Issue 897, June 13 - 19, 2014

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Local father´s day

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June 13 - 19, 2014 Free Issue 897

Art & Culture HUICHOLES

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Travel TEQUILA

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Photo credit: Madeline Milne

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Friday June 13 - 19, 2014 PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fernando Gonzalez Corona Director DAVID ROJO sjcbcs@yahoo.com.mx Editor Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@Vallartatribune.com Editorial Board Marcia Blondin Raymond C. Beaty Lois Ellison John & Christie Forget Landon Hollander Nancy Van Landingham Robina Oliver Sales Team FERNANDO AYALA salestribune@outlook.com Rebeca Castellón rebeca.castellonn@gmail.com Community Manager / Sales Julie Mongeau juliemongeau@gmail.com Designer Cynthia E. Andrade G. cisandra@vallartatribune.com cysandra@gmail.com Vallarta Tribune is an activity and entertainment guide and merely publishes information as it is provided by the advertiser or event host. We do not assume responsibility in errors or omissions other than to correct them as soon as they are made known to us regarding event schedules, locations and/or prices. In addition, we do not assume any responsibility for erroneous inclusion or exclusion of information except to take reasonable care to ensure accuracy, that permission has been obtained to use it, and to remove it as soon as is practical upon receiving your notification of error.

We recommend you always confirm prior to attending or visiting an event or establishment. Weekly publication edited, printed and distributed by Ediciones y Publicaciones Siete Junio, SA de CV Grupo Editorial Tribuna Calle 21 de Marzo # 1174 Col. Lomas del Coapinole Del. El Pitillal, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco México CP 48290 Tel. (322) 226-0829, 226-0800 editor@vallartatribune.com * www.vallartatribune.com * www.facebook.com/vallarta.tribune

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Welcome to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

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

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

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 $7.50 pesos per ticket and passengers must purchase a new ticket every time they board another bus. There are no “transfers”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Calling in Mexico 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.

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 Non-Emergency Police Immigration: 322.224.7719 322.290.0507 Consumer Protection: Fire Department: 01.800.468.8722 322.223.9476 Ambulance: 322.222.1533

Consulates American Consulate Nuevo Vallarta: 322.222.0069 24 hrs Guadalajara: 333.268.2145

Tourism Offices Jalisco: 322.221.2676 Nayarit: 322.297.1006

Canadian Consulate 322.293.2894 24 hrs: 1.800.706.2900

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Editor´s Note Editors Notes

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his week sees me escaping the heat and humidity of Puerto Vallarta for the heat and humidity of Tulum, Riviera Maya. This will be my first time in Tulum specifically, though I have been to Cancun & Playa del Carmen a couple times. It’s an amazing part of the world, that we are blessed to share. The Mayan culture, the unique natural attributes of this land, the activities and lifestyle all work to make this one of the most regarded beach destinations, often voted in the top 10 for best beaches in the world.

And I can’t disagree; fine white sand, crystal clear aqua water, a 3,500 year old pyramid overlooking your beach blanket. It’s pretty

impressive.

I’ve had the chance to travel across this country and for me each place holds something special. Ask my ex; I have found a reason to move to every place I’ve ever been, including a small town in the middle of British Columbia that has snow almost year round and Texas. When we were making the decision to move to Mexico it came down to a couple of things including ease of travel back to Canada because we wrongly assumed we’d return back there more than once a year. Also important was a strong sense of traditional Mexican culture, modern infrastructure, expat community and natural beauty. For us Puerto Vallarta made the most sense with all these attributes and more.

But to be honest, the allure of the Caribbean waters, the pyramids, cenotes and thriving Mayan culture continued to beckon me until I had the opportunity to spend two weeks traveling around the Yucatan writing travel articles.

Tough job, I know.) What struck me, one day while driving disoriented through the back roads of the Yucantan coast, is that the mountains were an important part of my sense of well-being. It was seriously disconcerting not being able to tell which way we were heading, with only an endless

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

vista of flat brush on either side, occasionally broken by the inevitable tope announcing another small Mayan pueblo. I returned to Puerto Vallarta assured I had made the right choice.

If you would prefer to escape the heat and humidity of Vallarta this weekend, consider a trip to Tequila, the birthplace of…

Tequila.

The drive is breathtaking and can be easily done in three hours or by the comfort of bus. There are a number of very interesting tours, excellent hotels and restaurants to visit and the town is a charming pueblo magico with lovely plaza, mercado, shops and all the tequila you can carry.

Until next week, Madeline

Around town with Julie

juliemongeau@gmail.com

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t’s that time of the year; the streets are empty, activities and events are scarce, but don’t despair, there is always something to do in Puerto Vallarta. With the rain coming earlier this summer and we are all in need of shelter, unless of course you like to dance in the rain. I have thought up of a few suggestions for things to do to find refuge from the rain.

Every Sunday our sister paper Tribuna de la Bahia invites you to cool off at a selected movie theatre for a free viewing. All you need to do is bring a copy of the newspaper and you get a free movie pass for two. Please check the Vallarta Tribune Facebook page to find out what will be showing this Sunday.

There are a couple live theater’s with shows almost every night (and the air conditioning is free)or head to Galerias for some shop-

ping and ice cream. Probably the best escape is to pull-up a chair at any one of your local cafés and watch the rains pour down – that is an impressive amount of water.

Just stay off the roads. Many flood and it can be very dangerous.

If you didn’t know Facebook is always a great way to find out the different activities, shows and

events happening in P.V. Look up the Vallarta Tribune Page and check out its wall, you might find something different to do.

Again don’t be shy, send me any suggestions or comments you may have. Until next week, come out and play!

Smiles Julie

Sterilization Clinics / PEACEAnimals JUNE / Free or by donation.

11-14 San Pancho (Pets for Life clinic) 15 Tepic (Pets for Life clinic) 18-21 Pitillal (exact location tba) 25-28 La Cruz de Huancaxtle RIDES FOR RESCUE DOGS NEEDED: For Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Expenses for dogs paid for. Please contact robin.nobars@gmail if you can help.

SOS ISLAND CATS: There are basically only two people feeding about 60 cats and kittens and catching them to take to clinics. Help is desperately needed to do both. Contact: shannon@bestonproperties.com HOMES NEEDED: For the thousands of dogs and cats on the streets here and for dozens of healthy and beautiful dogs and cats at the Centro de Acopio, the city´s no-kill pound. Open Monday-Saturday from 8 AM-2 PM. 293-3690. The Acopio is now holding adoptions every Saturday from 11 AM-2 PM at Plaza Caracol (back end of building near McDonald´s entrance).

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Tourists choosing to Puerto Vallarta first

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exico’s Ministry of Tourism has reported that Puerto Vallarta had average hotel room occupancy of 8,612 rooms from January to April, 2014, 10 percent more when compared to the same period in 2013. This represents an 8 percent increase in overall hotel occupancy for the destination which had the biggest increase in hotel occupancy of Mexican beach destination so far this year. Puerto Vallarta’s International Airport (PVR) received 126,000 international passengers from January to April, 2014.

Summer hotel occupancy from US and Canada trave-

lers is also expected to get a boost this year. Kayack.com, reported a 59 percent increase on flight and hotel searches to the destination for this past Memorial Day weekend.

Fly.com also reported that the destination was placing in the top 10 destinations most searched for summer travel.

Puerto Vallarta is increasingly becoming more accessible for travelers as improvements continue to be made to the destination’s access points and infrastructure.

The destination has heavily invested in renovations to seaports as well as the addition of new flight frequencies

and routes.

Puerto Vallarta’s natural beauty, exquisite gastronomy, superb service and people’s warmth are highlighted on the national campaign “Puerto Vallarta, Mexico’s most authentic port” through niche media and digital platforms.

Puerto Vallarta’s prime location, nestled between the Bay of Banderas, one of the world’s largest bays, and the lush Sierra Madre Mountains, offers a magical and unique Mexican setting where travelers can experience the destination’s world-class infrastructure, attractions and services.

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Sacional: Mexico’s Online Design Bazaar

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arkets have always been the ideal places to buy all that one’s mind can fashion. In the digital age, some of these traditional bazaars have turned into online shops where customers can enjoy the browsing experience from the comfort of their home or at work, to name but a few purchasing options.

A Mexican company has taken inspiration from both the old and the new to create Sacional, Mexico’s online design bazaar where people can find “all of their favorite things,” according to the firm’s website. Sacional’s mission is to find and offer the best design, provided that it is new, fresh, and contemporary, and has the best

quality. “We guarantee you’ll get an extra ounce of happiness with each product!”

Sacional’s product portfolio comprises jewelry, clothing (for humans as well as pets), technological accessories (for iPhone and iPad, other gadgets, and travel), fashion accessories (footwear, hats, ties, cufflinks, sunglasses, wallets, etc.), decoration, and furniture from over 100 brands.

Sacional is an ideal platform for Mexican designers to showcase their creations on the domestic market while offering the opportunity to foreign designers to promote their work throughout Mexico. www.sacional.com

Mexican Circuses Protest 3rd Anniversary of Human Law Ban Animals Rights Reform

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undreds of circus workers took to Mexico City’s streets to protest a law that would ban circuses from using animals at performances in the Federal District.

Circus owners and workers marched on Tuesday from the Buenavista district to the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main plaza, to demand a meeting with Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera.

The Federal District Legislative Assembly approved the Law on the Staging of Public Shows on Monday, but the mayor must still sign off on the measure before it can become law.

The assembly voted 41-0, with 11 abstentions, to approve the law, which “prohibits the use of live wild or domestic animals during the staging of circus performances.”

The law would take effect one year after its publication in the Federal District Gazette, giving circuses time to develop new acts and find homes for the animals.

The protesters said the legislation threatened the livelihoods of thousands of families and could lead to the end of traditional

circuses, whose main draw is the animals.

The law prohibits circuses from presenting, selling or using live animals as lottery prizes or in games, as well as using animals “for the taking of photographs or any other related activity.”

The ban applies only to circuses and will not affect dolphin shows, theater companies, bullfights and other kinds of animal shows, Federal District lawmaker Jesus Sesma, a Mexican Green Party, or PVEM, member and one of the law’s main backers, told Efe. Violators will be subject to seizure of their animals and fines of more than 700,000 pesos ($53,722).

Mexico City is on its way to becoming the seventh entity in the federation to ban the use of animals in circuses, joining Colima, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos and Queretaro states.

Similar legislation has been proposed in the states of Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tamaulipas and Quintana Roo. EFE

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

By Suzzete Alcántara

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arking the third anniversary of the publication of Mexico’s human rights constitutional reform in the Diario Oficial, or Official Gazette, Interior Secretary Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong said in Mexico City on Tuesday that that reform was the most important in Mexico’s history.

Osorio Chong said it is now up to all entities in the country to make its terms a reality for all Mexicans.

The reform, which was adopted in 2011, proposes to amend 11 articles of the Constitution, redefining the paradigm of the state as one that recognizes the human rights of its citizens and their power to invoke them.

At the crux of the reform lies the principle “pro personae,” which impels federal, state, and municipal authorities to protect, respect, guarantee, and promote the human rights of Mexicans.

The principle ensures norms that favor the well-being of citizens at all times, including the ones dictated by international

standards which apply to Mexico as well.

Osorio Chong promised to realize the objectives of the reform through raising awareness among all levels of governments and strengthening legal frameworks to better protect human rights.

As part of the anniversary, Osorio Chong met with the president of the Inter-American Court

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 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.

of Human Rights, Humberto Sierra Porto Antonio, with whom he exchanged views on Mexico’s progress in regards to the protection of human rights.

“Mexico has been an example for all of Latin America in the implementation of efforts to protect human rights,” Sierra Porto said.

Source:The News

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Mexico wants Canada’s Mexican Economy Approaches help on energy reform Developed Nation Status

By Jameson Berkow

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exico wants a little help from Canada as the world’s eighth-largest crude oil producer moves toward ending a nearly eight-decade-long state monopoly and open its energy sector to private companies.

Early Monday morning [June 2], high ranking officials from the Mexican government will gather at the Calgary Petroleum Club in hopes of pitching their historic reformation plan to Canadian energy executives. It will be the first time Mexico has marketed its historic constitutional changes outside the country since they were passed last year and according to Carlo Dade the decision to come here before the United States is quite telling.

“Mexico is sending a signal to Canada and western Canada in particular with the holding of the event in Calgary rather than Houston,” the director of the Centre for Trade and Investment Policy at the Canada West Foundation, which is helping to organize the event, said to BNN. “There is a strong desire to bring in successful models and that is how Mexico and frankly most energy professionals, on a relative global comparative basis, view Canada,” said Dade.

The reforms, once they become enshrined in the Mexican constitution, will allow private companies to form joint ventures with state-owned energy giant Petróleos Mexicanos (more commonly known as Pemex) for the first time since the company was formed in 1938. Pemex has been dealing with a decade of production declines and just this week new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) found Mexican oil shipments to the United States have fallen to their lowest level in 20 years.

“Mexico will need not only private sector investment and participation but also help with things like regulation and that is

where Canada and especially Alberta can play a role,” said Dade. “Mexico sees Alberta in particular as a source of potential assistance.”

Dade says it is a “huge opportunity right next door,” but Dana Benner is skeptical of the speed at which the reforms appear to be progressing.

“It is a big opportunity but it will unfold much more slowly,” the managing director of oilfield services research at AltaCorp Capital told BNN. “To think that Mexico will become a rip roaring market quickly I think would be foolhardy. Sustainable policy takes real commitment and Mexico has not shown the ability to do that to date and to follow through in a long lasting way.”

In hopes of convincing Canadians that this time will be different, Mexico is sending some high ranking officials to make their case. Leonardo Beltran, Mexico’s Undersecretary of Energy who is tasked with actually writing the reforms as well as Jesus Reyes Heroles, former Pemex CEO, will both be at the Petroleum Club event and both will pitch the Canadian people directly on BNN. “You always want to see evidence of a turn rather than just guys talking about it,” said Benner, noting several Canadian companies such as Calfrac, Precision, Trinidad and CanElson already do some business in Mexico but “aren’t holding their breath” for any quick expansion.

Randy Hawkings, CanElson’s CEO, told FirstEnergy Capital earlier this week there could be “considerable interest in Mexico from North American producers, which could create a market opportunity for CanElson.”

For AltaCorp’s Benner, the word ‘could’ is where the emphasis belongs there. If Canadian companies already active in Mexico experience a substantial increase in activity and spending, then he believes the rest of the sector can be swayed. www.bnn.ca

Explore Banderas Bay Walking Tours Take a tour through Puerto Vallarta’s Historic Downtown to learn about this city’s rich history, famous people, architecture, and cultural and ecological heritage; all this on an easy to

moderate two-hour stroll led by a certified guide.

Tours leave from the Municipal Tourism Office every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m.

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hile most media headlines regarding the impact of Mexico among world nations seems to dwell on such negatives as drug gang wars, climatic disasters, and immigration problems, America’s southern neighbor, and partner in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is reaching economically developed nation status. With a 120 million strong population, a fast-growing middle class, a rehabilitated oil production complex (PEMEX), and an expanded manufacturing base has caught attention where it counts, the world’s leading credit analysts: 1) Moody’s has recently elevated Mexico to A3 status from BAA1. Only Chile has reached that exalted elevation in Latin America.

2) Standard & Poor’s, which was roundly criticized for lowering the U.S.A.’s standing because of its debt problems a few year ago, moved Mexico up to BBB+ in recognition of that nation’s impressive economic progress.

While America’s often-maligned southern neighbor has always had the potential for economic dynamism– a) natural resource abundance; b) an active working class within a 100 million plus population, and c) a growing trillion dollar gross domestic product of goods and services, it took the year old presidency of young, Kennedy-esque and former television communicator, Enrique Peña Nieto’s Administration to put Mexico’s underlying economic strength into high gear.

Peña Nieto has initiated unexpected growth accomplishments by concentrated awakening of Mexico’s dominant industry, bringing it up to standards suitable for major export dynamics. He has partially done this by opening the doors of PEMEX to foreign investments, thereby overcoming Mexico’s late 1930′s ultra-nationalism, which had since witnessed the slow deterioration of a leading global oil potential growth.

Peña Nieto’s Administration has already taken a giant forward step by signing the “Tequila Agreement” with China, a bilateral commerce contract, aimed at leveling the quantity of exports and imports with the Asian behemoth– with Mexico reaping a heavily favorable balance in the import/export equation. Mexico has also greatly benefitted by the rapid upgrading of its industrial quality and quantity.

In this, Mexico has been greatly rewarded in intensifying its exports to the U.S. by its cost effectiveness and greater servicing capability to the U.S. This has happened at a time when growing U.S. economic requirements have created shortened demand time periods, which America’s southern neighbor is much more able to requite than China or other global suppliers. Mexico has also closed its global cost margin because of higher labor

rates overseas, and the need for major domestic U.S. inventories.

President Nieto’s policies continue an even more favorable approach and enlargement for U.S. “Maquiladoras,” which allow tax and dutyfree manufacturing havens for industrial products strictly directed toward U.S. markets.

Last, but not least, it puts to rest the confrontational dialogue of the immigration problem, as Mexican job opportunities have created a net reversal of “illegal immigrants” into this country for the past decades, due to lack of job opportunities in Mexico. Most of all, these favorable circumstances south of the border have given NAFTA two dynamic U.S. neighbors, who are already making this pact, passed in 1993, a poster child of how regional trade pacts can really be made to work for the global benefit.

Source: http://www.desertsun. com/

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

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Father’s Role

By Leza Warkentin

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y mom was a stay-athome mom for much of my childhood. She baked the cookies, made the lunches, asked us to clean our rooms, did the dishes, made the jam, nagged us to clean our rooms, tended the garden, prepared the meals, hosted the tea parties, and finally just cleaned those ding-dang rooms.

My dad was the one who came home after work and told the wacky stories, played cops and robbers, and built forts. He threw the ball around, ran beside our bicycles for hours, and made us

laugh until chocolate milkshakes (his specialty) were running out of our noses.

I have discovered that, even though I work outside the home, the roles are very similar in our family (I get it now, mom!). My main fear of dying prematurely is that my children would never again wear the correct uniform on the appropriate day of the week and would be permanent residents on the overdue library book list.

I picture them showing up at school wearing the red shirts on blue-shirt Monday, each carrying a 5lb bag of apples and a package of unpopped microwave popcorn for lunch, pitied for the mother-

Explore Banderas Bay 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

less children they were. I’m very careful with my health.

But my husband, for all his lack of interest in uniform colors, can often be found with our son, taking apart every piece of electronics we own to build a lifesized robot that lights up. Or he is with our daughter, working out the rudiments of American Girl doll hair care.

Without their dad around, my kids would probably still have training wheels on their bicycles and would not have had a piggy back ride after the age of 11 months (unless their grandpa came over).

Sometimes I have to ask myself, will they remember that

I always had the P.E. uniform ready on Tuesdays and Thursdays? Or that their dad spent 2 hours making them a toy airplane out of recycled cans? Man, I hate redundant questions that don’t tip well in my favor.

Thankfully I’m not always the Square Parent. My father taught me how to be the Fun, Spontaneous Parent when necessary, and, in the teen years, the Hilarious Yet Mortifying In Public Parent. It’s important to pass these gifts on through the generations.

And I love even more that my children are growing up with a father who finds them to be fascinating people; who respects

and fosters their interests and passions; who lights up like a sunbeam when she brushes her lips casually on his cheek; who goes to every soccer game and cheers for his son’s 5 minutes of glory. Sometimes I imagine my son in the future, building a robot with his own little boy and telling him stories of his rock star dad, and the little boy chiming in with an incredulous, “Abuelo was COOL?” I imagine my daughter with her future husband, a man she chose because he is kind, because he is good, because he reminds her of the first man who was worthy of her heart.

Just like her momma did.

the surfers mecca of 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 hand-made 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

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Banderas Bay Initiative

By María del Mar Zamora maria.zamora@bbini.org

The Pale Blue Dot- Remembering Our Oceans

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ave you seen the picture of earth taken by the Voyager 1 space probe at about 6 billion kilometers from our planet?

The famous picture is titled The Pale Blue Dot and in his book by the same name Carl Sagan offers the following reflection: The Earth is the only world known, so far, to harbor life.

There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes.

Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world.

To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the

only home we’ve ever known.

Maybe it is because the dot is blue, or because for me, staring out into the vastness of the ocean tends to have a similar effect, but this image makes me think of the sea.

Since this past Monday (June 8th) was world’s ocean day, I thought I would use this column to remind myself, and those who care to join me, about the importance of the oceans and to take a moment to cherish our pale blue dot.

Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and contain more than 97% of the world’s water at any given moment. Not

only is the ocean bigger than we realize in our daily life, it also provides vital services to all life on the planet.

Oceans carry out about 50% of global primary production and it has been estimated that as much as 10% of human protein intake comes from the oceans.

Even if you aren’t eating a lot of fish, 36% of the world’s total fisheries catch each year is turned into fishmeal and oil to feed farmed fish, chickens and pigs.

Ocean plants produce half of the world’s oxygen and absorb nearly one third of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions.

This last service has mitigated climate change but as rates of emissions have grown, this service is creating acidification in the ocean which will wreak havoc on shell-fish and corals and affect all of the ocean’s ecosystems.

These are just the services that we absolutely could not do without.

Waterways and oceans carry 90% of all trade between countries, while ocean water is processed to extract salt, bromine, magnesium and other useful metals.

And how many of us find peace, inspiration, and health in the recreational activities we find

on beaches and oceans?

The picture makes the point starkly. This is our home and it is not infinite.

The resources we use here must be used responsibly. Help us not only survive, but thrive on this earth by joining the efforts to reduce, re-use, and recycle as well as clean-up groups and campaigns finding force along the bay. Let’s make ourselves proud of the stand we take.

Read more: ocean: Importance of the Ocean | Infoplease. com http://www.infoplease. com/encyclopedia/science/ ocean-impor tance-ocean. html#ixzz34FUPVf9R

10th Annual Texas Music Festival this weekend

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rupo Marival is celebrating Texas Week from June 10th through the 17th. Tour operator Funjet will fly 150 Texans to the destination to enjoy the party, which will also be attended by hotel guests and the local public.

It’s time for the 10th edition of the Texas Music Festival, to be celebrated from June 10th through the 17th. This traditional event returns to the Riviera

Nayarit thanks to the collaboration of Grupo Marival, Funjet and the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). This year, tour operator Funjet is bringing 150 Texans to their party in the Riviera Nayarit—a record number confirmed

by Bea Barbero, Sales Director for Grupo Marival.

“People are noticing the difference and they’re getting used to it. Texans hold events like this in other domestic destinations,

but now they’re focusing more and more on the Riviera Nayarit.

There’s been a lot of promotion for the destination and its hotels,” explained Barbero.

The event showcases Texas culture for an entire week, including fun contests, plenty of Texas cooking and, most importantly, traditional Texan music.

The bands start playing every day at 9:30 p.m. as the finale to the day’s activities.

“We want to thank the CVB for hosting the musicians.

They’ve been lending us this fantastic support for several years so we have the resources to bring them to the destination,” enthused the Sales Director for Marival Group.

Those who’d like to enjoy the festivities merely need to by a day pass. For more details please call Marival Resort & World Spa at (322) 226-9740.

the Food Tours available. Eat like a local and for three hours you will enjoy everything from Tacos to Pozole.

Art 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.

Volunteer - There are many

wonderful organizations across the Bay that can use your help. Both time or money will be appreciated. On Sundays, the Brigada de Basura does a morning clean-up with the local children and then they all head to Que Pasa restaurant for breakfast, activities and friendship.

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 seven and a half pesos

Here’s the complete concert list: • June 11 – Mark David Manders • June 12 – Zane Williams • June 13 – Party on the beach with all the bands • June 14 – The Tejas Brothers • June 15 – Matt Hillyer & Jordan Hendrix of Eleven Hundred Springs • June 16 – Max & Heather Stalling of Blacktop Gypsies

MADE IN MEXICO 08

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

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“The Rebozo” in Art, Culture and Fashion

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he Fashion and Textile Museum of London will exhibit 75 ‘rebozos’, some of them of the 18th century. This great collection will be in exhibition from June 5th through August 31st 2014. The museum is located at 83 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XF,United Kingdom.

Mexican shawls belonging to public and private collections will be exhibited for the first time in London.

The exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum under the banner of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) includes a wide variety of Mexican shawls (rebozos) made of silk and cotton.

Part of the collection was donated to Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City by Lady Irene (Everts) Lojan, 92, daughter of the late Belgian diplomat Robert Everts (1875-1942). The exhibition also includes four pieces from the Legorretas and a 9-meter-long rebozo (354 inches) featured in an installation by Mauricio Cervantes.

“They are beautiful shawls of the 18th century, they are gorgeous,” said the curator of the exhibition, Hilary Simon.

Arturo Estrada, expert in backstrap loom, will weave an orange 1.90-meters-long shawl (74 inches) at the museum for five days in order to give visitors an idea of the technique used to make the shawls.

Mexican anthropologist Marta Turok said that even though the silk shawl of San Luis Potosí is very well positioned, others made from Ikat cotton or jasper are in risk of disappearing.

“They are about to disappear from four of six communities. In Chilapa, Guerrero, they already stopped making this kind of rebozos,” Turok explained. She added that in Zamora, Michoacán, “there is only one maker left, and his children do not want to learn the technique.”Additionally, there are three workshops in La Piedad and Moroleón and four in Uriangato, while Tenancingo has the largest number of shawl producers.

Source: www.eluniversal.com.mx/

Explore Banderas Bay (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 Buce-

rias 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. 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.

Conchas Chinas The south of Puerto Vallarta is a thick jungle full of adventure and excitement. Head south along the 200 highway and you will find the architecturally inspiring community of Conchas Chinas.

The beach cove here is excellent for snorkeling.

Nogalito The first town South is that of Nogalito. Set back in the jungle it is a charming Mexican village that also is home to one of the most popular day tours - the Canopy Mundo Nogalito Tour with the only tunnel zip-line in town. If you’re feeling the heat,

ART & CULTURE 09

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

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Who Are The Huichols?

By Gretchen DeWitt www.PeaceAnimals.org

T

hey are seen walking around town, the women wearing long, gathered and brightly colored skirts and long sleeved blouses and the men in white or natural colored cotton pants and long shirts, both elaborately embroidered (electric pink is a favored color) with images of the natural world. In Puerto Vallarta, there are several shops selling Huichol art, which includes yarn "paintings," woven bags, embroidered clothing, beaded jewelry, beaded animals and beaded pictures frames, etc.

Known to themselves as the Wixarica people and "the healers," they were named Huichols by the Spaniards in the 16th century.

With a long tradition of rejecting Catholicism, many of the Huichols have maintained their Shamanistic customs, and like many indigenous groups in America, peyote is used in their religious practices.

Because of droughts, damage to their lands and loss of wildlife, thousands of Huichols have had to leave their villages for towns and cities, far from their sacred mountains.

Wirikuta, located between Sierra Madre Occidental and the Zacatecas ranges and encompasses 140 hectors of desert land. It is considered the Huichols´most sacred mountain because it is the place where they believe the sun was born.

Every year between October and March, Huichols make a 250 mile ceremonial pilgrimage to Wirikuta, which is important to them for the peyote hunt and for the deer dance. The Mexican government has granted 36 mining conces-

HUICHOLES: THE LAST PEYOTE GUARDIANS

I

s a story about the mystical Wixárika People, one of the last pre-Hispanic alive cultures in Latin America and situated primarily in Nayarit, and their struggle against the Mexican government and multinational mining corporations to preserve Wirikuta; their most sacred territory and home of the famous peyote cactus.

Since 2010, Canadian mining projects received the concessions to prospect the whole area, rich in silver and other valuable minerals. The company promises to create thousands of jobs for the needy villagers of the region, without contamination.

Nevertheless, the mining activities are seen by the Wixárika and their supporters as a great menace for the delicate biodiversity of this unique ecosystem, listed by the UNESCO as World Cultural

sions to First Majestic Silver Corporation.

Seventy percent of the land to be mined is in the Wixarika (Huichol) zone. Open pit mining, practiced by First Majestic Silver, effectively strips the landscape. High levels of cyanide are used, poisoning the environment, and enormous amounts of water in an arid land will be used for the mining sites. The Huichols have

Explore Banderas Bay stop at the Punta Negra bridge and take a drip in the river. Lovely fresh water, lots of little pools to splash in and rocks to dry off on. If you’re lucky, a vendor will come by with snacks and drinks - otherwise pack your own.

Mismaloya 15 minutes further is Mismaloya, a small town set back from the water along a river that leads to the ocean and a number of beach restaurants.

This bay looks onto Los Arcos

and Natural Heritage. An unequal and controversial fight from today that triggers the global debate between ancient cultural values, the exploitation of nature and the inevitable development of the peoples.

This visually arresting movie follows the life of a young Wixárika man who goes on a pilgrimage through the sacred lands. It does a decent job of allowing both sides of the debate to present its case. Beautifully filmed it’s an interesting movie that helps to explain the complexities of modern development in the face of traditional cultures.

You can stream the movie at vimeo.com/ondemand/ huicholesfilm and find them on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/HuicholesTheLastPeyoteGuardians

been peacefully protesting the Wirikuta mine, which transgresses legal covenants that protect the Wirikuta area and the Wixarika (Huichol) peoples at national and international levels.

To read more on Wirikuta: http://www.opendemocracy.net/ civilresistance/lilian-palma/struggle-for-sacred-land-case-of-wirikuta

and is a great place to grab a panga boat for a tour of the impressive rocks.

If you have time, book a snorkel or dive trip. This is one of the deepest ocean valleys in the world and home to turtles, whales, dolphins and the bluefooted Booby.

Back behind the town, check out the Vallarta Zoo where you can play with baby monkeys, tigers and lions.

Boca de Tomatlan Boca de Tomatlan is the last town along the ocean and the place to grab a boat to the small beach communities of

Quimixto, Las Animas and the very popular Yelapa.

Looking for romance - book a table at the nearby Le Kliff for spectacular views and sunsets.

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

ART & CULTURE 10

The pottery of Mata Ortíz

By Marianne Menditto

www.colibridesignvallarta.com www.galeriacolibri.blogspot.com

T

he pottery of Mata Ortíz has a tradition dating back almost two thousand years.

The people we know as the Anasazi lived in the fertile valleys of Chihuahua at the same time as they occupied Mesa Verde in Colorado and there were strong cultural ties with the Toltec and Olmec civilizations to the south.

Two hundred years after its destruction by invading tribes from the north, this region was known to the Aztecs as the Gran Chichimeca, “The great land of the wild people”. At its center was the city of Páquime, a Nahuatl word for “The Place of Big Houses”, or Casas Grandes in Spanish, near where now sits the little village of Juan Mata Ortíz.

Although Paquime was destroyed in 1340 A.D., the tradition of Pueblo pottery has survived in places such as Santa Clara, New Mexico, and the Hopi villages in Arizona, highly prized by collectors world wide. In the 1950’s a potter named Juan Quezada was discovered making pots in the traditional fashion of Casas Grandes in the little village of Juan Mata Ortíz.

Since then, he has gained world renown, his works displayed in the Smithsonian and in museums and galleries around the globe.

His family and the family of Felix Ortíz started a colony of potters that brought back the warmth and beauty of a style of pottery that was traded across the continent over a thousand years ago.

Today, in typical Mexican fashion, there are now over 400 potters in Mata Ortíz, routinely showing in galleries and museums in New York, Chicago, and across the American southwest.

About 20 kms. south of the famous archaeological site of Páquime, sits the small agricultural community of Juan Mata Ortíz, on the banks of the Casas Grandes River. Here, as a boy, Juan Quezada and his friends would often find artifacts in the fields and on the river banks, including shards of the rich and complicated pottery made by the people of the Páquime culture, which was advanced enough to build a city that included 4 story houses and Mayan style ball courts.

Juan had an idea. The soils in the valley contained fine clay deposits of many different colors.

Using these, Juan started copying

the pots he had found, studying and experimenting as he went along. Soon he was selling the pots to tourists and so it began.

Now almost the entire village is dedicated to Mata Ortíz pottery, quite a number of these potters are world class. Their work rivals and often surpasses anything found in the American Southwest.

Though he has since retired, most of his family, now to the fourth generation, are making pottery, continuing the ancient tradition.

We have been fortunate

enough to experience first hand the renaissance effect upon these wonderful people as the world recognizes, even as they continue to refine it, their skill and artistry.

We’ve watched cars and trucks replacing burros and horse carts, the installation of water lines, glass in the windows, tile on the floors and real doors replacing old blankets. But the people stay the same, simple and not wanting.

Family, community, and tradition are still the important things... and the artistry!

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LOCAL 11

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

Flowers of the Week

by Sandra Cesca

Banderas Bay Butterfies

Plumbago Plumbago (Spanish) Plumbago auriculata

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

L

C

eadwort. The name may have referred to its more common lead-blue flower color, the ability of the sap to create lead-colored stains on skin, or from the ancient belief that the plant was a cure for lead poisoning. It is a herbaceous evergreen shrub growing to 6 feet tall.

The rarer white flowers have been used traditionally to treat warts, broken bones and wounds, taken as a snuff for headaches and as an emetic to dispel bad dreams.

This plant is one of over 200 found in Sandra’s new color-coded guidebook, Tropical Plant Walks of

Puerto Vallarta. Available now at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens’ gift shop www.vbgardens.org, Page in the Sun Bookstore and from Sandra at the Paradise Community Center Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. Information on her many walking tours can be found at: www.escaperoutevallarta.com.

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loudless sulphurs are beautiful, yellow, large butterflies (wingspan over 3 in or 7.5 cm) that can be found throughout Mexico, at almost any time. The eggs are laid on plants in the Pea family, Senna genus, of which there are hundreds of species, including those known as Cassia; most plants have yellow, pea-like flowers. Young caterpillars are green with a yellow stripe on each side of the length of their bodies. More mature caterpillars are yellow/orange with horizontal, thin, dark bands. During the day, they hide in a “tent” made of their

by Moralea Milne

host plant leaves webbed together with silk. The adult butterflies prefer to nectar on long tubular flowers such as hibiscus.

If you notice that many of the postings repeat a common theme of “found throughout Mexico or over a wide range, throughout the year” that is because I am a

novice and it is far easier to spy and photograph the more common species.

To a Canadian like me, just starting the exploration of Mexican butterflies, they are all unique and beautiful. I hope you will find this journey as fascinating and exhilarating as I do.

VALLARTA SHOPPING DIRECTORY The only complete guide for Vallarta´s best galleries, boutiques, spas, restaurants and more. vallartashoppingdirectory.blogspot.mx

Basilio Badillo 269 A Puerto Vallarta, Jal Mon - Sat 4-11 pm (322) 223 3734 From USA or Canada 1-269-282-9550 info.divinodante@gmail.com www.divinodante.com

MEN AND WOMEN’S JEWELRY AND ACCESORIES. CASSANDRA SHAW JEWELRY 223 9734 BASILIO BADILLO 276 OLD TOWN OPEN DAILY

Nacho Daddy Mexico is the place in Puerto Vallarta where American, Canadian and European ex-pats and tourists across the globe gather to drink, eat, dance, listen to great music,watch football and having a rip-roaring good time.

287 Basilio Badillo in old town 322 223 0838 www.nachodaddymexico.com

REAL ESTATE 14

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

Title Insurance The Essential Protection for Mexican Real Estate

By Linda Neil

Consejo Nacional de Directores, AMPI

C

anadian newspapers carried stories recently about the eviction of land owners in an area known as La Manzanilla, located on beautiful Tenacatita Bay, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo on the west coast of Mexico. Many owners purchased property from farmers that had previously been ejido land a tenancy not unlike Indian lands in the United States and Canada. Ostensibly the proper legal procedure had been followed and apparently many of the properties were held in fideicomisos, the Mexican bank trust that is required for foreign owners in compliance with Article 27 of the Mexican constitution. According to information published, the prior titles to the land had been

signed by Vicente Fox, president of Mexico during 2000-2006.

Unfortunately, however, a Jalisco state circuit judge ruled recently in favor of a real estate developer who had allegedly acquired the land, as private property, in 1991. Attorneys for the developer declared that it had filed the complaint in the courts in 1993. Jalisco state police officers in compliance with an eviction order, disoccupied the property and are denying access to those in possession.

This is a nightmare that could have been avoided.

Title insurance is available in Mexico.

A title policy, issued in conformance with Mexican law, will protect the amount of the buyer’s investment. In order to obtain a policy of title insurance, a title investigation must be carried out.

This investigation will report potential issues and problems. If none are found, or if the issues are solvable, a commitment will be issued and the policy will be written at the time title transfers to the buyer who ordered the investigation. If the title company reports problems that cannot be resolved, the potential buyer will at least be fully aware of the risk and can decide whether or not to proceed with the purchase.

Some problems are not immediately known, however. When this happens and, if a problem arises at any time during the ownership of the party registered on the policy, it is necessary only to contact the title insurance company who is then legally bound to fight the issue and, in the event it does not win, owner is compensated up to the amount declared in the policy.

Title insurance is NOT an expensive proposition.

The title investigation cost will depend upon the area where the property is located and can range from 450 USD. to 3,000.USD. Actual cost will depend upon whether or not a title data base has been created. When a new data base must be created

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obviously more time, and hence, greater cost, will be involved.

The premium, a one time payment, will run from 6.00 USD to 7.50 USD per 1,000. USD valuation, plus tax. Thus, an insurance policy on a 200,000 USD property can cost $1,200 to 1,600 (USD), which seems to be a small amount to pay for the security afforded.

The prudent buyer will always include the cost of title insurance investigation and policy in his closing budget.

Two US companies have title policies approved in Mexico for use on properties located in Mexico. It is important that this option be made available to any and all considering a purchase of property in Mexico.

REAL ESTATE 15

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Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

Let’s Hear from You: First Person Expat Interviews

By Miguel Fernandez Miguel@g3mex.com

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his week we sat down with Margann and Ted Green to talk about their experience as both house and condo owners here in Vallarta.

They’ve been friends since primary school in Williamsville, NY. Too, Margann and Ted dated on and off in High School, until they parted ways for college.

Margann went to Cornell to study Industrial Labor Relations, but subsequently became a mother and entrepreneur while and Ted embarked on a career in the sciences, at Amherst, and Stanford University, where he also taught for a short time. He then moved on to the University of Wisconsin.

Both married, and never really kept in touch, until they attended their 40th high school reunion, and realized that they were meant to be together. The rest is history.

Now married for 18 years, they call Puerto Vallarta home.

Where did you first travel in Mexico?

We first went to the Eastern Coast of Mexico. Traveling in Isla Mujeres and around Playa del Carmen.

How did you learn of Puerto Vallarta?

Well, it was a freezing winter’s

night in Virginia, and we were watching 60 Minutes. They did a segment on the high quality of medical and health care in Puerto Vallarta. They called Puerto Vallarta a future hub for medical tourism. We both looked at each other and decided to give it a try.

Our plan was to travel here first for about a week, to find out about the place. And then return over the course of a year, to see if this is where we wanted to live.

Well, best laid plans! After 3 days we had a realtor, and began looking at properties.

(Margann): Being a realtor in the U.S., I was very interested in the real estate market down here.

Where in Vallarta did you look?

Pretty much everywhere: Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, Old Town.

Finally, towards the southern part of the Bay of Banderas.

(Margann): I fell in love with a house above the Garza Blanca development. That was before they built the luxury resort. The house was up in the jungle and just beautiful. The only problem was that there were too many stairs.

Finally we found our way down to Mismaloya, and toured a 5-bath, 4-bedroom house up in the development Lomas del Paci-

the rainy season. Flying termites in the shower; crab invasions; giant toads; snakes. And rain, lots of rain.

We lasted about 10 months, and realized that this was way too rustic and isolated for us.

Did you want to leave Vallarta?

No, we loved it down here, and

fico. It was beautiful, and we put in an offer then and there.

Then we moved down, and the adventure began.

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into! First of all, the house was in a small develo-

we knew enough at this point to look for something more suitable for our needs. Fortunately there were some very nice condos on the market, and we found what we wanted in Punta Negra. Which was an area that we’d become familiar with, and both liked. We did underprice our house in Mismaloya, so we were able to sell it relatively quickly.

pment, and little did we know that most of the owners were pretty much absentee.

Meaning that they only used their property a few times a year.

So we were up there pretty much all alone. Too, we were pretty shocked at what happens during

How is condo living for you?

We like the security, and we’re right on the beach.

The bus stop into town is across the street, so it’s very convenient.

It’s just been an adjustment getting used to living around a lot of other people.

We’ve always been homeowners, and miss some of the privacy and regular maintenance that goes along with home ownership.

Are you planning on staying here?

Oh, yes. This is our home.

We do go back up north to see family and friends for about three months a year, but we really enjoy it down here. Sometimes our children don’t understand our choice, and have tried to get us to go back North, but for now, we’re here to stay.

Are you an expat, and do you have a story to tell? If so, please contact us a G3MEX Real Estate Group, and set up a time to be interviewed.

Our helpful staff is always available. The office number is: 322-209-0832 or you can contact us via email at: info@g3mex.com.

TRAVEL 16

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

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Sipped or Shot: The connoisseurs guide to Tequila

By Gabriel Jones

O

f all of the bottles in mankind’s great bar perhaps the most interesting is Tequila. However to truly appreciate this complex and intriguing spirit we have to dispense with the salt, shot, lime version of imbibing most of us grew up with and start from scratch. To do this, my editor and I headed to where it all started–the town of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. What we learned will change the way we feel about tequila forever.

Like any good pilgrimage, the town of Tequila (pop 25, 000) is a long (3.5 hrs from Puerto Vallatra) but extremely beautiful journey.

Located approximately 300 km inland from Puerto Vallarta, Tequila reveals a side of Mexico that many miss during their typical beach-centric Mexican holidays.

Day trips by bus as well as overnight trips that also include a sleepover in the nearby city of Guadalajara are possible from Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas.

In 2003, because of its rich history and its contribution to the national identity, Tequila was named a Pueblo Magico or Magic Town by the Mexican government.

On this trip we had arranged to meet with Sauza, who in keeping with their tradition of innovation, have created a refined tequila tour for our educating pleasure. Our tour started at Sauza’s demonstration agave plantation on the outskirts of town. We met our friendly and helpful guide Karina, and Sauza’s most experienced jimador, Pepe. Jimadors are essential to the production of tequila and they continue to use techniques and tools similar to the ones used by jimadors of centuries past. They tend to the agave plants, nurturing them to maturity from small “pups”. This process takes six to fourteen years, which makes tequila the world’s most time consuming spirit to produce. As we walked through a field containing younger plants progressing up to rows of mature plants we noticed pieces of glinting black volcanic glass called obsidian mixed in with the soil, a reminder that Tequila Mountain and the others in its chain were once active volcanos.

Tequila’s life blood comes from the heart of the agave…the central bulb called pina, which is the Spanish word for pineapple.

Once the agave’s spiny leaves are cut away, the core looks like a giant green and white pinea-

pple; mature pinas can weigh up to 65 kilograms. We each had a turn removing a few leaves with a large, flat bladed hoe called a “coa”. As I hacked clumsily, the exertion instantly made me aware of the noonday heat. As I stepped aside to catch my breath and let Pepe continue the work with lightening fast precision, I noticed turkey vultures circling in the blue sky above. As Pepe finished with the pina, the air was full of a fresh, crisp agave aroma hinting at what was to come.

With the hard work completed, we were rewarded with a baby agave pup which now lives happily in my editor’s backyard.

We boarded the tour bus to head to Sauza’s distillery “La Perseverancia” built in 1873. Having written guidebooks about beer, I have toured countless breweries, in part to get to the tasting at the other side. The fermentation process for beer and tequila is very similar and the shiny, silver vats and smell of yeast brought back fond memories.

Modern day tequila production owes much to Sauza’s innovations. It was Sauza who first started cooking agave with indirect heat rather than in clay ovens and this differentiated the taste of tequila from its smoky country cousin mescal.

Sauza also employs one significantly different technique from most other tequila

producers. The standard method has the pinas cooked and pressed to extract the sugar and carbohydrate juice, which is then mixed with yeast and fermented. Sauza instead shreds and presses the agave while it is still raw, soaks the fibers in hot water to collect more of the juice, before removing the material, and only then cooking the agave juice. The theory is that by leaving out the more bitter plant material from the cooking process they create fresher, more flavourful tasting tequila.

We had our chance to taste the cooked pina juice, and the earthy honey-like flavour combined with the smell of the fresh cut agave from earlier started to give me a better idea of the flavours that are the foundation of good tequila.

After fermentation, tequila is then double (or for premium brands, triple) distilled going through stages of heating, cooling and filtering, eventually creating a 55 - 60% alcohol. That is then equalized by adding demineralized water to make tequila either 40% alcohol for sale in Canada or 38% for Mexican consumption.

The final process is what creates the various types of tequila. Blanco goes straight from stainless steel vats into glass bottles, with no additional aging, while other styles of tequila are aged in wood barrels. The aging room at Sauza is full of neatly

stacked barrels and larger wooden vats.

Most tequila is aged in American oak. At one time the oak casks were used bourbon barrels, imported from the US, and to this day some tequila is aged in used whiskey barrels as well as in virgin oak. To add additional flavour and color, some barrels are charred, from lightly toasted to almost black on the inside, before filling with tequila.

Victor Martinez, Sauza’s chief mixologist, started by explaining that the worst possible way to taste and appreciate tequila (or any spirit) is by downing it in one shot.

While your taste buds go through the shock of the alcohol content, most of the flavour misses your tongue, going straight to your stomach. He added that using salt prior to tasting increases salvia, which lessens the shock from the alcohol, but blocks the flavor to the taste buds, and lime right after simply washes away and further masks the taste.

Fine tequilas have a variety of subtle flavour profiles and are best enjoyed as a sipping drink served straight up, in its most authentic form or, in some circles, over ice or with water. The next time you have a good tequila in your hand remember these steps.

TASTING TEQUILA ONE: choose the right glassware.

Either the classic

Caballito - a two to three ounce glass, three to four inches tall (most commonly used in Mexico), or a flute or bowl shaped glass (champagne, port or brandy) with a stem, approved by wine tasters around the world and best for capturing aromas. When pouring your glass, don’t fill it all the way, leave room to swirl and smell.

TWO: observe the color of the tequila. Clear implies that it went straight from vat to bottle, while a range of golden hues are imparted by the amount of time aged in oak.

Swirl the tequila in the glass and observe what is known in the wine world as legs, or in tequila tasting, as tears. Blanco tequila will typically be less viscous (thick), with the tears dissipating faster. Oak aged tequila will be thicker, will long lasting, more pronounced tears.

THREE: smell the tequila.

Scent and taste are closely linked, with 60% of taste actually coming from scent, so this process will add to your appreciation of the taste. Depending on what type of tequila you smell, look for aromas like fresh cut grass, fresh fruit and herbs, or dried fruit, spices and even leather, tobacco and wood notes.

FOUR: The most important step. When tasting, take a very small sip and let it bathe your tongue. This is not meant to be a taste but rather to prepare your tongue for the taste that will follow.

Allow the tongue to experience the sparkling burning caused by the alcohol. As this subsides you are now ready for the taste experience.

FIVE: Breathe out and then take a larger sip. Hold it in your mouth and allowing it to roll over each part of your tongue. The tip of the tongue experiences sweet or salty flavours, the sides will discern sour, and the back of the tongue, bitterness.

Before swallowing, breathe in through your nose to gain more aroma.

Repeat and enjoy.

TRAVEL 17

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Where to Stay: Tequila, Jalisco

By Gabriel Jones

H

istorically most of Tequila’s visitors came only for a day visit, rushing from a tasting to a souvenir shop and then back onto their bus. As a result the town was limited in terms of great accommodation options. That changed in 2010 when Jorge Diaz and his brothers opened their luxurious twenty room boutique hotel. This “new” hotel is created from the original Diaz family home and buildings, built 137 years ago.

Famous for their great hospitality, their house was renowned for fantastic fiestas, which were often so well attended that overflow guests would spend the night in the stables.

The Diaz brothers are the great grandchildren of Carolina Cuervo and Vincente Orendain (another well know tequila producing family). The couple’s happy union produced a dynasty that would go on to start sixteen different tequila distilleries. The name Los Abolengos means ‘lineage or family tree’ and bottles from each of these distilleries are displayed in impressive fashion along the back wall of the dining room. It is fair to say that Jorge has hospitality and tequila in his blood and Los Abolengos is wonderful homage to both. The hotel is comprised of a main hacienda and two converted building that were once stables and are once again hosting overnight guests.

The buildings surround a beautiful courtyard with lush landscaping, an outdoor dining area and a gorgeous swimming pool. The renovation and restoration are remarkable and both the rooms and common areas combine

the feel of a heritage home with modern amenities.

Fans of great food and drink will delight at the beautiful restaurant located in the main floor of the hacienda. The menu offers contemporary takes on classic Mexican dishes supported by a great wine list and as you would expect, a superb tequila list. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner it is regarded as the best restaurant in Tequila and will be sure to be a highlight of your visit.

The hotel’s bilingual staff can arrange tours to local distilleries and one can also visit the Guachimontones archaeological site, several great museums, temples and traditional houses or you can enjoy a few rounds of golf at the Santa Sofia and El Rio Country Club. Best of all you can take a guided horseback tour of Tequila and the surrounding agave fields and volcanoes, riding the Diaz family horses.

Our trip was guided by Jorge himself who loves

horses and offered a wonderful insight into Tequila and how it has changed in his lifetime.

Of all the great stories that Jorge told us the one that resonated the most was his own. He had spent most of his life working at a successful but pressure packed family business of real estate development. Then his life as he knew it came to an abrupt halt when he suffered a serious stroke. This was a life changing experience and after his recovery was complete he chose to step back and reexamine his lifestyle and follow his dreams.

Now mainly retired from developing Jorge is doing something he loves and his passion for life is infectious. If you get a chance to raise a glass with him, you will feel it too. At Los Abolengos you can quench your thirst for excellent tequila and delicious food, indulge your need for a little pampering and immerse yourself in the history of this remarkable family.

Types of Tequila To taste true tequila find a bottle that states 100% agave then decide between these varieties: Blanco (White) also called Plata (Silver) Tequila Agave in its purest form, straight from a stainless steel vat to the bottle, without aging. Clear in color, light in body with sharper alcohol and true agave flavors and intensity as well as the natural sweetness. Fresh cut apple, pear, citrus and vegetal fresh herb notes like fresh cut and lemon grass.

Reposado (Rested) Aged in wooden casks or tanks from two to eleven months. The most popular style of tequila in Mexico.

Golden hued with a robust, spicy, peppery taste balancing agave and wood with hints of almond vanilla, butterscotch, honey and oak.

Anejo Aged in oak for a minimum of one year (three + for extra anejo). Darker colors, smoother, fuller mouth feel and long finish imparted by oils from the oak. Agave may be almost hidden. Chocolate, caramel, stronger butterscotch, burnt honey, sweet potato (yam), vanilla and sometimes tobacco or leather tastes.

Extra Añejo Aged more than three years. Even darker, more mahogany color, and is so rich that it becomes difficult to distinguish it from other quality aged spirits. Frowned upon by many tequila purists for lacking most of the agave flavour but loved by others it is the most expensive tequila available.

Beware of tequila not labeled 100% agave.

These are “mixtos” or blends comprised of as little as 51% agave (the minimum amount required by law to be called tequila) and 49% alcohol made from other sugars usually corn or sugar cane.

Also avoid tequilas labeled “gold” as these are typically mixtos that are colored with caramel.

This artificial color implies that the tequila was aged in oak but instead only causes hangovers.

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RIVIERA NAYARIT 18

Fun on the Riviera Nayarit

By Cat Morgan www.rivieranayaritfun.com

Energy Works!

Energy Medicine Healing and Chakras

A

s I mentioned in last week’s article, “The Energy of OM”, many people just don’t have a frame of reference for energy healing. Energy = vibration = information, and we usually do not think of ourselves as energetic and vibrational beings. Every single thing on this planet is made of energy. If you ever learn to actually see energy, you will find it encompasses all that is. Everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING is energy, and has an energy field around it, even inanimate object like a statue or chair. Everyone can learn how to see energy, and if you ever decide to learn, you will be truly amazed!

We’ve come a long way in the scientific approach to energy and Vibrational Medicine.

Energetic Aspects of the Body There are 4 energetic aspects of the body I would like to list today to help folks gain a better understanding about what energy work is, and to become more familiar with the language used in energy healing. I am going to keep it as simple as possible. These Vibrational aspects of ourselves govern our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of ourselves, and can only be seen with our third eye, or with Krilian photography,

and now, another computer program is out as well that takes photographs of your energetic self.

These photos can help reveal blocked energies in the body and organs.

The Energy Field, Chakras, the Hara Line and Meridians There is a lot to learn and know about each of these systems.

These basic descriptions will help get you started.

The Electromagnetic Energy Field is more commonly known as our Aura, which corresponds with our Chakras, which are our energy centers. (Chakras will be our main topic for this article).

The Hara Line is more like a tube or pipe that flows out our head, and down out our perineum, allowing energy to come in. It is in a different dimension than our energy field and Chakras. Our Hara Line can become splintered when we experience trauma. We do heal ourselves, thank goodness, but when a trauma sticks out, and you remember it like it was yesterday, you may require energy work to repair the Hara Line, and integrate the trauma, so you will not continue to relive the trauma every day! The Chakras also come off of the Hara Line receiving energy.

Meridians are the energy tracks in our bodies. Although most folks have heard of acupuncture, they probably are not aware that it is an energy healing modality that works with meridians, releasing blocked energy and clearing those “energy tracts” or regenerating and

bringing energy in. When any of these are out of balance, clogged or shut down we become unwell, experiencing physical pain, and emotional and mental distress or depression. We are constantly healing ourselves, but sometimes we experience horrible events, hurt from a relationship, or feel stuck in our life. It’s okay to ask for help!

What is a Chakra Anyway?

Many have heard the term Chakra, but are unsure exactly what they are, or how they function. The word Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means wheel, or turning. Another word that stems from tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism is “vortex”, due to the fact that chakras spin.

We have seven major Chakras or “energy centers” in the human body, and hundreds (perhaps thousands) of minor ones. These Chakras receive, assimilate and distribute energy. Each Chakra has its own qualities and specific function, its own color and musical note and verb association. These energy centers resonate and vibrate to the same frequencies of the rainbow colors and their corresponding sound vibrations of the C scale. When they are open and healthy, they are spinning in a clockwise direction.

There are many ways to help keep our Chakras in balance.

One way is “Toning” (singing) the specific tones of a specific Chakra to help bring that Chakra into balance.

When our Chakras are evenly balanced and in tune with each other, our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves are working in harmony for optimum health and well being where you can experience your natural state of joy and wholeness.

I wrote a bit in the last article about the Crown Chakra, known as the 7th Chakra, which has the musical keynote B, and sound OM. Let’s take a look at the 6th Chakra for this article purpose.

The Third Eye Chakra (6th Chakra)

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

The 6th Chakra is located between your eyebrows in the center of your forehead. It is the color of Indigo, a dark blue/ purple.

The element or sense of the 6th Chakra is Light, and the verb associated is “I See” The musical Keynote is A, with the sound Ee. It is associated with the Pituitary gland, which controls the endocrine system, left brain hemisphere, left eye, nose, ears, sinuses and parts of the nervous system. If you enjoy aroma therapy you can use Jasmine, Mint, Mugwort or Star Anise with this Chakra. Gemstones that are associated with the Third Eye Chakra are Azurite, Calcite, Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite and Quartz.

Qualities and Functions This Chakra’s qualities and functions are about “I See”. Expanding and focusing on this Chakra will help you to see energy. Qualities pertain to Inner Vision, intuition, insight, clairvoyance, imagination, extra-sensory perception, idealism, concentration, peace of mind, projection of will and manifestation.

When this Third Eye Chakra is open and in balanced it will be spinning in a clockwise direction.

You will feel perfectly attuned to your vision, use your imagination for positive and creative purposes, and move towards your visions with clarity and purpose.

When energy isn’t flowing easily through this chakra, we have a sense of self-doubt and distrust.

Keeping your Chakras balanced, and energy field clear is a great way to stay healthy. Preventive medicine is starting to have

more impact on people, instead of waiting to become ill before taking care of one self. Making an appointment with a certified energy medicine therapist is ideal for optimum health, very much like receiving a weekly /monthly massage that keeps your muscles healthy.

Other ways to help keep your Chakras in balance are breathing techniques, yoga exercises, chakra meditations, visualizations and affirmations are all excellent ways for tuning up all of your energy centers. The most powerful practice of them all is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. This quality is expressed from the Heart Chakra, located in the center of the entire Chakra system, where it unifies and acts as a bridge between the lower and upper Chakras and brings one into wholeness.

Namaste’ Catherine (Cat) Morgan is Usui Reiki Master and Usui Tibetan Reiki Master and Instructor, Certified in Healing Touch, Energy Medicine Partnerships, Access Consciousness Bars, Hypnotherapy, Massage, also bringing to the table Sacral Cranial Movement, Axiatonal Alignment, Focusing, Therapeutic Touch and Reflexology, as well as Advanced Hypnotherapy Techniques that include Past Life Regression and Life Between Life Regression. Her most recent certification is with Access Consciousness in the Bars work. Running the “Bars” clears the emotional triggers that cause the suffering from thoughts and feelings.

She teaches a seven level course in energy medicine, from beginning to advanced, and also teaches classes on Abundance, Learning how to See Energy Fields, and Releasing Your Suffering. Feel free to write with any questions, appointments, or discover how you can coordinate a course in your area, or promote your own energy healing business with RivieraNayaritFun.com EMail: Cat@NewEnergyConsciousness.com or Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com

Skype Phone: 970-704-6345 Mexico Cell: 332-728-6897

SPORTS 19

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Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

Random thoughts from the Tribune Sports desk

By Joel Hansen

W

hat a difference a week makes. Last week we were brimming with excitement over the match-up between the Rangers and the Kings and how exciting this series could be. Well, it is true that the games themselves have been great to watch, the fact that the Kings are up 3-1 makes it a little anti-climactic. I guess if the Rangers win the next one, we got something cooking.

As for the NBA, it has lived up to the hype so far, from Lebron cramping up in game one to his dominance in game two to the

Spurs dominance in game three the series has been great so far.

And these teams don’t seem to hate each other like, say, the old Pistons vs Bulls, there is a mutual respect and they are playing hard against each other.

Nice to see my Cardinals take 2 of 3 from the Jays last weekend. I had to call my mom (a hardcore Jay’s fan) and give her an earful. And since the series last week, the Cardinals have gone on a bit of a streak and are starting to look like the team most predicted they would be at the start of spring training.

Well another week passes and still no head coach for the Canucks. I believe in due diligence but maybe it is proving harder to find a guy willing to work with the Aquilinis after all.

And finally, with the rainy season officially here I will take my usual minute to say something about the state of the roads here in PV. As a Canadian who chooses to live full time in PV and pays taxes to Hacienda I want to point out that my life does not revolve around the Malecon and Vallarta Adventures.

I need the roads in all of Puerto

Vallarta to be cared for. I do not find poorly the installed cobblestone roads in Colonia Gaviotas “charming”. I find it annoying and costly on my car. Un-regulated topes are both unnecessary and insulting. People in this city can follow the rules of the road without the need for poorly built mound of asphalt or concrete at each intersection or at the bottom and top and middle of a street with a hill. I know I sound like a broken record on this subject, but I really hate topes, and am really disappointed with the state of the roads in Jailisco. When I complained to a Mexican friend recently after replacing yet another flat tire he shrugged his shoulders and said,

“what are you gonna do? People in government are corrupt and steal the money.” Corruption? I just returned from Sinaloa last week, a state synonymous with corruption and I drove all of that state on back roads. The roads were paved and even, the towns that did have topes had proper well-built speed bumps, not enormous spine shattering mounds of concrete poured over those other weird yellow metal ones.

Come on Puerto Vallarta, I am not naïve. I know the importance of tourism and the need to spend money on tourists, but this city has 300 000 people that call it home, how about spending a little money on us once in a while.

CHARITIES 20

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Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations For visitors to Puerto Vallarta who wish to support 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 residents of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle by providing provisions in exchange for community services performed. www.landon5120. wix.com/accionenlacruz Alcoholics Anonymous: In English Puerto Vallarta Alanon Club - Basilio Badillo 329 www.recoverpv.com Amazing Grace Missions Assisting families in Majisterio & Progreso with necessities and job training and English. Children’s programs also. Tax-deductible in USA & Canada.

Contact slw2014nv@gmail.com American Legion Post 14: raises resources and manpower to improve facilities 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 - 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. www.compassionforthefamily.org Becas Vallarta, A.C. – Provides scholarships to high school and university students. Tax-deductible in Mexico and USA. Polly Vicars at (322) 223-1371 or Buri Gray at (322) 221-5285. www. puerto-vallarta.com/amf Bucerias Bilingual Community Center: Supporting families, seniors in Bucerias. www.buceriasbilingualcommunitycenter.org Casa Hogar - A shelter for orphaned, abandoned, disadvantaged or vulnerable children. Luz Aurora Arredondo at 221-1908, Rita Millan (322) 141-6974. casamaximocornejo@gmail.com Centro Comunitario SETAC-GLBT – Services the GLBT community, including treatment and referrals, education, 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 in Old Town. Only open Sundays, Contact: cez@rogers.com or 322-104-6609 CompassionNet Impact – Transforming the lives of people living in chronic poverty. Job creation, education, emergency food, medicine & clothing.

Tax-deductible. Cell: (322) 133-7263 or 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 Desayunos para los Niños de Vallarta A.C. Feeding programs, education programs, day care centers for single mothers. 22 343 11 or 22 225 72 FB/desayunosninosvallarta Discapacitados de Vallarta, A.C. (DIVAC) association of handicapped individuals dedicated to helping one another. Ivan Applegate at 221-5153.

Families At The Dump: Supporting families living in the landfill or garbage dump thru education and sustainable opportunities. www.familiesatthedump. org or 297-7425 Fundacion Punta de Mita LDG. Ana Lilia Medina Varas de Valdés. ana@fundacionpuntademita.org Tel. (329) 291 5053 www.fundacionpuntademita.org Grupo Ecológico de PuertoVallarta: Arq. Luz del Carmen Pérez Alvarez cayro_13@ hotmail.com grupoecologico.com Friends of PV Animals Volunteers working to enhance the lives of shelter animals. For info and donations visit friendsofpvanimals.com Horizonte de Paz: Shelter for men of all ages who are troubled with alcohol & drug addiction. Donato Schimizzi: 322 199 9523 or Roberto: 281 0644 dschimizzi@yahoo.com La Brigada de la Basur:a A weekly meeting of neighborhood children to clean Vallarta Streets. Contact Que?Pasa 223-4006 Mexico Ministries & Mission, Inc. raises funds to the poor in Vallarta.

Contact Fr. Jack+ 044 322 229-1129 christchurchbythesea.org

Navy League - assists in the transportation of donated medical supplies from the U.S., organizes work groups to paint and repair facilities, and operates the local Toys for Tots program. www. vallartanavyleague.org.

ADORABLE DOG IN THE SPOTLIGHT...MADDIE

New Life Mexico - Challenging Child Poverty with health and education programs. Philippa Vernon pvp@newlifemexico.com Paraíso Felino AC Refuge and Adoption Centre for cats and kittens in the Bay of Banderas. Luis Donaldo Cel. (322) 120-4092 Pasitos de Luz - substitute home for low income children with any type of handicap, offers rehabilitation services and special support to their families.

299-4146. pasitosdeluz.org PEACEAnimals - Free mobile spay/ neuter clinic operating 48 weeks a year, primarily in Puerto Vallarta. Tax-deductible. peaceanimals.org Pro Biblioteca de Vallarta - Raises funds for Los Mangos Public Library.

Tax-deductible Ricardo Murrieta at 224-9966 or Jimmie Ellis at 222-1478.

Proyecto Pitillal, “Busca un Amigo” Association created by underprivileged mothers of paralyzed children. Contact: 299-4495.

Puerto Vallarta Garden Club: Beautify and protecting the environment. vallartagardenclub.com PuRR Project - A no-kill cat shelter, a natural un-caged environment. www. purrproject.com Refugio Infantil Santa EsperanzaShelter for Children. Tax-deductible. ccshf.ca

Poor Maddie was in such sad shape when she was rescued wandering the streets in horrible condition. Her poor skin was blistered from the sun and she could hardly walk. An angel rescued her and brought her to us where she received immediate medical attention. We just love these success stories! Maddie is a gorgeous 2-3 year old Shepherd mix, 25 kilos or 55 pounds.

Those that survive such a horrific life on the streets end up being the sweetest once they are back in good health. Maddie is no exception. She would make someone a wonderful companion.

Please contact us at spcapv@gmail.com.

Roma’s Kids - Educate the children of the Volcanes and surrounding area: Math, English and computer programs a priority. 100% goes to the kids. kids. romamexico.com The International Friendship Club (IFC) - Supports the Cleft Palate Surgery Program & families in need.

322-222-5466. ifcvallarta.com. ifcvallarta@gmail.com.

Toys for Tots Vallarta - Distributes toys and constructs playgrounds for Puerto Vallarta area during the Christmas holiday period. Jerry Lafferty 322 221 6156 or Lourdes Bizarro lourdes. bizarro@marriotthotels.com.

Vallarta Saludable (Healthy) – Healthy living through organics, stevias, cooking workshops, serums reversing dialysis and reality show. NAOTF.org Suzy Chaffee suzynativevoices@aol.com

CLASSIFIEDS 21

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

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IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS OFF

Emergency Phone Numbers Havre No.111 Col. Versalles Fluent Englis Spoken

The police station or the fire department is 060. For Non-Emergency calls, dial (322) 290-0507 for the Police Dep & (322) 224-7701 for the Fire Department.

Ambulance Services Red Cross Ambulance: 222-1533 Global Ambulance: 226-1014

Hospitals Ameri-Med Hospital: 226-2080 Cornerstone Hospital: 224-9400 San Javier Hospital: 226-1010 Medasist Hospital: 223-0444 C.M.Q. Hospital: 223-1919 I.M.S.S. Hospital: 224-3838 Regional Hospital: 224-4000

Other Important Phone Numbers

Pulpito 116, Emilano Zapata, 322 1275513

LIVE MUSIC VENUES Please be sure to contact the venue to confirm all events.

Café Roma Encino 287 Centro Mon-Sun 10:pm -3:00 am Beboteros Diaz Ordaz 565 Malecon 322.113.0099 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 La Bodeguita Del Medio Paseo Diaz Ordaz 858, Malecon” 322.223.1583 Tu-Sun 9:30-2:00 am Murphy’s Irish Pub Morelos 484 Altos 1, Centro

La Palapa Pulpito#103, Playa los Muertos” 322.222.5225 Las Adelitas Av. Fluvial Vallarta 234 322.293.7778 / 22.113.0373

Vallarta´s only English newspaper

ADVERTISE HERE FOR ONLY $ 250 / WK

Nacho Daddy

287 Basilio Badillo nachodaddymexico.com Philo’s Delfin15, La Cruz de Huanacaxle”329.295.5068 Thu-Sat 8:30 pm Que? Pasa Aquiles Serdan 625, Col Emiliano Zapata 322.223.4006 The River Café Isla del Rio Cuale Local4 Centro 322.223.0788 Vitea Libertad Edificio Malecon 2, Centro” 322.222.8703

PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE TRIBUNE AT TOURISM OFFICES SATURDAY MARKET A PAGE IN THE SUN FREDY TUCAN´S PANCAKE HOUSE CONSULATE OFFICES YO-YO MO´S MARINA RIVIERA NAYARIT

American Consulate: (322)222-0069 or 01-333-268-2145 Canadian Consulate: (322) 293-0098 Motor Vehicle Dept: 224-8484 Consumer Protection (PROFECO): 225-0000 Immigration Office: 221-1380 National Telegraph: 224-7970 Electric Company (CFE): 071 Water Company (SEAPAL): 223-1516 Municipal Services: 223-2500 Tourist Protection: 223-2500 Ministerio Publico: 222-1762 Animal Protection: 221-0078 Wake-Up Service: 031

Emergency Phone for Sayulita Dial 066 from any standard land line. Dial 080 from Mexican cell phones. To report suspicious activity in Sayulita, please dial 045-322-141-5994.

Emergency Numbers for Bucerias & La Cruz Numbers for the Police Department in case of emergency are 291-0049 and 291-0666.

Emergency number: 066 Police, Bucerias & La Cruz: 298-1020 Civil Protection (Fire, Ambulance): 291-0295 Ambulance, Santa Rosa Clinic: 298-0157

BRAIN TEASERS 22

Friday June 13 - 19, 2014

SUDOKU easy

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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.

medium

hard

Number Blocks

Word Search

What’s a number block you ask?

The numbers in each row add up to the totals to the right. The numbers in each column add up to the totals along the bottom. The diagonal lines also add up the totals to the right. Some of the numbers are missing. Try to fill in the missing numbers between 0 and 12.

EXPLORERS Can you find the hidden explorers? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards. AMUNDSEN, BARBOSA, BASS, BOONE, BURKE AND WILLS, CABOT, CARTIER, COLUMBUS, COOK, CORTES, DIAS, DRAKE, ERIKSSON, FAWCETT, FLINDERS, FROBISHER, GRAY, HAWKINS, HERIOLFSSON, HUDSON, KINGSLEY, LIVINGSTONE, MAGELLAN, MARCO POLO, PARK, RALEIGH, SCOTT, SHACKLETON, STURT, TASMAN, TENZING, VANCOUVER, VASCO DA GAMA, VESPUCCI.

1. A tennis racket - A marionette - An orchestra 2. Babe Ruth - Hank Aaron - Marge Simpson 3. Line - Pie - Bar 4. Carson - Bench - Cash 5. Bird - Jordan - Magic 6. Pantyhose - Candidates - Track Stars 7. Pay - Princess - Cell 8. Cane - Brown - Powdered 9. Monkey - Box - Crescent 10. Blood - Piggy – Sperm

Commonym 13 Answers 1. all have strings 2. they have Homers 3. graphs 4. Johnnys 5. basketball players 6. they run 7. phones 8. sugars 9. wrenches 10. banks

What’s a commonym you ask? A commonyms is group of words that have a common trait in the three words/items listed. For example: thewords; A car - A tree - An elephant.. they all have trunks. These will make you think!

Wuzzle 13 Answers 1. Decide 2. Spaceship 3. Multiple Choice 4. Floor Model 5. Noone Knows 6. Thunderstorm

Commonym

Wuzzles

What’s a wuzzle you ask? A wuzzle is a saying/phrase that is made up of a display of words, in an interesting way.The object is to try to figure out the well-known saying, person, place, or thing that each wuzzle is meant to represent.

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

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