| How long have you been
visiting Mexico?
Herb first passed through Mexico in early 1957 on his way from
Venezuela to Texas via the Pan American Highway. He later lived
and worked as a geologist in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz from 1960
to 1962. We honeymooned in Mexico almost 25 years ago; it was
Carla's first trip there since early childhood. For the next several
years we visited Mexico periodically, and have been regular visitors
there for the past14 years since Herb retired.
How did you get involved in writing about Mexico?
We once ran a Bed and Breakfast Inn near Austin.
In speaking to our guests, we often encountered an abysmal lack
of knowledge about our near neighbor to the south. Since we both
traveled there frequently, people would ask us "You don't drive
in Mexico, do you?" or "Where else is there to go besides the
beach?"
So we began our newsletter an effort to tell anyone who would
listen or read that Mexico was a civilized country whose people
had different but charming customs, and whose traditions and history
was far older and more colorful than our own. From 1991-1996 we
were contributors to Frommer's Guides to Mexico, working
with Marita Adair. It was an excellent way to get to know different
parts of the country and to meet interesting and gracious people
in the tourism business.
Would you tell me more about the origin and role of Mexican
Meanderings?
Our newsletter shows the modern tourist that there are places
worth visiting other than Cancun or Chapala and even the more
visited places have a depth worth exploring. For example, Acapulco
is a famous watering hole, but how many of its visitors know that
for almost200 years the famous Manila galleons called Acapulco
their home port? Who knows about Copala, a picturesque village
of red-tiled roofs and brilliant bougainvillea, at the western
end of one of the more spectacular -- yet safe -- mountain roads
in this hemisphere and not far from Mazatlán?
Or that chocolate comes from football-shaped pods? As we look
back, launching the newsletter was an exercise in faith. We should
have been terrified, but were full of enthusiasm.
We had an early Macintosh, and some experience in writing --
Herb in the scientific field, while Carla had just finished editing
a book in the social sciences. So we bought a word processing
program and a cheap page layout program, found an inexpensive
commercial printer who would accept the Mac format and went into
business. We changed printers later after he printed an entire
run without the header. Our initial mailing list was comprised
of past guests at the B&B, plus an extensive list of newspaper
and magazine travel editors. From an occasional review given us
by one of the latter, we built a core subscriber list. However,
in a list of our many talents, advertising is conspicuously absent.
We spent a lot of money learning this.
What is it like working as a couple?
At times very exciting!! At the outset we decided to be "co-editors,"
and it has worked out pretty well. We have our own individual
style, and concept of what and how we want to put something across.
Usually we are not too far apart, for we share a common vision,
but from time-to-time we have what we euphemistically term "editorial
meetings." We've never gone to bed angry, but occasionally bedtime
has been quite late. Fortunately we share a good, if somewhat
warped, sense of humor, and laugh a lot at both the world and
ourselves. It has kept us "best of friends" for a quarter century.
As you approach the publication of issue 50 and look upon
what you've written, what has surprised you most?
Mexico is such a timeless land that surprises are hard to come
by. I have been pleasantly surprised over the last couple of years
in upbeat encounters with officialdom. Others may dispute this,
but personal experience has been good. Once, in Guadalajara, I
(Herb) lost my tourist papers. As we planned to travel in the
country for several more weeks, I presented my problem to the
Immigration office on a Friday morning and was told to return
the following Monday morning. Yeah, sure! But I did so and was
presented with new papers -- at no cost. Another was an encounter
with a Federal trooper, who flagged me down for speeding (I had
been!). He was courteous but firm about the danger of speed in
urban areas, then smiled and wished us a pleasant, and safe, remainder
of our trip. No hanky-panky, and again, no cost -- this would
have surprised me in the USA.
Carla continues to be intrigued by the diversity of the country;
terrain, vegetation, climate, local customs, and regional treatments
of the Spanish language. And we are both impressed by the ethnic
pride amongst indigenous groups such as those living deep in the
Sierra Tarahumara.
In other interviews you've been asked to name your "favorite
place in Mexico," and invariably you reply "Wherever we visited
last." Do you really love the entire country that much?
Yes, but we admit to having favorite spots -- such as Barra
de Navidad, Jalisco, a laid-back seaside village with mostly Mexican
tourists, nice inexpensive small hotels, many good small restaurants,
and friendly people. Then there is Jerez, Zacatecas, a relaxed
mountain valley town with a small cadre of really wonderful English
speakers -- some of whom are Mexican -- who meet for an informal
coffee hour each morning, before checking their e-mail at the
local cyber-cafe. On weekends, ranch hands ride into town on their
horses to see what is going on. For short visits even San Miguel
de Allende has its charm. It is justifiably in the recognized
"colonial city" category, but has a distinctly Americanized undercurrent
which makes us slightly uncomfortable.
Our most favorite place has to be Oaxaca. The city and its surrounding
villages and ruins have a timeless character - invading cultures
have not overcome, but have taken their place beside that which
went before. We feel comfortable there - San Jose Mogote, Monte
Albán and the Internet do not clash with each other.
And once again, Mexican hospitality is so evident.
On the down side, there are a few places that we've been which
do not call us back. Not that they are bad, or unpleasant - they
just don't touch the chord.
How do you use the Internet in your work?
Without the Internet, research would be very much more difficult.
The accessibility of database references and the almost immediate
response to queries is invaluable. Carla still works part-time
as a librarian at Austin's St. Edward's University and includes
the Internet in her presentations on research skills.
What exactly would you like to see on the Internet?
We would like to see more evaluative information about destinations.
Accommodations and restaurants are noted, although most citations
are promotional in nature and thus can be somewhat misleading.
Also, a bit more cultural and historical information - not in
excruciating detail, but "Why we ought to go there other than
to swim or eat.
Will the internet change the role of guidebook writers and
publishers?
Undoubtedly. Guidebooks should soon be appearing on the Internet.
They should be an improvement over existing ones, as the traveler
will expect it to be truly current. This will put a greater responsibility
on both the writer and publisher. Today, hotel and restaurant
data in even the most up-to-date printed guidebook is anywhere
from one to three years out of date when it hits the newsstands.
With the Internet, this is no longer acceptable.
In the near future, do you have any new projects?
We hope to have more of an Internet presence, perhaps a Web
site or an electronic version of Mexican Meanderings. We are also
investigating publishing one or more compilations of stories from
our newsletter after we publish issue #50 (November/December)
1999.
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