Vallarta Tribune - Issue 1168 August 22 - 28, 2019

LOCAL VOICES

CULTURE

On the Water

Happy Birthday, Madeline!!

Summer of Love

Page 07

Page 20 August 22 - 28, 2019 Year 22 Free Issue 1168

FR EE

GU ID E

ALL-INCLUSIVE NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE FOR PUERTO VALLARTA AND RIVIERA NAYARIT

Escaping to Yelapa Page 15

MAP OF BANDERAS BAY

PAGE 12-13

VALLARTA SHOPPING PAGES 14-15

ENTERTAINMENT PAGES 19-21

CROSSWORD PAGE 22

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editorial

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Editor’s

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Losses in Yo ur U.S. Brokerage Account?

Note

We Sue Brokerage Firms to Recover Losses Free Consultation*Contingent Fee

Robert H. Rex, Esq. Dickenson Murphy Rex & Sloan Rex Securities Law 12600 Hill Country Blvd., Ste R-275 Austin, Texas 78738

editor@vallartatribune.com

Like the sands through an hourglass…

W

hen you move (or visit) another country, you are often faced with cultural differences that can be challenging. For example, in Mexico, the concept of ‘mañana’ can be difficult (or impossible) to understand, particularly if you come from a country that is rigid in its notions of time.

When someone says to you, “I will see you, mañana.” That can mean many things from the direct translation of “I will see you tomorrow,” to “I will see you sometime in the future, possibly never.” Exceedingly frustrating for foreigners who have hired a plumber to fix an overflowing toilet, for example.

But one of the beauties of the concept of Mexican time is that it is fluid and matters of urgency are relative, particularly where the quality of life comes into play.

Is your overflowing toilet more important than a family gathering for the plumber in question?

Possibly not.

In my years, I find that this interpretation of cultural differences boils down to two things, more communication and less expectation.

Go with the flow.

When I need something done, I try to express that need in a couple of different ways; I look for acknowledgment that my need/ timeline has been heard and accepted. I also remember that there is no accounting for other people, and the best you can do is hold up your end of the deal and hope for the best. And really, this applies anywhere, anytime.

Sometimes I use the concept of mañana to my benefit. Taking an extra day (year?) to finish a project.

Or extending a much-needed vacation and hoping those who rely on me will ‘go with the flow.

It truly is one of the beautiful expressions of Mexican culture, when understood in the context of living in the moment.

Wasn’t Paco great? He did an excellent job of taking on the editing of the newspaper. He did it with limited resources and a prayer.

I know that while I appreciated the

break, I also enjoyed the extra effort he made in translating local news and curating issues around bold Mexican themes like ‘the torta.’ Who knew a sandwich deserved so many words? No one on Keto, obviously.

Paco excelled at communicating his knowledge of Mexico’s art and food, and I hope you all had a chance to read some of his work in these pages. If not, you can find all of it on www.vallartatribune.com For me, I’m continuing my sojourn in the old country. This week I’m in Montreal, and then I head back to Vallarta. I have many things to share with you, but not yet. Perhaps mañana.

A heartfelt thank you to Paco Ojeda for all his well-crafted words.

And a million hugs to Marcia Blondin who steps in at the last minute to carry on in my absence.

You are very much appreciated.

And all of you, readers in print and online, I thank you for the emails and comments and your continued support today and mañana.

Your editor, Madeline

U.S. Toll Free 877-224-3199 From Mexico 011-882-224-3199 Texas 512-329-2870

RHR@dmrslaw.com www.RexSecuritiesLaw.com

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

State of North Carolina, District Court Division, Durham County, Elizabeth Moreno v. Victor Moreno Leyva, 18 CVD 22

To Victor Leyva: Take notice that a pleading seeking the relief against you has been filed in the above entitled district court matter. The nature of the relief being sought is: Divorce. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than 40 days from the date of first publication and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

Shelley Campen Brown, Attorney at Law, 1816 Front Street, Suite 130, Durham, NC 27705

vallartatribune.com

Read the first edition of the Best of Banderas Bay and Riviera Nayarit guide online www.vallartatribune.com

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pages of information designed to make your stay in the area the best! From the best beaches to the best activities and more, you can download and view online at www.vallartatribune.com and watch for copies at your favourite VallartaTribune distribution points.

welcome

Welcome to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

A

t the Vallarta Tribune we want you to have the best experience possible while you explore Puerto Vallarta, the Bay of Banderas and Riviera Nayarit. Here are some helpful tips for traveling.

TIME ZONE: The entire state of Jalisco and the southern part Nayarit are on Central time – if you’re heading further north than Lo de Marcos, Nayarit, remember the time change so you don’t miss your flight.

BUSES: A system of urban buses can bring you from El Tuito in the south to San Pancho in the north and all the spots in between.

Fares vary according to distances travelled, but the base fare is 10 pesos. If you’re going further than San Pancho, head to the main bus terminal to catch a ‘Pacifico’ bus.

TAXIS: There are set fares within defined zones of town. Do not enter a taxi without agreeing on the price with the driver. Make a note of the taxi number in case you leave something behind.

Drivers typically do not carry change.

UBER: New in 2017 to Puerto Vallarta, Uber is still experiencing some growing pains particularly in the state of Nayarit. Uber is cheaper than a taxi usually.

GETTING AROUND: In many places such as Centro Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta there are paths for bikes and pedestrians. Please be respectful of these designations.

MONEY EXCHANGE: The most hassle-free way to exchange money is to use your debit card in the ATM to withdraw pesos.

Exchange houses offer higher rates and banks are remiss to change dollars to pesos if you don’t hold an account with them. Best to use ATM’s that are affiliated with a reputable bank located in well lit secure areas.

TIPPING: In general you should tip 10-20% in restaurants and bars. Taxi or Uber drivers – 10-20 pesos. The person who bags your groceries or helps load your car – 10-20 pesos. Don’t forget to tip

your maid, bell boy, masseuse, the band, the entertainment on your tour. And by all means, tip more if you want, wages are extremely low in Mexico.

DRINKING WATER: While Puerto Vallarta’s water has been awarded a certification of purity for the past two decades, the quality of the water tested at the source varies greatly from what comes out of the tap at the other end. Don’t wreck your holiday – buy bottle water.

EXPORTING PETS: Falling in love with the street dog outside your hotel is easy to do and it’s also easy to bring them home with you. The process is inexpensive and only takes a day or two.

You only need a certificate of health from a local vet and check with your airline for additional requirements.

COMMON SENSE: Just as you wouldn’t walk around your hometown drunk and belligerent, it is not acceptable to do that here.

While Mexico is a tolerant culture, politeness is paramount. Don’t pee in the streets. Don’t flash your money or expensive gadgets. Pay attention to your surroundings.

Know where you are going. Pay your bills (and don’t forget to tip).

And have fun!

DRINKING AND DRIVING: First off – just don’t. The consequences are not worth it. Taxis or Ubers are cheap and plentiful. Fines are very expensive. You can go to jail and your vehicle impounded. There are many checkstops on the weekends, and you will be asked to take a breathalizer test 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 often guilt is presumed until your innocence can be proven. This is a very difficult lesson to learn if you are visiting from the United States or Canada. Immediately contact your consulate for assistance.

Director Noemi Zamora noemi.zamora@cps.media Editor Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@Vallartatribune.com Sales Team editor@vallartatribune.com Designer Cynthia Estela Andrade Gutiérrez cysandra@gmail.com

CALLING IN MEXICO LOCAL CALLS WITHIN MEXICO All calls within Mexico can now be dialed using the 10-digit telephone number (usually a two- or three-digit area code plus an eight- or seven-digit number) from a landline or cell phone, eliminating the need for prefixes, such as 01, 044 or 045. In Mexico, most cities use a three-digit area code, notable exceptions being CDMX, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

LONG DISTANCE CALLS WITHIN MEXICO Same procedure as above applies.

LONG DISTANCE CALLS TO MEXICO FROM ABROAD If you are making a long-distance call to Mexico from abroad, simply add the country code (52) to the 10-digit number as described above.

Emergencies: 911 Red Cross: 065

INTERNATIONAL LONG-DISTANCE CALLS FROM MEXICO No changes.

US & Canada: Dial 001 + Country Code + Area Code + Number Elsewhere: Dial 00 + Country Code + Area Code + Number

CALLING TOLL-FREE NUMBERS

(The following procedure predates the August 2019 update. We are waiting for specific information regarding toll-free calls within Mexico and to numbers elsewhere.)

Some toll-free numbers work from Mexico to the US and Canada, but many do not. Those that do work are often not toll-free. You need to dial a different prefix. To call the following toll free prefixes, dial as follows: 800 numbers Dial 001-880-then the number 866 numbers Dial 001-883-then the number 877 numbers Dial 001-882-then the number 888 numbers Dial 001-881-then the number

IMMIGRATION: 322.224.7719 CONSUMER PROTECTION: 01.800.468.8722

FIRE DEPARTMENT: 322.223.9476 AMBULANCE: 322.222.1533

TOURISM OFFICES Jalisco: 322.221.2676 Nayarit: 322.297.1006

Ahoy Cruisers!

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

In port this month

In the month of August and September Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit welcomes 30,174 passengers! Bienvenido!

NAME

CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL PRINCESS CRUISES PRINCESS CRUISES

PASS

DATE

3,200 07.08.2019 3,200 14.08.2019 3,200 21.08.2019 3,200 28.08.2019 3,200 04.09.2019 3,200 11.09.2019 3,200 18.09.2019 3,200 25.09.2019 1,974 25.09.2019 2,600 27.09.2019

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 * www.vallartatribune.com * https://www.facebook.com/VtaTribune/

Cut out and put near your phone for handy reference

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August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

banderas bay

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9 Cool Things to do around Banderas Bay

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f you thought this was an article about how to keep cool in Puerto Vallarta in August, you’re wrong.

But follow some of these suggestions and perhaps you’ll be so distracted by the fun you’re having, you’ll forget how hot it is right now.

1. Visit the famous and iconic Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Located in downtown (or el Centro), you can’t miss this gem in the heart of Vallarta. What is very cool to see are the locals who always show respect when they pass by with the sign of the cross.

2. Cool off at one of the local cabaret/theaters including Act II on Basilio Badillo and Incanto along the Rio Cuale. Both offer air conditioning, beverages and musical and theater shows throughout the year, but check their schedules during the summer to be sure they’re open.

3. Walk the Malecon (in the early am or after sun down).

This promenade offers the perfect platform for taking in the sites, sounds and tantalizing aromas of the local scene. On Sunday evenings, you will find musicians, artists, local vendors selling all types of food, merchandise, bundles of balloons and fun souvenirs for kids. See the street performers show off their skills as well.

4. Take a surf or stand up paddle board (SUP) lesson.

Head south to Mismaloya and rent boards from Paddle Zone.

Here you can take a quick lesson and then test the waters. Paddle through Los Arcos at night for a bioluminescent fiesta! Possible

sightings of sea turtles, humpback whales (Nov – Mar) and giant manta ray will make the experience even more special. Head to Punta Mita or Sayulita for a day of surfing.

5.

Visit Los Mangos Library (Biblioteca Los Mangos).

This beautifully landscaped, peaceful and resourceful community cultural center / library provides book lending in English and Spanish and holds classes for kids to adults, including art, yoga, language, dance, theatre, reading, computer access and much more.

6. Join in a turtle release. Many hotels have special agendas for guests to enrich their experience during the turtle-hatching season.

Check out www.facebook.com/ seaturtlenan for daily updates on turtle releases at the Boca de Tomates nursery.

7. Visit Los Muertos Beach this is where the action happens.

Lively entertainment and great dining options combined with beach chairs and umbrellas – what more could you need?

8. Experience the ‘Romantic Zone’ – Here you will find over 200 restaurants, bars and clubs

along with boutiques and spas.

From homey to high-class this busy neighbourhood is the heart of Puerto Vallarta.

9. Waterfall hike in Yelapa – Accessible only by boat, take a panga (water taxi) from the pier in old Town or bus to Boca de Tomatlan and go by water taxi from there to Yelapa. There are two waterfalls in Yelapa. The smaller one is a short walk through the town while the bigger one is better accessible by horseback, along the river and back into the valley. Both are refreshing and beautiful examples of the natural wonders in Banderas Bay.

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

local

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Tips for Surviving Puerto Vallarta Summer Temps Without Air-Conditioning

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Famous Mosaics For the Love of Public Art

By Emily Murray This summer the Tile Park is taking the show on the road! We’re paying a virtual visit to the most famous mosaics of the world... from China to Spain to the US... tile parks, record-breaking installations, ancient murals, points of interest and so much more. Join us! to exhibition, and giving readers a chance to get to know them before going to the show. By presenting the artist’s newest work, an interview ere at the Tile Park, we tend with them, and previous work too, to be a little nerdy about art. people who attend the show have a Maybe you’ve noticed. And good understanding of the artist and it’s not just mosaic we love, it’s all their contributions.

It also really feels like you’re kinds of art. Different materials, compositions, and ideas are actually celebrating an artist and their how we find a lot of our inspiration. continued success, which is nice.

Mozaico Maybe you do too. So we spend a https://blog.mozaico.com/ lot of time reading and learning from This blog is interesting because fellow artists about where they find inspiration and what contributes to it belongs to a brick and mortar their own work. These are a few of tile and art supply shop in Illinois, USA. Where the other blogs are our favorites: accompaniments to print magazines Hi-Fructose or parallel projects, Mozaico is https://hifructose.com/ These guys write about all kinds reminiscent of that early 2000’s of artistic endeavors and mediums: business model of just adding a drawings, charcoal, paintings, glass, little blog on to your business sculptures, screen printing and a lot website. It just so happens that they built a really awesome blog, so it’s more.

Every inspiring and impressive going strong many years later. It’s a blog post features a different artist, resource for all things tile, from new showcasing their latest work. The materials on the market to how to blog leads you down a trail of similar tile a backsplash to the history of work once you’ve found a blog post some ancient grouting technique that resonates with you. If you like invented by a monk in the hills. This original and clever artwork, you’ll one has a little of everything.

Truly, this is just an eensy bit of our love Hi-Fructose. list of faves. There are so many great Juxtapoz art resources out there! Whether https://juxtapoz.com/ This website reads like a glossy you want to learn about an artist, a magazine, with awesome creative technique, or how to monetize your content on topics ranging from own art, there’s a blog for it. The art installations, paintings, photography, world is vast, and varied, and exciting. graffiti and street art, audio-visual It’s wonderful that there are more and more online resources for us to learn projects and more.

Like Hi-Fructose, Juxtapoz often about new artists and exhibitions features an artist’s most recent work around the world. Wonderful for the that’s ready for exhibition. Where artists too! “Starving” doesn’t have to the Juxtapoz blog really shines is be part of the equation, certainly not by promoting the artist’s work prior these days.

Our Top 3 Blogs For Artistic Inspiration

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I

f you’re visiting Puerto Vallarta on a vacation, you likely have a wonderfully air-conditioned hotel room and can easily slip into the pool with an icy beverage.

For those of us who live and work here full time, it can be difficult to manage the simplest day-to-day tasks in this summer heat. Either way, it is important to keep cool and stay well-hydrated, (and no margaritas don’t count.) The following steps can help you keep cool even if you have an air-conditioned space.

Use box fans and ceiling fans to promote air circulation throughout your home. Opening doors in the house and using box fans to push hot air outdoors can function as an “exhaust” system and draw cooler evening air into the house.

In the cooler evenings, open all windows and promote as much air circulation as possible. When the sun rises, close all doors and windows, making sure to close curtains and blinds as well, to keep the indoors cool for as long as possible. When the outside air cools to a lower temperature than inside (usually in the evenings or at night), open up the windows and turn on the fans again.

Take advantage of the cooling power of water. Fill buckets or basins and soak your feet. Wet towels and bandannas can have a cooling effect when worn on

the shoulders or head. Take cool showers and use a spray bottle filled with cold water for refreshing spritzes throughout the day.

Head downstairs. Since hot air rises, the upper stories of a home will be warmer than the ground floor. A basement can be a cool refuge from the midday heat.

Eliminate extra sources of heat. Incandescent light bulbs can generate unnecessary heat, as can computers or appliances left running. Eat fresh foods that do not require you to use the oven or stove to prepare.

Remember to maintain an adequate level of hydration, which means you’ll need to consume more water than you usually do when it’s hot. If you’re sweating profusely, you will also need to replace electrolytes by eating a small amount of food with your water or by drinking specially-formulated electrolyte replacement drinks. Check in the cooler at your local Oxxo for an array of electrolyte drinks. Thirst is the first sign of dehydration; you should drink sufficient amounts of fluids before you feel thirsty in order to prevent dehydration.

Avoid alcoholic beverages and caffeine (I know!), as both of these substances can act as diuretics and promote dehydration.

For a homemade “air conditioning” system, sit in the

path of a box fan that is aimed at an open cooler, or pan filled with ice. Try to visit public buildings with air conditioning during the hottest hours of the day if the heat becomes unbearable.

The Galerias mall, and the VIP Cinemex movie theatre are good places to cool down.

Don’t eat large, protein-rich meals that can increase metabolic heat and warm the body.

Be able to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and true heat emergencies. Call emergency services (911) in the event of a heat emergency or visit any of the local ER’s.

Finally, remember that pets also suffer when the temperature rises. Cooling animals (dogs, rabbits, cats) by giving them a “cool” bath or shower will help keep their body temperature down. A cool towel on a tile floor to lay on, a cool towel or washcloth laying over the skin next to a fan will also help cool the animal. Make sure they have plenty of cool water to drink as well. Signs of a heat stroke in a pet are: rapid panting, wide eyes, lots of drooling, hot skin, twitching muscles, vomiting and a dazed look.

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local voices

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

On The Water

Paradise and Parenting

Capt. Gregory Pilkington

Leza Warkentin

Capt. Greg operates the sportfishing boat TOPLESS II out of Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz.

Leza is a nursery teacher and preschool coordinator at the American School of Puerto Vallarta.

B

Lasagna Party

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

Greg@fishfc.com

est summer fishing in years for marlin and tuna. Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) finally show up.

Roosterfish off the beaches.

The waters off of Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas offer some of the best fishing on the planet. And this year is shaping up to be one to remember.

First, let’s talk yellowfin tuna.

Fish in the 20-150 pound range have been found most days out at Roca Corbatena. On a trip last week we even saw one easily over a 100 pounds amongst the baby Dorados on the outer edge of the Bay of Banderas.

If you want a shot at a marlin or sailfish, they can be found anywhere from Punta Mita on out with Roca Corbatena and El Banco offering up your best chance.

Roosterfish on your bucket list? They are increasing in both size and numbers as we head into fall. The beach south of Cabo Corrientes is the place to be.

Our best bet for the serious angler With Tuna, Marlin, Sailfish and Dorado out at Roca Corbatena in good numbers the odds are stacked in your favor to get into some nice fish.

The best thing about fishing this area is that you have a shot at that fish of a lifetime, and as a fallback, you almost certainly will catch something memorable (and tasty).

Another nice thing about fishing Corbatena right now is that you can try several different methods of fishing. Our favorite approach at the moment is to drop a jig down as soon as we mark a school of tuna on the sonar. There is nothing better than hooking up on that first drop.

A 9.5 hour trip on a fast boat will let you experience what world-class fishing is all about.

Our best bet for the weekend warriors and casual anglers With the recent rains we are starting to finally get some decent weed/trash lines in close and that means Dorado as well as fish that feed on the smaller Dorado (Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin).

Basically, head Northwest off of Punta Mita and locate the color

change (green to blue water) and weed lines and you are pretty much guaranteed to find the fish. This is sportfishing at it’s best!

Our best bet for those just wanting to get on the water Last week we reported that Dorado were still scarce in the bay, but that could and should change.

Well, the good news is that the Dorado arrived in the bay with the heavy rain last Tuesday. We have been finding them out by one of our favorite reefs for bottom fishing between Punta Mita and The Marieta Islands.

For a mixed bag, drop a jig to the bottom and you have a good chance at adding a Snapper (Pargo), Grouper (Cabrilla), or Amberjack.

Pray for rain leading up to your next trip and your chances of success will improve dramatically.

Conservation Corner Dorado (also called Mahi-Mahi or Dolphinfish) is one of the most popular game fish in the world.

Easily recognized by their beautiful

gold, green and blue colors, they put on a great acrobatic show when hooked.

Most anglers also love to eat Dorado given that it is one of the milder tasting fish species.

What most people don’t know is that Dorado grow extremely fast and reproduce after approximately 5 months. In fact, a recent study of a fish living under optimal conditions grew over 50 pounds in under a year.

For these reasons, it makes sense from a conservation and economic standpoint that in most places there is a minimum size for harvesting a Dorado.

Unfortunately, there is no such regulation here in Mexico.

Since there are so many undersized Dorado around this time of year, please release any fish under 24 inches in length.

Better still, contact the Dolphinfish Research Program and start tagging these undersize fish...and don’t forget to give them a kiss before you send them back on their way.

For more information, go to www.https://dolphintagging.com/ Topless Tip Sleep in if you are on holiday.

This time of year we often find the bite comes on after 4pm. Very civilized.

I

have a question for all of the expat brothers and sisters out there in Puerto Vallarta right now: do you even cook? Do your children get three beautifully square meals per day, lovingly seasoned and still warm from the oven? And, if so, are you a Superparent, or just slightly unhinged?

The reason I ask is that I am seeking out information on how to pass nutrients on to my children without actually preparing them in food form. And that is because cooking is not my favorite thing to do right now. With the heat soaring outside, the last thing I want to do is fire up the gas stove and boil some spaghetti in my kitchen. What I WANT to do, and, indeed, spend a fair bit of time doing, is lie on the tile floor reading books about life in the Arctic.

Sure, you could mention that I have two teenagers and it’s time for them to learn to make meals. Yes, in theory that is accurate. But if I can’t handle the idea of being near a hot kitchen, how would I expect these two children, who have never been less inclined to engage in physical activity, to whip up some grub without making life unbearably stressful for me?

If you can tell me this, or possibly come to my home and show me how it’s done, or perhaps move in with me and cook all my food, then we can be best friends.

But the good news is that I found one solution to the cooking dilemma. It isn’t a long-term solution, but it is the most pleasant one I’ve found in awhile (besides just going out for tacos every night, which is pleasant until you stop ignoring the bathroom scale). A friend of mine asked if I would like to be part of a lasagna party. I said yes before knowing what she was talking about, because lasagna plus party sounds exactly like something I would enjoy.

She told me that she has solar panels, A/C, and a double oven. I told her I’d be right over, and she told me to wait until the actual day of the party. What we did was gather two more friends, a LOT of ingredients for lasagna, a bunch of

snacks, and several bottles of wine (for the sauce, naturally).

The day of the party was spent chopping, assembling, baking, eating and laughing. A lot. We discussed the joy of trying to feed picky children, and we all agreed that cheese, tomato sauce and pasta was the winning combination.

We added a small amount of red wine to the sauce and the rest was disposed of responsibly (more or less). It was so much work and so much fun.

I arrived at my home about eight hours later, triumphantly bearing three vegetable lasagnas, each of which weighing about as much as our terrier (who is slightly overweight according to his vet).

Not only would I be feeding these people a well-rounded meal tonight, I had enough to freeze for sweaty days when only the microwave will do.

And, thanks to all the laughter and mom camaraderie and an afternoon spent in the air conditioning, I didn’t feel quite so irritable with my offspring. They almost seemed sort of cute in their adolescent-y way.

So, here’s my Tip on Tropical Summer Survival: Find a friend (or be a friend) with solar panels and strong A/C and have a food-making freezer party. Make as much food that can fit in these little fridge freezers (you’d be surprised how much can go in there). Have some wine and forget about the heat for awhile. It’s self-care and it’s family care. It sounds impossible. It sounds just like a Superparent.

culture

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August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Creative hands of Mexico Leigh Thelmadatter

osomadre@hotmail.com

Leigh Thelmadatter is a professor 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 has just published a book on Mexican paper maché called Mexican Cartoneria. creativehandsofmexicodotorg.wordpress.com

Black glass of the gods

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n the souvenir shops along the Puerto Vallarta’s malecon and from some of the beach vendors you can find obsidian masks, jewellery and carvings. Obsidian has a long and storied history across Mexico with some of the most important obsidian deposits found just in Jalisco. Today the stone is relegated mostly to the tourist market but there is a new generation of artisans working this mostly black glass in new and modern ways.

If you have studied anything about Mesoamerican cultures, you probably know what obsidian is. Simply put, it is volcanic glass formed at the end of an eruption when lava cools suddenly. Most finished pieces made of the substance are an opaque and shiny black, but its chemical composition, purity and how it is handled can produce different colours and finishes. Obsidian can appear in dark brown, gold, violet, certain tones of blue, red and some can even been rainbow-colored, white or translucent. In Mexico, one area is noted for producing green obsidian.

Obsidian has a long history in Mexico and was instrumental in the development a various civilizations here. It main value stemmed from its ability to be flaked into extremely sharp points and blades. These points and blades were used to make weapons of war, such as daggers and a kind of war club called a macuahuitl – wood impregnated with blades of obsidian. Daggers and knives were also used in ritual sacrifices and the more mundane task of preparing food.

In the Mesoamerican period, there were two main sources of obsidian. By far the most important was the region north of Mexico City. Control and trade of obsidian was the economic basis of the Teotihuacan civilization, which

worked two sites, the smaller one is located at what is now Otumba, State of Mexico. The most important site, the Sierra de Navajas, is near the city of Pachuca, Hidalgo, and noted for green obsidian.

Teotihuacan’s trade in obsidian extended as far as Maya territory and made the city wealthy. It was not only important for making cutting implements, but was also used to for jewellery and religious objects, many of which have been found in the graves of rulers and warriors.

Another area that was important as a source of obsidian is Teuchitlan, in the modern state of Jalisco. Through knowledge of this obsidian’s particular properties, it is known that this obsidian was traded to what are now Sinaloa, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Zacatecas, Colima and Michoacan.

With the introduction of steel and other metals, the use of obsidian fell, as it could not compare in durability. Working the material did not resurge here until about 60 or so years ago, prompted by the opening and popularity of the Teotihuacan archaeological site. By far, most obsidian work is done in two of the adjoining municipalities, San Juan Teotihuacan and San Martin de las Piramides. There are almost 1,000 artisans in this valley and about a third work in obsidian.

Although San Marcos, Jalisco held an obsidian workshop a few years ago, its working has not resurged in western Mexico.

Interestingly, the most important source of obsidian in the Mesoamerican period continues to be the most important source today. The Sierra de las Navajas (Mountains of the Knives) is still heavily mined and its importance is such that this mountain chain appears on the state seal of Hidalgo.

Nearly everyone in the nearby towns such as El Nopalillo work in mining, producing 20 tons of obsidian each month. However, 3/4 of this is exported raw, mostly to China. The remaining quarter supplies artisans

Obsidian blade from Jalisco, in the Museo Regional de Guadalajara.

Mayan spearheads from Palenque at the Museum of the Americas in Madrid (credit:Simon Burchell) in Hidalgo and Teotihuacan.

In Teotihuacan and other ancient cultures, obsidian was considered magical and sacred. It is still considered to have esoteric qualities, with different energies ascribed to the different variants of colour. This has made obsidian popular with spas and new age healing centres, creating a market for hand-sized rounded stones for

use in massages. However, the vast majority of the obsidian is destined for the souvenir market in the area around Teotihuacan.

While this tourism has created a market where none existed before, obsidian is made into cheap trinkets, mostly imitations of pre-Hispanic artefacts, animal figures and mini-pyramids. It can even include ashtrays. All these tend

to be small, mere centimetres in width or height, with the exception of masks, which are of other materials tiled over in obsidian. In many pieces, the obsidian is paired with other stones and mother-of-pearl, making the objects look even more kitsch. However, the great demand has prompted many in the area to change their occupations as making these trinkets pays better than most other manual labour in the area.

Obsidian is not an inexpensive material, difficult to mine and handle.

Almost always motorized tools are used, with fingers millimetres from spinning saw blades and polishers.

Its strong association with souvenirs and the low prices tourist pay has devalued the material. Added to this is the fact that the modern working of the material only goes back a little more than half-a-century with families having no more experience than two or three generations. New workshops keep appearing, which also impedes the development of finer crafts that take advantage of the stone’s qualities.

For this reason, obsidian handcrafts have not become popular in Mexico in general or with collectors. The dependence on the souvenir market also means that

culture

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Mayan mask by Joel Rufino Oliva Olvera using golden obsidian at the Obsidian Fair in Teotihuacan

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Rainbow-obsidian hearts are among the most popular items sold by local artisans. Although most obsidian is black, a variety of colours can be found in the vast deposits of Jalisco, Mexico.© John Pint

Teuchitlán and the Los Guachimontones

T

the craft is vulnerable to imitations.

A number of artisans in Teotihuacan have complained to authorities about the existence and sale of fake obsidian objects, made with black commercial glass, which they say come from China. It is difficult to distinguish between real obsidian and coloured glass, but one way to tell is to see that the pieces for sale are too perfectly made and identical.

The most common false pieces are bracelets, which sell for only 30 pesos, where the real obsidian ones sell for between 50 and 70.

Other pieces commonly faked are small pyramids. Artisans state that about 15% of the pieces sold at the archaeological site are fake.

Fortunately, there have been efforts to raise the cultural, artistic and economic status of obsidian.

These include a registration of the origin of Mexican obsidian and recognition of the craft by federal authorities. Both Teotihuacan and El Nopalillo have begun annual Obsidian Fairs to promote their products, fine pieces from the towns of Tecozaulta and Epazoyuan were exhibited in New York in 2018.

More importantly, there have been artisans and others willing to experiment with obsidian to create

innovative and finer pieces. Although the Obsidian Fair in Teotihuacan is still disappointing as to the quality of the general vendors (and most venders were NOT of obsidian), the pieces entered for the annual contest show promise.

Daniel Juarez of Artesanias Ra Xedí in Hidalgo has gone from pre-Hispanic imitations to those of minimalist design, focusing on the beauty of the material. David Mendez Sanchez, a UNAM design student, created a company k’imā’ which works to create fine products made with obsidian.

The idea is to create products that are both innovative but also reflect Mexico’s identity. One innovation is the creation of pieces of obsidian paired with stainless steel.

Mendez Sanchez principally works with design and with a number of artisans in the State of Mexico and Hidalgo to produce the finished pieces. Instagram (@kimadesign).

Students from the industrial design program at the Tec de Monterrey in Queretaro have also worked on projects related to obsidian. The project was prompted by the experience that one student had in Cancun, noticing that obsidian artisan could not sell their wares

there. They began with tableware such as napkin holders and bowls as part of the school’s annual event dedicated to innovation.

Perhaps the most interesting use of obsidian and the skills of obsidian artisans was the Vochos (Beetles) de Obsidiana de Ecatepec, two old Volkswagen Beetles which have been tiled over in more than 50,000 obsidian pieces and semi-precious stones. The two vehicles have been named Teotihuacano and Maya and are the brainchild of Hector Garnelo, from Ecatepec just outside of Mexico City. His initial goals with the cars were to get into the Guinness Book of World Records and to show that the talent of local obsidian craftspeople.

The cars are not simply covered black, but they have also pre Hispanic designs on them including Quetzalcoatl, the Sun and Moon Pyramids of Teotihuacan and a funeral mask. The work was done by six master craftsmen and each took about 3 years to complete.

Teotihuacano was exhibited in Germany in 2017, on display at the main Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg and then in Berlin. More tours for the cars are planned in Mexico and the United States.

euchitlán is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico about an hour west from Guadalajara. If you’re driving the Mascota Highway you’ll pass by on your way to and from the megacity. Teuchitlan is located near the archaeological site of Los Guachimontones, associated with the pre-Columbian Teuchitlan tradition and sits directly under the Tequila volcano. The obsidian deposits in Jalisco are said to be the fourth largest in the world, though much of it remains unmapped and one researcher believes the flows of Ahuisculco may well

be the largest in Mexico.

The Los Guachimontones archaeological site and its impressive pyramids are worth a stop if you’re traveling through the area. They are some of the only circular pyramids found in the world and have unique burial shafts as well.

According to researcher Phil Weigand, these unusual structures are “unique in the Mesoamerican architectural repertoire and indeed are not found anywhere else in the world.”

There is a small but excellent museum on site. The site is closed Mondays and open only until 5pm.

Los Guachimontones with Teuchitlan in the distance.

local voices

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August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Welcome Home

Sheryl Novak

sa.novak@solutionsmexico.com

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.

Incorporate a statement piece: Parota table with resin

W

hile putting together furniture packages for clients, I am often asked to recommend a statement piece. A statement piece is an article of furniture or design element that is a focal point in the home. Most clients buying a new condo or casa in Riviera Nayarit want something very different from what they have in their home north of the border. A perfect statement piece that is always a hit is the waterfall parota table with resin.

If you have ever been in the market for furniture in Mexico, there is little doubt you will have heard the word “parota.” Most people love this type of wood, and carpenters often use it in Mexico. You can see this wood in kitchen cabinets, closets and doors in many condos and casas that were built here before the turn of the century. This wood species, native to Mexico and Central America, is also referred to, although less commonly, as caro caro, Guanacaste, and raintree.

What makes it so beautiful is its warm honey color and intricate grain. It is a hardwood. Termites and wood-eating bugs are far less likely to choose it on which to munch. It is more resistant to staining when

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in contact with water – think water glasses that sweat! Parota trees are relatively fast-growing. They are resilient and as such, used in reforestation. For those interested in a material that is sustainable and good for the environment, this solution ticks that box.

Furniture and décor made from parota usually are finished to emphasize the natural wood. Natural

oil is the preferred finish over lacquer for this wood since it shows off the beautiful essence of the wood better.

To add more pizzazz to a piece of furniture built with parota, I recommend two features. These are a live edge and a waterfall side.

Live edge incorporates the natural edge of the wood into the design of the piece of furniture. Furniture usually has straight edges. The

uneven lines of a live edge piece of wood make it unique. No two pieces of furniture will ever be the same.

In a package we put together for a client, we included a live-edge parota headboard in their master bedroom.

Stunning and statement! A piece of furniture with a waterfall side or edge gives it additional depth and dimension. Rather than stopping abruptly at its edge, the parota continues vertically down the side of the piece of furniture. The whole item appears seamless; a solid form that flows from its top to the floor.

Although a piece of parotta furniture with a live edge and waterfall side is stunning, adding just one more component can make it even more spectacular. One of the features of parotta is that it comes with imperfections. There may be holes, splits, or cracks in the wood.

Some manufacturers of parotta furniture creatively use resins to fill in the imperfections. You can get resin in a clear epoxy or a spectrum of stunning colors. The resulting piece is simply spectacular and fits well into almost any décor style.

Looking for a statement piece?

Contact me at furniture@solutionsmexico.com for names of reputable manufacturers in Mexico.

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Escaping to Yelapa

By Madeline Milne

F

or years, the tiny fishing village of Yelapa was a hidden paradise where new-agers, artists and the dreadlocked young went in search of peace and quiet and freedom from the masses. A town with no road access and limited cell phone service. But the secret is out. Travelers arrive daily on a water taxi from the Los Muertos pier in Puerto Vallarta, some just for the day, some for a night or two and others who come but never really leave.

The panga ride between Puerto Vallarta and Yelapa, from one end of Banderas Bay to the other, takes approximately 45 minutes.

Behind the beach where boats land is a string of beachfront restaurants, some brightly coloured immensely charming tropical vacation homes and a village of steep paths, randomly laid out and all leading back into each other.

This town of about 2,000 remains much the same, albeit with some new, larger houses built by foreigners and decent internet and cell phone service.

Because the small town is hemmed in between jungle and ocean, Yelapa has no roads or cars. There

is now a cellphone tower and internet is relatively standard in most rental places. Places to stay run the gamut from downright luxurious to rustic and adventurous. The beaches of Yelapa are for the most part confined to the one large beach in the center of the bay. It can be busy with the arrival of day-trippers, but the sand is lovely, and the cervesa is cold.

If you have a few days, there is some exploring to be had. Behind the town of Yelapa, about five minutes walking is the ‘small’ waterfall, which at this time of year is really rather impressive. We were there on a Sunday afternoon, and the small restaurant/ bar was packed with locals drinking beer and listening to music. Maybe not as tranquil as some would like but definitely a cultural juxtaposition that made me tap my toes.

Renting a horse and cowboying up to the ‘large’ waterfall is a beautiful two to three-hour return trip fjording across rivers and charging up well-worn paths.

The trek can be done on foot, and a local told me she does it regularly in about 45 minutes. Our horses needed no direction or guidance, each clearly having made

this trip before. Along the way, you pass cabins nestled into the jungle, homes, and farmland. It is a wonderful glimpse into the everyday of rural Mexico.

Once you reach the end of the trail, you have to navigate through a fence and walk 10-minutes through the jungle to the cascade. There are stairs cut into the descent to the water. Use them – carefully.

The water is cool and comes down with a considerable force. The little cove is safe to paddle around in, and the rocks along the bank are a great place to catch some sun and dry off for the trip back.

Pack a waterproof camera, snack, and wear your swimsuit. No baños to change in here.

Back in the town, there are some cute little cafes and places to poke your head in. There are breakfast spots, taco stands, and restaurants open for the evening. While I was visiting the host of our B&B cooked up a delicious coconut curry dinner for guests and a couple of local people who dropped by. The laid back casualness of the whole experience was an easy way to meet new people and share stories.

If you have a few days

free there are some exciting day trips to be had out of Yelapa including sailing to the Los Marietas islands for a snorkel through an underwater cave to a ‘hidden’ beach, the chance to see the famous blue-footed booby and if the water goddess is on your side, maybe some humpback whales (Nov – Mar), dolphins, turtles and manta rays. There are also other car-free towns along the bay that are easily accessible from Yelapa including Quimixo and Las Animas. Mostly though, Yelapa is a chance to let it all go. The paths are too windy to text and walk. This

is the place to sit back, relax with a book, eat delicious fresh seafood and delicious homemade pies, to reach a little further into nature, and exercise your body and mind. From the adventurous to the hammock-hog Yelapa is a place that place where people say, “It’s the (insert town you missed out on) of twenty years ago.”

Getting There Take a water taxi from Los Muertos Pier. They run approx. 5 times a day from 9am – 5pm. You can buy your ticket directly at the pier. For a shorter boat ride, catch the bus or taxi to

Murphys Puerto Vallarta

Boca de Tomatlan and take the water taxi from the pier in the town. The journey is about 15 minutes and costs about 70 pesos. Boats from here to Yelapa are more frequent. Tip: Don’t book a return ticket. Best to pay a one-way fare, so you have flexibility in when and with what boat you return on.

Where to Stay As with much of Mexico, Airbnb seems to be the best place to find comfortable vacation rentals. Yelapa has a couple of well-established yoga/nature retreats as well as a few hotels including the beachfront La Lagunita.

local

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August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Thank you Mexico!

M

exico is a land of history, culture and opportunity as demonstrated by the many contributions it has made in our world today. From food to entertainment to medicine, Mexico and’s innovations have changed our lives in many ways.

Chocolate The first recorded evidence of chocolate was found in Mesoamerica, in the region that later became Mexico. Yes, you have Mexico to thank for Hershey kisses, Abuelita hot cocoa, German chocolate cake, and French silk pie.

Tacos Do you really want to live in a world without tacos?

While the precise origins of the taco are unknown, Jeffrey M. Pilcher, a professor at the University of Minnesota and taco expert, believes that they date back to 18th century Mexico when men working in the silver mines invented the delicious food.

Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (aka the BEST chip of all time) were invented by Richard Montañez, a Mexican immigrant and janitor at the Frito-Lay plant in California. He pitched his idea for a chili powder coated chip to the president of the company, who loved the idea. Now, Montañez leads the Multicultural Sales & Community Promotions branch of the company! Talk about

a great product -- and an even better story.

Colour TV While you’re snacking on your Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and watching endless episodes of Orange Is The New Black on your LCD 60” screen TV, remember: the inventor of the color television was a Mexican.

Guillermo González Camarena was the first person to patent the product when he developed an “improved chromoscopic adapter” for color television transmissions.

Tequila There would be fewer sloppy nights without Mexicans, and don’t you forget it. It’s believed that tequila was first produced in the 16th century, although the Aztec people had previously brewed an alcoholic beverage made from the agave plant -- long before the Spanish arrived on this continent.

Piñatas Fiestas would be a whole lot less fun (and less violent) without piñatas.

Okay, so originally piñatas are from China, but the tradition took on new meaning when it was introduced into Europe in the 14th century and later brought to Mexico. Mayan tradition called for a pot filled with decorative feathers to commemorate the birthday of Huitzilopochtli. The Mayans would then blindfold themselves and break the pot with a stick or club, causing the treasures to fall to the floor. This

festive ritual later became the basis for the piñata as we know it today.

Caesar Salad Que? Yes, it’s true: your favorite diet go-to was invented in Mexico.

An Italian immigrant named Caesar Cardini operated restaurants in both the United States and Tijuana, Mexico. During one Fourth of July rush, he depleted the kitchen supplies and had to make do with what he had on-hand. Thus, the Caesar Salad was born on the Mexican border.

Corn on the cob Do you want to live in a world without corn on the cob, cornbread, or corn tortillas? I didn’t think so. So,

Tunas: When a fruit is not a fish

By Javier Cabral

W

hen you’re at the ice cream shop and one of the flavours is tuna – don’t turn up your nose in disgust.

It’s delicious! It’s also not fish flavoured.

In late summer in Mexico, prickly pear cactus fruits, or tunas, are everywhere—a refreshing snack eaten out of hand and a popular ingredient in candies, drinks, jams, and more. In Oaxaca, they spoon a dollop of pureed tuna son top of horchata, the milky rice-almond drink, but you can use it just about anywhere you’d use an apple—in salads, for example, or even in tarts.

The cactus grows wild all over Mexico; it’s also cultivated on plantations. Cactus pads, or nopales, are eaten year-round, but it’s only in summer that the fruits reach maturity. Varieties

number in the hundreds, with flavour profiles ranging from creamy-sweet to brisk and tart.

The dark nubs on the skin contain sharp spines, but these are easily removed by slicing off the ends of the fruit, making lengthwise incisions, and peeling back the rind to reveal the luscious flesh.

I have sampled many delicious varieties and here are a few you might find in the fruit and veggie markets or served up at roadside stands with the usual squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of chili y sel: 1. The Juana (sometimes called roja) has large, chewy seeds and tart, crimson flesh.

2. The roja pelona, kiwilike in flavour, is free of thorns, and while the seeds of all tunas are edible, the ones in this variety are smaller than most.

3.The widely available cristalina,

also known as zarca, is juicy and crisp, with a sweet flavour like that of a white peach.

4. The naranjona has a honey-sweet, subtly spicy flavour reminiscent of a ripe persimmon›s.

5. The wild xoconostle has a sour and chewy, edible peel that is sometimes used in savoury stews.

6. The most widely available wild variety, the cardona has soft seeds and a flavour that›s both sweet and bitter, almost like a Luxardo cherry’s.

7. The cuerno de venado has a floral flavour; its high water content and small seed size make it a favourite snacking tuna.

8. The yellow platanera has a tropical flavour like that of bananas, the fruit from which it takes its name.

Original: Saveur.com

next time you dig in to a delicious cup of esquite, be sure to thank the Olmec and Mayan Indians who first cultivated the vegetable in Mexico.

Birth Control Birth control was invented by a Mexican? Claro que si. When Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cardenas was just 25-years-old, he co-discovered the compound which became the chemical basis for the first oral contraceptive. In other words: he invented the world’s first birth control!

People Salma Hayek, Lupita Nyong’o,

Selena Gomez, Alfonso Cuarón, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Eva Longoria, Mario Lopez, Paulina Rubio, Jessica Alba, Sara Ramirez, Diego Boneta, Thalia, Ryan Guzman, Michael Trevino, Kid Cudi, Miguel, and many more talented actors, singers, rappers, dancers, comedians and more have roots in Mexico!

Have fun, and remember to celebrate all the amazing contributions Mexico has made in your life!

Original: www.latina.com

charity

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Vanishing Earth/ Vanishing Home John Warren

john3984@me.com

John Warren is in charge of publicity for the International Friendship Club in Puerto Vallarta (IFC). During the summer, he writes about traveling while also raising environmental awareness.

Our Heroes

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n 2018 at least fourteen Mexicans gave their lives to defend their homes, forests, and rivers against industries that include mining, forestry, real estate development, and agribusiness.

Countless more were silenced through violent attacks, arrests, death threats, or lawsuits.

In the early hours of 14 May, last year, indigenous environmental rights defender Manuel Gaspar Rodríguez died from a massive loss of blood caused by three deep stab wounds. According to his autopsy, injuries caused by a sharp, hot object, as well as marks on his face, suggested other possible forms of violence.

Manuel was a prominent member of the Antonio Esteban Human Rights Centre, an organization opposing energy projects, mining concessions, and the construction of a high-voltage power line in the northern mountain region of Puebla State.

The perpetrators remain unknown. Puebla's State Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into his death, but are withholding his lawyers' access to the case file. And it is not yet clear whether lines of inquiry include his work as a human rights defender.

Rolando Crispín López was killed on 22 July 2018. He was a member of the Assembly of the Indigenous Peoples of the Isthmus in Defense of Land and Territory, of the People's Assembly of the Juchiteco People (APPJ) and of the People's Assembly of Álvaro Obregón. At eight o'clock that morning, when his shift as a community police officer ended, Rolando went to a store located in Benito Juárez to make some purchases.

Almost immediately, a masked man arrived on a motorcycle and repeatedly fired at Rolando, murdering him and wounding an 8-year-old girl who was walking down the street.

Several neighbors identified the perpetrator as Alejandro Matus Chávez, an active municipal

police officer assigned to the municipality of Juchitán. The APPJ and the members of the Totopo community condemned Rolando's murder and demanded justice from the state government. They warned that the violence that is brewing in the region against land rights defenders falls within what they called "state terrorism" since it is caused by different levels of government.

On 24 October, environmental rights activist Julián Carrillo was assassinated after receiving multiple death threats for his work defending indigenous land in the Sierra Tarahumara (Copper Canyon) from environmental exploitation including mining.

Carrillo had seen five members of his family killed in recent years.

There were eleven more documented cases of murders of human rights defenders in Mexico last year, and this year is not looking any better.

The data, analysis, and human stories are contained in a recent report (https://www.globalwitness. org/en/campaigns/environment a l - a c t i v i s t s / e n e m i e s - s t a te / )

by Global Witness. It's an international NGO established in 1993 that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, conflict, poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses.

Of course, if communities were consulted about how land and water were to be used before the shovels hit the ground or dams were built, conflicts could be

avoided. If laws were passed that favored the needs of the majority instead of the interests of wealthy corporations and entrepreneurs, our communities and ecosystems would be safer and healthier.

But they are not. In some places, laws are passed that are designed to intimidate and criminalize people and environmental organizations that work to defend our fresh water, land, oceans, and air. These laws and the legal systems responsible for using them can be used to destroy reputations, choke off funding, and involve activists in ruinously expensive court challenges that last years.

For example, in Nicaragua, last December, land activist Medardo Mairena Sequeira was convicted of terrorism and organized crime and sentenced to an unbelievable 200 years in prison. 200 years! His crime? He had been campaigning against a huge canal project that was set to displace thousands of people. Frontline Defenders claim that his trial and detention were rife with irregularities and ill-treatment, including evidence of witness manipulation by the prosecution. It was a set-up.

These non-violent attacks by governments don't make the headlines like killings do. That is why they are so useful to those who want to crush dissent.

Turning to the local scene, on Sunday, 25 August it will be our turn. At 11 am, a march for the conservation of the environment and natural resources will start at Park Hidalgo. If you are angry at the privatization of our natural resources and want transparency from local public servants, bring your placards and signs and let's march together with others who want to protect the environment.

Don't worry; you won't be deported.

Remember, you can't do everything, but you can do something!

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Navy League Announces This Years Toys for Tots Fundraisers

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t may be a warm and steamy August, but the local Navy League Council is already hard at work preparing for the 22nd consecutive year of raising funds to distribute toys to needy kids during the Christmas holidays.

They’re collaborating with their many local sponsors, importantly including the Marriott CasaMagna Resort & Spa, Vista Vallarta Golf Club, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, and others to make this the best year ever. Over the past 21 years, the local Toys for Tots program has distributed more than 175,000 toys (and smiles!) to some of the neediest kids throughout the Bahia. This year we hope to raise enough money to hand out at least another 8,000 toys! In addition, we plan to add to the dozens of playgrounds we’ve constructed over the past 20+ years.

Our two major fundraisers will be held in early December. First up will be a charity golf scramble on Saturday, December 7 at the Vista Vallarta Golf Club. You can sign up yourself or as a Team

by contacting Jerry Lafferty at LAFFJA@aol.com. This is a fun annual outing that raises loads of money for a very heartwarming and fun cause.

Next up will be the annual Toys for Tots Charity Ball at the Marriott Hotel the evening of December 8. It will be an evening of great dancing and a delicious dinner served by the award-winning Marriott chef. Again, contact Jerry Lafferty if you also plan to attend the Dinner/Dance.

Plan to attend both events, even if you’re a novice golfer (or dancer.) We have prizes for about every skill level – the idea is to have fun!

We’ll be in contact later in the year regarding plans for the distribution of toys throughout the Bahia de Banderas. It will be done in early January, when the kids return from Christmas vacation on or near Three Kings Day. We’d love to have you join us on this heart-warming day, a day you won’t soon forget. Be prepared to shed a few tears!

rivera nayarit

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August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Life in la Cruz

in

Cindy Bouchard

Kelly Wilson

Originally from Canada, Cindy Bouchard runs Villa Amor del Mar, a boutique inn, in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. Along with Chris, her husband, they are living and loving it in Vallarta Nayarit! She and her husband, Chris, are living and lovin’ in Banderas Bay. If you want more info on La Cruz or desire a very special vacation, drop her a line!

Upon retiring in Ontario, Kelly and her husband finally arrived in Puerto Vallarta—via a one-way ticket during the summer of 2017—where they now call Bucerias home. As avid adventurers, they enjoy exploring the entire Banderas Bay area. Kelly owns an online career coaching business and spends time volunteering for various local organizations.

cindy@VillaAmordelMar.com

La Cruz birdwatchers… and our community, pay respects to Allan Wood.

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llan Wood loved his wife, Jo, his family, friends, flying, bird watching and being part of a community. He gave his time and energy to others. Allan was taken from the world too soon.

We are mourning him. In an effort to pay my respect, I’m writing about one of his loves, birding.

Founding member Kathleen Dobek told me how the club was formed; “Kathy Hodges and I started birding together regularly.

She and I met in 2013 when I was walking in town and I encountered her watching some Yellow-winged Caciques through her binoculars.

At that time I didn’t know anyone else who birded; I was a lone birder watching Motmots, Gray SilkyFlycatchers and Golden-cheeked Woodpeckers and I was delighted to find another birder to go walking around town with. She and I sometimes drove out to the crocodile road to watch birds.

Later, Maryjane joined us, then Annie Timmins. We met Julieta Grosh when we were birding near her house at the upper part of Monte Calvario, she grabbed her binoculars and became part of our informal group.

One day, at the top of Monte Calvario birding, Hans Peterman stopped inquiring what we were doing and was immediately interested telling us he used to bird. From then on, he went with us. Hans encouraged me to start a Facebook group for La Cruz birders, which I did in 2014 handing over administration to Hans in 2015 which now has 182 members, most from afar, who like to see the birds we see. Eight to ten local members go out weekly.

Many of us began attending the annual Puerto Vallarta Bird Festival, an excellent event with

mybucerias404@gmail.com

world-class guides and speakers.

Our group brought us together sharing a common interest with the added benefit of new friendships with others, discovering new places as we ventured further afield.”

Maryjane added “Some of the most striking birds we see in our area are the bright and noisy Great Kiskadees (bright yellow breast, black & white striped heads, brown back; very visible, perched at the top of trees). Flocks of Yellow Winged Caciques are often commented on.

Two other local birds that are common and very noticeable are the very loud and vocal Chachalacas turkey-sized, russet-colored birds that perch in local trees and the Golden Cheeked Woodpeckers - black and white with a golden yellow and red head; beautiful but noisy and seem to be in every tree. So many more… so many incredible birds to list; learn more at our Facebook page”. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1415443162044547 Kathleen Dobek told me “Allan was a wonderful addition to our La Cruz birding community, when out with our group, he was seriously all about birds. We will all miss him.”

Hans Peterman misses his friend: “Full of fun and laughter Allan was a treasure to be around.

His never-ending grin and smile always brightened everyone’s day. His presence on our bird walks will be missed but always remembered. A talented sailplane pilot and instructor, I know he’s now soaring the heavens.”

Maryjane Makepeace shared “Allan was one of the first to join the group via the Facebook page.

It was always a joy to bird watch with him as he was soft-spoken, thoughtful and knowledgeable; all good qualities in a birder as the quieter you are the more birds you see. He often drove on our outings, allowing us to go further afield, rather than just walking around town. Allan always had good insights to offer when there

Incanto Casino

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was a discussion on club policies, which occasionally arose as the group grew quickly due to the FB page. With sadness, the birding group is purchasing a Macaw nesting box as a memorial to Allan.

It’s not confirmed if it will be placed at the Vallarta Botanical gardens or at the Macaw reserve. Anyone interested in contributing to the fund please contact Maryjane at mjcopperrock@aol.com.

adies and gentlemen, it’s here. Incanto Casino in Bucerias is open for business, or should I say, for pleasure. The day I stopped in, the outdoor painting was taking place, and the parking lot was partially under construction. A few days later, the parking spots were outlined in bright yellow, and a security booth had been erected at the entrance.

These people work fast!

Employing two-hundred people, the 5,000-square-meter casino offers many options for gaming and entertainment including craps; poker; various card tables; slots; a sportsbook; bingo; themed events, and food and beverage. Although I dropped in without having a formal appointment, Carlos Gomez, Public Relations Officer, was very gracious in offering a guided tour.

Here’s what you can expect when you want to try your luck: The bright lobby is where you receive your free “playing” card after being warmly welcomed by reception. “Our staff speaks English to provide better service for both local and visiting clients.” After passing through a security gate to enter the main room, my senses jumped alive in the comfortably cool climate, with bright flashing lights, bells ringing and dinging; gleaming glass and mirrors, and that obligatory elaborate carpet that I figure can only be purchased through a visually impaired casino-wares wholesaler. Everywhere, neon and noise, and nothing but excitement! Under the recessed lighting straight ahead are the live tables with beckoning dealers and to the right and left, some of the 300 shiny slot machines. Carlos tells me, “Our machines have the best technology, with many different games for people to have fun and win!” I look around for the old “one-armed bandits” but soon

entertainment From Here

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Life n the Slow Lane Marcia Blondin

marciavallarta@gmail.com

Aside from contributing regularly to the Tribune for several years, Marcia is a skilled artisan, specialized in repurposing recycled jewelry and selling her creations at the Friday Marsol Market by the Pier.

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discover they no longer exist.

We’re now talking sleek electronics with colourful control buttons on a wrist-resting dashboard. I guess it’s been a while since I’ve played any slots! We walk right through a glass wall (seemed like it) and entered the enclosed smoking section with more slot machines.

From here you can see through another glass wall to the bingo area, and watch as the employee calls numbers in both Spanish and English to the many patrons marking their cards, seated at tables just in front of the elevated stage. This area also provides seating for the restaurant where they set up their daily buffets. As a morning gamer, you may try their buffet from 9 am to noon for 99 pesos. If you prefer afternoons, their Executive Buffet will run you 70 pesos from 3 to 6 pm.

Continuing the tour, Carlos lead me upstairs to the Ocean Poker Room.

A very comfortable area, it looks like some serious gambling goes on here; there are signs posted throughout the casino outlining house rules and betting limits. Back on the main floor, we check out the cozy sports lounge with wall to wall bar, and another wall covered in television action. Escape the heat, bring some pesos, and enjoy.

You’ll find the entrance off Hwy 200, just south of Chedraui on the southbound lateral. The casino is open every day from 9 am to 4 am, weekends until 5 am. Visitors must be a minimum of eighteen years old. “We are happy to be the first casino in Bucerias. Our beautiful and spacious casino offers top security and quality service to our customers.”

big shout-out to Christine Conger who gave me a ticket to see “Billy Elliot” at Incanto last week. I was not prepared for such magnificence; I had heard nothing about the film, so it was really a pleasure to have my socks knocked off! The history of “Billy Elliot” is unusual: The movie inspired a novel not the other way around, and it caught Elton John’s attention at Cannes in 2000. He thought it would be a great idea to make the movie into a musical for which he would write the score.

It opened in London’s West End a few years later then Broadway.

The U.S. version cost a cool 18 million dollars to produce on stage – three times the funding of the original movie. What we saw was a brilliantly filmed version of the musical whose finale included all of the principals from past stage productions gathered together. A genuinely engaging movie so thanks again, Christine. Thanks also to Dennis Crow for hosting Incanto’s “Summer Stock” Dinner and a Movie series.

I have spent many days lately putting together ads for the Tribune’s upcoming magazine “The Best of Banderas Bay & Riviera Nayarit.”

The winners were all chosen in last season’s Reader’s Choice Awards. The second edition will be bigger and better and on the streets by November 15th. It will be strategically placed in hotel rooms; condominiums; our advertisers’ businesses, of course; tourist offices, golf courses, and Farmers Markets throughout the Bay. With prices as low as 500 pesos why would you not take advantage of getting your name out there to the tens of thousands who read the Tribune every month?

Imagine yourself in a foreign city – don’t know the language or the culture or one street from another.

You see a beautifully put together magazine that contains all the information you need to know for your holiday week or

two: where to eat, to shop, to hike, what tours to check out, a terrific dentist if you lose a filling, and what kind of shows are playing where. The Best of includes critical information for expats or wanna-be expats – best bank, realtor, gym, spa, best mechanic, developments around the Bay, and much more. The winners were chosen by you, the readers of the Vallarta Tribune who filled out our survey online last spring. One email address/one vote, none of that stuffing-the-ballot-box! So, if you have dinner at Bravos, your pedicure done at Metamorfosis Spa, buy your condo with help from the bilingual folks at Intercam Bank you know you are dealing with the best…all winners for two years in a row! We still have a bit of time left – advertising must be in by the end of August. Drop me an email if you’d like to be a part of this excellent publication.

I want to thank Paco Ojeda for yeoman’s work for eight weeks at the editor’s desk of the Vallarta Tribune. It was a decade-long/ dream-come-true for me to actually work with him, even for a short time. I told him once that I learn something every time I am in his company; a rare gift of friendship for which I will always be grateful.

And with that, I will put this column “From Here” aside for some time while I attempt to fill some pretty big huaraches and start next week as the Tribune’s interim-editor.

Why wait a week? Anyone have gardening questions? Like why won’t orchids grow next to the beach? Oh, how I tried; oh, how they died. I have experts standing by from the Vallarta Botanical Garden to answer your queries.

Email me and read your answer next week in a brand new column!

Time to tidy up Vallarta, our guests are already packing and ready to visit us soon. Keep those cards and letters coming and be kind to one another.

Give away more hugs than you receive and always believe in Peace and Love, From Here.

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Mamma Mia Opening Tuesday, October 29

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ct II and its managing partners, along with Music Theater International (MTI), are excited to announce the opening night of MAMMA MIA! on Tuesday, October 29! MAMMA MIA, the most exciting production in PV History, is inspired and enhanced by a whole passel of well-known ABBA tunes! It is a “feel-good” kind of show that will make you want to sing along to the familiar songs, and get up and dance in the aisles!

Produced by the dynamic duo of Danny Mininni and Alfonso Lopez, and directed by Alfonso Lopez, the iconic story revolves around a wedding that is being planned to take place on a Greek island.

Sophie, the 20-year old bride, has worked her whole life with her single mother, Donna, in a little hotel on the island. Unbeknownst to Donna, Sophie has longed to find the father she has never known. After accidentally finding and reading her mother’s diary, she finds clues that point to three lovers from her mom’s free-spirited past that might be her father. Sophie decides to invite all three of these men to her wedding, and hilarity ensues!

The delightful story features lots of nostalgic singing and dancing, as Sophie tries to decide which of the potential dads will walk her down the aisle. Donna has also invited a couple of long-time friends and former bandmates, Tanya and Rosie, who arrive with drinks in hand, ready to recapture some of their wild and crazy past as “Donna and the Dynamos.” Old romance is rekindled, nuptials fast approach, and chaotic, musical mayhem ensues. MAMMA MIA! What a wedding! The show features a HUGE cast, with a creative and colorful set, beautiful costumes and brilliant choreography created

by Federico Nuñez Murias.

Act II is celebrating the beginning of its 7th season on October 29 with the opening night of MAMMA MIA! Attendees will be treated to a party before the show and everyone is invited to wear ALL WHITE to this performance!

MAMMA MIA is just a very fun and absolutely enjoyable show where the comedy works, the campy tone isn’t out of place, the performances are strong, and ABBA’s music is the standout star of the show!

Tickets will be available soon at act2pv.com.

AUDITION NOTICE! Saturday, August 24 – 2:00 pm Act II is holding auditions for an exciting new show called Kimberly LaRue’s Follies!! Are you a singer, a dancer, a drag queen, a “strip-ish” performer, or do you perform burlesque? If so, PLEASE come to this audition on Saturday! Please bring a USB with two songs. For more information, contact marsha@act2pv.com.

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Friday, September 13 – 6:00 pm Act II is pleased to announce plans for the LARGEST Mexican Independence Day celebration in the bay, which is taking place on Friday, September 13, starting at 6:00 pm. The evening’s festivities include a “Welcome” shot of TEQUILA, an “ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT” taco bar, a SHOW featuring 12 performers and 10 mariachis, and a huge FIREWORKS DISPLAY…. just above Act II’S building…. which can be enjoyed from our courtyard!

This one-time celebration is sure to sell out, so be sure and get your tickets soon at act2pv.com.

Act II is #2 in “Things to Do” in Puerto Vallarta! (Trip Advisor) Voted #1 Entertainment Venue (Vallarta Tribune “Best of Vallarta” Reader’s Poll)

entertainment

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The Summer of Love

by Marcia Blondin

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was chatting with my best friend yesterday on Facebook when he said, “oh, happy Woodstock 50 years ago”. Wwwwwhat! So, I did a bit of research and thought I would write about a music festival that still stands alone in the history of music as an indefinable, snafu-ridden, unique, LSD-laced, pandemonium of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Precisely what a counter-culture would/should/ could and did order up.

Woodstock started out to be a rock festival for about 50,000, but when advance sales hit 100,000, the organizers scrambled to find a venue to hold that many people.

A mere four weeks before the scheduled event, Max Yasgur offered up his pasture for rent, and more than half a million people came.

I heard about the festival in the spring of 1969; the ticket price was high, but the worst thing was the thousands of miles I would have had to hitchhike to get there.

I followed news of the festival as well as I could as the roster of groups grew and grew and then shortly before Woodstock actually happened, I found out it would be free! I think my heart stopped and I’ve been kicking my own ass ever since for not even making an effort to go.

I was, like millions of other young people, especially in the US and Canada, there in spirit.

The newscasts on TV were disparaging for the most part – the lack of general organization, food, sanitation, police; the monsoon rain, stories of drug overdoses (one death), traffic jams and so on and so forth. What I heard were snippets of fabulous music, and I

saw smiles on soaking wet muddy hippies flashing peace signs for the camera crews, dancing and singing and robustly joining Country Joe McDonald in the Fish Cheer, a scathing chant against the war in Vietnam.

The performers that I loved the best include: Santana, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Ten Years After, The Band, Johnny Winter, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Paul Butterfield and Jimi Hendrix who scandalized the nation with his version of the Star-Spangled Banner on August 17, 1969, the last day of Woodstock. He would be dead in 13 months, followed two weeks later by Janis Joplin.

And the ones that were invited but decided to blow off New York State: Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Moody Blues, John Lennon, Simon and Garfunkel, the Doors, oh, and Bob Dylan.

The now legendary Woodstock Music Festival inspired an Oscar-winning documentary and an album worth its weight in gold

that I still love to listen to. The generation into which I was born stopped a war; we helped draft dodgers and deserters get settled in Canada as much as we could.

We embraced sex, drugs, and rock and roll with a passion fuelled by our freedom to do so. It was an extraordinary time in history, and I still defend two tenets from those days as close to my heart as my soul: Peace and Love.

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Summertime Music and More Christie Seeley

vezelay@mac.com

From Oakland, California to Puerto Vallarta…lured by music of guitars and sounds of the sea. vallartasounds.com

The Digital Age and Music

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eople I run into these days often complain about the internet and smartphones and the supposed anxiety they add to our lives. I am afraid I must differ.

I can see “in theory” the reasoning behind their complaints primarily if they are just focused on the overuse of Social Media and constant texting but wonder if they can look back a bit and remember their anxiety about leaving their offices, homes, desks not too many years ago, wondering if they might miss an urgent call or notice while away.

Well I can and I must say I am content to be able to step out or to tune in to a good book or even a Netflix episode of Jane the Virgin knowing that anyone who needs me can text, email, what’s app or call me and I can decide whether or not to address those interruptions at that precise moment. The anxiety of perhaps “missing out” is gone. If my people are on another continent, I can still decide if the time is right to receive them or if I should address their messages in the morning. I confess I am one who can turn over and return to sleep after one of those beeps in the middle of the night, so perhaps this is not fair.

Living long is a gift. It gives us perspective. The lives we lived so many years ago were great and offered us many positive things, but the possibilities today are so much more plentiful. Got a question?

Look it up on the internet, and in seconds you have information.

You may have to dig deeper for a fuller picture but keep going, and you will probably have the answers. When I began to explore the life of Django Reinhardt last year, for example, I found a book review in the New Yorker that led me to Michael Dregni’s wonderful book about the man, the culture and the music. Dregni would go into great detail about guitar techniques and specific parts of a piece and I, not a musician, could search the internet and invariably

come up with illustrative articles or even a YouTube example of what he was talking about. When he mentioned a specific location in Paris, Nice, Toulon, or Belgium, I could rapidly place it on a map and learn more about the history of the place enriching the story for me tremendously. Maybe with the internet, instead of having to rely on our family’s one set of World Book Encyclopedias or the not too satisfactory school library, I might have come out a genius! For now, I am just happy about all it offers me in the present and how it helps me enjoy on an even deeper level the music I hear.

Travel has also been simplified.

When my ex-husband and I began to travel in Europe, I had to rely on snail mail to obtain a reservation in destination restaurants in France like that of Georges Blanc In Gourge-en-Bresse and then wait forever for a reply. Today we can get an answer almost immediately.

When I decided I wanted to visit some extraordinary places from the life of Django, it was as simple as just checking the internet regularly until I found a great airfare and booking. Then with the help of Airbnb, I located places to stay to follow my chosen itinerary.

I am totally into the digital age. I feel it is adding years to my life and filling it with fascinating content.

I’ll get back to you later about my Django trip which commences on September 11, a date that not surprisingly offered great deals.

I guess you can tell I am not particularly superstitious either.

Have a great week, and keep listening to that music!

entertainment Live Music Calendar

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This list features bars and restaurants that may have live music and ongoing acts. We do not take responsibility for misinformation. Listings are published free of charge but are subject to space availability.

Email editor@vallartatribune.com to update or add your listings.

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Sat: Adriana and the Freaks 10 pm Que/Pasa (625 Aquiles Serdan) Tues: The Change at 7-10 pm Sun: Sylvie&The Zippers 7 - 10 pm Roxy Rockhouse (Ignacio L Vallarta 275) Nightly music after 11 pm with the house band Aloha Bar (Plaza Parabien #16) Thur: Dr. Groove 10 pm Chasers Sports Bar (Avenida Mexico 570A) Fri: Gecko Band 8 - 11 pm

NUEVO VALLARTA Eddies (Boulevard Nayarit 70) Weekly - Live music 6:30 - 9:30 pm

VALLARTA Act II Entertainment (Insurgentes 330) Tue: Bob’s Karaoke Party 8 pm Wed: Best of ABBA/Elton John 7:30 pm Thur: The Best of Us Two 8 pm Babel Bar (Aquiles Serdán 437, Isla del Cuale) Fri: Faralae 7 - 9 pm Sat: Nacho and Diego 1 - 3 pm Sat: Oscar & Raul 7 - 9 pm Sun: Esau & Lobo 1 - 3 pm Captain Don’s (Honduras 126) Fri: Tequila Rush 8 - 11 pm Sat: Da Crew 8 - 11 pm Cuates y Cuetes (Francisca Rodriquez 101) Tues: Moruno at 8:30 - 10pm Wed: Tatewari 6 - 8 pm Sun: Moruno at 8:30 - 10 pm Daquiri Dick’s (Malecon and Lazaro Cardenas) Sun: Esaú Galvan 7:30 - 9:30 pm

BUCERIAS

El Oasis de Holi (River mouth by La Isla Mall) Sat: Dr. Groove 6 pm

Drunken Duck(Avenida Mexico, Centro | Bucerias) Wed: The Gecko Band 9 pm Sun: The Gecko Band 5pm

Incanto (Insurgentes 109) Thur: Open Mic 7:30 pm Fri: The Renteria Bros. 5 pm Fri: Zoe & Leon Trio 7:30 pm Sat: Benji Gutierrez & Aaron Hernandez 7:30 pm Sun: Joby & Tongo 5 pm Sun: Benji Gutierrez, Piano 7:30 pm Fri, Sat & Sun: Dennis Crow 9:30 pm

LA CRUZ Ana Bananas (Tiburón #42 | La Cruz) Sun: Live Music 7 pm

Kelly’s Pour Favor Saloon and Cookhouse (Lazaro Cardenas 245) Mon: Hoochie Coochie Men 8 - 11 pm Wed: Tequila Rush 8 - 11 pm Thur: 3Tones 8 - 11 pm Fri: Dr. Groove 8 - 11 pm Sat: Soul Trip 8 - 11 pm

OSO’s Oyster Bar ( La Cruz Marina) Sat: The Remedy 7 pm Britannia (Coral, La Cruz) Tues: Open mic with The Turn 7pm

SAYULITA & SAN PANCHO

Murphy’s Irish Pub (484 Morelos, Malecon) Thur: Adriana and the Freaks 10 pm Fri: Adriana and the Freaks 10 pm

Don Pato (Marlin 12, Sayulita) Live music nightly

View these listings and more online at www.vallartatribune.com/eventos/live-music-calendar/

2020 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge To Feature 13 Teams

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he 13-team field for the 2020 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge was announced on Thursday.

In 2020, the Triple Crown-sponsored tournament will feature two sessions at Nancy Almaraz Stadium in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The first session, which will take place Feb. 6–9, will host BYU, George Washington, Long Beach State, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah Valley.

The second session will occur Feb. 13–16 and feature Cal Baptist, Colorado State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

Local events in Puerto Vallarta Concerning World Water Week 2019 & Day Zero Event

The tournament, which will be held for the fifth time in 2020, is the only Division-I softball event held outside of the United States.

Find out more details about the 2020 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge visit: https://bit. ly/2z92q7q

Day

Time

Place

More Information

Interpretive hike in El Salado Theme: Mangroves in the water cycle

Saturday 24 August

Departing Estero El 9 & 11am Salado and 1pm

www.esteroelsalado.org

Peacful Citizen’s March to Defend Water

Sunday 25 August

10 am

Hidalgo Park to Kiosk Main Plaza

Facebook: rio los horcones sin limites

Talk of the importance of taking care of Mexico’s water

by Father Gabriel Espinosa Iñiguez

Tuesday 27 August

10 am

Hidalgo Park

Facebook: rio los horcones sin limites

Talk and trip to Rio Los Horcones. Theme: Sacred Water

Thursday 29 August

10 am

Soccer Field Boca de Tomatlan

Facebook: rio los horcones sin limites

Upcoming Events

Friday, Aug. 30 at 8pm at Incanto Theater Local French entertainer Michel Giglia will present ‘Hello Paris’ featuring the finest in French music. from noted artists including Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet. And more.

Fridays For Future Global Climate Strike (September 20 • 11:30 am - 2:30 pm) Organized by students around the world, Fridays for Future is a movement against global warming and climate change that began in when activist Greta Thunberg led a manifestation before the Swedish parliament in 2018. City Hall. Details at facebook.com/ events/404373453623018.

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games

August 22 - 28, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Anglican Church Puerto Vallarta

Iglesia Anglicana Puerto Vallarta

Worldwide Anglican Communion Anglican Church in North America

Puerto Vallarta (322)-308-0022

Read the first edition of the Best of Banderas Bay and Riviera Nayarit guide online www.vallartatribune.com

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pages of information designed to make your stay in the area the best! From the best beaches to the best activities and more, you can download and view online at www.vallartatribune.com and watch for copies at your favourite Vallar taTribune distribution points.