Best of 2002. (Mexico on the Web).Each year "Mexico on the Web" pays tribute to innovative, content-rich and visitor-friendly websites that capture Mexican culture. We've witnessed the dot.com euphoria as well as the crash-and-burn of dozens of websites that lacked solid business plans or an understanding of online communities. In 2002, no-nonsense websites matured. The following is our list of the best websites of the year. These are regularly updated and provide forums for interaction. Mexico--Lonely Planet Thorn Tree www.thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/thorn ***** (out of five * s) Australia-based Lonely Planet publishes the best-selling guidebook to Mexico. The publishing giant was one of the first to establish its own website, and one its most useful (not to mention entertaining) features is the Thorn Tree bulletin board. Travelers post questions about upcoming trips and tell others about things to see ... or miss. The Thorn Tree provides a unique glimpse into backpack travel. On any day, messages range from serious inquiries to questionable spam and insults. The vox populi vox populi Voice of the people Sociology A language, as spoken, which includes slang and jargon. See Jargon, Slang. attracts travel gurus and idiots to the virtual soap box. Travelers seeking information about out-of-the-way places are well served by participating in this forum. Artes y Historia de Mexico www.arts-history.mx ***** This Spanish-language website covers all the bases of cultural attractions in Mexico. You'll find architecture, dance, movies, museums, theater and much more with a single click from the home page. The website--created by Manuel Zavala y Alonso--is regularly updated and provides the highlights for the week on the home page (look for Semanario Cultural). The search engine, www.arts-history.mx/2001/buscador, locates information on this content-rich website. And if you don't want to go to your local museum to buy a holiday present, you can make purchases via the museum's online store, www.tiendadelmuseo.com.mx. Traditional Mexican Markets www.earthfoot.org/mercados ***** The Earthfoot website has long been one of our favorites. It features tips for independent travel around the world, yet Mexico is obviously one of the favorite destinations for webhost and author Jim Conard. The market page has been online for several years, and it has been well maintained this past year. Readers will find a directory of more than 75 mercados as well as 275 handicraft-producing towns. For non-Spanish speakers planning to visit Mexico City Mexico City Spanish Ciudad de México City (pop., 2000: city, 8,605,239; 2003 metro. area est., 18,660,000), capital of Mexico. Located at an elevation of 7,350 ft (2,240 m), it is officially coterminous with the Federal District, which occupies 571 sq mi , there are step-by-step instructions on how to reach two spectacular markets in the Mexico City area. Bicitekas www.bicitekas.org ***** Two-wheeled activists take over Mexico City streets on a regular basis to show that eco-friendly transportation is possible in the world's largest metropolis. The Spanish-language website details the organization's noctural bike rides, www.laneta.apc.org/bicitekas/paseonocturno, and workshops--www.bicitekas.org/talleres--in Chilangolandia. A plus, the site archives the print magazine "Velo," www.bicitekas.org/velo, and has established an online forum on urban biking in the Americas--www.yahoogroups.com/group/cicloamerica. Honorable Mentions Philately philately (fĭlăt`əlē), collection and study of postage stamps and of materials relating to their history and use. Collecting stamps began soon after the first postage stamp was issued in 1840; the first printed catalog was issued in Museum of Oaxaca www.mufi.org.mx Here's a tribute to the national postal service postal service, arrangements made by a government for the transmission of letters, packages, and periodicals, and for related services. Early courier systems for government use were organized in the Persian Empire under Cyrus, in the Roman Empire, and in medieval . The website is clever and provides virtual postcards you can send to friends without using a stamp. Mexico Rugby Federation www.mexrugby.com Mark your calendar for the 2003 World Rugby Cup. Mexico isn't participating, but the country is well on its way in becoming a leader in Latin American rugby. Torre Mayor The Torre Mayor is a skyscraper in Mexico City, Mexico. With a height of 225 meters (740 feet) to the top floor, 230 meters (755 feet) to the pinnacle, and 55 stories, it is the tallest building in Latin America, surpassing in mid-2003 the 220 meter (724 feet) high towers of www.torremayor.com.mx Billed as the tallest structure south of the U.S. border, the skyscraper skyscraper, modern building of great height, constructed on a steel skeleton. The form originated in the United States. Development of the Form Many mechanical and structural developments in the last quarter of the 19th cent. is monitored by a webcam that allows the public to watch live feeds from the construction site. Boozin' and sippin' Imagining Mexico without tequila is like picturing Switzerland without chocolate or Italy without tomatoes. But before the Spanish arrived, Mexico's first alcoholic beverages
n. A thick fermented alcoholic beverage made in Mexico from various species of agave. [American Spanish, from Nahuatl poliuhqui, decomposed, lost.] Noun 1. , used for religious and medicinal purposes Medicinal Purposes is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Plot Edinburgh, 1827. . This month's review of Mexico websites pays homage to the distillation process. We top it off by featuring Mexico's other premier beverage--coffee. Cheers! Tequila: In Search of the Blue Agave blue agave n. A blue-leaved Mexican agave (Agave tequilana var. weber) used especially in making tequila. www.ianchadwick.com/tequila ***** (out of five * s) Created by tequila fan extraordinaire ex·tra·or·di·naire adj. Extraordinary: a jazz singer extraordinaire. [French, from Old French, from Latin extra Ian Chadwick, this website debunks tequila myths and provides information on blue agave, tequila's main ingredient. While the site has not been updated in more than a year, it offers great design, timeless information and a comprehensive look at the beverage. Most books are not this detailed. The site is divided in 14 sections about production, history and culture. Ian also reviews tequila's sister drink, mezcal, as well as its ancestor, pulque, with some asides on other regional Mexican drinks like bacanora and sotol so·tol n. 1. Any of several tall woody plants of the genus Dasylirion of the southwest United States and adjacent Mexico, having prickly-margined leaves and a large panicle of whitish unisexual flowers. 2. . You'll find copious references and links to recipes, drink mixes, margaritas and industry sites. Sociedad do Productores Agave Agave, in Greek mythology Agave (əgā`vē): see Pentheus. agave, in botany agave: see amaryllis. del Sur www.agavedelsur.com ** With too much animation and not enough content, this site needs some work. It features the work of an association of mezcal producers representing 63 distilleries in the Amatlanes region of Oaxaca. The site provides a list of a few of its brands and a dull history of the distillation process itself. The website is basic, but could be much more useful to the consumer who would like to visit the factories for a first-hand tour. Coordinadora Nacional de Organizaciones Cafetaleras www.laneta.apc.org/cnoc/ * In 1988, several regional organizations of small coffee growers formed the Coordinadora Nacional de Organizaciones Cafetaleras (CNOC CNOC Cartoon Network Orbit Ctoons (website) CNOC Commission on Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry CNOC China National Oil Corporation CNOC Commander, Naval Oceanography Command CNOC Chief Nursing Officers Council ), an autonomous national network of 126 regional organizations that unites 75,000 small coffee producers. While the CNOC is known for its public outreach--including the development of the exposition "Life in a Sip" (La Vida en un Sorbo) for the National Museum of Popular Culture--the website is a big disappointment. It provides dated information and is visually unappealing. History of the Margarita www.cocktailtimes.com/history/margarita.html Cocktailtimes.com investigates conflicting claims by Tijuana and Acapulco as the birthplace of the famed tequila and lime juice concoction. The site also features margarita recipes. Bookmark A stored location for quick retrieval at a later date. Web browsers provide bookmarks that contain the addresses (URLs) of favorite sites. Most electronic references, large text databases and help systems provide bookmarks that mark a location users want to revisit in the future. and stir. Tequila Aficionado A Spanish word that means fan, devotee, enthusiast, etc. There are loyal aficionados of every subject in the computer field. www.tequilaaficionado.com *** Tequila fans unite! This industry website managed by Alexander Perez provides the most comprehensive source of information about tequila and mezcal. While the design is basic, the website is updated on a regular basis. You can also register for a free account and sound off on your favorite tequila. Corona www.corona.com * Another disappointing website is from the king of light beers. The website is only available in English, assumes visitors come from the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and provides a glorified glo·ri·fy tr.v. glo·ri·fied, glo·ri·fy·ing, glo·ri·fies 1. To give glory, honor, or high praise to; exalt. 2. TV commercial as bait. If you have time to spare, don't mind Flash software and want to play games by dunking a cellphone (CELLular telePHONE) The first ubiquitous wireless telephone. Originally analog, all new cellular systems are digital, which has enabled the cellphone to turn into a smartphone that has access to the Internet. , www.corona.com/flash/index.php is a site to visit. Otherwise, choose another cerveza. Coffee Websites International Coffee Organization www.ico.org This site provides regular updates from the London-based inter-governmental body comprised of members from coffee exporting and importing countries. Hencorp Coffee Group Commentary www.hencorp.com/web/html/futures/coffeereport.asp Coffee news served up fresh daily. Ran Mader is the host of the popular website, www.planeta.com, and winner of the 2002 "Lente de Plata" for best Mexico travel website. |
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