And The Winner is...
Silver Quill/Silver Lens Award Winners Receive Award From Mexican President Vicente Fox

There were hundreds of submissions, but only two winners from the North American region for this year's Silver Quill (Pluma de Plata) and Silver Lens (Lente de Plata) Awards, which recognize excellence in the depiction of Mexico as a premier travel destination. Award categories included articles, travel guides, websites, short films/documentaries and photographs

This year's Pluma de Plata and Lente de Plata North winners for North America are as follows:

Category: Pluma de Plata (English):
Jim Gorman, for "Desert Rose," Endless Vacation (July/August 2005), a compelling description of the colonial city of Zacatecas with vibrant photos of its people and sights.

Category: Lente de Plata (English):
Mary J. Andrade, www.diademuertos.com, a site full of useful information and links about one of Mexico's most festive holiday, Day of the Dead. Site is in both English and Spanish.

A panel of judges comprised of Mexican tourism officials evaluated submissions for content, accuracy and style, and how compelling they are in portraying Mexico's historic, cultural and natural attractions, customs, traditions, art, architecture, cuisine, historic legacy and tourism facilities.

The winners traveled to Acapulco to attend Mexico's premier travel trade show, Tourism Tianguis, a prize that included round-trip air transportation, hotel accommodations, ground transportation and meals. They were honored at an awards ceremony held in Acapulco on March 29 and attended by Mexico Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo and Mexico President Vicente Fox.

"We were very impressed with the quality and breadth of this year's entries. After a difficult judging process, we felt the winners captured the essence of Mexico through their words and images," said Magdalena Carral, recently appointed CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. "We would like to express our gratitude to the countless number of writers who support our mission year after year, making Mexico one of the most visited countries in the world."