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In this issue:
Spring Break! What started as a week off for college kids to study has turned into a month better known for debauchery than cramming. Spring break is big in Mexico, but it's wild side lives strictly in Cancun. If you are thinking of giving yourself a little break, but would rather spend your time without the party animals, then Puerto Morelos is for you. We get a few more visitors during Spring Break, but they tend to be more interested in relaxation than revelry. Give yourself a break! Spring is a great time to come to Mexico. You don't have to be in college to take a Spring Break.
Once again we arranged for a mid-season shipment from up North to refill our shelves. We used the opportunity to bring in a large supply of beautiful new books. Check out the New Books section of this newsletter to see some of the new stock. Many people ask when we are closing the bookstore for the season. It will be at the end of May. We will be closed until mid October. We use this time to travel back to Calgary and get more books (and see more of Mexico).
This month was all about furniture. A friend told us about a small puebla near Valladolid that specializes in custom furniture. We had a sofa bed built for our loft and two chairs for our kitchen. The craftsmen built the sofa bed using only a picture we gave them from a catalogue. The kitchen chairs feature a custom carving of a Mayan sun. Adding the carving cost us only five dollars more for each chair. The same shop is busy building new beach loungers for Ceiba del Mar.
Since we moved to Mexico, we have been feeding a few stray cats that live behind the bookstore. One our "regulars" recently brought a couple of extra mouths to feed. We would love to find real homes for these two. If you are looking for a little free companionship, contact us. They appear to be healthy, happy and ready to play.
Free Gift From Alma Libre
For those of you still stuck up North, bring a small piece of Puerto Morelos to your home or office with our new Puerto Morelos Wallpaper. Beautiful of course and practical too with a April and May Calendar built right in. This month's wallpaper is a view of the beach near Casita del Mar. We'll have new pictures available for download every month! Pick your wallpaper size: CLICK HERE FOR WALLPAPER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS Changes!
A new small grocery store is being built behind the gift shop on the square. Nito's Dive Shop has moved out of our plaza. At first we though the popular Cafe de Amancia would expand into the space, but now we know it will be home to a new Lebanese restaurant. The talent behind Fungo Noire say it will be open in about two months. Fish Burger on Avenue Rojo Gomez has closed. A new arts & crafts centre (for all ages) has opened in its place. Playa del Carmen continues its explosive growth. A new Sam's Club store is under construction and we hear a new shopping mall will be built just off the highway. Current Exchange Rates (In Puerto Morelos) USA Dollar 10.90 CDN Dollar 8.00This Just In! New Books & Products at Alma Libre Books!
Frida Kahlo's stormy relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera and how it
affected her work is the subject of this fascinating study. Generously
illustrated with works by both artists as well as contemporary photographs, this
volume sheds new light on the life and imagery of one of the twentieth century's
greatest women artists. We chose this book because it gives an excellent
overview of her life and the most pictures of her art.
A completely new phrasebook by the travel experts at Lonely Planet. This book is specifically written for visitors to Mexico, not Spain. This extremely useful phrase book comes with a 2000 word two-way dictionary. Learn how to tell your hairdresser "No deberia haberme cortado con usted!" (I should never have let you near me!)
501 Spanish Verbs by Christopher KendrisWith over one million copies in print, this is the book you want if you are serious about speaking Spanish. Those who have learned the language call this book "the bible".
What starts out as a journey to find a meaning in his own life, after his mother’s death becomes a destiny that changes his life forever. Beginning in Mexico, travelling by bus with only a few pesos in his pocket, he is guided by people, dreams and seeming coincidences. He arrives on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala where he is, unknown to him, expected by the village of Tzutujil Mayan. Here, after many sleepless nights and starving days he is given a bed, food and told that he is going to become a shaman. Prechtel begins his insightful journey apprenticing to become a powerful, ancient shaman and ten years later a village chief. Many books have been written about the ancient Mayans, but this one takes you inside the complex culture of Mayan village life, a culture that is fast disappearing. It reveals the hardships of everyday living and the compassion of theses historic people. It also brings to light the question of what impact modern society is having on the indigenous tribes and what their future may hold. (This review was written by Joanne and appeared in the Miami Herald - Cancun Edition recently!)
Antro - (an-tro) a bar or nightclub, formerly used to describe a dive Bar - (bar) a place for drinking and talking, rather than dancing or listening to live music Cantina - (kan-tee-na) a uniquely Mexican establishment, often with wild-west style swinging doors. Some are for men only, while others are more relaxed. Pena - (pen-ya) a place to go for either a drink or a meal, usually with live romantic Mexican music. Source: Lonely Planet Mexican Spanish Phrasebook
Just a reminder that we are in our high season hours now. That is Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am until 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Sunday we are open 4:00 to 9:00. Our hours are always posted on the front page of our website at www.almalibrebooks.com. We take trades every day, so our selection is constantly changing. If you are planning a trip down, why not bring some recent bestsellers to trade and check out our store. For you locals, remember we are always bringing in Special Orders. Contact us for details. Amazon can't touch us! We look forward to seeing you in Puerto Morelos!
This is Year #2, Issue #5. April 2004. If you have any comments or suggestions, please Contact Us Retransmission & Redistribution of this newsletter without express written consent is just fine by us! Send this newsletter to a friend! |
New Books!
House
Renovation Update
Bookstore Kittens
Yet another restaurant
has opened in Puerto Morelos. Don Chebo is located on Ninos Heroes, about
one block south of Mama's Bakery. The owners tell us that they make everything
from scratch, including the tortillas. Prices are very reasonable.
Mexican
Spanish Phrasebook
Breaking
Out of Beginner's Spanish by Joseph J Keenan
Spanish Lingo for the Savvy Gringo
by M. F. Jones-Reid 
Madrigal's
Magic Key to Spanish by Margarita Madrigal 
Escape on a wonderful, magical
journey of the Maya World with Martin Prechtel as he explores the inner life of
this ancient culture. Entertaining and revealing, “Secrets of the Talking
Jaguar: A Mayan Shaman's Journey to the Heart of the Indigenous Soul” takes you
on a fascinating trip through Mexico and Guatemala. Prechtel uncovers the
secrets of the Mayan world armed only with his guitar and paints. Through both
heart-warming and humorous tales, he reveals to the reader very poignant
observations of how the Mayan people live within nature, their hierarchy, their
culture, and their love of life. Prechtel also uncovers the Maya’s slow
victimization by modern man. 
Know Your Mexican Drinking Establishments
