Pan American Games 2011

Aztec dancers recently performed the lighting of the Pan American Torch ceremony in Guadalajara. After the Aztec dancers performed, the torch started a 9,200-mile journey through every state in Mexico. Athletes are expected to come from 42 countries and will compete in 36 different sports this Oct. 14-30. The Pan American Games 2011 is anticipated to draw tourists to Puerto Vallarta, Ciudad Guzmán, Lagos de Moreno, and Tapalpa.

Top Myths About Travel in Mexico

There is a long list of myths surrounding Mexico, that most people easily believe out of lack of knowing better. Those that have been to and traveled around Mexico, prove that the cliches that Mexico is dirty, unsafe and has poor infrastructure are untrue. Mexico has invested millions of dollars over the past few years to improve the general living conditions in many areas. Read this article on the myths about travel in Mexico.

Live Webcam Shot of Sunny Mexico

Although it's the rainy season in Mexico, there's still plenty of sun to go around. Check out this fun webcam that will show you Puerto Vallarta, in the Jalisco region, in time elapse format.

Click here to see the sun, sand and beach.

Technology for Expats: The VOIP Phone

If you've ever thought about how to move to Mexico and what will come along with moving to the best country to retire in, I'm sure you've had a lot of questions. One of them that often pops up is how to stay in touch with loved ones while living abroad. You would probably learn these things from retirement communities in Mexico eventually, but it's good to have as clear an idea as possible on what living in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico would be like.

Welcome to this 101 session on Technology for Expats

The VOIP phone is a great system and a very clever service for those living abroad. A VOIP phone is essentially a normal telephone that can be easily used without any special devices, so long as you have a connection to the Internet. The ingenious part is this: the VOIP service that you choose will give you a local phone number with the area code of your choice so that friends and family can call you (the call is diverted from that phone to the Internet phone) with with no extra cost to either parties. A definite must-have for those living overseas.

If you have any fun tips for using a VOIP phone in Mexico, please write me below!

Landscaping with Native Plants

Whether you have a charming backyard, a proper garden, or a small porch, this list of native plants is perfect for enjoying the outdoors as well as a great way to keep your community beautiful and show your knowledge of native plants.

Also, did you know that using native plants supports native birds and wildlife, conserves water, and requires very little upkeep to maintain gorgeous outdoor areas? Here are some suggestions...

The Coconut Palm: Shade to lie under, coconut water to drink, coconut meat to eat, and a perfect place to hang your hammock...

Plumeria Tree: Famed for its sweet fragrance and stunning beauty, the plumeria tree is a must in any local garden.

The Guamuchitl: The most beloved tree of our local wildlife. Put one of these in the corner of the yard, and you are guaranteed sightings of exotic birds, green iguanas and more as it fruits.

Click here for a better look at what these native plants have to offer and some interesting facts on the Ceiba flower, pictured above.

Bird Watching in San Blas, Nayarit

One of the things that the Despierta America (Good Morning America) news crews will definitely catch on their travels through Riviera Nayarit, are the over 250 species of birds there are in the Nayarit region. People from all over the world gather here to bird watch every year at what's considered by many, the best place in the entire world for bird watching.

Watch out for what is sure to be some amazing footage on Nayarit.

Huichol Community in Nayarit

Part of the ancestral traditions that Despierta America will come across are those of the Huichol Community in Nayarit.

Their are communities of Huichol spread across various regions of Mexico, but the homeland of the Huichols is in Nayarit- and is remote. It is found mostly between the states of Jalisco and Nayarit in hard to reach parts of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Thanks to a certain level of isolation, the Huichol community has been able to keep their culture intact. It's said that as a result, their art, which is based on their religion, has been preserved to perfection.

Read this article to find out more on the Huichol people and what you can learn from this culture.

Despierta America Visits Riviera Nayarit

The Hispanic version of Good Morning America has arrived to Riviera Nayarit. From June 20 to June 26, Despierta America will be discovering 'Mexico's Pacific Treasure' or Riviera Nayarit, in search of the best stories of the region. The stories will be presented on the show and will include clips of an expedition in Riviera Nayarit to find the most exotic bird species in the mangroves of La Tovara. Among other things, Despierta America will also discover ancestral traditions of the Huichol community of Agua Milpa.