RON MADER'S UNUSUAL MEXICO LINKS
(Mexico on the Web)

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Journalist and savvy webmaster Ron Mader sifts through the web to find the most interesting and unusual Mexico-related websites. Ron is the webhost of the popular Planeta.com: Eco Travels in Latin America website -- http://www.planeta.com -- and has written about the internet since the early 1990s.

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VERACRUZ
isn’t just about coffee, Caribbean music and beautiful beaches
—it’s also about excellent websites

Veracruz boasts a generous mix of everything you could ask for—tropical forests and snow-capped volcanoes, colonial cities, white-water rafting, the lyrical Caribbean-influenced music known as son and seafood that is justifiably world-famous. The state is also on the cutting edge of website development thanks to high-quality government, university and private websites that provide a wealth of information ranging from politics to museum exhibits. Put on your Agustin Lara Greatest Hits CD (selecting the tune "Veracruz" of course—lyrics online with the promise of a Real Audio clip forthcoming via http://www.elmariachi.com/songs/veracruz.asp) and enjoy these recommended resources showcasing Veracruz on the Web.

Veracruz Government Website

http://www.veracruz.gob.mx/ *** (out of five *)

I had problems accessing this website, but when it did load—slowly—it provided a respectable archive of information about the current administration and background on the state. What makes a good government website? The acknowledgement of other sectors—such as "Non-Governmental Groups" or "Organizaciones no Gobermentales”—and this site definitely has them (http://www.veracruz.gob.mx/COESPO/ongs.htm). Email contact: webmaster@www.veracruz.gob.mx

Xalapa Government

http://www.xalapa.gob.mx/ **** (out of five *) This city website ranks near the top of municipal sites in Mexico. It boasts a top-notch collection of information provided by the Xalapa government as well as a decent links page (http://www.xalapa.gob.mx/n/varios/otros_sitios_web.html). Before a trip to Xalapa this summer, I briefed myself online with maps (http://www.xalapa.gob.mx/n/images/mnu_mapas.jpg) and an index of museums (http://www.xalapa.gob.mx/n/museos/lista_museos.html), which lists an overwhelming amount of cultural attractions. This section includes an excellent background (in Spanish) on the city's famous Anthropology Museum (http://www.xalapa.gob.mx/n/museos/lista_museos.html), home to many of the giant Olmec Heads as well as pieces from the region's Huasteca Culture. The Tourism Services Section (http://www.xalapa.gob.mx/n/sitios/sitios_turisticos.html) is well developed and there are profiles of upcoming congresses (http://www.xalapa.gob.mx/sec/congreso.htm). What's lacking? The corresponding government page (http:// www.xalapa.gob.mx/n/gobierno/cabildo.html) has a list of officials but no contact information or details about current politics. Also, if the city wishes to promote more international tourism, an English-language guide would be helpful. Kudos to the designers for the helpful site map—http://www.xalapa.gob.mx/n/mapanav.html. Email contact: webmaster@xalapa.gob.mx

Universidad Veracruzana

http://www.coacade.uv.mx/
**** (out of five *)

This impressive university site includes an English-language home page (http://www.coacade.uv.mx/ingles/index.html). The site provides information about the university and briefs visitors on the region's history and attractions—from Veracruz Port (http://www.coacade.uv.mx/veracruz/PuertoDeVeracruz.html) to the El Tajin archaeological site (http://www.coacade.uv.mx/veracruz/Tajin/index.html). You'll also be able to listen to the university's radio station (http://www.uv.mx/uvradius/index.html) if you have the RealAudio player software installed. This is an impressive site and one worth bookmarking to see what changes are implemented next! Email contact: webmaster@www.coacade.uv.mx

Snapshots: Other recommended Veracruz websites:

Traveler's Guide to Veracruz

http://www.travelmexico.com.mx/cities/ver.html
Travelers are wise to consult this online guide to travel in the Jarocho state, part of the larger "Traveler's Guide to Mexico" website.

Instituto de Ecologia

http://www.ecologia.edu.mx
One of Mexico's pioneering environmental research centers, the Institute deserves to be better known. Luckily, their newly redesigned web page is just the guide!

Xalapa - Museum of Anthropology

http://www.dallas.net/~lalo/xala_mus.html
This simple web page provides a small collection of images from Veracruz's best known museum.

Mexico Connect - State of Veracruz Index

http:///www.mexconnect.com/mex_/veracruz/veracruzindex.html
- An excellent resource hub for articles, maps, songs (!) and related links

This article originally appeared in Business Mexico magazine.
For subscription information,
visit their website at http://www.amcham.com.mx
or e-mail busmex@amcham.com.mx


Link Reviews Index

Ron Mader (ron@planeta.com) is a journalist and author of Mexico: Adventures in Nature.
He also hosts Planeta.com (http://www.planeta.com) which in 1999 was awarded the "Lente de Plata" award from The Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) for best Mexico-related website.



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