Issue 965, October 1-7, 2015 by Vallarta Tribune

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News MIRADOR PHASE 2

October 01 - 07, 2015 Free Issue 965

My Life in Vallarta Blackout!

Riviera Nayarit PUEBLOS MAGICOS

Courtesy

SAYULITA PUEBLO MAGICO

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.

Oct. 1 - 7, 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

in Puerto Vallarta from October 4th-7th, 2015. World-wide chefs, sommeliers, gastronomic experts and speakers will converge on Banderas Bay with tastings, competitions, festivities, workshops, and cooking demonstrations. With guest country: Panama and state guest: Guanajuato representing. On October 6-11th the Puerto Vallarta Open will be the seventh Open event on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour 2015 calendar with points from the tournament going towards the 2016 ranking. Held at Playa Camarones beside

the Sheraton Hotel, matches begin at 9:00am. We have Marsol Friday Market opening October 2nd and every Friday thereafter for the season. The Artwalk begins again October 28th. If you have any non-profit public events you’d like to share with Tribune Readers, please forward them to editor@vallartatribune.com Soon, we’ll be complaining about how chilly it is and how many sheets we sleep under just to stay warm. Stay cool, safe travels, Madeline

Grand Opening of the Marsol Friday Market

elcome back everyone. We hope you have enjoyed your summer and are ready to join us for the grand opening of the Marsol Winter market on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 FROM 9:30 TO 1:30 P.M. at the Marsol Hotel lobby next to the PIER in the Zona Romantica. We have had a great summer market and were closed during September except for the Viva Mexico Fiesta on Sept. 16th. Over 50 local vendors will be here on Oct. 2nd with their specialties such as Mexican food, Italian food, Jewish food, seafood, chili, pizza,

Letters to the Editor Editor, On behalf of the UDG in Puerto Vallarta I would like to say Thank You very much for the info you put in the paper this week. I hope you have an opportunity to listen to the show. Michael Nolen

his week I was searching the archives for topics and there is a definite lack of events and holidays and pretty much of anything to report on in the month of October. Which is great if you’ve closed up shop; are still back in the motherland or not trying to fill pages of a weekly newspaper with intelligent information. Back in Canada we had a couple months without any statutory holidays so our lovely governments created some – Family Day for example, essentially giving Canadians a paid holiday in each month of the year. It would appear that after the excess we just had in September, October is the month we dry out and get back on track. October is recognized as the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary / Mes dedicado al Santísimo Rosario. After August, October has the least number of holiday/festivals. Locally here in the Bay we have a number of events lined up for the month of October. Including: The 7th Edition of Vallarta-Nayarit Gastronomica will take place

Oct. 1 - 7, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

beverages, pastries, bagels, cinnabuns, bread, Original art, prints, sculptures, bird feeders, clothing, T-shirts, Oaxacan textiles, hand painted items, lots of unusual jewelry of all types, leather goods, masks, aprons, cooling ties, decorative items for your home, gifts, souvenirs, tiles, accessories, bags, beachwear, candles, sandals, hats, nuts, dried fruit, free eye exams, massage, shamanic healing, maps, Guide books and tours. There will be raffles of great items such as dinner at Kaiser Maximilian, dinners at Barce-

lona Tapas, Andales, Melissa`s Seafood, gift certificates from Mundo de Cristal, Mundo de Pewter, Unique Jewelry, gifts from Mundo de Azulejos, Galeria Vallarta, Watakame Huichol Art , Crockett Jewelry and more. Come join us for live music, a fun atmosphere to see your friends and support your favorite vendors every Friday from October 2 through the end of April. We welcome you to the Marsol Friday Market, Marsol Hotel, Francisca Rodriguez 103 on the closed street leading to the Pier in Olas Altas.

Dear Editor, Thank you very much for featuring Nicole Martin's excellent article in your edition of September 24-30, "What Puerto Vallarta Offers Art Lovers." It mentioned the Wednesday night Art Walks in the Historic Zone downtown that will commence this season on October 28th and will continue every Wednesday from 6:00 to 10:00 PM through the end of May. This will be the 20th anniversary of this popular event, and I'm proud to be a participant. Nicole also mentioned the public sculptures on the Malecon boardwalk, something that sets Vallarta apart from most resort destinations. I'm happy to announce that the Free Malecon Sculpture Tours that I've been conducting for the last several years will start again November 17th, and will occur every Tuesday morning at 9:30

editor@vallartatribune.com

through April 19th. These tours are unique in that participants get to actually meet two of the artists who created monumental bronzes on the Malecon. The tours start at the "Millennium" sculpture next to the historic (1948) Hotel Rosita at the north end of the ocean promenade. The creator of this work, Mathis Lidice, is present to explain the multiple components of this complex installation and how they portray how life on Earth has evolved into the Third Millennium. From there we continue from one sculpture to the other with the tour lasting about two hours and ending at Galeria Pacifico. There the sculptor of the "Vallarta Dancers," "Woman Washing Clothes," and "Andale Bernardo" (burro) sculptures is waiting to meet the tour attendees and tell them the back stories about his creations as well as give an explanation of how bronzes are created. Thanks once again to you and Nicole for supporting and promoting our art community and art identity in Puerto Vallarta. Best, Gary Thompson Owner/Director Galeria Pacifico

PROTECTION AND CARE OF ANIMALS

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

La Boquita World Music…The Concert By Marcia Blondin

he Red Room at Act II Entertainment was jam-packed Sunday night with friends and fans waiting for the performance of La Boquita that was being recorded live; the small Red Room stage could not have held

one more instrument or musician. Paolo and Silvia have a steady following at Barcelona Tapas and Antonio’s during the winter season but this concert was all of their prior collaborations put together and expanded upon with the addition of a double bass and six-string bass guitar both played beautifully by

Javier; saxophone, flute and clarinet played by Boby Garcia; “Mimi” on guitar complementing Paolo’s and two lovely ‘clappers’, Sol Maria and Elvira. What struck me the most during this outstanding performance was the importance of every single note sung, played and/or clapped: The glorious fusion of Silvia’s voice

running with the exact notes of the flute, flying softly back and forth like a tender war of butterflies. To take out the ‘palmas’, the heartbeat of many of the songs, would have left holes in the score. The hyper jazz blasting from Boby’s sax – just for a few moments – galvanized the entire ensemble. Their energy

feeding each other was palpable and sweet and loving; the cohesiveness made the music flow like magic under the light of a mystical lunar eclipse. Look for Paolo and Silvia in November entertaining at Barcelona Tapas and Antonio’s and pray they reprise this concert soon and often.

news

First Syrian Student admitted to Mexico

Oct. 1 - 7, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Spain’s Iberdrola to Build Combined-Cycle Power Plant in Mexico for $400 Million

assan Essa, 26, holds a Mexican flag at the airport in Mexico City. He is the first of 30 Syrian students who were awarded scholarships as part of a humanitarian program in Mexico aimed at helping them flee the bloodshed in Syria.

Stolen carving found in France THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

nearly 3,000-year-old carving stolen more than four decades ago from a remote area of southern Mexico has been recovered in France. The Olmec carving dating to around 900 B.C. had been chipped off the rock face sometime between the arrival of an archaeological team in 1968 and 1972, when the team returned to the area. It resurfaced recently in France under unclear circumstances. John Clark, a professor of archaeology at Brigham Young University who learned about the find Thursday, said the carved sculpture showed the extent of the Olmec’s reach in an area of Chiapas better known for ties to the Maya. In the decades since the theft, he said, scholars have made due with a replica created by examining archive photos of the piece. The Olmec are best known for their enormous carved heads and are considered one of the founding cultures of Mesoamerica. Dominique Michelet, a French archaeologist at the CNRS research center involved in recovering the piece, said Thursday the

panish electric utility Iberdrola said it would build a combined-cycle power plant in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon at an investment cost of some $400 million. “Iberdrola has been awarded a major new energy generation project in Mexico, the Noreste combined-cycle power plant, which will have a capacity of 850 megawatts,” the company said Tuesday in a press release. Under the terms of the contract awarded by the Mexican government, the Spanish company will be responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of this generation plant and also be the owner of the facility. Located in the municipality of Escobedo, the plant will supply electricity to more than 2 million Mexican consumers, Iberdrola added. The company said it planned to begin construction in 2016 and connect the power plant to the grid in 2018. Iberdrola will sell all of the energy produced by this facility to state-owned electric utility CFE under a 25-year contract with fixed capacity charges. The plant will feature two

state-of-the-art gas turbines and a steam turbine provided by Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, while U.S. firm Foster Wheeler will supply the boilers. Iberdrola’s energy generation projects in Mexico amount to a combined investment outlay of $1 billion, while the company also plans to invest up to $5 billion in the country over the next five years, the release added. Among the projects currently

underway, the company is building two new combined-cycle power plants (Baja California III and Dulces Nombres V), three cogeneration plants (Ramos Arizpe, San Juan del Rio and Altamira) and two wind farms (Pier 2 and Dos Arbolitos). The company’s current installed capacity in Mexico consists of 5,000 MW in combined-cycle power plants and 230 MW in wind farms. Original: laht.com

New minimum wage effective Oct. 1 Regional difference in the wage level will be eliminated bas relief is believed to represent a priest. Clark said chunks of the cut-out stone were missing, but it appeared largely intact. “There’s no image like this anywhere else. You can see he’s wearing some sort of mask over his face. His clothes are unlike anything we’ve seen,” Clark said. “There’s just enough clues in some of the clothing detail and the face detail to show it’s Olmec.” He said scholars first learned about the stone carving from Germans traveling through the region in the early 20th century. Then the archaeological team arrived in 1968 to document it and search the area for more artifacts. The next time they returned, there was a gash in the rock face. It will be returned to Mexico for restoration and public display.

here will be one minimum wage throughout Mexico effective Thursday as the Area B wage level reaches that of Area A, or 70.10 pesos per day. Elimination of a geographical basis for the allocation of the minimum wage was announced in April, when a gradual increase of the Area B wage began from its level at that time of 66.45 pesos. By Thursday the two will be the same. Labor Secretary Alfonso Navarrete said amalgamation of the two wage levels will benefit 751,915 workers in 2,341 municipalities who are currently within Area B. Another change regarding the minimum wage will be its retirement as a factor in formulas used to calculate fines, fees and other payments to government. A new reference unit called the UMA, to

be set by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, will be used instead. What’s not going to change by much is the amount of the minimum wage itself, widely regarded as stingy and, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, below the poverty line. Mexico is the only country in the region to have earned that distinction. Maintaining a low minimum

wage has long been an anti-inflation measure, but one criticism of such a measure is that the poor bear the brunt of its weight. The issue flared up a year ago when politicians and others began voicing their concerns. One of the strongest voices has been that of Mexico City Mayor Miguel Mancera, who said he would like to see the minimum at 171 pesos by 2018. Original: Mexico Daily News

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Oct. 1 - 7, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Vallarta continues construction on Mirador

Vallarta Police create special unit for Animal Control and Surveillance

he City of Vallarta is continuing phase two on the Mirador de la Cruz located above downtown Vallarta in an effort to create new attractions in this area. The project began in 2014 with the completion of the first phase, a staircase on the westside that provides access from Calle Abasolo. The second stage includes reinforcing the area and building the

viewing platform. The platform will include handrails, bathrooms and other services. There are further plans to build a cable car for easier access. Oscar Perez Flores, director of Municipal Tourism, explained that it is important that people know that the structure and image of the cross will remain and that they are building out the viewpoint so that residents and visitors can enjoy the

spectacular view of the city from this vantage. He said that with this project, "We are not creating something new, but only providing people with access to reach this area that was inaccessible for many and only the people of Vallarta and only the very adventurous, knew the route. Now we are creating the conditions for everyone you can get there and enjoy the space. "

n order to address the reports and allegations of abuse, neglect and animal rescue, the local government, headed by Javier Pelayo Mendez through the Commissioner of Preventive Police and Highways, has launched the Animal Control, Care and Surveillance Unit, with eight trained officers are dedicated to respond to the numerous reports of abuse, neglect and injured animals. This group of officers trained in both animal care and protection shall be governed by the law enforcement protocols recently approved by the City Council of Puerto Vallarta. The specialized unit, commanded by officer Manuel González Pino, will work with the Attorney General's Office in matters relating to animals protected by federal regulations, as well as with the Federal Attorney for Environ-

mental Protection to implement operations to detect the unlawful capture and sale of wildlife. The Attorney General's Office will provide the special unit with technical support and assistance in cases of abuse and cruelty to dogs and cats in coordination with the Centro de Acopio Animal (Puerto Vallarta animal shelter.) The newly formed Animal Control, Care and Surveillance Unit will respond to complaints in cases of: animals on public roads, aggressive or injured animals, unlicensed establishments engaged in the sale of animals, abuse or cruelty, dog fighting, possession and sale of wildlife, rescue and custody, among others. Also, they work on awareness and promotion of animal protection through public events. To contact this unit you call the regular police telephone numbers.

10 Mexican restaurants make top 50 list The top three are also on the list of the world's top 50

exican cuisine was up for more international awards this week when 10 of the country’s restaurants made the list of the top 50 in Latin America. The World’s 50 Best organization named eight restaurants in Mexico City and one each from Nuevo León and the State of México among the 50 best in Latin America. Three of them — Quintonil which placed sixth, Pujol ninth and Biko 10th —also made the list of the world’s top 50 this year. They

were followed by the only restaurants outside the Federal District: Pangea in Monterrey, Nuevo León, which placed 13th, and Amaranta in Toluca which was 22nd. The other winners were Sud 777 (27th), Máximo Bistrot (41), Rosetta (44), Nicos (47) and Dulce Patria (49). Peruvian cuisine was also recognized by the awards program, sponsored by S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. Lima’s Central won first place for the second year in a row; two

other Lima restaurants were in the top five. The owner of Mexico City’s Pujol restaurant, who also owns

Cosme in New York City, was honored as well: Enrique Olvera, 39, won the Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award winners were revealed Wednesday in Mexico City. Original: Mexico News Daily

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Oct. 1 - 7, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Random Thoughts from the Tribune sports Desks

The long arm of the US Law and Expats

any people each year decide to move from the US to live in a different country for family, work or other reasons. Many people also erroneously assume that just because they are not located physically within the United States that US Federal Laws do not apply to them. The United States has many laws that apply to citizens living within its territory and abroad. Some common situations that people could find themselves in and be subject to sanctions are: • Having a foreign bank account with over $10,000US / $50,000US and not disclosing it (FATCA / FBAR). • Bringing a computer and / or software from the US without checking to see if there are export restrictions. • Bringing your US plated car to Mexico when you move. • Bringing guns, scopes, weapon parts or your old military flak jacket with you (ITAR). • People traveling for the purposes of having sex with minors. • Doing business with someone on the OFAC list, merely renting a property without checking landlord or address. • Bribing public officials in order to get business deals done (FCPA). • Renewing your passport abroad and not declaring that you have acquired Mexican nationality or you get a job in the government. A non-exhaustive list of laws US Citizen are subject to while living outside US is as follows: If you have foreign bank accounts then the below part may apply to you

FATCA / FBAR The provisions commonly known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) became law in March 2010. • FATCA targets tax non-compliance by U.S. taxpayers with foreign accounts • FATCA focuses on reporting: • By U.S. taxpayers about certain foreign financial accounts and offshore assets • By foreign financial institutions about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers or foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest • The objective of FATCA is the reporting of foreign financial assets; withholding is the cost of not reporting. The new Form 8938 filing requirement does not replace or

By Joel Hansen

otherwise affect a taxpayer’s obligation to file FinCEN Form 114 (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts). Individuals must file each form for which they meet the relevant reporting threshold. Taking your vehicle out of the US you will be subject to the below rules: The U.S. Census Bureau revised its regulations on March 14, 2013. One of the changes was that used self-propelled vehicles must be filed in the AES 72 hours prior to export, no matter the value or country of ultimate destination. This change became enforceable October 3, 2014. You do not need to file if you are temporarily visiting the U.S., Canada or Mexico with your vehicle. ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) The Department of State is responsible for the export and temporary import of defense articles and services governed by 22 U.S.C. 2778 of the Arms Export Control Act (“AECA”; see the AECA Web page) and Executive Order 13637. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR,” 22 CFR 120-130) implements the AECA. The ITAR is available from the Government Printing Office (GPO) as an annual hardcopy or e-document publication as part of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and as an updated e-document. OFAC – Office of Foreign Assets Control The US government posts a blacklist of terrorist and criminal organizations and their affiliates. US citizens can be subject to sanctions for doing business with these individuals and groups. You can get in trouble by renting a commercial space from a prohibited entity or doing business with them, better check and be safe. You may be surprised at the addresses as they may be places you know. Buying a taco from someone on the list may be one thing, signing a 5-year lease and investing in tenant improvements may be another

where there will be more severe financial consequences. Here is a pdf file made from a search in September 2015 of the prohibited persons and entities for the State of Jalisco, Mexico. http://www.chapalalaw.com/ SDN2015.pdf Things You Should Keep in Mind if Becoming a Mexican Citizen Expatriating acts and notifications when you renew your US Passport. Check out the link at the end, also if you ever read the fine print on the US Passport applications it requires that you disclose that you acquired another nationality by attaching an explanatory statement, it also mentions that the IRS will be notified that you are living abroad. The signature page part states “I am a citizen or non-citizen national of the United States and have not, since acquiring U.S. citizenship or nationality, performed any of the acts listed under “Acts or Conditions” on page four of the instructions of this application (unless explanatory statement is attached).” Under other Acts or Conditions ” I have not, since acquiring United States citizenship/nationality, been naturalized as a citizen of a foreign state; taken an oath or made an affirmation or other formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state; entered or served in the armed forces of a foreign state; accepted or performed the duties of any office, post, or employment under the government of a foreign state or political subdivision thereof…” Also under Federal Tax Law disclosures “The U.S. Department of State must provide your SSN and foreign residence information to the U.S. Department of Treasury.” For the full article and applicable links and citations, visit: www. chapalalaw.com Written by: Lic. Spencer Richard McMullen Litigating Attorney and Official Court Translator in the State of Jalisco, Mexico

o I am a creature of habit and superstitions. Last year for I spent my Sundays watching football and more importantly the Philadelphia Eagles at Que Pasa. Mike treated me good, and I would often get the sound on the game I wanted. The food is good, the beer is cold and most importantly the Eagles were winning. In fact, last year halfway through the season I had an almost perfect record watching the Eagles at Que Pasa. Then I switched my allegiance and started watching my Eagles games at Los Muertos. Where the food is excellent and the beer is also cold, but at Los Muertos my record has been crap. The Eagles promptly tanked and finished out of the playoffs. So this season I started 0-2 and the Eagles looked hopeless. I returned to my roots this past weekend and we get the win. I know this isn’t science, but come on. Speaking of Los Muertos, the Cerveceros suffered another setback in their pursuit of a Liga de Softball (Division 4) pennant

this past week with yet another late inning collapse. Two key errors from the usually stellar outfield (Yes, I am an outfielder, so what?) in the bottom of the 6th were the straw to break the back of a fine outing from starter Gerry Montenegro. Heading into the pivotal inning, the Brewers held the lead 11-8 with two outs but those two errors accounted for four runs and the Brewers were unable to make up the difference. The Brewers were missing a number of starters, including 3rd baseman Paul Mayers who felt that the birth of his second child was a good enough reason to be absent. Well actually that is a pretty good reason, so congratulations to Paul, Lindsay and Brooks and bienvenido a la familia Jaxson. Also starting left fielder Sean “El Oso” Romero seemed to be suffering from a stomach virus as he was seen and heard vomiting in the outfield, the club released no details on this injury, but this reporter will be sure to follow up on this developing story.

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Oct. 1 - 7, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Paradise

and Parenting

My Life In Vallarta

Leza Warkentin

By Lois Ellison

Dabbling in Politics

Dining In The Dark

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

loell87@yahoo.com

imagine you’ve already heard the news. However, if you are for some reason out of the loop on the latest in elementary school politics, I would like to officially announce that my son will be serving on student council as his class representative. As his mother, I could easily take a lot of credit for his political success. But I think it’s important that I stay in the background and provide simple moral support, even though I was heavily involved in his campaign (ie printing his five posters at Office Depot) and I know his platform pretty well (Recess Floor Hockey for All). My son has never been interested in political life, so I was surprised when he announced that he was running for student council. My younger daughter was a class rep last year and reported that she had been able to get out of class early sometimes for meetings and for setting up special events. I’m not sure if this was a deciding factor, but I’m certain it didn’t hinder his enthusiasm. The thing is, my son can be a bit introverted at times. This is no surprise because on both sides of his gene pool you will find several generations of sensitive, quiet people, a few of whom enjoyed “off the grid” living before it was kind of trendy. While he does have many friends, he is keenly aware of the fact that he is not a flashy extrovert, and was very matter of fact about his chances to win. “I’m not sure if anyone will vote for me. I mean, if I’m not that popular.” If you are a parent you will know that, when he said this, there was an audible sound of my heart dying, reviving, and then pounding like a relentless mother-zombie-heart, ready to burn up that campaign trail. Fortunately, the campaign trail of a fourth grade student government candidate is fairly simple and free of potential for scandal, so it kept me from going entirely overboard. We designed posters with photos of

him gripping a hockey stick and inviting everyone to join the team, and I helped him practice his speech. On speech day, my husband and I were front and center, along with a few other parents who ignored their children’s pleas to not embarrass them. We doubled as the media because we are Those Parents who would record their child eating lunch if it was on a stage. I was nervous because I knew he was nervous. My son had written his own speech, and it was solid work, but getting up and speaking in front of an entire student body was a bit different than practicing with your mom, whose reactions might not be completely impartial. When his turn arrived, I couldn’t even breathe. He stepped up to the mike, looked out over the crowd, and found my eyes. He gave me the thumbs up, a nervous grin and then boomed out “Before I begin, I want to know: Do we have any hockey fans out there?” There were cheers and enthusiastic laughter, and that’s when I knew he was going to be fine. I felt so proud of him and I felt so grateful for the growing Canadian school population who would never admit to NOT being hockey fans. At that point, it didn’t really matter if he got the student rep gig, because he had already won the more valuable prize of self-confidence. Of course he did win, so obviously now it totally matters. Uh, but not to ME of course. I would have been happy for him either way, naturally. Besides, I’m just his mom, back here providing a bit of (mostly) humble moral support.

uring the summer, we have two rules for eating out. First and foremost, we prefer a restaurant that is air-conditioned and second, someplace that is an easy walk, just in case it rains. Taking umbrellas along seems to work miracles as no matter how dark the sky, simply having one on hand seems to ward off a downpour. One night this past week we decided to go out. During September a lot of places are closed, making it more difficult to stick close to home. So we opted for one of our favorites that’s located a little farther than we normally go during rainy season. On the plus side, it has inside seating with air-conditioning and it offers a great sunset view. As we stepped out the door, we realized we’d forgotten the umbrellas but after looking skyward, we felt confident in proceeding without them. True there was rain in the forecast, but not until midnight. Mid-way through the first course, the waiters began scurrying around outside, gathering the cushions from the seats closest to the edge of the awning. Sure enough, within minutes, a gentle rain began to fall. Sometimes I could swear these folks are psychic. The crowd was pretty thin, just a few tables inside. Then a fairly large multi-generational family arrived to celebrate a birthday, pushing a baby stroller with a beautiful cake inside. They sat outside, unconcerned about the rain, and protected by the awning. The soft breeze and light rain were cooling things down so we decided to move outside. Why not. If it worked for the large group, it would work for us. Within minutes, the wind began to roar and the sky opened up. The anxious waiter moved our table as far away from the rain as possible but the wind was relentless and we began to feel damp. Then the lights went out. Everything was black as far as the eye could see. No problem, the restaurant has plenty of candles (you know they’ve been through this

many times). Clearly this storm was going to last. For a while, the power fluttered off and on until it simply stayed dark. The rain pounded down. The big family had already moved inside and the owner asked us to do the same so they could retract the awning to keep if from breaking. Of course. In the blink of an eye, our waiter relocated our food and wine, and placed three large candles on a table. Once back inside, we continued leisurely with our meal watching the few remaining pedestrians dash by soaking wet. Like us, the other patrons were enjoying the candlelit dinner. When the birthday candles were lit, all the staff surrounded the group’s table singing “Las Mananitas”. Everyone broke into wild applause. Nothing stops a celebration in

Mexico. The rain finally subsided but the power remained off. Then it was time to pay our bill. We were low on cash and the credit card machine wouldn’t work without power. After leaving a cash tip we shook hands with the owner who assured us we could settle up the next day. No problem. If you’ve ever been here during or after a heavy rain, you know how the streets flood. Before leaving the restaurant we plotted our course hoping to avoid wading across intersections filled with dubious water. With only a couple of minor detours, we arrived home with dry feet and happy hearts. It was a perfect evening: a dramatic storm, a candlelit dinner, and a birthday celebration. Most important, it was a reminder of how fortunate we are to live here.

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Adorable Dog In The Sp by Janice Gonzalez

rody likes to strut his stuff and in particular show off his uniquely colored tongue! He just loves to play and is such a sweetheart we can’t understand why

his family just tied him and left him. He deser better than that. Brody a unique combination Rottweiler and Labra we think, between a y and two years old, weigh 35 pounds. Brody is behaved and leash train

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Flower of the Week

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CANVAS + COCKTAILS

He enjoys long walks with his humans. We just know someone out there would appreciate Brody’s uniqueness and provide that forever home he so desires. If it’s you, contact us at spcapv@gmail.com for an applications.

Hibiscus Obelisco (Spanish) Hibiscus sp. Rose Mallow This bushy, evergreen ornamental shrub can grow to 16 feet. Commonly used for landscaping as it attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Flowers are typically a rich red color and 4 inches in diameter. Dried flowers are high in vitamin C and

used in “agua de Jamaica,” a popular Mexican drink. It has a long medicinal history including a number of uses in Chinese herbology as a diuretic, to lower blood pressure, and as a paste for hair loss. Flowers have been used for a red dye; bark to make wigs and grass skirts.

This plant is one of over 200 found in Sandra’s color-coded guidebook, Tropical Plants and Walks of Puerto Vallarta. Available at Page in the Sun Bookstore, and from Sandra at the Marsol Farmer’s Market on Fridays. Information can be found at: www.escaperoutevallarta.com.

Sandra Cesca

moving to mexico

Oct. 1 - 7, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Inspired Life: We just ditched our crazy, work-obsessed American lives to build a dream life in Mexico.

By Melissa Heisler

ow far would you go to have the life in paradise you really desire? Over the past few years, my husband Dan and I realized that we were living to work, not working to live. We found momentary happiness on our trips to Mexico. No work phones ringing. No rushing. No responsibilities. A culture focused on the quality of life, a slower pace of life. Over the years, as we fell in love with Cabo and the people of Mexico, we began to wonder: What if there was a better way to live than the American dream? We had become disillusioned with the constant drive to do more with less, the lack of work-life balance, and the pressure to buy the next iPhone. In Mexico, we experienced life as we believe it was meant to be lived: soaking up the simple pleasures of sunshine, natural beauty and warm conversation. Compared to our frigid and often frantic pace of life back home, in Mexico, our souls felt settled and serene. But were we falling in love with a place and a way of life—or we were just escaping our current life? Given that my husband just quit his job and we have driven what is left of our possessions down to Cabo San Lucas Mexico, we’re about to find out. The adventure of moving to another country, and embracing another way of life, had been brewing slowly for quite some time. Fifteen years ago my husband Dan and I took a two-week, fourcountry honeymoon tour of Europe. I didn’t want to come home. At the time I was a stressed-out workaholic. Our honeymoon was the first opportunity in years that I had to stop, relax, enjoy, and just be. We watched French employees spend hours at a café sharing and enjoying life. We met friendly people in Holland who were genuinely interested in meeting new people and had the time to do so. We saw how the rest of the world lived, and we wanted in. My new husband had to force me to get back on the plane. I didn’t want to come back to the frantic work-focused United States. But I did. Since then, Dan and I have often asked ourselves: Is the life we

After arriving at the home of our friend in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Photo courtesy of Melissa Heisler are living really the one we want? As practical people we believed in the work hard and be rewarded mentality. But our belief was not matching reality. Dan’s long hours were taking away from our time together, his joy and his health. The cause was not the company he was working for, but the overall American work ethic. Somewhere it was decided that work comes before family, friends, passions and health. We couldn’t buy into the system anymore. But were we willing to give up all we had labored for to see if we could be happier living in another country? It turns out that Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, gave us enough inspiration to try and find out. The first time we visited Cabo, we fell in love. Brad, a friend we knew from the inland lakes in Illinois, had invited everyone from the marina to visit his new “weekend” home in Cabo. We were two of a few people who took him up on it and had an amazing week-long visit. Dan and I felt like rock stars on our first visit to Cabo. We flew down and were greeted at the airport by friends bearing cold water and beer. We spent Labor Day weekend that year luxuriating in Brad’s beautiful three-bedroom home with a pool, Jacuzzi, and rooftop fire pit. We passed the time eating, drinking, fishing and loving life. It was heaven. We didn’t have to think, worry, plan, navigate, drive or calculate the exchange rate. We just got up, showered and went where Brad took us. Add in that my husband’s always-on work phone did not operate internationally and that

made it official: This was paradise. After our initial trip to Cabo, we found ourselves going down once, twice, and even three times a year. In 2011, Brad bought a boat and most of our visits that year were spent on the water. We fished off his thirty-five foot Cabo and his friend’s sixty-eight foot Hatteras. We were catered to by the captain and crew of both boats. Who wouldn’t love that kind of extravagant luxury? But what we slowly began to realize in subsequent trips, was that what Dan and I really loved was the adventure of Mexico. After our first two years down there, we did not go to any of the tourist hangouts. Instead we explored the regional culture, talked as much as we were able with the locals, and learned the ins and outs of living in Mexico. We transitioned from tourist to resident activities. We spent an afternoon waiting in line to pay the water bill. We learned Spanish at Home Depot as we tried to find the supplies we needed to help out friends. We went to roadside taco stands where we were the only gringos. We rode the crowded local collectivo bus and tipped the guitarist singing native songs. We talked to Mexicans and expatriates who were now Cabo locals. At ease, released from the pressures of our daily life, we were suddenly alive again as the friendly warmth and compassion of the Mexican people made us remember our ability to connect as humans. The more we visited, the more Cabo felt like home. Not Just a Vacation One of our trips in 2012 marked

their first time we didn’t stay with Brad in Cabo. Some friends of ours were heading down, so we decided to stay with them in a local resort. Although the beachfront hotel was nice, this visit was not the same. Dan and I were tourists. We couldn’t hide our wristbands that announced our status to everyone. Every restaurant barker, excursion promoter, and time share seller would check out our band and make a pitch. It felt ugly and fake. We missed our Mexico and how we were treated before. Although it was not our cup of tea, what the resort trip gave us was a reality check. When we talked about Cabo San Lucas and how we loved it, the response from family and friends was that we were just in vacation mode. We knew it was something deeper. Something more. We began to play around with the idea we should move down there. But how? What would we do for income? Where would we live? We returned to Chicago and dug in to these questions. We researched, dreamed, and plotted how we could move and make it work. During our next trip to Cabo, we visited friends Mike and Tori, who had been living in Cabo for over a decade. They left their life in Oregon, sold everything and created their own little paradise in a desolate town south of Todos Santos. We spent the afternoon listening to the story of their move and their new life as we sipped drinks made from the fruit of their mango tree. They told us of the bliss and the hassles. They told us it was worth it. I said we

were playing around with the idea of moving down. Mike firmly told us to put aside the fear of the risks and follow our dreams. Honestly I can’t remember exactly what he said, but I do remember the look on Dan’s face and the feeling in my heart. He gave us the permission and courage to move. Five Labor Days after our first visit, Brad, Dan and I stood in Brad’s kitchen overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Brad, knowing how seriously we were trying to arrange the logistics of life here, said we should move down and act as live-in caretakers for his house and his boat. Knowing Brad, I asked, “But didn’t you always say that you don’t do business with friends?” He responded, “This is not business. You are doing me a favor.” I smiled and we shook hands. I was in and ready to move. It took my husband two more trips and five more months to commit to the idea and take the risk. But he did it: he recently quit his stable job and we have committed a year of savings to see if we can make it work. We rented our home in Chicago, sold most of our possessions, and just finished a three week drive to Mexico, arriving this Labor Day weekend. Our dream is becoming a reality. Next we’ll see what it takes to leave our old lives behind so we can live in paradise. Melissa Heisler and her husband Dan recently relocated to Mexico from Chicago, and they will be documenting their transition for Inspired Life. Original: WashingtonPost

culture

Oct. 1 - 7, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

The Strains Of Mexico Greta Garbo-A Cinematic Icon The Whole World Is Singing By Fred Jacobs

Say you’ve travelled to Mexico and someone will invariably mention mariachi music. There is some doubt as to the origin of this distinctly Mexican tradition but none whatsoever as to its strident future. By Sandra Roblágui

ndubitably Mexico’s most famous tradition, mariachi music, is a marriage of European instruments and New World sounds that emerged not long after the Conquest and that continues to liven up get-togethers to this very day. Half a century ago, the mariachi traveled beyond Mexico’s borders and was well received in other parts of the world, so much so that some countries have their own mariachi bands, many of which sing in their native languages. Today, the sounds in the mariachi’s repertoire include the precise chords of the guitar, one of the oldest, most popular instruments in the world: on occasion, the sweet resonance of the harp; the nostalgic wail of the violin (two or three for each trumpet); the joyful Mexican bandoleón, a large box that serves as an acoustic bass. According to journalist and researcher Patricia Alamilla, it is popularly held that the word dates from the time of the French Intervention in Mexico in the mid-19th century. The story goes that a group of French soldiers arrived at a town in Jalisco where a wedding was taking place. When they enquired about the merrymaking, their translator replied: “C’est un mariage”. In August 1925, a national daily published: “The mariachi [...] was born in the days of the French Intervention and the word originally means marriage in French,” says researcher Jesús Jáuregui in his book The Mariachi. A Musical Symbol of Mexico. Other authors, like Ricardo Espinoza, claim that the term was introduced shortly after the Conquest and that its source is a native song to the Virgin Mary, plus the suffix “chi”, which means “song” in the native language of the Coca people from the Cocula region in Jalisco.

Still others say it is derived from the wooden platform or “mariachi” the natives and the vihuela, a small five-string guitar that accompanies the deeper chords of the guitarrón, a 25-string guitar that some historians believe was invented in colonial Mexico, although others associate it with the Spanish Renaissance. The trumpet was introduced just 80 years ago and most mariachi bands have two. As for the origin of the term “mariachi”, there are several hypotheses. of Techaluta, another small community in Western Mexico, used to dance on to magnify the sound of their stamping feet. These versions also credit the Coca people with inventing the vihuela and the guitarrón to imitate the Spanish lute and double bass, respectively. For centuries, the mariachi, like tequila, was scorned by Mexico’s elite as a symbol of the masses. Mariachis typically played at parties called fandangos, famous in what are today the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Nayarit and Zacatecas. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the first mariachi record was made and after the Mexican Revolution of 1910, mariachi music gradually became more widely accepted as musicians made their way from the west to Mexico City and began wearing charro outfits. The mariachis of old wore a pair of pants, a white cotton shirt and a plain straw hat, like the one worn by farmers, while the charro outfit was more akin to the attire of Mexico’s wealthy landowners of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Also in the early 20th century, the trumpet was added. Today, especially outside Mexico, it’s hard to find a mariachi band without wind instruments. Some believe the adoption of the charro outfit and trumpets can be attributed to the way mariachi musicians were portrayed in the films of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema (1936-1957). Mario Alberto Nájera, a researcher at the University of Guadalajara (UDG), is of that opinion. He believes that the commercialization and internationalization of mariachi bands has modified their costumes, instruments and songs, although most of their lyrics are still about life in the country, despite the fact that over 70% of Mexicans are city dwellers. Originally published in Negocios ProMexico

reta Gustafsson was born in 1905 in Stockholm, Sweden. She was the youngest of three children to working class parents who lived in what was considered Stockholm’s slum area. She was a shy girl who hated school, which she quit at the age of 13. Her father died after the Spanish Flu struck much of Stockholm in 1919. Greta was just 14 years old. Greta got a job in a department store, running errands and in the hat department. Shortly after, Greta was chosen to model hats in the stores’ catalogues. By the end of 1920, a director doing film commercials for the store, cast Greta to model women’s clothing. Greta had her first taste of doing her true passion. She caught the attention of a Swedish director who in 1922, cast her in a small silent movie comedy “Peter the Tramp”. She saw her future and then studied at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's Acting School in Stockholm from 192224. In 1924, a prominent Swedish director, hand-picked Greta to play a role opposite Lars Hanson, who was a well-known Swedish actor of the time. Famed Hollywood producer Louis B. Meyer of MGM was on a European trip and always on the lookout for new talent. He was struck by Garbo's magnetism on the screen and reportedly told his daughter, "I can make a star out of her." In 1925, without knowing any English, Greta came to the US. Her first movie for MGM was in 1926 called “Torrent.” it was a hit and Greta received critical acclaim playing a vamp. She quickly landed a second movie “The Temptress” (1926) in which she got top billing. In all she made a further eight silent movies for MGM and every one was a box office hit. Audiences where mesmerized by her beauty and her love scenes with her leading men, notably John Gilbert whom she stared with in several films. 1930 ushered in the era of “talkies” and for the first time the world would hear the actors. Many stars did not make the transition to sound smoothly, but Garbo definitely did. In 1930 she starred in “Anna Christie” and 16 minutes into the movie she said her first line "Gimme a whiskey, ginger ale on the side, and don't be stingy, baby." The film was promoted by

advertising teams far and wide as “Garbo Talks”. It was the highest grossing film of the year and even earned Garbo a Best Actress Oscar nomination. She received a second nomination the same year for “Romance” but ultimately Norma Shearer won the Oscar. In 1931 Garbo made “Mata Hari” co-starring Ramon Navarro, the Mexican leading man and it was followed in 1932 by “Grand Hotel”. Greta was now the top money maker for MGM studios and she knew it. She seized the opportunity and after a year-long negotiation, she got a new contract with MGM for $300,000US per film (in today’s terms it would be over $5 million per film). Many movies followed but her most famous one was in 1935 in Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” with Joan Crawford. But by 1938, Garbo’s box office popularity had dropped. With big costs, many movies were now creating million dollar losses for the studio and her contract had ended. In 1938 a “Box Office Poison List” was created by the Hollywood moguls that included Garbo, Joan Crawford, Mae West, Marlene Dietrich and Dolores del Río. Garbo recovered her box office draw in 1939 with “Ninotchka”,

her first comedy. The movie was banned in the Soviet Union because of its depiction of Stalin. Her last movie she made was in 1941 and was a romantic comedy “Two Faced Woman” which lost money and Garbo referred to the film as "my grave." Garbo was only 36 years old but had made twenty-eight feature films in sixteen years and she had had enough. She said “I want to be alone” in her movie the Grand Hotel and now it appeared she meant it in real life. She never married despite a reported string of boyfriends. She did have a close life long relationship with a lady friend which fueled speculation. She travelled around the world and ended up buying in Manhattan, an elegant seven room apartment on East 52nd. She became a US citizen in 1952, but also became a total recluse rejecting offers to work again. She was rarely seen in public and passed away in 1990 at the age of 84. She had invested wisely in stocks and art over the years and left her estate valued at over $35 million to her niece. She was one of the first of real movie stars and a film icon. Fred Jacobs a writer of three books and a permanent resident of Puerto Vallarta.

riviera nayarit

Oct. 1 - 7, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Sayulita Named Pueblo Mágico T

he announcement came this past September 25, 2015, in Puebla during the 2nd Ferial Nacional Pueblos Mágicos. The designation of Pueblo Mágico, awarded by Enrique de la Madrid, head of the Mexico Tourism Board and received by the head of Nayarit Tourism, Catalina Ruiz, will set off a five-year project for the government and the citizens to work together on. The Nayarit Secretary of Tourism thanked the state and municipal authorities as well as the people of the town of Sayulita for their work on this great step forward. “Congratulations, Nayarit, land of bronze, culture, history and nature. A sustainable tourism destination… Nayarit: the Paradise of the Pacific!” exclaimed Catalina Ruiz on her social media accounts.

This project began with the creation of the Executive Committee Pro Pueblo Mágico Sayulita, presided by Marcos Scott, which integrates elements from the Nayarit and Banderas Bay tourism offices. Together they will structure a plan with input from civil associations and the people. Grupo Pro Sayulita’s Oswaldo Vallejo—also on the committee— explained that the amount of money this designation brought in would be earmarked to improve the services of the town while maintaining the unique essence that attracted people to it from around the world. With the naming of 28 new Pueblos Mágicos Mexico now has 111, among which will be divided the 400 million pesos set aside for these communities in 2016.

travel

Oct. 1 - 7, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com

Best Places to Get Married in Mexico The top international country for U.S. and Canadian-based couples marrying away, Mexico charms with colorful culture, sophisticated local vendors, 6,000 miles of Pacific and Caribbean coast, and plenty of tequila (distilled in the country since the 1600s). Wondering how to get married in Mexico? It all starts with the perfect venue. Here’s where to stage your fiesta. By Jackie Caradonio, Kristine Hansen, Ivette Manners and Katarina Kovacevic

Riviera Nayarit & Puerto Vallarta

uerto Vallarta’s cityscape and exploding food scene are a lively complement to the sleepy villages of Riviera Nayarit, whose enclaves range from posh (Punta Mita) to boho (Sayulita). You can easily drive from one to the other without any indication of a border crossing, and both front Banderas Bay, frequented by some 800 humpback whales every winter. Palapa Brisa del Mar, Sayulita, Riviera Nayarit - In Sayulita, the cliffside Palapa Brisa del Mar comes with 360-degree ocean views and a farm-to-table menu catered by town favorite Don Pedro’s. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Riviera Nayarit - Nestled on Banderas Bay’s powder-white sands, the 173-room Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita hosts some of the area’s most stunning weddings, thanks to, scenic event spaces from beaches to the Tamai Garden, and a diverse range of activities, including a Jack Nicklaus golf course and a luxe spa. Las Caletas, Puerto Vallarta - A private beach cove located an hour by boat from the Puerto Vallarta mainland, Las Caletas is the perfect secluded Eden for barefoot-chic weddings. Intimate ceremonies for up to 80 take place at water’s edge, while ocean-view receptions occur in the Spanish-tiled, open-air restaurant. Enjoy dancing and a bonfire on the beach, and then keep the party going on the boat ride back. Casa Velas, Puerto Vallarta -The 80-room, adults-only Casa

Velas resort is proof that you don’t have to break the bank to get married in one of Puerto Vallarta’s swankiest hotels. The Casa Velas Beach Club, which has its own private strand for an oceanfront ceremony, while the Salon Casa Velas is a blank indoor space that can be transformed into your dream reception.

Cancun

Couples love Mexico’s no. 1 tourist locale, which experienced a 20 percent uptick in destination weddings in just the last year. No longer the spring breakers’ playground of yesteryear, Cancun is more sophisticated than ever, with its new focus on upscale travel. Beach Palace Cancun - The all-inclusive Beach Palace Cancun hosts events on its Sky Wedding Deck, boasting a 360-degree view of the lagoon on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. Isla Mujeres Palace - Eight miles off the coast of Cancun lies picturesque Isla Mujeres, where

the 62-room Isla Mujeres Palace blends the excitement of its mainland neighbor with the solitude of an upscale beach resort. Nizuc Resort & Spa, Cancun built March 2013 with the intention of topping every other luxury resort in Cancun, the 274-suite hotel, located on a secluded estate that was once a private hideaway for Mexico’s president, hosts vows on a terrace adjacent to Bar A-Kan.

Los Cabos

Though Los Cabos is appropriately dubbed Land’s End, Mexico’s far west coast is a mere 2½-hour flight from Los Angeles (translation: celebs love it) and offers eye candy galore, from deserts and beaches to jagged cliffs and postcard-worthy sunsets. Bonus: It rains only 10 days a year. Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa, San Jose del Cabo - It’s all about hanging 10 at Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa, fronting one of the top surfing beaches in the area and even hosting a surf school onsite. After

ceremonies on the golden sand, groups transfer to the reception lawn shaded by coconut palms and strung with globe lights. Capella Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas - Saying I do at Capella Pedregal affords you exclusive surroundings: The only road access to the resort is via a secret tunnel carved through a mountain. A mere 96 rooms — each with its own private plunge pool — are nestled within the 24 mountainside and oceanfront acres. One&Only Palmilla, San Jose del Cabo. Jennifer Aniston is such a fan of One&Only Palmilla that she chose the 173-room resort for her 41st-birthday bash. Welcome beach bonfires are popular, and Michelin-starred chef JeanGeorges Vongerichten influences event menus. Arrive at the resort’s whitewashed wedding chapel in style via a horse-drawn carriage.

Riviera Maya

This 80-mile stretch of Caribbean coast offers more than just all-in-

clusives (though there are many). The Riviera Maya is also prime real estate for exotic wildlife (coatimundi!), jungles, mangroves, white sand, turquoise water, eco-adventures and thousand-year-old Maya sites. Generations Riviera Maya by Karisma, Playa del Carmen - opened in February 2014, and the fanfare for the gourmet food and 24-hour butler service hasn’t stopped. Mutigenerational groups appreciate the family-friendly rooms, which can be arranged in groups of three connected by a shared foyer. (We recommend splurging on a suite with a plunge pool and outdoor shower.) Xcaret, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya - Adventure reserves rule the Riviera Maya. Two hundred-acre Xcaret park is one of the largest — and one of the few places in the area where you can wed at an archeological-dig site or celebrate in an underground wine cave.

brain teasers

Oct. 1 - 7, 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

tay tuned for news of our upcoming annual fund raiser which will be on November 28th at the newly remodeled Casa Kimberly. Tickets will be on sale soon. We 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 avai-

lable 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

Janice Gonzalez

puppies; BLUE BAG Costco dog food salmon – ONLY; all natural dog treats; towels, blankets, Lysol, powdered laundry detergent; office supplies such as paper, pens, clip boards, scissors, plastic cups for water for our staff and volunteers. You can drop off any donations for the SPCA at Hacienda San Angel located at Calle Miramar 336, above Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in El Centro. Get involved…rescue, adopt, foster, volunteer, donate or educate. Contact us at spcapv@gmail.com. You can learn more about the SPCA Puerto Vallarta by checking us out at www.spcapv.com/home or on Facebook.

charities

Oct. 1 - 7, 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