Issue 1089, February 15 - 21, 2018 by Vallarta Tribune

paradise & parenting

Garza Blanca Getaway Page 11

RIVIERA NAYARIT

Bucerias Beat Gettin´ Fishy wit´ it! Page 32

Almost free today IFC home tours Page 36

February 15 - 21, 2018 Year 20 Free Issue 1089

FR EE

GU ID E

VallartaTribune.com

charity

Photos by Dasan

Visit us every saturday from November throu April at Lazaro Cardenas Park from 9 am to 2 pm

CROSSWORD paGE 37

VALLARTA SHOPPING paGES 38 - 39

EVENTS CALENDAR PAGE 25

Jewerly made from the heart at LOD Gallery

Mapa/Map - Visita sin guías / Self guided tour 13

Centro, Hidalgo 424 01 (322) 223 5476 Ro’Wo Interiores • Marina Vallarta Plaza Neptuno No. A-1 01 (322) 22 122 58 arterowo@hotmail.com www.rowogaleria.com

Historic Center

CORONA 176

LOFT

THE

Wednesdays • Miércoles 6 - 10 pm GUADALUPE SÁNCHEZ 858

MIR 4

ALDAMA

MAT

MOR

ELOS

12 11 10 9

6 7

HIDA

JUÁR

AMO

LGO

ROS

+52322.1589914 sales@lod.com.mx www.lod.com.mx

Main Square

ESTACIONAMIENTO

MALECÓ

Origen y Destino

Nostalgia

Come Piedras

Unicornio

Neptuno y Nereida

Rotonda del mar

En busca de la razón

Caballito

Arte Contemporáneo de México

CENTRO Leona Vicario 230 Col. Centro • +52 322 222 1198 ROMANTIC ZONE Venustiano Carranza 307 Col. Emiliano Zapata +52 322 688 2127 Puerto Vallarta • México

Aldama No. 174 • Centro 2nd Floor / Piso Tel.: (322) 222 1982 Fax: (322) 222 5502 www.galeriapacifico.com galeriapacifico@gmail.com

FINE ART GALERIA

ZARAGOZA

galeriapetraluna@gmail.com

INTERNATIONAL

ITURBIDE

T. 322 2233 490

www.galeriapetraluna.com

CORONA 176 - A

galería (322) 222 6353

MINA

Guadalupe Sánchez 803-A Puerto Vallarta Jal. Centro

CORONA

RIO LEONA VICA

Contemporary ceramics

PÍPILA

Galería

ÁNCHE

MÍNGUEZ

petra luna

ABASOLO

3 A GUADA LUPE S

E-MAIL: PEYOTEPEOPLE@YAHOO.COM

AMA

GALEANA

J. O. DE DO

CENTRO · PUERTO VALLARTA, JAL.

ALLENDE

t LOD gallery, we create unique handmade jewelry made from the heart. Additionally, we can promptly design or replicate any custom piece to your liking. LOD is a family run business since 2009. The artists behind our designs come from a long lineage of artists that have been promoting art in Latin America since their grandfather. Come and visit our wonderful gallery located here in Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

A non-profit dedicated to contemporary art. Juárez 598 · Col. Centro Tel. (322).222.0541 opcvallarta@gmail.com

www.oficinacultural.org

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% PARADISE & PARENTING

Garza Blanca Getaway Page 11

RIVIERA NAYARIT

Bucerias Beat Gettin´ Fishy wit´ it! Page 32

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 AZAMARA QUEST 694 03/02/2018 COSTA LUMINOSA 2,826 04/02/2018 RUBY PRINCESS 3,782 06/02/2018 CARNIVAL SPLENDOR 3,200 07/02/2018 CORAL PRINCESS 1,974 07/02/2018 OOSTERDAM 1,848 08/02/2018 GRAND PRINCESS 2,600 10/02/2018 RUBY PRINCESS 3,782 13/02/2018 CARNIVAL SPLENDOR 3,200 14/02/2018 OOSTERDAM 1,848 15/02/2018 GRAND PRINCESS 2,600 20/02/2018 CARNIVAL SPLENDOR 3,200 21/02/2018

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 February Puerto Vallarta welcomes 36,602 passengers! NAME PASS DATE OOSTERDAM 1,848 22/02/2018 CARNIVAL SPLENDOR 3,200 28/02/2018

Page 36

February 15 - 21, 2018 Year 20 Free Issue 1089

FR EE

Photos by Dasan

VALLARTA SHOPPING PAGES 38 - 39

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:

CHARITY

Visit us every saturday from November throu April at Lazaro Cardenas Park from 9 am to 2 pm

CROSSWORD PAGE 37

Calling in Mexico

Almost free today IFC home tours

GU ID E

VallartaTribune.com

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.

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

EVENTS CALENDAR PAGE 25

Director Noemi Zamora noemizamorareynoso@gmail.com Editor Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@Vallartatribune.com Sales Team editor@vallartatribune.com Designer Cynthia E. Andrade G. cysandra@gmail.com

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

editorial

Editor’s

Note

editor@vallartatribune.com

A full week

his week we have a couple of changes in our editorial line –up. Please welcome Kiri Westby as she writes a new weekly column called Bucerias Beat. I have long wanted more representation of Bucerias in the newspaper and Kiri has kindly volunteered to help spread the word about one of the best little towns in our bay. Cat Morgan who writes Riv Nay Fun is changing gears and has started a new column called Real Estate in the Bay which will focus on the Real Estate industry. Another topic long neglected in our pages. So, yeah! Welcome aboard! We are still tallying the votes for the Best of Banderas Bay Readers Choice Awards. It’s been a more complicated process than anticipated. I probably should have listened to Paco Ojeda when he told me to quit while I was ahead! Stay tuned because we should have it all organized for next edition. Now while you’re waiting – how about checking out some of the FABULOUS events we have going on. What a Drag charity fundraiser for the Banderas Bay Women’s Shelter

is this weekend on Sunday, February 18 from 8-11 at Teatro Vallarta. It’s the hottest ticket in town, so they moved to a bigger venue to accommodate everyone. If you haven’t bought tickets yet – go! Call 221-5180 or send a message on facebook to @ whatadragvallarta. It is the Puerto Vallarta Jazz Festival this weekend happening on the Malecon. Check out youth group, Salty Paw as they play on Friday and Saturday at 7 pm. There are a ton of excellent show happening around the bay including the Tribute shows at Luna Lounge in Bucerias and El Rio BBQ in Paso Ancho. Dozens of live shows at Incanto including ‘Canciones de Vallarta’ a big-ticket event this weekend, a world premiere featuring Grammy award-winning Donald Moline – read on for more details. On the 17th Puerto Vallarta, Coffee Fest is going to attempt to break the world record for the most coffee drinkers in one place, on the Malecon. They need upwards of 10,000 participants, and they ask that you register beforehand at coffeefestpuertovallarta.com. It will take place at 6 pm on the Malecon. Go, be a part of history! Now it’s still a full week away, but this gives you time to prepare for the 5th Annual Chili Cook-Off at El Rio BBQ. On February 24, 250 pesos gets you all you can eat chili, an order of riblets and a drink, plus entertainment and the warm fuzzies from knowing you’re helping the children and youth of Banderas Bay. Mark it on your calendar. It’s a ton of fun! More details in this week’s pages. We also have the three-day Riverfest event in support of Pasitos de Luz the first weekend of March. Put it on your agenda, and I’ll have all the

details in the next week’s Tribune. The Farmer’s Markets continue to offer excellent locally grown and crafter items – perfect for you to take home. If you are in Nuevo or Bucerias, it’s a quick and easy trip to check out the Tuesday Riviera Market in the parking lot behind the Casino in Nuevo Vallarta. This is a huge market with lots of space, so you don’t feel too crowded and many of vendors you won’t see in Puerto Vallarta. There was a recent blog post by a poorly informed woman who was complaining that there was nothing to do in Puerto Vallarta. Um, excuse me? It’s as non-stop as you’d like it to be, even in the slower summer months, we have 1000’s of national visitors who fill the beaches, Malecon, and restaurants. If you’re bored in Puerto Vallarta, you’re not doing it right! I also received a (slightly) crazy email diatribe, which happens from time to time. I’d publish it here, but it’s well over 10k words at this point, and honestly, it’s sad. In case it’s not clear, there is a monologue being performed at the Tercera Llamada Theater across from Macroplaza that is titled, ¡I’m Frieda, I’m Free! – But the show itself is not free. You have to pay 150 pesos admission; approximately $8usd to support a small local theater. And you should support this local production. We don’t have enough of this type of entertainment available in Puerto Vallarta. I hope to see some of you out and about this weekend. I’ll be at the What a Drag event on Sunday for sure. Thank you for your continued support. The Tribune is getting better each week because of the entertaining contributors, generous advertisers, and all the fabulous readers. Thank you! Safe travels, Madeline

folks at the Trips cab stand. Unfortunately I did not get the receipt with the cab number. The staff was very helpful in trying to find the cab, but no luck. The supervisor told me most of the drivers had finished for the day as there were only a couple of flights left to arrive. I took a cab back to my friends house thinking I would never see my belongings again. My driver was very understanding and promised he would do his best in the morning to try and find my backpack. Sunday morning I got up and was using our friends computer to start the process of damage control. At 9:30 the doorbell rang. Our friend went to answer the door saying as he got up, “Maybe this is something

good.” Not really paying attention I continued with damage control. I suddenly hear my name being called to come quickly. I ran downstairs to the door and there stood the cab driver with bag in hand. I couldn’t believe it. I checked the bag and everything was there. An unbelievable experience! These people turn what could have been a very expensive and disheartening situation into one in which I found people with honesty and integrity. Good things do happen in Mexico! Thank you to all involved from both my wife and I! Ian Watson and Edie Beal Victoria, BC Canada

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

DO YOU REALLY NEED

THAT STRAW?

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

Sin popote, por favor!

Letter to Editor Good things happen in Mexico. I am about to relate an account of an unbelievable experience Saturday evening, February 3,2018. We arrived at PVR after a very long day of travel. After the slow process of clearing imagination, baggage pickup and customs we headed out of the airport. We caught a Trips cab to our friends house just north of downtown. We unloaded and were about to settle in when I discovered my backpack with all our electronics, car and house keys, travel documents and cash was missing. Not knowing what else to do I returned to PVR and contacted the

Where Is This? Sandra Cesca

lay pottery of all styles and quality are locally available for both everyday use and personal collections. Choose from the simple and inexpensive brown glazed dishes to the expensive and beautiful Talavera of the original blue on white patterns or today’s modern colors. Find this on a guided walk

around historic Vallarta with PuertoVallartaWalkingTours.com. Stroll the cobblestone streets, typical of Spanish Colonial architecture, while absorbing the sights, smells and sounds of daily life. Visit markets, historic buildings, and workshops. Get immersed in the culture while exploring areas you might not find on your own. www.puer tovallar tawalkingtours.com

Next week at the Farmers’ Market you will find great things!

Karen Mical Designs

Karen Mical Karen Mical Designs

Designs

CHILEAN ARTISAN WHOLE GRAIN BREAD

Original

Handmade Original

Wearable Handmade

Original

Art

Wearable

Handmade

Art

Wearable

Love it when healthy meets delicious? Don’t miss out!

karenmicaldesigns@yahoo.com

Art

FB Karen karenmicaldesigns@yahoo.com

Mical Designs FB Karen Mical Designs

Long time family recipe all the way from Chile to your plate. Flax, sesame, and sunflower seeds are some of the ingredients that make for this healthy, nutritious, and delicious bread. facebook.com/TheChileanBread

Cel: 322 143 3809

karenmicaldesigns@yahoo.com

FB Karen Mical Designs

Meet Pat and Ramon of Banderas SoapBlends

A Try our more than fifty flavors in aguas frescas We cover events

mibarrarefresca@gmail.com cel. 3221274968

El Taco Ranchero Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, huaraches y sopes lamancha90@hotmail.com

s long as there has been a Saturday farmer’s market in Puerto Vallarta there has been an ever-expanding selection of handcrafted soaps and creams by Banderas SoapBlends. Pat Light, co-owner of Banderas SoapBlends with her partner Ramon Ortega, says that the business is really a product of a hobby gone wild. Ten years ago Pat starting making handcrafted soaps for herself and then some friends and then friends of friends and today that hobby has turned into a thriving small business employing 2 staff and making thousands of bars of soaps, creams and scrubs

every year. Each one of Banderas SoapBlends hand-crafted products is made with a unique blend of nutrient and essential oils and local botanicals. Each nutrient oil is blended to nourish and enrich your skin in a special way. Essential oils are blended to take advantage of the benefits of aromatherapy. These wonderful ingredients are blended into colorful and sensual soap bars, shampoos, body gels, face and body creams, sugar and salt scrubs, natural deodorants, lip balms and dog soaps. “Our business has grown every year,” says Ramon, “because we have custo-

mers returning for their favorite creams and soaps.” Among customer favorites is Fight the Bite, a moisturizing coconut oil body cream with an essential oil blend that keeps mosquitoes from biting. “I tend to be a favorite to any pesky little insect that flies and bites,” says longtime customer Gayle Hunter. “Now, instead of waiting until the last moment, or after I am swollen and itchy, I apply Fight the Bite as my go to moisturizer.” Rave reviews and customer loyalty like this earned Banderas SoapBlends an endorsement in the New York Time’s article 36 Hours in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. “It has been a

325 Basilio Badillo

Cel. 449 198 4281

bluber1979@gmail.com

wonderful experience growing this business and participating in the Olas Altas Farmers Market,” say Pat and Ramon. “It’s a labor of love and we have met so many interesting amazing people from all over the world.” You can find Pat and Ramon at the Olas Altas Farmers Market every Saturday from November to April. They also have a store at 326 Basilio Badillo in Old Town. www.banderassoapblends.com 322 223 3889.

Olas Altas Farmers Market If you're looking for the

NARISA’S THAI CUISINE Authentic Thai Dishes

Serving the Local Markets & Home Catering Home Delivery & Pick Up Service thaicuisinepv@gmail.com Tel: (332) 222-8331 Cell: (322) 888-9840

perfect spot to enjoy traditional Mexican crafts, live music and delicious artisan food, look no further than the Olas Altas Farmers Market. We offer over 90 booths of “Handmade and Homegrown” goodies as well as prepared foods such

as tamales, tacos, homemade ice cream, paella, pasta, vegan and vegetarian dishes and baked goods, all just steps away from the famous Los Muertos Beach. You can also find musical instruments, soaps, jewelry, meat pies, bagels,

fresh juice, coffee, chocolate, flowers, produce, cheese, leather bags, jams and jellies, clothes, paper mache figures and fermented foods. We're open from 9:30 to 2:00 pm every Saturday from the first Saturday in

November to the last Saturday in April. We're located in the Lazaro Cárdenas Park in Vallarta’s Emiliano Zapata neighborhood. For only 20 pesos an hour, you can park in the garage directly beneath the park.

Heriko Joyería Heriberto Saucedo Pérez Artista Diseñador Cel. 3222.190 56 32 Fb: Heriko Joyeria herikojoyeria@hotmail.com Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Basilio Badillo 326 Old Town, Puerto Vallarta 322.223.3889 www.banderassoapblends.com

Cell. 322 134 4162 MEXICO, (952) 583 0329 USA & CANADA info@muchococo.com www.muchococo.com

Pruebe nuestra única y original paella y tortilla Española Try our unique and original paella and Spanish tortilla Tenemos servicio para eventos privados Contact us to cater your private events Tel:2254273 • Celular:3223038922 • Mail: nochipam@hotmail.com

news

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Cost of Living Halved for Expats in Mexico

Electricity commission to reimburse 300,000

‘In Mexico, you can live like a king for what it costs just to get by in the US’

Business customers were overcharged, says industry group

he Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) will compensate around 300,000 businesses that were overcharged for power following the introduction of new rates in December, the president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) said yesterday. Manuel Herrera Vega said that the total sum of the overpayments is unclear, explaining that different companies had been overcharged by different amounts. Speaking at the conclusion of a Business Coordinating Council (CCE) meeting, he added that he was confident that companies would be compensated in the near future. “We believe that the matter will be resolved in two or three months, but for now the economic impact, which is the most worrying thing, will be settled as soon as a [business] verifies that there was a distortion,” Herrera said. The CCE president also weighed in on the matter, stating that the private sector has been working with both the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) and the federal Energy Secretariat (Sener) to analyze, modify and correct the new rates.“We have agreed that we will continue work between February and March to refine the [pricing] formula so that it strikes a balance between both production and distribution costs . . .” Juan Pablo Castañón said. The president of the Mexico City chapter of the National Chamber of Commerce (Canaco) said that some businesses in the capital had been affected by the incorrect price hikes but many subsequently chose to send a clear message to electricity authorities.“. . . Many of them. . . didn’t pay the first bill because if they had paid it, it would have been an act of consent over the rates,” Humberto Lozano said. Last month, the business sector in Baja California also had a win against the CFE. The latter reduced the increase in electricity rates to just 4.7% after it had previously raised them by as much as 300%. Original: MexicoNewsDaily

hat is the true cost of living in Mexico? While it can vary considerably depending on location and lifestyle choices, the vast majority of expatriates contacted for a new survey agreed that it is lower than in their home countries. Is it Cheaper to Live in Mexico? A Research Study found that most people who relocated to Mexico paid less for goods and services than what they would pay in their country of origin and were therefore able to enjoy a more lavish lifestyle than they could otherwise afford. Completed by 1,129 expats, the survey, sponsored by the Vallarta Tribune and other media companies, offers insights into the spending habits, opinions, experiences and concerns of people who have moved to Mexico to live, either to continue working or to retire. The study was conducted and published by Best Places in the World to Retire, which also previously published a survey about expats’ expectations before moving to Mexico and the reality they experience once living in the country. The overwhelming response to the central question in the latest survey — is it cheaper to live in Mexico? — was yes. Almost half of those surveyed reported that with US $50 or less in Mexico, they could buy the same quality of goods and services that they would pay US $100 for in their

home country. In other words, things cost half or less here than where they previously lived, they said. A further 36% said that they paid between 25% and 50% less for goods and services in Mexico, meaning that a combined 85% of expat respondents said they pay between half and three-quarters the price of what they would pay for the same thing back home. Just under 5% of people said that they paid the same or more when shopping in Mexico. The highest percentage of respondents who said that their cost of living was 50% or less than in their home country live in Baja California (74.2%), followed by Mazatlán (63.1%) and the state of Yucatán (59.1%). At the other end of the scale, only 28% of Mexico City residents and 33% of Baja California Sur expats said that their cost of living was half or less in Mexico compared to their previous expenses in their home countries. However, Chuck Bolotin of Best Places in the World to Retire pointed out that even results in the latter — dominated by respondents who live in or near Los Cabos — showed that 90% of expats there experienced lower costs of living, “many of them by quite a bit.” One respondent who lives in the Puerto Vallarta area said that her rent is probably one-third of what she would be paying in California,

while a resident of Mazatlán said “groceries, most services, internet, restaurants, entertainment and travel are all about half the price of Canada’s.” Another Canadian expat living in Mazatlán pointed out that “the cost of living here can be greatly influenced by one’s choice to buy local or imported goods.” A younger European expat said that life is expensive in Mexico for people who work here and earn Mexican pesos but for those who are paid salaries in US dollars or euros or live off their savings in those currencies, “it is much cheaper.” The study also found that those who generated the most savings by moving to Mexico reduced their expenses the least. However, the lower costs in Mexico meant that they were able to give themselves a significant lifestyle upgrade. The lower living costs also translated into less worry about money among respondents with 43% saying that they were much less concerned about their finances compared to when they were in their home country while 24% said they were a little less concerned. In contrast, just under 10% said that they were a little or a lot more concerned about money while the remainder said they felt about the same. “Because the cost of living is

much lower in Mexico we spend a lot less time and energy thinking about money and just have fun without any guilt,” said a Canadian who lives in Mazatlán. “For the average retired person money is and will likely always be a concern but that level of concern has been significantly reduced,” said an American who recently moved to Puerto Vallarta. The study also asked respondents about how much time they spend doing chores in Mexico compared to their home country, contending that it too can affect living costs and quality of life. Just over 60% of respondents said that they either do much less (41%) or a little less (20%) housework than when they were in their home country, while just over 10% said that they do a little or a lot more. Increased ability to afford domestic help was cited by several respondents as the main reason why they were able to spend less time doing household chores. “As Mexican labor is so reasonable, we feel using . . . [it] as much as we can affords us the opportunity to help in appreciation of their gracious acceptance of our being here,” said a Canadian resident in the Lake Chapala area. Finally, the survey asked respondents where they would have a better overall lifestyle if they spent the same amount of money in Mexico as they would in their country of origin. The response was resounding. A total of 80% of respondents said that their lifestyle would be “much better in Mexico” and a further 13% said that it would be a “little better in Mexico.” “You can really have the champagne and caviar lifestyle here in Mexico on a tuna fish budget,” said one resident of the Lake Chapala area. However, some respondents pointed out that having a better lifestyle in Mexico wasn’t just about having more money to spend or their money going further than in their home country, citing additional factors such as good weather and simplicity of life. Residents of the greater Lake Chapala area were most likely to say that their lifestyle would be much better in Mexico than in their home countries by spending the same amount, with 93.5% of respondents indicating so, followed by expats in Mazatlán (90%), San Miguel de Allende (87%), Yucatán (86%) and Baja California (84%). The full survey can be downloaded at: bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com/download-free-ebooks

news

Mexico central bank hikes interest rate

exico’s central bank raised interest rates on Thursday to a nine-year high, as expected, in order to contain worries that inflation may not cool as quickly as forecast. Mexico’s

central bank raised interest rates last Thursday to a nine-year high, as expected, in order to contain worries that inflation may not cool as quickly as forecast. Reuters.com

Nayarit gas station is community-owned

Indigenous community gets into the retail fuel market

t’s not just foreign oil companies that have jumped on the opportunity to enter Mexico’s retail fuel market. At least 1,500 residents of an indigenous community in Nayarit pooled their resources to open Mexico’s first community-owned gas station. The Wixáritari indigenous community of Santiago Pochotitán, Tepic, began the project in 2012 and initiated construction of the gas station in 2015. But funds ran out, delaying its opening until last Friday. The 11-million-peso (US

$590,000) investment was shared with the federal National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples, which ponied up 6 million pesos, and the community put up the rest. Commission head Roberto Serrano said the project will benefit 15,000 people in the area, while Nayarit Governor Antonio Echevarría García forecast it would help boost the local economy. The station will employ 15 people. Original: MexicoNewsDaily

Nestlé plans to battle Starbucks in Mexico

The firm will invest 800 million pesos jointly with restaurant operator CMR

ood and beverage firm Nestlé plans a joint investment of 800 million pesos (US $42.5 million ) with a Mexican restaurant operator to open 150 coffee shops in the next eight years. The Swiss-owned company already has three Nescafé locations in Mexico City, where it plans to add seven more this year. Restaurant operator CMR, which runs restaurant chains such as Olive Garden, Red Lobster and The Capital Grille, has entered into an agreement with Nestlé to establish and operate the new cafes. Company chairman Joaquín Vargas said coffee shops are a growing business and the two companies make a good combination with which to enter the market. Nestlé owns brands such as Gerber, Stouffer’s, Lean Cuisine and Nescafé coffee, which is popular among Mexicans. Mexico is one of the top 10

markets for Nescafé in the world. Company president Phillip Navratil said consumption of coffee outside the home has surpassed consumption within, which was what triggered the investment decision. Navratil said Nestlé has a presence in over 180 countries, with Mexicans drinking about 510 cups every second. The coffee shops will also offer cold and other hot beverages, natural juices, sandwiches and free wifi. Nestlé expects to sell 40,000 cups of coffee a day once the expansion is complete, and employ 1,000 people. Nescafé coffee shops’ biggest competitor will be Starbucks, which operates about 600 cafes nationwide and has 45% of the market, according to statistics portal Statista. The United States firm is followed by Café Punta de Cielo with 13% of the market and The Italian Coffee Company with 11%.

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Mexico Olympics team member from Vallarta

he 2018 Olympic Winter Games kicked off in PyeongChang, South Korea, where a small but instantly recognizable Mexican delegation of four were ready and eager to compete. Despite a dearth of ski hills in Mexico — there is only one ski resort, located in Coahuila — all of the Mexican athletes will be competing in skiing in alpine, crosscountry and free-style categories. And all will wear distinctive ski suits with a Day of the Dead theme. Only two of the team members were actually born in Mexico, and one doesn’t even speak Spanish. But all expressed pride to be part of the team, the biggest Winter Olympics contingent from Mexico since 1992, when 20 Mexican athletes traveled to France. This year is also the first in 16 years that the team has consisted of more than one athlete. Veteran Olympics athlete Sarah Schleper, 38, has competed under the star-spangled banner of the United States four times, but now represents Mexico after marrying her husband in 2007 and obtaining her Mexican citizenship seven years later. “I feel lucky to represent such a beautiful country; my family is Mexican, and I am proud to wear its colors,” she told the newspaper El Universal. Rodolfo Dickson, 20, is also competing in alpine skiing. Originally from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, he was adopted at the age of three by a Canadian couple. Dickson does not speak Spanish because he has lived most of his life in

Canada. PyeongChang is his first Olympic Games, and attending them fulfills a long-held dream. “I don’t live in Mexico but I am very proud of the place where I was born,” he said. “I really want to start something new,” he told USA Today. “There are a lot of young guys in Colorado who could represent Mexico, so in a few years I hope there will be a big team and athletes capable of being really successful.” Mexico is represented in the cross-country skiing category by Germán Madrazo, 43. Born in Querétaro state, the businessman has lived in Texas for the past 10 years. Madrazo is relatively a newcomer to winter sports, having taken to cross-country skiing just last year. Still, he was fortunate enough to be named the flag bearer during yesterday’s opening ceremony. The Mexican delegation is rounded out by Robert Franco, 24, who will be competing in freestyle skiing. A native of San Jose, California, Franco holds dual nationality thanks to his father, who was born in Jalisco. Franco began skiing at the age of two, coached by his father. He also trained in the U.S. before joining the Mexican team. “It is a huge honor to be pioneering this sport in Mexico,” Franco told USA Today. “It’s shocking how awesome the response was in Mexico. I thought everyone would be saying, ‘He lives in the U.S.’ But no, it was like, ‘You’re one of us,

you’re family.’” “We all know that our country is not known for winter sports; however, when you have a dream you try to reach it. I hope that us four dreamers participating in PyeongChang can be an example of what can be achieved,” he told El Universal. The four Olympians arrived in South Korea under the wing of Mexico’s Winter Olympics veteran Hubertus von Hohenlohe, a German playboy whose antics have earned him the “world’s most interesting Olympian” title for his outfits in prior games. During his participation in the 2014 Sochi Games as the single Mexican representative, von Hohenlohe wore a mariachi-themed suit, and donned a desperado-themed outfit for the 2010 Vancouver Games. Von Hohenlohe descends from German royalty but has represented Mexico in alpine skiing at five Olympics, qualifying for citizenship because he was born in Mexico City. Now 58, von Hohenlohe did not qualify for PyeongChang but he has taken on an organizational role instead. His touch will be recognizable, as he designed and arranged for the manufacture of distinctive Olympic clothing and uniforms emblazoned with a Day of the Dead theme for the team. The Mexican-German athlete might have taken a back seat at this year’s Olympics, but his “most interesting” title remains firmly in his grip. Last week he released a song called Austin, protesting President Donald Trump’s plan to erect a wall between the United States and Mexico. Original: MexicoNewsDaily

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February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Room”. If this is not important information, I sure don’t know what is! RSVP please as space is limited! Throughout the rest of February, please stop by the main lobby at Hospital San Javier Marina on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am until 12 noon to have your blood pressure checked! And speaking of big hearts – I would like to give a huge shout out to a group in Bucerias called “Bucerias Rocks” who lovingly painted loads of rocks with hearts on them for us to give out at our various heart health events this month. They are adorable and help to create awareness of heart health. Bucerias Rocks – you rock! The town along with all surrounding areas in the bay is filled to capacity! Have a heart and be kind to tourists. If someone looks lost or in a quandary, why not lend a helping hand with some directions or information? It only takes a few minutes of your time and will go a long way in leaving a good impression.

Medical Matters Pam Thompson

pamela@healthcareresourcespv.com

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

Cholesterol - Good? Bad? What is it?

ontinuing through our February Heart Health Month, I decided to ask one of our cardiologists, Dr. Adolfo Curiel about cholesterol. After all, these figures are ones that people talk about all the time but do we really understand what they mean? In terms we can understand, what is cholesterol? Cholesterol is defined as a lipid which is a fatty substance that is necessary for our body to function. It is important as a constituent of cell membranes and as a precursor to steroid hormones. Is there really a “good” cholesterol and a “bad” cholesterol? Yes, there is! LDL or low density lipoprotein is the bad cholesterol. If there is an excess of

this kind of lipoprotein, then the risk for arterial disease increases. HDL or high density lipoprotein is called the good cholesterol because it prevents arterial disease by taking cholesterol from the cells and putting them in the liver, where they are broken down and flushed away. What are the best ways to control cholesterol? The best ways to control levels of bad cholesterol is making changes in the lifestyle. For example, eliminate trans fats that are found in fried foods and eating foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids to increase the good cholesterol, such as fish, walnuts and almonds. Increase soluble fiber and exercise on most days of the week, increasing your

physical activity. Quit smoking can help to reduce the bad cholesterol levels as well. Is high cholesterol genetic? Many factors, including genetics can play a role in the levels of cholesterol in the blood. If a close relative has high cholesterol, one is more likely to have it as well. However, many lifestyle factors, particularly diet and exercise also affect levels of cholesterol. Dr. Curiel will be our featured speaker on Tuesday, February

20, 2018 at 9.30 am at Hospital San Javier Marina as he speaks on “Cardiovascular Emergencies – “When to Go to the Emergency

Here’s to a welcoming week!

Venecia 290 Col. Díaz Ordaz Fluent English Spoken Porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges. Dental implants, Dentures Go to www.pvsmile.com.mx for address and directions

Paradise and Parenting Leza Warkentin

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

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.

Garza Blanca Getaway

very once in awhile, my husband and I take a weekend away to be alone with each other and enjoy the silence. Our children don’t understand why we need a break from them, because they are absolutely no trouble at all. And they are far cooler and more knowledgeable than we are. And not annoying, ever. We try to explain that married people should be alone sometimes because it’s good for their relationship to have time to talk and have fun and maybe sleep for a few hours without interruption. They still don’t get it. However, they do accept it once they understand that they will be with their grandparents who buy them pizza and bake them brownies when we leave them alone for even a minute. This year, we decided to stay in Vallarta and find a hotel room where we could relax and enjoy our time together. I’ve always wanted to try Garza Blanca Resort and Spa. It’s a beautiful resort located about seven kilometers from Old Town Vallarta on the highway leading to Barra de Navidad. It’s nestled into a lush, jungly setting on both sides of the highway. We booked a night during a great room sale on hotels.com (we later found out that booking through Garza Blanca’s website would have gotten us the same deal, as they say they will

match the lowest price you find listed). We chose a Junior Panoramic Suite, which in layman’s terms means The Nicest Place You Will Ever Stay in Your Entire Lives. After checking in and being transported to our building by friendly, helpful staff (as it turned out, one of the smiling staff members was ONE OF MY FORMER KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS… how old even AM I?), we stepped out onto the terrace and there was the breath-taking Banderas Bay, twinkling and rippling before us. We had a view of beautiful Vallarta on one side and coast and jungle on the other. If that wasn’t enough (besides the two person hammock, which may not have actually been a two person hammock until we arrived), there was a free-standing bathtub right beside a floor to ceiling glass wall overlooking the bay. Now folks, if you don’t live in Mexico, you may not understand what a bathtub means to me. If you do, then you will know how long I spent in that beautiful piece of plumbing furniture. You will be able to imagine how pruny my fingers got. And you will understand why I can’t describe much of the rest of the incredible suite. We had reservations at the hotel’s Japanese restaurant, Hiroshi, at 8pm. I took my third bath of the afternoon (I am not exaggerating), and we went up to the restaurant located in Hotel Mousai,

also owned by Garza Blanca. I was excited to celebrate our anniversary dinner there, but I also figured that, like most restaurants, I would need to cobble together a dinner that a vegetarian could enjoy. I’m used it, but it does sometimes make dining out a little more challenging. Not so with Hiroshi. First of all, let me say that the service in this little gem is impeccable. Not a single slip. It was attentive, warm, and efficient. They asked us immediately if there were any food considerations they should know about. When I told them I was vegetarian, they were quick to accommodate. Secondly, there were plenty of vegetarian items on the menu. Thirdly, EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS. We ate rolls, dumplings, and main dishes; tofu steak for me and a seafood dish for Gilberto. We ate until we absolutely could not eat another bite. Except then they brought dessert, and suddenly we had a little more stomach room. We had to eat the delicate green tea ice cream and the crème brulee (oh the crème brulee). Chef Carlos Leyva came out to greet us, and explained that it was very important to him that everyone who comes to his restaurant has a high quality experience, regardless of food sensitivities or special diets. He told us that the restaurant is open to the public, so even if you aren’t staying in Garza Blanca, you can go for a romantic evening of culinary goodness (and you should). After dinner, we went on a walk around the lovely grounds, lit up at night to showcase all the greenery around the property. After a bit of exercise to encourage digestion, we returned to our room and slept on our cloud, disguised as the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on. Gil and I don’t get a night away very often. When we do, we like to make it count. If you are a parent and you want to enjoy every minute of one of your rare nights away, don’t hesitate to choose Garza Blanca Resort and Spa, with dinner at Hirohsi. Please say hello to Chef Leyva for me.

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From The FATCA Here Trap

Byron Recommends

photo by Algis Kemezys

Byron is a memoirist, travel columnist, cookbook author, restaurant reviewer and novelist. He is currently working on his sixth novel which is tellingly entitled Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Chef Gabriel and his cazuela)

tax@orlandogotay.com

marciavallarta@gmail.com

byron.ayanoglu@gmail.com

here is something gritty and delightful, even exciting, about eating from a professional kitchen that has been set up outside. Some of the most diverting meals I’ve had have been from stalls or carts that cook and serve right on the sidewalk, sometimes on the street itself. It’s thrilling to find surprisingly gourmet fare sitting on rickety chairs all over the walkways of Asia, with the most memorable in Thailand: you haven’t lived until you’ve tasted the green-curry-coconut-chicken soup and the Pad Thai on the river-fronts of Bangkok. Mexico, where it’s a birthright to live al fresco, dining on benches around an outdoor kitchen is taken for granted. Luckily, the possibilities of a tiny kitchen with a talented, un-frazzled chef appear close to limitless. I happily surrender my appetite to Mariscos La Tia’s very svelte Chef Gabriel as he pivots around his tight space, whose nooks and crannies pour forth with a slew of quality ingredients, for the creation of a very fine cazuela (seafood soup) as well as a full roster of mariscos in all its Mexican

Orlando Gotay, Tax Attorney

Marcia Blondin

Byron Ayanoglu

Cazuela at Mariscos La Tia

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

incarnations. He twirls around in a ballet of small steps and extravagant hand-movements. He grills, he chops, he poaches, he composes platters, as he heats up the broth for my soup, which he pours over springy, exactingly cooked shrimps, bay scallops and the tenderest octopus, garnishing the bowl with freshly scooped avocado, diced cucumber and onion; handing me my dinner with one hand while with the other flipping the sizzling filling of a shrimp quesadilla on the hot griddle. I am muy contento as I not only get to slurp pure enjoyment but simultaneously to participate in Gabriel’s high-speed cooking-show as it continues unabated, leaving me enthralled. Coincidentally with my last sip of the cazuela, he seems to be on a lag. Rather than let him relax, I order an octopus burrito, that is dressed with cheese, tomato and onion, just to watch him some more. Glad I did, because the burrito is as delicious in its own way as the soup. MARISCOS LA TIA Calle Honduras 215 5 di Deciembre, Puerto Vallarta 322-168-5331

spent nearly two hours with Grammy award-winning cellist Donald Moline last week, over coffee and pastries, learning about the World Premiere of “Canciones de Vallarta” that will take place Saturday, February 17 at Incanto. It has been sold out for days but there MIGHT be a ticket or two left for the second performance on the 24th. “Canciones de Vallarta” sprang from a request from Donald to John Henry Kreitler, one of America’s most successful composers and part-time neighbor of Donald’s here in Vallarta. The result – a concert written for cello and orchestra and dedicated to Donald Moline, holds musical postcards from some of Vallarta’s most important places that include whales singing in the Bay of Banderas and from walks along the city’s Malecon. John Henry has been nominated dozens of times and has won ten Emmy awards so far in his prolific career. He is planning to retire somewhat and is leaving California to spend more time in Kentucky and – we hope – Vallarta. This concert is a fundraiser for IAMPV (Instituto des Artes Musicales Puerto Vallarta) to educate children about music. Last year’s fundraiser purchased fifteen violins and more, thanks to Donald Moline’s gift of his music to us. And. If you’re wondering where the hell an entire orchestra will fit into Incanto, I’ll tell you next week! Another musical once-in-alifetime happening occurred at Incanto last Sunday: Wolfang and Jorg a.k.a. Lobo and Latcho got together on stage and recreated some music from 40 years ago! A couple of stories of them hitchhiking through Europe in the 70’s with their guitars, picking up gigs as they travelled around spending time with the gypsies. Andrea – the other half of the Blond Gypsies – joined her fellow Germans onstage and kept the rhythm going smoothly. You’ve heard of “Dueling Banjos”? There were times watching fingers fly from the front row that both Lobo AND Latcho’s guitars would simply burst into flames. Each song

was long and it was all the audience could do to remain in their chairs at the end of each. Towards the end of the concert it didn’t matter. Three standing ovations were well-deserved. Will Lobo and Latcho ever collaborate again? We can always pray and in the meanwhile, go and see Latcho and Andrea Tuesday at 7 pm at Incanto. A very cool new thing has happened in Vallarta – we have “The Art Guild PV” that has sprung up thanks to the artists in residence at Saturday’s Three Hens & A Rooster Market. If you love visual arts, join them on Facebook! And do come to their inaugural show that opens Thursday, February 22 from 5 to 8 pm at Venustiano Carranza 466 (same place as the Saturday Market). The three Boutiques will also be open. There will be wine and gourmet snacks available. If you are a painter, throw pots, need some artwork for your walls or just want to find out what Quetzal has been up to lately, join us. I will have more information next week about the growing list of exhibitors. The Vallarta Garden Club is having their monthly meeting on Thursday, February 15th at 5 pm. Master gardener David Tarrant is travelling from San Miguel de Allende to give a talk. We’ll also find out how the Fiesta Azul fared (I’ve heard fabulously well) and plans for the sprucing up of City Hall that the Garden Club will start in March. Very exciting times for Vallarta. Please come to the meeting even if you are not a member – easy to become one – they are a great bunch of caring individuals so if you’re new in town, I will see you Thursday. That’s it From Here.

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 federal and state tax matters of U.S. expats in Mexico. He can be reached at tax@orlandogotay.com or Facebook: GotayTaxLawyer.

uch has been written about FATCA, the Foreign Asset Tax Compliance Act. Those writings are about banks reporting people to the Treasury. Less talked about: the taxpayer side of the street. FATCA created a reporting requirement for persons that file tax returns. Form 8938 requires reporting on “Specified Foreign Financial Assets”. Reporting means to “tell”, not necessarily pay tax. So there may be, or not be, a tax consequence in owning one of these. There are “end of year” and “at any time” values, also depending on filing status. Even more exciting, it also matters if you live inside or outside the US. More on this later. The list of reportable foreign assets is broad indeed, including financial accounts, stock or securities, interests in foreign entities (remember that Mexican corporation you formed?) and any financial instrument that is issued by a foreign person. Think of mutual funds, AFOREs, equity funds, life insurance with cash value. Notably, real estate held outright is not reportable, but if held through an

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Welcome Home

Sheryl Novak

sa.novak@solutionsmexico.com entity, it might. A single person living in the US has a threshold to exceed: $50,000 at the end of the year or $75,000 at any time. Living outside the US would change things: $200,000/$300,000. Do you “live outside the US”? You may have heard of tests for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion “physical presence” (330 days) or the “bona fide residence test” (also used to exempt you from Obamacare). If you don’t meet them, guess what—you are considered “living” in the US, with lower thresholds for this purpose. You may have an inadvertent FATCA form 8938 requirement if you accidentally believe that watching sunsets here makes you automatically qualified for the higher “expat” threshold. Consider this: Mr. Single has been wintering over but returning back “home” every year [tsk, he still lives in the US]. He falls in love with a property and arranges to buy. Ahead of time, he wires $150,000 into his local Mexican bank to fund the escrow a day later [tsk, he now has a reportable asset, because his account had an amount over the threshold for that one day]. If Single were considered to “living outside” no report would be required, due to the higher threshold. Lots of moving parts, traps for the unwary, extreme penalties, and “open forever” statutes of limitations for Form 8938 nonfilers make this awe inducing. Margaritas, anyone?

Sheryl Novak is an expat Canadian who has owned a home in Mexico for over ten years. She is the owner of SOLutions Mexico and The Furniture Store by SOLutions Mexico. She is an expert on sourcing all styles of furniture for all sizes of budgets, in Mexico.

Sleep on it!

hen furnishing your home in Vallarta Nayarit, the three items you should invest in are a well-made sofa, long lasting outdoor furniture and a very comfortable mattress. Most people are unaware that

mattress sizes differ around the world. Mattresses manufactured in Mexico are shorter and wider than American and European mattresses. This size variance is not enough to impact quality of sleep, but you will notice something is a little off. For those who are taller, worry

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

not! American sizes are available in Mexico although they are considered a special order. According to the President of Sealy’s manufacturing plant in Mexico, American size mattresses make up less than 2% of their total annual mattress sales. Some mattress superstores keep two to three American size mattresses in inventory however in return for getting the mattress right away, you may need to sacrifice any features you may want. A special order mattress can take up to two or three months. Manufacturing plants adjust all their machinery to produce these

special sizes, and generally wait until they have a large enough order to warrant the cost of making the adjustment. Prices for mattresses in Mexico are about the same price as what you would pay north of the border. As a general rule of thumb, the cost for an American size mattress and American size bedroom furniture is around 10%

more. Bed sizes in Mexico are king, queen, matrimonial (equivalent to full) and Individual (equivalent to twin). California King is also available here, however also considered a custom size. As for materials, the two most popular options are the coil and memory foam mattresses. Depending on the type of support you prefer, mattresses with Bonnell, pocketed, offset or continuous coils are available here. Memory foam mattresses are soft and adaptable, and great if your partner is a restless sleeper. I have had both types of mattresses in my home in Vallarta Nayarit for about ten years, both priced in the mid-range. No rusted coils. No mold or mildew. The only way to select a good mattress is to try before you buy. It never ceases to amaze me when people say they will buy a mattress at a big box store where you cannot test them out. I recommend buying at one of the Mexico mattress superstores. Unlike big box stores, you will be able to test it out. Unlike department stores, you generally pay less. And, many of the mattress superstores include the delivery. Many of the brand names in the US and Canada are also available in Mexico. If you plan to shop for your mattress north of the border, with the idea of purchasing it when you arrive in Mexico, heads up! Although retailers here will likely have the same mattress, it will probably have a different name. So write down the name, as well as the features so you can find the equivalent version here. A good night’s sleep is worth every penny. Don’t pinch when buying your mattress. Purchasing a home in Vallarta Nayarit? Email me at sa.novak@ solutionsmexico.com for our free newsletter on how to get good value on furniture in Mexico.

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February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

A Moveable Feast: Go on a Taco Crawl and Graze with Friendly Locals By Anita Draycott

aving spent the better part of my winters in the Puerto Vallarta area for the last decade, I like to think of myself as a bit of an expert on the subject of where to dine well in Vallarta. However, until last Saturday, my culinary experiences here had never included street tacos. I had always been attracted to the delicious aromas wafting from the taco stands all over town, but I wasn’t sure about the food standards and cleanliness and I sure didn’t want to suffer from a case of Montezuma’s Revenge. When I read about Vallarta Food Tours, “An Evening Taco Adventure,” I signed up. Who would know better then the Vallarta food experts about where to enjoy good street food? Our group of five met our guide, Manuel a young fellow from Guadalajara, at the Cevicheria El Guero at the corner of Madero and Constitucion. Manuel gave each of us a brochure including all eight stops that we would make that evening, a map and additional restaurant recommendations. Each of the stops has been chosen for the variety and quality of the food as well as the stories about the folks who run them. Guero, for example, began as a small ceviche stand on the street in 1999. Now they run a casual restaurant specializing in seafood. We were served delicious breaded mahi mahi fish tacos with all the fixings–crunchy cabbage and a variety of sauces, including picante homemade house recipe and a chipotle mayonnaise. At Taco’s Don Juan they specialize in slow-cooked head of cow.

This means you can have eyes, lips, cheeks, tongue and more. A couple of the more adventurous folks opted for the eyes and said they were delicious. Most of us less adventurous types opted for tender beef cheeks served with chopped coriander and onions. Manuel informed us that the last city permits for taco stands we’re issued about 30 years ago. Most folks who have the precious permits keep them in the family. I don’t really understand how these vendors can make much of a profit as the average taco price ranges from 12 to 30 pesos. Keep in mind that each one is cooked to your order on the spot. And they always come piping hot with a variety of delicious sauces and condiments. Tacos are arguably the best bargain in town. Probably my favorite version was the beef volcan at Tacos Memo. Senor Memo and his wife, Maria, are located on the corner of Basilio Badillo and Aguacate.

Memo sears marinated beef over a mesquite wood grill and serves it on toasted Maria-made tortillas. One of the sauces was a complex secret recipe from grandpa and the condiments included pickled vegetables, radishes and beets. Absolutely delicious. The taco food adventure covers two neighborhoods: Emilio Zapata and 5 de Diciembre. We walked off a few calories by taking a hike across the River Cuale on the swing bridge and then up stairs into Gringo Gulch. You’ll want to wear comfortable shoes for this moveable feast as the cobblestone streets are definitely not suited for flimsy sandals or high-heels. Our next stop was the Patio de mi Casa on Guerrero Street where we stopped for a shot of mezcal served with orange slices sprinkled with crushed dried worms and chili powder. Manuel informed us that Mexico has 29 kinds of agave cacti and that the mexcal we were drinking comes from the Oaxaca area

¡ I´m FRIDA, I'm FREE ! MONOLOGUE -MAPPING

Feb 17 20:00 hrs TERCERA LLAMADA PV Gonzalez Gallo 103 (FRENTE A MACROPLAZA ) ENGLISH SUBTITLES

322-115-1995

where it is slow cooked over fire to give it a smoky flavour. Next we headed to Lolita’s, the oldest restaurant in Puerto Vallarta on Avenue Mexico. Original owner, Lolita, started serving food out of the front room of her house in 1935. Eventually they turned the house into a restaurant and her family has taken over the business. One of the specialties is pozole, a stew of hominy and pork. Again, garnishes and sauces zip up this dish that Manuel informed us is often served in Mexican households at Christmas time. I must say it was the best pozole I’ve ever eaten. But go easy on the Lolita’s red sauce. It packs a punch. At El Carboncito on Honduras a huge crowd gathered, cervesas in hand, around the grill where the chef was serving up popular tacos al pastor. This dish originally developed in central Mexico as a result of the adoption of the Lebanese shawarma or Greek gyro. Pork is marinated in a combination of spices and then slow roasted on a vertical rotisserie with a piece of fresh onion and pineapple on the top. The folks at Carboncito are open from 7 PM to 4 AM and sell about 1200 tacos al pastor each day. So if you’re wondering where to go for a snack after a night on the

town, this is the place. Who knew that marlin could be made to taste like bacon? That’s what we discovered at La Tia Mariscos, also on Honduras. The chef smokes his marlin and then cooks it to crispy finish. It can be served inside tacos or in a delicious seafood broth. Our movable feast ended on the sweet note at Julio’s Churros at the corner of Uruguay and Peru. Here Julio and his wife cook spirals of dough in a huge pot of bubbling oil. The hot Mexican “doughnuts” are then cut into chunks and tossed in sugar and cinnamon. Forget about the calories; these are too good to pass up. I highly recommend the Vallarta Food Tours’ Evening Taco Adventure as it covers parts of town you may never have visited and offers a sampling of truly delicious and different styles of tacos and other treats. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to munch and mingle with locals and expand your culinary horizons. Book your tickets online at www.vallartafoodtours.com or call 322 181 7196. Anita Draycott is a freelance travel journalist from Toronto who has chosen to spend her winters in the Puerto Vallarta area for the past decade. Originally published February 2016

Come and enjoy a wonderful day Fruits, vegetables, and seafood with the highest quality and freshness. Great variety of organic foods, bakery, traditional sweets, handmade items, crafts, jewelry and gourmet delicacies. All this in a pleasant outdoor setting with live music and an excellent location in the heart of the BahĂa, at Centro Empresarial Nuevo Vallarta.

From November 7th, 2017 to April 24th, 2018.

Tuesdays

from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm

Paseo de los Cocoteros # 55 at Centro Empresarial Nuevo Vallarta Back Parking Lot Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.

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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.

Raising the humble piñata

irst prize winning piñata Con la ciudad a cuestas by Colectivo Atelier Arte y Papel of Coacalco, State of Mexico, paper mache with yarn painting There is no craft object more emblematic than the piñata, but oddly, its making is perhaps one of the least-considered among Mexico’s craftspeople and certainly one of the least sought after by collectors. One reason is that almost all piñatas are made with flimsy paper mache, to be broken rather than to be kept as a decoration. Of all the objects made with paper and paste in Mexico (cartonería), most cartoneros do not make them. Instead they are made by small workshops, market stalls and party-favor shops. Another issue is that despite copyright laws, the market for piñatas overwhelmingly demands images of cartoon figures and other images from popular culture, in particular movies and video games. Classic designs such as stars or the stereotypical donkey are very notably absent most of the year (Christmas excepted for the stars). One important mission of many of Mexico’s handcraft museums is not only promote what is already

made in the country, but also to encourage artisans to create new and better products. The most popular way to do this is through handcraft contests, both because

of the purses and the publicity that winning “concursos” has for artisans. The Museo de Arte Popular holds and/or sponsors a number of these events, and is very likely the only one that sponsors a piñata making concurso on a regional level. This annual contest has been held for a number of years. In its first incarnations, entries were not terribly impressive for a fairly large concurso in a well-known institution, indicative of the poor state of piñata making… even in the region where the making and breaking of modern piñatas first took hold in Mexico. However, this year’s event shows there is promise for finer piñata making in Mexico. The award ceremony for the best piñatas occurred last Saturday, with the top three prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 peso prizes for the top three. This year’s addition attracted entries from not only Mexico City, but also the State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Hidalgo Veracruz and Zacatecas. But the most important elements this year were the significant rise in both quality and creativity. All photos by Alejandro Linares Garcia (Featured image: Second prize winning piñata Folkloricromía by Silvia Azucena Nájera Barajas of Ecatepec, State of Mexico)

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Que Paso at UDG CUC

Michael Nolan

104.3wakeupshow@gmail.com

Michael Nolen is the host of ‘The Good Morning Wake Up Show,’ which is broadcast as part of the University of Guadalajara’s 104.3 FM radio station at the CUC campus in Puerto Vallarta. Every Saturday at 9 AM

his Saturday February 17 at 10 am, Dr. Juan L. Cifuentes Lemas, will host SCIENCE SATURDAY. The theme is Wetlands of Mexico - How and why they important in our daily life. It is FREE and open to the public. Everyone will learn and have fun, BUT it is designed for children from 3 to 16 years. This event will be held in the main auditorium. FREE MOVIES Remember we have free movies every Wednesday and Friday at 1 pm in the main (air-conditioned), auditorium. On Wednesday February 21 we will be showing a 2013 concert film of Justin Timberlake, and on Friday the 23rd, CRONOS Directed by: Guillermo del Toro and tarring Federico Luppi and Ron Perlman. Cronos is an artifact created by a medieval alchemist, inside which is installed an insect, which feeds on blood and has the power to offer eternal youth. An Award-winning film with excellent reviews. EXHIBITION A pictorial exhibition “Exogenesis/Big Bang”; Retrospective of the painter Tapatio Felipe Velázquez Rubio, are on display at the University Center of the coast

(CUCosta), the University of Guadalajara (UdeG). The exhibition is composed of 215 pieces that, divided into two complementary stages in the creative life of the artist, cover from the beginning of his career around the year 1959 until the end of the first decade of this century. “The painting, for me, has been a feeling of the soul,” says Velázquez Rubio with a broken and visibly excited voice. He confesses that his love for painting Comes “from all life”, although he recognizes that it was thanks to his mother who developed the passion for art: “It was the fault that I had feelings of painter.” We encourage you to look at the UDG CUC web site each week to get the latest news about all the events taking place. www.cuc.udg.mx And be sure to tune in to The Good Morning Wake Up Show every Saturday morning at 9 am. 104.3 FM or on the web at udgtv.com/radio-puerto-vallarta/ en-vivo Please remember: “Life is fragile. We’re not guaranteed a tomorrow so give it everything you’ve got.” Happy trails to you, till we meet again.

local

La Cocina

Two Expats in Mexico James Nash

Paul Kurtzweil

Twitter @JamesNashPV

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.

5 Tips for Learning Spanish on Your Own

here is one thing in common with all of the newly-arrived expats that we meet in Mexico — they all want to learn to speak Spanish as quickly as possible. Of course, that only applies to the ones that don’t already know it. Luckily, there are thousands of free resources to learn Spanish online. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can study the language from anywhere at all — even from a beach bar. I already spoke Spanish when I moved to Mexico but I learned it on my own as an adult, so I know what a challenge that can be. I went from only knowing a few phrases to eventually doing public speaking entirely in Spanish. Whenever anyone asks me for tips to learning Spanish quickly on their own, I always start with these five: 1. Dedicate at least 15 minutes a day This one is important. There will be days that you feel like studying it longer, and that’s great, just never less than 15 minutes a day. 2. Push yourself Let’s say your goal is to run a 6-minute mile by the end of the year, but you train for it by walking half a mile every day. You’ll never meet your goal. The same principle applies to learning Spanish. If the material you are studying seems too easy, you need to look for something more challenging. 3. Work on your “ear” for the language One of the most difficult aspects of learning any foreign language is listening comprehension, in other words, developing an ear for the language. Listening comprehension progressively develops through

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

repeated exposure to the language. Your brain will start to recognize patterns and you will start to understand more and more of what is being said. A good way to do this is to watch TV shows or movies with the Spanish audio option activated. It will be easier to follow if you choose an episode or movie that you’ve already seen. 4. Use sentence fragments and plug-and-play phrases to speak quickly Over the years, I’ve met quite a lot of intermediate and advanced Spanish students who had difficulty carrying on complex conversations in Spanish. The reason is that they often try to translate whole sentences wordfor-word in their head before speaking. That is extremely difficult to do at a pace fast enough to keep up with a conversation. One way to overcome this is to learn small phrases that can be put together to make sentences quickly. That technique is taught in our Spanish video course Q-Roo Paul’s Spanish for Beginners. 5. Don’t be afraid of the grammar Many adult learners tell me that they want to learn Spanish; however, they don’t want to learn the boring grammatical rules. Believe me, this is a huge mistake. Grammar is like the blueprint of the language and being familiar with it can help you speak Spanish correctly long before you’ve developed your ear for the language. It’s not easy to learn a foreign language as an adult but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. If you are willing to put in the required time and energy, you will be speaking Spanish before you know it. By the way, if you happen to see me at a beach bar here, feel free to buy me a beer and practice your Spanish with me. To tell you the truth, as long as you buy me a beer, you can speak any language you like.

A believer that a simple, flavourful meal shared with friends is one of our life’s true joys, a local resident of Vallarta, James (aka Jimmy) shares his knowledge and passion for the culinary arts, local architecture and real estate.

Celebrating life and friendship in Vallarta

his past weekend I had the honor of being a guest for a weekend of events celebrating a dear friends seventieth birthday. One of the things I love most about living in Vallarta is that my friend’s ages span from the early twenties into their eighties. The events this past weekend had guests from all over the world attending, and the energy and love shared by all created one of those magical memorable times. It is rare, at least for me, outside of a family event to have such a wide age range celebrating together that, and when we mix in the cultural differences as well as the language, the entire event takes on a new vibe. Having dinner with friends on the first evening it was hard to tell if we were laughing harder at the things we reminisced about or the current sarcasm shared amongst us. One of the things I have noticed of late in Vallarta is, well; I live here now. I always said that I lived here, but now sitting with so many people and realizing that thru shared friends, charities or other events we have known each other for as long if not longer than most friendships last, it sunk in that this truly is a home for me and not just another stop. It reminded me that the people were always a big part of what I love about living here. Community and feeling a sense of belonging are still possible in our town, and I think that is becoming less so in most of the world. I wanted to thank our host restaurant as well as they went above and beyond that evening, so thanks No Way Jose! for another great evening. Night two began with a drive out to the botanical gardens; buses were arranged to get everyone back and forth, but due to timing we drove. We arrived a bit early and

had the gardens to ourselves for the most part, so we sat in the upstairs bar and sampled the house margarita and chatted with the incredible team who works at there. For a few moments we paused, and just

took in the mystical surroundings. The bougainvillea with moss gently hanging in the breeze was enough to make me proclaim out loud that I could not believe how far the gardens had come in such a short number of years. If you have never been to an event hosted by the gardens all I can say is I truly hope you get the chance to do so soon. The evening of cocktails and appetizers gave way to a simple yet elegant meal and just as the chocolate deserts started to be served the second round of entertainment arrived. The traditional dancers combined with a twenty piece mariachi band had us whipped up into a euphoric state, and just in time for an amazing display of fireworks. I truly hope our host and birthday boy for the weekend felt as much love towards him as we all felt towards being so spoiled. It has been a long time since I saw some of the folks who were in attendance at the events, and maybe that was part of why it made me feel so much like this place is my home. However, whatever the reason I was proud to know so many amazing souls and I hope that perhaps someday many of them will celebrate with me, should I be fortunate enough to make it to seventy!

entertainment

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Grammy Award Winning Cellist Donald Moline Returns and Celine Dion Tribute debut at Incanto!

ell-Strung, a New York City based singing string quartet has broken all attendance records, selling out show after show at Incanto. This popular foursome blends vocals and strings, fusing classical music with today’s pop hits. Their international popularity continues to soar and reviews have been excellent. Reserve now through Feb. 28. The Vallarta Vocalista Ensemble presents its 2018 concert series, In Perfect Harmony: From Baroque to Broadway, with six performances starting Feb. 22. Concerts will include the seldom-heard baroque jewel, Durante’s “Magnificat”, excerpts from “Carmina Burana”, “Les Miserables”, Mexican favorites and well-loved jazz standards. Tribute artist Joni Lambert brings the excitement and unmistakable all-live vocals of the great Céline Dion to Incanto. She performs dialog and many popular well-known hits, often moving audiences to tears. One performance only Feb. 19 at 9:30pm. Luis Lujan, composer, singer, musician, and one half of Argentine duo Bohemia Viva presents a solo concert ‘And now, I fly’ on Feb. 18 at 7pm. With a wide range of influences, a defined style, and a big vocal range, he will offer a very special repertoire of original music. See Bohemia Viva’s The

Sound Garden every Wednesday at 6:30pm. Instituto des Artes Musicales Puerto Vallarta (IAMPV) presents two cello recitals performed by Grammy Award Winning Cellist Donald Moline, with Jean-Guy Comeau at the piano. Mr. Moline played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 39 years, has taught at several universities and has performed all over the world. Event proceeds support musical educa-

tion for children in Puerto Vallarta. Feb. 17 & 24 at 7pm. Luna Rumba’s DUENDE, featuring new music and a unique blend of instruments, technology, and dance plays most Fridays at 7pm. Zoe Lewis, ‘a band in a body’, returns for five shows only starting Feb. 21 with ‘A Touch of The 20’s’ featuring prohibition era jazz, saucy swing, travel tales and quirky originals played on anything from the piano to the spoons! These are ticketed events upstairs. ‘Fun and uplifting’ perfectly describes Incanto’s ‘Gospelicious’ Gospel Brunch, that is light on religion and BIG on entertainment. Hosted by Tracy Parks and featuring The Holy Host Singers with creator and Musical Director/David Troy Francis and the Resurrec-

tion Band. Every Sunday through March at 12pm. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Zoe Wood plays in the piano bar on Mondays at 7:30pm. She is currently working on a new collection of all originals. Zoe also performs Nuevo Flamenco, Jazz and Latin standards with her own special style. No cover. Classic stage comedy ‘Greater Tuna’, starring Ron Spencer and Tracy Parks is now playing through March. With twenty-two characters played by just two actors, it’s a wild ride to smalltown Tuna, TX, chock-full of eccentric characters with small minds and big hearts. Directed by Karen Baker.

If you’re looking for something today each evening you can find something happeneing at incanto. Everything from paino, acoustic, gypsy flamenco and pop/rock favourites. Open mic night on Thursdays and Salsa lessons are Wednesday and Sunday on the upper terrace. Check the website for all the details. Tickets are available at www. IncantoVallarta.com with no online booking fees. Box Office hours are 9am to 11:30pm daily. Casual dining is always available. Happy Hour 2-6pm daily. Incanto is located at Insurgentes 109 (at the Rio Cuale). Call 322 223 9756 for reservations.

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Vintage Spoon Jewelry & Boutique

GRAND PALLADIUM VALLARTA HOTEL LA QUINTA DEL SOL

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RESORTS MALECON SHOPPING/ARTWALK

PUERTO VALLAR

2 LA CRUZ MARKET SHERATON BUGAMBILLIAS ST. REGIS PUNTA MITA every Sunday 9-2 La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Marina

VISIT THE NEW BOUTIQUE Basilio Badillo #325, PuertoVallarta Hours: M-F 10-7, Sat 10-3, Sun closed ISLAS MARIETAS 322.182.2144 Chantel_Mann@hotmail.com www.chantelvintagespoonjewelry.com

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PLAYA LA MANZANILLA Handcrafted in Puerto Vallarta, Agustin Flores Mexico using Contreras W PUNTA MITA antique silver Municipal Stadium and plate spoons to GRAND PALLADIUM VALLARTA create unique and beautiful HOTEL LA QUINTA DEL SOL FRANCISC O VILLA collectible pieces of jewelry and MESON DE MITA accessories. PUNTA MITA

OLAS ALTASPUNTA FARMERS ST. REGIS MITAMARKET every Saturday 9-2 Park Lazaro Cardenas

1. MARINA RIVIERA NAYARIT 2. NUEVO RIVIERA NAYARIT 3. MARINA VALLARTA MARINA 4. CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL 5. LOS MUERTOS PIER/ WATER TAXIS

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1. MARINA RIVIERA NAYARIT 2. NUEVO RIVIERA NAYARIT SHOPPING 3. MARINA VALLARTA MARINA 1. GALERIAS VALLARTA 4. CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL 5. LOS PIER/ WATER TAXIS 2.MUERTOS WALMART/SAMS CLUB

1. GALERIAS VALLARTA 1. CENTRAL BUS STATION 2 2. WALMART/SAMS CLUB 2. VERSALLES BUS STATION GOLFING 3. COSTCO 3. OLD TOWN BUS STATION 4. LACOURSE ISLA 1. PACIFICO GOLF 4. BUCERIAS BUS STATION 5. PLAZA CARACOL 5. INT’L AIRPORT - PVR 2. BAHIA GOLF COURSE 6. MEGA/ LA COMER BUCERIAS 3. LITIBU GOLF 7.COURSE WALMART NUEVO VALLARTA

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24. FOREVER SPRING MARKET 25. BUCERIAS ARTWALK 26. RIVIERA FARMERS MARKET 27.24. MARINA ARTISAN SPRING MARKET MARKET FOREVER 28.25. MOVIE + PICNIC ARTWALK BUCERIAS 29. RED CROSS 26. RIVIERA FARMERS MARKET 30. LOS ARCOS NATIONAL PARK

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azing towards Puerto Vallarta from the South Shore, Girasol Sur sits on the azure waters of Gemelas beach. The views are unmatched, from two terraces, with a panorama direct towards Punta de Mita, of the ocean and city-line of Puerto Vallarta. Enjoy sunsets, marine

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February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

events

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Painting Workshops at Kathleen Carillo Galleries

he Kathleen Carrillo Galleries is hosting two painting workshops next week. There are a few spots left in both of them. There is a portrait workshop next week, Tuesday, February 20. A full day class with all supplies included. Just show up, and by the end of the day you will have completed a painting that you will be proud to take home with you. It is a fast paced, informative learning experience that is very rewarding. Kathleen will also be offering a landscape class next week on Wednesday, February 21. Arrival time is 9:45, class begins 10am. Contact immediately if you want to enroll as there are only a few spots left. If you are still here during the month of March, Kathleen will be offering two final classes for the season. Payments can be made online or in person. Contact us immediately for next week’s classes, as they will fill up quickly with this reminder. As well, Kathleen still has a few openings for her workshop in Sorrento, Italy, on the Amalfi Coast, May 6-14, 2018. It is a

wonderful week of painting, exploring, learning, eating, and great friendships with like-minded folks that love to have great adventures. Included in the workshop is shared accommodations in a boutique hotel, one excursion, full breakfast and lunch, most supplies, and all painting instruction. Kathleen has been taking painting groups for many years to Europe and each workshop just gets better and better. We will complete two paintings and still have time to explore, shop, relax and more. For additional information go to Kathleen’s website, www. KathleenCarrilloGalleries.com and click on the workshops tab. Don’t hesitate to call us at 322 222 9879 or her personal cell phone U.S. 858 261 8129. There are four spots left in this once in a lifetime experience. Don’t forget about the Southside Shuffle, tomorrow, Friday from 6-10. See works from Kathleen’s extensive travels and previous workshops. Enjoy a glass of wine, and enjoy the many wonderful works that “Celebrate The Colorful Magic Of Life”.

Painting: Positano, on the Amalfi Coast. Available in print. LEARN TO DANCE BALLROOM & LATIN

VALLARTA’S FIRST BALLROOM If you ever wanted to try dancing and never had the chance or put it on your ever growing "things to do list" then this is your perfect opportunity.

NEW STUDENT SPECIAL 3 Private lessons (30 minutes each) 1 Group lesson (1 hour) 1 Dance Party (90 minutes includes tropical drinks) $600.00 pesos per person NO PARTNER NEEDED

Painting by Adrian Rojas

479 Juarez in Downtown P.V. 2 Blocks East of El Malecon 3 Blocks North of the Cathedral Between Galeana & Mina (The only brick building on the block) (322) 292-0026 CELL www.vallartafirstballroom.com pvfirstballroom@gmail.com Facebook: Vallarta's First Ballroom Private lessons can be scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m 7 days a week

real estate

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Real Estate on the Bay Cat Morgan www.rivieranayaritfun.com Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com Cat Morgan is owner of RivieraNayaritFun.com and also NewEnergyConsciousness.com If you have any questions, comments or Riviera Nayarit news please contact her at Cat@CatMorgan.me

e Vende! Welcome to my new column, “Real Estate on the Bay.” Travelling around Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit I can’t help but notice that almost everything is for sale. The new residential housing boom is here and it’s nothing short of impressive with the quantity of condominiums that are being built in Otlas Atlas / Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and the north end of the Bay. I have been visiting the building locations and real estate offices, estimating approximately 30 new larger structures and some smaller projects that add up to over 2000 units, with more on the way. This does not include new housing developments. All are presale and selling without a problem. There is obviously the demand for these new projects. My goals for this new column is to meet and interview people from the various aspects of real estate; the owners, builders, architects, real estate groups, brokers and other business involved, as well as the public to find out their perspectives. My intention is to make this column fun, interesting and informative.

105° Sail View

I was invited to the soft opening of 105° Sail View in Oltas Atas by my friend Victor Ramirez, a lead builder for the project who attended with his beautiful wife Xiomara Ramirez, and daughter Emma Ramirez. The Designer / Architect for this project is Arturo Gonzalez. Marketing Director Sergio Torres tells me that their vision for 105° Sail View is a very natural state of décor with comfort and style; indirect lighting with solid wood. Why 105°? It is the actual lati-

tude of the building. In fact, each condo is titled with their own latitude and longitude, which I thought was fun and quite unique! The Timothy Real Estate Group represents these residencies in the center of Puerto Vallarta’s Old Town with views looking straight down to the Los Muertos Pier. There are three owners of this project, all entrepreneurs in their own right. Spirits were high as one of the owners Juan Jorge Alverez Perez was celebrating his birthday. I was impressed during his speech as he named each and every one of his workers; congratulating and thanking them on specifics of their success on the project; also adding personal comments. It was very clear admirations were mutual. After the speech, his employees came up to say happy birthday with hugs abounding. As I stood back and observed the scene I could feel the heart centered kindness expanding. When I made my way

to speak with Jorge, again, I was inspired and in awe of his authentic kindness. One of the things Jorge said to me was of his concern for his employees, as he as 1000 employees under his business Alpez Grupo. “I always want to be sure I can take care of my employees and pay them a good salary.” At the end of our conversation he reached out and gave me big hug which truly energetically opened my heart! Their grand opening is planned for March, and I look forward to attending the event. As I left the party, I could not help but think, what you give out is what you will get back 10 fold. Genuine kindness in leadership goes a long way. Questions / comments please email me at Cat@CatMorgan.me

Why 105°? It is the actual latitude of the building. In fact, each condo is titled with their own latitude and longitude.

Your weekly schedule of

Artisan Markets & Events

inVallarta and Riviera Nayarit

There are regular markets called ‘tianguis’ that occur in many neighbourhoods throughout the week. You can usually buy fruits and veggies, clothing, household items. The markets and events here represent local producers, artisans and entrepreneurs. Unless noted (*) most run from the first week of November through April. FRIDAY *Marsol Friday Market by the Pier - 9:30 am -1:30 pm Open every Friday all year located on Francisca Rodriguez street Sayulita Mercado del Pueblo - 9am -2 pm SATURDAY Olas Altas Farmer’s Market - 9:30 am - 2 pm at Lazaro Cardenas Park *Three Hens & a Rooster Market 9 am - 1:00 pm Every Saturday all year, locate at Venustiano Carranza 466 SUNDAY Huanacaxtle Farmer’s Market - 9am -3pm - Located at La Cruz Marina TUESDAY Riviera Market 9am - 2 pm Located in Nuevo Vallarta in the parking lot behind the Casino.

Christ Church by the Sea

Worldwide Anglican Communion- Parish of the Diocese of Western Mexico

Services Sunday 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 4 to 12yrs

Lent Weds 5p.m.soup-salad/Story of God-MorganFreeman

English-Traditional Holy Communion All faiths welcome-Casual Dress

Join us at the Becas Ball March 9th – Club Regina Christ Church by the Sea has always welcomed people from all walks of life and denominations. We are open to all race creeds political and sexual orientation. Christ Church by the Sea has been serving Puerto Vallarta for 17 years supporting schools, teaching English language, serving the hospitals with layettes for the new born, serving in prison ministry and the handicapped schools Across from airport, northbound service road next to Sixt and Thrifty Car Rental Blvd. Fco. Medina 7936, Puerto Vallarta

WEDNESDAY Bucerias Forever Spring Market - 9am - 1pm -Lazaro Cardenas / Javier Mina - Opposite La Vida condos *Vallarta ArtWalk - 6 pm - 10 pm See their map for locations. Bohemio Artisans Co op - 625 Lazaro Cardenas, Old Town Wednesday, Friday and Sunday 10 - 2 THURSDAY Bucerias ArtWalk - 7-9pm - along Lazaro Cardenas Marina Vallarta Night Market- 6 pm -10 pm - along the marina

Upcoming Events

f you have an event you’d like to include here, please email editor@vallar tatr ibune.com. Non-profit/community events are listed free of charge. For a calendar of all events visit vallartatribune. com/eventos Tuesdays – Malecon Sculpture Tour from 9-11am Meet the artists, learn about the sculptures that line the Malecon and support the local library. Starts in front of the Millennium Sculpture (in front of MacDonalds) Wednesdays – Vallarta Artwalk from 6-10pm through 13 galleries in Centro. See advertisement for more details. Thursdays – Evening Malecon

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More events can be found at www.vallartatribune.com 10k other coffee drinkers to beat the current world record holders and be a part of PV history. 6pm at the Vallarta Malecon. Details and to register at vallartacoffeefest.com Sunday, February 18 Taste of Lo De Marcos 3-8pm Live music, great food and all in support of local charities. Bring your own chairs or rent them for 100 pesos each. Sunday, February 18 What a Drag - The hottest ticket in town to benefit the Banderas Bay Shelter. Now in it’s 4th year, it will be bigger and better than ever. It has been moved to Teatro Vallarta to accommodate everyone who

wants to attend. Tickets from from $300- $1000 pesos. https://www. facebook.com/whatadragvallarta/ Monday, February 19 Democrats Abroad Voter Forum – From 1-3pm at the Jazz Foundation. Presentation as well as a Q&A session. No cover. Friday, February 23 - 25 Annual San Pancho Music Festival is held at the Plaza del Sol featuring regional, national and international artists on two alternating stages that provide continuous entertainment. 5pm each day. Saturday, February 24 Annual Chili Cook Off -Vote for your favourite chili, live music, raffle prizes and more in support of local

charities. $250 peso admission includes order of riblets, drink and all you can eat chili. 1-5pm at El Rio BBQ & Bar in Paso Ancho. Friday, March 2-4 7th Annual Riverfest – Three days for live music, food, silent auction items and great times with good friends in support of Pasitos de Luz. At El Rio BBQ & Bar – watch for more details. Thursday, March 15 – 18 Chacala Music Festival is this season and they are looking for musicians, vendors, sponsors and volunteers. If you interested contact them at https://www.chacalamusicfestival. com/

Where can I find the Vallarta Tribune?

RIVIER

NAYA MY Ca RIT in La kes Cruz

Vallar

Sculpture Tour. Starts at 6pm at Galeria Pacific on Aldama in Centro and ends at Demetro Galeria across from Lazaro Cardenas Park. Friday – Saturday February 15,16 Puerto Vallarta Jazz Festival on the Malecon from 7pm Friday, February 16 Shabbat Services presented by the Puerto Vallarta Jewish Community at 6:30 PM as Casa Carmen, on Calle Jesus Langarica. Volunteers are needed. A special Israeli / Mediterranean dinner will be served following the service. Please RSVP by Tuesday, February 13, to: helth1@sbcglobal.net Saturday, February 17 Coffee Fest World Record - Join

Questions? Father Jack Wehrs e mail: jackandshirley1@att.net Text 1 619 300 7377 Tel 044 322 229 1129

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In Puerto Vallarta the Vallarta Tribune is available for pick up at the tourist offices in the main plaza as well as in Park Lazaro Cardenas. You can shop and pick up a copy of the Tribune at the Friday Marsol Market, the Olas Altas Farmer’s

Market and the ‘Three Hens and a Rooster Market, 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. We distribute 10,000 copies in high season every Thursday. Marina Vallarta: Benittos, The Coffee Cup, Re/Max, San Javier Hospital, Marriot Resort

Nuevo Vallarta: Eddies, Barracuda’s, Nopalitos, US Consulate, Chasers Sports Bar. Bucerias: SolMexico, Yo-Yo Mo’s, Luna Lounge, Esquina 22 La Cruz: Oso’s Oyster Bar, Octopus Garden, Britannia Pub

local

“THE WORLD'S GUITAR PLAYER”*

Cliff Stevens' StunningTribute To Eric Clapton Merv Buchanan, merv@uvs.com uch has been written about Eric Clapton's struggles with substance abuse, as well as his amazing guitar virtuosity. But through it all, he has remained admired by musicians the world over and revered by his legion of fans. He is truly the world's guitar player. Although his work exhibits a striking similarity to that of B.B. King, he cites Buddy Holly as his original inspiration. “The first time I saw Buddy Holly play, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I thought his Stratocaster guitar was from outer space. And I knew right then that playing guitar in a rock'n'roll band was what I wanted to do”. Eric Clapton began to develop his signature style in the 60s, first in The Yardbirds, then The Bluesbreakers, and finally with Cream, the rock world's first “power trio”. In two years, Cream sold millions of

albums and became a top concert attraction, filling large stadiums throughout the world. Then, he saw The Band, a group of mostly Canadians who had just released their critically acclaimed album Music From Big Pink. He was blown away, disbanded Cream and began to work on “music of substance, rather than just high volume”. Many bands followed, but he became most famous as a solo artist with hits, like I shot The Sheriff, Wonderful Tonight, Lay Down Sally and the heart-wrenching Tears In Heaven, from his Unplugged album, which sold 10 million copies. He has sold over 100 million records, won 18 Grammys and is the only artist inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame 3 times; as a songwriter, solo artist and band member. Montreal based singer, songwriter and guitarist Cliff Stevens has been a force on the international blues scene for 35 years. He has performed more than 150 concerts in European coun-

tries as far away as Morocco and coast to coast in Canada and the USA, including the Montreal Jazz Festival which draws more than 14,000 fans annually. Early in his career, admiration for the star prompted Cliff to include many Clapton songs in his shows. But because his appearance, voice and playing style so closely resembled Clapton's, fans began demanding “more Clapton stuff”. “I guess they saw something I didn't and I wasn't sure what to do”. Finally, in 1997, encouraged by family and friends and spurred on by booking agents, he launched Slow Hand, his own Eric Clapton tribute which quickly became the most in-demand show of the genre. At the same time, his CDs and DVD of original blues music have continued to get rave reviews the world over. Cliff Stevens plays The Luna Lounge on February 22nd and El Rio BBQ on the 24th. *Copyright 2018 by the author. All rights reserved.

Galeria Gallery hours are 11 am to 7 pm Monday - Saturday. Demetro Galeria, located next to Page in the Sun, offers sculpting classes for all levels. Lázaro Cárdenas 169 Puerto Vallarta, México 52 1 322 222 3411 ext 601 jimdemetro1@gmail.com www.demetro.net

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

local

International Jazz Festival Puerto Vallarta this weekend!

he Salty Paw Jazz Orchestra, Puerto Vallarta’s first and only youth-based jazz orchestra, will performing on Friday, February 16, 7 pm on the Malecon. As a part of the International Jazz Festival Puerto Vallarta - hosted by sister city, Highland Park, Illinois - the Salty Paws will perform classics like “In the Mood,” “Birdland” and an original Latin jazz arrangement as well. Then groups from other cities will follow. The Salty Paw Jazz Orchestra was inspired by this Jazz festival, which consist of young high school age musicians playing in Big Band

style groups, and is held every two years. Maestro Victor Kris along with some students from a local music school decided that Vallarta was ready for a high school style jazz ensemble just like the ones they saw in the festival and after two short years the Salty Paw Jazz Orchestra has been invited to participate, representing Puerto Vallarta. The Salty Paw Jazz Orchestra is proud to participate in The International Jazz Festival Puerto Vallarta and invite you to see young musicians come together to share their music.

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

CHRIST CHURCH BY THE SEA Iglesia Cristo del Mar Anglican / Episcopalian Tradition

WORSHIP WITH US IN OUR NEW LOCATION Plaza Genovesa ~ Center Courtyard Palapa Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascensio 2015

English Services & Communion 10 A.M.

  christchurchbythesea.org ~ mypvchurch@gmail.com

A registered Mexican charity providing a nurturing family environment for 45 at-risk children and youth of all ages supported entirely through private donations and self-sustaining initiatives. Attend an event and find out how YOU can make a difference!

HUMANITARIAN TOUR & BRUNCH Every Tuesday at 10am Tour the home and enjoy a delicious brunch prepared by the Corazón Family. RSVP jean.jewell@hotmail.com

For more information please call Jean Jewell at 224 3558 Fundación Corazón de Niña A.C. Calle San Luis Potosi #355, Colonia Primero de Mayo, Puerto Vallarta FB Corazón de Niña www.fundacioncorazon.mx admin@corazondenina.mx For more information please call 322 888 1999

events

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Git Yer Chili Eatin’ Boots On Popular ‘What A Drag’

Moves to Bigger Venue

he 6th Annual Charity Chili Cook-Off is set for Saturday, February 24th from 1-5 pm at El Rio BBQ Bar in Paso Ancho. This year the chairman for the event is Jim Sullivan. It’s an “All you can eat” chili feast, featuring recipes from 16 popular area bars and restaurants and sponsors - all competing for trophies and bragging rights. There will be two categories of chili judging - one by popular vote from attendees and one by professional judges. There is still have space available for a couple of more entries. Anyone interested in participating by making their own 5 gallons of chili, please contact Donna Wong at parosgreece@yahoo.com. Cost of the entry is $250 pesos per person. In addition to all that chili, an order of El Rio’s famous smoked riblets and an agua fresca are also included. Regular El Rio menu items will also be available for purchase. Entertainment will be provided by several cookin’ musical groups. Emcees Pearl Burrus and Vera Carp are two of the 22 zany characters from Greater Tuna, a satirical comedy about small towns, small minds and big hearts, now playing at Incanto in Puerto Vallarta. All 22 characters are portrayed by two men, Tracy Parks and Ron Spencer. There are 42 lightning fast costume changes during the show which will keep you laughing from start to finish. For tickets please visit www.IncantoVallarta.com. Two bottles of PATRON Tequila will be raffled off. Bring a non-perishable food item for one free raffle ticket. 1 ticket per donated item. Food will be distributed to those in need. All proceeds from the cook-off go to local charities and the community: Estancia Sabrina Projecto Busca un Amigo A.C. – Day care center for children with disabilities. DIF New Life Home for Boys – Young boys who have had a troubled past. Scholarships to play Torpedos American Football. This year, one boy was awarded a full scholarship to Monterrey Institute of Technology to play football. DIF is a Mexican public institution of social assistance that focuses on strengthening and developing the welfare of the Mexican families. Torpedos American Foot-

H The 6th Annual Charity Chili Cook-Off is set for Saturday, February 24th from 1-5 pm at El Rio BBQ Bar in Paso Ancho. ball A.C. – Pop Warner youth football for boys and girls ages 7 to 17. Donations are made for equipment. Jay Sadler Community Relations Projects A.C.– In 2017, 30 projects completed. In 2016, 18 projects, and over the past 5 years, 100 projects completed. www.jaysadlerproject.com Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance from any of the event’s sponsors: Nacho Daddy, Captain Don’s, Casa Anita, DZ Route 66, Escondida Sports Bar, Kelly’s Pour Favor, Luke’s Bar, Murphy’s Irish Pub, Lighthouse Specialty Foods, El Torito Sports Bar, 104.3 Radio Station, Torpedos American Football and Navy League/R.I.S.E. Confirmed Professional Judges: Gary Beck, Paul Mayer, Matt McCue, Jim Lee. For more information contact Dennis Rike of the Jay Sadler Project (www.jaysadlerproject. com) dennis2rike(at)hotmail.com El Rio BBQ is located in Paso

Ancho, in a beautiful setting alongside the Cuale River. Doors open at 1 pm. Directions: from the south or El Centro/Old Town, take the Libramiento through the small tunnel, then turn right at the signal just past the bridge. From the north, turn left at the signal after the large tunnel and just before the bridge. Free parking will be available. The 04 blue bus from Old Town, which you can catch on Lazaro Cardenas, drops you off at El Rio’s front entrance. The Jay Sadler Project Community Relations (COMREL) program provides necessary resources to improve various charities and non-profit institutions in the Banderas Bay area. The Jay Sadler Project is an approved IJAH Charity and works with the Foundation Punta de Mita. The Foundation can issue a tax deductible 501 C receipt for donations from the US and similar receipts for donations received from Canada and Mexico.

old on to your wigs because on February 18 because you’re in for the years most hilarious charity fundraiser of the year! The 4th Annual What A Drag show fundraises for the Banderas Bay Women´s Shelter this February 18 at Teatro Vallarta Theater. Straight men are standing up against domestic violence by competing in a drag show for ‘Ms. What A Drag’. The master of ceremonies is Hedda Lettuce who performs at Act II Theater with guest appearances from Kim Kuzma who performs at the Palm and Freddie Alva of Chichuhua. Routinely sold out, this year Mayor Davalos arranged for the shelter to use the Teator Vallarta to ensure everyone gets a chance to attend. The shelter has been operational for three years and has sheltered over 50 families that have had to flee life threatening situations from an abusive spouse/father. They arrive at the shelter with little more than the clothes on their backs. Often they arrive scared, hungry and dirty. It is not

uncommon for the children to be suffer from malnutrition and parasites. The families are given a safe haven, food, clean clothes and allowed to rest in a peaceful environment before meeting with a social worker. Often because of safety reasons, the children must be home schooled. The mothers learn to cook, sew, how to use computers, and other marketable skills such as manicures. After several months of stabilizing their lives and counseling them on maneuvering thru life with their families, they leave the shelter to start a safe new life. If you would like to be a sponsor at the $3,000 peso, $6,000 peso or $9,000 peso level contact Ray Vallarta at Starboard Yachts. For tickets to this event on Sunday, February 18 contact Freda at 221-5180 or message their facebook page What A Drag Puerto Vallarta. Tickets are $1000 p donation for vip reception and preferred seating for the 8:00 pm show, or $600 p donation for reserved general admission, or $300 p donation for gallery.

entertainment

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;CELINEâ&#x20AC;?*

Joni Lambert's Celine Dion Tribute Show

Merv Buchanan, merv@uvs.com

rom humble roots in rural Quebec, with single minded dedication, recording artist Celine Dion and her late husband and manager Rene Angelil carved out a place for her at the top of the entertainment world, neither ever imagined possible. In the 1970s, with a string of highly successful French-language albums to her credit, Celine Dion's name was a household word in Quebec. By the late 80s, thanks to winning The Yamaha World Pop Song Festival and The Eurovision Song Contest, her popularity began to spread, especially in France, where she was viewed almost as a native artist. In the late 90s, her English-language albums Falling Into You and Let's Talk About Love were breakthroughs in English-speaking countries,

especially the United States, while her French-language album D'eux became the top selling French-language album ever. Her number one singles included The Power Of Love, Because You Loved Me. movie themes Beauty And The Beast and My Heart Will Go On, from Titanic. Recognized as an international star with wide appeal, she was awarded a 5-year, $385,000,000 contract at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Together with her 5 Grammys and sales of more than 200 million records, this makes her the most successful Canadian entertainer in history. Portraying an entertainer of Celine Dion's stature is no easy task. But Hartford, CT, based Joni Lambert is up to the task. Years of formal voice training and off-Broadway performances give her the vocal power and range to duplicate Celine Dion's signature singing style. Her carefully crafted

costumes, hairstyle and stage banter faithfully copy Dion's. And her stage moves, song choices and boundless energy make audiences feel they are front and centre at a Celine Dion concert, in a Las Vegas show room. The show which has played venues from New York's Rainbow Room to Hollywood's Metropolitan Room features all of Dion's major hits, including The Power Of Love, My Heart Will Go On, Because You Loved Me and dozens more. For Celine Dion fans, pure heaven. Joni Lambert's Celine Dion tribute comes to The Luna Lounge, in Bucerias, on February 18th, to The Incanto Theatre, in Puerto Vallarta, on February 19th and to La Pina Colada, in Guayabitos, on February 20th. More information is available on The Luna Lounge and Incanto web sites and here in The Tribune. *Copyright 2018 by the author. All rights reserved.

entertainment

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Record Breaking Season of Dinner Shows Continues at Luna Lounge Bucerias By Debbie White eople just can’t get enough of Luna Lounge’s fabulous dinner shows. Every show has been selling out lately and the entertainment this season has been phenomenal! More fabulous dinner shows continue throughout the months of February and March. Enjoy a scrumptious meal and a world-class musical tribute performance featuring our favorite songs. Each Tuesday and Wednesday night, ‘The Crazy Bitches’ are back with new music, glamorous costumes and outrageous humor. After a fantastic meal from the grill, Miss Diva Divine and her gals will entertain you with side-splitting, musical parodies and adult comedy starring celebrities like, Celine Dion, Cher, Madonna, Tina Turner, Beyoncé, and more! Last Thursday, Luna Lounge presented ‘The Music of Paul McCartney and The Beatles,’ starring Jeremy Wright. We

loved hearing, “Hey, Jude,” “Lady Madonna,” “Yesterday,” and many more! Jeremy brilliantly portrayed a young Paul McCartney with the look, the accent, the beautiful vocals and some outstanding guitar accompaniment! Last Friday and Saturday, Dwight Blake returned with his ‘Memories of Motown’ show. He performed hits by Motown artists like Marvin Gaye, Barry White and Stevie Wonder, with many people audience members on their feet

dancing throughout the show. And last Sunday and Monday, we loved seeing, ‘The Legend of Johnny Cash,’ performed by Oklahoma native, Philip Bauer. With favorites like, “Ring of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Walk the Line,” this show was a real crowd pleaser! Coming up on Thursday and Friday, Feb 15 & 16, Luna Lounge welcomes back Chris and Geoff Dahl as ‘The Blues Brothers.’ You’ll love their entertaining tribute to

those delinquents, Jake and Elwood from Chicago. This tribute show continues to be a Luna Lounge favorite, unfortunatly boths shows are now sold out. Coming up on Sunday, Feb 18, is Joni Lambert’s ‘Celine Dion Tribute Show.’ Joni will perform as Celine, singing her greatest hits. She’ll move you with incredible ballads like, “My Heart Will Go On” and “The Power of Love.” Experience the music and persona of music legend, Celine Dion! On Thursday and Friday, Feb 22 & 23, world famous musician, Cliff Edwards, performs his ‘Eric Clapton Tribute Show.’ Hear favorites like, “Tears in Heaven,” “Lay Down Sally” and “Cocaine.” Singer, composer, guitarist and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer, Eric Clapton will be portrayed in an extraordinary tribute performance! There are a few tickets left for the 23rd. On Saturday, Feb 24, Luna Lounge is proud to present, ‘Bohemia Viva: The Sound Garden.’ This is a truly original and unique

performance that you won’t want to miss. Argentinian duo, Bohemia Viva, will present a wonderful selection of inspiring Latin music and favorite pop tunes performed in Spanish. The harmonies that Andrea and Luis create are breathtaking and Luis’ guitar accompaniment is exquisite. Andrea and Luis will speak to the audience in English and translations will be given for the songs. This is a fantastic opportunity to experience ‘live music’ at its best! And finishing out the month will be the ‘ZZ Top Tribute’ on Sunday, Feb 25, featuring classics like, “Legs,” “Gimmie All Your Lovin’” and “Sharp Dressed Man.” And in March, don’t miss Miss Conception Mar. 3, Patsy Cline Mar. 4, Bon Jovi Mar. 8, Amy Armstrong Mar 10, Bryan Adams Mar. 11, Rod Stewart Mar. 15, St. Patrick’s Day Show Mar. 17,Kenny Rogers Mar. 22 and Dwight Blake and The Groove Band Mar 24. Please check out www.lunaloungebucerias.com for more information about shows and tickets. And don’t forget to bring your friends and guests along with you to the North Shore’s best venue!

riviera nayarit

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

By Kiri Westby

kiri.westby@gmail.com

Kiri Westby is an international activist and a writer, whose unique blogs have been featured on HuffPost and Good Morning America, and translated into multiple languages. Kiri is a mother of two and a practicing Buddhist, who was born in Boulder, Colorado, but has lived all over the globe. She recently relocated with her family to Bucerias. Nayarit.

Gettin’ Fishy Wit’ It. Saludos Bucerias! I am fortunate to have first dipped my five-year-old toes into the Bay of Banderas in 1982 and to have returned to these waters almost annually since. My folks retired here in 2006, and my family and I took the big plunge in 2016, permanently moving down from Colorado with our two-legged and four-legged kids in tow. I’ve spent the past year “diving” into our new multinational community, and one thing’s for sure; living in Bucerias can be a very different experience from vacationing in Bucerias. One of the ways we full-timers benefit is that we have time to explore the lesser walked paths; to talk with folks who’ve been here for generations and witnessed monumental changes; and to discover ways of coexisting that make our lives richer, while also enriching others. As a writer, I see interesting stories on every corner of our textured town and often wonder if some of Bucerias’ most precious charms aren’t overshadowed by the hustle and bustle of high season tourism. So I’ve started “The Bucerias Beat,” a new column to draw attention to all the magic and glue that makes our town glow and to highlight the many beautiful ways in which we Bucerians lift each other up. Join me as I tread my “neighborhood beat,” uncovering stories

of the people and the places that add to Bucerias’ unique rhythm. To begin my exploration, I chatted up my neighbor Francisco Amaral Cruz about seafood in our Bay. It seems everyone is worried about overfishing these days, with The World Wildlife Federation recently announcing that current commercial fishing rates could drain our oceans of fish entirely as early as 2048! So what’s a seafood lover to do? Francisco and his brother Freddy have been selling seafood at the Bucerias Sunday market for ten years (and their father sold fish here for twenty years before that!), so they’ve seen a lot of changes. To begin with, Francisco tells me,

Shrimp is the most valuable fish that Mexico produces and the industry creates more than 10,000 fishing jobs annually (as well as much more indirectly). “there are less and less fish and shrimp available in the Bay every year.” The problem, of course, is demand. 2017 brought record-breaking tourism to the Puerto Vallarta region, with many towns hardly noticing a low season anymore. Fishermen are no longer respecting “los meses de veda” or the reproductive months, which are May through August, and it is destroying the entire yield for everyone. As consumers, we can help. It’s time to shift from expecting all types of seafood to be available to us at all

Freddy Amaral Cruz stands proudly by his multigenerational fish stand at the Sunday Market, where his family has sold fish for more than 30 years (you can also get shredded fish for ceviche and fish heads for seafood stew!).

Whole trout for sale. One of the most popular fish to arrive fresh from our Bay.

The best time of year for eating local fish

The best time of year for eating local fish SPECIES Dorado Yellow fin tuna Striped marlin Sailfish Wahoo Rooster Fish Red Snapper Grouper

ENJOY! September - March June – November April – December August – January Sept - Oct, Dec-Jan July – November March – May May – August

LET THEM REST! April - August December - May January – March February - July May- June, November January – April January October - March

times of the year, to living more in conjunction with our Bay’s delicate ecosystem, allowing for reproduction and healthy harvesting. Some of that work began in earnest last year with new coastal protections in place for coral, fish, and birds around the Marietta islands. But effective change happens when knowledge combines with action, and us visitors can contribute significantly to responsible fishing practices through our consumer awareness and purchasing power. Francisco reminded me that shrimp are only available in the Bay from September to April, and need the summer months to reproduce. So make a mental note not to order shrimp during the summer months, to stay vigilant on reports of overfishing specific species in our area, and to demand an enforceable end to “bottom trawling” shrimp boats, which destroy seafloor habitats and endanger the dolphins and turtles who have called this Bay home for millennia. It’s time for everyone to get

their hands a little fishy, as each of our individual choices about seafood can create a collective tide of sustainability, ensuring a future that protects this vital food and job source for everyone. Rather than explaining to our grandkids how great we once had it, let’s just agree to hit pause on our consumption from time to time, and replenish that which feeds us. And speaking of consumption, the big event coming up this week in Bucerias is the Rhythm & Ribs Annual Fundraiser, benefiting Manos De Amor, which provides a safe and loving home for children whose parents and extended families are unable to care for them. It’s going down on Wednesday, February 21st, from 6 pm, and entry is just 20 Pesos! There will be tons of local eats and rockin’ tunes to make you feel good while giving back. If you can’t join us, check back in two weeks to enjoy some pics and stories from the frontlines of the fun! Catch you around the beat,

riviera nayarit

Busing Banderas Bay Bruce Howells

busbanderasbay@gmail.com

Bruce is a retired Canadian, who along with his wife Velma, took a “mulligan” on life and escaped the cold of Canada and settled in the Vallarta area. Fulfilling a retirement dream of not driving anymore, Bruce will use public transportation to tour the bay and tell his tales here. Tips and itineraries welcome. Email: busbanderasbay@gmail.com

Destination: Bucerias to Mismaloya The Experience:

e set out from Bucerias to visit Mismaloya, south of Vallarta, with our goal to visit a Tequila distillery. We required three busses and two hours to reach our destination. Bus One: From Bucerias, board an “ATM” or a “Compestela” bus to PV. Disembark anywhere past the Walmart in PV. Bus Two: Board any bus that says “CENTRO”. Many streets in PV are cobblestone and it seems that some drivers are in training for NASCAR. Shocks on the bus apparently are optional, as are springs and padding on the seats. Enjoy the view passing the Malecon, and using your handy map from the Vallarta Tribune, pick a spot to disembark and find your way to Bus three. Bus Three: Corner Basilio Banderas / Constitution Leaving Vallarta you embark on a winding narrow road into the Sierra Madre Mountains, with views of magnificent, luxurious hotels and properties overlooking the ocean and hanging from cliffs. We disembarked in front of the Barcelo Hotel, the signs for Tours

and Guides and Mister Tequila beckoning us. Jungle village to the left, beach to the right, wallets to the ready! We headed into the village, awed by the view of the jungle with the stream beside the road lending an air of tranquility to this magical moment; I did though have to fight off a crocodile on the way. We chanced upon the Mama Lucia distillery, where a guide explained how the agave plant is harvested and turned into tequila, as well as the distinction between a distillery and a factory. The best part was sampling the various tequilas, with numerous toasts including one “we are men,

we are not children”, followed by an “EEE YII YIII”. This was before lunch on an almost empty stomach. It worked as we all bought several bottles and never made it to the other distilleries in town (that trip). On to the Beach! We returned to the highway, crossed and followed the road to the beach and restaurants. We stayed for several hours, making friends with local dogs, and beach vendors, eating, drinking and enjoying life. No effort to snorkel, rent a boat or swim. Just sat and enjoyed the view. Time to head home! This experience occurred on an earlier excursion, since then we hardly ever, except sometimes, make mistakes. We caught our return bus two in Vallarta, but were instructed wrong on where to get off and we had a thirty minute tour through Pitillal before my wife asked the driver if the bus went to Walmart; Good thing she did, my friend and I weren’t about to ask for directions, after all “We are men, we are not children”. There was no “EEE YII YIII”. The driver said no! Stopping his bus, he flagged down a bus traveling the opposite direction and motioned us to get on. Thank goodness everyone understands “Walmart” or, as you see on some buses “WaltMar” We arrived at the Walmart, caught an “ATM” Punta de Mita bus and were home in no time at all with a lifetime of memories, Tequila and Raicilla. All accomplished using local transportation and no driving on my part. For detailed instructions on bus connections and photos, view the online article at www.vallartatribune.com/category/columns/ busing-banderas-bay/

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

BANDERAS BAY SHOPPING AND SERVICES Three Hens & A Rooster Market on Saturdays

LOCAL FOOD. LOCAL PLACES. LOCAL PEOPLE Enjoy a Culinary & Cultural Journey though Old Town, Pitillal & Downtown Neighborhoods of Puerto Vallarta! MX: 322-222-6117 US: 1888-360-9847

rated on

NEX T TOU R DEPARTS SOO N!

vallartafoodtours.com

Alegre Tours Tonala “Special Shop Till you Drop” Tour February 14-17-2018 Visiting Furniture Expo in Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque

Merida, Chichén Itza, Uxmal, Becal Dec. 02-09-2018 Cuba, Havana, Varadero Beach May 05-12-2018

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

Marsol Friday Market by the Pier

avid and Elizabeth Ruesga have been vendors at the Marsol Friday Market since its inception. Their jewelry pieces are brightly displayed and cover every price range. Both speak English and can answer questions about the purity of the silver and the quality of their semi-precious stones used in their lovely pendants, rings, bracelets and more. Are you new to Vallarta? Looking for furniture, perhaps? Or some trendy and very Mexican curios

to hang on your walls? The Marsol Market can help; take your time and ask any of our vendors to send you in the right direction to find answers. Talk to Sherry about the upcoming Bazaar taking place Tuesday, February 27th. A great opportunity for you to sell the contents of your condo or fill it up! She will have all the details. Incidentally, in the photo of

Pandamonia Boutique Wine Bags ~ Fruit Breads Fudge ~ Horseradish Pillows ~ Clothing and more

Three Hens & A Rooster Market V. Carranza 466 Saturdays 9 to 1 Contact Pat Thunherst Wagner at ptwagner@comcast.net

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

www.vallartatribune.com FABFABRICFELLOWS

MURPHY’S irish pub Located on the Historic Malecon across from the lighthouse statue (El Faro) beautiful sunset views every night!

Aprons - Pillows Masks - Cooling Ties

Delicious traditional pub menu. Live Rock Music - Wed - Sat @10:30pm Watch all sports w 2 satellites. Pool Table.

Three Hens & A Rooster Market V. Carranza 466 Saturdays 9 to 1 Contact Bill Kelly at

484 Morelos - 2nd floor - Centro Vallarta Open daily 11 am

unonumerobomb@gmail.com www.thewitcherysalon.com

Murphys Puerto Vallarta

Three Hens & A Rooster Market

Sherry, everything she is wearing was purchased at the Marsol Market! We have artisan bread, fabulous pastries, organic coffee from Chiapas, wonderful leather products, hand-painted clothes, and our resident herbalist, Ricardo, can help you eliminate crepey skin. All of Ricardo’s products are plantbased and have been made by his family for four generations and by other Mexican healers for centuries. The Marsol Friday Market by the Pier is open from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Tel. (322) 222 2675, (322) 222 5402, w Celular: 322 175 0412

ur painters have created “The Art Guild PV” with workspaces, a gallery, art classes coming up and their first art SHOW on February 22nd from 5 to 8 pm. All of our resident painters will be represented and Quetzal Coatl is coming bearing paintings, Froylan Hernandez with his ceramics, Jovany with Sergio Bustamante originals and Bill Kelly’s, Pat Wagner’s and Marcia Blondin’s Boutiques will be open as well. Join us for “A Courtyard Evening of Local Color”. Three Hens Market is slightly off the beaten path meaning you will never be rushed, or jammed into a line waiting to find out the vendor has sold out, or be jostled to the point of discomfort. Rather, we invite you to civilized browsing and shopping. We encourage you to take your time, ask questions and leave at your leisure with all your purchases wrapped up and your blood pressure

where it should be! Our food is as varied as it is delicious. Pastries abound, meals are ready to go home with you and don’t forget some of Gloria Sue’s carrot salad, cool and crunchy. And, brand new! Venezuelan

Arepas! Three Hens & A Rooster Market is open every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm at Venustiano Carranza 466 in Old Town Vallarta.

MARSOL FRIDAY MARKET BY THE PIER CADA VIERNES 9:30 am - 1:30 pm ART ARTE JEWELRY JOYERÍA CRAFTS ARTESANÍA CLOTHING ROPA PASTRY PASTELES HOME DECOR MUEBLES HERBALIST HERBALISTA FOOD COMIDA MUSIC MÚSICA HOTEL MARSOL 103 FRANCISCA RODRIGUEZ OLAS ALTAS

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

mexicasupplement@gmail.com

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

Sherry Vallarta HOME DE’COR

Personal Shopper

Buy & Sell ~ Anything & Everything

sherryvallarta@yahoo.com 044 322 137 7063

charities

“Almost free today”

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Changing Lips and Saving Lives By John Warren

f you’ve been here for more than a couple of days you’ve heard a cheeky Mexican vendor say that he’s got something that is “Almost free today.” Well, the International Friendship Club (IFC) can offer you the same deal on its IFC Home Tours because the value is “terrific” and I can assure you this is not just “Fake News!” Check the tours out on www. toursforvallarta.com You’ll see that we offer you two amenable and interesting docents to answer questions and take care of you, an air-conditioned coach to whisk you from home to home, a professional driver and the chance to see three or four magnificent homes loaned to us by their very generous owners who support the work that IFC does

in the community. And the cost for all this? A mere $600 pesos. Almost free! The profits from the tours are used to support the IFC’s program of providing cleft palate surgery to kids and financial support to about twenty charities. Tours leave the Sea Monkey Restaurant (Aquiles Serdan on the beach) at 10:30 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays so if you get there a little after 9:00 you’ll be in time to buy breakfast or coffee and can get your day off to a great start. Or you can buy tickets online at the above website. Some surfaces make for difficult walking, with steps, ramps, and cobblestones so good mobility is important. Please note that tickets are not available at the IFC clubhouse.

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta By Janice Gonzalez

e sure and come by to visit us. You can find us at the Olas Altas Farmers Market each Saturday from 9:00 am until closing at 2:00 pm. The market is located in Lázaro Cárdenas Park. This is in addition to our presence at the Marina Art & Market each Thursday from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm. Be sure to come by and say hello. You can pick up one of our special “Kiss my Mutt” t-shirts, a gorgeous 2018 calendar or even a special bag made locally by our friend Lisa Love. All these items and a few other goodies can be yours for a small donation which helps support our rescue efforts. Your donations are always welcome and needed! We have scheduled tours to our sanctuary, by reservation only, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you have your own transportation, please let us know. To reserve a spot on a tour, contact us at

spcapv@gmail.com. We appreciate any donations you can bring for our rescues and if going to the sanctuary, please feel free to bring treats for the staff as they truly appreciate it. Those items we ALWAYS need include: collars and leashes; toys and more toys! both stuffed and hard plastic (no soft plastic as they can chew off pieces and swallow); large towels; blankets; sweaters and coats; post-surgical cones (both the cone shaped and donut inflatable ones). Our rescues are now fed a total raw diet so please refrain from bringing any dog food or treats, but we do have healthy homemade treats available (at cost) for the dogs when you visit the sanctuary. To see our animals available for adoption, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spcapv. There are photos and also individual albums of our rescues as well as a bit of their history. Please be

hildren born with cleft palate have a 15-fold increase in mortality compared with the regional East of England infant mortality rate and at least a 10-fold increase when compared with other clefts. Paediatricians should be involved in the care of these complicated patients.” (Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2012 Jul) That statement is true in a society where paediatricians are available and where parents can afford to pay for medical care and surgery. If not, the kids who are born with cleft palates die. Here, thankfully, there’s free surgical help that lets kids live and lead normal lives. In 1985 Celia and Ron Walker, who were residents of Puerto Vallarta, learned that a friend’s baby had been born with a cleft palate, knew she needed surgery and went searching for a surgeon – and found him in Guadalajara. Soon, the word spread and they had more children to help than they could transport. Ron then thought to ask the surgeon to come to PV every three months. He agreed and thirty years later the Cleft Palate Program is still the flagship program of the International Friendship Club (IFC). Four times a year for the last thirty years a team of surgeons, an anesthetist and nurses fly from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta, assess the patients they have treated before and decide what help the new ones need. The next day they move into the CMQ

aware that our adoption fee within Mexico is $2,000 pesos. Contact us at spcapv@gmail.com to obtain an adoption application. 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 the Olas Altas Farmers Market, the Marina Art & Market or 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.

operating theatres and perform the surgeries required. In a tremendous show of compassion because the surgeons and nurses donate their time and CMQ donates its operating theatres, nursing care and anaesthesia. However, the costs of the flights from and to Guadalajara, the meals and accommodation for the surgical team and the medical supplies that are used must all be paid for by IFC’s team. Last Wednesday, at the quarterly get-together of patients, families and medical staff at the IFC clubhouse, I met Nicole Bachmann, a lovely lady from Cruz de Huanacaxtle. Eleven years ago Nicole found out she was pregnant, went for an ultrasound after her fourth month and was told that her baby had a cleft lip. A couple of ladies in Bucerias , Patricia Mendez and Joann Quickstad ,comforted her and told her about IFC’s free cleft palate program. When Delfina, Nicole’s daughter, was five months old she had her first surgery under the direction of Dr. Fuentes. Now, ten years later, she has had five more surgeries and could possibly need others. Nicole told me that when Dr.

Fuentes first closed Delfina’s palate the baby struggled and struggled for three days because she thought she was suffocating but, eventually, settled down. Because Delfina was unable to generate enough suction to breastfeed and because her cleft palate made it difficult to swallow, her mother bought a soft feeding bottle and teats used to feed lambs from a veterinarians’ supply house. Then she could pump and use the lamb’s bottle to get milk into her daughter. The good news is that Delfina now looks like a normal ten-year-old and Nicole knows that Dr. Fuentes is “the best doctor in the world” and “all volunteers at IFC are angels”. Nice! The cleft palate team really is changing lips and saving lives. Emily (not Delfina) at 3 months Emily at 3 years Pam Thompson’s Presentation at IFC Clubhouse at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, 21st Feb on “ Medical Insurance Options in Puerto Vallarta” Topics include Medical Insurance and Preventative Healthcare In A Tourist Environment. Reminder: Tickets for IFC Home Tours are only available online or on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Sea Monkey Restaurant. See: www.ifcvallarta.com for all news about IFC.

ADORABLE DOG IN THE SPOTLIGHT...LEO

e think this boy is just beautiful with the most unique coat! Leo is a Plott Hound mix, about 1.5 years old and weighing almost 64 pounds. He is high energy so he would be perfect for an active family. Leo is so loving with his humans we feel he would be a good family dog. He especially likes playing with big dogs. Not good with cats as he will give chase. Leo has been neutered, dewormed and vaccinated. If you are looking for a lovely family dog, contact us at spcapv@gmail.com for an application to adopt Leo.

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by Jerry Edelstein / Ed. Rich Norris

1 Lassos 2 Activist Medgar 3 Russian Revolution leader 4 Diving seabirds

February 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com

Los Bambinos: Performances Six Nights a week By Christina Larson

istening to Los Bambinos live music is a great way to get to know Puerto Vallarta. The joyous culture of Puerto Vallarta comes through in the Los Bambinos weekly shows, as they bring masterful guitar work and soaring harmonies to the upbeat and feel-good performances they have worked over the last decade to produce. Los Bambinos theme this season during their six shows include Monday & Tuesday nights’ Beatle Mania: Tribute to the Beatles. Wednesdays & Thursdays: Big Girls Don’t Cry featuring Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons while Friday & Saturday nights invite you to get your dancing shoes on for Fiesta Latina! Growing up listening to the Beatles, the brothers bring their four-part harmonies to the stage. This exceptional show includes international selections and marvelous Latin rhythm alongside the classic rock n roll. In their Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons show, Los Bambinos beautifully synchronize their voices capturing an authentic sound. Eldest brother, Carlos Morales

WWW.VALLARTATRIBUNE.COM

conquers the emblematic soprano of the group, and the four Morales’ overall voice ranges bring the essence of the music to life! On Friday and Saturday nights, their concert brings you the heart of Latin American music. “Fiesta Latina is where our second-nature comes to the stage…” (Lázzaro Morales, Lead Guitar) In this performance, the group showcases their musical upbringing performing traditional Mexican music, contemporary favorites like Carlos Santana, and Gypsy Kings flamenco along-side musical selections by artists such as Celia Cruz. Los Bambinos are pleased to offer their concerts at a new restaurant venue: Bambinos Trattoria (www.bambinostrattoria.com). Come hungry for an authentic Italian meal. Stay tuned to Facebook @ losbambinostrattoria and find unbiased reviews on Trip Advisor. Bambinos Trattoria is located at Aguacate #314, at the corner of Carranza street in Old Town Puerto Vallarta, just before Mundo de Azulejos. Find show and ticket Information online or (322) 222-4357, English spoken. See you at Bambinos Trattoria!

AN AMERICAN FARCE

Whose Wives are They Anyway? by Michael Parker

COMEDY DINNER THEATRE FOR CHARITY FEB 27 & 28, MARCH 2, 4, 6 & 7 5 evening performances, 1 matinee on March 4 Restaurante Langosta DIEZ, La Cruz Centro DONATION TICKET PRICES: front row table reserved 800MXN, general table 600MXN, theatre seating 300 MXN Proceeds go to benefit Amigos de La Cruz de Huancaxtle, A.C.

AMIGOS

DE LA CRUZ

To buy tickets and for more information visit:

www.amigosdelacruz.org PRODUCED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.