Issue 996, May 5 - 11, 2016

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

News

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no dolphin tanks

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May 5 - 11, 2016 Year 19 Free Issue 996

Entertainment grant maloy smith

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Holiday mother’s day

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Archive Photo

Happy Mother’s Day! Feliz dia de las Madres 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

May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Calling in Mexico Calling phones in Mexico can be tricky as it is different than in the US or Canada. There are different codes you need to use depending if you are calling landlines or cellular phones and if they are local or long distance.

Long-distance calls from within Mexico For national long-distance calls (within Mexico) the code is 01 plus the area code and phone number. For international long-distance calls, first dial 00, then the country code (for the U.S. and Canada the country code is 1, so you would dial 00 + 1 + area code + 7 digit number).

Calling Cell Phones (from a land line) If you are calling from a landline within the area code of the Mexican cell phone number dial 044, then the 10 digit number including area code. Outside of the area code (but still within Mexico) dial 045 and then the 10 digit phone number. Cell phone to cell phone only requires the 10 digit number.

Phone Cards Phone cards (“tarjetas telefonicas”) for use in pay phones can be bought at newstands and in pharmacies in denominations of 30, 50 and 100 pesos. Pay phones do not accept coins. When buying a phone card for pay phone use, specify that you would like a “tarjeta LADA,” because pre-paid cell phone cards are also sold in the same establishments.

Calling Toll-Free Numbers Some toll free numbers work from Mexico to the US and Canada, but many do not.

You need to dial a different prefix. To call the following toll free prefixes, dial as follows: 800 numbers Dial 001-880-then the number 866 numbers Dial 001-883-then the number 877 numbers Dial 001-882-then the number 888 numbers Dial 001-881-then the number

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

Ahoy Cruisers!

Day Ship Passengers 04-may Carnival Miracle 2,124 05-may Grand Princess 2,600 06-may Pacific Princess 688 08-may Celebrity Infinity 1,950 10-may Carnival Miracle 2,124 11-may Carnival Miracle 2,124 12-may Disney Wonder 2,500 13-may Amsterdam 1,380 15-may Maasdam 1,258 18-may Carnival Miracle 2,124 25-may Carnival Miracle 2,124 31-may Carnival Miracle 2,124

Ambulance: 322.222.1533

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

In port this month

In the month of May Puerto Vallarta welcomes 23, 120 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

Note

editor@vallartatribune.com

H

ola Vallarta! I am back in the sunshine! I flew in with clear skies and had the most spectacular view of the bay. We flew over these little pueblos along the river banks, and I made note that it is time for me to explore closer to home. A reader once wrote in to tell me about Ixtapa (where Home Depot is) and its wealth of archeological ruins, maybe I should adventure out to find them.

In this issue, we have an article about some of the best/most popular pyramids in Mexico. While the West Coast is not known for its archeological ruins, we do have somesmaller sites that are within a few hours of Banderas Bay including one of my favourite, Los Guachimontones, which are located just outside of Guadalajara. The circular pyramids sit on a hilltop overlooking a very picturesque landscape of village, lake and farm. If you are driving the ‘Free Road’ to or from Guadalajara, this is worth a stop.

So, I rolled off the plane and right into a couple of micheladas, which eventually turned into cocktails at a (relatively) new lounge called La Alhambra on Lazaro Cardenas in Old Town. Rene, the very dashing owner with the most wonderful accent, has created a nighttime version of the mimosa, called Into the Dark. There’s something about drinking bubbles that just makes everything better! If you are looking for quiet sophistication on a corner not known for being quiet or sophisticated, this is the place. He has big plans, which include a tapas menu, live music, and a possible expansion to include a patio/garden space. This is a hidden gem that could use our

support over the summer. The inauguration party for Vallarta Pride will be here; perhaps that is the time to see it at its most fabulous!

From there we headed over to the always reliable Roxy for some reggae and then some old school rock and where I met the most adorable woman Monica, owner of the Gringo Loco bar (also in Old Town). I do not venture into those back streets much, but her infectious smile may lure me there yet.

On May 10th, we celebrate the women who have to love us.

Mother’s Day is celebrated a week or so earlier in Mexico than up North.

It may well be the most important holiday of the year, for Mexicans cherish their mothers like no other.

You’ll know your children love you if there is a mariachi band beneath your window in the early dawn serenading you with the traditional Las Mañanitas. In Spanish, it basically says, “Hey, it’s your special day!, Get up it is almost dawn.” Because you know, you are a mom, and you have things to do! Now if there is no mariachi beneath your window, I’d say maybe your kids love you even more!

Hopefully, you get some lovely flowers, a bottle of wine, a spa day, some time to just relax or all of the above (HINT, HINT). Regardless, to all the mom’s out there Happy Mother’s Day and for those of you with a mother - don’t be a jerk. Call your mom.

Still plenty of great things going on around town and while many of the Farmer’s Markets have closed, we still have the Friday Market at Marsol by the pier on Los Muertos and the Saturday Three Hens and a Rooster market at 466 Caranza in the Emiliano Zapata neighbourhood.

Have a great week. Be sure to get out and explore this wonderful bay we call home. Support local.

Don’t litter. And say no to Dolphins in captivity.

Madeline

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

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rom the Old Town Farmers Market this past week, we hear from our friend Lynnette: “Old Town Farmers Market ended its 2015-2016 season today. 30 April is El Dia Del Nino (Children's Day) so the vendors' children and families joined the fun party

By Janice Gonzalez

held afterwards in the square for vendors and volunteers.

As expected, there weren't many visitors today but some old friends popped by to see us and catch up on news. The lovely Corinne, SPCA transport coordinator was one of them. Good to

May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Letters to the Editor Hola Señora Editor,

E

njoyed your take on the pueblos Chacala, Los Ayala, Guayabitos, Lo De Marcos, San Pancho etc...Read it over Cricket tacos at El Arrayan... followed by sublime beef barbacoa... anyway back to the point. Being a surfer/cultural explorer I have visited them all in my quest for waves and new experiences.I suggest next go around that you check out Monteon (my new find hace 2 dias)...located between Lo De Marcos and Guayabitos The place makes Lo de Marcos look like a party town. When the cobbled main drag ends (I am being generous with "main drag") follow the dirt road through pineapple fields, cattle pastures until arriving at must see pristine beach.....not one structure in sight aside from a few shade palapas used by the gente....1 mile long crescent beach with the requisite jungle draped headlands at each end.

Truly a paraíso. ...just don't tell anyone about the reeling left point break at the south end of beach..

The only local I saw in 3 hours said he never saw a surfer there in 30 years....Seems improbable being so close to the other surf havens with such a quality wave...but hey that's what exploring is all about and sometimes you get lucky.

Stewart Ed.: Stewart, as a connoisseur of neat little places I wanted to keep this gem of a letter to myself, but as one tasked with informing the public I could not. Forgive me.

Dear Editor,

I

hope you had a great time in Victoria, BC., but while you were gone a minor problem occurred. In the edition two weeks before (April 14-21) you kindly printed my letter mentioning that April 19th would be the last Free Malecon Sculpture Tour for the season that Galeria Pacifico sponsors and that I guide, resuming

see you, Corinne! We had a couple of people drop by, asking to volunteer at the Sanctuary, long-term.

Hopefully we can get them both integrated into the SPCA community for the summer.

Fewer people meant fewer donations and this week we took in $300 pesos + $2USD. Every little helps! Service dog, McGuinness, contributed some rawhide bones

again on November 15th.

However, in last week’s issue (April 28-May 4th) the tour was listed as still happening in the Tribune’s section, “Markets and More - Weekly Events in Banderas Bay.” I assumed this would cause some people to show up at the Millennium sculpture by the Hotel Rosita at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, May 3rd, so I went and offered an abbreviated tour to those waiting. I won’t be able to continue doing this because of other commitments, and after having already done it this season for 23 weeks in row, and for the last ten years in total.

So I hope you might publish this letter to help get the word out that the tour is finished until next Fall.

Thanks for that and for all of the significant coverage you’ve given the tour this season. It was instrumental in attracting hundreds of people to the tour, and it helped to collect over $56,000 pesos in donations for the Bibiloteca Los Mangos, our excellent public library and cultural center that receives no government funding and survives on donations and other fund raising efforts.

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

Ed: Sorry Gary! I think we received some conflicting information. Hopefully this straightens it out for everyone. See you in the Fall!

And congrats on the banner year.

Dear Editor,

W

hile it is true that the PV Writers Group is no longer meeting at the Red Room, we are looking forward to our third meeting Saturday, May 7th at the Biblioteca Los Mangos (Library) at 10:30 am. Since the PV Writers have never canceled a meeting for the Summer during the 20+ years of

for the Sanctuary, with the help of owner, Donna. Thank you both.

That's it for another season.

Remember, the Farmers market returns on the first Saturday on November, so put it on your calendars right now.

All the volunteers thank you very much for your continued support and we look forward to seeing Continued on page 22

its existence, the “core” group is not about to do it now. Please print this notice in your next edition.

Thank you, Frank K. Meyer

Dear Editor,

M

y wife and I are long-term visitors to PV and have seen many changes over the last 10-15 years. It has matured from a place where we went for a cheap vacation in the sun to a place we now spend several months every winter there taking in the sites and enjoying the sustainable features like the turtle farm. We do not feel there is any place in an environmentally aware destination for tanks with dolphins. This is a throwback to the bad old days of tourism. What is next, elephants performing tricks and bull fights? The world has moved on from this level of tawdry tourism and I think [your firm] would do well to be promoting a more sustainable style.

You do not want to be the last [firm] out there promoting this outdated form of tourism. If these dolphin tanks proceed we will be looking elsewhere for a more 21st century version of where we can enjoy the tropics.

Thank you Dave & Pat Dick Vancouver

Hi Madeline,

W

e had a great turnout last Wednesday for the volunteer cleanup at the palm ranch in Mezcales. We will be doing this every Wednesday indefinitely so could you please put the following in the Tribune event calendar? And hope you can join us soon.

Gracias, Sandra Wednesdays – 9 am to 1 pm - Palm Ranch Volunteer Days – Mezcales palmranchvolunteers@gmail.com for detailed information

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Residents organize to prevent the installation of a dolphin tank HISTORY

By Doraliz Terrón Moreno

C

oncerned for the life, preservation and protection of dolphins, a group of Puerto Vallarta residents are raising awareness against the installation of a dolphin tank inside the shopping mall under construction called 'La Isla'.

Due to this initiative, a growing group of concerned citizens has formed for the purpose of increasing consciousness against this type of spectacle with cetaceans, asking citizens to unite for the cause and request that the developers reevaluate the construction and operation of aforementioned dolphinarium, and instead search for alternatives to this space in the commercial center. This coming 7th of May at 12 p.m. all citizens supporting this cause will gather in front of the construction site dressed in blue to peacefully demonstrate against this form of cetacean

“Together we can create a more conscious and respectful Vallarta towards all living beings. If you agree with this ideology, join us March 7th” captivity. This is appropriate for the whole family, with a goal to heighten awareness about prevention of this type of installation.

As well, a formal petition was created on the site change.org with the goal to vote against the tank that has been referenced , which reduces the life of the dolphins, promotes stress and disorientation, are

drugged to endure their lives in enslavement for human entertainment, among other unsettling facts.

The said proposal can be found here: https://goo.gl/GvmEEv When enough signatures have been collected , the document will be delivered to the Director of GICSA, Samuel Jalife. Facebook: Empty the Tanks PV

Documentaries such as "Blackfish" and " The Cove" have created awareness of the terrible suffering and stress that these types of installations cause to cetaceans ( dolphins and orcas), this is the primary reason that sites such as Sea World are in the center of the storm with respect to this topic. It has been widely demonstrated that dolphins have superior intelligence and it is cruel to hold them in captivity for tourist attractions.

Some facts about cetaceans living in the wild: * They have families. * They reunite in large pods to strengthen bonds, and for protection and reproduction. * They have culture.

The adults pass on their knowledge to their young such as how to hunt in pods. * They create and use their own tools to achieve their hunting objectives. * They recognize each other as individuals. *They protect members of

their own pod. * They communicate in their own complex language.

These are only few examples of how structured its society is. Social life only occurs in animal groups with demonstrated intelligence, as the non-human primates from which the man evolved, whom is also classified as a social animal.

Puerto Vallarta is a privileged place by the exuberance of the surrounding nature.This being its main attraction, it should be a tourist destination focused on the admiration and care of nature, where we live in harmony with it. It's easy to see dolphins in freedom in our bay. There is no need to restrict its observation to a tank!

The ONU and UNESCO's Universal Declaration of Animal Rights establish, among others, that every animal has the right to respect, and that any deprivation of freedom, even that for educational purposes, is

Attention local residents and gardening lovers!

H

ere's a new opportunity to get out of Puerto Vallarta for a day into the beautiful farm country just outside of Mezcales. Join us for a day of farm work, fun and food any Wednesday in May (May 4, 11, 18, 25), from 9 am until early afternoon (Adults only).

Tropical America, a 50 acre working palm and tropical plant ranch, needs volunteers to do numerous tasks around the farm.

The International Palm Society will be visiting the ranch early next year, so we want to get the ranch in tiptop shape.

Included in the farm day will be a short presentation of the mission and reputation of the farm.

A light vegetarian lunch of complimentary soup, bread, non-alcoholic drink and dessert from the bountiful gardens will be served

if you want to stay. (Or you may bring your own lunch.)

Our work will be done by 1:00.

We will meet at the former Coca Cola bottling plant across the highway from the Farmacia Guadalajara in downtown Mezcales and will car pool to the ranch. If you are driving, let us know how many people you can take. If you are taking the bus, get off at main stop in

town by Primera Plus and walk around the corner east to Coca Cola. We will leave here at 9:00 am and return there at 3:30 pm.

Volunteers are asked to wear old clothes: longsleeved T-shirts and long pants, a sun hat, comfortable flat shoes. Be sure to bring sunscreen, insect repellant, gardening gloves, and a water bottle (the Palm Ranch can supply filtered

drinking water).

If you would like to join the group, please email Carla at palmranchvolunteers@gmail.com, by the preceding Monday, 6:00 pm, so we'll know whom to meet and how many will be eating lunch.

contrary to this right. Tanks with dolphins violate animal rights. On the other hand, the Protection and Care for Animals Law in Jalisco beholds, in its article 30, that it is forbidden to do the following acts: XIX. The possession or sale of animals whose specie is considered in danger of extinction or under special protection, according to the laws of matter.

The most commonly used species in the dolphinariums is listed under Special Protection by NOM Ecol 059 2010: Delphinidae (Tursiops truncatus), bottlenose dolphin. Pr (Special Protection) nonendemic.

XXV. All event, act or omission that may cause pain, suffering, endanger life or affect animal welfare.

The physical and emotional damage caused by the captivity of these species has been widely documented (documentaries as "The Cove" and "Blackfish").

news

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

13 Mexican indigenous words you were already using 1. Avocado Passed into English by way of the Spanish word “aguacate,” the word originates from the Nahuatl term “huacatl,” meaning both “avocado” and “testicle,” according to Merriam-Webster.

2. Cacao The fruit whose dried seeds are used to make chocolate was originally named cacahuatl. T. cacao is widely distributed from southeastern Mexico to the Amazon basin. Cultivation, use, and cultural elaboration of cacao were early and extensive in Mesoamerica.

Ceramic vessels with residues from the preparation of cacao beverages have been found at archaeological sites dating back to the Early Formative (1900-900 BC) period. For example, one such vessel found at an Olmec archaeological site on the Gulf Coast of Veracruz, Mexico dates cacao’s

preparation by pre-Olmec peoples as early as 1750 BC.[12] On the Pacific coast of Chiapas, Mexico, a Mokaya archaeological site provides evidence of cacao beverages dating even earlier, to 1900 BC.[12] The initial domestication was probably related to the making of a fermented, thus alcoholic beverage.[ 3. Chocolate The Nahuatl “xocolatl” is made up of the parts “xococ,” meaning “bitter,” and “atl,” meaning “water.”

4. Coyote These North American canines take their name from the Nahuatl “coy tl.”

The coyote is a prominent character in Native American folklore (Southwestern United States and Mexico), usually depicted as a trickster that alternately assumes the form of an actual coyote or a man. As with other trickster figures, the coyote

acts as a picaresque hero which rebels against social convention through deception and humor. The animal was especially respected in Mesoamerican cosmology as a symbol of military might, with some scholars having traced the origin of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl to a pre-Aztec coyote deity.

5. Guacamole The Nahuatl “huacamlli” literally means “avocado sauce.” It can informally be referred to as “guac” in North America and is an avocado-based dip or salad first created by the Aztecs in what is now Mexico. In addition to its use in modern Mexican cuisine, it has also

become part of American cuisine as a dip, condiment and salad ingredient 6. Jicama This vegetable, which is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, bears a name adapted from the Nahuatl “x cama.”

7. Jalapeño The name of this spicy pepper comes from the Mexican city of Xalapa in the state of Veracruz. In Nahuatl, “xalapan” means “sand by the water.” In 1999, roughly 107 thousand acres in Mexico were dedicated towards growing jalapeños and as of 2011 that number had fallen to 101 thousand acres. Jalapeños account for thirty percent of Mexico’s chili production.

8. Mesquite If you’ve traveled to the U.S. Southwest, you’ve likely seen these trees that lend a smokey flavor to Texas barbecue. The name comes

from the Nahuatl “mizquitl.”

9. Mezcal The name for one of Mexico’s greatest contributions to world culinary culture, “mezcal,” evolved out of the Nahuatl term “mexcalli.”

Made from the smoked heart of the agave, the prefix means “maguey” — a synonym for the plant — while xcalli means “something cooked,” according to Dictionary.com.

10. Ocelot The French shortened the Nahuatl name or this spotted cat once commonly seen in the Americas, from tl c tl. Like many wild cats, ocelots are occasionally kept as pets. Salvador Dalí frequently traveled with his pet ocelot Babou,[23] even bringing it aboard the luxury ocean liner SS France.

11. Peyote The name of this hallucinogenic cactus derives from the Nahuatl “peyotl.” Sources

translate the Nahuatl word as “Divine Messenger”.

Native North Americans are likely to have used peyote, often for spiritual purposes, for at least 5,500 years.

12. Shack Though the word is of uncertain origin, some think it evolved out of the Nahuatl term “xacalli,” for “wooden hut.”

13. Tomato The English word for this fruit is an adaption of the Nahuatl “tomatl” and the word was first seen in print in 1595. Its use as a food originated in Mexico, and spread throughout the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Domestic tourism gets boost at annual fair

Hidden camera films jaguar cub in Nayarit

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ianguis Turístico described as the most successful in 41 years The latest edition of Mexico’s most important travel trade show, Tianguis Turístico, celebrated this past week in Guadalajara, has been billed as the most successful in its 41-year history.

Attended by 910 travel service providers, 1,605 buyers and 9,413 people from 79 countries, the trade show managed to nail down over 37,000 business appointments, a new record on all fronts, said the Tourism Secretariat.

The presence of 32 Asian buyers was a welcome sign given Mexico’s interest in diversifying into that market, particularly China, India and South Korea.

The Tianguis Turísitico was also attended for the first time by Colombia, Chile and Peru, fellow member nations of the Pacific Alliance, and countries have been successful in promoting their own tourism resources.

While the importance of international tourism was emphasized during the four-day show, the Enrique Peña Nieto administration also focused upon the importance of the domestic market during the traditional low seasons.

Peña Nieto presented one such program, Viajemos todos por México, or Let’s All Travel Through Mexico, during the fair. It consists of a major agreement signed with several important actors in the tourist industry, with the intention of boosting domestic travel by taking advantage of seasonally under-utilized travel infrastructure and services.

Altogether, low seasons represent 9 million empty airplane seats, 200 million empty bus seats and 93 million unoccupied hotel rooms every year. This is even after taking into consideration the record-breaking occupancy rates experienced

by the industry as a whole in recent years.

Tourism Secretary Enrique de la Madrid has reached an agreement with firms such as Aeroméxico, Volaris and Price Travel through which airfares will be discounted up to 50%, providing an incentive for more Mexicans to travel.

Another announcement by the federal government was that Tianguis Turistico will be returning in 2017 to the Guerrero resort city of Acapulco, which hosted the event every year between 1975 and 2011, after which it changed location every year.

After protests from the city’s business owners, the government decided that Acapulco shall host the trade show every other year starting in 2017. But safety is a concern for many in light of the city’s increased violence.

In order to guarantee a safe environment for tourists, municipal and state authorities have been working in collaboration with their counterparts at the federal level and the private sector to determine what actions to take to regain the trust of travelers.

As well as new training programs for state police officers and the presence of the Federal Police, there is a new Tourist Information and Protection Center, CAPTA, to provide resources and assistance to visitors.

“We are proud of the return of Tianguis to Acapulco because it shows that we have what it takes, that we have the trust of the federal tourism authorities and of the industry, and it enables us to showcase all the positive factors that differentiate Acapulco and that deserve attention,” said Ernesto Rodriguez Escalona, the state Secretary of Tourism. “The event will give us the opportunity to show an improved infrastructure and world-class tourist offering.”

Original: mexiconewsdaily.com

Lime prices soar but they’ve been higher

L

ower temperatures, heavy rains push prices up 41% The price of a staple in many Mexican dishes and drinks has soared this month due to late cold weather conditions and early rains, but limes have at times been more costly than today.

According to figures released by the national statistics institute, INEGI, the price rose by 41% during the first half of April.

In Mexico City markets, a kilogram of regular limes sold for 50.6 pesos, almost US $3, while the seedless variety sold for 43.4 pesos.

Although the price increase is significant, in other years it has been greater: in March 2014, lime prices reached a historical high of 80 pesos per kilo.

The seasonal increase can be explained by several converging factors, such as the late cold fronts and the heavy rain experienced in the main producer states. Michoacán, Colima and Veracruz produce more than 50% of the country’s total.

Weather problems aren’t rare at the beginning of the year, said federal Agriculture Secretary José Calzada, adding that the yield decreases drastically.

By May, the crop recovers and the supply and demand in the domestic market is stabilized.

A latent threat to the 550,000 hectares dedicated to lime produc-

tion in Mexico is that of the Huanglongbing plague (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease.

The latest reports say it is mainly in the state of Colima, where lime production has been in decline for the last few years.

HLB is hard to contain and spreads, and so far no remedy has been found. Citrus production areas in India, China, the United States and Brazil have been devastated by the disease.

Among those feeling the brunt of the higher prices are the street vendors who make drinks that depend on lime for their flavoring.

Ernesto Cantú, for example, is a Guadalajara tejuino vendor, who usually pays about 23 pesos per kilo for his limes.

But now the price is 10 or 20 pesos more for a key ingredient of the thick corn drink, made with piloncillo and fermented slightly before being served with a scoop of lemon ice.

“It’s theft, but what can I do?” he lamented. When prices are lower, Cantú lets his customers have all the lime juice they want, an option he’ll withdraw until the price drops again.

Mexico is the world’s biggest producer of limes and has been for several years.

About a quarter of the production is exported, mainly to the United States.

Original:mexiconewsdaily.com

ootage indicates population, while small, is being maintained, says Conanp Video footage of a jaguar cub in a protected area in the state of Nayarit is evidence that the population of the animal is being maintained, says the National Protected Areas Commission (Conanp).

However, population numbers are not high.

The commission says there are an estimated 22 jaguars in the National Marshes Biosphere Reserve in Nayarit, where monitoring of cats has been under way since 2009.

The video shows the cub playing with its mother and was recorded by a hidden camera in the region of the reserve known as La Papalota, also home to the lynx, ocelot, white-tailed deer, badger, raccoon, armadillo, rabbit and coyote.

The jaguar is a species that Conanp considers is in danger of extinction although it has been given the lower-risk designation of “near-threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Jaguar conservation efforts have been growing throughout Mexico since they began 10 years ago. Some 1,300 community volunteers are active in 12 states to watch over the jaguar population.

Watch the video at: https:// youtu.be/zHpp0RwaOF8 Original: mexiconewsdaily.com

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Mexico-Cuba Chamber Formed

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he Bi-National Mexico-Cuba Chamber of Commerce was created with an eye toward being an ally to Mexican companies wanting to expand trade and investment on the communist island at a historic moment after the strengthening of bilateral relations.

“We’re seeking to become an ally of companies in closing business (deals). Also having greater participation in the Mexican business sector, and not only in the export area, but also in the ... opportunities for investment that turn up” in Cuba, the president of the organization, Beatriz Barreto, told EFE in an interview.

In this way, the private organization, which began operations in 2015, is seeking “to strengthen commercial relations” between nations and foster “strategic associations” within the framework of the relaunching of relations by the two governments in 2012, when Enrique Peña Nieto came to power in Mexico and put an end to more than a decade of tension.

The organization functions as a civil association and received government – although not financial – support so that it could establish itself in just a year.

It is looking to expand its influence and last November, for example, members of the Chamber visited Havana and signed three “important” letters of intent in the health, culture and education sectors.

The tourism opening on the

island, which was visited in March

by U.S. President Barack Obama, implies a trade benefit not only for Mexico and other countries seeking to do business in Cuba, the head of the organization – which has several offices in Mexico – said.

During this new phase in Mexico-Cuba diplomatic relations – which date from 1902 and, although they have never been interrupted, have gone through highs and lows – Barreto said she did not want to focus only on the economic realm.

In 2014, Mexico and Cuba achieved a trade balance of $374 million, 89 percent more than a decade before, but Mexico’s share of that total was $362 million in exports.

Original: laht.com

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ntrepreneurs’ firm connects artisans with billion-dollar market A team of young entrepreneurs is looking to take the crafts of the indigenous peoples of Mexico to a broader global market, marrying traditional textiles with the requirements of the millennial lifestyle.

The dream of the college graduates began four years ago when they started working with five artisans from Naupan in the state of Puebla. After combining the traditional indigenous embroideries with their favorite shirts, their brand, then known as Flor de Mayo, began to gain popularity among relatives and friends.

People liked the shirts, both formal and casual, adorned with traditional Naupan designs.

“We began while still studying at the Santa Fe, Mexico City, campus of the Monterrey Institute of Technology. Our idea was still vague and ill-defined, but we wanted to combine crafts with modern products,” said José Antonio Nuño, general manager and co-founder of what is now known as Someone Somewhere.

“We soon realized that this idea could become a collaboration with artisans and their communities that would be of value to them while also being a profitable company.”

The Someone Somewhere website explains “the crazy idea:” “There are more than 7 million Mexican artisans living in poverty conditions. At the same time, adventurers around the world are spending billions of dollars in fashion and gear. What if we connected both worlds through a lifestyle brand?” At the beginning,

May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

MX artisans tap into the millennials market

said Nuño, production was smallscale: “we produced 15 shirts at a time . . . but then the shirts became increasingly popular just by word of mouth.” Two years later, they won a 150,000-peso grant from the global non-profit Entrepreneur’s Organization, allowing them to broaden the company’s catalog and create a web presence.

In 2014, they were one of 10 companies chosen by the international accelerator Unreasonable Institute from a pool of 500 applications. That changed things forever. “This was a turning point for us, helping us to think big. We finally had money to invest, and mentors helping us on the way,” said Nuño. As the company grew, so did its scope and understanding of the realities of the indigenous communities of Mexico.

Today, it works with artisans from six communities in Puebla, Oaxaca and Chiapas, three of the poorest states in Mexico. “They may also be the most culturally rich regions, with thousands of traditions and incredible artisan techniques ready to be re-discovered.”

Under the new brand Someone Somewhere, the entrepreneurs have managed to increase the monthly income of their indigenous collaborators by up to 300%, allowing to pull themselves and their families above the poverty line. Also through the company, artisans can take courses in topics such as entrepreneurship, design and personal finance. The next step is creation of an online platform so that any artisan can access the course content from wherever they are.

Last year the company also received funding from the Mexican government through a social promotion program and from the National Institute for Entrepreneurs.

The next step in establishing their brand is a US $30,000 crowdfunding campaign at Kickstarter, after which they’ll be ready to expand into the United States market, and later into Europe and Australia. Someone Somewhere is now more than just shirts. Its product catalog now includes travel bags, packsacks and caps.

Original: mexiconewsdaily.com

Remittances to Mexico Mexico’s First-Quarter GDP Up Surge 8.6% in Q1 2.9%, Preliminary Data Shows

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emittances sent to Mexico by emigrants totaled $6.2 billion in the first quarter, up 8.6 percent compared to the same period last year, the Bank of Mexico said Monday.

Emigrants’ remittances totaled $5.72 billion in the first quarter of 2015, the central bank said in its monthly report.

The average remittance was $293 in the January-March period, down from the $297 average registered in the same period in 2015.

The number of transactions climbed from 19.25 million in the first quarter of 2015 to 21.19 million

in the same period this year, with the majority of remittances sent via electronic funds transfers, the central bank said.

Mexico received $24.79 billion in remittances in 2015, a figure that was up 4.84 percent from 2014, when remittances totaled $23.64 billion.

Remittances sent by Mexicans living abroad, mainly in the United States, are the country’s second-largest source of foreign exchange, after oil, and help cover the living expenses of millions of people.

Original:laht.com

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exico’s gross domestic product rose 2.9 percent in the first quarter compared with the same three-month period of last year, according to a preliminary estimate released on Friday by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, or INEGI. GDP expansion was driven by 3.7 percent growth in the tertiary (service) sector; 3 percent growth in the primary sector, which includes agriculture and ranching; and 2.2 percent growth in the secondary sector (manufacturing and construction), the INEGI said in a statement. The economy, meanwhile,

grew 2.5 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015, according to the preliminary figures.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, Mexico’s GDP edged up 0.8 percent compared with the previous quarter.

The secondary sector grew 1.5 percent in the first quarter compared with October-December 2015, while the primary and tertiary sectors expanded by 1.2 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively.

The INEGI first released its preliminary estimate of quarterly GDP in October to give decision makers timely and reliable information

on the evolution of the country’s economic activity.

In releasing the preliminary data, the INEGI uses economic reports published for the first two months of each quarter, adds available information for the third month and estimates missing figures for that latter month using econometric models.

The final first-quarter GDP figure will be released on May 20.

The Finance Secretariat is forecasting that Mexico’s economy will grow by between 2.6 percent and 3.6 percent in 2016.

Original: laht.com

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Hard as Horseshoe Nails

by Marcia Blondin

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he title is a line from one of the hundreds of songs penned and performed by Grant Maloy Smith. He will be in concert May 11th at Casa Karma.

Grant has been to Vallarta on vacation a couple of times and has travelled throughout Mexico, has relatives in the State of Aguascalientes, however, this will be Grant’s first performance in Mexico. Winner of countless awards for singing and song writing, he will be accompanied on stage at Casa Karma by expatriate and Mexican musicians of the highest calibre. And, anyone who has ever been to Casa Karma can attest to the magnificence of the setting. The amazing Jim Lee of Celebrations Vallarta will be catering.

Grant (born in Jacksonville) was the big brother to two sisters, Wendy and Linda in Northern Florida. They moved around often as their father was a Navy pilot. Somewhere in his youth the importance of taking-care-of-the-planet so it can take-care-of-us struck a chord and stayed with him. He sang his way through school and starred in “Oliver!”, fondly remembering “Where is Love?” He is a voting member for the Grammy

Awards and is involved with many Songwriters’ Associations throughout the United States and is a Broadcast Music Inc. artist.

Grant is currently recording his newest album that will feature these fine musicians: Bill Wittman on bass and Skoota Warner on drums, from Cyndi Lauper’s band.

Tommy Mandel, who played with Bryan Adams for many years, on keyboard. Brian Branigan on dobro and slide guitars and Lorenza Ponce on violin who plays frequently with Jon Bon Jovi and Sheryl Crow, and has played recently with Sam Smith, Adele, et al. After his vacation/concert here in Vallarta, Grant’s next gig will be to open for Rita Coolidge in Rhode Island close to where he lives with his wife of 30 years, Susan, an enormous cat named Harry and two dogs.

This event, this setting, this food, this music is, again, going to be one of those rare one-of-a-kind nights that can be best summed up in the words of CK Productions…

“This ensemble will be a ‘one and only’. Those notes will go out over the ocean and never be recaptured.

Live music is not like a painting, nor like a sculpture; it is lasting only in your heart and memory. This will be that kind of music.”

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day

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urned into an excuse to drink Mexican beer and eat tacos (like we needed an excuse) the holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The Fifth Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, but is also celebrated (again, we’ll celebrate anything and everything if it involves beer and tacos) in other parts of the country and in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually September 16.

Setting the Stage

The battle at Puebla in 1862 happened at a violent and chaotic time in Mexico’s history. Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain in 1821, and a number of internal political takeovers and wars, including the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the Mexican Civil War of 1858, had

mostly wiped out the national economy.

During this period Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to several nations, including Spain, England and France, who were demanding payment. Similar debt to the U.S. was previously cleared after the Mexican-American War. France was eager to add to its empire at that time, and when Mexico finally stopped making any loan payments, France used the debt issue to establish its own leadership in Mexico by installing

Napoleon’s relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico.

Mexico Confronts the Invasion France invaded the Gulf coast of Mexico and began to march toward Mexico City. Although American President Abraham Lincoln was sympathetic to Mexico’s cause, and for which he is honored in Mexico, the U.S. was involved in its own Civil War at the time and was

unable to provide any direct assistance. Marching toward Mexico City from the coast, the French army encountered strong resistance at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. Lead by Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, a small, poorly armed militia of about 4,500 were able to stop and defeat a well outfitted French army of 6,500 soldiers, which halted the invasion of the country.

The victory was a glorious moment for Mexican patriots and is the cause for the historical date’s celebration.

Unfortunately, the victory was short lived. Upon hearing the bad news, Napoleon had found an excuse to send more troops overseas to try and invade Mexico again, against the wishes of the French populace. 30,000 more troops and a full year later, the French were eventually able to depose the Mexican army, take over Mexico City and install Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico.

Maximilian’s rule of Mexico was also short lived, from 1864 to 1867, ending as the U.S. began

to provide more political and military assistance to Mexico to expel the French. Despite the eventual French invasion of Mexico City, Cinco de Mayo honors the bravery and victory of General Zaragoza’s small, outnumbered militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Today’s Celebration

For the most part, the holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional holiday in Mexico, celebrated most vigorously in the state of Puebla. Though there is recognition of the holiday throughout the whole country, it’s nothing like that found in Puebla.

Commercial interests in the United States and Mexico have also been successful in promoting the holiday, with products and services focused on Mexican food, beverage and festive items. Increasingly more cities in the U.S. and Mexico catering to a festive consumer are also more than happy to provide a venue to celebrate, so that Cinco de Mayo is becoming adopted into the holiday calendar of more and more people every year.

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Comings and Goings

By Marcia Blondin Comings….

I went to the Jazz Foundation last Thursday and I suggest you do the same this Thursday, the day this paper comes out. As much as I love salsa, cumbias, even banda and ranchero music…anything Latin, every now and again it’s wonderful to sit (NOT still!) and listen to kick-ass rock and roll. Amazing what a little Jimi Hendrix, Doors and the promise of Pink Floyd and Zeppelin to come, can do. The group is called the Oliband for Oliver, the lead singer and maybe the best blues harmonica player I have ever heard live.

I’m not kidding. He’s young and he’s from CHILE!!!! I will be there Thursday to collect on the promise.

Two days later, on Saturday, is the long-awaited benefit concert for Willie Royal at the Palm, hosted by Luna Rumba. The time has been changed from 7 to 9:30 so double check on Facebook so you don’t leave the house two hours early.

On Wednesday, the 11th, another much-anticipated concert is happening at Casa Karma starring Grant

Maloy Smith and some of our finest local musicians like Steve York and Kristian Pentangeli. Also, Los Carajos will open and close Grant’s concert so there will be hours of great music in that glorious setting.

…and Goings Joseph Dane’s final night in the Red Room could only have been called a success. I am sure he was pleased with himself; he certainly pleased the crowded room. I truly wish him luck on his Tour and, if he keeps in touch, I will let you know!

Gabriel Reyes finished his concert series at Shisha on Saturday night. It was International Jazz Day night so the crowd was smaller than the previous week but all lucky enough to be there enjoyed immensely. You can still listen to his superb guitar playing and his incredible voice every Friday at the Marsol Hotel Market by the Pier and again at our Bazaar on May 17th from 10 to 2.

I had the privilege of attending a Spanish language play over the weekend at the Cultural Center Theatre on the Isla Cuale. “Un

Hombre Ajeno” starred two actors: Cesar Bravo, whom I know and Beto Mora, whom I met after the production. The Director, Ramiro Daniel I knew from his direction of Princesas Desesperadas. My Spanish is hideously bad but the acting in this play was so fine and so powerful it made me weep…twice.

The play (closing night) was existential and minimalist: Two young men on a stage with a single-bed pine wood frame. That’s it. A bit of decoration – clothing – hanging over centerstage. Lights and sound (original, very good but eerie music) – simple.

Important but simple. I am so used to seeing comedy, I had forgotten

drama has two faces of equal importance. I will attend more. The capabilities of our Mexican actors – under our very noses – are staggering in their import.

Thanks to Alain Perreault who posted he was going so I joined him.

What a wonderful gift I received that night. Gracias.

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Paradise

Under the Palapa

and Parenting Leza Warkentin

Chris Dalton

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

www.majorscorner.com

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Lessons From My Mother

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here’s probably nothing as complex, unique, wonderful and strange as the connection between a mother and her offspring. It’s loving and turbulent.

It’s supportive and smothering.

It’s emotional and infuriating. It is a lens through which all humans view relationships for the rest of their lives.

Typing that last sentence just filled me with a particular sense of dread, because a) it is true and b) I am somebody’s mother. If you are a terrible mother, as nearly every mother is at some point or another, you are damaging your child’s outlook on relationships. If you are amazing, as nearly every mother is at some point or another, you are setting up their future spouse(s) to never measure up.

Possibly being fairly average, as nearly every mother is a vast majority of the time, is really what’s wanted. Typing that last sentence made me feel much better.

My own mother is far from average. When I was growing up, she worked hard and modeled how to keep a well-organized and well-maintained home. Being a seventies and eighties mom meant she was the Master of the Delicious Casserole and knew 100 different uses for Cheez Whiz (as an aside, when I visited Canada a couple of years ago, I tried to resurrect my love of Cheez Whiz, and guess what? It’s really and truly awful.

Even on a celery stick. Actually, especially on a celery stick).

My mother was determined that I learn the ways of keeping a house, and she would bring me into the kitchen/sewing room/laundry room and show me things like how to darn a sock, or the importance of sorting clothing into like colors, or how to scrub a pot clean. What I got out of these lessons was: a) that I would just buy a new pot every time something burned and b) that my socks with holes would be used in summer as air-conditioning for the feet.

In other words, I was a total disaster. She never gave up, though, maybe because she believed that eventually genetics would find a way, or maybe because she was a glutton for punishment.

Either way, the lessons continued.

The outcome of all these hours of patient teaching is that I finally sewed together about one and a half awkward-looking pillows for my Barbies. Not bad.

The other thing I remember about growing up with my mother is that she was always available.

She kept a clean house, but she’d spend hours with me in a messy room with a teapot full of water, using her best English accent to ask my favorite Kewpie doll about the weather. She’d wrap us up in my favorite blanket and read stories about little girls who grow up to be big girls. She’d sit on my bed with me when I had the chicken pox and keep me busy with crayons and chatter so I wouldn’t scratch.

Nowadays, I am still a total disaster. Genetics did not find a way. My mother, still patient, still a glutton for punishment, will provide mini-lessons on how to get stains out but knows to stop once my eyes start glazing over. Sometimes I know that she thinks she did something wrong, that if she could have made the lessons more inte-

resting I might have learned.

If only she knew that I did learn.

I learned that putting aside the chores and having a tea party with my child will bring them the most cherished memories. I learned that fueling my daughter’s imagination with stories and books is the best gift there is. I learned that the happiest times are the simplest times, like the ones spent listening to your little girl’s dreams over a plate of homemade cookies.

The last time my mom was here, she watched me dance with my daughter. I am no dancer, but my girl had created a little disco in her room for us, and I knew I couldn’t disappoint her. My mother watched, smiling, and later told me how impressed she was at how much time and energy I spent on my kids.

She didn’t seem to realize that she was the person who showed me how important it was to dance clumsily to Beyonce in your daughter’s Famus Disko. She didn’t know that out of all the hours she spent with me, the lesson that stuck was the most precious one: the best way to show my children how much I love them is by giving them my time.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of us mothers, who are teaching valuable lessons each and every day.

have always thought of myself as a normal type of person, not particularly good at much, but not a bad fellow, just middle of the road. The trouble is when you start to write this and that, you become a bit of a target in this very small town.

To go back a ways, when my wife Michelle headed to Calgary for the birth of our grandchild, her short visit turned into seven weeks, meaning I was dragooned into covering for her at the SPCA booth in the market every Saturday morning.

I cleaned my uniform (a T-shirt) and bravely set out for the centre of the city with some trepidation, I might add, to help erect the little tent that houses the SPCA volunteers who raise funds for the dogs and cats at the “no-kill” sanctuary.

Everyone was kind as I tripped my way through the initial few weeks, often getting my facts wrong, such as the number of dogs available for adoption and how many of them people could take on a plane. By the fourth weekend I was enjoying myself enormously, with the good feeling of being part of a wonderful team doing something worthwhile.

However nothing is perfect, and one day a small woman appeared at our booth looking for me.

“I am looking for the guy who writes Under the Palapa, and I think he works here,” she said.

She looked harmless enough so I inflated my pigeon chest and stepped forward: “May I help you, madam?”

She turned what had been a pleasant face into a snarl and said: “Are you nuts?”

I quickly checked for an exit, but there was the usual crowd in the booth, and they were all ears now, to say the least.

I fell back upon the tried and true. “Ha!” I said as if I thought she was joking, which was obviously not the case.

“You write rubbish and I disagree with everything in your column,” she continued. I bolted for an early lunch. She pointed at me and shouted, “Hey, I am not finished,” as I turned the corner

in search of a friendly face and a coffee. Thankfully the Page in the Sun bookstore yawned before me.

I shot in, burying my red face in An Introduction to Over-looked Humour in Feminist Studies while clutching an Americano coffee.

I am not sure why the woman decided to pick on me, but being a writer in PV appears to be a dangerous business, at least for some.

This is not the first time I have been told that I stink. Marcia, a fellow journalist, seems to walk through the market like a queen with all sorts of people hugging and complimenting her on her lovely writing, while others avoid my eyes and scuttle by in embarrassed silence. Oh, well.

Someone I really look up to, or perhaps I am simply stunned by, is a guy (let us call him Jim) who not only has a wife but also a Mexican wife and a mistress. But here is the high inside fastball: They can all be seen happily sitting on the beach.

Together!

Now, I do not know about your wife, but I can assure you my current one would take a very dim view of such an arrangement.

When I queried him on his genius he modestly said everyone appeared content with the situation and it had been going on for some time. I immediately bought him a drink. Holy cow, I thought, what a man.

He claims it takes his full attention and I don’t doubt it, not when I heard just how many children were involved. Kids in elementary, middle school, high school and university make for exciting times, he says, as he is paying for everything and they are not all his in the first place. He generously looks after everything and everybody.

I suggested to my wife and some of her friends that “Jim” deserves a gong such as the Order of Canada or something like it. But they took a stern view and suggested that he be horse-whipped, which I found unworthy.

Please note I will be doing intermittent columns during the summer.

I must heal.

Copyright Christopher Dalton 2016

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From Here Marcia Blondin

marciavallarta@gmail.com

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any of you have asked me where and what ever happened to David Chavez, the curandero who fixed my miserable back/hip problems over a year ago (and, I am still good!). He is now living just outside of Vallarta and has left the beach at Sayulita for good; their loss is our gain! If anyone is interested in having David make a house call to wherever you are, please email me and I will pass the message on. I wrote a fourpiece article in March 2015 in the Tribune about my experiences under David’s skilled hands if anyone is interested in Magic and Mud. David is a miracle.

This coming Saturday, May 7th is the opening of my tiny boutique in the Three Hens and a Rooster Market. You’ll find me on the righthand side next to the bar (what a surprise!]. I will have silk scarves cut from Indian saris; some of my clothing; lots of jewellery – always found from somewhere else and remade or mended; tons of earrings including a new line I have just started. Textiles will be coming soon as well as ‘objets’ that will be interesting and varied so stop in and say hi. Next week, a new Market Column will emerge in the Tribune and I will introduce you – tourists and our huge expa-

triate collection – to each of our vendors who find they still have to eat regardless of what month it is.

So, yes, that means Three Hens will remain open for the entire year, every Saturday from 9:30 to 2 pm.

Speaking of Markets – the Old Town Farmer’s Market has wrapped for their 7th season. The organizers threw a lovely party to which I was invited – thank you all.

I chatted with Charlotte Semple for quite some time about the future of the Market, the coming positive redesign of the layout to permit easier flow of the thousands who come to enjoy the park every Saturday from November to April. More vendors will be added next season to the 90 already in place. I talked to many vendors on Saturday and they were unanimous in their collective faith and happiness in the OTFM. Everybody made money doing what they love. Their kids are going to school, rent is being paid; the vendors are supporting themselves as serious tax-paying businesses. Applause is due to Charlotte, her board members and her small army of tireless volunteers who help set-up, break-down, clean up and return the park to the citizens of Vallarta better than they found it in the morning. And to

the tourists and ex-pats who flock every week to find their favourite stalls, thank you. To the vendors at the OTFM – thank you for your creations that give us joy either instantaneously or for a lifetime.

Again to the vendors: if any of you are looking for a temporary summer home while you are on hiatus please contact me as I will be at the Saturday Market at Three Hens and a Rooster and the Friday Market at the Marsol Hotel by the Pier. I will pass your info along to the respective administrators.

Also at the Marsol Hotel will be a pre-summer Bazaar on Tuesday the 17th. Vendors are welcome to sell anything. It’s a good time for folks who are planning on redecorating their condos during the summer when noise is more readily allowed. If you won’t be here, again get in touch with me and I can arrange for your things to be bought, hauled away and/ or consigned for this huge event.

Buyers and sellers will have a great fun time – entertainment

by Gabriel Reyes who cheers up our Friday Market at the Marsol Hotel immensely. Last weekend I spent a day gloriating (?) in the sun at el Rio BBQ Bar and I have picked out my next place…

Sapphire Ocean Club on Los Muertos. Owner Michel Pascal Ferrari showed me around this chic oasis on the beach and introduced me to the delightfully lovely-to-look-at staff. For $200 pesos one can get a day pass that includes comfy lounge chairs, towels, a swimming pool and unlimited water to drink. The Bistrot menu looks mouth-watering and of course, there is a full bar. Feel free to join me next Sunday… come as you are.

May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Enrolling for Medicare Part “B” while living overseas

Orlando Gotay, Tax Attorney

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ou probably know that Medicare is a federal health insurance plan for people who are age 65 or older. Medicare has four parts—A, B, C, and D. Part A is free for insured people and helps pay for inpatient hospital care. Under the vast majority of circumstances, Most of the time, Medicare will not be available to cover medical expenses when living outside the U.S. Part B helps pay for doctors’ services and outpatient care. It is “voluntary”--if a person chooses not to enroll when first eligible, the premiums are increased permanently by 10 percent based on the number of 12-month periods the person went without coverage.

I recently wrote to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service to find out the rules regarding Part B enrollment in the case of US citizens who reside outside the United States.

Those eligible for premium free Part A (based on their or their spouse’s work record) are also eligible to sign up for Part B during an initial enrollment period, 3 months before and after the person turns 65, no matter where the person lives.

If a person does not qualify for premium free part A, and lives overseas, then that person must return to the U.S. to gain eligibility.

No penalty applies in those cases.

Those who were eligible to sign

up for Part B but did not do so, must wait for a future regular enrollment period. They happen every January 1 through March 31…but remember that the premium will be higher than it would have initially been.

If you still work and are covered by an employer provided or national health plan (like IMSS) you are able to delay Part B enrollment until you are no longer covered. Since Seguro Popular is not employer based, you may not be able to count on it as a health plan that allows you to delay penalty free Part B enrollment.

It turns my stomach to pay a premium for coverage that could be useless where one resides. On the low end, it could be over $1400 per year, and I my book, that’s quite a few tortillas. Medicare choices are critically important.

They mean thousands of dollars of premiums, or the peace of mind of having stateside outpatient coverage. Don’t leave the choice to chance!

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.

Spanish Bloopers

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his column is for all of us who are still struggling with the Spanish language…and for those who just want to enjoy a good laugh!

Although I have lived here eight years, I still make many mistakes with words that sound the same but are entirely different or with the same word that has double or triple meanings, some resulting in various degrees of embarrassment.

Today’s story: PICO (BEAK)

by Sandra Cesca

POCO (LITTLE) From the world of birds, I have always liked the phrase: “A little bird told me.” If we stretch that to “A little bird with a little beak…” then it gets fun. With the adjective typically coming after the noun in Spanish, we then have “Un pájaro poco con pico poco…” A tongue twister to help your Spanish pronunciation!

Send me your bloopers and a little story to go with them: sandra. learn.vallarta@gmail.com

PICO (BEAK)

POCO (LITTLE)

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

Adorable Dog In The Spotlight... DIXIE

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ill you look at that smile on her face!

Dixie is just a sweetheart. She is full of energy and just loves to run and especially play tug of war. Dixie came to us with her two puppies who are now adopted in BC. It’s time for Dixie to find her forever home too! She is about two years old, weighing 45 pounds and is a Staffordshire mix.

She gets along with other dogs as long as they know she is the boss. Dixie doesn’t like felines, however.

She has been spayed, dewormed and fully vaccinated. Contact us at spcapv@gmail. com for an application to adopt this sweet girl.

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Mexico’s Must-See Ancient Ruins Sites

By Ryan May

M

exico’s history can be divided into two major periods: the period before the arrival of Europeans and the period that followed it. There are many buildings left over from the period after the Conquistadores’ arrival, these include numerous churches and government buildings that are all very popular with tourists. There are also a few older reminders of cultures that existed in Mexico prior to the Colonial era.

While pre-Columbian spots are historically important, they tend to be somewhat more difficult to access. Most are located in the south but there are a few examples in the interior and a couple worth visiting in Jalisco. Among the most important are: 1. Chichen Itza The Mayan civilization flourished from roughly 250AD to somewhere around 900AD. They created a sophisticated written language and left behind many magnificent works of architecture. The Mayan people made a number of notable achievements in Astronomy, and built monuments that commemorated celestial happenings. Examples of these monuments can be found among the ruins of Chichen Itza, an ancient Mayan city located in Southeastern Mexico. The Chichen Itza complex covers almost two square miles and includes temples, ball courts and an observatory.

2. Teotihuacan The name means City of the Gods and it is a complex of roughly 600 pyramids, the largest of which is the Pyramid of the Sun. Another important monument here is the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. It is located a short drive to the north of Mexico City and was built somewhere between 1AD and 7AD making it one of Mexico’s oldest ruins.

3. Chacchoben Located in the Jungles of QuinGuachimontones

El Tajin

Uxmal

tana Roo, Chacchoben is one of the lesser-known of Mexico’s Mayan ruins. Its jungle location is one of the reasons that it is not as popular with visitors as the more accessible ruins. It features magnificent pyramids built by the Mayans around 200BC though much of the site has not yet been excavated.

4. El Tajin The people who built this city are still a mystery to archaeolo-

gists, but what is known is that it was started somewhere around 600 AD and reached its peak at around 1200 AD. Located to the north of Veracruz, the city features about 150 buildings though the majority of them remain unexcavated. The city is thought to have been an administrative center and features multiple palaces along with ball courts and temples. El Tajin is of interest because many of

the structures there are unique and completely new to archaeologists.

5. Tulum The ruins here have only about 60 buildings and those are thought to represent roughly a tenth of the original city. Located close to the resort town of Cancun, this site is often crowded but will allow visitors to see features like the stone walls: Tulum is one of the few walled Mayan cities. Its peak was between 1300 and 1500 AD, when its inhabitants are thought to have been wiped out by European diseases.

6. Uxmal The existence of this city is a testament to the engineering abilities of the Maya who built reservoirs to provide water to it during the dry season. The name Uxmal means “thrice built” and it was established somewhere around 600AD. The buildings at this site are among the most aesthetically pleasing of any ruins and it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

7. Xochicalco The ruins here are of a city that reached its peak somewhere between 700AD and 900AD. The city is linked both to Aztec culture and to the Mayans; it is considered to have been a melting pot of its time. Located along major trade routes, the city is thought to have been brimming with culture at its zenith. The Xochicalco site has many fascinating elements, including ancient tunnels that were used to connect the major buildings. Visitors are not permitted to explore these tunnels, however.

8. Monte Alban Located to the west of Oaxaca, this was once the capital city of the ancient Zapotecs. The name means “White Mountain” and it features an irrigation system and evidence of ancient trade. The city is thought to have been established at around 500BC and existed for more than 12 centuries before being abandoned. Archaeologists do not know why it was abandoned.

9. Coba Located about 50 miles east of Chichen Itza is Coba, which is thought to have predated it. At its peak between 200AD and 600AD, Coba is thought to have had as many as 50,000 inhabitants. The site features pyramids along with 20,000 other structures that remain unexcavated. Crowds at Coba tend to be smaller than those at Chichen Itza.

10. Palenque There are more than 1400 temples here, many of which are still locked within the tropical forest.

There are many intricately carved inscriptions and hieroglyphics on display and the city is thought to have been a center of trade and knowledge at its peak between 600AD and 800AD. The location itself is a part of the ruins’ appeal as the site is has both rivers and wildlife to enthrall and captivate visitors. It is located in the state of Chiapas and close to the modern town of Palenque.

Bonus: Guachimontones Located just 45 minutes outside Guadalajara underneath the Tequila volcano, these circular pyramids are dated back approximately 2500 years. In the partially excavated site is the largest ball court on the Pacific Coast along with unique burial shafts. There is a new (2013) archeology museum built on the site that offers interesting installations on the people who once called these lands home.

Original: www.escapehere.com

mother’s day

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

In Mexico, a celebration of the mother cult

By William Booth

Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David, Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti, Despierta, mi bien*, despierta, mira que ya amaneció, Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte, Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte, Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio, Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.

E

verybody loves mothers, but Mexicans? Maybe more so.

In the annual celebration of the mother cult, Mexico is especially devout, and every year on May 10 (they don’t move the date around to fall on a Sunday), the entire nation stops what it is doing in the afternoon and eats some serious lunch with Mom. “For us Mexicans, first, there is the Virgin of Guadalupe, and, second, there is our mother,” said Maxine Woodside, radio host of the popular show “Todo Para La Mujer,” or “All About Women,” and the mother of two boys.

“Mexicans are very attached to family, not like in the United States, where they throw the kids out of the house at age 18,” Woodside said. “Here we see men in their 40s who still live with their mothers, and why not? Their moms still do their laundry.”

A popular Mother’s Day gift?

Irons. Also big blenders (not to make margaritas, but soups, sauces, salsas).

Mexican thinker Octavio Paz, in his classic work on the national psyche, “The Labyrinth of Solitude,” spends a lot of pages mulling Mexico’s worship of saintly, suffering, giving mother figures.

In Mexican slang, to insult the mother, to take in vain “la madre,” is to swear with serious intent.

On Thursday May 10 2012, in honor of the maternal, outgoing Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard invited Paul McCartney, the Beatle, to play for 200,000 fans at a free concert in the capital’s central square, the Zocalo.

“Hola, D.F.!,” the former mop head said, speaking Spanish to the Distrito Federal, Mexico’s version of D.C., saying how happy he was to be here on this special day.

“Estamos muy contentos de estar aqui en el Dia de las Madres!”

Mexicans are, interestingly, Beatle fanatics. There are radio stations that play nothing but Beatles music. But McCartney was wise to have on stage some mariachi players, because crooning mariachis are central to the celebration of mothers here. The musicians pack the restaurants, but another tradition, especially in the countryside, holds that mariachis (and the adoring children) should gather outside mothers’ homes for a serenade.

The most popular song is the sweet, sugary “Las Mananitas”:

Las Mañanitas

Translation:

“Awaken, my dear, awaken/ and see that the day has dawned/ now the little birds are singing/ and the moon has set.”

Having 80 people over for lunch on this day? Not unusual.

“It is, without a doubt, the most important day for restaurants, our busiest day of the year, when we sell double, triple what we would on a normal day,” said Manuel Gutierrez, president of the national association of restaurateurs, who has worked in and around commercial kitchens since he was a boy.

Gutierrez estimates that for this one day, Mexico puts 200,000 extra waiters to work.

The most popular restaurants are, naturally, family-style, where kids can run around and families eat from long tables piled with kilos of carnitas and barbacoa.

A decent Mother’s Day lunch can easily clock in at five hours.

Also common: Mom might knock back a shot or two of tequila — for her heart.

“The mother is an institution in Mexico, and Mexicans are party animals. And as the mother traditionally is the one working for us, cleaning for us, cooking for us, we believe that at least one day a year, we ought to take her out and let someone else do the cooking,” Gutierrez said.

At the flower market in the San Angel barrio, florist Manuel Garcia was up before dawn, making arrangements.

“There is nothing like the Mother’s Day for us, because everybody gives flowers today to their mamas. If you can, you also buy a gift for her, or for the grandma, but flowers? You cannot show up without flowers.”

Garcia explained that the tradition does not end with a mother’s death. “Of course, the children also come to buy flowers for their mothers who have passed away, because they go to visit them at the cemeteries,” which overflow with bouquets.

“Maybe Mexicans don’t have many things, but we have a lot of love for our moms,” he said.

It is also election season in Mexico, and campaign volunteers will flood into town squares to hand out roses to mothers, maybe with a little note reminding them who loves them the most and what political party they represent.

Researcher Gabriela Martinez contributed to this report.

Original: washingtonpost.com

This is the morning song that King David sang Because today is your saint’s day we’re singing it for you Wake up, my dear*, wake up, look it is already dawn The birds are already singing and the moon has set How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you We all came with joy and pleasure to congratulate you The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light Get up in the morning, look it is already dawn * Often replaced with the name of the person who is being celebrated

riviera nayarit

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

G

ood Day to all! In the beginning of April I reported of the more than 80 deceased turtles that were washed up on local beaches. At that time samples were taken and we all waited for the results. As they start to come back in, it looks like the turtles died from eating large quantity of Sea Salps, which have neurotoxins that paralyzed the turtles and caused them to drown after they ate and digested them. Sea Salps look just like the type of jellyfish that turtles love to dine upon.

What are Sea Salps? Sea Salps are small barrel-shaped, free swimming tunicates; organisms that are enclosed in a tunic with openings at each end pumping water through their gelatinous bodies. This way they move and feed at the same time as they strain the water through feeding filters. When you first look at them they look like jellyfish, but they are actually close marine ancestors of fish and vertebrates having a heart and gills. As individuals, Sea Salps are innocuous. Unlike jellyfish, they don’t sting and they don’t hunt. They’re gentle plankton eaters. They can live alone or in communities growing only a few millimeters long and some as large as 10 inches. These Sea Salps devour microscopic algae proliferate with extraordinary efficiency.

As they grow into long strings they communicate via electrical signals synchronizing their swimming and move swiftly thought the ocean’s currents. These Salps feed on phytoplankton and the populations seem to be increasing. Phytoplankton is microscopic marine plants and is also the base of several aquatic food webs. In a balanced ecosystem, they provide food for a wide range of sea creatures including whales, shrimp, snails, jellyfish and Sea Salps.

When phytoplankton is abundant, rapid reproduction leads to fairly short-lived blooms of Sea Salps, which eventually filter out most of the phytoplankton. When the bloom ends they usually go away as there

is no longer food to sustain them.

There are still many more questions than answers right now. Did pollution caused algae blooms contribute to an increase in the local Sea Salp population? Is this because of El Niño? Climate change? All of these things could be contributing factors. For me, I just feel so sad for all of these turtles and I hope the Sea Salps have moved on!

Amigos de Bucerias invites everyone to their May meeting that will be held at Ixta Restaurant on Saturday, May 7th at 9am. It’s easy to remember the meeting date: always on the first Saturday of each month. You don’t need to be a member to attend the meeting.

There will be a delicious self serve buffet breakfast that is only 100 pesos and will be served at 9:15am. The business part of the meeting will follow. The Amigos de Bucerias must provide a head count to their host Ixta Restaurant of how many will plan on eating breakfast.

Please make your breakfast reservations no later than May 5th, this Thursday evening. You may email your reservation to amigosdebucer iasac@gmail. com and be specific with the information for the number of people for breakfast and their names.

You will all receive a name tag.

Want Organic Eggs? You can help the Abuelos de Bucerias by pre-ordering eggs and they will deliver them to you at the meeting. The

cost for one dozen is 40 pesos.

These orders must be in by Friday, May 6th. To order send an email to lagranjadelosabuelos@gmail. com .Thanks for your support of the seniors.

Gloria’s Place new Summer Hours are: Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 3pm. Gloria is one amazing woman of style and grace. She really knows how to put an outfit together with fun and flair. She also creates her own jewelry line, and creates these wonderful waterproof bags called “Swim Saks” that you can go swimming with so you don’t have to leave your belongings on the beach; also great for boating trips! Now, with all of that said, what I really want to tell you about Gloria is that she is also an amazing artist. She enjoys painting peoples pets! Here is a comment from one of her clients. “We lost our Yellow Lab last year and we thought as a nice tribute to her we would ask Gloria to paint her. What Gloria created was amazing! The time and detail she put into this beautiful work of art was astonishing. Gloria created a treasure for our family. Thank you Gloria.”

Gloria is fun to talk to. Stop by 14 Delfin in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, right across from Philo’s Bar. Thanks for tuning in this week. I am looking forward to the Altruism Festival this Sunday! If you don’t have a ticket yet, purchase one from the La Cruz Amigos! Thanks to my buddy John Pounder for the fantastic turtle shot!

If you’re looking for a rental I have a couple of very special deals right now, one at Alamar in La Cruz… (love that beach club!), and one on the beach side in Bucerias!

Check out our FBook page for all of the latest around the north end of the Banderas Bay, Riviera Nayarit and a bit about Mexico at https:// www.facebook.com/allrivieranayaritfun/ and give us a LIKE! Have a super week everyone. AHO! Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com

May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

riviera nayarit

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Bucerias Art District Beat

By Gordon Mayer

BAD Beat – Meet the District – Orisia Nova – Soñé 1/3

I

n life, there is that which is done by rote and habit and that which comes from places far more meaningful like the heart and soul. While rote and habit carry us through the days, it is soul and heart that bring us to the special moments of our lives, and if we are careful, can become what carries us day to day and makes the lives we live effervesce with verve and color. Orisia Nova of Soñé is an artist who lives a life of soul.

Born and raised in an environment that encouraged and fostered artistic expression, Nova spent her childhood enjoying participating in theater, dancing and creating art while she absorbed the vibrant hues and music of her native New Orleans.

Feeling a freedom and penchant to express herself as far back as she can remember she naturally followed her heart with her head and honed her proven talent through school to Fine Arts and Journalism degrees. Always leaving her mark, she even started a printing press at her university which still operates today. Putting her freedom beneath

her feet after graduating, she took a position with a non-profit group to come to Mexico to teach English to children. It was during this time that she was introduced to the bright and unique pigments of Mexico’s artistic expressions and to the rhythm of the culture.

Still creating her art while she taught and worked her way to Director of Education with the non-profit group, Nova credits the children with the inspiration she felt to return to making art full time, something she had dreamed of doing for years. Compelled by their “make something from nothing” attitude and how the children would live a, “don’t wait for the perfect materials but use what’s around you” mentality, Nova soon heard her soul whispering to her that life is fragile and short and needs to be lived now and can be! The free spirit of the local children rekindled Nova’s own spirit-fire and she set out with two friends to create Soñé and make art her life.

With a desire to connect with other artists, a perspective drawn from the children of the Bay of Banderas area and an open soul ready to share, Nova has found a home with her 2 partner s in the BAD at Soñé.

Always seeking opportunity to connect with artists and support others in their dreams to create,

Soñé, “I dreamed” translated, exists to share their art but also share the soul therein.

Employing an often intuitive approach to her painting, Nova pours freedom and raw force into her pieces, always seeking the new and wild while discovering and experimenting with ground-breaking and existing techniques. In

short, she shares her soul and encourages others to share along with her.

As a new and youthful addition to the BAD, Soñé is bringing energy and heart to the already vibrant community. Whether it is enjoying the welcoming mentoring of the established artists around them or finding the hidden local artists

The Staff Of

Wish

to everyone

like Blacksmith Don Enrique and helping them bring their art into the open, Nova confesses she is humbled and gratified about it all.

Following her soul through the days and pouring it into her art, Nova’s dream is coming true.

Thank you, Nova, for sharing with us and showing us the path to our dreams.

riviera nayarit

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May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Life

In La Cruz

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

Gloria’s Place; unique clothing designs and jewelry in La Cruz

G

loria Martony defines herself as a Mid-Westerner gone tropical. She and hubby, Larry, arrived in the area about 10 years ago after Gloria heard about a "little hotel" that was for sale in Boca de Tomatlan and decided to check it out. She recalls, “We arrived around midnight and

had to awaken the local grocer for the keys. He accompanied us to the river where he assisted us to navigate a really crazy crossing... carrying suitcases and using a flashlight to find footholds, rock to rock, in the dark. One look at the place told me I had to get out of there. We stayed the night wrapped in a bug-infested mosquito net, as there were no screens. My husband really liked the place; there is no accounting for men's tastes! It was a good excuse to stay at a lovely hotel in Mismaloya. While there we bought a small condo and that

is how we came to reside in the Puerto Vallarta area.

While staying in Mismaloya we were at the beach and wanted to swim in the ocean but didn’t know where to put our money and camera. Over the next two years I designed a type of purse that would let us "swim with our valuables", what I called a SWIM SAK; it’s unisex.

Put any valuables that you want to stay dry in it; connect around your waist and go swimming! It is certified to keep dry to depths of 200 feet. I added some rhinestones for us "girly types" doubling as an evening bag too. Norwegian Cruise Lines sold them on all their ships for many years.”

Her boutique ‘Gloria's Place’ has been welcomed into the La Cruz community and she’s proud to have many customers and good friends. Working with a factory owner in Guadalajara, Gloria designed cotton gauze clothing that her customers love, helping them to find something different every time they visit. Recently she added a second line to her collection. “My unique jewelry designs

are featured in the store; the latest is my Nautical collection of unisex neckpieces and earrings of geckos, dolphins, whales and more.”

When I asked her what got her started in the clothing business, Gloria’s answer surprised me!

“Well, I really wanted to open a shoe store! You see... I have size 12 feet and I wanted to flood the market with beautiful shoes in ALL SIZES! Someone who was in the business talked me out of it, so I changed my thinking; reviewing my jewelry creations and my collection of clothing and accessories I realized I could open a small shop with my stuff. I opened my first store and decided to add ready to wear clothes. The rest is history!”

Gloria’s belief that "beautiful women come in all sizes" helps so many to feel better about themselves just by walking in her door!

She says, “When I opened my first women's boutique in Wisconsin I filled it with beautiful clothes in all sizes! I brought in clothes I loved and didn't try to please all tastes.

It was filled with lots of unique clothing and accessories and

quickly became a destination for women (even a Supreme Court Judge where beneath the robes was a very colorful woman).

My goal in the clothing business was and IS to help women LOVE their bodies. Getting women beyond their "comfort zone" can be challenging! It's all Attitude!

So many of us see our bodies in a negative way... I wanted to help change those feelings.

Visit Gloria’s Place across from Philo’s Bar in La Cruz. For the longer story on Gloria go to http:// www.villaamordelmar.com/blog/

14 Greenleaders™ Hotels in Vallarta-Nayarit

E

ight hotels in Riviera Nayarit and six in Puerto Vallarta have obtained this important international recognition for their good environmental and ecological practices.

TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders™ program has recognized several hotels this year that have proven their commitment to the environment through their strict eco-friendly policies.

The list includes eight properties in the Riviera Nayarit and six in Puerto Vallarta.

“We’re looking for several ways to become a more green destination by participating in several programs,” said Marc Murphy, Managing Director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“The fact that hotels are pushing towards this objective with good eco practices is a big help and increases the international positioning of the destination as an environmentally friendly place.”

From a holistic perspective

the GreenLeaders™ program analyzes and evaluates the properties and their environmental practices in order to recognize them with awards that range from Bronze to Platinum, depending on the points received.

In Riviera Nayarit Marival Resort & Suites achieved the Platinum Level this year along with the Hard Rock Vallarta, the top award handed out by the GreenLeaders™ program.

Hotelito Los Sueños jumped a level to Gold Level this 2016, a

level also achieved by Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, The Royal Suites Punta de Mita, Royal Decameron Complex and Grand Palladium Resort & Spa. Dreams Villamagna also moved from Bronze to Silver.

In Puerto Vallarta the newly completed Hyatt Ziva received platinum status while Fiesta American, Secrets and Casa Velas enjoyed gold status.

The popular brunch spot, Sheraton Buganvilias was awarded silver and the One received bronze. Water quality,

environmental education, environmental management and safety are among the features analyzed during this qualification in order to give these leaf-shaped badges these hotels now boast.

Green Globe

And speaking of good environmental practices, just a few weeks ago the Iberostar Playa Mita was able to renew its Green Globe certification, being the only one in the Riviera Nayarit in receiving this eco-award.

entertainment

19

By Fred Jacobs

L

ast week we left off with Barbra getting her first paying singing gig at the Bon Soir Nightclub in New York. As she got more confident onstage, her banter in between songs with her Brooklyn style, became a hit with audiences. During her 6 month run at the club, her ability to charm an audience with spontaneous humor during performances became more sophisticated and professional.

The club run led to getting stage roles in musical comedies which were very well received. This led to her first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jack Parr, which was done in New York at the time. She then signed to sing at the upscale Blue Angel club in Manhattan for the next two years. She landed a main role in the musical comedy “I Can Get It for You Wholesale” (1962) at the Shubert Theatre, which got rave reviews.

Another main actor in the play was an unknown Elliot Gould, with whom Barbra fell in love with during rehearsals for the play.

They moved in together and would marry in 1963, having a son together a few years later.

After Johnny Carson took over the Tonight Show, he had Barbra on the show, 6 times in 1962/63 and she became an audience hit as well a favorite of Johnny. This led to appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show where she appeared with Liberace on one occasion.

Liberace became an instant fan of Barbra’s and invited her to Las Vegas to become his opening act

May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Barbra Streisand – Singer, Composer, Actress, Director Part 2 – Rise to Stardom at the Riviera Hotel. Her career and popularity were now rising quickly.

1963 saw Barbra release her first album, “The Barbra Streisand Album” and it made the top 10 on the Billboard chart, also winning three Grammy Awards. She followed up with a second album and live concerts in Indianapolis, San Jose, Chicago, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. 1963 was definitely her breakout year.

Barbra returned to New York and Broadway in 1964 with an acclaimed performance as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” at the Winter Garden Theatre. The show lead to two of her signature songs, "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade." Because of the play's overnight success, she appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. In 1964 Streisand was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical but lost to Carol Channing in “Hello, Dolly!”

In 1966, Barbra repeated her success with “Funny Girl” in London's West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre. From 1965 to 1967 she appeared in her first four solo television specials. 1968 saw Barbra bring the Fanny Brice role from “Funny Girl” to the big screen and it was a critical and commercial success. Barbra also won an Oscar for Best Actress for the role. 1970 saw Barbra also receive an honorary "Star of the Decade"

Tony Award, for her stage work.

Her next two movies were also based on musicals, “Hello Dolly” and “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.” Around the same time, her husband, Elliot Gould had a hard time dealing with Barbra’s rapid rise to stardom, while his own star was still dim. The two divorced in 1971. Professionally, the 1970’s saw Barbra hit her stride in the movies.

“What's Up, Doc?” (1972) and “The Main Event” (1979), both musical comedies in which she

costarred with Ryan O’Neal. But Barbra wanted to show she had more acting skills than just comedy, so she starred in the drama “The Way We Were” (1973) with Robert Redford, for which she received an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress. 1976 saw her star in “A Star Is Born” as well.

Barbra was now fascinated with behind the scenes of movie making as well. With the struggle of growing up without a father personally, Barbra she wrote “Yentl” (1983). She was also producer,

director, and starred in the movie, a feat she repeated for “The Prince of Tides” (1991) and “The Mirror Has Two Faces” (1996). Many Oscar nominations and wins came as a result.

In the mid 1990’s, she again found love with James Brolin. The two married in 1998 and Barbra became a happy housewife … she was not seen on the big screen again for 8 years. 2004 we all laughed with Barbra in “Meet the Fockers” (2004) costarring Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller, and Robert De Niro. The movie would also bring us “Little Fockers” (2010) and Barbra’s charm to the big screen once again.

It’s been confirmed that Barbra is set to star and produce a new movie adaptation of the musical Gypsy, for release sometime next year. Barbra is also set to direct a historical drama about Catherine the Great, the 18th-century Russian Empress.

Barbra has recorded over 50 studio albums now and received 40 Grammy nominations, of which 10 led to Grammy statues.

Her pathway to her main passion of acting, took her through an amazing journey of singing and her millions of fans around the world, are very grateful for that.

Fred Jacobs is a full time resident of Puerto Vallarta and the author of 3 books.

Non - Profit and Charitable Organizations For visitors to Puerto Vallarta who wish to support the less privileged in our paradise, this is a list of some of the many organizations that could benefit from such kind gestures.

If you would like your organization recognized here, please email details to editor@vallartatribune.com.

Acción En La Cruz aid residents of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle by providing provisions in exchange for community services performed.landon5120.wix.com/ accionenlacruz Alcoholics Anonymous: In English Puerto Vallarta Alanon Club - Basilio Badillo 329 recoverpv.com Amazing Grace Missions Assisting families in Magisterio & Progreso with necessities and job training and English. slw2014nv@ gmail.com

American Legion Post 14: raises resources and manpower to improve facilities needing building maintenance americanlegion14.org Amigos del Magisterio - Food delivered directly to workers at the PV dump, their families and schools in Magisterio and Volcanes. Also, food to New Beginnings, Pasitos de Luz, and Caritas. 100% of donations to the people, no overhead.amigosdelmagisterio.com lysephilrioux@ hotmail.com Asilo San Juan Diego Home for the Elderly - Contact: Lupita Sanchez Covarrubias 222-1257 or malupita88@hotmail.com or mexonline. com\asilosanjuandiego.htm Asociación Down - Assistance to persons with Down’s Syndrome – Contact: Ana Eisenring at 224-9577.

Banderas Bay Women’s Shelter -

Safe shelter for women & children victims of domestic violence. compassionforthefamily.org Becas Vallarta, A.C. – Provides scholarships to high school and university students. Tax-deductible in Mexico and USA. Polly Vicars at (322) 223-1371 or Buri Gray at (322) 221-5285.

CANICA - Centre for Children with Cancer. Provides aid for treatment and services including transportation to GDL. Contact Director, Evelia Basañes 322-123-5688.

Casa Hogar - A shelter for orphaned, abandoned, disadvantaged or vulnerable children. Luz Aurora Arredondo at 221 1908, casahogar_maximocor nejo@ hotmail.com Centro Comunitario SETACGLBT – Services the GLBT

community, including treatment and referrals, education, English classes, HIV testing and counseling. Paco Arjona 224-1974 Clinica de Rehabilitación Santa Barbara - Rehabilitation of the handicapped.

Contact: Laura Lopez Portillo Rodriguez at 224-2754.

COLINA Spay and Neuter Clinic - Free and by-donation sterilization clinic in Old Town. Only open Saturdays, Contact: cez@rogers.com or 322-104-6609 CompassionNet Impact – Transforming the lives of people living in chronic poverty. Job creation, education, emergency & more.

Tax-deductible. Cell: (322) 133-7263 or ric@4compassion.org Corazon de Nina A safe, loving, home-environment for 40+ children

and youth rescued from high-risk situations. Donations & volunteers always welcome! Totally selffunded. www.fundacioncorazon.mx Cruz Roja (Red Cross) - Handles hospital and emergency service in Vallarta. It is the only facility that is authorized to offer assistance to injured people on the street.

Contact: 222-1533, 222-4973 Desayunos para los Niños de Vallarta A.C. Feeding programs, education programs, day care centers for single mothers. 2234311 or 22225 72 Discapacitados de Vallarta, A.C. (DIVAC) association of handicapped individuals dedicated to helping one another. Ivan Applegate at 221-5153. more found online www.vallartatribune.com

healthcare

20

May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Staying Hydrated – Drink water L.N. Mercedes Ocaranza Gortarez Nutriólogo - Nutritionist When the temperatures rise, getting enough to drink is impor-

tant whether you’re playing sports, traveling or just sitting in the sun.

And it’s critical for your heart health.

Keeping the body hydrated helps

the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. And, it helps the muscles work efficiently.

“If you’re well hydrated, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard,” said John Batson, M.D, a sports medicine physician.

Dehydration can be a serious condition that can lead to problems ranging from swollen feet or kidney stones to life-threatening illnesses such as heat stroke.

How much water do you need?

What does being well hydrated mean? The amount of water a person needs depends on climatic conditions, weight, health and age.

A person who perspires heavily will need to drink more than someone who doesn’t. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, may also mean you need to drink more water.

People with cystic fibrosis have high concentrations of sodium in their sweat and also need to use caution to avoid dehydration. And some medications can act as diuretics, causing the body to lose more fluid.

Thirst isn’t the best indicator that you need to drink. If you get thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.

The easiest thing to do is pay attention to the color of your urine.

Pale and clear means you’re well hydrated. If it’s dark, drink more

fluids. Not sweating during vigorous physical activity can be a red flag that you’re dehydrated to the point of developing heat exhaustion.

Water is best.

For most people, water is the best thing to drink to stay hydrated.

“It’s healthier to drink water (than high calories, sugar loaded sports drinks) while you’re exercising, and then when you’re done, eat a healthy snack like orange slices, bananas or a small handful of unsalted nuts,” Batson said.

Not just for athletes or exercise.

Hydration isn’t just important during physical activity. Sitting in the sun on a hot or humid day, even if you aren’t exercising, can also cause your body to need more fluids.

People who have a heart condition, are older than 50 or overweight may also have to take extra precautions.

It’s also a good thing to keep tabs on your hydration if you’re traveling.

“You might sweat differently if you’re in a different climate,” Batson said.

Here in Puerto Vallarta, at the Vallarta Medical Centre you can discuss your health and nutrition with licensed Nutritionist L.N. Mercedes Ocaranza Gortarez to discuss caring for your body while living or vacationing in the tropics.

GECKO ROJO Bar + Restaurant

Langosta #27, La Cruz

Amazing Classic Rock with the extremely talented CANTUS ETERNA Band and their unique playlist (Toto, Alan Parsons, Chicago, Rush, Yes, etc.)

EVERY WEDNESDAY 8pm

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP CLUB

IFC’s Cleft Palate Program For thirty years IFC has been providing free medical care to children in this area who have cleft palates.

Throughout those years surgeons and nurses have donated their time and expertise to this program.

The medical team has also received wonderful support and hospitality from homeowners and local restaurants.

Thank you – Muchas gracias! www.ifcvallarta.com 322-222-5466

Little birds that

U

nlike in many part of Mexico, the pottery of Jalisco has mostly shunned the use of glazing, opting instead for burnishing and firing once, very reminiscent of pre Hispanic pottery. There are a number of types, mostly named after decorative styles, including “canelo” which means cinnamon. The name comes from the variations of the color of this spice, and it was particularly valued for its ability to keep water cool, as well as give it a distinctive, but pleasant taste.

It is still one of the pottery decorative styles that are found in Jalisco and nowhere else.

Canelo pottery is made by a number of Tonala family, but one in particular, the Pajaritos (literally “little bird”) are noted for their work in this style.

The family has had five generations of working clay in Tonala, but most has been written about the current family patriarch, Nicasio Pajarito (b. 1935) and with good reason. Over a span of fifty years, the maestro reinvented the pottery his father and grandfather made, making it more sophisticated, detailed and innovative without losing a sense of tradition. This work won him numerous awards including the 2002 National Ceramic Prize and being named a Grand Master of Mexican Folk Art by the Fomento Banamex foundation. He is still active today, but younger generations do the heavy work such as mixing clay.

Nicasio’s work developed from an innate artistic sense. As a boy, he learned watching his father Cecilio, thinking that the painting of the pots was “easy.” This was not exactly the case, but he took to it more so than his siblings, continuing to learn under his grandmother Martha Cantero after his father’s untimely death. Nicasio took what he learned and expanded on it, especially after he married wife Maria Fajardo. In particular, he expanded on the possibilities of canelo, which according to family lore was used only to make miniature dish sets for girls.

The color of canelo pieces is achieved through a mix of white, black and red clays from various sources.

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322-223-8014 Fine Art and Furniture

31 de Octubre 107 Col. Centro Puerto Vallarta Malecon

VALLARTA SHOPPING AND EVENTS

make cinnamon pottery

The mix is important to the family as they believe it to be reflective of Mexico’s mestizo heritage. The same clays, along with some minerals, are used to make the slips used to paint background and designs.

The basic process remains unchanged. Clay is broken up, ground into a powder and impurities removed.

After mixing with water, the clay is left to “ferment.” Both molds and freehand techniques are used, even within a single piece, often made in parts. For example, large bottles with narrow

www.vallartatribune.com

necks are usually assembled in three parts: the base, the sides and the neck, with the last done freehand. The pieces are joined together and the seams smoothed over with a stone.

The piece is left to dry, then sanded and cleaned before painting a background color with a slip. Most pieces are profusely decorated, generally with large elements first, with smaller details added later. Both paints and paintbrushes are made by the family.

Before firing, the piece is burnished with a stone. This seals the pores

and eliminates the need for glaze.

Firing takes about three hours. The firing changes the clay color from a grayish to the cinnamon tones, and the burishing leaves a matte finish.

The change of color requires a certain amount of imagination while painting to ignore what the eyes sees in favor of the later result.

Maestro Nicasio is over 80 years old now, but there are generations after him who have taken up the tradition. All five children, José, Isabel, Zeno, Jose de Jesua and Pablo, are potters, learning to work the clay at a very young age and learning apprenticeship style. Their workshops continue to produce platters, large covered jars called tibores, jugs, and vessels in the form of bulls and horses.

These animal-shaped vessels were developed by Nicasio.

Several of the children have hadsignificant success in their own right, with pieces regularly exhibited at the National Ceramic Museum in Tonala and other venues.For Pablo, the generational aspect of his work is very important because of the history that it provides, and in his opinion elevates that work that he and the family does above that of hobbyists.

He is also insistant that the work be called “ceramics” and not “pottery” as a sign of respect.

In addition to making traditional pieces for handcraft competitions, Pablo has experimented with more artistic works, such as participating in the Arte/Sano biennial of the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City, which pairs artists and artistans. In this case, Pablo created a life-sized robot figure completely in canelo pottery. Pablo states that it is important to continue innovation as pottery markets change.

However, Pablo states that canelo pottery is in danger of disappearing because the white and black clays used are found only in certain areas around Tonala, and these areas are in danger from urban sprawl. Another issue is that while his daughter, aged 9, is learning as he did, it is harder to keep her attention in the age of computers and electronics.

Original: Creative hands of Mexico All photos by Alejandro Linares Garcia

“Remodeling and Renovations”

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.

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 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 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

Crossword Solve

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

May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

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.

VENECIA #290-A Col. Versalles Fluent English Spoken

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/ adoption, visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/spcapv.

By Janice Gonzalez at Go to Photos where you will also find individual Albums for all the animals available as well as a bit of have been abandoned.

Your love and attention can their history.

To make donations via PayPal, make up for that sad history.

During your visit, you can inte- select the "Donate" option on our ract with the animals and even take Facebook page www.facebook. a dog (or two or three) for a walk. com/spcapv or on our website at Tours will be each Tuesday and http://spcapv.com/donate/.

You can drop off any donations Thursday leaving from the Costco parking lot at noon. Please note for the SPCA at Hacienda San that reservations are required and Angel located at Calle Miramar 336, above Our Lady of Guadalupe space is limited.

To make a reservation, contact Church in El Centro. Get involved… us at spcapv@gmail.com. We rescue, adopt, foster, volunteer, appreciate any donations you can donate or educate.

Contact us at spcapv@gmail. bring for our rescues and also please feel free to bring treats for com. You can learn more about the sanctuary staff as they truly appre- SPCA Puerto Vallarta by checking us out at www.spcapv.com/home ciate it.

To see our animals available for or on Facebook.

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta Continued from page 3 you in November. Thanks to this week's volunteers, Michelle, Chris and Mark. Have a great summer, everyone!" 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 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

Christ Church by the Sea Worldwide Anglican Communion

Services Sunday 10:00 a.m. Air-conditioned 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 Questions? Call Father Michael cell: 044-322-303-3916 e mail kpadresoy@outlook.com

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 WEDNESDAY ACROSS

Three Hens and a Rooster Market - on Carranza 466, Old Town, Puerto Vallarta 9am to 1pm Palm Ranch Volunteer Days 9 am to 1 pm - in Mezcales palmranchvolunteers@gmail.com for detailed information 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.

FRIDAY Marsol Market by the Pier, Vallarta – 9:30am – 1:30 SATURDAY 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

DOWN

May 5 - 11, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com