Finally, a film festival where the weather and location compete with the films for top billing. Celebrating its third year, the Riviera Maya Underground Film Festival will run October 15-19. Although the festival is young, organizers hope the beautiful setting of Playa del Carmen will help attract the masses.

More tha 250 short films will be on display as the festival seeks to highlight both Mexican and international filmmakers. Composer Leonardo Heiblum who has scored films such as "Maria Full of Grace," and "Maldonald's Miracle," will be on hand to answer questions and to encourage those who are looking to make a name for themselves in movie music.]]> kjb 2008-10-08T15:30:40-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/6/5354/82365

Mexico City likes to break records. The world's largest city is also one of Mexico's wealthiest and one of its most dangerous. After a dip in crime in the early 2000s, misdeeds are back en vogue. Now, the market is responding, with a bulletproof clothing boutique cropping up in Polanco, the Rodeo Drive of the DF.

The store, called Miguel Caballero, takes its name from its Colombian owner. Bulletproof items there range from leather jackets to polo shirts, parkas and white ruffled tuxedo shirts. But before you apply for a sales position, be forewarned:]]> ced138 2008-10-06T10:00:40-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/5/141225/952

There was a time not long ago when a visit to Tijuana was a rite of passage for Southern California youngsters, who'd flock to "TJ" for cheap tequila and an anything-goes attitude that made for so many great stories back home. Unfortunately for Tijuana's tourism industry, however, more and more prospective visitors are choosing different destinations these days, put off by reports of an explosion of murders and kidnappings in the once charmingly-seedy border town. Just over the past week, nearly fifty people were murdered in a spate of drug-related violence, and the grisly nature of the killings - including decapitation and the removal of tongues - suggests that further retaliations are all but assured. ]]> Victor Ozols 2008-10-05T14:12:25-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/5/112958/380

A concert by Spanish tenor Placido Domingo went off without a hitch last night at Mexico's Chichen Itza archaeological site, silencing for the moment a controversy about whether the ancient Mayan ruins are an appropriate venue for such a modern spectacle. Prior to the event, a union of archaeologists pressed prosecutors to file criminal charges against the concert's organizers, saying that the event violated a law that states the ruins must be preserved for educational purposes. ]]> Victor Ozols 2008-10-05T11:29:58-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/1/13134/3036

No longer shall you order a Mexican dish topped with mole sauce--a concoction of unsweetened cocoa and chilies, among other things--because it's cool to say. After a visit to the Atocpan Feria del Mole, which starts this Saturday in the Mexican town of San Pedro Atocpan, you'll be a mole expert worthy of pushing back your plate from Don Loco's and saying, "Pfft. This isn't real mole."

South of Mexico City, many people work in "mole mills" that prepare the famously complex sauce--in fact, an article in the local newspaper La Jornada estimated that 92 percent of San Pedro Atocpan's residents are involved in some way with producing or selling mole. Since most of their product is consumed in and around the Distrito Federal, it's rare for any "real" mole to trickle northward.

San Pedro Atocpan is only one of several cities laying claim to the title "birthplace of mole." (The Times awarded the title to Puebla two years ago.) After you've tasted the many varieties of mole infused with cinnamon, cilantro or raisins, check out the work of local artisans--and by then it'll be time to eat more mole.

Related Stories:
· An Uber Foodie's Guide to Las Vegas Restaurants [HC]
· Chili to Chili in Mole-Sauce City [NYT]
· Food Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ekz.]]]> egw 2008-10-01T16:15:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/1/75312/2798

Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan go for a walk along a Los Cabos, Mexico beach. Time to switch to a private resort, girls--you're too famous!

They weren't the only ones who hit Mexico this week for a little sun and fun. Jennifer Aniston was also in Los Cabos by herself, no doubt taking a break before the nonstop publicity around her holiday release "Marley and Me" (costarring Owen Wilson).

So which do you like better: A solo trip where you do whatever you like, or an intimate vacation with a loved one?

Related Stories:
· Girls Gone Not So Wild in Mexico [Faded Youth Blog]
· Lohan to Johnny Depp's Private Island [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]]]> egw 2008-10-01T09:15:36-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/30/142924/447

The government of Mexico hopes to create yet another heavily developed strip of sand for tourists interested in golf courses, hotels and condos, and President Felipe Calderon has gone so far to say it'll be the country's most important tourism project in a quarter century. But there's one catch: It'll be in Sinaloa, the notorious home to the Mexican drug traffickers known as the Pacific Cartel.

True, the beach-town-turned-resort of Mazatlán is in Sinaloa, and it's established itself as a (relatively for Mexico) off-the-radar place to be. But while there haven't been any grenade attacks there, it has seen some gunplay.

We've already told you about the military-grade weaponry being used by gangs and the shrines to traffickers in Sinaloa's capital of Culiacán. How likely it is that tourists will be lining up to fly down to check out the beach in the middle of a drug-fueled war?

Related Stories:
· US State Department Travel Alert for Mexico [Official Site]
· Mexico Announces New Tourist Resort [AP, via]
· Drug Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo Google Maps]]]> pbb 2008-09-30T14:31:38-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/