It is important as an investor to remain emotionless and not get caught up in panics.  Often the market will show you signs and extraneous one time events shakes out the weak investors.  Many times if you take a step back and wait until a stock resolves itself, this will avoid you getting caught up in fearful panic or optimistic hysteria.

A rule that I practice when unexpected news hits is to see how the stock responds.  If the news is bearish like in our case of the Cerro San Pedro mine  being halted due to environmental concerns then I will look to see how the stock responds.  If the decline is quick and buying resumes that is a sign of strength.  When a stock is able to digest terrible news and resume its up trend this indicates strength and resilience. If it breaks the 3.25 area I would be concerned.

The initial selling panic is a knee jerk reaction which usually shakes out all the weak holders of the trend.  As we can see by the long term chart of New Gold it is still in an uptrend and having the top mining executives on the board will certainly have influence on Mexican officials.

I am sure they will make the adjustments needed at Cerro San Pedro and having a pipeline of great gold copper projects with decreasing cash costs in good mining jurisdictions will overcome this unexpected news item.

I have a post started about Puerto Rico and why Tom was there and the state of health care, etc. But instead of finishing that post, it’s much more fun to make a list of my impressions of Puerto Rico. Now, I’ve been before a few times. Tom and I went once or twice by ourselves and stayed with his dad and step-mom in their condo. I can’t remember for sure if this was one trip or two trips that have gotten mixed together in my (really bad) memory. We ate coffee ice cream on their balcony, watched movies, and had a good time. I remember going to El Yunque, to Old San Juan, to Ponce to spread the ashes of Tom’s Granny in the Caribbean, and to lots of dinners. I remember Tom’s step-mom picking up breadfruit at a road-side stand and making tostones with that and platano.

The next trip I remember was also a long time ago. We went to Puerto Rico, along with Tom’s mom and uncle, because his Grandma Jane was dying of cancer. We all stayed together in a hotel in the Condado area. It was nice because we could walk all over the place: to the beach, to restaurants, bars, etc. Despite going for such a sad reason, we had a lot of fun. I remember Tom’s uncle having “heterosexual moments” as he called them. The women in Puerto Rico really get dressed up to go out on the town, let me tell you. I remember going out for Cuban food, going in the ocean in a rocky area and getting thrashed by the waves (and then Tom’s step-mom making some comment about my weight and how that was somehow to blame?).

I remember her not being all that kind to me before we had kids, but perhaps it was, at times, a miscommunication, despite the fact that her English was very good and 1000 times better than my Spanish! I’m not sure how she felt about me, but I cannot complain because she was always 100% terrific with the kids. She was fun and talked to them and played with them, until the last trip they made to Phoenix when she was not as spry. Still, she did as much as she could on that trip. Anyway, I remember being mad at her on that trip to Puerto Rico, but I also remember having a lot of fun.

The visit before last was when Aidan was about 8 or 9 months old. I remember sitting on the back patio of Tom’s dad and step-mom’s house, listening to the coquis and helping Aidan cruise around the table they had on the patio. I remember the loud window air conditioner in the guest bedroom and the rooster that one of their neighbors had. We found it annoying. How funny is it that now, more than 5 years later, we have our own roosters? I remember seeing Tom’s uncle’s long-time girlfriend (there really should be a better way to say that… significant other? partner?). We visited her house, listened to music, and she gave us a picture of Tom’s uncle. I remember having lunch with Viola, who is Tom’s grandfather’s second wife. At this point, both of Tom’s grandparents, as well as his two uncles, had passed away. I remember that it rained every day we were there, except the last day. That was when we went to Old San Juan. I remember carrying Aidan in a sling and walking all over Old San Juan. Old San Juan, by the way, is quite hilly. It was a workout, that’s for sure. And I was not in nearly as good a shape as I am now. We had lunch there and also did some quick pictures of us with Aidan standing by El Morro.

This is a picture of a street in Old San Juan. I think Moira took the picture, or maybe it was Tim.

This most recent trip was really fun, despite Tom’s dad being in the hospital. We stayed at a nice hotel resort, where we got a discount because Tom’s step-cousin (his step-mom’s nephew) works there. We saw some sites, but mostly we went to the beach and played in the ocean and with the sand. For Tim, the kids, and me it was more vacation than anything else. We went there to see Tom’s dad in the hospital, but the kids could not see him (no kids under 12 are allowed to visit). We went there to support Tom, who was very lonely and overwhelmed. We went so the kids could see their dad and see part of their own heritage and ethnicity. It’s the first time they realized that they are Puerto Rican. They knew that Ito (that’s what they call Tom’s dad) and Tita (what they called Tom’s step-mom) lived there. They knew Ito and Tita spoke Spanish. They knew their dad spoke Spanish, but hadn’t really heard him speaking it conversationally. I think the trip was an eye-opener for them, and that’s good. My only regret is that we had not visited in the last 5+ years. I vow that we will definitely go more often, and not just for the good food.

Chicago-based artist Josué Pellot opened his most recent solo show, titled New Work, at the Chicago Cultural Center last week. The exhibition features photographs and installations that investigate ideas of consumerism and the politics of identity within Puerto Rican culture.

In the photograph titled Dama a Caballo, Pellot offers an updated version of the iconic work of 18^th century Puerto Rican painter José Campeche. Contrary to the original work’s European landscape and refined representation, Pellot chooses to “puertoricanize” the image by depicting a woman from the barrio on a less than ideal setting and horse. The photograph La Municipal – El Morro features the Spanish fort of El Morro in San Juan digitally intervened to seamlessly mirror the storefront of a Puerto Rican convenience store in Chicago.

Josué Pellot was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and resides in Chicago. He received his BFA from the University of Illinois, at Chicago, and his MFA from Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois. He works in various mediums such as painting, screen-printing, video and sculpture. In 2007 Pellot completed a residency with the Fundament Foundation in Tilburg, NL. In 2010 he is scheduled for a solo exhibition in New Castle, England and his first museum solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Caguas, Puerto Rico. 

 The exhibition is currently on view at the Chicago Cultural Center until December 27^th 2009.

Images provided by the artist

El Morro Fortress

If visiting a volcanic Caribbean island happens to be on your “to-see” list, consider the diverse island of Puerto Rico. There are several daily non-stop flights from the US mainland into San Juan airport-no passport needed.  But my favorite way to get to Puerto Rico is by cruise ship.  Imagine relaxing on deck as the sun breaks through the purple-grey morning clouds to reveal El Yunque National Rainforest in the east.  As you glide into San Juan harbor, you will sail past what I think is possibly the most spectacular sight in the entire Caribbean. Rising majestically 140 feet above the sea, flying US, Puerto Rico and Spanish military flags, is Fuerte San Felipe del Morro, commonly called El Morro (meaning “promontory” in Spanish). The largest fortress in the Caribbean, El Morro is the most striking of this city’s fortifications, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the San Juan Bay. El Morro was built between 1540 and 1783 to keep seaborne enemies out of San Juan. Among its many wonderful attractions, El Morro features a maze of secret access tunnels and dungeons and a small museum with a detailed history of the fortress. It’s a great place to bring the kids as there is plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep their interest.  El Morro has been designated a National Historic Site.

The fortress is only a thirty minute walk from the port, straight uphill through Old San Juan.  Along the way you will pass small shops, cafes, centuries’ old churches and interesting architecture. Have your cameras ready and batteries charged. Old San Juan is a charming area where the colonial ambiance is well-maintained. From the magnificent 18^th century Spanish architecture to the cobblestone streets and well-kept doorways, a visit to this old city is like a journey back in time. After touring El Morro, allow yourself at least an hour or two to meander your way back through town. Stop for a margarita or have lunch in the tropical courtyard patio at El Convento, a 356-year old former convent turned into an incredible 5-star hotel.

Courtyard Dining at El Convento

It’s difficult to miss this ochre-colored building with its heavy, dark wood entrance; simply walk downhill from El Morro to 100 Cristo Street. There are dozens of helpful uniformed police in Old San Juan ready to assist with directions. For lunch with a local flare, a visit to the El Jibarito restaurant is in order.  Located at 280 Calle Sol, El Jibarito is bustling at lunchtime with families, shoppers and a few tourists who have stumbled upon this Old San Juan favorite.

Puerto Rican Chicken with Plantains and Rice

While my friend ordered the minute steak, I went for a traditional Puerto Rican dish, roast chicken, plantains and rice and was not disappointed.

Rather make it a beach day? A short taxi ride from the port is Condado Beach. Located only ten miles from historic Old San Juan it is a small slice of paradise. Adjacent to pristine beaches, this lively tourism area hosts countless shops, restaurants, night spots, casinos and of course, hotels. A stroll along Condado’s main road, Ashford Avenue, will lead you along an enchanting seaside pathway. The avenue ends at a beautiful intimate beach and the other side reveals the lovely Condado Lagoon. While in Puerto Rico, you must taste the famous pina colada, with or without rum. The pina colada was created in Puerto Rico in 1954. Don Ramon “Monchito” Marrero, who at the time was a bartender at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, came up with the ingenious idea of mixing rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream and ice in a blender to concoct what was to become the island’s favorite drink.  Consider one of the many shore excursions offered by your ship to get a feel for the real beauty of the island. Or simply walk through the narrow cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, leisurely browse or shop and have an authentic Puerto Rican lunch. What ever you decide to do, you will surely enjoy your visit to San Juan.

(Click each picture to make it larger)

I was on lookout duty and at approximately 13:34 hours I noticed a large ship moving across neutral waters, a cruise ship full of tourists that love to order Corona, wear stupid tropical shirts, and ask if they could get a tortilla with their food. I ran up the triangle staircase to move myself into position on the artillery deck. There it was, 11 stories of culture ruiners waving back at me and smiling. I couldn’t take it anymore so I manned the main cannon and the first shot sank them, must have been the excessive weight on board.

Music to listen to while shooting a cannon:

Click
Click Part 2 Play louder!!!! Loved being a trumpet player
Click
Click
Click

(Click here for more of my Puerto Rico Travel Guide)

Eric

]]> http://coastroad.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/memorial-day-along-pacific-coast-highway/ Mon, 25 May 2009 19:50:27 +0000 coastroad http://coastroad.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/memorial-day-along-pacific-coast-highway/ http://feriasviagens.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/mergulho-e-mais-em-puerto-vallarta/ Tue, 19 May 2009 23:55:15 +0000 feriasviagens http://feriasviagens.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/mergulho-e-mais-em-puerto-vallarta/

Como já contei muitas vezes, meu marido gosta dos esportes em geral e adora mergulhar. É fazendo alguma atividade que ele se desliga de tudo. É por isso que gosta de passar as férias em lugares onde ele possa experimentar alguma aventura esportiva. Então uma das principais coisas que eu estive pesquisando neste tempo sobre Puerto Vallarta é que atividades podem se fazer lá.

Felizmente achei que tem muitas possibilidades, e entre elas, o mergulho. Tem muitas excursões diferentes para mergulhar. É um paraíso embaixo da água. Tem uma ótima visibilidade, peixes de todas as cores e tamanhos, vegetação, golfinhos e os guias são muito bons.

Tem para escolher entre muitas praias, entre elas, por exemplo, Islas Marietas, declaradas Reservas da Bioesfera, com recifes e paisagens deslumbrantes, já foram estudadas pelo famoso cientista Jacques Cousteau; Los Arcos, aonde se chega melhor de barco, oferece também uma paisagem incrível, e que tem a particularidade de ter uma grande variedade de especies marinhas que só podem se observar de noite pelo que é ideal para fazer mergulho noturno; El Morro, ideal para a prática de mergulho certificado de classe mundial; e muitas outras, pois é a maior baía do México. Também são boas para fazer snorkel, o que para mim é ótimo, pois eu prefiro. Então, muitas vezes, enquanto meu marido mergulha, eu faço snorkeling. Achei uma descrição detalhada de todas as excursões para mergulhar em http://www.asociacionhotelesvallarta.com/esptours/index.php?classifi=ScubaSnorkeling.

Também tem outras praias ideais para surfar, fazer windsurfe e para jet-ski. Evidentemente Puerto Vallarta, além de ser um lugar paradisíaco, tem tudo para que a gente se sinta feliz e descontraida nas férias. Para mas informação recomendo visitar o site do México http://www.visitmexico.com/wb/Visitmexico/Visi_Puerto_Vallarta

Jose Lino Vazquez haciéndole coros a El Morro

A mediados de los 90’s Fiesta Mexicana 92.3 de Promomedios de Occidente era dirigida por el conocido pero no tan reconocido por algunos Jose Lino Vazquez (Señal 90, Sonido 103, Super Stereo) que entre su amplitud de facetas también esta el de corista . Fiesta Mexicana, emisora grupera que en su lucha por la audiencia tapatía con la Ke Buena dirigida por Pepe Garza se trajo de ésta a Tomás Rubio, importante pieza en la estación cuya frase muy conocida por todos los barrios de Guadalajara era Aqui Suena…, y junto a él se vendrían obviamente El Morro (cocreacion Tomas-Pepe) y Rocio Sandoval “La Peligrosa” . Con ustedes un audio del programa matutino de ‘Fiesta’ que era conducido por Jose Lino (ahora en La Mejor de Colima) y Hugo Cruz (actualmente en Magia 89.9) en el que le hacen coros a El Morro en su canción ‘La interesada’

Un promo en el que Tomás Rubio hace alusión a las frases claves de las estaciones usadas para regalar premios a los radioescuchas que se las dijeran via telefónica o en sus recorridos por la ciudad; mientras en la Ke Buena presumian de tener “la frase clave que todo el mundo sabe: Aqui Suena la Ke Buena”, con la llegada de Tomás se originó ” la frase clave que casi nadie sabe… por ahora: Aqui Está Fiesta”

Por su trayectoria en el medio radiofónico y porque ha sido parte fundamental en el éxito de muchos de los exponentes de la música regional mexicana en Estados Unidos, el locutor Pepe Garza tendrá a partir de febrero de 2009 una estrella en el Paseo de las Luminarias de Las Vegas.   Lo anterior convertirá a Garza en la primera personalidad del ambiente de la radio de la Unión Americana y México en recibir tan importante distinción, se informó mediante un comunicado.

Pepe comenzará con el pie derecho el próximo año, toda vez que será en febrero cuando reciba su estrella en Las Vegas, con lo que se reconocerán sus 23 años de trayectoria, durante los cuales ha tenido muchos éxitos.   Este personaje ha contribuido de manera determinante en el impulso de las carreras de importantes artistas como Banda El Recodo, Jenni Rivera, Banda Cuisillos, Lupillo Rivera, El Coyote, Espinosa Paz, La Arrolladora 
Banda El Limón, Valentín Elizalde, El Potro de Sinaloa y Sergio Vega, por mencionar algunos.   En el área de California, en su momento respaldó a artistas que han funcionado muy bien, como Adán “Chalino” Sánchez, Yolanda Pérez “La Potranquita”, Rogelio Martínez, Jorge Gamboa y El Original de la Sierra, entre otros.  

Cabe recordar que Pepe Garza es el productor y descubridor del personaje “Don Cheto”, quien surgió del evidente fenómeno social del inmigrante ante sus apreciaciones y realidades en Estados Unidos.   Actualmente “Don Cheto” es la figura central del “Morning show” de la Que Buena de Los Angeles, programa que tiene el mayor nivel de audiencia de la estación.  

En la década de los años 90 Garza concibió en compañía de Tomás Rubio, “El Morro”, famoso personaje infantil cuyas canciones son originales de Pepe. Su popularidad contribuyó a que se vendieran 500 mil copias de su primera producción “El Morro rifa”.

Puerto Rico Quarter Design

The Puerto Rico quarter is the second in the 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program. Explorer Christopher Columbus arrived at Puerto Rico (“rich port”) in 1493, and it soon became a Spanish colony and important military outpost. Over the years, numerous unsuccessful attempts were made by the French, Dutch and English to conquer the island, but it remained an overseas province of Spain until the Spanish-American War. Under the Treaty of Paris of 1898, it was ceded to the United States, and its residents became American citizens in 1917. On July 3, 1950, Congress passed a law authorizing Puerto Rico to draft its own constitution, and it officially became a United States commonwealth on July 25, 1952.

One of the most characteristic elements of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is its massive belt of walls of stone, built by the Spaniards in the early 16th century to protect the capital city from attacks from the sea. Of particular interest on these walls, which symbolize Puerto Rican strength and fortitude, are the sentry boxes, placed at strategic points along the walls. The sentry box and the walls of San Jan represent Puerto Rico’s rich history, geographical location and defensive role. The Puerto Rico quarter features a historic sentry box and a hibiscus flower with the inscriptions, PUERTO RICO and Isla del Encanto, which means “Isle of Enchantment.”

A commission established by the Governor of Puerto Rico and chaired by the director of the Puerto Rico Culture Institute developed two reverse design concepts emblematic of the territory – the sentry box and one featuring the Palacio de Santa Catalina (Santa Catalina Palace), today the official residence of the governor. These concepts were forwarded to the United States Mint for the production of final artistic renderings, which were then proposed to the commonwealth. The Secretary of the Treasury approved the sentry box dsign on July 31, 2008.

This is the silhouette of one of the guerites found in the San Juan National Historic Site of Fort San Felipe del Morro. My parents and I visited Old San Juan, where the fort is located, this past Monday. Going to Old San Juan just to taksnap pictures is just a wonderful experience. I highly recommend a visit.

Location: Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

El Morro was a small, close-knit, coastal enclave of 300 trailers, and their residents, living enviably between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.  It was a community of residents who’d built relationships over many, many years…often decades.  The State, however, was successful in moving the residents out in 2006, and in removing the trailers thus paving the way for a new 35-acre campground.   

Recently the State Parks Dept. awarded the contract for the final cleanup to remove the remainder of the previous trailer park, and to “build” the planned campground, to Los Angeles Engineering, Inc.  While this may be the last campground to be added to the State Parks system, it’s the first campground to be added in over 20 years.  The projection is the completed El Morro Campground will consistently sell out its’ spaces, and the hope is that it will create about $1 million dollars per year in park revenue from day use, special events, and camping.

The construction team from Los Angeles Engineering, Inc. is scheduled to begin working at the El Morro site this week (July 7-11, 2008).

I woke up to a beautiful humid (early … particularly given the 4 hour time difference between Puerto Rico and San Francisco) morning to start our first official day together.

This was the view from my window at the Intercontinental San Juan.

Oh how I would have loved to stay right here with a cup of coffee for a while … but alas, there was work to do. Now would be a good time to mention that during these meetings we have a lot of fun, but we also work really hard. We have are usually scheduled from early morning until late night and it is intense. We work hard and we play even harder.

Jennifer Sommers from IHG hotels (Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn) officially welcomed us during breakfast. She is a great hotel partner, wonderful to work with and funny as can be. She brought that huge headdress all the way from her office in Chicago because she thought it was fitting island attire.

After breakfast and our official welcome, we had a morning of educational sessions. Our fearless leader, Andy Smith, taught one of the classes in what has to be the most beautiful classroom in the world.

When our classes ended around noon, our guests joined us and we went to Old San Juan for lunch at the Hotel El Convento. Hotel El Convento was originally a Carmelite convent built in 1651 (that’s 356 years ago). It was commissioned by King Philip IV of Spain. It was converted to a hotel in 1962 by Robert Frederic Woolworth, heir to the Woolworth fortune. The Spanish Colonial architecture has been beautifully restored. Hotel El Convento is full of charm and just looks like a hotel you’d find in the tropics.

This wonderful sculpture greets you as you enter the hotel.

Every hallway is a visual feast for the eyes.

I love the lush tropical courtyard.

A view of Old San Juan and the harbor from the rooftop pool deck.

The colorful kitchen is on display.

After lunch we had a choice of doing an Historic Walking Tour or a Shopping Tour. I chose the Historic Walking Tour of Old San Juan.

Our tour guide was Papo (not to be confused with Paco who apparently was his best friend until he stole Papo’s first wife). He was born and raised in San Juan and is a lifetime resident so he had some great stories, in additional to a wealth of knowledge about San Juan and Puerto Rico in general.

The Old San Juan is the eight by ten block historic district of the city of San Juan. It was founded in 1509 and was a walled city protected by multiple forts.

is replete with examples of flat roofed, colorful stucco covered buildings with lots of shops, museums, plazas, trees and sculptures. The Spanish Colonial architecture and wrought iron reminded me a lot of old New Orleans.

The streets are paved with these blue bricks that were brought over from Spain as ballasts in the ships that would return to Spain with exports from the island.

I love the pastel colored buildings juxtaposed against all of the lush green and the blue blue sky.

La Rogativa (meaning the Procession) is a sculpture with a story. The story is that in 1797 the Puerto Ricans, fearing an attack by the British, set out in the evening with torches and prayers. The British thought they were seeing Spanish troops and abandoned their attack.

The blue building above the wall is La Fortaleza or the Governor’s Mansion. It was completed in 1540 and is the oldest governor’s mansion in the Western Hemisphere. It has housed 170 governors of Puerto Rico in its history.

Me, Kerry Fein (from Wisconsin) and Joe Donohoe (from New York) on the grounds of El Morro, one of the fortifications that surrounds Old San Juan.

I can’t remember which building this is but I love the red clay dome. If someone can help me identify it, I’d be grateful and I’ll update it on the site.

More picturesque San Juan color.

One of the many pelicans surveying the bay for fish.

We decided to play a little hide and seek. I think this would make a great album cover. If anyone knows about these sculptures, I’d love to add some info about them.

This sculpture is called ‘Raices’ meaning roots. It commemorates the roots of the Puerto Rican people – Taino, Spanish and African.

This sculpture was one of three. It kind of looks like an Aztec making a child sacrifice to some angry god, but it’s not. It signifies the future of the people.

I loved exploring Old San Juan. It has so much history and color. But all good things must end. So we headed back to the hotel for a quick freshen up before heading out for our evening activities.

We started our evening adventure with cocktails and a tour at the soon to be open Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel and Casino. The hotel is a classy modern venue located right across the street from the Convention Center.

Here’s the lobby bar.

The only downside is that the hotel is not located on the beach. But it does have a lovely infinity pool on the roof.

We headed over to the Puerto Rico Convention Center for a tour and dinner. The building is designed to evoke a feeling of water and waves. You can see it throughout the complex, but it is particularly evident in the roof seen here.

After we’d finished eating we took a few minutes to recognize one of our most important team members, Amy Tackett. She is supports our entire team, helping us track down information, directors and whatever else we need so that we can work with our clients.

In this picture is Teresa Hellman (from Kansas), Amy Tackett (from Ohio), Nanette Baecher (a fellow New Orleanian who now hails from Alabama) and our fearless leader Andy Smith (from Tennessee).

And the fun continues …

After dinner we went over the the aptly named Hilton Caribe for an Afterglow party. I say that the hotel is aptly named because it really does impart a feeling of being in the Carribean.

We had after dinner drinks, desserts …

… more desserts …

… and even more yummy sweets.

They played some great music for us.

They even got the whole staff involved in playing and singing some traditional Puerto Rican Christmas music … very boisterous and very Latin.

Day two is done. How much fun can we handle? Stay tuned for Day three.