Vallarta Tribune Digital 002

Sept. 21 - 27, 2020 Year 01 Online Issue 002

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

WWW.VALLARTATRIBUNE.COM | FB/VTATRIBUNE | TWITTER @VALLARTATRIBUNE | INSTAGRAM @VALLARTATRIBUNE

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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

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.

Teléfono: (322) 226 3870 Proa #111, Marina Vallarta, C.P. 48335.

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México.

Sept. 21 - 27, 2020

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

The 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

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

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

Sept. 21 - 27, 2020

Event

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Blanca Blue on the 16th edition of Restaurant Week

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n Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta will take place the 16th edition of Restaurant Week, a culinary event scheduled from September 15 to October 10, 2020, where renowned restaurants of this destination will offer innovative three-course menus at a reduced price.

Blanca Blue is an award-winning oceanfront Puerto Vallarta restaurant, located at the Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa hotel. This contemporary gourmet restaurant, dedicated to the culinary arts, is always in constant evolution and at the forefront of the latest trends in gastronomy.

Blanca Blue Restaurant and Lounge at Garza Blanca Resort & Spa showcases elegant avant-garde fine dining experiences where delicious Mexican flavors take center stage to surprise as well as satisfy the taste buds with creative flair.

The menu Inspired by Mexico, prepared with passion the menu provides inspiration for the palate, a marriage of ultra fine dining, iconic Mexican flavors and innovative culinary techniques.

You will enjoy the results of traditional culinary methods used to prepare modern ingredients. Diners will find all of those elements we love most about Mexican food turned into inspiring works of art that ignite the senses and the emotions on a taste odyssey.

On the cutting-edge of delicious fine dining The oceanfront award-winning venue in Puerto Vallarta is a contemporary gourmet restaurant dedicated to the ever-evolving

culinary arts and latest trends in gastronomy where experimentation, cutting-edge techniques and avant-garde cuisine come second only to high quality local products and mouthwatering flavors for one-of-a-kind

sensual dining.

Carretera a Barra de Navidad, KM 7.5 • Zona Hotelera Sur (322) 176-0715, Ext. 3020 puertovallarta.garzablancaresort.com. mx/cocina-gourmet/blanca-blue-restaurant

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News

Sept. 21 - 27, 2020

Hungry bear spoils family barbecue, makes off with grilled meat The animal climbed on top of the gill to snag a piece of meat

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mother black bear joined a family barbecue in Santiago, Nuevo León, helping herself to meat right off the grill as family members looked on in surprise.

The family, who were vacationing in a cabin in the woods at the Pueblo Mágico, watched as the bear climbed onto the brick grill and made several attempts to remove the meat without burning its paws.

It also spilled a pot of previously grilled meat in the process as a bear cub stood by and waited for its dinner.

The incident was captured on video and while some of the observers laughed and shouted at the animal to go away, one simply watched with his mouth agape as his dinner was taken.

Bear sightings in the state have been more frequent since the coronavirus pandemic began, and black bears have

been seen roaming the streets of Monterrey, San Pedro and even Sabinas, Hidalgo, where a black bear was captured on August 20 walking in the middle of a street in the Hacienda Larraldeña neighborhood.

Two days earlier, a larger bear was captured in San Pedro in the Joya del la Corona area of Chipinque.

In Monterrey, a small black bear ambled into an office last month and employees filmed its visit. The bear stood up on its hind legs and sniffed a man who remained motionless at his desk as another employee asked the bear calmly to open the door and leave, which the bear eventually did.

In late July, a bear was photographed with a yellow bag in its mouth emblazoned with the logo of the Pollo Loco roasted chicken chain.

The photo was taken in San Pedro Garza García municipality located near the Chipinque ecological park where another people-curious bear was captured, castrated and released in a less populated area of the Chihuahua mountains. It had engaged in several close encounters, including one where the bear stood on its hind legs to sniff

Black bear helps itself to dinner. a woman’s hair as she snapped a selfie, violating park recommendations for proper bear behavior.

In the United States, bears that lose their fear of people are often euthanized, but Mexican black bears are an endangered

species and thus protected by law.

During an encounter with a bear, park rangers recommend keeping a safe distance from the animal and walking slowly away without running.

Source: Excélsior (sp)

75% of Baja California restaurants have reopened after being certified Active coronavirus cases decreased by 41% in the state last week

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ust over three months since the national restaurant association Canirac introduced its “Safe Table” program to protect diners from the risk of coronavirus infection, 75% of restaurants in Baja California have been certified by the scheme and reopened.

Miguel Ángel Badiola Montaño, president of the Baja California chapter of Canirac, said that more and more restaurants are being certified as “Safe Table” businesses every day.

The program provides training to restaurants on the implementation of health protocols to reduce the risk of the coronavirus spreading among diners and staff.

Badiola said that 2,318 restaurants in Tijuana, Baja California’s largest city, have reopened since the initiative was launched.

The Canirac official estimated that between 10% and 12% of restaurants in the northern border state won’t reopen because they don’t have the economic means to do so. Badiola said the situation in Baja California is much better than in many other states, where up to 30% of restaurants are

not expected to reopen after being forced to close due to the pandemic.

Canirac predicted in May that 100,000 restaurants would close permanently and that 300,000 jobs would be lost in the sector.

In addition to its “Safe Table” program, the restaurant association is also supporting a scheme called Tu Cocina Local (Your Local Kitchen), which provides training to staff at fondas (small, informal eateries), taquerías (taco restaurants) and torterías (sandwich shops) on the implementation of health measures that reduce the risk of coronavirus infection and make diners feel safe.

One factor that could encourage Baja California residents to dine out is that active coronavirus cases in the state decreased 41% last week compared to the week before.

There were 387 active cases in the state on September 14, according to official data, 270 fewer than a week prior.

Baja California Health Minister Alonso Pérez Rico said that all municipalities in the state dropped in the national rankings for active cases. He highlighted that Tijuana dropped to 47th from 38th, Ensenada fell to 71st place from 65th and Mexicali improved its ranking to 87th from 71st.

A Safe Table seal at a restaurant in Baja California.

Tijuana now has fewer than 200 active cases while Ensenada and Mexicali both have fewer than 100.

The Mexico City borough of Iztapalapa currently has the highest number of active coronavirus cases among Mexico’s more than 2,400 municipalities followed

by Monterrey, Nuevo León, and Mérida, Yucatán. All three municipalities have more than 700 active cases.

Baja California’s accumulated case tally currently stands at 18,360, the 13th highest total among Mexico’s 32 states, and its Covid-19 death toll is 3,322, the fifth highest total in the country.

Mexicali’s death toll is 1,537, the fourth highest total among Mexico’s municipalities after Puebla city and the Mexico City boroughs of Iztapalapa and Gustavo A. Madero.

The national accumulated case tally stands at 676,487 with 4,771 new cases registered on Tuesday. The official death toll is 71,678 with 629 additional fatalities reported.

Mexico City leads the country for accumulated cases and Covid-19 deaths with 113,118 of the former and 11,318 of the latter.

Source: El Imparcial (sp)

Sept. 21 - 27, 2020

News

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Kids, masks & back-to-school FAQs: Are cloth masks best to protect against COVID-19? How often should masks be washed?

Dasantila Golemi-Kotra Professor, Biology, York University, Canada

masks for several hours, although not at a stretch.

Considering these factors, cloth masks must be washed at the end of the school day or put aside (safely) to be washed when possible with other laundry. Think of the face mask the same way you would underwear: wash after wearing for a day.

However, if children are using a disposable face mask, this mask should be properly disposed of at the end of the day.

In the case of the cloth face mask, at the end of the school day (or at the end of the school bus ride, or taking public transit) the mask should be put in a resealable bag (labelled “soiled mask”) and either washed upon arrival at home, or put safely with other laundry and washed when time permits.

I would recommend equipping children with two bags: one to be used for the clean face masks (where the spare mask can be kept), and the other to carry the used one (this could be a resealable bag).

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ith kids heading back to school in masks this year, many parents are wondering about different types of masks and how to care for them. Here are answers to some of the most common mask questions.

Are cloth or disposable masks best for all-day wear?

When considering the best choice of face covering for a child to wear for the duration of a school day, one should look at the mask fabric, whether it absorbs sweat and oil secreted from the skin and is not irritating to the skin, and the size of the face mask and whether it fits well on the child’s face.

Both cloth and disposable face masks, when worn properly on the face with little to no gaps around the nose, cheeks or underneath the chin, perform equally well in terms of reducing the respiratory droplets expelled by the wearer. Therefore, it is reasonable to look out for cloth masks that may offer the wearer less face irritation. However, it is important to pay attention to the fabric, design and fit of the cloth face masks.

Tests have shown cotton, flannel and polyester face masks with two or more layers filter out 80 per cent of the respiratory droplets, but neck gaiters did not filter out the respiratory droplets. On the contrary, neck gaiters appear to increase the number of micro-droplets filtered through them, likely by breaking up larger droplets.

In addition, cloth masks are offered in different sizes (adult, youth and kid sizes) and disposable masks (made from plastic material such as polypropylene) may only come in a single size, which is often too big for children. Hence, cloth masks could be the best option for children.

However, it should be recognized that wearing a face mask, no matter how comfortable it may be, still does not come naturally to any of us and can cause discomfort when worn for long hours at a stretch, especially for young children. It’s a good idea to take breaks from it whenever possible, such as during lunch and recesses.

How often should cloth masks be washed?

And do I have to wash them separately from other laundry?

For cloth masks, the frequency of washing depends on the use of the mask. If you wear the mask indoors or outdoors where you are exposed to close interactions with other people, interactions with many people or for long hours, consider washing the mask at the end of the day or put it aside and wash it later.

Laundry detergent will destroy the virus

Cloth face masks can be machine washed or hand washed. (Unsplash/Vera Davidova) particles. You can think of virus particles like oil stains on your clothes. The effect that a detergent has on oil stains is similar to its effect on the virus particles: it will break the virus particles apart and render them non-infectious. As such, it is safe to wash your cloth masks with the other clothes.

To add an extra assurance that the virus particles are completely destroyed, you can dry masks in the dryer together with other clothes. Research has shown that heat (60-95C) destroys the virus particles. Make sure the fabric of your masks can sustain the heat of the dryer.

Cloth face masks can also be washed very effectively by hand using soap (or dishwashing detergent) and hot water. Let them air dry in a clean place, and iron them once they are dry to offer a similar effect to the dryer.

If a face mask is used only for an hour or two, and it is handled carefully and is not touched or removed very often, it can be re-used for a second day if it’s stored in a cloth bag or cardboard box (a porous material, not plastic, so it can dry out). This might be a better option for high school students than younger children.

Where should kids put their mask when they take it off?

And, is it safe to put it back on after

lunch or recess, or do kids need more than one mask per day?

How the face mask is treated during the intermittent breaks from it, such as during lunch and recesses, is also very important.

To remove the mask, first wash or sanitize hands. Then carefully remove the mask from the face, fold it inward in two and place it in a cloth bag or inside a clean plastic box that can be washed or disinfected, respectively.

It is very safe to use the same cloth face mask again the same day, provided that it is stored properly and it is not soiled or damaged.

Face masks should be personal protective gear, not to be shared with (or handled by) anyone else. It is advisable to provide children with two face masks, so they will have a spare in case one gets compromised (soiled, damaged or lost).

How should masks be managed at the end of the school day?

School kids will be in contact, albeit at a safe distance, with a number of kids from the same cohort.

In addition, they will probably touch their face mask often in order to remove it and put it back on as they go through different parts of the day at school, such as lunch, recesses and outside teaching.

They will likely be breathing through the

Can I clip my child’s mask to her sleeve or bag?

Absolutely not! One only needs to see how much “cleaning” the child’s sleeves do by the end of the day; you do not want the child to breathe in all that dirt.

We should be concerned not only about COVID-19, but also about other potential diseases, including respiratory diseases, that kids are prone to, such as strep infection, pneumonia and flu, to name a few. If carrying a cloth bag around the shoulder, for storing the face mask when outside for recess, is not something that your child feels comfortable with, then use clothing (pants or shirts) that have pockets (deep enough) to carry the face mask.

Children should be taught to fold the mask inward, in two, when storing (in a cloth bag, box, resealable bag or pocket), so the inner portion of the mask is protected from dirt and contamination as much as possible (and ask the child to keep their mask pocket clean and not use it for any other items).

A lot of attention is placed on face masks, but we should not forget the clothing that kids wear at school. Although transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through contaminated surfaces (including clothes) poses lesser risk than transmission of the virus through respiratory droplets, the hygiene of the clothes that kids wear is very important too, especially when kids live with elderly family members. I strongly recommend that children wash their hands and remove their school clothes upon arrival at home and change into clothes designated to be used at home only.

Source: This article is republished from theconversation.com under a Creative Commons license.

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News

Sept. 21 - 27, 2020

Cuale cultural center in Puerto Vallarta is reopening with free workshops

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uerto Vallarta prepares to open artistic workshops offered by the municipal government, through the Vallarta Institute of Culture (IVC), based at the Cuale Cultural Center.

The 13 workshops will be offered free of charge, with the exception of material costs, at the cultural center during the months of September to December.

The director of the IVC, Marina de los Santos Álvarez, specified that the municipal government understands culture as a universal right and seeks to guarantee free access of all people to goods and cultural works.

“Understanding the moment of crisis that we are going through at all levels, today more than ever, we believe that it is essential to channel our emotions, talents, concerns, skills, and abilities with artistic-cultural tools to have a better quality of life,” said De los Santos.

The workshops offered by the Cuale Cultural Center are: photography, piano, guitar (beginners and advanced), painting (children and adults), drumming, engraving,

State of Jalisco.

Registration is open at the IVC offices on the island of the Cuale River, from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. More information on schedules, instructors and requirements is available on the institutional social networks of the Municipal Government, the Instituto Vallarta de Cultura and Canal del Puerto.

terracotta, sculpture, singing, Latin American instruments, and theater. In all cases, places will be limited and hours staggered.

People interested in attending the workshops must observe and comply with the health protocols required by the “new normal”, such as: use of face masks, temperature registration prior to admission, use of antibacterial gel and healthy distance

between students.

The director of the IVC explained that since last week the institute’s staff has been working on the adaptation and deep cleaning of the workshop rooms and administrative offices, in accordance with the sanitary measures established in the Action Protocol against COVID-19 for Culture and Entertainment of the Government of the

Artisans reopen in Mexico City but there are few customers Vendors report hard times at two crafts markets in the capital

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endors of arts and crafts have reopened their market shops and stalls in Mexico City but business is slow as the coronavirus pandemic continues to put a damper on economic activity and the arrival of tourists on whom they heavily depend.

The Ciudadela crafts market in the capital’s downtown area reopened in July but only half of its approximately 350 shops are permitted to open on any given day, said Cuauhtémoc Ilhuicatzi, a vendor and member of an artisans’ association that manages the facility.

“We have to close completely on Sundays, the opening hours are reduced [10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.] and only 50% of the shops … can open. In addition, we can only have a customer capacity of 40%,” he said.

Limiting customers to 40% of normal levels, however, is not currently a difficult task.

The Ciudadela market, where a wide range of products are on offer including textiles, ceramics, traditional Mexican toys, jewelry and gold and silverware, is completely dead, said the owner of a shop selling clay figurines.

The shopkeeper, identified only as Candelaria, told the newspaper El Universal that she is currently making only two or three sales a day whereas in pre-pandemic times

Life-sized, Huichol beaded deer at the Ciudadela market. ANDY HUME she would make 15 to 20.

“The situation is very bad. We stopped working for five months and we were only able to reopen our shops a month ago. The problem is that there are no people but we’re here now waiting for tourists because we live off them,” she said.

“My whole life has been in the market and we’ve never experienced anything similar.”

Silvia Barrientos, who works in Tejidos Típicos (Typical Fabrics), a family business founded by her father 45 years ago, recounted a similar story.

She said there are some days when she fails to make a single sale at her family’s shop, which sells a range of products including sarapes, rugs, tablecloths, sombreros and rebozos.

Barrientos added that the business has been unable to source new products from its

suppliers in Tlaxcala because some textile factories were shut down after they failed to comply with health restrictions.

She also said that Tejidos Típicos has a lot of regular foreign customers who normally come to Mexico to pick up their orders. However, they haven’t made it here this year due to the pandemic.

“All my foreign customers canceled orders. They told me they didn’t know when they would travel to Mexico, although they did specify that they wouldn’t come this year,” Barrientos said.

Ilhuicatzi, the artisans’ association member, acknowledged that businesses in the market are struggling but added that “the important thing is that we’re now working.”

About one kilometer from the Ciudadela market is the historic center’s MULT market where indigenous Triqui people, originally

from Oaxaca, sell their wares.

Emilia, who sells clothes she makes including traditional blouses and guayaberas – semi-formal shirts often worn at weddings – told El Universal that the market has been very quiet and that sales have been few and far between.

She also started making face masks which she sells for 50 pesos each but despite stocking one of the most in-demand fashion items she remains concerned about being able to pay the rent.

Vendors at both the Ciudadela and MULT markets complained that there has been no federal government support for the arts, crafts and traditional clothing sector even though it’s an important part of the economy.

Ilhuicatzi said that the Ciudadela market hasn’t received any support from local authorities either because it’s not considered a Mexico City public market.

“We have to survive with our own resources,” he said, adding that some market vendors have had to barter goods for groceries in order to feed their families.

More than 1 million people work in the arts and crafts sector in Mexico and the majority, including the artisans themselves, have seen their income slashed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: El Universal (sp) Source: https://mexiconewsdaily.com/

Sept. 21 - 27, 2020

Local Voices Photography in the Paradise of Vallarta

Ashley Werter

www.nomadfamilyphotogroup.com

Ashley Werter and her husband Matt teach workshops and private photography lessons in Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, and abroad through their business, Nomad Family Photo Group. Resident and visiting photographers looking to improve their skills, try new techniques, and engage with other like-minded shutterbugs are encouraged to reach out to them at www. nomadfamilyphotogroup.com.

Macro Photography: If you’re fond of photographing flowers, insects, or abstracts, then you will love these tips for Macro Photography. And where better to try than in our tropical jungle oasis of Puerto Vallarta! Whether you are visiting the Vallarta Botanical Garden or exploring your own neighborhood you are sure to find some stunning subjects.

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Be selective of your subjects. If shooting flowers, make sure you choose one with healthy leaves and petals.

Shadows and Macro do not mix.

Don’t shoot flowers in full sun unless it is completely backlit. Try for overcast days instead, find a shady spot, or bring a diffuser to create your own shade. This alone will make a huge difference in the quality of your images!

Do not shoot with a flash unless you can modify it or it is meant for Macro Photography.

Use the Rule of Thirds to offset some subjects and center your images with symmetrical subjects.

Shoot in bright, but diffused, locations like conservatories and greenhouses.

Vallarta Botanical Gardens has some wonderful and diverse flower houses and is a perfect location for Macro lovers!

One of the best parts of Macro Photography is that when you shoot extremely up close, anything can make an interesting subject.

Look around and discover unique opportunities!

Tips for Camera-Phone Photographers: •

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Make sure you are focusing and exposing accurately by tapping on your phone screen. Touch where you want to focus and slide up and down on the sun icon to adjust your exposure.

You can use lighting accessories

such as attachable LED lights to help evenly light your subjects.

• Try shooting in Portrait mode to blur out your background.

• Tips for Point-and-Shoot, DSLR, and Mirrorless Photographers: • Use a medium aperture when shooting with a Macro Lens. Using wide apertures like 2.8 generally won’t give you enough focus. Macro lenses will almost always blur your background.

• When you are shooting outside it can be difficult to see your LCD screen.

View them with your Histogram on to review your images for exposure.

• In addition to cheaper macro options than a special lens, you can try extension tubes or close up filters for a fraction of the price. When using these adapters you will not be able to focus on non-macro subjects and if you have trouble focusing, move closer or zoom in and out.

• The technique of “Poor Mans Macro” is taking one of your lenses, removing it from your camera and reversing it. You have to hold it against your camera as it will not be connected and to focus you need to move closer and farther away from your subject until you find the right spot.

• When 75% or more of your subject is light toned (whites, light pinks, beige, etc), you camera will automatically want to make it darker. When 75% or more of your frame is dark toned it will make it brighter. You will need to adjust for this using exposure compensation. Make the light subjects lighter, and the dark ones darker to keep them as accurate as possible.

• Color representation is very important, so use the most accurate White Balance preset or create a custom white balance.

If you are looking to improve your images, try researching new techniques or take a workshop!

Photos by Social media tag

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News

Sept. 21 - 27, 2020

How the modern world was shaped by epidemics 500 years ago

Wikimedia Commons

Matthew Ward Senior Lecturer in History, University of Dundee

T

he coronavirus pandemic has been compared with many previous contagions, including the great plague and the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

However, there has been little consideration of probably the most significant historical episode of disease. The modern world as we know it would not have existed without the epidemics that swept through the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries. These epidemics created the modern world.

In the wake of Christopher Columbus’s voyages of exploration, Europeans arrived in the Americas in ever-increasing numbers.

They brought with them a range of viruses, such as smallpox, influenza, measles, mumps and chickenpox, to which Native Americans had no prior exposure and no immunity. Historians call the resulting epidemics “virgin soil epidemics”.

Coronavirus has demonstrated the impact that epidemic disease can have on a vulnerable population. Similarly, these virgin soil epidemics rapidly swept through Native American communities. Societies were overwhelmed.

Everyone fell sick at once: there was no one to care for the sick and no one to plant or harvest crops.

The impact of the epidemics was extensive. At one level, they removed the

people who could have resisted European expansion. Studies now suggest that the population of the Americas may have been as high as 100 million before contact with Europeans. In many regions, within a century of exposure to these diseases, 95% of the population died.

We are well aware of the Aztec and Inca empires, but similar, if not quite so complex, societies existed elsewhere.

When Hernando de Soto explored what is now the south-eastern United States in the 1540s, he found the local population living in large towns, which could raise armies with thousands of men.

When English explorers entered the region at the end of the following century, they found only a few scattered tribes.

For many years, historians questioned the validity of the accounts of de Soto’s expedition. However, archaeology has now verified many of the descriptions that his men brought back.

These societies were eradicated by virgin soil epidemics, even though their direct contact with Europeans was limited.

These epidemics not only killed the people, but they also destroyed culture and morale. Most Native American societies were non-literate – they did not have a written language.

Consequently, when elders died simultaneously, much of the community’s culture and knowledge also disappeared.

This loss fed into a cycle of despair and

demoralisation, which both undermined Native American resistance and provided a justification for European expansion.

Manifest destiny Some observers in east Asia have viewed the failure of western governments to control the coronavirus as evidence of the weakness and fragility of western democracy. Similarly, in the 16th century, Europeans saw the virgin soil epidemics as proof of their moral and biological superiority. They were evidence that God intended Europeans to take control of the Americas.

When the Pilgrims arrived in New England in the 1620s, they found the local population already decimated by disease. Along the coast were abandoned villages that provided perfect settlement sites. It was as if God had blessed the Pilgrims’ mission.

The epidemics themselves helped to rationalise colonialism – it was God’s will, after all. They allowed Euro-Americans to appropriate native lands while abrogating them of any blame, and to view their imperialism as some divinely preordained “manifest destiny”.

We do not yet know how extensive the long-term social and economic effects of coronavirus will be, but these virgin soil epidemics had unexpected consequences.

Many of the early European adventurers anticipated that Native Americans would provide the labour to work their fields. When they began to produce lucrative staple crops such as sugar, coffee and tobacco, the

demand for labour became intense. Without a local population to exploit, Europeans turned to Africa to provide them with that workforce.

Atlantic slave trade The slave trade had long existed in various forms, but its scale in the 17th and 18th centuries, the methods used, and the justifications provided, were unprecedented.

The absolute ownership of people - chattel slavery – justified by concepts of racial superiority was, in many respects, a result of these virgin soil epidemics.

While “alternative history” can be difficult and dangerous, it is apparent that had these virgin soil epidemics not swept the Americas, the modern world would have developed very differently. The American nations, not least the US, would not have existed in their current form. The clearly defined racism and sense of European superiority that emerged in the 18th century, and that has plagued the world ever since, would not have developed in the same way. We might also consider whether, without the profits from the natural wealth of the Americas, Europe would have become so predominant in the world.

Without virgin soil epidemics, the world would have been very different. It remains to be seen how far coronavirus will also transform the world.

Source: This article is republished from theconversation.com under a Creative Commons license.