Issue 960, Aug 27 - Sept. 02, 2015 by Vallarta Tribune

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

Recycling Centro to pilot project

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 Free Issue 960

Local Remembering Colin

Timeshare what to know

Photo courtesy of Bill Bell ontheroadin.com

Back to School - La Pe単ita, Nayarit

welcome

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.

Back to School La Peñita, Nayarit

Aug 27-Sept.2, 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

Editor’s Note

Back to school! Another summer vacation survived. The kid basically takes care of himself now; if eating endless granola bars and watching Netflix constitutes taking care of ones self. I am fairly confident most information learned last year dissolved into a pile of mush. Thankfully I pay astronomical amounts of money to have him in the care of professionals who will remold and firm that mush. Something you don’t consider when moving your family to Mexico is the cost of education. Coming from Canada, (and a nice neighbourhood with a lovely public school,) I had never given private school or even the cost of university much consideration because what we get for almost free (as a tax payer) in Canada is excellent. Here it’s hard to be sure. The system is designed to take your money, of that I am positive, but how much they return is up for debate. We almost transferred into public school system this year after getting reassurances from the parents of his friends that the school in question was excellent. But the only option available was the afternoon classes (1pm-7pm) and that doesn’t fit in with his extracurricular activities. What has been interesting in this recent process of checking out different schools and making plans for university, is that the knowledge you glean from years of going to school in the States

or Canada is irrelevant here. Thankfully, I took the time to talk about options within the Mexican system with some people who have been through it recently. Did you know that there are excellent, internationally acclaimed national universities here in Mexico where tuition is a few hundred pesos a semester? We have a few years before we need to buckle down and lord knows things have a way of changing course 180º in this country but there are some very interesting options for children that want to attend Mexican schools. As we end the month of August, we head into what is called Septambre, a play on the words September and hambre or hunger. September is a slow month for those that live here as the Mexican tourists have all gone home and the foreign tourists don’t tend to arrive until late October. Many businesses close down

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Letter to Editor editor@vallartatribune.com

now, laying off their employees and those who can often head for the hills. Not only does September compete for the hottest month but also the most humid. If you are here in town you’ll enjoy a much quieter time at the resorts, along the malecon, on tours and shopping and some great deals too. When and where you can please reach out and support your local tiendas, restaurants and other businesses so they can carry on for the next few months before the masses arrive. I love Costco and its cooler as much as the next person, but that 50 pesos at the store across the street from your home will go so much further for that family than those who run the big box stores. Now is a great time to try out new places, events and activities. Beat the crowds and get in the know. Have a great week everyone. Safe travels, Madeline

MARSOL BAZAR FRIDAY AUG. 28 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Madeline: I enjoyed your editor's note. I would like to add to it. I have lived in PV for over 5 years and have been to a few funerals and I will give you some more information. You missed the most interesting part by not being to the wake; you see the wake starts a few hours after the person passes away and will go on 24 hours a day until all the family had gotten there, then the funeral will take place. In Mexico you don't need to have a body embalmed. You can

use refrigeration in the casket, it is cheaper and the wake can start much sooner as the body doesn't need to be moved out of the home if that is where the death has taken place. I am sending you my short story of my first funeral you may use it as you want, I think it shows how much these people care for deceased. I failed to note in the story but his sons and stepson were the pallbearers. Thank you for your time. Charles E. Quigley

Dear Madeline, As a reader and contributor I want to apologize for the inflammatory remarks of Donald Trump, an American who is trying to get elected President in 13 months from now. He has no right to

destroy the good relations that the two countries are having. The US is a country built by immigrants and we did not forget. You are doing a great job editing the Tribune. Respectfully yours, Fred Jacobs

Hola Madeline, I read your Editor's Note with amusement. Yes, it's hard to get motivated about anything in this heat. Last night at 10:50 it was a sticky 86 degrees. Jeesh! I, too, know I need to improve my Spanish if I'm going to call Mexico home. A former Spanish teacher recommended a free, online site to me -- duolingo.com It's actually enjoyable and keeps one motivated; at least it keeps my interest enough not to give up on it. It was developed by a Carnegie Mellon University professor and

was the first app to get an education award from Apple. I spend about 30 to 60 minutes each day with it, and after several months, I can see improvement. You might want to check it out. It helps pass a hot afternoon. :) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Duolingo Kindly, Kathleen Ed. Note: I have this app on my phone and when I’m riding the bus or waiting a long time for something I log on and practice. It is excellent. Thank you for the suggestion.

PROTECTION AND CARE OF ANIMALS

MARSOL HOTEL 103 F. RODRIGUEZ Furniture - Muebles * Kitchen - Cocina Clothes - Ropa * Shoes - Zapatos Original Art and Posters More * Más

3. Pets from seven weeks of age must be sterilized unless you have obtained a permit for reproduction.

news

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Mexican President, First Lady Cleared of Mexico Gasoline Consumption Won’t Fall Wrongdoing in Luxury-Home Purchases Despite Lower Growth P Forecast

he president of the Mexican Association of Service Station Providers, or Ampes, told EFE on Saturday that domestic gasoline consumption will continue to rise despite a lower growth forecast for 2015. “The growth expected for this year won’t be what the government had announced, but it’s greater than last year and ... 2012 and 2013,” Ricardo Boue said at the closing of Expogas, a three-day industry gathering organized by Ampes in this central city. He added that Mexico’s economic problems, including a weakening of the peso against the dollar and a sharp drop in oil prices, have not yet affected his sector. Boue also said he is unconcerned about the opening of the service station sector in 2016, one of the changes to be ushered in by the recent energy industry overhaul that ended state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos’ 75-year monopoly. The sector opening does not “necessarily imply that more

service stations will appear,” Boue said, adding that that will depend on market demand. The rules are changing for the better, the Ampes chief said, noting that once a clear, transparent and fair framework is in place Mexico will attract investment for service stations. Ampes was founded 23 years ago and represents owners of some 11,500 service stations that were granted franchises by Pemex. Mexico’s government said Thursday it was revising its economic growth forecast for this year downward from a range of 2.2-3.2 percent to 2.0-2.8 percent due to the drop in oil production and prices amid a “complex and volatile” global economic landscape. Mexico’s economy, the second largest in Latin America, grew 2.1 percent in 2014, rebounding from the 1.4 percent growth registered the previous year but well below the government’s initial target of 3.9 percent

Original: lath.com

ublic Administration Secretary Virgilio Andrade presented the results of his department’s probe into the real-estate transactions, which sparked controversy and allegations of graft when the media brought them to light last year Mexico’s federal comptroller’s office has found no conflict of interest in the purchases of luxury homes from a government contractor by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto’s wife, first lady Angelica Rivera, and Finance Secretary Jose Luis Videgaray. Public Administration Secretary Virgilio Andrade on Friday presented the results of his department’s probe into the real-estate transactions, which sparked controversy and allegations of graft when the media brought them to light last year. Andrade said Peña Nieto was not involved in awarding any federal contracts to the builder of the homes in question, Grupo Higa, because it is not the Mexican president’s role to make those decisions. In the case of Rivera, a former telenovela star, Andrade noted that she had reached a deal in January 2012 to buy a home – known as Casa Blanca (White House) – in the upscale Mexico City neighborhood of Lomas de Chapultepec with her own funds. She later canceled the contract in late 2014, paying three

years’ rent – some 10.5 million pesos (some $636,000) – and receiving back from the builder what she had paid toward the home purchase – around 14.5 million pesos ($854,000), or just over 25 percent of the total. The comptroller’s office also found no wrongdoing in Videgaray’s purchase of a luxury home in Malinalco, a town in the central state of Mexico, because he bought the property before becoming a part of Peña Nieto’s team. Separately, Andrade’s office found no conflict of interest in Peña Nieto’s 2006 purchase of a property in Ixtapan de la Sal – in the central state of Mexico – from businessman Roberto San Roman because the transaction closed six years before he became president. In all three cases, the buyers paid for the properties in keeping with the contract terms and using certified checks. The investigation, which was announced in February by Peña Nieto when he named Andrade to head the comptroller’s office, gathered testimony from 111 public officials. Grupo Higa has 22 publicworks contracts with the Mexican government and also was part of a consortium that won a contract for a high-speed passenger rail link between Mexico City and

Queretaro, although that concession was canceled in November 2014 by Peña Nieto before the scandal erupted. Andrade, however, downplayed Grupo Higa’s monetary gain from federal government contracts, saying they represented 0.017 percent of the total amount of contracts granted from Dec. 1, 2012, when Peña Nieto took office, to March 31, 2015. Grupo Higa also won numerous contracts from the central state of Mexico between 2005 and 2011, when Peña Nieto was governor. Newsweekly Proceso and MVS radio’s Aristegui Noticias program broke the story about Rivera’s mansion purchase, prompting the first lady to take to the airwaves to announce she was selling the property and to defend her honesty. Shortly afterward, MVS ended its working relationship with the host of that radio program, popular media personality Carmen Aristegui. She claims she is the victim of censorship, but the network refutes that accusation. The scandal has been a blow to Peña Nieto and his Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which governed Mexico for seven decades until 2000 and became infamous during that long reign for graft, electoral chicanery and authoritarianism. Original: Lath.com

New Mexican-U.S. Border Crossing Opens Puerto Vallarta to

receive lifeguard towers

exican and U.S. officials have opened the new Puerto Mexico Este pedestrian walkway at the Tijuana-San Isidro border crossing as part of a joint border infrastructure project, the Foreign Relations Secretariat said. Finance and Public Credit Secretary Luis Videgaray and Foreign Relations Secretary Jose Antonio Meade inaugurated the walkway on Wednesday, the secretariat said in a statement. Meade said it was important for Mexico and the United States to work together to modernize border infrastructure to create more prosperity in the region. The border region is an engine of economic growth for both Mexico and the United States, spurring bilateral trade in recent years, Meade said. “In Mexico, we always say that our house is your house, so today

T we have a door that is proper, a door that will let the more than 8 million people who will cross each year enter the country via a dignified space,” the foreign relations secretary said. Mexican and U.S. officials toured the facility before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The walkway will help improve

the flow of pedestrians on the Baja California-California border, which is crossed by an average of 21.6 million people annually. More than 300,000 vehicles cross the Mexican-U.S. border daily. About 70 percent of bilateral trade, which totaled $534 billion in 2014, moves by land. Original: lath.com

he project was authorized by ZOFEMAT and will be an investment of 4.5 million pesos. As part of the celebration of the National Day Firefighter, the head of the Municipal Coordination of Civil Protection and Fire, Sergio Ramirez Lopez, announced that they have already authorized resources of nearly 4.5 million pesos for the installation of lifeguard towers on nine beaches in the municipality, making Puerto Vallarta the first destination in Mexico and Latin America to have this level of infrastructure. The municipal official explained that the project is already authorized by the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (ZOFEMAT) and is an important

tool to provide safer beaches for visitors. On this Day of Celebration, Ramiro Lopex expressed his gratitude for all that the staff has done over the years to create this robust network of officers. "The institution for over 20 years has remained afloat thanks to the work of all of you that have led to where it is right now. I know that your work is important and believe me, I value it and I want to thank you, " Meanwhile, Commissioner Preventive Police, Highways, Civil Protection and Fire, the Mayor Rogelio Hernández de la Mata, thanked and honored the work of all officers for their commitment, dedication and discipline shown at all times.

news

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Mexicans are social, Internet study finds New regulations Country is in the top 10 for most social network users

will control fuel sales

Authorities estimate that 30% of fuel sold by gas stations has been stolen

exicans are among the world’s most social people when measured in terms of the number of citizens who connect to the Internet’s social networks. A study by the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Cepal) found that Mexico is among the top 10 countries in the world for social network users, along with Argentina, Peru, Chile and Colombia. Of the region’s Internet users, fully 78% participated in social networks in 2013, a much higher percentage than that of North America, where it was 65%, and

way ahead of Western Europe with just 55%. This despite the fact that Internet penetration is much higher in those two regions than it is in Latin America. The most popular network in the Latin America-Caribbean region was Facebook with 145 million unique visitors, followed by ShareThis with 93 million, Linked In with 38 million and Taringa and Twitter with 29 million each. The region’s Internet users also spent more time on their networks, an average of 17 minutes per visit. The average user was connected to the Internet for

21.7 hours a month, slightly less than the global average of 22.8 hours. In that respect, the U.S. and Europe were ahead of everyone else with 35.9 and 25.1 hours spent online every month, respectively. As well as the social networks, electronic commerce and news sites were among the most popular in Latin America and the Caribbean. At the bottom of the scale were electronic banking and government sites, which enjoyed just 3.3% and 1.7% of total traffic, respectively.

Original: Mexican Daily News

The Riviera Nayarit Offers ¡Viva México! Promos

hese include room rates with a discount of up to 58%; special rates for kids; and resort, spa or golf credits. There are 18 participating hotels located in Nuevo Vallarta, Flamingos, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Punta de Mita. Seasonal offers negotiated by the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) with the destination’s hotels in order to pamper visitors are ready to go under the tagline ¡Viva México! These promotions take advantage of the celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day, as they extend from the second week of August through September 17, 2015, and

are available for both domestic and foreign visitors. “These offers have generated a great response in the market, which is reflected in the influx of visitors to the destination and its occupancy rates. These promotions will continue; in fact, we pretty much run one right after the other, thanks to all the participating hotels. We have to thank them for their level of commitment because we couldn’t do it without them,” commented Marc Murphy, Managing Director as the Riviera Nayarit CVB. There are 18 participating hotels located in Nuevo Vallarta,

Flamingos, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Punta de Mita. The complete list includes: Iberostar Playa Mita, Marival Group, Villa Group, Samba Vallarta, Villa Varadero, Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, Matlali, Hoteles Riu, Dreams Villamagna, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, La Tranquila, Occidental Grand and the Bel Air. These promotions include room rate discounts of up to 58%; there are also special rates for children, as well as resort, spa and golf credits. Check out all the promos here: http://www.rivieranayarit.com/ seasonal_deals.

COME TO THE MARSOL BAZAAR Friday, August 28 is the last Marsol market of the summer season but we are presenting a BAZAAR where there will be lots of great values for sale such as crafts,

original art, posters, books, furniture, appliances decorative items, used clothing etc. It will be held at the Marsol Hotel lobby next to the pier in Olas Altas from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Don´t miss it. Our regular Marsol Friday market will resume on Friday, October 2 with about 40 vendors of your favorite products, so save the date.

ederal authorities estimate that 30% of all gasoline and diesel sold in Mexico’s gas stations is stolen; a figure they hope will be reduced by new controls on fuel sales that take effect in 2016. The Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), a relatively new agency created by energy reforms, will become directly responsible for combating fuel theft on January 1, when it implements a series of new measures to monitor fuel sales and distribution. A CRE representative spoke this week at Expogas, a conference of gas station owners and operators being held in Querétaro, to explain the new procedures. Chief among them will be a registry of all commercial fuel transactions in which all gas stations must participate, although only half of Mexico’s 15,000 stations have begun the process of obtaining the permit they will need to do so, and continue operating. With a 90-day processing period, stations that haven’t applied by the end of September will not be allowed to operate come January 1. The registry is intended to keep track of all fuel sales along the

supply chain and ensure that all the fuel sold by gas stations has been legally sourced. All transactions will be carried out via the CRE’s web portal. The Federal Tax Administration, SAT, will also play a role in the process by cross-checking fuel sales against tax filings. Sales transactions will carry a barcode similar to that used on facturas. The idea is that no one will be able to erase or alter information, or manipulate volumetric controls, a CRE official said at Expogas. Another piece of the system, which will become operational in 2018, is a website where consumers can access maps showing the locations of all the country’s gas stations, and their current prices. Mexico’s 15,000 stations sell 200 million liters of gasoline and diesel per day, of which 30% is estimated to be stolen. Authorities estimate that 80% of the fuel stolen from Petróleos Mexicanos finishes up being sold through its network of distributors.

Original: mexiconewsdaily.com

Vote for the Riviera Nayarit in the 2015 Food & Travel Reader Awards!

he Riviera Nayarit is nominated in the category of “Best Destination Mexico,” and the Grand Velas Nayarit, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort and the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita are all nominated for “Best Beach Hotel Mexico.” It’s time to vote for the Riviera Nayarit and its hotels in the 2015 Food & Travel Reader Awards, a contest that recognizes the best of Mexico’s Gastronomy and Tourism. Now that the nomination period is over, there is a list of final candidates to be voted on before the deadline on October 30, 2015. The Riviera Nayarit is nominated

in the category of “Best Destination Mexico;” of the six hotels nominated in the category of “Best Beach Hotel Mexico,” three of them are in the Riviera Nayarit: the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort and the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita. It’s time to cast your vote! Click on http://foodandtravel.mx/awards/votar, register and you will automatically be entered to win an all-expenses paid trip offered by the organizers. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #RivieraNayaritMeAsombra to invite your friends to vote for the Riviera Nayarit. Register today and vote for your favorite!

local

Paradise

and Parenting Leza Warkentin

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

Your Child Surviving Culture Shock

n this day eighteen years ago (gulp), I was getting ready to begin my very first teaching position on a First Nations reservation in northern Manitoba (ok, just Google Manitoba already, I promise it’s real). On the first day of school, one of my new, five-year-old students edged his way over to me, ogling me up and down with huge, frightened eyes (because I was the only blonde on the entire reservation. They used to play the song “Barbie Girl” whenever I walked into the school dances to chaperone. I think I’m mostly over it). He tugged on my pant leg and whispered something. With no background in the Cree language, I asked him to repeat himself. With no background in the English language, he did so, but with a loud and more urgent intonation. This escalated in a fruitless manner until my Cree assistant explained that the boy wished to go to the bathroom and vomit. This is known as the “language barrier” portion of a foreign experience, which often goes hand in hand with culture shock. Just three years later I began teaching at the American School of Puerto Vallarta. I was more prepared for culture shock, although I was not prepared for the land crab that jumped out at me from behind the toy blocks just before school started. In my first group there was a lovely little girl at least as blond as I was, and just as new to Mexico. You could tell she was used to making friends easily. You can imagine, then, how baffled she was when she couldn’t make herself understood amongst her peers. In those first months, she spent a lot of time playing alone because a) she missed her old friends and b) she couldn’t quite figure out how to cross the language divide to make new ones.

Her parents were very worried about their daughter. Her personality had always exuded confidence. She normally loved to socialize, but she had become withdrawn and often emotional. She told them she didn’t want to go to school and spoke only of her beautiful, brilliant teacher with the halo glowing around her head (I might be slightly exaggerating that last bit). In the end she found her groove. With a little support, she made friends even while she learned to speak the language. But I doubt she forgot those first feelings of isolation, because she was always quick to welcome anyone who looked like the lost little soul that she once was. If you have picked up your family’s life and moved to Mexico, I imagine you are no stranger to a bit of culture shock. I believe that Vallarta is a great place to relocate, not only because our expat community is strong, but also because the people here are lovely, welcoming and largely accustomed to English speaking folk. However, try to imagine yourself in brand new, full-time job working closely with people you don’t know in a language with which you are unfamiliar. ASPV may be a dual immersion school with both American and Mexican curriculum, but you will

find that the social language (what you will hear at recess and lunchtime) is often Spanish in any school with a high population of nationals. It’s important to understand what your child will be dealing with, and adjust your expectations accordingly. Here are a few tips for helping your child deal with the language barrier and culture shock: 1) Let them be sad – don’t make them feel like there’s something wrong with them for missing their old school, their friends, their grandparents, etc. Share with them the things that you miss too. Make sure you keep them connected with their VIPS in your home country. 2) Ask the school about ways to get them adjusted to the new setting. For example, our school has a buddy system where they get a tour of the school and play dates before school even starts. Be sure that the school is equipped to socially AND academically integrate a child who does not speak the language of the host country. You wouldn’t throw your child into the deep end of the pool before they can swim… don’t throw them into the deep end of a new educational experience without some linguistic water wings (ooh, I like that analogy). 3) If you can (and depending on the age of your child), enroll them in a language class before you move or before school starts. They WILL learn Spanish more quickly than you do anyway (much to your deep shame), but it will help their confidence to have even a small base. 4) Do fun stuff. Help them fall in love with Vallarta (it won’t be hard). It’s hard to be sad while experiencing fun, new, amazing things. Keep a journal as a family, and don’t forget to let them share it with people back home!

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Centro to pilot recycling program

he municipal government of Puerto Vallarta refines the details to implement a recycling pilot program in the Centro neighbourhood. Director of Municipal Services, Efraín Alcalá, reported that the city has decided to use the downtown area for the pilot program because it has regular collection with set days and times established. The city is already working on establishing what the collection routes will be, what will be collected, who would conduct collection and the signage needed to implement the program. "The Urban Waste Separation and Recycling program is for citizens living in that area to help us with the separation of organic and inorganic waste. We are already working to have educational signs, we are analyzing routes. As we know in this area (Centro), garbage collection is constant and continuous and this allows us to test this activity, " explained the municipal officer. He added that they already have agreements with the garbage disposal companies to join this program and in turn issue recommendations for better implementation, and later to implement it in the rest of the neighbourhoods of the municipality. For his part, director of Environment and Ecology, Juan José

Navarro Amaral, said they are already seeing what is the best way to collect garbage, perhaps with one day to collect organic waste and another day only inorganic; it may be necessary for people to put their rubbish in bags of different colors to distinguish them further. "It is critical to perform these actions, since the separation and recycling of materials allows us to extend the life of a landfill. The separation allows us to identify which materials still have a life to reuse, as with paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum and other materials. In addition we are going to adjust the bylaws, so we can reinforce and strengthen the coordinated efforts between the general public and government to carry out this activity, "said the municipal official. For the past 18 months, the Department of Environment and Ecology have started educational activities with the various levels of school as well as within organized groups, hotel staff, restaurants and generators of large amounts of garbage. "So far we have served about 13 thousand people, 90 percent were children in an effort to create a culture that understands the benefits of recycling and reducing waste." Said Juan José Navarro Amaral.

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

local

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Remembering Colin Stuart Hamilton

etired BBC journalist, writer, and, presenter Colin Hamilton died on July 25, 2015 in Puerto Vallarta, a resort town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, his home for about a decade. Police are investigating his suspicious death. More than forty family and friends attended the seventy-nineyear-old's celebration of life held at Apache's Bar and Bistro in the city's Old Town. One of his relatives a nephew, Brian Hamilton and his wife Julie Ann, flew in from New Zealand to handle arrangements. Other survivors include four other nephews, two nieces and his constant companion Kidogo and 2 cats, his dog and the cats have now been adopted. Born in Great Britain on September 24, 1935 and raised in what is now Zimbabwe and Zambia,

Mr. Hamilton started his extensive career as a journalist. First, he worked for a daily newspaper in Lusaka before moving to Kenya to join the African Broadcasting Company in Nairobi (Colin initiated and presented the “Colgate-Palmolive Hit Parade”, a most popular Saturday radio show) and later in Tanzania. Staying on the African continent, he transferred to the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation in Cape Town where he worked as an announcer and producer. Whilst training in London, Colin was offered a daily program on BBC Radio 2. For twenty-one years thereafter until his retirement, Mr. Hamilton was the writer and presenter for the thrice-daily program, "Outlook," which garnered nearly forty-million listeners worldwide. His assignments and broadcasts took him all over-the-world.

Mr. Hamilton was a prolific script writer and produced several specials for the BBC including: "Rhyme and Reason," "Pop Goes the Music," and "Exploring London with Colin Hamilton. " His threehour "Roundabout," a chat program with guests discussing a myriad of subjects, aired six-days-a-week. His beautiful baritone voice (once described by a London critic as “chocolate brown velvet”) and precise pronunciation could be heard as well on a variety of voiceovers and commercials both on radio and television. His broad range of interests included writing, travel, Africa, and animals. While retired, he chaired the Puerto Vallarta Writers Group and was instrumental in organizing films for viewing and discussion for various organizations including

A Salute to a Grand Old Man By Charles E. Quigley

s I stood there watching the colorful mass of soccer players as they moved around the field with the casket on their shoulders I realize I truly was seeing a different culture in a different country. It was something I had never seen before. He was my wife’s step grandfather; I had only met this gentleman twice in his life. He was a small, older than his year’s Mexican man, he had white hair; but the twinkle in his black eyes still indicated that he was more alert than many younger men. His name was Constancio Urena Garcia he had been born February 13, 1935 in the small town of San Martin de Bolanos in Jalisco and when he was only three, his family moved to Amapa, Nayarit where he lived for the rest of his life. His father passed away when Constancio was seven, forcing the boy to start working to help his mother. He gathered wood for cooking fires and sold it to families in the village. In 1953 at age eighteen Constancio married and received a land grant of two hectares of land on which they grew corn and beans. This was not enough land to make a living on, so he supplemented it by selling candy and fruit to the laborers working in the fields around Amapa. A paved highway was built through Amapa and they

set up a roadside stand to sell fruit, vegetables and candy to the passerby’s. Constancio’s marriage produced eight children. To support his growing brood, he became a butcher, a profession that he followed most of his life until his wife passed away and his developing asthma. At that time he started selling unshelled peanuts in small bags. He had a pushcart and would go about town selling them door to door. In the evenings Constancio would go out to the soccer field and walk along the sidelines talking to everyone and selling his bags of peanuts. All his life this man had been an honest, hard working person and he treated everyone as his friend and in later years, everyone respected him for that. When we received the phone call early one morning that Constancio had died of a heart attack we left and drove to Amapa for the wake and the funeral. This was my first Mexican wake and funeral and I learned much from it. When we arrived in Amapa in the mid afternoon his body was in the casket in the living room of his home. As I walked up to it, I could see that it was covered with a sheet of Plexiglas. There were two small white hoses leading from the casket to a refrigeration compressor sitting out outside the house. It was explained to me that this

is common practice, when there was no embalming, to keep the casket refrigerated for the wake. It lasted two nights and three days, during that time the street was closed off, and tables and chairs, which were supplied by Corona, were set up. During the time of the wake there were about two hundred people that came to pay their respects. Food was prepared by the family and much more was brought in by the mourners. When all the family had arrived, there was a funeral service in the church. After the service the pallbearers took the casket out to the hearse and we all formed a funeral procession to follow it to the cemetery. As the procession reached the edge of town, the hearse slowed, turned into the soccer field and stopped. There, standing on the field even though this was a weekday, were many members of the local soccer teams all dressed in their multicolored uniforms. They came to where the hearse was parked, took out the casket and placed it on their shoulders, and carried it all the way around the edge of the field, some shedding tears. They then replaced it in the hearse andclosed the door. We then continued on to the cemetery. I have never seen a more fitting show of respect for someone deceased than that one lap around the soccer field showed that day for the grand old peanut man.

The International Friendship House and Democrats Abroad. The writers' group is planning a memorial to be held this fall. Colin will be well and affectionately remembered for his sharp slightly acid wit, particularly by his nephew GB., who did love to engage in banter and repartee on winter London nights in Colin’s St. Mary’s Paddington home. Well loved and regarded, albeit from a distance, Colin will be missed by the children of his brothers Gavin senior and Norman. From the families of brother Norman, no more will we hear your mellow tones, the memories of your voice straining through the ether from Radio Luxembourg afar will remain with us always. Qwaheri Bwana Colin, Bwana Mkubwa, rest in peace with your brothers Gavin, Norman and Roy.

PV Garden Club Summer Update What a busy summer!

his is our most ambitious year ever and we can't wait for you to see all of the work we've done when you return to Puerto Vallarta for the high season. It's beautiful. With your generosity, we've had the resources to do so many things this summer: - Our gardeners and volunteers have refreshed our more than 100 planter boxes and trees with extensive new ground covers and additional bougainvillea. With consistent watering, trimming and planting they look amazing. - We expanded our beautification efforts with the installation of 20 new metal poles for additional bougainvillea on key streets throughout the Zona Romantica. - We've worked to improve the appeal of Parque Lazaro Cardenas by planting over 250 new flowering Ixora plants. The PV Garden Club maintains the park, which hosts the weekly Farmer's Market, festivals, concerts and more. - And something new: we've sponsored the very first trash storage bin as a prototype to help improve the cleanliness of the Zona Romantica. Trash collection is an issue many people have complained about for some time,

and as a group focused on beautification efforts, we wanted to help with a potential solution. In addition to all of the gardening, we're busy planning our 2015-2016 membership events. This will be our 5th season as an organization and we have lots of exciting things lined up. More news to come, so stay tuned. Enjoy the rest of your summer! We will see everyone soon. Very cordially Matthias Vogt/Treasurer and the entire board of the P.V. Garden Club AC

www.vallartatribune.com

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

time share

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Buying a timeshare: the pros and cons By Ron Kelemen

he purchase of a timeshare — a way to own a piece of a vacation property that you can use, generally, once a year — is often an emotional and impulsive decision. If you’re considering buying a timeshare, so you’ll have a place to vacation regularly, you’ll want to understand the different types and the pros and cons. 4 TYPES OF TIMESHARES First, a little background about the four types of timeshares: 1. Fixed Week The buyer usually owns the rights to a specific unit in the same week, year in and year out, for as long as the contract stipulates. There is predictability, but also little flexibility and the potential for long-range boredom. With a fixed-rate timeshare, the owner can rent out his block of time or trade with owners of other properties. This type of arrangement works best if you have a highly desirable location. 2. Floating The buyer can reserve his own time during a given period of the year. This option has more freedom than the fixed week version, but getting the exact time you want may be difficult when other shareholders snap up many of the prime periods. 3. Right-To-Use With this arrangement, the buyer leases the property for a given amount of time each year for a set amount of years. The developer maintains ownership of the property, however. 4. Points Club This is similar to the floating timeshare, but buyers can

stay at various locales depending on the amount of points they’ve accumulated from buying into a specific property or purchasing points from the club. The points are used like currency and timeslots at the property are reserved on a firstcome basis. 5 ADVANTAGES OF TIMESHARES 1. Unlike a vacation home which may be vacant part of the year, you only pay for what you use. Thus, the use of a very expensive property could be more affordable; for one thing you don’t need to worry about year-round maintenance. 2. If you like predictability, you have a guaranteed vacation destination. 3. You may be able to trade times and locations with other owners, allowing you to travel to new places. 4. You may be able to rent out your block of time if you can’t use it, although some timeshare contracts may not permit this and website exchange services may charge you to play matchmaker. 5. You might enjoy letting your

friends or family use their timeshare for free or offer it at a charity auction. 4 DRAWBACKS OF TIMESHARES 1. While you don’t need to worry about maintenance, you will need to worry about the annual fees and your lack of control over their annual increases. The average annual maintenance fee for a timeshare is $660, according to Howard Nusbaum, CEO and president of the American Resort Development Association. You pay that fee whether you use the property or not. In addition, you could be liable for special assessments. If you don’t pay up, the developer can foreclose on your timeshare. 2. Timeshares are hard to sell, and used timeshare units are sold at a steep discount because there are so many on the market. Thus, it might be a better deal to buy a used timeshare on the secondary market. Bear in mind that the Better Business Bureau has been warning about timeshare reselling schemes that defrauded victims

Understanding Mexican Timeshares by: Amy Loftsgordon

n Mexico, foreigners are restricted from owning land within 50 kilometers of the coast or 100 kilometers of an international border. Since the majority of timeshares are in beach resorts (in places such as Mazatlan, Los Cabos, Cancun, Cozumel, and Puerto Vallarta), this means that in most cases when you buy a timeshare in Mexico you are only purchasing a right to use the timeshare, rather than an interest in the real estate. (This is different than in the United States where there are two types of timeshare interests -- deeded and rightto-use.) A legitimate timeshare will work with you to ensure you are comfortable and satisfied with your purchase. Yes, they may use sales

tactics on you to upsell you on the type of package you should buy but not unlike buying a new car, set your limits, do your research and don’t sign anything until you are ready.

hare salesperson. Take the documents with you when you leave the meeting so you can spend some time reading the fine print. You may want to review the contract and documents with an attorney.

Tips for Protecting your Purchase Do Not Purchase a Timeshare Based on the Brochure. If the salesperson only shows you a brochure of the timeshare property, but not the property itself, run away from the deal. You need to visit the resort and the developer’s office before considering purchasing a timeshare to ensure the property is legitimate and indeed, even in existence. Don’t Sign Anything at the Meeting. Do not sign a contract when you first meet with a times-

Do Your Homework Before you purchase a timeshare at a particular resort, run a Google search to find out more about the company that you’re dealing with. Timeshare owners who have previously been scammed often post their experiences and warnings about scammers online. You can also check for complaints about the resort developer at any PROFECO office. Get Any Promises in Writing. If certain promises were made during the sales presentation, make sure

out of thousands of dollars. 3. If you sell your timeshare at a loss, the Internal Revenue Service doesn’t let you claim a capital loss as you would with other investments and real property. 4. Buying a timeshare in a foreign country presents special challenges. In Mexico, for example, foreigners are not allowed to hold the direct title to property within 30 miles of the coast and 60 miles of international borders. They are limited to “right to use” timeshares. Also, consumer protection laws in some countries are more lax and lack enforcement. POINTERS FOR POTENTIAL TIMESHARE BUYERS Still interested in buying a timeshare? Here are a few pointers: Think of a timeshare purchase as a lifestyle purchase, not an investment. When you consider depreciation, travel costs and maintenance fees — on top of an uncertainty of use — the concept of “prepaying” for your vacations may not pencil out. Run the numbers. Analyze your vacation patterns over the past few years. Do you really go to the same place at the same time every year? Or do you have a mix of activities and destinations, such as camping adventures, cruises, road trips or organized tours? If it’s the latter, a timeshare isn’t right for you. If you must borrow to purchase a timeshare, you have no business buying one. Timeshares depreciate in value very quickly, so most banks will not lend you money to buy them. Often, the developer those promises are covered in the contract. Right to Cancel a Timeshare Purchase in Mexico If you purchase a timeshare in Mexico, U.S. laws do not apply to the transaction. By law, in Mexico you have five business days to cancel a timeshare contract after you have signed it. The right to cancel cannot be waived. If you try to cancel, the timeshare salespeople may tell you that you waived this right when you signed the contract. This is not true. Mexican law stipulates that purchasers are legally entitled to cancel a timeshare contract without penalty. Refunds The timeshare developer must refund of all the money you have paid, without any cancelling penalties, within 15 business days. If the developer stalls or refuses to give

will arrange financing for you, but at a much higher interest rate than banks that do make the loans. What’s more, usually in a foreclosure, the outstanding mortgage balance and the unpaid maintenance fees are higher than the timeshare’s value, which creates what is called a deficiency. Then, lenders can go after your other assets. Be wary of timeshare salespeople who answer your questions with a question and won’t be upfront about the purchase price. Another tip along these lines: it’s a good sign if you are offered a grace period allowing you to change your mind and cancel before committing to buying. You will have more protections if your unit belongs to what is called an owners’ club or association. This is similar to a condominium board, giving the property’s owners a collective voice and strength in numbers. The owners’ club may also be helpful when you try to sell your unit. Never pay an upfront deposit without having first identified and inspected the particular unit. You don’t want any unpleasant surprises when you show up for your vacation. If you envision children or grandchildren vacationing with you, will they (or their parents) be able to afford the travel costs? If so, you may wind up not using your timeshare unit or points as much as you expect. Ron Kelemen is the author of The Confident Retirement Journey and a certified financial planner with The H Group in Salem, Ore. His website is TheHGroup-Salem.com. www.forbes.com you a refund, you can file a formal complaint against the company with PROFECO. What is PROFECO? The Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor (Office of the Federal Prosecutor for the Consumer), known as PROFECO, is the consumer protection agency designed to protect consumers against abuses or fraud by companies operating in Mexico. If you are having a dispute with a timeshare developer in Mexico, you may contact “PROFECO” by email at extranjeros@profeco.gob.mx or by telephone to file a formal complaint. Go to PROFECO’s webpage at www.profeco.gob.mx (Spanish) or www.profeco.gob.mx/english.htm (English) to find more information and current telephone numbers for PROFECO. Original: nolo.com

travel

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

The Curse of the Guachimontones By Joel Hansen Originally published in Mexi-Go! Magazine

he Los Guachimontones (wha-tchi-mon-tones) and I have a bit of a checkered past. I have attempted to visit them on at least a half dozen occasions before I finally found success. Sometimes while in Guadalajara for business I would simply run out of time to see them. Once I tried to see them only to have the transmission on my relatively new and reliable car breakdown. Then during Semana Santa, bound and determined, I left Puerto Vallarta with more then twelve hours to make the four hour journey, only to arrive at the gates well past closing and no amount of pleading or offering of "donations" was going to get me past the gatekeepers. This is more a statement on the craziness of choosing to drive anywhere in Mexico during holy week then it is of the policies of the UNESCO heritage site, but none the less I felt like my attempts to visit Los Guachimontones were being thwarted by powers beyond my control. Not to be denied, rising early and rousing my son and amateur archaeologist, we headed north from Ajijic towards Guadalajara, then west to the lakefront town of Teuchitlán, which was in the midst of a fiesta judging by all the streamers and the carnival rides in the plaza. The Los Guachimontones sits about a kilometer outside of the town plaza. As we drove up to the parking lot we passed by a tour bus struggling to make its way down the curvy, narrow road, and I was concerned about the site being overflowing with visitors but knew there was hope that we would finally see these 3500 year old pyramids. We found a few cars in the lot, and after purchasing a bottle of water for the ten minute hike to the site, we headed out. As we climbed up the paved path we met a couple from Guadalajara struggling to ride their bicycles and enjoy a can of Estrella while trying to take a photo of themselves overlooking the panoramic view while riding their bicycles and enjoying that can of Estrella. My son offered to snap the picture for them and they were happy to tell us that this was their tenth visit to Los Guachimontones, and they often come just to have a picnic among the ruins. Leaving the happy couple we made our way to the first smaller pyramid which is more of a burial

mound and I could see Max was a little disappointed, however that quickly changed when we caught our first glimpse of the 60-foot main pyramid and the rest of the “town”. Entering into the site we came across the ball field that at one time was the largest in Mesoamerica at 110 meters long. The game, ullamaliztli, was played with a heavy round stone covered in natural rubber which players could hit with their hips. All the male skeletons found at the Teuchitlán site have broken hips. The game was played from sun up to sun down and often used as a way to settle political disputes. At the end of the day, the captain of the winning team would receive the great honor of losing his life as a sacrificial offering. Leaving the court with the thought that maybe second best was ok, we caught sight of the main pyramid. We walked in a clock-wise motion around the main pyramid, down the boulevards, until we had circled the entire site. I began to notice Max pushing and prodding on various rocks, so I asked what he was doing. “Looking for a hidden passageways obviously” was his sarcastic answer, indicating that I was an idiot for not thinking of it first. The Los Guachimontones site was only really discovered by the archaeology community recently and the story of how Phil Weigand and his wife, art historian Celia García de Weigand made the ruins of Guachimontones their life work is legendary now. In 1963, Celia and Phil were on

vacation in the Tequila Valley near the small town of Teuchitlán. During the trip, she discovered a number of large obsidian blades at the bottom of a natural swimming hole. (Obsidian was highly valued in pre metal cultures for its ability to hold razorsharp edges.) The find intrigued Phil, then an archaeology field assistant in Zacatecas. Together the couple located a huge obsidian workshop, where millions of blades and sharp pieces of rock were piled up to three feet deep across two acres at the foot of the extinct Tequila volcano. Archaeologists already knew of the region's ancient shaft tombs. Dating to the first centuries A.D., these tombs had small burial chambers at the bottom of vertical cuts up to 60 feet deep. Many had already been plundered of their valuables, including nearly life-size seated figures, at the beginning of the twentieth century. But despite the sophistication of the tombs and figures, the area was still widely considered a cultural backwater compared to Mexico's Central Valley and the Yucatán. In archaeological terms, the tombs existed in a vacuum. Virtually nothing was known about the people who made them. "We planned to spend a summer, or at most two," Phil says of their initial project in the valley. That changed when they discovered remnants of large, round buildings scattered around the region. Nothing like them had ever been seen before in Mexico--or anywhere else. During their first field season

in 1970, the Weigands examined aerial photos of the valley. "We found hundreds of buildings shaped like concentric circles, mostly around the volcano," Phil says. "They were everywhere!" A 217-acre site above the town of Teuchitlán called Los Guachimontones was especially interesting. After struggling up the side of the volcano, Phil recalls, "We finally reached a circular compound whose beauty, symmetry, and monumentality far exceeded the expectations we had formed from the aerial photographs." Huge circular structures covered with vegetation sat on a natural platform overlooking a wide, lush valley. Though local farmers knew the site, it was virtually unknown to the outside world, archaeologists included. The Weigands had discovered a new civilization, one to which they devoted the next 30 years of their lives. What they had found was a ceremonial center, the heart of what the Weigands named the Teuchitlán tradition. This complex society, responsible for the area's shaft tombs, reached its peak between 200 B.C. and A.D. 350, when more than 50,000 people may have lived within 15 miles of the Tequila volcano. At its height, the Teuchitlán tradition was the cultural center of West Mexico, with unique, complex architecture and a trade network that stretched from Guatemala to Arizona. 1 Max and I spent a number of hours exploring the ruins, and in

that time we rarely spoke, only to answer his questions, “What God did they worship here?” “Mainly a god named Ehecatl” “Was there lots of bloody sacrifice like with the Aztecs?” “Not really, Ehecatl was a peaceful god, mostly they burned corn to him” I could tell that this answer didn’t satiate his video game induced ADD, so I told him about the Voladores and how each one of the round pyramids once had a pole in the center of it and the “birdmen” would tie themselves to these poles and fly around in honor of Ehecatl the god of wind. We had seen the birdmen of Veracruz ceremony before and the thought of a man flying around the top of the sixty-foot pyramid seemed to appease his need for action and the lack of sacrifices. On our return to the car we reflected on the fact that we had enjoyed the site almost exclusively to ourselves and that I had finally made it to Los Guachimontones without incident.... or so I thought. Returning to the town of Teuchitlán for a much-deserved Tecate (and limonada for the boy) we watched the final of the Euro champions’ league in a packed cantina of mostly Chelsea fans. When it was discovered that I was cheering for Bayern Munich the good natured teasing began.... of course the curse wouldn’t have been complete without my team losing heartbreakingly in penalty shots and the entire bar exploding in celebration with many jubilant smirks directed towards me.

vallarta-nayarit

Life

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

Introducing Richard Spindler

ften people, sailors, tell me they arrived in La Cruz via the Baja Ha-ha rally. Some of these folks continued to La Cruz awaiting weather before venturing further or like many of us, settle in to live in this quaint town. Curiosity had me asking Richard Spindler, who founded the two-week cruisers rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico more about what motivated him in his career thus far. Richard and Donna or as he calls her ‘the Doña’ live in four different places, three months a year each. 1. In the winter in one of three luxury condos Dona rents at Punta Mita or aboard their 63-ft catamaran Profligate. 2. In the spring aboard the 45-ft cat 'ti Profligate’ in St. Barth, French West Indies. 3. In the summer aboard the 42-ft canal boat Majestic Dalat in France.

4. In the fall aboard Profligate between San Diego and Santa Barbara. “In short, the north coast of Banderas Bay is our home from November through January.” Richard said he’s been visiting Banderas Bay and La Cruz in one of his sailboats since 1981. It's just one of the places they stopped in their travels. I asked him about his career; “I was a philosophy and Russian major at UC Berkeley. When I was 29 I started Latitude 38 sailing magazine in California and am still the owner/executive editor. In 1994 I started the Baja Ha-Ha cruising rally; over the years we have brought over 2,000 boats and 10,000 sailors to Mexico. I also started the Sea of Cortez Sailing Week, Zihua SailFest and numerous other sailing events.” Far from retired he continues to work well in excess of 40 hard hours a week. Richard says “I'm not happy if I'm not working.” I asked him of the recent news of them chartering their catamaran Profligate: “It's premature to say

much about chartering Profligate other than we have a permit to carry 30 passengers. We're going to determine what kind of charters a little later on. Maybe sunset sails, maybe snorkel trips, maybe term charters. We are not permitted to go to the Tres Mariettas, which are already too crowded for us. My good friend, Peter Vargas of Sea Tek, who has done all kinds of great work on Profligate, is my Mexican partner in Profligate charters.” What Richard likes best? “I like to write and I like to start events and businesses.” Beyond sailing Richard surfs at little, SUP’s (stand up paddleboard’s) even more, and boogie boards. I asked about his contribution to the sailing community and about Latitude 38 magazine. ”I started Latitude 38 in 1977 because I was selling boats in San Francisco and had no idea what was going on in the world of sailing.” What do you see as the greatest change to La Cruz since you started coming here? Do you like that change? The biggest change in La Cruz has obviously been the marina. There are winners and losers in any big change, but I think overall it's been good and will continue to be good for the majority of the people. He’d recommend La Cruz to others; “I think the entire north shore of Banderas Bay is a great place to vacation and/or live. It's close to Vallarta, but not too close. Still has small town charm.” If you’re looking to charter a sailing vessel for up to 30 persons please email; profligate63@gmail. com.

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Visit Puerto Vallarta Magazin

ach month the Tourism Office of Puerto Vallarta produces an online magazine that can be found at magazine.visitpuertovallarta.com There are articles around a general theme and related to Ecology, Gastronomy, Tourism, Health and Wellness all written by local professionals within the Puerto Vallarta community. This month’s theme is Warmth,

which is fitting since August is always a scorcher with the annual average high temperature of 90º and a humidity of 83%. Only September gets wetter with humidity high of 84%. Below are a couple of the articles from the magazine for a complete look visit the Puerto Vallarta official tourism website. period after magazine.

Natural and affordable Five ways to detoxify on vacation By Claudio Fabián Guevara

ach cell in our body releases waste which needs to be eliminated so as not to become toxic and poisonous, which would produce the following symptoms: Mental sluggishness, fatigue, joint pain, stiffness, swelling, digestive problems, and, others. A periodic detoxification is essential to rid the of body of impurities and toxins in order to increase longevity. Regarding aging, Kathryn Alexander, a detoxification expert, states: “Reversing it can only be achieved by eliminating toxins from the body and improving our nutritional habits”, read more at www. vibromancia.com. How to detoxify? Summer vacation is an excellent time to do this. There are clinics and spas in Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas offering this type of therapy, but you can also do it at home. Take advantage of this summer to pay attention to the most important thing there is, our

health. Fasting: An ancient practice wisely used by our ancestors to heal excesses caused by overeating, and, nowadays, for overuse of modern day products. Intestinal cleanse: Many illnesses and weight problems are caused by a dirty colon (large intestine). There are many natural methods for an intestinal cleanse, like an organic coffee enema, or ingestion of flaxseed. Steam baths and mud therapy: Thermal or steam baths, or a sauna, help our skin eliminate impurities as pores open and release toxins. Mud baths/therapy is a great method of detoxification for the skin. Sand exfoliation: Scrubbing or rubbing the skin with moist sand helps exfoliate the surface, obtaining adequate oxygenation in order to have tight, smooth, rejuvenated skin. Remember, it is not just the passage of time that causes aging, but also the degree of toxicity we have.

BLESSED FRUIT

A cool and nutritious alternative to combat summer heat By Ana Espinosa allarta’s summer is known for its high temperatures and tropical rains which together make humidity rise, so if the temperature is 30 or 33 degrees centigrade (86-91 F), the heat index makes it feel like 37 or 38 degrees (98-100 F). Although tourists spend most of their time trying to cool off in pools, the ocean or places with a/c, enjoying outdoor activities is one of the main draws of Vallarta. It is always worthwhile to spend some time at

the beach, walk along the Malecon or stroll through the beautiful downtown streets, visiting galleries, window shopping at the market and shops around the Cuale River. Mexico has just what we need to feel relief from the heat. There are delicious refreshing options, such as popsicles made with fresh seasonal fruit, which make them an excellent choice. Also ideal are fresh fruit cocktails which have different names around the country. In the North, they are known as “Escamocha”

culture

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Rita Hayworth: Darling of the forties ACTRESS, DANCER, GI PINUP GIRL By Fred Jacobs

B or “Gazpacho”, even when in other places these words could mean cold soup, (another good option to combat the heat). In Vallarta, they are known as Pico de Gallo, with lemon, salt and powdered chile, which is very refreshing. Another type of fruit concoction is called “Bionico”, which could include orange juice or yogurt and granola. Mexico has just what we need to feel relief from the heat There are often places at the beach selling prepared coconuts or “piñas locas”, with the pulp removed and diced, it can be enjoyed as both a snack and a drink. The variety of fruit is as wide as what’s in season, the place, and people’s taste, with everything from cucumber, jicama, pineapple, watermelon, banana, papaya, mango, nopal fruit, and

coconut. You will always be refreshed, and more importantly, hydrated, with coconut water. We should also highlight the delicious “Tuba” drink, a coastal Mexican tradition prepared with coconut palm water, removed directly from the palm’s trunk, adding sugar, and allowed to ferment for some days. Served in a small glass or a beautiful gourd, along with chopped up apples and nuts and of course, lots of ice, it has a unique taste. Along the Malecon, you will find traditional vendors, dressed in white, with their gourd on their shoulder, trying to stay under the shade of a palm tree, happily offering you “Tuba, Tuba”. A picturesque opportunity not to be missed during this summer season.

MEDICAL TOURISM IN PUERTO VALLARTA

Puerto Vallarta is a world class destination in this area By Dr. Maximilian Andrew Greig

uerto Vallarta has hosted various conferences for the Medical-Hospital Industry during this year. It has the necessary infrastructure to hold any type of event of this nature, and also the amenities a modern city offers, making it an excellent reason to choose this destination, with the added advantage of being surrounded by mountains and beautiful beaches. Puerto Vallarta presently has internationally certified medical institutions, providing a quality of service comparable to world-class hospitals. Puerto Vallarta is in first place in medical tourism. Thousands of travelers from all over the world visit Puerto Vallarta for medical treatments and surgery. The infrastructure, doctors, competitive prices, quality of service and all the extras that this destination has to offer, to make patient recovery easier, has put Puerto Vallarta in first place in regards to medical tourism. Accor-

ding to the Puerto Vallarta Visitors and Conventions Office, at least 10 Medical Industry conferences, were held here in 2014. The same number of conferences are to be held in the next six months. The LXXIV National Congress of the Mexican Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery was held here. Puerto Vallarta, also is headquarters for the “Consejo Mexicano de la Industria del Turismo Médico”, CMITM, (Mexican Medical Tourism Board). It serves as medical tourism spokesperson with the federal government, to establish joint work as an association, and make the most efficient use of the public policy put into place by the Departments of Economy and of Health.Puerto Vallarta is, without a doubt, an excellent option not just, as an ideal place for vacation, but also, to take care of one’s health. It is a perfect location for Medical Tourism conferences and congresses, as it stands out in several ways and can be shown internationally to be a world-class destination.

orn in 1918 in Brooklyn, New York and passed away at age 68 in 1987 in Manhattan, New York Rita’s father, Eduardo Cansino, Sr., was from a town near Seville, Spain, while her mother, Volga Hayworth, was an American of Irish-English descent who had performed with the Ziegfeld Follies. At the age of 12 she took dancing lessons and worked in local cantinas and it did not take long for her to draw attention as an entertainer. She did made a total of 61 films over 37 years and is best remembered for the movie “Gilda” in 1946 with Glen Ford. Two of her marriages made worldwide news. She married her agent, a con artist who was married twice previously and 22 year older than her, in 1937 when she was just 18 yrs. old. Rita had a seven-year contract with Columbia Pictures, but her husband/manager ran away with all the money she had earned, after threats of physical violence and left her without a penny. In 1943, Rita married as her second husband, Orson Welles. The marriage lasted five years. They had one daughter named Rebecca, born in1944. According to Rita he was the love of her life. When she married Orson her nickname in the media became “Love Goddess”. Orson was an artistic genius that never had the desire to be a good husband to Rita or a good father to their daughter. After the divorce in 1948, he even refused to pay the $50 a month child support the court had awarded her. Years later she sued him for $24,000 in back child support. The media had a field day with the story, while Rebecca was neglected. During WW2, Life Magazine published her almost nude picture and she became the pin up girl for all the G.I’s stationed overseas. She was already a top film star. In 1949 she married Arab Prince Aly; a son of Aga Khan III. She gave up her spectacular film career when Prince Ally proposed to her. The marriage again made great international news. They moved to France where the Prince had horse racing stables that won many international races. For a while she loved the glamour of the international lifestyle. They had a daughter named Jasmine The

prince turned out to be a playboy who was caught cheating and they divorced in 1951 Rita’s fourth marriage was to Dick Hayes in 1953, a popular singer originally from Argentina. He was about to be deported because he had could not prove his naturalized US citizenship. He also had ex-wives that he owed a lot of alimony to. After marrying Dick, Rita had her $5000 week salary garnished by the IRS for his $100,000 debt to them and warrants were out for his arrest in California for back alimony. They were divorced in 1955 and she began to drink heavily. Rita had struggled her whole life with alcohol abuse but it became more severe in the 1950’s. None of her four husbands supported

her and only her second daughter Jasmine helped support Rita in her later years. The Princess had rented an apartment for her next to hers at the elegant San Remo Apartments on West 72 Street off Central Park in New York City. In 1980, Rita was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Little was known of this crippling disease back then. She died from it in 1987 at the age of 67. The President of the US at the time (and former actor), Ronald Reagan sent a national obituary to her well-attended funeral in remembrance of the pleasure she gave to soldiers during WW2. She gave more happiness in life than she received. Fred Jacobs is the writer of 3 books and a permanent resident of Puerto Vallarta.

brain teasers

Aug 27-Sept.2, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

SUDOKU

hallenge 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.

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

e have temporarily suspended our weekly tours of the Sanctuary from now until November. We will be sure and announce which day of the week these scheduled tours will begin again. However, special arrangements can be made to accommodate anyone seriously desirous of visiting our Sanctuary. Please contact us in advance to make arrangements. You can send us an email at spcapv@gmail.com 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;

Janice Gonzalez

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.

charities

Aug 27-Sept.2, 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