Issue 1011, August 18 - 24, 2016.

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

News

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Cap & Trade

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Aug 18 - 24, 2016 Year 19 Free Issue 1010

Parenting Back to School

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Travel Back roads of Jalisco

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Photo by Marcia Blondin

3 Hens and a Rooster Market

welcome

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Welcome to Puerto Vallarta

and Riviera Nayarit Here is some advice to make your trip a little easier and more enjoyable.

TIME ZONE: The entire state of Jalisco is on Central Time, as is the southern part of the State of Nayarit starting from Guayabitos in the north.

BUSES: A system of urban buses with different routes can bring you from one end of the bay to the other and all the spots in between.

Current fare in Puerto Vallarta is $7.50 pesos per ticket and passengers must purchase a new ticket every time they board another bus. There are no “transfers”.

TAXIS: There are set rates within defined zones of town. Do not enter a taxi without agreeing on the price with the driver first. Price is per trip not person.

MONEY EXCHANGE: Although you may have to wait in line for a few minutes, banks will give you a higher rate of exchange than the exchange booths (caja de cambio). You will need your passport. Better yet, use your bank card to withdraw funds from any ATM machine. Note that ATM’s in the banks are the safest to use and generally charge lower fees.

DRINKING WATER: For the 18th year in a row, Puerto Vallarta’s water has been awarded a certification of purity for human consumption.

The quality of the water tested at the purification plant varies greatly from what comes out of the tap at the other end. So do be careful. If you want to be doubly sure, you can pick up bottled water just about anywhere.

EXPORTING PETS: Falling love with the street dog outside your hotel or a puppy on the Malecon doesn’t mean they can’t come home with you.

The process is fairly inexpensive and only takes a day or two. You need a certificate of health from a local vet among other things. The time of year that pets can travel in the cargo section of the plane may be your biggest challenge. For the most up-to-date information contact the Puerto Vallarta SPCA at spcapv@gmail.com.

COMMON SENSE: Just as you wouldn’t walk around your hometown drunk and beligerent, it is not acceptable to do that here. While Mexicans are a forgiving bunch, basic politeness is appreciated.

For the guys, peeing in public is a major faux pas and if you are caught, can get you tossed in jail or an expensive fine. Pay attention to your surroundings. Pay your bills. Be courteous. And have fun!

DRINKING AND DRIVING: First off – just don’t. The consequences are not worth it. Taxis are cheap and plentiful. Fines are as much as 10,000 pesos. You can be taken to jail and your vehicle impounded. There are many checkstops on the weekends and you will be asked to blow if they suspect you have been drinking.

LEGAL SYSTEM: Not knowing the law is not an valid excuse in Mexico or anywhere. If you find yourself caught in a legal situation be aware that guilt is presumed until your innocence can be proven.

This is a very difficult lesson to learn if you are visiting from the United States or Canada in particular. Immediately contact your consulate for assistance.

Director Noemi Zamora noemizamorareynoso@gmail.com Editor Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@Vallartatribune.com Sales Team Rebeca Castellón rebeca.castellonn@gmail.com Information office ventastribuna7@yahoo.com Designer Cynthia E. Andrade G. cysandra@gmail.com cisandra@vallartatribune.com

Aug 18 - 24, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Calling in Mexico Calling phones in Mexico can be tricky as it is different than in the US or Canada. There are different codes you need to use depending if you are calling landlines or cellular phones and if they are local or long distance.

Long-distance calls from within Mexico For national long-distance calls (within Mexico) the code is 01 plus the area code and phone number. For international long-distance calls, first dial 00, then the country code (for the U.S. and Canada the country code is 1, so you would dial 00 + 1 + area code + 7 digit number).

Calling Cell Phones (from a land line) If you are calling from a landline within the area code of the Mexican cell phone number dial 044, then the 10 digit number including area code. Outside of the area code (but still within Mexico) dial 045 and then the 10 digit phone number. Cell phone to cell phone only requires the 10 digit number.

Phone Cards Phone cards (“tarjetas telefonicas”) for use in pay phones can be bought at newstands and in pharmacies in denominations of 30, 50 and 100 pesos. Pay phones do not accept coins. When buying a phone card for pay phone use, specify that you would like a “tarjeta LADA,” because pre-paid cell phone cards are also sold in the same establishments.

Calling Toll-Free Numbers Some toll free numbers work from Mexico to the US and Canada, but many do not.

You need to dial a different prefix. To call the following toll free prefixes, dial as follows: 800 numbers Dial 001-880-then the number 866 numbers Dial 001-883-then the number 877 numbers Dial 001-882-then the number 888 numbers Dial 001-881-then the number

Emergencies: 060 Red Cross: 065 Non-Emergency Police 322.290.0507 Fire Department: 322.223.9476

Ahoy Cruisers!

Day Ship 2-Aug Carnival Miracle 3-Aug Carnival Miracle 10-Aug Carnival Miracle 17-Aug Carnival Miracle 23-Aug Carnival Miracle 24-Aug Carnival Miracle 29-Aug Disney Wonder 31-Aug Carnival Miracle

Passengers 2,124 2,124 2,124 2,124 2,124 2,124 2,500 2,124

Ambulance: 322.222.1533

Consulates American Consulate Immigration: Nuevo Vallarta: 322.224.7719 322.222.0069 24 hrs Guadalajara: Consumer Protection: 333.268.2145 01.800.468.8722 Tourism Offices Canadian Consulate Jalisco: 322.221.2676 322.293.2894 Nayarit: 322.297.1006 24 hrs: 1.800.706.2900

In port this month

In the month of August Puerto Vallarta welcomes 17,368 passengers!

Vallarta Tribune is an activity and entertainment guide and merely publishes information as it is provided by the advertiser or event host. We do not assume responsibility in errors or omissions other than to correct them as soon as they are made known to us regarding event schedules, locations and/or prices. In addition, we do not assume any responsibility for erroneous inclusion or exclusion of information except to take reasonable care to ensure accuracy, that permission has been obtained to use it, and to remove it as soon as is practical upon receiving your notification of error. We recommend you always confirm prior to attending or visiting an event or establishment. Weekly publication edited, printed and distributed by Ediciones y Publicaciones Siete Junio, SA de CV Grupo Editorial Tribuna Calle 21 de Marzo # 1174 Col. Lomas del Coapinole Del. El Pitillal, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco México CP 48290 Tel. 226-0800 editor@vallartatribune.com * www.vallartatribune.com * www.facebook.com/vallarta.tribune

editorial

03

Editor’s

Note

editor@vallartatribune.com

T

his week’s missive comes to you from Mexico City, where it is down right chilly.

I’m not complaining. It’s so refreshing to wear jeans and close-toed shoes. Actually that’s a lie, closetoed shoes are terrible, but socks with sandals are even worse.

Summer break is nearly over for the kids. Classes start next Monday on the 22nd. This weekend in town will be packed with families getting one last weekend in at the beach. I remember my first ‘last weekend’ we went to Playa Manzanilla in La Cruz. More bodies than grains of sand. We were fresh to Mexico and it was an eye opener on cultural norms around personal space.

After this weekend it will be a few weeks of sleepy times for those of us who live here full-time but by all accounts it looks like the next winter season is set to be even bigger (and better!) than

last year. I suggest packing at least two pairs of dancing shoes.

Due to things going sideways (as usual) our annual road trip has been moved forward and shortened by a couple weeks. We started our ‘Summer Road Trip 2016’ from Tepic where I waited impatiently for four days for our radiator to be fixed.

“So, it will be ready on Miercoles then?” I asked, though I know better.

“Oh yes senora, Miercoles.”

Thursday: “Can I get the car on Friday morning?”

Oh yes señora, Viernes.”

Friday afternoon with the engine in parts around the floor of the shop, “Oh yes señora, end of the day today. We close at 8pm.”

Saturday at 2pm as the shop is closing for the weekend, as they are lowering the car from the hydraulic lift thingy, “That will be 2500 pesos.”

“But you said it would be $1600.”

At least I have a car, right?

Count your blessings.

We hightailed it out of Tepic, where four nights is three too many, and drove to Tequila for a breakfast of champions, then the back roads through Michoacan to Patzcuaro. Along the way we were stopped once by some stubborn old goats. No vigilantes, no road blocks, no problems.

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

C

ome and spend a rewarding afternoon cuddling the animals at Puerto Vallarta’s SPCA Sanctuary. Our dogs and cats are awaiting “forever homes” and your help is needed to jump start their socialization. The goal is to get these animals adjusted and ready to interact in the real world. The majority of the SPCA animals either come from extremely abusive situations or they have been abandoned. Your love and attention can make up for that sad history. During your visit, you can interact with the animals and even take a dog (or two or three) for a walk.

During the low season (May through October), reservations to visit the sanctuary need to be made in advance. To make a reservation, contact us at spcapv@gmail.com.

We appreciate any donations you can bring for our rescues and also please feel free to bring treats for sanctuary staff as they truly appreciate it.

To see our animals available for adoption, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spcapv.

Go to Photos where you will also find individual Albums for all the animals available as well as a bit of their history. Please be aware that our adoption fee within Mexico

Patzcuaro was slammed with wall-to-wall tourists. It wasn’t much different than the busloads of tourists we see in Puerto Vallarta, and by 7pm everyone was back on the road heading home and we had the town to ourselves.

If you have any inclination to travel off the beach, Patzcuaro should be added to your itinerary. A pueblo magico located on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro, this village has one of the best markets I have ever explored.

(And I’ve explored many) It is an area filled with immeasurable riches, from agriculture to arts and crafts, architecture

By Janice Gonzalez

is $1,500 pesos.

To make donations via PayPal, select the “Donate” option on our Facebook page www.facebook. com/spcapv or on our website at http://spcapv.com/donate/.

You can drop off any donations for the SPCA at Hacienda San Angel located at Calle Miramar 336, above Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in El Centro.

Get involved…rescue, adopt, foster, volunteer, donate or educate. Contact us at spcapv@ gmail.com. You can learn more about the SPCA Puerto Vallarta by checking us out at www.spcapv. com/home or on Facebook.

Aug 18 - 24, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

and history. It is a breathtaking example of the diversity and beauty of this country.

The next morning, after a power walk/shop through the town, we hit the road to Mexico City. Google says it should take about three hours. Ha! We left at one and made it to our destination in Condeasa, Mexico City at 9pm.

Granted we stopped in Metepec for about 30 minutes and spent another hour driving in circles. The lady on Google Maps only sometimes knows where she is going.

Consider yourself warned.

Metepec is the cultural centre for the Arbol de Vida’s (Tree’s of Life) that you can find in galleries and shops.

We were short on time but I managed to buy a couple. There is also so beautiful pottery made in this area that I hope to bring into Vallarta this fall.

And now it’s the early morning in Mexico City and I’m rushing this so I can go out to play. More adventures next week.

Have a great week! Say no to horrible plastic straws that are

used once and then spend the next 100 years in a landfill (if we are lucky) or in the ocean (if the turtles are lucky). Support local shops, vendors and tip well. Septhambre is upon us shortly and it can be tough times for those who make daily wages/tips.

Safe travels, Madeline

Letters to the Editor Dear editor of the Vallarta Tribune, Please share with your readers about our five children with cancer who will be traveling to DisneyLand at the end of September. We thank all of our friends who will make this dream become a reality.

Last year we took another group of children and sadly to say, we have lost two of them as their little bodies could not fight the battle against cancer. They were lovely and will be missed by all of us.

Introducing David Uriel Chavez Contreras David is one of the five teens who will travel in September with the CANICA Program. David came to our Center in 2007, and within months he was diagnosed with osteosarcomain his leg. He was treated for two years, but in 2010 his leg was amputated. David has been in and out of school, and attends a special H.S. to make up for the two years he is behind.

David continues in our program and his prosthesis has to be adjusted to meet his growing needs. He goes to Guadalajara for medical follow-ups.

Please join us on September 9th at our breakfast, meet the children, have fun, make friends, win some of our great raffle items, and

be part of our commitment to help these 21 children in Puerto Vallarta who suffer the consequence of living with cancer. They are brave, lovable and each one of us in Vallarta can make a big difference in these children’s lives. Gracias.

The River Café has for the second year offered a breakfast for CANICA to raise funds for medical needs for the children. The price p.p. is $200 pesos or $15 USD. You can buy your ticket or reserve it at The River Café at # 322.223.0788.

Muchas gracias. Aurora

news

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Mexico announces launch of cap-and-trade pilot program

M

exico will launch a year-long simulation of a cap-andtrade program in November, Mexican officials said on Monday, in a test run for a national carbon market expected to launch in 2018.

The pilot program will involve the voluntary participation of up to 60 companies, giving them a chance to adapt to a forthcoming carbon credit system in which polluters will be obligated to offset emissions with tradeable certificates.

"When we have mechanisms that facilitate the reduction of greenhouse gases, we're implicitly reducing pollution," Mexico's deputy minister for environmental policy and planning, Rodolfo Lacy, said at an event in Mexico City. Cap-and-trade systems put limits on companies' greenhouse gas emissions. Firms that produce emissions below their cap are able to sell their excess allowances to other businesses polluting above their limit. In order to fully roll out the program, the government will need to establish a cap

on greenhouse gas emissions and verify the levels of carbon dioxide equivalents that businesses report to a national emissions registry, said Andres Prieto, a research analyst at MEXICO2, the platform that will oversee the trade of carbon credits.

Roberto Frau, a senior sustainability specialist at Cocoa Services, a public policy and social development advisory group, said Mexico would need to continue developing its regulatory framework to successfully launch a carbon market."There's a lot of pressure on Mexico internationally and from within to start delivering real results," Frau said.

In December, Mexico said it would implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22 percent by 2030 as part of the Paris climate agreement. Additionally, the country, a major oil producer, aims to generate 50 percent of its energy from clean sources by 2025.

(Reporting by Natalie Schachar; Editing by Gabriel Stargardter and Peter Cooney) Oringal: Rueters.com

By Sarah Pruitt

P

erched on a plateau surrounded by mountains some 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, the city of Teotihuacán reached its peak between A.D. 200 and 450, when it was home to as many as 100,000 people. In A.D. 600, Teotihuacán was mysteriously abandoned, leaving future generations of scholars to puzzle for centuries over the secrets of the ancient city, its magnificent pyramids and its people. Now, in what may be a major breakthrough in the study of Teotihuacán, one archaeologist argues that the city was likely built around the worship of a single essential substance: water.

For centuries, archaeologists and other scholars have struggled to unlock the secrets of the ancient city of Teotihuacán.

After reaching its peak just as the Roman Empire was in decline, the city was largely destroyed around A.D. 600 by fire and looting, perhaps as the result of a civil war or enemy invasion. By A.D. 750, the surviving members of Teotihuacán’s population seem to have

Aug 18 - 24, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Scholar Claims Worship of Water Explains Mexico’s Ancient City been absorbed into neighboring cultures, or to have abandoned the once-great city for their ancestral homelands.

Because they had no complex form of writing, relatively little is known about the founders and inhabitants of Teotihuacán.

Archaeologists haven’t discovered any carved slabs inscribed with characters, or any royal tombs.

This lack of artifacts contrasts sharply with the wealth of evidence left behind by the Maya, who also built impressive pyramids in their cities in Central America.

It was the Aztecs who found the ruins of Teotihuacán in the 1300s and gave the city its name, which means “the place where men become gods” in Nahuatl. It was also the Aztecs who linked Teotihuacán’s two largest pyramid— the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon—to their own story of creation. But according to Verónica Ortega, the Aztecs may have had the story wrong.

Ortega, an archaeologist with Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History, has been excavating the square surrounding Teotihuacán’s Pyramid of the Moon in recent months. After finding canals and pool-like cavities located beneath the square, alongside statues of water gods, Ortega has concluded that the entire city was built as a sanctuary dedicated to the worship of water.

“Water is the true protagonist of Teotihuacan,” she told the Wall Street Journal.

“If there was a city in the ancient world where water was worshipped, it was Teotihuacan.”

Her theory draws support from previous excavations of Teotihuacán’s other two pyramids, the Temple of the Sun and the smaller Temple of the Plumed Serpent, which revealed additional aquatic elements including seashells and water pitchers.

At the same time, it challenges the popular hypothesis that the

news

05 inhabitants of Teotihuacán, like other ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, worshipped various deities of equal stature, including several water gods and goddesses but also including the gods of fire and time.

There’s no doubt that water would have been all-important for the people of Teotihuacán, most of whom were farmers.

The climate was semi-arid, and no fewer than eight months out of the year could be dry. When the rainy season finally arrived, the Teotihuacanos would collect rainwater in canals and well to store and use on their crops; Ortega found four such canals running from the Temple of the Moon.

She argues that though Teotihuacán did have other deities, including the god of fire, they played lesser roles than the gods of water. In fact, water and fire were closely linked, as both were produced by thunderstorms.

Based on her excavations, Ortega believes that the worship of water, including lakes, flooding and heavy rain, played a central role in the construction of the city.

She disputes the traditional Aztec

designation of the Temples of the Moon and Sun. According to Ortega, “The Pyramid of the Moon was actually consecrated to the goddess of rivers and lakes, Chalchuihtlicue in Aztec, while the god of storms, Tlaloc, was worshipped in the so-called Pyramid of the Sun.” To bolster her theory, Ortega points to a vivid mural found inside a palace in Teotihuacán, which depicts streams of water flowing from a pyramid-like structure. Painted in red and blue, it is believed to be an image of Tlalocan, the mythical paradise ruled by Tlaloc, a rain deity worshipped by the Aztecs and (apparently) the Teotihuacanos.

Other archaeologists praise Ortega’s research but say she needs additional evidence to back up her theory.

“This is an innovative, interesting proposal, but she has to demonstrate it properly,” the local archaeologist Leonardo López Lújan told the WSJ: “To this day, I still think water was not the main ingredient present here, but also the gods of fire and time.”

Original: History.com

Aug 18 - 24, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

New air connections to Austin, Denver

A

eroméxico and Volaris have announced new non-stop services between Mexico and the United States, linking Mexico City with Austin, Texas, and Monterrey with Denver, Colorado.

Aeroméxico will fly four times a week between the Mexico capital and Austin starting November 17, using a 76-seat Embraer aircraft.

Austin will become the 17th U.S. destination for the airline, Mexico’s largest.

The low-cost carrier Volaris will add year-round service between Monterrey and Denver on December 1, with flights operating Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Denver International Airport said more than 11,000 passengers traveled between the Colorado city and Monterrey in 2015, a 65% increase over 2014.

In other travel news, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed contracts for 23 additional hotels in Mexico by 2018, representing an investment of US $230 million.

The company’s vice-president

of brands and marketing in Mexico, Gerardo Murray, said the decision to expand was based on favorable conditions in Mexico, particularly in the north-central Bajío region.

The expansion will raise IHG’s stake in Mexico to 155 hotels with a total of 23,708 rooms.

Murray said the company sees room for growth in areas where the economy is strong, such as the Bajío with its automotive and aerospace industries, which means growth in business travel.

IHG operates 11 brands in Mexico, including Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo and

The World on Your TV

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www.elmundoensutv.com. If you are interested in our device, that is completely portable, please contact us to offer a demonstration of the capabilities.

We offer to demonstrate the unit in your house or condo, free of charge.

You would also have almost all live If you wish a demonstration in our sporting events, all movies and all TV office, that is free of charge. series. Again, with no monthly fees.

The purchase price is 1800 Pesos.

The most important aspect is this is If you decide to purchase it with a completely internet-based; you have to personal installation and demonstrahave 7 Mb/S of speed, more is better. tion, the additional charge is only 200 In my office, we only have 7 Mb/S and Pesos. it works fine.

If you are unsatisfied after 7 days, I will With 10, it is like watching TV, Period. refund your entire amount paid. The I also offer a complete manual of how installation charge is not refundable. to truly enjoy this experience, as well as instructions on how to even make Tel. 221 0111 Local 20, it better for you. We provide YouTube Las Palmas 2, Marina Vallarta. videos, as well as written instructions todd@remaxinpv.com

w w w. e l m u n d o e n s u t v. c o m

StayBridge.

Also bullish about conditions in Mexico is Starwood Hotels and Resorts. The operator of brands such as The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, W Hotels, Sheraton, Westin and Aloft expects to add 10 to 15 new properties over the next five years.

“We see economic stability [and] the promise of sustainable and solid growth . . .” said JeanMarc Janod, vice-president of operations for Latin America. The brands with the best prospects, he said, are Aloft and W. Original:mexiconewsdaily.com

06

local

Paradise

and Parenting Leza Warkentin

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

How to Prepare for the First Day of School

I

don’t know if you’ve been checking your calendar this summer. I’m just kidding. If you are a parent, then I KNOW you’ve been checking your calendar this summer. And, lately, you’ve been smiling as you do, because next week Mexico’s children head back to school and you head back to whatever semblance of a normal life you still have left.

If you are a teacher and a parent, as I am, then you will have some mixed feelings. I have really enjoyed my time with my family; the movie nights, the late morning coffee, the quick trips for falafel in Sayulita on a Wednesday evening (if you haven’t experienced the food at Falafel and Friends, believe me when I say you need it in your life).

But I sometimes wish that “back to school” would take place in a time of year where it wasn’t so hot that your thinking processes swirl away like shampoo down the shower drain. It’s easier being hot when you can float around in a pool, find a new restaurant with sub-zero A/C, or, when all else fails, sneak out to the car and sit there with the engine running for

continue to reach for your goals, and it helps focus as a family on some common goals.

And you get to cut and paste as much as you want (I promise that means fun. I teach kindergarten. I know these things). Try this short guide for making your own: http:// www.kidzworld.com/article/15917how-to-make-a-vision-board 2) Download BrainQuest (I mean, it can’t hurt, right?)

a few precious minutes (Quick Tip: while your kids will find you almost immediately, you can get an extra thirty seconds out of it if you pretend to be asleep with the doors locked).

Starting school is tough when you have force your kids to try on school uniforms and think of cute shapes for their sandwiches in 33 degrees Celisus (feels like 45).

I have a feeling that most of you don’t care much either way what the temperature is as long as your child is experiencing the Vallarta heat in a classroom.

Preferably with a teacher who isn’t sighing and shaking his head over the summer learning loss that’s going to take him until December to overcome (by the way, downloading MindQuest on your Android apparently doesn’t constitute a Comprehensive Summer Learning Program).

Here are a few ways that I plan to make that back to school transition easier for the whole family: 1) We are going to make a vision board as a family, focusing on the next school year. It’s a great goal-setting activity for all ages.

It creates accountability when others know about what you intend to accomplish, it serves as a daily reminder that you need to

3) Bake some of their snack favorites and freeze them for their school lunches in the first few weeks of school (and still look like I am caring and involved if any teachers eat lunch with them).

4) Organize their uniforms on hangers (although, actually, I promise myself to do this every year. It lasts until September 23 and after that we go back to scrounging through laundry baskets and performing sniff tests).

5) Set my alarm right now. When I finish typing this sentence I’m going to get up and set my alarm for the first day of school. Because on June 23 I turned it off with one hand while fist-pumping with the other.

If I don’t turn it on now I will forget and the first day will start with the violent sounds of a woman running in circles, hitting pieces of furniture in her path with her shins, and saying things for which she will apologize later.

Happy First Day of School. May your children fit their uniforms, may they daily crave peanut butter sandwiches, may your shins be scar-free, and may the traffic lights be ever in your favor.

Aug 18 - 24, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

From Here Marcia Blondin

marciavallarta@gmail.com

B

y the time you read this, CK Productions ‘Splash and Dance’ will be history. I will have a full report next week on all the splashing and dancing but have high expectations of another great concert thrown by CK Productions. This year – 2016 - is their first and with each successive concert, lessons have been learned and every event gets better and better.

Coming season (from rumours….) is going to be simply spectacular!

Paco Ojeda’s series El Placer de Escuchar continued last week with the history of the saxophone.

Always the purist, Paco had not one, but two, saxophonists on hand to demonstrate. One of Paco’s guests from the Orchestra School of Vallarta answered a peculiar question for me: I wondered aloud after the seminar if the sax was difficult for left-handed people to play. In fact, Victor Kris told me the reverse is true with the right hand becoming engaged only when the left one is completely occupied.

Thanks for another great, informa-

tive evening, Paco. I will keep you informed of his next musical feast.

Money continues to come into the fund for Cheryl’s Shoebox but please don’t let that stop you from donating! There will always be needy, barefoot kids.

I have to repair a mistake I made in last week’s column: Lupita’s amazing shrimp quesadillas can be had on Francisco Madero Street and Constitucion NOT Lazaro Cardenas. She is the second stand closest to Constitucion Street. My apologies to all.

La Ley del Ranchero continues every Friday and Saturday night at 8 on the Main Stage at Act II Entertainment. This engrossing tale even has the gringos discussing on Facebook how much they enjoyed the play; even without full grasp of the language. Support is support so, Go! Dionisio Theatre Group is beginning their fifth year with this production. It is excellent!

And that, my friends, is that, From Here.

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Aug 18 - 24, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

How Mexico Celebrate Made in Mexico is Improving its Police R eturning for its second year this coming September to Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa, Made in Mexico will again dazzle the senses with an array of events to honor the art, culture and traditions of Mexico.

Culminating with a celebration on the eve of September 16th held in tribute to Mexico’s Independence Day, the days leading up to the national holiday will be jam-packed with festivities in recognition of Mexico.

Paul Kurtzweil www.qroo.us

R

eaders of the blog frequently contact me to ask about crime and personal safety here in Mexico. Until now, I have been answering these on an individual basis; however, I thought it was time to start dedicating some posts to the topic. I even created a new category called Safety and Security.

I decided to begin with a post about the police here in Mexico.

After all, their level of effectiveness will have a direct impact on crime rates and overall safety.

New Standards to Fight Corruption It is no secret that police corruption has been a long standing problem throughout Mexico. In fact, it is not uncommon to hear expats and tourists talk about being stopped by unscrupulous police officers looking for a bribe.

The good news is that the Mexican government has taken significant steps in recent years to identify and remove these bad apples from police agencies across the nation.

Exámenes de Control y Confianza One of the most significant steps has been the creation of the Exámenes de Control y Confianza (Control and Trust Testing) for both new hires and all existing police officers. The testing consists of five areas: psychological, medical, toxicology, polygraph and a socioeconomic investigation.

This is very similar to the hiring process used by many law enforcement agencies in the United States, with one major exception -Mexico now requires its officers to go through this every three years.

The Results A skeptical person would probably say that this testing was just a ploy to appease the public and that the majority of officers would be "rubber stamped" as passing.

Well, that skeptical person would be wrong. Actually, more than 113,000 officers failed, according to

Mexican Themed Activities

el Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública (SNSP).

To put it in a percentage, roughly 33% of the total number of officers who were tested, failed. State and municipal agencies across the country are currently in the process of replacing these officers with qualified personnel.

Improved Training In case you missed it, Mexico made radical changes to its criminal justice system and the new system went into full effect in June of this year. Several of these changes can potentially impact expats who live in Mexico, so I will probably do a post on that topic sometime in the future. For now, I will only address the fact that the changes mandated additional training for every police officer in the country.

Officers receive mandatory training in the following areas: • Evidence collection and crime scene processing • Respect for human rights • Defensive tactics • Detention and handling of suspects • Vehicle operations • Firearms On a local level, most agencies often conduct additional training for their officers throughout the year.

Let’s Wrap This Up I commend Mexico for its efforts to improve not only its police forces, but the entire criminal justice system. The changes made so far have been positive and will benefit all of us who call Mexico our home.

Guests of Garza Blanca Resort will be encouraged to join in the fun through a collection of Mexican themed activities that will center on the creatively dynamic culture of Mexico, such as a Mexican expo highlighting artisanal products including fine art, crafts, cheese and wine proudly made in Mexico.

In addition to dancers, Mariachis and other displays of appreciation for Mexico’s unique heritage, the resort will host special guests of honor such Valentín Garcia Magaña, a revered studio potter hailing from Tonala, Jalisco representing Artesanías Erandi, and Maria Rosario Mendoza, a fashion designer who will exhibit her skill through her Takasami label.

“Mexico is such a rich and varied culture, there is no end to celebrating its traditions,” declares Eliezer Quiñones, Garza Blanca’s General Manager, “I, for one, am really excited about sharing these experiences with our guests and members.”

Made in Mexico 2016 Made in Mexico will celebrate Mexico’s Independence and heritage with festivities during the month of September, showcasing the distinctive essence of this magical culture including tequila tastings and extraordinary Mexican specialties offered at the restaurants of the resort. In the week leading up to September 16th, arguably the biggest holiday in Mexico, when the country celebrates its independence from Spain, guests can experience a busy schedule of events focused on commemorating the legacy of Mexico (full program to be announced).

“Made in Mexico is one of the highlights of the year,” reports Alejandro Ayala Cuevas, Activities Manager, adding, “my team and I are really excited about the events we will be organizing; it’s what

makes the job so rewarding.”

The inaugural run of Made in Mexico last year proved to be a success with guests such as fashion designer Aline Moreno (recipient of the National Fashion Award in 2014), who presented an enticing collection of high fashion with a downtown feel, complemented by the sounds of DJ JR.Cutz in addition to celebrity chef Carlos Gaytan of Chicago,

who produced an outstanding meal for Blanca Blue restaurant diners.

With events taking place throughout the month of September and a concentrated number of them happening between September 12th and September 17th, Made in Mexico 2016 will no doubt make an indelible impression on guests and members visiting Garza Blanca in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Garzablancaresort.com

Visit the Marsol Hotel Summer Market by t

the Pier every Friday 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

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Aug 18 - 24, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Road Tripping Fandango: The back roads of Jalisco

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lovely reader sent me a wonderful email with some great road trip ideas for those of us who might be a little more adventurous. With the dog days of summer on us now, I thought I would share his travel itinerary and encourage you to take the time to explore this wonderful area we call home.

I recommend you check your tires, change your oil, pack a good map, a Spanish phrase book and some pesos. Everything else you can find along the way.

Que vaya bien. ‌..

If you have not been there, by all means take a trip to Guachinango.

It is an old mining town on the order of San Sabastian del Oeste, and is really beautiful with winding streets, and a lovely zocalo, and a church built with beautiful, broken pieces of antique ceramic, The town is still a center of active mining of gold and silver and other minerals. And, during the annual festival (the town Saint's Day) the town is incredible and with a great different photo wherever one looks.

The main hotel is "Hotel Real de Minas" and is clean, hot water, king size or twin full size beds, and reasonably priced.

Just before arriving to the turn off to Guachinango, is a town on the right called Mixtlan. It is clean and very much like a small western town in the USA. The annual festival (Saint’s Day) is absolutely incredible and much, much more upscale and organized "goings on" than the festival in Gjuachinano.

And do not be concerned, all are invited ......... if you are there, you are one of attendees invited, and treated as such.

Before getting as far as Mixtlan or Guachinagngo you will see a turn to the right, and a sign saying "Los Volcanos." This is another wonderful "off the path" excursion.

Los Volcanos & sister town Ahua-

catepec are centers of huge cattle ranches............ the area is incredibly beautiful, with an impeccable clean and modern motel with TV, hot water, and a small restaurant which serves a great breakfast made to order, and handmade tortillas. NOTE: I can't find the card, however it is the only motel in town and the Pemex gas station can give you directions (1/4 mile away?) At the end of the street with the motel on it, is a large restaurant out of long past, which has good food, and nice atmosphere. Los Volcanos is a good town to spend

the night before venturing on the highway south/east towards the coast.

After Los Valcanos is a very clean and modern town called Cuautla, with a statue of a Charro on the highway.

The town is to the left and down under some beautiful arches paying tribute to the citizens of the town who now live in the USA. The town is spotless and nice homes, beautiful Zocalo and the economy is mainly from money sent by families in the United States. On the exit from Chautla you will

see a large group of stables, and a large Charro Ring....... it is owned and operated by the world famous Mexican Ranchera singer, actor and film producer, Vicente Fernandez.

Continue down the road a little bit, past Ayutla (our current mayor of Puerto Vallarta was previously mayor of Ayutla), and make a right turn on highway 80, going south.

Immediately after Union de Tula there will be a road bearing to the left (with a possible sign saying either Ejutla or El Grullo...you want to go to Ejutla). The road winds

through some incredibly beautiful mountain country and you come to a fork - take the fork to the left (Ejutla) and in a minute or so you will see in the valley below a really, really picturesque town with 2 large churches in different parts of the town, with large monasteries connected to them, one for men (priests) and one for women (nuns). Very unique. There is a statue of Christ with outstretched hands looking over the town (I think there might be a tram to the top).

The town is spotless, clean, with a stream going through it and palm trees on the banks. The entrance road to the town is really well done.

It is probably shortest to back track and take the road back to highway 80 and proceed toward and through La Huerta, and to the coast. Go towards the signs that say Melaque and Puerto Vallarta.

Just after the Y in the road (you go toward Puerto Vallarta) you will see a sign saying La Manzanilla. Go to La Manzanilla and stay a night or two.

It is in Jalisco, but relatively undiscovered by people in Vallarta.

It is a small, clean, and beautiful beach town with a few Canadians living year long.

The beach and bay are absolutely beautiful and uncrowded, with sunsets that are as spectacular, or more so, than we have in Vallarta. There is, for all intents and purposes, one hotel in town ....

Hotel Posada Tonala. The rooms are clean, hot water, TV, very nice atmosphere and just across the street from the beach. Rates at last check were 450 king and 350 double......and negotiable when slow (mid-week?). Except for Monday there is a wonderful coffee and pastry cafe on the main square, and at night (again, except for Monday) on the street of the hotel, same side, is an outside taco/Mexican food stand with long tables and great food. There is also a nice upscale Italian Restaurant up the street on the beach side. At the other end of the street (toward where you entered) there is a lagoon where you can feed crocodiles raw fish......if that is of interest. After leaving La Manzanilla the road to Puerto Vallarta is really varied and beautiful...... about a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive. Some of best beaches and exclusive resorts are along this coast. The highway goes past the exit to Tomatlan and through El Tuito, and then to Puerto Vallarta. It makes for a nice 2 or 3 day trip.

Trip by Gordon Hayes Originallty Published September 2013

riviera nayarit

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Aug 18 - 24, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Bucerias Art District Beat

By Gordon Mayer

Meet My Mexican Kitchen

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here is no denying that we live in a global village today. As we watch the Rio Olympics and see the pride of the athletes representing their homeland, we also witness the friendships and camaraderie of the athletes despite their differences.

The term “ex-patriot” is often used to describe those who choose to live in a country apart from their citizenship. I would suggest that we change the term to “multi-patriot” to reflect the positive benefits of the new relationships occurring due to our global village. Much like the athletes in the Olympic village interacting and making each other sharper, ‘multi-pats’ and nationals can do the same. Travis and Edgar, the proprietors of My Mexican Kitchen are a prime example of the fantastic results achieved when the global village comes together, dreams and shares.

It wasn’t until after being in Mexico and seeing that the typical dishes most people know about in Mexican cuisine was just the tip of the iceberg (not that there are many icebergs to compare to in our Bahi de Banderas bathwater surf!) that Travis caught the vision to promote traditional Mexican cooking. Having worked his way from dishwasher to chef in local restaurants and supporting himself as an English teacher, Travis had a strong appreciation of Mexican culture and the desire to share it, in particular the fantastic food. He noted that there were classes available for French Cuisine here, but could not find one for traditional, national foods. It was then that Travis realized that he wanted to teach it, but how would he learn himself and how would he connect with the rich heritage of cooking?

Enter Edgar, from the “Stomach of Mexico” the state of Puebla.

Edgar’s family is a Mexican generational cooking dynasty.

Everything from a Tamale stand to his Dad’s restaurant in which all the kids worked, formed Edgar’s experience as a traditional Mexican

chef. Edgar’s knowledge is broad and comes from countless family gatherings and meals where recipes were enjoyed and shared.

Whether watching the preparations and conversing or making them himself under the watchful eye of his family members, Edgar has learned his craft in the fashion that has maintained it for centuries; passed on from loving hands.

There is no better pedigree to be found for teaching traditional Mexican cuisine than someone like Edgar of San Martin Texmelucan.

Let me pause here and say a special thank you to Mexican families who make tradition and history important in their children’s lives.

There is a lesson there for all of us.

So now the global village steps in and blesses us with a great gift.

Travis meets Edgar. Oregon meets Pueblo in Jalisco to open a cooking school in Nayarit. It is difficult to think of all of the decisions and moments that had to align themselves so that this could happen but it did and we have My Mexican Kitchen. Traditional Mexican food, not what you think you know but the whole enchilada – ok I am

sorry but this gringo just had to say that… What I am saying is that there are sesame seed sauces and pomegranate dishes to be discovered that many have never heard of let alone tasted and My Mexican Kitchen has them all and more. Travis and Edgar still travel to Puebla and Edgar’s family gatherings to learn new recipes and enhance what they have already.

The traditions of Mexico are still passed on to all those who come to learn and want to know the secrets to healthy, local, traditional, delicious Mexican cooking. What a gift to us and the Bucerias Art District.

More is on the way as Travis and Edgar are preparing contemporary gourmet Mexican dishes to share as caterers while maintaining the My Mexican Kitchen school schedule. As they too take a break to relax and discover we wait expectantly for them to bring us more from their combined passion and knowledge to satisfy our hungry and expectant palettes. ¡Buen provecho!

Taking Care of La Cruz Rain or Shine - Lina Bureau

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he indefatigable Lina Bureau, Amigos Recycling Queen, is shown here in pictures from this week - cleaning the streets of garbage and recycling plastic bottles. And in her "off" time, she beautifies the village with plantings of trees and shrubs.

You may also have noted her recycling, garbage station on Coral, by Cetmar. She's a miracle! Even her neighbor children help her crush the plastic.

Driving the Amigos truck "Paloma," she works with volunteers to pick up the material 6 days each week. Lina takes her "job" seriously, even though she is a volunteer herself. Please take time to thank Lina as she goes by your house, development, or through the village.

Lina has found a new way to gather more plastic, by hooking bags from Paloma's sides.

Lina's new volunteers, neighbors Lesley and Omar, the latter whose diapers have to be changed periodically, have so much fun helping. They take their job seriously; they love to empty the bottles and crush them; only to be throwing the plastic in bags back into the truck. From there, Lina takes the crushed plastic to Monroy in Mezcales.

Lina's new project is to clean and beautify Coral, the lateral in front of the primary school. Thanks to the local government she has been given shrubs and trees to plant around the village: agave, ginger and yellow Primavera trees.

Original: Amigos de La Cruz

VALLARTA SHOPPI

Marsol Market by the Pier

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aklava: This delightful Turkish sweet is now available every Friday at the Marsol Market! Also new is Lorena’s Aromatherapy and a gentle face-lift for the gracious lobby of the Marsol Hotel. Come hungry for chilli and fresh muffins and be sure to check with Lorena about which aromatherapies to take home…maybe plan a special evening.

Last week’s column - specifically about Ricardo Mazcal’s extracts that cured his cancer AND obesity problems – prompted quite a few people to come to the Marsol Market to ask questions.

Please know you are welcome.

Cancer CAN be beaten without miserable biopsies and worse invasive procedures. Every body needs a strong immune system and if you have one rarely will any disease strike you. So, what are you waiting for? For a few pesos a day you can turn your life around.

Juan Manuel, our Found Artist, who makes very cool pieces with stones and wire, has become President of Vallarta’s largest Colonia – Aurora. Congratulations, Juan Manuel! A man with many talents including being a refrigeration specialist.

David and Elizabeth bring exquisite Marcia has fabric handbags (most jewellery to Market every Friday; take of them brand new) for $100 pesos and your time and if you have any questions some great shoes for $50. about types of gemstones and/or purity The Marsol Market by the Pier is open of the silver settings; just ask in English every Friday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. or Spanish.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP CLUB

Old Dogs, New tricks

Many members of IFC are passionate about learning new things.

Starting in November the club will be offering classes in Spanish and bridge.

In January, the Monday evening movie series and the Friday morning lectures start. Add Friday bridge, social hour and dine-around and you have a great place to learn and to meet new friends.

Everyone is welcome. www.ifcvallarta.com 322-222-5466

Day Pass 50% off PRESENT THIS COUPON

Wheeling Vallarta Segway Tours

Towel service / Pool / Lounge chairs Delightful cocktails / Superb Bistrot menu Pet-friendly

Fine Art and Furniture

MEXICO

www.sapphire.mx

Expires October 31, 2016

Malecon 1, Playa Los Muertos

Located across from McDonald’s

322-223-8014 31 de Octubre 107 Col. Centro Puerto Vallarta Malecon

ING AND SERVICES

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Three Hens and a Rooster Market News

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o give a gift is often expected at times – birthdays, Christmas, etc.; things made in China are everywhere and inexpensive to buy.

If you truly care about someone, however, then not just any-old-thing will do; the art of giving starts with the creator of the gift itself. This is why Artisan Markets are held so dearly to a small portion of the public and a large portion of the artists. A case in point: Three Hens Market features Alma’s amazing dolls (among other things she makes): each part of the doll is made by hand – the body, the hair, the

faces she paints on, the clothes, every detail. Each one takes her five days to make, start to finish.

The cost? $250 pesos! An unbelievable price. Check Alma’s Facebook page: Manitas Trabajando.

When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked? Or your temperature taken? This coming Saturday, Three Hens has a doctor on call just for you…FREE! Stop by when Three Hens Market opens at 9 am and get checked at no charge.

Mark’s butter tarts are one of those melt-in-your-mouth treats. Delicious,

as are all his savoury and sweet tarts and pies. His pastry is the secret; never tough, always rich and flaky. He will never give up the recipe!

Pat Wagner is making pound cake with lemon curd spread and Cubanstyle pulled pork with a dipping sauce on the side.

And non-food items are on sale: her fabulous pillows have the second one at half-price and her special wine totes are five for $100 pesos.

Three Hens & a Rooster Market is every Saturday from 9 to 1 at Venustiano Carranza 466.

“Remodeling and Renovations”

Juarez 599 El Centro 322 222 1383, 322 111 6359 www.colibridesignvallarta.com galeriacolibri@gmail.com

entertainment

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Jodie Foster A Shooting Star At 12

By Fred Jacobs

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odie was born on November 19, 1962 in Los Angeles and the youngest of 4 children of Evelyn and Lucius Fisher Foster III. Her father came from a wealthy Chicago family, whose ancestors could be traced back to the Mayflower in 1620. Unfortunately, they divorced shortly before Jodie was born and Jodie never really had a relationship with her father. Jodie was a gifted child and learned to read at the age of 3 and was fluent in French by the age of 5.

After the divorce, her mother worked as a publicist for a Hollywood film producer. In the 1960’s, Hollywood was still a “who you know” industry, and that’s how Jodie got her first job-as the Coppertone girl in a TV ad in 1965.

The TV ad led to more ads and also appearances on over 50 TV shows in minor roles throughout the 1960’s. Jodie’s older brother and she were the breadwinners of the family by this time and her mother now worked full time managing her children’s careers.

The early 1970’s saw Jodie start to appear on the big screen in Disney films and for other studios. Some notable appearances included “Tom Sawyer” (1973), and Martin Scorsese’s “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974), in which she appeared in a supporting role as a “Ripple-drinking street kid”.

Jodie’s mother was worried, her daughter’s career would end once she outgrew children’s roles, so she started auditioning Jodie for more movies with adult content. Martin Scorsese then cast Jodie in “Taxi Driver” (1976) as a teenage prostitute and costarred with Robert De Niro. The Los Angeles Welfare Board initially opposed a 12 yr. old appearing in the film due to its violent content, but relented after governor Pat Brown intervened. A social worker was required to accompany Jodie on set and her older sister, Connie acted as her stand-in for sexually suggestive scenes.

“Taxi Driver” was a critical and

Adorable Dog In The Spotlight...

by Janice Gonzalez DAISY

box office success, and earned Jodie a supporting actress Oscar nomination. The film is considered one of the best films ever made by the American Film Institute. 1976 was a busy year for Jodie, as she also appeared in “Bugsy Malone” and “Echoes of a Summer” in which she played a terminally ill girl. We also saw Jodie in the Canadian thriller “The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane”, opposite Martin Sheen.

In November 1976, Jodie hosted Saturday Night Live, becoming the youngest person to do so.

Jodie’s fifth film of the year would be the Disney comedy “Freaky Friday” in which she played a

Aug 18 - 24, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

tomboy teen who accidentally changes bodies with her mother.

After this breakout year, Jodie spent the next few years working in France, Italy and England. She would not release a US film again until 1980 with “Foxes” and “Carny”.

Later in 1980, Jodie decided to put acting on hold and go to Yale University but did some filming on summer vacations. Notably “The Hotel New Hampshire” (1984) was one of the few times we saw Jodie on the big screen during this time. She graduated from Yale magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in Literature in 1985. Jodie had hoped her college experience would be a chance at a “normal life”, away from the spotlight-but that was not to be the case.

In 1981, a disturbed man named John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate U.S. President Ronald Reagan, saying he did it in order to impress Jodie.

While she attended Yale, Hinckley had become obsessed with Jodie, writing her love letters and calling her on the phone. She eventually testified during Hinckley’s trial and admitted to being badly shaken by the experience.

After graduating Yale, Jodie struggled to find work as an adult actress. She did get her feet wet in the directing area in 1988, with the TV episode “Do Not Open This Box” for the series “Tales from the Darkside”. Jodie’s breakthrough into adult roles came with her performance as a rape survivor in “The Accused” (1988) which was a drama based on a real criminal case. Jodie was worried about

her performance and that it may end her career, but in the end the film was a big hit and won her an Oscar for Best Actress.

Jodie did not appear on the screen again until 1991 in “Silence of the Lambs” costarring Anthony Hopkins. The psychological thriller was a box office smash and became one of the biggest hits of the year, making $273 million. The film swept the Oscars, winning the big Five Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster), and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Later in 1991, Jodie made her movie directorial debut with “Little Man Tate”, about a working class mother and her child prodigy son. It had respectable box office results. Jodie formed her own production company and made “Sommersby” (1993), with Richard Gere and “Maverick” (1994), with Mel Gibson-both box office successes. Over the next 15 years, Jodie dedicated more and more of her time behind the scenes directing with occasional appearances onscreen. None have really been the box office hits of earlier years, but many earned critical acclaim. A few months ago, Jodie directed “Money Monster” starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, to decent box office and critic reviews. We can expect much more to come from Jodie and her talent for making movies that we want to see.

Fred Jacobs is a full time resident of Puerto Vallarta and the author of 3 books.

Christ Church by the Sea Worldwide Anglican Communion

Services Sunday 10:00 a.m. Air-conditioned Now! Services held each Sunday year around English-Traditional Holy Communion All faiths welcome-Casual Dress Across from airport, northbound service road next to Sixt and Thrifty Car Rental Blvd. Fco. Medina 7936, Puerto Vallarta

O

ne look at this sweet face tells you all you need to know! Daisy is an incredibly gentle and mellow Basset Hound. She is about six years old and weighs 44 pounds. Although low energy, Daisy does love a good game of fetch with her humans. She gets along well with other dogs and we think she would be okay with felines when introduced properly.

Daisy has been spayed, dewormed and is current on all her vaccines. Basset Hounds are known to be affectionate and loyal, and because of their pack nature, get along well with people and other pets, making them an ideal family companion. If you think Daisy would be the perfect addition to your family, contact us at spcapv@gmail.com for an application.

Questions? Call Father Michael cell: 044-322-303-3916 e mail kpadresoy@outlook.com

www.ChristChurchByTheSea.org www.IglesiaCristoDelMar.org

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