Anybody guess where this pic was taken...

[HatchetMan]

I took it last week while on vacation. Here's a hint, not in the US.

[Guest]

Manzanillo

[HatchetMan]

Yep, you're good. We got to release some baby turtles into the Ocean too. It was a lot of fun, beatiful weather, I'd visit again.

[Guest]

I wanted to do the release when I was in Todos Santos but it was cancelled.

[BJ_M]

Title of the statue; PEZ VELA. It's by the artist Sebastian


and funny enough - the SAME statue is in Saint Paul Minn.

Title of the statue; PEZ VELA

Name of the Artist the statue: SEBASTIAN

Who is giving the statue to St. Paul: The State of Colima on behalf of Saint Paul's Sister City Manzanillo

Date of the creation of the statue: 2003

Is it for Indoor or Outdoor placement: (both) It can be located indoor or outdoor

Description of the Statue (what does it look like?), what does it represent: Contemporary sculpture of a Sailfish from the Bay of Manzanillo

Material: Sculpture: Made from steel plate type A-36 and painted with
acylic enamel paint

Base: Made from steel plate quality A-36 and painted with acylic enamel
paint Should a concrete base be needed is measures 2.00 mts or 6.56168 ft.
long x 1.00 mts or 3.28084 ft. wide

Height, Width, and thickness of base of statue:
1.90 mts or 6.2336 ft. height Including the base x 2.10 mts or 6.88976 ft.
width

Weight: 500kg or 1102.31 lbs. (sculpture) Shipping weight approximate
total 560 kgs or 1234.59 lbs.

Are you including a placque: (Yes) Bronze Plaque

On the base: Not Attached, to be place on the sculpture or a base

What does it say: PEZ VELA

Notation: Manzanillo is the Sailfish Capitol of the world

Obra del escultor Sebastián, La monumental escultura original de 25 mts de altura esta colocada en el Centro Historico de Manzanillo, Colima. Mx.

"Al noble pueblo de Saint Paul, MN. en reconocimiento de su amistad."

Gobierno del Estado de Colima , México Octubre, 2003

Sculpture by Sebastián, The original monumental Sculpture measuring 25 mts or 82.021 ft. in height is located at the Historic Center of Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

"A gift to the honorable City of Saint Paul, MN. In recognition of our friendship"

The Government of the State of Colima, Mexico, October, 2003

Are there any other words on the statue?: Artist's signature

And if yes, where are these words located on the statue?: Near the Base

Any history of the statue or the reason for the statue?: Replica of a City of Manzanillo Sculpture - Symbolic of Manzanillo's Sailfish Capital of the World

Gesture of expression by City of Manzanillo to the City of Saint Paul and their Sister City Relationship

Condition of statue: An original reproduction sculpture commissioned by the State of Colima. New and unique in its measurements, No other replica exists and is the only replica that has been made of the original monument by the sculptor.

Monitary value of the statue, value of the statue and the base: The value is $30,000.00 USD or $300,000 Mexican Pesos

WHEN WILL THE STATUE ARRIVE IN ST. PAUL?: Scheduled for 27th of September from Mexico City to be delivered on site

[HatchetMan]

here was our itinerary

Carnival Spirit 8 day Mexican Riviera Cruise - 2005

January 20th - Embarked in San Diego, CA
January 21st - At Sea
January 22nd - At Sea
January 23rd - Ported in Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa
January 24th - Ported in Acapulco
January 25th - Ported in Manzanillo
January 26th - At Sea
January 27th - At Sea
January 28th - Disembarked in San Diego, CA

[Guest]

Did you get any GI viruses while aboard?

[HatchetMan]

mine's bigger
nice research though

[HatchetMan]

Did you get any GI viruses while aboard?

I'm not sure what a GI virus is so I would say no.

[BJ_M]

GI virus = loose, watery stools occurring more than three times in one day--is a common problem that usually lasts a day or two and goes away on its own without any special treatment. However, prolonged diarrhea can be a sign of other problems. People with diarrhea may pass more than a quart of stool a day.

Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluid to function properly. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and the elderly, and it must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems. (See "What is dehydration?")

People of all ages can get diarrhea. The average adult has a bout of diarrhea about four times a year.
[Top]
What causes diarrhea?

Diarrhea may be caused by a temporary problem, like an infection, or a chronic problem, like an intestinal disease. A few of the more common causes of diarrhea are

* Bacterial infections. Several types of bacteria, consumed through contaminated food or water, can cause diarrhea. Common culprits include Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Escherichia coli.

* Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including rotavirus, Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and viral hepatitis.

* Food intolerances. Some people are unable to digest some component of food, such as lactose, the sugar found in milk.

* Parasites. Parasites can enter the body through food or water and settle in the digestive system. Parasites that cause diarrhea include Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium.

* Reaction to medicines, such as antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and antacids containing magnesium.

* Intestinal diseases, like inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease.

* Functional bowel disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, in which the intestines do not work normally.

Some people develop diarrhea after stomach surgery or removal of the gallbladder. The reason may be a change in how quickly food moves through the digestive system after stomach surgery or an increase in bile in the colon that can occur after gallbladder surgery.

In many cases, the cause of diarrhea cannot be found. As long as diarrhea goes away on its own, an extensive search for the cause is not usually necessary.

People who visit foreign countries are at risk for traveler's diarrhea, which is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or, sometimes, parasites. Traveler's diarrhea is a particular problem for people visiting developing countries. Visitors to the United States, Canada, most European countries, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand do not face much risk for traveler's diarrhea. (See "Preventing Traveler's Diarrhea.")
[Top]
What are the symptoms?

Diarrhea may be accompanied by cramping abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, or an urgent need to use the bathroom. Depending on the cause, a person may have a fever or bloody stools.

Diarrhea can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). The acute form, which lasts less than 4 weeks, is usually related to a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection. Chronic diarrhea lasts more than 4 weeks and is usually related to functional disorders like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel diseases like celiac disease.

[BJ_M]

[HatchetMan]

thanks for the detailed description and pic

[HatchetMan]

the baby turtle that I got to set free

[BJ_M]

I'm kinda surprised that they let you handle them ...

because - you just killed it sadly enough ....


Mortality in baby turtles is extremely high in the wild. About 99% , human touching them passes on the staph virus which normally lives on your skin but doesnt (normally) bother you but is 99.99% fatal for turtles under 2 weeks or so old ..

you also carry some nasty bacteria that can wipe them out AND be passed on in the water to others ..

I'm sorry - i know it looks cute, but it is sad that this is done for tourism ..

but if you really washed your hands before and didnt breath on them - you might be alright ..

btw -- you should wash your hands after handling them also as turtles can carry salmonellosis ..

In the USA and Canada it is not legal to sale or distribute or (in some places) handle turtles with under a 4" shell ...

http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/wildlife_news/baby_turtles_and_children_a_dangerous_combination.html

[HatchetMan]

Hadn't heard that before, my dad's best friend breeds tortoises and I've handled the babies before, of course he does all the time. Are baby tortoises and baby turtles really that different when it comes to handling.

[HatchetMan]

my turtle was no red eared slider either.



mine was black

[BJ_M]

doesnt mater on the color ...

desert tortoises you mean ? they are far less a problem than ones that require to live in or near the water ..



Turtles are defined as any of a large and widely distributed order (Chelonia) of land, freshwater, and saltwater reptiles having a toothless beak and a soft body encased in a hard shell into which, in most species, the head, tail, and four legs may be withdrawn. Although water (especially sea) species are usually called turtle, and land species are usually called tortoise, the terms are properly interchangeable for all species. (Webster's New World Dictionary, second collection).

[makntraks]

I'm kinda surprised that they let you handle them ...

because - you just killed it sadly enough ....

Mortality in baby turtles....

makntraks

[HatchetMan]

This was the place

An interesting ecological center - El Tortugario - is located close to the Cuyutlán Beach. This Marine Turtle Sanctuary will let you participate in the marvelous hands-on experience of helping save these magnificent reptiles from extinction, setting baby turtles free to begin their lives in the ocean (weather conditions permitting). The center also has caiman and iguana sanctuaries, and visitors may walk along its nature path to observe local birds or take a boat ride on the El Paraíso estuary to further appreciate the area's natural beauty.

[BJ_M]

since those little suckers have such a rough time of it from the get go -- they figure the odds of an extra +.01% that make it is worth it ....

so many species almost extinct ... tigers and rhinos as a small sample ..

only 5000 tigers left and in some countries, less than a dozen are believed alive ..

rhinos (except for white rhinos) are even in worse shape ..

African Black Rhino 2,600-3,100
Indian/Nepalese Rhino 1,800-2,400
Sumatran Rhino ~300
Javan Rhino ~60

The rhino is indigenous to Zambia, yet there are only 5 individuals left in the country.. and those came from south africa

numbers above include the ones in zoos -- in the wild - divide by 1/2 or more ..