Issue 993, April 14 - 20, 2016

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

Entertainment

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joseph dane

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April 14 - 20, 2016 Year 19 Free Issue 993

Orlando Gotay panama papers

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Healthcare jungle critters

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Courtesy of Madeline Milne

now distributed in sayulita!

welcome

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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 in Puerto Vallarta 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 18th year 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.

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

April 14 - 20, 2016 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

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

Ahoy Cruisers!

Day Ship Passengers 14-Apr Celebrity Infinity 1,950 14-Apr Norwegian Jewel 2,376 15-Apr Ruby Princess 3,080 19-Apr Carnival Miracle 2,124 19-Apr Zaandam 1,432 20-Apr Carnival Miracle 2,124 20-Apr Zaandam 1,432 21-Apr Norwegian Jewel 2,376 22-Apr Nieuw Amsterdam 2,106 26-Apr Norwegian Pearl 2,394 27-Apr Carnival Miracle 2,124 28-Apr Norwegian Jewel 2,376

Ambulance: 322.222.1533

Consulates American Consulate Immigration: Nuevo Vallarta: 322.224.7719 322.222.0069 24 hrs Guadalajara: Consumer Protection: 333.268.2145 01.800.468.8722 Tourism Offices Canadian Consulate Jalisco: 322.221.2676 322.293.2894 Nayarit: 322.297.1006 24 hrs: 1.800.706.2900

In port this month

In the month of April Puerto Vallarta welcomes 37, 588 passengers!

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

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Editor’s

Letters to the Editor

Note

Dear Madeline,

editor@vallartatribune.com

W

ith a social butterfly of a friend in town last week, I found myself out for dinner with a group of woman at Barrio Bistro in Versailles where I had the most amazing garlic shrimp I’ve ever had, ever, anywhere. I sampled the curry chicken, which was the right amount of creamy and spicy, the roast duck was insanely delicious. It’s a good thing I don’t like eating (adorable) duck because that would be a waist widening habit. The grilled fish was also lovely, but by far the shrimps were spectacular and a healthy portion for $190 pesos. Like, so many you get anxiety, wondering if you have to offer to share with your dinner partners.

A couple glasses of wine and we were off to the new Restaurant-Bar and my namesake, La Madalena. It’s not subtle. The massive video screen wall and the row upon row of premium bottles to the ceiling enhance the height of the room. Unsurprisingly, it was packed at midnight on a Friday with a younger well-dressed crowd.

I like to judge a club by the quality of its bathroom and La Madalena does not disappoint - clean with plenty of space, private and the attendant was cute too!

The next day in search for the cure-all Michelada we ended up in Boca de Tomates (stopping to eye up the Crocodiles, of course) where we feasted on fresh oysters and hangover-erasing Cielo Rojos. Timing would have it that it was nearing sunset and there were over 90 baby turtles to be released from the nearby Turtle Rescue Camp. (Look on Facebook at Campamento Tortuguero Boca de Tomates.) As luck would have it (and if we planned it, it wouldn’t have happened), we ran into a bunch of familiar friendly faces including Tricia Lyman and her husband, Mike.

Ninty-nine babies were released into the ocean that evening. The males will stay at sea the rest of their lives and about one in a thousand female turtles will make the

trek back to the beach they were born to lay her clutch, starting at about twelve years old. This particular camp was devastated by the storms of last year and they are still in the midst of rebuilding.

During the presentation, Juan, the turtle keeper who devotes 24/7 to the rescue of these endangered treasures, mentioned that the camp has rescued about 5000 turtles over the years. Knowing that San Pancho in the north boasts 100’s of thousands of turtle rescues I was curious why the numbers were so low. It’s many reasons including the open nature of this stretch of beach, the lack of enforcement and a proliferation of people who profit from stealing turtle eggs. (It is illegal to steal turtle eggs from the beach, much less buy them – don’t do it because if you are caught it’s a Federal crime and the penalties are steep.)

In light of the recent bloom of deaths of sea turtles along the Pacific Coast, the survival of both this Camp (and others along the coast) and of the tiny babies protected in the nursery is paramount to protecting the many sea turtle species that call the Pacific coast home. Donating is always the best way to help.

As we walked the beach to and from the camp we picked up dozens of pieces of large plastic. If I picked up every bottle cap, I’d still be out there. Which leads me to an oft-repeated refrain.

Please pick up the plastic you see on your street and lining the river banks. Soon we will have massive floods and that garbage will enter the ocean. Put a couple plastic bags in your pocket and try to fill one a day. It won’t be hard.

And if you lead by example, others

April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

will follow.

The next day we went to see friends in Sayulita, where the beach is sparkling clean because that small community has a vested interest in keeping it that way.

Trash cans and signs everywhere.

I imagine the public shaming would be brutal if you dared to toss your empty chip bag on the ground.

The turtle camp is located behind the airport and they post on FB in the morning if they have a release that evening at sunset.

It’s by donation and there are cute t-shirts available for purchase.

The various markets are still going strong for another 2-3 weeks.

Be sure to get out and support your favourite vendors. The Marsol Market will continue through the summer and some vendors from other markets will be setting up there – every Friday from 9-2 in the lobby of the Marsol Hotel in front of the pier on Los Muertos.

The Puerto Vallarta Artwalk goes until the last Wednesday in May. This group of ten galleries in Centro open their doors until 10pm on Wednesday evenings where you can often meet local and international artists, enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages and experience the huge diversity of talented artists and curators in this city. www.vallartaartwalk.com for the map and list of participating galleries.

As always, get out of your resorts, try something new and support local. There are 100’s of excellent restaurants, gorgeous shops, markets and more to make your time here in Vallarta-Nayarit that much more memorable.

Safe travels, Madeline

L

ike California, so goes Puerto Vallarta ... when it comes to sea glassing season. In California it comes in winter with the high tide with seething walls of white water churning up the pebbled shore , with each wave unearthing a fresh slate of sea glass.

Sea glass can sell for $5 to $100 per stone, and this El Nino has make the glassing season the best ever, which brought a deluge of new prospectors.

I have found the summer season in Puerto Vallarta a great time to go sea glassing following the storms and large waves pounding the shore. Instead of going into the serf with a kitchen strainer on a wood pole, I wait until the outgoing tide, and walk along the beach looking for the broken glass bottles that have been tumbled along the bay floor , loosing their sharp edges and developed a frosted look.

I have brought home to San Francisco over five pounds of colorless and colored sea glass from the beaches in front of my Puerto Vallarta Timeshare Hotels, which have been graded into size and colors, all obtained during the late summer low season.

Frank Norton San Francisco California USA

Dear Editor: RIVERFEST RECORD BREAKING EVENT! ver 60 volunteers and approximately 720 attendees helped us bring the house down! We made a record breaking $227,695 pesos for the children of Pasitos de Luz! It was the event of the year thanks to the 586 people who attended and paid $80 pesos at the gate, the 134 people who generously purchased $750 pesos patron tickets and all the donors, musicians, volunteers, and staff of El Rio BBQ Bar and Barcelonas Tapas!

Our most sincere thanks to all of our silent auction donors. This year’s silent auction brought in an unprecedented $67,195 pesos. The power of your donations cannot be underestimated and we thank each of you for your generosity. The impact each one of you individually

O

made is seen in the final total.

The slate of 8 musicians/bands provided an outstanding day of entertainment. Thank you Kim Kuzma and Acoustico, Sylvie and the Zippers, Lorena Peril, La Trez Quatroz, Dat Swang Thang, King David Bailey, Brittany Kingery and Stolie. You music was magic! It was our best Riverfest ever and next year promises to be even more exciting.

Hold the date: Saturday March 4/2017!!

Thank you to • Our attendees for coming in such huge, supportive numbers, • Our patron ticket purchasers for believing in Pasitos and giving the extra support, • Our silent auction donors for ongoing generosity and affirmation, • Our musicians for sharing their talent and their hearts, • Our community sponsors for your fundraising gifts and ongoing in-kind donations, • Our volunteers for your time and commitment, and • Kurt Sinner, El Rio BBQ Bar, and Bill Carballo, Barcelonas Tapas – your generosity and community spirit means so much.

You all make a world of difference!

Dear Editor/Madeline,

I

wanted to let you know that next Tuesday, April 19th, will be the last Free Malecon Sculpture Tour for this season, resuming next November 15th for its eleventh season. I wanted to thank you for including the tour in your calendar of events and for your other extensive coverage, but I am hoping that you can now help me to let everyone know that it will be discontinued until next Fall.

I´m happy to report that in addition to exposing several hundred people to the history and back stories of these sculptures and thus increasing their appreciation of Puerto Vallarta and the Malecon, attendees donated nearly $55,000 pesos this season to our non government supported public library and cultural center, Biblioteca Los Mangos.

Muchas Gracias, Gary Thompson Tour Guide Owner/Director Galeria Pacifico

Old Town Farmers Marke

Get a Bite of the OTFM-T

By Erin Staley

Cell. 322 134 4162 MEXICO, (952) 583 0329 USA & CANADA info@muchococo.com www.muchococo.com

M

arket day is almost here (Saturday), and we have all sorts of unique “make it, bake it, grow it” experiences to enjoy. In fact, we have 90+ stalls featuring farm-fresh produce, regional plants and flowers, fine jewellery and clothing, natural body products, traditional Mexican handcrafts and beautiful art pieces.

While here, be sure to satisfy your palate with the market's sweet and savoury bites and beverages!

Baked Goods Baked goods are all the rage at the market.

Discover your next favourite from these vendors: • Chilean Wholegrain Bread • Artisan Bakery (sourdough breads and pastries) • Hecho en Mexico Pasteleria (breads and glutenfree selections) • Corn Flan (baked goods as well as gluten-free and dairy-free selections) • Panadería Colín (tradi-

tional Mexican breads and pastries) • Paninos Artisan Bakery (sourdough breads and pastries) • Vallarta Bagel World (bagels, breads and cinnamon buns) Food On-the-Go Mexico's traditional tamales make the perfect on-the-go meal. Gourmet options are available at Tamal Gourmet. Tamales y Empanadas Angel also serves up tasty tamales along with flaky empanadas.

Teosintle y o Pozole Dona Lucy stirs up traditional Mexican green pozole, while Perros Locos' dishes homemade sausages and french fries. And if you're in the mood for a more European take on to-go foods, try the British-style pies, quiches and pastries found at The Leek and Thistle Pie Company.

Get a Little Saucy Smother, marinade and dip your market finds in the saucy goodness found at the OTFM-TC. Jams, jellies, chutneys and sauces can be found at Jan's Specialty

You’re Invited!

We’re open 9:30-2 every Saturday, from November 7 to April 30, 2016. We’re located at Lazaro Cárdenas Park in Vallarta’s Emiliano Zapata neighbourhood. For only 14 pesos an hour, you can park in the garage directly beneath park. Public buses and taxis also come this way with a Pino Suarez Street drop off.

Condiments. You can get dips, salsas and infused oils at Los Sabores de Cristy.

Miriam's Mexican Kitchen will wow your taste buds with pestos, sauces, and condiments. Pickle lovers will appreciate Muy Green pickles and dips.

And if you crave Italian, pick up fresh pasta and sauces from Pasta Fresca Santa Lucía as well as Italian liquors, dried pasta, sauces, and infused oils from La Dolceria Produzione Italiana.

Healthy Options Treat your body to a variety of good-for-you foods.

La Vaka Gorda serves up Greek yogurt and dips. Top them off with fresh cut fruit from Frutas Frescas de Vallarta. Then make it extra healthy with granola from Gran Ola de Sabor.

For a healthy digestive system, go for fermented foods and natural vinegars crafted by Small World Probiotics. Then power up your salad with fresh spouts

et - Tianguis Cultural

Find us at Parque Lázaro Cárdenas Romantic Zone Saturdays 9:30 - 2:00 pm

TC

and dressings made by Shining Sprouts. (And just so that you're not the next meal for pesky mosquitoes, try Shining Sprouts' Natural Mosquito Repellent.)

International Food Court Kick back and enjoy a smorgasbord of fun flavors at the International Food Court: • Bites of India • Comida Taiwanesa (Taiwanese foods as well as green and red tea) • El Taco Ranchero (burritos, quesadillas, tacos and huaraches)

• La Mexicana (traditional Mexican foods made in clay pots) • Narisa's Thai Food • Veggie Table (vegan hamburgers, al pastor, falafels and sticky buns) Pair your entrees with these fine beverages: • Jugos y Aguas Gloria's (fresh juices and all-natural aguas frescas)

Get Involved!

• Zumo Fresh (freshly squeezed orange, lime and grapefruit juices) • Café Yolanda Superior del Pacifico S.A. de C.V. (hot coffee and bagged organic coffee beans) • El Fortin de San Sebastian (coffee along with marmelades, dressings, chutney and salsas)

The Sweet Stuff Chocolate fans will love Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates' confections and chocolate covered bananas. Get a little nutty with candied nuts from Mr. Pistaches and nut butters and cookies from Cacahuate Carlos.

Meet the Market The OTFM-TC is a North American style market that celebrates the tradition and culture of Mexico’s outdoor tianguis markets. It is also a registered non-profit/ association civil organization that focuses on nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of Puerto Vallartans.

All OTFM-TC products are either locally grown or handmade within 75 kilometres of the city.

Artisan Bakery

…where bread is an art.

Na tu rally leave ne d sou rd ou g h s pe cialt y b r ead s ba ke d in ou r ow n ma so nry ov e n.

ChelowVallarta

Swimwear and beachwear made ​​to order!

For the latest in market news (both in English and Spanish), visit www.oldtownfm.com and “like” us on Facebook (Old.Town.Farmers.Market.PV).

Teresa Moreno Fb: TYBikinisYMas

Tel. 322-137-04-77 ty-bikinis-y-mas@hotmail.com Federalismo #1383 Colonia Lomas del Coapinole Pitillal, Jal

Tel. 224-6670 Cel: 322-116-9908

Authentic contemporary jewelry

Heriberto Saucedo Pérez Artista Diseñador Cel. 322.190 56 32 Fb: Heriko Joyeria herikojoyeria@hotmail.com Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

06

Mexico’s Foreign Reserves Rise by $811 Million

M

exico’s foreign reserves rose by $811 million to $177.47 billion last week, the Bank of Mexico said Tuesday.

Gold and foreign currency reserves increased in the week ending April 1 due to sales of dollars by state-owned oil giant Pemex to the central bank and a rise in the value of assets on the balance sheet, the Bank of Mexico said in a statement.

Foreign reserves have risen by $741 million since the end of 2015, the Bank of Mexico said.

The M1 money supply, which includes currency, coins and demand deposits, fell by 27.45 billion pesos (about $1.54 billion) to nearly 1.21 trillion pesos (some $68.29 billion) last week, the central bank said.

The money supply has contracted by 30.13 billion pesos (nearly $1.7 billion) since Jan. 1.

Original:Laht.com

Ford to Invest $1.6 Billion in New Factory in Mexico

F

ord Motor Co. said Tuesday that it will invest $1.6 billion to build a new plant in Mexico for the manufacture of small vehicles.

Work on the facility will start this summer in the state of San Luis Potosi and the factory will create 2,800 direct jobs, the company said in a statement. Ford expects the first units to roll off the assembly line in 2018, though the automaker declined to name the models it will produce in San Luis Potosi.

“We are improving the profitability of our small cars,” Ford’s president for the Americas, Joe Hinrichs, said in comments cited

by The Detroit News.

The president of the United Auto Workers union, Dennis Williams, reacted negatively to the news.

“Today’s announcement that Ford is investing in Mexico is a disappointment and very troubling.

For every investment in Mexico it means jobs that could have and should have been available right here in the USA,” the UAW leader said in a statement. Recently, Ford competitors such as Toyota and General Motors have made big investments in Mexico, taking advantage of lower labor costs.

Original: LAHT.com

news

April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Why is Ottawa dragging its heels on the Mexican visa?

The Canadian government has reiterated its promise to lift the visa requirement but has stayed mum on a timeframe and reason for the delay. Is Trudeau’s North American vision at stake?

By Eva Salinas

M

exico’s former Ambassador to Canada, Francisco Suárez Dávila, says Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto will likely refuse to attend Justin Trudeau’s proposed North American Leaders' Summit this summer unless the visa requirement on Mexico is revoked — a promise Trudeau and members of his cabinet have reiterated several times since forming government.

“I find it very difficult to concede that President Peña will come to Canada if he has to subject himself to the visa requirement,” Suárez said in an interview from Mexico City, where he retired following the end of his Canadian post in December. “It's a pity because we really could be in the beginning of a golden age of a really grand relationship.”

Trudeau indicated North American relations were a top priority on the campaign trail last year, when he first promised to revoke the visa if elected. He has repeatedly underscored the importance of regional cooperation, most recently in Washington earlier this month, where he emphasized working together on environmental policy and invited U.S. President Barack Obama to a North American Leaders' Summit in Canada this summer. Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion has similarly mentioned the visa’s elimination — a priority listed in his mandate letter — on several occasions, including the Ottawa Forum in January and, days later, at a news conference during a trilateral meeting in Québec City where he said the visa situation would be “resolved, finished, kaput.”

A timeline has not been provided by any governmental office, nor has an explanation been given for the delay.

A representative from the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (whose minister’s mandate letter also mentions the visa) told OpenCanada in an email that “Canada is committed to implementing visafree travel for Mexican visitors” and assured that visa processing services are of the “highest level.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs refrained from commenting for this

article.

“People now think there’s no visa and there is, so I suspect people are going to the airport thinking they don’t need a visa and getting turned back,” says Laura Macdonald, a political science professor at Carleton University who was in Mexico last month on a research trip. “There’s just been a lack of clarity and a lack of a communication strategy.”

The visa was put in place in 2009 under the Conservative government after refugee claims from Mexico spiked quickly over several years. By 2008, the country was the number one source of Canada’s overall claims, with more than 9,000 claims made in that year alone (or 25 percent of all claims received).

“The visa process will allow us to assess who is coming to Canada as a legitimate visitor and who might be trying to use the refugee system to jump the immigration queue,” Minister Jason Kenney said at the time.

Though the claims have since significantly decreased (in 2014 there were 80), criticism of the visa grew increasingly loud toward the end of Stephen Harper’s tenure, especially from the business and political communities of both countries.

Tension over the issue led to the cancellation of a visit from Peña Nieto in 2015 and of at least one visit of a high-level delegation of Mexican CEOs. The visa itself also caused a drop in Mexican tourists to Canada.

“There was a brief outburst of euphoria when the announcement

was made that they were going to get rid of it,” Duncan Wood, director of the Mexico Institute at the U.S.based Wilson Center, recalls. “It just shows once again that the bilateral relationship isn’t really a priority for either country. There’s lots of nice talk about it, lots of grand words about strategic partnerships and regional partners and my ‘neighbour’s neighbour,’ but the fact is that neither side really believes that the other one is of crucial importance. Its importance is in the context of the relationship with the United States.” But without an official explanation, Wood and many others have been left to speculate on why the delay is ongoing.

Former Ambassador Suárez suggests it may simply be due to “some elements of bureaucracy,” while some say there may be more at play, including internal discussions over security and a plan of action for Canada’s immigration system.

“Maintaining a visa on Mexico has hurt our tourism, has hurt our relationship with Mexico, hurt our capacity to grow inside NAFTA… but I am troubled by the lack of [public] discussion around the almost certain increase we will see in refugee claims,” says Arne Kislenko, a Ryerson professor who worked 12 years as a senior immigration officer at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

Kislenko says he wouldn’t be surprised if the topic had been discussed behind closed doors in Washington this month, as the U.S. would likely be concerned about allowing Mexicans to once again travel freely into Canada.

The promise to revoke the visa comes at a time when Canada’s refugee system has been lauded internationally for its intake of more than 25,000 Syrians over the past several months.

The majority of criticism against the visa over the past several years avoided deeper discussions around migration, instead focusing on the political strain it has caused between the two countries.

Wood emphasizes that increased economic investment could help improve living conditions in Mexico, which in turn may slow migration as well. “We can’t say that the U.S. and Canada have a responsibility to develop Mexico…

What they can do is help Mexico to strengthen its institutions, help Mexico to strengthen its rule of law, its policing institutions, its judicial institutions,” he says.

In the meantime, however, Mexicans are left in the dark as to when the visa will be lifted, though former Ambassador Suárez says an announcement should be made before the North American Leaders' summit, or in time for Mexicans to be included in the list of visa-exempt travellers who will soon require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for entry into Canada.

“It will not be well received by the Mexican public opinion to have 50 countries, some of which are quite secondary in their relationship with Canada, get into eTA and we will still have to wait,” he says. “There's a honeymoon with the U.S., there could be one with Mexico. Let's get this out of the way.”

Original: OpenCanada.org

07

By Joshua Partlow

T

he rise of Donald Trump and the anti-immigrant wave he is riding in his presidential primary campaign have alarmed the Mexican government so much that it has reshuffled top diplomats and, according to officials, adopted a new strategy — to defend the image of Mexicans abroad.

Trump has consistently targeted the United States’ southern neighbor, calling Mexican ¬border-crossers “rapists” and criminals and threatening to cut off the money they send home to their families unless Mexico pays for a border wall. But for months, the Mexican government has opted to remain quiet, with a few high-profile exceptions, rather than publicly challenging Trump’s claims.

Under mounting domestic pressure, Mexican officials now say they have chosen a new strategy: to stand up for Mexicans and defend the reputation of their countrymen living in the United States.

“In recent months, we have seen a growing anti-immigrant discourse in general, anti-Mexican in particular, and not exclusively from Donald Trump,” said a Mexican official who was not authorized to speak publicly on this issue.

“This set off our fear that it would

news

April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

After months of restraint, Mexico adopts new strategy: Standing up to Donald Trump

damage the image of Mexico in the United States.”

After just seven months on the job, Miguel Basáñez Ebergenyi, Mexico’s ambassador to Washington, will be replaced by Carlos Manuel Sada Solana, the consul general in Los Angeles. Paulo Carreño King, a top aide to President Enrique Peña Nieto whose portfolio has included dealing with the foreign media and improving the country’s brand, will take over as the senior Foreign Ministry official responsible for North America.

The United States is Mexico’s

biggest trading partner, with more than $1 billion in bilateral trade each day, and millions of Mexicans live north of the border. The Mexican government is worried that Trump’s rhetoric and wider anti-Mexican sentiment could hurt foreign investment and tourism and lead to damaging U.S. policies in the future.

Foreign Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu told El Universal newspaper on Tuesday that the government must “reevaluate our performance and strategy toward the United States.”

“We see an exacerbated mood, in some sectors, against our countrymen, against our country,” she added. “There is a fear on the part of our community in the United States that this spirit can grow and overflow and may generate hostilities." As Trump’s stature grew at home in recent months, Mexican officials conducted public opinion polling in the United States and spoke with their network of consulates. The outreach, they said, raised new worries about the scope of anti-Mexican feeling.

“We found young people have begun to adopt arguments that are anti-Mexican,” the official said.

Now the government hopes that its diplomats can make a more forceful argument about the benefits that Mexico provides to the United States.

Basáñez took over the Mexican Embassy last year after serving as a professor at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. In his brief tenure, he earned a reputation as a low-profile leader who was restrained amid the Trumpian storm. Last year, he played down

Trump’s comments as “just part of the primary campaign” and reportedly argued that attacking the Republican presidential frontrunner would serve only to elevate him. Basáñez could not be reached for comment.

Sada, the incoming ambassador, pending confirmation, has served in several Mexican consulates, including in Chicago, San Antonio and New York. He has also been the head of congressional affairs at the Mexican Embassy in Washington.

Arturo Sarukhán, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States from 2007 to 2013, said Mexico must rebut Trump’s claims. The new strategy is a “very welcome tack,” he said.

“There is a clear need for the Mexican government to do something about this, and there was intense domestic pressure on this front,” Sarukhán added. An ambassador’s job, he said, should be to “counter lies, distortions and negative narratives with hard data and facts.”

Original: Washington Post

only in Jalisco, but in Mexico.”

Giving credence to such claims are international hotel brands such as Louis Vuitton, One and Only and Four Seasons, among others, that are currently developing 18 projects with a combination of domestic and foreign investment.

The Louis Vuitton Möet Hennessy (LVMH) hotel in Chamela Bay in the municipality of La Huerta, for example, represents an investment of US $230 million.

Scheduled to open its doors in 2017, the Cheval Blanc will be the chain’s first in the Americas. Rates

will run as high as US $4,000 per night.

The hotel is part of the Zafiro Resort project, a 910-hectare development with seven kilometers of beachfront that will also include a golf course, 525 real estate units such as condominiums and residential lots and a private airstrip.

A director of Grupo Invermar, the developer behind the project, described the Cheval Blanc as “the most important luxury hotel in Mexico, and one of the most luxurious in the world. It would be a seven-star hotel, if such a

ranking existed.” The Costa Alegre is already known for luxury resorts such as El Careyes, Cuixmala, El Tamarindo and Las Alamandas.

It also gained some recognition last year when Hurricane Patricia made landfall in Cuixmala, some 20 kilometers to the south of Chamela, which saw some damage from the storm.

The state of Jalisco welcomed over 21 million tourists during 2015, nearly a third of whom were foreign visitors, representing revenues of 33 billion pesos (US $1.89 billion).

Original: mexiconewsdaily.com

Airport, new luxury resort in Costa Alegre

H

ighway improvement, new airport expected to boost tourism Tourism in the state of Jalisco should get a major boost with new infrastructure development in the Costa Alegre region.

The Costa Alegre consists of a series of 43 virgin beaches, capes and bays distributed along the Pacific coast between the major tourist centers of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and Manzanillo, Colima.

A project long in the making is the extension and modernization of federal highway 200, which runs from Puerto Vallarta to Barra de Navidad, which authorities say is soon to be finished after two years of work.

Another major infrastructure project in the area is the Chalacatepec airport, which could be ready for its first airplane in just a year and a half.

The runway has been ready for the last four years but the state

government still must conclude expropriation agreements with community landowners for the terrain that surrounds what will be the airport proper.

The payout will cost 15 million pesos (US $858,000), while the construction of a road to give area residents access to the main highway without crossing the runway represents an additional 17 million.

Once ready, the 90-million-peso airport will be able to accommodate 170-passenger aircraft, and both commercial and private flights.

The new airport is just one of the items in a broader, US $400-million investment package announced last year to develop Costa Alegre.

Authorities and state officials have described the Jalisco beaches as a “diamond in the rough” destined to become “the most beautiful beach on the Pacific coast. Costa Alegre represents the future of beach destinations not

entertainment

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April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Comings and Goings

By Marcia Blondin Comings…

As promised last week, a review of Chris Kenny and Alberto Montejano’s mini concert at The Bar at Casa Karma: This series of guitar, keyboard and Chris’s bluesy listenable-for-hours voice, takes place every Wednesday night at the magnificent Casa Karma. Come early for Manny’s cocktails and stay for sunset and be serenaded by Chris and Alberto.

There is no cover; just music and song that add lusciousness to surroundings that will take your breath away. Chris and Alberto can and do play nearly anything; all requests were met and enjoyed by the mix of hotel guests and people who came to enjoy the quiet elegance.

On the flip side of Casa Karma is Nacho Daddy’s where The Chris Kenny Band takes the floor every Thursday night and shakes the hell out of it with some good old bluesy rock ‘n roll.

One last plug for Chris Kenny who puts the CK into CK Productions: Grant Maloy Smith is coming for one night only, May 11th. The Production team of Chris

Kenny and David Guilmette who have had three exceptionally well-attended concerts so far this year, present Grant Smith, an American singer and songwriter in concert at Casa Karma. More on this as the date gets closer.

Gabriel Reyes, guitarist and singer at the Friday Marsol Hotel Market, La Palapa and Cuates y Cuetes is hosting a Tribute to

Willow at the new bar called Shisha on Lazaro Cardenas the 23rd of April.

The line-up of musicians confirmed (and growing) promises a long, enjoyable night. More info next week.

And Goings…

The Third Annual Corazon de Niña Fundraiser at Casa Karma last weekend has been called “the best, most fabulous, incredible, gorgeous, expertly well-run, superbly entertaining, unbelievably good food…and etcetera” event of the season. I agree and will most likely find a few more superlatives to add to the mix.

To begin with, one must see Casa

Karma to understand and appreciate how magnificent the setting is, how wonderfully decorated, how serene yet vibrant the atmosphere is.

Add ten restaurants that brought their finest offerings (some served up by the owners themselves!), an open bar, beautifully set tables adorned with arrangements all donated by Flowers to Go (way to go Bob and Gerardo!). In the center of the Event Terrace was a stage that showcased performers from Act II Stages.

The attendees (more than 150 of them) ate like kings, drank, sang along with Job, Roberto, Elviz and Paul; danced where they could find

space under a clear canopy of stars and overlooking the ocean and a sandy cove. In a finale that nobody will ever forget – Paul Fracassi’s final note hit the air, his arm shot up and the sky instantly exploded with a fireworks display that would have done a city proud to present any New Year’s Eve. All that combined magic created over $200,000 pesos for Corazon de Niña. To Georgia and Gholi Darehshori, owners and gracious hosts of Casa Karma: Well done. To Melissa and Juan and your fortyplus children in your care, summertime just became a little easier.

Introducing Joseph Dane

By Marcia Blondin

J

oseph is no stranger to Puerto Vallarta’s music scene; many of you will remember him from the first edition of Voice of Vallarta. Since then he has changed his name from Heininge to Dane as he continues to simplify his life. The Voice of Vallarta also introduced him to Act II Stages and all the people involved in that complex operation.

He watched, he learned, he sang and wrote and learned to take direction. He auditioned and now he is ready to kick off his World Tour in the Red Room with two shows; Opening Night Friday, April 22 and the second will follow a week later on the 29th. His album entitled Dragonfly debuts at the same time.

In the fall of 2012, Joseph gave up his high-paying computer

programming job and moved to Vallarta. Like so many artists before him, breathing the very air of Puerto Vallarta was all the inspiration he needed and he began his new life writing and singing songs, playing in restaurants and hotels; entertaining wherever he could.

A year ago, an independent producer from Minnesota heard Joseph perform and invited him to Minneapolis to record his first album ‘Dragonfly’. Joseph spent the summer playing in Minneapolis, Portland, and Nashville before returning to Vallarta.

Musical Director Rhonda Padmos cast Joseph to play “Papa” John Phillips in her California Dreamin’ production of the lives and times of The Mamas and the Papas.

The show, which opened January 11, 2016, was originally scheduled to run four weeks. Cali-

fornia Dreamin’ was so popular it had to be extended for an additional two months selling out almost every performance.

Joseph’s brilliantly arrogant portrayal of guitar-playing vocalist John Phillips was certainly part of the reason for the wildly successful run.

And now it is time for him to shine solo in his own show.

Singing his own original music, playing his guitar and having only himself in the spotlight. Personally? I can’t wait to see and hear the ‘new’ Joseph Dane. I like the new name.

I will try and sneak into a tech rehearsal before Joseph’s Opening Night and will let you know a few tantalizing tidbits next week.

Two shows only: April 22 and 29 at 7:30 pm in the Red Room at Act II Entertainment, Basilio Badillo and Insurgentes.

entertainment

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April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Vallarta Pride Committees Working Hard

M

ore than 25 great events are planned to celebrate the big LGBT family in Puerto Vallarta, this year during two weeks, from May 16 to 29th.

One common theme is that Vallarta Pride needs more sponsors and supporters. We need many hands to make this event the greatest ever in our destination, so get on board and join us!

Vallarta Pride 2016 will include numerous parties, a commitment ceremony, circuit parties, artistic performances and exhibitions, a film festival, a fashion show, and of course, the pride parade.

The 2015 Vallarta Pride project was a tremendous success doubling the numbers and helping to showcase Vallarta as a fantastic LGBT destination. The Vallarta Pride 2016 events will build on previous success, and go MUCH HIGHER! The value to Vallarta and to business goes far beyond just one week of events and the tourists and customers it will bring. The visibility that will result from Vallarta Pride 2016 will show the world

what Vallarta has to offer the global LGBT community, enhancing our image as a year-round destination that LGBT travelers will want to visit, live in, work in, and enjoy.

Idan Matalon, Grand Marshal Of Vallarta Pride 2016 This year, Vallarta Pride is honored to have the presence of Idan Matalon, who will also be our Grand Marshal 2016!

Idan Matalon is an Israeli video blogger, journalist, video and audio

producer, model, business executive and one of the most popular Youtube LGBT personalities.

Currently known as a columnist for the Israeli website mako, he is also vice president of marketing for the LGBT global social network Moovz.

After completing his military service, Matalon started video blogging around 2010, with Out Traveler later describing him as an “online lipsync star.” As a model,

online personality, or gay activist he has been featured by magazines such as NRG, À cause des garçons, Stubborn Magazine, Nexter, and MyGayTrip, who also hired him in 2012 to serve as the main face of their advertising. In April 2012 the publication Shalom Life named him #20 in their list of the Top 50 Hottest Jewish Men. Myriam Montemayor, Brings It To Vallarta Pride Myriam Montemayor, Mexican singer who rose to fame after

becoming the first winner of the TV reality show “The Academy” and winner of multiple music awards, is one of the VIP artists invited Vallarta Pride 2016.

The popular singer from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, will attend the Pride Parade starting at 5pm, and will be the main show at the Party in the Park Lázaro Cárdenas, on May 28 this year, starting at 7pm.

You cannot miss these two events!

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The ‘Panama Papers’ and the Ordinary Expat

Under the Palapa Chris Dalton

J

Leza Warkentin

Orlando Gotay, Tax Attorney

www.majorscorner.com ust to give you an update on our condo situation, the annual general meeting has been cancelled. Why, you may ask? Me too.

I had approached the president of our condo association back in early March as to when we would be sitting down to discuss the many burrs under my saddle.

For instance, when would we be reimbursed for all the light bulbs my wife and I had replaced in the common areas of the building as no one else appeared to care? Or paid for the mattress lying in the street to be removed? I should explain that of the fifteen suites in our home in the sky, all are Mexican-owned except for two, us and a lady who is rarely here.

It turns out that the fellow who owns six and another who has five decided there was no point having an annual chat, so that was that.

When I stopped tearing up tea towels, I told my wife we were not going to be kicked around anymore.

I phoned our abogado (lawyer) and said, “Don’t spare the horses,” meaning spend what must be spent in order to have our AGM. He asked for the names of the two local owners who had refused my entreaties. The phone went silent when I told him. After a bit of dry coughing and a few “mmmms,” he said, “Chris, I wouldn’t bother.”

I shredded a few more nearby tea towels (my wife seems to have many, which I am not allowed to use to clean up messes. What are they for then?), then asked in measured tones: “Why not?”

“Because these are important men,” he replied mysteriously but firmly. I did not like his tone and said so. He asked me to forget I knew him before hanging up.

A coldness took hold of my bowels. I reported back to my wife that I was still looking into the matter though I suppose another year won’t make much difference in the big picture.

On another subject, I somehow thought that when we moved here, to avoid boredom and to make some “wine money,” I would get a snappy little job and then live

April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

happily ever after.

Not so fast. I have always thought of myself as a happygo-lucky sort, a man who was welcome at the tables of most homes, but that appears to provide a very limited income.

Every day I watch the perspiring locals walking the beaches, trying to make a go of it. There is one man who pushes a peanut and candy cart through the beach sand whom I consider a hero. However he looks like he is about to have a stroke, so I don’t want that job.

Then there is the chap who is completely covered in rugs and wears 30 hats. He gurgles a greeting through clenched teeth below darting eyes under a wet brow. I don’t think I would look very attractive doing that, as much as I admire his doggedness.

For a short while I saw myself as someone who could be the second banana on a local stage, perhaps as one of Judy Garland’s hapless sisters (the Gumms). After all, I was considered a useful tenor at my school’s glee club some 50 years ago.

Sadly for me the entertainment in PV does not consist of bad lounge acts from Vegas who say, “I am here all week, try the veal.” So that was a dead end. They are in fact very good. Rats!

I don’t make jewelry and the poor man who suggested I try out his potter’s wheel is no longer speaking to me. I mean I did not know how fast those things could go. I attempted to teach Zumba but everyone in my first class could do it better than me. They thought I was some sort of local comic before the real teacher showed up.

A lot of my failure could be due to the fact that I only speak a kind of “stripper” Spanish taught to me by one of my filthy friends -- “How much for her?” or “I have U.S. dollars” or “I like fat girls” -- and not particularly useful on a day-to-day basis. Also my wife does not think it is funny when I repeat these phrases at parties.

I must learn more Spanish.

Copyright Christopher Dalton 2016

O

ver the course of the past few days we have added new words to the lexicon: “Panama Papers”, millions of documents leaked from a Panama law firm. They suggest that hundreds, and possibly thousands had, through intricate networks of business entities, succeeded in concealing the location, origin and ownership of a massive amount of assets ---worth billions of dollars--out of the reach of tax administrations worldwide.

The roster of folks involved is interesting because of their collective high profile. The Icelandic prime minister stepped down as angry constituents let him know their feelings about his name being involved.

What of the collateral consequences the Panama Papers will have on Mr. or Mrs. “Ordinary” Expat… folks like you and I? No US expat worth his or her salt ignores US Treasury efforts to identify those who have unfulfilled fiscal obligations. FATCA, initially seen by many as overreach by the US in the fiscal sovereignty of other states, began yielding results: prosecutions of individuals involved in schemes to conceal assets and scores of “voluntary” disclosures.

Little by little, other tax authorities began understanding that the American idea was one they could implement in their own way.

The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development has developed a common repor-

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

ting standard for financial assets.

Member countries will begin cross reporting of assets owned by nationals of member countries, adopting the spirit of FATCA if not its form.

The Panama Papers provide fuel to the fire in the ‘war’ against undeclared income and assets, suggesting there is far more out there to be “had”. The low hanging fruit will go first. What will happen when all those are taken into account? Of course, hands are going to reach further and further up the tree. Suddenly, the Ordinary Expat may ‘look’ like a Mossack Fonseca client.

Aristóteles Nuñez, head of the SAT (the Mexican ‘IRS’) stated his agency has begun to look at the named names. He says that offshore ownership of assets is not necessarily illegal, and I concur.

But back to Ordinary Expat…could he or she expect a paradigm shift?

Possibly.

We don’t know how much or how soon. One thing is for certain: the Panama Papers may alter the prospects of increased fiscal vigilance worldwide, even if we are not prime ministers, rock stars or tycoons.

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.

Don’t Know What You Got (Til It’s Gone)

I

f you come from my generation, then you probably spent some time gazing out a car window, imagining that you were in a Cinderella (not the Disney one) music video, lip synching to “Don’t Know What You Got (Til It’s Gone)” on the tape deck. Although, if you were like me, lip synching would never be enough for you, and the driver (because in 1988 you wouldn’t have your license for another year) would be treated to your loud, emotional duet with Tom Keifer.

These were the days before selfies so you wouldn’t be able to share the moment with anyone except your older brother, and he certainly wouldn’t have been impressed.

This song keeps running through my mind these days. I have it saved on Spotify, but it’s really not the same since I gave up teasing my bangs, which was around 1992.

You see, my parents, who always spend the winter with us, left last Wednesday and it’s been a bit blue around here ever since.

Most people with children will understand that any bodies with pulses and a desire to babysit are welcome visitors, but my parents really are special.

Since my husband is a musician, he works when the tourists come, so you can imagine that in winter I start wondering if he is a fictional character that I’ve invented to be my husband.

Try to imagine a household whose ability to function depends wholly upon two people with opposite schedules.

And the most critical decisions are made by one waking the other with quick, urgent questions on the way out or in the door.

So thankfully my parents come down every year around Christmas with several overweight suitcases full of everyone’s favorite things.

They take over the laundry.

They cook food, build furniture, and direct juvenile traffic when I

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Paradise

From Here

Follow Up

and Parenting

Roberto Ortiz de Montellano Farias roberto@ortizdemontellano.com close the door and refuse to come out.

Things just start running smoothly around my house. I stop washing dishes and suddenly the drain board isn’t full of dripping dishes and there are clean dish towels neatly folded on the shelf.

I don’t wash socks, and, lo and behold, the socks all match. I no longer buy the groceries, and now my kids always have their favorite yogurt drinks instead of the cheap brands that taste like bubble gum.

It’s like I’m the shoemaker with his magic elves, except I was never really good at making shoes.

But then April comes around and I remember why I was crying with relief in the airport four months previous.

Watching them walk through security and on to their waiting airplane, I feel like a three-year-old whose parents are leaving her at school for the first time.

I want to run, wrap myself around their legs and say “I CANNNNN’T!” Lucky for them, the security officers frown on that sort of thing.

And actually, I can. Just not quite as well. And also, this is sort of my gig now, and they are under no obligation to stay and watch me try to fold sheets. I’m supposed to know how to do that because a) I’ve been a legal adult for almost twenty-five years and b) my mom has already shown me how about sixty-six times.

Now that they are gone and I (thankfully) kept my dignity intact at the airport, my husband’s work schedule is starting to free up. So I’m breathing a little easier.

He also does dishes and refolds the sheets that I’ve attempted to roll up and hide in the closet.

So basically we should make things work until Christmas rolls around and all the socks start disappearing again.

In other words, thanks for the life lessons, mom and dad.

Looks like your daughter is able to run a household without (grave) repercussions.

Just don’t take too long to come back. I can’t find the dish towels.

April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

After closing, there is no rest for the wicked.

F

ollow up is an important part of any process, and real estate purchase in Mexico is no exception. Let us picture this scenario: you closed on your property, you and the seller signed your trust deed before a Notary Public, everything went smoothly so you might think you can sleep like a baby because there is no risk involving your real estate purchase, right? Well, not quite. You can celebrate that you have purchased a property in Puerto Vallarta, but the work is not over, and the purchase process still needs to be totally concluded so that your property is out of risk.

After closing, and in order to finish the entire purchase process, the Notary must record your trust deed in the Public Registry of Property. Carrying out this final stage is extremely important but sometimes neglected by some Notaries and closing coordinators.

So what can happen if my trust deed is not recorded in the Public Registry of Property?

If your trust deed has not been recorded or if this recording process is taking too long, your property is still at risk. The main purpose of having a purchase deed recorded in Public Registry is to make the rights of the buyer effective against third parties. These third parties are usually creditors of the seller. If the seller still appears in the Public Registry as the owner of your property, anyone suing the seller can put a lean and eventually foreclose on the property. Furthermore, if your purchase deed is not recorded, the seller can sell the property twice and if the second buyer records his deed before you, you lose the property.

And don’t forget to ask for your invoice …

Part of the follow up required after closing is making sure that you get your electronic invoice from the Notary.

This electronic invoice is required to make deductions when you sell the property so if you don’t have it, you will be paying a lot of money in capital gains tax. It is only after getting this electronic invoice and a notarized copy of your trust deed duly recorded, that you can consider your real estate purchase totally concluded.

Marcia Blondin marciavallarta@gmail.com

A

quick check via Facebook has confirmed that El Rio BBQ-Bar is, indeed, still open for business these pre-summer days with continuing shows every Friday with Bobby and Gilberto to the end of April and Sundays at 2:30 enjoy live music and BBQ specials. Owner Kurt Sinner plans to head north after the end of May so lots of days left to enjoy beautiful el Rio. Spend some time in the sun, cool off in the river, tan on the beach with an icy cold beer in your hand and let your cares and woes float downriver to the sea. (Guess where I am spending a whole day very soon?)

And, yes, your dog is welcome to join you, 11:30 to 7 pm daily except Monday. See you there!

While we are on the subject of outstanding places to spend time eating great food and devouring the ambiance – hats off (AGAIN!) to Langostino’s on Los Muertos Beach (where I celebrated my 25th Anniversary of living in Vallarta).

Owner Colette Zarry invited me to a Customer Appreciation party and for over two hours a bunch of us ate fabulous hot appys and drank to our and everyone else’s

health. I know all the restaurants and bars on that strip of beach had a fantastic season but what a great display of style and pizzazz of Langostino’s to thank their clients for their patronage in such a generous and personal way. It is us who are grateful to you, Colette, and your attentive staff.

If you haven’t done so lately, check out both Lazaro Cardenas and Venustiano Carranza streets between Ignacio Vallarta and Insurgentes; both have added some very cool shops. For years, decades even, this part of the Zona Romantica underwent bursts of growth only to sit half-done and moulder. But now, prosperity shouts from chi-chi new stores like Muy Guapo and Ropero de Jovany and continuing to glow, the well-established Faith Collectiva a block over on Basilio Badillo. If you pop into any of those lovely shops, let the owners know what brought you inside. Were you curious about what you saw in their windows?

Was it a splash of your favourite color? Or you just needed something fabulous to decorate you or your house! Let them and me know too, while you’re at it!

Puerto Vallarta Garden Club News

By Bonita Mott, President PV Garden Club

T

he Puerto Vallarta Garden Club April meeting will once again be meeting at Di Vino Dante, Basilio Badillo 269 - A, 2nd Floor on April 21 at 5 p.m.

Our guest speaker will be Señor Fernando Vasquez, Puerto Vallarta Director of Public Relations for the Department of Ecology. This will be a very good time for us to learn first-hand about some of the plans the city of Puerto Vallarta has as it relates to the greening of the city.

We also will be electing new Club officers. The three candidates to be presented are: David Muck –President, André Lategan -Vice

President, and Leslie Rutledge - Secretary.

Nominations for these offices will also be taken from the floor at the meeting.

If you are interested in serving on the Board in another capacity, please contact our current President, Bonita Mott, bonmott@ hotmail.com. There are many important roles for volunteers to take within the club. Please consider serving.

The P.V. Garden Club – “Beautifying Vallarta” – supports not only a more beautiful, clean and verdant city, but is making it more attractive to tourism, thus creating a vibrant economy to support all the other great causes in P.V.

w

RE

BL

YE

Flower of the Week INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP CLUB

Thank you!

to all of our homeowners The IFC Home Tours has just finished another very successful season.

We raised hundreds of thousands of pesos for the club’s medical and social services and for local charities.

None of this would have been possible without the compassion and generosity of the homeowners who allowed us to show their homes.

Muchas Gracias! www.ifcvallarta.com 322-222-5466

Passion Flower Pasiflora (Spanish) Passiflora sp.

A

perennial vine of 500 species grown for its beautiful flowers. Folk medicine has used dried leaves as a sedative tea or smoked for insomnia, agitation and other nervous disorders and the edible fruit for making juice. Flowers attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. The name refers to the passion of Jesus in Christian theo-

by Sandra Cesca

logy. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique physical structures of this plant as symbols of the last days of Jesus, especially his crucifixion.

This plant is one of over 200 found in Sandra’s color-coded guidebook, Tropical Plants and Walks of Puerto Vallarta. Available at the Vallarta Botanical Garden gift shop www.vbgardens.org, Page in the Sun Bookstore, and from Sandra at the Marsol Artisan’s Market on Fridays. Information on her many area walks can be found at: www. escaperoutevallarta.com.

The Real BBQ

Find us. You’ll be happy you did.

Slow Smoked Ribs • Live Music • River & Beach www.elriobbqbar.com elriobbqbar

ED = Pantone PMS 485 C

LUE = Pantone PMS 289 C

ELLOW = Pantone Yellow C

The Real BBQ

Find us. You’ll be happy you did.

Slow Smoked Ribs • Live Music • River & Beach Felipe Angeles #245, Col. Paso Ancho • Ruta 04

elriobbqbar • www.elriobbqbar.com • 322.222.2510 RED = Pantone PMS 485 C

BLUE = Pantone PMS 289 C YELLOW = Pantone Yellow C

Same Owners Since 1981

art & culture

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April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Grupo Folclorico Municipal Xiutla to Embark on Dream Trip

By Glenna Travers

T

hree weeks in Europe, all expenses paid. In July, twenty-four performers of the Grupo Folclorico Municipal Xiutla of Puerto Vallarta will fly to London to begin the trip of a lifetime. Under the aegis of Voyageurs International Limited (VIL), they will present eight programs in Europe: England, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

All this because their presentation of Ravel's Bolero at one of their Friday night appearances at Lazaro Cardenas Park "touched the heart" of an empresario from Denver, Colorado.

His reward? The satisfaction that comes from knowing that his 45 years of sponsorship have changed the lives of the 160,000 young American musicians he has sent all over the world to date and now of the Xiutla dancers leaving in July.

"I don't like to give half-gifts.

Anyone going on this tour may leave without money because everything is fully pre-paid except, of course, for personal gifts and souvenirs."

Recently, the parents and families of the dancers sat on the edge of their chairs to see the owner and president of VIL distribute to the dancers: personalized suitcases and backpacks, custom-designed tee shirts and windbreakers, large, hardback diaries, surprise gifts along the way, health insurance coverage, all meals and lodging, special attractions, the services of experienced VIL coordinators at all stops, and much more.

Land transportation in an air-conditioned coach with seasoned,

Edwin Bernardo Canal Zepeda (left) with Bryan Nikolas Jimon Garcia

Bryan Nikolas Jimon Garcia professional drivers.

The group is 35: Twenty-five performers, the founder and president of VIL, the founder of the Xiutla group, Enrique Barrios y Limon, the Xiutla support staff, a videographer/translator, and English teacher who will write of events on the tour.

Two citizens of Chimo, Manuel Garcia and Luis Cruz, as assistant co-ordinators for VIL will meet the Xiutla group in London and Crans Montana, respectively.

The Itinerary: London for a guided tour: the Changing of Guard at Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and a ride on the the Eye (the huge Ferris wheel).

Tickets to The musical the Lion King. Xiutla's first performance at Henley-on-Thames, the second at

Xiutla dancers presenting the Jalisco number

Victoria Embarkment Gardens.

Ferry trip from Dover to Calais, France. Up the Eiffel Tower, on to the Louvre museum, a cruise on the river Seine, Montmartre, Basilica of Sacre-Couer, Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter. Xiutla's third performance: Disneyland Paris, followed by a full day for all to visit Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios.

Off to Crans-Montana, Switzerland for four days.

The Castle of Chillon, Xiutla's fourth performance at Montreux, and a Swiss Fondu party in their honor, featuring a polka band and Swiss performers, including yodeling and a hilarious evening of entertainment by the Three Swiss Sisters. A Swiss must-see.

At Tasch, the 30-minute train

(From the left) Jose Rodriguez Lopez, Karina Mendoza Rodriguez, Mariana Lopez Camberos, Cesar Miguel Martinez Romero, Luis Enrique Mendoza Rodriguez. ride to Zermott, then to Sunnegga and lunch on the sundeck to view the Matterhorn. Xiutla's fifth performance at the Festival Tent at Crans Montana.

Then through Lichtenstein and on to Innsbruck, Austria, for a guided tour of the city, the ski jump at Berg Isel, a train ride and cable car ride to Seegrube at 1900 meters (6,232 feet) and Hafelekar at 2300 meters(7,545 feet).

Xiutla's sixth performance at the Old Town of Innsbruck under the Gold Roof where Maximilian and Carlota held forth.

Day trip to Venice Italy. St. Mark's Square, gondolas, the Grand Canal, Bridge of Sighs.

Back to Crans Montana. Bus ride to Seefeld, a beautiful ski resort, for Xiutla's seventh performance at the Olympic Pavilion. Ride in

a horse-drawn carriage through the woods to a quaint old farm house for dinner and musical entertainment.

Germany for a trip to Dachau, the notorious prison camp from World War Two. Then Xiutla's eighth and final Europen performance in the Market Square in Rothenburg, Germany.

A paddle-boat ride on the Rhine River to Rudesheim, during which they will see the unforgettable castles on the Rhine.

Frankfurt to London to Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Home.

Excerpts of their entire journey will be videographed for the entertainment of the early arriving audience at Lazaro Cardenas Park before Xiutla's presentations on future Friday nights.

Grupo Folclorico Municipal Xiutla began in 1994 under the inspired leadership of Professor Enrique Barrios y Limon.

They perform in Lazaro Cardenas Park on Friday evenings at 7:30, to the great delight of their myriad fans.

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April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

ALFRED HITCHCOCK – The Master of Suspense

By Fred Jacobs

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lfred was born in 1899, in the Essex part of London.

His father was a strict disciplinarian and even sent Alfred to the local police station with a note, asking the officer to lockup the fiveyear old for five minutes for behaving badly. This trauma lead to a lifetime fear of policemen and lead to harsh treatments as a theme in many of his later movies.

Alfred was later sent to the strict Jesuit school St Ignatius' College in London. After his father dies when Alfred was 15, he left the Jesuit school and enrolled in the London School of Engineering and Navigation. After finishing, he became a draftsman and advertising designer for Henley’s cabling company.

During World War I, Alfred was called up for duty but later excused from active duty for his weight. He was relegated to foot patrol in Hyde Park. During the same time, Alfred began writing short stories for the in-house magazine at Henley’s. His first piece was called “Gas” in 1919 in which a young woman imagines that she is being assaulted one night in London, but the twist revealed that it was all just a hallucination in the dentist's chair induced by the anesthetic. Very Hitchcock.

Hitchcock became intrigued by photography and started working in film production, working as a title card designer for the London branch of what later became Para-

mount Pictures. His crossing over from title designer to film director at the studio took five years. During this period, he became an unusual combination of screenwriter, art director, and assistant director on a series of movies.

Hitchcock's first few films faced a string of bad luck due to financing problems or just plain flops.

Hitchcock's luck changed with his first thriller, “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog” (1927), a suspense film about the hunt for a Jack the Ripper type of serial killer in London. It was well received by critics and audiences.

Around this time, Alfredº hired a publicist to further his career (very Hollywood). Alfred also married his assistant director, Alma and they had a daughter, Patricia in 1928.

It would be Alfred’s only marriage and the two would be together until his death. It proved true friendship is the key to a long successful marriage.

Alfred’s’ 10th film “Blackmail” (1929) starting filming when the production company converted their Elstree Studio to the new sound technology for movies. “Blackmail” is considered to be the first “talkie” in British film history. The film also started to show some of Hitchcock’s trademark use of famous landmarks for suspense scenes. His famous film cameo appearances were also starting to get underway in this film.

By the mid 1930’s, Alfred’s directorial reputation was growing to the height of other famous London landmarks and in 1939, David O. Selznick signed Hitchcock to a seven-year contract in Hollywood.

Hitchcock's first American film “Rebecca” (1940) starred Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. The film won the Best Picture Oscar and Alfred was also nominated for best director-but did not win. Hitchcock and Selznick often butted heads over artistic control. Producers had

previously held all this power.

Throughout the 1940’s and World War II, Hitchcock’s films flowed. Hitchcock frequent film stars included Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant, Jane Wyman, Henry Fonda, James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. The 1950’s saw Hitchcock suspense films peak with movies like “Dial M for Murder” (1954) starring Grace Kelly, “Rear Window” (1954), starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly, “To Catch a Thief” (1955) starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly again.

“Vertigo” (1958) starred James Stewart, this time with Kim Novak, as Grace Kelly was royalty in Monaco by this time. Hitchcock followed Vertigo with three more successful films. Two of which are recognized as among his best films: “North by Northwest” (1959) with Cary Grant again, “Psycho” (1960) starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. “Psycho” broke box-office records in the United Kingdom, France, South America, the United States and Canada.

The unprecedented violence and early murder of the heroine drew people to the movie. People waited in lines to see the next showing.

Suspense and unanswered questions made the “The Birds” (1963) a must see as well. Since the 1920’s and throughout his career, Hitchcock thought the true talent in movie making was in the writing and directing. He is quoted as saying “actors

are like cattle… mere props on the set.”

Hitchcock was early to recognize the potential power of the new television industry. Between 1955 and 1965, Alfred hosted his own TV series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, bringing suspense and head scratching stories to the small screen. He became an icon in homes across America.

His later years were spent out of the public eye. Family and friends were his priority. He was nominated for five Oscars, but never won. He never liked “awards” even turning down Queen Elizabeth II, for the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1963.

However, he did become Sir Alfred Hitchcock after accepting a Knighthood (KBE) from the Queen in 1980, just months before his death.

In April 1980, Alfred Hitchcock passed away at the age of 80 and his ashes were scattered over the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Hitchcock's innovations and vision have influenced a great number of filmmakers, producers and actors. His influence helped start a trend for film directors to control artistic aspects of their films.

But most importantly, he intrigued, scared and made the viewer think, when watching one of his masterpieces of cinema.

Fred Jacobs is a full time resident of Puerto Vallarta and the author of three books.

ting and non-inclusion of missing persons in statistics, but it attempts to overcome those challenges by using a number of other sources of data and adjusting the official statistics.

The conclusion that peace has improved in recent years contrasts slightly with a new survey by Mexico’s statistics agency, INEGI, on urban security perceptions, in which 70% of respondents reported feeling unsafe in their cities, a percentage that has remained steady over the last three years and one that suggests that fears over violence remain.

However, the Peace Index’s standardized data collection offers a useful if imperfect view of the

country’s security environment, aiding in identifying trends and regions where security conditions are deteriorating.

The report also confirms that progress towards improved security has stalled in Mexico. Since the beginning of the year, homicide statistics have risen to their highest levels in recent years, and states such as Guerrero are in the grip of violence due to warring criminal gangs.

The Mexico Peace Index uses seven indicators to analyze peacefulness: homicide rates, violent crimes, weapons crime, detention without a sentence, police funding, efficiency of the justice system and the level of organized crime.

The Institute for Economics and Peace is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank dedicated to promoting a better understanding of the social and economic factors that develop a more peaceful society.

Original: mexiconewsdaily.com

Peace Index change very slight in 2015 But there has been a 13% improvement since 2011

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exico became more peaceful during 2015, but only by a very slim margin, according to the Mexico Peace Index 2016, which was published Thursday by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

The measure of peace, defined by the report “as the absence of violence or fear of violence,” found an improvement of 0.3%, the smallest in the last five years.

The report said the improvement came as a result of a 10% decline in violent crime rates and an 8% decline in the rate of organized crime related offenses such as kidnapping, extortion and drug-related crimes.

The index has found that peace has improved 13% in Mexico since 2011, with violent crime, homicides and organized crime having collec-

tively declined by nearly 30%.

Peace, say the authors of the index, has economic benefits. Gains in peacefulness have generated an economic benefit of around US $50 billion in the country since 2011, says the report.

Out of Mexico’s 32 states, 25 have become more peaceful since 2011, positively affecting 85% of the Mexican population.

The five states with the biggest improvements in their scores since 2011 are Nayarit, Durango, Nuevo León, Chihuahua and Baja California. Those with the greatest deterioration were Baja California Sur, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, Querétaro and Guanajuato.

The Index ranked Hidalgo as the most peaceful state in Mexico, while the least peaceful was Guerrero. The largest deterioration

by far occurred in Baja California Sur, where the homicide rate has more than tripled from 5.7 in 2011 to 19.8 in 2015.

Despite the general, positive trend, the economic impact of violence during 2015, including opportunity costs, was measured at US $134 billion, or 13% of Mexico’s GDP. The improvements reported by the index were offset by a worrying trend in prison detentions without sentencing, weapons crime and the homicide rate, which rose in 2015 for the first time in four years, increasing 6.3% to nearly 14 per 100,000 people.

The Institute for Economics and Peace acknowledges that there concerns about the reliability of official crime statistics due to underreporting, inaccurate repor-

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April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Fun on the Riviera Nayarit Cat Morgan www.rivieranayaritfun.com Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com

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ola a todos! It’s been another fun filled week, and this girl is ready to slow it down a little! The La Cruz Festival is headed our way, along with the Altruism Festival. The wind is picking up and the Kite Boarders are out on the bay. The Bucerias Classic is coming soon and I will keep you posted on the dates.

The Amigos de La Cruz…If you are involved with the Amigos de La Cruz, then you already know Lina Bureau. For those of you who don’t know her, Lina is a caring and giving person; a petite French Canadian who heads up the recycle and trash program for the Amigos de La Cruz.

She partners up with Ceasar every week for trash pickup, and once again with the Cetmar students (Centro de Estudios Tecnologicos in La Cruz) to pick up all of the town trash, which was exponential after Semana Santa and the fiesta at the town plaza. Lina states, “As we work, I learn better Spanish and the students learn better English and a little French. We have so much fun cleaning and talking.”

Fifteen people split into three groups, each having one bag for trash and one for the plastic to recycle. The cleaning began at the Cetmar School and ended across town at the Primeria School.

They collected 10 huge bags of plastic plus all of the trash. After the clean-up, Lina took everyone over to Subway for lunch, and then gave them a ride back to Cetmar for a little more fiesta time! Lina says, “I love these kids! Thanks to Daniela and our Delegado Polo; we all share the same goals – To keep La Cruz clean and healthy.”

Job well done to Lina and the kids! Lina and Ceasar are out there every week in the white truck, rain or shine, picking up the trash. This is just one reason to give your support to the Amigos de La Cruz! Why not get over to the last La Cruz Sunday

Market and sign up to become a member? The La Cruz Amigos has a booth at the market…super easy!

Or purchase a shirt, cap or sticker.

It all helps! Another way to help of course is to volunteer your time and energy. Thanks Lina for all you do!

Here comes the La Cruz Carnival!

April 24th starts off the town carnival with the La Cruz Carnival Parade. Come and join in on the fun with Lina Bureau, Ceasar and the Cetmar students as they are decorating the Amigos Truck Paloma Blanca for the opening of the event. Come to the soccer field on the mountain side of the road, behind El Profe grocery store.

The Parade begins at 6:30pm and winds through town ending at the La Cruz Town Plaza about 7pm. It’s a La Cruz town party to be sure!

The Altruism Festival is May 8th The La Cruz Amigos also have a booth at the Altruism Festival and need to sell 90 tickets to this event.

If you purchase your tickets in advance they are 400 pesos, or 500 pesos at the door. Please consider purchasing your tickets from the La Cruz Amigos as 50% goes to the Medical Program, and 50% goes to the General program. The Altruism Festival is a blast; I had so much fun last year! Your ticket includes all you

can eat and drink, plus all kinds of raffle prizes and amazing music on stage!

There are fireworks at the end of the evening. It’s easy to get a ticket from one of the La Cruz members! Those selling tickets are: Karen Cope, 322 147 4831 kcjlmexico@gmail.com, Steve Cross 322 191 5275 stevelacruz1@gmail.com, Cynthia de Pino 322 292 1107 cydelpino@ gmail.com, Joan Gil 322 182 1161 giljoan6@gmail.com , or pick one up at this La Cruz Sunday Market at the Amigos de La Cruz booth.

Earth Day At La Cruz Marina...

Earth Day at Marina La Cruz is on Friday, April 22nd! Start the morning with awesome volunteers for a beach cleanup continued with a Drag Net Regatta (on the water).

Jump on some boats with friends and complete a course as you pick up floating trash in the bay. End the evening with a bonfire, live music and performances from local artists.

Food and Drinks will be available for purchase or you can bring your own dishes to share. Remember not to use plastic.

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This event is rated for all ages… fun for everyone! Contact Katrina Liana at 322-183-3843 or Email: svkatrinaliana@yahoo.com for more information on this event for volunteering with beach clean up or the Drag Net Regatta. The Bonfire starts 8:30pm and is open to the public! All of this starts and ends at Marina Riviera Nayarit, La Cruz!

On a very sad note…

It has been reported today on FB

that 50+ dead turtles washed up on Vallarta’s shores this weekend...So many turtles ingest plastic and end up starving to death when it clogs their intestines.

The turtles are being tested to find out what happened. What is just one thing YOU can do to help this planet and our oceans? Think About It..Then Do It! John Ozzello Memorial Food Bank and Humanitarian Aid… Sandi Nystrom posted on FB about the next years Whale Watching event to raise money to feed the hungry. “SAVE THE DATE!!!

The 6th Annual Whale Watching fundraiser will be on Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Yes, this is a long time from now..just want to put it out there for people to know.” Those tickets do go fast.. Thanks Sandi!

Thanks so much for tuning in this week. For any comments or questions please email me directly at Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com or for Energy Healing work or information Cat@ NewEnergyConsciousness.com Have a super fun week everyone!

April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

San Blas Joins the Riviera Nayarit Beach Cleanup Network

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oving forward nearly 30 students from the High School #12 of the UAN, San Blas campus, will join the Peace Corps and the Conanp to clean up Playa El Borrego.

The 23rd edition of the Riviera Nayarit Beach Cleanup Network took place on Saturday, April 9, 2016. Joining the efforts is the city of San Blas in the far north area of Riviera Nayarit.

“We’re a month away from the two-year anniversary of the start of these cleanups and we’ve been very pleasantly surprised with the response of the communities that have participated,” said Marc Murphy, Managing Director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“San Blas is one of the most representative micro-destinations and its participation is very important.”

Moving forward, nearly 30 students from High School #12

of the Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, San Blas campus, will join the Peace Corps and the Conanp to clean up Playa El Borrego.

Donation and Placement of Trashcans Twelve trashcans donated by Aquaventuras Park will be placed in the Paseo del Arte area in downtown Bucerías and in the Playas de Huanacaxtle region of La Cruz.

The petition of Harold Sokolove, a US citizen who has resided in Bucerías for the past few years

spurred this donation.

The maintenance and care of these trashcans falls on the citizens, the civil associations and the businesses of these towns to guarantee their proper use.

Among these are Vista Vallarta Suites, which donated bags for the trashcans, and Banderas Property, which donated the printing of four informational signs to place on the beaches.

They will also be installing containers to be filled with plastic bags so visitors to the beach can use them to pick up after themselves.

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April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Inside Out

by Virginia Fox v@vcfox.net

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he soundtrack of San Pancho’s crowing roosters isn’t what awakens me this morning on my get-a-way from Vallarta with my husband, Cal. Three days ago, I didn’t t know if I could make it through a week out of my comfort zone in our amenity free casita rental. My moods are swinging faster than a bungee cord.

I’m trying to “sit all the way down” in this new experience and embrace the unknown “I thought you liked it,” Cal says as we eat our papaya and yogurt on worn orange plastic plates. “I do like living in a Mexican community, but I’m a Gemini. And I haven’t had any estrogen or balanced hormones in years,” I remind him. Life along the “back roads” is tantalizing, though, to this city girl, it sometimes takes awhile.

A tiny town with one main street, the expats are moving up to San Pancho (“San Francisco”) in the ever growing challenge to find a small town haven in Mexico. Colonial San Pancho, ten minutes north of Sayulita, boasts no polluting buses, several good restaurants, and shops, an impressive nonprofit center called “Entreamigos,” and the renowned Circo de Los Ninos circus arts school. The broad sandy beach hasn’t eroded and when the “surf’s up,” an international community of surf addicts grab boards and run to catch the waves. “We work to surf,” says Caesar, a waiter at La Ola Rica. Resisting development and crowd attractions much of the year, San Pancho is a respite for mellow natives, residents, and visitors who don’t want much to do.

This morning Rosanna, the madre and owner of the five casitas in our cul-de-sac, is watering her plants in used milk containers and paint cans. They are carefully placed to surround her pink and blue house.

Dressed in a long white Mexican skirt, her graying hair is tied back in a bun, her weathered face a mirror of years in the sun. “Buenas Dias,” I call to her. She smiles and subtly waves back.

When we first arrived, I focused

on what we didn’t have in our casita rental. Today, I want to learn more about the people.

I call out to Augustine, a surfer who’s renting the blue and green house across from us. He’s on his way to work and I speak Spanglish, reverting to English to communicate anything more than basics. “You said you lived in a Gringa bubble,” Augustine says. “You really should speak Spanish. Really,” he looks straight into my eyes. He reminds me of my nephew, Andrew, living in Jamaica. Augustine’s so right. Not speaking Spanish is keeping me at a distance from what I love the most…the people. I feel the sting of my self-imposed laziness. We live in Mexico half the year. I will learn more Spanish, mañana.

“Where’d you get that fabulous top?” asks Sylvia visiting from Vancouver referring to my handpainted blouse by Tino. We’re at Café Mañana, a charming coffee shop/ B & B nestled in a lush tropical property rebuilt by Jill and Lincoln, San Pancho converts from Evanston, IL. “We wanted something to do,” they say, “we created an inviting place with great coffee and pastries for expats to gather every morning.”

“I got this in Puerto Vallarta,” I answer Sylvia. “Le Bohemia off Constitucion in Old Town. You know Old Town in Vallarta?” I ask. If she’s visiting San Pancho four weeks every year, I’m sure she’s been to the city named as the best destination in Mexico. “Oh no,” Sylvia says.

“Never been to Puerto Vallarta. We land at the airport, get transportation to San Pancho and never leave until we have to catch a plane back.”

“Really, never gone to Vallarta?”

I say shocked. “You ought to visit.

There’s so much to see and do.” As the words leave my unfiltered mouth, I hear myself, “you ought to visit.”

Like why? They’re perfectly happy in their quiet nest. I make a mental note to W-A-I-T asking “Why Am I Talking.”

We accept our friends’ invite for breakfast staying overnight at Casa Obelisco, this is the architecturally stunning villa on a San Pancho cliff,

offering ocean and jungle views, a pool with a brilliant hibiscus mosaic in the bottom and hand carved colonial furniture. Built ten years ago by two American couples, I settle into the grandeur of a gourmet breakfast, spreading my linen napkin on my lap and looking at the artistic presentation of huevos rancheros.

As comforting as it is to slip back into luxury, I’m feeling the sharp contrast to our Mexican neighbor’s lifestyles.

A week ago I might not have thought about it. I hesitate whether or not to show our friends our bare bones modest rental. When we do show them, they say “it’s Mexico,” without a hint of judgment.

Walking on the beach later we meet Alfonso and his family fishing for dinner. Nylon fishing lines unwind from spools held in their hands. Their training handed down father to son, Alfonso flings out his line as far as any automatic reel. Tugging a few times on the line, Alfonso deftly reels in a small fish. He excitedly throws the fish up to his family sitting under an umbrella who catch it and put it in a pail. Laughing and bantering with each other, they’re enjoying their Sunday sport.

No expensive rod. No bait. No gear. Practical and efficient, the Mexican way. I smile and say “Muy Bueno,” using my limited words.

Their smiles reflect their appreciation for my attempts to use their country’s language. I can’t help but hear in my head “if they’re going to be in the States, they should be speaking English.” I’ll learn Spanish mañana.

Down the beach we see another Mexican family with three generations searching for ocean-washed white rocks, a rarity only found on San Pancho beach. “Como se llama?” I ask the papa. “Gustavo,” he says and in halting English tells me they will use these rocks to decorate a wall in their casa. He and his son draw a picture of the wall and how the rocks will be placed. I walk over to the Abuela, wearing a colorful apron, searching through a pile of rocks the ocean has just brought in.

I find two perfect specimens and hand them to her. “Gracias,” she says, putting them in her deep pockets. Our eyes connect in a way I won’t forget.

“We’d love to see your place,” emails Lola and Lance, friends from Vallarta. We agree on a lunch date and time. Along with sending directions, I write, “I hope you won’t freak out.” This time, I really want to share our casita and authentic Mexican conclave. Lola brings a bag of ice.

Living all year in Vallarta, she has a much deeper understanding of our unrealistic expectations for “amenities”. “How’d you know we have no ice trays?” I say. “Just a hunch,” she laughs. We sit on our mini terrace and playing Bananagrams, enjoying our new scene. “I told you I hoped you wouldn’t freak out,” I say to Lola.

“I realize now it wasn’t about you. It was that I hoped I wouldn’t freak out showing you such simple surroundings,” I shamefully admit.

That night Cal and I eat in our new favorite restaurant eclectically decorated with Frida photos, her vibrant image on a shawl lit by a border of Christmas lights and artistic lanterns.

“I do like it here,” I say. “Not to live, but visits long enough to emerse in the culture. I feel like I’m diving deep into the ocean, separating from above, and discovering a new world of fish-filled reefs.

Drawn by the Gypsy and Bossa Nova sounds of a nearby band playing in front of a restaurant, we join other expats dancing in the street. The sultry-voiced vocalist sings in Portuguese, Spanish and English, cuddling a small baby in her lap drinking milk from a bottle.

The joyful Latin sounds of these ‘new world’ musicians, and other groups playing throughout the week, is another harmony in San Pancho’s magical soundtrack.

As we pack up to leave, I open the frosted glass window over the sink listening for the now familiar crowing roosters. The iron bar protection is a design of stars and suns. Cal sits in his low slung canvas chair doing his daily Spanish lesson, on DuoLingo.

“This isn’t making sense,” he says.

“Mi esposa no quiere mas oro.

My wife doesn’t want more gold.

What wife do you or I or anyone know who doesn’t want more gold?” he asks. At this time, in this environment, I think how happy many people are who don’t have any gold at all.

“You’re leaving mañana?” our

neighbor Caesar asks from his pink and green casita on our right. He looks about forty with a slight beard and hair that stands straight up in the front. We’ve often smiled at each other sitting on our terraces and at a young girl sitting beside him playing silently on her phone. “Si, mañana,” I say. With a mix of Español and English, Caesar shares his story.

After his mother gave him title to our Casita D, he asked his friend, Jose, to manage rentals. “I haven’t seen it since then,” he says. “I want to make it better.” He accepts my invitation to look around. “What do you need?” he asks. “We loved it here,” I say, “but there are a few things.” I show him the two coffee mugs, one with a broken handle, and we laugh.

We laugh at having no ice cube trays. He looks surprised at the worn towels and sheets. I’m repeating, “It’s a great house. Just a few things.

Don’t spend a lot of money.” “Maybe some pictures?” he suggests, raising his bushy eyebrows at the feathers hanging on the bare walls.

I ask about the young girl on his terrace. He looks down, holding back tears, his demeanor changing from laughter to sadness. Six months ago his wife, the mother of his nine years old, was killed in a car accident with a bus. Six friends were killed, two from this family.

“I try to hide my grief from my daughter, Maria,” he says. “Sometimes I just cry. Maria is very sad.

Maybe I ask my mother to help us decorate. Yes…. I need a woman.

I don’t have one,” he says. “I’m glad you have your family around you,” I say holding out my hand to his, connecting in unspoken words.

As we leave to return to Puerto Vallarta, we pass the madre’s Ford, the back windshield of the van covered with dirt. A palette of love, the dust filled glass is covered with hearts and children’s names, drawn by grandchildren for their grandmother.

It’s not about the amenities, furnishings, restaurants, shops or architectural buildings that make an impact. It’s humans, not places, that make lasting memories, their stories weaving an international quilt of contrasting and complementary textures. Awakened by traveling, I hope the strands of connection are woven together by threads of peace, love and understanding.

I came to learn about San Pancho. I learned about myself.

Virginia Fox is a storyteller, writer, and actor living and performing in Puerto Vallarta and Chicago. This is a tale from her book in progress: “Moon Lady’s Wild Rides.” v@vcfox.net

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April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

who accompanied her at night.

This she would do for many years, until another obstacle would arise that would threaten her peace and ability to create world-class jazz.

Armi is a breast cancer survivor.

That alone would be noteworthy enough about her life to write. That she has survived and thrived is remarkable indeed.

That her and her husband would walk through the shadowy valley of chemotherapy and aggressive cancer treatment and find themselves on the other side of it in Mexico with a desire to live life to the full is extraordinary. But this is the type of life event that shapes a person. It is our response to the obstacles and valleys that occur in life that sets before us the choice of path we continue upon. It is then our choice of which to follow which defines our experience and quality of life. Armi met the challenge and found with her husband, the place for her to experience the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to make the music she wants to make in the environment she wants to make it

in making her so much more than survivor.

Moving to the Bay of Banderas area and finding Bucerias to be the perfect fit after her husband retired (how many times will I say that in this column I wonder?) Armi once again looked to singing to fuel her longing to create.

As seems to always happen, obstacles arose as she only found sporadic opportunities to sing her style of music with her favourite musicians so, as she has her whole life, Armi overcame the obstacles and made a plan to create the perfect venue for her music and style. After trying a beach front establishment, Armi zeroed in on her community, those she knew would appreciate the music she loved and the fashion and environment she desired to create to provide it in and found space on the Lazaro Cardenas. Encore Restaurant and Lounge was opened with an atmosphere like the great supper clubs of the past.

Food that was both delicious and satisfying and music, jazz

music to be exact, that bubbles and percolates, soothes and seduces the soul into that place where one feels at home and out for a night on the town at once. Creating Encore, Armi ensconced herself in the BAD community both geographically and literally as she hired and trained her local and loyal staff and brought in local art to adorn her club. The consummate creator, Armi is everything from Chef de Cuisine to the purchaser of their groceries, curator of the art and the voice that fills the room with welcome and singing.

Drawing on her experience and being shaped from life events, Armi is keen to see the people of her community at Encore and the great community of the BAD and Bucerias happy and growing.

A regular contributor to charitable events and efforts, she believes as we do in the BAD that art comes in many forms and that the restaurants and businesses of the BAD serve unitedly to create this unique community where creativity is cardinal and being unique is natural.

Citing the vision and courage of others Armi is quick to deflect praise in establishing Encore in the BAD to those who came before her but it is evident by her attitude and actions that her own creativity and drive has brought her to the success she knows today and that her place in the BAD is well deserved as both entrepreneur and artist.

Alejandro Rabago, Antonio Vertiz, Alfonso Aguilar, Diego Yturbe, Fabian Gomez-Ibarra, Claudio Cozzi, Pablo Rabago, Juan Pablo De Yturbe Sordo, Erik Wallsten, Guillermo Tapia Moreno, Mauricio Miranda, Luis Barrios. Carlos Eduardo Oetling, Ladrón De Guevara, Eugene Towle, Antonio Vertiz, Fernando Rabago, Andres Barrios, Ander Belausteguigoitia, Gerardo Benitez, Ramon Benitez, Erik Brockmann, Yanic Gentry* (representing Mexico in Rio this year), Juan Luis Medina Cortes, Carlos Muniz, Eduardo Oetling, Juan Ignacio, Perez Soltero, Mauricio

Rodriguez, Leopoldo Seifert * Vallarta Yacht Club Members The best place to view the events is from the water! There are many opportunities to rent spectator boats around the bay. Alternatively, you can watch the event from the beach in Nuevo Vallarta. These weeks will be full of fun and excitement on the bay.

The Laser World Championships 2016 are hosted by Vallarta Yacht Club and supported by a number of sponsors, including UNIFIN, CONADE, Paradise Village Resort, Riviera Nayarit Tourist Association, as well as many others.

Bucerias Art District Beat

By Gordon Mayer

Armi Grano – Encore

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n 2010, Ellen DeGeneres, comedian and talk show host tweeted, “I’ve learned two things about TV. It’s always easier with vodka and some of the best singers are from the Philippines.” This writer can attest to both points or at least that many things go better with some measured consumption and that indeed, the Philippines has produced a culture that encourages singing and as such, produces many talented vocalists. Before I step too heavily on your good graces to be reading and interested in the BAD, allow me to explain why I am talking about the Philippines in a column about Bucerias, Mexico and the BAD. Born and raised in the aforementioned culture of singing, Armi Grano is one of the reasons Ellen can tweet a comment as she did and have the ‘twitterverse’ nod in agreement. Named after the famous Finnish Miss Universe of 1952,

Armi Kuusela, she has garnered universal appeal and acclaim as a jazz singer.

Armi has sung her whole life and, with a voice described as one that “lingers in the mind, a once sweet, sensitive ,sensual and intimate ” it is not surprising that she is still singing today in her own Encore Restaurant and Lounge here in the BAD. Migrating from the Philippinies to Vancouver, BC Canada, she had worked hard to come to Canada and after establishing a successful bookeeping career, meeting and marrying her husband, it was her husband who, knowing her talent and penchant to sing, suggested to her she find some time to ‘jam’ again. While Armi had found what many would consider to be a satisfactory life, her music and the soul connection that creating music had within her led her to desire again to sing. Finding many opportunities for her golden voice to be heard in Vancouver, she found solace in counting numbers during the day and “counting in” the musicians

Laser World Championships in Banderas Bay

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eginning this month, Banderas Bay will be host to the largest sailing event ever held in Mexico, the Laser World Championships 2016. The culmination of Banderas Bay’s FMV Cup, the Championships will comprise four individual events, hosting over 400 athletes from 52 countries: April 12-20 Laser Women’s Radial World Championship The Laser Women’s Radial World Championship will host 73 competitors from 33 countries. These incredible athletes represent the best women Laser sailors their countries have to offer, and many will be representing those countries in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

April 22-30 Laser Radial Masters World Championship The second and largest event in the series will be the Laser Radial Master’s World Championship. This group of athletes range in age from 35 – 80 years old, and have a continuing passion for their sport; many of them have been Olympic compe-

titors in their younger days and welcome the opportunity to reconnect with old friends from around the world. This event will host 139 competitors from 19 countries.

May 10-18 Laser Standard Men’s World Championship The Laser Standard Men’s World Championship will host 115 athletes from 42 countries, representing the most accomplished small boat sailors in the world today. As with Women’s Radial, many competitors in this event will go on to represent their countries in the 2016 Olympics.

May 20-28 Laser Men Masters

World Championship The final event, Laser Men Masters World Championship, begins May 20th and will once again feature athletes who range in age from 35-80 years old. These mature athletes will be competing against lifelong friends and rivals from around the world. There will 93 competitors from 16 countries in this final event. In all of these events, the best Laser sailors in Mexico will be represented. Competitors include: Jose Jorge Medina*, Tania Elias Calles* (three time Olympian), Luis Antonio Medina, Tania Benitez,

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April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Jungle Critters And Poisonous Animals: What to know

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ne of the most common reasons for visits to the ER is the complaint of being stung by “something” and the fear of being poisoned. Be it from a small unseen insect, to a witnessed bite by a large animal, we are all at risk of being hurt by the multiple bugs, beetles, wasps, spiders, scorpions, snakes, etc. that co-exist in our environment. Our main concern in this issue is to clear up some of the doubts, oldwives tales, truths and falsehoods regarding the poisonous fauna, what to do and what NOT to do.

We should start out by clearing up the difference between poisoned, and having an allergic reaction. Not all critters have poison, yet any of them could cause an allergic reaction.

Poison is a substance that causes injury, illness, or death, especially by chemical means.

While an allergic reaction is host dependent and derives from an immunological response.

That said, in our ecosystem (Puerto Vallarta, Bahia de Banderas), there are four species that we need to keep in mind as poisonous and potentially life threatening: Alacran (Scorpion), Black Widow spider, Brown Recluse spider, Serpents. Any other creature (such as Jellyfish) that produces venom, has

a low potency venom that does not pose a direct threat to the life of the victim, and in very remote and isolated cases may put it at risk through an immunological response (allergic reaction).

Most of the worst case scenarios derive from the lack of prompt evaluation and care, so if you live out in a remote zone, it would be a very good idea to start your trip to a health center, even if there are no symptoms. By the time symptoms start setting in, if you are far away, you might get a nasty scare by the time you get to the hospital.

WHAT NOT TO DO: Antihistamines (Avapena, Benadryl, Cloro-timeton), Corticoid shots (Alin, Diprospan, etc).

Home remedies (Gallon of milk, Mash up the scorpion and eat/drink/use as ointment). Tourniquets are a BIG NO, for they not only cut off the blood flow to the site, it concentrates the poison and facilitates the local absorption and will be detrimental once the tourniquet is release. Cutting and “sucking out the poison” is counter indicated and, other than films and fantasy, has never been an appropriate treatment… you run the risk of becoming a victim yourself!

Anything else that does not involve getting to a doctor and having a medical assessment of the situa-

tion is potentially dangerous.

ALACRAN (SCORPION) There´s about 1500 species worldwide, of which 221 are found in Mexico and only seven of them are poisonous. A sting from a scorpion IS CONSIDERED A

MEDICAL EMERGENCY. There is no direct way of knowing which species is or isn’t poisonous (ok... there is, by direct visualization, but most of the cases its either too difficult to see, or the critter is so smashed up we can barely see the relevant characteristics) so until it has been determined through clinical evaluation that the victim does not have any symptoms of being poisoned, caution must be exercised. Even though they have a prevalence throughout the year, they are most active on the months of March thru June, which is when most of the stings are reported.

80% of the cases occur at home, and 60% occur at night.

SYMPTOMS: Sting feels like a cigarette burn. There is salivating, nystagmus (weird horizontal movement of the eyes) vomiting, abdominal distention, seizures and the sensation of a foreign object In throat often described as “hairs in the throat” If you are victim of a scorpion sting, don’t worry, anti-venom is readily available at all public access hospitals, health centers, private hospitals and clinics.

BLACK WIDOW * Lartrodectus Mactans Otherwise known as “Black

Widows” are found around the world. They are differentiated by their physical characteristics, which commonly include black color with red variables. They are usually found in the outdoors in trash piles and/or wood piles. * Intoxication can be mild to severe. Symptoms Include: * MILD: Pain in bite site, pain in lower extremities and abdomen. * MODERATE: Difficulty breathing, headache, rigidity, muscular spasms * SEVERE: Midriasis (Small point like pupils), Trismus (Clenched jaw), confusion, delirium, hallucinations, bronchial constriction, tachycardia, generalized rigidity * Same as with Scorpion Bites, there is access to anti-venom, though not as readily available.

Any suspicion of a Black Widow Spider bite must be considered A MEDICAL EMERGENCY and medical evaluation and support must be sought. Same Do´s and Don´ts Apply.

LOXOCELES RECLUSSANS • Loxoceles Reclussans Otherwise known as “Brown Recluse” or “Violinist Spider” for its characteristic violin shaped spot on its back. It is brown ranging from 2.3 cm total (0.8-1.5 cm without legs) and it is usually found in rural and household areas. * Bites are usually non-painful and occur at night when accidentally pressed on. The bite is usually a reddish spot which evolves into a white center and evolves into an ulcer. It can turn into a local-systemic or shock intoxication. And symptoms vary from: rash, fever, chills, nausea, vomit, articular pain, hemolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, kidney failure, seizures, coma and death.

It requires medical evaluation, care and follow-up care in order to detect systemic and shock evolution and diminish mortality. These are very few and isolated cases.

Skin lesions can be very troublesome and require surgical debridement and cleansing and may evolve into large areas of tissue damaged.

SNAKE BITES We must take into consideration the following: EVERY SNAKE BITE MUST be considered poisonous until otherwise confirmed. There are a wide range of classifications and signs that tell us if a snake is or not poisonous. Please let a

trained emergency physician and/ or toxicologist evaluate you and/or the specimen (snake) in order to receive proper treatment.

ALL Waterborne snakes are poisonous.

ALL Snakes that have anterior thermic fossae are poisonous ALL vertical pupil-eyed snakes are poisonous.

ALL red-white-black ring snakes are poisonous if a red ring precedes a yellow ring ( Red and Yellow.. kill a fellow. Red and black, it’s all right jack). Nevertheless, it is advisable to seek medical attention regardless of color order.

Immediate snake bite care includes flowing clean water to wash the wound. Cover with a cloth to avoid infection. NO TOURNIQUETS. NO CUTTING AND SUCKING OUT THE POISON. And transport to a medical unit. * Signs and symptoms of intoxication include: Severe pain in affected area, severe swelling, local hemorrhage, confusion, tachycardia and hypotension (low blood pressure), anticoagulation (no clotting, prolonged bleeding). coma, death.

Poisonous stings and bites pose, like any other poisoning, a clinical-medical challenge that must be affronted by trained emergency personnel with standardized protocols and availability of material and medication to stand up to the challenge.

In most cases patients present minor or moderate intoxications, but it is in those few complicated ones where death turns into a very possible outcome, that the proper medical staff, nursing staff, training and hospital become a decisive factor in the outcome of the patient.

Dr. Fernando Marquez Emergency Medicine Specialist

VALLARTA SHOPPING AND EVENTS www.puertovallartadining-shopping.com

Pasitos de Luz 2015

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hile for most of us it remains all about the children, the fact is that behind the scenes it requires staff and funds to support these children and their families. Here is a short summary of the expenses for 2015 and where your tax-deductible donations were spent.

Our biggest expense is staffing.

Given the level of care, nutrition, therapy and education required for our children, we must have low staff to children ratios. In 2015 we had 25 regular staff and 12 temporary staff. The 25 regular staff received a total of 925,913 pesos ($77,160 Canadian or $57,870 USD), which is approximately 52% of our overall budget. They receive an average annual salary of $37,037 pesos ($3085 Canadian or $2315 USD a year).

In order to ensure a balanced budget, Pasitos de Luz was forced to close for six (6) weeks through the summer of 2015 resulting in reduced days for staff and reduced access for the children. In addition, the daily hours of operation were reduced. These reductions impacted the overall availability of care, therapy, education and nutrition.

Our goal for 2016 is to return the centre to operations without a six week

closure in summer. This level of service is more ideal for the children and their families and the staff.

Full time staffing means a maximum number of children will be able to receive the care and therapy they need. Families will live better as they will be able to work while their children attend Pasitos de Luz for more days. The staff will also benefit from more secure and regular employment. In general terms it costs us $180,000 pesos per month to operate Pasitos de Luz. It costs approximately $1,900 to $2,100 pesos per child per month. To meet the full needs of a child (diapers, hygiene needs, medical care, specialized equipment, therapy sessions and two nutritious meals per day) the cost is approximately $2100 pesos per month (about $175 Canadian or $130 USD per month). (This does not include centre costs such as utilities, maintenance, etc).

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Pasitos de Luz, which translates to little steps of light, provides an essential service in our community. We see little steps of light each day from our children because of the generosity of businesses, the community and individuals like you.

It is our goal to remain open over the

summer this year and not have a closure for six weeks as we did last year due to insufficient funds.

We appreciate any profile and support you can give to Pasitos de Luz in our quest to help our children and their families. We are seeking ongoing monthly donations or one-time donations to help us cover our basic costs.

No donation is too small. We have expanded our donation options to help increase the ease of donating.

Direct Credit/debit donations - we now have a credit card machine on site and at our events that people can use to swipe their credit or debit card and donate any amount which is directly deposited to Pasitos bank account.

PayPal - We accept donations through PayPal. Under the email - pasitosdeluz@ gmail.com Tax Deductible donations Donations can be made through partner agencies for either Canadian or American citizens to receive a tax deduction in their home country.

Canadian Tax Deductible receipts are obtained through the Canadian Children’s Shelter of Hope and its affiliation with Canada Helps. United States citizens can receive tax-deductible receipts by donating through PEACE or the Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation. http://www.pasitosdeluz.org/donate/ US-Canadian-tax-deductibles/ GRACIAS!

“Remodeling and Renovations”

Wheeling Vallarta Segway Tours

Located across from McDonald’s

322-223-8014 31 de Octubre 107 Col. Centro Puerto Vallarta Malecon

Fine Art and Furniture

Juarez 599 El Centro 322 222 1383, 322 111 6359 www.colibridesignvallarta.com galeriacolibri@gmail.com

events

22 UPCOMING EVENTS If you have an event you would like to publicize, please email editor@vallartatribune.com.

April 13-17 Cuisine of the Sun: Gastronomy Event Held at Villa La Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, celebrities, chefs, sommeliers and connoisseurs of the finest in food and luxury will enjoy this four-day event.

More info: cuisineofthesun.villagroupresorts.com The 2016 Laser World Championship (April 12-20 / April 22-30) The first two of four phases of an international event that brings together the best sailors in the world will take place in April: first the Laser Women’s World Championship followed by the Laser Masters World Championship – Radial, both in Nuevo Vallarta.

Salsa and Mambo Festival (April 21-24) This fabulous event returns to Nuevo Vallarta as it does every year, bringing with it the best salsa players on the continent to share their rhythm and talent, not to mention have some

super fun times in Mexico’s Pacific Treasure.

April 22 Traditional Passover Seder Puerto Vallarta Jewish Community is observing its annual, traditional Passover Seder. For detailed information: Facebook:Puerto Vallarta Jewish Community or e-mail: helth1@sbcglobal.net April 23 A Tribute to Willow 10 PM at Shisha Bar & Lounge Gabriel Reyes invites you to a tribute to Willow. Performances by Martin Montenegro, Gabriel Reyes, Eduardo León, Jesus Estrada, Miguel Salazar, Antonio Huerta “El Niño”, Gaspar Vazquez, and more Open Water Swimming Tournament (April 23) One of the most intense competitions in the Destination takes place in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

It’s quite the show to see the swimmers break the line and race to be the first to reach the finish.

May 7-8 Bucerias Classic – Windsurf, SUP and Kite

April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Exciting head to head racing and fun for the whole family at Casa Blanca in Bucerias Nayarit. More info and to register visit www.surfmexico.com May 8th Altruism Festival The fundraising event of the year in support of 20 charities around the Bay. Local restaurants, musicians, raffles and more held in the spectacular gardens at the CasaMagna Marriott. Tix $400 in advance, $500 at the door.

Visit FB page for ticket details.

Festival-Internacional-de-Altruismo

Havre No.111 Col. Versalles Fluent English Spoken

May 20 Music Festival at the Pier In Celebration of Pride we’re closing the road and bringing in the bands and DJ’s. Savoury street food, classic cocktails and ice cold beer are offered while you “get your groove on” to an eclectic selection of music played with “party” in mind.

Christ Church by the Sea Worldwide Anglican Communion

Services Sunday 10:00 a.m.

Now! Services held each Sunday year around English-Traditional Holy Communion All faiths welcome-Casual Dress Across from airport, northbound service road next to Sixt and Thrifty Car Rental Blvd. Fco. Medina 7936, Puerto Vallarta Father Jack cell: 044-322-229-1129 E-Mail jackandshirley1@att.net

www.ChristChurchByTheSea.org www.IglesiaCristoDelMar.org

Crossword Solve

PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE TRIBUNE AT PUERTO VALLARTA TOURISM OFFICES A PAGE IN THE SUN - ZONA ROMANTICA FREDY TUCAN´S - ZONA ROMANTICA REMAX - MARINA VALLARTA FAJITAS BANANA - MARINA VALLARTA NUEVO VALLARTA RESORTS PLAZA PARADISE - NUEVO VALLARTA CONSULATE OFFICES DECAMERON RESORT - BUCERIAS YO-YO MO´S - BUCERIAS MARINA RIVIERA NAYARIT - LA CRUZ PHILOS RESTAURANT - LA CRUZ CHOCO BANANA - SAYULITA

AND 100’S OF OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND THE BAY OR ONLINE AT VALLARTATRIBUNE.COM

games

23 Markets and More – Weekly Events in Banderas Bay If you have an ongoing weekly event you’d like to add, email editor@vallartatribune.com TUESDAY Malecon Sculpture Tour – 9:30am Hosted by Gary Thompson. The tour starts at the “Millennium” sculpture next to the Hotel Rosita at the north end of the Malecon ends April 19th.

Riviera Farmers Market – Nuevo Vallarta from 9am-2pm WEDNESDAY Forever Spring Farmers Market - 50 Lazaro Cardenas, opposite Sandrinas, Bucerias 9am-1pm Three Hens and a Rooster Market on Carranza 466, Old Town, Puerto Vallarta 9am to 1pm Artwalk – In the historic center of Vallarta 6-10pm until end of May Art collectors, local residents and interested visitors are invited to discover the great variety and exceptional quality of art available in Puerto Vallarta.

THURSDAY Marina Night Market – 6-9:30pm vendors and artisans set up along the marina FRIDAY Marsol Market by the Pier, Vallarta – 9:30am – 1:30 Sayulita Farmers Market – 9am-2pm SATURDAY Old Town Farmers Market - 9:30am2pm Parque Lazaro Cardenas, Vallarta Three Hens and a Rooster Market From 9am to 1pm, on Carranza 466, Old Town, Vallarta Lo de Marcos Tianguis - 9am - 2pm SUNDAY Live Music in the Main Plaza, Vallarta – 6pm La Cruz Farmers Market – 9-2pm

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April 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com