Issue 959, August 20 - 26, 2015

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

05

News Tourism Increases 7.6%

10

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 Free Issue 959

Local MANUEL AND LUIS

13

Travel 12 Beyond the Beaches

FR

EE

G

U

ID

E

Photo courtesy of www.dianazeynebalhindawi.com

DANZON

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.

Aug 20 - 26, 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 peaceanimals.org

by Gretchen DeWitt 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 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

Editor’s Note

I have seen both in and around Puerto Vallarta and across Mexico.

I’m a bit of a broken record, but this country is so huge both in terms of size and depth. From the ancient cultures to the ultra modern, Mexico is so much more than all-inclusive resorts and cheap beer. See this week’s travel article to learn more about some out of the way places, totally worth a visit.

4. Successfully running my own business in a country that doesn’t always make it the easiest to navigate. I have seen many come and go and thankfully with the support of my family and business partner we open our doors for another day.

This coming season we have some big, bold new plans that are going to help lots of expats relocate to Mexico.

5. The nine cats and fourteen dogs I have rescued, so far.

Some things I’m not particularly proud of include: 1. My lack of motivation to do anything in this heat and humidity.

2. The failure to learn anything beyond first person present Spanish. I can’t even swear in Spanish properly.

3. The book I haven’t written and the paintings I haven’t painted.

Seriously, who would have thought you’d be so busy living the life of a vacation.

4. My house. I dreamed of a cool minimalist ocean palace with flowing white curtains and eye catching art but life keeps getting in the way and the places I rent are always decorated in brown and orange floral. My least favourite colour combo.

Some goals I have for the next four and forty years: 1. Paint my apartment white.

Put the brown and orange stuff in storage.

2. Commit to learning proper Spanish.

3. Learn to cook (Mexican) food.

4. Take a painting class or two.

Write a book. Be more creative.

Don’t let the heat and humidity suck away my days. Or, do these things in an air-conditioned space.

5. Take advantage of the natural wonders at my door-step.

6. Continue to share my passion for this country and its culture, its natural beauty and its warm and generous people.

Safe travels everyone, Madeline

End of Summer Bazaar!

Marsol Friday Market Come to the BAZAAR on Friday, Aug. 28 from 10 - 2 to buy and sell.

T

he Marsol Friday market will be ending their summer season on August 28th with a BAZAAR where you will find all kinds of items for sale at bargain prices. Furniture, clothing, appliances, books, paintings, posters, craft items, jewelry, and more. The Bazaar will be held at the Marsol Hotel lobby by the pier in Olas Altas from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you have things you want to sell you can rent a table by

The photo moment of the week Baby Roberto was excited to hit Galerias mall with his mom.

Who knew what great presents he was going to get? Despite his enthusiasm, little Roberto was soon passed out and left the shopping to his mom.

O

n August 6th I remembered long enough to put a post on Facebook but then in the midst of everything else I soon forgot that it was the fourth anniversary of our move to Mexico.

Four years. Four long hot years.

And this week is my 40th birthday.

In Chinese culture fours are bad luck. I don’t know if the number four has any significance in Mexican or pre-Hispanic cultures… I should look into that. On one hand I can look back and be amazed at all the things I have done, seen, created, experienced and on the other hand it was only yesterday that we sold everything (some of which I regret letting go of now) and bought one way tickets to Puerto Vallarta.

Oh, the stories I could tell.

Things I am particularly proud of in the past four years include: 1. How awesome my now fluent in Spanish son is. Mexico despite it’s challenges has helped to make him into a hilariously wise and charming (when he wants to be) young man.

2. My (in)ability to speak Spanish. Amazing what you can learn when you have to. Want to talk advertising, newspapers, how to fix (or not fix as the case is) a diesel Jetta? I have those words well practiced. Of course only in first person present, but it’s a start.

3. The beautifully diverse places

editor@vallartatribune.com

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

contacting marsolmarket@ gmail.com. In appreciation of all the local residents and visitors who have supported the Marsol Friday market we are giving one FREE RAFFLE TICKET to each person who attends either of the next two markets in August.

Prizes will be given out at the grand opening of the Marsol winter market on Friday, Oct. 2. 9:30 to 1:30 p.m. The market will be closed for vacation in September but we have a great MEXICAN PARTY planned for Wednesday, Sept. 16 --VIVA MEXICO! from 12 to 5 p.m. at the Marsol Hotel, Fca. Rodriguez 103. Food from local restau-

rants, raffle prizes, live entertainment, art and craft exhibits. Win a prize for the best "Pancho Villa" and "Adelita" costume.

Come hungry and join the fun at Viva Mexico on Sept. 16th, noon to 5 p.m.

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.

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.

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

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Mexico Says It Will Not Obama Administration OKs Limited Pay for Border Wall Crude Exports to Mexico

By Eric Martin

A spokesman for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said the billionaire's assurances reflect “enormous ignorance.”

M

exican President Enrique Pena Nieto's administration said there's no truth to U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's assertion that the nation would pay for a wall along the border between the countries.

"Of course it's false," Eduardo Sanchez, Pena Nieto spokesman, said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg.

"It reflects an enormous ignorance for what Mexico represents, and also the irresponsibility of the candidate who's saying it."

Sanchez said the government hasn't taken Trump's statements on the campaign trail as serious proposals.

The majority of Mexicans in the U.S. follow the nation's laws, and immigrants make up an important part of the American workforce, Sanchez said. Trump has said Mexico is sending rapists and criminals to the U.S. “His comments reflect an enormous lack of knowledge of the reality in the U.S.” On Tuesday, Trump again reiterated his assertion that Mexico would foot the bill for a wall sealing off its northern

border with the United States.

“We’re not paying for it,” the billionaire said in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. “You know how easy that is? They’ll probably just give us the money.”

Throughout the course of his presidential campaign, Trump has assured voters that his plan for a wall would be subsidized by the Mexican government.

“I watch politicians come on: ‘can you imagine, Sean, he’s saying Mexico's going to pay? They’ll never pay.’ And I’m saying, that’s like a hundred percent,” Trump told Hannity.

“That’s not like 98 percent.

Sean, it’s a hundred percent they’re [going to] pay. And if they don’t pay, we’ll charge ‘em a little tariff. It’ll be paid. But we need the wall.”

Sanchez disputed that his government would fund such a project as well as the need for it.

"Mexicans in the U.S. work with passion, they do their jobs well," Sanchez said. "His comments reflect an enormous lack of knowledge of the reality in the U.S." Original: www.bloomberg.com

Movil extends Mexico-U.S. ‘borderless’ plan to prepay

A

merica Movil said on Sunday it removed roaming charges on calls to and data in the United States for 40 million Mexican prepay clients as it gears up to prevent new rival AT&T Inc. stealing market share on its home turf.

The company, owned by the family of billionaire Carlos Slim, said calls made to the United States by prepaid customers on "Amigo Optimo" and "Optimo Plus" plans would now be charged local rates.

The same would apply when using data in the United States.

Its remaining prepaid customers, around 12 million at the

end of the second quarter, could also request the change, the company said.

America Movil is currently facing a regulatory crackdown in Mexico, where it has 70 percent of the market mobile.

Since the law was passed last year, AT&T challenged Slim by buying two Mexican wireless operators, prompting operators in both countries to start offering "borderless" call and data plans.

America Movil said in July it would eliminate roaming charges from Mexico to the United States for those of its 10.5 million post-pay customers who opt to pay an extra 50 pesos ($3.16) per month.

T

he U.S. government has given American oil companies temporary permission to export limited amounts of crude to Mexico, although a decades-old ban on those sales remains in place, the New York Times reported. The Commerce Department approved those limited exports because a current supply glut is eating away at companies’ profits, the paper

Danzón Photos and text by Diana Zeyneb Alhindawi

E

very Saturday, elderly people gather in Mexico City’s Ciudadela Plaza to practice danzón, a dance that virtually vanished from its Cuban homeland after the 1960s but managed to survive in Mexico.

The graceful movements and flamboyant costumes create a scene seemingly out of the 1940s: men referred to as “pachucos” sport suits and fedoras with single feathers tucked in the back while women flaunt elegant dresses, high heels and hand-held fans.

The thriving danzón scene in plazas across Mexico signals that efforts to preserve the dance have paid off. What's more, a handful of teenage enthusiasts brings hope that danzón might live on into the future.

said, adding that the sales will entail swaps of U.S. light oil for Mexican heavy crude.

The daily did not indicate which companies were granted the permission nor how much crude they will be able to export.

The decision is a temporary exception to a ban that dates back to the 1970s, when an oil embargo by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Coun-

tries caused crude prices to soar and battered the U.S. economy. In recent months, lawmakers from oil states such as Texas, Alaska and North Dakota – both Democrats and Republicans – have called for the ban to be eased or lifted. Congressional approval is not needed because oil swaps are one of the exceptions allowed under the export ban.

Original: laht.com

news

05

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Number of foreign tourists increases 7.6%

Does your Mexican Land Trust have too much salsa in it?

Industry continues growing though the pace has slowed from last year

I

nternational tourism-generated revenue in the first six months of 2015 increased 9.9% compared to the same period in 2014, said the Bank of México, amounting to US $8.2 billion.

The number of foreign tourists increased by 7.6% to 15.7 million, surpassing levels registered before the 2008 economic crisis.

Despite the increase in income, the average tourist spent only 2.2% more this year, a figure that came in at $522.

The hotel industry has had a good year so far, said José Carlos Azcárraga, general manager of Grupo Posadas, owner of six brands — including Fiesta Inn, Fiesta Americana and Fiesta Americana Grand — and 110 hotels. “There’s a sharp increase in the foreign market caused by the devaluation of the peso, but we’re also seeing a strengthening of the domestic market,” he said.

For Gerardo Herrera, a professor at the Universidad Iberoamericana, Grupo Posadas has been successful in its expansion into the United States and its attraction of leisure travelers, as has been City Express, which

originally catered to business travelers.

On the aviation side, Interjet and Volaris increased their market share by 1% each, in contrast with Grupo Aeroméxico and VivaAerobus, which lost 1.8 and 0.5%, respectively.

Herrera believes the difference in performance by the airlines can be explained by a different market approach. While Interjet and Volaris have innovated in services and offers the other two companies have failed to improve the quality of their service.

Airport management companies OMA (Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte), which controls 13 airports, and AICM (Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México), which oversees the Mexico City international airport, have also increased their market share, in both cases due to business travel.

Colonial tourism has also become more attractive for foreign tourists, while investments in business destinations like Monterrey and Mexico City has also contributed to the increase in the market share of OMA and AICM, said José María Flores, an analyst

at Vé por Más, a financial group.

The nature tourism sector, which takes in ecological and adventure tourism, experienced remarkable growth in the first half of the year, soaring 15%.

Alejandro Bretón, president of the Mexican Association of Eco and Adventure Tourism, the increase can be partially explained by strong promotion campaigns.

It is a sector that spends more, according to the director of the Latin American chapter of the Adventure Travel Trade Association.

“An [adventure] tourist spends on average US $2,700, in comparison to the US $900 an average tourist spends per trip,” said Antonio del Rosal.

Since 2012, the Tourism Secretariat has invested 1.4 billion pesos, about US $85 million, to boost the competitiveness of nature tourism resorts, said Carlos Joaquín González, Undersecretary of Tourist Innovation and Development.

Last year, Mexico welcomed a record 29.1 million visitors, an increase of 20.5% over 2013.

Original: mexiconewsdaily.com

Bank of Mexico Governor Addresses Peso Weakness

Peso’s slide to record lows against the U.S. dollar hasn’t caused inflation to rise, but has caused concern

By Anthony Harrup he Mexican peso’s slide to record lows against the U.S. dollar may not have caused inflation to rise, but it has generated enough public concern to prompt the central-bank governor to write a commentary for one of the country’s leading newspapers.In the article published Sunday in the Reforma newspaper and posted on the central bank’s website, Gov. Agustín Carstens reiterated that the main causes of the weakening currency are external—lower commodities prices, especially oil in the case of Mexico, weakening emerging-market economies, and a U.S. economic recovery that makes increases in U.S. interest rates imminent. he commodities boom has ended, and prices such as that of oil will take years to recover, he said. “Part of the peso’s depreciation reflects this new para-

T

T

digm, among other things, given the importance that oil revenue has for public finances in Mexico,” he said.

Central-bank and government officials have noted, time and again, that the peso is far from the hardest hit of currencies, although that has been of little consolation to Mexicans wondering what is going on with “el dólar,” and what the government is doing about it.

The peso reached an all-time low of around 16.49 to the dollar in late July, and was trading near 16.40 early in the week.

Mr. Carstens dwelled on a relatively new circumstance where the peso depreciation hasn’t had a major effect on inflation, which is currently at a record-low 2.7%.

The high correlation between inflation and the exchange rate was broken more than a decade ago thanks in part to central-bank autonomy, he said, while lower energy

and telecommunications costs, as well as lower commodities prices and slow economic growth, also have helped keep consumer prices at bay.

The foreign exchange commission’s decision to step up central-bank dollar sales—$200 million a day and an additional $200 million when the peso is 1% weaker from the previous session—has been effective in maintaining order in the exchange market, by “avoiding an artificial shortage of foreign currency,” he said. If that turns out not to be enough, and inflation expectations start to rise because of exchange market turbulence, “we won’t hesitate to act by raising the benchmark interest rate to contain any inflationary pressure,” he said.

The Bank of Mexico has held its overnight interest-rate target at a record-low 3% since June 2014, but is widely expected to match any increases in U.S. rates.

Original: Wall Street Journal

by Orlando Gotay, Tax Attorney

Orlando Gotay Tax Attorney

Orlando Gotay is a California licensed tax attorney (with a Master of Laws in Taxation) admitted to practice before the IRS, the U.S. Tax Court and other taxing agencies. His love of things Mexican has led him to devote part of his practice to the tax matters of U.S. expats in Mexico. He can be reached at tax@orlandogotay.com.

M

ost expats living in Mexico know that acquiring real property within the “coastal or border zone” can only be done via a bank “fideicomiso”, or a Mexican Land Trust (“MLT”). In these areas, ownership of real property without MLTs is normally not permitted.

When expats buy this kind of real estate, the sale and purchase and MLT documents are done before a Mexican Notary. For Mexican purposes, the MLT requirements are fairly straightforward.

However, US citizens and others subject to the Internal Revenue Code (“green card” holders, among them) must also pay attention to the IRS. This note serves as a reminder that some MLTs, perfectly valid for Mexican purposes, may run afoul of IRS safe harbors and lead to what I call, somewhat euphemistically, to “suboptimal results”.

Some of you may have heard of IRS Revenue Ruling 2013-14.

Generally speaking, it clarifies that a MLT is not a “foreign trust” for IRS purposes. This is important, because not being a “foreign trust” does away with the need to file IRS Form 3520, Annual Return to Report Transactions with Foreign Trusts, on account of the MLT. Not filing this form when required comes with very severe penalties. So it’s a good thing when MLTs are not considered to be “foreign trusts”.

The devil is in the details.

Revenue Ruling 2013-14 has an important caveat neatly tucked in near the end of its six pages.

The Ruling only applies if the MLT holds only one asset (the IRS calls the example asset “Greenacre”), and if the Bank is neither permitted nor required to carry out any acti-

vity beyond holding legal title to Greenacre. Both are traps for the unwary. This is because those are immaterial issues from the Mexican perspective. A Notary can unknowingly establish a MLT, drafting it in such a way that is “Mexican good” but not “IRS good”. If your MLT does not meet IRS standards, corrective action may be required.

One asset is allowed per MLT. When you bought your land, did you have more than one parcel of land put in the MLT, even if adjoining? Watch out for what I would call “Greenacre 1” and “Greenacre 1a” issues. The reverse is also true. Did you sell off or subdivide, give away part of your land to someone else, and it is still within the trust?

Also remember that the IRS MLT ruling also does not allow the Bank to do anything other than hold legal title to the property. It would be prudent if the MLT document explicitly states that.

Fortunately, MLT documents can be amended.

There is one extra issue that needs to be considered. If a MLT “fails” the IRS safe harbors, then it can also become a “specified foreign financial asset” and could require reporting (or at least cross referencing) on Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial assets. Failing to file this form when required can also lead to severe penalties…even if no tax is due.

Double check your MLT documents. If you are now in the process of establishing an MLT, make sure the Notary includes only one asset per trust and clarifies the Bank role to solely holding the asset.

An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

local

06

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

2015 Mundo Golf Tour Paradise In The Riviera Nayarit and T Parenting here are three grand prizes for a Hole in One: $100,000 pesos for Hole 8, a golf cart for Hole 10 and a new car for Hole 17; there are also very attractive prizes for the first five O’Yes balls in holes 4, 8, 10 and 17.

The 2015 Mundo Golf Tour is making its third appearance at Vidanta Golf Nuevo Vallarta next Saturday, August 29th. This amazing course designed by Jack Nicklaus will present a challenge for players.

The tournament will consist of 18 holes in a single category following the A-Go-Go format with four-player teams, either ladies or gentlemen with a registered 0 to 28 handicap per player validated by the Mexican Golf Federation or an authorized, signed letter from their club.

First, second and third place winning teams will receive medals; the champion team and the

Leza Warkentin

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

Back to Work!

I

imagine that there are quite a few people looking forward to August 24, when most schools in Mexico begin classes for the new school year. Many parents tell me that they spend the first few days of the new semester just drinking in the silence. Some tell me they go and talk to another adult for five hours straight, enjoying the rare experience of someone actually waiting to speak until they finish speaking.

Still others cook themselves a meal that is not a sandwich and contains nothing grilled or cheesy.

I suppose I’m a little different from most of these parents. Since I’m a kindergarten teacher, I will send my children back to classes and receive twenty more to take their place. I will spend my day speaking to, with, and on top of twenty other little voices.

The other day, a friend told me that he didn’t know how I managed to make this transition and still smile in a convincingly sane manner. But as many of you know, I am one of those people who really enjoy working with children AND being a mom at the same time.

Sure, I love the late mornings and the quiet coffee and the movie nights with the kids during summer vacation. Our road trip was amazing, one that will live in our family memory forever (well, hopefully, because I don’t seem to be getting around to the photo book).

But I can’t deny that there’s a voice telling me that it’s time for our family to get back to school.

I often make a list detailing the signs around my home that it’s time to get off the (unbelievably) comfortable couch and return to the books, lesson plans, uniforms, homework, schedules and all the rest. It’s motivating and keeps me from sobbing out loud. Here you have the 2015 Reasons We Better Get Back to It: 1) My daughter cheerfully opened her closet today and said “Now, I wonder what I should wear for the day?” It was 3pm.

2) Wrestling has become the

runner-up will be awarded and will go on to play in the finals of the 2015 Mundo Golf Tour.

The fee is $1,599 pesos per person, and participation is limited to 36 teams.

For questions, clarifications or registration please contact Hiram Castillo on his mobile phone 33 31 46 34 or via email at mundo.

golf.torneos@gmail.com. The fee includes breakfast, golf cart, an awards dinner with a raffle and the option of one practice day for only $600 pesos per person with golf cart included.

For information on packages, accommodations and additional details on the event please visit http://www.mundogolf.com.mx/.

Kylie Jenner Celebrates Her Birthday in Punta Mita

accepted and most common form of sibling communication around here.

3) There are no more “cursos de verano” (day camps) available to distract the kids. It’s all mommy, all the time. That’s lot of rounds of “Headbanz”.

4) I will receive a salary while spending the day in air-conditioned comfort. Take that, CFE. 5) We have come to regard ice cream as one meal.

6) We have come to regard a visit to the sample tables at Costco as one meal.

7) We are on a first name basis with every staff member at every air-conditioned location in Vallarta.

8) When I’m on vacation I can’t tell people that I’m too busy to exercise.

9) It’s becoming hard to ignore the not-so-subtle attempts to view my hand during a game of Disney Princess Uno. 10) While I really miss a lot of the dialogue in Spanish-dubbed cartoons, I have a nagging feeling that kids’ TV shows aren’t all that educational or even comprehensible these days. Adventure Time makes me want to scoop out my eyes with a melon baller.

11) My husband still has a shockingly high opinion of me, despite spending so much time with me and my moods that swing with the thermometer. Wouldn’t hurt to keep a low profile until Christmas vacation. Time to get back to work!

J

oe Francis’s famous Casa Aramara in Punta Mita recently hosted Kylie and her sister Kendall, as well as boyfriend Tyga and a few other close friends of the youngest Kardashian.

The Riviera Nayarit continues to grow its reputation as the favorite playground for celebrities in the Mexican Pacific. Model Kylie Jenner, who turned 18, decided to continue the festivities in Punta Mita. Kylie and Kendall Jenner were spotted Wednesday, August 12th at the swanky

Casa Aramara in Punta Mita, owned

by Joe Francis, who accompanied the young ladies.

Rapper Tyga, Kylie’s boyfriend, was also there.The famous young

ladies were seen jumping waves on Jetskis, sunbathing, and swimming in the beach and the pool in the company of their close friends.

Nayarit ma T

he Nayarit town of San Blas, already famous for its colorful mayor, gained greater fame on the weekend when it was the site of the state’s first religious celebration of a same-sex marriage.

Mayor Hilario Ramírez Villanueva, also known as “Layín,” was a sponsor for the marriage Saturday of Miguel García, 28, and Omar Cordero, 27. Obtaining a marriage license was not a simple matter, recalled Cordero. It was denied the first time around and the couple had to resort to an amparo, or special injunction, against a government

riviera nayarit

07

Ministerio Publico Office in Sayulita By: Stacey Elkins

A

Ministerio Publico office, the equivalent to a district attorney in the United States, will soon be opening in Sayulita, due to the hard work and dedication of Pro Sayulita. “We have been friends with the state police since we hosted their office in Sayulita over three years ago.

We asked our police friends for a Ministerio Publico office in Sayulita, and now we have it. We feel confident this will be a major benefit to Sayulitans for police and judicial services. It should act as a crime deterrent and raise the rate of closed cases,” stated Jack Jones, President of Pro Sayulita.

Lic. Veytia, the head of all police in the state of Nayarit, signed off on this new office, which will service Sayulita, Punta de Mita, San Pancho, and Lo de Marcos. This is a huge deal, as the police cannot act on a crime until they receive direction from the Ministerio Publico. This office is where victims go to file official police reports, and unfortunately, if no official report is made, action cannot be taken against the accused in a crime.

This office handles all criminal complaints, including thefts, breaking and entering, and assaults.

Previously, reports against crime could only be made in Bucerias, which was where the closest Ministerio Publico office was located. This could prove to be very time consuming with the drive to and from the office, as well as multiple visits, which are

often necessary. “It’s very important to file an official report. If the police catches someone accused of a crime and there is no report made, they have to let the person go. Having the office in Sayulita will save tourists and locals both time and money. It also helps to keep the local police in town since they no longer will have to transport a person accused of a crime to Bucerias,” shared Oswaldo Vallejo, a consultant between Pro Sayulita and the state, federal, and municipal governments.

The Sayulita Ministerio Publico office is located in the Protection Civil building, which houses the fire department and an ambulance. This is on the corner of Calle Manuel Plascencia and Calle Revolucion. This office will have regular office hours, but will also be available for emergencies. One

investigative officer and a secretary will live on site.

While Pro Sayulita has remodeled the space, making it conducive to both working and living, furniture is desperately needed.

Villa Amor has generously donated two beds, but the office cannot open until it is appropriately furnished. The following items are still needed: Two desks, 16 chairs or six chairs and a few couches, and a dresser. “Once the furniture is in place, the office is ready to open, and the workers will immediately come down from Tepic,” said Oswaldo.

If you have furniture you would like to donate or would like to make a cash donation towards the purchase of furniture, please contact Oswaldo Vallejo at rodvall1971@gmail.com.

Original: SayulitaLife.com

ayor sponsors gay wedding agency. The eight-month dream of getting married turned into a threemonth battle with local courts to get approval. The mayor got involved after a mutual friend asked on the couple’s behalf if he would act as a sponsor. “For me it is a great pleasure to be a sponsor of this first gay wedding ceremony,” he said.

Ramírez said such marriages shouldn’t be a problem for any religion because “it’s the same god for everyone.” He said he was an ordinary citizen who would support anyone regardless of their sexual preferences. The mayor, already

known for lavish, public parties, became known internationally when he admitted last June “I only stole a little bit” in reference to a previous term as mayor between 2008 and 2011 and in response to opponents who charged that he had stolen at least 100 million pesos from the municipal treasury.

He made the famous remark while campaigning for another term, which he went on to win.

More recently he was criticized for hiking up the skirts of a young woman with whom he was dancing during a public event in San Blas.

On Saturday he provided “el taquito, traguito y ruidito,” or “a little food, a little drink and a little noise,” in the mayor’s words, for 300 wedding guests at a cost of some 120,000 pesos. Same-sex marriage was given legal recognition in June when the Supreme Court ruled that state laws defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman were unconstitutional. Last week the court made a similar ruling on the adoption of children by gay couples, deciding such a law in Campeche was also unconstitutional.

Original: mexiconewsdaily.com

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Exploring Nayarit

N

estled on the imposing Western Sierra Madre, and washed by the Ocean Pacific waters, the Nayarit Riviera is shaping to be one of Mexico’s most attractive tourist destinations.

The area is actually a 192 mile stretch of coastline, backed by jungle-clad mountains and facing offshore islands. There is plenty of remote backcountry for those wanting to see a more rustic side of rural Mexico.

Along Nayarit’s coast, visitors will find beaches for all likes and tastes: some with exclusive hotel complexes for those looking for luxury; others with few visitors for those looking to relax; some with strong waves for surfers… and to the enchantment of this region, we can add islands, mangroves and picturesque towns.

Banderas Bay, on the southern section of the Nayarit Riviera, is famous for being the destination spot of thousands of humpback whales that offer an unmatched experience. Here, visitors will find several points of interest, such as Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita, home of luxury golf courses, marinas, shopping centers and hotels.

In addition, Puerto Vallarta is famous for its long seafront walkway and its vibrant nightlife.

The Nayarit Riviera is also home to solitary beaches and towns with an extraordinary natural richness. Such is the case of Flamingos, where people can enjoy three beautiful lakes; Bucerias, with a long beach and cobblestone streets; La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, a picturesque fishing town; Destiladeras,

a paradise for surfers; Islas Marieta, an ecological preserve; and Sayulita, a bohemian town ideal for people watching.

North of Sayulita, we find Rincon de Guayabitos, whose beaches with crystal-clear waters and calm waves are like a large swimming pool.

Near by, visitors will find the pre-Hispanic petroglyphs of Altavista and the pristine beach town of Chacala, the perfect place to enjoy a grilled fish fresh from the ocean. The municipality of San Blas, located in the Riviera’s northern section, is home to a great biodiversity and archeological remains as well.

Here, visitors can tour the Tovara mangroves, take a tour to Isla Isabel, bird watching in Singayta, surf at Matanchen’s bay, visit the ruins of the San Basilio fort, explore Mexcaltitlan Island and visit the archeological site of Los Toriles.

There are many culinary options in the Nayarit Riviera: Luxury hotels and restaurants serve gourmet dishes prepared with fresh seafood, at the beach and in the towns, visitors can try typical dishes, such as shrimp meatballs, the traditional grilled fish, aguachile (seafood served with a spicy lime sauce), shrimp tamales, marlin tacos or chalupas and much more.

The Huichol Indians are the most recognized ethnic group within the region; they are characterized by their eye-catching clothing, hats adorned with feathers and their colorful handcrafts, such as jewelry and animal figurines made of beads. www.visitmexico.com

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

local

10

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Manuel and Luis’s Fabulous Transformation

By Glenna Travers and Arturo Hernandez

F

lashback to 2014 to an idyllic Mexican fishing village of some 350 people.

Clean sandy beach on the Pacific Ocean, sunny days, technicolor sunsets, tropical nights.

No hotels, three restaurants. A trim, strong, twenty-five-year-old man knifes cleanly into the water and free-dives, coming up with lobsters that he can sell locally.

Nearby, his twenty-eight-year-old cousin and fellow free-diver, paints a picture of his village, rich in detail, colorful and accurate. Secondary (ninth-grade) level educations for both hold no promise for future fortune. Waiter jobs in Puerto Vallarta paying minimum wage are sometimes available, but are dead-end jobs.

Their lives are tranquil but insulated from the world. What could possibly happen to change all that?

Flash forward to June 2016. The former lobster fisherman deplanes in London, stylishly turned out in business attire, and goes through the now familiar routine at Heathrow. He will report to an office to begin his summer job with a unique international company; his cousin, the talented artist, likewise deplanes, but in Crans/ Montana, Switzerland, to begin his summer job in the same capacity for the same company. Both are English and Spanish-speaking assistant coordinators for a large international company. Their lives have been transformed dramatically and permanently. How did that happen?

Back to 2014. Juan Manuel Garcia Cruz, from the village of Chimo, is chatting with a distinguished gentleman from Colorado, who is having a lunch time drink with friends. Manuel mentions that he is looking for work. The American businessman invites Manuel to have a drink with them, but he demurs. "I'd like to, but I can't because I'm going to see people about a job." Good manners. Serious intent.

This chance remark impresses the American and sets in motion the miracles that ensue. At first, Manuel spoke only Spanish, his handwriting was childlike, his education was limited and his clothes were beachy. Manuel was also handsome, intelligent, ambitious, well-mannered and wellformed from years of swimming and diving, to say nothing of eating

delicious food from his grandmother's kitchen.

The benefactor is a world-renowned impresario who began in 1963 by sending a group of American language students on a two-week tour of Europe. Building on that, he founded his current company in 1970. He has sent more than one hundred fifty thousand teen-aged American musicians to perform all over the world.

Transforming experiences for impressionable young people.

Sensing potential in Manuel, his benefactor oversaw many other aspects of Manuel's transformation, including a month-long tour of Europe in October 2014; Manuel's life changed forever. The Coloradan's vision: to offer Manuel the opportunity to be an assistant coordinator in his London office for seven weeks starting in June 2016.

The contingency is that Manuel be fluent in English by next May, a daunting task.

The new job of assistant coordinator is demanding. Every three days a new group of hundreds of American teen-aged musicians arrives at Heathrow for three days

in London, followed by sixteen days of touring throughout Europe.

Manuel would be meeting each group upon arrival at Heathrow, assisting the coordinator with luggage, accommodations, scheduling, ground transportation, emergencies and all the attendant demands of international travel.

In March this year, Manuel began learning English from a pair of teachers, one born in Mexico City and his wife, a credentialed English and Spanish teacher from California. Manuel was delighted to find that English is easier than Spanish.

He is learning to read and write English as well as to speak and understand. If there is a concept that he doesn't quite get in English, the native Spanish speaker explains in detail. The fast track suits Manuel.

The benefactor's vision expanded to include Manuel's twenty-eight year-old cousin, Luis Alberto Joya Cruz, also from Chimo. Luis joined the group in June this year. The three, Manuel, Luis and their generous friend traveled with the Texas Ambas-

sadors of Music Choir and Band through nine countries in Europe.

One hundred eighty-five teenaged musicians from Texas warmly welcomed the Mexican cousins, giving them an idea of the job they would have.

The Chimoans had the time of their lives.

"The Texans performed like professionals," said Manuel. "Everywhere we went, the audiences danced in the aisles, applauded like crazy, took hundreds of photos and planned to come next year."

At the end of the tour, the time came for Manuel and Luis to part company with the Texans. Hugs and tears, photos, promises of emails, the stuff of the Grand Adventure. All the participants from both countries shared the experience of discovering a wider world. A unique bond.

Luis and Manuel are taking English classes ten hours a week together and are advancing rapidly.

Whereas Manuel started with no English, Luis started with some and is a quick study. The goal of fluency by May 2016 is within reach. The prospect of becoming

international businessmen is a powerful incentive and the cousins exceed expectations.

The combination of innate good manners and respectful behavior learned at home, plus the self-confidence that comes with new-found knowledge, and exposure to new cultures and experiences has resulted in Mexican moxie that is subtle but powerful. The cousins never take their miraculous transformations for granted.

"This is the most important stage in my life, right now. I believe in myself and our remarkable friend believes in me. That's the best part. I am very happy," says Manuel. Luis echoes the sentiment with a toothy smile. Manuel's soft-spoken mother adds, "This is good for the family too." Indeed.

Seeing Manuel and Luis lifted from an idyllic but cloistered existence into international travel and jobs has had a powerful impact on the community of Chimo, especially the families of the cousins.

Beyond the benefits of monetary support for their parents, the rest of the family, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews see what an education can do, how knowledge of English enables one to achieve lofty goals, gives them a new perspective on life "outside."

All this compliments of one of the world's great benefactors.

Jovial and genial, this amazing impresario's love of music and people and life fuels his monumental enterprise.

Fun to be with, interesting to talk with, he is nevertheless fervent and serious about his organization, his passion, his vision. He says of Manuel and Luis, "I am so pleased with them and their participation and if I can make life easier for them and perhaps open up new opportunities, I will be duly gratified."

culture

11

Cenote discovered beneath Chichen Itza

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Do You Want to Dance?

By Claudio Fabián Guevara

P

uerto Vallarta offers an enjoyable range of rhythms and choices for all tastes. Is there anything more enjoyable than moving your body to the rhythm of the music? Dancing is enjoyable and essential for a sense of well being. It is great anti-stress therapy and a good exercise to strengthen emotional intelligence. Softening the body’s rigidity does the same to our personality.

Here are some tips and places to go for an enjoyable dance adventure, no matter what your age.

Night-time Tropical Rhythms

I

t is a towering testament to a long dead civilisation and has fascinated archaeologists for more than 150 years, but one of the most famous Mayan pyramids has been hiding a secret beneath its mighty steps.

Researchers have discovered an enormous sinkhole beneath the 1,000-year-old Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo, which dominates the Mayan city of Chichen Itza in the northern Yucatan Peninusula of Mexico.

And they fear the underground cavern, or cenote, which has a river running through it, may eventually cause the entire pyramid to collapse if its roof gives way.

Experts believe the huge chamber may have had special significance for the Mayans, who worshipped at the pyramid, as it is thought to be connected to other sinkhole lakes that surround the pyramid by underground rivers.

It may also be linked to another location known as the High Priest's Grave, or the Ossuary, a smaller pyramid with a sanctuary in the centre which was used as a communal graveyard.

Andrés Tejero-Andrade, one of the archaeologists at Mexico’s National Autonomous University who have been leading the research, said the Mayans may have built the Temple of Kukulkan around 900 to 1,100 years ago on top of the cavern as part of their religious beliefs.

Kukulkan is a Mayan snake deity, or a feathered serpent, who grew up inside a cave before emerging in an earthquake.

Dr Tejero-Andrade said the pyramid may have been built to symbolise the underworld, creation and water. He said: ‘It appears that El Castillo is dedicated to

that element and talk of a water Kukulcan, a snake moving in the water.’ The forming sinkhole beneath the temple is around 82 feet (25 metres) by 114 feet (35 metres) and up to 65 feet deep (20 metres). The water filling the cavern is thought to run from north to south.

The researchers, who are due to present their findings at an international geophysics conference in Turin Italy next month, made the discovery using a technique known as an electrical resistance survey.

This uses metal probes inserted into the ground to get a reading for resistance of electrical flow though the ground; where there is water the resistance changes compared to the rock.

Empty air has a very high resistance reading as the current cannot pass through the air while it is easily transmitted through water.

The researchers say they found there is a layer of limestone about 16ft (5 metres) thick at the top of the cenote, which the pyramid is currently sitting on.

Dr Rene Chavez Segura, a geologist with the National Autonomous University in Mexico, said the high humidity in the cavern and running water could eventually undermine the pyramid.

He said: "Such structures change over time, because the water washed off the walls and the cavity may be increasing.

‘At some point, if the thickness of the rock below the pyramid is thinned, there could be a problem of stability and El Castilla will collapse.’

However, he added this may not happen within his lifetime or even for many generations to come.

The researchers also found the cenote under the pyramid is also connected to underground caverns

and sinkhole lakes to the north, west and east of the pyramid.

Dr Chavez Segura said: "This is not uncommon in a karst soil and the Yucatan.

‘Usually, at depth, the cenotes are interconnected and form a network of tunnels where the water runs free. This forms the natural water network on the peninsula.’

In some areas of Mexico cenotes were used as natural wells or water supplies for ancient civilisations.

The name Chichen Itza also means "at the mouth of the well of the Itza' - the Mayan ethnic group that ruled the area..

Archaeologist Guillermo de Anda, who was not involved in the study, said the underground network of tunnels and caverns may have been symbolic to the Mayans.

He said the cenotes that surround the pyramid could represent the four points of the compass.

The river at the center might represent the center of the Maya's universe, which they thought of as a tree with roots reaching below ground.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History also said research at another Mayan site, Uxmal, found an usually high number of medicinal plants growing nearing the structure known as the governor's palace.

Uxmal site director Jose Huchim Herrera said the concentration of such plants was so much higher in the sacred area than in surrounding fields, that it indicates the Mayas planted them there intentionally as a sort of medicinal garden. The site has about 150 species used to treat snake bites, stomach infections and fevers.

Original: www.dailymail.co.uk

Vallarta has two classic venues for lovers of Salsa, Bachata and Tropical Rhythms.

The internationally renowned La Bodeguita del Medio, with its great atmosphere for all ages, is a wonderful choice to either start or end the night by dancing. It usually has a live band, there is no cover charge and the dance floor is spacious enough to move around to the beat of the music. It is located towards the north end of the Malecon.

“JB”, another Vallarta classic, located on Medina Ascencio

Avenue, having a small cover charge, is an excellent place to enjoy these lively rhythms as well.

With its large dance floor, its focus is more on the dancers themselves. There are often professional dancers participating in special themed events.

Danzon at the main plaza For many years now, the main plaza has had a tradition of dancing “El Danzon”, starting at 6 pm. on weekends. This Caribbean dance, deeply rooted in Mexican culture, is very popular among the locals.

You will often see senior couples happily dancing to the live music, something both locals and visitors enjoy watching.

Disco music on the Malecon

Puerto Vallarta has a range of nightclubs and discotheques where adrenaline, beats and loud music lovers go to have fun and dance to the latest electronic, pop or other music.

The Malecon has several of these striking places with colorful stages. There are other popular nightclubs located on Medina Ascencio Avenue as well. visitpuertovallarta.com

culture

12

Ricardo Montalban.

Ambassador Of Good Will

By Fred Jacobs icardo was born Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán Merinoin in 1920 in Mexico City. His parents were immigrants from Spain and he was the youngest of four siblings. He would later become the successor to the Valentino/Navarro style of Latin screen lover. In his teens, Ricardo moved to Los Angeles and lived with his older brother Carlos. At the age of 20 he and Carlos moved to New York where Ricardo got his first stage appearance in “Her Cardboard Lover’’ with Tallulah Bankhead.

Late in 1941, Montalbán returned to Mexico after learning that his mother was dying. There, he acted in a dozen Spanish-language films and became a star in his homeland.

Montalbán returned to Hollywood in 1943 where studios wanted to change his name to Ricky Martin!

Ricardo is best remembered for his two Hollywood films: with Esther Williams, 1947 in “Fiesta” and “On an Island with You” in 1948.

He made the cover of “Life Magazine“ In November 1949 as the first Latin actor to grace the cover. In the same year he starred with George Murphy in “Border Incident.” Usually Latino’s were stereotyped as Bull fighters or lovers. He became the first actor in a major motion picture portraying a Mexican Cowboy.

1949 followed with “Neptune’s Daughter” with Lorraine Day and Red Skelton and “Mystery Street” with Van Heflin and Janet Leigh.

He did not like his supporting roles but he was popular now but he was always popular. 1951 came “Mark of the Renegade where he danced together with Sid Charisse. In 1952 he danced with Shelly Winters in “My Man”. The same year, he made a great hit: “Latin Lovers” with Rita Moreno and Lana Turner.

Fernando Lamas was known as the Argentinian lover and married to the talented Ester Williams. He was

R

his main rival at that time, but it did not stop him to make many more hits. In 1951 when he was filming ”Across the Missouri River” with Clark Gable he fell of his horse and became unconscious after he was trampled on by another horse. The wounds he suffered never healed properly and caused him great pain.

He was 31 years old at the time of the accident, and it caused him to walk with a slight limp for the rest of his life.

He made a comeback in 1954 with Rhonda Fleming in ”The Queen of Babylon” and with Marlon Brando in “Sayonara”.

Ricardo loved the Broadway stage and in 1955 he returned and starred in the Broadway musical “Seventh Heaven“, with Olivia de Havilland and Chita Rivera. In 1960 he performed in ‘Don Juan in Hell” with Agnes Moorehead and Paul Henreid. Then he performed in an all black Lena Horne production in the Musical “Jamaica”. He received a Tony award for that.

He married Loretta Young’s half sister Georgina in 1944. The marriage lasted 63 years and produced 4 children and 6 grandchildren. She passed away in 2007 at the age of 84. In 1993 he had a 9 hour spinal operation to relieve the pain he was suffering. He was paralyzed and wheelchair bound for the rest of his life. He was remembered for his deep voice with a Mexican accent.

His career spanned seven decades, and he became known for many different roles. During the 1970s, he was even a spokesman in car ads for Chrysler, including those in which his famous accent became the tagline for the "rich Corinthian leather". From 19781984 he starred on TV in Fantasy Island; a role for which the newer generations knew him best for.

The deeply spiritual Montalbán once said that the guiding force in his life was his Catholic faith. In 1998, Pope John Paul II made him a Knight Commander of St. Gregory, the highest honor bestowed upon non-clergy in the Roman Catholic Church. Both Mexico and the USA were very proud of him. His last words before he died in 2009, at the age of 89 were: My mother was a Mexican, the USA is my friend.

Let us all hold or hands together to have peace, love and understanding in the world.

Fred Jacobs has published 3 book and is a resident of Puerto Vallarta.

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Twentieth Century Artists and International Icons: Frida and Diego

By Erin Staley

C

onsidered to be two of Mexico’s most beloved artists, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera had a deep admiration for their homeland, a mutual respect for one another’s talents, and a lovehate relationship that would rival any Hollywood drama. To appreciate their work is to take a closer look at the tragedy and controversy, passion and conviction that filled their lives.

Born in 1886 in Guanajuato, Diego Rivera quickly discovered art’s allure as a youth. He advanced his skills at the San Carlos Academy of Fine Arts and later immersed himself in Europe’s thriving art scene. While he was drawn to the prevailing styles of the time, the Mexican Revolution (191415) and Russian Revolution (1917) altered Diego’s focus. He turned an artistic spotlight on the oppression of Mexico’s indigenous people and peasantry, believing frescoes would become the people’s art. Upon returning to his native land in 1921, Diego is quoted as saying: My homecoming produced an esthetic exhilaration which it is impossible to describe. It was as if I were being born anew, born into a new world. All the colors I saw appeared to be heightened; they were clearer, richer, finer, and more full of light. The dark tones had a depth they had never had in Europe. I was in the very center of the plastic world, where forms and colors existed in absolute purity. In everything I saw a potential masterpiece — the crowds, the markets, the festivals, the marching battalions, the workingmen in the shops and fields — in every glowing face I had the conviction that if I lived a hundred lives I could not exhaust even a fraction of this store of buoyant beauty.

A member of the Mexican Communist Party, Diego combined his revolutionary and socialistic ideals in his frescoes. He had already begun to establish himself as the father of mural and modern political art in Mexico by the time he crossed paths with Frida Kahlo in 1921. Frida, born in Coyocoán in 1907, was afflicted with polio as a young child. This left her with one leg considerably smaller than the other. However, Frida’s permanent limp didn’t stop her from pursuing a career in the medical field. By the

time she enrolled in the renowned National Preparatory School, she stood out in the crowd as an intelligent and precocious young lady.

Frida, known for her fervor, joined a socialist-nationalist political group called the "Cachuchas," a group who was as devoted to literature as they were to mischief.

It was during this time that Diego was commissioned to paint “Creation” in the lecture hall of the National Preparatory School.

Despite Diego’s reputation for being a womanizer and his being nearly twenty years her senior, Frida was mesmerized by “El Maestro”. She would watch him paint for hours, believing one day she would bare him a child. However, their time had not yet come.

In 1925 tragedy struck eighteen-year-old Frida. A streetcar accident left her spine, collarbone, and ribs fractured, and she sustained additional injuries to her shoulder, pelvis, and feet. Bedridden and in excruciating pain, Frida found relief in painting. After a long recovery, she jumped into politics by joining the Young Communist League and the Mexican Communist Party.

Through these circles, Frida and Diego crossed paths once again in 1928. Impressed by her work and jovial spirit, Diego began courting Frida. The two were married the following year. Stormy and passionate, Frida and Diego’s on-again, off-again romance was nothing short of a modern-day drama. Frida once said, "I suffered two grave accidents in my life. One in which a streetcar knocked me down ... The other accident is Diego."

Diego’s professional endeavors – and desire to promote the Mexican Renaissance – took the couple to Europe and to the United States.

Diego often painted rich, vibrant murals overflowing with symbolism.

Much to the dismay of his benefactors, these works contained elements of Diego’s political ideals.

When Nelson Rockefeller commissioned him to create “Man at the Crossroads” in the RCA Building at Rockefeller Center, Diego included a portrait of Russian Communist leader, Vladimir Lenin. Although the Rockefellers protested, Rivera refused to remove the portrait. His work was immediately stopped, and the mural was eventually destroyed.

Homesick and depressed over multiple miscarriages and Diego’s infidelity, Frida threw herself into her

artwork and what was considered unconventional behavior at the time. She drank, smoked, hosted wild parties, and engaged in torrid affairs with both men and women.

She draped herself in the colorful skirts, shawls, and exotic jewelry of traditional Mexican cultures. Attractive and talented, Frida’s persona was magnetic.

Eventually, Frida and Diego returned to Mexico. Commissioned work, social gatherings, political functions, and art exhibitions filled their days. But whatever the challenge, the two respected one another’s talents. Frida championed Diego’s vivid murals of Mexican farmers and laborers as well as political notables. In turn, Diego encouraged Frida’s blend of Mexican culture, Mesoamerican mythology, folk art, and surrealism. Frida drew, sketched, and painted over two hundred pieces in her lifetime; fiftyfive of these were self-portraits. She painted her reality, often borrowing the essential elements of 19th century "Ex-Voto" style – a tragic scene, an inscription, and a saint or martyr. In 1953 Frida attended her only solo exhibition. A local critic wrote, “It is impossible to separate the life and work of this extraordinary person. Her paintings are her biography.”

Despite their tumultuous “art imitates life” relationship, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s shared passion for each other and for their beloved Mexico sustained them until their deaths – Frida’s in 1954 and Diego’s in 1957.

Not only are they revered by generations of proud countrymen, but they have become two of the most prolific international icons of the twentieth century.

travel

13

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Secret Mexico: Get beyond the beaches

By Tom Masters etween its vast cosmopolitan cities and tiny mountain villages, thick rainforests and endless northern desert, spectacular coastline and snowcapped volcanoes, Mexico has a versatility that few other countries can offer. Its dazzling list of natural and man-made wonders has almost every holiday fantasy covered.

You can enjoy world-class cuisine (a tradition recognised

by Unesco), astounding history, soaring mountains, colonial architecture and astonishing wildlife straight away. And, once you've scraped the surface, it's hard not to be amazed by what else can be found here: whale watching, indigenous cultures, dozens of different musical traditions, forgotten Mesoamerican cities, extraordinary 20th-century art and Unesco World Heritage Sites by the bucket load.

Your main challenge is deciding where to begin.

Preconceptions about Mexico are rife and deep-rooted, but few countries conform to stereotypes as unwillingly. You may go your entire trip without seeing a sombrero, eating a chili pepper or drinking tequila, and indeed, if you're looking for the Mexico of televisual representation, head to the north, where the desert states next to the US border have provided plenty of grist to the Hollywood mill.

Elsewhere, it's quickly apparent how futile it is to try to generalise about this country or its people, with its dozens of indigenous languages and cultures, Americanised urban centres, Iberian cultural heritage and revolutionary spirit proudly on display almost everywhere.

What's more, compared to other Latin American nations, Mexico is astonishingly accessible, affordable and easy to travel in. Safety is certainly something to be conscious of, particularly in big cities and in the country's northern states, where drug violence has essentially created no-go areas in many border cities and where tourism has dried up to just a trickle in recent years, but elsewhere a few basic precautions are all that are needed to keep your mind at rest.

And, despite the bad press, tourist numbers continue to rise, totalling some 21 million people last year.

Even in a country with so many visitors, there can be few places in the world where escaping the crowds can be so easy, as travellers so often flock to the same places:

B

52 635 456 0546, amigos3.com).

Make a beeline for Urique, a former mining town found at the bottom of the deepest canyon in the region, where you can hike in pristine surroundings. Stay at Entre Amigos (amongamigos .com), where a room-only double costs M$700.

Surreal surprise

megalopolis Mexico City, the resorts of Cancún, the lost Mayan cities of Palenque and Chichén Itzá, the pyramids of Teotihuacán and the spring break favourites of Los Cabos, and Acapulco and the retirement enclaves of Puerto Vallarta and Ajijic. This leaves you with a huge amount of choice and almost limitless options. In fact, all you need to do is leave the places listed here and branch out on your own and you will discover a land still largely unknown to mass tourism.

Bear in mind that Mexico is vast, and so unless you have months, you'll only see a relatively small part of it, so keep your plans realistic.

The destinations included here may take a little extra effort to reach, but all of them are well worth it. No country in the world has the roll call of attractions that Mexico does, and it spreads them out surprisingly evenly. By taking the road less travelled you're going to be having an adventure that few others will have had.

Spice and salsa

Guadalajara may be Mexico's second city, but it has retained the easy-going charm of a small town.

The exceptionally varied gastronomic culture, which stretches from its wondrous street food (best found in the sprawling Mercado San Juan de Dios) to its fancier restaurants such as La Fonda de la Noche (00 52 33 3827 0917), is the real reason to come.

One unmissable local speciality is birria, goat or lamb meat that's slow cooked in its own juices for hours until it melts in the mouth. Try this at Birriería las Nueve Esquinas (00 52 33 3613 6260; las9esquinas. com), a low-key institution where meat comes with a pile of flour tortillas, coriander, pickled onions and two spicy salsas for you to pile up.

For a whistle-stop initiation into

the city's food scene, try Guadalajara Food Tours (00 52 133 1772 6488;guadalajarafoodtours.com), whose guides will feed you with information as well as tasters at several downtown restaurants. An afternoon tour is US$40pp.

Bed down at Casa Pedro Loza (00 52 33 1202 2423,casapedroloza.com.mx) at Pedro Loza 360, where doubles in the colonial mansion start at M$1200, including breakfast.

Beautiful backwater

The state of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico is often only visited for the pre-Columbian ruins of El Tajín.

But delve deeper, because there's lots more here, including the tiny backwater of Tlacotalpan.

This Unesco World Heritage Site is a hauntingly beautiful colonial town that was once an important 19th-century river port; it fell into decline once travel routes changed.

This oblivion has paid dividends though, and today it's a perfectly preserved collection of colonial mansions, elegant plazas and soaring churches with a still-tiny tourist industry. You'll find you're one of very few travellers in this part of the country.

Bed down at the Hotel Posada Doña Lala (00 52 288 884 2580;hoteldonalala.mx), at Carranza 11, where a room-only double costs M$750. Take a ride on the Río Papaloapan, see the town's gorgeous pastel-painted houses from the water and eat fresh fish cooked up by the riverside at sunset.

Make tracks

Northern Mexico gets a bad rap, but large swathes of it remain accessible and safe. This includes the Copper Canyon Railway (chepe. com.mx), often named the most beautiful in the world. It's Mexico's only passenger train route, an engineering marvel that runs from the highland mining centre of Chihuahua to the Pacific coast, taking in mountain passes and unforgettable views as it crosses no fewer than 37 bridges along its 650km length.

While it can be done in one day, it's best experienced in stages, stopping off at the delightful highland towns and enjoying excellent walks along the way. Try hiking and horse-riding with El Aventurero (00 52 635 456 0558; ridemexico. com) or biking with Tres Amigos (00

In the remote jungle of San Luís Potosi, Las Pozas (xilitla.org; admission M$50), is a labour of love created by Edward James, a British patron of the Surrealist art movement in the 1930s.

James spent 17 years building this unique sculpture garden, spread across a luscious hillside dotted with streams and waterfalls amid a thick canopy of trees. He embellished this slice of wilderness with his own visionary sculptures, bridges, temples, abstract pieces, staircases and treehouses, all of them recognisably Surrealist.

Being virtually alone here and exploring this breathtaking spot is both wonderful and humbling. Even the journey to get here is visually stunning, through hilly countryside and mountain valleys.

On reaching the charming small town of Xilitla, you can even stay in Edward James's own atmospheric mansion, Posada El Castillo (00 52 489 365 0038; junglegossip.com), where doubles start at US$60, including breakfast.

Pacific paradise

The word "Mexico" is synonymous with beaches, but to find your own little slice of paradise, head to Oaxaca, a state that makes converts of nearly all who visit it.

The Pacific coastline here is already an open secret to Mexicans, though foreign travellers have only recently begun catching on.

With endless stretches of sandy beach, whales, dolphins and turtles to be seen, great surfing and several small beach villages that have yet to be properly discovered, this is the perfect antidote to the overdevelopment and glitz of Cancún.

Perhaps the most idyllic spot of all here is San Agustinillo, a village on a curved sandy bay that's become a low-key surfer haunt in recent years. Stay at Cabañas Punta Placer (00 52 958 109 0164; puntaplacer.com), which has doubles right on the beach that start at $90, room only. Either side of San Agustinillo are laid-back Zipolite and Mazunte, two villages with excellent sandy beaches.

Original: www.independent.co.uk

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

Aug 20 - 26, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

charities

15

Aug 20 - 26, 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, disadvan-

taged 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 Valdés. ana@fundacionpuntademita.org Tel. (329) 291 5053 Friends of PV Animals Volunteers working to enhance the

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

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: Welcoming shelter for men of all ages who are troubled w/alcohol & drug addiction.In great need of cash or material resources Contact MAYNOR Tel 281 0644 horizontedepaz@live.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