Issue 1062, August 10 - 16, 2017

FINANCE KIDS

NEWS

Mexico Fights Canada’s Fires Page 04

CHARITY

ART & CULTURE

Page 08

Page 15

Corazon de Niña Celebrates 5 Years

VallartaTribune.com

August 10 - 16, 2017 Year 20 Free Issue 1062

DE I U G

a or Ah en l ño pa Es

E E FR

Straw ‘Paintings’

Luxury hotels expand to Riviera Nayarit Page 17

Photo Courtesy of W Punta de Mita

Vallarta’s newest brewpub

Page 11

TRAVEL rincÓN DE GUAYABITOS Page 18

Adorable Dog In The Spotlight... Milo

Page 21

welcome

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 to the Ameca River and including Nuevo Vallarta.

BUSES: A system of urban buses can bring you from one end of the bay to the other and all the spots in between. Current fare within Puerto Vallarta is $7.50 pesos per ticket and passengers must purchase a new ticket every time they board a bus. Hold on to your ticket. This is your proof and insurance should anything happen.

Bus destinations are typically written on the front of the window.

Those with a ‘centro’ sign will drive through downtown Puerto Vallarta and those with a ‘tunel’ sign will drive through the tunnel roads that go behind the city.

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 unless there are more than four passengers.

Take note of the taxi number on the outside door and where it picked you up. If you lose an item this information will be vital to attempting to get it back.

MONEY EXCHANGE: To exchange money you will need your passport. Best option is to use your bankcard to withdraw funds from any ATM machine. ATM’s in the banks are the safest to use and generally charge lower fees.

USING PESOS OR USD: Businesses must display their prices in pesos and they may also post the prices in any other currency they choose. They cannot refuse to accept pesos. Some service staff may appreciate being tipped in USD and others in pesos. If you are concerned, ask.

TIPPING: How much and when you tip are personal choices and unless otherwise noted a 10-20%

tip on food and beverage and services is standard. Tip the kids and seniors who bag your groceries. They work exclusively for tips. Have change at the ready for musicians and clowns that ride the buses – typically tipping 5 pesos or less. Taxi drivers do not receive tips unless they go to extraordinary lengths.

DRINKING WATER: Puerto Vallarta’s water (at the source) is certified pure enough to drink. For many who live here long term, we drink from our taps with no issues.

For those on vacation, it may be better to stick to bottled water.

EXPORTING PETS: Falling in love with a rescue animal is easy – and it’s easy to take them home with you. The process is quick and inexpensive. You need a certificate of health from a local vet with the appropriate inoculations, among other things. The time of year that pets can travel in the cargo hold of the plane may be your biggest challenge. Contact your airline to double-check their requirements.

COMMON SENSE: Just as you would not walk around your hometown drunk and belligerent, it is not acceptable to do that here. While Mexicans are a forgiving bunch, basic politeness is appreciated. 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 15,000 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 a valid excuse in Mexico or anywhere. If you find yourself caught in a legal situation be aware that the system works much differently here than you are likely used to. Immediately contact your consulate for assistance.

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

August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

Calling in Mexico Calling phones in Mexico can be tricky. 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 (U.S. and Canada 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, the 10 digit number. 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 newsstands and in pharmacies.

Pay phones do not accept coins. When buying a phone card for pay phone use, specify that you would like a tarjeta LADA. CALLING TOLL-FREE NUMBERS Some toll free numbers work from Mexico to the US and Canada, but many do not. Those that do work are often not toll-free. 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: 911 Red Cross: 065 Fire Department: 322.223.9476 Ambulance: 322.222.1533

Ahoy Cruisers!

NAME PASS DATE CARNIVAL MIRACLE 3,200 02/08/2017 CARNIVAL MIRACLE 3,200 09/08/2017 CARNIVAL MIRACLE 3,200 16/08/2017 CARNIVAL MIRACLE 3,200 23/08/2017 CARNIVAL MIRACLE 3,200 30/08/2017

Immigration: 322.224.7719 Consumer Protection: 01.800.468.8722 Tourism Offices Jalisco: 322.221.2676 Nayarit: 322.297.1006

Consulates American Consulate 24 hrs 01-332-268-2100 Canadian Consulate 322.293.0098 322.293.0099 24 hrs: 1.800.706.2900

In port this month

In the month of August Puerto Vallarta welcomes 16, 000 passengers!

Vallarta Tribune is an activity and entertainment guide and 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 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

Cut out and put near your phone for handy reference

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Editor’s

editorial

Note

editor@vallartatribune.com Generous Vallartans, traveling drag queens and the dog days of summer. ’m still up north in Canada for couple more weeks so I missed the big Summer Bash for Cheryl’s Shoebox, but by all accounts it was another huge success – which of course it was.

Congratulations to everybody for a great event and fundraising all those pesos (60,000) to help children get to school a little better.

If you missed it and you’d like to contribute you can visit: www. cherylsshoebox.org.

I received an email newsletter from Melissa Canez of Corazon de Niña this past weekend and it had so many impressive updates.

If you aren’t familiar with Corazon de Niña, it’s a home for children that Melissa and her husband Juan started five years ago. When you think of where they were then to where they are now, it’s another testament to the love and commitment that the Puerto Vallarta community has for each other. I remember a desperate plea about four years ago that lead to a spontaneous fundraiser that netted 10,000 pesos in a couple hours.

Today, the home has grown leaps and bounds, six of the children are off to university; they’re starting their own school; they have a great little boutique in Marina Vallarta that helps the children become self-sufficient, and much more. It’s inspiring how much has been overcome in such a short time.

You can read more about Corazon de Niña in this week’s paper. And of course they can always use your support. You can learn more here: http://fundacioncorazon.mx I was thrilled to get an email from Merv Buchanan (he produces many of the acts we see at El Rio and Luna Lounge during high season) who shared with me the huge success that the Crazy Bitches are in British Columbia and Alberta this summer. This is their first summer tour in Canada

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and all their shows have been sold out! What a great response to one of our ‘Banderas Bay’ treasures. If you’re in Bucerias (or nearby) from November through March – you can catch their act at Luna Lounge.

You’ll have to check the schedule for next season’s dates, but they usually have two shows a week. If you haven’t seen them yet – plan on it! So much fun.

We are continuing with the English/Spanish articles for a couple more weeks. I have heard from a few people that they are enjoying them as learning tools, which is great. That’s the intention!

This week we have a bi-lingual article on Guayabitos, a beach town about an hour and half north of Puerto Vallarta.

It is a beautiful bay with perfect beaches, an island in the middle you can snorkel around and safe, calm waters. The town has been going through a revival in the past couple years and there are some cute new hotels and restaurants. If you haven’t been in awhile – definitely head back soon. It’s upgrading and considerably nicer than it was a few years ago. That said, it’s hugely popular for Mexican families, so unless you like crowds, wait until the kids are back in school after August 21st. Prices will drop significantly and you’ll have the whole beach to yourselves.

I’m off to enjoy another humidity-free day! Have a great weekend!

DO YOU REALLY NEED

THAT STRAW?

Jaime Baldridge

James Nash, Julie Reis, Robina Oliver, Shannon Sandoval, Barbara Ryan, photobomber Don’t forget to support local. Say no to those nasty plastic straws and, if you should cross paths with a turtle, look but don’t touch.

Safe travels, Madeline

Alegre Tours Calendar:

IF YOU DON’T NEED THAT STRAW, THEN THE NEXT TIME YOU ORDER A DRINK SAY -

Sin popote, por favor!

Alegre Tours

Sept 29-Oct 09-2017 Argentina/ Buenos Aires/IguazuFall/Mendoza Wine Country November 04-11-2017 Cuba Havana and Varadero Beach November 28-December 05-2017 Mexico City/Cernavaca/Valle de Bravo/Xochimilco/Taxco December 15-2017 Mascota/Talpa 1 Day Tour January 13-19-2018 Guanajuato/San Miguel/Leon February 12-15-2018 Tonala Original Special “Shop Till You Drop” Tour Visit Tonala Marketplace and Furniture Expo March 17-24-2018 Merida/Chichen-Itza/Becal/Uxmal

Reservations & Information: Roberta Valdez 951.760.1068 rvaldez714@hotmail.com

Letter to the Editor: Thank You I read the Tribune every week and find very informative. My husband and I moved to PV five months ago. We’ve been taking Espanol classes for 4 months. I so appreciate the Spanish translation in the last 3 issues. It’s extremely beneficial to learning and comprehending the language outside of a textbook setting. I hope you will continue this feature.

Best regards Linda Vasquez

news

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August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

108 firefighters battle wildfires in Canada

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hey are among several international crews helping during ‘unprecedented’ season. Mexican firefighters began arriving in Canada last week to help deal with an “unprecedented” fire season in the province of British Columbia.

Fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek said the 108 Mexican firefighters who arrived Friday will

Hello, we are here, to ensure your well-being.

We have come to Puerto Vallarta now to offer you the best healthcare and well-being that our 45 years of experience can provide.

be deployed to fight two fires near the city of Williams Lake.

As of that day there were more than 100 wildfires burning in the province and 4,000 people employed to fight them, more than double the usual number.

Skrepnek said the international help is vital and allows Canadian crews to recharge. Firefighters from the United States, Australia

and New Zealand are also helping battle the province’s fires.

He forecast the situation would become “dire” over the next month, August being the busiest month for wildfires.

“Realistically, this situation is likely to get worse before it gets better so having these resources means a lot,” he said.

Of the five crews of Mexican firefighters now in Canada, half have had experience with international deployment, said Juan Villa of Mexico’s National Forestry Commission, called Conafor.

Last year, Villa sent 42 firefighters to battle the Fort McMurray fire in Alberta. This year, 58 Mexican firefighters travelled to Chile.

The current deployment to Canada is the first time Mexicans have been sent to British Columbia, but many have travelled to other provinces under an agreement between the Canadian forest fire agency and Conafor.

The British Columbia Wildfire Service says the province has seen 892 wildfires since April 1. They have burned 591,000 hectares, an area larger than the entire province of Prince Edward Island, said information officer Skrepnek, and fighting them has cost US $180 million.

Nearly 7,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

Villa said Friday his Mexican crews were eager to begin work, and learn.

“This is a huge experience for us. Many firefighters learn a lot here. Of course, they’re trained, and they can do their work, but I think if we strengthen the international relationship on fire, it’s good for everybody. Not just Mexico.”

Original: MexicoNewsDaily

THANK YOU, VALLARTA!

With your help, more than 500 meters of beaches were cleaned on 06 May 2017.

On the same day, dozens of Intercam employees and their families throughout the Republic cleaned more than 10 kilometers of Mexico’s coastline.

Just one way Intercam Bank is responsibly caring for our planet.

CENTRO VALLARTA (322) 223-3080

MARINA VALLARTA (322) 209-0696

BUCERIAS/FLAMINGOS (329) 226-6162

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Mexican Navy Ship Docks in the Philippines for Historic Visit

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RM Cuauhtemoc, a Brick Barc sailing ship of the Mexican Navy, docked on Friday in Manila for a historic five-day visit to pay homage to a sea route that connected the two countries for 250 years during the Spanish colonial era.

The 90.5 meters long ship, which is propelled by a diesel motor and 23 sails, was received with a welcoming ceremony at the port, where it will remain open to the public until Tuesday.

The Philippine navy in a statement called it a goodwill visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

Commanded by Captain Rafael Lagunes Arteaga and with 43

cadets from the Heroic Naval-Military School on board – since the ship is used to train future naval officers – ARM Cuauhtemoc is the first ship from the Mexican navy to visit the Philippines.

The visit also seeks to commemorate “the historical voyage by the Manila-Acapulco Galleon for almost 250 years,” the Mexican embassy in Manila said in a statement.

The Manila-Acapulco ship, operational until 1815, was key to trade exchanges between Manila and Acapulco (Mexico), that began in 1565, a year after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi left Mexico to incorporate the Philippines into the Spanish empire.

August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

Mexico’s Economy Grows 1.8% in Q2

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exico’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.8 percent in the second quarter, compared to the same period in 2016, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) said Monday.

The increase in GDP was driven by 3.2 percent growth in agriculture and mining and 0.70 percent growth in manufacturing.

The service sector, for its part, contracted 1 percent in the the April-June period, compared to the same period last year, the INEGI said in a statement.

The initial second-quarter GDP numbers reflect a slowdown relative to the first quarter, when Mexico’s economy expanded at a real annualized rate of 2.8 percent.

GDP grew at a 3 percent annualized rate in the second quarter,

compared to the same period in 2016, on a seasonally unadjusted basis.

Latin America’s second-largest economy grew 2.3 percent in 2016, thanks to growth in the resources

and service sectors.

Mexico’s GDP grew 2.5 percent in 2015, a figure that was above the 2.1 percent growth registered in 2014 and the 1.4 percent figure for 2013.

sport-utility vehicles at Mexican factories resulted in a 16-percent increase in overall production of light vehicles in Mexico during the first six months of the year, compared to the same period in 2016.

One in five cars built in the North American Free Trade Agreement

zone comes from Mexico, according to data by WardsAuto.com, Dow Jones added.

Auto manufacturing will be a central point for new talks between the Trump administration and Canada and Mexico, scheduled for August.

Mexico Expects Speedy Renegotiation of NAFTA More US Cars Are Made in Mexico, Contrary to America’s Plans

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exico expects the process of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will be rapid and address the key points as quickly as possible, the Aztec nation’s economy minister said on Wednesday.

Ildefonso Guajardo acknowledged, however, that there would be some thorny issues, such as the United States’ trade deficit with Mexico and the US’s plans to eliminate the agreement’s so-called “global safeguard exclusion” to allow Washington to respond to a surge in imports.

Modifying certain points would have “consequences not only for Mexico but for North American exporters and the health of the region’s economy,” he added.

The economy secretary said there would be a pause of no more than three or four weeks between each negotiating round, the first of

which will take place in Washington DC from Aug. 16-20.

The rounds will rotate among the three NAFTA partners, with the second to take place in Mexico, likely in Mexico City, and the third in Canada.

Guajardo said the parties would seek to reform the trade agreement quickly to avoid a repeat of what happened with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trade deal from which the US withdrew after President Donald Trump took office in January.

He was referring to presidential elections in Mexico scheduled for June 2018.

On Wednesday, Guajardo introduced Mexico’s NAFTA renegotiation team.

That country’s chief negotiator will be Kenneth Smith Ramos, director of the Trade and NAFTA Office at the Mexican Embassy in Washington DC.

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nited States auto manufacturers this year made more cars in Mexico, despite President Donald Trump putting pressure on them to create jobs north of the border, according to a report from Dow Jones.

A move to produce popular

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August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

Drag show creates a buzz at Ponoka Golf Course

By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye/Ponoka News

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hen it comes to drag shows The Crazy Señoritas know how to

entertain.

The Ponoka Golf Club played host to a special, one-night only drag show that featured the high antics of female impersonators Aug. 2. The impersonators featured famous singers such as Tina Turner, Cher, Britney Spears, Whitney Huston and more.

The event was part of a special tour that brought the group all the way from the Luna Lounge in Bucerias, Mexico.

Hugh Gaffney is the owner of the lounge and he said the tour so far has been a total success. He worked with Merv Buchanan, tour organizer for Trend Entertainment in Calgary to bring this event to Canada.

“Usually I’m bringing Canadian entertainers to Mexico…

We decided to bring a Mexican entertainment group to Canada,” explained Buchanan.

Both agree the response has been outstanding.

“The venues we’ve played so far never heard the show and didn’t

know anything about it but they took a risk and said, ‘We’ll do it,’” said Gaffney.

Since then most venues have booked already for next year seeking multiple nights.

The name of the group was changed slightly to the Señoritas; in Mexico the show is called the Crazy Bitches and has been going on for the last seven years.

As for the entertainment, the impersonators knew how to get the crowd laughing and involved.

Miss Diva Divine, the Queen of Comedy, kept folks laughing between acts as the hostess; Cher is interpreted by Miss Angie Star,

Tina Turner is interpreted by Miss Mauri, Britney Spears and Shakira are impersonated by Miss Dany Sodi The Canadian tour was busy with ten shows in two weeks to Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Gaffney says he’s excited for what’s to come at next year’s show.

Is illegal alcohol a problem in Mexican resorts?

By Michelle Baran/Travel Weekly

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news report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel citing cases of Mexico resort-goers who allegedly blacked out after consuming alcohol has some clients worried about travel to Mexico. Travel Weekly’s Michelle Baran spoke with Alex Zozaya, president and CEO of Apple Leisure Group, which manages numerous properties in Mexico via its AMResorts brand, about how big the illegal alcohol problem is south of the border.

Q: Do you feel that using illegal alcohol at resorts is a serious problem in Mexico?

A: When they talk about 43% adulterated or fake alcohol, I don’t know where they get these [numbers] from, but obviously the lack of reliable sources is amazing and those comments shouldn’t be taken lightly.

[Editor’s note: According to a 2015 report by Mexico’s Tax Administration Service cited by the Journal Sentinel, 43% of all the alcohol consumed in Mexico is illegal.]

At all the hotels, whether it is a case of someone being drugged or someone passing out or anything related to these kind of bad experiences, it should be taken seriously, and we are. But yes, in Mexico, there is counterfeiting of alcohol as well as of other products just like there is in the U.S. But that doesn’t mean that if you go to the right establishment that you’re going to end up consuming one of those fake products.

Even if you do, that doesn’t mean that you will get sick like the cases that have been promoted heavily in the media recently.

We receive, just in Cancun and Quintana Roo, more than 10 million tourists a year. And now we’re talking about maybe five, six, 10, 20 cases over the last 13 or 14 years.

Can you imagine if 43% of the alcohol served in the resorts and outside of the resorts in the nightclubs, bars, etc., can you imagine if that was fake and the fact that being fake would have an effect similar to the ones that have been published lately? We would be talking about literally millions of cases.

Q: From where does AMResorts source its alcohol?

A: Now, the serious establishments like our resorts, like Iberostar, which has been mentioned multiple times [in the Journal Sentinel article], like most of the hotel chains in Mexico with good reputations, we all have filters. As a result of this situation that is happening, yes, we are reinforcing, we are having additional filters, not just in our hotels but on our alcohol suppliers, as well.

In the case of AMResorts, we buy almost all our alcohol, 90% of our alcohol, from one distributor.

And it’s the most serious and most reliable distributor in the country, and it will pass any filter.

Q: So, if it’s not the booze, what is the problem?

A: There [are] cases, and it’s very worrisome, that more and more people are combining drugs with alcohol. A lot of these tourists are taking antidepressants, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety, blood pressure pills, that they should not be mixing with alcohol. And when they’re at the resort, they’re

on holiday and they do mix it with alcohol. That’s one reason. I’m not blaming on that one, but that’s one reason.

The other one is that, yes, the distribution of drugs at resorts, whether it’s Las Vegas or Cancun, or whether it’s Ibiza, is growing.

And people are combining. And some people are doing so involuntarily, and those are clearly the very sad cases. I don’t doubt that there’s a case where someone goes to a bar and someone puts a drug in their drink.

And by the way, these cases that I’ve been hearing, it doesn’t sound like it’s a result of a fake alcohol or a cheaper brand, it sounds to me like it’s more like adding a drug in the drinks -which, could that be done by some of the bartenders in the bars in the hotels? Yes, it could. But also by other customers. In many cases, it’s one group of passengers or guests that is hanging or partying with another one, and they drug each other. I’m not trying to make small the problem of having counterfeit alcohol, but blowing this out

of proportion the way the media is doing right now and saying that 43% of the alcohol is fake and you could die of that is so ridiculous.

This is happening because these cases -- which are very sad, which are very painful, nobody wants that to happen to anybody -- are emerging now, not because they are at a higher pace than they were in the past, not because it’s an alarming situation that now the percentage of people passing out or blanking out or dying is increasing, but because now there are stories that the media can follow and blow this completely out of proportion.

Q: Do you think the authorities are policing this enough?

A: These stats on the percentage of adulterated drinks are coming from the Mexican government because they are recognizing that there is a problem ... and they’re cracking down on that. I do think the Mexican authorities are doing something about it. I think they could do more. I’m sure, as a result of this, they will do more.

Original: travelweekly.com

http://www.

local

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Corazón de Niña celebrates its 5th anniversary

By Melissa Canez

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e are so pleased to be celebrating our 5th Anniversary! As of now, over 100 children and youth have slept safely in our home - some for one night, some for years. Some abandoned, some abused, some having witnessed the death of a parent, some with what seemed like insurmountable trauma and despair... we have laughed, cried, prayed, healed and celebrated together, cemented our faith, learned forgiveness, practiced tolerance, patience and compassion... gained self-esteem, become good listeners, learned how to read and write, understand and defend our rights, study hard, eat healthy food, exercise, be responsible for our own actions and learning, communicate what we mean, tell the truth no matter what, respect ourselves and others, empathize, help others, live by the golden rule...

Ours is a place of transformation, where a girl who arrived unable to read or write her own name is now achieving a GPA of 95% at University sponsored by angels from California who have chosen to invest in her future and the future of Mexico...

We have not only overcome but we have triumphed beyond anything we ever imagined. With a community of close to 1000 supporters, a beautiful place to call home and our sixth student entering university in September, we are proud beyond words and so grateful to all of you who have remained focused, stayed the course, remembered why we do this and made our children’s happiness your priority.

YOU are amazing and without your unwavering love and support, today’s message could be very diffe-

rent. In a country where those most vulnerable are not even mentioned in the annual budget, our GEMS have been the very foundation on which these miracles have taken place together with those of you who fundraise heroically for our special

projects moving us closer each year to self-sustainability, supporting our efforts to reduce costs through the generation of renewable resources and small businesses run by our youth… and then there are the warriors who roll up their sleeves

Vallarta Garden Club Summer Social

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rab your friends and join the Vallarta Garden Club at Incanto, 109 Insurgentes at the Rio Cuale on Vallarta’s south side, on Thursday, August 17 from 6-8 pm for our second social of the summer.

Open to all, not just Garden Club members, our summer socials are a great opportunity to meet new people, find out what the PVGC is all about, and reconnect with friends in a relaxed, fun setting. If you’re in Vallarta, we

would love to see you!

Please join us for drinks and appetizers at 6:00 pm on the Incanto terrace overlooking Rio Cuale.

Then, at 6:45 pm, Mike Laking and David Muck will take us on a photographic tour of our many plantings from the Fall and Spring.

They’re thriving and we’re thrilled to give everyone an update.

If you have friends that would like to join the Garden Club as

members, please bring them. We have so much planned for next season and will need everyone’s support to accomplish our goals.

The Vallarta Garden Club is registered as a non-profit organization in Mexico.

Annual dues are only $500 pesos and are used to support the club’s ongoing efforts to make Vallarta a more beautiful place.

The Vallarta Garden Club is registered as a non-profit organization in Mexico.

August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

and stand by us through good times and bad, all year long at our side, doing whatever needs to be done.

University Bound!

As of this fall, these six young people will be in university!

Leonardo - CULINARY ARTS at University of Vizcaya Juan - SPORTS MANAGEMENT at University of Guadalajara Alejandra - FINE ARTS, University of Guadalajara Cristina - SOCIAL WORK at UEA Eduardo - DENTISTRY at UNE Armando - SPORTS MANAGEMENT at UNIVA Guadalajara Corazon School With great encouragement from so many of you, on August 21, 2017 we will open our very own CORAZON SCHOOL. This has been a long time coming as we have tried to fit our children into both public and private educational settings, each time experiencing disturbing situations including bullying, discrimination, misuse of funds wherein teachers are often grossly underpaid or sometimes not paid at all meaning they miss work and eventually quit.

For all of these and many reasons more we have decided to hire our own qualified teachers, create and maintain our own Montessori learning environment with enrichment in the areas of Reading, Math, Science, Language Instruction, Physical Education and Arts such as a Music, Pottery, Painting, Carpentry & Theatre, Music and of course an Organic Gardening & Yoga centre!

Our children are registered in the National Distance Education program called INEEJAD, a program that has functioned for us beautifully with several of our young people who have since graduated and gone on to University, like Cristina, Alejandra, Armando and more. It is a comprehensive Distance Education Program providing all basic

curriculum required for primary and middle school graduation.

So far we have the commitment of two teachers and we continue to advertise for several more part-time who would lead workshops in the areas of enrichment.

Investing in our children’s education is a priority and to get this school up and running will require the help our CORAZON Community. Below is a list of our immediate needs in this regard. Anything you are able to help with will be greatly appreciated. You can choose to sponsor an item, a child’s educational needs or a lump sum amount - just follow up with a message letting us know your donation is for the CORAZON SCHOOL and which children/items you are sponsoring. Huge thank you in advance to those of you who are able to respond to this need. As donations come in, we will post children/items sponsored and by whom. If you would like your donation to remain anonymous, please let us know.

Sponsor Our Students Basic Expenses per child is $4000MXN ($224USD) includes books, uniforms, footwear, backpack, school supplies & insurance. 21 children in total need sponsorship.

Sponsor School Environment Flooring $20,000MXN ($1100US) Lighting $2000 MXN ($112US) Text Books $10,000 ($560) Library Enhancement $5000 ($280US) 3 Microscopes $7500MXN ($420US) Classroom Furniture/Equipment $15,000 ($840USD) Video Projector $5000MXN ($280USD) Overhead Projector $1500MXN ($84USD) 2 PCs $12,000MXN ($673USD) For more information and to support Corazon de Niña, please visit fundacioncorazon.mx

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Paco Ojeda Presents ‘Great Jazz Vocalists Of The 20th Century’ and Ballet Folklorico Tradiciones Dances at Incanto

C

aptivating storyteller, professional musician and journalist, Paco Ojeda is back! The new series, titled ‘Paco Ojeda on Music’ begins with several all-new educating music appreciation lectures starting with ‘Great Jazz Vocalists Of The 20th Century’. This entertaining lecture will feature audio and video snippets of some of the best jazz voices in music. The audience will also discover the particular skills jazz singers must develop to stand out among their peers, and the subtle, yet important difference between a singer and a vocalist. “I love getting people excited about new music trends, or helping them discover new insight on material they already know,” commented the musicologist, whose lectures are always complemented with audio and video examples, along with the occasional participation of special musician guests including Kim Kuzma, Alain Perreault, Piel Canela, Bohemia Viva and Renee Armand. Ojeda graduated from Berklee College of Music and pursued choral conducting studies at New England Conservatory of Music. For the past five years, he

has presented over fifty lectures on diverse music-related topics.

“Having collaborated with Paco before, we are thrilled to have him here at Incanto,” said Incanto’s owner Tracy Parks. This one-time event will be held on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 4pm.

Celebrating their one year anniversary this month, Ballet Folklórico Tradiciones features some of the colorful traditional dances of Mexico. They will perform the ‘Dance of the Machetes’ from Nayarit and as the Charros and ladies of Jalisco, among several others. The group was founded in 2016 by Director and Choreographer Alexis Guadalupe Jimon

Garcia. Adults and youngsters between the ages of 6 and 14 will perform. The group has been invited to represent Mexico and the state of Jalisco in Shanghai, China at an International Folk Art Festival in September. Shows are Aug. 18 & 19 at 7pm.

Sylvie & Jorge of The Zippers play Classic Rock on Tuesdays at 8pm. Carlos & Tongo play Latin/ Cuban rhythms on Wednesdays at 7:30pm. Open Mic is on Thursdays at 7pm hosted by Tracy Parks with Chris Kenny on guitar. Fridays at 7:30pm is ‘The Joanie Show’ starring Joan Houston with Salvatore on piano. Loteria with Bev will take the place of Bingo with Pearl fundraisers on Saturdays in August.

Drag personality/Incanto Marketing Director Beverly Fairfax will host.

Proceeds benefit Ballet Folklorico Tradiciones who will also perform.

Singer/songwriter Chris Kenny plays Saturdays at 8pm, followed

by Spanish guitarist/singer Gabriel Reyes at 10pm (also on Fridays at 10pm). Azúca plays Gypsy Swing/ Latin Jazz at 7:30pm on Sundays, with Salsa dancing and lessons with professional dance instructor Francisco Ledesma at 8pm.

Mercado Los Mangos Preparing for Second Season

By Paco Ojeda

M

ercado Los Mangos, a weekly, seasonal market launched by Los Mangos Library at the beginning of 2017, has just announced its second season, scheduled to begin October 28. Mercado Los Mangos offers a broad variety of edible products, fresh produce, along with jewelry, clothing and other homemade products created by regional vendors who set up shop at the market on a weekly basis.

Mercado Los Mangos organizers are ready to begin reviewing applications from new vendors.

“Our goal is to begin setting up our second season right away, continuing to review applications until September,” commented Adriana García, Executive Director at the renowned cultural center.

Mercado Los Mangos expects that many vendors from its first season will return for the second one. And for those new vendors that are considering the market as a suitable venue for their products, the market will offer several options to participate. “For us it is essential that all vendors feel at home at Mercado Los Mangos. To that effect, we will offer the option to participate one or two Saturdays on a trial basis, for them to ensure that our market will work for them,” García said.

Vendors interested in selling

their products at can visit bibliotecalosmangos.com/mercadolosmangos, where they will be able to download an application form.

This form should be dropped off at Los Mangos Library, along with all required documentation. “As soon as we begin receiving applications, the organizing committee will meet on a weekly basis to review them and follow-up with applicants accordingly,” she added.

Mercado Los Mangos hopes to feature between 30 and 40 vendors every week during its second season.

August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

Crispy and Crunchy Mexican Salad It’s too hot to cook. A quick stop at your local fruit and veggie market will give you just about everything you need to make this quick Mexican summer salad.

Here is a delicious, flavor-packed recipe to get you started:

Avocado, Orange and Jicama Salad Feta is a fun, briny addition to this salad’s Mexican mix of jicama, avocado and cilantro.

INGREDIENTS 3 navel oranges 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Pinch of cayenne pepper Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 small jicama (1 pound)—peeled, quartered and thinly sliced 2 Hass avocados, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/4 cup chopped cilantro Using a sharp knife, peel the oranges, removing all of the bitter white pith. Working over a small bowl, cut in between the membranes to release the sections.

Squeeze the membranes over a bowl to extract the juice. Whisk in the lime juice, vinegar, oil and cayenne; season with salt and pepper. Add the jicama and let stand for 15 minutes. Fold in the orange sections, avocado, feta and cilantro; serve.

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The Tax that Refuses to Die Orlando Gotay, Tax Attorney

Medical Matters Pam Thompson

tax@orlandogotay.com

pamela@healthcareresourcespv.com

Orlando Gotay is a California licensed tax attorney (with a Master of Laws in Taxation) admitted to practice before the IRS, the U.S. Tax Court and other taxing agencies. His love of things Mexican has led him to devote part of his practice to the tax matters of U.S. expats in Mexico. He can be reached at tax@orlandogotay.com, online radio at mixlr.com/orlandogotay or Facebook: GotayTaxLawyer.

Gift a Taco, Take a Taco

Pamela Thompson operates HealthCare Resources Puerto Vallarta, a multi-faceted, independent, resource network that is here for your total health and well-being. We offer assistance to help find a physician, hospital and diagnostic service for any healthcare needs. www.healthcareresourcespv.com

Diarrhea - Acute Part 2

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G

ifts are so cool. Everyone loves gifts.

Would you believe Uncle Sam does too? So much so, that there is a gift tax. Different from the income tax.

The scheme is fairly complex, but the main thing people should remember is that there is an annual exclusion of $14,000 per gift. If your gift is worth less than that, no need to worry. You can gift everyone in New York City $14,000 each and owe no gift tax. Also--donors are on the hook for any tax, not recipients.

If your gift is over that amount, a lifetime “unified credit” takes care of the tax bill until the credit is used up. Gifts in amounts over the exclusion need to be reported to the IRS on a gift tax return.

Gifts between spouses are generally unlimited and not subject to the gift tax. Here comes one of the “buts”: If your spouse is not a US citizen, special rules apply.

Instead of an unlimited amount, the annual exclusion is $149,000.

Those need to be reported but no tax is paid on those.

Now, the reverse: If you, US citizen, receive a gift (or a bequest) from a nonresident alien, greater than $100,000, it must be reported.

No tax is due on such gift or bequest; but the penalty for not

August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

reporting it is pretty steep, up to 25% of the value of the gift.

Knowing these “gift” rules in the special context of ‘US’ versus ‘non US’ can be critical. For instance, a gift over the exclusion amount can be divided between spouses: each can gift a person up to $14,000 each for a total of $28,000 per year.

Also, nothing prevents you from gifting on Dec. 31, making another gift the following day, all without going over the exclusion.

If you are planning to transfer wealth to others during your life, it is also important to know there are special exclusions and procedures from the gift tax in the case of payments made as tuition for someone else or medical care, those present excellent opportunities to gift wisely, tax free.

Some states tax gifts too. It is wise to check.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers reports there is no gift tax as such in Mexico—so far. If your gift is large enough, $4616 US dollars (!) it may end up having Mexico income tax consequences.

If your gift involves more than one country, several sets of rules may apply. It always pays to check ahead of time, not after the taco has been given away.

e continue our discussion with Dra. Mariana Esteva (gastro) on the ever-popular topic of diarrhea but this week, we are covering acute diarrhea. Acute diarrhea is defined as three liquid stools per day for less than two weeks. There are two clinical types: Simple diarrhea without blood: Caused by viruses in 60% of the cases (rotavirus, enterovirus), bacteria (vibrio cholera, enterotoxigenic E-coli, non-typhoid Salmonella) or parasites (giardiasis). Sometimes diseases such as acute ear infection, upper and lower respiratory tract infections can be accompanied by this type of diarrhea.

Dysentery or bloody diarrhea: Caused by bacteria (Shigella in 50% of cases, Campylobacter, enteroinvasive or enterohaemorrhagic E-Coli, Salmonella) or parasites (intestinal amoebas).

Infectious diarrheas are transmitted by direct (dirty hands) or indirect (ingestion of contaminated food/water) contact.

When someone has acute diarrhea, what should they take?

Medications: NONE. It is better to see a physician before taking anything!

Food: Limit food and beverages that contain sugar, lactose, fructose, high-fructose corn syrup and sorbit. Avoid beverages with caffeine. Eat a small meal or snack every 3-4 hours (bland). Avoid spicy foods.

Liquids: The use of balanced electrolyte rehydration over other oral rehydration options in the elderly with severe diarrhea is recommended.

Most individuals with acute diarrhea or gastroenteritis can keep up with fluids and salt with the consumption of water and/or natural coconut water. Avoid sports drinks, Gatorade or PowerAde – these increase the diarrhea.

When should someone see a physician?

If you have these symptoms for more than 24 hours: fever, constant pain, vomiting more than three times, more than six bowel movements in a day, leg cramps, weakness, bloody diarrhea.

Once the diarrhea has ceased and the person is feeling better, what should they begin eating?

Fruits, vegetables (non-gas producing types), protein to include chicken, well cooked fish.

Beverages should exclude soda and alcohol. Limit fats to less than 8 teaspoons per day (cheese, milk, butter, cream and mayonnaise).

I would like to add a note here that we had as is always the case, a large amount of people in the winter months with “turista”.

They self-medicated with Pepto-Bismol (along with many other items).

This only increased their discomfort and for some, increased their symptoms. If someone thinks that they have a parasite or an amoeba, it is so very simple to have a stool sample done.

Why not FIND OUT if you have one rather than self-medicating with something that you do not need?

You are welcome to contact us for specific questions on any of the above and I will be sure that Dra. Mariana answers!

It goes without saying (but I will say it anyway) – it’s hotter than blazes now.

Drink water. Drink water and drink water. You will find in these days that you probably are not peeing nearly as much as you normally do – which means you need to drink some more!

Here’s to a merry week!

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August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

From Here Marcia Blondin

marciavallarta@gmail.com

I

mmigration Alert, part IV People who have been following this column the last few weeks (go to www.vallartatribune.com for past issues) have told me their concerns for friends who are currently in the U.S. and Canada for the summer who received “Inmigrado” status years ago and thought (like I did) that that was that. It isn’t. For those of you reading this online, take a few minutes to contact the nearest Mexican Consulate and check your status to make sure your papers are in order. Take advantage of the fact you are out of country now which is where you MIGHT have to be to fix things anyway. Same thing goes for ex-pats living here in Vallarta.

Immigration office is open 9 to 1, Monday to Friday; phone numbers are: 224 7970 and 224 7653. Good luck.

Paco Ojeda presents “Great Jazz vocalists of the 20th Century” at Incanto this Saturday, August 12th at 4 pm. This is only the beginning of “Paco Ojeda on Music” in English! I have enjoyed every one of Paco’s music appreciation discourses in Spanish; now I can’t wait to truly ‘get’ everything he has to offer. Paco is a tireless researcher and puts together incredible audio/video productions that he creates himself. I guarantee you will have fun, be entertained by his infectious enthusiasm on whatever topic and will absolutely come out of the theatre at Incanto smarter than when you went in.

Incanto is hosting the Vallarta Garden Club on Thursday the 17th at 6 pm and guess what? There will be a meeting after cocktails, of course. President David Muck will be here to chair the meeting in the air-conditioned comfort of Incanto’s lovely cabaret theatre.

The 2017, Second-Annual Summer Bash celebrating Cheryl’s Shoebox is history. And, as predicted, was great fun, extremely well attended despite dark skies and spits of rain. Two hundred people descended on Babel Bar on the Isla Cuale, bought tee-shirts, drinks and great food, all to buy

shoes for our Mexican schoolkids who don’t have any. Honoring Cheryl, who started this charitable effort and sadly passed away a few years ago, whose dearest friends organize, cajole and preside over this now annual summer event. Also bags of school supplies were on hand for us to buy for children who need them. Live music by GLORIA AND DA’ CREW had people and kids up dancing and the games were insanely hilarious. JG Group, with Julie Guerrero heading the team, donated more than $5,000 pesos counting Incanto’s share of her birthday party held there last week. Incanto’s General Manager, Gilberto, dropped an envelope off to Vicki Steuteville for $3,200 pesos. While all the teams gave their very best, first place went to Nacho Daddy. Well done Sean, Tammy and crew! I will let you know next week how many kids received new shoes. Thanks everyone for helping to create the best Summer Bash in Vallarta.

My favourite bank ever – Intercam – has supported yet another altruistic first among banks…make that first among businesses, in Vallarta, overall.

Intercam gave a crash course on financial and money-saving topics for…kids! All of this took place just last week in conjunction with the Punta de Mita Foundation.

Intercam is always looking forward and children are the future of Mexico so why not start learning about finances while they are learning everything else? (I know a lot of adults who could use a similar course!) Seriously, though, if you don’t have an account at Intercam, find your closest branch (see page five) and get to it. Imagine banking in English?

And earning real, countable interest on your account. Imagine not having to pay bank fees for depositing or withdrawing your own money? AND they are green and they care about our planet; they’ll take good care of your money and make you more.

“PechaKucha is coming”…

From Here.

Monzón Brewing Opens in Vallarta Vallarta’s newest brewpub offers artisanal suds and elevated grub - with a Mexican twist.

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ast week was the official opening of Monzón Brewing Company, the newest brewpub to hit Vallarta’s restaurant scene. Monzón opened Friday, August 4 at its location at Venustiano Carranza 239, in Vallarta’s Emiliano Zapata neighborhood.

While living in Mumbai, India, Miranda taught elementary school and Reid found work in Mumbai’s first craft brewery, where he learned the brewing process inside and out. The Indian monsoons sudden refreshing downpours that broke the heat of the day - were where they found the inspiration to open a brewery in Mexico, and even where they got their name: Monzón is Spanish for “monsoon.”

Monzón will be offering 8-10 artisanal beers, including a monthly featured guest brew from other local brewers, as well as a modest selection of signature cocktails – just don’t expect to find Corona.

“Not everyone drinks beer, apparently,” laughs co-owner Miranda Mortimer, “So we’ve put together a great drink menu of classic cocktails and new favorites like our Vallarta Teas.” A local spin on the classic Long Island Iced Tea, these tall sippers are available as Jamaica, Peppermint, or Lemongrass; and they pack a punch as powerful as the original.

Chef Litzy Araceli Lopez is the mastermind in Monzón’s kitchen.

Her creations include an array of large and small plates, blending the flavors of Mexican classics, American pubgrub, and even a few Indian-inspired dishes. Already very popular are the “Tatchos.” generous heaps of nacho toppings,

nestled on a bed of Litzy’s madein-house tater tots.

Monzón’s summer hours are currently 2PM – 10PM, and the full

menu is available on their website.

Reid and Miranda invite anyone who is interested to come in for a tour.

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Although it is a way from the city, it is only 35 minute drive to Puerto Vallarta.

The land is fertile and growing your own crops is an option, your imagination is the limit. Come see for yourself this fantastic piece of heaven. www.boardwalkrealtypv.com/properties/ hacienda-exagonia/

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Tel 01 800 681 9396 / 322 293 1553 www.lakemedicalgroup.com

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August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

Paradise

Two Expats in Mexico

and Parenting Leza Warkentin

Paul Kurtzweil

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

www.qroo.us

Paul Kurtzweil (Q-Roo Paul) is a former lieutenant from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. During his 25-year career, he received numerous commendations to include two of the agency’s top honors: a Meritorious Service Medal and a Medal of Valor. In 2015, Paul retired and moved to Mexico with his wife. He now spends his day’s blogging from the beach.

I am the preschool coordinator and nursery teacher at the American School of Puerto Vallarta. I am also both unsurprised and not a bit sorry that this list of my favorites is mostly about places to eat. If you can live in Vallarta without appreciating some of the good eatin’ around here, you have to be at least half Vulcan.

The Exorbitant Cost of Getting a Document Notarized Abroad

21st Century Learning

T

wo years ago, my wife and I disposed of 99% of our belongings in Florida and moved to Mexico. We now spend our days enjoying the white-sand beaches and turquoise waters of the Riviera Maya. We love it here so much that we rarely return to the old country.

Our prolonged absence from the U.S. can make it difficult to get certain things done. A recent example of this – and the inspiration for today’s post – came when a business in the U.S. asked me to have some legal documents notarized.

I discovered that there are very few options if you need to have something notarized outside of the country. The easiest one is to make an appointment at the nearest United States Embassy, Consulate, or Consular Office and have it done there.

Another possible option is to have the document notarized by a foreign notary and then have the document authenticated for use on the United States.

The authentication certificate is called an apostille.

Since that second option seemed like more of a hassle, I decided to turn to Uncle Sam for some assistance.

Lucky for me, the nearest U.S. Consular Office was only about 35 minutes away in Playa del Carmen.

I made an appointment for the following week and the whole process took less than 10 minutes.

Sticker Shock

Even though I didn’t expect the notary service to be free, I did expect it to be on par with notary fees in the United States — unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

The federal government charges it’s citizens abroad $50 per notary

seal.

The document that I had required two notary seals, which ended up costing me a jaw-dropping $100 USD. I have to admit, I feel a little taken advantage of by my Uncle Sam. The $50 fee charged by the government is actually 10 times more than the maximum notary fee permitted by law in the majority of states in the U.S. In case you were unaware of this, 42 states have enacted laws governing the fees that notaries can charge for their services.

Just for comparison purposes, here is a chart of the maximum fees permitted back home.

After this experience, I’ve decided that if I ever have to get multiple notary signatures again, I’m just going to spend the money on a plane ticket home to Florida and get it done for free at my bank.

A round trip ticket to Orlando actually costs less than having six signatures notarized at a U.S. Consular Office.

A

t this stage of summer, you might be wondering if you should just take your kids’ technology away and burn it in a ritual cleansing fire. I don’t understand all the games and all the apps that my kids enjoy even more than eating food, which keeps them ALIVE. Most of all I don’t get all the YouTubers who could buy and sell me right now except they are too busy recording themselves opening tiny packages of tiny toys and showing them to my child and the rest of their 1,999,999,999 fans.

The Boy told me the other day that he has made the decision to quit school at sixteen and move to L.A. and be a YouTuber full time.

This, in spite of the fact that he has No money that actually belongs to him Twenty current YouTube subscribers (there are twenty-four children in his class) No firm idea on what L.A. stands for But really, let’s look at this through his eyes. His favorite teenaged YouTube stars are filming themselves getting a new video game and playing it for an hour, or drinking smoothies made of balsamic vinegar and toothpaste, and making almost literally bazillions of dollars.

His mother, who is working with children and perhaps even Changing Lives, has a Masters Degree and a Post Baccalaureate Degree in Early Childhood Education, and is trying to keep half a tank of gas in her car at all times. And is often unsuccessful.

But this is the world in which our children are growing, and I

need to level with you. We are in a time where we are preparing children for a future that we can’t begin to predict.

Technology is changing now faster than it ever has, and many of the careers that our children will one day call their own have not even been invented yet.

So how can we prepare them for a real world that seems to currently exist only in the Matrix movies?

I consulted an organization called P21, A Partnership for 21st Century Learning, a group that works with schools and communities to develop 21st century citizens.

The school where I work, the American School of Puerto Vallarta, has been integrating 21st century learning principles into much of our curriculum.

The site provides a comprehensive look at what a child in the 21st century should be learning about.

It talks about the importance of a focus on global citizenship, critical thinking and collaboration.

Children should be learning about the 4 C’s of 21st Century Learning: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Critical Thinking.

They should be engaged in the content areas using these 4 C’s, and learn a multitude of ways to solve problems.

There’s a great parent information sheet about 21st century learning here: http://www.p21.org/ storage/documents/citizenship/ P21_Citizenship_Overview.pdf.

Mainly, it talks about helping our kids become citizens of the world, how to keep them informed about what’s going on around them, and how to deal safely with so much information that is just at their fingertips at all times.

At our house, we talk a lot about social issues, mostly because my kids ask so many questions I have no choice. We debate a lot, and we as parents try to be a mostly calm, mostly intelligent sounding board for ideas with which we may not agree.

We try to check all games and apps that they play, especially those with a social element, because my daughter loves to socialize anywhere, anytime, and wants to believe people when they say they are also eleven year old girls.

It’s a huge responsibility, parenting people when you aren’t sure what lies ahead for them, but I guess that’s always been a thing.

One thing I do know is that soon the YouTubers are going to be replaced by something even more mind-boggling and we better be ready for it.

I just hope that the new thing encourages my son to get a university degree.

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Creative

hands of Mexico Leigh Thelmadatter

osomadre@hotmail.com

Leigh Thelmadatter is a profesor at Tec de Monterrey, Mexico City, Wikipedian, and semi-professional researcher on Mexican handcrafts and folk arts. She has a blog called Creative Hands of Mexico and is working on a book on Mexican paper maché.

Straw art

O

ne of the most amazing things about finely worked handcrafts is both the talent and patience needed to create them. Unfortunately, that talent and patience is not always rewarded with respect.

Popotillo (lit. little straw) is the craft of creating colorful images using the thin stalks of various grasses. The art is not well known in Mexico and virtually unknown among ethnic Mexicans living in the United States, even though there are some people living in California and other places who do it.

Mexican handcrafts experts make a distinction among handcrafted items that do not exist in English. “Artesanía” refers to a “higher caste” of decorative or utilitarian items created using pre-industrial methods but are not fine art. “Manualidad” also refers to handcrafted items, but of a less-respected sort. The distinction is loosely based on whether or not the making of the item has a history and/or significance in the culture of the place(s) where it is made. All indigenous pottery traditions which can trace their origins unbroken from the pre Hispanic period are unquestionably artesanía, and party favors made with foam rubber bought at crafts store following

pre-printed instructions would be manualidades.

But the line isn’t always so clear.

Mata Ortiz pottery is considered to be artesanía even though the pieces produced in this Chihuahua village have only a glimmer of resemblance to the Pakime pottery Juan Quesada worked to reconstruct from shards in the 20th century.

Popotillo runs into a similar lineage problem, which for some categorizes it as a manualidad.

Although many artisans claim pre-Hispanic origins, there are no written or oral records to back this up. Nor is it documented in colonial works. There are some indications that there may be a historical/ cultural component to the craft.

One problem with the pre-Hispanic claim is that the craft can be and is done with material we know of as “straw,” either wheat, oat, rye and barley, all introduced by the Spanish in the colonial period. Another issue is the images that are created with the technique. These tend to be geometric designs, Catholic religious images, landscapes and folkloric generic Mexican images and scenes. There is an element of kitsch in vast majority of what is produced.

On the other hand, the production of the craft seems to be limited to and area extending from far

eastern Michoacan, into the State of Mexico, Mexico City and into Puebla and parts of Hidalgo state.

All areas which were either the heart of the old Aztec empire or strongly affected by it.

The techniques have been transmitted across generations, and in some areas, straw is not used at all, but rather the use of certain native plants are required.

For example, in the areas around the Popocatepetl Volcano (Puebla and State of Mexico), the grass called zacatón which grows on the slopes, is harvested by locals and sold to artisans in communities lower down. In Hidalgo and some other places the plant is cambray, in the flax family, called “mijo” in the vernacular.

The craft remains popular particularly in Michoacan where about 200 families are known to make “paintings” and use it to decorate other objects. Most of the artisans who do this in the US have roots in the state. Its popularity straddles the border area between Michoacan and State of Mexico, in particular Tlalpujahua (Michoacan) and El Oro (State of Mexico), which share a number of handcraft traditions. El Oro is known for making large, intricate paintings that can

command high prices.

Artisans can also be found in several of the suburbs of Mexico City and it is regularly taught in community centers here and in the city proper. The Mexico City suburbs include Nicolas Romero, Huixquilucan and Los Reyes/La Paz. Huixquilucan specializes in items such as bookmarks and Christmas cards. In Los Reyes/La Paz, artisan Roberto Domingo has developed techniques for using the straw decoration on various wood items including boxes, key holders and more. Similarly in Puebla, including Santa Maria Tonanzintla, the poptillos is applied to various three dimensional objects. There are a few communities that produce paintings in Hidalgo as well.

The craft is labor intensive. An 8×10 image can take 2 or 3 days, depending on complexity and all the space must be covered in straw… no bare patches. The use of the hands, or in the case of very tiny pieces, tweezers to place the bits of colored lines has not changed, but there has been some modernization.

Traditionally, the straw or grass is collected, dried and colored either by the craftsperson proper or by another person. Originally,

vegetable dyes were used and straw colored this way still can be found, but most are now colored using aniline dyes, as the color lasts longer.

The straw pieces are applied on paper, posterboard or other surfaces, not by cutting the straw first, but rather applying the straw and snapping it where the artisan wants the line to end.

The traditional adhesive is beeswax or Campeche wax, but other glues are sometimes used.

After the image is completed, it is usually coated to make it shine.

In the past, this was done using egg whites, but today commercial varnish is used.

Popotillo’s “questionable” status as a handcraft shows how often classification is not a clear-cut process, but a subjective one, much the way of classifying fine art from popular art or even good from bad work. There is no doubt that the people dedicated to this put in long hours and need a fine, creative eye, especially in the creation of unique pieces.

Find it in Puerto Vallarta There are a couple young artists creating popotillo art along the Isla Cuale in Puerto Vallarta’s centro neighbourhood. You can stop and watch them as they meticulously lay each piece, you can purchase pictures and other souvenir items directly and they also offer classes if you want hands-on experience.

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On the Road in Mexico Chuck Bolotin

Chuck.bolotin.writer@ bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com

Chuck Bolotin is the Vice President of Best Places in the World to Retire and he had never tried living outside of the US... until now.

Follow the journey of Chuck and his wife, as they take their large, overstuffed, white van from Los Angeles through Mexico for a year long road trip.

Tips and Observations About Living for Six Weeks in a Little Mexican Town

H

ere is some flavor of what it’s like to live in a small village in Baja California Sur for six weeks and some tips that could save you lots of aggravation.

It’s Just Like…

Renting our home in La Ventana for six weeks was just like camping, except without the bugs, uneven and hard sleeping services, the work setting up and breaking down, everything being dirty, and very dicey bathroom and shower accommodations.

Watching the NBA Finals Series at Las Palmas, a local restaurant in La Ventana, was just like watching it in my own house, if my own house was right on the beach so it had an incredible view of the sea and an island in the distance, and people were bringing me great food at 70% off what I would expect to pay in the US.

A Potpourri of Tips and Advice Your pants. If possible, wear cargo shorts or cargo pants because they have more pockets, especially on the sides and in the front, and get the ones with pockets that close. If you’re like me, you would like separate, secure, easy to access and easy to remember places to store: 1) wallet; 2) keys; 3) passport; 4) phone; and 5) camera (if you’re not using the camera in your phone), etc. If you always put each of these items in the same pocket, you can free up mind share to worry about other things or just enjoy yourself

more. (Your shorts don’t have to be green, but you will fit in better.)

Plan B. Always have a Plan B. Ask yourself, “If this doesn’t work, what will I do then?” Here are some examples of Plan B’s that served us well: Have a backup hotel (or two) that accepts dogs if you couldn’t make it to the one you planned. Know the address and how to get there, phone number, who you talked to, if they have a vacancy, etc.

Have cash. What if the vendor doesn’t accept credit cards (many don’t); your card doesn’t go through (happens all the time in Mexico); someone steals your credit card number so your credit card company cancels your card (happened to us). Also, Mexico is more on a cash basis than the US or Canada.

Have ATM cards that were issued by different banks. If anything goes wrong with one bank or card, you can use the other one.

When you get to a place, as soon as possible, know where the doctors and vets are. If they will give you a phone number, have it with you.

Have extra water. What if you’re in a place (like much of Baja California) that has its water trucked in, and your storage container (“pila”) runs dry? If you lose power, you probably won’t have any water, because the water probably works on an electric pump. If you have municipal water, this is less likely, but it does happen.

Have all important papers scanned, stored on your computer and stored remotely (for example, on DropBox). In addition, make a hard copy and take all copies with you.

Get an ATM card that has privileges at a popular Mexican bank, with no fees to make withdrawals.

Have double… no, triple the amount of medicine you think you’ll need until you can refill it. This also includes items like contacts for your eyes, if, like me the ones you have are disposable.

Not all of these things are likely

to happen, but will one or more of them happen when you’re traveling? My bet is that it will. And it’s best to be prepared, so it will barely faze you. Nothing I wrote above is difficult to do, takes a lot of time, or costs a lot of money.

Safety

At this point, we don’t have much to say about safety because it hasn’t been an issue. In preparation for the trip, we purchased security cables with combination locks (we used the same combination for all of them) that easily attach our computers to heavier, larger objects.

The brand we purchased is made

by Sendt, which we highly recommend. It’s easy, fast, and cheap to do, and would be silly not to.

Other than that, we don’t flash our cash, our van has been very dirty (not 100% by choice) so it blends in as well as a huge, extended top van could, and we’ve primarily been in small towns. We have never (not even once) feel threatened or had anything stolen.

On the contrary, the Mexican people have proven to be extremely honest.

Pay With Pesos

The first reason to pay with pesos is that it is more likely you’re getting the Mexican price; i.e., the lower price; i.e., not the Gringo price.

The second reason to pay with pesos has to do with the exchange rate, which you should know. Currently, the exchange rate is close to 19 pesos to 1 dollar.

This can play to your favour. For example, most Mexican vendors now will use the exchange rate of 17 to one or even worse because most Gringos pay in dollars. As an

example, if an item is 170 pesos, the Mexican vendor may tell you that the exchange rate is 17 to one and ask for US $10, which most Gringos pay. However, at the real exchange rate of 19 to one, that 170-peso item should only cost about US $9.

If you know this, you can often play the game in reverse to your advantage. Is it a big difference?

No, but it does add up, and frees up more money for good tips.

So this marks the end of our six and a half weeks Baja experience. I say “experience” because it really was. Did things go wrong?

Of course they did. Was everything perfect? Of course not, and I hope I didn’t convey that. Here’s what I assume is an incomplete list of what went wrong: They wouldn’t let us through at the first border crossing.

It was hot.

The water went out in our rental.

The power went out in our rental.

The Internet didn’t work in our rental.

The road wasn’t paved in certain

areas. Someone stole the number off my credit card I stepped on a scorpion.

Did these things bother us? Of course they did. Did their occurrence keep us from enjoying our overall experience? No, they did not.

Almost each one was an opportunity to learn something, and none of them left a lasting scar.

Perhaps the main reason these things didn’t ruin our experience is because, overall, there was so much to like. As you consider whether you would enjoy something like what we did, ask yourself today, as you read this, “In five years, what will I remember about my last six and a half weeks?” If your answer isn’t as good as what you would remember if you experienced something like what we had and wrote about and created YouTube’s on up until now, perhaps you may want to consider something along the lines of our trip.

Next, my wife and I, our two dogs and our big white van take the ferry from La Paz, Baja, to Mazatlan and drive to a town just north of Puerto Vallarta. It should be interesting… and fun.

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August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

Rincón de Guayabitos – Rincón de Guayabitos Family Vacation Destination Destino de vacaciones en familia

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ocated to the north of Puerto Vallarta, visiting the beachfront town of Rincón de Guayabitos means returning home with a suitcase full of colorful souvenirs. It might be for this reason, or perhaps for its calm swells, that this is one of the most visited destinations of the Riviera Nayarit, especially by families from all over Mexico.

With a bay famous for resembling a giant swimming pool and pearly, fine sand beaches, the two-kilometer (one-mile) long beach measures 30 meters (98 feet) wide and is bathed by the tranquil, crystal-clear ocean.

This beach is a constant celebration of color and joyous activity; it is common to see children building sand castles, jumping in the gentle surf or playing with their siblings on the shore.

You will also find young people playing volleyball or soccer, and entire families gathering together on the ocean shore enjoying traditional Mexican fare and snapping photographs or videotaping the memorable moments of their trip.

The tropical vegetation, pleasant climate and calm swells are perfect for various water sports and have made this a premier family destination.

The development of Guayabitos began 30 years ago with the construction of hotels, residential areas and various businesses.

There are a wide variety of accommodations available for overnight visitors: including all-inclusive hotels, bungalows, Bed & Breakfasts, rental homes, condominiums and RV parks.

Similarly, you can enjoy an assortment of culinary delights including traditional Mexican favorites, like grilled fish and a wide variety of tasty treats such as coconut bread, shaved ices, fried bananas and dishes prepared with yaca, a tropical fruit typical of the region. And don’t forget to try a traditional Crazy Pineapple, a delight which combines this fruit with chili powder and sweet syrup.

Nearby Spots to Visit

Among the other beaches found in the region is Playa Las Minitas, located two kilometers (one mile) south of Guayabitos, near the town Lo de Marcos. This beach measures 500 meters (1,640 feet) long by 40 meters (131 feet) wide,

and is separated from the neighboring beach of Playa Los Venados by a small rock formation. Found just half a kilometer (0.3 miles) from Las Minitas, Los Venados is a semi-virgin beach with exuberant vegetation, and it is the ideal place to rest and admire the natural beauty of the region.

Don’t forget to visit the islands: Isla Coral and Isla Cangrejo, a representative symbol of this destination. Here you can admire beautiful natural landscapes close up and gaze upon a variety of birds such as pelicans, seagulls and Blue-Footed Boobies. You can also try your hand at scuba diving or snorkeling in the turquoise- blue waters surrounding the islands.

And after your fun-filled day of sun, sand and sea, take a stroll down the main avenue of Guayabitos where you will find a wide variety of souvenir and handicraft shops selling all sorts of wonderful things such as colorful beaded works made by native Huicholes of the region, beautiful silver jewelry, hand-embroidered clothing and other interesting items such as starfish and marine flowers.

Discover the friendly nature of the people of Guayabitos and the folklore of this destination that borrows its name from the guayabo (guayaba), or guava tree, which grows in this land, long ago discovered by the Spanish and frequented by English and Dutch ships.

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bicado al norte de Puerto Vallarta, visitar Rincón de Guayabitos es regresar a casa con un equipaje de coloridos recuerdos. Tal vez sea por eso, y por lo sereno de su mar, que es uno de los destinos más visitados de la Riviera Nayarit, sobre todo por familias de todos los rincones de México.

Con una bahía famosa por su semejanza a una gigantesca alberca, la playa de fina y aperlada arena de este destino se extiende por dos kilómetros y 30 metros de ancho, que es bañada por un tranquilo y cristalino mar.

Así que esta playa es toda una fiesta de color y feliz bullicio en la que se encontrará con niños construyendo castillos de arena, chapoteando en las suaves olas o persiguiendo alguno de los pájaros que aterrizan a la orilla del mar.

Se encontrará también con jóvenes jugando voleibol o futbol, familias enteras conviviendo a la orilla del mar y registrando con sus cámaras de video y fotografía todos los momentos de su viaje.

Su vegetación tropical, temperatura templada y oleaje ideal para la práctica de diversos deportes acuáticos han hecho de este un destino familiar por excelencia.

El desarrollo de Guayabitos comenzó hace 30 años con la construcción de hoteles, zonas residenciales y diversos comercios.

Así que las opciones para alojarse aquí abarcan todas las posibilidades: desde hoteles con todo incluido, bungalows, desarro-

llos frente al mar, hasta estancias ecológicas.

De igual manera las posibilidades gastronómicas son variadas: desde la típica comida mexicana, pescado zarandeado y una gran variedad de antojos como pan de coco, nieves raspadas, plátanos fritos y platillos preparados con yaca, una fruta tropical típica de la zona. No se olvide también de saborear una típica Piña Loca, antojo que combina esta fruta con chile en polvo y jarabe dulce.

Otras de las playas que se encuentran en esta área son Playa Las Minitas -a dos kilómetros al sur de Guayabitos, cerca de Lo de Marcos- con una extensión de 500 metros de largo por 40 metros de ancho, y apenas separada por un peñasco encontrará la Playa Los Venados -a medio kilómetro de Las Minitas- la cual es una playa semi virgen con exuberante vegetación que será ideal para el descanso y la contemplación de la hermosa naturaleza de la zona.

No se olvide de visitar las islas Del Coral y Del Cangrejo, todo un emblema de este destino, en las que podrá apreciar de cerca hermosos paisajes naturales y conocer aves como pelícanos, gaviotas y pájaros bobo o practicar el buceo y snorkel en sus aguas color turquesa.

Y luego de disfrutar de un día de sol, arena y mar, camine por la calle principal de Guayabitos, donde encontrará una gran variedad de tiendas de recuerdos y artesanías, como coloridas piezas realizadas con chaquira por huicholes de la zona, hermosa bisutería de plata, atuendos bordados a mano y curiosidades como estrellas de mar y flores marinas.

Descubra la amabilidad de la gente de Guayabitos, el folclor de este lugar que le debe su nombre al árbol de guayabo que crece en su tierra, un destino que fue descubierto por los españoles y frecuentado por barcos ingleses y holandeses.

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Life

In La Cruz

August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

Luxury Properties Are Reshaping the Hotel Scene in Riviera Nayarit

By Cindy Bouchard Ana Figueroa/Travel Agent Central

Cindy Bouchard, an expat Canadian runs a Boutique Inn, Villa Amor del Mar in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. She and her husband Chris are living and lovin’ in Vallarta–Nayarit. If you want more info on La Cruz or desire… A very special vacation contact cindy@VillaAmordelMar.com

Gustavo Chalita creates magical moments and unique spaces

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e were given the gift of a special friendship when we met the Chalita’s in 2009. They shared their family and many awesome experiences, instilling in us our love of all that is Mexico. Truly one of the finest families I’ve ever met! Gustavo Sr. and his loving wife Mary created the get-a-way so the family could take breaks from life in Guadalajara and enjoy beach life. For us it all began when we rented their ‘vacation home’ for what we thought would be nine months… instead we conceived our life in La Cruz.

Since 1994, the family business Grupo Chalita has provided event services- big tent and equipment rentals, serving Puerto Vallarta, bringing equipment from their Guadalajara business. Gustavo told me, “For a long time I was traveling, through five continents, and decided to return to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. I just loved it and knew I wanted to stay for good. We decided to open an office here.” In 2002, Gustavo Jr., with his wife, Brenda, decided to make La Cruz home; they loved the tranquility of the ocean, beach life, and surfing.

Brenda and Gustavo put all their efforts into the business and have become a local success story.

Gustavo told me he enjoys meeting new people. “Every event is a new challenge, the loyalty and trust we build is most appreciated. It’s always a challenge! No two days or events are the same. We always have to be on time; never mañana!

It is today! It brings me great satisfaction to get repeat business and to be part of the greatest moments of our customers and friend’s lives.”

Their clientele are people

needing help with events; Mexicans, expats, and tourists. “We are part of more than 100 altruist events per year, as Mexicans we know that our country needs support in many areas like culture, sports, education, special needs, etc.”

Gustavo loves all aquatic sports, and enjoys seeing his kids enjoying water, too. His favorite is surfing.

Who cooks in the Chalita home?

“We have so many taco places, fresh fruit & juice shops, that we go out very often. Everything’s fresh and prices are great. So we don’t do much cooking at home, when we do, Brenda creates delicious meals.” The greatest change to La Cruz since they moved here was, of course, the world class marina in our town, and big events such as “the Latin American boat show”, “Westmex”, “Tianguis Turistico”, & most recently the celebrated “RHA music festival”. Brenda was intimately involved in the creation of the fabulous Sunday artisan’s market as well.

Gustavo was certain that what he’d preserve from earlier times in La Cruz, if he could… the Huanacaxtle trees.

I inquired of Gustavo “What one thing do you think people ‘about town’ don’t know about you? “That I’m part of projects that support our town; “green race”, “beach cleaning”, “Mercado Huanacaxtle”, “skate park La Cruz”, the Lions club, the Rotary club and more. I support as many events as possible.”

As always I asked, “If you had a magic wand, what would your wish for La Cruz be five years from now and beyond? Gustavo has a wish list; “More trees, a community centre, a dedicated home for the elderly, a big park with many trees and lots of shade with games for children, a good medical centre, clean streets especially no more burning trash, clean skies and ocean.”

“I’m proud of my parents, my wife, Brenda, and my kids.”

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uxury properties continue to shape the hotel scene on the Riviera Nayarit.

W Punta de Mita opened in November of 2016, and is making its own mark in a segment that already has some heavy-hitters.

The focus of the 119-room W Hotels property is design. Inspiration comes from the local Huichol people and the surf culture prevalent in the Banderas Bay and town of Sayulita. Quirky touches include surfboard headboards and a giant Huichol-inspired mosaic walkway.

Food and beverage offerings include Spice Market and Chevycheria, a converted 1950’s Chevrolet truck dispensing signature ceviche and craft libations. Mesa 1 is a private table on a man-made lake, open for a daily seating. “Mesa Uno is a completely customized dining experience,” general manager Brian Segrave tells Travel Agent.

“It’s set on a small island that faces west. You have beautiful sunsets and a unique menu. It’s become extremely popular. Guests come back and rebook it.”

Surfing is at the core of the Riviera Nayarit region that surrounds the W Punta de Mita.

The property’s Wave Surf Shop offers surf lessons, snorkeling and diving trips.

“We’re on a beautiful sandy beach that’s been known for years as a superb surfing location,” he says. “Right in front of the W are some of best waves you can catch in all of Mexico. The beach break splits, one side is for beginners, another is for more advanced surfers. You can go out as a beginner. Our guys will get you vertical on a surfboard.”

The property is twenty minutes from the art and surfing colony of Sayulita. The town’s small galleries, handicraft shops and open-air dining attract guests for day trips.

“Having worked in Mexico City and now Nayarit, I can say that it’s very different. This part of Mexico is a lot more relaxed. What I didn’t know until I got here is how spectacular it is. This part of the world has so much to offer the visitor,

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with its beaches, surfing and hideaways,” Segrave says. Indeed.

The Riviera Nayarit’s two hundred miles of beach serve as a backdrop for a myriad of activities. Attractions include deep sea fishing; golfing on world-class courses; hiking in the Sierra Madre Mountains; horseback riding excursions as well as surf and standup paddleboard lessons.

In addition to the accolades, variety is a key ingredient to success in the luxury market these days.

“Look at our guest demographic,” Segrave says. “It’s the super-luxury segment. We already have the internationally-branded players such as Four Seasons and St. Regis here.

And W now has a heightened awareness of where we sit in that segment. What we do is color outside the lines. We’re more into the current lifestyle focus on design,

fashion and music. Our guests have a certain affinity to those sort of things, versus the more classical brands of hospitality.”

Celebrating its tenth year, the Riviera Nayarit is clearly in development mode. But, its relative small scale remains a top selling point.

“When you look at the volume going into Riviera Maya and the Yucatan, it’s [a] huge [difference].

This part of the world is nothing like that. It’s a more bespoke experience,” Segrave says.

his culinary event featuring seven renowned chefs marks the start of the activities for the 9th Vallarta Nayarit Gastronómica 2017, which will take place in October of this year.

The Kick Off Gastronómico Vidanta starring a group of national and international chefs is ready to go for August 14-16 and marks the start of the activities for the 9th Vallarta Nayarit Gastronómica 2017, which will take place in October of this year.

The event features a gala pairing dinner on Tuesday August 15th, which promises to be a culinary dream come true thanks to the participation of the foremost names in national and international gastronomy with the theme “Spain and Mexico, a very exclusive culinary fusion.”

Chef Paco Roncero, one of the most recognized names in Spain’s cutting-edge cuisine and the recipient of 2 Michelin Stars and 3 Repsol Suns, will take the lead on the dinner. Roncero is also the driving force behind Ibiza’s Sublimotion restaurant, billed as the “most expensive in the world.”

Gerardo Iriarte, Executive Chef for Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, will be hosting this incredible experience. He has over 25 years of experience and has garnered several culinary awards in Mexico, Latin America and Europe.

Chef Iriarte will be accompanied by special guest chefs including: Bricio Domínguez, owner of El Jardín de los Milagros in Guanajuato, who has perfected his recipes to retain the traditional essence of Mexican cooking while showcasing his distinctive style.

Betty Vázquez, Culinary Ambassador for the Riviera Nayarit

August Events In Riviera Nayarit The Corn Festival in Jala and Xalisco; the Gastronómica kick off with its group of top chefs; the Grupo Delfin convention; and the Pee Wee Surfing League en Sayulita and San Blas are the top events this month.

Summer is here and it’s a great time in the Riviera Nayarit to enjoy sports, science, culture and culinary events.

Corn Festival (August 6-15) A visit to Jala and Xalisco this

August can be a great way to experience the Riviera Nayarit and its traditions.

Located just a short distance from the coast of Nayarit, the communities of Jala and Xalisco plan all sorts of events including dances, entertainment, horse races and cockfights. The festivities originated with the celebration of Our Lady of the Assumption and in Jala the biggest ear of corn wins a prize.

Gastronómica Kick Off (August 14-16)

Top chefs both domestic and international unite in this culinary event that will be held within the Vidanta complex.

Big names in Mexican gastronomy include chefs Paco Roncero, known for his mastery of Spanish vanguard cooking; Aaron Mizrahi and Elías Sapién, both banquet pros; and Betty Vázquez, the Riviera Nayarit’s Culinary Ambassador.

Grupo Delfin National Convention Program (August 16-19) The National Convention for Scientific

August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

Riviera Nayarit Kicks Off Gastronómica 2017

and one of the judges for Master Chef México, is the owner of El Delfín restaurant in San Blas and has made Mexico’s Pacific cuisine fashionable through her exquisite Nayarit dishes.

Aarón Mizrahi, Ambassador Chef for Creekstone Farms, is an expert in US beef. He has shared his cuisine with Michelin Star chefs and cooked for them, as well as for high-ranking politicians and celebrities that range from the world’s best DJs to icons of Hispanic music.

Marco Valdivia, who has helmed Tepic’s Emiliano restaurant for seven years, and who presents a modern, fresh take on contemporary Mexican cooking with a dash of the traditional cuisine of his home state of Nayarit.

Guadalajara’s Elías Sapién Jr. is a banquet professional and will conduct a workshop on specialty

and Technological Research of the Pacific is derived from the Inter-Institutional Program to Strengthen Research and the Pacific Graduate Program, and is also known as the Delen Program.

The Delen Program is focused on strengthening the culture of collaboration between centers of higher education and the research centers that are part of the Program via an exchange with professors, researchers and students and the distribution of scientific and technological programs.

Some 3,500 attendees are expected to be staying in the desti-

dietary requirements such as kosher, vegan, alkaline and celiac, including the theoretical framework and a demonstration of successful dishes and recipes.

Gourmet culinary workshops and premium tastings There will also be several gourmet culinary workshops and premium tastings for demanding palates conducted by Vinos L.A. Cetto and Yamir Pelegrino, one of the best Master Sommeliers, Wine & Cigar, in the world. There will be pairings with L.A. Cetto wines, Tequila Sauza, Moët & Chandon, Hennessy, Bohemia beer and Clinik.

For more details on the activities of the Vallarta Nayarit Gastronómica 2017 and a look at the complete program please visit: www.vngastronomica.com

nation’s hotels in the area of Nuevo Vallarta.

Sayulita Pee Wee Surfing League (August 19) Sayulita will host this youngsters’ surfing league, which encourages new talent in a sport that has produced big names on a national level.

San Blas Pee Wee Surfing League (August 26) On August 26 it will be San Blas’ turn to receive this traveling tournament, which visits the different seaside villages along the coast of Nayarit in an effort to discover new talent in this extreme sport.

VALLARTA SHOPPING AND SERVICES

FABFABRICFELLOWS Aprons - Pillows Masks - Cooling Ties Three Hens & A Rooster Market V. Carranza 466 Saturdays 9 to 1 Contact Bill Kelly at

unonumerobomb@gmail.com

Pandamonia Boutique Buy One - Get One FREE! Saturday, August 12, ONLY! Women’s Large & Plus-Size Tunics, Tops and more Three Hens & A Rooster Market V. Carranza 466 Saturdays 9 to 1 Contact Pat Thunherst Wagner at ptwagner@comcast.net

Sherry Vallarta HOME DE’COR

Personal Shopper

Buy & Sell ~ Anything & Everything

sherryvallarta@yahoo.com 044 322 137 7063

Marsol Friday Market by the Pier Three Hens & A Rooster Market on Saturdays

Marsol Friday Market by the Pier Three Hens & A Rooster Market on Saturdays

mexicasupplement@gmail.com Hand-made Mexican Tiles, Talavera, Saltillo, Mosaico

599 Juarez, El Centro, Puerto Vallarta 322 206 2536 sales@colibridesignvallarta.com

English Spoken Puerto Vallarta & Banderas Bay Real Estate * Trusts * Wills * Inmigration * Civil Criminal Specializing in Immigration.

Real Estate. Condominium Law

Cell. 322 278 6694 felixzaratelawyer@gmail.com

DIGITAL AND PRE-PRESS

PRINTING

For all your printed needs - Business Cards, Brochures, Menus, Flyers, Magazines, Calendars, Invitations, Books and more!

WE CAN PRINT YOUR IDEAS! Service available in English.

Tel. 225 4982 Ext 115 Tr ibuna de la Bahía

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Marsol Friday Market by the Pier

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ne of La Dulce Vida’s sweetest offerings is zucchini bread available in two sizes and clearly a favourite of Andrea’s clients. Exotic spices make the difference; try it, you’ll love it.

Cookies and cupcake flavours change weekly and be sure to order your special birthday/ wedding cakes as far in advance as possible.

If you have a super-creative idea, talk to Andrea about it; so far nothing has stumped her!

If you have started a new diet and are looking for some great herbal products to help you not just lose weight but to look and feel better than ever before – do see Ricardo Mazcal and talk to him about his “Maz Mix” – two of these a day is all you need.

Period.

Some fabulous 100% cotton fabrics have found their way into Marcia’s studio with new, lightweight collars for summer wear.

Next week look for special green, white and red feathered “Flairs” for your hair to celebrate Mexico’s ‘Grito’ mid-September in assorted sizes from tiny one-centimetre (adorable for babies and young girls) and up!

The Marsol Friday Market by the Pier is open from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.

by Janice Gonzalez

Three Hens & A Rooster Market News

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uddy is looking to be someone’s forever buddy! He is a lovely Labrador mix, just a year old and weighing 66 pounds.

He absolutely loves his humans and is very affectionate.

A high energy dog, Buddy is looking for an active family he can

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at Wagner is having a huge sale in her “Pandemonia Boutique”. Buy one piece of clothing and get a second one free! This week only.

Her selection of plus-sized skirts, blouses and more is bright and colorful with unusual patterns and designs. Come early!

Salads and summer heat go together well and now Gloria Sue is offering smaller portions to go or eat in, right at the front of our Market. Teo and Lola join her during the week so desserts are available almost every day!

Good coffee is the rule in Mexico; exquisite coffee from Chiapas is found only at Three Hens – look for “La Fortuna” in either dark or medium roast; ground or whole bean.

The Fab Fabric Fellows are cooling off Vallarta beautifully with their 100% cotton cooling ties. Invented by the US government to keep troops cool in desert situations, cooling tie technology has found a new purpose here in the Tropics. You and your dog can stay comfortably and fashionably

Adorable Dog In The Spotlight... BUDDY

go hiking with and enjoy long walks exploring.

Buddy gets along fine with other dogs he meets but isn’t a fan of felines. He has been neutered, dewormed and vaccinated.

If you are an active family looking for the perfect companion contact us at spcapv@gmail.com for an application for Buddy.

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

By Janice Gonzalez

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cool all summer long. The ties maintain temperature for hours then just flip them over and keep on enjoying your not-so-hot day.

Ingenious.

As Mark Hughes says, “Stay Calm and Eat More Pie”. Sweet or

meaty, Mark has a huge selection ready for your freezer.

Three Hens & A Rooster Market is open Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm at Venustiano Carranza 466 in Old Town Puerto Vallarta.

he SPCAPV has started a new opportunity for businesses to contribute and become sponsors. We thank all our sponsors who are dedicated to making a difference. If you are interested in helping, write to clare23leach@gmail.com to join us.

During these hot summer months, we have limited tours of our sanctuary. If you are interested, 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 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.

You can learn more about the SPCA Puerto Vallarta by checking us out at www.spcapv.com/home or on Facebook.

entertainment

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August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com

Ingrid Bergman A Classic International Actress Part 2

By Fred Jacobs

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ast week, we looked at the early years of Ingrid Bergman, losing both parents very early on and gaining stardom on the big screen in her homeland Sweden.

Then arriving in Hollywood in 1939 during World War II, but managing to make it big with US audiences in films like “Casablanca” (1942) and a string of hit movies throughout the 1940’s in the US. 1949 would be a fateful year for Ingrid Bergman. Ingrid had admired two films by Italian director Roberto Rossellini that she had seen. In 1949, Ingrid wrote to Rossellini, expressing her admiration and suggested that she make a film with him.

This led to her being cast in his film “Stromboli” (1950). During production, Ingrid fell in love with Rossellini, and they began an affair.

Ingrid became pregnant with their son, Renato Rossellini (born in February 1950).

Ingrid then divorced her Swedish husband and married Rossellini.

The tabloids and newspapers, branded Ingrid a woman of low morals. The affair caused a huge scandal in the US, where it even led to Ingrid even being denounced on the floor of the US Senate. Ed Sullivan was pressured to cancel a scheduled appearance by Ingrid on his show.

As a result of the scandal, Ingrid and Rossellini moved to Italy, where they would go on to have twin daughters, Isabella Rossellini, (who would became an actress and model) and Isotta Rossellini. Ingrid would go on to appear in four more Italian Rossellini films until 1956 when they separated and eventually divorced.

With her starring role in “Anastasia” (1956), Ingrid Bergman made a triumphant return to the American screen and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for a second time.

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H. Percy entered an apology into the Congressional Record for the attack made on Bergman twenty-two years earlier.

In 1974, Ingrid took on a small role, by her own choice, in the hit film, “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974).

The director wanted her to have one of the lead roles, but Ingrid insisted that if she was to be in the film, it would only be in a small role.

Despite her short time on the

screen, Ingrid still managed to wow critics and audiences alike and even earned her a third Oscar statue, this time for Best Supporting Actress.

Ingrid was then offered the starring role in a television mini-series, “A Woman Called Golda” (1982), about the late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. It was to be her final acting role. Sadly, Ingrid passed away in London, four months after filming completed.

She died on her 67th birthday, from breast cancer.

She was honored posthumously with a second Emmy Award for Best Actress for the role.

Her life was not an easy road, but she brought to life almost every role she took on, whether in English or a foreign language, on the big screen, on the stage or on TV. Fred Jacobs is a full time resident of Puerto Vallarta and the author of three books.

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Ingrid made her first post-scandal public appearance in Hollywood at the 1958 Academy Awards, when she was the presenter of the Academy Award for Best Picture.

She was given a standing ovation when she came out.

Throughout the 1960s Ingrid made very few films, but did do some theatre work. During this period, the majority of her time was spent raising her children.

In 1972, U.S. Senator Charles

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Over the past month we have been making small changes to our distribution locations; hopefully making it easier for you to find a copy. The Tribune will be available for pick up at the tourist offices in the main plaza as well as in Park Lazaro Cardenas, in Puerto Vallarta. You can

shop and pick up a copy of the Tribune at the Friday Marsol Market, the ‘Three Hens and a Rooster Market, Venustiano Carranza 466, on Saturdays’ and at the Amigo’s de La Cruz table at the La Cruz Sunday Market.

In addition to all of our advertisers, look for the Vallarta Tribune

in restaurants, resorts, galleries and salons around the Bay of Banderas and north into Sayulita and San Pancho. We distribute 10,000 copies in high season from Mismaloya to San Pancho each week.

Marina Vallarta: Benittos, The Coffee Cup, Re/Max, San Javier

Hospital Nuevo Vallarta: Eddies, Barracuda’s, Nopalitos, US Consulate, Chasers Sports Bar Bucerias: Mark’s, Sandrina’s, Yo-Yo Mo’s, Luna Lounge, Esquina 22 La Cruz: Oso’s Oyster Bar, Octopus Garden, Tescamala

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August 10 - 16, 2017 www.vallartatribune.com