Issue 913, October 3-9, 2014

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

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News peacekeeping missions

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October 3 - 9, 2014 Free Issue 913

Events

the opera is back

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Travel destination weddings

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Photo by Madeline Milne

welcome 02

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014 PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fernando Gonzalez Corona Director DAVID ROJO sjcbcs@yahoo.com.mx Director noemi zamora noemi_zamora_reynoso@hotmail.com Editor Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@Vallartatribune.com Editorial Board Marcia Blondin Raymond C. Beaty Lois Ellison John & Christie Forget Landon Hollander Nancy Van Landingham Robina Oliver Sales Team FERNANDO AYALA salestribune@outlook.com Rebeca Castellón rebeca.castellonn@gmail.com Designer Cynthia E. Andrade G. cisandra@vallartatribune.com cysandra@gmail.com Vallarta Tribune is an activity and entertainment guide and merely publishes information as it is provided by the advertiser or event host. We do not assume responsibility in errors or omissions other than to correct them as soon as they are made known to us regarding event schedules, locations and/or prices. In addition, we do not assume any responsibility for erroneous inclusion or exclusion of information except to take reasonable care to ensure accuracy, that permission has been obtained to use it, and to remove it as soon as is practical upon receiving your notification of error.

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

Welcome to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

ACOPIO … Looking for Furr-ever Homes

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uerto Vallarta’s ‘city pound’ is a no-kill shelter that runs solely on donations.

Many of the animals wait months and even years to be rescued.

Donations of money and food, volunteers and loving homes are desperately needed all year but particularly during these slower months.

Open Monday-Saturday from 8 AM-2 PM. 293-3690.

The Acopio is now holding adoptions every Saturday from 11 AM-2 PM at Plaza Caracól (back end of building near McDonald´s entrance) or Macro Plaza.

Because of the pet store at Plaza Caracol that keeps dogs in small vitrines, the Acopio is no longer allowed to bring dogs to that location.

Please check with the Acopio regarding their adoption schedules. Dogs are walked twice a

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

Long-distance calls from within Mexico For national long-distance calls (within Mexico) the code is 01 plus the area code and phone number. For international long-distance calls, first dial 00, then the country code (for the U.S. and Canada the country code is 1, so you would dial 00 + 1 + area code + 7 digit number).

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

Phone Cards Phone cards (“tarjetas telefonicas”) for use in pay phones can be bought at newstands and in pharmacies in denominations of 30, 50 and 100 pesos. Pay phones do not accept coins. When buying a phone card for pay phone use, specify that you would like a “tarjeta LADA,” because pre-paid cell phone cards are also sold in the same establishments.

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

You need to dial a different prefix.

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

Emergencies: 060 Red Cross: 065 Non-Emergency Police Immigration: 322.224.7719 322.290.0507 Consumer Protection: Fire Department: 01.800.468.8722 322.223.9476 Ambulance: 322.222.1533

week by volunteers organized

by Friends of Puerto Vallarta Animals.

Eighty-five dogs and dozens of cats are waiting for permanent homes at the Acopio.

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

Editorial 03

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Editor´s Note

I

wrote this note from aboard the BC Ferries as we sail through Active Pass from Victoria to Vancouver. It is another (!!) glorious sunny day. I must have brought the sunshine with me as weather has been near perfect while I've been in Canada and, I hear, pretty wet in Vallarta.

Shortly before I left to come to Canada I found myself online in a Facebook conversation about the little differences that you notice when you return to your home country. Like most of these conversations it started cute and innocently enough but soon erupted into name calling and hurt feelings. (Walk away people, just walk away from the computer.) But it was interesting to note the small things that once were commonplace to give pause now. It's been a little over a year since the last time I visited Canada (or left Mexico) and I thought I would try to document some of the things that have caused me to go hmmmm.

Starting in LA where we had a few hours to kill we went to grab some lunch. Two things stood out for me. First two hamburgers and a drink cost $27usd!

"What!?", I said to the cashier as my eyes bugged out of my head, "how can that be?"

Turns out, there's tax on that.

And on everything. The price is never what it says it is.

So with burgers in front of us, we salted the fries... And the salt just poured freely. Unencumbered by moisture.

A small but potentially disastrous thing if we hadn't noticed.

Especially considering each fry cost close to a dollar.

In Vancouver the most noticeable difference is ridiculous.

There are no Mexicans to be found but plenty of delicious super trendy Mexican restaurants. All competing to be the most authentic. All in all, a delicious ridiculousness.

Also, the cars all only have plates from British Columbia which is of course to be expected but is noticeable because in Puerto Vallarta we have as many cars from other states or the US and Canada as we so from Jalisco.

There are no taxis to be hailed.

You have to call them to come get you. Which is difficult without a phone as there are no pay phones or easy to access wifi.

Buses are not frequent and stick to a rigorous schedule which is great unless it's 25 minutes until the next one and it's raining.

Probably the most startling difference is the level of wealth we enjoy here, in Vancouver in particular.

My son and I, while waiting unsuccessfully for the bus and

Win 7-night stay at the Hacienda San Angel + your flights! Raffle tickets only $35 usd

then walking to our destination took to counting the number of Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Range Rover, Ferraris and Bentleys we saw. Yes, there were multiple Bentleys.

It's all been a whirlwind trip.

I'm home next week and it can't come soon enough. Just need to eat another bowl of pho and I'm happy to be on my way.

Enjoy your week in paradise.

Madeline

para una buena causa

BREAKFAST for a good cause at

wednesday october 8th

9:30am

SUGGESTED donation: $250 Tickets available at:

Looking for a few good…

D

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

DESAYUNO

Carol's Boutique (322) 113 0073 Basilio Badillo 250 Zona Romantica

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

CASSANDRA SHAW 322 223 9734 Basilio Badillo 276 Emiliano Zapata

KRISTINA’S SALON 322 221 3256 249 Paseo de la Marina MARINA VALLARTA

Corazón de Niña es una casa hogar para niñas que vienen de diversas situaciones desde abandono, negligencia, abuso físico, emocional o sexual.

Corazón de Niña is a home for girls that come from high risk situations such as abandonment, negligence, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. casahogarcorazondenina@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/corazondeninapv

www.corazondenina.mx

Writers!

on’t be shy! Find your fame and fortune with the Vallarta Tribune!* We are getting ready for another busy winter season. If you have time for weekly or bi-weekly contributions, we have a couple openings for regular contributors. Do you have information you want to share with our readers? During peak months we have as many as 50,000 readers in print and on line... Send an email to Editor(at)vallartatribune.com with your ideas and we’ll talk. *Disclaimer: Fame and fortune are unlikely to find you at the Vallarta Tribune.

W

e are in desperate need to raise money for our no-kill sanctuary. The summer months are particularly difficult for us as there are limited donations from tourists visiting town. We hope all of our friends will be unable to resist purchasing a raffle ticket (or two!) and help us raise money so we can continue our efforts to help these animals.

The winner of the raffle will receive a 7-night stay at the Hacienda San Angel Hotel in Puerto Vallarta, and a $1,500 cash airfare credit.

The Hacienda San Angel is a gorgeous boutique hotel here in town. If you are unfamiliar with the hotel, check out their website at www.haciendasanangel.com.

Raffle tickets are $35 each, with only 350 tickets issued. Contact us at spcapv@gmail.com about purchase or stop by the Hacienda San Angel to purchase your ticket.

The hotel package is valid January 6, 2015 through December 14, 2015.

The drawing will be held on December 5, 2014.

Winner need not be present but will be contacted on this date by email.

Winner’s name will also be posted on our Facebook pages (www.

Facebook.com/PVCACanada and www.facebook.com/spcapv).

Please spread the word and help us make this a successful fundraiser.

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.

We have scheduled tours each week starting at noon. We ask everyone to meet in the Costco parking lot beside the large tree.

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

The length of the tour is at the discretion of our visitors and can be from two to four hours in length.

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

To see all the animals available for adoption, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ spcapv.

Go to Photos where you will also find individual Albums for all the animals available as well as a bit of their history.

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

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

NEWS 04

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

Los Cabos hotels ready in November Tourism Secretariat's objective is to be ready for visitors by mid-October

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Mexico News Daily

R northern part of the state, 80% in Los Cabos, 98% in La Paz, 70% in Mulegé, 75% in Comondú and 95% in Loreto.

More than 70% of the state’s gas stations are back in operation, said the minister during an interview with El Universal, moments before the arrival of President Peña Nieto to review progress.

The Los Cabos airport will reopen October 8, said the Communications and Transportation Secretariat on Tuesday, after it sustained severe damages.

Insurance companies have been busy in Los Cabos this week, dealing with the damage claims. The Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS) reports

that 2,330 claims have been made as of today for damages totaling 3 billion pesos.

However, paying the claims is one thing; getting the repairs done is another, as demand is high for labor and supplies, said AMIS director Recaredo Arias Jiménez.

The Category 3 hurricane made landfall near Cabo San Lucas on Sunday, Sept. 14, leaving five people dead and more than 14,000 homes damaged or destroyed. There were reports of widespread looting after the storm but 8,000 federal security forces were dispatched to bring order to the affected areas.

Sources: El Universal (sp), El Financiero (sp)

1,600 at wedding and all got married

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exico City collective wedding sets a record with 800 couples tying the knot Mexico News Daily Eight-hundred couples were married Saturday in the borough of Iztapalapa in the Federal District — all at the same time, breaking the record for the largest collective wedding in Mexico.

They were among some 8,000 people married in the capital so far this year with the support of a program called Collective Weddings, which saves each couple the expenditure of 1,200 pesos.

Among the happy couples

were Juan Romero García and Ana Karen Aparicio Paz. Juan is 60 and Ana Karen is 22 and they met at the San Cosme metro station where both traveled on the same train.

Ana Karen, who is blind, has a new life after spending two years living in the streets to avoid a family conflict, and is now seven months’ pregnant.

Iztapalapa borough chief Jesús Valencia remembered that the Federal District has recognized same-sex unions since 2010. Among those celebrating such a union on Saturday were Leonardo Medina, 45, and Eleazar Covarrubias, 31,

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.

Lower rates could boost spending With mortgage rates at record lows, people are refinancing and spending the difference

Mexico News Daily

he Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) said this week that all hotels in Baja California Sur should be fully operational in the second half of November. In the area overseen by Fonatur, the tourism development fund, 55 of the 59 hotels sustained varying degrees of damage, with 5,474 rooms having been affected. The remaining 4,312 are ready for guests.

Twenty-five of the damaged hotels will resume normal operations in the first half of October and four more in the second half.

Tourism Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu said one of the principal objectives right now in the state is to be in a condition to receive international visitors by the middle of next month.

Temporary employment is being offered to many residents of Los Cabos through clean-up work, said Ruiz Massieu. She also reported that power has been restored to nearly 100% of the

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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

tying the knot after a six-year relationship.

The newlyweds enjoyed breakfast, slices of a huge cake made for the occasion, a traditional toast and raffle prizes. Among the latter were two donated personally by Valencia: a pair of all-expenses-paid honeymoon trips to Cancún and Acapulco.

While the event set a record for Mexico, there have been other collective weddings with a far greater number of participants. In India in 2012, 3,600 couples were married in a single ceremony.

Source: Notimex (sp) www.mexiconewsdaily.com

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

ecord-low mortgage rates could result in a great deal more consumer spending in the coming months, say economists.

The average interest rate for home loans was 10.8% in July; a year earlier it was 12.1%.

The lower rates have resulted in a much higher number of mortgages being paid off or refinanced.

Mexico City homeowner Arturo Sosa was one of those who refinanced, according to a report yesterday by Bloomberg. His monthly payment dropped by about 4,000 pesos, or US $300, so he spent some of his savings on a trip to Las Vegas.

Following the bankruptcy last year of Mexico’s three biggest home building firms, banks have been looking for other means of growth, such as refinancing.

“The impact this has on the economy is that it frees up a part of people’s income to be spent on consumption, which we see spiking upwards in the coming months,” said Carlos Capistran, chief economist at Bank of America in Mexico City.

It’s also a competitive market at present as banks try to lure customers from competitors with lower rates and by waiving refinance fees.

Rates began dropping in 2012 when HSBC cut its fixed rate for a 20-year mortgage on a new home to 8.7% from 10%.

It was the first time ever that any mortgage rate had dropped below 10% in Mexico.

Today, people who took out mortgages five or six years ago are paying around 13% interest.

A reduction of 4% and the corresponding reduction in monthly payments has to be very attractive.

That was the case with Sosa, who refinanced his four-year, 3.2-million peso mortgage, reducing the interest rate from 12.95% to 8.49% and the monthly payment of 36,000 pesos to 32,000.

Source: Bloomberg (en)

Mexican Insurers Estimate Damage from Hurricane Odile at $224 Million

H

urricane Odile caused 3 billion pesos ($224 million) in damage when it slammed into the western state of Baja California Sur last week, Mexico’s AMIS insurers association said.

Odile, which made landfall in the resort area of Los Cabos as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of more than 200 kph (124 mph), is blamed for six deaths.

The 200 or so insurance adjusters deployed in the state since the storm passed are dealing with 2,330 Odile-related claims, AMIS director Recaredo Arias told a press conference Thursday. Unlike hurricanes Ingrid and Manuel in 2013, Odile did

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.

not cause significant harm to hotels and businesses, Arias said.

“Based upon our experience we estimate the cost this time will be lower than (hurricane) Wilma’s (in 2005), because of the type and density of the hotel infrastructure affected, and after having carried out physical inspections, we believe it may even be lower than Ingrid and Manuel,” he said.

Wilma, a late-season storm, battered Cancun and other resorts on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula AMIS has opened a temporary customer service center at the Los Cabos office of the National Fund for Tourism Promotion, Arias said.

NEWS 05

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

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Peña Nieto: Mexico Will Take Part in UN Peacekeeping Missions UNITED NATIONS

“We believe that the number of non-permanent members of the Council should be expanded, creating long-term seats with the possibility of immediate re-election,” he added.

“That would require breaking inertias and changing paradigms,” he said, calling on all governments to have the willingness to listen, engage in dialogue and compromise with the aim of achieving “a new UN for a new century.”

Mexico serves as proof that profound changes can occur, Peña Nieto said, adding that the country silenced those voices that said no agreement could be reached to transform the Latin American nation.

He was referring to his administration’s “Pact for Mexico,” an accord signed by the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, and Mexico’s main oppo-

sition parties.

Major overhauls of the country’s energy, education and telecommunications sectors and tax laws have occurred since the agreement was signed.

The leftist PRD party pulled out of the pact, however, because it said the energy overhaul – which ended state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos’ decades-old monopoly and is seen by its proponents as essential for boosting sagging oil output – was too far-reaching and handed over the country’s hydrocarbon resources to foreign oil majors.

“The transformations that have taken place in Mexico are due to the willingness of an entire nation that dared to change. It acted boldly and decisively. It dared to transform itself and set itself in motion.”

“The UN can change too,” he added.

in trees, counting individuals in near impossible; instead they are counted by the area they cover.

The head of international affairs for Mexico's Environment Department, Enrique Lendo Fuentes, said the three nations "will probably have a joint plan of action before the end of November."

The plan, experts said, would be to create a corridor of milkweed-friendly areas along the entire three-nation migratory route. That is important, because the butterfly has to reproduce along the way; the same generation doesn't make the entire trip.

For its part, Mexico has already taken a number of steps, like setting up a network of observers to track monarchs from the time they enter the country, to try to identify milkweed patches that the butterflies might use along their way to their mountain wintering grounds. Activists have launched a web site where Mexicans can

report and share sightings.

Monarchs lay eggs on milkweed leaves that hatch into caterpillars, morph into chrysalises and transform into butterflies.

The butterfly's dramatic decline is being driven by widespread planting of genetically engineered, herbicide-resistant crops that tend to drastically decrease the amount of milkweed available.

Mexican writer and environmentalist Homero Aridjis, said the butterflies face a number of challenges,

including climate change and illegal logging in Mexico, in addition to the loss of habitat in the United States.

"We are alarmed, because we don't yet what is going to happen" with butterflies, whose migration -- but not the existence of the species -- is considered at risk of disappearing.

"We don't know what size population is going to come" to Mexico, "so we are a little alarmed." http:// www.soymonarca.mx/

Shopping in the Zona Romantica – this charming neighbourhood is also called Old Town and is a popular residential area for expats and Mexican families. Along the main streets you will find shops galore, filled with wonderful authentic crafts, clothing,

jewelry, excellent restaurants, spas, theaters and more.

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

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

Once the sun has set, the

M

exican President Enrique Peña Nieto said in a speech Wednesday at the UN General Assembly meeting that his country will make the “historic step” of resuming its participation in UN peacekeeping missions.

Mexico will participate gradually and on a conditional basis, “performing humanitarian-related tasks that benefit the civilian population” and only where there is a “clear mandate” from the Security Council and when the mission is in keeping with Mexico’s foreign policy principles and domestic legal framework.

Mexico has not participated in peacekeeping operations since 1993, when it provided 120 police officers for a mission in

Experts in Mexico said Tuesday there is a tentative sign of hope for the mass migration of monarch butterflies, whose numbers dropped to their lowest level ever last year.

By MARK STEVENSON Associated Press

E

xperts in Mexico said Tuesday there is a tentative sign of hope for the mass migration of monarch butterflies, whose numbers dropped to their lowest level ever last year.

The head of Mexico's nature reserves, Luis Fueyo, said the first butterflies have been seen entering Mexico earlier than usual this year. Fueyo said it is too early to say whether butterfly numbers will rebound this year from a series of sharp drops, but noted "this premature presence could be the prelude to an increase in the migration."

He said the first butterflies have been sighted in the northern border state of Coahuila. Most

El Salvador. Prior to that, it took part as a military observer in the Balkans from 1947 to 1950 and in Kashmir (on the Indian-Pakistani border) in 1949.

Peña Nieto also called for changes to the United Nations and “more equitable geographical representation” within the UN

Mexico sees sign of hope for Monarch butterflies normally arrive in October from the United States and Canada, where they spend the summer.

"This year, we are seeing them present in Mexican territory earlier than usual," Fueyo said.

By November they settle in mountaintop forests where they spend the winter. Fueyo said authorities will wait to make a definitive count after the butterflies have settled in completely, something that usually occurs by December.

In February, Mexico, the United States and Canada agreed to form working groups on the conservation of Monarch butterflies, after steep and steady declines in the previous three years. Last year, the black-and-orange butterflies covered only 1.65 acres (0.67 hectares) in the pine and fir forests west of Mexico City, down from more than 44.5 acres (18 hectares) at their recorded peak in 1996. Because the butterflies clump together by the thousands

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

Security Council. He also said he supported limiting veto rights in cases of “severe violations of international humanitarian law.”

The permanent members of the Security Council – Britain, China, France, the United States and Russia – all have veto rights over that body’s actions.

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.

news 06

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

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A good Jalisco is in favor of medical marijuana storm

By Duncan Tucker

T

By Terry Connell

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 is that line from The Graduate, “I want to say one word to you, just one word….Plastics.”

With every water bottle, shop-

ping 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.

he western Mexican state of Jalisco is in favor of allowing marijuana for therapeutic use but opposes increasing the amount currently permitted for recreational use, a public survey showed this week.

The Jalisco Electoral Institute revealed on Wednesday that of 13,662 Jalisco residents who participated in the survey, 60.77 percent voted yes to allowing those who suffer from terminal, chronic or degenerative diseases to keep five plants — or 150 grams — of marijuana in their homes, while 39.22 percent were against the proposal. However, when it came to increasing the amount of marijuana allowed for recreational use from five to 30 grams, the results were reversed, with 60.9 percent of participants voting against the proposal and only 39.09 percent voting yes.

Jalisco has traditionally been considered one of Mexico’s most conser-

vative states, but the results show that public opinion on marijuana has grown much more liberal in recent years. The survey was sponsored by the left-wing Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), which hopes to pass a bill based on the results. In 2009, Mexico made it legal to carry up to five grams of marijuana, half a gram of cocaine and tiny amounts of heroin and methamphetamines. Following the recent legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the U.S. states of Washington and Colorado, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto hinted in June that he was also open to liberalizing marijuana laws.

Latin American shifts closer to legalization From the United States to Uruguay, support for legalization has gained real momentum across the Americas in recent years.

Many former presidents and other high-profile figures from the region have called for an end to the so-called

War on Drugs, saying drug use should be treated as a public health problem instead of as a crime.

Uruguay has taken the boldest step to date, becoming the first country to create a legal, regulated market for marijuana in 2013. Like Mexico, Brazil has taken steps to decriminalize the possession of certain quantities of drugs, while high courts in Argentina and Colombia have declared it unconstitutional to prosecute citizens for possession of drugs for personal use. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has also endorsed a bill introduced this year to decriminalize marijuana for medicinal use.

Medical marijuana has grown particularly common in the United States, where it is now accepted by 23 states. Now that the people of Jalisco have shown their support for such a measure, it could pave the way for a number of Mexican states to adopt similar policies. www.latincorrespondent.com

following morning.

Another woman had taken three dogs belonging to a neighbor and had been turned away twice at the Valle Dorado clinic and at 7 AM, was too late to get a space for them.

Again, Candace let the animals do an overnight. Because people were turned away every day of the clinic, Candace offered to host a second one the week after next.

TO DONATE TO THIS NEXT CLINIC: http://www.gofundme.com/ f42k84 STERILIZATIONS AT PALMAR DE ARAMARA - September 24-27 – Male dogs - 18; Female dogs - 45; Male cats - 18; Female cats 28

TOTAL: 109 plus 1 euthanasia UPCOMING CLINICS October 1-4 - Colonia Pitillal Casa de los Portales - home of Ron Harner and Clint Harris - Calle 327 Alameda - turn right five blocks after the plaza. Yellow walled house.

October 7-10 (Tuesday-Friday) Palmar de Haramara - Calle Mar Blanco #475. Cross street is Oceano Indico - close to the square where Mar de Cortes and Mar del Sur boarding are, and the park which is very close to the market and IMSS. October 15-18 -Las Aralias Calle Pavoreal #181 between Calle Las Torres y Calle Canario. The street east of this address faces a park and one can enter from this side as well.

October 22-25 - TBA October 29-November 1 - TBA November 5-8 - La Peñita, Nay. (Pets for Life with JBARS/MEXCAN) November 12-15 - Las Varas, Nay. (Pets for Life) November 18-29 - Oaxaca (Pets for Life) December 3-6 - San Pancho, Nay. (Pets for Life) December 10-13 - TBA December 17-20 - TBA December 21-24 - TBA December 25-January 6 - VACATION January 7, 2015 -la Floresta Home of Cherie Verber Schedule, including directions and other clinic information are always found at www.peaceanimals.org

peaceanimals

C

olonia Palmar de Haramara is a very nice neighborhood located just southeast of the cruise ship terminal with leafy green parks, tree-lined cobbled streets, and like most neighborhoods, has lots of cats and dogs. Candace Shaw, who generously donated her charming home for the clinic, said people were at her door with their pets at 6:30 AM on the first day and kept arriving that early for the remainder of the surgery week.

One woman traveled by bus from Bucerias with her six cats in a box.

Because the clinic was already full, Candace let the cats overnight so they would be insured a space the

NEWS 07

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

www.vallartatribune.com

Understanding Health care options in Mexico

By Audrey Royem

I

f you are planning on living in Mexico full time, or even staying for a couple months, understanding the medical landscape of Mexico will make you feel safer and help you navigate any sorts of health concerns that might arise.

In this article I will provide a brief explanation of the mainstream health care providers accessible to foreigners in Mexico.

Private Medical Care While there are several private companies that offer healthcare insurance coverage in Mexico, private medical services are quite accessible in regards to time and costs and do not require any sort of insurance.

Most clinics and doctor offices have same day availability and once you are a client, most doctors give you their cell phone so you can call them at any time, day or night.

Many doctors speak good English, while their staff may not.

Doctors usually charge a flat consultation fee (in the Puerto Vallarta area $500MX is common), which can include the use of their equipment, like for ultrasounds, or medical samples that treat your ailment. Although you will want to verify that the doctor is a qualified professional, Mexican hospitals and clinics have sophisticated equipment and doctors are highly trained.

Pamela Thompson (healthcareresourcespv.com) is a fantastic resource for expats in the Bahia de Banderas area who makes doctor recommendations.

IMSS The IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social) was created by the government to provide health insurance to workers, however, IMSS is applicable to most individuals residing in Mexico, including foreigners.

Each application process is different if you are an employee, boss, retired, and the general public. IMSS covers all doctor visits, diagnostics and lab work, hospital procedures and costs, and prescription drugs.

Family Health Program (El Seguro de Salud para la Familia) is a way of applying for access to the IMSS services as the general public. A minimum of two people who are related must apply at a time, and any other family member will be listed under the same policy. An annual fee apply and registration filed one a day and month before you need to get any treatment, so this is not an

option if you are in need of emergency care.

Although prices are subject to change, the older you are the more you will have to pay per year. Health insurance cost is calculated based on what age category you fall into based on a 20 year increment. So people age 0-19 will pay the least for their health insurance ($1,600MX), while people over sixty pay the highest rates ($4,400MX+) per year.

The application includes filling out a health form, where you are to divulge any information regarding pre-existing conditions and current health condition. You should be aware there are a large number of medical conditions not covered by IMSS, which include pre-existing conditions, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, etc. If you have any existing health problems check to see if the insurance will cover it, or if they will accept your application before applying.

Once your IMSS application goes through, you and your beneficiaries will receive care in any of the IMSS medical unit closest to your residence. To renew your coverage you have to go back to an IMSS office with the same information within 30 days of it expiring. If you don’t renew your coverage, it will expire and you will have to apply again with any conditions that may have been discovered since your last application.

Seguro Social Seguro Popular is an opportunity for residents of Mexico to receive social health care when they are not

receiving IMSS or another form of government health care. It was initially created to provide health services to individuals who work for themselves, or in rural areas where IMSS did not provide proper access. Seguro Popular, as it´s name implies, is a government program that serves the masses: it provides implements major health initiatives, like vaccinations; it easy to apply for and covers most common health concerns; a Centro de Salud is available in most pueblos, where there are in house doctors and nurses. You can register for free, the day that you get treated if need be- emergency care is available!

By affiliating to Seguro Popular you receive quality treatment from experienced doctors and nurses, free prescriptions; pregnancy, birth and kids are all covered, and full coverage on many medical treatments. Foreigners with legal residency (Temporary or Permanent Residency) can affiliate just like Mexicans. You must bring the following requisite documents to the nearest registration place (usually a hospital, not a Centro de Salud): 1. CURP 2.

INM visa 3. Passport 4.

Recent CFE bill 5. (and a copy of each of the aforementioned items) This government program provides wide scope health care, including preventive medical care, general and specialty consultations, hospitalization, surgery, ancillary diagnostic studies and

medications, as well as the attention of immediate families that are registered within the membership policy. If you need emergency care and are not affiliated, you can still receive medical attention, however, not at the reduced cost (it depends on the treatment, limited coverage on certain treatments, even for affiliates).

Which is Right for You? The treatment at Seguro Popular, IMSS or a private healthcare provider you will receive is all good. The type of service you seek will depend on a variety of factors you must weigh before you need these services: Your activity and economic resources- are you an employee, do you have your own business, are you retired on a pension, for example; Accessibility- is there an IMSS hospital or a Centro de Salud near you, or will you use a private clinic for certain reasons and

the public clinic for another; the equipment and doctors available; and ultimately the comfort level you feel at each facility- do you speak Spanish, are you familiar with Mexican bureaucracy, are a few of the questions you may ask yourself.

Many of the same doctors that you see at a private hospital or clinic also work at IMSS or Seguro Popular. It is a way for young doctors to get more experience, doctors who have been with the system for years to get retirement pay, and a service to their country.

You should look into the services in your area offered by both organizations to see if it is beneficial for you to apply.

However, while both offer reduced costs and qualified service, longer wait times, lack of availability of drugs and/or other limited treatments can vary and dissuade more financially-able customers from accessing their services. Private health institutions offer health care that is affordable and accessible compared to US standards, however, IMSS and Seguro Social might be even more affordable and accessible depending on the treatment or situation.

Originally published in MexiGo! Fall 2014 www.mexi-go.ca

events 08

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

Perceptions

of Art

By Marcia Blondin marciavallarta@gmail.com

I

t broke all attendance records for a single performance in the short but notable history of Act II Entertainment. Not only was it SRO, extra chairs were added and STILL, people were turned away at the box office. The production was Princesas Desesperadas.

Bigger venue (the Main Stage), better lighting, a few new sight gags, a couple of things added and a couple taken away - all together to enhance this deliciously vicious-at-times comedy of four Disney princess gals getting together to drink and dance, vent, to yell and scream at each other and at their lives in general, suffering loudly about continuing princess-ness and not a queen in sight...whoops...

I should mention all four damsels are gay men and for the most part, have damn fine legs!

It was my second venture into Princesas and I enjoyed the first time I saw it at Boutique but this performance was so improved AND the theatre worked it's maybe-Disney-Magic that evening - the actors did not miss a beat... definitely magic. And, add rolling and continuing laughter that built and built to make everyone's face ache by the end and the well-deserved standing ovation: Outstanding direction, acting, everything.

If you didn't attend because you don't speak Spanish fluently then shame on you! That's like not seeing Madame Butterfly or Traviata because your Italian is not up to speed. And, you DID move to a Spanish speaking country. I am just saying. Getting out of the box on occasion is necessary.

The good news is: Desperate Princesses will be in ENGLISH early next year. I will keep you posted. New Karaoke in Encore last Friday had some fine voices including Elizabeth Ensor's exquisite soprano and Jose Maria Caudillo, slipped out of the Red Room's Ladies Night to serenade the happy crowd. Ron Spencer and David Lyons both sang exceptionally well much to everyone's delight.

The new team running the show are fast, friendly, encouraging to the max in both English and Spanish, and most of all FUN. Don't miss the drink specials!

Coming up fast: auditions for Voice of Vallarta. They begin October 11 at 2 pm. These will be open to the public so join me at Act II. In case anyone paid attention...I have to read for the part of Margaret for the director of Assorted Fruits and Vegetables that opens November 6th, possibly with me in it. Yipes.

THE MET IN HD is Back

By David J. Rohde

T

his spring opera lovers in Puerto Vallarta were concerned about the renewal of the Metropolitan Opera´s HD Simulcasts on Saturday afternoons.

Teatro Vallarta renewed the series and

www.vallartatribune.com

we breathed a sigh of relief. Then the contract negotiations at the Met this summer set nerves on edge. That also has been resolved and the show will go on.

The series of “live” broadcasts are shown around the world at select theaters.

We are fortunate in PV to have such a venue available to us.

There is also an added bonus of having ENGLISH SUBTITLES for our greater enjoyment. If you are a fan, please join us again this season. If you have never attended one of these broadcasts, give yourself a treat and try one.

The experience is different than in attending a performance in a hall or opera house. A host or hostess welcomes you to The Met

and gives a brief synopsis of Act I. At the end of the act the same person awaits the cast as they file offstage and one of the leads is handed a microphone and interviewed on the spot. Conductors, other cast members and sometimes technicians are also interviewed.

The camera work brings you right on stage and up close and personal with the cast.

Seats are all reserved and will be available at the box office at a later date.

There is the possibility of lectures before each simulcast, but this has yet to be confirmed.

Support of any art venue in Puerto Vallarta is always GREATLY APPRECIATED.

ExPats in Vallarta October Schedule

D

uring the month of October ExPats in Vallarta will be having two Happy Hour gatherings on Tuesday, October 7th and Tuesday October 21st at Langostino’s from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

Langostinos is located on Los Muertos Beach just north of the new pier. To make reservations go to their website http://www.expatsinvallarta.com/

On Tuesday October 28th at 10am there will be a Neighborhood Coffee at Starbucks in the Marina.

No reservations are required. The local group of Expats in Vallarta is open to all ExPat residents, visitors and investors from other countries.

The purpose of the group is informal fellowship and assistance for ExPats around Vallarta for those considering the area.

There is no membership fee

or requirement; everyone pays for only what they use or consume.

If you are first timer be sure and introduce yourself to the greeter and they will make sure you meet other ExPats.

Galeria Contempo introduces two new artists

R

eopening on October 1st, Galeria Contempo has added two new artists to its

roster.

GABRIELA EPSTEIN

When looking at Epstein's work, you can have the certainty that if one of the elements is removed the whole composition would fall over, that there is no space for the inclusion of anything else than what she allowed to be included. A set of shapes that surprise us for their massive character and organization. Her work is a space where shapes call on each other, luck of mutual and infinite reciprocities that

cannot allow the abandonment of a glance.

MARIA BAYARDO

You might say that it was the artist within Bayardo, who discovered the sensual woman she had kept concealed. From this awakening, figures began to emerge in which she found herself reflected. With her sculptures, Bayardo is discovering a passage that integrates past, present, and a projection of a future in which she is a free woman. Some of her pieces are people who rise up from a stormy experience, while others are an expression of the sensation of freedom.

The Miss Icep Vallarta 2014 Beauty Pageant

T

welve High School students will compete for the prestigious “MISS ICEP VALLARTA 2014” Crown. The students all attend the Instituto de Capacitacion y Educacion Profesional.

During the Beauty Pageant the contestants will showcase their specific talent, physical beauty, speaking ability, on stage presence and evening wear attire.

The winner will receive a one year scholarship at the ICEP High School. Other prizes will be awarded to the contestants.

The Miss ICEP Vallarta 2014 Beauty Pagent will be held at the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center on Saturday October 25, 2014, starting at 8:00 pm.

Entertainment will be provided by Mariachi Jaliciense and the Before It Explodes Band.

After the Beauty Pageant ends, the guests can dance the night away from 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM. Tickets to the MISS ICEP VALLARTA 2014 BEAUTY PAGEANT will cost 120 pesos.

For further information contact Nino DiLoreto at 331-496-8704.

NEWS 09

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

New Market Co-op

www.vallartatribune.com

Let’s Hear from You: First Person Expat Interviews

by Marcia Blondin newmarketcoopvallarta@gmail.com

By Miguel Fernandez Miguel@g3mex.com

T

his week, local singing celeb; adventuress; power walker and avid animal lover, Sylvie Scopazzo, gave us her perspective on living in Puerto Vallarta.

Tell us a little about your background, where you are from originally?

I was born in the South of France and grew up in Vancouver since the age of two. I left Vancouver when I was 34.

When did you first visit Puerto Vallarta?

I’d never visited Puerto Vallarta prior to moving here!

O

ur 10% off extended to all of Coco’s Kitchen’s clientele went so well, we are doing it again this week. Take your time over a leisurely breakfast or lunch and shop our small but very artistic market!

I have terrific news: Oscar and Veronica are finally back from visiting friends and family and shopping in Oaxaca and will be joining us on Saturday morning.

I am so looking forward to see what they will bring. They are both from families of textile makers and always offer exquisitely woven clothes for men and women and tablecloths, blankets, table runners - if it can be made on a loom Oscar and Veronica will have it.

Welcome back, both of you; we have missed your smiles and your knowledge of your lovely craft.

Barbara Peters has been busy remaking a cache of old necklaces made a few years ago by her late husband - giving then a more contemporary look. Still beautiful!

Son Mark, keeps creating and refining his condiments and smoked meats and cheeses. Tried some of his smoked lomo last week - melted in my mouth. I can highly recommend it and pickled beets to go with.

Mark Hughes is almost certain he will have Lorene’s Artisan Bakery goods this weekend as

well as his fabulous quiches, meat pies of every variety and his wonderfully rich mixed fruit tarts.

Peter Hardy, unable to get into town last week, will have bagels galore and Cinnabuns on sale.

Indulge in a dozen or so.

Krystal and Ana from Organic Select have free-range brown eggs - called red in Mexico - and more organic tasty treats.

Bill Kelly and partner Alejandro’s masks are selling fast - look at them online at vallartatribune. com (last week’s issue) where everything is in glorious color and is second best to seeing them in person.

Jorge’s sterling silver creations will be looked after by his daughter Paola. She shines as brightly as her papa’s jewelry.

As for me, I am having a 50% off sale to make way for new Fall silks I have been working on and I have to sell a lot of earrings (normally $250 pesos) for $100 pesos for one very good reason... so I can make new!

Anyone who cannot make the Market but would still like to purchase something or ask any questions, feel free to email me (address is at the top of this column) and I will pass your email along or get right back to you.

Until next time, see you at Coco’s Kitchen, Pulpito 122, across from the Paradise Community Center from 9 until 2 pm.

Why did you decide to move here?

I drove my Westfalia to Baja Mexico during Christmas season when I was 32. I experienced a Christmas dinner with a Mexican family, and I think it was then that I knew I had to move to Mexico one day.

Also, climate was definitely a factor. I was riding a horse through the desert on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th) and I think that was the real clincher!

Fast-forward two years to Vancouver, a co-worker, who was born in Puerto Vallarta but grew up in Canada, got tired of my complaining about the weather so he suggested I move to Vallarta.

He told me his family (the owners of Page in the Sun) lived here and would take me in and show me the ropes. They’re such a great family.

Can you tell us about your professional and community based activities here?

I’ve done MANY things! Pretty much all tourism based. I did a little side step for a couple of years and opened a Laundromat!

Hurricane Kenna took care of that though! I sing in a band called, “The Zippers” but, keep an eye out for a name change soon! We play at Nacho Daddy’s restaurant/ bar.

Also, I started a group called, LOCA (Ladies Outdoor Club

Adventures). I felt there was a need for women to get out and discover the best of Puerto Vallarta. What started mostly as a local women’s group has now grown into involving vacationing women who are mostly traveling on their own looking for something to do in a safe environment. I would like to incorporate more community work with our group this year.

My other endeavor is making dog treats which I sell at the Old Town Farmer’s market. “Organ-ick” is what I call my 100% dehydrated beef and chicken treats. I didn’t actually have a dog until most recently so I always tested the treats on my cats! If they loved them, I knew dogs would!

What’s your greatest passion?

Gawd! So many! Hiking, discovering new places, photography, riding my motorcycle, watching gorgeous sunsets while sipping a Corona with friends and singing of course!

How does Mexico compare to Canada?

Well, there are many differences.

I enjoy not having such uptight laws in Mexico. Like, jaywalking for instance! I love how family is still important here.

I get a little frustrated with the lack of education regarding the treatment of animals, lack of planned parenting and littering compared to Canada.

What part of town do you live in, and why have you chosen to live there?

Currently I live in the Amapas area. Most of my 17 years here, I’ve lived in neighborhoods where there are more Mexican people than ex-pats. I like to be immersed into the culture. My goal was to become fluent in Spanish and felt the only way to do this was to be surrounded by those who don’t speak English. I also like that I can walk out my door and there’ll always be someone to say hello to.

What sort of future do you see for Puerto Vallarta and Mexico as a whole?

Unfortunately, I fear Puerto Vallarta is losing its standings in the tourism game. We are seeing more and more retirees coming to Vallarta and less youth. This affects many of the tour operators. I’d like to see more promotion of Puerto Vallarta outside the country.

With regards to Mexico as a whole, I see a beautiful, rich country that has everything it needs to be a first world country. I just wish the United States would stop with the bad press already!

Do you plan on staying here permanently?

I used to think yes but now am not sure. I find it difficult to be financially stable in the tourism business here. The perfect situation for me would be 8 months here and 4 months somewhere else.

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. Or check our website out at: www.g3mex.com

cuisine 10

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

www.vallartatribune.com

Estado de México Aztec Food

By Ramiro Lopez

Protecting the culture and food Tacotitlán I well remember my arrival to the land of the Acolhuas; at the lakeshore next to the volcanoes. I was in Ecatepec, after following the same pilgrimage of the Nahuatl tribes.

As a chef the food of that land was one of my biggest influences. On that rainy night, it seemed that the streets had been taken over by people, who had overflowed like the lake used to.

The first thing I did was to enjoy one of the oldest worldly pleasures known to a Mexican: his majesty, the great “taco al pastor”, bathed in salsa, served with cilantro and onion and well vaccinated with lime juice. I feared that in those distant lands the food would be very different than in my hometown. But despite being so far from home the tacos were almost the same that I was familiar with though with some exotic varieties.

But not only the food seemed different; the accent of the people, their traits, their mysticism, all made me feel like a foreigner in my own country. These are the descendants of the Aztecs and that heritage shows in their faces like an invisible shadow. Along the streets were stands selling esquites 1 found here, one of garnachas 2 there, and one tamales; they had a version of tamale sub (guajolota) that I had never seen before. A combo that is their usual breakfast, now that everybody is in a hurry, accompanied by an atole of corn; a grain that not only starred as a food, but

seemed ubiquitous in beverages too.

Texcoco

Some of the best places to enjoy the food of the ancient Aztecs is "El Indio” which is located next to the International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement. When I went there the food was spectacular and still is, with specialties like sheep barbacoa (3), marinated rabbit, and fried Chamorro (4). There were also a host of extremely exotic and tasty dishes such as bull testicles alongside chinicuiles (5), escamoles (6) and agave worms offered as aphrodisiacs: marrow soup, which I was ready to die for, and other such unusual and equally tasty dishes such as frog legs and snails.

Atenco Food of the Past, Future City The name of Atenco became famous thanks to the civil resistance of its inhabitants against the proposed construction of a new airport in Mexico City. Which was eventually canceled, but with a high price.

Atenco means "at the edge of the water" in Nahuatl and was once situated along the shores of Lake Texcoco, which has subsequently dried out, to be later integrated in a systematic way to the urban area of Mexico City.

The people there are generous to the degree of opening the doors of their homes and sharing the table with you. I really identified and felt comfortable with them. The town is surrounded in one side by the urban sprawl and the other side by the lakeshore where it merges with

Ahuehuetes Park, where, according to oral tradition, King Nezahualcoyotl had his house along with 40 of his concubines. (Did he have to eat a lot of chinicuiles?)

For most residents of Atenco, subsistence agriculture has an important role in their lives. Though it is not easy to rip fruit from the saltladen earth of an ancient lake, the land is blessed with water, love and gratitude, and is maintained to be healed, thus providing food that is increasingly necessary and scarce in the area. It is an area that is enclosed by urban throngs whose irregular settlements encourage the excessive and disorganized growth of the capital megalopolis, which has trapped and suffocated this last stronghold of corn and beans.

Another activity conducted in the area is grazing, mainly dairy cattle and sheep, the latter being an inevitable guest at their parties, barbecued and always accompanied by chickpeas. During the rainy season, from May to October, they grow edible mushrooms which are prepared in many dishes. Also, when in season, you can find crayfish and grasshoppers.

All this attracted me to Atenco, and the announcement of the construction of the new airport represented a great opportunity for any visionary restaurateur until I realized that this airport must not go in. This holy land was in

danger of being violated; usurped into a wasteland by trans-national hostile forces driven by corporate greed and impudence, who sought to buy cheaply and then sell as if gold, arguing hypocritically that this worthless land only contained saltpeter.

The robbery was the Machiavellian product of the scheming mind of the state and federal government, in a riot of gross ignorance of these lands. But soon it was noticed that the people of the lake, the people of the corn, and children of Nezahualcoyotl strongly opposed the dispossession of their lands, their life and history. Machete-wielding women, children and men prepared to hold their own.

The walls of Atenco became a canvas where artists, utopians and anarchists openly demonstrated against the government, upholding the ideals of Zapata.

The restaurants became a forum for expression, where photographers, painters and musicians narrated from their perspective that time we lived, that point where we defended land, corn and beans.

Inevitably repression came, Peña Nieto, Governor of the state at that time, greenlit the forces of law and “disorder”, who massacred the population, activists and international observers.

But in the end nothing and no one could prevent the momentum

of the people, and the project was canceled. Today, after years, and from a more powerful rung, Peña Nieto wishes to resume his project, selling it as the “City of the Future”.

It is a mega project that aims to revive the lake, creating lagoons, islands, shopping areas, Oxxos, MacDonalds and many businesses that are most pestilent to the nearby lake, of black water coming from Mexico City.

Atenco embodies the triumph of the descendants of the Aztecs over Peña Nieto and what it represents, so if Peña Nieto comes for his revenge there will be opposition. The land at the water's edge will become the land at the edge of "cliff" where all might fall. Because behind this will come big corporations poisonous selling GMO foods that end up killing, and it is better to die fighting for food; food worth dying for. So the struggle for Atenco is the fight for food, land and freedom, the struggle of all.

Learn more!

1 Esquites; Snack made with corn, the word esquites comes from the nahuatl word ízquitl, which means “toasted corn” 2 Barbacoa: Barbacoa is not a method of grilling. Traditional Mexican barbacoa is completely different. It essentially steams and smokes the meat at the same time resulting in a moist and flavorful meat.

3 Chinicuiles: Savory delicacy.

Caterpillar that infest the roots of maguey and agave plants.

4 Escamoles: ant larvae, once considered Aztec emperor’s favorite delicacy.

connects to Gringo Cultch and the former cultural Centre where besides enjoying their villas of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. art shows, you can continue the animal The lower part where the river empties out watching activity. The area is perfect for a into the ocean the island host two great walk looking out to see the river and then restaurans in PV; River Café and Oscars. the ocean in the distance. When you are in In both places you can enjoy besides their need of something cool this is a great place great cuisine, the animal watching activities to buy it. that happen just outside, such as iguanas, Oscars 223 0789 Isla Río Cuale #1 squirrels, birds, and lizards.

OLAS ALTAS Olas Altas 3

By Ramiro Lopez Macias sla Cuale is magical place.

Located in the middle of the Cuale River, it is divided across the middle by Insurgentes Avenue leaving two “zones”; heading east, under one road there is the leafy, treed, and shady cultural zone.

There you will find the statue of John Huston, Las Brazzas restaurant, the Cuale Cultural Centre, lots of fauna and the wood-slatted bridges that are an adventure to cross and an amazing trees crowded by cats. This area is very quiet, perfect for reading or just take a break. A steep staircase connects to Gringo Cultch and the former villas of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

The lower part where the river empties out into the ocean the island hosts two iconic restaurants; River Café and Oscars. In both places you can enjoy great cuisine along with sightings of iguanas, squirrels, birds, and lizards.

I

OSCARS 1 At Oscars the views are amazing, thanks to the open design and minimal furniture. The building is made of natural elements with tables facing the river, the beach and the trees that are roosting resort for the local Pelicans and water birds. The mood itself invites you to relax and enjoy of the pleasures of the life.

Here, art is everywhere. The gallery hosts the work of Martha Gilbert. Across from Oscars there is the local museum and in a few steps more, La Cuiza, a cultural Centre with art shows. The area is perfect for a walk along the river with ocean views.

Oscars 223 0789 Isla Río Cuale #1

3 SERRANOS MEAT

Located opposite Lazaro Cardenas park, with a breathtaking view of the hills surrounding the city, and the Pacific Ocean.

Their great service, and amazing menus has given Serranos Meat an excellent reputation as a great place for lunch and dinner. They

are celebrating their first anniversary, congratulations guys! Ask for the promotions for their first anniversary.

6 FRANKIES

3 SERRANOS MEAT Located opposite the beautiful park Lázaro Cárdenas, with a breathtaking view of the hills surrounding the city, and on the other side the Pacific Ocean. Their great service, a amazing dishes have created of Serranos Meat opened, Frankie’s is fast one ofNewly the places with better becoming the new favorite reputation in the area, they are Italian restaurants. They sell delicious, celebrating their first anniversary, thin crust pizza. They also have congratulations guys. Ask for the incredible pastas and salads. Their promotions for their anniversary.

Italian chef, whofirst definitely knows

9 DEE´S COFFE COMPANY/To Die For

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Arguably the best coffee shop in town, they bake every morning fresh treats like banana bread, brownies, apple pies and of course their famous chocolate cakes (to die for).

6 FRANKIES Their new location is perfect; of the pier, Dee’s Asright sooninas itfront opened, is becoming one is becoming an anchor destination of the new favorite Italian restaurants. for sell several faithful customers They delicious, thin crust pizza. that never miss the beautiful sunsets They also have incredible pastas and of PV.

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way around the kitchen and 7 his CORAZON MEXICANO their Italian owner guarantee you Located One block away of the Lázaro are eating an authentic Italian Cárdenas Park this place has a modern Mangiare. Prices are low to modeshabby chic essence.

This new rate. Try their Italian wines; the list restaurant is starting with selected. the is small but carefully autumn's specials, with discounts from 3pm to 6pm. Come and enjoy the delicious flavors, they are now serving the traditional Chiles enhogada, which is made just in this season, so don´t miss it. Their lime and strawberry margaritas are great and the best, on Friday it´s 2x1 This is definitely romantic casual at the same time as being family and pet friendly.

Lázaro Cárdenas esq. Olas Altas 209 0639

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salads, their Italian chef, who definitely knows his way around the kitchen and their –Italian owner guarantee you are eating an authentic Italian Mangiare.

Prices are low to moderate. Try their Italian wines; the list is small but carefully selected.

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Restaurants 1: Oscars 2: River Cuale 3: Serrano's Meat 4: Mama Rosa 5: Mole de Jovita 6: Frankies 7:Corazon Mexicano 8: Mariscos Filos 9: Dee´s Coffee Company 10: Iyari

9 DEE´S COFFE COMPANY/To Diee´s for The best coffee shop in town by far, they bake every morning their fresh bread that includes delicacies like; banana bread, brownies, apple pies and of course their famous chocolate cakes (to diee´s for). Their new location suits perfect; right in front of the pier, Dee's is becoming anchor destination for several costumers whom never miss the most beautiful sunsets in PV.

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Venustiano Carranza 276 Tel. 322 223 2267

Francisca Rodriguez 117 Tel. 322 222 1197

Venustiano Carranza 276 Tel. 322 223 2267 Francisca Rodriguez 117 Tel. 322 222 1197

Forest Protected

by Coffee Growers 1,381 Hectares of Forest Protected by Coffee Growers in Chiapas’ El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve

By Christiana Ferris

L

andowners from the Custepec Estate within the El Triunfo Biophere Reserve in Chiapas signed conservation easements to protect a total of 1381 hectares (3412 acres). The conservation easement is just one of several voluntary land conservation tools promoted by Pronatura Sur in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy.

By signing these contracts, the owners of seven properties within the Custepec Estate have committed to protecting a key section of temperate, pine-oak and evergreen forest harboring threatened or endangered species as well as Mexican endemics, among them the horned guan (Oreophasis derbianus), azure-rumped tanager (Tangara cabanisi), resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus moccino) and tapir (Tapirus bairdii).

The protection of these seven forest plots within the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve connects two of the reserve’s core zones to maintain ecological processes critical to the area’s biodiversity.

This initiative of Pronatura Sur to establish a connectivity corridor between the core zones began in 2003 with the support of non-governmental institutions such as The Nature Conservancy, Reforestamos México and the El Triunfo Conservation Fund. The project is helping conservation groups carry out necessary field work on properties whose owners have demonstrated an interest in conserving their land for biodiversity.

The Custepec Estate has been a pioneer in this effort. In addition to being the first to establish coffee growing in the region, the estate was the first in Chiapas to establish conservation easements for the benefit of El Triunfo. Property owners of three additional forest plots in the estate signed agreements in July 2007 to protect 1003 hectares (2478 acres). In so doing, the estate is serving as a positive role model to neighboring landowners in the region who have important habitats and species on their properties.

Source: www.nature.org

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

Looking for something specific?

P

uerto Vallarta has a great selection of places to shop and dine and the best place to find that special item you are seeking or that wonderful restaurant for the type of food you crave is to go online to the VALLARTA SHOPPING DIRECTORY—<vallartashoppingdirectory.blogspot. com>, select from 20 pages of categories and browse to see the logo, address, telephone, website link, email, hours and description of the services or products offered.

Remember to join us for the Southside Shuffle block party starting November 14th on Basilio Badillo.

Southside Shuffle Nov 14 & Nov 28, 2014 Dec 12 & Dec 26, 2014 Jan 9 & Jan 23, 2015 Feb 6 & Feb 20, 2015 Mar 6 & Mar 20, 2015

There are lots of photos of each business, maps of the areas so you can easily find the stores and restaurants.

Don´t rely on finding the unique and local favorites only on the Malecon since Puerto Vallarta is a large city with businesses scattered all over the areas such as Downtown, South Side, Emiliano Zapata, Hotel Zone, Marina Vallarta, Fluvial, and several towns in Nayarit.

We are in process of setting up a website for dining and shopping which will be announced soon but our very successful blog will continue to exist.

The categories you will find are: Best Restaurants, Cafes, cyber cafes and books, Boutiques, clothing and accessories, Food, organic products, pastries, catering, Interior Décor, furniture and accessories, Jewelry in silver, bold, gems, fantasy and repair, Beauty shops, spas,

fitness and massage, Sportswear and equipment, Handicrafts, Leather , glass and ceramics, Art Galleries and studios, Florists, Entertainment, theaters, bars, Real Estate companies, Eye glasses and optical, Boutique hotels, Services, travel agencies, tours, Drug stores and nutrition, and a page for Bucerias, Nuevo Vallarta, Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Punta de Mita area.

This site can be translated into 50 languages with the click of a button and is a great way for new visitors to get to know our vibrant city and all it has to offer.

Some of our members are advertising on this page but we have a total of 185 local businesses listed that depend on your finding them so they can continue to serve your needs and desires.

Please recommend this site to your friends who are planning a trip to our Paradise. http://vallartashoppingdirectory.blogspot.

com and www.facebook/ Vallartashoppingdirectory.

We always have great events in town so we invite you to attend the Celebration of World Tourism Day from Sept. 25 to 28th Downtown at City Hall with the opening cocktail and ART EXHIBIT by local galleries and artists at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25th continuing through the 28th, a Salsa Festival at Los Arcos Outdoor theater at 8 p.m. on Sept. 26th, a Gastronomic Festival at City Hall at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27th with all the best restaurants offering their specialties accompanied

by Mariachis , and a Tourist Race starting at the Sports Stadium at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 38th, followed by the closing of the tourism event at the patio of City Hall on Sunday night.

Be sure to attend if you are in town and invite your friends.

DI VINO DANTE Wine & Tapas Bar – New Menu Disfruta de un -40 % de Descuento del 1-15 de octubre 2014 Enjoy a -40% Discount from October 1-15, 2014 *Descuento no incluido en botellas de vino *Discount does not include bottles of wine Basilio Badillo 269 A, Puerto Vallarta Jal. Mon-Sat: 2pm -11 pm – New Hours (322) 2233734 From USA or Canada 1-(269) 282 9550 info.divinodante@gmail.com www.divinodante.com

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

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Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

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Best Places to Get Married in Mexico

24 mountainside and oceanfront acres.

One&Only Palmilla, San Jose del Cabo . Jennifer Aniston is such a fan of One&Only Palmilla that she chose the 173-room resort for her 41st-birthday bash.

Welcome beach bonfires are popular, and Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten influences event menus. Arrive at the resort’s whitewashed wedding chapel in style via a horse-drawn carriage.

The top international country for U.S. and Canadian-based couples marrying away, Mexico charms with colorful culture, sophisticated local vendors, 6,000 miles of Pacific and Caribbean coast, and plenty of tequila (distilled in the country since the 1600s). Wondering how to get married in Mexico? It all starts with the perfect venue.

Here’s where to stage your fiesta.

Riviera Maya

By Jackie Caradonio, Kristine Hansen, Ivette Manners and Katarina Kovacevic

Riviera Nayarit & Puerto Vallarta

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uerto Vallarta’s cityscape and exploding food scene are a lively complement to the sleepy villages of Riviera Nayarit, whose enclaves range from posh (Punta Mita) to boho (Sayulita). You can easily drive from one to the other without any indication of a border crossing, and both front Banderas Bay, frequented by some 800 humpback whales every winter. Palapa Brisa del Mar, Sayulita, Riviera Nayarit - In Sayulita, the cliffside Palapa Brisa del Mar comes with 360-degree ocean views and a farm-to-table menu catered by town favorite Don Pedro’s.

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Riviera Nayarit - Nestled on Banderas Bay’s powder-white sands, the 173-room Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita hosts some of the area’s most stunning weddings, thanks to, scenic event spaces from beaches to the Tamai Garden, and a diverse range of activities, including a Jack Nicklaus golf course and a luxe spa.

Las Caletas, Puerto Vallarta - A private beach cove located an hour by boat from the Puerto Vallarta mainland, Las Caletas is the perfect secluded Eden for barefoot-chic weddings. Intimate ceremonies for up to 80 take place at water’s edge, while ocean-view receptions occur in the Spanish-tiled, open-air restaurant. Enjoy dancing and a bonfire on the beach, and then keep the party going on the boat ride back.

Casa Velas, Puerto Vallarta -The 80-room, adults-only Casa

Velas resort is proof that you don’t have to break the bank to get married in one of Puerto Vallarta’s swankiest hotels. The Casa Velas Beach Club, which has its own private strand for an oceanfront ceremony, while the Salon Casa Velas is a blank indoor space that can be transformed into your dream reception.

Cancun

a 20 percent uptick in destination weddings in just the last year. No longer the spring breakers’ playground of yesteryear, Cancun is more sophisticated than ever, with its new focus on upscale travel.

Beach Palace Cancun The all-inclusive Beach Palace Cancun hosts events on its Sky Wedding Deck, boasting a 360-degree view of the lagoon on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other.Isla Mujeres Palace - Eight miles off the coast of Cancun lies picturesque Isla Mujeres, where the 62-room Isla Mujeres Palace blends the excitement of its mainland neighbor with the solitude of an upscale beach resort. Nizuc Resort & Spa, Cancun - built March 2013 with the intention of topping every other luxury resort in Cancun, the 274-suite hotel, located on a secluded estate that was once a private hideaway for Mexico’s president, hosts vows on a terrace adjacent to Bar A-Kan.

Los Cabos

Couples love Mexico’s no. 1 tourist locale, which experienced

Though Los Cabos is appropriately dubbed Land’s End, Mexico’s far west coast is a mere 2½-hour flight from Los Angeles (translation: celebs love it) and offers eye candy galore, from deserts and beaches to jagged cliffs and postcard-worthy sunsets. Bonus: It rains only 10 days a year.

Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa, San Jose del Cabo - It’s all about hanging 10 at Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa, fronting one of the top

surfing beaches in the area and even hosting a surf school onsite. After ceremonies on the golden sand, groups transfer to the reception lawn shaded by coconut palms and strung with globe lights.

Capella Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas - Saying I do at Capella Pedregal affords you exclusive surroundings: The only road access to the resort is via a secret tunnel carved through a mountain. A mere 96 rooms — each with its own private plunge pool — are nestled within the

This 80-mile stretch of Caribbean coast offers more than just all-inclusives (though there are many). The Riviera Maya is also prime real estate for exotic wildlife (coatimundi!), jungles, mangroves, white sand, turquoise water, eco-adventures and thousand-year-old Maya sites.

Generations Riviera Maya

by Karisma, Playa del Carmen - opened in February 2014, and the fanfare for the gourmet food and 24-hour butler service hasn’t stopped. Mutigenerational groups appreciate the family-friendly rooms, which can be arranged in groups of three connected by a shared foyer. (We recommend splurging on a suite with a plunge pool and outdoor shower.)

Xcaret, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya - Adventure reserves rule the Riviera Maya.

Two hundred-acre Xcaret park is one of the largest — and one of the few places in the area where you can wed at an archeological-dig site or celebrate in an underground wine cave.

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Fun on the Riviera Nayarit

By Cat Morgan www.rivieranayaritfun.com

Riviera Nayarit Events Coming Your Way

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aking a couple months off from computer work has been absolutely fabulous this summer.

However, the high season is approaching quickly. So it’s back to work for this gal!

Folks are painting and preparing their businesses for the arrival of long term ex-pats and tourists brightening up the towns.

The events are starting to line up! Listed below are a few things going on right now and during the remaining months of this year.

Keep your eyes on the allBucerias Calendar, as well as the La Cruz Calendar for events and classes and fun entertainment coming up this season!

It’s San Pancho Days!

San Pancho Days began Friday, September 25th at 8pm starting the ten days of fun!

The mural for this year’s San Pancho Days is made out of metal bottle tops. It is SOO cool.

Bring the entire family for rides and games, good food and dancing. A great time for everyone!

Festival Sinergiarte / San Pancho -December 20th - 28th San Pancho has a very cultural energy, and was named the “Cultural Capital of the State of Nayarit” a few years ago. An organization called Collectivo San

Pancho coordinates more than 50 concerts, 30 presentations of dance and performance, 20 circus shows, 10 theater shows, 20 solo exhibitions, and 10 multidisciplinary group exhibitions for everyone’s enjoyment, bringing the San Pancho community to life. You may find out more about everything they promote here: colectivosanpancho.tumblr.com The organizers of the 9th Festival Sinergiarte are not looking out for various disciplines of music, theater, circus acts, painting, sculpture, literature, performance and media. These doors will be closing soon, so if you have an interest in participating please contact them immediately.

The Sinergiarte Festival is their largest project and has grown and they need your support.

Lo de Marcos Sea Turtle Conservation: www.facebook. com/LdMseaturtleconservation

Turtle Season is HERE!!

Classic Rock Festival 2014 / Nuevo Hard Rock Hotel

The turtles are coming up on the beaches around the Banderas Bay and all along the Riviera Nayarit. All of the camps have been very busy, especially with the weather and high waters on the playa.

Several turtles came up and laid their eggs right at Breakers Beach Bar in Bucerias. Turtle egg rescuers came and took the eggs for the incubation of 45 days; they are hatched and then released at night increasing the chances survival. If you would like to be a part of the turtle egg protection programs and turtle conservation projects there are several to choose from on the Riviera Nayarit.

Here are a few of the organizations. It is quite easy to find them and easy to communicate with them on their facebook pages.

They need all the assistance they can get due to egg poachers.

Campamento Turtuga Sayulita facebook.com/campamentotortuguero.sayulita.9 San Pancho Turtles www. facebook.com/sanpanchoturtles

Mark your calendars for the first Vallarta - Nayarit Classic Rock Festival on December 11th through December 14th. Taking place at the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta and the neighboring field Sunset Garden. This rock fest will feature some of the best music from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

Musicians include legend Billy Burnette from Fleetwood Mac and, joining in on Skype, the great “Skunk” Baxter from the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan. To quote the creator and group producer John Zaning of the Aaring Group, ““Vallarta-Nayarit is the perfect stage to present this first-ever festival of its kind to the world.

The climate in December is amazing and the beaches are absolutely stunning.” And think he is absolutely correct in that statement!

The House Band for the festival is made up of stars from different bands including Burnette, Baxter and others from Dire Straits, Steve Miller Band, Little Feat,

Boston, John Mellencamp and Tears for Fears, and playing with big stars form The Doors, The Eagles, Cheap Trick and REO Speedwagon and more! Sounds like it’s going to be a good time!

Octopus’s Garden in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle The Octopus’s Garden / Hikuri La Cruz, though closed for regular business until November, are having a Big Garage Sale on Saturday and Sunday the 4th and 5th of October, from 10 am to 4 pm. with lots of bargains for the kitchen, the garden, books and many clothes and gift items.

Come and enjoy the fun; there will be freshly roasted coffee for sale. Octopus´s Garden Restaurant and Bar, Coral 66, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. Tel: 01 329 29 55367

3rd Annual La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Fishing Tournament October 15th – October 19th The Best Sport Fishing Tournament in the Mexican Pacific will be held in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle for its 3rd annual year, and is sponsored by the Tepic Sportfishing Club AC and the State Government.

The 4 categories are: Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado and Tuna with over 4.5 Million pesos and prizes, which also include brand new

RIVIERA NAYARIT 17

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

Banderas Bay Initiative

Patron Saint Feasts in Full Swing in San Pancho

S cars from Chevrolet and Mazda!

The event location is held at the Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. A fun and crazy fishing party; this third annual event promises some hot and heavy competition for all categories! Get signed up and Bueno Suerte! ClubDePescaDeportivaTepic.com

Free Market Spaces at Bucerias Monday Market If you are someone who would like to be in a market with a super location in Bucerias Centro you may want to get in on this fabulous deal! Who knows....perhaps it will extend into a two day market!! Ya never know!

“Preregister NOW! The Bucerias Monday Market is currently taking reservations for spaces. In order to better serve the community, this season we are opening our little plaza for artisans of every type, by popular demand.

The Monday Market is every Monday starting November 3rd, 2014 from 10 - 2pmish. Spaces are FREE, but limited to a first come first serve, so you MUST pre-register. For more info thebuceriasartwalkplaza@gmail.com or call 322.120.4450

Bucerias Art Walk begins Thursday Nov. 6th The Bucerias Art Walk is every Thursday beginning at 7pm.

Galeries along Lazaro Cardenas open their doors and often have snacks, drinks and local artists on hand.

Cat Morgan, owner of Energy Works! And the RivieraNayaritFun.com Network is open for questions, comments or other Riviera Nayarit news. You may email her directly at Cat@RivieraNayaritFun or Cat@NewEnergyConsciousness.com Thank you!

an Pancho, the cultural capital of the Riviera Nayarit, is celebrating the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi by organizing several sports, religious, artistic, and cultural activities; the standout among these was a Huichol mural made entirely of bottle caps.

From Friday, September 26 through October 4, 2014, the festivities were held at the Plaza del Sol and the town was filled with activities that range from sports to religious, artistic and cultural.

Two stages were set up on the plaza: one for cultural activities and one for musical presentations.

The program includes modern dance presentations, Hawaiian dance, Flamenco dancing by Grupo Tatewari, Abadá Capoeira Nayarit, live music, the children’s circus from Entre Amigos, and the San Pancho children’s ballet among other artistic endeavors from San Francisco, Tepic and nearby locations.

The other stage is prepared for regional Mexican music, which held concerts from 10 p.m. to well after midnight.

Among the participating bands are Banda Turquesa, Torbellino Musical, Los Cadetes de Linares and La Sonora Dinamita, just to mention a few.

As dictated by tradition, the Friendship Torch was raffled on the first day and the praying of the Novena begins in honor of the Most Holy Saint Francis of Assisi.

Unveiling during this week of festivities is the creation of a mural in the Plaza del Sol, which was made in allusion to Saint Francis of Assisi with a touch of Huichol art and created entirely of bottle caps.

“The mural is done—it was an initiative by the community youths and a collaboration between all the townspeople without the intervention of a particular organization,” added Ramiro González, who designed the mural.

By María del Mar Zamora maria@fundacionpuntademita.org

Science Fiction or Reality: Environmental Advances

I

f you grew up watching “The Jetsons”, “Back to the Future” and “The Bionic Man” you might be a little disappointed that we aren’t cruising around in hover cars and taking holidays to the moon.

However in many ways science is catching up to science fiction.

And it isn’t just video games and smart cars that are changing our understanding and interaction with our surroundings.

The pressing environmental needs of our planet and the sheer volume of information left to discover about our natural world have served as catalysts for amazing ideas, discoveries and innovations.

People across the globe are working together to find innovative ways to fill our needs in a way that has a neutral or positive impact on our environment and they are finding new ways to overcome the negative effects we have already had.

www.vallartatribune.com

You might have heard about one of these ideas. The Ocean Cleanup Array project went viral online some time ago. The idea came from 19 year old Boyan Slat and consisted of floating platforms on the giant trash gyres (or trash vortexes) that can be found in our oceans.

Their recently completed feasibility study suggests it is a viable method to remove almost half of the plastic from the North Pacific Garbage Patch in 10 years.

Advances are also making it possible to learn things that would’ve previously been impossible. On July 8th of this year Fabien Cousteau, grandson of famous Jacques Cousteau, completed a journey which would’ve felt at home in Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues under the Sea.” After a year of preparation the team of “aquanauts” spent a month 60 feet below the surface in a 43 foot long laboratory aptly called Aquarius. The team of scientists was able to study the impact of changing seas in underwater life and had the ability to leave the submarine several times a day to collect frequent samples and observe the marine habitat in the middle of the night.

And it isn’t just your phone that is connected nowadays. Off the coast of Victoria, Canada 500 miles of cabling is bringing live feeds of information from the ocean floor. This huge network is accompanied by a wondering robot exploring geothermal vents and all of this information is shared with researchers world-wide. We are getting closer to exploring the alien world that exists below the

surface of the water.

Technology has moved so quickly that we haven’t quite made the jump to solar, wind and other renewable energies but hybrid technologies are already being developed.

The Solar Wind Energy Tower is the first-to-market solar-wind hybrid technology. The system uses solar energy to evaporate and absorb water into hot dry air. The resulting cooler air falls through the tower and into wind tunnels where turbines power generators to produce electricity.

Not everything is high-tech and computers though, and we can all make small changes in our lives to benefit the environment. If you have ideas, be they easy, ambitious or quirky, we encourage you to participate on our Green Heroes campaign on Facebook. com/FundacionPuntaMita to share with others and recognize the efforts you and others are making to decrease our impact on the environment.

Seminars Reinforced Promotional Efforts In Canada

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40 travel agents participated in the events in Toronto and Montreal, Canada, a country that continues to increase the number of tourists that it sends to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit on the 17th and 18th of September.

The Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta convention and visitors bureaus collaborated with the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB), informing Canadians about the fantastic recovery this market has had within the region, news the Canadian agents received to great acclaim.

There were a total of 60

travel agents in Montreal and 80 in Toronto, all of whom participated in the cocktails and seminars in both cities to be updated on the latest news from both the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta.

The MTB’s support was in evidence throughout the events.

Montreal MTB Director Manuel Montelongo and Rodrigo Esponda, North American Director for the MTB in Toronto, were in charge of sharing the statistics and data regarding the increase in Canadian tourism to Banderas Bay. There were a total of 10 hotels participating in the events

from both destinations, as well as wholesalers from Air Canada Vacations, Sunwing and Air Transat. Aeromexico also participated, as it offers direct flights from Montreal to Mexico City with excellent connectivity to the Vallarta-Nayarit International Airport.

The main objective of these promotional activities is to maintain the recovery obtained with Canada, which is reflected in the statistics of this year’s first semester. The Leisure Market was also reinforced, which is and will continue to be the main source of tourists for Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit.

...FIND YOUR DREAM HOME Nayarit USD $ 595,000

USD $ 149,900 Bucerías, Nayarit

USD $ 329,000 Casa Carola Bucerías, Nayarit

USD $ 369,000

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit

USD $ 339,000

Casa La Kasbah La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nay

Beachfront Condo Bucerias, Nayarit

USD $ 2,250,000 BEACHFRONT HOUSE Punta De Mita, Nayarit La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit

This is the best of pueblo living and beachfront bliss. Condo Los Alebrijes provides the ultimate oceanside lifestyle for those who desire beach walks, stand-up paddle boarding and kite surfing right at your doorstep while being able to step outside its tranquil oasis into the Golden Zone’s most popular street where galleries, shops and restaurants abound.

One of only 10 exclusive condos located in a gated, low profile building directly on the long sandy beach of Bucerias, it has an elegant pool, entertainment palapa, barbecue area and its own tennis court.

The unit has three bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom and a service quarters with an additional fourth bathroom.

Two covered parking spaces and a storage locker are deeded with the condo. This property sells furnished excluding artwork and some decorative items. It has a private locker and additional common storage for paddleboards, kayaks and surfboards. www.mexi-go.ca/bucerias/house/685

USD $ 249,000 Bucerías, Nayarit

Advertise your properties with the Vallarta Tribune.

Contact Fernando Ayala 225 4982

México

USD $ 549,000

Villa Coral 32 – La Isla Mazatlán, Sinaloa

USD $ 449,000 ENCHANTING VILLAGE Ajijic, Jalisco

CAD $ 400,000 PH with rooftop terrace Huatulco, Oaxaca

CHARITIES 19

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Friday Oct 3 - 9, 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...STELLA

One morning, at 5:00 am one of our staff members arrived at the sanctuary to find a cab just leaving the property.

Our staff member found a dog and a note by the front door of the sanctuary. The dog seemed to be unable to move. We are not sure what happened to this dog. Perhaps she was born like this or hit by car.

We gave her medical attention and lots of love and Stella is now happy and healthy and ready for her forever home! Stella is a very sweet dog who

loves to cuddle and play. She is about 9 months old and she is a skinny little girl who only weighs 26 pounds. 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

CLASSIFIEDS 20

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 2014

www.vallartatribune.com

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS OFF

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

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

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

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

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

Café Roma Encino 287 Centro Mon-Sun 10:pm -3:00 am Beboteros Diaz Ordaz 565 Malecon 322.113.0099 Benito’s Paninoteca Bar Nima Bay, Local 12, “Marina Vallarta” 322.209.0287 El Patio de mi Casa Guerrero 311 esq.

Matamoros 322.222.0743 Encore Lazaro Cardenas51, Bucerias 329.298.0140 La Bodeguita Del Medio Paseo Diaz Ordaz 858, Malecon” 322.223.1583 Tu-Sun 9:30-2:00 am Murphy’s Irish Pub Morelos 484 Altos 1, Centro

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

Vallarta´s only English newspaper

ADVERTISE HERE

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

Ask for better prices!!

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

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

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

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

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

BRAIN TEASERS 21

Friday Oct 3 - 9, 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

Number Blocks

hard

Word Search

What’s a number block you ask?

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

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards. BIRDS ALBATROSS, BUDGIE, BUZZARD, CANARY, CORMORANT, CRANE, CROW, DOVE, EAGLE, EMU, FINCH, FLAMINGO, HAWK, HERON, JACKDAW, KESTREL, KOOKABURRA, LAPWING, LARK, NIGHTINGALE, OSTRICH, OWL, PARROT, PENGUIN, PIGEON, QUAIL, RAVEN, ROBIN, SANDPIPER, SEAGULL, SPARROW, STORK, SWALLOW, TERN, TOUCAN, VULTURE.

1. Green - Moola - Dough 2. Playing - Time - Greeting 3. Punch - Hair - A Volleyball 4. High - Balance - Laser 5. Human - Rat - Relay 6. Cat - Dog - Gold 7. Toad - Foot - Bar 8. French - Eskimo - Hershey 9. Area - Fire - Zip 10. Gray - Red – Timber

Commonym 12 Answers 1. slang for money 2. types of cards 3. they can be spiked 4. beams 5. races 6. fish 7. stools 8. kisses 9. codes 10. wolves

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 12 Answers 1. Better safe than sorry 2. Wheel of Fortune 3. Hard times ahead 4. Black eyed peas 5. Jumbo Jet 6. Minimize

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.

TRIBUNA de la Bahía Sábado 25 de febrero de 2012

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