Walking and Drinking Beer

If you are a beer drinker who likes to travel, you need to check out Rich Grant’s Walking and Drinking Beer site atwww.WalkingAndDrinkingBeer.com. Rich is based in Denver, a city that brews more beer than any other city. His latest tour is Walking and Drinking Beer on the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. He also lists his top 10 cities for walking and drinking beer. No. 1? London.

Mummies Back Home

Crowds in Guanajuato gathered to welcome 31 mummies that had been rented in 2009 for exhibition in the United States. This caused something of a local scandal, questions being raised about who authorized this and where rent money went. Municipal authorities promised never to rent mummies again. In hilly Guanajuato, the dead often are interred in above-ground crypts. Rent is charged, and, if not paid, cadavers can be removed after seven years. Many bodies mummify in the dry climate and these often are placed on exhibit in the Guanajuato Mummy Museum, a major local tourist attraction.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Mexico City airport saturated

Now it is official. No more slots are available at the Mexico City airport between 6 and 10 a.m. and between 5 and 9 p.m. Once again, pressure is on to build a new airport. This was attempted a dozen years ago, but machete-wielding farmers protested. Alternative airports seemed to be one solution, but Cuernavaca, Puebla and Queretaro are too distant while the altitude at Toluca (nearly 8,000 feet) is a severe disadvantage. Another runway at Mexico City is another alternative, but the Mexico City airport is in a heavily built-up part of the capital city.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Asia Tourism Eyed

Back from a quick trip to Japan, Tourism Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu announced that Mexico hopes soon to be attracting 100,000 Japanese tourists annually. India and Indonesia also are attractive markets, she added. And while Mexico no longer is among the 10 most visited countries in the world, the hospitality industry is during well, the minister declared. She noted that under the five-month-old Enrique Peña Nieto administration, about 12 percent more tourists arrived compared to the first five months when his predecessor took over six years ago. Earnings, she added, were $6.4 million during the first two months of this year compared to $5.7 million in January and February of 2007.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Color Map Available

A full-color map of more than 200 Northern California and southern Oregon public campgrounds, parks, marinas, trails, refuges and recreation areas now is available from the Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association and Bureau of Land Management. The new Northern California Recreation Map, last updated 13 years ago, consolidates areas managed by eight federal and state public lands agencies onto one map, including: relief and land status details, location amenities, services, fees and phone numbers, and the entire Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, one of only three All-American Roads in California. Copies of the new map are available at Shasta Cascade region visitor centers, by calling (530) 365-7500 or by writing to the SCWA at 1699 Hwy 273, Anderson, CA 96007.

World Heritage Sites

Mexico has 34 sites that one day may be included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. Two-thirds of these have been waiting for more than a decade. Among those on the list is the 44 kilometer Father Tembleque Aqueduct — named for its engineer — at Zempoala in Hidalgo, completed in 1560 and the largest such structure in the country. Mexico now has 27 World Heritage sites, more than any other country in the Americas.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Tourism Spending Up

Although fewer international tourists arrived in Mexico during the first two months of the year, those that did spent more. Tourism Ministry figures indicate foreign exchange earnings were up by 8.1 percent. Biggest drop was registered in border areas, where visitors are much less inclined to pop over the line for a few hours. This has been blamed on crime, but stricter border controls also may be to blame. Even for pedestrians, the wait to be inspected can be an hour or more. Also, the U.S. government now requires all those who enter the United States carry a passport. The vast majority of Americans do not own a passport.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Hilton eyes Mexico City’s Santa Fe

The Santa Fe area of the western edge of Mexico City now has about a dozen hotels, with Hilton ready to join the crowd. Sheraton, which pioneered in the area, has just completed a multi-million dollar refurbishing. A generation ago, Santa Fe was little more than landfill. Since then it has become to the Mexican capital what Singapore is to Asia: modernistic high rises, sleek offices, elegant restaurants, chic shops and expensive condominiums. Its one disadvantage is poor road communication with the rest of the city.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Air Traffic Declines

Nine airports have reported a decline in international traffic since 1989. This is blamed on a number of factors including economic conditions, the disappearance of Mexicana Airlines, and the perception of violence in Mexico. Acapulco saw the sharpest decline, receiving 292,000 fewer passengers than it did in 2008, a decline of nearly 35 percent. International arrivals in Monterrey were down by 8.5 percent. Other airports reported a decline in international arrivals, but to a lesser percent.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Airline Market Share

Aeroméxico has a 41.8 percent of the Mexican aviation market, followed by Interjet, with 20 percent, Volaris, with 10 percent, VivaAerobus 5 percent and Aeromar with less than 2 percent. Interjet, Volaris and VivaAerobus all are newcomers, less than a decade old. All focus on offering low fares. Aeroméxico dates back to 1934, when it began flying ship passengers from Acapulco to Mexico City. Aeriomar, which, until recently featured only jet-prop planes, has been concentrating on the domestic business market. Gone are Aerocalifornia, Aviacsa, Azteca, Taesa and others. Mexicana Airlines has been grounded due to financial difficulties since mid-2011 and may never fly again.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Yosemite a Mother Nature Masterpiece

Yosemite Valley, top and Yosemite Falls in the spring.

Story & Photos By Stan Wawer

Yosemite National Park is one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces, a canvas of chromatic beauty. Coming upon Yosemite Valley for the first time only one word comes to mind — “Wow!”

   More than 3.5 million visitors come to Yosemite each year to be awed by its natural wonders. With 750,000 acres, it is one of the largest habitat blocks in central Sierra Nevada, home to 2,000 varieties of plants, including rare giant sequoia groves, and animals, from black bears to bighorn sheep. There are literally thousands of lakes and ponds, 1,600 miles of streams, geysers and hot springs, 800 miles of hiking trails and 350 miles of roads.

Each season brings on a completely different experience. In the spring, the runoff leaves Yosemite's waterfalls rushing like the Mad Hatter on his way to a tea party.

   As the falls smash against the rocks below, they produce a spritz-like effect. Ice flows race toward self-destruction on the Merced River. Wildflowers, which stay through most of the summer, fill the meadows and the last of winter’s dandruff melts away on El Capitan and Half Dome — two of the most imposing monoliths in the world.

   Summer offers warm temperatures and prime wildlife viewing. Fall is cooler, perfect for hiking, a time when leafy trees show their colors. In winter, freezing conditions invite magnificent ice crystal formations and skiing and snowshoeing at Badger Pass. Ice-skating at Curry Village has been going on since 1928. Visitors skate in the shadow of Glacier Point and Half Dome at this outdoor Yosemite Valley rink.

The Yosemite Mountaineering School will celebrate its 44th anniversary this summer. Opening in 1969 in Yosemite Valley, it is the most famous school of rock climbing in the world. A women's-only rock climbing instruction class is offered.

   Getting there: Take the (Foothill (210) Freeway to the Golden State (5) Freeway, connecting to Highway 99 near Bakersfield and then Highway 41 east through Oakhurst and into the park.

If you are not a camper, there are plenty of places to stay in the area, including the famous Ahwanee Hotel in Yosemite Valley, the AAA-rated Four Diamond Tenaya Lodge just two miles from Yosemite's south entrance, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls and Curry Village — also in the valley — and the Wawona Hotel, four miles from the park's south entrance. Excellent and reasonably priced lodging also is available in Oakhurst, about 20 miles outside the south entrance.

   Contact: Reservations at DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite Inc., (801) 559-4949 or www.yosemiepark.com.

   All information is accurate at the time of publication but prices, dates and other details are all subject to change. Confirm all information before making any travel arrangements.

IPO for Volaris

Volaris, one of Mexico’s new, low-fare airlines, is working with Morgan Stanley to arrange an initial public offering expected to raise $350 million. The funds would be used for the purchase of jets ordered from Airbus. This year, Volaris expects to become a billion-dollar company, carrying 10 million passengers (compared to 7.8 million in 2012). Overall, airlines in Mexico plan to invest $20 billion in the purchase of 250 jets during the next few years. Aeroméxico is looking at acquiring 100 Boeing aircraft and Interjet 40 planes.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Too Many Magic Towns?

Mexico now has 83 communities designated as pueblos mágicos or magical towns. About half of these were awarded the designation by the Tourism Ministry last year. Goal is to attract more visits to charming but often overlooked places, almost all of which lack beaches. Where improvements were needed — better streets, removal of garish signs, etc. — the ministry provided money if the townspeople would provide the labor. Only one town failed to cooperate and lost its designation, although others nearly did. Now, with new people in charge at the Tourism Ministry, a second look is about to be taken.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Vacations end

Hotels throughout the country reported record occupancy rates for the Easter Weekend, a traditional holiday time in Mexico. Not only were resorts full from Acapulco to Cancun, but also metropolitan areas such as Mexico City reported that business was booming. Holy Week — or Spring Week as it is officially known among the laity — sees many businesses closing, with banks and government offices shutting their doors on Thursday and Friday. Schools are on vacation until next Monday. Airports and bus stations were jammed and drivers plagued by traffic jams at toll stations.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Change at Tourism Ministry

Néstor Martínez Cristo is the new communications chief at the Ministry of Tourism, replacing Servando González, who has been called back to the press relations squad of President Enrique Peña Nieto. Gonzalez, who has spent most of his life in official positions, was viewed by many as the star of the recent Tianguis trade show in Puebla. Reportedly he made such an impression that the president summoned him to play with his team. Martinez Cristo also is a veteran in the official media relations field.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers