Gina Machorro EspinosaThe Information GoddessGPS: 15°51.412'N 97°04.158'WEmail: GinaInPuerto@Yahoo.com Telephone: (954) 582-0276 |
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 Gina gives advice to two tourists outside of the tourist information booth at the west end of the Adoquín |
Day of the Dead Ceremony at the Cemetary 2009 • Día de los Muertos en el Campo Santo 2009
November 2 is the day we Mexicans honor our dead friends and family members. For the last three years I've done a ceremony in the graveyard in the name of a friend, Ana Marquez, who died several years ago. I plan to do the ceremony again this year. I'll explain why we get together and also help make the day a special one for those who are interested in Mexican culture and our traditions. El Día de Muertos is a unique way to understand these traditions. We'll have some tamales and chocolate. This special event is free. Please arrive on time. Bring your camera and your questions.
Day: Monday, November 2, 2009
To participate, bring a candle and buy some flowers at the same corner. I'll be there.
Gina (of Gina's walking tours)
The Mixtec ceremonial center was discovered in early 2000 just east of Puerto Escondido (within walking distance) and is considered a major discovery. The site has at least 10 pyramids and a ball court. A number of large carved stones have been found. Situated on a hilltop, it commands a spectacular view of the Pacific coast and of Puerto Escondido. The site is not restored, is privately held in parcels by multiple landowners, and is generally not open to the public. - Tom
On her tour, Gina visits the indigenous people of yesterday and today how they lived and survive. She took us to a local restaurant serving authentic, traditional cuisine of the area before the Spaniards arrived. Gina explained what we were eating and the rich nutritional value of these foods. We visited a woman who makes the tamales and mole (Yes!) who is the daughter of one of Puerto Escondido's founders. We also visited a woman dispensing herbs and medicinal plants at La Divina Providencia where local remedies are still dispensed. Our final stop was the Mercado where we were introduced to a variety of new tastes such as fresh tamarind and tortillas with cinnamon and coconut (who knew?). Gina's wide ranging knowledge covered history, religion, culture, gastronomy and we got a tasty breakfast! We thought we were going for a refresher tour but Gina has taken it to a whole new level.
Pat Heim & Serge Lashutka
Gina not only speaks English but I heard her converse easily with Italian and German tourists as well. Regardless of what you need to know, Gina seems to have the answer. How do I get a bus to Puerto Angel? Where is there a laundromat? What's the best cypercafe? How much does property cost in Puerto? Where are the best beaches for swimming? Who do I talk to if I want to buy a gorilla? (OK, just kidding about the gorilla but you get the point.)
She provides a terrific walking tour that gives the tourist who may never ordinarily make it off the beaches a look at the Puerto of those who live there. She is a walking book of information about the way of life in Puerto, its small shops, history, and its people. Departing from the Information Booth, the tour through the upper part of town provides insights that one might not ordinarily discover on their own. I highly recommend it.
If you are looking for a place to stay or even a place to buy in Puerto, again Gina is a terrific resource. She seems to know everyone and everything that is going on in Puerto. She is available to go with you to look at property and her bilingual skills are invaluable. I can't imagine how I would have been able to purchase a house in Puerto had it not been for all of Gina's assistance.
In addition to being a wonderful resource, she is also a very nice person. You want to just hang out with her. Please do stop and see her at the Information Booth when you are in Puerto and be sure to tell her that Karen says "hi."
Karen
describe just a few pleasant aspects of our trip. As you know, it is not so crowded in June (school's out in early July, so there's the increase in family travel ... but still not too crowded). We had little time anyway (8 days) and met only a few people. The most memorable of these was (is) Gina Machorro Espinosa.
We found that her intuition was almost infallible. She was able to know what we would enjoy, tell us the most efficient way to do it, and, most importantly, help us to feel like a family member during the process. She graciously lent us her copy of an excellent tour book (signed by the author). She related to our teenage son like she was his favorite aunt (surfing info was very helpful), and she made us feel as though we had a real friend in Puerto. Gina is a very talented person, and we are grateful for her unique contributions to our memories.
One of the activities she recommended was a tour of the Laguna de La Palmazola (en Barra de Navidad) with Galos Sanchez. The fuzzy baby egrets were everywhere along with hundreds of other birds, and we even saw a couple of crocodiles in the middle of the day. Galos was very proud and enthusiastic about the reserve, as he should be. Gina also knew that Fermin, one of our waiters at the Hotel Santa Fe had a boat and took tourists fishing. That, too, turned out great.
My wife, Jan, enjoyed the dolphin playground we trolled through, and James and I got a kick out of pulling in a dozen tuna. We would certainly recommend that a trip to Puerto includes time with Gina at the tourist information booth in the Adoquin. If fishing or wildlife or just friendly conversation is on your agenda, this is definitely the place to start.
Ward, Jan and James
August is the time for Puerto Escondido to have there own time of Pelota Mixteca they are ready some days we have 5 players some times 9, the glove that they use is not a easy one, has to be made in Oaxaca city, and the area to play is ready near Malucano a small area near PE ,the games are Sundays at 5 PM Mexican time! For more information come to the tourist information booth at the Adoquín.
City Walking Tour
Gina conducts regular tours on Wednesday and Saturday during the high season and at other times by request. She periodically changes and updates these excursions so they are worth repeating.
Day of the Dead Tour
Gina conducts an annual Day of the Dead tour in which she takes a group of people bearing flowers and candles to a local cemetery. Participants observe the traditional decorating of the gravesites and meet with some of the families. See photos from the 2007 tour.
Location : Av. Oaxaca at the corner of 8 Norte
Time : 5:00 p.m.Archaeological Walking Tour
Gina began offering this tour in 2002 and is was tours from November to May. The tours may no longer be available. Please inquire to Gina.
Apartment for Rent
Gina has a small Apartment for rent in the Riconada area. It's a 5-minute walk from Playa Carrizalillo, with an upstairs palapa with hammocks.
Some Comments from Visitors
Better Than Ever, And Breakfast Now Included
Eight years ago we went on one of Gina’s walking tours after visiting Puerto Escondido many times. She helped us to understand the town, its rich history, the region and its people. So when we returned this year the first thing we did was again join Gina on her walking tour. What we didn't anticipate was how much her walking tour had evolved.
Pacific Palisades, CA
2/3/07
Gina Knows All
I just returned from a month in Mexico and I cannot sing the praises of Gina, the Information Goddess, highly enough. As many of you know, Gina dispenses information at the tourist department's Information Booth just outside the west end of the barrier on the Adoquin. For those of you who don't already know, Gina is one of Puerto's greatest assets and anyone travelling to Puerto needs to make her acquaintance.
9/17/03
The Goddess Does Not Disappoint
Dear Tom, My wife and our 15 year old son made our first trip together to Mexico. I'd like to rave in a most positive way about our end of June/beginning of July stay in Puerto Escondido. The only thing less than wonderful was the length ... too short. Rather than fill this page with compliments about numerous experiences that you have heard a great deal about from others, I'd like to
information booth photo by Geri Anderson
Stockton, California
Area Maps
 Clickable City Map |
 Clickable Regional Map |
 Puerto Escondido Centro |
 Marinero and Zicatela north |
 Zicatela south and the Point |
www.tomzap.com
Tom Penick: tom@tomzap.com