Issue 905, August 8 - 14, 2014

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News NEW RAIL LINE COMING

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August 8 - 14, 2014 Free Issue 905

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Travel Tlaquepaque

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Photo Madeline Celeste Milne

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Friday August 8 - 14, 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

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Welcome to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

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

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

BUSES: A system of urban buses with different routes can bring you from one end of the bay to the other and all the spots in between. Current fare is $7.50 pesos per ticket and passengers must purchase a new ticket every time they board another bus. There are no “transfers”.

TAXIS: There are set rates within defined zones of town. Do not enter a taxi without agreeing on the price with the driver first. Price is per trip not person.

MONEY EXCHANGE: Although you may have to wait in line for a few minutes, banks will give you a higher rate of exchange than the exchange booths (caja de cambio). You will need your passport. Better yet, use your bank card to withdraw funds from any ATM machine. Note that ATM’s in the banks are the safest to use and generally charge lower fees.

DRINKING WATER: For the 17th year in a row, Puerto Vallarta’s water has been awarded a certification of purity for human consumption. The quality of the water tested at the purification plant varies greatly from what comes out of the tap at the other end. So do be careful. If you want to be doubly sure, you can pick up bottled water just about anywhere.

Flowers of the Week

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

Philippine Jade Vine

Trepadora de Jade Strongylodon macrobotrys

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ne of the most beautiful and elegant of all tropical climbers, this perennial woody vine bears beautiful cascading turquoise flowers once every year or two in the early spring. One stem can be up to 3 feet long having up to 90 blossoms per stem. Originally from the rainforests of the Philippines where it is becoming endangered, this plant thrives best in warm, humid environments.

It is pollinated by bats and attractive to some wasps and butterflies.

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

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

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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oday, August 6th, is the third anniversary of my arrival in Mexico. In that time I have travelled to many places, met many people and drank many sunset cocktails. At times it feels like it was only yesterday that we were boarding our Westjet flight bound for Puerto Vallarta with as much luggage as they would let us on with and one, relieved to be going somewhere warm, Chihuahua. And other days, it feels like a lifetime. If you’ve ever dealt with Hacienda you know what I mean. Some of the highlights I’ve experienced over the past three years include: 1. Driving the highways through Nayarit and Jalisco. This is some of the most gorgeous country in the world. From beachfront jungle to pine and oak forests, volcanoes, pyramids, home of Tequila and so much great food; I’ve fallen in love with this place.

2. Pyramids, pyramids, pyramids – from the towering Pyramid of the Sun outside Mexico City to the tiny pyramid of Seven Dolls in the Yucatan to the mountain top treasure trove of Monte Alban – this is a land rich with anthropological history and so much more than all-inclusive resorts that could be anywhere.

3. The beaches of La Paz, Baja California Sur are like stepping into a National Geographic photo shoot. Not only visually stunning, the water teams with life; whale sharks, humpback whales, dolphin pods in the 100’s and swimming with playful baby sea lions. Let’s not forget the ancient cacti, some of which has been standing long before Cortés came ashore hunting for pearls and gold.

4. Shopping is a sport to enjoy the world over and here in Mexico is no different. Local crafts people fashion some of the most exquisite pottery, woven and embroidered textiles, hammered tin and carved wood.

There is an irreverent sense of humour in daily life that permeates much of the art in this country. You know that despite whatever hardships they might have, the people of this country are happy and peaceful and proud.

From the artisans of San Miguel de Allende to Pátzcuaro, in the markets of Guadalajara and the futuristic malls of Mexico City and the beach vendors eeking out a living, there is so much to enjoy (and buy) in this country.

By Sam Cooper, The Province

Are you from BC?

Editor´s Note

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any B.C. residents are a little richer than they think. Right now there are 378,000 outstanding payments worth $92.3 million sitting in Ottawa’s bank vaults, just waiting for British Columbians to step forward and claim the cash.

These unclaimed tax refunds and government cheques have piled up over the past five years, according to Public Works Canada.

Across Canada, total unclaimed payments total about $730 million. That’s about 3.2 million cheques for payments including employment insurance, child-tax payments, pensions and tax rebates that didn’t find their owners for a variety of reasons, the department says.

Sometimes cheques are lost or undelivered, and sometimes recipients move without registering a new home address.

Depending on where you live in Canada, claiming your cash

5. Music is found on every corner. Sometimes it’s a 16 piece band om pa pa ing down the street, or dapper Mariachi singing of lamented love but, more often than not, it’s your neighbours with any reason to celebrate, young lovers at the table beside you, or old friends gathered for a game of dominoes and a rousing sing-along.

6. From Mexican courtesy to the varied expat experience, the people you meet here are as diverse as anywhere. Young families looking for a different path, retired couples who have worked hard for this freedom, artists, doctors, librarians, bank managers, young, old and in the middle, no matter what experience brought them to this country, it is the adventurous and open-hearted that remain and bring with them so much value. The generosity of their time, energy and money go far in supporting the less fortunate in this country. And it is this generosity that binds us together.

I could go on and on but space is limited because we have a jam packed newspaper this week.

So, no matter how long you have been here or will be here for, take a moment to enjoy this week’s Tribune, support the local arts community, rescue a dog and tell all your friends back at home to come visit so they can experience all that this country has to offer. And if you happen to be from BC, you might be a little richer.

Happy weekend, Madeline

Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

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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

B.C. residents are owed $92.3 million

could demand a troublesome trek through government phone systems and bureaucracy.

British Columbians are lucky, in that B.C. is among several provinces with unclaimed property laws and searchable databases to help citizens track down cash. But there are a number of reasons why people still have difficulty discovering what they are owed, experts say.

In B.C., a major portion of the $92.3 million in unclaimed cash is for 203,000 B.C. low-income climate tax credit payments, worth about $31.9 million. The tax credit is intended to help offset carbon taxes paid by low-income consumers. Another big pile of cash stems from 52,000 unclaimed T1 tax refunds, worth approximately $21.8 million. And there were 13,000 unclaimed Canada Pension Plan payments stuck in Ottawa, valued at $4.9 million.

Experts note it is often people at the margins of society, with the least resources and financial savvy, who leave cash languishing in government accounts.

Financial planner Paul Lermitte of Assante Weath Management said it is well known within the business that piles of unclaimed cash are sitting in Ottawa.

“Awareness is a huge issue,” Lermitte said. “Wealthy people have lawyers or accountants doing this stuff for them, and the average person probably has some access to a professional adviser. In these cases you are really looking at people who are not working with advisers.”

Lermitte said cash goes unclaimed because “people’s lives are so busy” — but there are other reasons, too.

Fear of the taxman and government bureaucracy makes some people reluctant to ask questions.

“Sometimes there is a fear that, ‘I haven’t got my payments, so maybe I took more than I was supposed to and they are coming after me,’” Lermitte said.

Lermitte pointed to the example of a young man in his 20s whom the firm helped get thousands of dollars in tax payments.

“He thought he owed money to the government, when in fact it was the opposite,” Lermitte said.

In B.C., people can go to the website of The British Columbia Unclaimed Property Society to search for assets and cash they may be owed.

As Lermitte points out, though, for some unfamiliarity with online technology could be a barrier.

Cheques owed by the government never expire. Some advocates suggest that the government is pretty diligent when tracking down debt from citizens, so perhaps Ottawa should be

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.

more proactive in reaching out to potential recipients of unclaimed cash. Marcel Poulin, press secretary for Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, said Finley “has instructed her officials to examine options to help Canadians receive the payments the Government of Canada owes them.”

The department encourages citizens to register for direct bank deposits “to ensure that future payments are automatically transferred into their bank accounts,” Poulin said.

Lermitte told The Province that it is in the nation’s interest to make sure all Canadians are claiming their cash.

“Having this money sitting in government bank accounts doesn’t do anything for our economic growth,” he said.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

Proposed rail line relies on a deep water port in Nayarit

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Chinese development company has inked a deal to build a rail line linking Mexico’s Pacific coast with an industrial hub just south of New Mexico’s Santa Teresa port of entry, according to the newspaper El Diario de Chihuahua.

Plans for a railroad between Mexico’s west coast and the New Mexico border have been bandied about for years, without result.

News this week that Chihuahua state Gov. César Duarte signed an agreement in Beijing with developer China Hyway Group Ltd., the China Development Bank and other investors is the most concrete step yet in that direction — and it was met with some skepticism on this side of the border.

Terms of the deal were not reported, and the Chihuahua state government did not return requests for comment.

Numerous obstacles could thwart the rail line’s completion, not the least of which is a yet-tobe-built deepwater port in Nayarit state, where the line would originate, and a duopolistic Mexican rail industry that has not historically welcomed outside competition.

Jon Barela, New Mexico secretary of economic development, said he believes the project could “provide a potentially game-changing approach to how commerce will flow from Asia to the Americas, and New Mexico will be an integral part of that transportation system.”

If the project really were to come to fruition, “it would make

the region the most competitive along the border,” said Francisco Uranga, Foxconn vice president and chief business operations officer for Latin America. “Having rail all the way through Mexico from our border crossing would be an amazing magnet for competitive purposes.”

New Mexico, meanwhile, is in the early stages of planning a study to judge whether a crossborder rail spur at Santa Teresa and San Jerónimo is even feasible; today is the deadline for a request for proposals.

“We’re excited about all the growth not only in Chihuahua and southern New Mexico, and the rail bypass project” — the spur that would connect any new railroad in Mexico to New Mexico — “could be another pillar of economic development,” said Jerry Pacheco, vice president of the Border Industrial Association and a Journal trade columnist. “But we really need to see what the feasibility study is going to say.” Two private railroads in Mexico — Ferromex and

Kansas City Southern de México — manage all of the country’s rail infrastructure, which was largely built by the federal government around the turn of the last century and hasn’t been expanded much in 100 years, experts say.

Ferromex is a joint subsidiary of Mexican miner Grupo Mexico and U.S. railroad Union Pacific, and one of Mexico’s three railway concession-holders.

Duarte, who announced the deal alongside Nayarit Gov. Roberto Sandoval in Beijing, said the project will spur development at the San Jerónimo-Santa Teresa port of entry, according to the El Diario newspaper.

Duarte has made a rail line to the west coast a priority of his administration, but it isn’t clear whether the project has the support of the Mexican federal government — critical, observers say, in a country where power is highly centralized.

Work is expected to begin by year end, according to the newspaper report.

Source: www.abqjournal.com

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completes the traveler is experience, having access to graphic directories encompassing hotels, restaurants, tours and activities along with useful data such as phone numbers to access taxis, airport and travel information.

This application is a tool that will connect visitors with the city immediately, optimizing their stay and improving the way they move

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

Sinaloa to repeal “gag” law

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he state legislature of the western Mexican state of Sinaloa said it will repeal a measure, denounced by journalists as a “gag law,” that bars reporters from crime scenes and sharply limits the press’ ability to cover issues of public safety and criminal justice.

The head of the state legislature’s political coordination committee, Jesus Enrique Hernandez, said a bill has been introduced to remove the controversial article from a recently approved law governing the state’s Attorney General’s Office.

Hernandez said the proposal will be debated on Aug. 21 before the full legislature and that he expects the article will be repealed.

He added that the law was passed Thursday night because legislators had a large number of bills in front of them and did not have time to “notice those kinds of details,” adding that similar mistakes are made in legislatures all over the world. The article states that crime reporters cannot have access to crime scenes “under any circumstances,” may not obtain “information related to public safety

or the procurement of justice,” and will have to rely exclusively on official bulletins from authorities for details about ongoing investigations.

Sinaloa is one of Mexico’s five most dangerous states, with 41 homicides for every 100,000 residents in 2013.

The state that gave birth to the first generation of Mexican drug lords is suffering through a period of heightened violence as rival groups jockey for supremacy following the arrest in February of Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” (Shorty) Guzman.

Calling the new media law something that would be appropriate in a dictatorship, Sinaloa Journalists Association head Juan Manuel Partida Valdez demanded its immediate repeal.

EFE

PEACEAnimals Spay and Neuter Clinics All services provided for free or by donation. Schedule, including directions and other clinic information are always on website: www.peaceanimals.org

around the city, both to better understand the Pacific destination and acquire products and services that Puerto Vallarta has to offer in a timely manner. Stay tuned to Puerto Vallarta is social networks and media in order to play a part in the virtual App launch party.

Users will have the option of downloading the Puerto Vallarta App for iOS and Android platforms.

August 6-9 El Progreso Turn inland at La Paloma Bullring, drive for many blocks and at the light, turn LEFT. Road is under construction. Be patient and drive until you come to Ave- Los Poetas where you will make a RIGHT. It´s a big new avenue going uphill and it will be clearly marked. Pass a Pemex after a series of little identical houses and duplex, and at the Kiosko convenience store make a left. The street you are on will seem to end in a dirt road after 2 blocks, but a paved road continues to the right.

Stay on that paved street called 16 de Septiembre. Many, many blocks later you will come to what appears

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.

Puerto Vallarta launches official App he use of technology is revolutionizing the way we travel, now tourists are increasingly relying on technological and social networks not only to choose their next adventures, but also keep connected while abroad. The Puerto Vallarta Board of Tourism is launching the official Puerto Vallarta mobile App. The mobile application

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to be the end of the street and make a LEFT at Calle Heberto Castillo.

After 2 blocks on Heberto Castillo you will come to a green Tortillería El Progreso, where you will turn left again and voila!

August 13-16 Mojoneras Take the Highway 200 heading north from the airport. Go on the lateral along the Corona Beer Storage and bottling plant (close to the Bus Station). At the end of the corner make a RIGHT. Drive to the end of the wide cobblestone street until you come to the SEAPAL sewer water treatment plant and make a LEFT. Soon after, you will come to a chicken shop and make a RIGHT on Jalisco St. Drive in for about 3 blocks until you find us in a corner at the Agencia Municipal.

August 20-23 La Bugambilia - TBA

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Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

Puerto Vallarta one of “World’s Best” cities in Latin America

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he city of Puerto Vallarta has once again ranked as a “Top City in Mexico, Central and South America” in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2014 readers’ survey announced in New York.

Travel + Leisure readers first added Puerto Vallarta to this exclusive list in 2011 as one of their top travel experiences to be had around the globe. Since then the destination has moved from number 8 on the list to 7 in 2012 and 5 in 2013.

This year’s position at number 4, puts Puerto Vallarta ahead of Rio de Janeiro and right behind

international destinations Buenos Aires, Cuzco and Mexico City which took the top spots on the list.

“We are very proud and honored to be recognized by the readers of Travel +Leisure in this category,” said Rolando Miravete, Executive Director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. “Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s leading destinations because, as the readers note, our travel experience is one of the most rewarding to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Our guests are people who like to experience nature, culture,

gastronomy, life and they find in on a daily basis in Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta is one of the most acclaimed destinations in Mexico and continually receives accolades from the media and visitors alike.

Tripadvisor’s consumer base of more than 2 million monthly named it #2 overall best Mexican destination for the 2014 Traveler’s Choice Award and US News & World Reports selected Puerto Vallarta as “#2 Best Place to Visit in Mexico” #3 “Best Beaches in Mexico” and #4 “Best Spring break Destination” in January of this year.

The stretch of road between Jala and Compostela ready for Summer 2015

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y the end of 2014, 37% of the 114-miles Jala-Badeba road will be completed; this will allow the more than 10 thousand vehicles that transit that road during weekends, holiday weekends and vacation time to drive close to the Riviera Nayarit.

During an interview with the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Jesus Miramontes, the director of the Center for the Secretariat of Communications and Transportations in Nayarit (SCT by its acronym in Spanish), indicated that the nearly 34 miles of road between Jala-Compostela will be finished by the end of the year, making it ready for use by summer 2015 at the latest.

This progress represents 37% of the 114 miles that make up the new Jala-Banderas Bay highway,

which is already 88% in use. Authorities project the highway will be completely finished by 2017 at an estimated cost of 14 billion Mexican pesos. It will benefit the more than 20 villages that surround it.

Jesus Miramontes calculates there will be between five and six thousand vehicles using the highway on ordinary days, but during weekends, holidays and vacation time there will be over 10 thousand cars on the road, which will reduce travel time by 50% once it’s completed.

Two of the seven stretches of road that make up the Jala-Compostela highway are already completed; it must be noted the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH, by its acronym in Spanish) is getting ready to open up 100% of the remaining

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

moderate two-hour stroll led by a certified guide.

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

road, as there were archaeological finds in the area that needed to be explored.

Construction on the Compostela 2 junction at kilometer 54 is ready to begin so it can join up with the Compostela 1 junction. In order to connect them a fork needs to be built; construction crews are waiting for the rainy season to end so they can quickly get to work.

If the weather doesn’t cooperate, completion would be extended no later than the first semester of 2015.

In the future, the road will connect to the Guadalajara-Tepic highway, the Tepic bypass and, eventually, with the Tepic-San Blas highway, bringing the state’s beach destinations closer to the domestic tourist, which will no doubt boost tourism to the region.

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,

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Expats who wish to work in Mexico, you must be aware of the new Mexican Immigration rules Originally posted on: theyucatantimes.com

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f you own a business and want to hire foreigners or if you are a foreigner and wish to work in Mexico, it is important that you get familiar with the Mexican Immigration rules currently in force. Hiring foreigners in Mexico is totally legal under the Migration Act. Until 2012 the General Population Act (Ley General de Migración), offered the possibility of changing immigration status to foreign tourists who wanted to work in Mexico. Since November 2012, however, the new Immigration Law sets different rules for hiring foreigners in Mexico.

The following is an overview of the new immigration rules: 1.- Every employer who wants to hire a foreigner must request a “Constancia de Inscripción de Empleador” (Certificate of Employer Registration) before the National Migration Insitute.

2.- The employer, by himself or through his or her legal representative, must request a “Visa por Oferta de Empleo” (Visa for Job Offering), from the National Migration Institute.

This visa is totally independent from the foreigner’s required for traveling to Mexico. The visa for job offering must be granted by the National Migration Institute, but issued by the Consulate of Mexico abroad.

3.- If the contract period exceeds 180 days, the foreigner must apply for the exchange of the FMM form provided on arrival to Mexico, for a “Temporary Resident Card“, within 30 calendar days of entry into Mexico. This procedure can be handled at any office of delegation of the National Migration Institute in the state where he or she has established residence.

A visa is not required for a job offer in the following cases: a) For business people who are not employed directly by a company incorporated in Mexico and who travel to Mexico to attend work meetings, perform supervisory duties on behalf of a foreign company, or provide technical services under agreements to transfer technology or train staff on behalf of a foreign company. (In such cases the arrival to Mexico from abroad is documented with the FMM form, which will be marked by the immigration authorities as visitor status without permission to perform gainful activity, designating the option “business” as purpose of stay). b) For a temporary visitor, there is a maximum stay of 180 days. Business people may enter Mexico without a visa if there is no visa requirement for their nationality. If a visa is required, it must be requested at any Consulate of Mexico abroad.

For information on immigration procedures and a list of the countries that require visa to enter Mexico, please refer to the page: www.inm.gob.mx

jewelry, excellent restaurants, spas, theaters and more.

Vibrant and friendly, this area offers an excellent day or two (or more!) of exploring. Close to Los Muertos beach, consider ending your day with a sunset margarita at any of the many beachfront restaurants.

Sunsets on the Malecon Sitting on the edge of the Pacific Ocean never fails to give us a sunset each night. Grab a seat at any of the number of excellent bars and restaurants along the malecon, order your favourite cocktail and let it all slip away.

Once the sun has set, the

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Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

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Mexico’s lower house passes final package of bills for energy overhaul

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Mexico will have first bullet train in Latin America

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he high-speed Mexico City-Querétaro train, which will cover the 130-mile route at a speed of 186 mph, will be the first of its kind in Latin America, the Communications and Transportation Secretariat said.

The train will carry 23,000 passengers per day “safely, quickly, comfortably and in an environmentally friendly way,” the secretariat said in a statement.

The high-speed rail line will benefit more than 25 million people economically and create 60,000 jobs during the construction phase, the secretariat said.

The train will offer service between Mexico City’s Buenavista station and downtown Querétaro, the capital of the like-named state, covering the distance in two hours.

The bidding rules for the project were published on July 25, the secretariat said, adding that the high-speed train would be part of an integrated transportation system designed to link the capital with the Bajio region in central Mexico. The winning bidder will

be required to sign a joint public works contract covering the design, construction, supply and operations of the project, the secretariat said.

The official international call for bids will take place on Aug. 15 and will be open to all firms interested in constructing the system.

Work is expected to start this year on the high-speed rail line, with the system projected to start operating in December 2017, the secretariat said.

The government privatized Mexico’s railroads in 1997, but the focus has been on freight service, leading to the virtual disappearance of passenger service on a 22,000-kilometer (13,670-mile) rail network.

Two passenger trains - the Tequila Express in Jalisco and El Chepe on the Chihuahua City-Los Mochis route - currently operate in Mexico, catering mainly to tourists.

A steam locomotive in Morelos state offers rides around the city of Cuautla.

Source: latino.foxnews.com

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

exico’s lower house concluded early Saturday the process of debating and approving the secondary legislation needed to implement last year’s energy overhaul, which opens the oil sector to private investment.

The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Jose Gonzalez Morfin, brought a close to the session that began Monday and lasted nearly 74 hours. The lawmakers passed nine new bills and modified numerous other measures that will regulate all aspects of the energy sector.

Early Saturday, the legislators passed the final two packages of bills, which establish a new fiscal regime for the hydrocarbons sector and a stabilization and development fund. They now go to the Senate but could return to the Chamber of Deputies if modified since those measures originated in the lower house.

The so-called Hydrocarbon Revenues Law contains, among

other things, sections pertaining to fees and royalties to be paid to the government for the performance of exploration and production of hydrocarbons.

Meanwhile, the so-called Law of the Mexican Oil Fund for Stabilization and Development envisions the establishment of a trust to receive, administer and distribute revenues deriving from the assignations and contracts for hydrocarbon exploration and production.

One key bill approved Saturday was a measure allowing the federal government to assume a portion of the pension liabilities of state-owned oil giant Petroleos Mexicanos and state-owned electricity provider CFE, which amount to some 1.6 trillion pesos ($121.3 billion), with a view to enabling those companies to compete with private-sector rivals.

Last year’s energy overhaul, which modified three articles of Mexico’s constitution and was promulgated on Dec. 20, 2013, after being ratified by 24 of the coun-

try’s 31 state legislatures, ended Pemex’s decades-old monopoly over the oil sector.

Mexico’s crude production has fallen by nearly a quarter from a high of 3.3 million barrels per day in 2004 due to a sharp drop in output at offshore Cantarell, formerly Mexico’s most productive field, and a lack of investment.

The historic energy overhaul, enacted last year, is aimed at reversing that decline by allowing private companies to develop crude reserves for the first time since 1938.

Supporters of the overhaul argued that the participation of major multinational energy companies under profit- and production-sharing contracts and licenses is needed to develop promising deep-water reserves in the Gulf of Mexico.

The secondary legislation has been debated by the Mexican Congress in an extraordinary session that began on July 17.

Sourse: EFE

Mexico City and six of Mexico’s 32 states have now banned circus animals

M

exico’s “circus wars” are heating up, with a growing movement to ban circus animals meeting rising anger from circus workers.

There have been messages posted on social networking sites urging people to attack circuses, Armando Cedeño, the head of the nation’s circus owners association, said at a demonstration by circus performers in Downtown Mexico City on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014.

“We have a lot of threats on Facebook, with environmentalists urging people to go burn down circuses, which is very worrisome,” Cedeño said as he oversaw a protest in Mexico City’s main square at which circus entertainers put on a free show with horses and dogs — the only animals they will be allowed to use under a new city law banning acts with lions, tigers, elephants

and other “wild” animals. There have been mutual accusations of illegal acts, including a giraffe set loose to gallop through a suburb of the northern city of Monterrey.

Video posted on social media sites showed surprised motorists making quick maneuvers to avoid the galloping giraffe outside the circus grounds, and the Barley Circus accused animal rights activists of opening the pen so the giraffe could escape.

Barley Circus spokesman Isaac Vertiz said: “The giraffe is always let outside in the morning, and the keeper went back inside for a moment to get food” for the giraffe. “In the meantime, within five minutes, somebody went in and opened the pen and let her out.”

Vertiz said someone also spraypainted circus trailers and tried to break into circus vehicles. He said

he suspects animal rights activists but conceded he has no proof.

Animal rights activists say they are fighting the kind of abuses that came to light in March when environmental inspectors raided a small, provincial circus in the southern state of Yucatan and seized a black bear that had its lower jaw and upper teeth largely ripped out or cut off, apparently to keep it from biting.

On the other side, circus people say they are closely regulated and inspected, and they feel the Mexico City ban passed in June unfairly singles them out.

Mexico City and six of Mexico’s 32 states have now banned circus animals. The circus-animal ban does not apply to shows with dolphins or bullfighting nor does it prohibit the use of animals in Mexico’s traditional rodeos.

Source: Miami Herald

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

ECONOMICS 07

Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

www.vallartatribune.com

Mexico, quietly positioned itself as a Major Economic Force in the Long Term

by Daniel Broderick

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exico’s increasing purchasing power, as well as key reforms passed by recently elected President Enrique Peña Nieto, have contributed to what economic experts at HSBC say may become the world’s eighth-biggest economy by 2050.

While it hasn’t received the recent media attention of other emerging economies like Brazil or India, Mexico has quietly positioned itself to be a major economic force in the long term.

Manufacturing

One of the primary drivers of Mexico’s recent growth comes from the manufacturing sector. Merchandise goods rose three percent in 2013, a modest but encouraging gain, and one that is expected to improve over the remainder of 2014. Global economic recovery is expected to help Mexico continue its own improvement, especially in the appliances industry, which is expected to grow significantly in the near future.

The Boston Consulting Groupexpressed substantial confidence in Mexico’s manufacturing, noting that manufacturing could add between $20 billion and $60 billion to Mexico’s economy through 2018.

Internationalization

Manufacturing has indeed picked up, due in large part to foreign companies setting up shop in Mexico. Much of the recent investment in Mexico’s manufacturing sector comes as a result of China’s rising wages, which have made many companies looking elsewhere for manufacturing options. China’s share of the American import market has also declined, and Mexico has rushed to claim it; their trade with the United States has grown to over $500 billion annually, a percent increase since 2010.

In October 2013 Chrysler announced they were investing $1.3 billion to open plants in Mexico, and Audi has also invested over $1 billion to build

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

their luxury cars in San José Chiapa. Lower labor and energy costs and a business-friendly government have made Mexico an increasingly attractive place for outside businesses looking to restructure their production.

Exports

Mexico’s exportation market is growing, as well, driven largely by growing fields within the country.

Information Communication Technology alone is expected to account for 13 percent of the increase in exports from 2017 to 2020. Likewise, increased spending in the country’s Research and Development sector will allow Mexico to service a broader international market.

The United States and Canada are likely to remain two of the largest export destinations for the foreseeable future, but Chinese demand is increasing. China is expected to be Mexico’s second largest export market by 2030.

Mexico has also benefitted substantially from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Though it took time and patience to see NAFTA’s effects, Mexico now exports about $1 billion worth of goods per day, which is more than ten times what they were when the NAFTA was implemented in 1994.

And NAFTA is hardly Mexico’s only free trade agreement. In fact, Mexico has 44 such agreements, more than both the United States and China combined.

Diversification

In September 2012, Banco Santander ’s Mexican unit, Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico (SANMEXB) had Mexico’s largest IPO to date, totaling $4.3 billion— and public offerings have been announced at a breakneck pace ever since.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s private equity sector has grown 50 percent since 2000, totaling $14.6 billion in 2012. Mexico’s stock market isn’t currently as robust as those in some emerging markets, but that may change in the near future.

Mexico’s forays into diversification has only solidified its status as a growing economic power, particularly with its pension funds. New demand for pension funds has played a key role in Mexico’s surging stock market, and the flurry of IPOs announced last fall was prompted largely by pension funds that are growing more confident about buying individual stocks.

These pension funds have experienced a surge since regulators under Peña Nieto’s leadership first allowed them to invest in Mexico IPOs last year. Mexico has 12 funds—known as Afores— that combine nearly $150 billion in assets. Last fall, pension fund regulator Consar gave the Afores permission to invest in infrastructure and real estate trusts in the U.S., presenting more options to help Mexico diversify.

Bonds are also contributing to Mexico’s increasingly diversified economy. In February, Moody’s granted Mexico its first-ever A3 rating for its government bonds,

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.

Stock Market

an expression of confidence the market has in Mexico’s reforms.

Mexico responded by offering their first 100-year bonds in British pounds in March, raising $1.66 billion in the process.

President Peña Nieto has also introduced changes that eliminate state monopolies and quasi-monopolies, a move that may present new investment options in the coming years. If these changes are successful, Mexico’s bond market may continue to grow.

Credit

Credit and banking is admittedly a weak spot in Mexico. Millions of Mexican citizens operate outside the banking system, without savings accounts or debit cards.

Mexico also has one of the lowest rates of commercial lending in Latin America, which has discouraged entrepreneurship and stunted its economic growth. But things could be looking up.

Last November, Mexico’s Congress approved the reform of 34 financial and banking laws in an attempt to strengthen banking

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

regulations, enhance competition, and hopefully court many of Mexico’s underbanked citizens.

Under these changes, banks will have better power to collect unpaid debt, a move designed to increase overall lending confidence.

As a result, businesses looking for financing will find more options than before.

Time will tell how the new laws will impact Mexico’s banking, but a stronger credit industry certainly has the potential to stimulate consumer spending and market growth.

These factors have driven Mexico’s push into the economic big leagues. How they will perform in the near future remains to be seen, but they’ve already succeeded in putting Mexico’s economy on a solid footing for the years to come.

Daniel Broderick is a freelancer who writes about current events, global markets, art and media. He lives in New York City.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/

local 08

Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

Paradise and Parenting

www.vallartatribune.com

A good storm

By Terry Connell

Leza Warkentin

Culture Shock, In Reverse

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everse Culture Shock” or “Re-Entry” is a term used to describe the cultural crisis and psychological distress that may or may not occur when an individual returns to the home culture and country after living for a prolonged period of time abroad in a foreign culture and country. – Camilla Dessing, Ezine Articles.

While traveling in Canada with the kids for the past two weeks, I began to realize that I might be in some type of cultural crisis. I went to the local President’s Choice Superstore for chocolate milk and bread and came back with a Lip Smacker Variety Pack (Dr. Pepper flavor? Yes, please!), “chiken” soy nuggets, and Macintosh apples, the discovery of which had me weeping in the produce section and asking concerned strangers if BC Macs still taste as good as they did when I was a kid.

Our family doesn’t go to Canada every year, and so I experience this sense of dissonance every time we visit.

The last time I was on Canadian soil was two years ago, so I knew I’d have to spend the first two weeks of a four week visit getting lost in my own home city and learning how to pump my own gas again.

I actually had some type of mini-breakdown when I attempted (and failed) to use my Mexican bank card at the pumping station and the fuel tank began shouting instructions at me in a surprisingly adolescent voice.

The kid behind the register actually snickered when I went in, defeated, to pay cash.

I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me that the microphones and speakers also come with hidden cameras. There are so many things to get used to, and not much time to do it. For example: 1)I seem to be expected to use my turn signal in a consistent manner when driving.

2) Understand that you will discuss the weather for at least 10 minutes with every person you see, no matter how long it’s been since they’ve last seen you.

3) If you don’t wear mosquito spray when you go out, don’t go crying to anyone.

4) When we say dinner is at 6pm, it really means 6pm, or better yet, 5:54.

5) And it isn’t actually dinner.

It is supper. Dinner is a Sunday lunch. At 11:54am.

6) There are delicious, buttery baked goods readily available at all times. My digestive system is not currently set up to deal with this sort of carb overload. And yet I am unable to stop at only one butter tart.

7) There is a lot of emphasis on range of choice rather than simply quantity. In Mexico you may have an entire aisle devoted to cooking oil, but there are approximately three brands to choose from. Here I found myself trying to choose between so many brands, types, and claims that I nearly put our family on a raw food diet to avoid the trouble.

And yet. Yesterday we went to a free splash park and I watched my children discover the wonders of jumping through a sprinkler and playing on massive, state of the art play structures, something virtually unknown to them in Puerto Vallarta.

All the other children around us were just as excited as mine, but were on average about 4 years younger. I realized then that the upside to this whole reverse culture shock deal is that we get to rediscover another country every two years. And it’s all just like new again.

Besides, there will be plenty of time for a detox in two more weeks. Until then, pass the butter tarts. I’ll take mine with a slice of blueberry pie.

F

rom my balcony, I could see heavy, gray clouds hanging low on the mountains.

The air was thick with moisture, and the wind was picking up, but it wasn’t until I heard the deep rumble of thunder in the distance that I jumped into action. Calling my dog, I grabbed her leash and hustled us out the door before it started raining.

Twenty minutes later, I was back on the balcony with a fresh cup of coffee, my book, and my dog at my feet, ready for a good storm. And it was a good one – for more than an hour, rain poured down in buckets as quick flashes of lightening split the

air, quickly followed by ground shaking thunder.

For a while, I tried to read, but eventually gave up, letting my eyes settle on the river rolling and splashing three floors below. It was a perfect morning…..until I noticed a white bottle of laundry detergent floating downstream, bobbing up and down, bouncing around the rocks.

Then I saw a lone sneaker, quickly followed by a water bottle, another detergent bottle…

The next morning I was at the mouth of the river with my dog – and a large trash bag, picking up the garbage flushed out by the storm and all I could think of

Banderas Bay Butterfies

is that line from The Graduate, “I want to say one word to you, just one word….Plastics.” With every water bottle, shopping bag, and straw I pick up, I heard those words bouncing around in my brain. Almost fifty years later, that quote isn’t just a prediction, it’s become a curse.

There are so many threads to the conversation about the environment that it’s easy to get tangled in the who to blame/who should be cleaning up loop. I get caught in it all the time. My mind spins a negative story with every empty liquor bottle I find or when I stuff another dirty diaper in the garbage bag.

But here’s the thing: my thoughts don’t change what I see in front of me; a trash covered beach that needs to be cleaned up.

For the record, I’ve also found broken umbrellas, countless beer bottles and cans, all kinds of take-out containers and a surprising number of shoes. I’ve rolled five or six car tires off the beach in the last year and even found a tube of fluorescent lighting – completely intact; probably washed ashore from a cruise ship.

I sat down to write about the guilty pleasure of a cup of coffee and a good storm. It’s one of the best parts of living here in low season.

I plan to be on my balcony enjoying as many as possible this season. You will also find me at the mouth of the river after the storm, trying to ignore my thoughts as I pick up the endless supply of plastic bottles and other garbage flushed out by the rains.

by Moralea Milne

CRACKERS (Hamadryas species)

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here are about ten species of the Hamadryas genus in Mexico, which are also known as Crackers or Calico butterflies. They are medium-sized (about 3” or 7-8cm) butterflies, which have the remarkable ability to produce sounds. Both males and females can create a crackling noise, thought to be a part of their territorial and/ or mating strategy, by rubbing together certain veins in their wings. This produces a series of two clicks, about half a second long. A patrolling male or interested female can pick up these sounds through a membrane in their wings.

Crackers spend much of their time perching, head down (the original version of yoga’s downward dog?),

on tree trunks on which their own cryptic colouration acts as camouflage. You have to be quick of eye to catch a glimpse of the topside of their wings! Apparently, at dusk, the adults will gather on a single tree and then disperse to roost in nearby trees and shrubs.

The Glaucous (Hamadryas glauconome) and Grey (Hamadryas februa) Crackers are difficult to tell apart and I am not at all sure I have identified these species correctly.

The females of both species of Cracker lay their eggs on plants within the Euphorbia family, especially on Dalechampia and according to some sources, the caterpillar is likely black and spiny with a red head.

Crackers do not nectar on flowers,

instead gaining sustenance from rotting fruit, sap from leguminous trees, and animal dung.

This photo is from Puerto Escondido but the Grey Cracker (and possibly the Glaucous) is also known from Puerto Vallarta.

LOCAL 09

Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

Perceptions

of Art

By Marcia Blondin marciavallarta@gmail.com

W

hat does the word “dreamy” do to you when you hear it? Granted it isn’t a word bandied about much this century but we (meaning my parents...) used to use it last century to describe people like Elvis or Bobby Darin or even Frank Sinatra the odd time. Men who sang seemingly by themselves in a room, a sweet love song and even Robert Plant with Stairway. Heart and soul create the tune and it creeps into the microphone and into your very skin.

All I can do is sigh because for that moment nothing else is possible. I have heard Jose Maria sing at least 20 different times in different venues under various amounts of pressure Voice of Vallarta, for example. Tons of pressure but that dreamy quality was there during Voice and he has refined it and made it his own. Why there is an empty seat in the Red Room Friday nights at 8 when Jose Maria walks onto that stage, is a mystery to me. He sings mostly in Spanish but seriously it could be Italian or Arabic - there are three languages I don’t speak - and it doesn’t matter, it’s his voice not the words. I was miserable when he was eliminated from Voice and it still pisses me off but I will not miss one night he is on stage anywhere, so for now catch him every Friday for Ladies Night at 8 p.m. No cover and half-priced drinks for all ladies in attendance. Next week I will discuss the dancing....Ay, ay, ay....

Danny Minnini built Act II a year ago with his partners. Besides the piano bar, Encore, there are two stages - the big Main Stage and the intimate one in the Red Room. He’s announced every show in all venues but last Wednesday he announced that he would be acting in Whose Line is it Anyway?! OMG, he was sick with flu, completely unrehearsed and funny as hell! Having not done Improv since college, as he told us; we weren’t expecting an Oscar winning performance.

Hah! The whole gang of WLiiA was on target and Danny nailed it! We had so much fun - and from the sparkle in his gorgeous blue eyes he was having just as much fun as we were. (Maybe it was fever.)

He will be back on the Red Room

Stage sooner rather than later: the audience demands it! I caught the free Sunday concert last week on the Main Stage. The theatre was packed with families and kids. Everyone enjoying the arctic air and the terrific show onstage. I was the only Anglo in a full theatre for a free performance in an ice cold room for an hour and a half. What is up with that? This show proved to me - again - the importance of having live theatre in Vallarta. Act II has given back more to this community in less than a year than any other group I can think of. From a junior mariachi band (called Alas de Vallarta Mariachi) to a young man doing rope tricks that were astounding, a funny skit by an old man I understood enough of to laugh in the right places. Gorgeous dances from Oaxaca, Chiapas and - this was hilarious - a visit by the late great Maria Felix! It was like being at a high school musical in rural Idaho mixed with a rodeo and a folkloric dance Fest where every senorita was beautiful and every young man handsome and a bit shy. In a nutshell an hour and a half performance contained all the reasons I have lived in Mexico for more than 20 years. I remembered my first ‘everythings-I-did-in-this-country’ with such joy. Thank you Act II for being the showcase for so much magical culture. The Serendipity Cafe begins its return engagement this week - go and see it. I understand some changes have been made and it is now better. Hmmm, that means I have to go see it again.

Okay! Ending this on a serious and important note: please mark Friday, August 15th on your calendars. The girls who live at Corazon de Niñas need our help so Act II is planning a fund raiser that may well take the roof right off the building! Everybody who is anybody in Vallarta will be there on stage and in the audience, providing an incredible show. Starts off at 6 pm with hors d’oeuvres and shots in the Red Room with the entertainment starting at 8 on the Main Stage. All the artists are performing for free so get your tickets fast and lets all help these at-risk young women remain safe and sound in their own home. Please come.

www.vallartatribune.com

Banderas Bay Initiative

By Minerva Zamora minerva@fundacionpuntademita.org

The Tragedy of the commons

W

hen I was little, I loved going to birthday parties, the cake, the games, the magician, and of course the piñata! What seemed to be like hundreds of pieces of yummy goodness falling to the ground, just waiting to be picked up by our tiny hands. Everyone had their strategy to get as much benefit as possible: The larger kids jumped to the center of the candy pile, unafraid to all pile up on each other, others focused on getting their favorite candy, and many of the girls (including myself) used their party dresses to pull in and protect their candy from prying hands.

What usually ended up happening was that, by the end of it, all the candy was gone, and there was more than one crying kid because they did not get as much candy as the others.

Although it is not a perfect metaphor, reflecting back on these piñata frenzies from many years ago makes me think about how we all try to maximize our own personal gain and perhaps why it is sometimes so hard to manage our natural resources.

In ecology and economics, there is a concept called the Tragedy of the Commons.

The basic premise of it is that in a commonly owned resource, stakeholders will try to take as much as possible, as fast as possible, even if it means the resource will collapse, because they gain a direct benefit of how much they utilize the resource, but only share a fraction of the cost of the degraded system.

For example, lets go back to the piñata but pretend that it is filled with a magic type of candy which will duplicate itself in the next hour if it is left on the floor instead of picked up by a child.

The best strategy would be for each kid to pick up only one or two pieces to eat during that first hour, allow the rest to duplicate, and continue to do this

through the afternoon, all of them getting tummy aches by the end of the night by the huge amount of candy they have gathered.

However, there is bound to be that one greedy kid who takes 5, then the 3 other children, who, in the name of justice, will want to match that kid’s 5. Everyone is watching, and it suddenly dawns on them that there is nothing stopping these 4 children from picking up all the leftover candy on the floor, and if they do not pick it up, someone else will, none of it will duplicate for the next round, and they will be left the “losers” of the piñata. Pandemonium breaks

out, and in the end, there is no candy left on the floor, each kid only getting 5 pieces each, and the fun being over in the first hour.

There is a lot of arguments on what the best strategy is to prevent the Tragedy of the Commons in Ecology. Is it private ownership, communal ownership or government ownership? I think there is a lot of room for debate on that; however I don’t think any of those approaches will work until we change our collective consciousness on resource management and the collective good. So go out and share your piñata candy!

Breakfast for Corazon de Niña David J. Rohde

M

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.

Charming tranquility in the mountains San Sebastian del Oeste, Jalisco

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his magical town was officially recognized as a Pueblo Magico in 2012.

Originally settled in 1605, this secluded 17th century mining town reached its peak of prosperity in the 1700s, when over 30,000 people inhabited the area.

Over the years, the town’s population fluctuated wildly as gold and silver were mined intermittently between the 1600’s and the 1930’s.

A historic town with a rich past, this once booming mining town was the second city in Mexico to get electricity. Although those gold rush years are long gone and settlers have since moved on, this beautiful mountain village of just 600 residents has kept its true colonial heritage.

A shining example of an ancient Mexican village and well known for its corn and cattle trade, San Sebastian is now cultivating coffee and agave in its lush mountainsides. It was also home to Hollywood celebrities and today is a haven for Guadalajarans and Puerto Vallartans looking for tranquil nature and a respite from the summer heat.

The white and red buildings, cobblestone roads, stone bridges and stunning mountain vistas transport visitors to a time before iphones and flatscreen tv’s. But don’t worry, there is wifi in the town plaza and at most of the restaurants and hotels.

The town continues to grow with the inauguration of the new business association. There are approximately ten hotels and twenty restaurants. Freshly prepared meals made from local ingredients, flaky pastries from the Italian bakery and warm, rich

cups of coffee will give you the energy to spend the day exploring the town and surrounding hills and a couple raicillas will mellow you out after a long day.

How to Get There From Puerto Vallarta take Highway 70 north past the airport.

Watch for signs but as long as you stay straight you can’t get lost.

The trip takes about an hour and a half. It’s 60kms of often single lane highway that winds through the farmland of the Ameca Valley, through the jungles, to the sierras of pine and oak forests at about 1,500 meters above sea level.

The air can be a little thin but it’s humidity free which is a blessing in the summer heat.

Enjoy the culinary tradition of this destination, offering treats such as huitlacoche stewed with onions and spices, or mixed platters that include a stuffed chili pepper, gordita, machaca and nance flavoured aguas frescas.

And you can’t ignore the “chocorraiz”, a chocolate drink with “Raicilla” (a local moonshine) and, for desert, enjoy peaches with rompope and cinnamon.

Above all, take advantage of nature’s generosity, offering guavas, lemons, plantains, oranges, peaches, arrayan and “faisan” berries.

To truly enjoy the local fruits visit now.

Restaurant Los Arrayanes

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converted home, the restaurant Los Arrayanes is like walking back in the past. Adorned with many unique antiques, this interior dining room offers guests a chance to experience life as it was many years ago in San Sebastian del Oeste.

A large space with room for 60 people, the restaurant also has an outside covered garden area where you can enjoy many wonderful traditional dishes.

Their most popular dish is the Los Arrayanes platter that has a sampling of all their favourites including arrechera (grilled steak), quesadillas, chile relleno and dorito tacos along with rice and beans.

You can find the restaurant at 16 Calle Lerdo de Tejada just behind the monument to the miners.

The restaurant is only open on the weekends from Friday to Sunday from 9:00am to 8:00pm

High in the mountains, only one hour from Puerto Vallarta, San Sebastiรกn offers a different experience.

Cool mountain air, tranquil nature and historical charm await you.

Lรณpez Mateos Nยบ 15, downtown San Sebastiรกn del Oeste, Jalisco Tel. (322) 297 2854 losarcosdelsol@gmail.com www.losarcosdelsol.com

New Market in town

W

hile the Paradise Community Center is undergoing its beautification program, a few of us vendors from the Saturday Market wandered across the street to Coco’s Kitchen and asked if we could set up shop - so to speak - in the back of her restaurant.

The cool, shady garden at Pulpito 122, is a great place for a market!

We didn’t even need a fan it was so overgrown and lovely! We had incredible breads: I sampled one apple strudel...it should have been two! Also a loaf of delicious sourdough bread. That disappeared immediately after the strudel; I am blaming my cats.

Lightweight dresses/tops - made by hand; the brightly patterned fabrics were pulling people in off Pulpito street - the style great for sticky summers anywhere.

We had tiny little bikinis (so cute with teeny hearts), full bathing suits and cover-ups on display.

Custom fit exactly how you want so come and see our great seamstress with some time to spend getting proper measurements and just the right color fabric.

Some fine jewelry pieces happened to catch the eye of a young Mexican visitor from D.F. who wanted to buy something for a very special person in his life.... himself; he was smiling ear to ear when he left admiring his bracelet.

The famous Vallarta cooling ties debuted at New Market along with very neat cotton aprons with often outrageous designs and the tee-shirts that can make the aprons look tame. Lots of fun skeletons,Katrinas and Fridas and darling turtles!. And new clay masks discovered outside of Guadalajara. Three different

sizes all extraordinarily covered with recycled bits of jewelry. Any one of them will add dimension and pizzazz to your home or office. Exquisite pieces.

There were silk saris and shawls, beeswax votive candles, vintage silk necklaces, charm(ed) bracelets and lots of earrings.

I was happy to see that almost everyone who came to our New Market stayed for breakfast or lunch; the food, from all reports, was excellent.

Next week we anticipate the addition of hand painted clothing with matching jewelry and smoking good meats and cheeses to take home.

Also a mock-up of tile-workin-progress at Elizabeth Taylor’s former house.

New Market will feature luxurious soaps and creams and potions to make everyone smell terrific, look good and be soft and touchable.

From all of us at New Market - thanks go out to everyone who attended our inaugural day and to Coco: you and your staff were absolutely terrific, thank you for your hospitality and graciousness for allowing us to continue in your beautiful restaurant for the balance of the summer.

See everyone next Saturday at 9 am. And like us on Facebook, please!

CUISINE AND CULTURE 14

Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

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5 cooking tools every Latin kitchen must have

W

hen trying to recreate your grandmother’s recipes, recalling the ingredients is only half the battle.

Along side the avocados and limes for guacamole, there was always a lime squeezer. Along side the chopped garlic for the mojo de ajo, there was always the pilon.

Now that we can look things up so easily online, it can be difficult to remember that part of the success of the recipes was the tools used.

Though you might have taken the molcajete for granted, there are certain tools that were invented to add additional flavor and thought into every dish. And though while it’s often tempting to take the short road with the microwave, automatic juicer, or worse yet, the pre-made, everyone knows tortillas straight from the press taste best.

Here, 5 essential tools for any Latin kitchen.

Mortar and Pestle

Piedra, pilon, mortero, molcajete: These are just some of the terms used to describe regional varieties of mortar and pestles.

Because many of the rural regions of Latin America have no electricity, generations of families have grown up using a low-tech stone or wood mortar to grind spices, herbs, coffee, or any food that needs to be processed before consuming and they’re still widely used today.

Latin American home cooks and professional chefs pride themselves on the rustic texture of their sauces that are crafted by hand in a mortar. For those looking for true Latin American authenticity, using a mortar and pestle is a must.

Clay Cookware

Although not as durable as metal cookware, clay cookware is very popular throughout Latin America and Spain. Inexpensive, with regional differences, many cooks and chefs prefer a batch offrijoles or caldo made in clay cookware. Some claim that they can taste the flavor of su tierra that the clay imparts to the dish. Metal works as a conductor of heat,

which can cook food too rapidly and harshly. But clay is a natural insulator, which retains and builds heat slowly. Clay cookware bathes the food, instead of boiling it. Think of it as a relaxing spa treatment for your frijoles: wouldn’t you taste better too?

Tortilla Press

Back in Ancient Mexico, corn masa (dough) was ground by hand and was then patted into thin cakes before being placed on the hot griddle. Many women’s entire lives were dedicated to making masa and tortillas every day.

Thankfully, with the invention of instant corn tortilla mix, the hand grinding of corn is a thing of the past, and corn tortilla presses allow us to whip up a batch of tortillas in a jiffy. And just remember, only corn tortillas require a tortilla press. Flour tortillas are rolled out using a rolling pin.

Blender

Times have changed and any modern cook needs a blender in their kitchen. Freshly made sauces, purées, and beverages are core signature elements of the Latin American culinary profile, all of which rely on the convenience of an electric blender. From piña coladas to pipian, smooth gazpachos and sofritos, salsas and chimmichuris, chefs across Spain and Latin America all need an electric blender to complete their batería de cocina. And we love those new-fangled immersion blenders: easy clean up, inexpensive, and minimal storage space required.

Lime Squeezer

So many Latin dishes demand the tang of freshly squeezed lime juice that it makes sense to have a lime squeezer in your tool drawer.

Ceviche, mojitos, and fish tacos are hardly worth the trouble of ordering if there’s no lime juice available. Like a laser beam, lime squeezers deliver the juice right to the spot where it is needed, without the mess and misfires that happen when you squeeze a wedge by hand. Save your pretty eyes for flirting.

Source: The Latin Kitchen

Latin Sides

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asty Mexican inspired summer BBQ friendly dishes. Easy to make and enjoy with ingredients you can actually find at your local tiendas.

Roasted Corn Potato Salad This Roasted Corn Potato Salad is one sure-fire way to spice up your table. Grilled corn and potatoes gives this much loved summer recipe a tasty new texture.

1 ½ pounds red potatoes 2 tablespoons Olive Oil 3 ear corn, husked 1 bunch green onions, chopped ½ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup Sour Cream 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar ¼ cup freshly chopped cilantro kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Step 1 Preheat the grill to medium heat. Toss the potatoes with 1 tablespoon of the oil, season with salt and arrange in one layer on the grill.

Step 2 Grill, turning frequently, until browned and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl, allow to cool and slice.

Step 3 Rub the corn with the remaining oil, season with salt and grill, until the corn is lightly golden on all sides, 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 4 With a sharp knife cut the corn kernels off the cob and add to the bowl with the potatoes along with green onions.

Step 5 In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream and vinegar. Season to taste. Add the mayonnaise mixture to bowl with potatoes salad and toss gently.

Step 6 Taste and add a bit more salt if it needs it. Add cilantro, refrigerate until ready to serve.

Tomato Salad with Cotija Cheese, Olives, and Mint Fast and refreshing, this no muss, no fuss Tomato Salad with Cotija and Mint is a great way to unwind during your lunch hour.

2 pounds tomatoes at room temperature, preferably organic and farm-sourced 2-3 tablespoons high-quality extra virgin olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup tangy and crumbly cheese like Cotija or Feta 2 tablespoons mint, finely minced 1 handful kalamata olives

Step 1 Wash tomatoes well and core out stem. Cut each tomato into 4 thick slices and arrange on a plate.

Drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle salt evenly over tomatoes.

Step 2 Sprinkle cheese, mint and olives next, finishing with a little more salt and pepper is desired.

Serve immediately.

Elotes Wonderful on its own, boiled or steamed, with butter, fresh herbs, and salt, you can always keep your market haul simple.

On the other hand, elotes - grilled corn covered in crema or mayonnaise and crumbly cheese then sprinkled with hot chili and a squirt of lime – make a good case for complicating it.

4 ear corn, silks removed but the husks left on 1 cup crema Mexicana, créme fraîche, or sour cream 1 cup crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese ¼ cu cilantro, leaves and stems, finely chopped *chili powder, to taste Step 1 Soak corn, in husk, in cold water for 15 minutes. Preheat the grill to medium.

Step 2 Drain the corn.

To create a handle for the corn, pull back the dark outer husks of the corn and tie together at the bottom with kitchen string.

Leave the soft interior leaves on the corn and and place on the grill.

Step 3 Cook until the leaves are lightly charred and the corn is steamed through, turning frequently, about 20-30 minutes.

Remove from grill.

Pull back leaves and brush corn with cream and coat with cheese.

Sprinkle with cilantro, chili powder, and lime juice to taste.

Repeat with remaining corn.

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

Vallarta Shopping Directory News

Di vino dante

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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

TRAVEL 16

Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

Tlaquepaque

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laquepaque has grown from a small colonial village on the edge of Guadalajara into a trendy neighbourhood accessorized with chic arts and crafts boutiques, posh galleries and upscale restaurants. Visitors are mesmerized by the colonial streets, plazas and impressive doorways that quietly emanate a distinctly Mexican flair.

Your journey starts at the Jardin Hidalgo where the center of Mexican life—the church— rests with a bountiful rose garden.

Here you can buy cheap snacks and fun trinkets for friends back home. Travel down the Calle Independencia, a converted pedestrian only avenue replete with art galleries, shops and cafes. Step inside to view some of the most fabulous examples of Mexican art and craft the country has to offer including galleries of renowned sculpture Bustamante.

From traditional textiles to totally modern and unique furniture, the galleries are not for the flint.

Prices in Tlaquepaque reflect the high level of quality you can be assured of when shopping along the Gallery Row. Branch off into the side streets to find some artist direct pieces and prices.

There are many excellent, renowned restaurants to choose from. Converted haciendas, formerly palatial homes now serve some of Mexico’s most traditional cuisine.

The El Patio restaurant lures in diners with the promise of their all-female mariachi band while the traditional menu offers up savory Mexican treats. Crunchy chiliquilies and café Olla for breakfast or the strikingly proud Chile en Nogada for lunch with a fresh fruit water will send you on your way.

Stop by for a drink at the “El Parian”, which is famous for being the largest pub in Latin America.

The daily mariachi shows and live entertainment at this “cantina” will have you laughing with the locals. At the end of the day, breeze through the alleyways and listen to the sounds of the streets around you; every building in Tlaquepaque tells a story or two.

Where to stay:

Like a child at Christmas, the excitement of entering a new hotel never fails to thrill. Casa Armonia, with its tall ceilings, tasteful Mexican flair and smile inducing use of love and life as themes for each room, did not disappoint. With the afternoon sun shining through the centre

of this eight room boutique hotel, the pool was basked in a warm light, the rooms all beckoned with cozy comfort and Mexican textiles. Rooms on the main floor are cool and offer respite from the Mexican heat with their thick adobe walls.

Rooms on the second floor look down to the colourful pool and garden area while the wraparound patio with its comfortable loungers encourages settling down and diving back into your novel. Located just two blocks from the centre of Tlaquepaque,

this is a great spot to set down for a couple days while you explore. www.spacasaarmonia.com/

Things to do:

From August 12-16th you can enjoy the En-Art Expo in Tlaquepaque where local and international artists present their work. http://www.enart.com.mx/ International Mariachi Festival: August 28- September 8th takes place around the city but with special focus on the August 31st parade downtown and the Mariachi led mass on Sunday.

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TRAVEL 17

Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

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Culture, color and tradition combine each year to bring one of the most festive events of Mexico to the forefront in a gala celebration of Mexico’s flamboyant Mariachis...

Int’l Mariachi Festival in Guadalajara

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here are those that say the very spirit of Mexico’s rich culture runs hot in the veins of her Mariachis, those musical icons that serenade the boulevards, public squares and sidewalks of a nation with a brand and style of music that is both unique and legendary.

Like the bullfighter, the Mariachi is a symbol of nationalism and culture in Mexico, and there is great national pride in preserving the image of these singing heroes.

And there is no better place on earth to experience the sounds and colors of the Mariachi tradition than at the International Mariachi Festival of Guadalajara, staged every September (August 28-September 7, 2014), the largest celebration of Mariachi music in the world. The sights and sounds are simply unforgettable.

The ten day gala event features Catholic masses where Mariachis perform in the churches and cathedrals, numerous parades with hundreds of Mariachi floats and folk ballet artists are staged, rodeos are held, art exhibits are offered up on every corner, and most importantly, the world’s largest Mariachi competition is staged at the beautiful Benito Juarez Theatre.

Some 500 Mariachis in all perform at various concert halls and street markets throughout the city, coming from as far away as North and South America, Cuba, Spain, and even Croatia, demonstrating the popularity and passion of Mariachi music.

Fans can choose from dozens of different musical events during the gathering but many come for the unique opportunity of seeing the world’s finest professional ensembles from Mexico and the United States, “los Mariachis VIPS,” who entertain throughout the week as the event’s special guests.

Their evening performances, played to capacity crowds at the historic Degollado Theater, are high-spirited affairs showcasing stellar male and female bands in back-to-back and joint appearances, often with the lush accompaniment of Jalisco’s philharmonic orchestra.

Festival-goers can also view a display of Mariachi-inspired art at the Regional Museum and take in the activities at the downtown headquarters, the Cabanas Cultural Institute, site of numerous

workshops and featuring a marketplace for hand-crafted items designed for discerning Mariachi musicians and their cultural cousins, the “charros,” or cowboys of western Mexico.

HISTORY OF MARIACHI

Mariachi has evolved considerably since the Spanish arrived in Cocula in 1532. Traditional Mariachis got their inspiration from a time when peasant farmers entertained themselves after a hard days work of harvesting corn. It was not the preferred music of the hacienda owners who were influenced by European styles of music, but Mariachi was a music of the people; rustic and folksy, and the Mariachi music of today still holds many of the original elements, such as the famous Mexican grito (cry).

Traditional Mariachi originally featured three instruments, the violin, vihuela (a five string guitar) and a traditional six string guitar.

The groups that played them were typically quartets.

Later on, as the music grew in popularity, trumpets and basses were added as well as the elaborate and colorful costumes.

The Mariachis of yesteryear donned traditional workmen’s clothes - white pants and shirt and a straw hat, and traveled around looking for work.

Hacienda owners would hire them and the singing troubadours were paid more than the average laborer to entertain owners and guests at parties and social gatherings.

Their songs encompassed the very deep and passionate souls of the Mexican people, from love and politics to death and revolutionary

heroes, the Mariachis songs have always told the true stories of the Mexican people.

With the revolution of 1810, many of the haciendas were forced to let the Mariachis go.

With a new found independence from the Spanish aristocracy, they would wander from town to town singing songs of revolutionary heroes and enemies, carrying news from one place to another, often times the only source for information about the continuing struggles of the people of Mexico.

Since they could no longer earn their living playing in the rich haciendas, they turned to playing to a hungry public for whatever fee the locals could offer.

One of the hot beds for this type of public entertainment was San Pedro Tlaquepaque in the state of Jalisco, a fashionable place for the residents of Guadalajara to spend their summers.

Since the Mariachis were playing for a fee, they were forced to add new elements to their music and to expand their repertoire to include waltzes and polkas. This is when more instruments began to be added and the costumes became quite lavish.

The most prized of the Mariachis were still those from the state of Jalisco, particularly the areas of Cocula and Tecaltitlan.

So it is near the “birthplace of Mariachi,” in nearby Guadalajara, that has developed into the best place on earth to experience this extraordinary cultural icon.

Don’t miss The International Mariachi Festival, Aug. 28 - Sept 8 in Guadalajara.

Source: mexicolesstraveled.com

Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

REAL ESTATE 18

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Let’s Hear from You: First Person Expat Interviews

By Fabien Madesclaire Fabien@g3mex.com

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his week Marcella Castellanos—a California native, Health and Wellness Coach (certified by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition of New York), Spanish teacher and lover of salsa dance—generously offered to share her experience as an expat here in Puerto Vallarta.

and find an alternative solution. I discovered an amazing natural liver cleanse that restored my health. It’s similar to the one that I now offer in my health coaching services. I did more research and became convinced that we have the power to control our own health through the choices we make on a daily basis.

When did you first decide to move to Mexico?

It was several years ago, I was working in the real estate industry in Northern California, and the economy was in a slump.

An acquaintance of mine, a sculptor from the Bay Area, was looking for someone to manage and promote his rental property here in Vallarta, and I jumped at the chance. The project was only scheduled to last for 6 months to a year, but after being down here for a while, I found that I’d totally fallen in love with the Vallarta lifestyle.

I was able to recapture my Mexican heritage. I’d always had the desire to live in Mexico, as my mother and father are both from the Guadalajara area, so, in many ways it was like coming home. I thoroughly enjoyed the sense of community and personal interaction that I found down here. I really never experienced the same sort of thing in the United States.

What services do you offer as a Certified Holistic and Wellness Coach?

I work with baby-boomers on their diets and other aspects of their lives. Currently, I have a group participating in a 12-day detox program, helping them cleanse from the inside out. Former clients have experienced profound changes not just in their slimmer figures, but in their awareness about nutrition and their lifestyles.

Soon I’ll be launching a 28-day weight loss program: “Sexy, Slim and Smart”. The program will help people not only lose weight but recapture lost energy and vitality. I’m also planning to host workshops on different aspects of diet, health and personal growth that will enable clients to recapture vitality.

What did you do after managing the rental property?

I worked in different types of businesses and started my own community groups: Friends of the Animals, Be the Change and a Salsa Dancing Forum.

During this time, I periodically struggled with my own health issues and I met other people that had the similar challenges. I realized that one of the most important foundations of our own health is the food that we eat. Optimal health also encompasses the “whole” spectrum of what’s going on in our lives emotionally, spiritually and physically. It was at that point that I found my life’s purpose; helping people make pivotal, necessary changes to promote their own optimal health and wellbeing.

Have you always been interested in nutrition and health?

Yes. A number of years ago I suffered from extreme gall bladder attacks. Doctors told me that the only solution to the problem was surgery. I was torn between the doctor’s recommendation for surgery and my own desire to keep my gall bladder

Do you think that Puerto Vallarta is an optimal location for good health and nutrition?

Definitely. The environment is excellent. Being around nature, the sun and the water is very healing. Too, we have an abundance of native super foods, such as tropical fruits, avocados, seeds and legumes as well as fresh fish.

There are also many activities you can get involved in from yoga to salsa dancing.

The pace and friendly atmosphere here makes you feel happy, healthy and more connected with others.

What do you do on a daily basis to promote your own healthy lifestyle?

First thing in the morning I take my dog Mambo for a brisk walk or run on the Malecon and take in the sights and smells of the ocean nearby.

I do yoga-like stretches by the Rio Cuale and on the new pier. After that, I sit quietly or meditate for 5-10 minutes, depending on how much time I have.

This is really essential, as it helps quiet all of the mental chatter and give me a good start to my day. When I get home I drink my favorite smoothie, which consists of fruit, almond milk (which I make myself) and various seeds and cacao beans.

Generally speaking, my diet consists of whole fruits, vegetables, legumes and

some fish. I get lots of exercise and I tend to graze on natural whole foods throughout the day.

Do you recommend the same diets for your clients?

As a wellness coach I encourage biodiversity and the consumption of a lot of whole, locally sourced foods. I tailor diets to each individual client.

Where do you like to shop for groceries?

I shop at the local farmers markets, Fruteria Baca, Super Semillas y Cereales, Organic Select and Super Foods. Occasionally, I go to Costco, but I prefer to shop locally, and can easily find most everything that I need downtown.

Do you also live in the Centro area of Vallarta?

I live by the Iglesia Guadalupe. I like being downtown, since I don’t have a car, and everything is very convenient by foot.

Is it hard to live without a car here?

Being carless is very viable. I walk pretty much everywhere. Also the bus and taxi services here are very user friendly.

Do you plan to stay here in Mexico?

I love Mexico. Mexico has been a gift to me. It’s enabled and empowered me to have the perspective that I wouldn’t get otherwise. I can look at the life that I led before and be grateful for the sense of purpose and interconnectedness that I feel today.

For more information about the services that Marcella offers, you can go to her website at: marcellacastellanos.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 8 - 14, 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.

victims of domestic violence. www.compassionforthefamily.org

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

Bucerias Bilingual Community Center: Supporting families, seniors in Bucerias. www.buceriasbilingualcommunitycenter.org

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

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

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...TONY

For gorgeous looks, we can’t think of a cuter combination than a Cocker Spaniel and a longhaired Chihuahua. Tony is just 4 or 5 months old, weighing 7 kilos or 15.4 pounds. A kindly tourist discovered him living on the streets and contacted us, first taking Tony to the local veterinarian to have him checked out. We thank this angel and now just need to find Tony his fur-ever home. Please contact us at spcapv@ gmail.com.

Corazon de Nina A safe, loving, home-environment for 20+ girls rescued from high-risk situations. Donations & volunteers always welcome! Totally self-funded. www.corazondenina.mx abundancia@corazondenina.mx

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 Mexico Ministries & Mission, Inc. raises funds to the poor in Vallarta. Contact Fr. Jack+ 044 322 229-1129 christchurchbythesea.org Navy League - assists in the transportation of donated medical supplies from the U.S., organizes work groups to paint and repair facilities, and operates the local Toys for Tots program. www.vallartanavyleague.org.

New Life Mexico - Challenging Child Poverty with health and education programs. Philippa Vernon pvp@ newlifemexico.com Paraíso Felino AC Refuge and Adoption Centre for cats and kittens in the Bay of Banderas. Luis Donaldo Cel. (322) 120-4092 Pasitos de Luz - substitute home for low income children with any type of handicap, offers rehabilitation services and special support to their families. 299-4146. pasitosdeluz.org

PEACEAnimals - Free mobile spay/neuter clinic operating 48 weeks a year, primarily in Puerto Vallarta.

Tax-deductible. peaceanimals.org

Pro Biblioteca de Vallarta Raises funds for Los Mangos Public Library.

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

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

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

BRAIN TEASERS 20

Friday August 8 - 14, 2014

SUDOKU easy

www.vallartatribune.com

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

medium

hard

Number Blocks

Word Search

What’s a number block you ask?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commonym

Wuzzles

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

CLASSIFIEDS 21

Friday August 8 - 14, 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

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

PLACE YOUR AD HERE

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

Vallarta´s only English newspaper

ADVERTISE HERE FOR ONLY $ 250 PESOS / WK

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

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 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

TIZOC COMIDA MEXICANA

Authentic Mexican Food!

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

Olas Altas 474 , Romantic Zone Reservations 222 8382

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