Issue 939, April 2 - 8, 2015

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

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Events galeria pacifico

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April 2 - 8, 2015 Free Issue 939

Local mud and magic

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Travel Semana Santa getaway

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Photo by Madeline Milne

Paraiso Miramar, Los Cocos, Nay.

welcome

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Welcome to Puerto Vallarta

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

TIME ZONE: The entire state of Jalisco is on Central Time, as is the southern part of the State of Nayarit starting from Guayabitos 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 year 18 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: Falling 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.

Director Noemi Zamora noemizamorareynoso@gmail.com Editor Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@Vallartatribune.com Sales Team Rebeca Castellón Rebeca.castellonn@gmail.com Information office ventastribuna7@yahoo.com Designer Cynthia E. Andrade G. cysandra@gmail.com cisandra@vallartatribune.com

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

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

Spanish Bloopers

by Sandra Cesca

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his column is for all of us who are still struggling with the Spanish language…and for those who just want to enjoy a good laugh!

Although I have lived here seven years, I still make many mistakes with words that sound the same but are entirely different or with the same word that has double or triple meanings, some resulting in various degrees of embarrassment.

Today’s story: MADERA (WOOD) MIERDA (SHIT) Reader Isabel writes, “Anxious to practice my espanol with a beach vendor selling onyx fish figures, I told him of my little collection of fish figures back home,

WOOD

SHIT made of "mierda".

On and on I went, while the vendor grinned.

Finally my husband poked me and said, "Do you know what you're saying?"

SPRING AHEAD APRIL 5th

Light bulbs went off and I realized I should have been saying "madera" (wood), not shit!”

Send me your bloopers and a little story to go with them: sandra. learn.vallarta@gmail.com

Change your clocks 1 hour ahead on April 5th

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. 226-0800 editor@vallartatribune.com * www.vallartatribune.com * www.facebook.com/vallarta.tribune

editorial

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Editor’s

Note

editor@vallartatribune.com

L

ast weekend we hit the highway, heading north towards San Blas. A couple days before, I went to Google maps and scrolled along the coast line looking for small, remote hotels and found Hotel Paraiso Miramar (this week’s cover photo) located just before Playa Los Cocos about 20kms before you get to San Blas. It was absolute heaven with gorgeous gardens, little cabins and the creepy-cool abandoned mansion we stayed in.

Super quiet with primarily Mexican families though we did spot some old-timer surfers on the hunt for secret breaks. If you are looking for a hide-away this might be the place, though I think traffic this week will be enough to keep you in your homes. Next week I’ll share a bit about San Blas with you but not the banana muffins because I ate them already.

This week we have another real estate feature with two homes.

One, a traditional adobe and clay tile home in Cinco de Deciembre and the other an ultra-luxe modern condo at Icon. Both amazing in

very different ways and I could happily call either home. If you would like your home featured in the Tribune, please send me an email to discuss.

Whatever your plans for Semana Santa, be safe. Don’t drink and drive. Besides being an incredibly stupid thing to do, it’s illegal and there will be police checks, everywhere. The cost of losing your vehicle is well over 10,000 pesos and it will ruin your vacation.

Everything will be busy, crowded and sold out. Be patient, smile a lot and avoid driving if at all possible, otherwise, just go have fun. That’s what living in a beach town is all about. Enjoy yourself!

Madeline

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

T

he Farmers Market was very different this week, with fewer visitors than of late.

Many "snowbirds" have left and this week sees a lot more leaving.

Many friends and SPCA supporters came by to say Adios to us, until next season.

However, we received generous donations of more than $1000 pesos and one lady brought us some small doggy coats to keep our puppies and small dogs warm next winter. Thanks for thinking of us.

Another lady offered to take a dog back to the Seattle area next week.

Thank you.

The slow start gave the volunteers a chance to stroll round the market ourselves, we don't often get to see the wonderful array of produce and goodies for sale.

This was the last Saturday for our lovely volunteer Doreen, who returns to Canada next Saturday.

We'll miss you, Doreen - see you in November! Thanks to Doreen, Michelle, Brian and Mark.” And thanks for this report Lynnette.

Adopt To see our 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

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor,

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as a bit of their history. To make donations via PayPal, select the "Donate" option on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/spcapv or on our website at http://spcapv.com/ donate/.

Donate If you would like to make a donation other than money to the SPCA, here is a list of items we can ALWAYS use: Kong's or very hard rubber chew toys (we cannot use soft plastic toys anymore due to ingestion worries); Chuck it balls ... hard rubber; stuffed toys for puppies; BLUE BAG Costco dog food salmon – ONLY; all natural dog treats; towels, blankets, Lysol, powdered laundry detergent; office supplies such as paper, pens, clip boards, scissors, plastic cups for water for our staff and volunteers.

Transport We have an ongoing need for help transporting dogs to the United States and Canada.

The SPCA will take care of all the details and cost of transporting the animals. Stop by our table at the Old Town Farmers Market and we will answer any questions you might have.

Tour You can come and spend a rewarding afternoon cuddling the animals at Puerto Vallarta’s SPCA Sanctuary. We have sche-

duled tours each week and vehicle space is limited. We have also begun scheduling tours from Nuevo Vallarta. Contact Nicole Martin at nicole@cupocity.com to make a reservation.

Get involved…rescue, adopt, foster, volunteer, donate or educate.

Contact us at spcapv@gmail.com.

You can learn more about the SPCA Puerto Vallarta by checking us out at www.spcapv.com/home or on Facebook.

editor@vallartatribune.com

Editor,

hat a treat to be the first one to offer a peek inside my house, Villa Mizpah, via the new Real Estate section of the Vallarta Tribune.

I was even more surprised and elated that Madeline, was kind enough to have Villa Mizpah bless the front cover!

What treat. I enjoyed reading all the added information this new section as to offer and look forward to seeing other featured homes,because once my house sells, I will need a new place to live!

Thank you again for the exposure.

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

W

e are writing to express our public concern over the very poor security situation at Bay View Grand Marina Vallarta.

On 18 March 2015 we chartered the sailing vessel Sea Breeze from a company named PV Sail, complete with captain and two crew members. As very experienced sailors ourselves, we thought that a day of sailing on Banderas Bay would be a highlight of our trip to Puerto Vallarta. We also included six other friends in our day’s sail.

However, upon docking we were robbed of a bag which we had placed on Dock K while we were distracted momentarily watching Sea Breeze depart. At that very moment, someone who was likely inside the security gate grabbed the bag and quickly made off with it. That person obviously had knowledge of the contents of the bag and targeted only it.

Its contents included cash of four thou-

sand pesos. Also included were two pairs of prescription glasses, a camera, a hand-held marine vhf radio, an MP3 player and a bottle of white wine along with assorted clothes.

We noticed immediately that the bag had been stolen and notified the marina security guard at the top of the dock where the entrance gate is located. He said he would call the police who would arrive in 10 minutes.

This was not the truth as it later turned out that the police had not been called at all. When we spoke the next day with the marina security managers we received a very indifferent response and absolutely no offer to help. All we got was “I’m sorry” from the senior manager. There was no offer to call the police or conduct any kind of investigation or any offer to take any information from us. In fact we were subtly dissuaded from notifying the police.

We were told by other boat owners in the marina that things such as this routinely happen and security is not interested and

that it just causes a lot of trouble if we report the matter to the police.

For a marina which accommodates many millions of dollars’ worth of yachts, we are surprised at the indifference and poor attitude of those responsible.

Boat owners who use the marina’s slips are absolutely not getting their money’s worth from the security company. It also amazed us that no security cameras exist either on or near the docks. Travel in Puerto Vallarta should by now be safe, especially on the docks of an expensive marina. We did appreciate the concerns of management at the Mayan Palace where we were staying and the report they took. They were very professional.

Our investigations will continue and we will file a report with the police, which we trust will properly investigate so as to protect future customers of charter vessels.

Sincerely, Ross & Pam Hicks, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

entertainment

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Forever Plaid Extends Run

By Danny Mininni

F

orever Plaid, The heavenly Musical Hit has taken Vallarta by storm. What happens when you take four of the most handsome, talented men who sing like angels and put them on a stage? Forever Plaid happens. If you think you have seen Forever Plaid before, you have never seen it like this. For the first time on this or any other planet that Forever Plaid is being performed in Mexico.

You’ll be humming along with the great nostalgic pop hits of the 1950's and rollin’ in the aisles from the delightful patter of the original clean-cut boy band – The Plaids.

Featuring such hits as Sixteen Tons, Chain Gang, Three Coins in the Fountain, Perfidia, Cry, Catch a Falling Star, Day-O, Gotta Be This or That, Matilda, and Heart and Soul.

The Plaids get a chance to look back at their lives, and they discover

that they didn't just have wonderful lives; their lives were wonderful, because they lived them together.

Together they can achieve the unimaginable, the unexplainable.

Forever plaid performs at 7:00pm in The Main Stage Theater at Act II April 2, 3, 4 with added shows on 9, 14 and 21 at 7:00 pm THE VOICE OF VALLARTA Semi Finals Week The top three are fighting it out for the final. Who will win and go on?

Join us this week for the semi-finals. We are down to the top three and this week the contestants have to sing three songs each.

Each will be assigned a judge as a mentor and that judge will choose the first song.

The Voice of Vallarta producer, Danny Mininni will choose the second song and the contestants will each choose a song.

One thing is sure The Voice of Vallarta is hotter than ever! The Voice is down to the top three and

who makes it to the finales is up to you. Join us every Sunday for Vallarta's favorite show THE VOICE OF VALLARTA 8:00 pm.

ELVIZ MARTINEZ - Opens in the red room with a Sold Out House Local performer and co-star of the smash hit Forever Plaid, Elviz Martinez opens his new show “An Evening with Elviz Martinez, Come fly away¨ in the Red Room Cabaret for three days only. Musical Director Bob Bruneau is at the Piano. Last year Elviz debuted his first concert at Act II to sold out standing room only shows - so get your tickets fast! Elviz will be performing April 1, 10 and 17 at 7:30 pm PAUL FRACASSI A NEW VALLARTA LEGEND OPENS HIS LEGENDS OF THE 50´S AND 60´S SHOW IN THE MAIN STAGE Paul Fracassi Canadian Idol Finalist has made himself famous in Vallarta doing his Walk Like A

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Man show. Paul extends his run in Vallarta with Walk Like A Man and his Tribute to the Legends of the 50's and 60's show.

With his four octave range and extraordinary energy and presence onstage, Paul Fracassi has been wowing audiences all across North America with his electrifying performances and tribute appearances.

Paul has performed onstage with The Beach Boys and was a former Canadian Idol Top 20 Finalist.

He is most known for his high energy tribute to Frankie Valli but he is also a former Elvis tribute artist.

Known as 'Kid Elvis" Paul has won numerous awards for his likeness to the young kid from Tupelo who one day made history by strolling into Sun Studios to record a song for his "Mama".

For a limited time only Paul will curl his lip and flip his collar once again to relive the 50's and 60's through the Music of Elvis, Frankie Valli, Frank Sinatra, Davy Jones, Buddy Holly, Bobby Darin and More. Walk Like A Man will be performed in The Red Room April 2, 4 and 8. His Legends of the 50´s and 60´s Show will open April 11th in The Main Stage Theater with two added shows on April 15 & 18.

ARMI GRANO IN THE RED ROOM CABARET FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY. April 8th at 7:30pm Armi Grano is one of the finest jazz vocalists on the contemporary jazz music scene today.

Her genuine engaging personality has attracted fans from all over the world. With four albums recorded, Armi is enjoying sales and airplay all over Canada, USA, Mexico, England and Asia. Her influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Astrid Gilberto and Anita O’Day, which have helped her to develop her own blend of music featuring an exciting mix of Latin, pop, swing and jazz influences.

FOREVER ELVIS STARRING ROB KNIGHT MOVES TO A NEW NIGHT. Every Thursday at 7:30pm Rob's performance provides an opportunity to travel back in time to enjoy the music from Elvis' career.

Rob most enjoys singing the songs of the powerful 1968 Comeback TV Special and the unforgettable Aloha and Las Vegas Concerts.

There will never be another Elvis, but as an Elvis Tribute Artist Rob is honored to pay tribute to the most significant entertainer of all time the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley.

Box office opens daily at 12:00 pm or buy online at www.vallartatickets.com The Main stage theater is located in the Act II Entertainment STAGES complex at Insurgentes 300 (corner of Basilio Badillo & Insurgentes) 2nd Floor Zona Romántica Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Tel 322.222.1512

events

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Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Magdiel Perez and Alfredo Langarica

Open at Galería Pacifico on April 8th

G

aleria Pacifico will host its last exhibition of the season during the Art Walk in the downtown historic zone on Wednesday, April 8.

This exhibit will feature two out of town artists, Magdiel Perez from San Miguel de Allende and Alfredo Langarica from Guadalajara. Although both men are in their early fifties with substantial curriculums including numerous museum shows, and both have a fondness for Puerto Vallarta and for showing their work here, the similarities seem to stop there.

Magdiel´s work makes one think he might be from Oaxaca, as it relects an interest in animals and nature and their interaction with mankind and has the primitive spiritual feel of some of the paintings by Mixtec and Zapotec desendents of that area, such as Francisco Toledo and Alejandro

Santiago. Many of his paintings are done in the old technique of encaustic, incorporating wax with the oils on canvas or board, but he also paints watercolors on paper Alfredo Langarica on the other hand seems to be about three artists wrapped into one, and his solo exhibits can look like collectives of multiple painters, ranging from the abstract to the figurative, and within the later category can sometimes display great whimsy and humor and on other occasions can be more complex and thought provoking in their themes.

The paintings can also vary a great deal in size, starting at 5 x 8 inches and going up to 5 x 8 feet and larger.

Both of these talented and highly acclaimed artists might be said to be at the peak of their game at this point in their respective careers. They will each be present

Magdiel Perez at the cocktail inauguration from 6:00 to 10:00 PM on Wednesday, April 8.

The exhibit will remain mounted until May 8, but Galeria Pacifico always maintains a substantial display of the work of Perez and Langarica in their spacious second floor location at 174 Aldama Street, just 75 feet up from the Malecon ocean promenade and the Cerveceria Union Restaurant and Bar.

Exhibition: “Two Artists”

ALFREDO LANGARICA

MAGDIEL PEREZ

Wednesday

8

April

“Art Walk” Camino al Arte

th

Exhibition through May 8th

COCKTAILS 6-10 PM

Aldama 174, Downtown, Tel. (322) 222 1982 galeriapacifico@gmail.com www.galeriapacifico.com

news

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Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Will Mexico's Economy Bounce Back In 2015?

By Nathaniel Parish Flannery

A Mexico Plans to Reduce Greenhouse Gases 25% by 2030

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he Mexican government has committed itself to reducing greenhouse gases 25 percent by the year 2030, a proportion that could be raised to 40 percent with international aid.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Juan Jose Guerra and Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Antonio Meade presented the nation’s commitments to dealing with climate change during the period between 2020-2030.

At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it was established that in December 2015 a new universal judicial instrument will be adopted to reduce greenhouse gases.

“Mexico is the first developing country to make a tentative contribution” in this area, Meade said in his presentation.

After the announcement, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, and his American counterpart, Barack Obama, reaffirmed their commitment to dealing with global climate change, which they considered one of the greatest threats facing mankind.

In a joint communiqué, the leaders noted the importance of reflecting the subject in their national economies and of taking intelligent steps against climate change and in favour of using clean energy.

To do so, the two nations will launch a high-level working group on clean energy and environmental policy to improve coordination in this field, they said.

In applying this commitment, Mexico will reach its highest quantity of emissions in 2026 and will then progressively lower them by 40 percent.

In 2013, Mexico emitted the

equivalent of 781 million tons of carbon dioxide, and by 2030, continuing with business as usual, it would reach 1.11 billion.

However, the government expects to reduce emissions so they remain at 829 million tons thanks to measures like the General Climate Change Law, a new forestry project and the energy reform that took effect in 2014.

Guerra emphasized the benefits of this constitutional reform to reduce polluting emissions, since it plans to boost the role of renewable energy in Mexico.

Black carbon emissions from the combustion of petroleum derivatives will be cut 51 percent compared to the initial forecasts for 2030, while the emission of greenhouse gases will drop by 22 percent.

Mexico currently represents 1.37 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, which puts it in 13th place worldwide.

However, it’s one of the countries “most affected by climate change,” Guerra said, referring to the devastation repeatedly caused by natural phenomena in Mexico.

Of total emissions, 92 percent come from burning hydrocarbons and the remaining 8 percent from changes in soil usage as a result of, for example, deforestation.

Some 45 percent of such emissions go into the atmosphere, 27 percent into the sea and 27 percent are trapped and taken out of the atmosphere by forests.

In that regard, Guerra said the government’s proposal is to cut the deforestation rate to zero percent by 2030, and to diminish by 50 percent the number of vulnerable municipalities.

Latin America Herald Tribune

ccording to Mexico’s latest Indicador Global de la Actividad Económica report the country’s economy expanded by 2.6% in year-on-year terms in January. After reporting disappointing growth in 2013 and 2014 the latest numbers indicate that Mexico’s economy may be getting onto surer footing. In January Mexico’s economy grew by 0.22%.

Economic growth was driven by the primary sector expanded by 13.4% compared with the same period of 2014. This latest numbers confirm a trend already under way in late 2014.

According to a recent report from FocusEconomics, “The economy gained traction in the last quarter of 2014 due to solid growth in construction, manufacturing and services, which compensated for the dismal performance in mining.

With a 2.1% expansion in the full year 2014, the economy expanded at a faster pace than in 2013.”

In January Mexico’s Finance Minister Luis Videgaray warned “Today if we look at oil prices for 2016 and beyond we know that it presents a difficult environment for the national economy…and will obligate us to take measures.”

According to Mexico’s latest IGAE report the construction sector continues to be a weak point in the economy while both the transport

and food and beverage service sectors reported stronger growth.

Mexico’s government is currently projecting economic growth for 2015 between 3.2% and 4.2%. Luis Robles Miaja, the head of the Mexican Banking Association Mexico, explained Mexico still “has an opportunity to achieve dynamic and sustainable growth.”

Original: Forbes

Corona-Maker Announces Billion Dollar Investment in Mexico

By Nathaniel Parish Flannery

C

onstellation Brands, the company that distributes Corona, Modelo Negra, and Modelo Especial in the U.S. announced plans to invest more than one billion dollars to expand production at its facility in Coahuila Mexico from 10 to 25 million hectoliters a year, a move that the company expects to help it increase its share in the U.S. beer market from 7 percent to 14 percent. The investment in the Coahuila factory is expected to top US$1 billion. According to

company spokesman Edgar Guillaumin,”imported beer and craft beer are growing a lot in the U.S. We want to keep pushing premium Mexican brands in the U.S. market.

We’re concentrating on beer that’s where we have aggressive plans for growth.” Mexico currently exports more than $1.5 billion dollars worth of beer annually, a figure that should rise as Anheuser-Busch owned Grupo Modelo and Heineken-owned Cervezas Moctezuma, makers of DosEquis, continue to expand production.

Original: Forbes

Gigante will operate Radio Shack again

R

etailer buys 251 stores in Mexico seven years after it was bought out. Retailer Grupo Gigante will return to the electronics business with its purchase of Radio Shack stores in Mexico.

It announced yesterday it will buy Radio Shack’s 251 Mexican stores for US $31.8 million through its subsidiary Office Depot de Mexico. The stores generated sales of 1.7 billion pesos (US $115 million)

last year. Gigante ran the Radio Shack stores in Mexico from 1992 until 2008, when the United States-based Radio Shack Corp. bought out its joint-venture partner. In February, Radio Shack filed for bankruptcy.

Gigante said it had the experience of successfully operating the business until 2008 and is aware that changes in the business model will be necessary.

The firm said it will act quickly to put a new strategic plan into

place. The sale will require regulatory approval in Mexico and confirmation by a bankruptcy court in the U.S. Grupo Gigante was a major player in the supermarket business until it sold most of its stores to Soriana in 2008.

It has since bought Office Depot and acquired Restaurantes California and Beer Factory.

Mexico News Daily

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Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Sentras: more than one Mexico’s Pemex Carries Out born every minute Corporate Restructuring

N

issan celebrates 200,000th vehicle at 16-month-old Aguascalientes plant Nissan Sentras are born faster than suckers at the Japanese auto maker’s assembly plants in Aguascalientes.

Nissan Motor Co. celebrated this week the production of the 200,000th vehicle at its A2 manufacturing plant, which went into production just 16 months ago.

The vehicle in question was a cherry-red Sentra SR, a model that comes off the production line at both Aguascalientes plants every 55 seconds.

Building vehicle No. 200,000 has required 239 million auto parts,

72,000 tonnes of steel sheets, 1.2 million liters of paint and more than 6.6 million working hours.

Most of the plants’ production has gone to the United States — a total of 181,600 units. Brazil took 17,400 and Puerto Rico 1,000.

Those vehicles were built with 98 different specifications and in 13 colors.

Nissan saw strong sales in the U.S. last month, recording an increase of 24% over the previous year. The Sentra that rolled off the line this week was destined for a showroom in Chicago, but many go to Brazil, where it saw a 111% increase in sales in 2014.

Mexico News Daily

Human Rights Campaign names Vallarta as National Travel Partner For 2015

T

he Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board has partnered with the Human Rights Campaign, the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, as the organization’s first national travel partner. Reaching over 1.5 million members and supporters, including US Vice President Biden. During the campaign, Puerto Vallarta will promote its adventure, gastronomy, cultural, nightlife, romance and family offerings in HRC conferences, dinners and events in 20 cities, including San Francisco, Los Angles, Minneapolis, New York and Chicago.

Participants of the events will have a chance to win stays in Puerto Vallarta with hotel accommodations provided by Casa Cupula, Costa Sur Resort and Spa, Luna Liquida, Marriott CasaMagna and Villa Mercedes. Winners will also have the opportunity to have special dinners at Café des Artists or Sapphire Ocean Club and take Vallarta’s Gay Bar Hopping Tour. Vallarta Adventures will provide access to its various activities, including the longest zipline in Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta, offers visitors a friendly and supportive environment to all its visitors and has been Mexico’s leading destination for LGBT visitors for decades. Gaycities’ 2014 Top Beach Destination, Puerto Vallarta boasts a gayborhood home to an array of gay bars and

nightclubs, gay-owned restaurants, hotels, stores, services, and entertainment that put the destination in a league of its own.

Its Vallarta Pride, is a 10-day celebration of LGBT culture that starts the Pride season in May and this year will have Orange is the New Black’s Lea DeLaria as its Grand Marshall with appearances by Andrew Christian.

In recent years, the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board, the entity responsible for promoting the destination in the US and Canada has partnered with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), GMHC and the International Gay Lesbian Travel Association to promote the destination’s diverse tourism offerings. In 2014, Puerto Vallarta became the first Mexican destination to participate in a World Pride with its Noche Alegre event during the World Pride celebrations in Toronto.

Many of Gay PV’s main attractions can be found in the Zona Romantica, a delightfully walkable and compact area where tourists of all stripes mix and mingle at the beach, in cafes, in restaurants and bars, as well as on the newly widened and covered sidewalks of the neighbourhood. In the past decade, many gay ex-Patriots from North America have joined locals in opening businesses in the area to cater to gay tourism, creating a vibrant and exciting mix of unique and friendly businesses.

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exican state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos announced several new executive appointments and the transformation of its parent-subsidiary structure.

“This is the most important restructuring in decades for Pemex and it has been possible thanks to the tools provided by the energy reform,” the company said in a statement Friday, referring to an energy overhaul enacted last year that opened the sector to foreign investment for the first time since 1938.

The appointments, made by the board of directors at the request of CEO Emilio Lozoya, “fortify an agile and flexible structure with a great capacity to adapt to future changes within the company.”

Jose Manuel Carrera Panizzo was named corporate director of alliances and new business, Tirso Armando Castañon Terminel was appointed corporate director of human resources, and Pedro Silva Lopez was named corporate director of technological research

and development.

The board also named deputy directors in the different corporate departments.

It also authorized the transformation of Pemex’s four subsidiary entities into two productive subsidiary companies.

With the move, Pemex-Exploration and Production was transformed into Exploration and Production, while Pemex-Refining, Pemex-Gas and Basic Petrochemicals, and Pemex-Petrochemicals were reorganized into Industrial Transformation.

The board also approved the creation of five non-core productive subsidiary companies that eventually will become affiliate companies and which encompass the following areas: drilling and services, logistics, cogeneration and services, fertilizers, and ethylene.

“The new productive subsidiary companies will have legal personality, their own equity, and technical and operational autonomy, and will be subject to Pemex’s

central leadership, strategic direction and coordination,” the statement said.

“Their purpose will be to create economic value and profitability for the Mexican government” through domestic or foreign operations, it added.

Supporters of the overhaul say the participation of major multinational energy companies under profit- and production-sharing contracts and licenses is needed to develop promising deepwater oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Mexico and shale resources and boost sagging crude output.

Crude production has fallen by nearly 30 percent from a high of 3.38 million barrels per day in 2004 due to a sharp decline in output at offshore Cantarell, formerly Mexico’s most productive field, and a lack of investment.

But the move to end Pemex’s monopoly is a thorny issue in Mexico because the state-owned firm has long been a symbol of national sovereignty.

Latin America Herald Tribune

Nayarit expects 98% occupancy during Semana Santa

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an Blas will be at capacity on April 3-4, while Banderas Bay will be at 97% and Rincón de Guayabitos at 99%; between Holy Week and Easter the overall occupancy rate of the destination will range from 86% to 98%.

Holy Week and Easter vacation are fast approaching and the forecast on the occupancy rate for the Riviera Nayarit during

those high season days is at 98% on the weekend corresponding to Holy Week.

With information gleaned from the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Survey it’s possible to predict during this period that San Blas will be at 100% capacity, Rincón de Guayabitos will be at 99% and Banderas Bay will reach 97% capacity.

The occupancy in the Banderas Bay area will remain stable, as Holy Week will see a rate above 92%, while Easter Week may dip as low as 87%.

All in all, the positioning of the destination and, above all, the specific promotion given to each microdestination, has guaranteed these high occupancy dates— mostly by domestic travelers—will benefit all the communities equally.

Mexican Economic Activity Up 2.6% in January

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exico’s IGAE economic activity index rose 2.6 percent in January relative to the same month of 2014, driven by growth in the agricultural sector, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, or Inegi, said Wednesday.

In a statement, Inegi said the rise in that index was the result of 13.4 percent growth in primary acti-

vities (agriculture), an 0.8 percent increase in secondary activities (services) and a 3.1 percent rise in tertiary activities (manufacturing).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the IGAE rose 0.2 percent in January compared to December thanks to a 6.7 percent increase in agricultural activity and a 0.4 percent rise in the services sector, while manufacturing contracted by

0.4 percent. The IGAE is a preliminary indicator that indicates the direction of Mexico’s economy in the short term.

Mexico’s gross domestic product rose 2.1 percent in 2014, up from the 1.4 percent growth rate registered in 2013 but well short of the government’s forecast for 3.9 percent growth.

Latin America Herald Tribune

Old Town Farmers Marke Download 200,000+ brand logos in vector format for free http://www.logoeps.com/

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ach week, the Old Town Farmers’ Market-Tianguis Cultural celebrates its 90+ “make it, bake it, grow it” vendors. International artists, soap makers, jewelers, doctors, farmers, bakers, seamstresses and chocolatiers – all of whom are experts in their producer-only fields – make up the roster. This week we are highlighting the loco (crazy) vendor of MuchoCoco, Carlos Morlett.

Meet MuchoCoco

It was a bright sunny day in 2010, when a warm tropical breeze swayed the palms and sent a coconut straight down on Carlos Morlett's head.

“When it happened, something shook loose in my brain,” says Morlett, claiming in jest that the incident caused him to be a little crazy for coconuts! But this soon-to-be entrepreneur wasn't crazy. He figured out how to maximize the benefits of this natural ingredient and share it with thousands of national and international shoppers.

Morlett was no stranger to coconuts. As a child vacationing in the tropics, he would watch the locals cook with coconut oil and use the fruit's skin as a natural moisturizer and sun block.

They even used the wood – from what they called the “Tree of Life” – to build their homes.

Today, natural product-lovers around the world have joined Morlett in their loco-ness for coconuts!

They enjoy the benefits of coconut oil to moisturize dry skin, calm irritated areas and amplify one's natural beauty.

With over 300 ways to use coconuts for a healthy lifestyle, Morlett's brings his own tried-and-true methods to create a must-have line of 100% natural, coconut body products.

100% Natural Coconut Products

Through extensive research and testing, MuchoCoco has found a way to efficiently utilize the various healing properties of the coconut.

“We use only the purest products sourced directly from clean lands where they are naturally grown, processed and packed with the utmost care,”

MuchoCoco says Morlett. “This process allows us to guarantee the freshness, quality and effectiveness of all of our coconut skincare products.”

The MuchoCoco product line includes pure coconut oil (in solid and liquid form) and bougainvillea infused coconut oil.

MuchoCoco products can also be found in spas, hotels and resorts, and specialty boutiques throughout Mexico.

If you'd like to learn more about MuchoCoco, contact Morlett at (322) 134-4162 or sunvirginbioorganic(at)yahoo.com.

Get to Know the OTFM

Ours is a festive “make it, bake it, grow it” North American style market that celebrates the tradition and culture of Mexico’s outdoor tianguis markets.

We are a registered non-profit/association civil organization that focuses on the “buy local” movement as well as entrepreneurial and community development.

You're Invited!

Join us this Saturday from 9:30-2 in Lazaro Cárdenas Park, Old Town. And be sure to save your appetite for the International Food Court (located under shaded pergolas on the eastern side of Lazaro Cárdenas Park). We're serving Thai, Indian, traditional Mexican favorites and vegan dishes, such as hamburgers, al pastor and falafels.

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The market is open every Saturday from November 1 through April 25.

For updates, visit www.oldtownfm.com and “like” us on Facebook.

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et - Tianguis Cultural

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Find us at Parque Lázaro Cárdenas Romantic Zone Saturdays 9:30 - 2:00 pm

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Artisan Bakery Artisan Bakery

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Artisan Bakery

Artisan Bakery

…where bread is an art.

Na tu rally leave ne d sou rd ou g h s pe cialt y b r ead s …where bread is ba ke d in ou r ow n ma so nry ov e n.

an art.

Na tu rally leave ne d sou rd ou g h s pe cialt y b r ead s ba ke d in ou r ow n ma so nry ov e n.

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…where bread is an art.

Na tu rally leave ne d sou rd ou g h s pe cialt y b r ead s ba ke d in ou r ow n ma so nry ov e n.

…where bread is an art.

Na tu rally leave ne d sou rd ou g h s pe cialt y b r ead s ba ke d in ou r ow n ma so nry ov e n.

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Swimwear and beachwear made ​​to order!

Heriberto Saucedo Pérez Artista Diseñador Cel. 3222.190 56 32 Fb: Heriko Joyeria herikojoyeria@hotmail.com Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Teresa Moreno Fb: TYBikinisYMas

Tel. 322-13-04-77 ty-bikinis-y-mas@hotmail.com Federalismo #1383 Colonia Lomas del Coapinole Pitillal, Jal

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Serving

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tags are used by volunteers at Kripalu, who chose to do just that – work throughout the center (in the kitchen, grounds keeping, house keeping) without talking, even during meals.

The minute I pinned a tag on my shirt, I felt my spirits lift. I didn’t have to speak to anyone – all day.

What a gift!

I listened to lectures, took yoga classes, ate meals, all without saying a single word. It was exactly what I needed. My classmates didn’t know what to do with me.

Some treated me like a 3 year old in the middle of a tantrum, talking in a soft voice and asking if I needed anything as they pat my shoulder or rubbed my back. Others would see my tag, apologize quickly, and run away to find someone else who had words to share.

And then, there were a select few who took my mute state in stride. They just nodded their head and talked to me as usual; recognizing it didn’t mean anything that a few less words were being tossed around for the day.

Of Markets and Men

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he People’s Bank of China announced that “growth is slowing very huge” on Sunday night. The People’s bank also tweaked the mortgage rules; instead of the sixty percent required down payment on second properties, it has been reduced to forty percent. This was done “to improve quality of life.” The Shanghai index rose two and a half percent on the news. Traders obviously expect more stimulus.

That index has risen sixty-five percent, since October of last year, when it really became clear that things were slowing down.

The Dow industrials rose two hundred and sixty-three points on the news, almost all of it pre-market.

It doesn’t seem to matter where the

amount, aught to keep the shorts away.

I have shared my contempt for the banks and for bankers. The thing is this, I am not against capitalism, I’m not a ‘red’ as they used to say. I merely believe that the system got out of hand somewhere in the mid-nineties.

Regulation was thrown out the window and it has proved increasingly difficult to reinstate. Senator Elizabeth Warren and some others are having a go at it, and I encourage you to support them in their efforts. The mainstream media has much to be gained by keeping its viewers pre-occupied with trivial matters. It is a very profitable business owned by very rich men that benefit from the current system.

The problem is that it distracts from more pressing matters at minimum and creates two Americas at worst.

Leza Warkentin mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

Life-Hack Parenting

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esterday I was flipping through the internet on some pressing business (ie avoiding the dishes in my sink), when I came upon an article called 15 Questions To Ask Your Kids To Help Them Have Good Mindsets

by David K. William. It was on a website called lifehack.org.

I tried a life hack once. My car’s headlights still smell minty fresh but the toothpaste did NOT remove the film. It enhanced it quite nicely.

I was understandably skeptical, then, about getting parenting advice from a life hack website.

But I decided to give the article a chance because I really really don’t enjoy washing dishes. I read the introductory paragraphs and I wasn’t impressed. It talked a lot about asking leading questions to create a certain mindset and attitude and using the questions as a roundabout method to explain to them a way of living positively.

I’m very curious about the author. Does he have children?

By Robin Avery avery1@mac.com

stimulus comes from, it’s good for Wall Street.

Saudi Arabia bombed Yemen last week and the price of oil jumped from forty-four to fifty-two dollars a barrel, before resuming its downward trajectory.

Greece has yet another deadline to meet and it is becoming increasingly likely that rhetoric is not going to solve anything. At some point, the can will stop being kicked and some real, structural changes will occur. One could argue that it’s only Greece, a tiny country, but small events have set off bigger ones in the past. A royal heir was shot in Austria to start World War One, an ammunition depot was bombed in Poland for the second and a strike in Poland

Wars’ a book by James Rickards.

He can be viewed along with others explaining just what that is, and why, on YouTube.

If the green back has appreciated twenty percent in one year, you could say cash has been the best performing asset during that time. On the other hand the ‘loonie’ has taken a beating in the opposite order. So, get interest rates right and you predict the U.S. dollar right, predict the price of oil correctly and you get the Canadian dollar right.

Everybody does it, so I might just as well have a stab at it. I’ll predict that the dollar stays higher for longer thus creating downward pressure on all commodities.

Janet has signaled to the market that she intends to keep money cheaper, for longer. Just the same, the very idea that she and her brethren may raise rates, at some point, by even a miniscule

and Parenting

Terry Connell

hile in the middle of an intensive month-long yoga teacher training at Kripalu (several years ago), I woke up one morning in the dorm room I shared with five other guys, and got ready for my day in a funk that grew worse as the minutes passed.

It could have been whatever toxins were released from the hot stone massage the night before. It could have been a side effect of three hours of heart opening postures I practiced the day before. I’m sure living in a cramped room with 5 strangers for three weeks – without coffee – didn’t help.

Whatever the reason, I didn’t even want to be with myself. I was a live wire filled with bile and venom.

When one of my roommates woke up and began bouncing around me like Tigger on crack, I walked out of our room without saying a word and made a beeline for the cafeteria, where I knew I’d find exactly what I needed: a name tag with “Serving in Silence” typed out in bold black letters. These

Explaining things explicitly to kids involves about 12,756 repetitions before the bed gets made. Using leading questions in a roundabout sort of way to explain why kids need to do it sounds like the road to a maternal nervous breakdown.

However. I decided to give him one more chance because I had burned dinner to the bottom of my only non-stick pan, and I was giving it a bit more time to soak. And you know what? I am really glad I did.

I think that, as parents, we make sure our kids are healthy and safe.

If we can take care of those things and, additionally, they end up taking up an instrument or a sport somewhere, we can call ourselves good parents.

We have busy schedules, so we create for ourselves a decent, if not slightly precarious system where we almost never forget to pick up anyone after soccer practice. We can call ourselves good parents.

We put in the time. We set aside a day a week where all family members are present. We plan the play dates, we go to the beach, we let them put our makeup on for us (blindfolded, yo), we bake the

cookies, we have Family Movie Nights (Eddie Murphy’s crossover to the family movie genre was about the best thing that’s ever happened to parenthood). We can call ourselves good parents.

But in all of this, in all of the scheduling and the bedtime stories and the picture-perfect family days… in all of that, do we ask what’s going on inside of those little people?

Sure, my kids like to share. They are, perhaps, over-sharers. I know what they are thinking all. the. time.

I know when they have watched a new YouTube video about DIY chalkboard picture frames. I know when they are hungry for grilled cheese. I know when their clothing tags chafe.

But do I know what they think was the best thing that’s ever happened to them? What about the worst?

Do I know what they learned from it? What about what they want to do to change the world?

Which of their friends do they like the most? Why? If they could grow up to be famous, what would they want to be famous for? If they could make one rule for the whole world to follow, what would it be?

What do you love doing that makes you feel happiest?

I don’t know (yet) how my children would answer these. But as I read the questions, I find myself very curious to know. Not only that, I think questions such as these do set your children on a path toward self-discovery. They set them on a path of purpose.

And they give us as parents a glimpse into the hearts of the most important people in our lives.

Paradise

in Silence

Terry Connell is a licensed acupuncturist and yoga teacher practicing in Old Town, Vallarta (www.eastmeetseast.net). In his spare time he walks his dog and reads and writes. His first book, “Slaves to the Rhythm” was a Cowley Literary Award Finalist (www.terryconnell.net).

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

brought down the U.S.S.R. C.E.O.’s are making even more dough than initially thought.

Forbes reports that from two-thousand and nine until two-thousand and thirteen the bosses at the three hundred biggest companies brought in a combined twenty-two billion dollars. That’s about seventy-three million each. It helps explain why executive’s pay has increased one hundred and twenty-seven times faster than the average employee.

I have been asked to comment on currencies’ in regards to buying things abroad, primarily real estate.

I feel like I have been talking about currency since my first column in October. I have been coming at it from the perspective of ‘Currency

local

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Ask

Barb

Beyond

Mainstream

By Barb Skora Barb.skora@gmail.com Personal life coach Barb Skora, former interior designer from LA will be featured bi-weekly in the Vallarta Tribune offering tips and advice supporting lifestyles beyond the mainstream.

Hi Barb, After 1.5 years here I’ve decided to make the move from furnished rental to unfurnished and I’d like some advice on where to start to look for great furniture, home decoration and how to manage the humidity, salt, bugs... What should I consider to start my new home here in Vallarta?

First, congratulations on your decision to furnish your own space.

As you know this will allow you more options then living in a furnished apartment. Since your home is a reflection of you, I suggest that the furniture, accessories and colors you choose reflect your personality. There are many places here in PV to look for furniture.

With a price point in mind, create a checklist of what you already know you like. Unlike the States and

Canada, most new furniture can be found in department stores and online web sites. There are some furniture showrooms but their price points will be higher. If traveling to Guadalajara is an option, the quality, prices and selection are better. If you are more eclectic and creative you may want to mix new and old and have fun discovering many of the great consignment shops here in town and at the same time meet a new friend while you are there. Since Vallarta has many transients, you can also find some great bargains on Craigslist.

As far as the humidity, stay away from area rugs; but if you must, make sure they are weaved from a plant material.

You can find them at Home Depot or Costco and occasionally on the beach. Salt problems can

PEACE Animal

be eliminated by hiring a good housekeeper that is very familiar with such problems and will gently care and protect certain items affected by salt. Bug problems are few if you live up a hill but near the beach can be a problem. Screen your home and always have some Raid around.

There are plants you can have on your balcony or garden that help repel bugs such as Lemon Grass, Basil and Marigolds.

Of course if the bugs are a problem with your skin, a must will be bug repellent or wearing longer sleeves or lighter clothing, no perfume. Enjoy your new surroundings and Puerto Vallarta.

Barb will take and answer questions regarding your “offbeat” journeys abroad. Whether you already live abroad or thinking about living here in Mexico, Barb will offer suggestions to support these lifestyles. *Readers are responsible for doing their own research before following advice given here. You can email Barb or editor@vallartatribune.com. For more information visit her website at www.skoralifecoach.com

Gretchen DeWitt www.peaceanimals.org

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EACEAnimals endeavours to prevent the future suffering of cats and dogs by providing free mobile spay and neuter clinics, primarily in communities throughout the Bay of Banderas. Held weekly, these clinics are fully supported through donations and grants.

Clinic schedule, including directions and other clinic information are always on the website: www.peaceanimals.org and www.gretchen-peace-and-pv.blogspot.com LUNCH DONATIONS NEEDED FOR VET TEAM: PEACEAnimals has a budget of 70 pesos per vet team (three persons) per day for 4 days a week for lunches.

Please consider bringing lunches for our vet team to the clinics. If you can do this, please let me know so we can create a lunch schedule.

By having lunches donated, these savings can be used for purchases of supplies and medicines.

ONGOING NEEDS INCLUDE: Centro de Acopio (local pound) dogs are only walked twice a week by

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

volunteers organized by Friends of Puerto Vallarta Animals.

Food is always needed. The government only contributes two weeks of food annually. Friends of PV Animals accepts donations and purchases supplies and medicines for the Acopi and is in the process of securing its AC ("Asociación Civil).

PEACE can now include this support organization for the Centro de Acopio

under its umbrella, thereby offering tax deductions for donations.

Any help is appreciated.

RIDES FOR RESCUE DOGS NEEDED for Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. All expenses for dogs paid for.

Please contact MEXPUP or NOBARS - patty@mexpup.com; robin.nobars@gmail.com

Mud and Magic Part 4 of Four (Parts One to 3 see issues #936, 7 & 8)

by Marcia Blondin marciavallarta@gmail.com

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s the magic in the mud or in David’s hands?”

The answer is, of course, I have no idea. It could also be the hot springs water from Jalisco.

Without question the combination is a winning one.

Take bentonite, (you can Google the benefits) add water that is so charged with minerals it is like floating in the sea, put that combination in the hands of David Chavez and kiss your pain goodbye. My last treatment was March 25th with the first being March 4th. Here is a summary of my changes: - I am in no pain. At all.

- I am two weeks drug-free: nothing to kill pain (I have none) and nothing to help me sleep because I have no pain. In other words, turning over is no longer a signal to my brain to wake up and hurt.

- No swollen lymph nodes with their own attendant pain.

- People say I look different without anything specific. I think my hair is better – it too received its share of bentonite. “Best shampoo in the world”, says David.

- I know I feel better – physically, mentally and spiritually and all because I have no pain. And I have been manipulated hard, believe me; thus becoming aligned with something or another!

David was very clear when I asked how long this ‘magic’ should/could/would work: if I keep myself as toxin-free as possible

(no smoking, drinking alcohol) my body will remain pain free.

I am waiting, as an experiment, for two full weeks without treatment, just to see what will happen.

Will the pain come back? If it does I know where I will go for help and it won’t be to a traumatologist or pharmacy. I am optimistically facing the future – and that just might be a cure in itself.

Since the first article in this series appeared March 12th, I have received two inquiries – one from a man coming to Vallarta soon to spend a month; the other from a young woman who is exhausted from battling pain constantly. Both will see David ASAP. I have asked them to share their experiences with me and if they do, I will share them with you in future issues of the Vallarta Tribune. If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear them. Email me and I will get back to you.

Enormous thank-you-s go to Karen Bertaminni who had her first chance treatment in November 2014 and remains pain-free today.

To my sister and Karen’s best friend, Patrice Wolf who, after one treatment was so convinced of its importance, paid for David to attend the Global Foundation of Integrative Medicine Congress that took place in Vallarta last month.

To David Chavez…you have made this screaming cynic a believer.

Webcams around the Bay

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s many begin to head north for cooler temperatures, or if you are unlucky to only visit us for a few short day(s) you may be pleased to know there are a number of webcams set up around the bay, providing you with a snapshot of some of your favourite places.

Try checking in from July-October, you are bound to see some amazing storm footage, flooded roads and monster waves – but never fear, we’ll still be here.

I found this list on the handy www.puertovallarta.net website.

Puerto Vallarta Puerto Vallarta Webcam at Hotel Rosita (Malecon and downtown) Hotel Suites La Siesta panorama webcam (Downtown from the hill) Cafe Roma webcams (Downtown) The Pelican's Eye (Cuates y Cuetes right by the Pier) Los Muertos Beach webcam (Seahorse statue and Las Pilitas) Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort webcam (South zone) Nuevo Vallarta Grand Velas webcam (Nuevo Vallarta) Dreams VillaMagna webcam (NV) Villa La Estancia webcam (Nuevo Vallarta)

Casa Corona:

Offered at $369,000 USD

Casa Corona: a gem in Gringo Gulch, 2 + bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fantastic views to town, walking distance to the Malecon, great open space, perfect for a B&B. Contact: alfonso@tropicasa.com

Some of the members of Becas with Presidents Mariel and Carlos in the center

Last Becas Breakfast of the Season April 15 at Coco’s Kitchen

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The best pizza in Vallarta

iver Café was the exotic setting for the Becas Breakfast in March, but we didn’t have to turn people away as we have always done in the past. This time bronchitis, colds, other infirmities decimated our supporters.

E-mail after e-mail, telephone call after telephone call informed me that someone who had reserved a place was not going to be able to attend due to illness. We are sorry so many were sick and sincerely hope they are now well and ready for the last breakfast of the season, Coco’s Kitchen on April 15, 2015.

Businesses that supported Becas Vallarta include: Adelitas Restaurant Alexander A. Salon Andale Restaurant Archie’s Wok Botanical Gardens Vallarta Bravos Restaurant Bar Casa Isabel Casandra Shaw Jewelry Café des Artistes Cheeky Monkey Coco’s KitchenFlorart Maripepa Gonzales Flowers To GoLaPalapa Restaurant Lucy’s Cucú Cabaña

Marcelo Mico Pilates Melchor Cortes Spanish School Vallarta Nacho Daddy’s Mex-Tex Restaurant & Bar River Café Cuisine Teresa Luna Massages Toya’s Salon Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates You can expect nothing less when we close the season at Coco’s Kitchen on April 15, 2015 at 9:30 am. The owner, Coco Iñiguez, with her affable staff, will be there to see that everything is to your liking. There will be many raffle prizes and door prizes, too.

As always, you must buy or reserve your tickets in advance. You can do that with any member of Becas or with Polly Vicars at 223-1371 or phvicars@gmail.com Just don’t get sick so you won’t be one of the phone calls or e-mails this time.

We look forward to seeing all of you at Coco’s and want to thank you for your continued support of Becas Vallarta, A.C. Don’t forget that all our funds go toward helping bright students of limited means reach their educational goals which they desire and deserve.

Students Filling out their Vales for their uniforms, school supplies, etc.

events

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Would you like to promote your event across Banderas Bay to over 6,000 weekly readers? Non-profit and charity events receive complimentary listings. Maximum 50 words. Contact Editor@vallartatribune.com deadline is Tuesday noon. (minimum $50 pesos) supports charity Puerto Vallarta Tourism offers free Friday, April 3rd Good Friday tours in Downtown Puerto Vallarta Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9:00AM services at 11:00 am Baptist Church, Argentina 180 across from and 12:00PM Saturdays 9:00AM. The local tourism office offers a Hidalgo Park free sightseeing tour of downtown Friday, April 3rd Traditional Puerto Vallarta. Staff will take you off on a fabulous walking tour of the Seder at the River Café at 6pm Sponsored by the PV Jewish streets and legendary locations in the center area of Puerto Vallarta community, a dinner with kosher Tours start at the Tourism Office at wine for $570 pesos including City Hall. For more information call tip. Contact Donna at: helth1@ sbcglobal.net Please make your 222-0923. reservations by March 26th. VolunArtWalk in Puerto Vallarta’s teers are needed for numerous Centro Wednesdays from 6PM to tasks, if you can help please let 10PM Donna know.

A self-guided tour of downtown galleries, art lovers can explore Sunday April 12 the streets of Centro stopping into IFC End of Season Brunch Casa select galleries for cocktail exhibi- Fantasia, Pino Suarez 203, at 10:00 Contact Polly Vicars at 223-1371 or tions every Wednesday evening am. Tickets $250 pesos - available phvicars@gmail.com from 6-10pm through May 27, 2015. at the IFC office M-F 9 - 2, or online You can often meet the artists, at IFCvallarta.com under Special April 23-26 Salsa & Mambo gallery owners and other creative Events. 322-222-5466 for more Festival For the third year in a row information. people. www.vallartaartwalk.com the Salsa & Mambo Fest comes to Riviera Nayarit. The all-star lineups April 15 Becas Vallarta Break- of international and national artists Gentle Yoga on Saturday mornings at IFC fast at Coco’s Kitchen at 9:30 am dance over to Marival Resort & 9:30 - 10:30, every Saturday Great breakfast, prizes and a Suites for the four day festival. through June (subject to further change to say good bye to friends SalsaMamboFest.com change or extension) Instructor: as they head north.

Adriana Bedolla Donation April 30-May 3 V Punta Mita Reservations are a must.

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

EACH WEEK

Vallarta Pride

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he third gay pride festival in Puerto Vallarta, Vallarta Pride, will be held from May 17 to 25 May, 2015 and its Organizing Committee is proud to announce the confirmation of the first events honoring the LGBT

community of Puerto Vallarta.

To commemorate the lesbian community of Puerto Vallarta, an exclusive party for women - Big Boo's Birthday Bash - will be held at Casa Mestli in the Hotel Zone on May 22, 2015.

The guest of honor is Vallarta Pride’s Grand Marshal, Lea DeLaria, famous for her role as 'Big Boo' in the popular TV series Orange is the New Black.

Casa Cupula has confirmed its

participation in Vallarta Pride and will be organizing and sponsoring the Sunset Commitment Ceremony, a symbolic LGBT wedding ceremony open to all interested in committing or in renewing their vows. This event will be held on Friday May 22, 2015 from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

The Organizing Committee will officially announce the registration process through its website and social media in the next weeks.

Adorable Dog In The Spotlight... SOPHIA

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ofia is a snowy white Terrier mix around two years old and a wee thing at just 14 pounds.

She is unlike most Terriers in that she is very calm and mellow. Sofia can be a bit shy upon meeting, but once she knows you, she is very sweet, cuddly and incredibly loyal.

She is also good with other dogs.

Sofia has been spayed, dewormed and is up-to-date on all her vaccinations. This charming little lady would be a wonderful addition to any family.

Contact us at spcapv@gmail.com if you are interested.

Gourmet & Golf Classic The 5th annual Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic combines golf with gourmet meals and cooking courses taught by distinguished chefs at the most luxurious resorts in Riviera Nayarit.

The “Punta Mita Cup” is a two day golf tournament played on the signature Jack Nicklaus’ courses, Bahia and Pacifico. PuntaMitaGourmetGolf.com May 1, 2 & 3, 2015: Puerto

Vallarta Bugambilia Festival 2015 Free event with many events in support of the beautifying of Puerto Vallarta and Zona Romantica in particular. Folklore, fashion, cultural events, floral exhibitions. www. bugambiliafestival.com

The traditional Pride Parade will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 5:00pm, departing from the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center.

The tentative route will follow along the Malecon, crossing the “Río Cuale” bridge and finalizing at Michel’s Restaurant on Olas Altas Street.

The Party in the Lázaro Cárdenas Park will take place after the parade from 6:00pm to

11:00pm with a variety of artistic, musical and cultural events and lots of fun. The definitive line-up will soon be announced.

The Vallarta Pride Organizing Committee invites everyone to join this great celebration in Puerto Vallarta.

For more information, news and updates, please visit http:// vallartapride.com/ or the official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/orgullovallartapride.

May 17-25 Vallarta Pride Focusing on the theme of Unity, this year’s weeklong event is one of the best Pride events in Mexico. More information at vallartapride.com

by Janice Gonzalez

travel

15

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Get away for Semana Santa: Tapalpa D uring Semana Santa, the masses flock to the beaches.

Puerto Vallarta- Nayarit is no exception, estimates says that occupancy rates during Semana Santa will be 98% or higher. It’s an exciting time to be in the Bay of Banderas. There are many activities; the streets are filled with people intent on enjoying themselves. If that’s your jam, join them because you certainly can’t escape them. Or can you?

There are many wonderful towns within a couple hours’ drive that might afford you a different take on travel in Mexico. In Jalisco there are five Pueblo Magicos, which are towns recognized for their historic charms and tourist services: Lagos de Moreno, Mazamitla, San Sebastián del Oeste, Tapalpa and the birthplace of everyone’s favourite poison, Tequila.

Each holds their own reasons for visiting. San Sebastian is the closest to Puerto Vallarta, about an hour and half east into the Sierra Madre mountains. It is a sleepy town accustomed to sophisticated travelers from the coast and Guadalajara which is reflected in the dining and hotel options. Tequila is (obviously) focused on …Tequila and it is a undoubtedly a thrill to stand in the original Cuervo Hacienda despite how you might feel about Cuervo Gold.

Here are some ideas if you want to head out of town. Likely the roads will be the worst part of your trip as traffic will be heavy just about everywhere. Travel on the cuotas (toll-roads) will be faster and they have the added benefit of including tow truck – mechanic services if you experience car troubles.

Tapalpa, Jalisco

Tapalpa got our attention with its mountain feel, the surrounding nature, and the selection of activities available both in town and out. Its name means ‘land of color’ in Nahuatl. Its blue skies, green forests, and red soils come together to create astonishing scenery.

3 days in Tapalpa, Jalisco

Day One Tapalpa is 140 kilometers southwest of Guadalajara. Because it’s located at 2000 meters above sea level, you’ll be welcomed by the smell of pine, oak, and flowers as well as that of burning firewood as it keeps local houses warm.

Walking around Tapalpa’s downtown area the streets brought us to the Cultural Center and Sculpture

Garden, showing interesting works

by Sebastian and Alejandro Colunga.

After admiring these sculptures and taking some photos we decided to go enjoy the sunset at the main plaza with its wooden balconies and awnings. The plaza is special in that it has two churches, one known as the Old (Viejo) Church, the other known as the New (Nuevo) Church.

The first is grey due to its stone walls and the second is red because it was built in brick.

We then visited the Old San Antonio (Saint Anthony) Church.

Built in the 17th century by Franciscan friars, it preserves its original mesquite-wood floor. As the night set in so did the cold. For that reason we had some hot chocolate, ate chard tamales, and for dessert rompope (eggnog-like drink) while enjoying the mountain calm.

Day Two The morning was sunny and thus ideal for exploring the Tapalpa surroundings. For breakfast we had traditional-style birria (spicy stewed meat) at Don Doro next to the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) Church (the New Church) and for dessert the customary borrachitos de dulce.

After getting digestion going with a walk through town we headed to Ekopark, which is about 9 kilometers from Tapalpa.

There you’ll find extreme sports such as climbing, rappelling, trekking, zip-lining, and paintball. I chose the Canopy Tour, a circuit consisting of 9 zip-lines more than

25 meters off the ground where the longest one is 300 meters long and you can go up to 50 kilometers per hour. The trip made me believe I was flying among Sierra de Tapalpa’s treetops: it was a thrilling experience. Walking to the area where you’ll find the zip-line and taking the tour lasts about two and a half hours. For more information visit www.ekopark.com.mx Just 8 kilometers from Tapalpa on the Tapalpa-San Gabriel road you’ll find the Nogal Dam. We took a walk around it and enjoyed the countryside tranquility where yellow and white wildflowers vie for your attention and lavender marks the trails. At the dam we saw people sport fishing: you can go after lobina and trout. You can also go canoeing, camping, and swimming there.

After the day’s activities we were really hungry and so decided to try the area’s most traditional plate: borrego al pastor (roasted seasoned lamb). To do so we headed to the La Culebra country restaurant, just on the outside of this Magical Town. We began by ordering frijoles charros (beans cooked with chorizo and cilantro).

Afterwards we ordered the tender borrego al pastor accompanied by freshly made tortillas. To wash it all down we drank some tall glasses of ponche de granada (pomegranate punch), Tapalpa’s most characteristic beverage.

On the way to Las Piedrotas, 2 kilometers from Tapalpa, you’ll find an old paper factory that was aban-

doned in 1923. This building has a special touch in that it is partially overgrown: you’ll definitely want to get out and take a picture.

From the road we could make out a group of colossal geological formations surrounded by meadows, known as Las Piedrotas.

Against the blue, green, and gray scenery, as soon as I saw these rocks I imagined them serving perfectly as some kind of backdrop for a videogame. We took a walk around them and noticed that it would be the perfect place to go rappelling. We climbed up one and got a great view over the valley, as did many of the families that accompanied us that day.

After having spent the whole day under the mountain sun we decided to relax in downtown Tapalpa. Taking our leather chairs we ordered a banderita de tequila

(tequile, lime, and sangrita), ready to enjoy a night filled with the smell of fresh pine and a silence that was only occasionally broken by the passing of a car.

Day Three After a quick breakfast we headed out for the El Salto del Nogal Waterfall. Measuring 105 meters tall, it’s located 10 kilometers from Tapalpa. To get there you’ll have to walk 40 minutes from where you’ll leave your car or get dropped off.

We took the opportunity to observe the Sierra de Tapalpa’s fauna and flora including the bromeliads that predominate along the trail.

After getting several great views of the waterfall while descending along rock walls we finally got to the end of the path. One last look at El Salto del Nogal while enjoying the sound of its waters and we knew that our journey had come to an end.

Vallarta Shopping Directory and events www.puertovallartadining-shopping.com The Culinary and Art Festival: A Great Success

W

e wish to thank everyone for their attendance and cooperation for the very successful Culinary and Art Festival on March 25th at the Marsol Hotel next to Los Muertos Pier.

The large crowd had the opportunity to appreciate art creations by 25 local artists including painters, sculptors, photographers, artisans and jewelers who set up very unique and interesting displays.

The participating restaurants –Barcelona Tapas, River Café, Gaby`s Restaurant, Sapori di Sicilia, Aroma Deli, Casa Tradicional, Antojitos Gaby , Café Catedral and Allesio were busy serving their delicious specialties to the throng of visitors from 4 to 8 p.m.

Live music added to the festive atmosphere all afternoon and everyone was excited about the great raffle prizes donated by Trio Restaurant, Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant, No Way José, Archie`s Wok, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry, Mundo de Azulejos, Mundo de Cristal, La Santa Boutique, Galeria Vallarta, Art with Leather, and Mama Rosa Restaurant .

We anticipate that this Festival will be an annual event to acquaint local residents and visitors with our great art community and Cuisine of the area.

To locate and patronize these local businesses and many more, please consult the Vallarta Shopping Directory on the internet. w w w. Pu e r t o Va l l a r t a D i ning-Shopping.com with 20 pages of different categories, photos, links to websites and lots of information.

Kathleen Carrillo Galleries

K

athleen Carrillo Galleries, Calle Constitution 325, half a block from Basilio Badillo, is in the old Puerco Azul space, next door to the Banderas Bay Trading Company. The Gallery is now showing the newest paintings from her Friends and Divas Collection.

Kathleen has been creating images of women since her college days.

Over the years they have reflected the experiences of her personal journey as a woman.

Women dealing with many issues, being out of balance, learning to heal from abuse, divorce, working mothers, psychological,

spiritual and physical healing. In her Masters Thesis “Pathfinders”, she depicted woman of all shapes and sizes in Celebration of growth through these life accidents. The next series of works were reflections of a search for her spiritual truths.

Studies of the Goddess became her muse. Many of the images were empowered woman inspired by her studies of the Archetypical Greek Goddesses. Each painting reflected strengths and weaknesses of Diana, Persephone, Athena, Artemis, Demeter, and Hestia. Most recently Kathleen is exploring her personal connection with nature and

it’s healing powers.

She is living in the jungle just outside of town on the Rio Cuale at the base of the Sierra Madres in the little magical Colonia of Paso Del Guayabo. One of the most popular Collections to date is her Jungle Magic Collection which include women who are relearning the healing energies of being in touch with nature through message from animals.

Finally, as Kathleen softens and matures into the balance of her own masculine and feminine balance she has begun exploring her newest paintings, “Friends and Divas Collec-

“Parasols” from The Friends and Divas Collection

tion”. These paintings are a reminder that we are amazing women no matter what shape, size or age we are. It is a reminder that we all need

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

to embrace are own personal Divas!

To contact Kathleen: Mex. 044 322 141 8867, US 941 932 8543. www.

KathleenCarrilloGalleries.com

Marsol Friday Market By The Pier MARSOL MARKET

BY THE PIER EVERY FRIDAY 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Open during Easter weeks

Specialty Foods, Bread, Fine Pastries, Beverages, Art, Handicrafts, Textiles, Clothing and Accessories, Jewelry, Gifts, Leather goods.

MARSOL HOTEL LOBBY Francisca Rodriguez 106 Just in front of the pier on Los Muertos Beach.

T

he Marsol Friday Market will be open Friday, April 3 and 10th during Easter weeks.

We continue to attract large crowds with over 50 vendors of such a great variety of products to please every taste. You will find specialty foods to eat there or take home for quick meals.

Visit our Food Court and try the blue corn sopes and quesadillas, tamales, empanadas; Italian delicacies, smoked ham, marlin , pork loin and chicken, pickles, pickled beets, sauerkraut and by Smokin’ Good Meats; liver pate, matzo ball soup, cheese blintzes by Mama Gloria; pumpkin rolls, blueberry muffins, and angel food cake by Kim; your favorite rich pastries and ready to eat entrees by Jeanine and Barbara; homemade bread and cinnamon rolls by Sergio; sausage

by Alex, Bubbe`s special foods; a selection of flavored honey by Jaime; coffee from Café Catedral; fresh vegetables and fruit.

You will be delighted with the variety of jewelry offered by a number of artisans who create original designs with sterling silver, brass, copper and natural stones, macramé jewelry, polymer jewelry, amber, coral, amethyst, pearls, lapis lazuli and chaquiri.. There are hand woven textiles and clothing

COME JOIN THE FUN

from Oaxaca including table cloths, bedspreads, children´s authentic clothing; hand painted cotton tops

by Barbara with matching jewelry.

Original art , prints, cards, photography, books, tours, art classes, baskets, cigars, wool animals from Chiapas, dolls handmade by the women in prison, wall hangings in amate paper, decorative items for your home, purses, scarves, tiles

by Lisa, artisan crafts from Serendipity Gallery, piñatas, malas and

gifts from Faith Collectiva. T-shirts, masks, aprons by Bill, bird feeders

by Phil, sculpture by Juan, handmade leather products, leather bags, candied nuts and fruit, assorted nuts , blown glass and lots of souvenirs.

Come see for yourself and invite your guests to enjoy live music and a fun atmosphere every Friday from 9:30 to 1:30 at the MARSOL HOTEL LOBBY. See you there.

riviera nayarit

18

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Fun on the Riviera Nayarit

By Cat Morgan

www.rivieranayaritfun.com

For any questions, comments or information about tours, rentals, restaurant and entertainment please contact me at Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com or Cat@NewEnergyConsciousness.com

H

ola a Todos! Semana Santa (Holy Week) officially began on Monday with the beaches packed already. It’s the first week of the two week holiday and there will be hundreds of thousands of people coming to enjoy their vacations on the beaches. What a Spring Break Party!! Remember, Easter Sunday, April 5th the time changes and we “spring forward” one hour, so change your clocks before going to bed on Saturday evening.

Easter Menu’s The traditional Easter menu here in Mexico is Sarandeado (Red Snapper). Las Palapas Grill in La Cruz located on the playa is offering this special meal along with a fun Semana Santa menu from Monday March 30th to Easter Sunday, April 5th. Happy hour will be every day from 5 to 6pm. They may (not sure yet) have the mechanical bull out over the weekend as well…it’s very FUN! Thursdays and Sundays are live music that begins about 6:30pm.

Another amazing La Cruz Restaurant Masala Bar and Grill, where Chef Julio and Chef Rita prepare delicious cuisine at great local pricing. In Bucerias, Mark’s Bar and Grill is also serving a wonderful Easter dinner this season. Chef Jan always creates wonderful layered flavors with several courses and choices.

And the Beat Goes on Although some businesses have closed their doors for the season, like Luna Lounge, some are closed only for Semana Santa, and several will remain open all year around for us loco locals. What a super fun “Empty the Fridge” party Luna Lounge had last Saturday…the Banderas Bay Country Band with Marty, Mike, Laurie and Pancho rocked the house!! The Crazy Bitches were amazing and hilarious, the BBQ excellent and the

after-hours party a smash! Thanks Hugh and Simon!! And to Keithwho is always behind the scenes, doing his thing!! What a terrific season!

In La Cruz This Week Ana Banana Bar and Grill will still be rockin’ the casa Friday with the “4 We’ll Drive” band. Really fun Rock and Roll tunes other bands don’t play, and Monday night with Andra and “The Good Stuff” for fun classic rock and roll. Both bands begin playing at 7pm with food specials and the regular menu.

Pub Britannia has Open Mic Night every Tuesday…come and join the fun and play or sing with Mike Curlette and “The Turn”, or just eat, drink and party hearty at the only British Pub designed like a castle with knights! Good pub grub and cocktails. They also have game night every Monday evening at 8pm.

Nahui Beach Restaurant located at Destilideras Beach, or as the sign says, “Nahui Beach” is a perfect place to hang out under an umbrella with a table and chairs, and loungers for a great beach day.

They are located on the left side of the parking lot. There are no stairs so everyone can get down to the playa. There is also a large palapa upstairs with nice tables with table cloths in the main area of the restaurant overlooking the bay. If you get there early enough during Semana Santa you can enjoy a fun day on the beach in a more private cove. It’s easy to take the bus there, or drive and park in the parking lots on either side of the street. Good food, buckets of beers and cocktails…and what a view! It is a restaurant, and there is no charge for the beach tables and loungers. (Please don’t bring your own coolers.)

In Bucerias This Week Breakers Beach Club has a ton of fun going on! Another fun

Destiladeras, Cat Morgan Reggae Night this Friday, April 3rd with King David Baily backed by Jamex is in the house! The doors open at 7pm and music starts at 9pm in the lounge. Small cover for the band at the door. “Xanath” plays on the playa on Saturday at 8pm and their regular house bands every week with “3 to Rock” on Sunday from 3-6 and Wednesdays with Andrea and the “What’s Up” band at 5:30. Breaker’s is showing the Winnipeg Jets Games! The last 2 games Thursday April 9th vs.

Colorado at 8:00 pm and Saturday April 11th vs. Calgary at 2:00 pm.

Esquina 22 Bar and Lounge is open all year around, however, after April 12th they will be closed on Sundays. Private parties are available upstairs and they can open as early as 1pm for 12 or more people for you. I have heard so many nice comments recently from people about their food, service and cocktails. A fun gastro-pub with a very nice décor and Air Conditioning!

I am looking forward to that this summer! Live music with Cesar Medina is every Friday at 8-11pm.

Every day they have food specials with good value and local pricing.

All of their dishes are fresh and prepared to order. There is also a non-smoking section. They are open from 3-11pm and have happy hour from 5-7pm. They also carry every beer brand you can think of, including some draft beers. Enjoy!

Non-Profit Biz Updates The tallies are coming in for the non-profit folks and I will be listing the ones that report their numbers raised for the season next week; where the money goes and all of the other details. Being completely transparent is important in a non-profit organization. People like to know how their donations are being used to help out folks in need.

Amigos de Bucerias has their

monthly meeting at Ixta Restaurant the first Saturday of each month, located on Lazaro Cardenas 500.

Breakfast starts at 9am and the meeting ends at 11am. Their breakfasts are amazing with everything you can think of! Of course, you do not have to have breakfast, or be a member to come to the meeting. If you would like to come to breakfast, please give a call to 329- 298-0053 or email to AmigosdeBucerias.com so they know how much food to order.

Amigos de La Cruz is hosting a 5K Zombie fun run in La Cruz. The fun run is designed to bring more awareness to the work that is being done for Highway Beautification project that Amigos has taken on by hiring two local full-time employees, who provide landscape maintenance and trash/debris clean up along the 200 Hwy section running through town. All proceeds from the run will go toward this project.

Participants in the run can either sign up as a Runner or a Zombie. Runners be given a belt

Sayulita, Cat Morgan

with two “lives” on streamers and can purchase as many additional lives as they want for 20 pesos each. Sponsors can also purchase “lives” for their favorite runners.

Runners and zombies will start the race at two sections of the highway, with zombie’s attempting to steal runners “lives” (streamers) and runners trying to evade and outlast the zombies. Prizes will be given to the first runner and zombie to complete the finish line and also to the runner and zombie in the first top ten finishers with the most lives intact or taken, respectively. The course will start at the entrance to La Cruz and take a turn at the streetlight, main road down to the marina, through the marina and out to the point on the malecon/seawall and return route up to entrance of town. For more information you may email AmigosdeLaCruz@Gmail.com .

Thanks for tuning in this week.

Happy Semana Santa and Happy Easter to all!

19

riviera nayarit

By: Angela Wieland

Living

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

In La Cruz

By Cindy Bouchard Cindy Bouchard, an expat Canadian runs a Boutique Inn, Villa Amor del Mar in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. She and her husband Chris are living and lovin’ in Vallarta–Nayarit. If you want more info on La Cruz or desire… A very special vacation contact cindy@VillaAmordelMar.com

Ed Dorsett with Wicked Fotos

C

The next stop on the tour will be in La Paz, Mexico, on April 18th and 19th.

All those interested in supporting, participating or competing are invited.

Sayulita Hosts Stop on Mexico SUP Tour

O

n March 20th to 22nd, Mexico's SUP (Stand Up Paddle Boarding) Tour came to Sayulita, featuring the aptly named "Punta Sayulita Classic".

The weather was gorgeous and the beach was packed in support of the event. Both locals and tourists were awarded with exciting action and loads of fun as they cheered on the athletes during the three days of competition.

Punta Sayulita made possible the first ever cash prizes, totaling $10,000, which were awarded to the winners of the men's and women's professional race events on Saturday and Sunday.

Shelby Rose Taylor, winner of both the Women's 10km Distance and 5km Techical races, explained,"This weekend was really special to me. I was able to overcome injury (my back injury and sprained thumb) and obstacles during the race (losing my board all the way to shore) and make a comeback to win both the elite and distance races. It was also very powerful to me because I was able to defeat a woman and fellow racer who has beat me every time before this.

On top of that, being able to race for my Sponsor (Riviera Paddle Surf) at home and represent my town, my supporters, and Stand Up Paddle Mexico, where I work and who also sponsors me.

The well attended event was a great success in all the amateur, kids, surf, and race categories with good conditions, including manageable and favorable winds, good size waves, and a perfect climate, in addition to the hard work and due diligence that went into the planning and organization of the tournament.

Local organizer, Tavo Moctezuma, said, "It was rewarding to see local people and visitors so happy with the success of the event. I feel proud of being one of the organizers, and I'm looking forward to next year!"

In addition to the competitive events, there was also a kid's clinic, which allowed all participants to learn the basics of SUP, and have an opportunity to go head to head with local pros to paddle and have a good time catching waves.

The festivities concluded Sunday with a mariachi band opening up for an award ceremony for the local and international winners.

Original:Sayulitalife.com Reprinted with permission.

hoosing La Cruz for our new home was an absolute fluke that changed our life, most definitely for the better. It started when my hubby stated he needed a sabbatical; the plan was to spend nine months in Mexico and three months at our cabin… five and a half years later we’re still in Mexico taking vacations at our northern home.

Why might you want to venture this way and hang out for a day in La Cruz? Beyond the amazing high season Sunday Artisan’s market, there’s always the food, the atmosphere and the music; that’s why!

A day trip could start early with many options for coffee and breakfast. I prefer two; Jardin del Pulpo, translated to Octopus Garden, aptly name for its garden setting.

Owners, Wayland and Aruna, have created an oasis attracting an eclectic mix of people where conversations are always interesting. Café Shule’l, run by the delightful Katia and her family, is

located across the main square of La Cruz. Both serve lattes, brew and breakfast items, inviting guests to linger and chat.

Your day might include beach time and I’d suggest the amazing Playa Destilideras, approximately 5 minutes’ drive from La Cruz.

When you get there, go left if you want waiter service in a tranquil bay or turn right down the stairs to the grand expanse of gorgeous white sand and waves waiting for you to jump in. There are a couple little beach restaurants here with chairs and umbrellas.

If you prefer to stay in La Cruz, on either side of the marina are delightful beaches and many restaurants. It is tranquil on the east side of the fish market/marina, where I’ve seen Oso's Oyster Bar serve drinks to folks on the beach. On the west side of the marina there is Eva Mandarina, Las Palapas and a little further is La Manzanilla, all providing seating for you to lounge as you sip a cocktail and nibble.

As well as the above, lunch and

dinner options are abundant! At the marina is Frascati’s and Peska. In town there is Gecko Rojo, Black Forest, Ernesto’s, La Cava, Masala, Columba, El Rey Bonbon, Charlie’s Place, Tito’s Tacos, La Ballena Blanca, Tacos on the Street, Casa Hule and Falconi’s for Pizza and for the best view and great food, Roberto’s on the hill is spectacular!

Music venues offer food too and music is what makes La Cruz magical! As the season slows there are fewer options but Tuesday night’s at Britannia is so much fun and Philo and his Mexican shuffle band are still getting people dancing on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. Ana Banana’s gets folks rockin’ Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and Monday… woo I’m tired just creating the list! My last count had over 40 places to eat in our wee town so it’s hard to include all and what they offer when.

Wanting activity? Currently it’s the windy season so all wind sports are going strong and there are sailing schools eager to teach!

Feel free to email me if you’re coming this way and I’ll see what’s happening and do my best to get back to you. Cindy@VillaAmordelMar.com

You’re invited! Electric Beach Festival

T

he Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is extending an invitation to the first Electric Beach Festival to be held on Easter weekend at the Hard Rock Hotel’s Sunset Garden in Nuevo Vallarta, sponsored by the Government of Nayarit, Dos Equis Mexico and the Vango Club in collaboration with Music 2U and Spothaus.

Starting at 10 a.m. on April 3rd and 4th the DJs will rule the airwaves for 10 straight hours of uninterrupted music. Entrance is free for a limited number of ticketholders.

International DJs Sandra Collins and Broz Rodríguez will set the bar, followed by other big name players from the domestic arena. The party will include

plenty of activities to keep the crowd occupied.

There are several ticket distribution centers set up in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit; the Riviera Nayarit CVB is giving away free tickets via its social media channels; and radio stations and other media have tickets to give away to their audience

members.

To get your free ticket you must be of legal age and present an official ID to that effect. If you’re the kind of person who always wants a little more, there are VIP tickets available for $250 pesos.

Click on the link for details www.facebook.com/ events/860460347353291/

real estate

20 Tori Martinez’s Top Ten Reasons for Living in Colonias La Aurora and Palmar de Aramara Fabien Madesclaire and Ariel O’Donnell Fabien@g3mex.com

G3MEX is currently looking for talented agents to become part of our team. If you love sales, and want to work in a welcoming and fun environment, contact Fabien Madesclaire at Fabien@g3mex.om.

T

ori Martinez and her husband Mauricio run a terrific local Personal Chef Business here in Puerto Vallarta.

Fresh Personal Chefs: pvfreshchefs.com. Tori originally hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and tries to spend as much time as possible in beautiful Puerto Vallarta. Tori lived for three years in the La Aurora neighborhood, which is directly behind Sam’s Club and Walmart.

The colonia Palmar de Aramara is adjacent to La Aurora, and is behind San Javier Hospital.

Both colonias are conveniently located, and have a real Mexican feel. La Aurora is filled with larger apartment buildings and Palmar de Aramara is populated with single-family homes. A number of expats have chosen these areas because of convenience and the lower cost of living.

Tori says, “I really liked living there because of the location.

We're a quick walk to Walmart, Farmacia Guadalajara, and any little shop we needed. It’s about 5- 10 minutes to the airport and not a far drive to Costco or Plaza Caracol. We could get to the beach by The Grand Venetian in about 5 minutes. It’s not even bad getting to downtown Vallarta (about 15 minutes). It always felt very "Mexican"... we would get the fruit trucks driving by and other vendors selling off their trucks. If you want to learn Spanish... live around here!”

Here are Tori’s Top Ten reasons for choosing La Aurora and Palmar de Aramara: 1. Great shopping. The markets at the corner of Calle Universo and Avenida Prisciliano Sanchez in Palmar de Aramara are terrific! You can find fresh fruits, veggies, fish, meat, tortillas, dry goods, etc. It’s big and pricing is excellent. Don’t forget to try the restaurants.

If you’re looking for a pretty pareo, check out the pareo shop

here, and get one for a fraction of what it would cost on the beach.

2. Medical care. San Javier Hospital is right on Avenida Francisco Medina. Too, there are a number of doctor’s offices where many expats and locals go for care.

In addition, Farmacia Guadalajara has a consultorio.

3. The best tacos in town.

Aurora is home the some outstanding taco stands. Many have been open since the 1980’s... every night they are busy! Further into La Aurora you can't miss Tacos El Machin! The best fish and shrimp tacos in Vallarta – it is always busy. Open during the day, only: https://www.facebook.com/ TacosElMachin 4. Lovely church Divina Providencia and community center.

The church in the middle of La Aurora is clean, well cared for, beautiful and well attended by locals from all over Vallarta. The priest is great - always joyful and smiling. It is a wonderful community center too, with classes held at the church in the evenings...

(English, business, youth, etc.) The church is very active with events all of the time, including their annual Saint's Fair. (Just last night they had a band set up and were selling

tamales and tacos, etc.)

5. Busy park. There’s is a great park in La Aurora with a nice playground, soccer fields with practices and games going on all the time. And there is basketball court, which is also used for well-attended Zumba classes.

6. Monday La Aurora tianguis.

Stop by to grab some good deals and see what the locals are selling at the Monday tianguis held on the streets.

7. Schools. There’s a very nice maternal/pre-escolar school, which always has a waiting list and is very well respected. Too, La Aurora has an elementary school. And, just on the outer edge of La Aurora is a Secondary school with some great teachers.

8. Close to public transportation. Both La Aurora and Palmar de Aramara are right by Avenida Francisco Medina and Avenida Prisciliano Sánchez, which are main thoroughfares in Puerto Vallarta.

Pretty much any bus, to anywhere can be caught within a few blocks.

Taxis are also readily available.

9. Las Galerias, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Farmacia Guadalajara. For a different shopping experience, to catch a movie or enjoy air conditioning during the hot summers, head over to these locations, just a few blocks away.

10. Never a dull moment. La Aurora is full of families and action, so you will never be bored. A great neighborhood to immerse yourself in the Mexican experience and sharpen your Spanish skills.

Palmar de Aramara is a little more sedate, with bigger single-family homes, but it’s mostly Mexican, too.

If you have real estate questions, or want to know more about Marina Vallarta properties, contact Fabien anytime at G3MEX Real Estate Group email: Fabien@g3mex.com.

Or visit us in our new office in Old Town on Calle Amapas, right near the Hotel Emperador

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

The Tale of Two

By Madeline Milne

I

’m thinking of retiring to Mexico, where should I live?” you innocently ask a Mexico focused Facebook group. And then mayhem ensues. If you spend any time on Facebook in the various Mexico groups, then you’ll know what I mean when I say here is Mexico and then there is Mexico.

Ask where the best place to live is and you’ll quickly get 100 different answers and inevitably it will dissolve into an argument about authentic Mexico vs. Gringo Mexico. This always gets me penning (and then deleting) a long missive on why Mexico is Mexico and let’s not assume that all Mexicans live in adobe shacks. Does someone living in San Francisco’s Chinatown live in a less authentic America?

The ‘truth’ is that there are as many types of neighbourhoods and people living in Mexico and to appreciate this country for its growing diversity will only help to open its already welcoming embrace.

Last week I toured two properties as far away from each other as a donkey and a Cadillac Escalade.

Interestingly each home offered some of the same features: wide open spaces, great for entertaining, plenty of storage for living year-round, convenient access to amenities and some of the great features of living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico but that is where the similarities stopped.

Traditional Casa Corona

Behind door number one, is a traditional casa, high up the hill of Cinco de Deciembre. It looks small from the outside but as is often the case, a pleasant surprise awaits behind the door.

Casa Corona is located on Calle Corona (Coincidence? I think not) is a three level adobe and cinder block constructed home, painted white with a red tile roof and beautiful iron railings. As you enter, the courtyard garden a twinkling water feature greets you, along with super charming tiled walls, thoughtful decorative features and plenty of space to make your guests comfortable.

Heading up the stairs you enter the main living space with a sliding wall that overlooks the garden, an

open living room and kitchen and the main bedroom. Decorated in a simple minimalist style with elements of traditional Mexican crafts makes the space very appealing.

The third floor is the ‘piece de resistance’ with its outdoor fireplace, lounge area, kitchen, grill and bar area. You have ocean and mountain views from here. Sunsets

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Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

o Homes

with fresh squeezed lime margaritas are a given. Entertaining up to 30 of your closest friends, this rooftop is classically comfortable.

Living in this house, in this neighbourhood, would give you a more ‘traditional’ approach to life in Mexico. Your neighbours range from small one room adobe homes to grand mansions with infinity pools and yoga studios.

The strawberry truck probably drives by regularly and you can buy your bread, rose bushes, tamales and bamboo mats from the vendors that pass by. The local tienda will have fresh tortillas and plenty of Coca-Cola products.

Living here will allow you plenty of tacos and give you a great butt as it is at the top of a serious set of stairs. Or you can skip the tacos

and drive up as there is plenty of parking.

Stepping into Casa Corona is like stepping into a calm oasis.

The open plan and thick adobe walls will keep it cool even on the hottest days, the roof top and its sunset views will smooth away the days ‘troubles’. Perfect for an active couple, with visiting friends and children, who want to call Mexico

home for extended periods of time.

Icon Luxury Heading over to Icon in the ‘Hotel Zone’ brings you to a decidedly different type of Mexico. Icon is a set of towers on the beach, originally designed by Yoo by Starck.

You know you’re in the right place by the large, golden potato/heads that line the driveway. There are pieces

of bold, colorful pop-art placed around the grounds - the ‘classic’ horse lamp for example. It’s whimsical and fun, just like Michael and Eduardo’s two bedroom condo.

On the 20th floor, behind door number two is a view that will take your breath away and quickly replace it with exclamations of amazement. You walk directly into the open plan kitchen, living, dining, wrap around deck, which makes grabbing a cocktail and enjoying the view that much more enjoyable.

Here, it is about the view. In this condo, slight modifications have been made to make life a little brighter and more comfortable but ultimately it is about the view. If you are afraid of heights, don’t like never ending ocean views or can’t abide by the passing cruise ships, this is not the condo for you. The floor to ceiling windows and the deck that wraps around mean you can enjoy the comings and goings in the harbor, on the beach, the lights from the city and out in the bay from Punta Mita to Yelapa.

I imagine whale season, storm watching and the Christmas season fireworks are spectacular.

Now Michael will tell you the gym and restaurants are great and Eduardo will tell you that the concierge service surpasses your expectations, every time. One of the perks of life at Icon is the hotel amenities that are included, along with the beautiful grounds, pools, restaurants, bars and the pristine beach just steps from your front door.

When they bought the place they made some changes including expanding the closet space and putting in more lighting to account for their art collection. It’s an easy transition from the bold art downstairs into the lux condo with their super fab furniture and impactful art displays, some of which are included in the sale price.

This could be a home for someone who wants luxury hotel amenities while staying in and enjoying the ever changing views or you could be party planner extraordinaire and showcase the best of Puerto Vallarta, cocktail in hand. Saludos! Either way, this is a home not to be missed.

Both of these properties are currently listed for sale with Alfonso Davalos of Tropicasa Realty.

Contact Alfonso@tropicasa.com

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Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Tianguis and Farmer´s Markets

Havre No.111 Col. Versalles Fluent English Spoken

Sanctuary by the Sea

home for sale

3 level oceanfront home just south of Mismaloya Waiting the final touches to become your dream home Contact Lisa Wallace www.VillaMizpah.com

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

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

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

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

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

Local: 322-228-0128 US: 401-608-2600

All the towns have some type of weekly market. In Banderas Bay and Riviera Nayarit we are blessed with many excellent farmer’s, artisan and co-op markets. Most are open from 9am – 2pm unless stated.

Bucerias Tianguis - Year-round Sundays In the arroyo La Cruz Sunday Mercado Sundays At the La Cruz Marina Bucerias Market - Monday Artwalk Plaza Guayabitos – Mondays yearround In the main plaza Nuevo Vallarta Farmers Market –Tuesdays San Pancho Market / Tuesday in Main Plaza La Cruz Tianguis Year-round Wednesday Below the glorietta La Penita Tianguis – Thursday year-round In the main plaza Marina Vallarta Market – Thursdays In the main plaza Marsol Market to the pier - Friday Sayulita’s Farmer’s Market downtown Friday Tres gallinas y un gallo - Saturdays 466 Venustiano Carranza Old Town Farmers Market – Saturdays Lazaro Cardenas Park Lo de Marcos Tianguis – Saturdays In the main plaza

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

PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE TRIBUNE AT PUERTO VALLARTA TOURISM OFFICES OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET A PAGE IN THE SUN - ZONA ROMANTICA FREDY TUCAN´S - ZONA ROMANTICA NUEVO VALLARTA RESORTS CONSULATE OFFICES

DECAMERON RESORT - BUCERIAS BREAKER´S BEACH BAR - BUCERIAS YO-YO MO´S - BUCERIAS MARINA RIVIERA NAYARIT - LA CRUZ LA CRUZ FARMERS MARKET OSO RESTAURANT - LA CRUZ

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SUDOKU 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.

easy

medium

hard

brain teasers

Apr 2 - 8, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com