Issue 964, Sept. 24-30, 2015 by Vallarta Tribune

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News 1.1BN INVESTMENT

September 24 - 30, 2015 Free Issue 964

Local LIVING IN THE MOMENT

Travel MEXCALTITAN

PHOTO BY MADELINE MILNE

SEAHORSE

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.

Sept.24 - 30, 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 By Gretchen DeWitt www.peaceanimals.org

he mission of PEACEAnimals is to prevent the future suffering of animals by offering free mobile spay/neuter clinics. Since its founding in May 2013, PEACEAnimals has sterilized over 4,000 dogs and cats annually. A mass sterilization program greatly reduces the number of dogs and cats on the streets being hit by vehicles, poisoned, diseased, starving, abused and abandoned. There aren’t enough homes for all the animals being born. There are several Facebook pages and websites that have photographs and descriptions of dogs and cats that have been lost and/or found, animals that need rescuing and/or fostering, animals for adoption and requests from people who would like to adopt a cat or dog. For local animal information please view the resource tab on our website – www.peaceanimals.org If you see an animal that is sick or injured and are able and willing to pay the vet bill, please contact your vet or one of the vets listed on the resource tab of our website. For emergency vet attention, call: 044 322 180 6624 If you have found an animal and cannot adopt it, in addition to having the animal checked and vaccinated by a vet, please consider taking it to a free PEACEAnimals clinic. Clinic schedules are listed on our website and also on our blog: www.gretchen-pea-

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

ce-and-pv.blogspot.com There are vets who give discounts to people who rescue cats and dogs. No animal-related organization or group in Puerto Vallarta has the manpower, money or means to rescue, attend to and find homes for the thousands of street cats and dogs in Puerto Vallarta and in the surrounding areas. PEACEAnimals is a Mexican AC and U.S. donations are tax deductible. On how to donate, please see our website.

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 editor@vallartatribune.com

ith the Independence Day festivities over the vibe around town has certainly changed. Everyone is prepping for the wave of visitors and tourists in the coming weeks. We have a few new venues opening around town. Le Bistro had a very successful prelaunch with everyone buzzing about this legendary location on the river. The Friday Market at Marsol with 50 local vendors is gearing up to re-open on October 2nd and every Friday thereafter; our very own Marcella Castellanos – Wellness Latina contributor, is running a 14 Day Clean Eating program starting October 1st that I’m going to undertake. We are welcoming a new columnist, Rhonda Zarate, a full-time Canadian expat who among other things also offers life coaching. She’s going to help us find our happy heart with her motivational articles. With a happy heart, perhaps my artistic talents will improve.

The first of the bi-monthly Canvas and Cocktails events hosted by Pitayo is this Friday the 25th ; if you haven’t tried this yet, think wine, good chatter and you go home with a masterpiece, (at least until the wine wears off). After I’m done with the 14-day clean eating cleanse I might head to Los Muertos Brewpub, who just opened a smaller location on Francisco Villa just past the Libremiento - great news for those of us on the other side of the river. They have some of the best pizza in the city so, if you haven’t yet, go try them out. I kept hearing such great things about Playa Detox, the vegetarian/vegan restaurant

and it was all true. They’ve moved from Plaza Gaviotas to Las Arelias on Avenida Los Tules. The food was so delicious and I didn’t feel even a little bit guilty about eating it. The service/timing wasn’t great and they’re still renovating, so the buzzsaw was a bit much, but the food! Oh, momma, the food. Always on the search for sushi comparable to Vancouver, I checked out well-recommended Yeo, the new sushi restaurant at that strip of restaurants on Fluvial Vallarta just past Plaza Caracol. It was really good, fresh and not oozing cream cheese (rare to find in Vallarta). The prices were reasonable and they’re going to have

Upcoming events around

Riviera Nayarit

opping the list is the Vallarta Nayarit Gastronómica event, the La Cruz de Huanacaxtle International Sport Fishing Tournament, the National Triathlon Series in Litibú. The Riviera Nayarit is preparing for big events in September and October, all geared towards locals and visitors alike. One look at our calendar and you’re going to want to start planning your next vacation! 3rd Flamingos 3-5K Race (September 26) This is a recreational race, mainly to encourage the love of sports and give runners one more excuse to come vacation in the Riviera Nayarit. San Francisco Patron Saint Festivities (September 26 – October 4) The local Patron Saint Festivities in San Francisco—better known as San Pancho—are a very Mexican tradition held every year. Come enjoy the dances and the local verbena with its unique flair in this, the Cultural Capital of the Riviera Nayarit. 7th Annual Vallarta Nayarit Gastronómica (October 4-7) This grand culinary event is presented with the slogan ““Because the Best Recipe is Learning from the Stars.” Attendees enjoy a variety of activities including show cooking, conferences, workshops, wine tastings, expos, private events and the finest national and international chefs and sommeliers. 4th International Sport Fishing Tournament in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle (October 14-18) One of the most important sport fishing tournaments in the Riviera Nayarit is held in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. Dozens of boats will be seeking to break the records for Tuna, Marlin, Mahi Mahi and Sailfish and take home the top prizes. National Riviera Nayarit Triathlon Series (October 30-31) Litibú will host for this sporting event for those who are prepared to brave the Swimming, Biking and Running portions on the beaches and mountains of the Destination. You can’t miss it!

Sept.24 - 30, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

one of those conveyor belt delivery systems in place soon, which adds some excitement to your meal, and probably encourages you to eat more. Only downside was their wasabi wasn’t hot and then they ran out. Hopefully that little misstep has been corrected. After enjoying the fireworks last week, we passed by the Jazz Foundation and it sounded fabulous and looked busy; it’s great to see this venue take off. It is a sorely needed addition to the malecon. Myself, I’m working on some projects around the house. We have family visiting this fall and want to get the garden up to speed and the paint on our walls has started to bubble and grow hair(?) - gross. I guess that is just a part of the charm of living here through rainy season. What I’m most excited about though is VivaAerobus sent a promotional email with very cheap flights to Villahermosa out of Guadalajara. I’m thinking of booking that trip for the spring and going to visit Chiapas and all its wonders. I’ve heard Palenque is the most beautiful of all the Mayan cities and the jungle there is spectacular. Maybe we’ll even head into Guatemala or Belize – both places on my ever-expanding bucket list. Plenty to plan for, plenty to do. Have a great week everyone. Get out and support some of these new businesses and your local shops. Safe travels, Madeline

Womens Shelter needs volunteers

olunteers are needed for local women's shelter The Banderas Bay Women's Shelter are looking for women who are interested in volunteering in food preparation and to teach basic education to primary and secondary children. The shelter has many wonderful volunteers who provide valuable services to the women around Banderas Bay. If you can assist this non-profit organization please contact: David Zude at compassionforthefamily@ yahoo.com.mx or visit them online at CompassionForTheFamilyMx.org

New English language radio show in Vallarta

ichael Nolen is the host of The Good Morning Wakeup radio show, from the University of Guadalajara in Puerto Vallarta. Launched on August 22, 2015 this early morning show is in English every Saturday at 9:00am on FM 104.3. A non-profit show paid for by the University of Guadalajara, this program will provide outreach to the English speaking community in and around Puerto Vallarta. The shows will include

local news, sports and weather along with things to do around the bay of Banderas. It will also touch on subjects that foreigners are often looking for advice on, such as how to apply for a Mexican residency visa or driver license, what to do if you need a doctor or medical help and much more. Each week there will be a handful of guests to create lively interesting dialog. Be sure to check in on Saturday morning.

GRAND OPENING MARSOL FRIDAY MARKET GRAND OPENING MARSOL FRIDAY MARKET OCTOBER 2, 2015 9:30 -1:30 P.M. Every Friday-- October through April, 2016

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news

How Stable Is Mexico's Economy? By Nathaniel Parish Flannery

ithin Mexico many citizens are frustrated with their country’s economic performance and are questioning their government’s ability to navigate its way through a year of global economic turbulence. A precipitous drop in petroleum prices has sucked the air out of Mexico’s highly promoted push to open its oil sector to foreign investors. At the same time economic trouble in China has contributed to a drop in commodity prices. But, while Brazil and Venezuela are both dipping into recession, Mexico’s economy continues to expand. Although companies such as ICA and Grupo Mexico have been hurt by weakness in the construction and mining sectors, other economic sectors continue to shine. Ford sold 1.2 million cars in Mexico in 2014 and continues to expand sales in 2015. CocaCola FEMSA reports that its sales in Mexico and Central America increased by 6.7% in the second quarter of 2015. GE, GM, Audi, IBM and a long list of other manufacturing companies continue to invest heavily to increase output in Mexico. Although manufacturing remains a bright spot, construction and mining are two causes for concern. During the second quarter of 2015 ICA’s construction business accounted for 73% of the company’s revenues and only 8% of the company’s profits. Grupo Mexico saw its mining division’s net profits drop by $47 million in the first quarter of 2015 due to falling commodities prices. To get a sense of Mexico’s current economic health I reached out to three expert analysts to ask for their opinions. Alberto Bernal, Head of Research at Bulltick Capital: I would not argue that the Mexican economy is in a situation that’s negative. I would not compare it to Brazil. Perhaps Colombia will grow faster this year, but in terms of competitiveness and private sector growth [Mexico] is the story to show. Mexico’s growth could be much stronger—it should be growing at 5 percent but it’s not. You see weakness in oil exploration – but you don’t see weakness in consumer demand. Car sales in Mexico are growing. As of August of this year domestic car sales are up 16 percent. That’s impressive. This is completely different from Brazil where consumption is collapsing. One of the main challenges is to be able to educate better, especially at the lower level. At the higher level,

Sept.24 - 30, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Mexico Sets Minimum Bid Values for 2nd Phase of Round One Auction

M Mexico produces a fair number of engineers. Mexico produces more engineers than Germany. At the higher level things look better. The problem is at the lower level. You need to start with initial education. Most cognitive capacity and intelligence are shaped by the first few years of life. [In Mexico] your competition is Vietnam. Vietnam spends a huge amount of money on education. It doesn’t make a difference if you have the best universities. You need to fix primary education. Mexico has been hit by a bad joke. You open the energy sector and oil prices collapse. If we had higher oil prices we’d see more interest to invest more. Just imagine if oil prices were at $100 right now. But at fifty the business doesn’t look that enticing right now. But still, in many ways Mexico is the envy of Latin America. In the case of Mexico, the China slowdown doesn’t affect it much. China is not a strong buyer of Mexican output. Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, those are countries being affected by the China slowdown. From the standpoint of Mexico—it would be disingenuous to say Mexico is like Argentina or Colombia. It’s a totally different story. Mexico is a very competitive country. What is one of the most resilient economies in the emerging world right now? My bet right now is Mexico. Non-petroleum exports are at $372 billion. Mexico has done something right. It’s the envy of Latin America. I’m not saying we should be cheerleaders but it’s a mistake in my view to say that Mexico is doomed. Ricardo Aceves, Latin America analyst and economist at FocusEconomics: In general terms the Mexican economy is growing at below its potential. Below 3% is below its potential. It’s been this way since the start of the Peña Nieto admi-

nistration. The economy has been underperforming. Growth isn’t taking off. Little by little it’s slowing because of external shocks such as the fall in commodity prices. Falling oil prices affect the government’s budget and [force] a reduction in spending. That’s the weak point. Mexico is not immune from suffering from the effects of global economic turbulence. But, nevertheless it’s better prepared than other countries. Monetary and fiscal policy have been prudent. But, within Latin America, Mexico is positioned relatively well. In spite of the fact that expectations have been falling, Mexico will grow at 2.5% this year. By contrast Brazil has entered into a deep recession. Carlos Petersen, a Mexico analyst at the political risk consultancy Eurasia Group: Under the current external shocks that emerging market economies are experiencing a tough situation and Mexico has been doing pretty well. Mexico is one of the only countries sustaining its growth. Brazil, Chile, and Colombia are slowing down and Mexico has been going against the tide. That’s a positive story. The automobile sector is doing very well. The retail sector is doing very well. Remittances from the U.S. are growing because of the exchange rate. Moving ahead the potential risks are there. If the U.S. economy continues to grow [slowly] and exports don’t pick up that will affect Mexico. The construction sector keeps disappointing. Construction remains sluggish. Oil production and mining are also suffering. From the policy perspective, the budget cuts are a sign of fiscal responsibility when revenues are declining. It’s prudent fiscal policy. In the long term Mexico will remain stable but in the short term growth will remain sluggish. Original: www.forbes.com

exico has unveiled the minimum percentage of operating profit the government must receive on five shallow-water production blocks up for grabs in the second phase of the country’s historic Round One oil auction. The terms are generally more favorable for companies than in Round One’s first phase, which ended in disappointment. For the first contractual area, which covers the Amoca, Mizton and Tecoalli fields, bidders must set aside 34.8 percent of operating profit for the government, the Finance and Public Credit Secretariat said in a statement Monday. The government’s minimum share of operating profit for the second contractual area (the Hokchi field) has been set at 35.9 percent, while for the third (Xulum) and fourth (Ichalkil and Pokoch) contractual areas it was established at 30.2 percent and 33.7 percent, respectively. For the fifth area (Mision and Nak) the bidders must set aside 35.2 percent of operating profit for the government. The government’s minimum share of operating profit for most of the 14 shallow-water exploration blocks on offer in Round One’s first phase was 40 percent. The decision to announce the government’s minimum profit share two weeks before the Sept. 30 auction contrasts with the first phase, when that percentage was not announced beforehand. “The minimum (share of operating profit) means that, considering all the economic elements,” also including royalties and taxes, the government’s overall take will be greater than 50 percent, the secretariat said. It added that all of the contracts contain a mechanism that ensures the government will receive any windfall profits associated with significant price increases or the discovery of greater-than-expected volumes of hydrocarbons. The Mexican government had earlier sweetened the terms of the second phase relative to the Round One’s first phase, which ended in disappointment when only two of 14 blocks were awarded. Among the changes, successful bidders are to receive additional

exploration and production rights beyond previously discovered reserves and a $2.5 million bid security guarantee will cover all contracts a bidder is awarded and will not need to be provided for each separate block, as was the case in the first phase. Fourteen prospective bidders – nine individual companies, including Chevron and Shell, and five consortia – have been pre-qualified to participate in the second phase of Mexico’s historic Round One oil auction, the National Hydrocarbons Commission, or CNH, said last month. The Round One auction is the product of a 2013 overhaul that ended state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos’ monopoly and opened Mexico’s energy sector to private investment for the first time since 1938. Pemex reserved for itself 83 percent of the country’s proven and probable reserves and 21 percent of potential reserves in a so-called “Zero Round” of non-competitive bidding last year, Mexico’s government is looking to the overhaul to attract tens of billions of dollars in investment and reverse a roughly 30 percent decline in Mexico’s oil output, which peaked at 3.38 million barrels per day in 2004 and currently stands at roughly 2.3 million bpd. Mexico is starting small with its offer of shallow-water fields and onshore blocks this year and saving the big prizes – deep-water fields in the Gulf of Mexico – for later tenders. Original: laht.com

news

Sept.24 - 30, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Canadian fund to invest Mexican inventor discovers how to convert plastic garbage into combustible fuel $1.1bn in Mexico

exico's President, Enrique Peña Nieto, has blasted the pessimists who are upset that the country's sweeping structural reforms are not yet bearing fruit. CDPQ, a Canadian fund, is not one of them, and is pouring $1.1bn into Mexico to prove it. The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, one of North America's largest fund managers with investments in Heathrow Airport, the Eurostar and the port of Brisbane, is teaming up with three of Mexico's top pension funds and other institutional investors to pour $2.1bn into infrastructure projects over the next five years, writes Jude Webber in Mexico City. CDPQ putting $1.1bn into the new trust, called CKD Infraestructura Mexico - its single biggest one-time investment in what it sees as long-term growth markets, including China, India and Brazil. What is more, CEO Michael Sabia told the FT Mexico's top three private pension funds (known as "afores"), Afore Banorte, Afore Banamex and Afore Sura, as well as Pensionisste, which manages state workers' pensions, and Fonadin, an infrastructure fund, are putting $1bn into the partnership. The companies have already identified five key areas of interest in Mexico, a Nafta member that is increasingly integrated with its two North American neighbours: pipelines, especially for transporting cheap US shale gas down to Mexico; electricity generation and transmission, including renewables; transport infrastructure like airports, ports and toll roads;

water utilities and so-called social infrastructure, like hospitals and research centres. Negotiations have begun with Pemex, Mexico's state oil company, said Rashad Kaldany, CDPQ executive vice president for growth markets, and deals with CFE, the state electricity company, are also in its sights. Pemex has recently sealed deals with funds BlackRock and First Reserve to fund a key pipeline project and is on the lookout for more private investors to partner with. A previous toll road operating partnership between CDPQ and ICA, a construction company, is also being sold into the new trust, and the approach, at least at first, will be to focus on brownfield projects that have already been built. "We are doing something different. As far as I know, this hasn't been done in North America before or in the world," said Mr Sabia, referring to the partnership with private pension funds which will allow Mexicans ownership of key infrastructure projects. The structure can potentially be replicated in other Latin American markets and India, he added. CDPQ stresses it is a longterm investor and Mr Sabia said that despite rule of law concerns in Mexico, he sees Latin America's No. 2 economy as poised for take-off because of the marriage of stable macroeconomic management and structural reforms. As a result, further down the line, he hopes to invest in the manufacturing sector, consumer goods and real estate in Mexico. Original: Financial Times

autistic Mexican inventor who discovered how to convert plastic garbage into combustible fuel — without ever having studied chemistry — and now is having trouble selling his idea to authorities in his own country. The special catalytic converter was created by former language teacher Gerardo Nungaray Benítez and has attracted international awards. The Zacatecas native is now trying to get his invention installed across Mexico, approaching local governments in the hope that they will adopt the new technology. The converter, which allows trash to be reused as combustible fuel, has potential ecological and economic benefits. The 45-year-old Nungaray says his interest in chemistry and inventions began when he was a child. When he started fabricating pumps he earned the nickname El Güero Bombas, güero for his fair skin and bombas for pumps. He was just 11 years old when he made his own beer and designed an electric toilet. He admits that he never got to study chemistry formally because he was “a problem child,” testing positive for Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism characterized by hyperactive behavior and concentrating to the point of obsession on a single object or theme. This condition led to his being frequently expelled from school. Despite these setbacks, El Güero’s passion for chemistry continued unabated until his father forced him to leave home at 15 as a punishment for unruly behavior. Nungaray moved to the

U.S., where he took a job as a chicken farmer. Nungaray’s catalytic converter can transform a tonne of trash into 900 liters of combustible fuel at a cost of 4.5 pesos per liter. (Photo: La Jornada) However, during this time he also worked as a fibreglass and polymer manufacturer, completing his self-taught studies and learning English and several other languages. His newfound linguistic ability gave him access to many scientific studies in the field of chemistry, and after returning to Mexico, El Güero spent the next several years working as a language teacher. But he never lost his interest in scientific invention and research, and six years ago he gave up his job as a teacher to devote his energy to developing the converter. The initial idea behind the invention came to Nungaray when he was taking rubbish from his house to a local dump, where he saw a homeless boy scavenging. When he witnessed the boy opening a bag full of infected materials from a clinic, he decided to develop an incinerator to get rid

Construction of Mexico City's New Airport Starts

onstruction of the new Mexico City international airport has started, Grupo Aeroportuario corporate infrastructure director Raul Gonzalez Apaolaza said. Financing via bond sales and bank loans has already been arranged for the project, which will not be affected by budget cuts, Gonzalez said. Grupo Aeroportuario, which

is developing the project, is a corporation in which the Mexican government owns a majority stake. "We believe we have sufficient resources to stay on track so the airport can be inaugurated on Oct. 20, 2020," Gonzalez said in a statement released by the Communications and Transportation Secretariat. The bidding process for the

21 basic packages for construction of airport facilities has started, the Grupo Aeroportuario executive said. The first package, which was put out to bid last Thursday, covers preparation of the 4,430-hectare (10,938-acre) site, a critical step before construction can start. The Communications and Transportation Secretariat said on Jan. 26 that Grupo Aero-

portuario had been selected to build and operate the new international airport. The new airport, which is being constructed in a nature preserve on Lake Texcoco, will cost more than $9 billion, have six runways and handle 120 million passengers annually, or four times the volume that the current airport, which opened in 1929, handles. Original: laht.com

of dangerous and contaminating waste. Nungaray believes that 12 million liters of diesel and gasoline could be produced daily with one converter (Photo: La Jornada) It was while working on the incinerator that El Güero had his introduction to pyrolysis, a process of chemical decomposition that turns garbage into a liquid. He then realized that he could use this technique to reduce plastic garbage back to its original state — petroleum. According to Nungaray, his catalytic converter can transform a tonne of trash into 900 liters of combustible fuel at a cost of 4.5 pesos per liter. For this simple reason, his converter is both profitable and sustainable, allowing garbage to be reused as fuel. If his invention were installed throughout the country, he believes, 12 million liters of diesel and gasoline could be produced daily. El Güero hopes that energy reforms in the coming years will allow such machines to be commercialized. But getting governments to introduce such reforms will be a significant challenge. “I don’t believe the authorities have shown any interest,” he says. “Public servants lack vision, unless they can benefit themselves. This is what is currently stopping major projects being developed in Zacatecas and throughout Mexico.” He adds that so far the only place to have shown any major interest in adopting the technology is the Zacatecas city of Fresnillo. Yet El Güero’s invention has received attention elsewhere. Last year it earned third place and a US $20,000 prize in a History Channel Latin America competition that attracted 5,000 entries for “an idea to change history.” Original: www.yucatantimes.com

local news

Paradise

Living

and Parenting

rhondazaratelifestyle@gmail.com

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

here’s been a lot going on this week. It’s hard to judge whether it’s all been good or whether I should just shrug and haul it all to the part of my brain that I don’t really use, right next to the part that knows where I’ve stashed the spare set of car keys. First, my husband and I figured out how to download YouTube on my son’s Xbox, which was pretty exciting considering we’ve been trying to do that for about two years now. I figured it was going to be a great week if it was starting with technological breakthroughs. The next day I decided to go to the grocery store, and things went a little sideways. I grabbed my purse, jumped in the car and took off before anyone could ask if they could come along and beg for snacks. This turned out to be a big mistake because I forgot the step in between purse and car that is called “check your personal appearance.” I was in the house section of the store and walked by a mirror which reflected back the very first star of the Vallarta version of People of Walmart (Gente de la Comercial Mexicana has a ring to it). Let’s just say that once I find a shirt I like, I generally wear it around the house until my husband secretly “loses” it while I’m at work, but that he hadn’t quite gotten around to it with this particular garment. But then the week ended with a bang when my son lost a tooth. He’s almost eleven, and truth be told, the dentist was starting to wonder why his baby teeth were so determined to hang around a growing, tween-y mouth. I tried to explain that they weren’t so keen on actually showing up in the first place. It’s odd to see a little one-year-old kid with a full head of curls and one tiny tooth on the bottom of his gaping grin like a caricature of one of those ancient, old-timey gold miners. Lucky for him, he was invited to a Canadian friend’s birthday party, and they were playing street

in the Moment Rhonda Zarate

Leza Warkentin

The Tooth Rat

Sept.24 - 30, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

hockey. The mom told me that the tooth fell out on its own. Hey man, I’m glad it fell out. A little high-sticking is as good a way as any. But we can go with the “all by itself” story, because I don’t want to damage her mom-cred. She’s a good gal (who lets kids play with big sticks, whatever). My daughter likes the Tooth Fairy of her mother’s childhood, because what is more charming than a beautiful fairy with shimmery wings and a gauzy dress who comes and softly removes the tooth from under the pillow, leaves some cash, and floats away on a cloud of glitter? My son, on the other hand, likes the Mexican version of the Tooth Fairy, which, less charmingly, is a rat. Because who wouldn’t want to fall asleep anticipating a visit from a scurrying little furry creature whose ancestors brought about something as picturesque as the Bubonic Plague? Normally my husband, the one who started the whole El Raton Perez tradition in our family, is in charge of the Rat’s activities when the boy loses a tooth. This includes a short, kind note (as though rats are even literate) and a coin or two. Unfortunately, he was working that night, so it became Mom’s Job. I felt a little light-headed, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to put the right Spanish twist in the note. I was concerned because the note had become indispensable to the whole tooth ritual (darn this modern parenting). So I did what I had to do, and what many parents of bicultural children have to do every day. I improvised. In the morning, the boy came to me with the letter and a twenty peso bill, thrilled but confused over some of the spelling. I took it from him and tried on my best Brooklyn: Hey kid, I’m the Tooth Rat’s brotha from the Noith. I ain’t too good with the spelin and such and ya dog’s makin me noivous. So congrats on the tooth. It’s a beaut. Raton Vinny.

hat is your journey to your Happy Heart? What lights you up, what makes your heart skip a beat, brings a smile to your face or flips the butterflies on in your stomach? So many of us ponder this topic, reflect deeply on how to get to our happiness, looking under every rock that we go by, and stress out when we have not hit our happy stride. This, my friends is MY MISSION in life... to discover what makes the human heart happy and to peek into the lives of others on their personal journey to achieving this! I would love to introduce myself. I am Rhonda Zarate, a self-proclaimed "Happiness Huntress." I am a Canadian who has lived on and off between Mexico and Canada for the last 17 years. I truly believe one has to make it their unwavering personal goal to find out what their “happy" looks like. You must, with laser like focus, intentionally live your life by custom design making how you feel become your compass and the key ingredient to your idea of what success looks like. When you are not living in the moment, you are not present; you are neither here nor there. You

find yourself yearning for the other place... a sadness dilutes your perspective, blurring all the realities of the wonders surrounding you, where your feet are planted at that exact moment. It is ridiculously silly that we allow ourselves to miss the juicy moments as our boat of life floats on by. You either want structure, familiarity, time efficiency, things exactly as you know them to be or you want the flip side of the spectrum, which is the easy flowing, spontaneous, free, and manaña siesta time. When you are in Mexico, you find that little voice resonating in your ear "well at home we do it, get it, think it, taste it, say it... this way". Your filter starts to cast out all the beautiful moments right in front of your nose; the smell roasted chicken as you stroll by the local tienda, the sounds of children laughing as they play kickball on the street, music from an apartment above drifting towards your ears, the feeling of the cool ocean breeze as you inhale the freshness of the sea first thing in the morning. Life can be so darn delicious, so why do we make it so complicated? It's truly the small, unexpected, soulful moments that catch us off guard, that take make us appre-

ciate life for what it is. It's at these times when you just know, you feel in your zone, find your sweet spot, or have your “Aha!” moment, this is when you know you're on to something extraordinary. I have a favorite quote that I remind myself almost daily to reflect on. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.” -Unknown I am so excited to go on this journey with all of you. Discovering my own path to my Happy Heart, all the while learning what others find that makes them happy. Growing and supporting each other. It shall be a fun time. Salud to all of you and your journey to finding what makes you happy, day by day, moment by moment, breath by breath. Homework: Practice the practice of not comparing where you were to where you are now, and live in the moment. Life is deliciously fabulous. Until next time, Rhonda Living in Vallarta, Rhonda is here to help you make a difference and be your happiest, wiser and more loving self. She has dedicated her life to helping people discover and put into action the tools, strategies and resources to create an extraordinary life. Her strengths lie in many areas; Lifestyle Coaching, Real Estate, and being as the Author of “The Happy Heart Journey.” Wanting to chat more? Ways to reach me are rhondazaratelifestyle@gmail.com or check me out my Facebook Blog rhondazaratelifestyle

Adorable Dog In The Spotlight... Mango

hat an adorable little guy! Mango gets his name from the mango colored spots on his fur. He is a beautiful Chihuahua mix, weighing about 8 pounds, and just two years old. He is the perfect lap dog you can take with you anywhere. He is good with other dogs, and is a bit nervous around new people but quite loving after he has been introduced. He has been completely dewormed, is current on all vaccines and has been neutered. If you are ready to give little Mango the forever home he deserves, contact us at spcapv@ gmail.com for an application

local

Sept.24 - 30, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

South

Random Thoughts from the Tribune sports Desks

Shore Temptations By Nicole Martin

By Joel Hansen

Mattock Imagery

know it has been awhile since my award winning (?) column has appeared in these hallowed pages, so I apologize in advance if you were turning to this page in hopes of reading something good and instead have to suffer through my ramblings. Last Friday, I was pulling into a parking spot on my way to lunch at El Campanario when I was stopped by slight, older Mexican gentleman, struggling on the sidewalk with a number of baskets. “Hello my friend, I know you,” he said. “Really?” I asked. “You are a writer in the Vallarta Tribune, I recognize your picture”. I felt a swelling of pride, this was the first time anyone had recognized me. I shot a sideways look at my son who was with me, but engrossed with his phone as usual. “Well thanks, I am glad you like my column, it’s always nice to meet a fan” I said, hopefully loud enough for Max to hear and pay attention. I wonder if this old-timer will ask me for my autograph? I thought. Maybe a selfie with me? I wonder if I have a pen in my truck. Maybe I should ask Max to grab it for me. “Hey Max can you get me a …” The old man cut me off, “Your articles used to be pretty good, and very funny, but now not as much,” he replied as he readjusted his load of baskets. “You should write again and maybe try to be funny,” he offered. “That’s what I think you need to do.” He shrugged, wished me luck and walked on. As Max and I sat down in the restaurant he looked up from Whatsapp or whatever he was doing and asked who the old man was. “Umm…nobody, he was asking for directions, let’s order.” You know what is awesome about an Alabama loss? Not only is it a loss for that weasel Nick Saban, but that clown Lane Kiffin is also taking it on the chin. Not sure if you know this, but I hate those two. Week Two of the NFL already has me questioning my blind faith in Chip Kelly. After two games the Eagles are a dumpster fire; the free agent signings of Byron Maxwell and Demarco Murray seem like

mistakes; and apparently the only play that we have on any 3rd down is a screen pass to Darren Sproles. There is still lots of time left in the season but since 1995 only 11% of teams that start 0-2 make the playoffs, or about one team a year. With the Seahawks and Colts also 0-2 it makes me worried. Both of those teams are better than the Eagles (on paper anyways) so I guess I am hoping this is the year that we see three 0-2 teams make the playoffs. Full disclosure, I also have all 3 teams picked to be in the final four in a playoff pool. In local sporting news the Los Muertos Cerveceros improved to 4-6 in Division 4 softball action on the weekend with a 12-9 win over rivals, Señor Beer. The Brewers were led by Dan Camacho who pitched a nine run jem and helped his cause by driving in three. Camacho pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the pivotal 6th inning, snuffing a late rally from the Señor Beer side. In recent weeks the Brewers have been particularly susceptible to giving up heartbreakingly late inning runs and allowing victory to slip through their fingers. Fortunately it was not to be on Sunday as stellar defense and timely hitting powered the Los Muertos side to the W. First baseman Eric “Rooster” Fulfer was overheard saying, “ Now that's what I am talking about!” and that he looked forward to a few cold Pacificos after the game. I had the chance to catch up with a few fans after the game, running into the editor of this very paper who told me, quote, “it's nice to see you guys actually win a game for once,” unquote. Thanks for that Madeline. With the win, the Brewers climbed to 10th place in league standings and look to stay hot verses Pescado La Morena on Sunday afternoon. Come join us for some rousing baseball.

What Puerto Vallarta Offers Art Lovers

o, you are an art lover thinking about buying a second home in Puerto Vallarta, or perhaps you are taking the plunge and moving here permanently; then you are probably also thinking about the best way to populate your new home in the sun with some quality art. If that is the case, you have chosen the right destination for your new property venture - Puerto Vallarta is an art lover’s haven. Downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Romantic Zone offers a host of fabulous art galleries, markets, and other unique stores where

you can find amazing art pieces perfect for your new home in the sun. There is so much amazing art available in Puerto Vallarta that you could furnish your entire home twice or more! Local Artists The art galleries in Puerto Vallarta have a reputation for quality and creativity, and there are so many galleries to choose from, including Galeria Uno, Galleria Pacifico, the Loft Gallery, Corsica and Dante to name but a few of the longstanding galleries you will find. Manuel Lepe Macedo, Rogelio Diaz, and Javier Nino are a few of the local artists that offer sculptures, paintings, fine prints and jewelry in many of the local art galleries. Native Arts and Crafts If you are looking for Huichol

Art, then you can find a number of galleries in Puerto Vallarta dedicated to selling the craft of this native community, the most easy to recognize being the Folklore Bazaar gallery on the Malecon. The Huichol people (or Wixáritari as they are known in their own language) create the most stunning colorful art. The Huichol people are Native Americans from the Mexican states of Jalisco, Nayarit and Durango and their art includes beeswax threads and beautiful handcrafted beaded sculptures, each piece made by hand. The art that is created by the Huichol people is enchanting and represents a deep spiritual tradition in harmony with nature. Every so often you can find Huichol art featured at one of the markets around Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta’s Artwalk One of the best ways to meet gallery owners and get a sense of the artwork available in Puerto Vallarta is to join the Artwalk. The ArtWalk is held weekly from the months of October-May on Wednesday evenings. The type of art that you can expect to see are the same pieces that are featured in the galleries downtown, which is an outstanding experience for tourists and those who have chosen to make Puerto Vallarta their second home. Wine is sometimes offered to visitors during the Artwalk so you can truly enjoy yourself. This is the perfect time to meet local artists, and talk with people who also enjoy art. Public Art And if you are not the kind of person looking to fill your home with art but like to appreciate it from afar, then the Malecon boardwalk provides the perfect combination of stunning ocean vistas and a collection of the finest works of Mexican sculptures that includes work by artists Ramiz Barquet, Sergio Bustamante, Alejandro Colunga, and Jonas Gutierrez, who are local Mexican artists. If you are an art lover, then Puerto Vallarta is the place to visit, because you will see the best art, and never be disappointed.

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

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real estate

You and Your RFC Code By Fabien Madesclaire fabien@g3mex.com

ast this September the Secretary of the Hacienda and Public Credit (the Mexican taxation entity comparable to the IRS in the U.S. or the Canada Revenue Agency) announced that all foreign buyers and sellers of Mexican real estate are now required to have their own CURP (Clave Unica de Registro de Poblacion), and RFC (Registro Federal de Causantes) numbers at the time of closing on a property. Too, current foreign property owners are now obligated to have their own RFC and CURP numbers. The CURP is the national identification number here in Mexico. If you already have an official Mexican Residency Visa your CURP should be printed on your Visa. If you have a resident visa, but no CURP, you should contact the Immigration office here in Mexico (INM). If you do not have a residential Visa you will have to contact the Mexican Consulate of your native country and begin the process of establishing Mexican residency. Applying for a residential visa has become more complicated, and a big change from the past, when you could simply go to the immigration office here in Vallarta, turn in your tourist visa and apply for your FM2 or FM3.

These types of residential visas no longer exist, which has caused some confusion and aggravation, but ultimately the process is pretty straightforward, and most of the Mexican Consulates in the larger cities and towns in the U.S. and Canada are now accustomed to processing this paperwork. For instance, the Los Angeles Mexican Consulate website has a link to residential visa information on its homepage. For more information go to: http:// consulmex.sre.gob.mx/losangeles/ index.php/visas-a-extranjeros. Your local Mexican Consulate will provide you with official documentation, to begin the temporary or permanent visa process. Complete and submit INM’s online application prior to arriving at their office. Be sure to have copies of all necessary documents (they are strict about this, so make a few extra copies of everything to eliminate any trips back and forth to INM), pay associated fees, and your Visa should be ready in about 2 weeks. Note: Puerto Vallarta’s INM office is much busier during the high-season (December-March) so try to shoot for the other months, in order to expedite processing. For more information, go to the INM website at: http://www.inm.gob.mx/

Banks and Unofficial RFC Numbers Evidently, in the past, some banks issued unofficial RFC numbers to foreigners opening bank accounts in Mexico. To find out more check out this interesting article on the always helpful website Yucalandia: http://yucalandia.com/2014/01/18/mexicanbank-issued-non-sat-rfc-ids-for-foreigners-potentially-a-problem/ How to Obtain Your Official RFC: The Secretary of the Hacienda is happy to issue you an RFC, as it means more money in the coffers of Mexico. They provide a plethora of information online at: https://rfc. siat.sat.gob.mx/PTSC/RFC/menu/ Remember that your RFC number is an excellent tool, which can be used to take deductions on renovation work that you’ve done to your Mexican property. If and when you decide to sell, it will help you to shave off some or all of your capital gains taxes. Always ask for an official factura (invoice) from any service providers. Check to see that they include both your and their RFC numbers on the factura. Also, make it a habit of asking for facturas from hardware and supply stores, when making home improvement related purchases. Obtaining your RFC does involve some extra work, but using one can really pay-off in long term savings. Please Note: This information may not be the final word, as things do change. Be sure to consult with a Notary or real estate agent if you are involved in a real estate transaction here in Mexico. G3MEX Real Estate Group is a full service real estate agency. Our knowledgeable staff is always available to assist you with your property needs. Contact us at our office at: 322-209-0832

Sept.24 - 30, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Catch Me If You Can 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.

The Race to the Late Election of Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

ost U.S. expats have heard that those who meet certain presence or tax home tests abroad may elect to exclude some or part of their foreign earned income from federal income tax. This is the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. Indexed for inflation, the maximum exclusion amount for 2015 is $100,800. This exclusion is not automatic. It is a so-called “election”. In other words, one has to affirmatively tell the IRS one wants to take advantage of this provision. This is done by filing form 2555 (or its simpler “EZ” cousin) with one’s tax return. Generously, I think, there are five ways for the election to be made: • With an income tax return that is timely filed; • With a properly filed 1040X amending a timely filed return; • With an original (but late) income tax return that is filed within one year after the due date of the return, or <drum roll>: With a filed, really

late income tax return (along with form 2555), if the taxpayer owes no federal income tax after taking the exclusion into account, or With a filed, really late income tax return (along with form 2555), if the taxpayer owes federal income tax after taking the exclusion into account, if the IRS does not catch you before you actually file it. The last option is of great importance to non-filers who have earned income above the exclusion amounts and have not yet heard from the IRS. The difference in tax (and penalties and interest) is huge. It is a meaningful incentive to become compliant. Late last month, a Mrs. McDonald lost at the Tax Court on that very issue. She did not beat the IRS to the race. The IRS noticed she had not timely filed returns and it issued “substitute for returns”. That’s IRS speak for saying “gotcha”. To be valid, an election on these late returns must specifically state at the top of the return (I recommend writing it in bold, red letters) the “open sesame”, “Filed Pursuant to Section 1.911-7(a)(2)(i)(D).” If you miss that, you blow it. Now you know. Beat the IRS to the race. It’s well worth it.

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

riviera nayarit

Sept.24 - 30, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

September is the smart month to travel 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

he kids are in school, the tourists have returned home, now is the time to pack your bags for a romantic September vacation. September is the perfect month for couples and friends to dominate the travel scene, taking advantage of luxury packages, less crowded fairways at the golf clubs, and the

Community shout out! many special events celebrated throughout the month. While most of the visitors to Banderas Bay return home to their familiar routines, those in the know understand that September is a great month to travel. Less crowds, excellent deals on tours and vacation packages, plus the spectacular weather with its cool

mornings, sun filled days and spectacular rain showers some evenings make September the perfect time of year to visit. Taking advantage of this special time of the year, Villa Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta offer beautiful beach resorts and spas - perfect for enjoying a romantic get-away.

Punta de Mita Foundation needs your help

icrosoft recently launched the #UpgradeYourWorld campaign, which is awarding monetary support to non-profit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are making a positive change in the world, such as the Fundación Punta de Mita in the Riviera Nayarit. The contest is active in 10 countries including Mexico. In each country, 10 organizations will receive $50,000 USD. Currently there are five winners and the other five will be chosen via votes on social media.

You are invited to cast your vote for the Fundación Punta de Mita, an organization that has been helping the communities of Banderas Bay for over seven years. Its focuses are in health, education, the environment and community development. It’s easy to vote: visit Twitter or Instagram and use the hashtags #UpgradeYourWorldMX, #Votopor and tag @Fundacion_MITA; the same goes for Facebook, just use the hashtags and tag @ fundacionpuntademita. You can also cast your vote at

https://www.microsoft.com/es-mx/ w i n d ow s / u p gra d eyo u r wo r l d / . Any questions you have can be answered on that page as well. An example of the benefits brought about by the Fundación Punta de Mita in the Riviera Nayarit was the recent grant they secured in order to support other civil associations in the region. They also host several non-profit activities throughout the year, helping to improve the Riviera Nayarit as a destination. The polls will be closing at the end of the week, so get online and vote today!

Reforestation and Cleanup in Riviera Nayarit

n Friday, September 18, 2015, Sayulita welcomed the EarthCheck Committee for its reforestation project, headed by the Ecology, Public Works and Services department of the Banderas Bay municipality with the support of the Sayulita Limpia and Cuerpo de Paz civil associations. Litibú recently joined in the program, planting approximately 300 endemic trees and plants, according to Francisco Méndez, Fonatur’s delegate in Nayarit, who added that he has his own sustainable greenhouse to collect, germinate and plant trees. The Badeba City Council, the

Instituto Tecnológico del Mar, the Conanp, the Hard Rock Hotel, Aquaventuras and Amigos de Bucerías joined forces with TV Azteca’s national Limpiemos México campaign to pick up trash in several areas. Last but not least, the monthly

cleanup of Las Islas Marietas took place on Monday, September 21st, as part of the Riviera Nayarit CVB’s Beach Cleanup Network together with Conanp, the Cooperativa del Coral del Risco and the Ecology department of the local City Council.

hat I love most about small town Mexico is how people give back; this past couple of weeks I’ve seen the best in others. Our community deserves a shout out! As with most times when we appreciate the good works of some, others are left out and I ask forgiveness, my sentiment is more about supporting/ giving back to those who take time for the community at large. To begin; many thanks to the editor of this paper Madeline Milne, she said “Write your heart out”; our tribute to Philo spread over two pages and our community thanks Madeline for her generosity! Neighbours brought flowers, made pies, cakes and more for the family, provided an abundant potluck and shared solace with each other. Some housed people; others drove to and from the airport and so much more. Kathleen, the original partner of P hilo in the charity arena, brought baked goods for the family, chronicled daily events and was a great support for those in mourning. Keeping up the good works they began would be thanks to her. Mandy from Britannia Pub offered tables, chairs, umbrellas and more. Join us there every Tuesday for the most fabulous open mic nite; bring your ‘talent’, be ready to dance or simply come and enjoy! Local bar owner, Sharon of Gecko Rojo, put off an event she had planned to honor Philo’s passing; please support her and her team. Some returned to La Cruz to be pay respects. Oscar Fuentes played with Philo for years and was like a brother to him, they played together in many places; La Cruz, San Sebastian, Guadalajara, Tucson and more. He came home for the family, for the crew of Philo’s

bar who were like family to him and for the community. He extended his stay so he could make the ‘musica’ portion of the memorial the best it could be. Geo of Luna Rumba band also flew in to assist with the memorial and show his love of Philo. He wrote a special song that will likely be on the CD that Philo started and that he and Oscar are completing. When done there will be a CD release party and a fundraiser… because that’s what Philo would have wanted. You can support Geo by attending his concerts in the area, actually, that will be a gift to you as his music is magical! Check for upcoming concerts at http://www. lunarumba.com/. Philo’s will be holding some of these concerts; it would be great if you join us there. The entire crew of Philo’s deserves your support as they establish the ‘new normal’. They’re doing a great job and have given of themselves always, but especially over the past weeks, support as you can! Musicians from the all over the bay were in abundance singing some of Philo's own songs, plus his favorites. Best of all, the dance floor was crowded with Philo's love, Maria, smiling broadly, leading others out to join her. Please support live music! Russ Swider, one of the early members of Philo's Shuffle Band, said, "Philo built bridges between the foreigners and the Mexican people, between the older folks and the youngsters. We can all get up on the stage together, sit down together and enjoy each others company, and really talk to each other, because Philo welcomed all." Next column I’ll return with my characters of La Cruz, for now I remind us all support your neighbors, embrace your community and please tip the band!!

culture

Sept.24 - 30, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Mata Hari: From the toast of Paris to WWI spy By Fred Jacobs

orn Margaretha Zelle in 1876, in a peaceful rural part of Holland. Her father owned a hat shop and made some good investments in the emerging oil industry. She got a taste of the lavish lifestyle at an early age and attended exclusive schools. All came crashing down when Margaretha’s father went bankrupt in 1889 when she was only 13. Her parents divorced and her mother died in 1891. Her father remarried, but the family fell apart. She went to live with relatives and studied to be a kindergarten teacher. After scandals involving the headmaster of the school, she was removed. At the age of 18 Margaretha answered an ad in a Dutch newspaper, placed by Dutch Army Captain Rudolph MacLeod. He was stationed in the Dutch West Indies (present day Indonesia) and was looking for a wife. Despite the fact that he was 20 years her senior, they married in 1895. He came from a renowned military family on his fathers’ side and his mother was a Baroness. This allowed Margaretha to move swiftly into the Dutch upper-class and ensure solid finances. They moved to Indonesia in 1897 with their four-month old son. They had a daughter a year later, but their marriage was rocky at best. MacLeod was an alcoholic and physically abusive. Margaretha left MacLeod several times but always returned. She studied

the Indonesian culture intensively and even joined a local dance company, taking the stage name Mata Hari. Both children became seriously ill in 1899 and the son died. Some reports say they were poisoned by a mad servant. The daughter recovered, but the marriage did not. They moved back to Holland and divorced in 1902. MacLeod managed to get custody of their daughter. In 1903, Mata Hari moved to Paris and worked as a circus horse rider. By 1905 she began to gain fame as an exotic dancer. Promiscuous and openly flaunting her body she would shed clothing until she wore just a jeweled bra. Mata Hari captivated her audiences and was an overnight success from the debut of her act at the famed Musée Guimet in March of 1905. She posed as a princess of Royal Hindu birth and most believed her. Her near nude performances were groundbreaking for the time and she received offers to dance in a long list of European capitals. Her bed was never meant for her alone and Mata Hari became confident that no man could say no to her in or out of bed. As her “dancing career” started to decline, she was always thinking ahead. In 1915 she performed her last show but by then she had become a courtesan and had relationships with countless high-ranking military officers and politicians in many countries. Being a citizen of neutral Holland, she could and

often travelled Europe freely during World War I, but always attracting attention. On one trip in 1916, she was arrested upon arrival to Britain from Spain. Scotland Yard questioned her and in the process she admitted to working for the French Intelligence service. It was never clear if this was true or just a story she made up to make herself sound more interesting. France never acknowledged working with her. In January 1917, the German attache in Madrid, sent radio messages to Berlin describing the helpful activities of a German spy code named H-21. French intelligence agents intercepted the coded messages and identified H-21 as Mata Hari. In February 1917, Mata Hari was arrested in her hotel room in Paris and put on trial in July, accused of spying for Germany and consequently causing the deaths of at least 50,000 soldiers. At the time, neither French nor British intelligence could provide definitive proof against Mata Hari and she was released. In order to get solid evidence, French intelligence planted six names with Mata Hari. Five were of low level German spies in the French government but one was of a double agent for Germany and France. Two weeks after Mata Hari had left Paris for a trip to Madrid, the double agent was executed by the Germans, while the five others remained untouched. This served as proof for the French that the names of the spies had been communicated by Mata Hari to the Germans. She was executed in Paris by firing squad on 15 October 1917, at the age of 41. German documents unsealed in the 1970s confirmed that Mata Hari was a German agent. It was a tragic end for a beautiful woman, whose success on stage ultimately went to her head. Fred Jacobs is the writer of 3 Books and a permanent resident of Puerto Vallarta.

Green Angels: Roadside Assistance By Suzanne Barbezat

f you're driving in Mexico and you encounter problems on the road, be it mechanical issues or any other type of troubles, the Green Angels are just a phone call away. They can assist you with car repairs, provide first aid and offer you information about road conditions or tourist attractions. They are also a good resource for any traveler in Mexico if you need information about what to do in an emergency situation or if you have been the victim of a crime. The phone operators are bilingual and can point you to the best action to take or other resources that may be helpful to you. What are the Green Angels? The Ángeles Verdes (Green Angels) is a fleet of tourist assistance units with bilingual crew who are trained in mechanics and first aid. They patrol all federal and toll highways in Mexico and offer free assistance in the case of a breakdown, accident, or medical emergency. They are knowledgeable about road conditions, and can provide tourist information. The Green Angels are funded by Mexico's Secretary of Tourism. They have over 300 vehicles that patrol an average of 60 000 km of Mexican highways every day and over 22 million kilometers each year, providing assistance to motorists. How the Green Angels Can Help You The Green Angels offer the following services: o Guidance and information about destinations, state and regional tourist attractions and services o Mechanical assistance and emergency radio support o Assistance in the case of accidents o Assistance to the general public in the case of disasters

The Green Angels are trained in auto mechanics and they carry tools and spare parts so they can perform emergency or temporary repairs, such as changing tires, dealing with an overheated engine or replacing a gas pump. They can help you arrange to have your car towed if more extensive repairs are required. Trained in CPR, the Green Angels can administer first aid in the event of an accident or medical emergency. How to contact the Green Angels: You can contact the Green Angels by dialing 078 from any phone in Mexico. The operator will transfer your call to the dispatch service and they will communicate via radio with a unit in your area. If you don't have access to a phone, just pull over and put your car's hood up. When the Green Angels pass on their regular rounds, they will stop to offer you assistance. The 078 phone number is a 24-hour hot line that you can call for telephone assistance at any time. The Angeles Verdes service, however, runs from 8 am to 6 pm every day of the year. Keep in mind that the Ángeles Verdes service is only offered on major highways and toll roads, so if you choose to travel on the free roads (carreteras libres), you're on your own, though you can still contact the 078 hotline for information. Paying for the Green Angels Service Any service provided by the Green Angels is free of charge. You will need to pay for any parts, gas or oil they may use to get your car up and running, though. If you appreciate the assistance they give you, do offer a tip. They may or may not accept it, but it's a nice gesture to offer. http://gomexico.about.com

travel

Sept.24 - 30, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Road Trip: Aztlan – the Aztec birthplace, Mexcaltitán, Nayarit By Madeline Milne

s the story goes; Aztlan, the birthplace of the Aztecs was a small island in the middle of a lagoon in northern Nayarit, and from this place they were instructed by their gods to go in search of a new homeland. They would recognize this place when they found an eagle eating a snake on top of a cactus – hence today’s emblem on the Mexican flag. In the process they were further instructed to change their names from Aztec to Mexica. In 1091 they set out on pilgrimage and after two years found Tenochtitlan which is now known as Mexico City. The birthplace of Mexico is just a few hours from our doorstep! Always up for a road trip, I have wanted to explore this little anthropological hotspot since I first heard of it. With my boyfriend’s mother’s birthday an excellent excuse to travel to Tepic we made arrangements for the whole family to head to Mexcaltitan on the weekend. Leaving Friday afternoon we headed north passing the yoga mecca of Sayulita and the world’s best quesadillas in Rincon de Guayabitos. Holding true we passed through the charming town of Compostela, driving through mist covered rolling countryside with eight-foot tall sugar cane fields and walls of wildflowers that host a hundred butterfly nectar sipping parties. We spent the night in Tepic before leaving late the next morning for the island. The trip is about 100kms from Tepic continuing north on Highway 15 like you’re heading to Mazatlan. Follow the signs for Santiago Ixcuintla, the largest town in the north western side of Nayarit, 40 kms from the boat launch for Mexcaltitan and one of the most important agricultural centres in Mexico for tobacco. The drive is natur-ific. Deep-cut valleys with soaring waterfalls, orchard upon orchard of mango and citrus, forests of palms used for building palapas, and fields of sugar cane in the most brilliant neon greens. Hundreds of lagoons, internationally acclaimed for their bio-diversity make up the majority of the costal area where two important rivers, the Río Grande de Santiago and the Río San Pedro, enter the sea. When you get to La Batanza, the boat launch, it doesn’t look like much. While in need of a

fresh coat of paint, the boats are all floating and for 90 pesos they will transport you and up to four others (additional passengers are 20 pesos each), safely to Mexcaltitan. 300 pesos gets you a guided tour through the mangroves. The boat ride is about 15 minutes long and passes through a number of waterways. A little like the movie Deliverance, you wouldn’t want to navigate these waters alone. Designated Marismas Nacionales, this protected area consists of a vast network of brackish coastal lagoons, mangrove swamps, mudflats, and marshes. I counted five Great Blue herons, a handful of Garza Blancas (egrets) and dozens of little black ducks with yellow beaks (a birder I’m not). Captain Juan told us there are plenty of crocodiles in the water but we didn’t see any - thankfully. The people who call this area home are predominately fishers, catching chiguil and shrimp using a unique netting system. The town of Mexcaltitan is about 1000m around with the longest ‘road’ stretching 400m across. A friendly population of about 800, residents sit on plastic chairs in their open doorways selling various items. There are no cars on this island. No Oxxo’s. No wifi but plenty of shrimp. Laid out on the sidewalks

to dry, bright pink shrimps block your path everywhere you turn. Interestingly, the town’s dog population seems to ignore these tasty treats. Perhaps they’re as tired of shrimp as the locals must be. You can comfortably circumnavigate the entire town in about 30 minutes. The adobe homes all look similar. Most likely brightly painted when the town was applying for Pueblo Magico status, these homes are now worse for wear with crumbling walls and chipped paint creating interesting colours and textures. There are a couple larger, new homes that cause speculation. The houses on the outer edge of the island all open out onto the lake, many with their small fishing pangas moored alongside their back doors. The centre of the island is the hub with the plaza, church and a small but interesting museum that has artefacts from ancient Meso-American cultures. Five pesos will get you in the door. Here you will see copies of the original codices (pictograms) that depict the gods mandate to search for a new land. Considering that during rainy season the town’s roads floods and the only way around is by boat, this seems like sound advice. One display shows the map of Mexcaltitan beside Teno-

chtitlan (Mexico City) with obvious similarities in layout. It is here that the original stone carving of the eagle with snake in its mouth was uncovered, now residing in the history museum in Tepic. From the museum we headed over to Restaurante Alberca where we proceeded to consume a lifetime of shrimp. Not unlike Forest’s friend Bubba, there were a million ways to eat shrimp including; sun-dried and tossed in ketchup, salsa, lime and salt, deep fried and tossed with chilli, fried balls with a mayo dipping sauce, as a pate on Ritz crackers, stuffed into empanadas, served a la Diablo, in butter and garlic and encased in masa, rolled in corn husks and steamed, and the classic ensalada, soup and cocktail. We also ordered a Pescado Saraneado – fresh from the waters grilled fish, served with veggies and tortillas. Stuffed, we settled back with a couple cubetas of cervesa and a juke-box full of Banda that everyone else knew all the words to. The peaceful swaying of the waters lapping the restaurant was interrupted only by the occasionally passing fishing boat and the ducks bobbing for fish. Rush hour was a boat of women returning home with their children and some shopping crossing paths with a fishing boat. What is particularly striking is how different the lives of the people are here from our own. As usual, I was quick to imagine life on this tiny island and concluded it would be a great place for a weekend home; one of many weekend homes I have imagined across this country. An excellent day trip for amateur anthropologists, eating shrimp, and those interested in birding. It is one of the most prolific places on the planet for bird watching with over 350 species crossing these waters on their annual migration. While San Blas is the more popular jumping off point for birders, the pristine seclusion of the estuary/ lagoon definitely appeals. There is no hotel on the island, though apparently there are some rooms available. Those interested in staying overnight would do better finding a comfortable bed in Santiago.

Looking at a map of the area, it would be an interesting weekend of camping (!) to explore the outer edges of the lagoons that meet with Pacific Ocean. Our captain hinted at beautiful secluded beaches and hidden coves perfect for exploring. There are a couple small towns that dot the shore and I imagine the freshness of the shrimp would be bar none. Don’t forget your camera, bug spray and depending on the purpose of your trip, a cooler with cold beer purchased on the mainland will save you plenty of pesos.

brain teasers

Sept.24 - 30, 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

Sept.24 - 30, 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

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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