to bring...

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Day trips from Zihua – La Cholle: A Site to be Saved

“There are also four small pyramids and two caves with ancient petroglyphs located upon an area known as El Cerro de Los Brujos...” For those interested in the history and archeology of Mexico while vacationing here, there is a small magical village named La Cholle (La Soledad de Maciel) on the way to Petatlán from...

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Beach Reading – Feeding Frenzy

“With beautiful scenery, colorful characters and a wealth of regional anecdotes, this is travel writing at its most entertaining.” Feeding Frenzy : Across Europe in Search of the Perfect Meal by Stuart Stevens Forbes calls it, “The ultimate foodie road trip,” and that’s exactly what it is. Friends, Stuart and Rat are obsessed with fine dining...

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Art In Zihuatanejo

“…plastic frogs, butterflies and thick splashes of color that seem to emerge from the surface of the canvas.”   Five Artists from Lake Superior March 25-30th, Galeria de Arte La Madera hosted an exhibit of five established American artists from the Lake Superior region of the United States. The opening night reception was held Saturday...

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Secret Spots – Del Mar Al Paladar

Todo de Hoy. Nada de Ayer” (Everything from today, Nothing from yesterday). This month we journeyed off the beaten path and went to a very secret spot. A restaurant hidden up in the hills overlooking Zihuatanejo offering the freshest fish available, Del Mar Al Paladar, is a true find. Don’t write the name down and...

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Fishing Report – April 2000

“El Soltar’s” owner, Joe Sleipka of Houston, Texas, hooked into an estimated 600lb. BLUE MARLIN just a short distance from the marina.” The following is a compilation of the reports received from Stan Lushinsky of Ixtapa Sportfishing Charters, Ed Kunze of Mar y Tierra and Ed Garvis of Whisky Charters. They represent about 1/3 of...

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Travelling Mexico – Taxco

“Small thoroughfares twist and turn, lined with silver shops and cafes. It is a wonderful place to lose yourself.” A true gem of Mexico, the old silver mining town of Taxco, is an excellent example of a Spanish Colonial town. The town is up in the mountains and the ride there is a long and windy...

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