Vallarta Tribune - Issue 1174 October 3 - 9, 2019

ON THE WATER

CURATOR’S CLIPPINGS

MEDICAL MATTERS

Page 06

Page 07

Page 09

Wash, rinse, repeat

Avoid Overwatering for Happy Houseplants

Healthcare Resources

October 3 - 9, 2019 Year 22 Free Issue 1174

FR EE

GU ID E

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

Wake of the Flood

MAP OF BANDERAS BAY

PAGE 12-13

VALLARTA SHOPPING PAGES 14-15

ENTERTAINMENT PAGES 20-21

CROSSWORD PAGE 22

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Editorial

October 3 - 9, 2019

Editor’s Note Neil Gerlowski

neilg@vallartatribune.com

Wake of the Flood

S

ometimes we who live in Puerto Vallarta don’t fully appreciate our local abundance of blue skies until we travel elsewhere or when a really big weather system leaves us with prolonged overcast skies. It’s amazing that even in the peak of our rainy season, the sun shines through strongly for much of the day building up towering storm clouds for our usual evening soakings.

September closed with more than just our normal rainy season storms however. Close on the heels of Hurricane Lorena which passed the week before came Tropical Storm Narda. Even though Narda was downgraded to a depression by the time she poured over Puerto Vallarta, she unleashed mighty torrents of rain throughout the night of September 29th and well into the following morning for a total gully washer.

Communities on the south side of Banderas Bay were especially hard-hit with Yelapa perhaps the most affected. Closer to home for most of us, at the border of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo Corrientes, the Río Los Horcones flowed past its banks for its greatest flood since the installation of the new Malecón (boardwalk) of Boca de Tomatlán Malecón.

The two pedestrian bridges that connect the Boca de Tomatlán community were rendered impassable for most of the day on Monday, September 30th. The upstream suspension bridge was wiped away completely during the flood and will need to be rebuilt

from scratch. The downstream concrete bridge was completely overwhelmed for hours by strong currents flowing with mud and rocks, and the bridge will need to be inspected thoroughly to determine if its structural integrity has been compromised.

In downtown Puerto Vallarta, Protección Civil closed traffic near the Río Cuale for several hours as river water overflowed its banks there too. Mud and debris from the river temporarily clogged

storm drains flooding out parts of Calles 5 de Febrero, Achiles Serdán, and Ignacio L. Vallarta until emergency and maintenance crews were able to clear them for traffic. Fortunately, work is moving quickly as the Puerto Vallarta community recovers from a very wet close to September.

Hoping for milder weather for the rest of October!

Neil Gerlowski Editor

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Welcome

Welcome to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

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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

Archive Photo

CALLING IN MEXICO

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 Neil Gerlowski neilg@vallartatribune.com Sales Team editor@vallartatribune.com Designer Cynthia Estela Andrade Gutiérrez cysandra@gmail.com

October 3 - 9, 2019 (UPDATED AUGUST 2019)

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.

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

INTERNATIONAL LONG-DISTANCE CALLS FROM MEXICO US & Canada: Dial 001 + Area Code + Number Elsewhere: Dial 00 + Country Code + Area Code + Number

FIRE DEPARTMENT: 322.223.9476 AMBULANCE: 322.222.1533 IMMIGRATION: 322.224.7719 CONSUMER PROTECTION: 01.800.468.8722

Emergencies: 911 Red Cross: 065

Ahoy Cruisers!

In port this month

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 the month October and November Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit welcomes 94,932 passengers!

Bienvenido!

NAME CARNIVAL CRYSTAL CRUISES LINE HOLLAND AMERICA PRINCESS CRUISES PRINCESS CRUISES WINDSTAR CRUISES NORWEGIAN CRUISES CARNIVAL PRINCESS CRUISES NORWEGIAN CRUISES CELEBRETY DISNEY CRUISES LINE ROYAL CARIBBEAN HOLLAND AMERICA HOLLAND AMERICA PRINCESS CRUISES DISNEY CRUISES LINE

PASS DATE 3,200 02.10.2019 940 03.10.2019 2,106 06.10.2019 2,600 07.10.2019 3,600 10.10.2019 212 11.10.2019 3,883 14.10.2018 2,680 15.10.2019 2,400 21.10.2019 2,240 22.10.2019 2,850 23.10.2019 2,500 24.10.2019 2,435 26.10.2019 1,820 27.10.2019 2,104 29.10.2019 3,600 30.10.2019 2,500 31.10.2019

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

2,435

02.11.2019

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

CARNIVAL CELEBRETY PRINCESS CRUISES DISNEY CRUISES LINE PRINCESS CRUISES CELEBRETY CARNIVAL HOLLAND AMERICA CARNIVAL NORWEGIAN CRUISES PRINCESS CRUISES NORWEGIAN CRUISES CELEBRETY CARNIVAL NORWEGIAN CRUISES PRINCESS CRUISES NORWEGIAN CRUISES ROYAL CARIBBEAN

2,680 05.11.2019 2,046 06.11.2019 3,600 06.11.2019 2,500 11.11.2019 3,080 11.11.2019 2,046 12.11.2019 2,680 13.11.2019 2,104 19.11.2019 2,680 20.11.2019 2,240 20.11.2019 3,600 20.11.2019 3,883 21.11.2019 2,850 23.11.2019 2,680 26.11.2019 2,240 27.11.2019 3,600 27.11.2019 3,883 28.11.2019 2,435 28.11.2019

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/

October 3 - 9, 2019

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News

Wake of the Flood

Letter to the Editor Diego Hughes dhughes20@aspv.edu.mx

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he worldwide movement — Fridays for Future, initiated by Greta Thunberg — holds the purpose of spreading awareness of the climate emergency our planet is suffering. As students within our community, we have taken the initiative to address Puerto Vallarta’s environmental issues.

We strive to educate people on the benefits of sustainable lifestyles, while making our voices heard to demand local government to take action against this ongoing crisis.

Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful place, and our goal is to keep it that way. Biodiversity is a fundamental asset of our region, yet little is being done to protect it. Crucial areas like El Estero el Salado, El Río Los Horcones, Las Islas Marietas, Los Arcos de Mismaloya and the surrounding jungle areas of Puerto Vallarta are facing environmental threats, and some are even on the brink of total loss. Our government has been silent about these dangers, but we are willing to stand up and call for change.

We demand our local and regional government to exercise

their power in order to help our cause. Our region’s ecosystems must be protected and we need government enforcement to accomplish what we strive for. We request the implementation of an efficient recycling system across the bay as well as education programs in public schools to start creating awareness with the next generations. At the same time, we urge our government to prevent all interventions into ecological sanctuaries like the ones previously mentioned.

We encourage everyone that cares for our bay to join our cause by participating in our protests and gatherings. After all, there is strength in numbers! Details regarding upcoming Fridays For Future events here in Puerto Vallarta can be found on our facebook page and Instagram (@fridaysforfuture.pv) as well as direct contact through fridaysforfuturepv@gmail.com Join us and be part of this great change!

Photo Credits: Diego Hughes Diego Hughes is a senior in The American School of Puerto Vallarta and is one of the student organizers of Fridays For the Future events in Puerto Vallarta.

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Local Voices On The Water

Capt. Gregory Pilkington greg@fishtfc.com

With Capt. Gregory Pilkington of www.FishTFC.com. FishTFC operates private bay tours, marine and whale encounters, and world-class sport fishing charters. For more information contact greg@FishTFC.com or call +1 (435) 901-4564.

Wash, rinse, repeat

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fter being side-swept by Hurricane Lorena last week, we took a direct hit from Tropical Depression Narda this week. Hopefully, that marks the end of storms for this season and we can resume the fabulous fishing we have enjoyed this year.

In between storms we had around a week of fantastic fishing.

Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) and Marlin could be found around storm debris about 8 miles off of Punta Mita.

Bigger marlin were being caught out at El Banco and Roca Corbatena.

We also found Wahoo at Corbatena and Roosterfish closer in near El Morro.

BEST BET - INSHORE/ NEARSHORE On Monday afternoon we headed with relief supplies to Yelepa which was hit pretty hard by the storm and sustained significant damage. There is an incredible amount of debris (lots of trees and

tree stumps) floating in the bay, and underneath these debris patches, there are lots of small and mid-size Dorado.

For the next few days, half-day trips to this area should be very productive and you should be able to catch some of these beautiful and tasty fish.

Once this debris moves offshore we should see a repeat of last week with larger Dorado and Marlin off of Punta Mita.

BEST BET - OFFSHORE With Blue and Black Marlin in the 600-pound range being found at El Banco and Corbatena, now is the time to try and catch that fish of a lifetime. These beasts don’t get big by being easy to catch. But, if you have the time, patience and money to chase them, you won’t be disappointed.

Catching a big marlin is the pinnacle of fishing, and there is no place better than here and no time better than now to experience it for yourself.

CONSERVATION CORNER Along with all the storm debris, you will find a lot of plastic garbage floating around. Please collect as much as possible and help save our remarkable marine life.

And remember, it’s much easier to collect garbage before it enters the ocean. So, as you are out and about, please pick up what you can and dispose of it properly. Otherwise, it will eventually end up at sea.

TOPLESS TIP Once Yelapa recovers enough to begin operations again, by all means, head over for a fabulous beach lunch and a hike to the waterfall. The waterfall will be pumping and the locals will surely need your support.

October 3 - 9, 2019

Famous Mosaics

Emily Murray

emilysbigadventure@gmail.com Emily Murray writes about the stream of creativity at Puerto Vallarta’s Tile Park at Parque Lázaro Cárdenas in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Mad Respect

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s is often the case, I’m wrapping up my morning jog at the Tile Park. It’s a gorgeous, sunny Tuesday morning, and on this particular morning, I’m struck in a new way by the liveliness of the place. The Zumba class is Zumba-ing, folks are eating breakfast and hugging goodbye before setting off for work. Natasha is there lighting some incense, getting the day started with the crew nearby.

It’s Day 1 of another workshop so the energy is a little different, a hint of anticipation in the air.

A dance version of “Take On Me” sets Zumba bootys bouncing, and I too must bounce. On my way out I spot Choco and wish him a good day… looks like he’s setting up for more concrete work. He’s forever making new stuff for the park, I love that.

We on this project are all too aware of folks who feel the park should remain “Lázaro Cárdenas Park”; those who say it is disrespectful to call it anything else. Well, great news! It will always remain “Lázaro Cárdenas Park”... and we’d suggest, with all due respect, that you go on and call it that. After all, that’s the name.

It is on that street, and that is a way to describe it. You could tell your friend to meet you at Lázaro Cárdenas Park. They could Google it and they’d find what they were looking for.

The Tile Park, is actually the art installation within the park.

It is headed up by mosaic artist Natasha Moraga, and it’s basically

a great big community art project at this point.

You could certainly tell your friend to meet you at Lázaro Cárdenas Park, but if you’re describing it to someone who has never seen it before, you’d be more apt to tell them that it’s covered in tiles. It’s a giant mosaic.

That it is bright and it sparkles in the sun and there’s a lot of action there. People are playing and hugging, dancing and dreaming there. You’d tell a person to walk in the direction of the water and keep an eye out for the big black and white spiral.

Your friend could also Google “Tile Park” and they’d find what they’re looking for. No, it’s not disrespectful to reference the Tile Park and Lázaro Cárdenas Park as the same place, because they are in fact the same place. Further, the intention of the Tile Park project is 100% love and respect, and it always has been. Respect for a plot of land which, historically, hasn’t been on the receiving end of much respect. One could Google that, too. Perhaps you should. With knowledge comes understanding - and theoretically respect - even if ones stance remains unchanged.

As for us, we’re creating a new future for this place with a checkered past. Sure, the name the park was given describes its location... but it doesn’t describe the place. It will always be Lázaro Cárdenas Park, that’s a fact.

But it’s not yet done becoming everything it will be, either.

So call it what you want, and stay tuned for more.

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.

Making your Home Eco-friendly

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ooking for ways to make your home eco-friendlier? Here are some things to consider to be more environmentally conscious at your home in Puerto Vallarta (or anywhere!)

Consider going solar-powered.

With our ample sunlight in the Bay of Banderas area, many homeowners have pulled the plug on traditional electricity and gone solar. There are a growing number of companies that offer supply and installation of solar panels.

These products not only save you money, but they also produce zero emissions. That’s great for the environment AND great for your wallet! On average, the return on investment to go with solar panels is about ten years. The emissions you eliminate immediately and significantly contribute to a healthier world.

Continue to reuse, reduce, and recycle. Single-use plastics are harmful to our planet. If possible, consider using reusable versions of straws, cutlery, water bottles, and zip-top bags. Many restaurants in Riviera Nayarit are taking decisive action by offering a paper straw when you ask, rather than a plastic straw automatically. One straw does not make a lot of difference. When you think of all the straws used globally; however, it all adds up.

A great reusable option for plastic wrap is a wrap made from beeswax.

You can find these earth-friendly options at many of our local farmers’ markets.

Wet wipes and paper towels add to increased waste in landfills. A eco-friendlier alternative to consider is cloth for cleaning.

Eliminating the use of just a little bit of disposable plastic in each home

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Local Voices

October 3 - 9, 2019

goes a long way towards a happy earth.

If you are buying furniture, consider what materials the items are made from before you buy.

Ask the salesperson if the coffee table, sofa, or headboard is made with sustainable materials. The best eco-friendly furniture helps conserve resources, is locally sourced and is made without harsh chemicals. Look for fabrics such as 100% natural latex, eco-wool, and organic cotton.

Recycled materials are also a good option.

Fast-growing woods, bamboo,

locally sourced, and reclaimed wood are some excellent options for crate goods. Although furniture available from big-box stores may look attractive, consider the amount of energy and fuel it took to ship across the world. Buying locally or even within Mexico helps support the health of our planet.

Let technology help you understand and reduce your energy use. With all the new smart technology available, it is easier than ever to make sure you are cooling your home only when you need to. Some technologies monitor the room you are in and automatically adjust only to cool just that space.

According to manufacturers, the return on investment in a smart thermostat is less than two years.

Do you rent your home when you are not in Mexico? Consider getting a sensor that automatically shuts off your air conditioning if the sliding or patio doors are open.

Another great option to reduce water waste is to install an eco-friendly toilet. The EPA (environmental protection agency) estimates that an average home can save approximately 4000 gallons of water annually with a water-saving bathroom.

Looking for eco-friendly furniture?

Contact me at sa.novak@solutionsmexico.com.

Curator’s Clippings Horticultural Tips Robert Price

www.vbgardens.org Robert Price, Founder and Curator of the Vallarta Botanical Garden

Avoid Overwatering for Happy Houseplants

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his time of the year, many of us humans feel a little overwatered. Hurricane Lorena and Tropical Storm Narda and even a doozy of an unnamed intense downpour between those two have probably combined to dump more rain on us in the last two weeks than the whole month prior.

Water is essential to humans and plants, but too much of a good thing all at once can be bad. Most plants are susceptible to something called “root rot” and some plants are much more susceptible than others.

Prevention is the best cure, but many people are oblivious to how their overenthusiastic watering can send their favorite houseplants on a downward spiral.

I’ll often hear something like this and instantly think root rot: “I’ve got this plant whose leaves suddenly turned yellow and it’s gotten worse even though I’ve been watering it every day.” That “every day” part is the problem. Most plants, with exceptions such as those conditioned to live along shorelines or in marshes, prefer for their roots to dry out thoroughly between watering.

Prolonged exposure to too much water deprives plant roots of oxygen, causing them to decay, to literally rot away, and this can soon spread to the rest of the plant’s roots. Another cause of root rot is from dormant fungus in the soil that has the potential to suddenly flourish when a plant is overwatered—even just one single time!

Sticking just to houseplants here for the moment, start off on the right course by using a good all-purpose potting mix. Saving some money by shoveling dirt up from your backyard is more likely to result in a dammed-up pot that doesn’t drain

properly.

Next, try to get your plants in large pots down to just a weekly watering and your smaller potted plants down to two waterings per week. Tiny potted plants, hanging plants, and plants exposed to long periods of direct sunlight may need to be watered more often.

Never water when the surface of the soil is still damp, and check just a little deeper. Most home gardeners use a finger to test: if your finger comes out damp and dirty then you don’t need to water; if your finger comes out dry and clean, your plant is ready for another watering.

If you’d rather not get dirt in your fingernails, a pencil can do the trick almost as well—the only caveat here is that after the pencil’s wood is wet enough it’s harder get an accurate reading.

If you use saucers under your houseplants, take a good look at these after you’ve watered. A little trickle in the saucer means that the pot is completely watered and there was just a little too much that escaped. That’s perfect. No water in the saucer either means that you may not have provided enough water or the soil is not draining properly. A saucer with lots of water in it means that the plant’s roots are now sitting in completely saturated soil that can’t begin to dry until the water in the saucer fully evaporates.

At that point, you should empty the saucer (maybe sponge it out if the pot is particularly big and heavy) and not water so aggressively the next time.

Depending on the type and size of your houseplant and how far the root rot has spread, it is sometimes possible for plants to rebound on their own. At other times, intervention becomes necessary often including removing the plant, washing the roots, and repotting.

Keeping these tips in mind means developing good habits and cultivating happy, beautiful plants!

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Local Voices

October 3 - 9, 2019

Vibes & Vices

AJ Freeman

cosmiccapt@gmail.com AJ Freeman is an adventurous spirit, serial friendmaker, and general enthusiast. He lives his everyday life hoping to demonstrate the nearly infinite potential for discovery and wonder on this small wet rock orbiting a dim yellow star in the backwoods of the Milky Way.

Mosaic Madness @ Casa Alexandra

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sually when I miss the publishing deadline here it’s because my weekend got a bit out of hand (or once, due to an unscheduled visit to the local correctional spa) but if you’ve been wondering where my little piece of the paper has been over these last couple of weeks, I’m happy to report that I’ve actually been pretty productive. The other day I got a message from Nancy Page, noted local mosaic artist and fellow member of Team Tribune offering the opportunity to facilitate her creative vision over at Casa Alexandra, and because I have tremendous respect for what she does, I not only made myself available for duty, but showed up in the middle of a hurricane and even brought along my assistant Nicté, who has a much more robust sense of applied aesthetics.

Together with a couple of other contributors, we set about the task of preparing the piece for its grand debut as an anchor of the popular Vallarta ArtWalk. (Oct. 16, look out for the half-page feature ad all month! *big smile, thumbs up*) The Vibes: My experience in helping to transform a crude loose-leaf sketch into a work of art measuring almost 10 meters wide in about that many days was typified on a sunny Saturday, when I stood on the blazing roof of the studio perfectly polishing ceramic tiles one at a time.

With a soundtrack of Lenny Kravitz in the background and ice-cold cerveza in a nearby cooler, the scent of basil and lemongrass permeated the immediate area as I sprayed my small cloth, thankfully masking the vinegar that was the active ingredient in this surprisingly

effective (and completely vegan!) cleaning solution.

Of course, that doesn’t sound like the most exciting thing in the world—mostly because it isn’t—but I immersed myself in the process because I knew in my heart that the finished product would be well worth the tedium. It was sort of like what I imagine Michaelangelo’s paint boy felt when he was painting the Sistine Chapel...what, you thought he was coming down from the ceiling every time he needed a clean brush? Be serious.

The Vices: A significant element of the story arc in this, the final season of “Vibes & Vices,” is my lackluster level of skill in the visual arts. Oh, I can paint t-shirts and craft various artifices just fine, but as these pages once recorded, I have also struggled for hours to turn out a single macramé earring.

Despite this, I was entrusted in the actual application of tiles to the work, literally putting my fingerprints all over the ambitious art project. Yes, the high-pressure moment when you have your amateur skill evaluated by a practicing professional is something like Tony Hawk asking you to perform a kickflip on demand, but is balanced out by the corresponding sense of relief that came when I didn’t completely screw it up. In context, “Looks good, keep going” is one of the richer pieces of praise I had ever been given.

The circumstances also pushed my creative capacity in other ways.

At some point during the project, I decided the Sun was being a little too aggressive that afternoon and set out to devise a solution. Years of living in a society brimming with imaginative answers to everyday challenges inspired my invention of the umbrelladder, a combination

weather shield and multi-level shelf that provided space for supplies such as beer, an electric fan, and my handy dandy notebook, natch.

After more than a week, my time on the site drew to an end, and despite cranking out more manual labor than I had in at least the past year, I was able to take immense pride in the fact that I was able to have a hand in a public project that stands a decent chance at outliving me. Unfortunately, sharing any full

pictures of the mosaic before the unveiling party in two weeks is completamente prohibido, but I am permanently part of something truly special and no one can take that away from me.

The Verdict: The Palos Studio at Casa Alexandra has long been the creative domain of internationally recognized sculptor Manuel Palos, but with its addition to the ArtWalk set to take place every Wednesday evening this fall, both his collection

of works and Nancy’s mosaic mastery will get the platform they deserve starting with the unveiling ceremony on October 16th. I’ve also developed something of an emotional attachment to the piece for obvious reasons, so this time there’s no maybe about it...surely I’ll catch you there.

Info: Calle Brasil 1039, 5 de Diciembre https://www.palosstudio.net/ casa-alexandra

Sustainably

Yours

Emily Majewski

emilyannmajewski@gmail.com Emily Majewski is Co-Founder of PHYTOSTONE, a small firm based in Nayarit dedicated to creating advanced natural materials for home and garden.

Sustainably Yours in Outer Space

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his very moment, you and I are parked on a crystal ball that is hurling through space at 107,000 kilometers per hour.

Our mission: to survive another trip around the sun. Just today we are rotating around our daily orbit at 1670 kilometers per hour. You and I undergo this whirling journey through inky black space every day without giving it a second thought.

But we should think about it.

Everything we take for granted about this vessel we are perched on needs to be newly appreciated. The miracle of an atmosphere we can breathe, of water, of the wispy-thin biosphere that sustains life, is best appreciated from space.

Indeed, any new understanding requires that we transcend our own current perspective. Our experiential illusion is that the concert of factors sustaining our life right now has always been here and will always be here. This enormous assumption helps us get through daily life and, indeed, perpetuates a culture that makes trashing the planet as “normal” as a heartbeat.

But it is an assumption that dissolves away when viewed from space. Until relatively recent history, geologically speaking, our planet had happily carried on for billions of years in a way that could not support human life—like all the other planets and floating rocks we know of. It certainly can carry on without us, no questions asked.

Which leads us to a fatal flaw in the environmental movement, the whole notion of ‘saving the planet.’

You’ve likely read it ten times today on canvas bags. The attitude of earth being a ‘damsel in distress’ in need of saving is a notion that grossly misrepresents this fact: that

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Local Voices

October 3 - 9, 2019

we need the earth, the earth does not need us.

This might seem like semantics, but I would argue that navigating an environmental movement, under an illusion this grand, is a warm and fuzzy directional error that could be fatal. With the statement, ‘we need to save the planet,’ we get to be the heroes and feel good about ourselves. With the statement, ‘We need the planet’, a paradigm shift occurs: suddenly we are hitchhikers needing a ride through the galaxy that the planet does not have to give us. It’s us with our thumbs out.

It is humbling.

Perhaps part of the illusion is a romanticized metaphor of ‘Mother Nature’ and ‘Mother Earth,’ one exclusively focused on fertility and life. As evolutionary children of her life-giving capabilities, we feel entitled to expect this planetary nurturing forever. We think of it as our inheritance to do with what we

will, like trust fund babies.

The problem with this counterproductive metaphor is that motherhood denies life much more often than bestowing it. For example, the average female will make 1-2 million oocytes (eggs) compared to the average 2.5 children carried to term per woman around the globe. And on the topic of extinction, more than 99 percent of all species that have lived on earth (over 5 billion) are estimated to have died out. Which means that motherhood, according to Planet Earth, is a much less romantic affair than our Victorian notions. And we are naïve to think otherwise.

An even more comfortable world view to subscribe to is one focused on fatherhood. That a father-god has given us dominion to do as we please with the planet. If we mess up, a savior will extend his hand, whether it’s a spiritual intervention, a presidential strong-man or a “savior-billionaire” wielding a ‘saving’ technology.

This propensity to maternalizing or paternalizing our planetary reality needs to be seen for what it is: a distraction. A distraction from the fact that, so far, we have been buffered from the consequences of our actions by a planet that has only so much tolerance built into its systems. And that we need to re-design our culture using regenerative principals that promote life on this planet. Period.

I very much hope the next canvas bags and other environmental reminders we see reinforce the message that it’s ‘Time to Save Ourselves.’

Medical Matters

Pam Thompson

pamela@healthcareresourcespv.com Pamela Thompson operates HealthCare Resources Puerto Vallarta, a multi-faceted, independent, resource network that addresses all things related to your health and well-being. They offer assistance to help find a physician, hospital and diagnostic service for any healthcare needs.

Healthcare Resources

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y the time this issue is out, we will be in full swing with our October clinics, our October speakers programs and our Breast Cancer Awareness Month events! It is a jam-packed month, quite different from the past two months when things were ‘relatively peaceful’. No more. ¡Animo!

I would like to say a huge thank-you to the hundreds of people who posted on Facebook, sent text messages, phone calls and emails after my son’s motorcycle accident.

The support was overwhelming and so very much appreciated by our family. Luckily, he is on the mend and this would not have happened without the absolutely stellar nurses and doctors that I work with at Hospital San Javier Marina. Forever in my heart.

Our dazzling Pink Cocktail is on October 4 at Hospital San Javier Marina and we hope you are planning to attend, or did attend if you read this after the 4th. On October 18, 2019 we have our “Pink Cocktail Northern Bay” at Lujo Lifestyles in Bucerias. Last year it was a huge hit and amazing! Our Pink Awareness event at Sanmare is still in the works and will be on October 22 (details out soon) and then we wind up the month with our annual Pink Brunch and Fashion Show at Bravo’s on October 27, 2019. Details for everything are always posted on my Facebook page! And a big shout out to my pink ribbon-makers!

Once again we are lucky to have our ‘contactólogo’ here in Puerto Vallarta and we will hold another Contact Lens Clinic on October 25 and October 26, 2019. This is for folks who are currently using, want to use contacts, have had problems in the past obtaining the proper contact

lenses, or those interested in using contact lenses.

Dr. Mario personalizes the test for each eye as he brings many different kinds of contacts (types and materials) in order to offer the patient the most suitable for him/her. This is what makes the difference between going to a big box store or just any optician, and going to a specialist.

Email for info/appointment.

October 15, 2019 at 9am we have our very popular “Breakfast with a Physician” where we gather around the big table and drill one of our physicians with all kinds of questions.

On October 15 our featured physician will be Dr. Carlos Quintero, our well-loved GP. You can ask anything!

RSVP only.

For all details of every single event in October, just send me an email and request our newsletter!

Many are asking for this year’s flu vaccines. They are available for free at the Salud but they have not yet arrived.

Last February’s Medical Matter was a smashing success! I will not do one this year as I have decided to do them every other year.

If you are coming for the winter months alone, it is VITALLY important that you have an emergency plan in place including registering with your consulate online (easy to do, email me for link), make sure your close friends have all of your emergency contacts and someone trustworthy has a key to your place!

As well, for everyone coming for the winter months, please be sure you bring a sufficient amount of your medications as they just not might not be available here!

Here is to a perfectly pink month of October as we salute our breast cancer survivors, remember loved ones who have passed and press on to make all people aware of self-breast exams and mammograms.

10

Local Voices Starting over in Vallarta

Jennifer Mann

jenniferwriter@gmail.com Jennifer Mann is a long-time business writer who has covered everything from the maker of Twinkies to Hallmark Cards who now makes her home in Puerto Vallarta.

Vallarta’s Crowning Glory

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e all know and love her, the filigreed crown floating over our little Ciudad, beckoning safety, security, and comfort; a place of refuge.

She’s the crowning glory of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, or Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Vallarta’s homage to one of the most influential figures in the Americas and Catholicism, the patron saint of Mexico.

The crown beckons to all: the faithful, the put-upon, the hurting, and the healing. A respite from toil and strife; a shelter from a storm, a place to revere history.

Her crown is a glorious landmark for residents and visitors alike. But she’s had a hard life, battered by storms, broken by an earthquake, and replaced at one time by a big ugly piece of plastic that slowly deteriorated…

It had been nearly twenty years since I’d seen Our Lady of

Guadalupe and her crown up close.

Then, I was a tourist-in-a-hurry, eager to see and soak in as much as possible in as little time as possible…in her case, “Enter the church, take in the altar, walk the perimeter, click photos, drop a coin, light a candle, check.”

This time, as a resident, I savored the experience, strolling toward the church after a two-hour lunch with a friend, a long-time resident who shared some history of the neighborhood, good and bad.

We reached the point where she went her way, and I went mine. I looked up to catch a glimpse of the landmark to serve as my guidepost.

The crown, (which is not a replica of one worn by Empress Carlota of Mexico), is called Tecuntlanopeuh, from Nahuatl meaning, “la que tuvo origen en la cumber de Las Peñas,” or “the one that was born on the peak of Las Peñas,” as Puerto Vallarta was once known as Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe.

The crown is 31-feet in diameter, and 48-feet high. Eight angels make up her base, in homage to the Virgin

Mary’s crown, with Marian symbols embellished on their chests. Each angel also represents a point in Mary’s symbolic star. The five large palm fronds held aloft by the angels represent notable dates in Vallarta’s history – including 1851, the year Vallarta was settled - and also symbolize the five mysteries of the Marian Rosary. There are 24 “jewel” boxes encircling the crown, representing the hours of the day and is then topped by a world globe, and finally, at its pinnacle, a cross.

October 3 - 9, 2019 The crown was first lofted onto the highest tower of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1965, more than a decade after the church was completed, and there she stayed until October 12, 1995, when the earthquake crumbled her. It was then – ugh - “resurrected” in plastic.

Over time, bits and pieces fell to the streets below, and finally, after losing her shape, Vallarta said, “Enough!”

In stepped Carlos Terres, beloved and renowned Mexican artist and sculptor who, over 14 years,

lovingly and faithfully resurrected Tecuntlanopeuh to her true and former glory. Finally, on October 12, 2009, she once again returned to her rightful place, reigning over our city, a beacon of peace and comfort to all. So the next time you hurry through town, using her as your guidepost, maybe take a moment to recognize her perseverance and her history, and how she serves as a beloved and beautiful beacon of Puerto Vallarta to the world over.

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in the ANGLICAN ~ EPISCOPALIAN TRADITION

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2nd Annual Reader’s Choice Awards

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 1000’s of votes for the Plaza Genovesa ~ Center Courtyard Palapa 

Francisco Medina Ascencio 2015 ‘bestAv.of everything’

in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay and Riviera Nayarit

www.christchurchbythesea.org mypvchurch@gmail.com

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MESON DE MITA PUNTA MITA FOUR SEASONS

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Happy Hour

All the results are now online at: www.vallartatribune.com/best-of-banderas-bay-2019/

Agustin Flores Contreras Municipal Stadium

GRAND PALLADIUM VALLARTA

ENGLISH SERVICE & COMMUNION enEnglisngli

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POINTS OF INTEREST POINTS INTEREST 1. TURTLEOF RESCUE CAMP WHALE OF A TALECAMP HOLE 1.2. TURTLE RESCUE PLAYA ESCONDIDO 2.3. WHALE OF A TALE HOLE KISSING BRIDGE 3.4. PLAYA ESCONDIDO EL CORABRIDGE CROCODILE SANCTUARY 4.5. KISSING PUERTO 5.6. EL CORA VALLARTA CROCODILESIGN SANCTUARY ESTERO VALLARTA EL SALADOSIGN 6.7. PUERTO PITILLALEL PLAZA 7.8. ESTERO SALADO 8. PITILLAL PLAZA

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‘OLD TOWN’ ‘OLD TOWN’

9. 5 DE DEC. CEMETARY CERRO DE LA CRUZ 9.10.5 MIRADOR DE DEC. CEMETARY 11. MIRADOR MALECONCERRO DE LA CRUZ 10.

12.MALECON VIRGIN DE LA GUADALUPE CHURCH 11.

13. VIRGIN LOS ARCOS 12.

DE LAAMPITHEATRE GUADALUPE CHURCH 14. LOS ISLAARCOS CUALEAMPITHEATRE 13.

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CUALE 15. LAZARO OLAS ALTAS FARMERS MARKET 15.

CARDENAS PARK 15. OLAS ALTAS FARMERS MARKET

16. HIDALGO PARK 17. HIDALGO THREE HENS MARKET 16.

PARK 18. THREE MARSOL MARKET 17.

HENS MARKET 19. MARSOL MUNICIPAL MARKET 18.

MARKET 20. MUNICIPAL EMILIANO ZAPATA 19.

MARKETMARKET 21. EMILIANO CUALE CULTRAL 20.

ZAPATACENTER MARKET 22. CUALE 5 DE DEC MARKET 21.

CULTRAL CENTER 23. 5HUANACAXLE MERCADO 22.

DE DEC MARKET 23. HUANACAXLE MERCADO

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24. FOREVER SPRING MARKET 25. FOREVER BUCERIASSPRING ARTWALK 24.

MARKET 26. BUCERIAS RIVIERA FARMERS MARKET 25.

ARTWALK 27. RIVIERA MARINA FARMERS ARTISAN MARKET 26.

MARKET 28. MARINA MOVIE +ARTISAN PICNIC MARKET 27.

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BANDERAS BAY SHOPPING AND SERVICES

IBIZA 107, EL TIGRE 2 beds, 2 baths 1,269 square feet $269,500 USD

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his beautiful and modern main floor interior corner unit features an incredible outdoor covered terrace overlooking the pristine common pool, swaying palms and verdant golf course. The gorgeous contemporary kitchen features oversized center island with bar seating, granite counters, high-end stainless appliances, European style cabinets and adjacent pantry with stackable washer/dryer. The king-sized master suite with direct access to the terrace showcases a spacious bathroom with double vanities, large closet and enclosed shower and toilet. The restful guest suite includes ample closets and adjacent full bathroom.

Some other features of this beautiful home include: gleaming porcelain floors, mini-split in each room, barbecue, ceiling fans, 2 car parking, private storage locker

and oversized covered terrace with outdoor dining. The immaculate complex includes: on-site admin, elevator, lap pool and jetted tub with entertaining and sunning areas surrounded by tropical gardens. More than just a condo, the high-end neighborhood of El Tigre includes secured, gated entrance and a membership to the world class sport and racket club, spa and beach club. Golf memberships are available for a championship 18-hole course.

Tastefully furnished and offered “turn-key” ready, this lovely home is ready for your personal touches and perfect for the sophisticated and discriminating buyer that enjoys an active, healthy lifestyle.

Contact information: BOARDWALK REALTY OF: 322 224 0014/ 322 223 0001 michael@boardwalkrealtypv.com https://bit.ly/2oX5pOs

Adorable Dog in the Spotlight: BLAZE

S

PCA Blaze is a gorgeous, joyful five or six-year-old Vizla-mix weighing a tad over 50 pounds. He is a highenergy dog and is excellent around female dogs. Mostly Blaze wants to be with his people. He loves getting attention from his humans and prefers to play with his two-legged friends; he doesn’t get along with felines, however.

Blaze suffers an old fracture to his hip and knee but walks well and without a limp. However, he will probably need continual glucosamine supplements.

Blaze has been neutered, dewormed and vaccinated and is ready for his forever home. We

are accepting applications for his adoption at spcapv@gmail.com.

www.vallartatribune.com

www.vallartatribune.com

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

LUNES-VIERNES: 9:00am - 7:00pm (Monday to Friday)

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www.palmaleone.com

ADOPTION

16

Local Voices

October 3 - 9, 2019

Insight

Martin Rosenberg, PhD

martysanmiguel@gmail.com Marty journeyed from Anthropology Lecturer at the Museum of Natural History, N.Y.C., President of Illinois’ CPA Society, CEO Tomorrows Software, film producer, and author of three books and many articles. As Director of Posters International Gallery in Puerto Vallarta he is surrounded daily by creativity and European history. www.rosenbergcollection.com

Cupcake Is Funny

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eeth whitening products on TV show people smiling. But the news currently flowing through mass media doesn’t stimulate much laughter. Daily doses of such messages increase our anxiety, worry and fear.

True it is easy to come across a commentator reminding us to reduce our stress level. I get it…the mind/ body connection is real. A balanced diet, exercise, and meditation plus adequate sleep, water and our amazing internal system functions well. What’s missing is that I don’t laugh very often.

I remember reading a cancer cure story on how laughter had a role in our immune system. Is humor healing?

Science and modern medicine have much to tell us about body chemistry, pills, and supplements. No “silver bullets” to health there.

These messages all lead in one direction…buy this product to cure your problem. My research convinced me that supplements in capsules go quickly into the urinal and rarely get absorbed in the blood stream…money down the drain.

Information bombards us with the health benefits of avocados, garlic, and ginger. But I knew nothing about how humor affects our emotions and wellbeing. Where to start?

My best days begin over breakfast at a favorite outdoor cafe overlooking Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, ocean tides and loving families reminds me to treasure such moments. A brief anchor here.

Water relaxes our brain, and it is calming, it guides us to be a better person.

Overpowering force of the waves and the surrounding mountain

beauty helps us disconnect from the shadows and darkness of our past experiences. We are creative and inspired. Very much more humbled by the power of the ocean.

This particular day I observed each table. I saw two distinct situations were occurring. Let’s call one, group A. Regardless of age or gender these folks were obsessed with their internet devices and not their partners. Very serious… letting the chaos and tragedy of world events flood their thoughts.

Group B was connected to each other. They laughed at the dog walking along the seawall while the master kept pace on the ground. Giggled as the cyclist sped by singing aloud. Smiled at the happy waiter who patiently explained the menu. No question who was enjoying their breakfast at the beach. My list of questions now came easily.

Why do we laugh? Do all humans react to humor? Is laughter an emotion? Does it affect our mind and body?

To answer the first two questions I referred back to a prior career lecturing on cultural anthropology.

No societies, primitive or advanced, are without humor. What is funny varies significantly among different cultures. There appears to be a universal reaction that results in a smile or laugh…or some bodily response of the head or hands.

Babies can laugh both while inhaling and exhaling. Adults laugh only through exhaling. Even our closest biological primate, the chimpanzee, exhibits similar traits… without the benefit of language. As we see or experience an event our mind combines it with meaning so we quickly understand and interpret it. It happens so fast and automatic that we can miss the message.

Let’s consider some points on why humor is complex.

Slapstick acts are intentional while people accidentally falling into a pool is not. Both may appear humorous to us. We laugh with some comedians and dislike others.

Freud wrote that humor reduces suffering and calms the ego.

Stereotyped humor produces strong emotional reactions such as happily laughing at oneself or angrily dismissing a negative interpretation. Political correctness is a cultural phenomenon that evolves and likely always existed in societies. We are dependent on words to convey our thoughts and feelings. Words, however, are easily misunderstood and varied cultures respond to humor very differently.

Some words always seem funny to me. They conjure up an immediate vision of something out of whack…improbable. One study proposed that “nonsense words” were humorous if they seemed rude or where the letters in the word didn’t fit together. This can be funny or not. Dr. Seuss coined: yekko, zatz-it, wumbus, nerd, kweet, and skritz. Brilliant humor!

Professor Wiseman at the University of Hertfordshire, U.K. did a study of English speakers to test whether words with a “k” sound were funnier than others. The funniest joke was: Two ducks were sitting in a pond. One of the ducks said:

“Quack”.

The other duck said: “I was going to say that!”

That joke had the most “k” sounds. This tracks with those popular comedians using the f_ _ k word throughout their routines.

A 2015 study in The Journal of Memory and Language determined that the funniest nonsense words could be explained through the concept of entropy. This concept describes degrees of disorder.

Like letters out of place in a word.

If there is a struggle between order and disorder, we can conclude that disorder wins until something new is created or a re-balancing occurs.

Canadian university researcher Chris Webster wrote, “One reason puns are funny is that they violate our expectation that a word has one meaning.” Violating expectations, he proposed, with weird letter combinations gets particularly funny reactions.

Now we know why comedians from different countries have a hard time bringing their word based humor to a different culture. Humor perception is strongly influenced by our culture. Not all types of humor are nice to hear. It may be demeaning or aggressive. Geographically apart East-West traditions show very different people’s reactions to what is funny to them. All politics are said to be local…perhaps humor is too.

There is good news in research from Wharton, MIT and London Business School.

They’ve demonstrated there are positive effects from humor.

Studies identified benefits such as reduced stress and boredom, increased creativity and intimacy.

The highly respected Mayo Clinic explains the physical effect on the body: “It enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, boosts the brain’s release of endorphins and stimulates circulation and helps muscle relaxation.”

The daily news reminds us that negotiations between different cultures are difficult and often words are misunderstood.

Trying to lighten a conversation for example, between an English speaker and their Chinese guest shouldn’t be done with humor. Within China itself, language and beliefs vary dramatically. Chinese attitudes more often feel humor is beneath one’s stature. In general, it is not considered a

positive personal attribute.

I can imagine great differences in reactions to humor must exist between north-south and east-west citizens residing in the United States. Humor may be universal but few commonalities seem to exist.

Even slapstick routines arouse very different feelings among viewers.

Funny or violent?

If you have gone with me this far it is fair to share what I do to enjoy more humor…practicing an attitude/ activity adjustment.

• Eat desserts with your funniest friends…15 minutes of laughter burns 50 calories.

• Go to events where lots of people are laughing…laughter and music are contagious. We have great entertainment in Vallarta.

• Try to locate on TV or YouTube the rare live shows where audiences are provoked to laughter. Even canned laughter helps.

• Look around to see humor in people, situations, nutty events that happen with a happy filter… observing more works!

• Take breaks to play…I love coloring books using Sharpies. Try making your own sushi rolls and laugh at the funny shapes.

• Listen to some of the humorous podcasts now available.

• Keep a writing pad handy and jot down funny experiences.

• Most of all: Simply look forward to something funny…it’s there and we need to smile.

The field of positive psychology includes humor as an important element to experiencing meaning in our life. Former President Jimmy Carter was to speak at a Japanese school. It is reported he opened his remarks with a joke. The interpreter quickly re-told Carter’s joke. The audience all broke up laughing.

Later, Carter congratulated his interpreter who revealed that he had told the audience, “President Carter told a funny story. Everyone must laugh.”

October 3 - 9, 2019

The Healing Power of Plants Ricardo Mazcal

mazcalteotl@gmail.com Ricardo is a fourth-generation herbalist from Nayarit and is available year-round at Marsol Friday Market by the Pier.

Leaky Gut, Gastrointestinal Problems, and a Time-tested Solution

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f you are eating a plant-based diet, you are eating lots of lectins.

Lectins are a family of proteins that bind to carbohydrates forming glycoproteins. These glycoproteins perform many functions within the body, from regulating the immune system to keeping protein levels in the blood under control.

Eating plant foods, including all types of vegetables, is an

extremely healthy diet. Nightshade vegetables have high nutrient density, meaning, they pack a lot of nutrients into a small number of calories.

Here is a shortlist of nightshade vegetables: Tomatoes are good sources of vitamins A and C and contain an antioxidant called lycopene.

These nutrients reduce markers of inflammation and lower the risk of several chronic diseases.

Peppers contain large amounts of vitamin C, which can provide many health benefits, including enhancing iron absorption.

Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which gives chilies their heat.

From Here

Marcia Blondin

marciavallarta@gmail.com Long-time columnist Marcia Blondin resurrects this preview/review column each season devoted to local entertainment that she has had the pleasure of seeing lately or in seasons past.

Cupcakes & Creampuffs

O

ctober is now and, as she does every year, Vallarta Tribune contributor Pamela Thompson throws a Pink Wave Cocktail party to raise breast cancer awareness. This alwayswell-attended kick-off to Season happens Friday, October 4th from

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Local Voices

6:30 to 9 pm at San Javier hospital in the Marina. The food is pink (fabulous cupcakes!), the drink is pink lemonade and the atmosphere electric with hundreds of people uniting and reuniting, catching up with many snowbirds returning early and expats from all over Banderas Bay. Pam works hard all year gathering raffle prizes; there is almost a prize-per-person

Capsaicin has been found to alleviate heartburn symptoms and benefit weight loss efforts by helping reduce the calorie count.

Eggplants are a good source of dietary fiber, providing 2.5 grams of fiber per cup. This vital nutrient helps regulate bowel movements and may lower your risk of heart disease.

A bit of history - nightshade vegetables originated in the New World and in Mexico potatoes, tomatoes and beans have been staple foods for millennia.

Mexican people have adapted to hot chili peppers; Europeans are still at a deficit. These newfound vegetables arrived in Europe in the 1500s, where the tomato was a big hit, especially in Italy.

Lectins have come under fire lately as a source of health issues and inflammation and could cause adverse symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Some nutrition experts claim that these seemingly harmless proteins could have serious detrimental effects, throwing your immune system out of kilter and increasing your risk of chronic disease. Lectins are difficult to digest, and consuming copious amounts can damage the gut wall and lead to leaky gut syndrome, a condition that may increase permeability in the gut and may alter immune function.

attending! Restaurants, services, jewelers, artists are happy to donate to such a good cause. I will see you there! Can you hear the snowbirds packing? My sister Patrice and colleague John Warren both sent me photos Sunday morning of their own views in southern Alberta.

Yes, snow. John asked if I was missing my old province, I replied, “(expletive deleted) no!” I have seen some nasty photos after our recent rains of water levels in and around Vallarta – some footbridges breached by raging waters.

Francisco Villa floods in seconds it seems; one man was filmed happily floating down that street on a raft.

Only in Vallarta…finding joy instead of calamity.

Speaking of joy…as I was walking home from the Marsol Market last Friday afternoon, I remembered that Eric’s Paris Bakery was going to reopen in October. I have been passing there weekly, on Pino Suarez, dreaming of their creampuffs topped with chocolate. Their space was open and standing front and center of the bakery was Eric himself overseeing

Other nutrition experts argue that is all just hype - that the benefits of lectin-rich foods far outweigh the potential adverse health effects. Simple steps can be taken to minimize lectin content in the foods you eat by practicing proper preparation techniques.

Mexican cooks roast tomatoes and chilies and later remove the skin and seeds, using only the rich nutrient-packed pulp.

Cooking foods before eating them eliminates lectins almost entirely. Soaking beans overnight, for example, then boiling them, removes the lectins. Eating sprouted and fermented foods such as kvass, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and Mazmix contain no lectins. Mazmix herbal fermented drink provides billions of probiotics, prebiotics, and is multiple-source fermentation from various herbs.

Lectins are involved in immune system regulation, have antimicrobial properties and are effective against several types of

bacteria, including the strain that causes staph and yeast infections, and E. coli.

Benefits of lectins: there is evidence that lectins might improve gastrointestinal health; lectins can modify specific immune cells and alter signaling pathways to help kill off cancer cells and block tumor growth.

Lectins regulate cell adhesion and are involved in immune function and the synthesis of glycoproteins.

Credible scientific evidence suggests that eating a diet high in lectin-containing plant foods, including nightshade vegetables adequately cooked, will promote a leaner body and better health.

The longest-living and healthiest people in areas like Okinawa, Costa Rica, and Loma Linda, California, typically get 65% of their calories from beans and starchy vegetables.

If you want to live a healthy, long life past 100 years — eat beans!

staff and getting ready to bake! We chatted a bit and as you read this, he will be open so run and treat yourself. I have packed my trusty creampuff Tupperware into my Market bag…it will hold two exactly.

I have only ventured out of the house once this week for a delightful luncheon with a new friend; an American expat. The rest of the time was spent healing from dengue. I remember getting bitten by the huge dark-colored beast

because my feet were hanging over a mosquito coil and I watched the thing land on my ankle surrounded by mosquito-nuking smoke and had a long sweet drink. It was his last.

Artist’s Co-op update: we are still waiting to finalize our locale; perhaps by next week, I will have good news to share with you.

Until then, stay high and dry.

Hugs are freely given at the Marsol Friday Market, come by and get yours, From Here.

Local Voices Biking Around Vallarta

Ricardo Murrieta

ricardomurrieta@gmail.com Ricardo Murrieta is the owner of Aequilibrium Bikes + in Puerto Vallarta’s Versalles neighborhood on Calle Vienna near its intersection with Francisco Villa. He’s also on the board of Vallarta En Bici, a local non-profit dedicated to promoting biking in and around Puerto Vallarta.

Playa Grande – Easy Access Mountain Bike Route

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he name “Playa Grande” probably has most of you thinking of a stretch of sand along Banderas Bay. In this case though, the name is taken from a community along the Río Pitillal and the bike route follows this river from the fringe of our urban sprawl up into some beautiful stretches of forest.

Despite some climbing, this is a great route for just about anyone, starting with beginner mountain bike riders. For something so close to town, it also affords some surprisingly magnificent views. This time of the year, early morning rides there are most advisable before the sun and temperature start to climb beyond normal comfort zones.

Since I live in Puerto Vallarta’s Versalles neighborhood, I start my ride from my house skipping having to load my bike in a vehicle and saving on gas at the same time.

Beginning my ride at 7:30 am at this time of the year means that I start pedaling along cobblestone and pavement just at the start of twilight but have sufficient natural light by the time I’m riding on dirt road.

From Versalles I take Avenida Fluvial across Avenida Francisco Villa (after which it becomes De Los Tules). Continuing on that until it comes to a T, turn left on Av. Paseo de Marlin then a right on Calle Pavo Real (peacock, or “royal turkey” street in English!) then a left on Calle Playa Grande.

Calle Playa Grande soon becomes a dirt road and after

this point the lines between city and country life begin to blur. As the sounds of traffic fade in the distance you’ll hear more roosters crowing their morning greetings.

Then you’ll begin seeing the effects of country life as you pass some rustic horse corals, maybe, if you’re lucky, even catching some newborn foals enjoying breakfast.

After a glimpse of the Río Pitillal you’ll pass through the center of the Playa Grande community. The most direct route is a 90 degree turn to the right here (Venustiano Carranza) then, when that ends, a left on Libertad for just a moment before climbing the steep dirt hill forking off to the right (La Pedrera). Despite its steepness, this climb is quite short so push yourself to pedal to the top without dismounting and enjoy the fun ride down the other side back to the level of the river.

By now you’re likely to have the road all on your own if you’re on a morning ride. At the time when I normally take this route, I’ll usually come across a few joggers and occasionally another cyclist, but very few others.

This area is popular and much-visited by locals on weekends because, when water levels are normal, shallow natural pools are provide perfect spots for families to play while barbecuing carne asada and swigging down

a round of chelas. Unfortunately, the “pack it in, pack it out” or “no trace” ethic has not yet become the accepted norm in these parts, meaning the full scenic potential of this natural area is distracted by an overabundance of unnecessarily discarded trash.

A little further the road is armored in concrete to protect it from seasonal washouts. Up ahead the road crosses the river, which can be an option for you if you’d like to get wet, or, if you continue straight on a dirt trail you’ll arrive at a very convenient suspension bridge. Despite a few rotten boards that can be maneuvered around, the bridge can easily be ridden without dismounting.

Not long from here the property gate of the Kalí Ecopark is normally closed blocking further passage, so that’s what we’ll consider the end of the route for now. If you visit the ecopark when they are open and bring chains or cables to secure your bicycle, you can have breakfast there and enjoy some short hikes to scenic viewpoints including a waterfall.

From the Costco on Avenida Fluvial, this trek is about 7.5 km one way or 15 km as an out and back. Depending on your condition and whether or not you’d like to stop for breaks and photos, an hour is probably sufficient for your round trip. A downloadable map posting this route is available at: www.aequilibriumbikes.com.mx.

Are you an avid biker looking for an adventure this fall? Then mark your calendars for the weekend of November 16 and 17 for the annual Puerto Vallarta to San Sebastián Challenge—a 70 kilometer route climbing from our coast up to a Pueblo Mágico of nearly 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) in elevation. Register today: www. aequilibriumbikes.com.mx. If you don’t feel quite in shape for that much of a climb, now just might be time to buy an e-bike or install a conversion kit!

Remember: keep Puerto Vallarta safe and friendly by always sharing the road with care and looking out for bicycles.

October 3 - 9, 2019

Photos: Jaime Ruvalcaba

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October 3 - 9, 2019

Local Voices / Riviera Nayarit Life in La Cruz

Cindy Bouchard

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

Kindred Connections in ‘La Cruz North’

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here’s something so special about the people we’ve met in La Cruz. So special, in fact, that we go out of our way to visit them when ‘back home’ or ‘up north’ as we call it these days.

Every summer we travel around visiting family and friends making extra stops to see friends from La Cruz. It’s fun seeing the ‘other way we all live.’ “Up north” some live in sprawling homes, in floating homes, in motor homes, or on boats for the summer; some like Chris and I have summer cabins and others couch-surf. The one thing for sure is that we’ve met the kindest people living ‘abroad’ that are likeminded and love sharing both versions of our lives.

One of our friends invited many of us fellow “La Cruz’ers” to a pool party in Oregon. So many faces that we only see in La Cruz sharing stories, great food and a camaraderie I’ve only experienced since moving to La Cruz. We have visited others in Austin, TX, Victoria, BC, Edmonton, AB, Brandon, MB, Vancouver, BC and WA, Seattle, WA, and more. Hosting folks from La Cruz is wonderful too, exploring new areas wearing ‘way more’ clothes than we see on each other ‘back home’ in La Cruz as we sit around the fire sharing summer vacation stories; it almost feels like going back to school as kids.

Every summer more of our beloved Vallarta bands visit Canada, this year bringing Tatewari, La Trez Cuartoz and The Gecko Band. Friends fundraised and more to share with others.

We realize how blessed we are

with our dual life… especially as I just exclaimed to my hubby “We haven’t danced once this summer!”

In La Cruz we dance often, usually numerous times in a single week.

We stay in touch with our La Cruz peeps many other ways too, Facebook, Instagram, texting and emailing. I’m quickly getting up to speed on all the new happenings awaiting us in La Cruz. If you have the will to donate you can

bring from home scarves and fuzzy socks for the seniors, toothbrushes, English books for the kids, blankets and onesies for babies and to make Christmas special for so many kiddos, balls, Barbies, coloring books and more.

Speaking of people from ‘back home’; Annette from our hometown of Richmond, BC is hosting a fundraiser at The La Cruz Inn on October 12 for a local who was in a motorcycle accident over the summer. Manuel Lara produces videos for the Tres Aires trio and they’ll play to help their friend. Also The La Cruz Inn will be preparing a traditional home cooked turkey dinner for Canadian Thanksgiving on October 14th.

The Grand Opening of the new Tree House Bar will include a night full of music and fiesta with local favorite Cheko Ruiz and his band October 19.

This is the time that day after day bars and restaurants reopen for the season and new options surprise us. Explore La Cruz; you’ll be glad you did. Ask people about their summer and share your stories too… we’ll see you on the dance floor.

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Chris Evans of “Captain America” Visits the Riviera Nayarit

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he famous “Captain America” hopped off the silver screen to star in a new streaming production now being filmed in the Riviera Nayarit. The destination’s lush natural scenery and luxurious hotel infrastructure set the stage.

The Riviera Nayarit is in the headlines again, thanks to a visit from Chris Evans, the famous “Captain America” from the Marvel Universe which is filming a new series for a streaming platform in the destination. Evans is also the series’ executive producer.

The news that “Captain America” was in Mexico’s Pacific Treasure began circulating this Wednesday on social media. It was quickly picked up by local journalists and later confirmed by the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

Over the course of more than a week the production took full advantage of the destination’s beautiful natural scenery and luxurious hotel infrastructure for its shoots, which also included extras from the local community.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series “Defending Jacob”—developed by Mark Bomback and directed by Morten Tyldum—consists of 8 episodes and is based on the homonymous novel published in 2012 by William Landay. Although there’s no date set for the premiere, it’s rumored to be by end of year.

Chris Evans has become a world-class star thanks to his role as “Captain America” in the Marvel series. The character has its own film trilogy including: “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011), “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014), and “Captain America: Civil War” (2016).

Though “Captain America” has appeared in cameos and small roles in other Marvel films, he’s one of the main characters in the

Avenger movies, which feature several superheroes from the comic book universe.

Promotion for the destination Marc Murphy, director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB), said the hosting of movie productions, television series, and, more recently, a streaming platform, equals prime publicity for the destination.

The CVB, he added, offers a series of services and facilities to producers and directors interested in filming their next movie, series, or documentary in the destination.

“The Riviera Nayarit’s natural scenery is spectacular and has been the perfect stage for more than one feature film and a great location for shooting photos and commercials; the scenery itself becomes a character,” he said.

Over a hundred movies, including the well-known “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” “Limitless,” and “Elysium;” programming from top stations including Univision, Telemundo, Televisa, TV Azteca, Canal 40, BBC, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, MTV, NHK Japan, ESPN, and Redneck Island Reality Show; plus a long list of music videos and TV commercials have been filmed in the Riviera Nayarit.

The arrival of celebrities to Mexico’s Pacific Treasure brings the destination hundreds of thousands of media impressions, which reinforces the promotional efforts to position the destination on the world stage implemented by the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB), with the support of the Government of the State of Nayarit via the Tourism Promotion Trust (Fiprotur).

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Local Voices / Entertainment Vanishing World 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.

Take their Money

M

oney is the oxygen of every business on the planet.

Reduce the supply of money to a business, and it simply cannot breathe. It dies.

Millions of schoolchildren, university students, working people, and elders demonstrated on the last two Fridays, demanding that their politicians take immediate action to pass laws that will save our planet. In a world led by Trumps, Putins, Bolsanaros, and people like them, political action seems nearly impossible. The way we are going it might not happen by 2030 or even 2050.

But there is hope and a way around the politicians. If we can choke off the money flowing as investments and insurance to the fossil fuel industry, it will wither, struggle and, eventually, die. And we will have a cooler, cleaner world to live in.

Political leaders make some of the decisions that affect our lives, but those who control the money also have enormous power, and they can make decisions in a matter of months or even days, not years or decades. Perhaps the key to disrupting the flow of carbon into our atmosphere lies in disrupting the flow of money to coal plants, oil wells, pipelines and gas plants.

This is not a new idea. In 2012, the climate activist organization, 350.org, helped launch a global movement to persuade managers of pension funds, university endowment funds and other large pots of money to sell their stock in fossil-fuel companies. It has become the largest such campaign in history: funds worth more than eleven trillion dollars have divested some or all of their fossil-fuel holdings.

And it has been effective: when

Peabody Energy, the largest American coal company, filed for bankruptcy, in 2016, it cited divestment as one of the pressures weighing on its business, and, this year, Shell called divestment a “material adverse effect” on its performance.

But what if we could convince the banks to stop financing the fossil fuel industry? Lee Wasserman, a director of the Rockefeller Family Fund, says that it’s time to take on the reputations of the bankers, in much the same way that the Sackler family has increasingly been shunned for its role in the opioid crisis. Bankers around the world know that enabling the expansion of a deadly fossil-fuel industry is sure to cause the death and suffering of millions of people, including their own grandchildren.

Yet their machine of finance keeps cranking along. If we could just convince these captains of finance to stop investing in bad stuff, perhaps we can save the planet.

Some activists have begun to envision a campaign to pressure the banks and insurance companies to change where they invest the money that we lend to them in our checking accounts, savings accounts, and term

deposits. Around the world, the retail business is a massive part of the business of banks.

One of the significant risk factors going forward for these guys is generational. They have a growing group of consumers and potential employees who care a lot about climate. These young people are going to be choosing who they do business with based on their bank’s commitment to a liveable planet.

According to a recent article in the New Yorker by Bill McKibben, a few of the big European banks have begun taking steps away from fossil fuels already. In June, the French giant Crédit Agricole announced that it would no longer do business with companies that are expanding their coal operations.

By 2021, its coal-business clients in the developed world would have to produce a plan for getting out of the business by 2030; its clients in China by 2040; and its clients everywhere else by 2050.

BankTrack, an NGO headquartered in the Netherlands, called the announcement a “welcome first step,” and, indeed, the restrictions have clearly begun to bite. In late June, an Indonesian power-company executive said, “European banks have said they don’t want to finance coal projects for a while. Japan followed, and now Singapore.

About eighty-five percent of the market now don’t want to finance coal-power plants.” He added, “Coal-power-plant financing is very challenging.”

Like it or not, financial giants are the masters of our planet. Money does control the world. If we can get bankers and the rest of the financial industry to put the lives of their children and grandchildren before the financial returns of their shareholders, we might just have a chance to avoid the climate catastrophe that we are, otherwise, heading for.

October 3 - 9, 2019

Music & Sounds of the Sea Christie Seeley

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

Not always a perfect marriage, the individual band members have each branched out in their own direction from time to time only to come back with a treasure trove of unique experiences to meld into their collective musical message. his year marks the 30th For example, a few years ago anniversary of the talented Ruben created a group called and versatile Latino Rock HopPo, a freewheeling project group Café Tacvba, who are still that moves through indigenous going strong! Throughout their communities and small towns to career together beginning in share music and learn from the 1989 in Ciudad Satélite suburb people. It is an inspiring idea, of Mexico City when in their early moving away from the big stage 20’s, the band formed with singer, and technology into a simpler world composer, activist, and totally surrounded by nature.

Ruben is also known to take innovative producer Ruben Albarrán; guitarist, singer, composer, on new identities using them and novelist Joselo Rangel; his exclusively in exchange for the old very talented bass playing brother and tells us that sometimes he just with the voice of an angel, Quique needs a break from being Ruben Rangel; and the philosophical Albarrán and finds it refreshing keyboardist, composer/singer to be someone else. Sometimes “Meme” Emmanuel del Real have he sees it as a game but in the kept their public anxiously awai- end believes it brings home new ting each fabulous new incarna- inspiration and is even therapeutic.

What does not change is the tion they present as they move forward in their musical trajectory commitment to the causes and principals the fellows embrace. year after year.

Last year’s tour was They are totally modern but spectacular, filled with messages tied to traditional roots that they of hope and determination in spite treasure. Although they have a of the world’s difficult political great following in the US, they developments both at home and still sing only in Spanish and across the border about which honor the musical forms and they feel very keenly. As Meme beliefs of their forbearers while expressed regarding the song at the same time being actively “Futuro” from their latest album, Jei involved in the modern world, its Beibi, “you live in a country like issues and its challenges. Ruben this or with a neighbor like the does not miss an opportunity to one we have, you can’t be not show his commitment to causes taking care of what’s happening... he espouses.

What impressed me greatly at You can’t not say something about this year’s 30th anniversary tour, it.” The future is now.

The title of the album Jei Beibi which I attended in Santa Rosa, is an invitation to reach out and California on October 10 with my communicate, a frequent theme in family, was the love.

Café Tacvba’s connection the group’s lyrics. Rangel says with a laugh “The four of us are not ‘bad with their audience is intense hombres,’ I think we want to give to and sincere. Ruben treated the the people from Mexico and from audience like his family, offering other countries in Latin America — inspirational words, the warmth that only he can exude and a seeming to bring them comfo”rt and hope.”

Café Tacvba: Thirty Years of Music and Love

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Entertainment

October 3 - 9, 2019

Live Music Calendar 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.

VALLARTA Aloha Bar (Plaza Parabien #16) Thur: Dr. Groove 10 pm BabelBar (Aquiles Serdán 437, Isla del Cuale) BabelBar for Saturday, October 12 from noon Captain Don’s (Honduras 126) Fri: Tequila Rush 8 - 11 pm Sat: Da Crew 8 - 11 pm Chasers Sports Bar (Avenida Mexico 570A) Fri: Gecko Band 8 - 11 pm El Oasis de Holi (River mouth by La Isla Mall) Sat: Dr. Groove 6 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 Drunken Duck(Avenida Mexico, Fri: Dr. Groove 8 - 11 pm Centro | Bucerias) Sat: Soul Trip 8 - 11 pm Wed: The Gecko Band 9 pm Sun: The Gecko Band 5pm Murphy’s Irish Pub (484 Morelos, Malecon) Fri: Adriana and the Freaks 10 pm Sat: Adriana and the Freaks 10 pm

BUCERIAS

LA CRUZ

Que/Pasa (625 Aquiles Serdan) Tues: The Change at 7-10 pm Sun: Sylvie&The Zippers 7 - 10 pm

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

Roxy Rockhouse (Ignacio L Vallarta 275) Nightly music after 11 pm with the house band

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

Starwings (Avenida Fluvial 223) Wed: Black Mamba 9 pm

SAYULITA & SAN PANCHO

NUEVO VALLARTA

Don Pato (Marlin 12, Sayulita) Live music nightly

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

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

Upcoming Events

reluctance to leave us behind.

Café Tacvba is the only group to ever do two MTV Unplugged albums. The group will be playing in

both Guadalajara and Mexico City as part of their 30th anniversary tour this year. Encore, encore and encore Café Tacvba!

October 2-3 Mexican Pacific League Baseball Exhibition Baseball fans will be thrilled with the return of the two day event featuring the best teams in the Mexican Pacific League to be held at the Augustin Flores Contreras Stadium in Puerto Vallarta’s downtown. Tickets to go on sale shortly.

November 14-17 American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf For the ninth consecutive year, the ultra luxury residential community of Punta Mita, will host the American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf, one of the most sophisticated culinary and golf events in the country.

The American Express Punta

Mita Gourmet & Golf will feature international guests such as Craig “The walrus” Stadler and Lorena Ochoa, two golf legends. Nayarit treasure and Chef Betty Vázquez and Antonio de Livier, founder and creator of the annual Pacific Cooks, as well 20 other nationally and internationally recognized chefs will create unique meals through the event as well as host cooking classes and more.

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Games

October 3 - 9, 2019

Palos Sculpture Studio Open House Anglican Church Puerto Vallarta

Iglesia Anglicana Puerto Vallarta

Worldwide Anglican Communion Anglican Church in North America

DO YOU REALLY NEED

THAT STRAW?

Wednesday, October 16, 6 – 10pm, 2019 1039 Brasil, entre Argentina y Venezuela Colonia 5 de Diciembre, Puerto Vallarta www. palosstudio.net

Email: palosstudiopv@gmail.com

Palos Studio and Casa Alexandra

2nd Annual Reader’s Choice Awards

1000’s of votes for the

IF YOU DON’T NEED THAT STRAW, THEN THE NEXT ‘best of everything’ TIME YOU ORDER A DRINK SAY in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Sin popote, por favor!

Bay and Riviera Nayarit

Best

Restaurants

Best Hotels

Best Salon

Best

Dentist

Best

Happy Hour

All the results are now online at: www.vallartatribune.com/best-of-banderas-bay-2019/

Looking out over the waters of Puerto Vallarta, Palos Studio at Casa Alexandria is an arts destination designed to inspire and enable your creativity. Palos Studios offers year-round classes for beginners and accomplished artists to build their work in paradise.

Master Sculptor Manuel Palos honed the ancient skill of stone carving and sculpture by living and studying in Italy and now holds workshops and retreats for others to learn first- hand the philosophy and practice behind these ancient art forms.

Manuel will be teaching a sculpture workshop that will begin on October 6 -18 with students from the USA and Puerto Vallarta. His daughter Alejandra Palos also a sculptor, coordinates and hosts all of the workshops and will be available to answer any of your questions about the program.

During the Open House the public will have an opportunity to meet Master Sculptor Manuel Palos, along with other guest artists and students, tour the studio, guest house, and participate in the unveiling of the mosaic mural by artist Nancy Page.

In addition to his work, Manuel also has an Architectural, Ornamental and Custom sculpture company and also teaches stone carving in his San Francisco studio.

To learn more please visit: www.manuelpalos.com www.palosstudio.net Email: palosstudiopv@gmail.com Whatsapp: 01 510 472-6604