Boxing day?

Well I hope everyone has had a good Christmas and have had a wonderful time with family and friends!!!
Being Mexican, I have a bit of a query that I hope anyone of the visitors to my blog that are clients from cruise.co.uk or from our Forums, cruises.co.uk might be able to answer my query regarding Boxing day? 

I could look it up on the Internet, but I am hoping someone might be able to answer me direct.

MY BURNING QUESTION:

Why is the day after Christmas day called Boxing day?

1.  Is it because there is a big Boxing Match?

2.  Is it because it involves boxes?

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo.

Just a quick note to wish everyone that has visited my blog and at Cruise.co.uk a VERY HAPPY X-MAS and a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!



Classic Snoopy!!!!



And now for another classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMtuVP8Mj4o

Do you believe in Leprechauns’ or Goblins? What about an Alux?

Continuing on my Yucatan blogs, I decided to tell you a little about the Mayan Alux (pronounced Al oosh).  Which, once again, if you are visiting the Mayan Riviera and/or Cozumel, Mexico, you might want to keep the following information in mind.

The origin of the Alux myth has been debated for quite a while. Some scholars believe they have European origins form the 16^th Century, others debate that it has a pre-Columbian origin, let them battle it out themselves.

I on the other hand, have heard one origin story straight form the modern Mayan people that involved a witch, a king and the beautiful, striking Pyramid of the Magician, also known as the Pyramid of the Dwarf at the archaeological site of Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico.

First though, I will tell you a little about the Alux. The Alux is a kind of goblin/leprechaun that is widely known among the Maya people in the Yucatan Peninsula.  Nearly every one I spoke to there believes in them and most locals have a story to tell about them.  An Alux is a small being about 2ft tall that has magical powers, they can be invisible to the eye, or they can also assume any animal that they wish, like a large snake, bees or even a jaguar.  The Alux mainly protect the crop fields of the locals, but also are know to protect all of the archaeological sites at night. But most of all, they like to play tricks on unsuspecting passerby’s, some can nice but sometimes they can be quite mean and even scary.

Top Ten reasons why being British is better than Mexican:

10.   Bank holidays.  Do I need to say more?  I guess I do as in Mexico there are no bank     holidays we just throw a Fiesta for any reason under the sun!!
9.  Once the weather gets a bit warm, EVERYONE goes out; the parks are full, every spot of sun is taken and there are sunbathers everywhere, which is not too bad on the eyes, sometimes....
8.  When you see a police man/woman, you know that they are there to protect you!!!
7.  Bangers and mash, NO need to say more?
6.  Your house does not fall down with daily earthquakes or hurricanes’, just snow and ice for a few months out of the year.
5.  The NHS, even with all of the issues some might have, it is still GREAT, which is impossible to beat as you get to see an actual doctor or a nurse, not a witch-doctor or shaman.
4.  At an intersection, you do not have to push yourself through, people actually let you pass, WOW!!!  Oh so polite!!!
3. Like my colleague Faz said, “You know you are British and NOT anything else!!”
2.  Warm ales, pubs..... some, you just cannot beat.

1.  My wife and son (I had to add this as my wife is British and yes, I love her VERY much!!)

God Bless the Queen!

Top ten reasons why being Mexican is better than British:

10.  I can play any sport wearing just my chanclas (sandals.)

9.    I can be in a 4-passenger car with 7 people in it and shouting "subanse,  todavia caben,” which means, “Get in, there is still some space!!”  So, Health and Safety go right out the window.

8.    I have a bottle of Bacardi or Tequila in my house right now, actually, I have 3 bottles of Tequila.

7.    I can, 9.0 out of 10 times depend on the weather, which is either hot or rainy.

6.    All beers are served ice-cold with a lime wedge in them!

5.    I can sort any driving infraction right there and then, no penalty points, no speed cameras and no need to go to court (I DO NOT recommend for everyone to try this.) 

4.    I have no need to de-ice the outside of my car in the morning, especially this time of the year.  And if you have a car like mine, you also have to de-ice the inside of it!!!!!

3.    I can go swimming in just my swimming trunks (or less) NO need for a wet/dry suit.

2.    I can curse in Spanish and no one understands me, which is great!!

1.    I can get away with naming my son Diego (and NO, he is not named after Diego Maradona who is Argentinean, my son is named after Diego Riviera and San Juan Diego.)

¡VIVA MEXICO!

Pronouncing ports in Central and South America.

Continuing from my last blog, here are some of the main ports in Central and South America and how to correctly pronounce them:

Arica: ARR-EEK-A

Callao:  KA-JA-O

Cartagena:  CAR-TA-HEN-A (A as in Apple)

Curacao:  KOO-RA-COW

Puerto Limon:  POO-ER-TO  LEE-MON

Puerto Madryn:  POO-ER-TO  MAD-REEN

Puerto Quetzal:  POO-ER-TO   KET-SAL

Punta Arenas:  PUN-TA  ARR-E-NAS  (E is pronounced as in Echo)

Pronouncing ports in Mexico

Carnival Spirit in Acapulco



Since I started working here at cruise.co.uk, I have heard hundreds of difference ways on how other members of staff and clients pronounce, or should I say, mispronounce places in Mexico.  So I have decided to make a list on some of the most popular ports in Mexico and how to pronounce them:

Acapulco – A-KA-PULL-CO  (KA is pronounced as in CA taract)

Baja – BA-HA  (HA is pronounced as in Ha rry)

Cabo San Lucas – KA-BO SAN LUK-AS

Chetumal – CHE-TWO-MAL (CHE as in Che rry)

Cozumel – CO-SUE-MEL

Huatulco – WAL-TOOL-CO (WAL has a similar sound to JU AN)
                    In Spanish, the "H" is silent.