We have another long weekend coming up as Mexico celebrates November 20th on November 16th. November 20th is the anniversary of the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution and generally is referred to simply as the 20th of November much as Americans usually call their Independence Day “Fourth of July.”

Opened 102 years ago, the Hotel Geneve in the Zona Rosa of Mexico City focuses on the past. Décor is from the early 20th century at an establishment that lodged Winston Churchill and also Charles Lindbergh while he wooed Ann Morrow, then the daughter of the American Ambassador.

Ron Butler, who frequently wrote about Mexico and its appeal to him, died recently of a heart attack in Tucson, according to reports reaching Mexico City. After a career with several magazines in New York City, Ron took up freelancing and settled in Arizona, where costs are lower. Among his proudest accomplishments was his book, “Dancing Alone in Mexico.”

Oscar Fitch, director of the Mexican Tourism Promotion Council, revealed that next year 6.5 million dollars will be invested in promoting Mazatlán, 1.5 million more than last year. Fitch attended the 15th Festival de Amigos, organized to thank all tour operators, airlines and others who have helped the Mazatlán hospitality industry. An executive with a Canadian airline said that Canadians have booked a record 12,000 rooms in Mazatlán for the upcoming season. Airline executives attending were told more flights are needed.

Although Cancun was spared the full wrath of Hurricane Ida, rains and winds did erode some of the already much-eroded beach. Recent efforts to restore the beach have run into legal hassles as Cozumel and Isla Mujeres have objected from sand being mined from what they consider protective underwater banks.

Rains, meanwhile, have left many areas along the Gulf coast flooded. Especially hard hit were Tabasco and Veracruz, favorites with tourists seeking out attractions “off the beaten path.” November, however, sees few tourists coming to Mexico.

By Jimm Budd

Puerto Penasco, better known north of the border as Rocky Point, gets its own international airport today, officially known as Mar de Cortés (Sea of Cortés) airport. Rocky Point at the top of the Sea of Cortés and is known by some as Arizona’s beach. Although it is only about a two-hour drive from Tucson, it is more like five hours from Hermosillo or Mexicali, the closest large cities in Mexico.

Mexico City has created a Medical Tourism Council that aims to promote the metropolis as a destination where ill and infirm Americans can come for a cure. It is estimated that a medical tourist in town for a week would leave behind 13,000 dollars. The average visitor from abroad stays in the capital only two or three days.

According to the local government, 300,000 Americans sought medical treatment abroad last year. Goal is to attract 15,000 of these to Mexico City where they would be treated by physicians trained in the United States. Savings apparently would be enormous.

Mexico City plans to get the Christmas season rolling on Dec. 4 when Placido Domingo presents an open air concert at the Independence Monument – better known as The Angel – on Reforma Boulevard. Although Domingo was born in Spain, he spent most of his childhood in Mexico City.

Bridge of Death? sounds grim, but bridge? is what Mexicans call a long weekend such as this one when The Day of the Dead falls on Monday. In other Catholic lands, Nov. 2 is All Souls Day, preceded by All Saint’s Day, which is preceded by All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween).

Lying about half way between Mexico City and Guadalajara, Morelia is moving ahead with its program of illuminating buildings and monuments in its historic center. Thus far, more than a dozen are lit up each evening. The city, wants to attract more tourists and possibly retired baby-boomers. Among its attractions are four golf courses, one with 27 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus.