The 9^th annual Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival, held March 5 – 11, 2012 was a tremendous success, filling the beautiful beach town of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo with musicians and audience members from across the globe, for a week of guitar music in paradise.

The Zihuatanejo International Guitar festival is an annual music festival that brings world class international guitarists to beautiful Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo every year in March.  This year’s presentation included guitarists from Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Canada and the United States, representing genres as diverse as rock, jazz, flamenco, swing, blues, classical and folk music of Asia Minor.  The festival is governed by a Mexican registered non-profit civil association that raises funds for arts and cultural projects within the community.  It is put on by volunteers and the artists receive no pay, donating their time and their talent to further the cause.  The mission of the ZIGF is to create a world class tourism generating event, bring critically acclaimed international artists and appreciative audiences to Zihuatanejo, all the while raising funds to support art and cultural projects in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, such as workshops, concerts, exhibitions and more.

With over 1450 people in attendance during the week at 4 concerts, 1 gala Dinner, 1 cocktail party, and 8 bar shows, including 1 Children’s Concert for over 500 delighted Zihuatanejo school children and a free to the public presentation with ZIGF guitarists performing to a crowd of over 3,000 cheering Zihuatanejans on Zihuatanejo’s bay front town square, ZIGF 2012 filled the streets with music and brought standing rooms only crowds to 8 different bars, restaurants and beach front venues in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.

The Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival is a favorite each year among artists and tourists alike, who return each year for the world class music in intimate venues in a beautiful Pacific coast setting.  Mark your calendars for ZIGF 2013, programmed for March 3 – 10, 2013, and prepare to be mesmerized by one of Mexico’s best kept secrets: The Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival, a week of guitar music on paradise.   Meanwhile, you can visit our website www.zihuafest.info and Facebook page www.facebook.com/zguitarfest for more information, including music, videos and news about ZIGF musicians.

Below are some of the key points outlined in the agreement:

• AMPI will prepare a marketing program and will encourage its members to become members of NAR’s InternationalSection.
• NAR will  promote AMPI international memberships to its members, particularly those in the border and tourist areas. Marketing to NAR members will include active and on-going promotions to Certified International Property Specialists,  (CIPS) and the International Real Estate Federation(FIABCI)
• AMPI to hold a CIPS Institute in Mexico City in June/July and NAR/AMPI will work to identify current AMPI-CIPS designees who could monitor the course and become certified as instructors.
• NAR to promote participation in the Tourism Symposium in Los Cabos in late September, 2012 and AMPI trade missions to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon and Cozumel, QuintanaRoo, as well as the Annual AMPI Conference  to be held in Guadalajara, November 1-3
• Any AMPI Broker office with 100% membership in the NAR International Section shall have  theright to use the NAR logos in its officewindows and advertising.

AMPI has 76Sections spread across the Republic. The National Associations of Realtors® is the largest trade organization in the United Sates with more than one million members.

Commenting on the initiative, Jennifer Wiziarde Manger of NAR’s Global Network said,  “We are pleased to have Mexico as one of the sixty countries ( eightyorganizations) connected to NAR.Our members and AMPI members work with professionals across the globe who share a common code of ethics.”

Linda Neil, NAR;s Presidential Liaison to Mexico said, “ AMPI will make an intensive effort to increase the number of cross border  referrals and transactions with NAR members and as well with REALTORS® from around the world, such as the Canadian Association of Realtors (CREA), the associations in Brazil ( CONFECI), Spain (AEGI), Italy (FAIP)and Russia(RGR).

The Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival is very proud to announce that they will be the recipient of an Arts and Culture grant from the Mexican federal government, increasing our budget and insuring we can continue. The grant, approved by the Chamber of Deputies and published in the Federal Government Expense Budget of 2012, will be financed through CONACULTA, (Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes), Mexico’s National Council for Culture and the Arts. The funds were requested to help improve the quality of the production of the festival, its infrastructure, and to bring in international artists from further away. After nine years of struggling with a very small budget, getting this prestigious grant from CONACULTA is an honor and a real milestone for the festival. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our success over the years and thank you Mexico for supporting the arts in your communities!

A week of guitar music in paradise, Zihuatanejo’s popular music festival that has been gathering enthusiastic fans among artists and audiences alike for eight years, comes back in 2012 with more great music for a good cause. The non-profit festival has become known for showcasing world class music in intimate venues in a lovely seaside location. The internationally acclaimed musicians come to beautiful Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, from all across the globe. This year, as usual, some very exciting musicians will be coming: blues, classical, flamenco, rock, rockabilly, Gypsy jazz and swing guitarists from Brazil, Turkey, Mexico and across the US and Canada. They will be performing for a week of concerts and live shows in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.

A great vacation destination for the entire family, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo has two championship golf courses, is ranked second in the world for sailfishing, and has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. There are a wide array of accommodations from budget to five star, and culinary delights from traditional and authentic Mexican to inspired international fare that is second to none. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is a wonderful beach destination and there is no more perfect time to visit than when the streets are full of music. Event cover charges are from $100 – 250 pesos ($8-20 USD) per person, events are in Ixtapa, and Zihuatanejo, in the center of town and on the beach, nightly from March 5 – 11, 2012.

The ZIGF is a non-profit community sponsored festival, all organizers are volunteers and the musicians perform for free. A percentage of proceeds each year go to support local arts and culture projects in the community. More information can be found at www.zihuafest.info or on www.facebook.com/zguitarfest

2012 Artists

Jose Luis Cobo (Zihuatanejo, Mexico)
Zihuatanejo’s own poet lauréate and Zi¬huatanejo International Guitar Festival Ambassador. Local legend who has re¬corded and performed across Europe and Mexico but prefers to entertain his loyal following at his legendary Zihuatanejo bar, El Canto de las Sirenas, named after his hit song.

Tolgahan Çoğulu (Istanbul, Turkey)
Tolgahan Çoğulu (b. 1978 in Ankara, Turkey) received both the Master of Music and PhD degrees from Istanbul Technical University, Dr. Erol Ucer Center for Advanced Studies in Music. His PhD thesis is entitled ‘The Adaptation of Baglama Techniques into Classical Guitar Performance’ and it is published by VDM in 2011.
He founded the classical guitar duo ‘Duoist’ with Erhan Birol in 2007. The duo’s CD, It Takes Two (Pan Classics, 2011), features a collection of world premiers commissioned by the duo over the past decade. He designed the Adjustable Microtonal Guitar in 2008. He founded the world’s first microtonal & fretless guitar duo with Sinan Cem Eroglu in 2011.

Paul Renna, (Austin, USA)
Paul Renna is a visionary singer-songwriter with the extraordinary ability to raise hidden emotions in his listeners, surreptitiously forcing feelings of love, longing, happiness, and heartache from the depths of even the most hard-edged among us. With the release of his highly anticipated new album, “Brothers and Sisters”, available on iTunes, Renna seems to have broken through to a new plane of existence, exploring the deepest recesses of his heart and soul both lyrically and musically. www.paulrenna.com

Amy Cunningham (Toronto, Canada)
Born in Ontario, Canada, Amy Cunningham has been writing and performing for over 15 years. In July 2011, she released her debut album “To the stars we’ll return.” With support from over 30 college and roots radio stations in Canada and the US, Amy has been logging serious road miles; on tour for 7 months straight, she has played over 80 shows all over North America, and most recently travelled to Hakuba Japan, where she lived as an artist in residence for 6 weeks. Her messages are positive and her passion evident. You can hear some of her music at www.amycunninghammusic.com.

Arnaldo Freire (Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil)
Arnaldo Freire has received several awards including the National Guitar Competition at the Mozarteum Faculty and the National Guitar Competition Souza Lima and was the first musician to perform unprecedented concert premieres for Guitar and Orchestra in Goiás, conducted by Joaquim Jaime by the Symphony Orchestra of Goiânia. Compositions by Achille Picchi and Eduardo Escalante Estércio Marquez were written especially for the guitarist. In Freire’s compositions we see a refined Brazilianness: folk songs, frevos, sambas, waltzes and other colors are mixed with post-tonal techniques, refined counterpoints and unusual instrumentation. His compositions are published in the Arnaldo Freire Brazilian Contemporary Music Guide, edited by CDMC – Brazil / Unicamp, Paris.

Juneyt (Toronto, Canada)
Nuevo Flamenco guitarist, Juneyt, mesmerizes audiences with his exemplary finger work and passionate spirit. He is recognized as a highly talented, professional musician whose passionate performances have earned him rave reviews and several award nominations. Through his charisma, energy and natural charm one performance transforms listeners into instant fans.

Eric McFadden (San Francisco, USA)
Eric has toured Europe, North America, Japan and Australia and as a member of George Clinton’s Parliament/Funkadelic, Eric Burdon &The Animals and Stockholm Syndrome. He has also worked with such greats as Jackson Brown, Joe Strummer (The Clash), Les Claypool (Primus), Bo Diddly, Reverend Horton Heat and Keb Mo. He continues to tour his own group in Northern America and Europe extensively. Eric’s music is available through Bad Reputation records, phYne Entertainment and iTunes. “If San Francisco is home to anyone approaching the abilities of a modern Hendrix, it’s Eric McFadden.” Guitar Player Magazine 2009 “…McFadden is a six string virtuoso. His command of so many genres- is accentuated with meticulously crafted songs…” (The Denver Post, December 2009 concert review) www.ericmcfadden.com

Jenny Kerr & Phil Milner (San Francisco, USA)
Jenny Kerr: San Francisco native, Oxford drop-out, and reformed expat, Jenny Kerr is a poetic singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (fingerstyle guitar, dobro, clawhammer banjo, harmonica, piano) who has toured Europe eight times on the country/blues/roots circuit and headlined festivals in 13 countries. Phil “Philbillie” Milner: As roadie for Bob Weir & Ratdog, he traded licks with the likes of Hot Tuna, Los Lobos, Bruce Hornsby’s band and The Black Crows and also worked for Tracy Chapman, Bonnie Raitt, Primus, Graham Nash, and a few other cool players. Now Jenny Kerr’s long-time guitarist, he also engineers and produces her and others’ records, including guitar virtuoso Eric McFadden whose all-acoustic “Devil Moon” album is a number one pick on CDBaby.com.

Adrian Raso& Nick Johnston (Guelph, Canada)
Mediterranean, Gypsy, World, and Latin Music performed by guitarist Adrian Raso. Reviews regarding Adrian’s body of work consider him a guitar virtuoso, an exceptional songwriter, and his jaw-dropping live shows never fail to impress. A must see!!!

Tim Williams (Calgary, Canada)
Tim Williams, born in Southern California but a long-time resident of Canada, is a finger-style and slide blues guitarist whose career has taken him to appearances in Australia, Morocco, Great Britain, Cuba and Mexico, as well as North America. He’s been nominated this year for CBC Radio’s “Great Canadian Blues” award, and a Maple Blues award as “Best Acoustic Act” from the Toronto Blues Society. As well, Tim is an in-demand CD producer, session musician and composer for theatre, with influences from Hawaii, Mexico, and North Africa blending with the blues in a highly original mixture.

Allen Alto (Washington, USA)
Alto has won many awards for his musical abilities; he studied at Central Washington University where he played in the prestigious Jazz Ensembles there. He has done extensive road and studio work with many well-known artists, such as John Sebastian and Jerry Jeff Walker, in almost every style of music. This shows in his playing as he blends all those influences into a truly unique style of guitar virtuosity.

Omar Torez (Los Angeles, USA)
“Omar Torrez’s music is equal parts Mexican and Cuban Son, gutbucket blues and post-modern rock. Think classic Latin song forms melted in Nortec Collective’s blast furnace and laced with the particulate embers of Paco De Lucia’s guitar and Manu Chao’s playfulness. A rare guitar virtuoso who has compelling songs and a great voice as well. His live performance must be experienced…”

Lige Williamson (Austin, USA)
Lige Williamson’s splashy slide guitar work and his startling vocals channel a soul grounded in American roots music. Lige plays a Delta Blues style with acoustic guitar, mandolin, and harmonica. His performances contain some dynamite original songs as well as selections by Taj Mahal, Robert Johnson, Keb Mo, and Son House. Lige grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. He has been playing in Texas and Colorado the last several months, with plans to perform in Austin during SXSW in March. He collaborated with Kyle Stersic on the CD “Born With Eyes Too Big For My Head,” released in November.

Tickets available at the door of each event. See www.zihuafest.info or email info@zihuafest.info for more information. Visit the You Tube Channel to see Videos of 2012 Selected Artists and Past Festival Performances: www.youtube.com/zguitarfest

For more information about Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo see www.visitiz.com

2012 Schedule
Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival, March 5-11, 2012

Monday March 5, 2012 – 6pm Sunset,
Kick Off Event:
Meet the Artist Cocktail and Festival Opening Press Conference
Rossy´s Bar and Restaurant
on the beach, Playa La Ropa, 100 pesos cover charge

Tuesday, March 6, 2012 – 6pm
Opening Concert
Gian Frank Center,
Ixtapa in Plaza Ixpamar, 250 pesos cover charge

Wednesday, March 7, 2012,
3 Bar Shows

7pm-10pm
Gian Frank Center,
Ixtapa in Plaza Ixpamar, 100 pesos cover charge

7pm-10pm
Black Bull Night Club,
Central Zihuatanejo, Calle Nicolas Bravo, 100 pesos cover charge

10pm-1am
El Canto de las Sirenas Bar,
Autopista 200, by the bus station, 100 pesos cover charge

Thursday, March 8, 2012,
Children’s Concert, Gala Dinner, 2 Bar Shows

1pm-4pm
Children´s Concert,
Central Social,
Centro Zihuatanejo, Calle Morelos, FREE

6pm-9pm
Gala Dinner Show
Bistro del Mar Restaurant,
On the beach Playa Madera, Zihuatanejo, 250 pesos cover charge

7pm-10pm
Black Bull night club,
Central Zihuatanejo, Calle Nicolas Bravo, 100 pesos cover charge

10pm-1am
El Canto de las Sirenas Bar,
Autopista 200, by the bus station, 100 pesos cover charge

Friday, March 7, 2012
3 Bar Shows

7pm-10pm
Gian Frank Center,
Ixtapa in Plaza Ixpamar, 100 pesos cover charge

7pm-10pm
El Pueblito Bar & Restaurant,
Centro Zihuatanejo, 100 pesos cover charge

10pm-1amn
El Canto de las Sirenas Bar,
Autopista 200, by the bus station, 100 pesos cover charge

Saturday, March 10, 2012 – 7pm-10pm
Closing Concert / Musicians Jam
El Pueblito Bar & Restaurant,
Zihuatanejo, 150 pesos cover charge,

Sunday, March 11, 2012 – 7pm-10pm
Guitar Festival Presentation on the Zocalo
Zihuatanejo Zocalo (Town Square), Central Zihuatanejo, FREE

Nissan, the Japanese auto manufacturer, will invest more than 1.9 billion dollars in the construction of a new car plant in Aguascalientes. This could be the most important foreign direct investment (FDI) project for Mexico in 2012, informed Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan and Renault.

Pirelli, the Italian tire manufacturer, will begin operations in its new plant in Silao, Guanajuato, in April 2012. The plant required a 210 million dollar investment and has an estimated production capacity of 4.5 million tires per year towards 2015, informed the company’s CEO in Mexico, Mauricio Canineo.

Welch Allyn, one of the leaders in the medical industry in Baja California, will invest 7.4 million dollars in 2012 with which it expects to see a 10% growth.

Cinépolis plans to open 350 movie theaters in 2012, of which 200 will be located in Brazil, Colombia, the United States and India, informed the company’s president and CEO, Alejandro Ramírez..

Grupo México plans to invest approximately five billion dollars to strengthen their mining, transportation and infrastructure operations in the next five years.

Between 2010 and 2011, Mexican companies placed 28.345 billion dollars of FDI, which is equal to the amount they reported between 2005 and 2009. Furthermore, their productive investments abroad reached a record 14.345 billion dollars in 2010, according to data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and 14 billion in 2011, according to estimates by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

AMPI executives, Photo by John Glaab

Ariel Cano Cuevas is the Director General ofVivienda,Mexico’s national housing agency. He delivered the key note speech at the recent Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) Toma de Protesta (Innauguration) inMexico City. During the presentation he announced new initiatives for two social housing agencies, INFONAVIT and FOVISSTE. He concluded his remarks by predicting the housing industry in this country will remain strong throughout 2012.

Sharing the Presidium with Ariel were;  Adan Laracilla from Pueblo, outgoing President of AMPI, Sergio Gomez  Rabago, AMPI’s new President from the State of Mexico, Guillermo Salgada AMPI’s new Vice President from Cuernavaca ,Alfredo Rabell Manaon, Supervisor of Mortgages for INFONAVIT, Javier Gonzalez Rubio, Director General of FONATUR ( the economic arm of Mexico’s tourism industry) and Joao Teadora de Silva. Joao is President of Brazil’s Federal Council of Real Estate Agents.

Several real estate officials from outsideMexicoattended the event.  These included Joao Teadora da Silva, Katia Cubel,  Frederico Mendonca, Jucelia Silva and Marta Mendonca all fromBrazil.  AmongU.S.representatives at the TOMA were,Jennifer Wiziarde, Coordinator for Latin America for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) andAlston Boyd, who came fromAustin,Texas. He is the International Chair of the Texas Association of Realtors, and is also NAR’s Presidential Liaison forCentral America. Thijs Stoffer, C.E.O. of the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations, came formSwitzerlandto attend the TOMA

Ariel Cano Cuevas officiated at the Inauguration ceremony. Those being sworn in were AMPI’s new President, Vice President, and ten new members of AMPI.s National Advisory Board.Linda Neilof AMPI La Paz/Los Cabos was among those taking the oath. She will head up AMPI’s International Commission. As well she has been named NAR’s Presidential Liaison toMexico. John Glaab of AMPI La Paz has been appointed Sub-Director of AMPI’s Seniors Real Estate Section (SRE) program.

Other events during the week included a breakfast of Past Presidents and a one day leadership class. Attending were members of the Advisory Council, Regional Coordinators and the Presidents of AMPI’s 75 Sections.

AMPI’s forty first years Annual Conference will be held November 1-3  inGuadalajara.

Morelia Cathedral, Photo by Stephan Scherhag.

Morelia is more than the political capital of Michoacan, it is also the cultural center.

In 2003, the city embarked on an activity, ”Plan Luz.”  Buildings and historical monuments are lit up at night. The architecture is a true sixteenth century jewel.

In 2010, Morelia was named, “Latin America’s Illuminated City,”  by the organization, Lighting Urban Community International.  Created in 2002, at the behest of the City of Lyon, today the LUCI is an organization of nearly 100 members, comprising around 63 cities covering four continents and 35 associated members (international companies, lighting designers and architects, universities, independent lighting professionals.)

One of the first buildings to be lit was the city’s magnificent cathedral. It has the second largest organ in Latin America. The cathedral is home to the annual International Organ Festival. Speaking of festivals, there is a new one starting almost every week. Among them are the Mariachi Festival, Cine Festival, Dance Festival and the popular International Music Festival, which honours a different country every year.  Conservatorio de Las Rosas, founded in 1743 is said to be the oldest music conservatory in the new world. Along with the Cathedral it is lit up at night.

Plan Luz continues with new sites being added every year. At the end of 2011, there were 38 sites that are lit up each evening. This includes, buildings, monuments, and plazas.  On Saturdays fireworks and music can be seen and heard in front of the cathedral. Locals and tourists alike crowd the closed Calle Madero.

Morelia is certainly a city worth visiting.

–Monday, Dec. 19 at 6pm. Restaurant El Manglar on Playa La Ropa,

LINDA LEONARD- CANADIAN/ZIHUA TRAVEL AUTHOR presenting her 2 books: LIVING THE DREAM IN MEXICO is about RVing, about travel, about Mexico and her people; and LIVING THE DREAM IN EUROPE is a personal sharing of her travels and experiences while RVing for 4 months in Europe. It tells about how they planned, prepared, what it cost, where they stayed, and what they saw and experienced.

–The January presentation will be by author CAROLE STONE on Monday, Jan. 16, also at Restaurant El Manglar at 6pm. She will be presenting her 2 books of poems: LIME AND SALT and TRAVELING WITH THE DEAD.

Contact  authorsinzihua@hotmail.com for more information or if you or someone you know would like to do a presentation.

The original relic of the Virgin of Guadalupe

December 12th is traditionally known in Mexico as the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Día de la Virgin de Guadalupe), celebrating the manifestation of the Virgin Mary on Dec 9, 1531. It is the most important holiday in Mexico, even more important that Christmas, and is celebrated nationwide. Millions of pilgrims converge on the Mexico City Basilica to pay tribute to the country’s patron saint. In the weeks leading up to the holiday, the square in front of the Basilica is a stage for singing, dancing and celebration. And across the country pilgrimages, processions and fiestas are held to honor the Virgin.

The Virgin appeared to Aztec Juan Diego as he was on his way to morning services at a nearby church. He was stopped by the sound of heavenly music from the top of Tepeyac Hill—which was the former site of worship for the Aztec Goddess Tonántzin. He climbed the hill and saw a dark-skinned woman surrounded by light and music. She told him she wanted a temple built on the very spot they were standing. She spoke to him in his native tongue, Náhuatl, asked him to go the Bishop Zumárraga and request that a church be erected in her honor. Juan Diego went to the Bishop and made the request for the Virgin but as expected, the Bishop did not believe the Indian; he wanted proof. So several days later, when Juan Diego was rushing to find a priest for his dying uncle, the Virgin appeared again. She instructed him to take his tilma (a cape made from cactus fibers) and gather up all the roses that despite the winter frost, had miraculously grown at her feet. Juan Diego took these flowers to the Bishop, and as they poured out of his tilma, an image of the Virgin appeared on it. The image is one of the Virgin surrounded by the light of heaven and the stars of the winter solstice sky. It is this tilma, that is the relic of the Basílica de Guadalupe, for which millions of people from all over the world make a pilgrimage to the Tepeyac Shrine in Mexico City to view every year on the 12th of December.

The relic itself has been extensively studied over the years and its image is one of the most recognizable religious images in the world. The stars represented on the Virgin’s mantle are said to be the exact constellations that were present at the time the tilma was presented to the Bishop. The painting technique is said to resemble that of the Early Renaissance in the way the figure is presented and its gilded elements. The image contains both American and Mediterranean occidental symbols as well as Pre-Hispanic iconography. The image represents a combination of both cultures and became the impetus for the conversion of over six million Native Mexicans to Catholicism immediately following the sighting. The relic is made of coarse agave fibers and has been inexplicably preserved after 400 years of being touched and handled. And has withstood attempts at degradation by humidity, saltpeter and acid and remains complete and on display to this day.

All over Mexico, on the eve of the anniversary of the final appearance of the Virgin, and in the week before, churches, schools, organizations and businesses have their own processions through their towns. Young girls and boys are chosen to represent the Virgin and Juan Diego. The girls dress as the Virgin appeared in native dress with ribbons in their hair and the boys dress as Juan Diego with tilmas and straw hats. People decorate their cars and trucks with red roses and parade behind an ornate figure or painting of the Virgin, to their churches where a special mass is held.

-originally published January 2006.

Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City's Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Photo by: Tomasz Pado.

Widely admired and cultivated in many lands, Euphorbia pulcherria is best known north of the Rio Grande as……..?

Quick! What’s Mexican in origin, American by name, sometimes misunderstood and red all over?

Hint: this item is leafy and often called a flower, which it’s not, and was once thought to be poisonous, which it isn’t. And it’s a best-seller at Christmas, the season of peace, while named after a Secretary of War.

Answer: the poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherria, a favorite of Aztec king Montezuma and in English named after diplomat Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist and ambassador to Mexico who first introduced it to the US from Mexico in the 1820′s.

Mexicans today call the poinsettia “la flor de Nochebuena,” or Holy Night (Christmas Eve) flower, but in fact the poinsettia is a plant, and its brightly colored parts are its bracts, or modified leaves. Montezuma decked the halls of his various palaces with poinsettias, something he wouldn’t have done, presumably, had he thought the plants dangerously toxic. But for decades people in the United States thought eating poinsettia leaves would kill you, until tests finally proved the pretty potted plant safe for household use. This the Aztecs knew; they used the milky sap of the ponsettia — what they called cuetlaxochitl — to counteract fever, and the bright leaves as a source for red dye.

Poinsett was taken by the crimson-colored plant when he first saw it near Taxco, here in the state of Guererro. He sent cuttings back to horticulturist friends in the States, where the plant’s popularity quickly spread. Today the poinsettia is the best selling potted plant in the United States and Canada, and represents 85% of all potted plant sales over the Christmas season.

But Poinsett’s main purpose in Mexico went beyond collecting exotic botanicals; he was America’s numero uno here at an important time in Mexican–American history. Mexico had gained independence from Spain in 1821 and, in formal recognition of the new state, U.S. president John Quincy Adams sent Poinsett off to Mexico City as America’s first ambassador to the new republic.

Poinsett was well prepared for his new posting. Enjoying all the benefits of an upper-class birth on a South Carolina plantation, Poinsett studied medicine, law and military science in the U.S. before leaving for an eight-year trek across Europe and Asia. He returned to his homeland fluent in four languages and a dedicated botanist; he brought with him crateloads of exotic plants gathered from the far corners of the world.

Poinsett won election to Congress in 1821, having earlier spent four years reporting to Washington on South American affairs and publishing a tract on the 11-year Mexican independence struggle. In recognition of his works in the public interest Columbia University awarded Poinsett an honorary doctorate of law in 1825.

That same year, on his arrival as first minister, Poinsett found Mexico in political crisis. The independence war won, battles between opposing Mexican political factions were just heating up; there was a new constitution but interpretations of it varied. Poinsett, of liberal disposition and representing the democratic, republican interests of expanding American power, soon ran afoul of conservative Mexican political players still intensely loyal to authoritarian values and old-regime monarchist institutions. America was also largely Protestant; Mexico overwhelmingly Catholic. Poinsett’s subtle encouragement and soft-peddling of Protestant Freemasonry into Mexico spelled his political end in Latin America. He was recalled to Washington in 1830.

Poinsett went on to complete more terms of public service, including a stint (1837-41) as Secretary of War under President Martin Van Buren. In the 1840′s his efforts on behalf of science and exploration contributed to the later founding of the Smithsonian Institution.

Poinsett died on December 12th,1851, and by an Act of Congress that date is designated National Poinsettia Day in the U.S. Fittingly, probably more poinsettias are sold in Mexico on the anniversary of Poinsett’s death than on any other day of the year, as the red plant is prominently displayed in celebration of the December 12th Dia de la Virgen.

Poinsettia, “la flor de Nochebuena” or cuetlaxochitl — call it what you will, along with a strong sun and gentle warm breezes, it’s Mexico’s gift to the world at Christmas.

-Originally published December 2005

Jeffrey Hornberger, Director Global Business Alliances, NAR, Jim Donahoe, Linda Neil Properties and Thierry Moine, Costa Baja resort and Marina

This year’s National Association of Realtors® (NAR) annual Conference and Trade Show was held in Anaheim, California. The theme comes from the fact that with low interest rates and lower prices for homes now is the moment to buy. (Or Seize the Moment)

The attendance of 20,000 exceeded expectations that 18,000 would be there. A large international contingent of 1,500 also attended. In addition to a full week of educational classes, there were a couple of notable social events.. One was the International Networking Reception. Mexico’s delegation was led by AMPI President Adan Laracilla,

Vice President Sergio Gomez and several members from AMPI La Paz. Those attending the Diana Ross, Celebrity Concert entered the auditorium on the traditional Hollywood red carpet.

At the Conference, new executive appointments were made. This year at the Conference, Maurice Veissi officially took office as the NAR President for 2012. On the International front, Teresa King Kenney, CEO of The Miami Association of Realtors replaced Adrian Arriaga, of McAllen Texas, as Chair of Business Global Alliances. Linda Neil of AMPI La Paz/ Los Cabos was one of 53 from around the world named as a Presidential Liaison. Linda will represent NAR in Mexico.

One of the most popular presentations at the Conference was made by NAR Chief Economist, Dr. Lawrence Yun.  He presented his Economic and Housing Market Outlook. Dr. Yun did not paint a bright picture of the market in the near future. His projection is for a 2% growth in the market for both 2012 and 2013. Then he projects a 4%  growth in 2014.

Mexico had its flag flying at the Annual Trade Show. AMPI La Paz sponsored a booth. Commenting on the show, Jeffrey Hornberger, Director Global Business Alliances said, “This is one of the largest and best organized shows in many years.” Adrian Arriaga, Chair of Global Business Alliances had this to say,” Great looking Booth. I had the opportunity to stop by and visit with the group. I look forward to visiting La Paz this coming year.”

Next year’s NAR Conference and Trade Show will take place in Orlando, Florida November 7 to 12th.

Adrian Arriaga, Chair Global Business Alliances, with Alexander Ogilvie President of AMPI Loreto.