July 2008  Issue 67

INTRODUCTION

Summer and the hurricane season are here, and the tourists are still here too.  And, there is a fair amount of "Came & Went" as well.

Interestingly enough, there are no Mexico holidays in July to report.
 

IMPORTANT JULY FACTS

It was the month in which Julius Caesar was born,  The month Julius replaced Quintilis (quintus = five)—the fifth month in the early Roman calendar, which began with March before the Julian calendar instituted January as the start of the year.  Unfortunately, Caesar himself was only able to enjoy one July during his life—the very first July, in 45 B.C.  The following year he was murdered on the Ides of March. 

Cancer   June 22 – July 22
Leo - July 23 -August 21 

July Birthstone:  Ruby
July's birthstone is among the most highly prized of gems throughout history.  The word Ruby comes from the Latin "ruber," meaning red.  It is a variety of the mineral Corundum, and is found as crystals within metamorphic rock.  Corundum is the second hardest mineral, after Diamond.  It comes in a variety of colors, and is considered a Sapphire in any color except red, which is designated as a Ruby.  Rubies range in hue from an orangey red to a purplish red, but the most prized gems are a true red in color.  Large sized Rubies are very rare and valuable.   

July Flower:  Larkspur
The larkspur, or Delphinium, is named for the shape of their flowers.  The flower resembles the bottle - like nose of a dolphin. 

AKUMAL COUNCIL GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

The summer Akumal Council General Assembly Meeting was held on Friday, June 27^th at the Lol Ha Restaurant, and, considering the time of year, there was a very interested and enthusiastic attendance.  Of critical importance to the community as a whole is Akumal's move to the new Tulum Municipality, and this was covered quite well by Gonzalo Arcila, who has been appointed to the Transition Board.

The Minutes, as prepared by Laura Bush, appear at Akumal Council Meeting, June 2008.
 

JULY BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays and Anniversaries
2          Gerardo Dominguez
2          Isabel Schober
4          Amy Blatner
9          John Chiosso
14        Ellie Humphreys
18        Gary & Oveta Vardell Anniversary
20        Hurley Hackler
21        Priscilla Batting
22        Bud Blatner
26        Paula Humphreys has a BIGGIE this year
28        Gustavo Guerra
31        Gonzalo Arcila 

There must be more than this.  Let's hear about YOUR birthday. 

Missed May Birthday

May 22, Max Danger DeAngelis was born to Starr Dooley DeAngelis and husband, Chris DeAngelis, currently of Charlotte, NC.
 

Gayle Walker’s Book, "Every Woman Is a World"

Those of us who knew Gayle Walker know she was in the process of having a book published when she died.  This book is now becoming available, and you can order a copy from the web site below.

Born in the remote mountains and tropical forests of southern Mexico, the elder women of Chiapas have witnessed tumultuous change during their lifetimes, which in some cases spanned the entire twentieth century.  Through hard experience, these women have gained unique perspectives on the transformations that modernity has brought to their traditional way of life.  Reflecting on this rich store of wisdom, artists Gayle Walker and Kiki Suarez began interviewing and photographing Chiapanec women between the ages of 60 and 108.  In this book, they present the life stories of twenty-eight women, who speak for the silent members of a divided society—well-to-do, urban ladinas of European descent; mixed race, low-income mestizas; and indigenous Maya from the highlands and Lacandon rainforest.

As the women tell their stories, they shed light on major historical events as well as the personal dramas of daily life.  For some, the Mexican Revolution and the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic are still painfully vivid.  Others focus on recent social upheavals, such as the 1994 Zapatista Uprising.  Women whose families had more resources fondly recall their high school days, while poorer women tell tragic stories of deprivation, hunger, and family violence.  Particularly thought-provoking are the women's attitudes toward marriage, work, religion, and their own mortality.  Considering the limited opportunities these women faced, Walker and Suarez sum up the significant theme of these interviews by observing that the women of Chiapas "remind us that if we are flexible, creative, and courageous, we have many more possibilities than we think we have."

See ordering info at
 http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/waleve.html

INDEPENDENCE DAY (U.S.), JULY 4th

Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III.  There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England.  This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on.  As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion.  In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress.  The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.

In April 1775, as the King's troops advanced on Concord Massachusetts, Paul Revere would sound the alarm that "The British are coming, the British are coming" as he rode his horse through the late night streets.  The battle of Concord and its "shot heard round the world" would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies war for Independence.

The following May the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.

By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence.  Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman.  Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28.  After various changes a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th.  Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware undecided and New York abstained.

To make it official John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence.  It is said that John Hancock signed his name "with a great flourish" so "King George can read that without spectacles!"

The following day copies of the Declaration were distributed.  The first newspaper to print the Declaration was the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 6, 1776.  On July 8th the Declaration had its first public reading in Philadelphia's Independence Square.  Twice that day the Declaration was read to cheering crowds and pealing church bells.  Even the bell in Independence Hall was rung.  The "Province Bell" would later be renamed "Liberty Bell" after its inscription – “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.”

And although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence.  The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year - July 4 1777.  By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America's birthday.  And although fireworks have been banned in most places because of their danger, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for all to see and enjoy.
 

ROBIN’S BEST SHIRT AWARD, JULY 4th

Come one, come all, to the Beach Bar, where we’ll have a ball.

It’s time for another "Best Shirt Award", which is held on the first Friday of each month during Happy Hour at the Lol Ha Beach Bar.  This is one to celebrate, because it's on Friday, July 4^th.

This award is based on Robin's penchant for good, classy Beach Bar shirts, and his sister, Mary, is ready to once again be the judge and jury as she selects the "Best Shirt" for July.  And, as we go to print the criteria are still somewhat nebulous, but it still looks like "coolest", "neatest", and "most colorful" might garner a lot of brownie points.   However, "most patriotic" might the key to this month's event.

The June award for "Best Shirt" went to Cal Cheney, who was "hot" with his chili peppers.  See June Best Shirt for more photos.

WHAT'S NEW AROUND TOWN?

AKUMAL
Some locals in North Akumal have been working on setting up a new community site.  It is called "Friends of Yal Ku" and/or "Friends of North Akumal" and is geared towards enhancing communication and discourse over the critical issues that face us.  They have set up a new web site  Yal-Ku Bulletin Board, which is primarily a community bulletin board as "New Site for Sharing Concerns!”

It is designed to encourage enhanced communication and open discussion among the extended members of the community.  Its avowed mission is to:

• Promote and protect the environment of Yal Ku Lagoon and surrounding areas.
• Collaborate to develop and enforce policies and regulations to enable sustainable housing and sustainable activities in and around Yal Ku Lagoon.

The Akumalian encourages its subscribers and friends to join in and participate.  Let your voice be heard!  So, please log-in, join, and participate!
 

CHEMUYIL
Last month The Akumalian reported on the billboard on MX307 at the entrance to Akumal.  The billboard is advertising home lots in a new development, Vive Riviera Maya Chemuyil, and a reader has noted that these lots are selling for $420,000 pesos.  The same reader also pointed out that, "Just beside this development is the new and controversial garbage dump."

You can read about this at The Spanish version  An English translation titled, "Mayor ignores Chemuyil complaints and insists on opening landfill" can be found at English Version.

            There’s something about this landfill being used by the Tulum and Solidaridad Municipalities!!!!!  This seems to be quite controversial and questions abound.

 TULUM
The Tulum archaeological site shines at night when the monuments are illuminated as part of a 'new' Sound & Light Show; there is no better way to experience it then on a audio guided walking tour.

 The INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) has made a great effort, and it shows.  The 45 minutes long walking tour brings you all kind of emotions and takes you back in time to when the Maya populated Tulum.  The mystical splendor of the Tulum Ruins is brought out with a perfectly paced sound and lighting show, and with the top of the line multi-language audio gear and the expertise of the guides, you are in the center of the action, and an unforgettable experience.  This started on May 1, and shows are from 7.30 p.m.

This reportedly is a walking tour through the ruins, with small groups limited to 12 people; i.e. you are not seated in one spot like at Chichen Itza and Uxamal.  Some ‘locals’ who have experienced this new addition to the Riviera Maya, were quite impressed by the professionalism, and everyone has come away saying they learned something new about Tulum and the Maya.
  

SPORTING EVENTS

European Championship Soccer:
June 29, Spain beats Germany 1 - 0 

U.S. Olympic Trials
Going on now

Speedo's new LZR Racer swimsuit.
Are you ready for this? 

Wimbledon Finals:
July 5, Women
July 6, Men

Tour de France 2008
July 5th to Sunday July 27th, the 95th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometers.
 
Festival of San Fermin
The festival of San Fermin, or the Pamplona bull running as it's more commonly known outside Spain, officially begins at midday on July 6th every year.

MLB All-Star Game
July 15, Yankee Stadium.  Red Sox manager Terry Francona will be at the helm of the American League All-Stars.

All-American Soap Box Derby
July 26 in Akron, Ohio
 

COMINGS AND GOINGS

            The pace continues as we head into July.

 Comings:

• Michele Meyers is back at Los Primos in South Akumal for a month or so.
• Crayton & Nance Walker returned to 7 Seas on June 14^th for 10 days.
• Kari Brown was here for two weeks in June.
• Maria Louisa, mother of Claudia Munoz, was here and brought many friends from the El Paso area.
• Nancy Serwin returned to Casa Magna with two friends from Milwaukee & Chicago.
• Mike Cook returned to Playa Caribe on June 18.
• Natalie and Ivan, dive masters and instructors at the Akumal Dive Shop, returned after a two-month vacation in India, Thailand, Egypt, Italy, and Prague.
• Richard & Arlene Pargot are back at Las Vigas.
• Macon & Susan Gravlee are back in South Akumal.
• Laura Bush returned to Akumal for the Akumal Council General Assembly Meeting.
• David Poor is back at Casa Romero.
• Wickie Rimell has returned to Casa Auroa for a short spell.
• Beryl and Suzanne are back at Yal Ku Kai Condos.
• Mr. and Mrs. Christenson have been seen around Casa Christenson.
• Barbara Cox returned to South Akumal on June 28^th.
• Paula, Ellie and Katie Humphreys return to their condo in Mi Casa del Mar on July 14, and Neil follows on the 18^th.
• Paige, Gary, Hagen and Elli Clements return to Casa Solymar on the 12^th for 2 weeks.
• Allyson & John Sheffield return on July 15 for a shorter than usual visit.

 Goings:

·        John McCallum and Margarita spent two weeks in Canada in early June.

·        Maribel Bianchi is recuperating in Switzerland.

·        Monica (Akumal Realty) is in Spain for a visit.

·        Didiere Jackson is off on vacation to the US (Kentucky or Ohio).

·        Bart Smith has returned to Kentucky for a week or so.

FULL MOON, JULY 18

Full Buck Moon on July 18 at 3:00am AST.

July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur.  

This month's goes by many names, such as "Mead" Moon.  It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time.  Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon.
 

EVENTS

The only Akumal "Event" was the "Best Shirt Award", and that has been reported.