Issue 995, April 28 - May 4, 2016

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

News

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Where are the Whales?

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April 28 - May 4, 2016 Year 19 Free Issue 995

Local Children’s Day

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Expat Simplified Corporations

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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 28 - May 4, 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!

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

Day Ship Passengers 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

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

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editorial

Editor’s

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Letters to the Editor

Note

editor@vallartatribune.com

Dear Editor: look forward to your paper each week. Thank you for all of your effort keeping us all informed on events in the Vallarta area.

I enjoy the columnists very much, but I particularly await Marcia Blondin's weekly column.

She is informative and entertaining. She is an excellent writer and truly understands how to construct an essay.

As I leave for the season next week, I will be checking your Internet site so I may keep in touch with all of the Vallarta happenings that I will sadly miss.

Sincerely, Jessie Marvin Lazeroff

I T

his week finds me in Victoria, BC for a funeral and because I am here anyways, I thought I'd get a new passport, file my taxes and sign some papers at the bank.

I feel so accomplished! And adult.

As I was driving to the airport, I could feel a faint tingle on my upper lip. Seriously? I get back to Canada maybe once a year and every year I am a little bigger, a little wrinklier, and now I have a menacing cold sore to boot! Friends and family subtly suggest returning to the cold North might be better for my health long term.

To top it off my new passport is a 10-year one, so the photo will be with me for a long time. I think it looks terrible, but I’ll probably be pleased with it when I am 50. Or perhaps I’ll change my ways and my 40’s will be a decade of healthy living that fully embraces exercise and regular injections of botox.

It is so amazing in Victoria right now. I posted some photos on my Facebook of the beautiful gardens and the Inner Harbor only to have a cousin ridicule me for being a tourist in my hometown. But honestly, with the sun shining and the tulips everywhere it is hard to remember why we left in the first place. Of course, one dull afternoon of endless spring rains and I’ll be on the next flight to Puerto Vallarta.

Shopping has been overwhelming; it is unbelievable just how much stuff there is to buy. Alas, I spent my hard earned pesos on a sweater and some (really cute) boots. One more stop before I leave to pick up the shopping list of to impossible to find items like licorice and Swiss Chalet chicken sauce.

Hey! No judging!

For those of you still basking in the increasingly hotter and more humid days of Puerto Vallarta, May is shaping up to be the month of festivals and holidays. Being here in Victoria, BC I can see why people leave in April because it is so beautiful but for those of you who leave early to get back to northern Manitoba, why?! Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit are jam-packed with

things to see and do. If you have a chance to change your plans for 2017, I suggest sticking around for the month of May. We have the start of the 10th Annual Int’l Aztec Folklore Festival this weekend with representatives from around Latin American and across Mexico. We have Labour Day on May 1st which is a national holiday, and the beaches will be full of families. We have Cinco de Mayo, which is actually a celebration of the

Battle of Puebla and has nothing to do with Mexican independence.

Mostly celebrated in the USA and the state of Puebla, there will be some bars and restaurants embracing the celebration. Each May there is also the Cultural Festival of May in the state of Jalisco that celebrates classical music, theater, and literature, mostly with events in Guadalajara but there are some concerts and presentations scheduled around the state.

We also have the misnamed Restaurant Week, which runs from May 15-31 and offers set menus for discounted prices at about 40 of the more popular restaurants around the Bay. This is the perfect time to try out those places you’ve had on your bucket list. As well at the end of May, we celebrate Vallarta Pride’s fourth year with a two-week long celebration of diversity and love from May 16-30.

There is just so much going on!

I am hurrying back. Let me know if you need anything. I might have a tiny little space left in my luggage.

Safe travels, Madeline

Dear Friends: We are inviting you to participate in a very special event to benefit more than 100 needy children in Puerto Vallarta downtown area. There will be a breakfast on May 2nd at 9:30 AM at the River Café. A donation of $300 pesos will cover your breakfast and we would look for participation and help to complete this worthwhile project.

We are speaking of the oldest

day care center in downtown Puerto Vallarta. The center is run

by DIF and supports more than 100 preschool children for parents that work and have no way of doing so without the help of this daycare.

The daycare is located behind plaza Hidalgo next to the little church has been in existence for more than 60 years and it is in dire need of repairs. The roof leaks, some of the windows leak and have no glass, the floors are beginning to lift and the beams that support the ceiling in some cases are rotting.

With the rainy season upon us it is imperative that we take immediate measures for the safety and well-being of all the children. You’re welcome to visit the day care, tours can be arranged at your convenience so that you can see the need of the center and the beauty of all the young children who are fed and housed there during the day. Please join us on Monday, May 2 at 9:30 AM at the River Café to support this worthwhile cause.

We are counting on you and so are the little children.

Thank you Joel Hart

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

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rom the Old Town Farmers Market this past week, we hear from our friend Lynnette: “Today saw the penultimate market of the 2015-2016 season. We've gone from incredibly busy and frenetic to almost a standstill today!

Not quite, though.

We took around $1,000 pesos in donations - thank you everyone for your generosity. We sold some tee shirts and bumper stickers and also sold the last of our bracelets.

Once again, Lisa Love brought some new tote bags and we sold one immediately!

They're so popular. Lisa will continue to sell her bags on behalf of SPCA at the summer market at Tres Gallinas y Un Gallo on V. Carranza. Thank you very much Lisa, your help is much appreciated. Thanks to volunteers this week Michelle, Chris and Mark.” And thanks for your report Lynnette! Come and spend a rewarding afternoon cuddling the animals at Puerto Vallarta’s SPCA Sanctuary. Our dogs and cats are awaiting “forever homes” and your help is needed to jump start their

By Janice Gonzalez

socialization.

The goal is to get these animals adjusted and ready to interact in the real world.

The majority of the SPCA animals either come from extremely abusive situations or they have been abandoned. Your love and attention can make up for that sad history. During your visit, you can interact with the animals and even take a dog (or two or three) for a walk.

Tours will be each Tuesday and Thursday leaving from the Costco parking lot at noon. Please note that reservations are required and space is limited. To make a reservation, contact us at spcapv@ gmail.com. We appreciate any donations you can bring for our rescues and also please feel free to bring treats for sanctuary staff as they truly appreciate it.

To see our animals available for adoption, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spcapv.

Go to Photos where you will also find individual Albums for all the animals available as well as a bit of their history.

Old Town Farmers Market

A Year in

t - Tianguis Cultural

n Photos!

Many thanks to our vendors, market goers, volunteers and staff and community supporters.

See you all on opening day, November 5th.

news

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April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Local Sailor Completes Two-Year Circumnavigation Of The World

By Landon Hollander

Coca-Cola Celebrates 90 Years in Mexico

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he Coca-Cola Co. celebrated 90 years of operations in Mexico with an event in the capital at which executives rolled out the new “One Brand” global marketing strategy, unveiling the designs for the bottles to be used around the world.

“We’re presenting the new one brand strategy and the new ‘Siente el Sabor’ (Taste the Feeling) campaign. We’re going to see the graphical Coca-Cola logos in Mexico for the first time,” chief marketing officer Marcos de Quinto said during the event on Monday at Mexico City’s Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso.

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola is adopting the one brand strategy in response to the need to bolster its image and corporate commitment to reduce sugar consumption, De Quinto said.

The new labels will promote brand unity, with all bottles bearing the red circle and Spencerian script identified with Coca-Cola, which was created in 1886.

Coca-Cola employs more than 90,000 people directly and accounts for an estimated 1.7 million indirect jobs in Mexico.

Mexico has the highest per capita Coca-Cola consumption in the world.

Original: laht.com

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ocal amateur sailing enthusiast and retired Mexican Airlines pilot Alejandro Basail triumphantly returned to the Marina Riviera Nayarit Saturday April 23rd to complete his two year circumnavigation of the world aboard his 29 foot catamaran. On hand to welcome Basail and his crew (his daughter Alfa, her husband Nicolas and their two children Rio and Zen) were family and friends as well as many local residents and cruisers and, oh yes, a Mariachi band. Following the enthusiastic reception, everyone moved over to La Peska Restaurant atop the Marina offices, where a press conference was held and the returning voyagers feasted.

The following is a translation of his description of his adventures: “Our trip began May 6 in 2014 after a year of preparations, adaptations and much learning, because none of us knew anything about boats, navigation nor sailing.

The catamaran that allowed us to make this adventure was a little small for what we did, above all because the crew was composed of three adults, two children (3 to 6 years - the smaller learned to walk on the boat!) and one dog, so the spaces felt smaller and coexistence became more challenging.

The route we followed the first year we did almost non-stop since we left very late, almost at the start of the hurricane season, in fact the formation of Amanda, the first of the year we had at sea a few days out of Puerto Vallarta, but although we spent stressful moments there were no serious consequences.

The first passage which was the longest, 34 days, was Vallarta to French Polynesia (known as The

Mexican Cement Giant CEMEX Posts $35 Million Profit in Q1

M Puddle Jump) where we spent 3 months. From there we left New Guinea with only two intermediate stops in Pago Pago for provisions and another in Vanuatu to repair a sail that broke. We then crossed the Torres Strait and stopped in East Timor to deal with an engine that had developed problems during the first passage. We also stopped for the same reason in Bali, Singapore and Langkawi but it was not until Thailand that we managed to solve the problem.

From there we left for Seychelles, in a hurry to arrive in good time for the crossing at the Red Sea but because of that we were rather tired of sailing for a year.

We decided to go down to South Africa to turn around at the end of the Cape of Good Hope and reach the Atlantic Ocean, which we did after having stopped in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Lagos and Seychelles.

From South Africa we went to the island of St. Helena where we also stopped to fix a problem with the solar panel control that caught fire. We crossed the Atlantic and arrived at the island of Fernando de Noronha, where we spent only 3 days before heading to the island of Barbados.

From there to Panama we crossed the Canal to the Pacific,

an incredible experience and then continued up to el Salvador and finally to Huatulco, Mexico, where we spent more than 10 days due to an error made by the authorities that caused the boat to be decommissioned, a bad experience especially because that was our welcome to our own country.

Almost exactly two years after our departure we have returned to Vallarta with much enthusiasm to begin new adventures (that will no longer have to do with the sea), but we go with a wonderful feeling for what we did, for the experiences, for everything I learned and mostly, for the realization of an unforgettable dream.”

Original: www.insidelacruz.com

exico’s CEMEX, one of the world’s largest producers of cement, said on Thursday it earned $35 million in the first quarter of 2016, the first time it has reported a profit in seven years in a comparable period.

The company had a loss of $149 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Revenues totaled $3.19 billion in the first quarter, down 3 percent from the same period last year, when sales came in at $3.31 billion.

The figure, however, represents a 3 percent increase when adjusted for comparable existing operations and exchange rate fluctuations, CEMEX said.

Total debt stood at $15.99 billion as of March 31, down from the $16.7 billion debt on the books at the end of the first quarter of 2015.

CEMEX struggled after acquiring Australia’s Rinker for $15.3 billion in 2007, a year before the U.S. housing market crashed and Europe’s economy took a nosedive.

CEMEX, which was founded in 1906 in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey, has operations in more than 50 countries.

Original: LAHT.com

Playa Escondida Temporarily Off Limits

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n Thursday, April 21, the Governor of Nayarit and the Conanp officially announced the Islas Marietas are not closed; only Playa Escondida will be off limits. Roberto Sandoval Castañeda, Governor of the State of Nayarit, ordered only Playa Escondida to be temporarily off-limits for restoration and maintenance in order to regulate and improve the conditions of the Islas

Marietas, an icon of the Rivera Nayarit.

The National Commission of Protected National Areas (Conanp, by its acronym in Spanish) officially endorsed a release issued on April 21st, stating the agreement was reached after a meeting of the head of state with Alejandro del Mazo Maza, Director of Conanp.

“The Islas Marietas are not closed and certainly are not for

sale,” assured Roberto Sandoval.

“The islands are national heritage sites and part of the internationally renowned natural landscapes that can be found in our destination.

They are still a tourism icon of the Riviera Nayarit and will remain so forever.” “This is why we’ve made the decision to take action while we still can, when we can all work together, which is precisely what we’re doing,” added the director

news

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Where did the whales go this winter?

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he whale watching season started on the 1st of December 2015 and finished officially on the 23rd of March 2016.

Even though there were fewer whales this season, ECOBAC’s (Ecology and Conservation of Whales) campaigns and projects continued, working in many different areas. What follows is a brief review of this work: As was reported in the previous newsletter, this whale-watching season was greatly affected by the El Niño phenomenon, which caused whale abundance to decrease dramatically. This was not only felt in the Bay of Banderas region, but in all the areas where the North Pacific humpback whales usually arrive each winter to reproduce, such as Los Cabos, the Revillagigedos islands, all areas of the Pacific coast of mainland Mexico, and even in Hawaii a lower abundance of humpbacks whales was observed.

Additionally, it was not only a decrease in the number of whales witnessed this season, but also a change in their behavior, with the large majority of whale observations involving whales that displayed evasive behavior with long dives and little surface activity.

Additionally, very few whales were found to be singing.

Worried about the situation, ECOBAC contacted whale researchers and tour operators from other regions across the North Pacific, and all told of the same situation of a much smaller quantity of whales.

It was therefore proposed necessary that a complete analysis of whale abundance at the ocean basin level be performed to try and understand the implications and causes of this change to the migration of humpback whales, and to find out exactly where they were this season.

Caring for the whales in the

Bay of Banderas: Program of Prevention, Information, Vigilance and Monitoring of the Humpback Whales Even though there were fewer whales recorded in the area this year, ECOBAC still conducted a census and vigilance of whale watch activities in the Bay of Banderas. In total, 13 vigilance trips were made in which they managed to observe 42 different occasions where vessels were engaged in whale watch activities. This is almost 60 % less than what was recorded in the last whale season. Most of the whale watching activities occurred close to the Marietas Islands National Park or slightly outside of the bay, and for that reason very few boats inside the bay reported that they were involved in whale watching this year. In fact, some whale watch operators decided to finish their whale watching tours and to close for the season almost a month earlier than the official end of the season. This was mainly due

to the long journeys necessary to find whales (often to outside of the bay), combined with the few whales present and the fact that additionally the ocean conditions this season were not optimal for whale watch activities. This all contributed to whale watching being very difficult in the Bay of Banderas this season, which sometimes led to the tourists not being satisfied with the trips. It is clear therefore, that the reduced whale abundance in the Bay of Banderas will also have had an impact on the economy of the region.

On the 30th of January 2016, a humpback whale mother and calf pod were found travelling at the entrance of the harbor of Puerto Vallarta. This represented a serious risk for both vessels and for the whales, as it is an area of high marine traffic. For this reason, we undertook the task of trying to protect the mother and calf staying with them for several hours in a vessel. With the support of the

of Conanp, who pointed out the need for a joint strategy in order to achieve their goals.

Among the agreements was the need for new means of access to the beach, which would include strict rules and regulations that would guarantee the preservation of the environment.

“This spot is the pride and joy of the people of Nayarit, but we also have to be responsible for

the ecosystems and the natural attractions we have here in Nayarit, which is why we’re defending both the Islas Marietas and Nayarit’s service providers,” added the Governor in a video he published on his social media accounts.

There will be months of work involved with specialists and authorities from the three levels of government in order to find alternatives that will compensate the economic

impact on the tourism sector that will occur during the time the beach is closed off.

To listen to the statements of the Governor of Nayarit issued after the meeting in the Riviera Nayarit in the presence of representatives from the Federal and State governments as well as those from the academic and the business sectors click here: https://www.facebook. com/robertosandovalc/?fref=ts.

Harbor Master of Puerto Vallarta we also issued a warning via radio to the vessels entering and leaving the harbor to take precautions to avoid the whales. Thanks to this work there were no accidents that day. Unfortunately, there was also a report of a tourist vessel that allowed their clients to get into the water to swim with a mother and calf pod, which apart from being very dangerous, is prohibited by the Mexican whale watching regulations. This act, which was irresponsibly allowed by the vessel crew, could have triggered a serious accident. This act was reported to PROFEPA Delegación Nayarit, and the report is still being processed.

This season we have implemented a new part of this program, giving ourselves the task to record the number of vessels, types of maneuvers and speed of travel between Punta de Mita and the Marietas Islands National Park, in the zone known as “el canal” or in English “the channel”. The

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

international fame of the Marietas Park has generated a noticeable increase in marine traffic in the channel, which is also used as the principal entrance of the bay by humpback whales. Our results show that during the holiday periods or on bank holiday weekends on average one boat per minute will pass through the channel, and outside of holiday periods 0.3 boats a minute will pass through the area.

We estimate the average travel speed is 30 miles per hour, which would make it impossible to avoid a whale and in the incident of a collision this speed might be deathly for both the whale and people aboard the vessel.

Additionally, faster speeds will also generate greater noise, which might lead to whales avoiding entering the bay. We are planning a meeting before the next whale watching season between the authorities and the tour operators of Punta de Mita, where this data will be presented to propose actions to be put in place to prevent accidents in the future. Following our observations in the field, we suggest it ́s important to reduce speed while navigating through the channel area and to have an observer standing at the bow of the boat checking the horizon for whales. Both actions will reduce dramatically the risk of vessel collisions with whales.

The successful running of this program is only made possible by the sponsorship of the “United States Fish and Wildlife Service”, the support of the Opequimar Centro Marino, and the 8th Navy Zone, whom just like our volunteers, year upon year join and support our campaign. We are grateful also to Ana Ezcurra, Artemio Martínez, Candy Lara, Fabiola Flores, Jorge Morales and Monse Servín who joined us on the vigilance trips.

ECOBAC End of Season Newsletter 2016 www.ecobac.org

entertainment

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Comings and Goings

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

is Friday the 29th). They have given him sufficient faith in himself and his music to allow his audience into parts of his emotional and spiritual life he has – up until now - kept entirely to himself. I was struck a couple of times at how truly great some of his lyrics were. If Joseph can maintain his focus and continue to shed his detachedness, he will go far. See him this Friday in the Red Room at Act II and send him off con-

fidently on his World Dragonfly Tour.

Appearing with Joseph Dane at the Red Room is Kristian Pentangeli – a percussionist with an innate sensitivity combined with an intensity rarely encountered in Vallarta.

Two more very special concerts in the offing: May 7th at the Palm Cabaret, Benefit for Willie Royal hosted by Luna Rumba and May 11th at Casa Karma, Grant Maloy Smith, presented by CK Productions.

And Goings…

I am so happy I got to see Juan Pablo Hernandez in his final concert last Saturday in the Red Room. Juan Pablo has been the Emcee of Voice of Vallarta spotlighting hundreds of acts over three editions; he has co-starred as an actor (actress?) in Princesas Desesperadas, co-starred in Equus and won Best Director in Jalisco for El Hombre sin Adjectivos. It was way past time for Juan Pablo to shine all by himself.

And he did. During ‘A mi Manera’ (My Way, in English) he sang solo beautifully and with several invited guests including multi-talented Paco Ojeda who complemented JP on piano. I am hopeful this concert or version thereof will return during this summer.

JP’s sister Cyndi, a contestant in Voice of Vallarta, made her big brother proud (and justifiably so) during her solo, which was the only song performed in English.

And brilliantly done. Brava.

the event will begin on Thursday, April 28 at 6pm with a grand parade beginning in front of Hotel Buenaventura to the Los Arcos Theater and along the malecon. Around the city there will be presentations throughout the days in Hidalgo Park, Marina Vallarta, Pitillal, Infonavit, Las Juntas, Ixtapa and Los Arcos del Malecon every day starting from 7pm in the evening.

He said national groups participating this year representing the states of Aguascalientes, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, Queretaro, Veracruz, Coahuila,

Nayarit, Tabasco and Zacatecas.

Padilla explained that the festival has been extended to May 8th in order to incorporate more presentations throughout Jalisico in the communities of Tomatlan, Cabo Corrientes, La Huerta, Casimiro Castillo, Autlan de Navarro and Atenguillo.

Notably, the festival is part of the International Council of Organizers of Folklore Festivals and Traditional Arts Mexico Section (CIOFF), an international organization supported by UNESCO. Original: Tribuna de la Bahia

By Marcia Blondin Comings…

I am finally going to the Jazz Foundation on the Malecon this coming Thursday night; I wrangled an invite from Steven Tenney who has been promoting his band vigilantly on Facebook. The shameless wrangling happened upstairs at Shisha on Lazaro Cardenas where Gabriel Reyes was hosting a Tribute to Willow. I caught Gabriel’s first solo set then musicians started rolling in. They very nearly matched the audience in number.

Percussionists, Martin Montenegro the fine, fine saxophonist; Bobby Tansen with flute AND guitar; Roberto Falcon on bass and a couple of keyboard players I didn’t get a chance to meet, shuffled space on the stage and created some spectacular jazz collisions. Willow played guitar as wonderfully as ever and his wife Beverly sang. Kim Kuzma tapped her toes and smiled - sitting in the audience for a change enjoying the comfortable, shoesoff/silk-draped ambiance of Shisha. Gabriel Reyes is hosting and starring in concert upstairs at Shisha this coming Saturday, the 30th of April at 9pm. Gabriel’s voice comes straight from heaven; trust me.

Beverly and Willow at Shisha

Last Tuesday night, I was almost asleep when a recognizable voice woke me up. Joseph Dane was singing one of my favourite cuts from his CD called ‘The Most Complicated Woman you’ve ever met’. I hasten to add, Joseph was across the street from my house at el Patio de mi Casa, promoting his opening night show in the Red Room at Act II Entertainment. Nearly a full house awaited Joseph in the Red Room; he

arrived on stage ‘scruffy’. Make that untamed, it’s kinder and a looser-fit that matches Joseph nicely. He kept his audience listening carefully to his lyrics and chuckling through short stories that accompanied each song that unwaveringly concerned a young woman (rarely the same one!).

Joseph has lost a good deal of his aloofness with the release of his first CD and these two concerts in the Red Room (next one

10th Annual Int’l Aztec Folklore Festival

O

pening Ceremony and Parade will take place along the Malecon from 6pm on April 28th.

From Wednesday the 27th of April to the 4th of May around the city of Puerto Vallarta, six international groups from Israel, Costa Rica, Chile, El Salvador, Colombia and Bolivia, plus ten national groups will presnt dance and folkloric traditions throughout the city in celebration of the 10th Annual Int’l Aztec Folklore Festival.

Juan Antonio Salcedo Padilla, Supervisor of the Festival says that

entertainment

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Country, Bluegrass and Folk in “Crossing The Border” show

By Debbie White

Advertise your events all summer with the Vallarta Tribune Special Summer Prices Contact editor@vallartatribune.com ventastribuna7@yahoo.com

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K Productions is thrilled to present a late season show featuring Grant Maloy Smith a renowned singer/songwriter who is a master of American Roots music.

Grant will present a blend of old country, bluegrass, folk and celtic influences that represent a truly unique American genre.

The setting for this spectacular event will be Casa Karma, which is located above Vallarta's rocky shoreline. Casa Karma is another one-of-a-kind fabulous location for this classic CK Productions performance.

Crossing The Border featuring the multi-talented Grant Maloy Smith will be presented on Wednesday, May 11th at 8pm.

Doors will open at 7:30pm.

Joining Grant onstage will be the legendary Steve York on bass, along with PV`s own Oscar Terrazas on saxophone, Kristian Petangeli on percussion and the talented, multi-instrumentalist Randall Scott.

This exceptional group of musicians from Mexico, USA, Canada

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

and the UK, will 'Cross the Border' – blending beautiful lyrics, vocals, harmonies and sounds into a quality, classy, musical ensemble piece 'that is' CK Productions.

Opening for Grant Maloy Smith will be the band, Los Carajos, who will serve up some West Coast style favorites, with lots of fantastic harmonies and superb vocals in both English and Spanish.

Los Carajos offers a special acoustic roots sound that is unlike anything else available in the

Vallarta music scene. They will conclude the evening with a few songs as well.

General Admission tickets to Crossing The Border are available for 600 pesos. VIP tickets are available for 750 pesos. For more information and tickets to Crossing The Border go to: TICKETS. CK-PROD.com.

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April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Paradise

Under the Palapa Leza Warkentin

Chris Dalton

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

www.majorscorner.com

T

wo weeks ago I had my 70th birthday, which was lovely, if these things can be counted as lovely, since these celebrations heave us another step closer to the darkness.

Casey, a delicious female friend, said: “You will love your 70’s, Chris,” which somehow helped. Might as well enjoy it, I mean there is not much I can do about it at this stage, is there?

I still feel fairly good although I cannot squat anymore – it is just a lean-down kind of thing now.

I still go for runs along the malecon, but if I am fair, it is more like a quick shuffle than an actual run. I tell my wife it is so that I can see what is going on around me rather than a blur, as in the past.

She just shakes her head sadly.

Just before my birthday, I had what I thought was a great idea: I would sit down and make a list of all those I might have upset over the last 70 years. I would prove to them that I have matured and ask for their forgiveness. It took longer than I thought, but luckily after a bit of research I found a good number had died, so that cut the list back a bit.

For some reason, none of the women took my calls and most of the guys just said, “Mmmmmm.”

One old fellow said he did not remember me doing anything wrong to him, so I reminded him, upon which he called me “a horrible bastard” and hung up. But the point of the exercise was that I would feel better and I did. That dreadful term “closure.”

One of my birthday presents was a pair of binoculars. I am not sure why the term should be a pair as you only get one, don’t you?

The problem with English, eh?

Anyway this gift has opened up a whole new world from our perch in the sky above El Centro, some of it surprising. For instance, before the binoculars I could just make out in the distance a pretty mother breast feeding her child. I felt I was seeing the very essence of Mexican life. With some magnification my beautiful scene became a middle aged

and Parenting

Mexican lady entertaining a small bald man on her lap. Shocked, I demurely looked elsewhere.

However most of the time I see splendid things with my new binoculars, such as ships arriving in the bay and fishing boats returning with their catches. There is also an enormous yacht in our bay so I drip with envy as I watch the on-board activity. It is I guess, the idle lower middle class looking at the idle rich. The life of our small city by the sea comes into focus every day and I am grateful for the gift.

On a sadder note, I am becoming more and more concerned with the dogs of our neighbourhood lately. There seems to be an explosion of numbers, as every balcony and rooftop has a sad story to tell of chained or restricted dogs left outside with no shade, sitting in their own waste. Day after day I watch these wailing animals bark away their existence without a sign of kindness from their so-called owners.

It breaks my heart. I know many readers will say that if I don’t like it I should go home because this is Mexico. That was the position we used to take, but now that we have bought here and pay taxes we feel we are a part of this neighbourhood.

When I ask the locals why they do not complain about this open cruelty, they simply shrug and say they could never criticize a neighbour, however much they agree with us, because he/she would lose face.

I have called authorities but nothing much happens. Once someone showed up and took a few pictures of the outside of the house but nothing more. I sometimes wish we did not have such a wonderful view of the city and now recently enhanced by my birthday gift, as we are witness to much more than just the beauty of the glorious Pacific. We love it, of course, but now with a local perspective.

Copyright Christopher Dalton 2016

Children’s Day

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very year on April 30th Mexico celebrates children.

This is a wonderful day to be eighteen and under because everywhere you go people smile at you and let you pretty much do whatever you want. It’s less enjoyable if any of the following applies to you: 1) You hate crowds 2) You fear clowns 3) You are over eighteen And that’s pretty much where I’m at. I’m sure some of you think it’s ridiculous to be over forty and afraid of clowns. If you do, it means you’ve never picked up a Stephen King novel or ridden a Vallarta bus with a comical entertainer who enjoyed working the cheap laugh off the only guera passenger.

But clowns are unavoidable on Children’s Day. Children love them because they aren’t old enough to see Stephen King’s “It”, and so we hire them at our school every year.

And every year one of them singles out the Early Childhood Director because blonde people turn red very easily, and that’s really hilarious to point out in front of 45 preschool-aged children.

As a parent and a teacher, I have no choice but to celebrate all the children in my life. The fact is, I spend about 364 other days in the year helping them become people who deserve to be celebrated.

And truthfully, all children have a lot of qualities worth celebrating.

There’s no way I’d be a teacher if they didn’t, although the salary almost keeps teachers above the poverty line, and nap time is sometimes actually quiet. If you have children, and you will take them out on Children’s Day to meet a clown who will make fun of your hair, here are some reasons why you should smile with all your teeth and chuckle in agreement.

1) Children take you seriously. When I ask my students simple questions like “Where do carrots come from”, they get these frown-y, grave, impassioned faces like These Are Things That Matter and say “From the farm with all the other cows” or “I think from my

birthday cake, because it made me puke a lot of orange”.

2) Children know how to turn anything into a party. Once when my children were preschool age, I put them to bed and put together a romantic dinner for myself and my husband, because three and four year olds would never permit such selfish behavior when they are awake. In the middle of the dinner, they started asking for water, one more hug, and any other stalling tactic that follows the mind-warping call, “MoMEEEEE”. I brought them down and whipped up some ramen. They called it their Favorite Soup Party, where some of us ate vegetable bisque and others ate mushroom-flavored, sodium-glutted Maruchan.

They still talk about it.

3) Children change quickly.

This is almost always great if you are a teacher. I get to see magic every year. For me, students begin to read and write incredible things like “I LOF YU MIS LEZZZZZZA”; the same students who didn’t take any interest in Z’s at the beginning

of the school year.

I admit that children changing can be heart wrenching if you are a parent. But look at this way, you can be assured that the stuff that drives you nuts is usually not permanent. If they insist that they can’t be alone in the bathroom now, I guarantee you that your future thirteen-year-old is not going to want you in there. Actually, your future thirteen-year-old isn’t going to want you anywhere. So maybe that’s a poor example.

I love all of the children that surround me every day. I love my own offspring and I love my students. I love my students-to-be who almost run me over on the playground, not knowing or caring that they will soon be in my class.

I love the students-who-were, the grown up ones who come to visit me or friend me on Facebook, all successful and cool.

On April 30, celebrate all the children in your life, including the one that still lives inside you somewhere, demanding ramen soup.

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Finding

From Here

Your Purpose

Marcia Blondin marciavallarta@gmail.com

Rhonda Zarate

rhondazaratelifestyle@gmail.com

A Foodie in Paradise

D

amn! I am so happy that big butts and curvy girls are the new trending thing right now! It gives this girl a license to loosen up, let go and do less carb counting! Let’s shake things up a bit, start enjoying life a little more.

Last week friends invited us to head north of Puerto Vallarta to a new restaurant called La Postal, in the town of Bucerias.

Well, let me tell you, this was not just a meal, but an experience I am still savouring! The food was so good. Conversation became heated; arguing back and forth whose pizza was superior - the Tomato Basil or the Olive Caper. This was the first verbal food fight I have every been in, each party with such conviction and passion, defending their personal pizza preference to the chewy end.

These tantalizing taste bud moments happen over and over and over again. I really think for my true authentic life, I have to live somewhere that the food is one of the main attractions. The importance of making ones home in an environment that lends itself to an authentic life should be something we all look at. Are you happy where you are living? Not necessarily just your home, but the area that you live in. Does it serve your heart?

Food has become a cultural, culinary experience. It is ‘hip’ to call oneself a “Foodie.” I actually love this label. To me it describes someone who has passion for good food, quaint restaurants and organic experiences, yearning for adventurous moments.

I heard the other day that after a meal you know if the meal was good by how you feel rather than what you ate. You’re onto something magically wonderful, when you push away from your plate with a “OMG can you believe how good that was?” Feeling every cell in your body jumping for joy.

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

The food in Mexico is so authentic, often made with tender loving care, using fresh produce and local delights. The restaurants are filled with smells, sights and sounds that bring the eating experience full circle.

Musicians can be found strolling in and out of restaurants, or perched on a stoop, playing effortlessly into the night. Twinkling lights flickering with a soft glow, beaming smiles from the staff as they present their masterpiece of “Yummy” in front of you. Just talking about this makes me hungry, fantasizing about guacamole, salsa, coconut shrimp, tacos, soon the fresh mangos…

I have been coming here on and off for the last 15 years, it is surprising to me, how the options for food is getting better and better. How blessed are we?

The task at hand for all of us is to continue to share with our family and friends all over the world, how blessed we all are to have such a wonderful place, full of hidden jewels here in paradise.

From the local talents, seasoned chefs at the exquisite La Palapa, to the local family run taco stand on the corner of every street,there is absolutely something spectacular to eat here, for everyone no matter what your budget.

I hope you treat yourself to these experiences.

Homework: Start walking the streets stumbling upon somewhere new you have never been.

Let your love for food be your beacon of direction. Let go and enjoy.

Rhonda Zarate is a Lifestyle Advisor. She does consultations in Real Estate, Life & Business Coaching. To book a consultation or have her help you with your Real Estate needs, she can be found at rhondazaratelifestyle@gmail.com or Facebook rhondazaratelifestyle

T

his past Saturday was one of those rare days when every person I spoke to had terrific good news to pass on. To begin with, I went to Three Hens and a Rooster Market on “Upper Carranza” (thanks, Bill Kelly!) to check on my new boutique space that I will open May 7th. It will be painted and spruced up this week, and then moving things in to be ready to open…I am so excited.

Splitting my inventory in half will be the biggest challenge: what to leave for Friday Market at the Marsol Hotel by the Pier? I walked from Upper Carranza to Lazaro Cardenas to Ropero de Jovany where Anthony Silva, Jovany’s partner, was minding the store. He’s just back from a very successful trip to Los Angeles and is receiving new clients here in Vallarta for C.O.R.E., his dog training business.

From there I walked to the Farmer’s Market in Parque Lazaro Cardenas for my weekly fix from Hecho en Mexico, Antonio and Sasha’s bakery. Talked to Peter Hardy the Bagel King, whose dream of going National, is happening. He promises to stay local when he goes global. More on this expansion soon! Mark Hughes is deciding where his fabulous fruit pies and quiches

will be available this summer; when he decides, I will pass that good news on to you!

Satur-day slid into two backto-back concerts Saturday night, and then this happened: “I am doing what the river is…nearly nothing; just moving slowly through a shallow space surrounded by music. A sky blue and clear, broken only by an occasional butterfly or dragonfly; it’s Sunday morning – even the flying bugs are sleeping in, and the only footprints in the freshly-raked sand are mine.

My task for the next four or five hours: sit and listen; get the sun until this deathly pallor passes into a more acceptable café.

Recharge my inner solar panels

until they are full to bursting. I am trying to name all the trees and grasses: bougainvillea, mango, aralia, banana, almond, two kinds of bamboo, areca palm and true palms with baby coconuts. The rest continue to live and give me breath despite my ignorance of their names. “Lovely” sums up the lot of them and their collectiveness delights my eyes and soothes my soul.

The breeze arrives just when the sun tries to make my skin catch fire. Today I don’t have to talk, or move, or applaud or write.

I only have to give silent thanks for all of this.

THIS is the beginning of a Sunday morning at El Rio BBQ and Bar.”

Flower of the Week Plumeria Plumeria (Spanish) Plumeria sp.

F

rangapani. In the dogbane family, this lovely flower is most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. This species contains mainly shrubs and small trees.

Contact with the sap may irritate eyes and skin.

Flowers of yellow and pink are used in

by Sandra Cesca

leis and incense for their intoxicating perfume while the white flower is used for ceremonies such as weddings and funerals and is often planted in cemeteries.

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 RED = Pantone PMS 485 C BLUE = Pantone PMS 289 C YELLOW = 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 ENJOY GOURMET MEXICAN DINING & SELECT SEAFOOD DISHES UNDER THE STARS AT THE MOST SECLUDED SPOT IN OLAS ALTAS

Adorable Dog In The Spotlight... CHAMP

H

i Champ! We happen to think you are the greatest. Champ is the perfect people-loving dog who is looking for his very own human(s) so he can get those belly rubs and romp and play fetch. He is still young, just a year old, weighs about 48 pounds and is a beautiful Staffordshire mix.

Champ loves his people but not so much other companion animals so would do best as the only pet in

Special coupon 50% off on 2nd dinner, of equal or lesser value.

(Does not include drinks) Must present coupon for this offer to be valid.

(Valid for ten days, printing date) the family. He has been neutered, fully dewormed and current on all his vaccines. Now he just needs that perfect family who will love

him forever. If you can see yourself enjoying life with this Champ, contact us at spcapv@gmail.com for an application.

Open from 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm Reservations Tel. (322) 240-7529 Pilitas #212 Zona Romántica. Follow us on

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April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

8 Reasons Not to Retire to Puerto Vallarta

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ou woke up today and thought, enough is enough!

'Let's retire to Puerto Vallarta'. Or maybe you've been planning this since your first job at Sears-Roebuck, either way moving to Mexico requires some serious research and we want to make sure you're making the right choice.

Here's eight things you might want to consider before you retire to Puerto Vallarta.

Roberto Ortiz de Montellano Farias roberto@ortizdemontellano.com

Construction Contracts in PV: Is your fixer upper going downhill?

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1. Sun – Despite what people may tell you the sun doesn’t shine every day. Sometimes, usually in the summer months, there are a few hours where clouds come in and create spectacular sunsets. Or the skies part and rainstorms, complete with thunder and lightning, entertain you with a symphony of lights, leaving everything green and fresh.

2. Affordability – The pesos in your pocket can get heavy. Enjoying excellent restaurants, buying fresh produce and seafood, along with a housekeeper who cooks and cleans in your ocean view condo can cost as little as $1500 a month.

With all the money you could be saving you’ll have no excuse not to buy your adorable grandkids flights to come visit.

3.Ocean – The constant lulling of the waves will only help to relax you whether you’re lying on a beach recliner, watching from your balcony or dipping your toes off the back of a catamaran.

You can’t escape the diamond like twinkle of the sun off the waves, nor the daily sunsets that will invade your space each evening. Often you will have to stop what you are doing to take it in – maybe even be compelled to photograph it, again.

4. Culture – Puerto Vallarta is a working city with a population of about 300,000 Mexicans. Here you

by nature as this is one of the most diverse places on the planet.

(Mexico ranks 5th for most diversity on the planet) You will encounter 300+ native Orchid species, hundreds of migratory birds, butterflies and more.

Get that camera ready again and visit the Vallarta Botanical Garden for some up close and personal contact with the native(species).

will be faced with near daily festivals and holidays, music on the streets, fireworks, art shows, culinary events and more as the Mexicans that live here go about their daily lives.

5. Choice – If making decisions is hard for you, Puerto Vallarta might not be a good fit. Life in Puerto Vallarta is full of choices. You will constantly be debating what restaurant to go to tonight, what live entertainment act to book tickets to, what beach to visit.

Even in the markets you will be faced with daily choices – Pineapple or papaya or both! So many choices. Check out Vallarta Tickets for a nearly complete list of events going on around the bay.

6. New friends and experiences – New friends can be so much work.

Always wanting to meet for dinner or drinks, looking to join you on a boat trip to watch the whales, or inviting you to another fundraiser for a worthwhile charity. They can take up your whole day if you let them.

The International Friendship Club is not only a the place to make new friends but learn Spanish, help with charitable causes, movie nights, seminars on travel, food and culture and much more.

7. Nature – Nestled in the Bay of Banderas you will be accosted

8.Sense of accomplishment & pride – Moving to Puerto Vallarta will make you want to shout it from the red clay tile rooftops, or at least across Facebook. Your sense of accomplishment will give way to pride as you share your knowledge with the newbies who are as mistaken as you to ever consider moving to Puerto Vallarta.

Join such Facebook groups as Puerto Vallarta: Everything you want or need to know and On the Road in Mexico to learn more about fellow expats making the move.

Original: www.blog.mexi-go.ca

oing construction or renovation on your property is always stressful, mostly because you have to deal with contractors. Apparently anywhere in the world contractors tend to be informal, don’t offer certainty on a timeframe and can’t guarantee the quality their work. But if you are foreign and you are hiring a contractor in Mexico, things can be even more difficult due to several factors such as the “mañana” time, the questionable honesty of many of these contractors, and the language barrier. If you bought a property in Puerto Vallarta that still needs some work and you want to transform it into your dream home, you have to be very careful when engaging with a contractor and specially when giving him an advance payment or any kind of payment because you may never see that money again.

So how can I be legally protected if I hired someone to do renovations or construction on my property?

The first step is to sign a construction contract. This contract has to be precise enough and it should

real estate

15

Follow Up

Ask

a realtor

By Michael Green Broadwalk Realty

Q: What is “Ejido” land? Can I buy it?

Mario B. Chicago include certain clauses for your protection, such as a description of the work to be performed, details of the materials to be used, a calendar for the performance of the works, a calendar for payments, the obligations and liabilities of the contractor, penalties in case there is a delay in finishing the work, and so on. The advance payment should never be more than 30% of the total value of the contract. It is also advisable that you ask the contractor to hire a surety bond for the advance payment, a performance bond, and a hidden defects bond.

And beware of social security and labor obligations!

You should always verify that the contractor is complying with his obligations as employer before the social security and labor authorities. If the contractor is not fulfilling these obligations, his employees or the Social Security Institute (IMSS) can go after your property since it’s considered the main place of work.

A professional and honest contractor is not easy to find, but now you know that you should always have everything on paper and that way the money you decided to spend in upgrading your home in Mexico, is at a minimal risk.

A: Ejido land is communal land that was passed down to peasant communities after the Mexican Revolution. It is typically agricultural type land and is akin to Indian Reservation land in the United States. Ejido properties are off limits to the foreign community, despite the fact that many have "purchased the rights to use" these properties through what is called a "prestanombre" (literally translated, lent name). It is possible to “Regularize” ejido property and convert it into a fully titled property. This allows anyone, including foreigners, to ultimately own the property, but the process requires the agreement of the entire community that owns it. This process can be costly, time consuming (five years is not uncommon) and is not guaranteed. If you are not scared off by the above, find yourself a firm that specializes in the regulation of these properties and seek independent legal counsel as well.

Q: I want to take what is left of my 401(k), come down and buy a place off the beaten track and live like a local. My kids say I should rent a place first, then find an AMPI Realtor, make an extensive search, check out ALL the listings in the local MLS and learn more about the local culture and customs. They also want me to investigate banks, supermarkets, health care and immigration requirements. And if I find something I like, they want me to ask to see title to the property, consider having an inspection and survey and

confirm that there are no liens or encumbrances against the property. Finally, they are INSISTING that I do not give any money to a seller before the closing, that I only put my deposit in a U.S. Escrow account and formalize any Real Estate documents in front of a Notario Publico!

What advice can you give me in order to stop the nagging, get these know-it-alls off my back and live out my golden years in peace? Free Spirit, Pasadena A: Kids can be so demanding these days! It is particularly frustrating when you have worked hard all your life to raise them and save enough for retirement. Hey, it is your money and those party poopers’ should just mind their own business. However, a Real Estate purchase is a big undertaking, especially in a foreign country.

So here is what you should do: Consider renting a place first, then find an AMPI Realtor, make an extensive search, check out ALL the listings in the local MLS and learn more about the local culture and customs. Then, investigate banks, supermarkets, health care and immigration requirements. If you find something you like, ask to see title to the property, consider having an inspection and survey and confirm that there are no liens or encumbrances against the property. Finally, do not give any money to a seller before the closing, and put your deposit in a U.S. Escrow account and formalize any Real Estate documents in front of a Notario Publico!

Do you have a question about Real Estate in Puerto Vallarta?

Just ask!

The broker at Boardwalk Realty, active in local and national Real Estate boards; published author and acknowledged expert on Puerto Vallarta Real Estate, Michael Green moved here in 1997 to take advantage of the unsurpassed lifestyle PV offers. Mike can be reached at: Michael@boardwalkrealtypv.com

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

The Simplified Mexican Corporation and You Orlando Gotay, Tax Attorney

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exico has created another way of doing business: The “Simplified Corporation” or “SAS” for its acronym in Spanish. It will be available beginning September 15, 2016.

The new regime provides for huge simplifications in establishing a business entity. No deeds (“escrituras”) are required. What’s more, a single individual can form a SAS with him or herself as sole shareholder. However, individuals must have a Mexican Tax ID number (“RFC”). SAS shareholders select provisions for their organizational by laws from a menu of options that will be made available online. This provides ease, but limited flexibility.

One of the novel features of the SAS regime is that it is completely done online. Through digital signatures, shareholders will consent to the creation of the entity at the Secretary of the Economy website, where they will be listed and available for review by the public.

SAS entities are required to file annual reports (in addition to regular tax compliance) and can be suspended if reports are not filed two years in a row.

This is all fine and dandy, but don’t ever forget that for US persons involved with foreign corporations, special informa-

tion requirements apply. Officers, directors and shareholders who own 10% or more of the value or stock of a foreign corporation, may be required to inform this to the IRS on annual Form 5471. Penalties for not filing that form can be very steep. Another zinger: if that form is not filed, the IRS can audit your personal return for that year forever. There would be no statute of limitations on assessment.

Lastly, there’s the pesky issue of Foreign Bank Account Reports (FBARs).

If you have signature authority over the business accounts, those may be reportable to the US Treasury under the FBAR regime, in addition to whatever personal foreign bank accounts you may own or control.

The bottom line: Just know exactly what you are getting into and the responsibilities you assume!

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.

riviera nayarit

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April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Bucerias Art

Fun on the

District Beat

Riviera Nayarit

By Gordon Mayer

Meet the District – Irene Secretan – Splash of Glass

Cat Morgan www.rivieranayaritfun.com

Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com

H

ey Everybody, I hope your week has been fabulous!

The Banderas Bay has been filled with sailboats with the Banderas Bay sailing competitions that have been going on for the past four weekends boats raced on the Banderas Bay in the 11th Annual Vallarta Cup competing in four different classes from Cruising Class to Performance. Congratulations to all of the winners. It’s a fun day on the water whether you win or lose! Please check out this page for all of the final results: http:// www.vallartayachtclub.org/race/ vc2016.htm . A big thanks to my friend John Pounder for the excellent photography on (and off) the water, gracias Amigo!

The Racing continued with the Women’s Laser Radial World Championship. The Banderas Bay hosts the largest sailing event ever held in Mexico; the Laser World Championships, which consist of 4 individual events that host over 400 sailing athletes from 52 countries.

The Women’s Laser Radial World Championship race completed with 73 competitors from 33 different countries representing the best of the best women athletes and Laser sailors from their countries. Many of these amazing women are to be competing in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

On April 20th, the last day of the Women’s Laser Radial World

Championship; for the Gold Fleet, with Alison Young (GBR) pulled ahead with the win in the final race to claim the World Championship by only one point. It was a tough turn for Paige Raily (USA) who had been in the lead going into the last day of the race and placed 2nd.

Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) came in 3rd with Marit Bouwmeester (NED) followed in 4th place, with Gintare Scheidt (LTU) finishing off the top 5. In the Silver Fleet finals Siliva Zennaro (ITA) finished with a strong win with four top-three finishes over Agata Barwinski (POL) with Annalise Murphy (IRL) taking third.

April 22-30th Laser Radial Masters World Championship is the second and largest event in the 4 series of races.

This group of amazing athletes age range from 35-80 years old and have a deep passion for this sport with 139 competitors from 19 countries. May 10-18 is the Laser Standard Men’s World Championships with 115 athletes from 42 countries. The final race of the series will be on May 20-28 with the Laser Men Masters World Championship competing with friends and rivals from around the planet with 93 competitors from 16 countries.

Where is the BEST place to watch the race? From the water of course! There are a lot of spectator boats for hire. Or another option is

the Nuevo Vallarta beach. All of the races sponsored by many organizations, and are hosted by the Vallarta Yacht Club, where you can contact the “On the Water Director” Andy Barrow for more information at andy@sailor.nu .

Another event coming our way in Nuevo Vallarta…It's the 2nd Annual Kids Fishing Tournament Saturday, April 30th at the Nuevo Vallarta Marina Pier. This year’s turn-out has jumped up about 200 kids from last season. (About 800 kids!) Everyone will be welcomed from 8-11am. This event not only promotes sport fishing, but also environmental awareness in a family setting. Each child will be accompanied by an adult. Goody bags for the kids include a tee-shirt, a big bag of candy along with food and drinks. There are 2 categories.

One is ages 2-6 and the second is 7-12 years of age. The top 10 will enjoy super prizes like bicycles, fishing gear, games and more. All of the fish will be returned to the water after the weigh in to support and encourage environmental and conservation awareness. A grand thank you goes out to the state and municipal authorities as well as the Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz for all of their help.

Other FUN around the North Bay… Breakers Beach Club and Restaurant will have their end of the season party on Sunday, May 1st with the “Drink The Bar Dry” party. The 5 piece band Enlace will be performing on the playa. These guys are amazing! There will also be some raffle prizes and activities going on all day.

Wednesdays live music at Esquina 22 with Cesar Medina and Saturdays Ricardo Cruces on vocals and guitar from 7-10.

Gecko Rojo rockin’ the casa every Wednesday in La Cruz with Cantus Eterna playing at 8pm all summer long.

Xocolatl’ by Roberto’s will also be open all summer long opening at 4pm…so romantic with fantastic views of the bay!

Casa Hula Pizza in La Cruz has just relocated to a few doors down from the Octopus Garden on Coral on the opposite side of the street towards the Glorieta. Come and celebrate with a bunch of us this Thursday, April 28th for some tasty pizza.

The Octopus Garden Hostel rental rooms have been completed.

They are quite nice and very affordable….the only La Cruz Hostel that I am aware of. Stop by to check them out.

The La Cruz Days Festival has begun! The stage is built where dance and live music will abound, as well as the five beautiful young ladies will be competing for the title of “Reina de La Cruz de Huanacaxtle”. The ladies were introduced on Sunday as the Inaugural for fiesta began at 7pm, with the ladies presenting at 10pm. It was packed with everyone cheering for their young woman representing. Last season it was wild, and the contest ran very late into the evening, which is completely normal here in Mexico! Come on over to La Cruz and play some games; eat, drink and be merry!

The seasonal markets are coming to a close. In Sayulita, the “Mercado del Pueblo” will have their last market of the season this Friday, and will resume in November.

Thanks for tuning in this week.

As the high season comes to a close I can feel the energy shifting, and the weather changing. If you have not located your rental for next season, or looking for a year lease (my specialty as well) please drop me a line at Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com . I would be happy to quote you a price in pesos. Create an amazing week and enjoy! AHO!

W

ho could know that the universe had something remarkable in store when a young husband quipped to his wife who was working away at a creative pursuit, “We own an auto glass company, you should make something with glass.” No one could have known at the time but that moment was the spark that ignited the kiln in Irene Secretan’s heart to create magnificent art in glass leading to what we know today as Splash of Glass in the Bucerias Art District (BAD).

After taking a college course in response to her husband Hans’ comment, Irene has never looked back creating a 25-year long career of working with stained glass and branching out into sandblasting and melting to create unique works of art. When asked why she stayed with glass Irene is quick to say that it is because “glass is easy” but a look at what she and Hans create will belie her nonchalant attitude.

Using abrasives and elbow grease or employing the kiln in their Lazaro Cardenas space to cause a colorful metamorphosis, Irene is still excited about the process and product in particular when inspiration can be drawn from other artists. Sharing her space so that fellow creatives can discover Irene’s preferred media, Irene marvels at how her counterparts bring their signature to the glass. Always learning and being open to new perspectives and ideas, she is continually looking for the next expression, the new view on her art.

Having spent the majority of their lives in Lethbridge, Alberta, where seeing someone from out of province was unusual, let alone someone visiting from another country, they revel in the reality that the world truly comes through their doors each season. Arms wide open in a gregarious welcome, Irene values the connection that is made via her art with each visitor and is ecstatic when they return year after year, and they do. Each

riviera nayarit

17

year Hans and Irene bring something new to their offering so that there is always something to see at Splash of Glass, honoring the relationship they forge with those who see their reflection in the Splash of Glass art. As part of the BAD for five years now they hope to reflect that which brought them to Bucerias at the start as they sensed the strong feeling of community and support that prevails even today. “If you look lost, someone will ask if you need help” Irene provides as an example of why the world is coming to the BAD, which is something the world needs and is certainly attracted to when found.

When asked what drives her to continue to create and share her art after many successful years as an artist Irene tells of the children

and youth who attend her classes and the teachable open-hearted approach they bring to them. “Why can’t you?” Irene often finds herself saying when the children see something new in the glass before them and, physical limitations aside, she is quick to fan the creative flame to fuse the creative spirit in the child’s soul. “Should the little girls face be blue instead of the pink? Why can’t you? Try! There are no boundaries to ideas.” While Irene encourages them, they keep her own heart and eyes open to that which is yet to be discovered and the beauty yet to be fused. Equally inspiring are the parents and guardians who bring

the kids in on holiday and who are actively involving art in their children’s lives. It still makes Irene smile.

“Come and walk our streets. Eat, drink, take a class, make the most of your vacation, of your life,” is the message Irene wants to share with the world about the BAD. Moreover, as the golden late day rays of the sun make the art of Splash of Glass glow warm and inviting and the clip clop of horseback riders taps an easy rhythm on the pavement of the Lazaro Cardenas outside the door we can only agree and echo Irene and Hans’ welcome. Where do we sign up?

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

art and culture

18

Cinco de Mayo – The Battle of Puebla

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

What’s on for May

M

ay is one of the busier months of the year in Mexico, with a plethora of festivals and events. It seems like students barely set foot in school this month - what with labor day on the first, then Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Teacher’s Day following in quick succession.

There’s no shortage of cultural festivals, either, so you won’t run out of things to do this month!

May in Mexico is warm, and rainy season in central and southern Mexico often starts this month.

Here’s a look at the major holidays and festivals in Mexico in May:

C

inco de Mayo, ( Spanish: “Fifth of May”) , also known as the Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, holiday celebrated in parts of Mexico and the United States in honour of a military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III. When in 1861 Mexico declared a temporary moratorium on the repayment of foreign debts, English, Spanish, and French troops invaded the country. By April 1862 the English and Spanish had withdrawn, but the French, with the support of wealthy landowners, remained in an attempt to establish a monarchy under Maximilian of Austria and to curb U.S. power in North America. On May 5, 1862, a poorly equipped

mestizo and Zapotec force under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated French troops at the Battle of Puebla, southeast of Mexico City; about 1,000 French troops were killed. Although the fighting continued and the French were not driven out for another five years, the victory at Puebla became a symbol of Mexican resistance to foreign domination.

The city, which was later renamed Puebla de Zaragoza, is the site of a museum devoted to the battle, and the battlefield itself is maintained as a park.

The day is celebrated in the state of Puebla with parades, speeches, and reenactments of the 1862 battle, though it is not much noticed in most of the rest of the country. In the mid-20th-century

U.S., the celebration of Cinco de Mayo became among Mexican immigrants a way of encouraging pride in their Mexican heritage.

Critics observed that enthusiasm for the holiday celebration did not take off with a broader demographic until it was explicitly linked with the promotion of Mexican alcoholic beverages and that many U.S. festivities tended to both perpetuate negative stereotypes of Mexicans and promote excessive drinking.

Cinco de Mayo is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which falls on September 16. The latter holiday was established in 1810, some 50 years before the Battle of Puebla occurred.

Source:Britannica.com

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Dia del Trabajo Labor Day Nationwide, May 1st This is a national public holiday in Mexico. There are political and labor union marches and official speeches. Schools, banks and government offices are closed.

Dia de la Santa Cruz Day of the Holy Cross Nationwide, May 3rd This celebration dates back to colonial times. Construction workers decorate crosses with flowers and mount them on buildings under construction, and have picnics at the site, followed by fireworks.

Cinco de mayo, Batalla de Puebla - Commemoration of the Battle of Puebla Throughout the country, but particularly in Puebla, May 5th A public holiday commemorating the battle in Puebla of 1862 in which the Mexican army defeated the French. Celebrations in Puebla recreate the battle.

Festival Internacional 5 de Mayo Puebla Puebla, Puebla, May 5 to 24 This festival’s goal is to promote Puebla’s artistic, architectural and socio-cultural heritage, and commemorates the Battle of Puebla of May 5, 1862. This is a multidisciplinary festival that offers a variety of activities such as concerts, gastronomy, theater, conferences and more, with both national and international guest performers.

Festival Cultural de Mayo May Cultural Festival In Jalisco state,

May7 to June 1 This festival includes cultural events such as concerts, exhibits, film screenings, dance performances and gastronomic tastings.

Many of the events will be free admission. Events will take place at many locations in the state of Jalisco, including many in Guadalajara’s Teatro Degollado. www. festivaldemayo.org/ Dia de la Madre Mother’s Day Nationwide, May 10 Mother’s Day is always celebrated on May 10th in Mexico, regardless of the day of the week (unlike in the U.S. where it is celebrated on the second Sunday in May).

Mothers are held in very high esteem in Mexican culture and on this day they are celebrated in style. The day may start off with serenades of Las Mañanitas,

entertainment

19

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Barbra Streisand – Singer, Composer, Actress, Director Part 1 – The Early Years

By Fred Jacobs

B

schools have festivals in honor of the mothers of students and restaurants are packed as moms take the day off from household tasks and are treated to a meal out with their families.

Día del Maestro Teacher’s Day Nationwide, May 15 Usually classes are suspended on this day - so teachers get the day off, or there will be a small party and students give their teachers gifts as a sign of their appreciation.

There are plenty of local events in the month of May around Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit including Vallarta Pride and Restaurant Week. Be sure to check the Calendar of Events for more local details.

Source: go.mexico.com

arbra was born in Brooklyn New York, in April 1942.

Her mother was a soprano singer, but gave up her career for a stable job as a school secretary.

Barbra’s father was a high school teacher at the same school as her mother, where they met. Both sets of Barbra’s grandparents were Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine and Russia.

Shortly after Barbra’s first birthday, her father died from complications of an epileptic seizure. The family quickly fell into near poverty. Her mother worked hard to pay the bills and keep food on the table. This period affected Barbra profoundly and would be evident in several movies like “Yentl” that she wrote and starred in later on.

Barbra attended the Jewish Orthodox Yeshiva of Brooklyn at the age of five. She was considered a bright and inquisitive student, but lacked discipline. She switched to public school a few years later and became mesmerized with TV shows and the movies.

Watching the glamorous stars on the big screen, she always hoped someday to become an actress, partly as a means of escape and was quoted later saying, “I always wanted to be somebody, to be famous . . .You know, get out of Brooklyn.”

Barbra became known by others in the neighborhood for her voice and quickly found that her talent was a way to gain attention.

The young Barbra was invited to sing at weddings and summer camp, along with having an unsuccessful audition at MGM records when she was nine. By the time she was thirteen, her mother finally began supporting her singing talent, helping her make a foursong demo tape.

Although Barbra knew she had a good voice and liked the attention it brought her, acting was her main goal. This passion came to a head when she saw her first Broadway play at the age of 14. In her spare time she could be always found at the library, reading novels and plays. She also started reading books on the acting theories of Stanislavski and Chekhov. She read with a true obsession.

Barbra started high school in Brooklyn in 1955 and quickly

became an honor student in modern history, English, and Spanish. She also joined the Freshman Chorus and Choral Club, where she sang with another classmate, Neil Diamond. During the summer of 1957 she got her first stage experience as a walk-on role at a Playhouse theatre, which lead to a small speaking role in her next stage appearance.

Barbra then took a night job at the Cherry Lane Theater in Greenwich Village helping backstage. When she was a senior, she got a small part in “Driftwood”, a play staged in a midtown attic space. Her co-star in Driftwood was Joan Rivers. When Barbra graduated high school in January 1959, and despite her mother’s pleas that she stay out of show business, she immediately set out trying to get roles on the New York stage.

After renting a small apartment

on 48th street, in the heart of the theater district, she accepted any job she could get involving the stage, and at every opportunity, she “made the rounds” of the casting offices. Making ends meet was tough and Barbra found herself basically sleeping at friend’s apartments or anywhere she could setup the army cot she had, in order to save on rent expenses. She also found herself forced to knock on her mothers’ door in Brooklyn just for a home cooked meal. Barbra’s mother was very worried about this gypsy lifestyle.

Barbra was beginning to realize that she may have to try a career in singing while she waited for her “big break” in acting. With the help of a boyfriend, she made a demo tape of her singing. He also encouraged her to enter a talent contest at the Lion, a gay nightclub in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. She sang two songs in the contest after which

there was a “stunned silence” from the audience, followed by “thunderous applause” when she was announced to be the winner. She was also invited back and sang at the club for several weeks.

After her time singing at the Lion club, Barbra auditioned to sing at the Bon Soir nightclub. She was immediately signed up at $125 a week and it became her first professional singing engagement.

So September 1960 was when Barbra finally was making some headway in her quest to become a star. She was the opening act for comedian Phyllis Diller and Barbra saw fame in her future, albeit from a singing path and not from her first love- acting.

Next week we’ll look at her rise to stardom.

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

healthcare

20

The Papantla Flyers

by Thomas Swanson http:www.ColibriDesignVallarta.com

Fine Art and Furniture

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

N

o one who has walked Puerto Vallarta’s Malecón, the sea side walk on the shore of our city, has failed to notice the local enactment of the Dance of the Papantla Flyers, with their graceful unwinding descent from the top of the tall pole, spiralling down to the sand beach, accompanied by drum and flute music. It’s fascinating to watch. The story behind the dance is fascinating as well.!First of all, the dance is old, I mean really old. The Totonac people, who live in Papantla and in the jungles and mountains of Veracruz, Puebla and Hidalgo, are an old culture...no one knows how old. Not only do they claim to have created the original dance, they claim to have built Teotihuacán, an ancient city that had been abandoned for almost a thousand years when the Aztecs used it as an annual pilgrimage site.

The Totonacs are so ancient that their native language, which they still speak today, has no known origins.!One thing that is known is that, however the Dance of the Flyers began and whoever started it, it was a popular ceremony across Mesoamerica at least three thousand years ago. Mayan writings about the celebration of the World Tree, the Mayan creation story, decribe a similar ritual, as do depictions on pottery from the same period, found near here in Nayarit.

When the Nahua people first entered the Valley of México, before the Aztecs, they integrated with the Totonac and Huastec/Mayan cultures of the region and took up the tradition of the Dance. In time, they themselves spread its observance to places as far away as the U.S. border and south into Nicaragua. Like the Sphinx in Egypt or the line drawings on

the Plains of Nazca, no one agrees on the origins of things so obscured in antiquity. We will forever be left to wonder.!

The Dance’s existence as a continuing ritua, is far from over though. Not only is it re-enacted in various tourist destinations, like Vallarta and the Riviera Maya, but it is a regular ritual in many Totonac communities scattered in the eastern jungles and mountains of the Sierra Puebla.

Diagnosing Low Back Pain

A

thorough physical and neurologic assessment may reveal the cause of your lower back pain— the underlying spinal condition leading to pain.

Physical Examination: Step 1 in Low Back Pain Diagnosis The physical examination begins with your current condition and medical history. Your doctor will ask questions about: • when the pain began • what activities make it worse or better • what you've tried to relieve the low back pain The doctor will then examine your range of motion.

Your range of spinal motion is evaluated while standing straight, bending forward, and to the side. Asymmetry, posture, and leg length is noted. Methodical palpation of the spine can reveal muscle spasm, possible bony displacement, and tender points.

Abdominal palpation is performed to determine if the cause of low back pain is possibly organ-related (eg,. pancreas); pain can radiate from (travel from) the affected organ and cause low back pain.

Neurologic Examination: Step 2 in Diagnostic Process The neurologic assessment evaluates weakness, absence of reflexes, tingling, burning, pain, diminished function, and other signs that may indicate nerve involvement.

In some cases electrodiagnostic studies such as

electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction velocity (NCV) are performed to confirm a diagnosis or localize the site of nerve injury.

Imaging Studies: Step 3 in Making Lower Back Pain Diagnosis Plain radiographs (x-rays), CT Scan, and/or MRI studies are performed when fracture or neurologic dysfunction is suspected.

An MRI represents the gold standard in imaging today. An MRI renders high-resolution images of spinal tissues such as the spinal cord and intervertebral discs.

X-rays are still the imaging methods of choice to study the bony elements in the lower back.

Lab Tests: Step 4 If infection, malignancy, fracture, or other risk factors are suspected, routine lab tests may be ordered.

These tests may include complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR), and urinalysis.

Lower Back Pain Diagnosis: Step 5 The results of the physical and neurologic examinations combined with test results (x-rays, MRIs, and any lab tests needed) are carefully evaluated to confirm a diagnosis—the underlying spinal condition causing your pain.

In Puerto Vallarta, the Vallarta Medical Center and Dr. Alberto Marrón Mc Naught, Orthopedic Surgeon have the facilities and expertise to diagnose and treat all types of back pain.

Wheeling Vallarta Segway Tours

Located across from McDonald’s

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

VALLARTA SHOPPING AND EVENTS www.vallartatribune.com

There its religious significance has remained unchanged over the centuries...if a bit hidden from the watchful eyes of the Catholic conquerors. The specific mythology and mysticm varies from isolated village to village, as does the exact ritual of the Dance, but the underlying themes remain the same. For instance, some villages in eastern Puebla are now allowing women to train as flyers, though most Totonac elders consider this highly sacrilegious. In 2006, a master who was training women to fly, fell to his death during a ceremony in El Tajín. His death was touted as a sign of the disapproval of the gods.!The most famous of these ritual enactments is at Papantla, near Poza Rica, in the state of Veracruz. Here tourism is being sought, to blend with tradition, though tourism in the jungles of the “Fever Coast” has proven illusive.!Papantla was founded by the Totonacs in the 1200s, who were seeking a new home after fleeing the Chichimec sack of Teotihuacán in the highlands near present-day Mexico City.

Papantla has been the cultural center of the Totonac people ever since. It is at Papantla where the Dance of the Flyers has its deepest roots and has been studied by modern researchers the most thoroughly. The Papantla dance has even been inscribed as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”

by UNESCO. Nominated for the status of Pueblo Mágico, Papantla also boasts numerous large murals and sculptures done by the famed local artist Teodoro Cano García, an ardent student of Diego Rivera, depicting different aspects of Totonac culture and history. !

The meaning behind the dance is profound and its participants are highly trained. Preparation includes observing strict taboos, rituals and meditation. The flyers they are thought to represent birds circling the World Tree, the ancient Mayan symbol of creation. The four flyers

also represent the world’s four cardinal points, sunrise, sunset, north and south. The fifth point, is represented by the pole, or tree, being planted in the ground, in touch with the underworld. These birdmen also represent the gods of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, the elements that make up our world.

The dancer perched on the top of the pole represents the heavens, home of the gods. The gods are said to have told man “Dance, and we shall observe.”

While dancing on a very small platform, he plays a drum and flute, representing the sounds of birds and nature. Feathers are an integral part of the costumes that are worn, each crafted by the flyer himself. In ancient times the flyers would often dress entirely as birds, such as macaws and eagles.!

The ropes used are carefully wrapped around the top of the pole, the four flyers then simultaneously jump off with the rope ends tied around their ankles, spiralling out and down, their arms mimicking birds in flight. !They circle the pole in their descent exactly 13 times.

The number 13, multiplied by the 4 flyers equals 52, the sacred number of the Mesoamerican calendar solar cycle, at the end of which the sun is hopefully renewed for another 52 years. Every individual year is represented by four seasons and 13 lunar cycles. The Dance of the Flyers is an ancient celebration of this continuing cycle of life. !One more thing. As we walk by our flyers every day here in Vallarta, we can’t help but notice the increasing numbers of tourists standing as far away as they can from the pole, still filming away of course, obviously trying to avoid the passing of the hat.

Come on people, these young men aren’t paid to do this, they depend on your donations to feed their families.

A couple of pesos is not going to kill you. Please help keep this tradition alive. You’ll get better pictures too.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP CLUB

Thank you!

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

“Remodeling and Renovations”

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

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.

Bugambilia Festival (April 26-May1) 4 Days of fun in the heart of Puerto Vallarta with artistic, cultural, ecological and musical events. 100% Free Family Fun. Enjoy the maritime parade, theater, dancing, musical bands, interesting workshops, artisan pavilion, culinary expo, parade along the boardwalk featuring “Charros” show and more.

Held at Los Arcos in the main plaza and Lazaro Cardenas Park in Puerto Vallarta’s Old Town.

10th Annual Vallarta Azteca International Folklore Festival (April 28-May 6) It is a celebration of colors, music and traditions through the dance. It is a free public event

with more than 600 dancers from 10 of the most important local groups in the country and 5 international representatives of Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Israel and Bolivia, in various locations throughout the Bay of Banderas.

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.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 VENECIA #290-A Col. Versalles Fluent English Spoken

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (May 3) May 3rd, the Feast of the Cross, brings to a close an entire week of Patron Saint Festivities in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

During this time, the community and its environs come together to celebrate cultural, sports, artistic and religious events.

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

The 2016 Laser World Championship (May 10-18 / May 20-28) The last two of four phases of an international event that brings together the best sailors in the world will take place in May: first the Laser Standard Men’s World Championship followed by the Laser Masters World Championship – Standard, both in Nuevo Vallarta. http://www. laserworlds2016.org/index.php/ Restaurant Week (May 15- 31) This culinary celebration is a community event where over 40 restaurants from the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta come together to create a specially approved prix fixe menu during

the entire two weeks in order to extend the region’s high season and promote its many amazing gastronomical delights.

Vallarta Pride (May 16-30) For the fourth consecutive year, Puerto Vallarta, is the proud home of Vallarta PRIDE, scheduled to take place from May 16th to 30th, 2016, under the motto “We are one family.” The most important pride LGBTTIQ festival in the region will host several events that include: art, culture, concerts, entertainment, movies, parties, grand gay pride parade and fun for everyone. www.vallartapride.com/

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.

Riviera Nayarit Wind Festival (May 20-22) Bucerías, the Wind Capital of the Riviera Nayarit, is the ideal stage for kite surfing and other aquatic sports fueled by the ocean breeze; small wonder that approximately 200 national and international competitors are expected to flock to the Wind Festival. http://festivaldelviento. mx/ Riviera Nayarit Mountain Bike (May 28) The mountains of Higuera Blanca is the meeting place for over 300 riders who will gather for a tour along one of the most scenic and fun routes of the domestic Lijacim race; with its 26 categories, it has something to offer every kind of mountain bike enthusiast.

Crossword Solve

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

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 9:30am-2pm 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

ACROSS

DOWN

April 28 - May 4, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com