Issue 955, July 23 - 29, 2015

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

05

News Dengue vaccine

10

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 Free Issue 955

Real Estate VACATION property

12

Travel Explore banderas bay

FR

EE

G

U

ID

E

Courtesy vallartashoppingdirectory.com

martha gilbert “LA BANDIDA”

welcome

02

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.

Jul 23 - 29, 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

PEACEAnimals PEACEAnimal 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 HOMES NEEDED: For the thousands of dogs and cats on the streets here, for hundreds of cats and dogs in refuges and in foster homes, and for dozens of healthy and beautiful dogs and cats at the Centro de Acopio, the city´s pound.

Dogs at the Centro de Acopio are only walked twice a week by volunteers organized by Friends of Puerto Vallarta Animals. Food is always needed. The government contributes two weeks of food annually.

Foster homes are needed for cats and dogs. Please contact the animal rescue organizations listed here. Most are found on Facebook or at www.peaceanimals.org ADOPCIÓNES VALLARTA Adopt Me PV Adopta un Amigo ADOPTA UN AMIGO NAYARIT Adopta Puerto Vallarta Amigos de los otros animales Animalistas ANIMALISTAS DE PUERTO VALLARTA ANGELICAT AyudaMutt Centro de Acopio Animal Cuidando sus Huelitos

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 cysandra@gmail.com cisandra@vallartatribune.com

Friends of Puerto Vallarta Animals Helping Pets in Puerto Vallarta LADRA Match Dog Com MexPup NO BORDERS ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION (NOBARS) Paraiso Felino PEACEANIMALS PERROS PERDIDOS PUERTO VALLARTA Puro Gato PURR PROJECT PV Animal PV Dog News Rescate Animalista Huellitas Catninas NOTE: A recent law was passed in Jalisco that requires all pets be sterilized after the age of eight weeks. To not comply with the law means a fine of 5,400 pesos.

This information is being given out by our education director at schools and at our clinics.

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

03

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Editor’s

Note

editor@vallartatribune.com

H

ow do you travel? By the seat of your pants? I’ll do research into the different areas but I get scattered and excited about a dozen things and tend to wing it at the last minute. Like most of my life; it would seem. Usually this leads to more ‘interesting’ trips than necessary.

Like the time we booked a trip to Honolulu and only booked the condo for the first three nights, thinking we’d drive around the island and find something else… not being even remotely sport or fitness savvy, it didn’t occur to me that the Ironman was a big thing and would essentially fill every hotel room on the island. Good thing we were a group of fun girls and met a very nice friend who let us stay at his house on a beautiful golf course for a few days.

Usually the day before we drive into a place I’ll scour the Internet for hotel recommendations and cross my fingers when we get there. I have managed to luck out more often than not. I found some beautiful hotels in Guadalajara this way. Of course, the one time I asked a taxi to drop me off at a hotel in centro Guadalajara, we found ourselves at the most rundown, disgusting hotel I maybe have ever been in. Ugh. So, it doesn’t always work.

Here in Vallarta things seem to book up fairly quickly, especially if they are good.

I have friends looking for a large villa for Christmas to no avail. Everything seems to be booked. I suspect the generous US dollar exchange has something to do with that.

16:1 today as I write this. A new record. Of course this is of little benefit to the Canadian

travellers, though pesos remain almost the same over last year.

This week I’m winging it through central Mexico. Going to hit a number of places I’ve never been to before including the amazing state of San Luis Potosi. This state is on many of the top 10-20-50 most beautiful places in Mexico lists. I’m so excited to hit the road. It’s been a long time since I’ve done more than just a day or two and we’re going somewhere new which makes it even more exciting.

I had a bad day the other day - victim of my own stupidity and crummy people. I’m thinking getting on the road and reacquainting myself with some of the reasons why I choose to call Mexico home will be good for the psyche. It isn’t in one place or one hotel or one waterfall that you find the blessings of Mexico. They often come camouflaged and unsuspecting. Planning for them can be an attempt in futility. All I know is my first night is booked at the Hotel San Francisco in San Luis Potosi, beyond that, who knows. Follow along on my facebook page Life and Travel in Mexico if you like.

Want a trip planning tip?

Check out the really great magazine, Mexico Desconocido available online http:// www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/ and use the google translate button if you don’t speak Spanish. It translates very well. Then use the search function to look up your destination. So much good info, photography, tips, links to hotels and events. Might be the best resource I’ve found for off the beaten track travel in Mexico.

Have a great week. Safe travels.

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

Janice Gonzalez

C

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

The goal is to get these animals adjusted and ready to interact in the real world. The majority of the SPCA animals either come from extremely abusive situations or they have been abandoned. Your love and attention can make up for that sad history. During your visit, you can interact with the animals and even take a dog (or two or three) for a walk. You can also play with the animals, assist the vet or help with dinner time.

Are you ready to get involved? Pack your bag for an amazing afternoon at the SPCA! Please bring water, a sack lunch and any treats you might enjoy during your visit.

Sharing food with the animals is prohibited.

We encourage you to bring your camera. Take as many photos as you like, and share them with us and your social media community.

Your photos and videos can help these dogs and cats find their forever homes with people who will treat them with the love and care they deserve.

We have scheduled tours each week and vehicle space is limited. We ask everyone to meet in the Costco parking lot beside the three large trees in open grassy area. You can either caravan in your own vehicle or ride with us out to the Sanctuary (reservations necessary). The length of the tour is at the discretion of our visitors and can be anywhere from one to four hours in length. Please feel free to bring donations and treats for sanctuary staff as they truly appreciate it.

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

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 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/.

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.

You can drop off any donations for the SPCA at Hacienda San Angel located at Calle Miramar 336, above Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in El Centro.

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.

news

04

Greyhound launches service in Mexico

G

reyhound, the largest provider of intercity bus transportation in North America, announced this week it has reached a historical milestone as it launched service in Mexico, the latest addition to its expanding international network of more than 3,800 destinations across the continent. In doing so, Greyhound becomes the first U.S.-based intercity bus company to operate domestic service within Mexico.

Greyhound now operates more than 23 departures per day, connecting Monterrey to Nuevo Laredo and major hubs in Texas.

Thirteen daily schedules will be between Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo, and 10 daily schedules will connect Monterrey to several Texas cities. The route includes Monterrey – Nuevo Laredo – Laredo San Antonio – Austin – Dallas. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Greyhound will be offering promotional fares starting at $1 or 25 pesos on a set number of seats per schedule for the first two weeks of operation.

“Service in Mexico has long been an aspiration of Greyhound, making the launch an especially meaningful event,” said Dave Leach, CEO of Greyhound. “As

an iconic American brand that has more than 100 years of experience providing the gold standard of bus travel to our customers, we’re looking forward to bringing our high-quality service, safety and convenience to Mexico.”

Customers can relax in the newly built private terminals in both Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo, which offer a clean, open and secure environment with amenities such as free Wi-Fi and charging stations. Each terminal will feature ample free parking spaces, making it easy for passengers to be picked up or dropped off by family members and friends. In addition, the terminals have paid long-term parking for customers.

Greyhound’s new buses have safety features such as threepoint seatbelts at every seat and modern amenities that include free on-board Wi-Fi, power outlets, leather seats, guaranteed seating, extra legroom, footrests and on-board restrooms. An inauguration and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at each terminal later this summer as a celebration for the community and to honor government officials who have welcomed Greyhound to Mexico. www.greyhound.com

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Seven charged with Aiding El Chapo’s Escape

P

rosecutors asked a judge to order seven public employees held for trial on charges of assisting in last weekend’s jailbreak by drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman The Mexican Attorney General’s Office is asking a judge to order seven public employees held for trial on charges of assisting in last weekend’s jailbreak by drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, a federal official told EFE on Friday.

Prosecutors’ decision to bring the seven before a judge “means there are sufficient elements to presume their responsibility” for the crime, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The judge will have 72 hours to decide whether to release the seven employees or have them bound over for trial, the source said.

In a subsequent statement, the AG office vowed to act “against all those persons ... who participated in any way in the events of July 11.”

Eleven other public employees detained for questioning in the case have been released, capital

daily El Universal said in its online edition.

Another Mexico City newspaper, Milenio, said 15 people were freed after interrogation, but with the condition that they make themselves available as needed throughout the course of the investigation.

Guzman escaped from the Altiplano I federal prison in central Mexico last Saturday night through a 1.5-kilometer (nearly one-mile) tunnel that led to a house.

The Sinaloa cartel boss had been held at the prison in Mexico state since his arrest on Feb. 22, 2014.

This is not the first time “El Chapo” (Shorty) has busted out of a high-security prison.

On Jan. 19, 2001, with just seven months remaining on a sentence for bribery, Guzman escaped from the Puente Grande penitentiary in the western state of Jalisco by hiding in a cart full of dirty laundry.

Guzman’s organization rose to become one of the main sources of illicit drugs entering the United States.

The Mexican kingpin’s wealth led to his name regularly appearing on Forbes magazine’s list of global billionaires.

-laht.com

7 locations added to list Mexican Households Average of protected areas 3.8 Members, $843 in Monthly Income

T

hey're in Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Colima, the Baja Peninsula and Baja California Sur Mexico is about to get another seven natural protected areas in the north and northwest regions of the country, which will bring the number of such areas to 184; the commission responsible said this week.

They are the Marismas Nacionales biosphere and Monte Mojino, both in Sinaloa, the Sierra de Tamaulipas biosphere reserve, the Playa Boca de Apiza in Colima, the Islas del Pacífico of Baja California, the Semiarid Desert reserve of Zacatecas, and Sierras la Giganta y Guadalupe in Baja California Sur. Alejandro del Mazo Maza, head of the National Protected Areas Commission, told a press conference that the publication of the official decree would take place in days. Earlier this month,

the commission announced the creation of four new management plans for areas already designated as protected as it attempts to address a backlog. Just 97 of the 177 protected areas have such a plan in place.

The four new ones are for the whale shark reserve and Isla Contoy in Quintana Roo, the Laguna Madre and Río Bravo delta in Tamaulipas, and the Pico de Orizaba National Park in Veracruz.

The plans seek to resolve environmental, social and economic issues in each region. Mazo Maza cited the whale shark reserve as an example. “This area is home to whale sharks that reach a length of 14 meters . . . the management program establishes rules for sustainable practices and authorizes just 160 whale watching boats,” he said.

- MexicoDailyNews

T

he average Mexican household consists of 3.8 members, earns $843 a month and is headed by a person just shy of 50 years old, according to the 2014 National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure.

The National Institute of Statistics and Geography, or INEGI, survey, published Thursday, revealed that an average household is made up of 2.4 members between the ages of 15 and 60, 1.1 members aged 14 or younger and 0.3 members over the age of 60.

The average head of household is 48.8 years old, while the average home is made up of 1.7 economically active persons aged 15 or older and 2.4 income recipients.

In 2014, 119,906,312 people

were members of a Mexican household, a definition that excludes domestic workers and guests, while the country had a total of 120,073,612 inhabitants, the report said.

Mexico’s population is made up of 51.5 percent women and 48.5 percent men. Of the total, 31.3 percent are between 12 and 29 years old, 26.7 percent are between 30 and 49, 22.1 percent are between 0 and 11 and 19.9 percent are 50 and older, the survey revealed.

The average household income is 13,239 pesos ($843) a month and 39,719 pesos ($2,529) per quarter. By income level, the lowest stratum (1) received an average of 7,556 pesos ($481) per quarter and the highest (10) brought home an

average of 143,614 pesos ($9,147) every three months.

For all strata, the average quarterly income per household fell 3.5 percent compared to 2012.

Large differences exist among the 10 strata in terms of spending on food and education.

Households in the lowest income strata spent an average of 50.7 percent of their income on food, beverages and tobacco in 2014, compared with 41.7 percent and 22.5 percent, respectively, by households in strata 5 and 10.

Families at the highest income level allocated 20.6 percent of their budgets to education and entertainment, compared with just 5.6 percent in the case of stratum 1 households.

- lath.com

news

05

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Vallarta ready to tackle garbage problem

T Mexico should be one of first for vaccine

Dengue vaccine on the way but nothing for chikungunya, whose symptoms are similar

T

here’s a vaccine on the way for dengue fever after a signing ceremony in France yesterday, but there’s nothing on the horizon for another mosquito-borne virus that has spread quickly in Mexico.

This country is on track to be one of the first countries in the world to implement dengue vaccinations following the signing of an agreement between the Health Secretariat and drug maker Sanofi Pasteur.

Clinical trials of a drug designed to combat what has been described as the world’s fastest-growing tropical disease wrapped up last September, when it was announced that Mexico would probably be one of the first recipients.

A Sanofi Pasteur official said in June that the company was ready to distribute the drug, it having proved effective against the four types of dengue. Mexico was one of countries to participate in the trials, which began in 2004 and took 10 years to complete.

However, no one has yet said specifically when the vaccine’s distribution will begin.

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the French international pharmaceutical company Sanofi, said results of the final phase of testing showed an overall efficiency rate of 60.8% among children and adolescents in the prevention of infection.

There are estimates that about 220 million people are infected with dengue annually, and 2 million of them, mostly children, develop the hemorrhagic form, which can be fatal. Cases of dengue, also

known as breakbone fever, have increased significantly since the 1960s.

It is spread by mosquitoes and produces symptoms including fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, with a skin rash similar to that of measles.

Those symptoms are not unlike those of chikungunya, also spread by mosquitoes, and a virus that first appeared in Mexico in June of last year. One year later and there were an estimated 1,436 cases in 10 states, of which Guerrero led with 839, followed by Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Few people die from chikungunya and officially there have been no deaths in Mexico. Unofficially, however, there have been deaths reported in Guerrero and Oaxaca.

But it’s easy to misdiagnose, according to comments made last week by Oaxaca’s Secretary of Health. Héctor González was speaking in Juchitán, whose mayor claimed a few days before that 80% of the local population had contracted chikungunya.

González rejected the claim, saying there was no evidence of such numbers or that there was any danger to residents, although he observed it was necessary to be attentive and undertake actions to ensure it doesn’t become a problem.

He also said the virus could be confused with something else.

“At times people get a headache, their bodies ache and they say they have chikungunya, but no, what they have is a hangover, or flu, it’s that simple.”

- MexicoDailyNews.com

he city of Puer to Vallar ta is seeking a definitive solution to the ongoing problems around garbage collection. Acting Mayor Javier Pelayo Mendez explained that he is personally traveling around, not to just tourist areas but to neighbourhoods around the city to identify those areas where a solution is most urgent.

Mendez has spoken with the trash concessionaire, who has promised to resolve the issue. However, the city is prepared to provide the ser vice in case that the company hired to perform the job is unable to meet its requirements. The city has the suppor t of its citizens, many of whom are offering to loan out their vehicles for the collection and transpor tation of garbage.

"There are many citizens in Puer to Vallar ta who have offered to lend us their trucks and dump trucks, so we will be prepared to do the job if the company lets us down," he said. puer tovallar ta.gob.mx

Telcel eliminates roaming charges Cell phone competition heats up in Mexico

L

ast month, the U.S. telecommunications company AT&T announced a US $3 billion investment in Mexico by the end of 2018. Today, Mexico’s own América Móvil doubled that with the promise to spend $6 billion over the next three years.

CEO Daniel Hajj said the money will be spent on broadening its coverage and improving its services, including the introduction of VoLTE, which will allow customers to make calls over the Internet.

The investment maintains the company’s pace over the past five years, during which it has spent $10 billion on improving its network.

The company, which is controlled by Mexican businessman Carlos Slim and operates the wireless carrier Telcel, will also respond to recent offers by other carriers by eliminating roaming charges in the

U.S. for customers who choose to pay an additional 50 pesos a month. The program will be called Telcel Without Borders and will be available starting tomorrow.

The company plans to do the same for prepaid customers, and

extend the offer to cover Canada as well.

América Móvil is Mexico’s largest mobile carrier with 72 million subscribers, well over AT&T’s 6 million.

- MexicoNewsDaily.com

06

local

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Girl With Wheelbarrow Red Radishes Paradise of “So this is where Heaven leads!” and Parenting

By Dhani Schimizzi

I

Leza Warkentin

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

Summer Learning is Fun

S

ummer vacation can be a very happy and exciting time (for kids). It can also be challenging and exhausting (for parents). If your family stays around home for the holidays, you will wonder what life was like before anyone was around to flop all over your furniture making pronouncements such as “I’m bored” (were there ever two words strung together in a more infuriating manner?).

From the time our children were small, I liked to make sure they had time to themselves at home. I may have signed them up for a week or two of day camp, but I tried to make sure they got a good chunk of furniture flopping time. I firmly believe that children need to get bored with no hope of parental rescue. There’s nothing like a bit of empty time to motivate a child to dig into his own imagination in order to fill it.

That being said, I don’t mind providing a little inspiration once in awhile. From the time they were little I’ve tried to keep my eyes open for what fascinated them. I wasn’t after building knowledge in a subject nearly as much as watching them develop their creativity, imagination and self-directed play. And what often resulted from THAT was increased curiosity and love of learning. I’m sneaky like that.

Some of our most entertaining summer projects so far: 1) Dinosaurs – When he was four, my son was obsessed with the entire subject. He mostly wanted to know why they went away (because it’s such a bummer that we aren’t sharing the earth with creatures that wouldn’t notice or care if they squashed us like junebugs). After some research (“Land Before Time” viewing), we created a brief educational video about a few theories on why the dinosaurs are extinct.

There was some creative license taken because my three-year-old daughter would only paint her

paper mache mask if she could use her favorite color. But I ask you, can anyone prove that a velociraptor WASN’T pink?

2) Magic Show – We researched and practiced all sorts of tricks. The kids then created their own magic show, complete with costumes and snacks, charging a pretty steep admission fee. I didn’t even get a discount despite the fact that I knew how those coins disappeared.

3) Inventors –We learned about inventions and discoveries such as the telephone, the lightbulb and penicillin. We studied the methods inventors used in order to bring their ideas to life. We realized that great inventions are ones that meet important needs in the world. So my children used this idea to create their own inventions out of recycled materials. My son built a TV for dogs (so that they could watch with their owners), and my daughter built a dog translator (so you can always know why your dog barks when you run the vacuum). And here I was worried about how we would survive after retirement.

They are nine and ten years old now, so they are far cooler than Thomas Edison (although so am I actually, if the news on that guy is true). But I can’t abide listening to my kids’ favorite YouTubers all the darn day long, and thus they have no choice but to finish a list of chores, read from their summer list of books and write in a journal each day.

We continue their education with family movie nights, where we as parents bestow (force) our favorite eighties movies upon our children. Anyone who was twelve in 1985 learned about the flux capacitor and time travel from “Back to the Future”.

Hey, it’s all learning and it’s mostly fun, just as summer should be. Keep in mind that we as parents hold many keys to our children’s future success and happiness. And we also hold the WiFi password.

We’re in this together.

’m a male North American who migrated to Mexico three decades ago, so I have many “memoirs” to tell. Currently I live in the small, sleepy and, depending on the season, either muddy or dusty agricultural village of Ixtapa, located off the west coast of Mexico in the state of Jalisco. (Not to be confused with the famous resort town of Ixtapa-Zihuatenejo, located much further south in the state of Guerrero.)

For travelers who enjoy savoring the best of both worlds, this rustic and foreigner-friendly pueblo is only a 40 minute jeep ride to or from all the glitter and glamour the Charlie Sheen’s and Kardashian’s of the world dash to: the Mexican Riviera. Its crown jewel, Puerto Vallarta, tops a long, must-visit list of paradises one can stumble upon in Mexico.

An ideal nature “hideaway”, the quiet village is relatively crime-free.

You can walk or bicycle the unlit cobblestone streets at night without fear. If there is a murder, and there have been a couple recently, it’s almost always drug-related.

Ixtapa closes down around eleven in the evening when you can hear a pin drop. Under the plaza’s gazebo there may still remain a small group of male teenagers, a boom-box blaring while they practice their hip-hop moves copied from American dance movies.

Weekends during national or religious holidays can be a boisterous event lasting into the wee hours of the morning, with the natives, some from outlying areas, joining

to celebrate with food, fireworks, dancing and loud music.

Surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains, the air is crisp and unpolluted, and was the wise choice for the location of the University of Guadalajara’s extension, named CUC. Few know that the area is rich in as yet undiscovered pre-Columbian treasures, as evidenced by several excavations begun by North American archeologist Joseph Mountjoy in the 1980s. Alas, for lack of government and private funding, they were never completed.

Ixtapa was also the location of Montgomery Bonanza, a large American-owned banana plantation later confiscated by the Mexican government during the Agrarian Revolution of the 1930s.

A Deere tractor, totally rusted out, was, until most recently, still standing at the spot it was left

some eighty years ago in front of the original administrative office and hospital for their elite foreign employees. (It’s now a private hacienda rumored to house a friendly Mexican mystic.)

A block away, the company’s large, box-shaped concrete vault still stands locked and naked a few yards from a basketball court and an area overgrown with weeds.

Montgomery regularly paid their employees each Saturday with coins, and the mounds of pesos, accompanied by armed Mexican soldiers, were wheel-barrowed into the vault.

Ixtapa is now a village of a few thousand souls northeast of P.V. I’m guessing there may be a mere ten or more foreigners living here (one in particular is Jan Lavander, legendary co-owner of P.V.’s pioneer art gallery “Galeria Uno”), but rarely do you see

local

07 them. If you happen to spot a white person wearing a baseball cap sitting on an iron bench in the plaza in the late afternoon it’s most likely this writer!

One early morning as I was leaving my walled-in, ramshackle house I spotted two little, shoeless girls, most likely sisters, riding a horse together bareback. They quickly passed me by, riding down the empty cobblestone street, their bodies swaying naturally with the horse’s gait. The girls were emanating a contagious carefreeness, and the dog and cute puppy who followed them accentuated that sense of “life without worry”. (I’m thinking “So this is where Heaven leads!”)

But one of my richest Mexican “moments” was the day a young “guera” or light-skinned Mexican girl of around eleven years old came by the house pushing a wheelbarrow filled to the top with bunches of freshly harvested radishes for sale. (Natives relish the radish and it’s a standard spicy condiment in most Mexican dishes, including the humble taco.)

The child, standing in front of her parked wheelbarrow, was lovely, with long, freshly brushed hair. Her pyramid of radishes appeared as reddish-pink globes that seemed to vibrate in the morning sun. As I was standing inside to retrieve my wallet to pay her, I turned to notice that my open door had become the perfect wood frame for what to me –“Girl With Wheelbarrow of Red Radishes”- looked like a beautiful nineteenth-century master oil painting by Renoir (an image stuck in my Memoir). *This true tale originally appeared in a slightly revised version on Larry Smith’s famous Six Word Memoir site: www. smithmag.net Originally published August 2nd 2013 in the Vallarta Tribune.

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

My Life In Vallarta

By Lois Ellison

loell87@yahoo.com

Driving with a stranger

F

or several years my husband, Bud, yearned for a GPS. On the other hand, I have always been and will always be a map person. When we travel, I am usually the navigator and he drives. I love the feel of the map in my hands as I pour over it, plotting our course and observing the big picture, looking for out of the way places, seeing how far we've come and how much further we have to go. Reading the names of the large and small towns along the way gives me a chance to fantasize and plan future trips. Sure the GPS tells you how to get where you are going but it gets so mad at you if you veer off the course you've chosen and it never tells you about the charming back roads.

When we lived in the States, many of our best road trips were the ones where we stayed off the freeways, selecting our destinations randomly, sometimes just by the odd name of a town. Bet the GPS wouldn't take you to Hot Coffee, Mississippi or any one of a dozen strange and wonderful places we found by accident.

So it was no surprise that after we bought a car some months ago Bud finally got his GPS. He found one on the internet that worked for all of North America and had it shipped to our son in Portland who brought it down when he visited us in March. We couldn't get one here because then "she" would speak Spanish.

Not so good for my husband.

Besides, we are the last two people on earth without smart phones so an old fashioned GPS was the only choice.

It sat unused until we decided to go to Ajijic, a small town on the banks of Lake Chapala, for three weeks. We were having some remodeling done on our place that would involve some demolition followed by lots of tile work,

all of which creates lots of dust.

Our kitchen and both bathrooms wouldn’t be usable, not to mention the weather had heated up; a perfect excuse to head for the mountains and some cooler temperatures.

Of course it would be possible (and fairly easy) to make this journey the old fashioned way with a map. Knowing of my passion for maps, Bud announced we would go buy a map of Jalisco. Have you tried to buy a map recently?

It’s not that easy. After striking out at our first three stops, we finally settled for an atlas containing maps for all the Mexican states and major cities.

The trip was uneventful until we got to the outskirts of Guadalajara. Before that, there weren’t many turns so the GPS was pretty silent.

When “she” did speak, I ignored her, although we started noticing her strange pronunciations of some very familiar Spanish names. As we drove, I studied the Atlas trying to identify the best way to avoid going through the heart of Guadalajara and found what looked like a good option.

Suddenly the exit for the bypass road I had identified loomed on our right but “she” was sending us straight ahead, right into the morass of late afternoon traffic. As I tried to reconcile her directions with my map, it became clear that “she” had won this round and we’d be in the thick of things. At least we had some entertainment listening to her butcher the Spanish language.

If you know even a little Spanish you probably know that the word for street is calle (kah-ye) not “cal”.

But would you recognize “laser cards” as “Lazaro Cardenas”?

By some miracle, we got through the city and onto the “carry ajikjick” which is really the carretera (highway) to Ajijic (a-hee-jeek’). As we entered the town, she announced “boulevard

ajikjick”. Have you ever heard of a boulevard in Mexico? Every street sign and every address calls it simply the carretera.

Luckily we’d been there before or we’d have been totally confused.

I do have to give “her” credit for helping us find our way to Tlaquepaque another day. By then I’d learned to read the screen instead

of listening to her bizarre pronunciations. By the time we returned home, I’d say we’d reached some sort of peaceful coexistence.

My husband acknowledged that it was a winning combination of the GPS, the map, and my innate navigational instincts.

I still prefer the map but she can come along for the ride.

Vallarta Shopping Directory and events

www.puertovallartadining-shopping.com

Art in vallarta S

ince the beginning of Puerto Vallarta`s fame as a worldwide tourist destination art has been an integral part of the scene. Many famous artists such as Alejandro Colunga, Sergio Bustamante, Manuel Lepe, Jose Luis Cuevas, Manuel Felguerez, Marta Gilbert, Ramiz Barquet and many more have lived or shown their work here in galleries.

Free events such as the art walk and the south side shuffle inform new visitors of the great variety of art in all forms available in our city numerous artists from around the world have opted to live and create their art here due to the ideal climate and wonderful scenery.

Murals by local artist Javier Niño greet visitors who arrive at our airport. Many events promoting local artists are held at the Public Library, The Naval Museum, The City Hall, In Hotels and other private venues which are open to the public, such as the Marsol Hotel where there is an ongoing art fair every friday morning during july.

The magnificent bronze sculptures which adorn the malecon and other areas around town are special tourist attractions. Also famous film stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, Peter O´Toole, Arnold Scharzenegar, Chuck Norris & Robert Deniro have made made movies in the Vallarta area, bringing more fame to our little paradise, and Vallarta continues to be a popular venue for filming movies.

Free cultural events in the Los Arcos outdoor theater bring a variety of live music, folkloric dance, mariachis and entertainment to the residents and visitors to our beautiful city. Puerto Vallarta is known as the only mexican tourist destination with the most art galleries and cultural events on the pacific coast. We invite you to spread the word about The Puerto Vallarta art scene.

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

real estate

10

Buying a Puerto Vallarta

Vacation Rental Property

Miguel Fernandez www.g3mex.com

N

ow you own your dream property in Puerto Vallarta!

Of course you would love to spend all year here, but you still have a job and a life elsewhere and are not ready to become a full-fledged ex-pat. As we have discussed last week, buying a vacation home is an investment that can both pay for itself and become a revenue producing endeavor.

Where to start?

If you want to handle the rentals yourself, many folks choose Homeaway/VRBO or Flipkey/ Tripadvisor. These popular sites offer excellent exposure and rankings on the web. This is extremely important, as this is where most everyone shops around for dream vacations.

As an owner, the sites guide you easily through the set-up of a page dedicated to the promotion of your property. You can list rates, post a calendar, add pictures of your property and accept reviews from your delighted clients. They will also handle the payment process.

VRBO/Homeaway offers a non-refundable “insurance” fee (paid by the renter) which covers damage to your property. And, speaking from experience, the claims process is quite seamless, as long as you provide all of the necessary documentation of

damage and repair work.

FlipKey/TripAdvisor is a trusted travel information company. About the same as VRBO/HomeAway, as far as your listing goes. Good internet ranking, and fair customer support. Personally, we had some hassles when we purchased a

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

property that was already listed, and tried to get the listing changed.

We never actually had the good fortune of talking to a human being.

Airbnb is all the rage now, and it also allows you to set up a nice profile and calendar for your property. It tends to attract bargain hunters, and a more adventurous clientele. The great thing about this site, is that it allows the owner to also post a review of the renter, which helps keep everyone on their best behavior.

Craigslist, in our opinion, is more of a crapshoot. There are renters out in that vast wonderland, of free sofas and one-nightstands, you just need to be more cautious and weed true clients out from the scam artists. It’s also a free service, so, in other words, you get what you pay for.

It’s a Business If you go with a full-service management company, the fee can be 20 percent or more of rental income. If you handle booking and marketing on your own, and hire people for specific needs such as housekeeping, be prepared to devote a lot of time to the endeavor. If you’re not willing to handle e-mail inquiries promptly -- checking e-mail at least once a day -- you’re bound to lose out to more proactive homeowners.

A Warm Welcome Vacation renters are looking for a fabulous experience. Look upon your guests as potential friends and treat them like royalty. Answer all of their ques-

tions promptly and go out of your way to make their experience memorable. Many will want help with tours, private chefs, airport pick-ups, restaurant ideas, etc.

Put together a comprehensive local guide of your property and your area. Vacationers don’t like surprises. Be sure that you, or one of your staff is there to meet them upon arrival, with the keys and a few treats. No one likes to arrive after a long a flight, with kids and luggage in tow, to find out that the management had their arrival day wrong.

Lease Agreement A must for both the renter and the owner. People like to see the rules and regulations in print.

VRBO/HomeAway has templates that you can easily modify.

They also offer access to a handy Member’s Forum, for newbies, or even seasoned owners who need a bit of help from their peers.

Ask for a nominal refundable security deposit if you are not using insurance protection. It makes everyone feel more confident in your professionalism. Also, spell out your policies on smoking, pets and number of people, etc.

Once you have a prospective renter, take time for a chat. There’s plenty you can hear in a phone conversation that can help you vet a client. In the end, renting can be an amazing experience. We’ve made friends, and established relationships with people from every part of the globe!

Buying Real Estate in Mexico “BUT YOU DON’T REALLY OWN YOUR LAND!” When talking about buying property in Mexico; the restriction is on foreign investors from holding direct ownership of any land within 100 km of borders, and 50 km of coastline.

This notion is a simplistic way of summing up a complicated issue. The truth is you can buy property in Mexico’s most desirable locations and as many as one million North Americans call Mexico home at least part of the year.

OWNING PROPERTY IN MEXICO Can foreigners own property in Mexico? Inside the “Restricted Zone” In order to encourage foreign investment in this “restricted zone”, the Mexican government provides a special bank trust called Fideicomiso. Its purpose is to help non-residents to buy real estate everywhere in the country and to ensure a safe and secure transaction. Outside the “Restricted zone” Properties outside the “restricted zone” are not subject to any restrictions. Land can be acquired directly without the need for a bank trust.

What is a Fideicomiso or Bank trust?

A Fideicomiso is a Mexican bank trust. It can be done through any major bank of your choosing, such as Scotia Bank, HSBC, CitiGroup or Santander.

The bank, in this case, works on your behalf on all

matters related to the property, and records the trust at the Public Registry of Property. You, as the beneficiary, retain all rights, usage and control of the property without restriction to improve, lease, sell or pass on to your heirs. One thing to remember is that the title of the property is not guaranteed by the bank, so any damages or title defect is not their responsibility.

Is the trust an asset of the bank?

No, the deed to Mexico real estate property is simply held by the bank for you. It is not considered an asset of the bank, and for all intents and purposes, the property is yours.

What are the costs involved in the trust?

Typically banks charge $1,500 USD as a set-up fee, $500usd to register the trust and then around $500usd each year thereafter. The annual fee covers all legal obligations and filing of necessary documents on your behalf.

These fees may vary from bank to bank, so it is a good idea to do your research.

How long is the trust good for?

The duration of a trust is currently 50 years, and the term may be automatically renewed for another 50 years upon request.

What is a “Notario Publico”?

In Mexico, unlike Canada and the US, a Notary Public

(Notario Publico) is a public official appointed by the State Governor. They handle all legal aspects of your transaction, and oversee the security and filing of documents with the Public Registry of Property (Registro Publico de la Propiedad). You can also use a lawyer or a closing agent.

Every transfer of a Mexican property must, by law, be made before a Mexican notary public.

Can I get title insurance for my property?

Title Insurance is becoming more and more common in Mexico. There are several US based companies that will insure your title. Obtaining title insurance would be considered a wise value-added option, considering the relatively low cost.

Originally published July 2013

mexico

11

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Flower of the week

Life in

White Ginger Jengibre Blanca (Spanish) Hedychium coronarium

Mexican perspective

By Crystal Blue

enlightenedglobetrekker.com

S

o the school picture man came to our school today. to take all the kids’ photos and capture this moment in time for all the mamas, papas, abuelitos and abuelitas. his setup consisted of a camera and a curtain for a backdrop. the photo shoot location was outside, near the palapa, on the concrete, under the caribbean sun. he called the grades one by one and they marched down, hair gelled, smiles ready, and uniform tucked in. he sat them down and stood them up and posed them with their schoolbooks. and they all smiled.

I sat there watching this and, of course, started thinking a bit and associating and relating this global scenario as I am known to do. it’s never just a school photo. what I thought was how, where I am from, the school photographer for picture day comes with an entourage. of assistants. and stuff. flashes and backdrops and umbrellas and tripods and stuffed animals and the whole nine. 5 different cameras and lenses that reach to china and cost $10,000. and you know what. the photos all turn out the same. if the child is smiling, it is a beautiful photo. if they aren’t, the parents cringe. but its all about the child. not the fancy equipment.

I come from a culture that has a preoccupation with extravagant everything, coupled by a justification as to why it is all necessary. and usually overcompensating for unhappiness and discontentment by displaying an image of perfection and being scared of flaws. fearing dirt. fearing natural. and fearing real. and that’s fine. to live like that. but, I don’t. and neither do the places I travel to and choose to live. and this is one of the single most things I am thankful for. the fact that I am no longer a believer.

Mexico is a simple place. where school photographers have a camera. where all kids have a smile.

by Sandra Cesca

and it doesn’t take a $10,000 camera to show that. it doesn’t take fancy laser backdrops or garden setting plastic roses or a $100 photo package with 50 options of sizes and fancy checks to write to make picture day perfect for the extended relatives that we never see. all the photos look the same. they capture the kids in the current year in school. lesson be told… life doesn’t require trappings. trappings are material images. or sources that we think will makes things look better, feel better, taste better, work better and will therefore, in some twisted way, make us better . faster, smarter, better. but without it all, life is fine. school pictures are beautiful. and the kids are smiling. escaping this cycle is the difficult thing. thinking we need and want as well. but if we don’t have, are we ok? yes. or if not, that’s a whole other article. in fact, without it all, we are way better. my baby got a beautiful photo taken today. by a school photographer with a camera. and she was smiling. the power was in the people to connect. and the happiness within to shine through. no fancy camera can put a smile on someone’s face. no laser background means your kid is better. no country you live in means you are more awesome. stuff doesn’t make life more awesome. we do.

I am proud to live in a place that does just fine with minimal stuff. it keeps me grounded and in check. and makes me realize how much money and time and thought is spent in other places, on equipment to makes things just perfect, and the best, but it all means nothing. unless you care. unless you are impressed by the façade. because meanwhile, those places that pride themselves on bigger, faster, smarter, better, best are far from best. because they do not tend to the real things that make life perfect. like inner happiness and humility. contentment and patience instead of greed and excess and

judgment and ego and disenchantment and perfection. the real things in society. and in self. a fancy camera doesn’t create better smiles. a smile comes from within. and the lighting doesn’t change that. a school photo tells a thousand words. river’s photo this year will tell of the year and a half when we were lucky enough to live in Mexico. and to experience having less but having more, and experience a complete redesign and reprogramming. an expectation shift, from the inside of our hearts out to our sparkling eyes and replenished compassionate souls, which we will keep with us always, keeping perspective true, values solid, and gratitude flowing from our pores that we now see life through this lens of Mexican lessons. we don’t want the photographer with all the stuff. that scares us. we want the guy with the camera and a smile. who does it all himself and doesn’t have assistants. we want the curtain backdrop propped on a rod attached to a palapa. we want the natural light of the beautiful sun outside, feeling its warmth and giving us life. instead of the manufactured ‘natural’ light that requires 5 umbrellas and 3 flood lights inside an air conditioned school. we want to smile at the green plants growing in the planters that we painted together, and the school dog running free, instead of the stupid stuffed monkey and annoying assistant assigned to the task of making unhappy children smile and making non-participatory attitudes come full circle. we want the dirty concrete ground beneath us and not the shiny hardwood of the stage floor, or the glistening mopped cafeteria linoleum. and we don’t want the fake smile. and outer layer of unrealistic and inaccurate perfection. we want real. again I end a post by saying, thank you, Mexico.

Ed. Note: Crystal writes in all lower case on purpose and who am I to change her purpose?

W

hite Ginger Lily, Butterfly Ginger.

A perennial flowering ornamental growing to 10 feet. The flowers have a lovely, intense fragrance that perfumes the air. Originally from the Himalayas of Nepal and India, it was brought to Brazil by African slaves who used its leaves as mattresses.

During Spanish colonial times, women used to adorn themselves with these fragrant flowers under which they carried secret

messages important to the independence cause.

The national plant of Cuba, its rhizomes are edible and also have medicinal properties. It is considered a noxious weed in some countries. This plant is one of over 200 found in Sandra’s new colorcoded guidebook, Tropical Plant Walks of Puerto Vallarta. Available now at the Page in the Sun Bookstore. Information on her many walking tours can be found at: www.escaperoutevallarta.com.

Emergencies: 060 Red Cross: 065 Non-Emergency Police 322.290.0507 Fire Department: 322.223.9476 Ambulance: 322.222.1533

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

Immigration: 322.224.7719 Consumer Protection: 01.800.468.8722 Tourism Offices Jalisco: 322.221.2676 Nayarit: 322.297.1006

Canadian Consulate 322.293.2894 24 hrs: 1.800.706.2900

travel

12

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Explore Banderas Bay

By Madeline Milne

P

uerto Vallarta is located in the middle of Banderas Bay, one of the largest bays in Mexico at nearly 100km in length.

It is bounded in the north by Punta de Mita and in the south by Cabo Corrientes. It straddles the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, divided along the Ameca River. The bay is home to many wonderful communities and an abundance of natural wonders.

In the winter and spring seasons you can witness the awe inspiring beauty of the humpback whales as they calve in the warm waters of the bay, in the summer you can experience the majesty of the sea turtles hatching and returning to their watery world.

The fall brings renewed vigour to the mountains and rivers with the fresh rains and revived vegetation. No matter when you visit, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit will share their wonders with you.

Here is a selection of some of the many things you can do while visiting us.

Hiking from Boca to Las Animas – Head to the parking lot along the river in Boca de Tomatlan, cross the foot bridge and follow the signs as you hike through the jungle along the oceans edge. Pass through a stunning private cove, a coconut plantation, stretches of pristine beach.

Expect one to two hours of intermediate difficulty. Be sure to bring water and sturdy shoes. Pull up a recliner at one of the many beach restaurants in Las Animas and make a day of it. Catch the panga back to Boca for $40 pesos.

It is not advisable to do this hike during rainy season.

Shopping in the Zona Romantica – this charming neighbourhood is also called Old Town and is a popular residential area for expats and Mexican families.

Along the main streets you will find shops galore, filled

with wonderful authentic crafts, clothing, jewelry, excellent restaurants, spas, theaters and more.

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

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

Once the sun has set, the malecon comes alive with families out for a stroll, plenty of live entertainment and later in the night, the nightclubs beckon.

Flea Markets – Haggle your way through the Rio Cuale Flea Market looking for souvenirs – some tacky and some beautiful.

From blankets to wrestling masks, cheap sunglasses to hand tooled leather purses or ornately decorated pottery you will be sure

to find the perfect gift for those you left back home. Be sure to visit the large two-story Mercado off the bridge - excellent authentic Mexican food can be found on the second floor.

Fresh Seafood – The Bay is generous and each day we enjoy

plentiful fish and seafood. Head to Bucerias where there are a number of excellent seafood restaurants on the beach serving the days catch.

The beach in Bucerias is a pristine eight kms long and an excellent beach to practice stand-up

Paddle Boarding. During whale season it’s not unusual to see whales breaching and putting on a show just off the beach. Fresh oysters, a shrimp cocktail or grilled red snapper are some of our favourites.

Sayulita – A short 45 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, Sayulita is the surfing mecca of Riviera Nayarit.

A funky town with a wonderful protected beach, this laid-back pueblo has a hippie vibe with the organic cafes and the yoga studios to prove it. Visit the Huichol Cultural Centre for some wonderful handmade beaded jewelry or grab a surf lesson from one of the many vendors on the beach.

Cooking Classes – Recognized as one of the world’s leading cuisines, there are a number of great schools in the Puerto Vallarta area that will teach you how to master tortilla soup, enchiladas, salsas and more. Fresh seafood, abundant fruit and veggies and a sophisticated community make Vallarta a foodies dream destination. Look for a school that will take you to the markets or introduce you to the farmers and fishermen for a truly cultural experience. Don’t want to cook? Try one of the Food Tours available.

Eat like a local and for three hours you will enjoy everything from Tacos to Pazole at the food stands and small comidas around town.

Galleries – It is said there are more galleries per capita in Puerto Vallarta than any other place in Mexico. Many of these galleries are along the side streets that run through Centro.

Stop at the Tourism Office in the Main Plaza for a map or take advantage of their free walking tour. Many galleries carry high quality local crafts, established Mexican and international artists and more.

Canopy Tours, Bungee Jumping, Jet Skis – There is something for every daredevil in Puerto Vallarta. The jungle-mountains lend the perfect back drop to zipline canopy tours while the warm ocean waters below are perfect for diving, snorkeling, swimming or renting a jet ski and exploring the coast line.

With all of these things to do and much much more, you’ll be wishing you had more time. Don’t despair. We will be here, awaiting your return. Enjoy your time in the beautiful bay and please come back again.

riviera nayarit

13

The Riviera Nayarit: A Sea Turtle Sanctuary

This week’s MUST DO EVENT 9th International Marlin and Tuna Tournament

A

pproximately one million hatchlings are released every season in the thirteen different turtle camps located all along the five coastal towns of the Riviera Nayarit. The Riviera Nayarit is a Sea Turtle Sanctuary with turtle camps located in Nuevo Vallarta, Carreyeros, Sayulita, San Pancho, Lo de Marcos, Punta Raza, El Naranjo, Boca de Chila, Platanitos, San Blas, Los Corchos, El Sesteo and La Puntilla Banderas Bay along the coast that stretches from Banderas Bay to Tecuala passing through Compostela, San Blas and Santiago Ixcuintla.

The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau checked in with the civil associations and the federal authorities that operate the camps to register the number of nests they receive, concluding there have been approximately one million sea turtle hatchlings released in the destination during the nesting season (June through February).

The Nuevo Vallarta Turtle Camp is where most of the region’s turtles are liberated, registering an average of 5,500 registered nests that translates into over 400 thousand released turtles. This camp is followed by the one in Platanitos, which receives an average of 3,000 nests equal to approximately 250 thousand released hatchlings.

The camps that make up the Nayarit Turtle Network are adding an average of 250 thousand hatchlings per season. San Blas releases another 50 thousand and

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

T

here are $15 thousand Mexican pesos in store for whoever breaks the current Marlin, Tuna or Sailfish records; the first three places can take home a car, a 15HP motor, cash and much more.

The 9th International Marlin and Tuna Tournament will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2015 in Banderas Bay, organized by the Banderas Bay Fishing Club and sponsored by the Paradise Village Nuevo Vallarta.

Between 35 and 40 boats are expected to sail in from Mexico, the United States and Canada, all of them seeking the prizes for the three top spots in the four categories in which they will compete: Marlin, Tuna, Sailfish and MahiMahi. The winners will take home a new car, a 15HP motor and purses totaling $25 thousand and $40 thousand Mexican pesos.

Registration opens Friday, July 24, 2015 at the Paradise Village Yacht Club from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The competition begins at dawn

the three camps in the northern region release an additional 70 thousand turtles.

The Olive Ridley Turtle is the most common in the region. These animals nest three times a year dropping about 100 eggs per nest, 80% of which survive with only one out of a thousand returning to reproduce.

In the case of the Hawksbill Turtle there has been one nest found with young hatchlings that

Letters to the Editor Beware all foreigners and tourists. As incredible as it may sound and after all the years of living in Vallarta, I had a rude awakening last week. I got in a taxi in Olas Altas and prepaid the fare to Conchas Chinas.

The taxi driver seemed friendly. I had forgotten to pick up my medicine at the drug store and he offered to go by to pick it up. The medicine cost 55 pesos and I gave him 100 pesos which he brought back but kept the change. When we got to my home he demanded 200 pesos. I told him he had already been paid and I went into my home. The next day the taxi driver came back with a policeman who refused to listen to my explanation that the fare had been paid, so a person visiting came out to help out and was told that if he did not pay the taxi everything he demanded he would take him to jail even though he had nothing to do with the situation.

The taxi driver then demanded 600 pesos which a neighbor loaned to me to pay. Before the taxi driver

will eventually return to nest more frequently. The critically endangered Leatherback and the Black turtles are seen less frequently.

The good news is there are several camps that reported an increase in nests year over year, especially of Olive Ridleys, which is a result of the protection and conservation efforts in place.

- Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau

editor@vallartatribune.com left he was seen giving money to the policeman.

After being a resident of Puerto Vallarta for 35 years and never had a similar situation occur I think this issue should be addressed in a public forum to find out how deep this type of corruption goes and how to stop this type of extortion for both residents and tourists alike.

Barbara Peters Ed. Note: Terrible experience Barbara. This weekend I lost my phone in a taxi and while I eventually found the taxi, but not the phone, I realized I’ve become complacent about noticing my surroundings, particularly in a taxi. While I believe in the general honesty and kind-heartedness of people, taxi drivers, or not, it behooves us all to remember to take note of the car number in case we need to take further action - either for lost items or to file a complaint. Perhaps filing a complaint with PROFECO would be the way to go to rectify your recent issue.

the following day at 4 a.m.; fish will be accepted at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. The Awards Ceremony will take place at 8:30 p.m. in the host hotel’s Amphitheater.

In order to incentivize an even bigger catch, the first competitors that present specimens that surpass the current records for Marlin (322.300 Kg), Tuna (176 Kg) and Sailfish (70.600 Kg) will take home a $15 thousand peso prize.

Registration cost is $7 thousand pesos and boats need four people on board. For more information visit the Pesca En Badeba Facebook page, the @PescaEnBadeba Twitter feed, thewww. fishingnayarit.com website or call (322) 225 54 67.

Banderas Bay Butterflies

T

By Moralea Milne

he Zebra Longwing or Zebra Heliconian is a medium sized butterfly that prefers forested or edge habitat (the area between forests and fields). It occurs throughout Mexico, at any time of the year, and as far north as Florida - where it has been declared the state butterfly. Zebras lay their yellow eggs on passionflower plants, look for their white caterpillars with black spots and black, branched spines. Adults are long-lived, up to three months, and will often roost communally at night.

14

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.

brain teasers

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

charities

15

Jul 23 - 29, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Non - Profit and Charitable Organizations

For visitors to Puerto Vallarta who wish to support the less privileged in our paradise, this is a list of some of the many organizations that could benefit from such kind gestures. If you would like your organization recognized here, please email details to editor@vallartatribune.com.

Acción En La Cruz aid residents of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle by providing provisions in exchange for community services performed.landon5120.wix.com/accionenlacruz Alcoholics Anonymous: In English Puerto Vallarta Alanon Club - Basilio Badillo 329 recoverpv.com Amazing Grace Missions Assisting families in Magisterio & Progreso with necessities and job training and English. slw2014nv@gmail.com American Legion Post 14: raises resources and manpower to improve facilities needing building maintenance americanlegion14.org Amigos del Magisterio - Food delivered directly to workers at the PV dump, their families and schools in Magisterio and Volcanes. Also, food to New Beginnings, Pasitos de Luz, and Caritas. 100% of donations to the people, no overhead.amigosdelmagisterio.com lysephilrioux@hotmail.com Asilo San Juan Diego Home for the Elderly - Contact: Lupita Sanchez Covarrubias 222-1257 or malupita88@hotmail.com or mexonline.com\asilosanjuandiego.htm Asociación Down - Assistance to persons with Down’s Syndrome – Contact: Ana Eisenring at 224-9577.

Banderas Bay Women’s Shelter - Safe shelter for women & children victims of domestic violence. compassionforthefamily.org Becas Vallarta, A.C. – Provides scholarships to high school and university students. Tax-deductible in Mexico and USA. Polly Vicars at (322) 223-1371 or Buri Gray at (322) 221-5285.

CANICA - Centre for Children with Cancer. Provides aid for treatment and services including transportation to GDL. Contact Director, Evelia Basañes 322-123-5688.

Casa Hogar - A shelter for orphaned, abandoned, disadvantaged or vulnerable children.

Luz Aurora Arredondo at 221-1908, Rita Millan (322) 141-6974. casamaximocornejo@gmail.com Centro Comunitario SETAC-GLBT – Services the GLBT community, including treatment and referrals, education, English classes, HIV testing and counseling.

Paco Arjona 224-1974 Clinica de Rehabilitación Santa Barbara - Rehabilitation of the handicapped.

Contact: Laura Lopez Portillo Rodriguez at 224-2754.

COLINA Spay and Neuter Clinic - Free and by-donation sterilization clinic in Old Town. Only open Sundays, Contact: cez@ rogers.com or 322-104-6609 CompassionNet Impact – Transforming the lives of people living in chronic poverty. Job creation, education, emergency & more. Tax-deductible. Cell: (322) 133-7263 or ric@4compassion.org Corazon de Nina A safe, loving, home-environment for 20+ girls rescued from high-risk situations. Donations & volunteers always welcome! Totally self-funded. www.corazondenina.mx Cruz Roja (Red Cross) - Handles hospital and emergency service in Vallarta. It is the only facility that is authorized to offer assistance to injured people on the street. Contact: 222-1533, 222-4973 Desayunos para los Niños de Vallarta A.C. Feeding programs, education programs, day care centers for single mothers. 2234311 or 22225 72 Discapacitados de Vallarta, A.C. (DIVAC) association of handicapped individuals dedicated to helping one another.

Ivan Applegate at 221-5153.

Families At The Dump: Supporting families living in the landfill or garbage dump thru education and sustainable opportunities. familiesatthedump.org Fundacion Punta de Mita LDG. Ana Lilia Medina Varas de

PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE TRIBUNE AT PUERTO VALLARTA TOURISM OFFICES 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 OSO RESTAURANT - LA CRUZ

Valdés. ana@fundacionpuntademita.org Tel. (329) 291 5053 Friends of PV Animals Volunteers working to enhance the lives of shelter animals. For info and donations visit friendsofpvanimals.com Grupo Ecológico de Puerto Vallarta: Arq. Luz del Carmen Pérez A cayro_13@hotmail.com grupoecologico.com Horizonte de Paz: Shelter for men of all ages who are troubled with alcohol & drug addiction. Donato Schimizzi: 322 199 9523 or Roberto: 281 0644 dschimizzi@yahoo.com La Brigada de la Basura: A weekly meeting of neighborhood children to clean Vallarta Streets. Contact Que?Pasa 223-4006 Mexico Ministries & Mission, Inc. raises funds to the poor in Vallarta. Contact Fr. Jack+ 044 322 229-1129 christchurchbythesea.org Navy League - assists in the transportation of donated medical supplies from the U.S., organizes work groups to paint and repair facilities New Life Mexico - Challenging Child Poverty with health and education programs. Philippa Vernon pvp@newlifemexico.com Paraíso Felino AC Refuge and Adoption Centre for cats and kittens in the Bay of Banderas. Luis Donaldo Cel. (322) 120-4092 Pasitos de Luz - substitute home for low income children with any type of handicap, offers rehabilitation services and more.

299-4146. pasitosdeluz.org PEACEAnimals - Free mobile spay/neuter clinic operating 48 weeks a year, primarily in Puerto Vallarta. Tax-deductible. peaceanimals.org Pro Biblioteca de Vallarta - Raises funds for Los Mangos Public Library. Tax-deductible Ricardo Murrieta at 224-9966 Proyecto Pitillal, Busca un Amigo, A. C. - Association created by underprivileged mothers of paralyzed children. Contact: 299-0976.

Puerto Vallarta Garden Club: Beautify and protecting the environment. vallartagardenclub.com PuRR Project - A no-kill cat shelter, a natural un-caged environment. www.purrproject.com Roma’s Kids - Educate the children of the Volcanes and surrounding area: Math, English and computer programs a priority. 100% goes to the kids. kids.romamexico.com The International Friendship Club (IFC) - Supports the Cleft Palate Surgery Program & families in need. 322-222-5466.

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

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