These are the voyages of the Society for American Travel Writers. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before.
October 8-13, 2009 the convention went to Guadalajara, a destination where many people have boldly gone, but where we go again! It was one great party after another.
Lunch at the Corona brewery Oct. 9. The Guadalajara Police Band met our buses.
The beer was flowing throughout lunch.
After lunch, they premiered a new beer called Modelo Chope, named for the cup. It will only be available in Mexico for the first few years, and only on tap. My photo of delegates Rich Grant and Bob Jenkins was published in the SATW Convention Newsletter, Volume 3 of 5, Saturday, October 10, 2009.
Marketplace was held inside the brewery.
In the evening we were greeted by a fantastic mariachi band outside the Cabanas Cultural Institute in Guadalajara, a World Heritage Site.
Cabanas was founded in 1791 by the Bishop of Guadalajara Juan Ruiz de Cabanas, and served as a workhouse, hospital, orphanage, and old folks home. Manuel Tolsa of Mexico City designed the structure based on similar institutes in France and Spain.
The mariachis performed again after a fashion show and dinner. SATW raised money and collected goods to contribute to orphanges in Mexico.
On Saturday October 10, some of us went to see Teresa, the medicine woman, and her associates.
The dance instructor, Rosalio, explains the significance of corn. Teresa's daughter is seen in the foreground. Teresa explained that corporate forces are trying to bring in GMO corn, which does not produce seeds. They warned that this would be extremely harmful to their culture.
Here, Teresa explains what to expect in the ceremony. To her left is her compadre, Julio, a Consecrated Maracame Huichol shaman. Next they mixed the sacred mud, herbs, and oil, which we spread all over ourselves and each other. The mud bath is called luum. They had us lie down on the grass and pray to feel connected to Mother Earth. After that we split into two groups and went into the inipis for the Temazcal ceremony, where we prayed for the earth and for our relations. Here's a discussion about this trip on Chris Gray's blog: Chris Around the World: A Travel Journalist's Tales from Around the World. Also see Tracy Barnette's blog for her Esperanza project.
This is me receiving a shamanic healing from Julio. Photo by Tracy Barnett (tracybarnettonline).
On Monday, October 12, a couple of us went to the Chapala Riviera. This is Lake Chapala in the rain.
A water snake draws our attention off the pier.
Lake Chapala.
An abandoned row boat.
The Chapala Cathedral and Braniff Mansion.
A view from the boardwalk in Chapala.
A mural inside the Chapala municipal building.
A chandelier inside the Chapala municipal building.
A chapel in Ajijic.
A local jewelry maker with beautiful handmade items for sale.
A little church in Ajijic.
The church yard.
A bird of paradise at the chapel entrance.
Inside the chapel.
Chandelier inside the chapel.
Here are some shots inside our hotel in Guadalajara, the Presidente Intercontinental: Mexico's leading business hotel. Our other sponsor hotel was the Camino Real.
Our farewell dinner was held at the Jose Cuervo property.
A courtyard in front of the bar. Our host was the gracious Araceli Ramos Rosaldo, Casa Jose Cuervo. If you go to Tequila, Jalisco, visit Mundo Cuervo, which has a visitors center, distillery tours, a giftshop, bar, and restaurant. The also host parties and tours with transportation from Guadalajara.
Cuervo means crow. They had a big bronze statue of a crow out front, and also a large crow named Pepe inside a huge iron cage in one of the courtyards. They also had an antique car collection on display. The grounds seemed to go on for acres. The light was low, but you can get an idea of what it was like.
The Jose Cuervo property included this beautiful little chapel.
Videos - these might take a while to download. Look at them here or go to my Youtube page - click here.
Rosalio demonstrates chants and explains their meaning while Julio looks on.
Teresa demonstrates a chant. Her daughter is seen to the left. People carrying fuel to the fire are seen walking around.
Three short clips of the undulating mangroves and small boats in Lake Chapala.
Many thanks:
This year the Bill Muster Photoshowcase was held at the Expo Guadalajara Convention Center. Great venue.
One of the best dinners was in the beautiful patio of Citala Cafe, where we enjoyed the guitar music of Raul Rodriguez.
Many thanks to our travel agents and tour guides: Vision Tour, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Green thoughts to Clean the World for recycling hotel soap.
Many thanks to Lienzo Charro Zermeno for the delicious, authentic dinner and amazing charro show.
Thank you to Daniel Anderson and everyone from the Mexico Tourism Board.
Useful guide book: Guadalajara, by Bruce Whipperman (click here to see the book at Amazon) and look for Bruce Whipperman's other great guidebooks to Mexico by Moon Handbooks.
Site of the 2010 convention: Saxony!
