Issue 856, August 30 - Sept 5, 2013

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INVESTMENT IN vaLLARTA

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Recycling

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Butterflies

BIODIVERSITY’S BEST

August 30 - Sept 5, 2013 Free Issue 856

17

Banana

NATURES DESERT

Welcome

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

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Welcome to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

EDITORIAL BOARD Marcia Blondin Raymond C. Beaty Lois Ellison John & Christie Forget Landon Hollander Nancy Van Landingham Robina Oliver STAFF SALES Dora Luz Luna Sales Manager Cel. 044 322 105 0183 dora@vallartatribune.com Sara B. Luna Cel. 322 157 7550 sara@vallartatribune.com M. Yolanda Meza Rojas Cel. 322 134 4191 yoly@vallartatribune.com

TAXIS: There are set rates within defined zones of town.

Do not enter a taxi without agreeing on the price with the driver first. Price is per trip not person.

MONEY EXCHANGE: Although you may have to wait in line for a few minutes, banks will give you a higher rate of exchange than the exchange booths (caja de cambio). You will need your passport.

Better yet, use your bank card to withdraw funds from any ATM machine. Note that ATM’s in the banks are the safest to use and generally charge lower fees.

For Up-To-Date Information Visit VallartaTribune.com

DRINKING WATER: For the 17th year in a row, Puerto Vallarta’s water has been awarded a certification of purity for human consumption.

The quality of the water tested at the purification plant varies greatly from what comes out of the tap at the other end. So do be careful. If you want to be doubly sure, you can pick up bottled water just about anywhere.

Vallarta Tribune is an activity and entertain-

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of error.

COMMON SENSE: Just as you wouldn’t walk around your hometown drunk and beligerent, it is not acceptable to do that here. While Mexicans are a forgiving bunch, basic politeness is appreciated. For the guys, peeing in public is a major faux pas and if you are caught, can get you tossed in jail or an expensive fine. Pay attention to your surroundings.

Pay your bills. Be courteous.

And have fun!

DRINKING AND DRIVING: First off – just don’t. The consequences are not worth it.

Taxis are cheap and plentiful.

Fines are as much as 10,000 pesos. You can be taken to jail and your vehicle impounded.

There are many checkstops on the weekends and you will be asked to blow if they suspect you have been drinking.

LEGAL SYSTEM: Not knowing the law is not an valid excuse in Mexico or anywhere. If you find yourself caught in a legal situation be aware that 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 in particular. Immediately contact your consulate for assistance.

Phone Cards Phone cards (“tarjetas telefonicas”) for use in pay phones can be bought at newstands and in pharmacies in denominations of 30, 50 and 100 pesos.

Pay phones do not accept coins.

When buying a phone card for pay phone use, specify that you would like a “tarjeta LADA,” because pre-paid cell phone cards are also sold in the same establishments.

Calling Toll-Free Numbers Some toll free numbers work from Mexico to the US and Canada, but many do not.

You need to dial a different prefix.

To call the following toll free prefixes, dial as follows: 800 numbers Dial 001-880-then the number 866 numbers Dial 001-883-then the number 877 numbers Dial 001-882-then the number 888 numbers Dial 001-881-then the number

Emergencies: 060 Red Cross: 065 Municipal and Transit Police: 322.290.0507 Fire Department: 322.223.9476 Red Cross - Ambulance: 322.222.1533 Consulates American Consulate Nuevo Vallarta: 322.222.0069 24 hrs Guadalajara: 333.268.2145

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

Canadian Consulate 322.293.2894 24 hrs: 1.800.706.2900

Our Supporters This free Publication is brought to you with the financial support of our advertisers. Without them, we would not be informing you, our kind readers, of all the weekly wonders of the Bay of Banderas and points south and north.

Please take the time to support the advertisers in our paper.

Cafe Maximilians Christ Church By The Sea Cinemex Galerias y Macroplaza Isima Productos Maderados Re/max Marina Restaurant Que Pasa Teatro Vallarta Villa la Estancia

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EDITOR Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@vallartatribune.com

BUSES: A system of urban buses with different routes can bring you from one end of the bay to the other and all the spots in between. Current fare is $6.50 pesos per ticket and passengers must purchase a new ticket every time they board another bus. There are no “transfers”.

Calling phones in Mexico can be tricky as it is different than in the US or Canada. There are different codes you need to use depending if you are calling landlines or cellular phones and if they are local or long distance.

Long-distance calls from within Mexico For national long-distance calls (within Mexico) the code is 01 plus the area code and phone number.

For international long-distance calls, first dial 00, then the country code (for the U.S. and Canada the country code is 1, so you would dial 00 + 1 + area code + 7 digit number).

Calling Cell Phones (from a land line) If you are calling from a landline within the area code of the Mexican cell phone number dial 044, then the 10 digit number including area code. Outside of the area code (but still within Mexico) dial 045 and then the 10 digit phone number. Cell phone to cell phone only requires the 10 digit number.

AS

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fernando Gonzalez Corona

Calling in Mexico

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COVER PHOTO Moralea Milne Fiery skippers, mating dance Rio Pitillal, Puerto Vallarta

TIME ZONE: The entire state of Jalisco is on Central Time, as is the southern part of the State of Nayarit starting from San Blas in the north.

EXPORTING PETS: Fall in love with the street dog outside your hotel or a puppy on the Malecon doesn’t mean they can’t come home with you. The process is fairly inexpensive and only takes a day or two. You need a certificate of health from a local vet among other things. The time of year that pets can travel in the cargo section of the plane may be your biggest challenge. For the most up-to-date information contact the Puerto Vallarta SPCA at spcapv@gmail.com.

GR

Here is some advice to make your trip a little easier and more enjoyable.

Editorial

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Editors Note:

B

ACK TO SCHOOL! It brings a sigh of relief, as I know my son will cut his video game playing, youtube watching and minecrafting down to a couple of hours a day. School will (hopefully) force him to restart his brain for more noble pursuits.

It also means I have to get up before the sun, which on my schedule has never been my favourite time to wake. But, arising before the burning ball of gas in the sky has a chance to scorch the air outside my home, provides me with the opportunity to walk the dogs along the river with a cool breeze teasing me. (Apparently today is 33c but feels like 38c and tomorrow feels like 40c...). It allows my puffy, red eyes a chance to spy early morning birds, butterflies and my neighbours, who would

Explore Banderas Bay

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uerto Vallarta is located in the middle of Banderas Bay, one of the largest bays in Mexico at nearly 100km in length.

It is bounded in the north by Punta de Mita and in the south by Cabo Corrientes. It straddles the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, divided along the Ameca River.

The bay is home to many wonderful communities and an abundance of natural wonders.

In the winter and spring seasons you can witness the awe inspiring beauty of the humpback whales as they calve in the warm waters of the bay, in the summer you can experience the majesty of the sea turtles hatching and returning to their watery world. The fall brings renewed vigour to the mountains and rivers with the fresh rains and revived vegetation. No matter

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otherwise be ensconced in their air conditioned homes. There is something magical about walking along the river, listening to the morning birdsong, and the sounds of the city starting anew. The air smells tropically fresh and the hills behind my house glow green from the evening’s moisture.

My mother has been visiting us and she is an avid naturalist who has dragged my begrudging butt out exploring the wonders of bugs and birds since I was a very small girl. A little older now, I have a greater appreciation for the plants and animals of my adopted world.

While hiking around Colonia Vista Hermosa yesterday we spotted a field filled with literally thousands of butterflies which was pretty amazing.

Since I have the platform, and my mother does (just about) anything I ask of her, we are going to run a series on local butterflies each week in the Tribune. Mexico has spectacular biodiversity and the Bay of Banderas is home to a significant portion of the world’s butterflies. September is prime butterfly spotting season and hopefully this little column will give you pause the next time you are out and about.

P.S. Butterflies are dependent on weather conditions to fly, at this time of year they are usually beginning to be active around 10am, a perfectly reasonable time to be out exploring. Happy lepping, as my mom would say!

Madeline Milne

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Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

In the Know A local weekly guide to places, people and things

Leza Warkentin

I

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

El Rio BBQ –We love the river. From October to May we spend our Fridays here eating French fries, swimming, catching tadpoles and watching Gilberto (my husband) and Bob play tunes from 4 to 6.

Sayulita – Whenever we want to slow things down, we spend a long weekend getting our hippie on in Sayulita. Love the jewellery, the reggae, and Casa Terramar, where we feel like Swiss Family Robinson in Style.

Old Town – To our family, this is what Vallarta magic is all about. We now live in the Vallarta ‘burbs, but miss the Romance of

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2) 3) when you visit, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit will share their wonders with you. Here is a selection of some of the many things you can do while visiting us.

Shopping in the Zona Romantica – this charming neighbourhood is also called Old Town and is a popular residential area for expats and Mexican families.

Along the main streets you will find shops galore, filled with wonderful authentic crafts, clothing, jewelry, excellent restaurants, spas, theaters and more. Vibrant and friendly, this area offers an excellent day or two (or more!) of exploring. Close to Los Muertos beach, consider ending your day with a sunset margarita at any of the many beachfront restaurants.

Sunsets on the Malecon Sitting on the edge of the Pacific Ocean never fails to give us a sunset each night. Grab a seat at any of the number of excellent bars and restaurants along the malecon, order your favourite cocktail and let it all slip away. Once the sun has set, the malecon comes alive with families out for a stroll, plenty of live entertainment and later in the night, the nightclubs beckon.

Sayulita – A short 45 minutes

north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, Sayulita is the surfers mecca of Riviera Nayarit.

A funky town with a wonderful protected beach, this laid-back town has a hippie vibe with the organic cafes and the yoga studios to prove it. Visit the Huichol Cultural Centre for some wonderful handmade beaded jewelry or grab a surf lesson from one of the many vendors on the beach.

Cooking Classes – Recognized as one of the world’s leading cuisines, there are a number of great schools in the Puerto Vallarta area that will teach you how to master tortilla soup, enchiladas, salsas and more. Fresh seafood, abundant fruit and veggies and a sophisticated community make Vallarta a foodies dream destination. Look for a school that will take you to the markets or introduce you to the farmers and fishermen for a truly cultural experience. Don’t want to cook? Try one of the Food Tours available. Eat like a local and for three hours you will enjoy everything from Tacos to Pozole at the food stands and small comidas around town.

Galleries – It is said there are more galleries per capita in Puerto

Vallarta than any other place in Mexico. Many of these galleries are along the side streets that run through Centro. Stop at the Tourism Office in the Main Plaza for a map or take advantage of their free walking tour. Many galleries carry high quality local crafts, established Mexican and international artists and more.

Ride the bus - Buses in Puerto Vallarta are an experience all their own. You can tell the general destination of the bus by what is written on the window. Costco, Sheraton, Centro, Mismaloya you can go just about anywhere in this city on the bus. Only six and a half pesos (per bus - there are no transfers) this is a great way to explore the neighbourhoods. Head south on the bus and get a front row seat on some spectacular scenery on your way to the Vallarta Zoo. Or hop the Bucerias bus in front of Walmart and 30 minutes later you are exploring a charming beachside town. Tip: Sit on the non-sunny side of the bus.

Trust me. It gets hot.

Support Local Business - One of the most popular reasons visitors love Puerto Vallarta is because it’s a thriving city not just geared towards tourists.

the Zone and visit often.

L’Olive – I can’t find the superlative to describe the pizza in this new little gem in Marina Vallarta. Friday nights I can go listen to Gil play classic rock at 10pm.

Tianguis – We head to the tianguis in Barrio Santa Maria every Saturday along with many locals. We mostly go for the delicious quesadillas, but sometimes you’ll find me elbow-deep in the clothing piles, shoveling out the best bargains.

Lukumbe – Any parent will appreciate how I feel about a place with mom-sized mochas, great food, wonderful ambiance, and an indoor/outdoor supervised kids’ area.

The Roxy Rockhouse – Sentimental me, here’s where I met my guitar man. It’s still a date night favorite, ‘cause sometimes you just gotta dance to a song that has more than 4 words.

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A fine example of this is the many small businesses that you can find in ‘Centro’ including galleries, restaurants, clothing stores, spas and more. Venture off the malecon to find the perfect souvenir. Looking for something specific check out the handy vallartashoppingdirectory.blogspot.com Volunteer - There are many wonderful organizations across the Bay that can use your help. Both time or money will be appreciated.

On Tuesdays the SPCA de PV opens up to the public and you can visit with the many animals they have rescued.

On Sundays the Brigada de Basura does a morning of neighbourhood clean-up with the local children and then they all head to Que Pasa restaurant for breakfast, activities and friendship. They are always looking for more help.

Check out the back of this paper for many of the most deserving organizations.

With all of these things to do and much much more, you’ll be wishing you had more time. Don’t despair. We will be here, awaiting your return. Enjoy your time in the beautiful bay and please come back again.

Free calendar listings in the Vallarta Tribune

NEWS

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

The National Confederation News Bites of Governors: Conago

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he National Confederation of Governors, Conago, is a permanent forum that seeks to strengthen federalism and is an inclusive forum open to all the states in the country, irrespective of their political affiliation.

This August 20th saw the 45th Ordinary Meeting of the National Confederation of Governors where energy reform, tax reform and constitutional reform were discussed held in Mazatlan, Sinaloa.

Says President Enrique Peña Nieto “Conago is a space for reflection, political agreement and responsibility; it is a forum for unity for breaking inertias and promoting the state and national transformations Mexico needs.”

The guiding principles of Conago are: • It functions as an institutional space for achieving a better balance and distribution of the powers corresponding to the orders of federal and state government.

• It promotes the strengthening of the states in order to enable them contribute more to national development and to have the resources and capacity to meet the demands of their communities.

• It reaffirms the commitment of states to the federal pact and the

duty to promote a genuine political process of authentic decentralization and strengthening of federalism.

• It proposes the design of inclusive programs to meet the demands for security, justice, social welfare, democracy and transparency.

• It seeks to promote the consolidation of a new relationship of respect and collaboration between levels of government.

Conago’s objectives include undertaking projects and political, economic, social and legal studies in order to discuss and propose solutions for budgetary policy, the transfer of powers and resources, social development, public safety, utilities, development processes and administrative decentralization, public investment policies, and the strengthening of local governments and intergovernmental relations.

President Nieto applauded the congress by saying, “Government efforts do not suffice to achieve the transformation of Mexico; the work of all the authorities, especially state governments, is required. Political pluralism, far from being an obstacle, it is a strength that can enrich our vision and public policies.”

Source: Conago

Back to school This 2013 – 2014 School Year will see the beginning of the achievement of two of the commitments made by President Enrique Peña Nieto: Full-Time Schools and Decent Schools.

In coordination with state education authorities, the number of full-time schools was doubled through the incorporation of 8,641 schools.

As a result of this increase 15,349 full-time schools will operate in the country, benefiting over two million students.

In addition, schools serving the school population with high rates of poverty, marginalization and severe food shortages will be provided with food for their students.

The Decent Schools Program began operating to enable students to study at schools with electricity, water, toilets, furniture and facilities in good condition. The schools that benefit from this program will be those serving the most disadvantaged indigenous and rural communities.

Vallarta Tribune

Mexico has all the elements to grow 3.1% in 2013, the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) determined. However, the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) stressed that the country’s economic growth will be between 2% and 3%.

Mexico could attract up to 35 billion dollars of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the first year of the energy reform, which would boost potential GDP growth in Mexico, according to estimates

by BBVA Bancomer.

Mexico is competing with Japan to be the second largest

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car supplier to the US: in just the first half of 2013, Mexico shared 23.4% of the US market, exporting 773,972 vehicles, while Japan had 24.6% and 813,985 units, a difference of only 40,013 units.

The telecommunications sector in Mexico generated an income amounting to 16.579 billion dollars in the first half of 2013, 7.7% more annually, reported The Competitive Intelligence Unit (CUI) The Mexican film industry could close 2013 with a 9% growth, with an attendance of 228 million

people, more than the 209 million in 2012, informed the National Chamber of the Film and Video Industry (Canacine) Mexico was the most visited country by the US in the first five months of 2013, reporting an increase of 6% in the numbers of travelers, who totaled 2,689,518, according to figures from the US Department of Commerce.

Marriott International, the US luxury hotel chain, will increase its presence in Mexico by 50%, with the opening of 11 hotels.

In the News

“A culture clings to it’s reflection in a cleaned-up soap opera”,

New York Times, 02/08/2013 “Baktun,” the first soap opera to be made entirely in an indigenous language – Maya - , was filmed in the historic town of Tihosuco, in Mexico. The 21-episode series, which is also packaged as a movie to be shown at film festivals, was filmed in this remote and historic town in Quintana Roo, located a little more than 225 kilometers southwest of Cancun and know for a church which was left damaged by a Maya uprising in the 19th century.

“A taste of Mexico’s wine country,” Forbes, 05/08/2013

Just a two-hour drive south of San Diego across the Mexican border ies the peaceful Baja California valley brimming with ripened grapes, delicious wines and gourmet cuisine concocted from the freshest of local ingredients. Our Forbes Travel Guide editors take a peak at Mexico’s lovey – and somewhat little known – Valle de Guadalupe, a wine country destination screaming for a late summer getaway of the great outdoors, delicious food and plenty of vino.

Your best source for English news in the Bay of Banderas

NEWS

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Mexico recycler invests $1 million in Vallarta

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

Wanderings on Olas Altas

By Poncho Davalos

I do in Puerto Vallarta

By Stephen Downer Originally posted on plasticsnews.com

P

lastic bottle recycler Tecnopenales SA de CV is doubling the number of prison inmates it employs after investing $1 million in new equipment in the past year.

“Since last summer we’ve invested around $1 million in three different phases,” co-founder Octavio Victal Jr. told Plastics News in June, adding that “we have 110 inmates working on one shift. Next month we will start a second shift to employ at least double [the number]) of inmates.”

Launched in February, 2009,

by Victal and his father, Octavio Victal Sr., the company appears to be unique in Latin America. It is apparently the only recycler in the region that operates within the walls of a penitentiary, in this case the Centro Integral de Justicia Regional Puerto Vallarta in western Mexico.

Victal Jr. said that in the past 12 months the company has upgraded its sorting system to incorporate larger sorting belts and mezzanines and installed a new de-labeling machine and a hot water bottle washer to clean bottles before regrind.

“With this equipment we ended up speeding our sorting process and achieving a better result in contamination agents,” Victal said.

“Next we installed a 180hp grinder to guarantee a production of two tons per hour. And finally we installed a brand new wash line that we started running last week. We are now producing sheet grade flake out of our landfill PET stream.”

According to Victal, the biggest challenge Tecnopenales faces today is finding sufficient supplies of raw material to enable the company to keep operating. “We have exhausted every supplier nearby,” he said. “We are now working on the supply of bottles from out of town.”

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Contact dora@vallartatribune.com WANT THE NEWS IN PUERTO VALLARTA?

P

uerto Vallarta has been honored to be named the most romantic place in Mexico according to About.Com in 2012, and I agree! With the magnificent views, lush jungle, internationally acclaimed dining and resorts, along with its inclusive atmosphere, Puerto Vallarta is great for the young and old, families and couples gay and straight. Recently discussing gay weddings in Puerto Vallarta with my friends, Blaire and Laura, both of whom are wedding planners here, we concluded Puerto Vallarta is the place to say “I do”. In Jalisco state same sex marriage is not yet legally recognized but you can have a beautiful spiritual ceremony and a really fun party.

Some great reasons to consider you wedding ceremony in Vallarta are: It is cheaper here than at home: According to the blog www. theknot.com the national average wedding expenditure ( excluding honeymoon ) is around $28,400 USD in the States and the average Canadian wedding is around $26,961 CAN according to www.theglobeandmail. com. In Puerto Vallarta the

average is around $10,000 USD depending on the number of guests as well as other fluctuating costs. My recommendation is to set a budget, do your research, take your time and find someone that you feel comfortable working with. I personally believe that on the most important day of your life it is important to have someone who is going ensure perfection especially if you don’t know Puerto Vallarta very well.

Plenty of Options: Vallarta has plenty of options to celebrate your wedding and as soon you have found your wedding planner, they can help you book a villa for you, or even

better, you can share the cost with your friends and family. Your destination wedding is the perfect excuse for a quick getaway. Your guests will discover why Puerto Vallarta is a perennial favourite with families, gays, retirees… really everyone – they can enjoy the zip lines, they can snorkel in the Marietas, they can visit Los Arcos, Las Animas or Quimixto beaches. They can appreciate the botanical gardens or swim with the dolphins in their own habitat.

If they have more time they can surf in Sayulita, visit the El Salado Estuary; take a day trip to Mascota or San Sebastian or even the historic town of Tequila, Jalisco which is just 3.5 hours away. And for added romance, choose one of the small boutique hotels just out of town for your honeymoon.

Puerto Vallarta has excellent food and beverage options and many well regarded musicians and DJ’s.

With the help of your wedding planner you can create a memorable experience for you guests and you in this tropical paradise.

For more information feel free to e-mail me at Alfonso@tropicasa.com or follow me on twitter ADTropicasaPV Poncho Davalos is a sales agent for Tropicasa Realty, he can help you to find your dream home contact him or visit www.tropicasa.com for more information.

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This is Paradise...

By Marcia Blondin marcia.blondin@ymail.com

W

hat does it take to create a Market? Just two things: Buyers and Sellers. The ages-old concept continues today - find a convenient location that’s easily accessible to those on foot, or travelling by some sort of conveyance - camel, burro, horse or cars. Open fairly early in the day so time is not wasted; in the old days from working the fields; today in Vallarta, working the most popular beaches/bars/restaurants in town. Those old-style Markets fell into disfavor with the birth of stores springing up everywhere on every corner, in every city and town in the whole wide WORLD! (Unprecedented growth, that.)

However, every now and then in history a group of people come to their senses, get together and cooperatively open an old-styled Market. The same needs apply now as they did thousands of years ago - buyers want something unusual - if it’s food, then they want fresh, natural, wholesome. They need clothes and accessories and they don’t necessarily want to look like everybody else so they go to a Market, find

someone making clothes, see what they have and order something in their own size, style and color. Don’t try that at Wal###t.

The Paradise Community Center on Pulpito street in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta opens its doors every Saturday morning for the Co-op Market. We are the only Market open all year round and are protected from the sun and the rain.

The space is open and friendly and there are no crowds this time of year. All of us vendors invite you to come in between 9 and 1 every Saturday, have a look around, do the “meet and greet” and if you don’t find anything to purchase, e-mail me and I will pass on your requests!

Our newest member of the Co-op Market, Paco Ojeda, has one day under his belt now selling his lovely decorative bowls and magnets. He was happy to get his feet wet last weekend and we can look forward to seeing many more creations. And, our Jan of Jan’s Specialty Condiments tells me her line of delicious goodies is now available in Ajijic .

REACH LOCALS AND VACTIONERS

Our tireless Barbara Peters has this to tell everyone, “When I was invited to participate in the Paradise Community Center’s Saturday Co-op Market, I decided to create a unique product that no one else was making. I have made most of my own clothes since I was a young girl and majored in home economics and clothing design at Millikin University. I had many years of experience in designing and creating clothing during my 20 years as owner of Bridals and Formals Unlimited in Beaumont, Texas, especially bridal gowns and ball gowns for the many Texas Festivals. Once I moved to Mexico, and lived in Rincon de Guayabitos, Nayarit, I started a line of tie dyed beach wear called Tropical Fantasies, which were marketed in several Puerto Vallarta boutiques such as d¨Paola and Nelly´s boutiques.

Now I have returned to my love of creating unique designs with cotton tops that are hand made and hand painted. Most are medium and large sizes in loose styles that are so comfortable to wear especially in our summers.

First the fabric is pre-washed, then I lay out the pieces which I color with fabric paint that is washable and does not fade.

The designs are often abstract or with tropical motifs in colorful coordinated colors. Then the blouse is sewn together and finished in the dryer to be sure the colors do not fade and the fabric does not shrink. Then the seams are finished and pressed.

To complement the look I design and make necklaces and earring to match the colors in the painted top. These are made with natural stone beads, silver and other metals and are also one of a kind. The jewelry is also displayed in Galeria Vallarta and custom design jewelry can be ordered from your own stones or from our extensive selection. The prices are very accessible so everyone can look dramatic with unique ‘Art to Wear’.”

Oscar and Veronica have recently returned to Vallarta from Oaxaca with a huge new shipment of their family’s textiles including clothes for men and women, hand bags, table runners and much more.

My next column will be written from Vallarta as I say adios to Canada until the next time.

Looking forward to seeing everybody at Market. To all - take care of yourselves and each other.

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Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

PV Sea Dive

By Sue Keevil pvseadive.com

The Pacific is so special

O

ver the past few years, the diving in this bay has dumbfounded me on too many occasions. I have lived here for nearly three years, and when I moved here, I thought the diving might not excite me that much, as I had spent the previous two years in Borneo, and I dived in “the world´s best dives sites¨ every day. Or so I was led to believe.

For example, in the past week, I had six divers diving with me every day. We dived a variety of the sites in the bay, but, one site stole the show for all of us. On the second day of diving, I took them to the Marieta Islands. These are the islands just off the southern tip of the bay that were discovered for diving in the 1970´s by Jacques Causteau. These islands were used as a firing range by the Mexican Navy. Causteau then petitioned the government to stop this, and it has been a marine and bird reserve ever since. They are a group of old volcano´s, which is why the hidden beach has a crater roof over it.

Anyway, after taking my divers on an hour long dive through many tunnels, cracks and caves, we planned on doing the second dive around the reef that juts out from the coastline. “Are there any tunnels that way” asked the ever inquisitive Ralph? Nope. “Well, can we do the first dive again” he asked. I suggested this to everyone else, and none of the other divers objected. My instructor, Marc, had his divemaster father visiting from England. Our German friends, Ralph and Christian were very experienced divers and had dived all over the world. All of the other divers on this international boat were Americans. Charlie is one of those divers who are happy to dive in a puddle, and my other guests were both instructors.

After repeating the first dive, we all agreed that those two dives were in the top ten dives that we had ever done! The water was so blue and warm that I doubt it could have been any more perfect.

A few days later, Ralph and Christian were on their last day with us, so I let them choose the dive site. Marieta´s popped out of their mouths in unison within 0.1 of a second. No one had any objections, so we went there. What did we do? Yes, we did the same dive again, twice!

Everyone had a camera in their hands, and snapped away like crazy. This is a dive site that is all about the tunnels and topography, and not so much about the coral and the wildlife we will see. But, over the four dives we all did there, the tunnels were packed full of fish and the critters were all over the place.

I have a ¨slight¨ obsession with octopi. Usually they are sleeping during the day. But on all four dives we did there, they were out doing whatever octopi do. We saw them mating, fighting, dancing, and lucky little Ralph had one climb over him (of which I am insanely jealous)!

Since these divers have left, I have taken some close friends of mine diving, and I will tell you all about that little experience next week! WOW.

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Local

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

By Erin Staley oldtownfm.com “Make it, Bake it, Grow it” Options for your Summertime Shopping Fun

L

ast week, we highlighted local “make it, bake it, grow it” vendors who are offering fresh produce and artisan goods in the Puerto Vallarta area.

This week, we have a brand new collection for your summertime shopping fun.

Bickel’s Pickles – Using old family pickling recipes, Lynne Bickel and Chris Dansby, serve up homemade “refrigerator pickles” as well as scrumptious pickled veggies and pickled beets. (322) 141-5577 or dansbychris(at) yahoo.com Café Yolanda Superior del Pacifico – Tom Burris and Yolanda Madera hull, roast and grind their organic coffee beans for optimum aroma and flavor. Stop by their café (Rio Colorado 334, Col. Agua Azul between Rio Grijalva y Rio Ameca) to pick up a cup o’ joe or get a bag of 100% organic coffee beans. (322) 222-4423 Eder Flores Arte Floral – Owners Eder Flores and David Israel create breathtaking floral arrangements made from flowers and foliage grown around the Banderas Bay. (322) 223-8288 or www.ederflores.com El Torito Sports Bar & Grill – If you like BBQ, you’re going to love El Torito’s homemade BBQ sauce. Order up your favorite entrée at their Colonia Emiliano Zapata location (Ignacio Luís Vallarta 290). (322) 222-3784 or www.torito.com Patricia Gawle – Local artist Patricia Gawle’s collects clay found in the mountains near El Tuito (just an hour south of Puerto Vallarta) and uses it to create whimsical ceramic pieces and sculptures. (322) 146-4222 Greek Yoghurt – Joaquin Mauleòn and his wife, Blanca, blend whole milk and Canadian cultures to create their popular “no

sugar, no salt, no preservatives” Greek yoghurt. Plain and vanilla flavors are available as well as a variety of tasty yoghurt dips. (322) 888-4120 Greeting Cards by Helen – Helen Drake has been busy creating fun, creative greeting cards for all occasions. Contact her directly at feldra2(at)gmail.com for any questions, suggestions or special requests.

Huichol Art – True to religious symbolism, each Marcos Martin Jimènez piece represents the religious beliefs of the indigenous Huichol people native to this part of Mexico. Jimènez’s spiritual pieces can be found at his Basilio Badillo booth located across from Lix by Xocodiva in the Zona Romantica. (322) 132-5862 Laura Lopez Labra Designs – Made from pure white cotton, Laura Lopez Labra’s tropical tops and dresses are perfect for the beach and elegant nights out on the town. (322) 125-1069 The Leek and Thistle Pie Company – You can find a full menu of lip-smacking meat pies, fruit pies, quiche and sauces at 156 Hamburgo, Colonia Versalles from Monday-Friday. On Saturdays, they can be found at the Saturday Co-Op Market. (322) 224-6670 or www.leekandthistle. com Maria Reyes Corn Flan – Maria Reyes borrows from heirloom recipes to create her sweet and savory corn flan, Mexican Christmas cake, vegetable tarts and gluten-free pastry products.

(322) 128-9667 Organic SuperFoods – Owners Yael Sanchez and Manuel Murillo offer high quality, vegan-friendly products meant to improve health and quality of life. A full range of good-for-you produce and prepared foods are available in their Colonia Emiliano Zapata location (Venustiano Carranza 517). (322) 222-3286 or www.organicvallarta.com

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Shining Sprouts – Fabiola Lopez Polo features her homegrown sprouted lentils and homemade Organic Basil & Olive Oil dressing. She also makes Zancudoff, an all-natural repellent which comes in handy to ward off those pesky mosquitoes. (322) 152-0903 or fabiolalopezpolo(at) gmail.com Tellografias – Pedro Tello creates exclusive Vallarta art with veiled photographic paper. You can find his one-of-a-kind pieces at Local 3A Isla del Rio Cuale in Vallarta’s Old Town.

Vera Bakery Café – Stop

by Vera Bakery Café (Lazaro Cardenas 101, Bucerias, (329) 298-1962) for some homemade brownies, paninis, muffins and cakes. If you’re in the mood for gourmet sandwiches, imported goodies and an exquisite wine selection, then visit D’stock Gourmet (Residences Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros 53, Nuevo Vallarta). Delivery is available. (322) 226-9768.

Zumo-Fresh – Carlos Garcia Vazquez selects only the finest ingredients to create a refreshing selection of 100% natural juices: lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerine and the ever-popular Michelada Mix. (322) 129-7849 Join us as we “buy local” this summer. And stay tuned for exciting updates from our North American Farmers’ Market Tour including markets in California, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta.

Be sure to mark your calendars as the Old Town Farmers’ Market-Tianguis Cultural will reopen on Saturday, November second. Located along Basilio Badillo between Olas Altas and Ignacio Vallarta, the Market is open every Saturday from 9:30 am to 2 pm from the first Saturday in November to the last Saturday in May. For more information, visit www.oldtownfm.com or “like” us on Facebook.

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Paradise and Parenting

By Leza Warkentin rhythm2rain@gmail.com

Tile Despair

I

came to the conclusion the other day that despair is bad for the posture. I was standing in the floor tile shop, waiting for a quote.

The entire staff of the shop was making a point of ignoring us at the time.

I can’t actually blame them for this. I also would have ignored the two kids lying on the floor making inhuman noises, except they kept calling me mommy periodically, so I was stuck. I happened to glance into an unfortunately placed mirror over a discount bathroom sink set and wondered why the slouchy guera looked so sad.

Normally, the back to school time in our lives is punctuated by a few stressful moments. Our family is currently undergoing the transition of Stay At Home Mom to Work Outside the Home Mom and already there is not one vegetable in the house.

There is almost always bedtime angst and the children’s abrupt and inexplicable distate for bathing. There are tears over the fact that their previous teachers were the BEST, and no one can be the BEST like they were the BEST. There is my sudden inability to watch a Netflix movie with my husband without falling asleep every nine minutes.

There is the dawning horror that I am in charge of preparing the kids’ lunches for the next 200 days and that my husband still doesn’t realize that this is A Thing.

With all of this going on, our family is really not ready to deal with any more sticks thrown into the spokes. Our bike may be a bit rusty, but it’s going to get us where we are going if we just keep our heads down and pedal, and that’s about all we can handle until October.

So we were not prepared for the surprise we woke up to the day before I was required to be back at school for teacher preparation work. My husband and I had

wonderful dreams the night before of a cooling, lovely rain on the roof.

What we got in reality was inches of water trip-trapping its merry way from a burst pipe in our master bathroom straight into the tile on the first floor.

A large section of it had buckled, and my son communicated this to us by remarking “Cool! The floor is all bumpy now!”

You knew the tension was sky-high by the way that neither Gil nor I commented on our children’s excited inquiries about the possibility of an indoor slip and slide day.

We merely took up our brooms and mops like battle-weary crusaders whose hearts just weren’t into the pillaging and ransacking anymore.

Once we had the floor mopped up (much to the dismay of the younger family members) we called the contractor in.

Do you know there is little that exasperates me more than someone who checks out a problem you have and reacts with a chuckle and a head shake?

I left the room and came back when they had come to a price agreement that eventually changed to include the fact that the tile we had was discontinued.

And that’s what landed us in the tile shop, where I was trying to assimilate the fact that my entire life and house flooring situation was about to change, and that I would be living with concrete dust and the need to walk over my living room floor like a rock-studded river for approximately 80 days. And that I would be giving a significant chunk of my change to this very store with its indifferent staff. But you know what?

That’s ok because, I gotta say, there’s nothing like a game of tag in the ceramics section with the kiddos to take the edge off despair and vastly improve the posture.

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RIVIERA NAYARIT 15

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Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

Vallarta ~ Nayarit: The Beginning of a Tourism Brand?

By Jorge Chávez

world’s major tourist destinations and for international visitors to Mexico, maximizing benefits and minimizing weaknesses, to create a prestigious brand.

And then, of course, there’s what many just call “Cabo”, the cities of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas which have been purposely marketed as a single destination with a view to the future.

W

ith unprecedented investment, in June 2013 the Mexican Federal Ministry of Tourism presented a tourism promotional campaign targeting the U.S. market entitled “Live It to Believe It” that unifies Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit as one tourist destination.

THE BACKGROUND: The Ameca River has been the only physical division between the two resort destinations and in the minds of visitors and residents there is practically no division between the destinations of Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta.

But natural competition grew between the two destinations to attract more tourists, with Riviera Nayarit focusing on luxury and comfort and Puerto Vallarta focusing on its authenticity and traditional Mexican charm.

IF YOU CAN’T BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM… The Minister for Tourism at the Tourism Board of Mexico introduced this joining of financial and human resources that is expected to increase both the number of tourists and the economic flow in the two destinations.

The Tourism Board will invest $10 million USD into Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit for a year, with promotional spots on television, radio, internet, newspapers and magazines and promotional trips to both destinations.

THE CAMPAIGN:

“Live It to Believe It” is a creative and visual representation of visitor’s memories into the region, in which she voices-over stunning footage of the Banderas Bay area, telling the story of her experience in the destination from her unique viewpoint as a recent tourist.

THE CHALLENGE:

Although in theory this joint investment bodes well for both destinations, there are a couple of challenges faced by the co-promotion: 1) The population of both destinations needs to get onboard with the promotional campaign to exhibit the excellent standards of

THE LONG ROAD TO RESULTS….

customer service and the welcoming friendliness required to support two resort areas footed so strongly in foreign tourism dollars.

2) That the investment aids smaller areas such as Bucerias and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and continues to support those in regions in development such as Sayulita and San Pancho.

To date, much of the economic boom has been a direct result of private investment.

RADIO SPOTS HEARD IN PUERTO VALLARTA ONLY...

Prior to “Live It to Believe It”, the business community and government agencies in Puerto Vallarta joined a strategy called “City Marketing” to which $5 million MXN was contributed by various local businesses to carry out a unprecedented national promotional effort for the destination.

Throughout May, June and July, Grupo ACIR, the mastermind behind the campaign, has been airing radio spots marketing Puerto Vallarta in key markets such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Toluca, Morelia, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro and Leon.

destinations.

But there are many factors to consider for this promotional effort to bare fruit: 1) The political leaders of both states must put regional differences aside to diminish barriers for Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit to work together effectively, particularly seeing that the current governors belong to the same political party.

2) Eliminate the historical jealousy and competitiveness between the two destinations and take advantage of the connectivity, infrastructure, conventions, luxury offerings, natural resources and tourist attractions that each destination provides.

3) Strengthen bonds of allegiance consistently and not just during times of large scale international events such as the

INNOVATION OR REPLICATION?

Although with “City Marketing” Puerto Vallarta has been advertised nationally, the “Live It to Believe It” campaign is directed to the U.S. and Canada market, so the first true results will begin to show in October when the season starts.

There is still a lot of work to be done to meet these forward-thinking goals and the ultimate objectives of what has been a major economic investment, and both Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit will have to wait to see what impact, if any, this investment in strengthening regional tourism.

The next challenge for the agencies behind this fledgling and bold initiative will be to publish the results, for better or worse.

Collaboration is nothing new in business, and increasingly less so in tourism.

Cancun and Riviera Maya have been promoted as a single destination and the result has been their positioning as one of the

Jorge Chávez is Senior Editor at Mijo! Brands in Mexico. Mijo!

Brands is a full service marketing and communications agency based in Puerto Vallarta with a satellite office in Mexico City. www. mijobrands.com

Tianguis Turistico 2012 (International Tourism Expo) or the 2012 World Economic Forum on Latin America.

Looking back to the 2011 Pan American Games Guadalajara, in which Puerto Vallarta hosted Beach Volleyball, Open Water Swimming, Triathlon and Sailing, the fact that the Sailing event was held at the Vallarta Yacht Club, in Riviera Nayarit, was erroneously downplayed.

CONTROVERSY ARISES... A NEW TOURISM BRAND IS BORN? While efforts continue to promote tourism individually, many residents and businesses in both in Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta support the joint campaign and hope that this new joint tourism brand brings benefit to both

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Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

My Life in Vallarta

By Lois Ellison

COOLING OFF IN SAN SEBASTIAN Even though we love the summer here in Vallarta, sometimes we get the urge to cool off a bit. What better way than spending a few days in San Sebastian del Oeste, an old silver mining town in the Sierra Occidental, advertised as 23 miles from Puerto Vallarta.

With recent road improvements, on a good day, with a car, those 23 miles take about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Before the improvements, you could count on it taking up to 4 hours.

Since we don’t have a car, we take the Mascota bus which departs three times a day from a small station in Versalles.

On the morning of our trip, we arrive about ½ hour ahead of schedule and are surprised to find quite a crowd. Though not quite luxurious, the bus is a major step up from the green and blue city lines. Seats are assigned and the bus is full. After leaving town, the bus makes a couple of stops taking on extra passengers at Las Juntas, Ixtapa and in the middle of nowhere.

Chivalry is alive and well in Mexico and we notice men giving up their seats to women.

Shortly after passing Ixtapa, the elevation begins changing and the scenery is increasingly spectacular. “Summer’s rain has worked its magic. Vines cover everything: trees, wires, plants and old abandoned cars and trucks.” Hand built rock walls form rudimentary fences around fields.

A second corn crop stands about 12 inches tall. On either side, dirt roads beckon into wild uncharted places.

Further along, we cross the new bridge, an engineering marvel connecting the sides of a steep canyon. I hold my breath and close my eyes but transit is swift and safe. The terrain shifts to pines and the air becomes crisp.

We get off the bus at La Estancia and take a taxi on to our destination. For the first time in many months, I’m glad I have a sweater.

We check in and are surprised to find that it’s about a 20 minute walk into town. The hotel’s restau-

rant is closed so we set off in search of a place for lunch. On the walk to town, there are many little tiendas offering homemade goodies. We are greeted warmly by friendly locals and escorted by numerous street dogs.

After picking a café opposite the town square, we settle in to watch the slow pace that is San Sebastian. It is a place truly untouched by time, with only the cell towers and satellite dishes to remind us that we are in the 21st century.

Next stop is the tourist kiosk to get some information, including a map that requires some serious magnification. The rest of the afternoon is spent looking for a restaurant that will be open later than 6:00 p.m. We settle on a place, head back to the hotel for a siesta and return later.

At night, a tremendous thunderstorm hovers over the Bay of Banderas and we enjoy the show from this vantage point high in the mountains. Sleeping is a joy, with cool air and the sounds of the forest at night, unimpeded by any traffic noise. We wake to the mournful sound of a donkey braying.

The next day, armed with a magnifying glass to decipher the map, we set off in search of the road to an old silver mine and soon discover that our map is more suggestive than accurate.

After a few false starts, we come upon the only sign marking the way. Detouring around swollen streams where cars cannot pass, the road takes us on a beautiful walk past fields and structures long abandoned. “Just smelling the freshness of the air is enough

to satisfy even the most jaded traveler.”

Another idyllic night and then it is time to head back home to Puerto Vallarta. Our getaway delivered all that we wanted; a change of pace, a step back in time, and a chance to cool off.

If you’ve figured out that there isn’t much to do in San Sebastian, you’re right.

Unless of course you love walking, want to cool off, see an amazing town, visit a coffee plantation, or sample some of the local raicilla. If you decide to go, take your good walking shoes and a sense of adventure, but leave your ATM and credit card at home.

They won’t do you any good here. Oh, and don’t forget that magnifying glass!

nATURE

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Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

A Passion for Butterflies

Article and photos

by Moralea Milne

Originally published in Mexi-Go! June 2012 ne of the most pleasant aspects of retirement is finding you now have the leisure to explore and enjoy new interests. The last few years I have been visiting Mexico more and more often.

One of my children has settled there, friends are vacationing and buying property in different areas of Mexico and I find the culture, climate and biodiversity both intriguing and relaxing. One of the passions I indulge on every possible occasion (along with chocolate…) is the thrilling hunt to find moth and butterfly species; whether new, or familiar favourites, they all bring delight!

Mexico has a huge diversity of butterflies, at least 1,750 species can be found there. From the lowlands to the mountaintops, from the plains to the mangroves, there are always some butterflies on the prowl. Of course you will find more species at certain times of the year, when nectar-laden flowers reach peak abundance.

Butterflies are not only beautiful flying jewels (the iridescent blues of a Two-barred Flasher or the complex and vibrant patterning of a Tanmark will take your breath away), but they also exhibit fascinating strategies for survival.

Hairstreaks have a threadlike tail that can be mistaken for the butterfly’s antennae. A hungry bird will often notice the tail first and

O

Queen

Peacock take a bite, which, if luck is with the butterfly, will only damage the wings. I’ve seen countless butterflies with bits and pieces missing, but they are still able to pursue their primary focus, to find a mate. The large “eyes” that can be found on Buckeyes and Owlets (and many moths) are another example of false targets.

Some butterflies use colouration as camouflage, the green of a Malachite can be difficult to find amid the lush subtropical forest it inhabits, while the shape and subtle shades of a Leafwing make it almost indistinguishable from a dead leaf. Caterpillars of Viceroy and Swallowtail butterflies resemble bird droppings at some point in their development.

Mimicry is another form of protection. Sporting similar colours to a Monarch, which is poisonous, can deceive a predator into thinking that you, too, are not worth the risk of indigestion.

Did you know that butterflies will sip from almost any flower that supplies nectar, but their caterpillar young feed only on very specific plants? Many people are delighted by butterflies and grow flowers that attract them into their gardens. However, if you don’t know which foods nourish the caterpillars (passionflowers for Zebra Heliconians and Gulf Fritillaries), you might inadvertently be removing and killing their juvenile stage. Learning the life histories of any species gives me a greater understanding of their needs and the importance of preserving their habitat. Protecting natural habitat insures that food plants for all stages of their butterfly lives are available and we can continue to be enchanted at their flamboyant or cryptic forms far into the future.

If you’re interested in identifying Mexican butterflies, there is a great field guide available for sale online: A Swift Guide to Butterflies of Mexico and Central America by Jeffrey Glassberg at sunstreakbooks.com

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ANIMALS & MORE 15

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

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Banderas Bay Butterflies

By Moralea Milne

This week features: Fiery Skippers

M Vallarta Adventures to the Rescue!

by David J. Rohde RIENDS OF PV ANIMALS formed last year to help stray and unwanted animals in Puerto Vallarta. It is a group of passionate volunteers dedicated to the homeless animal situation in our city. Many groups have come to the forefront of animal welfare here . A wonderful stateof-the-art sanctuary was built by SPCAPV, various feline shelters housing upwards of 200 unwanted cats are also in place, and a city shelter for stray animals exists known as ACOPIO. The shelter is a “no kill” facility and has a wonderful caring staff

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who goes out of their way to give the animals confidence and, of course, a temporary home. The problem arises in that the staff is paid, but other incidentals and supplies must be appropriated by donations from concerned animal lovers. Recently a food shortage arose and a call for help was put out to Vallarta Adventures, Vallarta´s number one tour guides. They responded by delivering a truck load of food. They have helped in the past, but should not always be counted on to come through in a pinch. More support needs to be obtained from an informed public. Donations of $5 or $10 US a month from a number of concerned citizens and visitors is needed to sustain the great work currently in place.

Volunteers are also always welcomed to walk, bathe and help feed the animals at ACOPIO. Many find it a truly heartwarming experience. Please visit our Website’s ¨How to help¨ page for details on how to get involved, donate supplies or cash, adopt a pet or help at the shelter. http:// www.friendsofpvanimals.com Your efforts will be deeply appreciated.

exico has the proud distinction of being one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world as a consequence of its geography and climate, and harbours 10% of the world’s 17,500 butterflies.

Mismaloya and the Puerto Vallarta-Nayarit area are considered extremely rich in butterfly species. A 1999 report found 315 butterfly species in Mismaloya, 382 species throughout Banderas Bay and a further 195 species potentially occurring throughout the area for a grand total of 505 species. That’s a lot of butterflies for this little slice of paradise, especially when you consider that all of Canada is home to only 275 butterfly species versus 1750 species in Mexico (and 750 for

LUCKY For the first few months of his life, Lucky’s name seemed to be a misnomer. This poor little guy was found at the PuRR Project ranch with a badly broken leg.

Under the gentle care of Dra. Eva at Sabuesos, his leg was operated on and he healed well. His gentle, affectionate personality made him a favorite at Sabuesos and when it was time for him to leave, the

the US). Butterflies are members of the Lepidoptera family, along with moths (really, just night flying butterflies...), and the people who study butterflies and moths are lepidopterists. That’s quite a mouthful, so professionals and

amateurs alike are generally known as leppers....although not the kind who suffer from that terrifying and disfiguring disease.

To acknowledge and celebrate this wealth of butterfly fauna, and the eye catching beauty of these flying jewels, the Vallarta Tribune will be featuring a new butterfly or moth every week...or as long as I can supply new photos to showcase! I will do my best to correctly identify every photo, but should any errors occur, I would be thrilled to hear from you with your corrections; we are all in this learning curve together!

I’m only an occasional visitor to Mexico, I haven’t yet reached that enviable milepost of retirement, but every visit, at any time of the year, brings the joy of finding and photographing these winged delights. Apparently September brings out the greatest number of species, but the dry months are when you might find the rarities.

FEATURED FELINE staff was very sad to see him go.

Fully healed, Lucky returned to the PuRR ranch last week, where he waits for his forever home. He is less than two years old, is neutered, is up to date on all his vaccinations, gets along well with other cats, and has been around dogs—all he needs is a loving home. If you’d like to give him a forever home, please send an email to: adopt@purrproject.com

SPCA de PV ADORABLE DOG IN THE SPOTLIGHT...

SHELBY OMG we just love this little guy. How can anyone resist this face?

Shelby is a German Shepherd mix about three months old. He and his two siblings had a rough start in life.

We called them the “trash can” puppies because these newborns were discovered in a trash can after a torrential downpour. They had been soaking all night and were in critical condition. They were brought to the Sanctuary where they were treated for malnutrition and various skin ailments as a result of being wet for so long.

One of the puppies has already been adopted; one has an application pending, so all we need now is to find a home for Shelby. We are betting on this trifecta! Please contact us at spcapv@gmail. com. Help us continue our efforts. To use your credit card to make tax deductible donations through PayPal, go to our website www. spcapv.com/donate/.

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RIVIERA NAYARIT

Fun on the Riviera Nayarit

By Cat Morgan www.rivieranayaritfun.com Have You Had Your Banana Today?

T

he Riviera Nayarit is rich with fruit trees. Miles and miles of mangos, papayas, and banana groves flourish in the rich volcanic soil.

I have quite a bit of “food” trees on my property including limes, tangerines, papaya, guanabana, mangos, and also some banana plants. There is something I really love about growing my own food.

This year, two of the banana trees have bananas on them and I am so excited! They are the smaller ones, called Dwarf Cavendish bananas, or Apple bananas.

You can find them at Giant Store that shall remain unnamed or your local frutería. They are the perfect size for a snack, they taste a little sweeter than the larger regular Cavendish variety. There is nothing better than picking your own food and eating it! It’s called eating “LIVE” food, and is so healthy for you!

There are 4 types of Bananas available here on the Nayarit. The Cavendish, Red, Dwarf Apple and Plantain.

Bananas come from the Musa species.

Bananas are the 4th largest

fruit crop in the world. There are about 1200 varieties of bananas!

WOW…who knew??

Although, most varieties do not taste very good.

The Musaceae are a giant herbaceous perennial of the Monocotyledons group, of the Muscaceae family. They grow best in a wet tropical to dry tropical climate, like here on the Riviera Nayarit!

Banana trees need about 120 to 150 mm per month of rainfall. The Banana plant likes a well drained, deep, slightly acidic soil that is rich in potassium, nitrogen and magnesium, as the banana plant has high mineral requirements..

The average banana tree grows 3 to 8 meters, but can reach up to 15 meters, as we have witnessed here on the Nayarit. Now, we have always called this plant a banana tree, however bananas do not grow on trees. They are classified as an arborescent (tree-like) perennial herb, and the banana itself is actually considered a berry!

A banana orchard is formally called a “plantation”. Each group of fruit that develops from the female flowers is called a “hand”, and usually consists of 10 to 25 bananas that grow in rows. One banana is called a “finger”. Now, a “bunch” of bananas is made up of numerous “hands” and can

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Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

contain from 200 to 300 bananas, and weigh up to 30 kg. That’s a lot of bananas folks!

Harvesting As bananas begin plumping up, the fruit can be harvested by cutting the entire stock, when they are plump, but still green. You can cut one at a time, but you may find that rodents have eaten the insides of all your bananas from above, although the stalk will look untouched! So, I suggest, picking the bunch while they are still green.

They will also ripen faster if you put a plastic bag over them. If you have too many ripened bananas, simply peel them and place them in a Tupperware or baggie in the freezer. They are perfect for smoothies or a frozen banana delight on a hot summer’s day!

Health and Bananas One banana contains 467mg of potassium, providing powerful protection to the cardiovascular system. Regular consumption of the potassium-packed fruit helps guard against high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and stroke.

Bananas don’t have a lot of calcium, but do have a lot of fructooligosaccharide. This encourages the friendly bacteria in your body known as probiotics. As the fructooligosaccharides ferment in the digestive tract the help the body’s ability to absorb calcium, which is great for your bones.

Since bananas also contain tryptophan, serotonin and norepinephrine, they help prevent depression while encouraging feelings of well-being and relaxation. In addition, the vitamin B6 in bananas helps protect against sleeplessness, mood swings and irritability.

Banana Remedies

Bananas Foster Milkshake

Banana Peels can be useful.

Now, I don’t know these for a fact, and some of you may have already tried these banana remedies. Apply the inside of a banana peel to pimples to naturally dry them out. I have heard that they are also great for polishing leather shoes, and also for whitening your teeth! LOL..from your shoes to your teeth! Rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth twice a day for two weeks. It supposedly has the same effect as a teeth-whitening kit. Banana peels make a wonderful fertilizer, particularly for roses. Rub the inside of a banana peel on a bug bite helps itch relief.

The oil in a banana peel will help relieve the pain from burns and scratches. Tape a piece of banana peel on a wart, continue until it’s gone. Just like peels can shine shoes, they can also be used to make the leaves of plants shine.

Similar to wart removal, tape a piece of the peel over the splinter.

The enzymes will help dislodge the splinter and heal the wound.

If you’re looking for a nice cold and tasty banana beverage with a little “kick” try this!

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar 2 tbsp. unsalted butter 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 3 tbsp. dark rum 2 tbsp. heavy cream 1/4 tsp. salt 3 bananas, cut into 1/2” pieces 3 heaping scoops vanilla ice cream 1/4 cup milk You can substitute a porter beer for the rum, if you like, or skip the alcohol and make a yummy shake!

1. Combine sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a 10” skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves.

Stir in rum, heavy cream, salt, and bananas and cook, stirring occasionally, until bananas are browned and soft, about 5 minutes. Transfer banana mixture to a small bowl and refrigerate until chilled.

2. Working in two batches, combine half the banana mixture, ice cream, and milk in a blender.

Purée until smooth and transfer to a chilled glass.

Have a terrific summer and go Eat Bananas! See ya on the beach along the Riviera Nayarit in amazing Mexico!

Cat Morgan, owner of RivieraNayaritFun.com Regional Network can be contacted for comments or questions, and always looking for fun Riviera Nayarit News! She can be contacted for comments or questions, and always looking for fun Riviera Nayarit News! Cat@RivieraNayaritFiun.com

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Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

riviera nayarit 17

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Unveiling the newest resort in Riviera Nayarit

Please Help Acción en La Cruz

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By Landon Hollander

ou've heard right! A new luxury resort is scheduled to open its doors in Riviera Nayarit with an all-inclusive, 5-star service. The IBEROSTAR Punta Mita resort is located 40 kilometers from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport and continues IBEROSTAR'S legacy of creating remarkable destinations for both families and couples alike. Distinctive architecture, spacious accommodations, superior service and a full selection of entertainment among other world class amenities await in this luxurious hideaway The grand opening is planned for this December 2013.

The resort has 452 guest rooms with balconies and terraces, including 120 oceanfront junior suites and 2 presidential suites. Wisely offering five restaurants and eight bars, two pools, a kids club, tennis, fitness centre, spa and access to the long neglected Greg Norman designed Litibu golf course. The new life that this resort brings to Litibu and the Punta Mita area is a welcome sight.

Promote Your Next Event

Originally published at insidelacruz.com fter 2 years of operation as Work for Food, starting last summer and culminating this past March, funding from both PEACE and Amigos de La Cruz was withdrawn due to financial strains within those two organizations.

This past May, Fundación Punta de Mita became the administrator of the program to handle incoming donations and outgoing payments, and after a two month interruption, Acción En La Cruz (the new name to designate the split from the 2 groups) was back up and running thanks to an anonymous donation- providing dispensas (food & provisions) to 18 local volunteers in exchange for their community work.

This is the only program in La Cruz that offers a self-empowering means for residents to provide for their families.

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The problem is that with the exception of the anonymous donation and the small amounts raised at our monthly benefit dinners, there have been no other donations. This program is 100% dependent on you, the supporters and enthusiasts of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. There is no group, association or organization backing this.

There are no annual Charity Ball attended by society big-wigs and corporate sponsors. There is only YOU. The program will be suspended once again until sufficient monies have been raised to cover at least one month’s operation (roughly $600 USD / $7,500 pesos).

The irony here is that the cost to run the program for a full year is less than $7,500 dollars which is really not a huge sum.

Please donate to help this important project continue. You can receive a tax-deductible receipt for your contribution

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EVENTS

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

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Bottle Caps for Cancer The Alas en Libertad civil association is inviting everyone in Puerto Vallarta to collect bottle caps and donate them to support the fundraising efforts for this year’s Bottle Caps for Cancer campaign.

The bottle caps will be sold to a recycler to generate funds to support poor people with cancer.

The campaign helps people from various regions of the state, and even the country, who are treated at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara with finances for transportation, food and hotels during treatments.

Bottle cap collection centers have been placed around the city, including Café Kublis on Avenida Francisco Villa, as well as supermarkets and convenience stores in various colonias.

On Saturday, September 7th, Alas en Libertad will be hosting an event in downtown Puerto Vallarta from 12 noon to 10 pm.

The event will include popular artists, musicians, singers, clowns, dancing and more.

Save your bottlecaps and show your support for this very worthwhile cause.

Puerto Vallarta CELEBRATES WORLD TOURISM DAY A three day special event at City Hall to celebrate World Tourism Day will be held from September 25 - 27th. A display of paintings from Vallarta´s art galleries, including Galeria Vallarta will take place in

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the courtyard of the City Hall located in the heart of Vallarta on the main plaza. Music, Salsa dancing, & more with selections of gourmet food from the top restaurants on Sept. 27th. Stay tuned for more details.

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Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations For visitors to Puerto Vallarta who wish to do a good deed for the less privileged in our paradise, this is a list of some of the many organizations that could benefit from such kind gestures. If you would like your organization recognized here, please email details to editor @vallartatribune.com.

Acción En La Cruz: aid financially burdened residents of la Cruz de Huanacaxtle by providing provisions to their families in exchange for community services performed. Originally called Work for Food, is funded through private contributions and is administered by the FUNDACIÓN PUNTA DE MITA, A.C. http://landon5120.wix. com/accionenlacruz American Legion Post 14: Contributes through fund raising resources and manpower to improve Day Cares, Senior Homes, Schools for the Disabled and Deaf, Public Schools in rural areas and other private institutions needing building maintenance www.americanlegion14.org Asilo San Juan Diego Home for the elderly - Contact: Lupita Sanchez Covarrubias 222-1257 or malupita88@hotmail.com or www.mexonline.com\asilosanjuandiego.htm

Asociación Down - The Foundation for assistance to persons with Down’s Syndrome – Contact: Ana Catalina Eisenring at 224-9577.

Banderas Bay Women’s Shelter - Safe shelter for women & children victims of domestic violence.

Enables women to become financially independent through jobs, education and non-interest micro loans, professional counseling for them & their children. www. compassionforthefamily.org Becas Vallarta, A.C. – Provides scholarships to approximately 300 high school and university students. Donations are tax-deductible in Mexico and the USA. Polly Vicars at (322) 223-1371 or Buri Gray at (322) 221-5285. www. puerto-vallarta.com/amf Bucerias Bilingual Community Center support Local families in Bucerias. 16 de Septiembre at calle Matamoros www.buceriasbilingualcommunitycenter.org Casa Hogar - A shelter dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned, abandoned, disadvantaged or vulnerable children.- Contact: Luz Aurora Arredondo at 221-1908, Rita Millan (322) 141-6974. casamaximocornejo@gmail.com

Centro Comunitario SETACGLBT - Provides essential services to the GLBT community, including physical & mental health treatment and referrals, education & recreation, free AA meetings, English classes, HIV testing and counseling. Paco Arjona 224-1974 or paco@setac.com.mx Clinica de Rehabilitación Santa Barbara - Rehabilitation of the handicapped. Contact: Laura Lopez Portillo Rodriguez at 224-2754.

COLINA Spay and Neuter Clinic - free and by-donation sterilization clinic for cats and dogs in Old Town, Puerto Vallarta. Only open Sundays, arrive by 8am, no reservations are taken. Located at 491 Venustiano Carranza Contact: cez@rogers.com or 322-104-6609 CompassionNet Impact - Strategic partnerships & programs that provide for people living in chronic poverty to transform their own lives. Bookmobile, homes, jobs creation, loans, English & computer classes, emergency food, medicine & clothing, etc.

Tax-deductible in Canada & the U.S. Cell: (322) 133-7263. ric@ 4compassion.org Cruz Roja (Red Cross) - Handles hospital and emergency service in

Vallarta. It is the only facility that is authorized to offer assistance to injured people on the street.

Contact: 222-1533, 222-4973

Grupo Ecológico de Puerto Vallarta, Contact: Arq. Luz del Carmen Pérez Alvarez cayro_13@ hotmail.com /grupoecologico.com

Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF) A municipal service, part of the federal System of Family Services that assists not only in times of emergency, but also with ongoing education, health, and training programs for the whole family. Contact City Hall 222-0058

Friends of pv animals Volunteers workingk to enhance the lives of shelter animals. They supplement food, medications and socialization for unwanted and stray cats and dogs housed in PV´s city pound. For info and donations visit www.friendsofpvanimals.com

Desayunos para los Niños de Vallarta A.C. Feeding programs, education programs, day care centers for single mothers Candelaria 143 Col. Barrio Santa María Phone: 22 343 11 or 22 225 72 www.facebook.com/ desayunosninosvallarta

Horizonte de Paz: Offers a safe, whealing shelter for men of all ages who are troubled with alcohol & drug addiction. Need non-perishable foods, clothing, shoes, school & art supplies, gym equipment. Contact Donato Schimizzi: 322 199 9523 or Roberto: 281 0644 dschimizzi@yahoo.com

Discapacitados de Vallarta, A.C. (DIVAC) association of handicapped individuals dedicated to helping one another. - Contact: Ivan Applegate at 221-5153.

La Brigada de la Basura A weekly meeting of neighborhood children to clean Vallarta Streets.

Contact Que?Pasa 223-4006

Families At The Dump, Supporting the families living in the landfill or garbage dump in Puerto Vallarta thru eduation and sustainable opportunities. FAD is tax deductible in Canada, USA & Mexico. www.familiesatthedump. org info@familiesatthedump.org or 297-7425

Navy League - Meets and greets visiting Naval vessels from all nations, assists in the transportation of donated medical supplies from the U.S., organizes work groups to paint and repair schools and other public/charitable facilities, and operates the local Toys for Tots program. Contacts: Bill

EVENTS

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

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LIVE MUSIC VENUES

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Café Roma Encino 287 Centro Mon-Sun 10:pm -3:00 am

Please be sure to contact the venue to confirm all events.

La Bodeguita Del Medio Paseo Diaz Ordaz 858, Malecon” 322.223.1583 Tues-Sun 9:30 2:00 am

Murphy’s Irish Pub Morelos 484 Altos 1, Centro 322.113.0373

El Jardin del Pulpo Coral 66, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle” 329.295.5071 10:30 am 12.30 pm

Philo’s Delfin15, La Cruz de Huanacaxle”329.295.5068 Thu-Sat 8:30 pm

La Palapa Pulpito#103, Playa los Muertos” 322.222.5225 Mon-Sun 8:00am 1:00pm

Barcelona Tapas Matamoros esq 31 de Octubre Centro 322.223.0831

El Dorado Pulpito # 102, Playa los Muertos”322.222.4124

Que? Pasa Aquiles Serdan 625, Col Emiliano Zapata 322.223.4006

Benito’s Paninoteca Bar Nima Bay, Local 12, “Marina Vallarta” 322.209.0287

El Patio de mi Casa Guerrero 311 esq.

Matamoros 322.222.0743 Encore Lazaro Cardenas51, Bucerias 329.298.0140 Wed-Mon 9:00 am 10:00 pm

Clark at 222 3616 or Jerry Lafferty at 221 6156. www.vallartanavyleague.org.

New Life Mexico - A British Charity working in Mexico.

Challenging Child Poverty with Health and Education Programmes. Contact Philippa.

Vernon pvp@newlifemexico.com.

Paraíso Felino AC Refuge and Adoption Centre for cats and kittens in the Bay of Banderas. Luis Donaldo Colosio #5 La Esperanza San Juan De Abajo, Nayarit Cel. (322) 120-4092 Pasitos de Luz (Mamas Unidas por la Rehabilitación de sus Hijos) - substitute home for low income children with any type of handicap, offers rehabilitation services and special support to their families.

299-4146. www.pasitosdeluz.org Pro Biblioteca de Vallarta Raises funds for Los Mangos Public Library. Tax-deductible receipts for Mexico and USA. Contacts: Ricardo Murrieta at 224-9966 or Jimmie Ellis at 222-1478.

Proyecto Pitillal, “Busca un Amigo” - Association created by underprivileged mothers of paralyzed children who need society’s help. Contact: 299-4495.

India Gate Allende 124 Centro 322.223.2424 Mon-Sat 3:00 pm 11:00 pm The River Café Isla del Rio Cuale Local4 Centro 322.223.0788

Puerto Vallarta Garden Club: Beautify and protecting the environment. Open to all. Mtgs held at Paradise Community Center, third Thursday every month at 11am from October to May. www.vallartagardenclub.com PuRR Project - A no-kill cat shelter with approx. 250 resident felines living in a natural environment, un-caged, kittens in the Kitten Nursery, on-site clinic with daily veterinarian services. www.purrproject.com Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza- Shelter for Children.

Donations are tax-deductible in Canada and the U.S. Contact: Madre Mari at 222-7857 or Sudy Coy at 222-5765. www.ccshf.ca Roma’s Kids - Educate the children of the Volcanes and surrounding area, to provide them with the skills necessary to become employable by the major industry here in Puerto Vallarta – tourism: Math, English and computer programs a priority. 100% goes to the kids. www.kids.romamexico.com The International Friendship Club (IFC) - A registered charitable organization in Mexico listed as Club Internacional de la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta A.C.

Vitea Libertad Edificio Malecon 2, Centro” 322.222.8703 El Rio BBQ Bar Felipe Angeles 245 Col Paso Ancho 322.184.1200 Tue-Sun 11:00 am 7:00pm

The IFC supports the Cleft Palate Surgery Program & families in need. Funds are raised through Membership & Home Tours. 322-222-5466. www.ifcvallarta. com. ifcvallarta@gmail.com.

Toys for Tots Vallarta - Is a non-profit organization that is celebrating 15 years in Puerto Vallarta.

Distributes toys and constructs playgrounds for less-advantaged kids in the Puerto Vallarta area during the Christmas holiday period. Contact: Jerry Lafferty 322 221 6156 or Lourdes Bizarro lourdes.bizarro@ marriotthotels.com.

Las Adelitas Av. Fluvial Vallarta 234 322.293.7778 Beboteros Diaz Ordaz 565 Malecon 322.113.0099

SPCA PV – Provides private vet costs for rescued animals, volunteers to create & maintain a data base of adoptions, to walk dogs at the foster home, Casita de Guadalupe, foster homes for dogs & cats, trap & release program for feral cats, etc. www.spcapv.com Un MañanaBrillante (A Brighter Tomorrow) - Partnership of Americans and Canadians to support the ColegioMexicoAmericano. Contact: Margi Baughman mach1@prodigy.net.mx or David Bender dbender@prodigy.net.mx

Trio Guerrero 264 Centro 322.222.2196 Mon-Sat 7:30 pm

Vallarta Botanical Gardens - To build Mexico’s greatest botanical, research & education of plant life, city beautification programs, bird watching, etc. Donations to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens are tax deductible in the USA. Contact: 223-6182 or info@vallartabotanicalgardensac.org.

Do you have an event you’d like to promote to the readers of the Vallarta Tribune?

Send your events to editor@vallartatribune.com

HOROSCOPE TRAVEL

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

Horoscope Aries You might encounter a chaotic work situation on Monday. Keep a cool head on the job. You could undergo an energy shift when your ruler Mars enters Leo on Tuesday. Your self-esteem will rise to a higher level. A rival may appear on the scene on Saturday. Don’t worry.

You will come out on top in any competition. Domestic duties will take center stage on Sunday. Be prepared to spend lots of time at home over the weekend.

Taurus Love may prove to be complicated when your ruler Venus opposes Uranus on Monday. Your affections might be torn between two admirers.

Increase your knowledge on Wednesday. Think about going back to school. Harmony will flow in your life on Thursday. You’ll be walking on air! You’ll stand up for your beliefs on Friday. No one will be allowed to boss you around.

Thank the Universe on Sunday.

A certain situation will work out in your favour.

Gemini Do a reality check on Monday.

It’s wise to face the

facts regarding a particular matter.

You’ll possess a very appealing aura when the Moon in Gemini trines Venus on Thursday. It’s a great time to mingle with others.

A salesperson might try to short change you on Saturday. Count your money carefully before leaving the store. A family member will ask to be a houseguest on Sunday. Stock the refrigerator.

This person could stay for quite a while!

Cancer Daydreaming will be your favourite activity on Monday.

Don’t get lost in fantasyland! A co-worker might ask for your assistance on Tuesday. Help your colleague and build goodwill at the same time. Your sixth sense will be sharp when the Moon in Cancer trines Neptune on Friday.

Folks will think you’re a mind reader. A partner might be jealous on Saturday. He or she is afraid that your attention is wandering.

Clear the air with an honest discussion.

Leo Be on your best behavior on Monday. If you take advantage of someone, you will feel guilty later. Life’s possibilities will seem limitless when Mars enters Leo on Tuesday.

Get ready to reach for the stars!

A family member could be in a stubborn mood on Wednesday. It will be impossible to compromise

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with this person so don’t even try.

Determination is the key to your success on Sunday. Keep plugging along until you reach the finish line.

Virgo You could become frustrated on Monday. A certain scenario won’t go according to plan. Practice deep breathing when you’re stressed. Call on your smarts when your ruler Mercury trines Pluto on Wednesday.

You’ll quickly be able to resolve a perplexing problem. A very kind and caring new friend could enter your life on Friday. Don’t flirt with disaster on Saturday. Consider the consequences before you decide to engage in risky business.

Libra An associate will whisk you off on an adventure on Monday. Get ready to leave your comfort zone. You’ll make a promise you can’t keep when Venus in Libra squares Jupiter on Tuesday. Strive for honesty when interacting with others. A new work opportunity will come your way on Friday. If you’re unemployed, it’s a great time to schedule job interviews. Financial matters will need your attention on Saturday. Check that you’ve paid all your bills on time!

Scorpio

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Get in touch with nature on Monday. Start a vegetable garden in the backyard or grow herbs on a windowsill. Spruce up your image on Tuesday. Get rid of clothes that don’t flatter your body type! “Yes, I can” will be your catchphrase when the Sun sextiles Saturn in Scorpio on Friday. You will be eager to tackle a time-consuming project. Don’t make an important life choice on Saturday. You don’t know all the facts yet.

Sagittarius You’ll be pulled in two directions on Monday. The needs of a family member could conflict with your work schedule.

You might seriously consider ending a relationship when the Moon in your partnership zone is quincunx Pluto on Wednesday.

List all the pros and cons before you walk away. Keep a secret to yourself on Saturday. If you tell all, your words will come back to haunt you. An item you lost will finally be found on Sunday.

Capricorn Look at the world with optimism on Tuesday. It isn’t helpful to dwell on negative thoughts. Build a better relationship with a workmate on Thursday.

Think about asking this person to lunch. Your emotions will become extremely intense on Saturday.

Try not to be overly dramatic.

Maintain the proper perspective

in all circumstances. Powerful energy will surround you when the Sun trines Pluto in Capricorn on Sunday. The Universe will be on your side this weekend!

Aquarius Change is coming your way on Monday.

Get ready for a new chapter to begin in your life. You might find it hard to concentrate when Mercury is quincunx your ruler Uranus on Thursday. Try to focus your attention, especially when driving. Put your health needs first on Friday.

If a tooth aches, call the dentist!

Tension may erupt in a friendship on Saturday. Watch what you say to your companion. Harsh words could cause a permanent rift in the relationship.

Pisces You’ll be tempted to overindulge your appetites when the Sun opposes Neptune in Pisces on Monday. Eating a gallon of ice cream will only pile on the pounds!

Think for yourself on Tuesday.

It isn’t a good idea to follow the crowd. Your sweetie will be affectionate on Friday. If you’re single, a new lover might sweep you off your feet. Have a good laugh on Sunday. Call a friend and go to a comedy club.

Medical Tourism: Why Americans travel overseas for treatment

P I know that when a new issue of the Tribune comes out you flip as fast as you can to this page to read my meandering, confusing and most times unintelligible view on the world of sports.

Well, unfortunately for you (or maybe fortunately) I will be away for a couple of weeks, locked in the basement frantically putting together my mock-draft board for the upcoming fantasy football season and also visiting some family in Canada.

In my place, the very talented editor has decided that I will be replaced by a much more understandable and fact based column, your weekly Horoscope.

See you in October.

Joel Hansen

uerto Vallarta is poised to be a top international medical tourism destination. It has sufficient infrastructure, excellent hotels and amenities and is an easy destination to access from many points around the world.

As the industry grows and Mexico becomes one of the most important destinations for medical tourism it becomes important for the industry to understand what the patients are searching for in services and amenities.

A research study of US consumers has identified different reasons why various socio-demographic groups would consider medical tourism. The aim of the study is to help medical tourism agents refine their marketing strategies on medical tourism.

The research identified

demographic groups likely to participate in medical tourism and identified three components (risk-related, social-related, vacation-related) that explain their motivation to travel abroad for treatment.

The research tested several hypotheses about Americans’ motivation to use medical tourism Among the major findings are: • The uninsured, low-income, and black consumers are more sensitive to risk-related factors than the well-insured, middleto high-income groups, and white consumers.

• The older and the married consumers are more motivated by social-related factors than the young adults aged 18-21 and single.

• The more proficient a person is in a foreign language, the less they are motivated by

social-related factors.

The finding that the uninsured are less likely than the well insured to be motivated by risk factors to travel abroad for treatment argues that if something goes wrong, the uninsured have to pick up the bill for putting things right on their own; so are more concerned with international accreditation, hospital affiliation with US hospitals, high standards of accommodation and their own doctors recommendation. Also they were more concerned about privacy, confidentiality, good infrastructure, political stability and a sound legal system when choosing where to travel for care.

Those on a higher income are more concerned than others with high standards of accommodation, high quality of care, post-care, a safe trip and

cost savings.

People over 65 are the most concerned with political stability and a sound legal system, while those aged 51 to 64 were most concerned about good infrastructure.

Those aged 41 to 50 and the married, were the most concerned about a similar culture.

While the authors admit that the study has many limitations. It clearly shows is that consumers are not alike, and that differences in income, socio-economic status, culture, and other variants mean that what concerns one person about medical tourism is not the same as the next person and that the ‘save lots of money‘ basic marketing approach to Americans is far off beam.

BRAIN TEASERS 21

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SUDOKU easy

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

Challenge your brain! Sudoku is easy to play and the rules are simple. Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain only one of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

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HUB-WORDS How many words can you make from the letters in the wheel?

Each word must contain the hub letter RCan you find a 9-letter word and at least 20 other words of five letters or more avoiding proper nouns?

MACHINERY Some other words of five letters or more containing the hub letter C: cairn, chain, chair, charm, chary, chime, china, chine, crane, cream, crime, hemic (haemic), manic, march, mercy, mince, nacre, nicer, niche, ranch, reach, anemic, cinema, creamy, enrich, iceman, mincer, archine, carmine, chimera, chimney, machine, chairmen.

How many words can you make from the letters in the wheel?

Each word must contain the hub letter N. Can you find a 9-letter word and at least 20 other words of five letters or more avoiding proper nouns?

hard

SILVER Can you find the hidden names? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

ANN BAXTER, AUDREY HEPBURN, AVA GARDNER, BETTE DAVIS, CAROLE LOMBARD, GLORIA SWANSON, GRETA GARBO, HEDY LAMARR, INGRID BERGMAN, JANE RUSSELL, JANE WYMAN,JEAN HARLOW, JEAN SIMMONS, JOAN CRAWFORD, JUDY GARLAND, LANA TURNER, LAUREN BACALL, MARILYN MONROE, MERLE OBERON, MYRNA LOY, RITA HAYWORTH, VERONICA LAKE, VIRGINIA MAYO, VIVIEN LEIGH.

NAVIGATOR Some other words of five letters or more containing the hub letter R: agora, antra, aorta, argon, argot, atria, grain, grant, griot, groan, groat, groin, intro, naira, noria, organ, raita, ratio, riant, riata, taira, tiara, train, varan, vigor (US), virga, angora, organa, rating, ration, raving, roving, trigon, virago, aviator, orating, vagrant, variant.

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Starting Sept. 20th Great Prices!

Contact dora@vallartatribune.com

Free listings • Lost and Found • Garage Sale • Non Profit Events

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Tourist Offices: • Rio Cuale • Main Plaza • Lazaro Cardenas Park American Consulate Canadian Consulate

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VALLARTA´S ONLY ENGLISH NEWSPAPER

Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

Old Town & Centro Paradise Community Centre Freddy Tucan restaurant Los Mercados Timothy Real Estate Page in the Sun Hotel Zone Villa del Palmar - Vallarta Starbucks – Peninsula Marina Starbucks – Marina RE/MAX Marina Café Cup Casa Velas

Nuevo Vallarta Paradise Village La Estancia Vallarta Adventures Starbucks – Paradise Village

Bucerias DeCameron Resort Elements Realty Yo-Yo Mo’s Sports Bar La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Oso’s Restaurant Philos Realty Ikuai Restaurant

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Friday Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2013

ONLY PAPER AVAILABLE IN THE PUERTO VALLARTA AIRPORT REACH MORE LOCALS AND TOURISTS ASK ABOUT SUMMER SPECIALS dora@tribunadelabahia.com.mx

Francisco I Madero # 202, corner Pino Suarez, Emiliano Zapata Olas Altas Reservations 222 6593 www.latiavallarta.com e-mail latiavallarta@hotmail.com

TIZOC COMIDA MEXICANA

Authentic Mexican Food!

Seafood & Steaks Mention this ad for ONE GUACAMOLE per table with dinner

Olas Altas 474 , Romantic Zone Reservations 222 8382