Issue 904, August 1 - 7, 2014

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News cruising numbers rise

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August 1st - 7, 2014 Free Issue 904

Riviera Nayarit

LIVING PUNTA MITA

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Cuisine & Culture THE YUCATAN

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Photo Courtesy Tribuna archive

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Friday August 1st - 7, 2014 PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fernando Gonzalez Corona Director DAVID ROJO sjcbcs@yahoo.com.mx Director noemi zamora noemi_zamora_reynoso@hotmail.com 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 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

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.

Flowers of the Week Orchid Tree Árbol de Orquídea (Spanish) Bauhinia sp.

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amels Foot (from shape of leaves); Kachnar Tree in India. An ornamental growing to 40 feet, it often is mistaken for the Amapas Tree (Tabebuia rosae) when in full bloom. This tree is important in the healing practices of Ayurvedic medicine. Bark extract is used to cure asthma and ulcers; the buds and roots for digestive problems; the leaves as flavoring in Indian foods. The flowers attract hummingbirds.

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, when open 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.

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.

by Sandra Cesca

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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Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

Editor´s Note Editors Notes

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hether you live here year round or come for a short vacation, it is easy to become disconnected from the rest of the world. It’s our policy at the Vallarta Tribune to publish news worthy information that has relevance in the day to day life of Mexico. Occasionally international news events will rear their (typically) ugly head and encroach into our bubble of paradise, but for the most part many of us can safely choose to avoid the news from outside Mexico. Lately though that hasn’t been the case.

The American news (and to a lesser degree the international news) has focused strongly on the crisis of undocumented Latin American children crossing Mexico to arrive at the US border seeking refugee status. For the 40,000 children who travelled thousands of miles without their parents on a harrowing migration to the U.S. from Central America, the goal was typically the same: a home with a parent or relative who had already made the journey.

In many cases, that end point was an additional hundreds of miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border and the temporary U.S. government shelters that have been a recent focus for anti-immigration protesters.

In an effort to provide you with some easy to digest information on this current event, we asked regular contributor, Thomas Swanson to break it down for our readers. You’ll find his editorial on page 07. On a lighter note it looks like Netflix is overtaking the home entertainment market from blockbuster, which should really not surprise anyone.

What did surprise me this week was the sheer number of cruise ship passengers this country sees each year; upwards of 5 million visitors in 2013 and it has been steadily increasing month over month in 2014. I

had no idea so many people enjoyed cruising. What is great news for the Tribune is we are now an approved distributor within the cruiseship marina! We look forward to welcoming the passengers with complimentary copies of the Vallarta Tribune.

There are some rumours that the recent changes to American Tax laws are causing issues for residents and tourists in Mexico as more and more banks refuse to handle US dollar accounts or exchange US dollars. Personally, I recently saw one restaurant refusing all non-Mexican credit cards and was advised by a local bank they would no longer cash cheques drawn on a US bank.

Times are changing and I expect there will be another set of ‘rules’ to learn in the coming months as we all work our way through this transition.

Three more weeks until school starts (and my birthday - in case you were wondering) and between now and then we will see a huge influx of Mexican nationals vacationing here.

There is an increased police presence in town. There seem to be more roadside check points for drinking and driving and the police are being much stricter on things like seatbelts and helmets.

Don’t try to bribe your way out of the situation; paying a small fine is much better than being charged with bribing a police officer. Please take caution while driving to follow the rules of the road. Drinking and driving carries a very hefty fine in Puerto Vallarta along with loss of vehicle and possible jail time. The $100 pesos your taxi might cost is a very wise investment.

I’m looking for birthday celebration ideas. This will be my first of many 39th birthdays. I should at least make it memorable. Or perhaps unmemorable is better… Where’s your favourite place to celebrate your birthday?

Let me know. Maybe I’ll invite you to the festivities.

Have a great week everyone.

Madeline

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uring these summer months we are suffering from a shortage of donations but, of course, no shortage of dogs/cats in need of our help. To use your credit card to make tax deductible donations through PayPal, go to our website www.spcapv.com/donate/. Also you can simply go to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ spcapv) to contribute to our cause by simply clicking on the DONATE button which allows you to help via PayPal or any credit card.

You can come and spend a rewarding afternoon cuddling the animals at Puerto Vallarta’s SPCA Sanctuary. Our dogs and cats are awaiting “forever homes” and your help is needed to jump start their socialization. The goal

is to get these animals adjusted and ready to interact in the real world. The majority of the SPCA animals either come from extremely abusive situations or they have been abandoned. Your love and attention can make up for that sad history.

During your visit, you can interact with the animals and even take a dog (or two or three) for a walk. You can also play with the animals, assist the vet or help with dinner time. Every Tuesday at noon, we meet in the Costco parking lot beside the large tree.

You can either caravan in your own vehicle or ride with us out to the Sanctuary (reservations necessary).

The length of the tour is at the discretion of our visitors and can

be from two to four hours in length.

Please contact Nicole Martin at nicole@cupocity.com to make a reservation.

To see all the animals available for adoption, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ spcapv. Go to Photos where you will also find individual Albums for all the animals available as well as a bit of their history.

We have an urgent need for used towels and bedding you longer need!

Please contact us a spcapv@gmail.com if you can help. Are you or someone you know returning from Puerto Vallarta to Canada and want to help us get more animals to fur-ever homes? Please contact us if you can be a travel companion spcapv@gmail.com.

BREAKFAST FOR CORAZON de NIÑA David J. Rohde

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ark your calendars for this coming Saturday, August 9th. The RIVER CAFE will be hosting a breakfast in support of CORAZON de NIÑA, a safe environment for at-risk girls.

CORAZON de NIÑA is a registered non-profit society dedicated to providing a safe, loving, home environment for girls rescued from high risk situations including abuse, abandonment and human trafficking. The breakfast will start at 10 a.m at RIVER CAFE with the price of admission 200 pesos.

Tickets are available at CAROL´S BOUTIQUE on Basilio Badillo in Colonia Emiliano Zapata (Old Town). Tickets will also be available at the door for a slightly higher price.

For more information for to www.corazondenina.mx or FB corazondeniña.

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Netflix could steal most of Blockbuster’s clientele in Mexico www.theyucatantimes.com

B Mexico cruise ports see 2011 passenger levels return Agencia Reforma

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n the first half of the year, cruise visits to Mexican ports has increased by 27.5 percent, with 2.925 million passengers, according to the Directorate General of Ports.

Should this growth rate continue, the country would receive more than 5.535 million passengers at the close of the year, a level similar to 2011, when the ports were visited by 5.663 million passengers.

2011 was the first year that experienced a fall in the number of arrivals, after reaching record highs in 2010, 6.658 million visitors.

The recovery accelerated during the year.

In January, for example, the increase over the same month in 2013 was only 5.2 percent, and in June reached a rate of 36.3 percent, the best month so far has been April with 49.5 percent over the same month in 2013.

According to industry sources, the most important for Mexican ports is the winter season, because at that time, travelers from the West Coast of the United States, the main point of origin of sea travelers, prefer vacationing in warm destinations and the Mexican Riviera has typically been their first choice.

José Arturo Musi, president of the Mexican Business Association for Attention of Cruise Ship Passengers (AMEPACT), explained that the recovery has focused on Mexico’s Pacific ports such as Ensenada, Loreto, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.

The latter, which stopped receiving vessels last year, shows the greatest recovery, largely due to overcoming the bad public relations in the state of Sinaloa.

Meanwhile, ports further south on the same coast, Manzanillo, Ixtapa and Acapulco, have not yet seen similar levels of recovery.

In addition to the perception of insecurity that still surrounds Acapulco, the geographical factor also plays an important role, since these cities are far from Los Angeles, where a good portion of customers originate, Musi said.

“The cost of fuel for shipping is between 35 and 40 percent of the total operation and shorter routes are more affordable and popular,” he explained.

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

lockbuster may have shuttered most of its stores in the United States, but the video rental chain is still alive and kicking in Mexico. Perhaps not for long.

Netflix, which was partially responsible for Blockbuster’s demise in the US, has now outlined an aggressive plan to extends its reach in Mexico. If successful, Netflix could steal most of Blockbuster’s clientele. And after Mexico, Blockbuster doesn’t really have anywhere else to go. Blockbuster has enjoyed a second life in Mexico due in part to the country’s relative lack of internet connectivity.

Only 31% of Mexican households have internet, which makes purchasing physical DVDs and video games more attractive. And unlike the US, Mexico doesn’t have any Redbox kiosks to compete for in-person purchases.

Netflix’s plan of attack in Mexico is based on three ideas: introduce in-store gift cards, invest in ads specifically targeting Mexicans, and highlight Netflix’s functionality on smart TVs.

Gift cards

The gift cards will be available in select stores in the US, Canada, Germany, and Mexico. “In mature markets, gift cards will extend our brand presence and make it easier to access Netflix,” the company

said in its letter to shareholderes (pdf). “In newer markets, gift cards help build the brand and provide an easier alternative for consumers to join Netflix in markets with developing online payments.”

These “newer markets” seem to be singling out Mexico specifically, as the other three markets are not new. Netflix could be trying to capitalize on in-person purchases that currently help Blockbuster to thrive in Mexico.

Ad campaigns

Netflix’s “Viva Netflix” campaign has already spawned two popular ads, one riffing off Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and the other featuring Mexican striker Oribe Peralta, which ran right after the country’s World Cup exit.

It’s a good bet that there will be more ads like these in the months to come.

Calif. Gov. signs deals in Mexico

By Olga R. Rodriguez

alifornia Gov. Jerry Brown turned his focus to education and energy Tuesday on the second day of a trip to Mexico, but talk about immigration reform remained high on his agenda.

Brown signed an agreement to further the exchange of students and researchers and also met with Mexico’s energy secretary.

As part of Brown’s call to strengthen relations with Mexico, the

University of Southern California announced it signed an accord with the Mexican Foundation for Education, Technology, and Science to provide joint scholarships for graduate students from Mexico to study at USC. Brown met with President Enrique Pena Nieto on Monday, and later said they talked about “investments in renewable energies, particularly along the border.”

The governor also signed an agreement with Mexico’s Environmental Department to reduce

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.

The Associated Press

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Smart TVs Netflix says it benefited from people buying new television sets to watch the World Cup, which was popular in Mexico: Post World Cup, the number of Smart TVs used for Netflix viewing in Latin American countries is at a new high; in fact, the percentage of viewing from Smart TVs in Latin America is higher than any other region we serve.

Members accessing Netflix on a big screen generally watch more and retain better than members using smaller devices.

Smart TVs are not any better than normal TVs when you’re just playing a DVD you bought at the local video store.

But hooked up to the internet, these sets become a lot more popular. Netflix knows that Blockbuster can’t compete in that arena.

Source: http://qz.com/ greenhouse emissions and fight climate change, which includes initiatives to align greenhouse gas reduction programs and strengthen fuel and truck efficiency standards on both sides of the border.

But while the visit was primarily aimed at business matters, the two leaders also talked about immigration. They gave no details, but a statement issued by Pena Nieto’s office said that “California is home to the largest Mexican community abroad, and for that reason both sides agreed to increase cooperation to ensure the welfare of that population.”

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Farmers attend Canada event

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total of 140 Mexican farmers participated in the soccer tournament organized every year by the Enlace Community group in the town of Niagara on the Lake, near Niagara Falls, eastern Canada.

The Enlace group, a nonprofit, has been organizing recreational events and information for the last 12 years for the hundreds of Mexican farmworkers temporarily working in Canada.

Forty years ago, Mexico and Canada signed an agreement that allows hundreds of Mexican agricultural workers to come each year and work legally in nine Canadian provinces for an average of eight months. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (PTAT) began in 1974 with 203 workers who stayed for three months on average.

The size of the program has grown to include 18,500 Mexican seasonal workers and 680,000 participating farms.

The Enlace group, mostly comprised of Mexicans, aims to support the Mexican migrant worker, and facilitate “their integration into Canadian society and civic life”.

This year, 140 Mexican workers from distinct areas of the Mexican Republic, participated in the weekend soccer tournament.

“Enlace has focused on making recreation events for the workers, and in 2012 it began offering free tax help and fiscal workshops.

A tax office would charge them $40 per statement, but we give them this service for free. We help around 25 workers each year, and we want to help more,” said Enlace President Alberto Cuevas.

The organization is supported by donations and fundraising events. This year, the Canada Bread Company, now part of Bimbo, donated 130 tortilla packets, and the company Duflet donated pastries.

At this eleventh soccer tournament, thanks to the volunteer liaison Marcela Atay, the Ontario Health Association staff was present to give free health consultations and advice on how to prevent disease and occupational health problems,” he said.

“At the end of the tournament we had a picnic with Mexican music and food,” said the secretary of the group, Liliana Altamirano.

Profepa fines pet stores

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he Special Prosecutors Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) fined the Maskota company $340,000 for the illegal sale of wild animals in danger of extinction.

The fine and administrative sanctions were applied to the company stores located in the malls of Galerías Chedraui– Coapa, Lindavista, Coyoacán and Galerías Coapa.

The commission recalled that on June 5, 2014 the company had received a fine for 970,000 pesos for the same offense.

Furthermore, the fine was incurred for the apparent abuse and poor conditions for the majority of animals residing in these stores.

The Maskota shop in the commercial center Chedraui– Coapa will have to pay a fine of 1.2 million pesos plus temporary

By Madeline Milne

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est Jet announced a new direct flight to Loreto Bay in Baja California Sur to begin running in February 2015.

Loreto Bay is a popular Canadian and American winter destination.

The small charming town was home to the first Spanish Jesuit settlement in the Baja. It is also home to wonderful hotels, restaurants and a large fishing fleet. It is in a UNESCO protected bay

where you can experience the thrill of seeing blue whales during mating season. It is a very popular sport fishing community.

Homeowners, and businesses will be thrilled to see a new influx of Canadian travelers as it has suffered the effects of the economic downturn over the past few years.

While it remains popular with the faithful, major resorts and developments have had difficulty attracting new guests and resi-

dents. The new direct flight will make travel to Loreto much easier and convenient.

“Loreto, Mexico may be one of the best places you’ve never heard of”, says Chris Avery, WestJet Vice-President, Network Planning, Alliances and Corporate Development.

He adds “visitors can enjoy everything from sport fishing and sea-kayaking to eco-tourism adventures”. http://beaconnews.ca/

Jerry Brown takes dig at Texas plan Calif. Gov. says border crisis is a humanitarian issue

By Mark Stevenson The Associated Press

C total closure and the forfeiture of 60 wild species.

In the establishment located in the Mall Perisur, Profepa seized 42 animals and fined 1 million pesos for the recurrence of non–legal accreditation of wild specimens.

The federal agency also applied a temporary closure of a shop in the commercial center Galerías Coapa.

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

New Flights from Calgary to Mexico

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.

alifornia Gov. Jerry Brown took a not-sosubtle dig at Texas’ decision to deploy National Guard troops to the border, saying Monday he expects it to be a short-lived measure and that “wiser minds will prevail.” Brown is in Mexico for three days of meetings, focusing on migration, trade, investment and environmental cooperation.

At a news conference with Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary José Antonio Meade, Brown said the immigration overload of thousands

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,

of Central American youths at the border should be seen as a humanitarian issue. The U.S. is coping with a dramatic increase in the number of unaccompanied children attempting to cross the border, coming mainly from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Meade said he and Brown agree that the use of law-enforcement or military agencies “is never justified in cases where children are concerned” unless they are providing medical or logistical aid. Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced a decision last week to deploy up to 1,000 National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border over the

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.

next month to combat what he said were criminals exploiting a surge of children pouring into the U.S. illegally.

Asked about that, Brown said: “I hesitate to comment on the thinking that goes into the sending of the Texas National Guard to the border.

I would suspect that it would be of relatively short duration and that wiser minds will prevail in the next several months.”

Brown acknowledged the immigration surge has become politicized, and said “my goal is to try as much as I can to frame the issue of the children as a humanitarian challenge.”

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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At risk kids enjoy second year of federal sports program

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ecretary of the Interior Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, on Tuesday put into action the program, “Glorias del deporte.

Futbol, escuela de vida” (The glory of sport. Soccer, the school of life), which in its second version will include around 10,000 youth in 29 federal entities.

Osorio Chong performed the ceremonial kick-off of the program on the main field of the High Performance Center of the Mexican Soccer Federation.

The program will reach 52 municipalities in 29 states and 58 former professional players will be included to teach and inspire the young people of Mexico, said Osorio Chong.

The program is specifically designed for at risk youth, to intervene and offer them sports as an outlet, he said.

“I am very proud of this project because if we can rescue just one young person from adverse circumstances, it will be worth it,” said Osorio Chong.

Cachita at the SPCA de PV

Those involved in the program are participating “with great dedication and determination,” he said at the inaugural kick-off.

In addition to soccer, the ceremony to mark the launch of the second round of the program included baseball activities.

The regional programs in Saltillo and Culiacán will include baseball as part of their programs as well. According to the secretary, the program will continue to grow around the country and more sports will be added.

“This program will continue to be more ambitious and it is

going to grow,” he said. During the first rendition of the program in 2013, 21 former soccer stars worked with 429 at risk young people. Of those, seven are now playing with professional clubs, said Osorio Chong.

According to surveys, 90 percent of the youth who participated in the program came away with a heightened sense of self-esteem, 95 percent of them felt like they were a part of a community, 94 percent said that they believe they have the power to choose their future and 90 percent said that they are less likely to abuse drugs.

“That is the difference,” said Osorio Chong.

Dedicated Dog Catchers

By Gretchen DeWitt

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LUVIDOGS PROJECT: I woke up in the dark at 6 AM on Wednesday, July 23rd, feeling tingly. It was the morning of the planned capture of a pack of seven and sometimes eight intelligent, goodlooking, medium-large feral dogs living in the overgrown grassy and bushy fields of colonia Fluvial. I was going with Paulina Stettner as an observer.

Approximately two dozen trained volunteers were to meet up at 7:30 AM with FluviDOGS organizer, Connie Córdova, who has been feeding the dogs for months on the grass divider under the large trees.

Connie and and Marianna Bardejo, an excellent dog trainer, recently founded FluviDOGS, a group of individuals committed

to stop the breeding of wild dogs.

By 7:30, it was light, and the work began of putting out food that had been laced with eight ground-up sleeping pills per dog.

Traffic was well managed by five people on the very busy avenue of Jose Rodriguez Barba, which connects Francisco Villa with Avenida México, the main streets in and out of Puerto Vallarta.

Feral dogs and have been injured and killed on this speedy street, and they were at more risk after consuming sleeping pills.

Volunteers held large, brightly colored signs advising in Spanish to slow down for dogs on the loose.

For the few cars that sped by, the suggestion was made to hold up signs saying “men drinking beer ahead” or “watch out for naked women.”

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

Only five dogs would eat the food, and out of those that did, after about a thirty minute light sleep, three of them disappeared into high bushes before they could be tranquilized.

Volunteers stayed until 10 AM to make sure dogs were fine when they came out of hiding.

Captured: “Momy,” whom volunteers had seen being mounted by different dogs in the past several days, and “Cachita,” a young dog that no one had suspected of being pregnant. I drove with Paulina, director of PEACEAnimals clinics, to our location in the nearby colonia los Portales with Cachita in a kennel in the back of the truck.

She was operated on and discovered to be newly pregnant with nine fetuses. Momy was brought to the clinic an hour later and found to be in advanced

stages of TVT (transmissible venereal tumor). As a wild dog, it will be impossible for Mom to go through chemotherapy sessions to shrink and destroy the malignant tumors.

“Destiny,” a female dog that had belonged to Momy´s pack, probably died of TVT. The destiny of many unsterilized dogs running free in the streets is to be infected and die of this disease. TVT, so common in Mexico, doesn´t exist in the U.S. or Canada.

It was a stressful capture for Momy, so the members of FluviDOGS present at the clinic decided to let her have a few days of rest and good food at the SPCAPV sanctuary with Cachita.

The surprise for Connie at feeding time on Sunday morning was to find Momy and Cachita waiting for her under the trees in

Fluvial. The dogs had managed to tear their way through a cyclone fence at the SPCAPV and travel a few miles to the only home they´ve ever known. Brian Kines, who has been so involved with the FluviDOGS project, reports that Momy, the oldest dog in this pack, has had many litters of puppies and is probably newly pregnant. Her cancer has spread to her internal organs and she will be euthanized via a strong tranquilizer in her food this week.

Although attempts were made to capture more dogs on Thursday and Friday, the efforts were unsuccessful.

FluviDOGS is committed to the capture, sterilization and release of the two packs of feral dogs. If you would like to help in any way: FluviDOGS on Facebook.

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

EDITORIAL 07

Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

www.vallartatribune.com

The Central American Children

by Thomas Swanson

/www.ColibriDesignVallarta.com

T

he enormous influx of undocumented Central American women and children, many unaccompanied minors as young as 10 years old, has given rise to what many call a “humanitarian crisis”, one that has been growing steadily for over a year. Now that it has reached the U.S. press, it has been widely reported that nearly 90,000 of these people are being held by U.S. authorities, waiting for deportations that could be years away, as the immigration courts have become so utterly overwhelmed with new cases.

The vast majority of these women and kids are from the Central American northern cone, i.e. El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Almost none of these migrants are Mexican. Mexicans know what happens if they are caught...torn from their families and children, they are summarily escorted back across the border.

Convicted murderers sit side by side with school girls on the buses headed south. With about half a million deportees a year, Mexicans know of their pain and suffering, left alone in a strange border city, destitute and willing to do just about anything to get back to their families.

That scenario is not very appealing.

There are hundreds of thousands of these returned refugees burdening our northern border cities on any and every day. The aid available is insufficient to help very many of

them. Mexicans also know that they will be extorted, robbed, kidnapped or worse, before they ever reach the border. Someone would have to be very desperate to try to cross illegaly. A Central American migrant is different.

The U.S. has always abided by U.N. rules and international treaties.

They are to be treated as possible refugees. Most of those caught are still deported, but they are required to first have their day in court, to see if they qualify for asylum. This new wave could well be a game-changer.

México now finds itself a transit country. Though under strong pressure from the U.S. to stop the flow, there is really little that México can do. Our federal government has put out some promises recently, but nothing that will really help. A few more border inspection stations

(5), a promise of a new work visa program with Guatemala and the promise to stop the many hundreds of immigrants who daily ride what is called “La Bestia”, perched atop a train of freight cars for many hundreds of miles.

Five new inspection stations to guard a 600 mile border of sparcely inhabited jungle? That’s a laugh.

The U.S. knows better than that... and that one is just desert. Hard for someone to hide in a desert, but a jungle? The work visa program is needed to help Guatemalans who cross regularly to do agricultural and mine work, but other that that...

Riding “La Bestia” should be stopped. Many people fall off and are killed or severly injured, all of them are robbed, the women subjected to rape. Many are kidnapped or sold into the sex trade. In

the last two months, armed bandits believed to be working for the Zeta drug cartel, have derailed the trains three times in order to do their pillaging where they know authorities won’t interfere. But, to stop this horrible thing will take a major effort in money and manpower. Who is supposed to pay for that? Mexico has a lot of trains!

Mexican federal officials have also made vague promises to step up deportation, using these 5 new inspection stations, we’re left to presume. Right now, México deports about 180,000 illegals per year. This is unlikely to begin including large numbers of women and children. Many Mexicans can and do sympathize.

These Central American children are fellow latinos, driven from a fate that is often gruesome. Many have lost family, had their homes taken away and had their businesses destroyed by the criminal gangs that have taken over their countries. The gangs, armed with U.S. weapons and backed by Mexican cartels looking for better ways to get their drugs to the U.S., have made it impossible for the governments to intervene on the streets. They are simply out-gunned. Calling a cop for help is usually tantamount to a death sentence for the entire family.

If the women and children aren’t killed, the horrentious and expensive trip to the U.S. is all they have left... and it may well still kill them. Mexicans know this, there are places like that here.

The government here has been

lambasted by the press for even making these luke-warm promises.

They have no backing from the people. The U.S. will have an impossible task in convincing us to summarily send these misfortunates back to certain death. The Mexican government also knows, if it wants to stay elected, it cannot be seen by voters as doing too much of the U.S.’s “dirty laundry”.

The new wave of immigrants has been very lucrative for the drug cartels, who get their cut from every migrant that comes through.

The ‘polleros’, or coyotes, have usually delivered a person all the way to the Rio Grande River, telling them to wade across and turn themselves in to the waiting Border Patrol, who are then forced to take them to processing centers.

How neat for the smugglers!

There are a number of hands to grease along the way, but if the ‘pollero’ has it worked out, they will almost always pass without incident.

The ‘pollero’, a name by which latinos call the human trafficker, gets an average of $7,000 usd per person. Times that by 90,000 satisfied customers and counting= $630 million... all in about a year.

P.S. Last week the U.S. sent it’s first flight of deportees back to Honduras.

It was met by that country’s first lady and her entourage waving Honduran flags. She handed out small packets of food and enough money for bus fare to a local shelter.

It was a great photo-op.

Google to improve its translations through crowdsourcing

By Frederic Lardinois

ver the years, Google Translate has gotten significantly better at giving its users (relatively) legible translations for most commonly used languages. It’s still far off from being perfect, though, and recently Google announced a new initiative that aims to get more input from its users to improve its translations.

The Google Translate Commu-

nity, http://translate.google.com/ community which is now open for everybody, gives users who speak more than one language fluently the option to offer their own translations and validate current translations.

On the service’s splash screen, Google also promises the option to match and compare translations, but I haven’t been able to bring these features up in the Translate Community yet.

Clearly, though, these crowds-

courced translations will influence Google’s algorithms. “You help will enhance translations for millions of users,” Google promises new members of the Translate Community. “We plan to incorporate your corrections and over time learn your language a little bit better.”

Right now, your contributions disappear into the black box that is Google’s data centers, but the company says that over time it will give users more visibility into the

impact of their contributions.

For those who don’t want to join the community, Google also recently launched a new feature directly in Google Translate that allows you to contribute your own translation when you see a mistake.

Google Translate always allowed you to rate translations as helpful, not helpful and offensive, but now you can actually provide the service with the actual correction.

Original: http://techcrunch.com

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

O

local 08

Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

Paradise and Parenting

Perceptions

of Art

By Marcia Blondin marciavallarta@gmail.com

Leza Warkentin

The Grass Is Greener

W

henever we go to Canada, my kids start asking why anyone would want to live in Mexico, so far away from all the cool things that they are seeing and doing and eating. I always try to explain to them that they are doing all this fun stuff because it’s a vacation, and because it’s not currently -40 degrees, so the car still starts.

They can’t understand that this small glimpse of Canadian life isn’t really what our daily life would be all about if we lived here.

They would have to go to school, they would have to do their chores, and they would have to wear layers of clothing that they know nothing about.

I can’t blame them for their lack of perspective. Winnipeg in summer is actually quite fun, if you can get around the mosquitoes that are big enough to carry off babies and elderly persons.

And I always relax the rules during vacations.

So certainly things here seem pretty awesome, and a 35 degree Mexico with enforced bedtime seems pretty unattractive right now.

Currently my kids want to exchange their Mexican passports for the following:

1) The Slurpee - Winnipeg has been named the Slurpee Capital of Canada. If you haven’t heard of Slurpees, they are frozen flavored drinks that are sold in 7-11 stores.

My son just made his own 11-layer Slurpee.

He has a ring of purple around his mouth and a wild look in his eye. In our Mexican life a can of Sprite is used as a bribing tool and it’s allowed once a month.

To a nine-year-old, there is no competition.

2) The late nights - Normally my husband and I believe in routine and we believe in having at least an hour to ourselves each evening.

This does not hold true in Canada, partly because it’s so darn exciting to be with cousins and friends, but also because it’s not fully dark until after 11pm. I can’t imagine dealing with this when school starts.

I don’t care that my eyelids are still sweating at 2am in Vallarta; at least the kids are sleeping.

3)The snacks – I find most of the snack sections of our own Oxxo and Kiosko don’t vary much. My children enjoy picking out a snack, but they usually choose the same old Sabritas or Chips Ahoy.

They are probably the only children in Manitoba who beg to go to the grocery store just to be the one to pick out the weirdest potato chip flavor. Dill pickle?

Salt and Vinegar? GRILLED CHEESE AND KETCHUP???

Where have you been all our lives?

And then there’s Tim Hortons. We spend about half the summer with a box of teeny Timbits tucked under one arm. Adora-licious.

4) Playgrounds – If you are a parent in Puerto Vallarta, then you are with me on this one. The play areas and parks are far too few and far too neglected.

There is no need to save for a trip to Disneyland when your kids have been playing on rusty swings and teeter totters with exposed nails. Just dress up an uncle in a Mickey Mouse costume, go to a splash pad in Winnipeg, and you are in the Magical Kingdom for the rest of the summer (my apologies to Uncle Trevor, but I believe we’ve all saved ourselves a bundle).

This year we are traveling without daddy, so I know that getting on a plane back to Mexico and The Fun Parent shouldn’t be too difficult.

But, for added insurance, we’ll have a dress up day with their cousins’ snow pants and parkas, with the extra tight scarf and a nice, itchy wool toque.

And to seal the deal, I’ll reward them for their endurance with a few bags of Maple Crème Cookies and Old Dutch Ketchup Chips in the carry on.

www.vallartatribune.com

I

checked a few different sources for the definition of S-E-R-E-ND-I-P-I-T-Y. The one I liked the best reads, and I quote, “the gift of being able to make delightful discoveries by pure accident.”

By popular demand, The Serendipity Café returns to the Main Stage August 7, 8, 9 and 10.

The story – written, choreographed, produced and directed by Danny Mininni, Kharla Barragan and all of the students of Alas School of Voice. This musical has everything one would expect from a singing ensemble but the acting, stage sets, costumes, make up, the dancing and the characterizations in particular are also wonderful; a couple of the characters are outstanding! Considering this was their first attempt at all of

the above the results are a “gift” to the audience and I, for one, will be in line to see it again. They played to sold-out audiences last time, so get tickets early. It’s all delightfully in Spanish and serendipitously easy to understand.

Speaking of Spanish productions, “El Me Mintio” has some great vocals and the joyous finale alone is worth the entire price of admission. Extremely well attended and received by Vallartenses, this production closes August 2nd… I have a feeling it will be back.

In order…Wednesday night in the Red Room, Whose Line is it Anyway, continues its run to happy audiences – improving the

Banderas Bay Butterfies

improv weekly. I would like to see them include some local, Puerto Vallarta content/color. Those of us who live here know how seriously funny life in the tropics can be…

Thursday…Happy Hour in Encore for two blessedly chilly hours before Classy-Oke begins at 8 pm. Bring a bunch of friends (and their dogs are welcome too) and have yourselves a merry little sing-a-long. You never know who will pop in and surprise the room.

It is rumored Patsy Cline has been seen in the hallways of Act II Entertainment…

Ladies – great news! Jose Maria is back onstage in the Red Room every Friday night making the air conditioning work overtime to cool everyone off who watches his hot, steamy show. Fun beforehand…a little shopping perhaps to go along with your dirty martini?

Come and join us for outstanding singing, dancing (yes, that means you!), laughter and intense fun.

Did I mention half-priced cocktails and NO COVER for the ladies?

Sunday at noon, a cultural event starts on the Main Stage, celebrating the diversity of Vallarta with folkloric dances, sketches, singers and more. Bring the entire family and help celebrate all things “pata salada”….it’s air-conditioned and it’s free!

by Moralea Milne

ELF (Microtia elva)

T

hese small, approximately 1-1.5 in (2.5–3.5 cm) butterflies can be found flying throughout the year along both coasts of Mexico, often in open areas in lowland tropics. Like most butterflies, they select certain plants on which to lay their eggs, in

this case on members of the Justicia family (shrimp plants), which have tubular flowers. They can be found nectaring on a variety of flowers; I have often found them on the small wild marigolds. They are very alert and it is not easy to catch them at rest for long.

RIVIERA NAYARIT 09

Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

www.vallartatribune.com

Punta de Mita

By Cindy Bouchard

O

n first blush Punta de Mita has 3 distinct areas.

There is the behind the wall, Four Seasons & St. Regis, properties where movie stars and the rich and famous spend their vacations. As I write Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are celebrating their honeymoon on the posh property. Then the tourist centre of town with its restaurants, shops and boutique hotels and the town proper where expats and locals live side-by-side.

Working class Mexicans preserve the magic that is Mexico, providing the necessities of life for each other and their new neighbors. From my point of view this makes the area investment worthy, as I’d never want to live in a foreign land without the fine people who made it wonderful and unique.

A vibrant fishing community services the restaurants and locals. Fishermen provide tours; snorkeling, whale watching and fishing, to the magnificent Marieta islands with bragging rights to bird species who’s only other breeding grounds are the Galapagos islands. There are a number of renowned surfing spots along the highway from La Cruz de Huanacaxtle to Punta de Mita. Continue heading north and you’ll come pass through the charming puebla of Herrera Blanca and into the surfer mecca of Sayulita.

Punta de Mita is a small town but there are plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy. From the shores of Punta de Mita you look across to Puerto Vallarta and the small villages of the south shore.

Catch a stunning sunset and then enjoy the twinkle of the city lights across the water. New Year’s Eve is particularly spectacular with

huge fireworks displays around the whole bay.

Along the beachfront ‘Restaurant Row’ you’ll find waiters enticing tourists with almost-free deals and ample charm. Ask for a table where you can dine with your feet in the sand as you nibble fresh out of the sea food and sip perfectly chilled chelas. Depending on the time of year you may be witness to a humpback whale-of-a-show with spectacular displays of courtship and battle. Unless you’re in a shopping mood don’t ask to see a single item from the many beach vendors or you will be fending off knick knacks and sombreros for your stay. Though taking a minute to get to know the local vendors will greatly diminish this annoying experience and you’ll have the added bonus of making some new friendships.

A beautiful oceanfront setting only 45 minutes from the international airport, it’s apparent why this charming Mexican village is so attractive to many different foreigners, from the young to the retired, Punta de Mita offers lifestyle choices for nearly everyone. I asked a couple of folks who have invested in the area what attracted them most: “As a surfer, someone who works online, and a new dad, moving to Punta de Mita has been a great decision. I wake up, surf,

hit the office, and eat all three meals at home with my family.

We got a great deal on a massive house with a huge back yard for our son and our dog - it’s a special place for sure.” Chase Buckner, co-founder of Cooking With Social cookingwithsocial.com “I have been spending time on the north shore of the Bay of Banderas for 20+ years and have certainly seen a lot of change!

With my late husband, Joel, I bought a condo at El Anclote, the first condominium development in the area… in 2000. I opened a swimwear and beachwear store, La Pecera, on El Anclote beach in 2002. We just celebrated 12 years in business! Our customers are locals, vacationers from the US and Canada, as well as national visitors, ex-pat homeowners, visitors from the Four Seasons and St. Regis resort; quite a variety of tastes and income levels.” Polly McKissik, La Pecera Swimwear I asked Chase and Polly about what most appeals to them. Two things stand out; the world famous surfing and all that goes along with it including the simple life of drinking a cold beer, eating fresh seafood and riding the waves; the people. There’s all sorts calling Punta de Mita home. Retired people who want to get a great deal by a gorgeous beach, families who surf, anyone who wants

to live a quiet life. “How helpful people are if you have the right attitude,” says Polly. “It’s also surprising that I normally feel safer here and less threatened by crime than I do in the small town in Texas that is my US home!”

With my interest peaked, I decided to check out a condo property overlooking the ocean, the newest development in town, La Mision de Mita offers great value and is well designed with the most magnificent pool and relaxing areas around the property.

For less than $200,000 you can call this home. Splurge a little on the penthouse ($1,000,000+) and enjoy a two level four bedroom home with 360 degree views of ocean, town and jungle.

While Bill Gates recently spent a rumoured $20,000,000 on a property behind the gates in Punta Mita, I am not in the market for a million dollar plus home, nevertheless there is most definitely something for everyone who chooses to settle in the lovely village of Punta de Mita.

The Marietas Islands featured in National Geographic

T

he Marietas Islands, located along the coast of the Pacific within the State of Nayarit, were highlighted during a recent trip by National Geographic.

The expedition took place on July 19th headed by anthropologist Dr. Kenneth Broad, who was recognized

by National Geographic as the top in his field in 2011.

The article was originally created for the website and the Spanish-language version of NatGeo magazine.

From the article: “Thanks to the detachment of a part of the dome of

the caves, the islands have created small beautiful beaches in the middle of the ocean. The crystal clear waters, which sometimes resemble the Caribbean sea, make this a special place to go diving or snorkeling and enjoy the colorful marine life that abounds here, including brilliant fish, dolphins and turtles, among others.”

The Marietas Islands are a Bioshpere Reserve Recognized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and have become an icon representing the Riviera Nayarit around the world.

Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

RIVIERA NAYARIT 10

www.vallartatribune.com

Kim Kardashian returns to Riviera Nayarit

T Mexico Savors the Riviera Nayarit in El Gourmet Magazine

T

his cuisine and lifestyle monthly is distributed throughout Mexico; in July its cover was dedicated to Mexico’s Pacific Treasure with the title: “Aquí, el mar, Riviera Nayarit y sus sabores” (“The sea and the flavors of Riviera Nayarit”).

The cover was dedicated to the many flavors of Mexico’s Pacific Treasure and other delicacies from the state of Nayarit; the magazine also dedicated 20 pages detailing the Riviera Naya-

rit’s gastronomic offerings. From the article: “Not everything we fish from our oceans comes set upon a tostada, wrapped in a tortilla or coddled in a cocktail.

The Riviera Nayarit, with its characteristic originality not only in its products but also in its tourism offerings, has provided us with an excellent sampling of uniquely prepared marine cuisine, which reinvents the seafood plucked from the depths of our Pacific waters.”

he celebrity has visited Punta Mita several times— specifically Casa Aramara, where her friend Joe Francis, of Girls Gone Wild video fame, owns property. During her last visit she enjoyed the St. Regis Punta Mita Beach Festival; she even created a “Party in Punta Mita Mexico” in her virtual game.

Just a few minutes after noon on Thursday, July 24th, Kim posted a picture with her husband, Kanye West, and their friend, Joe Francis, on her Facebook profile, where she has more than 22 million followers.

“Heaven on Earth! Thank you @realjoefrancis for letting us stay at Casa Aramara!” wrote Kardashian. Right after she posted a shot of her laying in front of the pool saying “Last day to get my tan in…”“I believe that Kim Kardashian said it best when she said that Casa Aramara in Punta Mita is “Heaven On Earth”,” said Joe

Francis. “Everyone who has ever been to Punta Mita has said the exact same thing.”

This time Kim’s trip coincided with the dates set for the Punta Mita Beach, where she drank two Beach Tubas, the destination’s signature drinks prepared by the

Riviera Nayarit’s mixology ambassador, Israel Díaz.

In another confirmation of Punta Mita’s fame among celebrities, the Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio visited the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita the weekend before last.

Latin Fest takes the Stage

D

ance presentations, live music, tastings, drinks and plenty of fiesta will take over the Marina Nuevo Vallarta August 1-2. The purpose is to promote local businesses and dance academies.

The Riviera Nayarit Latin Fest will be held at the bandstand of the Marina Nuevo Vallarta at the end of Boulevard Nayarit right before the mouth of the El Quelele Lagoon.

The event has been organized to promote the Marina’s local businesses, which are offering promotions to the public to showcase their products.

The festival begins at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday with a presentation of the hottest Latin

salsa rhythms courtesy of Pedrito & D’Cuba Son. The choreography sets will be handled by seven regional dance academies: N’Movimiento, Salsa Class, Anel & German, Quilombo, Jaleo Flamenco, Zumba l Efren Muñoz and Puerto Ritmo de Guadalajara (Children’s Academy).

The project launch was inspired by the success of the past Salsa-Mambo Fest Riviera Nayarit, which proved that both locals and guests had a taste for Latin rhythms.

Around 200 people are expected to attend each day; the event is also being promoted among the hotels in Nuevo Vallarta as an alternative attraction for guests to enjoy during their summer vacation.

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

Vallarta Shopping Directory News

Galleria Dante

T

he Vallarta Shopping Directory is the best and most complete guide on the internet where new visitors and residents can find the top dining and shopping spots in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

There are 19 pages of categories such as boutiques, jewelry stores, handicraft shops, art galleries, cafes, restaurants, beauty shops and spas, organic and specialty food, tours and travel agencies, boutique hotels, real estate offices, florists, sportswear, services, opticians, interior décor, leather goods, glassware, tile, bars and entertainment.

Each listing contains the logo of the business, address, contact information, link to their website and Facebook pages, a description and photos of their products and services.

Since the directory is always kept up to date you won´t waste time searching for businesses that

have closed or moved away.

A good idea is to keep a copy on your computer desktop for quick reference for telephone numbers and hours that businesses are open, and to find new places that have just opened. Go to http://vallartashoppingdirectory. blogspot.com and browse through

the pages.

There is also a Facebook page connected to the direct o r y — w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / vallartashoppingdirectory.

If you would like your business to be included in this online directory please email puertovallartashoppingguide@gmail.comfor

more information, and if you would like to have an ad like those below for Elements of Design, Galleria Dante, Cassandra Shaw, Galeria Vallarta, Colibri, Nacho Daddy, Faith Colletiva, Bumerang, Patricia Gawle Arte, DiVino Dante, Vallarta Food tours and Los Bambinos you can contact

juliemongeau@gmail.com for more information about their very reasonable prices.

This page is exclusively for members of the Vallarta shopping directory. Remember the Vallarta Tribune is the only English newspaper distributed both in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit.

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

Colonia El Centro

By Kathleen Phelps

kphelps1948@gmail.com

A

lthough I recently write that the Zona Romantica is the best place to visit and live, others would certainly argue that the Colonia El Centro is by far the most interesting place in Puerto Vallarta. Its southern border is the Rio Cuale and its northern is Colonia Lazaro Cardenas. This is where Puerto Vallarta (or Puerto de Las Penas as it was initially called) has its roots.

Living here for some might be a challenge as noise levels can be excessive at night but it certainly provides the visitor with all the sights and sounds that make this Mexican beachfront town unique.

The new malecon (boardwalk) hugs the ocean and is graced with world class sculptures by Bustamante, Lidice, Montes and others.

Also of interest are the many sand sculptures, balancing rocks, street performers and the amazing flying men with flutes the Voladores de Papantla, on the beach.

Every day and evening brings a variety of performances (and many free) at one of three sites in El Centro. The largest is the Teatro Vallarta, located at Uruguay 184, with its 900 seats. Others include the Aquiles Serdan amphiteater (also known as Los Arcos) at the Main Plaza, and the CECATUR Auditorium at the corner of Matamoros & Zaragoza Streets. Also, there are many music and dance performances that pop up on the Malecon.

All of these provide opportunities to see and hear the diversity of costumes and music of the

various regions of Mexico.

Other areas not to be missed are the Mercado Isle Cuale and the Mercado Municipal Cuale, public markets along the banks of the River Cuale.

The Isla Cuale, which was created by a tornado in 1926, is famous for its cat population but was a human settlement until 1971when Hurricane Lily forced its residents to higher land. You’ll find vendors selling souvenirs, wonderful restaurants and the Cuale Archeological Museum, a small but informative Museo providing a glimpse into Puerto Vallarta’s long distant past.

El Centro is rife with all manner of art galleries to tempt the resident or visitor with the wide array of art available by Mexican, as well as international artists.

Real Estate in this area of Puerto Vallarta is scarce and expensive.

More is available up the mountain east of El Centro in an area dubbed Gringo Gulch. This is the area where you’ll find the famous homes of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

For many years ex-pats clustered in this area, topography is challenging with many hills to walk or drive. Many old buildings are sold as fixer uppers and some are successfully turned into new or renovated rental apartments, single family residences and small boutique hotels.

Remember a property that appears to be in a quiet residential neighborhood during the day can be quite different at night when the nightclubs crank up their music!

But the view is to die for with a front row seat to each sunset.

Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

CUISINE AND CULTURE 14

www.vallartatribune.com

Do not have to worry about; they have the best prices in town. The service is special, this is one of the few places where I dare to say that they will make you feel at home and once you know them, it will become unforgettable.

Yucatan: The stuffed state

Route of the Itza

By Ramiro Lopez

T

he inventiveness of the Mayans, original settlers of the lands of Maya, not only created the zero and the calendar of 365 days, nor were its advances limited to large astronomical and architectural innovations, their creativity also created a distinct cuisine with personality that make it one of the most authentic cuisines of Mexico. If you are planning a trip to admire the culture, the best thing you can do is find a hotel in Merida and from there tour the well-known routes across the land of the faisan (0) and the venado (deer) while enjoying the architectural contrast of Mexico pre-Hispanic and the colonial.

Although the food is a sufficient excuse to come enjoy a bite of the peninsula.

The food of the Puuc

The meaning of Puuc is ‘mounds’, but on this route you can appreciate more than mounds, as this tour includes impressive archaeological sites completely restored, such as Uxmal, Kabah and Sayil also natural attractions like the caves of Loltún, Calcehtok, and the eco-museum of cocoa, which displays the origins of cacao and its significance in the Maya world.

Recall that the Mayans are credited with the discovery of chocolate. They were first to toast and grind, but not to make chocolate bars with sugar, choco-

late for them was a sacred drink used for ceremonial purposes.

Cocoa beans were so important that they were used as currency.

For that reason, “Ek Chua” was the god of cacao and also the god of commerce. This museum is located at the entrance of the huge plantation of Tikul where you will learn about the different processes of the organic cocoa; from planting until it reaches your table. At the end of the tour, you can participate in a tasting of this precious gift in a comfortable cafe.

If chocolate is not enough to satisfy your appetite, a few minutes from Tikul there is the town of Oxkutzcab, where I recommend Prince Tutul-Xiu restaurant, a nice space with friendly atmosphere, where the best Mayan food is served at very affordable prices.

The chef’s recommendation is to start your meal with panuchos (1), then enjoy lime soup with a very pronounced that taste of lime, and without a doubt, the best dish of the house is the Poc-Chuc and “queso relleno”(cheese filling). To cleanse your palate, try the Chiricote sweet, do not ask what chiricote is, trust me - you just eat it.

The route of the monasteries Also known as the convents route, this tour is particularly beautiful. Here you will experience many historical aspects of the Mayan´s culture after the arrival of the Spaniards. Take the opportunity to tour the town

markets where you will find the typical food of the region. Leaving Merida begins the parade of convents and churches in village and towns like Tecoh, my first culinary destination. If you rushed out without breakfast, (as happened to me), there is an excellent place called Na’Lu’um which specializes in regional Mayan food. The hotel and also offers Temazcal (2) baths.

Continuing the journey to towns with nearly unpronounceable names like Telchaquillo, Mayapan and Tekit. The town of Chumayel that caught my interest because it was the birthplace of Chilam Balam, the sacred Mayan books that were handwritten during the 15-16th centuries preserving important traditional knowledge.

Continuing the trip, you will reach Maní, the town where massive destruction of Mayan scrolls and sacred objects was done by Fray Diego who later repented and made his “List of things of Yucatan.” If you find yourself hungry again, visit an old acquaintance: Prince Tutul-Xiu Restaurant, which is headquartered here, as we say, “It is better a good known than a bad name to know.”

Sweet home Costa Esmeralda

This route has so much magne-

tism that attracts even meteorites.

It is thought that near Chicxulub is the place where the great meteorite fell and destroyed the old dinosaurs (exception the old political class in Mexico). The tour includes locations such as San Crisanto, Dzilbil, Chanltún, Progreso, Uaymitun, Xcambo and the Biosphere Reserves of Celestun and Palmar. Here is everything: ports, museums, birding sites, historical monuments, colonial, pre-Columbian and modern architecture, rivers, estuaries, food, music, and beaches. Go a little off the beaten path, just dare to do so. I will not leave you with the classic warning that, “nothing happens”, contrary; “I assure you that happens a lot.”

One of my findings along this route was Lizards Joes, this place is located in Chelem, a small fishing village a few kilometers from Puerto Progreso.

Here you can try dishes from the Bahamian and the American cuisine and more. Although the food is excellent, the atmosphere is what drew me here. If you like to enjoy a beer with your oceanfront breeze, this is your place!

Its ample beach lends itself to many other things besides eating.

The atmosphere is festive and on weekend nights they have live music with great bands. Prices?

This route is located east of Mérida, and is one that leads us to the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, declared as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. On this trip you will see impressive archaeological sites, caves and nature reserves. Close by is the Cenote Zací, with restaurant and spa; here you can enjoy typical local food; cochinita pibil and chicken, “relleno negro”(3), entrees like salbutes and codzitos, venison and “brazo de reyna” (4), and to digest anything better than the xtabentun (5). Another recommended site is la “Yerbabuena del Sisal”, located opposite the former convent of San Bernardino of Siena, away from the bustle of the city center of Valladolid.

Arms open closed streets

Something I will never forget during my visit to Merida is that feeling of an impressive cultural city with a large amount of bars, cafes and restaurants that at night spill into the streets that are closed to traffic and open to the passerbys. Trios, duos, bands of Brazilian rhythms and, hip-hop break dancers cheer the nights in Merida. And talking about dining, here it is as nowhere else. One of the places I remember fondly is the Bel-Ami Café.

This is a real place that breaks with the common traditional restaurants in town; the atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming, and their varied menu is fresh, tasteful and well decorated.

Located on the rooftop, tables and warmly lit with candles and flowers, the music is different and enjoyable.

The highlight of this place is the onion soup and chicken Mérida stuffed with chaya and topped with salsa xcatic.

And to wash it down and while you leave the town, nothing is better than a tour of the awesome Paseo Montejo holding your Montejo beer.

The avenue and beer with same name of the Spanish conqueror that once came here, will transport you to the times when everything here rhymed.

Lots of thanks to my aunt in law Eugenia Ma Ku Chán, who advised me and corrected my understanding of this Mayan culture.

LIFE IN MEXICO 15

Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

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Why Mexico’s the place to be, for single ladies

By Kerry Baker

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or many 50+ women, work is becoming more and more contractual and virtual, pushing us to develop new ideas and to reinvent ourselves.

As we determine our next income-producing strategy, it might be time to develop a financial defense strategy that preserves our assets while we’re planning the next stage of our lives. That’s why I think single women over 50 might want to relocate to Mexico as I’m doing.

My Move to Mazatlan

I recently left my home in Denver and traveled to Mazatlan (a Mexican city across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula) to determine if I could approximate in Mexico the features of a good life for a single woman in the U.S. — and at what cost.

I also wanted to see how connected I could stay to friends and family stateside as I researched new work opportunities.

Many people have chosen to move to Mexico to stretch their savings, of course. And there are plenty of books, websites and chat rooms geared to life there for an expat. But most contributors to those resources are part of a couple, with different priorities than those of a single woman.

I wanted to know things like: • Would I be able to find single girl friends?

• How could I stay in shape?

• How could I keep in touch with my friends back home?

• And the ever-important: How much would it cost for me to be happy there on my own?

I figured, if I couldn’t answer those questions, what else mattered? After spending a month with my flip-flops on the ground, I’ve realized that I didn’t need to have an answer for every challenge of living in Mexico for the rest of my life. Instead, I should have focused more on the basics, studying customs procedures and practicing currency exchange. Managing money produced much more anxiety on the trip than any fear of Dengue fever.

Mexico’s Allures for Single Women Over 50 After my immersive approach to life in Mazatlan, I’ve identified nine reasons why single women over 50 should consider moving to Mexico:

1. Life is more interesting here.

Many people suggested I move somewhere in the U.S. that had a cheaper cost of living than Denver, such as Stratton, Colorado or Dallas, Texas. But I think living on the beach and taking a water taxi to the gym is way better. I still have a lot of adventure left in me.

2.

You can make your nest egg last longer. Living in Mexico is less expensive than many parts of America. Once I found a place I liked on the beach, I calculated I’d cut my monthly expenses by half. Once I learn my way around, I bet I’ll spend even less, which will help make my savings last longer.

3.Technology has made connec-

ting with people in the U.S. easier than ever. Facebook, Skype, Viber (a service that lets you call or send messages or photos to other Viber users anywhere for free) and online has created numerous ways of staying in touch.

Long-term friendships, a lifeblood for most women, are much easier to maintain abroad than even five years ago. Some friends will require a bit more coaching (as I did), but once you walk them through the steps of setting up internet-based communication, it’s easy.

4. It’s easy to make new friends there. Ever-larger expat communities in Mexico, largely Canadian and American, means there are more people to meet. Expat living promotes an egalitarianism that facilitates building friendships quickly with women of all ages and backgrounds.

Within two weeks of my arrival, I was strolling down the Malecon (a stone embankment or esplanade along a waterfront),

drinking horchata (a dairy-free, sweet milky beverage) and swooning over hand-made purses with women I felt like I‘d known for years.

5. As a single woman, you won’t

feel shy asking for help and advice. There’s truth to those stereotypes that women ask for directions but men don’t. I’ve found that women are typically more comfortable asking for help and advice than men.

This attribute comes in handy when you move abroad, since you’ll be on a constant quest for information. Whether it’s ‘What rent should I expect to pay?’ or ‘What’s the Spanish word for celery salt?,’ being able to ask is an essential skill in a new country.

6. It’s a great place to be when you’re in a life transition. Many of my friends moved to new cities after going through a divorce and I’ve discovered that a sojourn in Mexico can offer a distracting change in environment that lets you financially tread water while putting yourself back together.

People laughingly told me that half the expats in Mazatlan were recovering from breakups.

7. Your sense of opportunity will

be on overdrive. Within hours of landing in Mexico, I was already thinking of new business enterprises that would allow me to earn income there. Expats are often inspired to meet local unmet needs that seem obvious when you just arrive.

8. It’s a cinch to go back and for-

th to the states when you want.

As a single person, you only have your own agenda and schedule to follow. So it’s a breeze to pick up and go.

9. Living arrangements here can

be more flexible when you’re single. I’m sharing a house near the marina for my first six months in Mexico with a wonderful Canadian who has lived in Mazatlan for 12 years and is eager to introduce me to life there. That kind of arrangement is a great way to get to know a place and have fun, too.

Kerry Baker is a fundraising professional and development consultant currently living in Mexico who is researching and writing about topics related to single women dividing their time working and living in Mexico and the U.S. Her U.S. home is Denver, Colo.Original: www.huffingtonpost.com

nAVY LEAGUE 16

Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

The USCGC Bertholf arrives Into port on Sunday July 27, 2014, at 10:00 am.

W

e are fortunate to again see The USCGC Bertholf this Sunday.

The Members of t he Navy League Committe who welcomed them include Carl Smith, Irv Readerman, Dennis Rike and Aurora de la Torre. Dennis Rike organized a ComReal Project for the crew to work at the Asilo Seniors Home in Coapinole, where they installed security lights, painted and spruced up the home for 39 seniors .

Our local Navy Leauge Council will hosted a reception for the officers & Chiefs from The USCGC

Bertholf, on Tuesday, July 29th at Murphy’s Restaurant.

As always the Navy League appreciates the US Coast Guards thoughtfulness for their gifts, including medical equipment, donated to improve the lives of the people in Puerto Vallarta, as well as their valuable time.

Please join us to thank them for choosing our port and for working at different projects coordinated

by The Navy League Members.

For more information on the Navy League you can contact Aurora de la Torre at auroradelatorrepv@ yahoo.com.

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jalisco 17

Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

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Road Tripping Fandango: The back roads of Jalisco Trip by Gordon Hayes

T

his is a republish of a wonderful email I received in the summer of 2013 that has some great road trip ideas for those of us who might be a little more adventurous. With the dog days of summer on us now, I thought I would reshare his travel itinerary and encourage you to take the time to explore this wonderful area we call home.

I recommend you check your tires, change your oil, pack a good map, a Spanish phrase book and some pesos. Everything else you can find along the way.

Cuautla El Chilacayote

Cuautla

Que vaya bien. ‌..

If you have not been there, by all means take a trip to Guachinango (A). It is an old mining town on the order of San Sabastian del Oeste, and is really beautiful with winding streets, and a lovely zocalo, and a church built with beautiful, broken pieces of antique ceramic. The town is still a center of active mining of gold and silver and other minerals. And, during the annual festival (the town Saint's Day) the town is incredible and with a great different photo opportunity wherever one looks. The main hotel is "Hotel Real de Minas" and is clean, hot water, king size or twin full size beds, and reasonably priced.

Just before arriving to the turn off to Guachinango, is a town on the right called Mixtlan (B). It is clean and very much like a small western town in the USA. The annual festival (Saint’s Day) is absolutely incredible and much, much more upscale and organized "goings on" than the festival in Gjuachinano.

And do not be concerned, all are invited ......... if you are in town, you are one of attendees invited, and treated as such.

Before getting as far as Mixtlan or Guachinagngo you will see a turn to the right, and a sign saying "Los Volcanos." (C) This is another wonderful "off the path" excursion. Los Volcanos & sister town Ahuacatepec are centers of huge cattle ranches............ the area is incredibly beautiful, with an impeccable clean and modern motel with TV, hot water, and a small restaurant which serves a great breakfast made to order, and handmade tortillas. NOTE: I can't find the card, however it is the only motel in town and the Pemex gas station can give you directions (1/4 mile away?) At the end of the street with the motel on it, is a large

Guachinango

restaurant out of long past, which has good food, and nice atmosphere. Los Volcanos is a good town to spend the night before venturing on the highway south/ east towards the coast.

After Los Valcanos is a very clean and modern town called Cuautla (D), with a statue of a Charro on the highway. The town is to the left and down under some beautiful arches paying tribute to the citizens of the town who now live in the USA. The town is spotless and nice homes, beautiful Zocalo and the economy is mainly from money sent by families in the United States. On the exit from Chautla you will see a large group of stables, and a large Charro Ring....... it is owned and operated by the world famous Mexican Ranchera singer, actor and film producer, Vicente Fernandez.

Continue down the road a little bit, past Ayutla (E) (our current mayor of Puerto Vallarta was previously mayor of Ayutla), and make a right turn on highway 80, going south. Immediately after Union de Tula there will be a road bearing to the left (with a possible sign saying either Ejutla (F) or El Grullo...you want to go to Ejutla).

The road winds through some incredibly beautiful mountain country and you come to a fork take the fork to the left (Ejutla) and

in a minute or so you will see in the valley below a really, really picturesque town with two large churches in different parts of the town, with large monasteries connected to them, one for men (priests) and one for women (nuns). Very unique. There is a statue of Christ with outstretched hands looking over the town (I think there might be a tram to the top). The town is spotless, clean, with a stream going through it and palm trees on the banks. The entrance road to the town is really well done.

It is probably shortest to back track and take the road back to highway 80 and proceed toward and through La Huerta (G), and to the coast. Go towards the signs that say Melaque and Puerto Vallarta. Just after the Y in the road (you go toward Puerto Vallarta) you will see a sign saying La Manzanilla (H). Go to La Manzanilla and stay a night or two. It is in Jalisco, but relatively undiscovered by people in Vallarta. It is a small, clean, and beautiful beach town with a few Canadians living year long. The beach and bay are absolutely beautiful and uncrowded, with sunsets that are as spectacular, or more so, than we have in Vallarta. There is, for all intents and purposes, one hotel in town ....

Hotel Posada Tonala. The rooms are clean, hot water, TV, very nice

La Manzanilla

atmosphere and just across the street from the beach. Rates at last check were 450 pesos for a king and 350 pesos for a double......and negotiable when slow (mid-week?).

Except for Monday there is a wonderful coffee and pastry cafe on the main square, and at night (again, except for Monday) on the street of the hotel, same side, is an outside taco/Mexican food stand with long tables and great food.

There is also a nice upscale Italian Restaurant up the street on the

beach side. At the other end of the street (toward where you entered) there is a lagoon where you can feed crocodiles raw fish......if that is of interest. After leaving La Manzanilla the road to Puerto Vallarta is really varied and beautiful...... about a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive.

Some of best beaches and exclusive resorts are along this coast.

The highway goes past the exit to Tomatlan and through El Tuito (I), and then to Puerto Vallarta (J). It makes for a nice 2 or 3 day trip.

REAL ESTATE 18

Friday August 1st - 7, 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 Bill Dallas Lewis, AKA Bill the Geek, a web designer, developer, teacher and web optimization genius. Bill is originally from Columbus, Ohio who has lived in Puerto Vallarta for 8 years.

When did you first visit Mexico?

In college I traveled to San Luis Potosi to spend a semester studying Spanish. I really liked it there.

People were friendly and very open. They would stop me on the street and ask me if I was from the US, and then they would invite me to dinner at their house! I thought that was very cool.

In the U.S. I’d grown up in a rural setting, and was the only black kid on my school bus. In fact one of the girls that I rode to school with was the daughter of the local Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, if that gives you some idea.

Too, we lived right next door to the Moose Lodge swimming pool.

Right next door! And during the hot summers I would be at home listening to all of the kids playing and cooling off over there, and I was not allowed to swim because I was black.

Is there any sort of discrimination in Mexico?

Here in Mexico they like black people.

So when did you decide to move to Puerto Vallarta?

I did research and found that in Vallarta I could have high-speed internet access, be close to the beach and have low cost of living.

In fact, I’d never even visited here before I decided to move.

I made all of my arrangements from the U.S. I really needed to be confident that I could arrive, and the next day hit the ground running with my business, and that’s exactly what happened. I rented and paid for a condo over near Olas Altas, at Loma del Mar condominiums. Which worked out perfectly. A fun condo complex with lots of Americans and Canadians, and an Olympic sized swimming pool. It was party central!

What other areas have you lived in?

I’ve lived up above Conchas Chinas at an apartment near Casa Cupula, which was very beautiful. I had a perfect view of the ocean from my desk. But I’m a

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person who really likes pedestrian traffic, so I moved over to where I live now, in Cinco de Diciembre, near the market and the cemetery.

A very busy area, and walking distance to shopping and the beach.

Do you feel safe in Vallarta?

I’ve felt safer walking in Vallarta than anywhere else. And I’ve lived in Los Angeles, Newark, New York City, Cincinnati and San Francisco.

When did you start your search for places to move?

Back in 2000, but I was really ready to move in 2006.

How have you found the social scene here?

I’m not a super social person.

I spend about 10 hours a day working. I love what I do! Plus my neighborhood is great. It’s not possible to just quickly run to the store, because you end up stopping numerous times to say hello and visit with people. Everyone is so friendly.

Do you see yourself staying here in Vallarta?

I’m a creative person, so I’m just going to see where my creativity takes me. I’m open to any possibility, but I can also see myself dying here and be perfectly happy with that decision.

I don’t own a lot of stuff, and I don’t have a lot of attachments, so if necessary, I could probably pack up and move within a day if something else came up.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to live

in Puerto Vallarta, but continue working remotely via the internet?

You really need to have everything set up before you get here. A good internet presence; a client base; good marketing strategies; have all of your banking set up in the U.S., etc. Don’t expect to make much of a living down here, since the wages are much lower than up north.

Too, make absolutely sure that you are moving into a place with a good high-speed internet connection. You will need to be able to arrive here, and on day 2 begin working.

Also, I recommend that you

have at least 3 months worth of income in the bank, as a buffer.

With all of the great online tools like Vonage, Magic Jack, Go to Meetings and Virtual Personal Networks, you can pretty much run you business from anywhere in the world.

Bill can be reached at www. sillybilly.com.

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.

CHARITIES 19

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Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations

F

or 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 SETACGLBT – 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

ADORABLE DOG IN THE SPOTLIGHT...LOLA

Sweet Lola, a poodle mix, had a loving home. Lola was a gift from the father to his daughter. Unfortunately the father has passed away, and the family has had to endure and make some changes in their lives that will not allow enough time for Lola. They have made the difficult decision to try and find Lola a new home where she would receive more attention. They called our dog trainer and we were able to make room for Lola at the sanctuary. She is 2-3 years of age and weighs 5 kilos or 11 pounds. Help us find a fur-ever home for this sweetheart so she can get back to having some stability in her life. Please contact us at spcapv@gmail.com.

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 Friends of PV Animals Volunteers working to enhance the lives of shelter animals. For info and donations visit friendsofpvanimals.com Grupo Ecológico de Puerto Vallarta: Arq. Luz del Carmen Pérez Alvarez cayro_13@hotmail.com grupoecologico.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

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

Mexico Ministries & Mission, Inc. raises funds to the poor in Vallarta. Contact Fr. Jack+ 044 322 229-1129 christchurchbythesea.org

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

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.

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.

Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza- Shelter for Children. Tax-deductible. ccshf.ca 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

Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

SUDOKU easy

BRAIN TEASERS 20

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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

Number Blocks

hard

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.

Can you find the hidden names? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards. ANN BAXTER, AUDREY HEPBURN, AVA GARDNER, BETTE DAVIS, CAROLE LOMBARD, GLORIA SWANSON, GRETA GARBO, HEDY LAMARR, INGRID BERGMAN, JANE RUSSELL, JANE WYMAN, JEAN HARLOW, JEAN SIMMONS, JOAN CRAWFORD, JUDY GARLAND,LANA TURNER, LAUREN BACALL, MARILYN MONROE, MERLE OBERON, MYRNA LOY, RITA HAYWORTH, VERONICA LAKE,VIRGINIA MAYO, VIVIEN LEIGH.

1. Loan - Pool - Great White 2. Clog - Pump - Flat 3. Rain - Fur - Trench 4. Silver - Tin - Nickel 5. Coffee - Oil - Air 6. Tulip - Lamp - Onion 7. Saturn - Dirty Shirt Collars - Newleyweds 8. Date - Cook - Phone 9. Spock - Suess - Phil 10. Fire - Soda – Safe

Commonym 7 Answers 1. sharks 2. shoes 3. coats 4. metals 5. filters 6. they have bulbs 7. they have rings 8. books 9. doctors 10. crackers

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 7 Answers 1. Cry all the way to the bank 2. The stakes are high 3. That’s too bad 4. Eyes in the back of my head 5. Miniskirt 6. All in All

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.

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Friday August 1st - 7, 2014

www.vallartatribune.com

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

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 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

LIVE MUSIC VENUES

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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

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