The baseball in the United States goes up with the 1840s, but much of other countries took and played the sport little then. To Cuba, the students who fell under the system of education of the United States returned to the house to the nation of island with a beater and a ball. The popularity of the play in Cuba was so high as for are considered a part of the identity during the war for independence during the late 1800s.

The Spaniards supposed that the matter practice and the teams of baseball were right a cover-up so that the preparation will make the war. In all the area of the Caribbean, the cuban players drew aside their recently discovered knowledge which increased the popularity of the play. They was two cuban brothers who carried the play to Dominican Dominican Republic and Cubans in the country of Venezuela with the nationals vénézuéliens who had matriculated in the UNITED STATES brought the sport to Venezuela, starting in 1895 and in the island of Puerto Rico in 1897.

In Mexico, they was also Cubans who had saved island during his fights for the independence which brought the baseball to Mexico. The Cubans in Mexico were helped by the commercial soldiers of marine of the UNITED STATES and the workmen of railroad. Various areas of Mexico were converted into sport during the years of 1877 to 1899. In terms of popularity, the sport of the baseball is the number one in Cuba, in Dominican Dominican Republic and in Venezuela with a strong appearance in Puerto Rico.

Mexico always places football like sport dominating. In Central America, the baseball is also very popular. In the United States, the players of Latin America and Puerto Rico became an increasing force in the principal baseball of league. There are the professional leagues organized in Venezuela, in Puerto Rico, in Mexico and in Dominican Dominican Republic.

As in the rest of the world, football (football) is incontestably the most popular sport in Latin America. However, it is also true that in a great part of the basin of the Caribbean, the baseball is the sport of the number one. In fact, where the imperial power of the UNITED STATES drew aside in the whole world, and in Latin America specifically, the influence of the baseball was strongest. During a military trade, much of country were presented at the American baseball.

It was said to him that if Fidel Castro had been a better player of baseball, the history of the cold war could have played outside very differently. Castro is an avid ventilator and has in the past played the game. The reverse is also true: The El Duque d’ Orlando Hernandez left Cuba in 2000 and played for New York Yankees of the series of the world.

The season of baseball in Latin America extends as from October at January. Gaining of the four national leagues meet in February to play the series of the Caribbean. The Mexican players take part in a minor league of summer which maintains the relations with the governing body of minor baseball of league of the UNITED STATES. Mexico was given the statute of triple A. There are also the Dominican Dominican Republic and the leagues beginners of summer vénézuélien which are subsidiary with the minor baseball of league.

Although the professional baseball existed in Cuba of 1878 until 1961, it was removed by the cuban government on professional level. The cuban national team now dominates the contests of amateur of the world, gaining gold medals in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996.

Approximately 30 percent of the principal players of league in the baseball today are connected in Latin America of a certain fashion. They are the Latin America or are descendants of the Latin Americans who grew in the United States. In the general population, only eleven percent of the people are the Latin America. The Latin players of baseball primordially are constant foreigner and claim Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and the Dominican Dominican Republic like birthplace.

Unfortunately, some of the principal teams gained a reputation for almost an approach of bagne to the academies of baseball in the Latin-American area. Young boys with the talent are signed and sent to these modes of formation where life is hard in the hopes to gain a contract with one of the principal clubs. Several of these players travel to Latin America to play the games of baseball of league of winter in the Latin-American leagues.

The countries in the basin of the Caribbean which are enthusiasts of baseball send the national teams with titles of championship to take part in the series of the Caribbean of the world every year since 1949. For players of Latin-American descent, the occasion to play in the principal baseball of league is high success and enormous financial profit.

Starting in 2006, the traditional one of baseball of the world enters the United States, Puerto Rico, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Dominican Dominican Republic and Venezuela, was held. Nicaragua was not present, but Cuba sent a team. The tournament was gained by Japan, which was an enormous surprise for much if not the majority of the observers.

The baseball in the United States goes up with the 1840s, but much of other countries took and played the sport little then. To Cuba, the students who fell under the system of education of the United States returned to the house to the nation of island with a beater and a ball. The popularity of the play in Cuba was so high as for are considered a part of the identity during the war for independence during the late 1800s.

According to the internet there exists an occult conspiracy for a New World Order, which is the plan to enact a one world government under a fascist dictatorship and police state. This agenda for global domination is to be carried out using fear based propaganda and mind control psychology through the news media, entertainment, and pop-culture.

This New World Order is said to be the goal of the Illuminati, a secret society shrouded in mystery, magic, mysticism and myth. Rumor has it that, the Illuminati actually consists of several secret societies and fraternal orders compartmentalized into a pyramidal hierarchy of need-to-know and initiation.

These secret societies communicate through ancient occult symbols and rituals. Such esoteric symbolism can be seen everyday, hidden in plain sight within America’s architecture, corporate logos, and even money. The most infamous of such symbols is the “all-seeing eye” found on the pyramid depicted on the back of the one dollar bill. You will also find that underneath the pyramid is the Latin inscription “Novus Ordo Seclorum”, which has can be roughly translated to read “New World Order”.

The term “New World Order” is documented to be first used in a 1926 edition of the Saturday Evening Post by Edward M. House in relation to the Council on Foreign Relations, an organization said to be related to the New World Order conspiracy. George Bush Sr. has also used the phrase in his speech “Toward a New World Order” on September 11th 1990, a date synchronistic to the tragic events eleven years later. Such a “coincidence” has prompted even more controversy amongst New World Order conspiracy theories.

Many presidents of The United States of America were indeed members of the same fraternal order known as the brotherhood Freemasonry. Today, Freemasonry labels itself not as a secret society but rather a “society with secrets”. It is true that members of Freemasonry among other fraternal orders and secret societies communicate using such arcane codex which they have sworn upon oaths never to reveal.

The Bohemian Grove Club is an organization which includes some of the most powerful men in the world. The Bohemian Club meets each year in private campgrounds located in Sonoma County California. Bohemian Club’s elite members include Presidents Ronald Regan, Richard Nixon, George Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. as well as many media and entertainment industry executives. The culmination of this event ends with a ceremony in which a human effigy is ritualistically burned at an altar beside a forty-foot concrete statue of an owl. The owl itself is said to be connected to wisdom and the occult symbolism of the Illuminati. A depiction of an owl figure can be seen within the architecture of the streets surrounding the United States Capital in Washington D.C.

Another group connected to the New World Order is the Skull and Bones fraternal brotherhood out of Yale which members include once presidential contenders George W. Bush and John Kerry, whom are both cousins related by blood.

It is said that America is actually a corporation created by the European banking system and that America is run by the bloodlines of European royalty. Ancestral research shows that many of the presidents of the United States of America are in fact ancestrally related to European royalty and the British Royal family through descendants of Strongbow.

Symbolism and secrecy all seem to be key parts in the fascination for New World Order conspiracy theory. America’s fascination for conspiracy has increased in the past few years since the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The range of these conspiracy theories run far and deep, yet many stem from the same lose ends and unanswered questions.

What can be scarier than these conspiracy theories is the reality that can be lost within some of the delusions regarding the Illuminati, the New World Order, secrecy and secret societies. New World Order and Illuminati conspiracy has become another niche in the entertainment industry world to escape within while the real tragedies occur across our communities and the globe. This could also be considered a New World Order conspiracy itself.

One of the biggest considerations when it comes to budget travel is where to vacation. Some vacation destinations are much less costly than others, so travelers on a budget need to choose their vacation spots carefully.

One of the most exciting, and least expensive, travel destinations for the budget traveler is the countries of Central and South America.

Going where your dollars go farther is one of the cardinal rules of budget travel, and U.S. dollars are highly sought after, and incredibly valuable, in a number of Latin American countries.

For instance, for the same budget, you could spend a week at one of those priciest Caribbean resorts, or several months in many fascinating parts of Central and South America.

Budget travel in Latin America has many advantages far beyond the monetary savings. For instance, some of the most amazing and unforgettable sights just happen to be located in some of the world’s least expensive countries.

These easy to afford, hard to forget sights include the Incan wonders of Machu Picchu in Peru and the wonderful Mayan ruins scattered throughout some of the least costly parts of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.

A budget Latin American vacation can include such exciting adventures as exploring an unspoiled rainforest, white water rafting down some of the world’s most beautiful rivers, climbing active and extinct volcanoes, and diving off some of the world’s most spectacular coral reefs.

The key to enjoying all this adventure while staying within your budget is to shun the standard tourist sights, and to take your time when traveling around. By doing this, not only will you save money, but you will make contact with real people, and make some wonderful memories.

While in Cancun you may meet only other tourists, in the wilds of Peru you will meet all kinds of people, from peasant coffee farmers to experienced mountain guides and white water raft guides.

Visiting an affordable country means you will enjoy wonderful meals, stay in unique and interesting places, and meet wonderful people you will never forget, all for far less than you would spend at home.

When visiting Latin America, it is important to take your time, not simply because there is so much to see, but also because the pace of life there is slower and more relaxed.

And after all, relaxation is what a vacation should be all about. And the best thing is, your vacation budget can last for many months in this most affordable of destinations.

Taking it slow will allow you to spend time with and get acquainted with some of the most fascinating people you will ever meet.

Getting the perspective of the local population and learning from their varied experience, is one of the best parts of travel, no matter what your budget.

Travel provides a perspective and a view of your place in the world that nothing else can, and that is what makes it so uniquely valuable and exciting.

Traveling throughout Central and South America is also a great way to boost the local economies, and help the lives of the wonderful people who live there.

Spending time in a small village, living with a local family in a small guest house, may well pay that family’s bills for weeks, help send their children to school, and help them enjoy a brighter future.

Instead of spending your money in a large tourist resort, try stepping off the beaten path for a couple of weeks or months.

Not only will you save significant sums of money, but you will help people who need the money. The beauty of budget travel in Latin America is that your money goes directly to the people who need it, instead of being filtered through resort owners, tour operators and hotel managers.

s & bigger losers – Surveying the Latin American mining carnage

Christopher Ecclestone’s latest analysis of the effects of falling metals prices on the mining sectors and economies of the major Latin American nations.

The dramatic collapse in base metals prices can be one of two things. The first would be an end to the reflation that has reigned since 2002. The second would be a transitory reaction to the liquidity crisis with some semblance of normalcy restoring some but not all of the shine that the base metals have enjoyed in recent years. We are of the opinion that the last few years have not been “just an economic upcycle” in the commodities space but rather that the upcycle finally exposed the years of under-investment in the mining space which has resulted in a severe supply/demand imbalance.

Metals are returning the age before 1973 when they had real value. They are no longer the poor relatives of the economic system. They are finite resources in a resource-limited world.

On the second point we would agree that the liquidity crunch produced massive distress that went to the core of even the most convinced commodity groupies. When push came to shove, the baby went out with the bathwater (if we can mix our metaphors).

While some commentators have grasped onto the Baltic Dry Freight Index as an indicator of impending doom, one can’t do much better in base metals than looking at LME, however imperfect and manipulable those numbers are. The key factor to note here is that stocks have really not gone ballistic as in the past when there has been a slump in demand. While they have moved up, and by sizeable percentages off their lows we would note that zinc going from a stockpile of three and half days of global usage to 4 days of global usage, scarcely ranks as a deluge of supply. The stocks are minimal compared to the “bad old days”. Some metals, like zinc and nickel are trading at “bad old days’” levels without the stocks reflecting any commensurate “collapse” in demand.

Call us conspiracy theorists but the commodity space has been one of the easy spaces to rig prices to send signals to the market. If one has a goal of pumping the dollar to produce a false sense of security when it should be plunging then is it easier to short gold using massive CB gold holding as the backstop for the shorts or spend hundreds of billions buying treasuries? In this case they seemed to do both and it worked… for as long as it works. It is a Sisyphean task indeed but indicative of the PTBs desperation.

On the other hand we have our old friends the Chinese working the metals prices for all they are worth. To buy cheap metal (like they have done in quick dumping operations over recent years)? No, to buy cheap miners.. it’s even better. Kill the metal and the owners of the mines will roll over to the minimal level of pressure when the Chinese (cnmining)come waving a checkbook (and a much thinner one than was waved at Peru Copper and Northern Peru Copper).

To believe current bad vibes out of China that production is slowing dramatically would also imply that one should be hacking Chinese growth expectations from a “modest” 10% to negative territory. No one is doing that, least of all the Chinese, so someone is speaking with forked tongue here.

So metals prices have been ground between the two millstones of two different sets of PTB.

LATIN AMERICAN MINING SECTOR

·         Some countries are relatively unaffected by the metals price retreat. The ones largely immune, or unconcerned, are Argentina, Venezuela and Paraguay

·         Brazil will see its nickel possibilities largely thwarted and faces a tough battle of the wills with China over iron-ore pricing. Gold prices are good enough (and the currency slump in the real large enough) that this activity should be sustainable.

·         Bolivia, Mexico and Peru are going to encounter social pressures because of the

important role that mining has in job creation and the sustaining of isolated communities.

·         Mexico could do with more currency relief to help out miners on their average dollar production costs.

·         Ecuador’s slowness in approving legislation means that the train has not left without it but has rather been permanently cancelled

·         Peru is going to face big decisions once the Chinese come a’hunting after distressed Canadian-owned assets. They had better get some quick lessons in how to say “no” in Mandarin.

·         Colombia is actually fairly well off. Coal prices remain firm and the internal dynamic means improved margins in this business rather than worsening margins. Gold is still in its formative stage there and so little was going on that the economic effect of lesser activity will scarcely be noticed

·         We remain bulls on metals prices. The liquidity splurge to solve the financial crisis is here to stay and has produced a tidal wave of money that is yet to hit shore. Precious metals in particular will be beneficiaries of this squandering of monetary resources without commensurate creation of assets to back the extra money supply.

·         Base metals are subject to some brutal manipulation at the current time combined with a liquidity crunch. Basically once the non-trade players are removed (already achieved in our opinion) then the eternal supply/demand factors will come into play. Capacity is being closed down left and right with commensurate supply reduction. This lays the ground for price spikes and, further down the track, the derailing of so many projects means an even tighter supply situation two years out for almost all metals we could imagine.

Argentina

Frankly Argentina couldn’t give a damn about metals prices. Neither Bajo de la Alumbrera nor Cerro Castillo rank high in the thought processes of the Argentine economics ministry officials. The new mines coming on in the last year (Hochschild/MAI’s San Jose and Coeur’s Mina Marta amongst others) have added some small extra income and their start-ups have been graced, with enthusiasm, by the Kirchners (any peasant worth his salt has a perception of gold’s relevance).

However, Argentina will neither live nor die (nor boom or default) on the back of lower or higher metals prices. Indeed, a pause (strike?) by mining companies in their investment programs may serve to focus the minds of some of the provincial administrations that tried to play the role of dog-in-the-manger or experienced overnight conversions to Greenness. A few have been showing signs of relenting… our words to you.. too late!

Lets put this in some perspective. Argentina’s chief mining output has been gold and copper so far with a modicum of silver. The biggest project nearing completion is Silver Standard’s Las Pirquita’s in Jujuy. Silver is creeping back up. We perceive its problems were with its dangerously incestuous dependence for momentum upon the silver ETF (SLW). The panic selling cleared most of this crowd out and we feel a new ratio to gold is in the making. While the price has gone back above $10, we could see a firm gold price (trending towards $800 but not above) pulling silver back towards $13 where a lot of silver players are still doing very nicely. The addition of SSAM’s mine will add Jujuy to the ranks of provinces that are doing a nice sideline in royalties and economic trickledown. This reinforces pro-mining sentiment in the province while making some of the more sniffy provinces all the more irate because they can’t have their cake and eat it too.

While seeing SSAM going forward the ones that are in trouble are Exeter’s promising finds and Aquiline’s two projects. The latter should have made more hay while the sun shone with the market cap kicker that winning the La Navidad lawsuit gave them.

Having said all that we repeat that Argentina the country should weather any metals storm with little impact (though other storms might sink the ship of state).

Bolivia

The Latin leader who has expressed most openly his concerns on metals prices has been Evo Morales, supposedly the “enemy” of miners in the popular vilification. Tumbling zinc was his main focus, but well may he concern himself with any number of metals that Bolivia produces. Mining is a major source of jobs (30,000) in the upland areas of the country from which he draws most of his support.

As we have noted in our recent exposition on Bolivia, the Morales regime has not shown itself to be aggressive towards foreign miners and in fact is regarded as pro-mining by those in the know. The country still has its natgas exports going for it, but obviously there will be lower incomes for individuals and the state from the main export categories (silver, zinc, led, tin and antimony). The El Mutun iron ore mountain might have provided some consolation if it wasn’t in the hands of the slowest moving pack of Indians on the planet.

Bolivia knows how to tighten the belt but the tightening doesn’t come easy when the metals bonanza had just started to trickle through (Apex etc) and so few had yet to scramble onto the gravy train before it derailed.

Brazil

There is more to the Brazilian economy than iron ore though one would not have known this from the furore of recent years. The rising Brazilian real over the boom period was having a deleterious effect on just about every Brazilian export sector excepting iron ore and soybeans, both of which could outrun the currency due to outsized price gains. Most other export categories went to hell. The shoe industry was pushed off the global store shelves by Chinese product on every battleground. Little concern was raised  due to the booming domestic economy, fed by massive cash inflows, taking up the slack. The retreat in the real now gives industry a chance to start exporting again, and it will need to considering that the domestic economy will now need to revert back to being powered by its own financial resources rather =than the fleeting yen carry trade. Brazil’s mining sector consist of three elements with substance: iron ore, gold and nickel. Starting with the gold we would note that while there are a few substantial names producing (Yamana, Jaguar and Eldorado springing to mind) most of the players linked to Brazilian gold in recent years remain in the explorer category and  none we know of are in the imminent production category. In any case gold is not too bad in its current price range and all the current producers are still viable with the added kicker of lower costs due to the real dive and the retreat in oil prices (though the latter’s benefit was somewhat blunted by the currency move).

Nickel miners and wannabes received no such joy. As we noted in our piece on Brazilian nickel earlier this year there are not a lot of players but the one’s that there are signal Brazil’s appearance as a major new nickel province. However, the cataclysmic fall in the nickel price does not bode well for the wannabes or the producers. Mirabela Nickel, the Australian company was the one most likely to add to production in the very near future. It had been seeking a US$280mn senior debt financing (being underwritten by Credit Suisse and Barclays) but recently announced a two month extension to this syndication’s original December deadline. We feel ominous rumblings on this one unless the nickel price rises from the dead in pretty quick time. The company does however have an offtake deal with Norilsk which may yet result in Mirabela falling into the bear’s arms.

Bears have done enough damage already with the 12mth high being $8 and the current price being $1.60. Being on the most slippery part of the explorer to producer time continuum has only taught Mirabela a lesson in Newton’s Law of Gravity.

Gravity has extracted an even heavier toll at wannabe, International Nickel Ventures. The stock has melted from $1.20 when we wrote of it last to around 17 cents at the current time. That is not likely to be doing much for the near future.

So iron ore is the great hope. Only one month ago, Vale was riding high.. strutting about all cashed up and ready to share down the Chinese on price rise resistance. Sure it had been mauled price-wise but that too would pass. No such luck. Whether by accident or design the rumour got going that the Chinese were not only seeing big rises in steel inventory but that renegade buyers were defaulting on contracts. Suddenly Vale went from rooster to feather duster and started talking about cutting production (though not prices). This all remains to be seen. We repeat again that we think the Chinese are perpetrating many and various head-fakes through the commodity space at this time to further their long term goals. The financial community believes the bad vibes, some miners do not. Vale cutting production was the right approach to take. Better to leave it in the ground than let the Chinese get away with the current manouevre. Still the production scaleback should reduce Brazil’s foreign earnings form iron ore, if only temporarily.

 In its own head fake MMX announced its delisting from the Toronto Stock Exchange. We couldn’t help but suppress a smile at this and recall from the 1990s how certain Latin American empresarios like to have their stocks in the market where they can manipulate them best.

Chile

There was more panic in Chile a year ago at the danger of energy crises, water crises and a super expensive peso sabotaging the real economy. Copper is largely the unreal economy in Chile as so little of its benefits seep down to the 14 million people who aren’t on that gravy train. We could muse that the pressure on the water and energy resources is off (if only temporarily) while the peso has corrected nicely giving the exporters who really do produce jobs (agricultural mainly) a bit of breathing room.

Still bad news for copper is bad news for Chile. Codelco announced last week that its output was down 7.83% YoY, in the January-September period, to 1.12 mn tonnes mainly due to conflicts with contractors, environmental issues at El Teniente and Andina and lower grades.

Meanwhile Minera Escondida, the world’s largest copper mine, reported its production in the first nine months of this year fell 10.4% year-on-year to 997,000 tonnes due to lower grades, less availability of ore for cathode output and problems related to a SAG mill failure.

In a more dramatic, but lesser scale, sign of the times the ASX-listed Tamaya Resources, a copper miner, went into administration last week claiming it was unable to repay its debts in light of falling copper prices. The company is the owner of the Punitaqui mine in Chile. The company reported a AU$141.2 million loss in the first half of the 2008 calendar year.

Away from copper, in another announcement in late October, Coeur d’Alene Mines (CDE) said that it had placed mining activities at its Cerro Bayo mine on standby, tactfully rationalizing it as being due to “an immediate focus on expanding and upgrading the mine’s mineral reserves and resources and developing a three-year, sustainable mine plan with lower costs and higher production rates”. CDE claimed it was in the best interests of the company’s shareholders to preserve the valuable mineral reserves and resources at Cerro Bayo and not continue selling the silver and gold production at a loss. Chile is much more accustomed to the slings and arrows of fortune in the mining space and should weather the current downturn just fine.

This process however will cause damage to the hordes of smaller miners that have been looking to provide the partial replacement (on a smaller scale) for some of the mega mines in Chile that are seeing falling grades or face the prospect of exhaustion over the coming decade. It is a great pity that Chile never bothered to develop its own mining capital market (in contrast to Lima’s push) while the going was good.

Colombia

Curiously Colombia misses out on the debacle for two reasons. As far as gold is concerned there are scarcely any companies involved in this area in the country. The rebel activity kept avid goldseekers at bay until too late for anyone to really get involved. Thus there are only a handful of Canadian explorers and no producers we know of.

Coal though is a different equation. This product has remained immune from the commodity debacle, at least thus far. As we pointed out in our recent Coalcorp note the dynamic for Colombian coal is one of tailwinds not headwinds. A major upgrade of the FENOCO rail system is resulting in dramatically improved transport margins for the miners and thus a quantum leap in net margins. Coal in Colombia is something that shall be getting a lot more airtime in the next year or two and deservedly so.

Otherwise, Colombia, for once, gets to stay out of the firing line, literally and figuratively.

Ecuador

Better late than never may turn out to be never for the Correa government that thought it was keeping its cool on its slow moving mining legislation. Instead cool was glacial and now looks like turning into an Ice Age in which Rafael will be the hunter-gatherer found preserved in the permafrost.

We noted some months back that certain countries felt that high oil prices gave them the luxury to eschew mining or at least put so many obstacles in the way that they could have “small but perfectly formed” mining industries. This was shortsighted to us because it actually made an economy entirely oil dependent and also it failed to grasp that oil did not provide substantial numbers of jobs and that oil was invariably somewhere else in the country than where the mining was undertaken.  Thus in the specific Ecuadorian case the uplands indigenous population would be left to grow yams while a select groups of techies would run oil installations in the coastal and Amazonian lowlands.

We have no doubt that the mining legislation will finally get through and that it will still be usable by the mining industry. The key question is how many of the miners, kept in holding pattern burning cash for so long, will be around to touchdown at their projects when the greenlight appears. A foolhardy policy has meant that Ecuadorian projects are even lower on the exploration/production continuum than those specimens in Venezuela. That implies they are farther from production on average than their peers in other countries that makes them all the less attractive.

The 800-lb gorilla in the sector is now Kinross after their purchase of Aurelian to get their hands on the company’s Fruta del Norte mine. Aurelian has established an inferred resource of 13.7 million ounces of gold and 22.4-million ounces of silver at FDN. Based on initial scoping work and mine planning the project could cost around $500-million. This is not small change even by Kinross’ standards. They are lucky

indeed that gold is still in the range where this project looks viable. Ironically, despite the travails of all concerned in Ecuador, this project, even though still formative is more likely to be able to gain momentum than many other projects in many other countries, including those more advanced on the studies’ front.

The other interesting project in Ecuador that would “make a difference” globally is the copper-gold prospect of Corriente (CTQ.to, ETQ) in the eponymous copper belt. This has passed the feasibility stage and a starter project at Mirador is on the planning board. This might find itself a non-starter project until copper picks up momentum again.

At least the Correa government will be able to boast of one mine after having effectively sabotaged all the “might-have-beens” by their tardiness.

Mexico

Doom mongers have a field day with Argentina’s antics and Venezuela and Bolivia are on the list for vilification of those opposed to their politics but when it comes down to it, Mexico is really the current “country most likely to…” in Latin America. What it is most likely to do is in the eye of the beholder.

Our macro risk analyst Armen Kouyoumdjian, who has covered the country since the late 1970s used the words “failed state” the other day to give an idea of the direction in which Mexico is drifting. The metals collapse has come at a particularly bad time for Mexico. It has seen its oil price more than halved at a time of declining production, just as Mexican immigrants are sending home dramatically reduced remittances from the US (if not packing their bags and returning home due to lack of work or tightened persecution). The maquiladora industry is joined at the hip with the US auto industry and that is in free fall.

One week recently, Mexico spent US$10bn defending the peso. Why bother? Better to have devoted that to make work infrastructure projects than fight the reality. In any case a weaker local currency might help those miners already producing by lowering their comparative costs. We note that it is major Mexican corporations, Controladora and Vitro that have hit the rocks before any corporates in other parts of LatAm.

Mining could have been (and maybe still will be) a great job creator. It has the benefit of bringing jobs to out of the way places where nothing is going on. Talking to a Canadian mining company this week, we discussed the local village of 250 and asked “what had been done with them?” and the response was “we hired them all” and this is only in the exploratory phase. Conceivably the mine in operation would transform the district and support a town of 1,000 or more.

The story is repeated across northern Mexico and down to a few more southern areas like Oaxaca.

Mexico was also the country with the most Canadian juniors running loose. This was a product of a great government attitude towards foreign miners and sheer prospectivity of one of the greatest mineral provinces in the world. The government rightly did not pursue a nationalist tack for once in recognition that the few domestic miners that the country has range from the torpid to the blatantly unpleasant in their promotion of improved local communities or worker relations. Of course, the more juniors one has the more inactivity looms as this group run short on cash.

The majors in Mexico consist of the big three locals (four if Fresnillo is counted as a truly separate entity to Peñoles) and now a handful of foreign mines making a good contribution to job creation, royalties and the trade balance in world-scale mines. This crowd are somewhat cushioned by silver staging a rebound and gold having found some footing in the mid-$700 range.

Once again we repeat that a weaker currency against the dollar would help. Those with an over-dependence on zinc or lead are over a barrel at the current time and the highly prospective El Boleo of Baja Mining has fallen victim to the low copper price and the financing freeze, despite having a truckload of money in the bank from the deal with Kores.

The freeze may eventually ease but the sheer size of this (and a few other projects being mooted like Geologix’s San Anton) may make big not beautiful compared to small and doable (like Fortuna’s San Jose project in Oaxaca).

Thus Mexico may not be an unalloyed disaster if silver can creep back to the $12 range in short order, gold holds its ground and copper tops $2 again. We repeat that we feel zinc could do a spike to over 80 cents on the massive production shutdowns currently in the works. That should at least bring comfort to those relying on byproduct credits, though new projects shall remain stuck in the starting gates.

Peru

The members of the Peruvian government had better start learning Chinese or at least come up with a China policy pretty fast because it’s about to become a major issue for them. Those Conquistadores were not mistaken Peru is a treasure trove of minerals. Peru has the most prospectivity for large scale mines in a wide variety of metals than anywhere except Australia. The Australians have already made clear to the Chinese that they can nibble but cannot bite. The Peruvians are seemingly blithely unaware of the attentions being paid to their trove. The mere fact that the assets are largely in Canadian hands (with some serious Brazilian attention from Votorantim) does not make it a case of six of one half a dozen of the other when the Chinese come calling. Its all well and good to have customers for one’s output but when one is deemed a “sphere of influence” then watch out. The DRC is a sphere of Chinese influence these days and it isn’t pretty.

Of course one could always let the Chinese in (via snapping up bargain basement Canadian stocks) and then expropriate them later. This is the traditional treatment for uppity foreigners. But maybe they should throw away the 1950-70s editions of this book and go back and check the 1880s when the British wanted nitrates and Bolivia and Peru were made to disgorge them through the Chilean factotum.

Back to our conspiracy theory. If you feel that the manipulation of the news flow regarding metals “demand” is designed to get prices down and facilitate a grab for copper mines and not just for a few shiploads in the short term then the mines that are in the target range are largely in Peru and they are projects like those of Candente and Chariot Resources.

Clearly tired of negotiating for top dollar at Peru Copper and Northern Peru Copper with hard nosed Canadians like the Global Copper team, the Chinese must be licking their chops at the prospect of ravaging some of the mine owners who have seen their prices turn turtle. As any Chinese market stall owner knows the best way to gut your turtle is when its on its back waving its legs in the air. Not a pretty prospect for Candente or Chariot (or their look-alikes).

It’s no skin off the Peruvians’ nose at this juncture to see a change of ownership (indeed it might even speed development) but it is a serious mistake for institutional holders to not properly assess the longer term values of these projects.

Just last week the first shot was fired with Cardero announcing the sale of one of its magnetite “mountains to a private Chinese company. This may be out head-faking the Chinese and we remain to be surprised by seeing this settle, but it just highlights that the Chinese are seeking to secure their upstream supply and intimidate Vale and Rio Tinto into acquiescence on iron-ore pricing.

Longer term the Peruvians may rue the day when the razor-wire surrounded encampments appear with the PLA-seconded security teams roaming around with machine guns. Won’t happen here? Happened in Africa… No somos africanos! To a Chinese mining executive all you non-Chinese peones look the same! Keep digging and shut your mouth..

Whether the Garcia regime wakes up or not is not clear. Some say he is a great admirer of Deng Xaio Ping… hmmmm.. These Latin quasi-leftists are nothing if not retro. Peru has done one of the worst jobs in helping achieve trickledown from mining development to the masses. Up close and personal, local communities, like that around Fortuna’s Caylloma mine or Vena’s Macusani prospect have been treated well but others (like those at La Oroya in the fallout zone from the Doe Run smelter) have only received lead poisoning for their troubles. Mining inflation became

generalized inflation and the solution from on high was denial with some jiggery- pokery of the statistics with a distinct Argentine flavour to the manoeuvre. The Garcia administration must be hoping it gets a second chance to get this right by mining prices staging a comeback. In the meantime, it had better starting learning the Chinese word for “no” and be prepared to use it.

Venezuela

Like Ecuador, this country has the irony that it might see a major project that has been stalled moving ahead while all around them are in stasis. That said, the two mines (Brisas and Las Cristinas) might have been in production years ago and enjoying peak gold prices rather than being Johnny-come-latelys to the scene. In the meantime, Hugo Chavez has given himself the reputation of being fickle and radioactive towards miners. His latest love affair is the quasi-Russian Rusoro. Embrace the Bear if you dare…

Chavez may yet come to regret his latest infatuation. These two mines (one extracted from Gold Reserve and the other from Crystallex) might be developed as one complex due to their proximity but frankly who cares? Venezuela has shown its disinterest in mining except as a political football. No-one new will appear on the scene and what might have been will not be. Oil at the mid-$60s

level is good for Venezuela but not as good as at $150.

As long as bread and circuses keep the rabble from revolting, all is well, but when they actually need some gainful employment, which mining might have supplied, they will need to tone up their basket-weaving skills because mining will not be an option in creating jobs, or perish the thought, a diversified source of foreign earnings.

CONCLUSION

One imagines from the havoc wreaked on local currencies that the retreat in metals prices (and some grains) is going to ravage the economies of places like Brazil and Argentina. Certainly the earnings and exports from these activities will be less but scarcely a bloodbath. There have been no suggestions that we have heard that there is any lessened demand for the agricultural outputs of either of these places. As for Brazil its iron ore shall see lower volumes but they seem determined to hold the line on price.

The precious metals are battered but unbowed and they make up much of the export output of the mining sectors of many countries.

Chile is the prime sufferer from lower copper prices, but we are not perceiving any great suffering in the news flow because the domestic Chilean economy has seemingly been insulated by distance and design from copper’s mood swings. Still there will be a negative employment effect across the region from marginal mines being shut down and the investment flow to exploration drying up.

Confidence wise some of the plans of governments on the infrastructure front had mining in the background as the eventual or indirect paymaster. Those plans will now need to be tailored to a lesser quality and quantity of cloth.

Governments and companies need to keep their cool at this time and look back to the fundamentals of their metals, which are almost invariably good. In the meantime beware of Chinese bearing checkbooks, it is not a mutually beneficial trade.

tels, one of the leading boutique hotel representation companies, successfully completed “Conference ONE” in Barcelona, its first international meeting. In attendance at the mid-June event were more than 50 hotel executives representing the company’s member properties from countries like the US, Mexico, Africa, China, Latin America in addition to many cities throughout Europe.

To launch the series of meetings, President David Maranzana and Vice President Juan Palmada delivered a keynote speech that summarized Epoque Hotels’ history, its current standing and plans for growth. Other staff members explained their roles. Francesca Suereth and Diane Merians gave a detailed presentation about Epoque Hotels’ innovative online booking engine, EHBOX.

During day one’s guest speakers included Joana Homs i Ros, of the Consortium of Tourism in Barcelona; Robert Denier, Managing Director of welllcom Marketing and Public Relations; Renee Martin, Account Manager for Epoque Hotels at Carolyn Izzo Integrated Communications; and Edyth Shapiro, Senior Consultant of VHS International Sales & Marketing Services.

On day two, attendees were surprised with a visit to a historic and renowned country estate and restaurant called Les Panolles near Girona. Guest speakers were Chris Mumford, Managing Director of HVS Executive Search; Klaus Liebisch, Head of Training of Ibersolar Energia; and Edoardo Cognonato, Consultant for Hotel Management and Human Resources Teamwork. A spectacular gourmet lunch was the ideal ending for the two-day event.

“Our goal was to organize a conference that addressed issues and trends in the business and leisure travel markets,” said Juan Palmada, a Barcelona native. “On opening night, attendees enjoyed an elegant cocktail reception on the terrace of the Hotel Omm. The following day we organized a Gala Reception at the FAD, Foment de les Arts Decoratives I del Disseny. Along with conference participants, the event attracted VIPs, travel agents and journalists.”

“Another key objective was to present a compelling series of speakers and topics that would inspire in depth discussions and analysis,” added David Maranzana. “Additionally, the conference enabled us to meet, network and establish stronger relationships. We’re confident that this will result in increased cross-promotional strategies among our members.”

While the location of Conference TWO is still to be determined, Epoque Hotels would like to extend its gratitude and appreciation to all of the hoteliers who attended and participated.

An internship abroad has become an increasingly popular option for students interested in traveling the world; an opportunity that didn’t exist even 10 years ago.  Coupled with or independent of study abroad, an internship in Argentina is a fantastic way to improve Spanish language skills.  It’s also an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the business world and also provides a unique look into the way a different culture functions.  Traveling for pleasure is certainly a viable way to experience foreign countries, yet there is something special about working alongside foreigners and sharing their way of life.  In the case of Argentina, it now easier than ever to get involved in a variety of fields and add travel and work experience to your resumé.  Buenos Aires is a city in which interns have little difficulty finding a company or organization that matches their field of study.  Some of the more popular fields include law, international business, medicine, politics/human rights, and journalism.  Each internship program is personalized to fit the intern’s availability and interests so that they have a meaningful work experience, furthering future career goals.

Internships are a great option because they are flexible enough to allow for travel, yet provide serious opportunities for in-depth and important work.  While internships in the United States often consist of nothing more than menial tasks like copying or filing, businesses in Argentina take a much different view on the internship concept.  Internships are actually called “Pre-professional Practices” and are considered an integral part of a successful business model.  Interns in Buenos Aires receive assignments that are challenging, rewarding, and important to the company which fosters a real sense of belonging and importance.  One of the biggest benefits of an international internship in Argentina is the amount if valuable contacts that one can make while working abroad.  These are contacts that will certainly aide future endeavors in your chosen field of study.

The benefits of an internship in Buenos Aires are, of course, not limited to the work experience.  Regarded as the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires is brimming with culture, nightlife, and wonderful experiences to be had.  Among other things, Buenos Aires is the birthplace of Tango, the home of the Boca Juniors and a steak-lovers paradise.  There really is something for everyone in the city known for its nightlife and great museums.  As the central hub of everything Argentine from commerce to culture, Buenos Aires is a great location for people looking to see and experience a different culture.  A true immersion experience awaits those who are interested in interning and living in Argentina.

Speaking Spanish in a work setting provides a type of learning environment that no classroom can replicate.  It’s not always easy, but communicating in the workplace is a really great way to improve or perfect your Spanish.  In order to get the most out of an internship, participants must have at least a basic understanding of Spanish when they arrive.  Interns also have the option of taking intensive Spanish classes before or during their internship placement.  As mentioned previously, the businesses that offer these internships are aware of the fact that their interns are interested in traveling and experiencing the culture of Argentina so schedule flexibility is understood.  Upon arriving, interns meet with their supervisor to establish their own schedule of around twenty hours per week(or possibly more if the participant desires).  Upon completion of their internships, participants can request an evaluation and a letter of recommendation from their internship supervisor so that they can return to their home country with feedback and future references.

Internships in Buenos Aires, Argentina are an increasingly popular option for people who want to gain more than a tourist experience from their trip to South America.  It’s a great idea for students who desire a different and meaningful abroad experience.  New internship fields are always being added to accommodate the growing demand for a variety of fields.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of the internship opportunities available in Buenos Aires where you will have an unforgettable and enriching immersion experience.

Michael Cottam, one of the founders of TheBigDay, offers advice on how to go about choosing where to go on your honeymoon.

So you’re engaged…congratulations! One of the most fun parts about getting married is planning that honeymoon trip of a lifetime. And if you haven’t even narrowed it down to a country, much less an island or a resort, don’t worry-many (if not most!) honeymoon couples are in the same boat.

Some couples start by leafing through travel or bridal magazines and looking for pictures that are appealing and romantic-you can do this, but you’re more likely to settle on the best-MARKETED destination rather than the best destination for your wants, needs, and style.

The following are questions you should ask yourself-it’ll help you figure out what your options are, and help you ask better questions of your travel agent…which will help you plan that perfect honeymoon.

When are you going?

Every destination has its high and low seasons-and this is typically a combination of weather and the times of the year that their tourists typically take vacations. Some destinations, such as Hawaii, have very little variance in their weather year-round; others, like the Caribbean have a definite hurricane season. Yet it’s important to know that the Caribbean is a very big place-and different parts have different hurricane seasons, and some parts of the western Caribbean really aren’t hurricane prone at all. Other destinations–such as Central America and Southeast Asia-have rainy or monsoon seasons. You really need to know the specific destination in order to have a feel for whether or not their “green” season is too “green” (rainy!) for you.

Also, ask yourself if you’re willing to delay the start of your honeymoon a couple of weeks or months. Summer months are very popular for weddings, as it tends to be easier for family and friends to get to the wedding; plus, if you’re having an outdoor wedding, the odds of good weather are more in your favor. However, this also tends to be the expensive (and sometimes more crowded) season for many honeymoon destinations. Giving yourself a month off after the wedding before leaving on your honeymoon can give you time to relax and wind down from the wedding, write your thank-you notes, and take advantage of the lower prices of what’s known as the “shoulder season” (between high and low season).

Travel time/vacation time

How much time off work are you going to take? And how much of it are you willing to spend on an airplane?

If you’re going on an African safari, you’re going to consume about a day and a half traveling each way from the U.S. This is fine if you’re going to be there a couple of weeks, but if those days are coming off your total of 7 days on vacation, you might consider someplace closer. And distance isn’t the only factor: how many stopovers is it going to take to get where you’re going? If you’ve got to land on a main island, then wait around for 4 to 6 hours for the “island hopper” flight to take you out to your remote private island retreat, that’s going to consume your vacation time too.

A great option, if it’s available, is a red-eye flight, where you sleep on the plane and wake up at your destination, saving a day of vacation time.

Language

This is less of a problem than you might think. Unless you’re backpacking around some exotic country, you’re going to find people in restaurants, hotels, and the activity vendors all speak English. One bit of advice: try to learn a few words and phrases in the local language, as you’ll find you’re treated differently if you begin conversations with “hello” in their language, and show you’re willing to make the effort to get along in their country.

Cost

The big question! First, some statistics: the average U.S. couple spends about $3700 for their honeymoon package…and this doesn’t included expenditures once they’re at their destination. When considering a resort that’s NOT all-inclusive, take some time to research the area and find out what meals cost, what a snorkel trip costs, what taxis cost, etc. Tourist bureau sites are a good place to start.

Costs of excursions and meals can easily add up to much more than your airfare and hotel, and you need to be realistic and prepared for this. Consider staying at multiple hotels on your honeymoon-perhaps one or two nights at someplace really nice to start, then a more moderate property with perhaps less of a view for the remainder.

People, people, people

There are a number of important considerations here. First off, who else is going to be at your resort? Are most of the guests at the resort in your age group? Are they young and adventurous, or older and mostly interested in golf? Does the resort market to families-are you going to find a ton of kids splashing around in the pool when you’re trying to have a romantic, relaxing time? Is the bar going to be lively, with your kind of music? Are you going to feel right at home, or a bit out of place?

Next, let’s talk about density: do you prefer to be in the middle of the action, with lots of other happy honeymooners all around, or quieter and more secluded? Think about whether you want to be in a hotel with 400 rooms, or a resort with 40 private villas…the experience will be very different. And do you want to be waited on hand and foot, or left alone to explore by yourselves? Do you want to shop, maybe pick up souvenirs or local style clothes, or maybe some artwork? Maybe you want a mix: in Hawaii, popular combinations would include a few nights in the heart of Waikiki combined with a few nights on the North Shore…on Maui, perhaps a split between the Lahaina/Kaanapali area and the secluded Hana coast.

Finally, how much do you want to learn about the locals, their language, food, and culture? Generally, at the all-inclusive resorts, you’ll find yourselves with other tourists, separated from the local style. If you want to immerse yourselves in the local environment, perhaps consider a smaller hotel, farther from the main tourist areas.

History and culture

Do you enjoy visiting ancient ruins…centuries-old cathedrals…seeing native villages? The beauty of the art, architecture, and history of Greece, Italy, Scotland and Ireland, or Mayan civilizations can make for a fabulous honeymoon experience.

Europe is an obvious destination, but think also about the Mayans and Aztecs in Latin America…Buddhist temples in Bali and Thailand… Angkor Wat in Cambodia…Buddhist and Hindu temples in India. China is becoming a much more popular destination as well: consider visiting the Great Wall and seeing the Terracotta Warriors.

Accommodations

How sensitive are you to humidity and temperature? This can determine not only the destination, but also the choice of resort, as not all A/C systems are created equal. How close do you want to be to nature? I’ve stayed at fabulous safari lodges in Africa that didn’t even have complete walls…just mosquito nets to protect you at night. For some, this is a dream come true-for others it might be a nightmare.

How important is your living space in your hotel room? Do you feel claustrophobic easily? Do you like to lounge around in the morning, have breakfast in bed, or do you like to get up and out there exploring the island? Is a spa on-property important to you? Is a view of the ocean from your room important to you…enough to justify the higher price?

Also think about how you typically spend your day on vacation. If you go back and forth from the room to the beach, the pool, the restaurant, you might want a place with ground-level villas rather than have to get on and off elevators all the time. If you’re going to spend most of your days out exploring the island, this might not matter so much.

Nightlife

Are you going to want to go out dancing/clubbing? Or maybe see some native dances or performances? If you’re going to Hawaii, and you ARE looking for nightlife, you’ll probably want to think about Oahu or maybe Maui.

For Mexico, you should be thinking about Cancun or Cabo, rather than some of the more isolated resort areas. If you’re considering the Caribbean, the answer to this question might affect the island or region you choose as well. Music: what do you want to hear on your honeymoon? Mariachi bands, steel drums, reggae, or Hawaiian hula…what appeals to you?

Food!

How adventurous of an eater are you? How about your fiancé? Do you like to try the local food, try many different restaurants? Often resorts will have very good American and European menus, but for authentic local cuisine you’ll have to venture outside the resort.

All-inclusives and cruises often make fabulous food very affordable; if you’re not at an all-inclusive resort, the on-property restaurants are often pretty pricey compared to outside restaurants, and tend to be less authentic with respect to local/native cuisine. If your chosen resort is in or near a reasonably large town or tourist area, you may have lots of choice for dinner; if you’re secluded and isolated, it’s possible that you have no choice but to dine at the resort (and pay their prices, if it’s not included!).

In areas like Fiji and Tahiti, you’ll often find that while the resort isn’t officially all-inclusive, they do have a “meal plan” which covers food and sometimes drinks. Sometimes these plans cover just breakfast and dinner, which leaves you the option of trying the local cuisine and eating relatively inexpensively for lunch.

Adventure!

How about a safari in Kenya or Botswana? Or hiking in the Andes…maybe a trip to Macchu Pichu? Or a week on a rented sailboat in the Caribbean? How about touring Australia on a Harley? Maybe trek through the jungles of Costa Rica, observing monkeys and exotic birds? If these appeal to you, first thing you need to do is make sure they also appeal to your spouse! These kinds of trips create memories of a lifetime, and can be very affordable as well. Often, couples will want to combine an “adventure” trip with a few days relaxing at a beach resort-these kinds of combination packages can be put together for you by a knowledgeable travel agent, and give you the best of both worlds.

Watersports

Do you and your fiancé scuba dive (or do you want to learn)? You’ll find that pretty much every tropical destination has diving and snorkeling available. Some will have scuba courses offered by the resorts, while other resorts will have partnered with local dive companies. If you love to snorkel, make sure your travel agent knows, so they can recommend resorts where the wave conditions tend to be good and there are good snorkeling reefs nearby so that there’s something besides just sand to look at. In general, a great surfing beach won’t be a great snorkeling beach!

Are you interested in going deep-sea fishing? It’s important to know what the fishing is like where you’re going. For instance, while you can take a guided fishing trip from any one of the Hawaiian islands, your chances of actually doing some CATCHING as well as fishing are substantially better on the Big Island!

Additionally, it’s important to talk to your travel agent about what kinds of watersports you want to enjoy. If you’re interested in jetskiing and parasailing, you’ll want to be in one place; if you want to kayak with the turtles, snorkel around the reef, you’ll want to be elsewhere. It’s also useful to know how far it is from your hotel to the best spots for your activities-you won’t want to spend two hours a day roundtripping from your hotel to your activities.

The destinations

Here’s a quick look at some of the more popular destinations, and what they’re known for.

Fiji- great scuba and snorkeling, very friendly people, mostly villa-style beach bungalow accommodations in widely-separated resorts. Moderately expensive to very expensive. About 9 hours flying time from Los Angeles.

Hawaii- beautiful weather all year round, close to mainland U.S., amazing array of watersports and adventure activities. Not as much of a cultural transition for mainland Americans as many other destinations. Most hotels have 200-400 rooms; hotel density along beaches can be high. Excellent choice for a destination wedding, as prices are very reasonable for high quality and service. Inexpensive to moderately expensive.

Tahiti- great scuba and snorkeling, famous for overwater bungalows and phenomenal views. Resorts tend to be fairly far apart; very secluded and private. Expensive to very expensive; food, drinks, and activities can be very expensive as well. About 8 hours flying time from Los Angeles.

Mexico- Cancun/Cozumel nearly fully recovered from the past summer’s hurricanes, and much rebuilding has resulted in many upgraded resorts. High density of resorts on beaches in places like Cancun and Cabo. Great diving, watersports; some areas close to Mayan ruins. Recently, all-inclusive resorts have become common, and there are some terrific bargains to be had, especially at the moderate to more expensive resorts. A new trend we’re seeing is combining the traditional beach vacation with a few days inland at one of Mexico’s colonial cities, exploring the history and culture of old Mexico. Easy access from the U.S. Inexpensive to moderately expensive.

Caribbean- known for prevalence of all-inclusive resorts, especially in Jamaica. Huge range of cultures, styles, food, music. Great watersports and scenery, and not too long in the air from major U.S. cities. Cruises are a very popular way to explore multiple islands and countries in the Caribbean at a modest cost. Inexpensive to very expensive.

Europe – history, architecture, and great food and wine are big draws here. Airfare is less than you might expect, often sub-$500 per person roundtrip. Less of a beach resort destination, although areas of Italy, France, and Greece on the Mediterranean can provide the sun & surf element. Castles in Ireland and self-drive B&B vacations throughout the UK are popular, as are villa stays in France and Italy. In Greece, the Cyclades islands are very popular: Santorini with its submerged volcano, black sandy beach, and breathtaking sunsets…Mykonos with its blue-domed churches, whitewashed houses and beaches…and Naxos, the largest island with golden sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, and the medieval capital of Hora. Honeymooners often combine stays on these islands with a visit to Athens. Many cruise options are available, allowing easy exploration of a number of Mediterranean ports in one vacation. Moderately expensive to very expensive.

Costa Rica & Belize – becoming very popular as eco-tourism destinations, these countries offer terrific beach resorts, watersports, diving and snorkeling, combined with jungle exploration and eco-adventures. Treetop resorts becoming popular here as well; and like Mexico, there are a number of Mayan ruins accessible in Belize. Belize also is famous for its barrier reef, and the scuba diving hotspot known as The Blue Hole. Relatively short flight from mainland U.S., combined with great value for the dollar at many resorts makes these two countries very hot for honeymooners.

Australia & New Zealand – enormous variety of things to do for the adventurous types, from Ayers Rock to the Great Barrier reef, Sydney and its renowned Opera House, Surfers Paradise. New Zealand has everything from geysers in Rotorua to jet-boating; hiking and skiing amongst tremendous scenery, and of course the famous Maori hospitality. We often suggest combining a trip to either of these countries with a stopover in Fiji or Tahiti as well. Long flight times (15 hours+ from Los Angeles) mean you’ll probably want to stay 2 weeks at the very least. Moderately expensive to expensive.

The Seychelles, Maldives, and Mauritius are all fabulous honeymoon destinations, although because of the flying time from the U.S. (around 30 hours), they’re more commonly visited by Europeans. Truly spectacular diving and scenery, great food and culture, and very friendly people. Hotels are much more spread out than Hawaii or Mexico-more like Fiji or Tahiti. Private island resorts are common, as in Fiji and Tahiti. Seychelles and Mauritius trips are commonly combined with a week or so in Africa on safari. Expensive to very expensive, even without the airfare (roughly $1500 to $2000 per person roundtrip from the U.S.).

Southeast Asia – combines terrific beach resorts with extraordinary culture and historical sites to explore. A relatively long flight from the U.S. (up to 20 hours depending on routing), but a tremendous value once you’re there. Thailand, Bali, China, Vietnam and Cambodia are all becoming very popular. Very inexpensive without the airfare; inexpensive to moderate with airfare.

Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile are becoming more popular, and offer a great opportunity to experience culture, wilderness and traditional beach resorts all in one vacation. The Amazon is a huge draw, of course, but also the culture and experiences to be had in Rio and Buenos Aires make for a very memorable and exotic honeymoon. The Inca city of Machu Picchu is certainly one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world, perched in the Andes at over 9,000 feet in elevantion. Moderately expensive to very expensive.

WHY BRAZIL?

• For its wonderful beaches which are maybe the most beautiful in the world. Not only for its nature but also for the amusing life that encourages them. In Copacabana beach, Río de Janeiro, any sport type may be seen at any hour of the day or the afternoon.

• To attend the most impressive human show in the world that is the Brazil carnival. In the smallest town in the country all the activities are interrupted during a week for the carnival and and nothing must seem to be more imporant than this celebrate.

• To cross the Amazon River from Belem to Manaus on board of a lineal boat and this way to see how the Amazon runs on the sides

• To dive inside the Brazilian music. The guitar and the percussion are present and played everywhere in all the beaches and squares of the country.

• To see Brasilia, the futurist city made in airplane form a city that represents the braviest architectural companies of this century.

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA

With a surface of 8.511.965 Km., Brazil is the fifth state of the world for its extension. Besides Chile and Ecuador, it is adjacent to another state of Suramérica. It has four geographical types of area. The long sandy coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the amazon basin that welcomes the biggest jungle in the planet; the central plateau so call Planalto Brasileiro; and the depression of the Paraguayan basin to the southeast. Brasilia is the fascinating capital, a tourist city in form of airplane within the amazon jungle.

Time Zone: -5.0 (summer); -3.0 (winter)

Duration of the days: maxim 13.5 (December); minimum 10 (June)

WHEN TO GO

Better Period: January, February, March, September, October

Good period: April, May, June, August.

Worst period. Julio

WEATHER

The whole Brazil has a tropical climate, therefore hot, humid and rainy during the whole year. Inside the Amazon jungle the percent of humidity never descend from 100% and Belem almost in the line of the Ecuador, its in the entire world the city where rainy s more.

Useful Information

Slight clothes of cotton, but also hot T-shirt if he/she goes in winter station overalls in the south. A jacket slight raincoat can be he very useful although against violent winds and cloudbursts it serves very little. Clothes of long magas against lso amazon inseptos.

CULTURE / MUSEUM

In lso museums of Sao Pablo, cultural capital of Brazil, sexisten European insospechables art collections that give of envying to muchso museums of the old continent. Also in River of Janeiro there is cultural ocaciones for not losing.

Museum of Art

Address: Brought to an agreement Paulista 1578, San Paolo of the Brasile

Schedule: 11-17.30; giovedì 11-20; monday closed. Closed during Carnival

Entrance is paid

Interesting collection of Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiques. Squares, sculptures, ye Italian, French impressions, Englishwomen, Spanish, Flemishes, Dutchwomen. After the works cousins they are exposed Bernini’s canvases, Botticelli, Raffaello, Cézanne, Chagall, Gauguin, Picasso and Modigliani.

Museum of the Folklore and Aeronautical Museum

Address: Park do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo

Orari: 14-17; chiuso lunedì

Inside the splendid park of Ibirapuera, where architects of world fame have worked, he/she can find lodging, this small, but interesting museum I divide in two parts: one dedicated to the Brazilian indigenous culture and the other one to the aeronautics being pioneer of this phenomenon the Brazilian, Santos Dumont.

Modern museum of Art

Address: Brought to an agreement Dom Enrique 85, Rio de Janeiro

Entrance is paid

Schedule: 12-17.30

Entrance is paid

The museum gathers works of the XX century, with works of Albers, Brancusi, Buthe, Him Corbusier, Mathies, Picasso, Polloch and Warhol. Interesting it is the picture section and design, overalls that dedicated to the art Brazilian contemporary.

Brazilian African-American museum

Address: Praça Terreiro of Jesus, Salvador de Bahia

Schedule: 9-17; closed monday

Entrance is paid

Beautiful museum dedicated entirely to the African origins of Brazilian nation. It proposes a trip after the hierarchy of those “orichas”, the born divinities after the encounter of the Christian religion and the animist.

The Brazilian Cuisine

Brazil earth of encounters and cultural crossings also since it concerns the kitchen. The products traditionally used by the first Indian cuisine to those used by the European settlers and later with the traditions African gastronomitas. The result is not more than an original and nutritious kitchen that makes great use of vegetables, of meats, overalls to the south, and of fish, overalls to north, where the plates are often particularly spicy for the abundant use of the spicy pepper. In each city it can be those “churrascarias”, restaurant that serves all type of flavorful meat, Brazilian national pride, cooked to the coal and served by waiters that maintain long roasted threaded as swords. In the north the meat dries off in the sun and he/she receives the name of “meat of sun”. The plate national Brazilian in all ways is the “feijoada”. it is unique plate to base black beans, dry and fresh meat served with “beacon” kind of a taken out flour of the manioc. It is highly a popular plate proteico and private room comes for Saturdays. In the bay region it should be proven the absolutely “siri casquinha”, a lightly spicy cream, served as antipasto, has like base delicious pulp of a small called crab “siri”. But the most traditional and good plate in the kitchen bahiana is the “peixe moqueca”. kind of a soup of white fish, dry shrimps, vegetables, coconut milk and dendé oil, a typical palm of the area. It is served as accompaniment to a fish plate to the parilla. The Brazilian dinner begins and it often finishes with a glass “caipirinha”, cocktail to base gave cachaca (distilled of cane of sugar), lemon and sugar.

FUN / SHOPPING

The worked precious stones are one of the glories of the country. On the other hand is dificult to return from Brazil without having bought at least a new suit for the beach, a pareo, and any disk of bossa nova.

Jeweler’s

Brazil produces at about the 65% of the stones sold in the world. This commercial event is due to the convenient prices and the complete variety of stones coming from the Brazilian mining, there also are beautiful silver objects as jewels ingrained with the religious traditions of the country. It is better to acquire these stones in reliable jeweler’s that give you receipts of guarantee and authenticity.The acquisition of these stones can be related to visits to carving laboratories, which offer them gratuitously by menas of the great international house as that one of Stern.

Music

In the land of the zamba and that of bossa nova you cannot give up to take home some original memory. Tom Jobim and Vinicius of Moraes’ classic disks, to begin with, but also a little bit ancients songs of Caetano Veloso, the Brazilian music’s great poet, Chico Buarque’s or the youngs Marisa Montes and Vinicius Cantuaria. It is also Interesting the traditional musical instruments, mainly percussion.

Apparel

The Brazilian boisterous bikini can be get in business and bancarelas of any center spa. As well as a coloring pareos that can be used as beach canvas or as improvised dress. It must be remember that the Brazilian sizes are as a rule smaller than the Italians. Therefore it will be great to try them getting them.

Foods

An acquisition to be made may be at the last moment in the airport,can be that of any Brazilian product. Perhaps the coffee, also because it will found stronger and bitter that Italian because of the diverse form of being toasted and later the phlegm, a distilled from the sugar cane which afterwards can be used as base to the caipirinha.

Europelowcost

http://en.europelowcost.com/

HAITI: THE MAGIC LAND

By Alejandro Guevara Onofre

INTRODUCTION

In 1492 Christopher Columbus wrote about Haiti: “The most beautiful in the world”. Certainly, Haiti is a wonderful country in the Caribbean. I think that has a special beauty, with a geography and traditional culture that is totally different from all the other countries in Latin America.

Now, this essay is a historical information about Haiti, the first black republic in the modern history and one of the poorest nations on Earth. Each chapter provides details on history, economy, biographies, sport, awards, foreign relations, culture and other important aspects of Haiti. The people that don’t know Haiti very much think that Haiti is only one of the world’s poorest countries, but the Island is known for its traditional culture, hospitality, superstitions, history. Furthermore, Haiti is the home to National Park History, one of the ancient wonders of the world, and renowned women such as Edwidge Danticat and Michaëlle Jean were born there.

Since then, the dictatorships have destroyed Haitian society, economy, ecology and sport. Since 1950, two million Haitian people emigrated to the United States and other countries. Haitian-American arrived from Haiti with nothing more than their clothes. If we compare the Haiti of today to Haiti of thirty years ago, we see a change: a new multiparty democracy. Today, a vast part of the Third World and more than a billion people are under dictatorships.

Eventually, I would like to finish my introduction with a message by Albert Mangones: “Haiti is unique in history, going directly from slavery to nationhood”.

CHRONOLOGY:

1492: Columbus discovered Haiti in the 15th Century.

1520-1697: Haiti is a Spanish territory. In the late 1500 and early 1600, African slaves flocked to Island.

1697-1790: Haiti is a French colony. After 16th Century, Haiti became the most important French colony in the Americas. Island´s export to Europe included sugar, coffee and corn. The beauty of Haiti is recognized by the French in the mid-1700 Century, when they called it “Pearl the Caribbean”.

1790-1803: During the French colonization slaves suffers from maltreatment. By the late 1790, pro-independence demonstrations. An Anti-slavery movement under Toussaint L´Ouverture began. L´Ouverture is one of the most important black leaders in the history.During this period of time, Haitian slaves attack villages. Anti-French protests riots brutally suppressed. By the late 1803, under leadership of Jean Jacques Dessalines, Haiti army defeated the French forces at the Battle of Vertieres.

1804-1806:A French colony for more than hundred years, Haiti becomes independent, one of the most important events in the history. Jean Jacques Dessalines became the first president of new republic of Haiti, the first black republic in the modern history. Dessalines is the “Father of Modern Haiti”. Haiti occupies the Western third of Hispaniola, the second-largest Island in the Caribbean.

1804-1820: Unfortunately; Haiti is divided into two zones. Northern Haiti is occupied by Henri Christopher, who is named Emperor, while the north is occupied by Alexander Petion. Petion is probably the greatest Haitian politician who ever lived.

1880: Haiti has one of the richest ecosystems in the Caribbean.

1900: Haiti´s modern political has been tumultuous, marked by dictatorships

1915-1934: Haiti has not had an effective national government Invasion by United States forces. US troops sent to Haiti during civil sub-war.

1918: The Presidential Palace, one of the best national palaces in the world, is originally designed by the Haitian Georges Bassan. Bassan is inspired to White House Washington.

1926: Emily Greene Balch, a human rights activist, went to Haiti.

1928: Cator is the only Haitian ever to win olympic silver medal. After, Haitian athlete Sylvio Cator breaks the men’s long jump record in Paris. Cator was given a hero’s welcome when he returned to his country.

1937: In the Dominican Republic, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo ordered national troops to massacre of 20000 Haitian emigrants.

1940-1950: Haiti is one of the most popular travel destinations in the Caribbean.

1944: Dewitt Peters, an American school-teacher, founded the Centre d’Art in Port -au-Prince Since 1944, Centre d’Art became the centre of the Haitian painting. It is now one of Haiti´s biggest tourist attractions, and every year thousands of people came to see the paintings and other work of Haitian art.

1945: Haiti becomes the 26th member of the United Nations in October.

1956: Haiti establishes diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).

1956: Daniel Fignolé is President of the Provisional Council and Head of State of Haiti

1957-1971:After working for a time as a traditional doctor, Francois Duvalier became one of Haiti’s most famous doctors. In 1957, Duvalier is elected President of the Republic of Haiti. President Duvalier announced: “My government will guarantee the exercise of liberty to all Haitians”. Francois Duvalier, also known for his nickname “Papa Doc”, emerged as Head of State and quickly gained nearly absolute power. In 1961 “Papa Doc” rewrote the National Constitution. After, he became the first “President for Eternity of Haiti”. In the 1960s and 1970s “Papa Doc” popularizes superstitions ideas to Haiti through a series of important voodoo rites. The Duvalier dictatorship instituted rig press censorship. International agencies accuse government of grave human rights abuses. His regime of terror resulted in the deaths of least 30000 Haitian. The Island is one of the most dangerous countries in the Third World.

1957-1981: Haitian First Lady Simone Ovide became one of the most dominant women in the history of Haiti. Simone, wife of the most famous dictator of Haiti, gained in influence and power through corruption and crime.

1957-1989: For many decades, Haiti does not have diplomatic relations with the USSR, People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Hungary, South Africa and East Germany.

1960: The Tonton Macoutes, the brutal secret police, initiated a “Haitian genocide” in which political prisoners were tortured and executed.

1964: Joseph Eduard Gaetjens, the idol of millions of Haitians, is arrested and killed by the Tonton Macoutes, the sinister Haitian secret police. Like John Barnes (Jamaica) and Everald “Gally” Cummings (Trinidad Tobago), he was a great footballer in the Caribbean. After, Gaetjens become a world symbol of the struggle against dictatorship in the Third World. He had dual Haitian and American nationality and played at 1950 World Cup for the United States. Son of Haitian mother and Belgium father, he played for many clubs in the United States. The year 1950 was a very important year for Gaetjens: the United States beat England 1-0, the birthplace of the modern football.

1964: Francois Duvalier changed the national flag. Black and red are the colors chosen by Duvalier. Black, which is similar to the Angolan flag, represents the descendants of the patriot Francois Toussaint L’Ouverture and is also the traditional color of the Haitian people. While, red symbolizes the country`s independence. But the original flag, used since 1803, was removed in 1986 by order of the new government.

1966: Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia, arrives in Port-au-Prince. Under the leadership of Dictator Francois Duvalier, many African countries maintain official diplomatic relations with Haiti.

1967: The Comedians, a film by British director Peter Glenville, inspired in the cruel Haitian dictatorship by the Duvalier family.

1971: After Duvalier’s death, power passed to his son Jean Claude Duvalier, the man who became known throughout the world as “Baby Doc”. Baby Doc is as dictatorial as his father. Haiti is ruled by iron hand. Duvalier, best known for his anticommunist political, is omnipresent. Many opposition leaders were arrested. He is accused of human rights abuses. Thousand of Haitian people fled the country. Corruption is prevalent at all levels of government. The health system is one of the worst in the Americas.

1974: The sporting system is one of the worst in the Third World, but Haiti qualified for the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Haiti beat Trinidad-Tobago in the World Cup qualifiers. Is one of the greatest sporting moment, in the chronology, comparing it to something like Sylvio Cator, who won a silver medal in long jump in the 1928 Olympics Games in Holland.

1975: In El Salvador, Miss Haiti, Gerthie David, is named first runner up at Miss Universe Pageant… transmitting live to millions by CBS. After, Gerthie David is acclaimed in Port-au-Prince as a national heroine. Miss Haiti competed with 71 other women from around the world for the title of Miss Universe, including Miss USA, Summer Barthollomew.

1980: Like Canada, West Germany South Korea and Kenya, Haiti boycott the Moscow Olympic Games in protest for Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

1980-1986: Jean-Claude Duvalier, Haiti’s longtime dictator, married Michelle Bennett, an aristocratic lady. A little more than three months later, Bennett-Duvalier becomes First Lady of Haiti. Like Eva Peron (Argentina) or Jiang Qing (People’s Republic of China), she was a woman with great power. Michelle Bennett promoted her mulatto countrymen to positions of leadership in the dictatorship at his expense of the African-Haitians.

1982: The National History Park (La Citadelle Laferriere, Sans Souci Palace and Ramiers) is designated as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Like Machu Picchu (Peru) and Angkor What (Cambodia), the National History Park is considered among the wonders of the world.

1982: Ronald Agenor wins a gold medal in men’s tennis singles at the Central American and Caribbean Sports Games La Havana. He captures the hearts of the Island.

1983: Pope John Paul arrives in Haiti for a visit. “Things most change here”, said John Paul II.

1986: As Jean-Claude consolidated his power, he consistently refused to consider constitutional reform. The insurrection against the dictator Jean Claude Duvalier began…Antigovernment protesters in the capital. Many deaths, injuries and arrests. Seeming end to long Haitian dictatorship with fall of Duvalier regime.

1987: Haiti has one of the America’s rates of HIV infection

1987: The New Constitution restored many of the liberties abolished by the Duvalier family. The National Constitution recognizes both French and Creole as official languages. A new opposition emerged under Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

1988: Writer Rene Depestre wins the Prix Ranandot. Depestre, a Haitian dissident now living in France, was cited his novel Hadriana dans tous mes reves. By the mid-1980s Rene Depestre had become well known in literacy circles outside Haiti.

1990: Ertha Pascall-Trouillot becomes the first black woman elected of head of state in the world.

1990: First multi-party elections. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a charismatic black leader, was elected president of Haiti. Aristide is the first democratic president since 1804.He was elected with the most popular support of any Haitian presidential candidate in the history.

1991: Military coup in the country. Raoul Cedras, leader of the coup, emerged as head of the new government. This year marked the end of eight months of democracy. Under new government, all political parties were dissolved.

1991-1995: Like Equatorial Guinea, Cuba and North Korea, Haiti has one of the most serious human rights problems in the Third World.

1993: United Nations imposed economic sanctions on Haiti, one of the most densely populated nations in the Americas.

1994: Peaceful occupation by United States forces to restore democratic electoral system. Raoul Cedras and his family went into exile in Panama City. Aristide was restored to power.

1995: In Port-au-Prince, sub-war violence includes assassination of Meireille Durocher Bertin.

1995: In Beijing, the capital of city of the People’s Republic of China, Haiti participated in the UN`s Fourth World Conference on Women

1996:More than 5,000 Haitians had been killed and miles more fled to abroad, United States, Canada, Bahamas and Dominican Republic, since 1991.

1998: Haitian president Renè Garcia Preval arrives in Taipei (Taiwan) for a four-day state visit. He and President Lee will sign a communiqué to strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation.

1999: Dominican president Leonel Fernandez visit to Haiti as part of a new diplomacy.

2002: In Paris, Dudley Dorival finished 3rd in the 110 hurdles at the World Championships. He becomes the 1st Haitian to win an individual international medal since 1928.Dorival was born in New Jersey, United States, to Haitian parents on 1 September 1975. He in 2000 officially became a citizen of Haiti.

2000: Haiti is one of the thirty poorest countries in the Third World.

2000-2001: The elections were boycotted by the main opposition political parties. Aristide was again elected President. Widespread violent in Haiti allege that Aristide’s election victory is fraudulent. Total political censorship exists in national media.

2004: This year Haiti is celebrating the 200th Anniversary of their National Independence. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti flees to Central African Republic following anti-government demonstrations. Haiti has one of the most violent conflict areas in the Americas. After, UN troops sent to Haiti during civil sub-war.

2006: Rene Preval is sworn in as President of Haiti. Since the peaceful transfer of power in February, Haiti is the newest democracy in the Third World.

ECONOMY

Like Bangladesh, Uganda or Tanzania, Haiti is one of the poorest countries on Earth. In 1997, the Haiti’s economic growth rate (real GDP) per capita was U$ 1,300. GDP per capita for Namibia, Botswana and Equatorial Guinea are higher than for Haiti. In the country 4 million people living on less than U$2 a day. More than 6 million of the Haiti’s population still does not have access to potable water and electricity. For years of dictatorships had left the country’s economy in ruins. The country dependent on international aid. Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate each year to Dominican Republic.

In 1997, total exports for the year were U$110 million, while total imports were US$ 486 million. Since 1804, the US market has been the most important export destination for Haiti. Nearly 80 percent of Haiti’s total exports are destined for the United States. Haiti’s exports include sisal, mangoes, coffee, cotton, bauxite, and sugar. The Island’s imports from the United States include cement, oil, food, machinery and transport equipment. France has been the second largest exports destination for Haitian products.

In the past, the tourism industry occupied an eminent place in the Haitian economy, but several political problems have blocked tourism. Haiti was the first country in the Caribbean to promote tourism in an accelerated form. Haiti is a small country with vast mountains, tropical beaches and beautiful historic buildings.

CULTURE

Like Katherine Dunham, Lillian Hellman, W.B. Seabrook, Erik Leonard Ekman, Alejo Carpentier, Selden Rodman, Noel Coward and Angeline Jolie, many people say that Haiti is the most beautiful country in the Caribbean. Known as the “Magic Land”, Haiti is famous for its culture. Certainly, Haiti its culture, its superstitions and its music. The superstitions or voodoo plays a profound role in the lives of many Haitians. The voodoo was introduced into Haiti in the late 16th Century. Haiti is also famous for its painting, and finally for its ruins…for example the Sans Souci Palace, the most famous ruins in the Caribbean. Exactly, this enigmatic palace is considered a Cultural Heritage for Humanity by UNESCO. Originally constructed by black slaves, now Sans Souci is one of Haiti’s main tourist attractions.

Since the late 1940s, Haitian painting, best known as “naïve art” or “intuitive art”, is famous all around the World. The most important figure was Hector Hyppolite. His work made its biggest splash in the United States in the 20th Century. Other artists known internationally include Rigaud Benoit, Castera Bazile, Joseph Jean-Giles and Jean-Baptista Bottlex.Haiti is famous for its traditional sculpture. The best Haitian sculptor is Albert Mangoes.

FAMOUS HAITIAN

Nelust Wyclef Jean (singer/Haitian-American): Original member of 1990s hip hop group The Fugees. Wyclef Jean is probably the most popular Haitian singer of all time. Jean was born in Croix des Bouquets (Haiti) on October 17, 1972. When he was just ten years old, he moved to the United States. Under leadership of Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill, The Fugees had several hits in the 1990s, including The Score (The Score album sold 6 million copies). Since 1997, Wyclef Jean, as soloist, became well-known on the international music scene. Like songwriter and producer, Jean collaborated with superstars as Santana, Withney Houston, Mick Jagger,Bono,Tevin Cambpell, Bounty Killer, Eric Benet, Sarah Connor, Claudette Ortiz, Tarkan, Michael Jackson, Youssou N´Dor, Shakira, Olga Tañon, Carlos Ponce and Julio Voltio. During the last seven years, he has sold more than 10 millions albums worldwide. In 2002, his single Masquerade was a great success.

Since then, Wyclef Jean is a man that always works with love for Haiti, one of the World’s poorest countries. Recently, he makes perhaps his best work: “Yele Haiti”, a foundation which works for the human development in the Island. Like Miriam Makeba in South Africa or Bianca Jagger in Nicaragua, Jean loves his roots. In an interview for Magazine, Wyclef Jean discussed about Haitian roots: “I am 100% Haitian. I am proud to be Haitian. I still have my Haitian passport. I represent Haiti in everything that I do. Every head in the industry knows that I am Haitian…they know what I’m about. I was Haitian forst. Haitian till die!”, said Jean.

Discography: Wyclef Jean Present the Carnival Featuring the refugee All-Stars (1997) / The Ecleftic:2 Sides II a Book/ Masquerade (2002) / The Preacher’s (2003)/ Sak Pasé Presents: Creole 101( 2004) /Hips Don’t Lie (with Shakira, 2006).

SPECIAL AWARDS

Gerthie David “The Black Goddess”

In 1975, many Haitian people were shocked to open their newspapers and see photographs of Gerthie David Miss Haiti in El Salvador. On the night of July 19th 1975, in San Salvador, Gerthie David, Miss Haiti, was the second black woman to first runner-up in the history of Miss Universe Pageant. After winning the Miss Haiti title, Gerthie went to San Salvador, the capital city of El Salvador, to enter the Miss Universe Contest. The competence was exhausting, very hard, for example Miss Bolivia, Jackeline Gammarra, great favorite, was eliminated. This day, Miss Haiti looks like a black goddess. Her exotic beauty and charming personality are amazing! At 1,72m in height, she was the best in the evening gown competition, but her speech about the Haitian superstitions swayed thousands of applauses in the 25th Edition of the Contest. Certainly, Miss Haiti captive to the judges Sarah Vaughan (American black singer), Maribel Arrieta (Miss El Salvador 1955 and First runner-up at Miss Universe 1955), Jean Claude Killy (French sportsmen) and Leon Uris(American writer ).

When Bob Barker, the host this pageant, announces the final placements, Gerthie was cheered by the entire auditorium. Suddenly, her pulse rate beats at thousand per minute… “First runner-up is Miss Haiti!”, said Barker. She was one of the most exotic delegates in all history of Miss Universe. In the 1970s, Gerthie David was a model from Port-au Prince and she became a symbol to the Haitian youth. Next months, in London, Joelle Apollon, Miss Haiti-World, came in sixth place at Miss World 1975.After sixteen years, Marjorie Vincent, formerly Miss Illinois 1991,won the title of Miss America Pageant. The first Miss America to originate from the Caribbean. In other words, Marjorie Vincent has Haitian roots. Furthermore, she was the second black woman to win the pageant.

SPORTS

Like in Brazil or Italy, the football is the most popular sport in Haiti. Certainly, the national pastime is the football. A different of the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico, the Haitian people don’t like the baseball. In the 20th Century, football became the most popular sport in the Island, thanks to such heroes as Sylvio Cator, Joseph Gaetjens and Emmanuel Sanon. In 1974 Haiti qualified for the World Cup in Germany.

Emmanuel Sanon was one of the Haiti’s most popular players and played at the 1974 World Cup. Sanon made a great contribution to Haitian football because he played in more World Cup qualifiers any other Haitian. He is still very popular with local fans. Other phenomenal talent was Joseph Eduard Gaetjens. He represented both Haiti and the United States. He made FIFA World Cup History: When scored United States opening goal in the 1950 World Cup against England. Joseph came to the United States in the 1940s to play in the American Soccer League. His beautiful play in the Brookhattan Club made in a national star. In 1953, he played for Haiti for the first time.

It’s practically impossible to talk about Haitian athletes without mentioning Sylvio Cator. He is a legend in this sport. Cator won the silver medal in the long jump at 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Cator returned home to a hero’s welcome. From 1928 to 1930, he was record man in the long jump. Cator was a marvelous jumper and footballer. He also played an important role in popularizing football in the Island (it was the captain of Haitian National Team).

Since then, he is an example for young people in Haiti. He died in November 1938, but today the people of Haiti still think of him with respect. Many years after Cator’s death, the National Stadium in Por-au-Prince was renamed in his honor. Cator was the first of the great Caribbean sportsmen that would come to dominate world track and field.

FAMOUS ATHLETES

Bruny Surin (Canada-Haiti/track field)/ Edrick Floreal (Canada-Haiti/track field)/ Samuel Dalembert ( USA-Haiti/basketball) / Ronald Agenor (USA-Haiti/tennis)/ Sylvio Cator (track and field)/ Yves Jeudy (Box)/ Dieudonne Lamothe (marathon)/ Ludovic Augustin (shooting)/ Ludovic Volborge (shooting)/ Joseph Eduard Gaetjens (Haiti-USA/football)/ Dudley Dorival (track field)/ Fitz Plantin Andre (football)/ Emmanuel Sanon (football)/ Josmer Altidore (Haitian-American/football).

Dudley Dorival (track and field): Dudley Dorival was born on 1 September 1975 in Elizabeth (New Jersey, USA). Dorival is the son of Haitian parents and got Haitian nationality just in time for the XXVII Summer Olympics Games. Since the 2000 Olympics, Dudley Dorival has competed in international competitions under the banner of Haiti. In Sydney (Australia) Dorival finished 7th in the 110m hurdles. He became the first Haitian to Olympic finalist since Yves Jeudy (boxer) in 1976. He won the silver medal at the 1994 World Junior Championship, the bronze at the 2001 World Chanpionship and the gold medal at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games El Salvador. Dorival is one of the best sportsman in the history of Haiti.

FAMOUS WOMEN

Michaëlla Jean (Governor-General of Canada)/ Yvonne Neptune (former Prime Minister)/Claudette Werleigh (Prime Minister 1995-1996)/Lina Blanchet (singer)/ Edwidge Danticat (writer)/ Michelle Bennett Duvalier(First Lady of Haiti 1981-1986)/ Luce Turnier (painter)/ Ertha Pascal-Trouillot (Head of State 1990-1991)/ Marie Casimir (journalist) / Sonia Sekula (Painter) / Marie Chauvet (writer)/ Suzanne Comhaire-Sylvain (writer)/ Carmen Brouard (singer)/Dayana Bennett (journalist and actress) / Elie Price (singer)/ Blanche Bosselman (singer)/ Lina Mathon (singer)/ Georgette Moliere (singer)/ Simone Ovide Duvalier (First Lady of Haiti 1957-1981)/ Marleine Bastien (human rights leader)/ Garcelle Beauvais (actress and model)/ Deborah Saint-Phard (track and field)/ Antoinette Gauthier (track and field), Louise Pierre (track and field)/ Rose Gauthier (track and field)

Edwidge Danticat (writer): One of the Caribbean’s most famous writers in the 21st Century. She has written several novels and collections of shore stories, including Kri? Kra!, nominated for a National Book Award. Danticat attracted international attention in 1997 when she wrote perhaps her most famous novel Farming of the Bones, a story about genocide Haitians under the repressive dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo.

Garcelle Beauvais (actress): She is the first Haitian actress to star on television. Although she has lived in the United States for many years, the actress and former fashion model Garcelle Beauvais was born in Saint Marc, a city in Haiti, in 1966. She is perhaps best known for her role as Francesca Monroe on TV’s the Jamie Foxx Show. Like Gerthie David, Joelle Apollon, Evelyn Miot, and Marjorie Vincent, she has the classic beauty of the Haitian black woman

REFERENCES:

-Bennet Patterson, Carolyn.”Haiti: Beyond mountains, more mountains”, National Geographic, Washington DC, January 1976

-Bishop,Randa. “Imponentes monumentos haitianos”, Americas, Washington DC, enero-febrero 1987

-Cobb,Charles. “Haiti against all odds”, National Geographic, November 1987

-Encyclopaedia Britannica Book of the Year 1981, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Chicago, 1980

-Encyclopaedia Britannica Almanac 2003, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Chicago, 2002

-Guevara Onofre, Alejandro. Enciclopedia Mundototal 1999, Editorial San Marcos, Lima, 1998

-Hunter, Brian. The Statesman’s Year-Book 1991-92, The Macmillan Press, 1991

-Moritz, Charles. Current Biography Yearbook 1972, H.W Wilson Company, NY

-Sconfield, John. “Haiti-West Africa in the West Indies”, National Geographic, Washington DC, February 1961

-The International Who’s Who 1996-97, Europe Publications, London, 1996

-The World Almanac 2001, World Almanac Books, New Jersey, 2001

-Tibballs, Geoff. The Olympics´ strangest moments, Robson Books, London, 2004

-Vargas Llosa, Mario. “Haití: la muerte”, El Comercio, Lima, 25.4.1994

-Visión. “Imperio del Poder Vitalicio”, Santiago de Chile, 17 de marzo de 1967

-Wallechinsky, David. The complete Book of the Olympics, Aurum Press, London, 2004

-Wallechinsky, David-Wallace, Irving. The People’s Almanac2, Batam Book Inc

-WWW.Yotube.com “1975 El Salvador Miss Universe” (video)

A dedicated programmes in the Andes and the Amazon rainforest, which is focussed on an inner and deep self-exploration and encounter with the spiritual power of the land. This is an adventure into the magical world of the Andes, the Rainforest, and a transformative experience of the ancient mystical rituals of the plant spirit medicines.

The Amazon (Ayahuasca) section of this programme will take place in the Mishana Private Retreat Centre where we have 57 Hectares (140 acres) of land with a lodge in the Allpahuayo Mishana Nature reserve.

Retreat Programme 1. March 8th – 14th incl.

As a prologue to the Amazon retreat this optional week expands on our work with the shamanic tradition of the Andes. Working with San Pedro Maestro Shaman Juan Navarro, and Coca Leaf Diviner & traditional Healer Doris Rivera Lenz. This is an opportunity to experience the rich and powerful spiritual legacy of the Andean civilization which is only now being properly recognised after 500 years of obscurity

The Andean Venue: Santa Eulalia

Santa Eulalia is a tranquil valley lying one hour inland from Lima at around 800 meters. Although surrounded by very dry hills, irrigation enables lush gardens to flourish all the year round and there is usually sun and pleasant temperatures. The valley is 50 Km North of Lima and is regarded as the gateway to the central Andes. The valley is home to many species of birds including endemic varieties, and the area is a highlight for bird-watching tours.

Our Lodge consists of about a dozen bungalows with cooking facilities (so we can make our own teas and coffees etc) set in attractive gardens where we can conduct our meetings and ceremonies. Food is good and largely vegetarian. There are also excursions to visit local caves, and ruins.

The Maestros we will be working with at our Andean Retreat

DORIS RIVERA LENZ

Doris has lived in Cusco for many years conducting ofrendas and reading coca leaves for dozens of people every week – both local as well as from far flung places. She has worked with many of our Eagles Wing groups on Peru journeys so far.

The coca leaf has been sacred to Andean people since the dawn of pre-Colombian civilization. When asked about the source of the information she divines from them, she says:

“They give me such a powerful awareness it is as though an energy comes into me from just touching them. I invoke Mother Nature and the spirit of the coca, and with just seven leaves, the answer comes, as though through an open doorway.”

Healing diagnosis

An ancient method of diagnosing illness, still common in Peru, is to rub an egg over the body of the patient. Doris is gifted in this tradition and will prescribe remedies which include medicinal herbs.

The ofrenda

After preparation we will take part in a dawn ‘ofrenda’ which is the most important ceremony used by Andean Indians to relate with Mother Earth. There will be talk and discussion about such ideas as Pachacuti (the Andean concept of time), Andean myths, and healing methods, also practical healing and divinatory sessions plus the opportunity of private sessions with Doris.

JUAN NAVARRO

We will work again with maestro Juan Navarro to meet the spirit of San Pedro, a gentle and powerful healing medicine, which was of central importance to early pre-Colombian civilizations, such as the Chavin, 800BC, and the Mochica, 500AD. To these primordial people the cactus itself was considered the God Achuma.

Juan Navarro was born in the highland village of Somate, department of Piura. He is a descendant of a long lineage of healers and shamans working with the magical powers of Las Huaringas. These Sacred Lakes stand at 3,500 meters and have been revered since earliest Peruvian civilization.

During the all-night sessions Juan works untiringly with his two sons in an intricate sequence of processes, including invocation, diagnosis, divination, and healing with natural objects, or artes. The artes are initially placed on the maestro’s altar or mesa, and are an astonishing and beautiful array of shells, swords, magnets, quartzes, objects resembling sexual organs, rocks which spark when struck together, and stones from animals’ stomachs, which they have swallowed to aid digestion!

The Amazon – Ayahuasca, Plant Spirit Shamanism, and Yoga Retreat

Our lodge is located directly on the river which is part of a 58,070 hectare nature reserve. Due to a combination of geological factors and diverse soil types, the reserve supports a unique community of plant and animal species. It is the ‘jewel’ in the crown for bird-watchers and contains dozens of species which are unique to this area. The Reserve contains one of the highest biodiversities known in the Amazon basin. The Lodge is located directly on the Rio Nanay which is a tributary of the Amazon River. Our lodge is situated in-between two bends of the river giving an amazing panoramic view . We have our own boat so trips can be made to some interesting, and extraordinarily beautiful places along the river.

The lodge is a 2 hour river journey from Iquitos by power boat. We have the dedicated services of maestro shaman Artidoro Aro Cardenas. Included in the program are individual personal healing or consultative sessions based upon your personal needs by our shaman. The maestro will also provide experiential teachings about the fascinating medicinal and psycho-spiritual properties of the local plants. Participants can choose their plant medicine which will be made fresh for them. Our accommodation is in comfortable traditional cabins or tambos (dieting huts), a leaf roof supported by poles and with open sides (the most intimate way to sleep in the jungle). The beds benefit from a comfortable mattress and fly nets when necessary. The tambos are spread out to assure privacy and minimum disturbance from others.

Participants have a choice of using either the cabins in the ‘Casa Grande’ annex or tambos for their retreat. During the day when there are no activities, there will be hammocks to relax in, and you can read, or wander into the forest, or swim in the river (there is a small sandy beach). Our ceremonies and meeting will be held in either the Casa Grande with an open platform on stilts directly on the river with a magnificent view of the rainforest and star filled sky. or our maloca (ceremonial temple), a large circular tambo made of natural materials and shaped like a womb. We will eat our meals in the lodge, the traditional meeting place, where food is cooked on a wood fire.

Single Accommodation One of the unique characteristics of this programme is that we offer single accommodation throughout both in the hotels in Lima, Iquitos, and at our Centre in Mishana. This ensures that participants can obtain the maximum benefit from their encounter with the plants. The Diet really needs to be taken in solitude and personal retreat without distractions. This is a defining characteristic of this programme. Typically other programmes do not offer this and dormitory / shared accommodation is usually the rule. Our Tambos (individual accommodation huts) are all different and are spread out, some with more isolation than others and we also have individual accommodation rooms in the wing of our Casa Grande for those who would prefer being close to the main facilities.

There are photos on the web or I can send pictures on request. Our intention in this journey is to provide the conditions and orientation to enable participants to follow a proper diet, and for it to be as near as possible to what indigenous people have done for thousands of years, (although we can avoid unnecessary hardship, in any case a diet is not a trial of endurance). The diet is a journey of self-exploration and the maestro is there to give support, It is more important that the shaman is an evolved and impeccable person, who will guide us to learn for ourselves and benefit from our experiences in safety.

Participants will undertake to ‘diet’ a plant for a full six to eight days, selecting their plant from a range of options which will be explained by the maestro and depend on individual requirements. Some plants are good for specific ailments as, for example Chuchahuasi for arthritis and other bone conditions, although there is always a magical world opened up by the plant spirit. Other plants have specific spiritual benefits. Chirisanango and Ushpahuasanango, for example, open up the heart and are healing to emotions. Guayusa works very curiously on one’s dreams, affording an experience of being conscious while in fact asleep or dreaming.

The plants used will all be compatible with Ayahuasca so that we can benefit from the plant diet during Ayahuasca ceremonies. There will be a programme of talks, exercises, individual sessions and group meetings without prejudicing the spirit of the diet. This is a way to learn from observation and intimate contact with nature, practical artistic exercises using local materials. We will participate in the gathering and preparation of Ayahuasca, a prolonged ritual in which power is invoked from the planta maestra. We will learn about healing plants and how to find them.

The Shamans We are very delighted to have secured the services of some of the most experienced shamans in the region, during our Retreats we will work with one of the following shamans;, Artidoro Aro Cardenas, Javier Arevalo and Leoncio Garcia.

Artidoro Aro Cardenas We have worked with Maestro Artidoro on our previous Amazon Retreat, and again we were greatly impressed with his knowledge of medicinal and power plants, and his compassion and support for the participants. Although Artidoro is Mestizo he has lived amongst the Ashaninka Indians for many years, and has learned their languages which result in that many of his chants come from a variety of indigenous groups including the Ashaninka, Cashibo, and Capanaua .He has started his own centre near Iquitos.

Javier Arevalo We have worked with Javier many times on our Retreats, we also brought him to the UK for a special Amazonian Medicine camp in 2002. We are greatly impressed and moved by his dedication, and his commitment to the demanding rigours of an Amazonian shaman.It is fair to say that everybody who has worked with Javier has been touched by his kindness, compassion , humour, and spirit

Leoncio Garcia The Shipibo maestro is now in his mid 70’s with the appearance of a man in his 50’s. He was born in the Shipibo community of San Francisco by Yarina Cocha (an oxbow lake near Pucullpa). On a number of occasions he has worked with medical doctors in various cities in Peru. Don Leoncio also founded a healing centre near Nina Rumi on the Rio Nanay.

Benjamin Ochavano Is a traditional Shipibo (elder shaman). He is in his late seventies. His chants (icaros) sung in the Shipibo language are extraordinary, beautiful and powerful.

Dates

In 2008 we will be holding two Retreat programmes, our dates are;

Retreat Programme 1.

March 8th – 14th incl. – San Pedro, Coca , and the Spiritual Traditions of the Andes.

March 15th – 29th incl. – Amazon Retreat, Ayahuasca, and Plant Spirit Medicines.

Retreat Programme 2.

July 19th – August 2nd incl. – Amazon Retreat, Ayahuasca, and Plant Spirit Medicines.

August 3rd – 9th incl. – Optional Extension week.