Calderon cuts energy costs to calm crisis

MEXICO CITY, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Mexican President Felipe Calderon unveiled sweeping cuts to energy prices on Wednesday, his latest measure to soothe the impact of the global economic crisis on consumers and businesses.

The steps announced by Calderon should help the central bank get a handle on inflation, currently at a more than seven-year high.

Calderon said he would freeze gasoline prices and would lower household gas prices by 10 percent and electricity rates for businesses by up to 20 percent.

"Gasoline prices are being frozen across the country for the whole year," Calderon said.

Mexicans have increasingly called for the government to lower gasoline prices, which the government administers, since oil prices tumbled from record highs late last year.

Mexico is a major oil producer and gasoline is subsidized at the pump. The government accelerated price rises last year as soaring world prices made subsidies a bigger burden.

Lofty inflation has kept Mexico's central bank from cutting interest rates to shore up economic growth, expected to take a hit this year because of slumping U.S. demand.

"We're going to live through a period of big difficulties, in terms of economic growth, investment and employment," Calderon said. (Reporting by Jason Lange and Luis Rojas; Editing by James Dalgleish)


Reuters Article

11 Ton Three Kings Bread - Mexico City

A huge, 11-tonne (10,000 kg) bread was readied Sunday for the traditional Magi party that sees thousands of Mexican families coming together to celebrate with food and gifts for children.

"This event is important ... we will not lose our traditions" that unite families, said Laura Vazquez, Mexico's secretary for economic development.

A central part of the celebration of the nativity's Three Wise Men -- described in the Bible as bringing presents to the newborn Jesus Christ -- revolves around baking and eating La Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread), a sweet, dry delicacy.

The bread in question, unveiled in all its glory at the central Zocalo square in Mexico City, is about 1,600 meters (one mile) long, and weighs close to 11 tonnes (10,000 kilograms).

It will be shared between some 200,000 people gathered to celebrate in the city center.

Around 2,300 bakers affiliated to the national baker's association (Canainpa) helped bake the bread.

In all, the sweet bread used seven tonnes (6,600 kg) of flour, 3.3 tonnes (3,000 kg) of butter and 396 gallons (1,500 liters) of milk, according to Canainpa head Antonio Arias.

Families in Mexico and throughout Latin America celebrate the Epiphany on January 6, remembering the day when the Three Wise Men following the star to Bethlehem arrived bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Baby Jesus.

The new entance to Manzanillo Airport - ZLO

The new entrance to the Manzanillo Airport (ZLO) is moving right along - and it's huge. Actually the first clover-leaf (4-way) intersection I've seen in Mexico that looks designed from scratch.

The rumor is that will become part of the new coastal highway that will bypass Melaque, Barra, Jaluco and a number of smaller towns north. The big rumor is that a new bridge will be built as an extension of this clover-leaf and bypass Cihuatlan closer to the coast. That would be a large improvment but a long project.

Papaya's in our future back yard

The papaya plant is a large herb that grows rapidly, reaching heights of more than twenty-five feet and producing a soft wood. The huge fingered leaves form a spiral similar to those of the palm tree. The plant grows quickly from seed and bears fruit within a year, continuing to do so for another two years before the tree is cut down. The tree grows best in temperatures of 25°C (77°F)and does not like storms or winds. It also requires good drainage as the roots will rot if they become water-logged.

This papaya field is a block away from the new house and I expect to make use of a few of them. I also hope we have room enough in our yard to grow a few. I've had a few starts before but didn't know that I was tending a male tree that won't bear fruit. Growing tropical fruit will be a gas.

Almost as far as you can see

A couple are ripe so won't be long

Papaya field in Pinal Villa, Melaque, Costalegre

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Guadalupe day, December 12, is Mexico’s most important religious holiday. On this day people from all over Mexico travel to the chapel Tepayac Hill in Mexico City, where the mother of Jesus is said to have appeared before an Indian peasant named Juan Diego back in 1531. Mary told Juan to go to the bishop and ask that a church be built on the hill so she could be close to her people. The bishop, needing proof of this vision, asked Juan to have a miracle performed by Mary. Juan returned to Tepayac Hill and found roses growing where there had only been cacti. Juan wrapped the roses in his tilma (cape) along with a picture of Mary to show the bishop. He was convinced and the chapel was built.

This hoilday has one of the longest celebrations, starting about a week before the 12th with cohetes (fireworks) early morning, evening and just about any time somebody feels like it. In Melaque there will be parades, school activities and feasting on the 12th.