1. travel
2. tourist destinations
3. mexico and central america

ISSUE
328
www.pvmcitypaper.com
Issue 328
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
February 2015
Need to Know
2
ISSUE
328
manners to present the check before it is
requested, so when you’re ready to leave,
ask «La cuenta, por favor» and your bill
will be delivered to you.
MONEY EXCHANGE: Although
you may have to wait in line for a few
minutes, remember that the banks will
give you a higher rate of exchange than
the exchange booths (caja de cambio).
Better yet, if you have a «bank card»,
withdraw funds from your account back
home. Try to avoid exchanging money at
your hotel. Traditionally, those offer the
worst rates.
I
f you’ve been meaning to find a little information on the region,
but never quite got around to it, we hope that the following will help.
If you look at the maps on this page, you will note that PV (as the locals call
it) is on the west coast of Mexico, smack in the middle of the Bay of Banderas
- one of the largest bays in this country - which includes southern part of the
state of Nayarit to the north and the northern part of Jalisco to the south.
Thanks to its privileged location -sheltered by the Sierra Madre mountainsthe Bay is well protected against the hurricanes spawned in the Pacific.
Hurricane Kenna did come close on October 25, 2002, but actually touched
down in San Blas, Nayarit, some 200 kms north of PV.
The town sits on the same parallel as the Hawaiian Islands,
thus the similarities in the climate of the two destinations.
AREA: 1,300 sq. kilometers
POPULATION: Approx. 325,000
inhabitants
CLIMATE: Tropical, humid, with
an average of 300 sunny days per year.
The temperature averages 28oC (82oF)
and the rainy season extends from late
June to early October.
allowed under certain circumstances
but fishing of any kind is prohibited.
Every year, the Bay receives the visit
of the humpback whales, dolphins and
manta rays in the winter. During the
summer, sea turtles, a protected species,
arrive to its shores to lay their eggs.
FAUNA: Nearby Sierra Vallejo
hosts a great variety of animal species
such as iguana, guacamaya, deer,
raccoon, etc.
ECONOMY: Local economy is
based mainly on tourism, construction
and to a lesser degree, on agriculture,
mainly tropical fruit such as mango,
papaya,
watermelon,
pineapple,
guanabana, cantaloupe and bananas.
SANCTUARIES:
Bahía
de
Banderas encloses two Marine
National Parks - Los Arcos and the
Marieta Islands - where diving is
CURRENCY: The Mexican Peso is
the legal currency in Mexico although
Canadian and American dollars are
widely accepted.
Index
BUSES: A system of urban buses
with different routes. Current fare is
$7.50 Pesos per ticket and passengers
must purchase a new ticket every time
they board another bus. There are no
“transfers”.
TAXIS: There are set rates within
defined zones of the town. Do not enter
a taxi without agreeing on the price with
the driver FIRST. If you are staying in a
hotel, you may want to check the rates
usually posted in the lobby. Also, if you
know which restaurant you want to go,
do not let the driver change your mind.
Many restaurateurs pay commissions to
taxi drivers and you may end up paying
more than you should, in a secondrate establishment! There are 2 kinds
of taxi cabs: those at the airport and
the maritime port are usually vans that
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
can only be boarded there. They have
pre-fixed rates per passenger. City cabs
are yellow cars that charge by the ride,
not by passenger. When you ask to go
downtown, many drivers let you off at
the beginning of the area, near Hidalgo
Park. However, your fare covers the
ENTIRE central area, so why walk 10 to
15 blocks to the main plaza, the Church
or the flea market? Pick up a free map,
and insist on your full value from the
driver! Note the number of your taxi in
case of any problem, or if you forget
something in the cab. Then your hotel or
travel rep can help you check it out or
lodge a complaint.
TIME ZONE: The entire State of
Jalisco is on Central Time, as is the
area of the State of Nayarit from Lo
de Marcos in the north to the Ameca
River, i.e.: Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías,
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Sayulita, San
Pancho, Punta Mita, etc. North of Lo
De Marcos, Guayabitos, La Peñita,
San Blas, etc. are on Mountain Time,
i.e.: one hour behind PV time.
TELEPHONE CALLS: Always
check on the cost of long distance
calls from your hotel room. Some
establishments charge as much as U.S.
$7.00 per minute!
CELL PHONES: Most cellular
phones from the U.S. and Canada may
be programmed for local use, through
Telcel and IUSAcell, the local carriers.
To dial cell to cell, use the prefix 322,
then the seven digit number of the
person you’re calling. Omit the prefix if
dialling a land line.
LOCAL CUSTOMS: Tipping is
usually 10%-15% of the bill at restaurants
and bars. Tip bellboys, taxis, waiters,
maids, etc. depending on the service.
Some businesses and offices close from
2 p.m. to 4 p.m., reopening until 7 p.m. or
later. In restaurants, it is considered poor
February 2015
WHAT TO DO: Even if your allinclusive hotel is everything you ever
dreamed of, you should experience at
least a little of all that Vallarta has to
offer - it is truly a condensed version of
all that is Mexican and existed before
«Planned Tourist Resorts», such as
Cancun, Los Cabos and Ixtapa, were
developed. Millions have been spent to
ensure that the original “small town”
flavor is maintained downtown, in the
Old Town and on the South Side.
DRINKING WATER: The false
belief that a Mexican vacation must
inevitably lead to an encounter with
Moctezuma’s revenge is just that:
false. For the 21st year in a row, Puerto
Vallarta’s water has been awarded
a certification of purity for human
consumption. It is one of only two
cities in Mexico that can boast of such
accomplishment. True, 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.
On the other hand, most large hotels
have their own purification equipment
and most restaurants use purified water.
If you want to be doubly sure, you can
pick up purified bottled water just about
anywhere.
EXPORTING PETS: Canadian and
American tourists often fall in love with
one of the many stray dogs and cats in
Vallarta. Many would like to bring it
back with them, but believe that the laws
do not allow them to do so. Wrong. If
you would like to bring a cat or a dog
back home, call the local animal shelter
for more info: 293-3690.
LOCAL SIGHTSEEING: A good
beginning would be to take one of the City
Tours offered by the local tour agencies.
Before boarding, make sure you have a
map and take note of the places you want
to return to. Then venture off the beaten
path. Explore a little. Go farther than the
tour bus takes you. And don’t worry this is a safe place.
ISSUE
328
Your Comments
[email protected]
Dear Editor,
Many of us have the good fortune to return to PV
season after season or to live here and think we know
our adopted home well. But recently several of us
“locals” explored a hidden treasure that none of the
group knew about — El Salado! It’s the protected
ecological conservation zone immediately across the
highway from the Naval Hospital.
We took a 1.5 hour tour which included a most
informative talk with our guide about the life cycle
and habits of crocodiles, a boat trip spotting birds,
colourful crabs and young crocs, and a climb up
the observation tower that gave us a birds-eye view
of the area. We all came away with new eyes and
appreciation of this hidden, but vital part of Puerto
Vallarta’s ecological system.
Check out their website at www.esterodelsalado.
org or call (322) 226-2878. The competent and
dedicated staff (knowledgeable Spanish and Englishspeaking guides and skilled boat captains) were
terrific for both adults and/or kids and the craft very
safe (life jackets for all).
There are 4 tours a day Tuesday – Saturday at 9, 11,
1 and 3. For reservations, just call 226-2878 or email
[email protected]
We can’t recommend this hidden treasure enough!
Vickie Jensen
Dear Ms. Jensen,
We do our best to promote this treasure of ours, El
Salado Estuary, on our Facebook page, but we seldom
get enough information to advertise its tours in print.
Thank you so much for reminding our readers
about it!
The Ed.
Dear Editor:
I read with interest in your paper today, 1-30-15,
about Cancun cancelling its deal to build the Dragon
Mart with China. I also read today in the Tribune
regarding Mexico’s deal with China to build the
Bullet Train, Mexico’s first. Mexico also cancelled
that deal, and are taking secret bids.
Buyer Beware.
I hope that someone from Mexico’s government
reads this, as China always wins in its dealings.
They always underbid, and you get what you pay
for. They make deals with countries, and later find
out that the deal doesn’t exactly benefit local labor
or resources. When the Chinese get a contract,
they bring in their workers with them, as well as
their resources such as CHEAP steel. They make
the most profit on any and all deals.
I was fortunate to be at U.S. President Obama’s
African Economic Summit this past fall, and spoke
to some African leaders. They stated that China
would bring their workers, limiting the amount of
labor needed from locals, so that the local economy
of a country such as Nigeria, would not benefit as
it thought it would. Thus, the Chinese would be
contracted to build a dam, and it would overall
help the country in the long run, but people who
thought that they might get a job out of it, were
rather disappointed.
Mexico needs to be smart in dealing with China.
Create contracts so that Mexican workers are
the major source of labor, and not that the labor
expense goes back to China. Also, when getting
resources to build something through a contract
with China, and China states that they will supply
resources such as steel beams, production needs
to be monitored constantly if you choose to have
China supply some of the resources.
Again, Buyer Beware.
Americans and Canadians need to be quite
vigilant as well, when you see a project in your
country. Speak up and speak out when you see
that bids are taken in your state or province and
the Chinese are bidding. Things need to be VERY
transparent, and we know that that is not
usually the case. Congressional and Provincial
leaders are always scheming for something; we
need to be vigilant. Mexico has the right idea,
BUT, will they follow through on their checks
and balances in regard to China getting the low
bid, flooding the market with cheap Chinese labor,
cheap Chinese tainted goods and cheap resources
that will not stand up to the test of time?
Manny V.
Dear Editor,
My husband and I went exploring on the
Southside yesterday. We headed past Conchas
Chinas towards Mismiloya. Shortly after Conchas
Chinas we turned left into Nogalito. There was a
wonderful place just a short drive up there called
El Nogalito. This used to be one of our favorite
spots. After they had some trouble up there it
disappeared.
Continued on Next Page
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Sound Off
3
4
Sound Off
ISSUE
328
Continued letters to editor...
Well, we followed some signs that said “Mundo de Nogalito” and it
brought us to our favorite place again. It has been re-opened less than a
month and is now called Parque Nogalito. There is a beautiful restaurant
in a wonderful garden setting deep in the heart of the jungle. A river runs
next to it so you can listen to the gurgling water. There are hundreds
of the blue and black San Blas jays and the black and yellow Caciques
bouncing through the trees all around you. The guacamaya “tequila”
is still there to visit with you. The menus are not printed yet but they
have plenty of different foods and drinks at very reasonable prices. You
can stroll along the river or dip in the river pools. You can go have
your siesta in a riverside hammock. I do not know if the canopy tour is
operational again, but you can take the hike up the mountain. They have
also installed new bathrooms. It is a delight to the senses to be there.
We will return again and again. It is a close short drive south of town
too. Note, It is only open in the daytime around 10-5, and you may want
bug spray as you are in the jungle.
Jeanne Adamson
Dear Editor,
I am so excited because this year we will have a unique opportunity
to participate in the 2K WALK FOR KIDS. Since we live in Puerto
Vallarta for extended periods of time, we are encouraged to attend
numerous benefits--elegant dinners, delicious breakfasts, sunset
cocktail parties, etc. All to support very worthy causes and enabling us
to help the Mexican community that has welcome us with their warm,
inviting hospitality. Since there are so many (as evidenced by a glance
each week through the Mirror), it is necessary to pick and choose those
events that engage us.
For the very first time that I can recall in my 10 years in PV, there will
be a walkathon. I will be able to do something fun that is also good for
m physical health while contributing to the support of children in need.
On Sunday, February 15, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., I will walk (you can also
run or roll) beginning at the sports stadium (across the street from the
Sheraton) for a leisurely 2ks. The 250 peso donation (200 for groups of 5
or more) will go to the children at RISE and/or the families at SENDERO.
If you will be unable to walk, you can sponsor a child to walk for you.
Registration forms are available at Daiquiri Dick’s, Peyote People and
Erika Lamas as well as with volunteers at various locations about town.
Look for me at the FIT Club.
So I wish to challenge all to walk for the children on Sunday, February
15. Come to the registration table at the stadium between 8 a.m. and 11
a.m. to check in or to register. See you then.
Paulina
Dear Editor:
I should have known better as I’ve been coming down to PV for many
years. Shortly after I arrived, I saw that I had a major ant problem. I
called a friend for a phone number for her fumigator and her husband
unknowingly gave her a different fumigator number than the one she
currently uses. The fumigator came over not once, but twice and fixed
the problem. Naturally when he sprays you can’t remain in the condo...
I was not fully settled in yet and was using pesos that I had left over
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Publisher / Editor:
Allyna Vineberg
[email protected]
Contributors:
Anna Reisman
Joe Harrington
Harriet Murray
Stan Gabruk
Krystal Frost
Giselle Belanger
Gil Gevins
Ronnie Bravo
Tommy Clarkson
Luis Melgoza
Todd Ringness
Christina Larson
Mark Hanley
Dr. Fabio Cupul
Gary Green
Conrad Kostelecky
David Kimball
Bill Jory
Office & Sales: 223-1128
Graphic Designer:
Leo Robby R.R.
Webmaster:
PVMCITYPAPER.COM
Online Team
Cover Photo:
“Los Muertos Beach”
by Monroe Davids
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contenido en tramite. Prohibida la
reproducción total o parcial de su
contenido, imágenes y/o fotografías sin
previa autorización por escrito del editor.
An important notice
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comments. Please send them by e-mail to:
[email protected]
250 words max, full name, street or e-mail
address and/or tel. number for verification
purposes only. If you do not want your name
published, we will respect your wishes.
Letters & articles become the property of
the PVMIRROR and may be edited and/or
condensed for publication.
The articles in this publication are provided
for the purpose of entertainment and
information only. The PV Mirror City
Paper does not accept any responsibility or
liability for the content of the articles on
this site or reliance by any person on the
site’s contents. Any reliance placed on such
information is therefore strictly at such
person’s own risk.
Note:
To Advertisers & Contributors and those
with public interest announcements,
the deadline for publication is:
2:00 pm on Monday of the
week prior to publication.
ISSUE
328
from last year so I didn’t pay any attention to
the US money I brought down with me. BIG
MISTAKE! A few days later I went into my
cabinet to get some US money to cash into pesos
when I noticed money missing - almost $3,000
US. It was my mistake and it cost me dearly.
This letter is just to advise people that while
the majority of the people are very honest here,
there are those who are not. Someone suggested
that I file a police report and someone else said
that it’s not a good idea since I’m a foreigner.
I suggest that you put your money in a safe
place when you have workers in your home.
Better to be safe than sorry...
M. Willson
Dear Ms. Willson,
I agree with the suggestion that you do file
a report at the Procuraderia. You have the
man’s name, and that should be enough for the
authorities to take action. As a foreigner, you
have the same rights as Mexican in this instance.
The Ed.
Dear Editor,
It is RiverFest time again, when many of
Vallarta’s best performers will share their talents
to favor the children of Pasitos de Luz, a free
daycare and rehabilitation center for kids with
disabilities. El Rio BBQ (along the Cuale River
just east of the tunnel road) provides its awesome
site for the day-long celebration of food, drink
and entertainment. We’ve attended RiverFest twice, enjoying El
Rio BBQ’s delicious buffet. Last year’s was an
afternoon filled with live music by performers
including Vallarta’s own Kim Kuzma, plus the
Texas Embassy Blues Band, Los Bambinos
(our local inspired young singers) and Chris
Kenny. There is a memorable silent auction
and several vendors selling a variety of art and
wares. We recommend you mark your calendar
for March 7 (gate entry only $80 pesos at the
door) so you can join all of us who believe in
Pasitos de Luz and its kids, and the afternoon
fun that always exists when our Vallarta family
gets together. Personally, we have always purchased a
patron ticket for $500 pesos as a donation to
help the kids - that donation got us in the gate for
Riverfest, free buffet, free non alcoholic drinks,
preferred seating and a lot of great music! Either
way, we recommend Riverfest! Dear Editor,
I read the letter to you from H.R. in issue #327
with a great deal of interest since I had a similar
problem, but I found a health product company that
delivers whatever I need right to my door.
I can order it directly on line and either put it on
my credit card or pay in cash at the HSBC bank.
Not only is this convenient, but this company is
recognized worldwide as having the best products
for improving your health. If any one of your
readers is interested in more details, they can
contact me at [email protected] or call me
at 221-5316.
Frank
Dear Editor,
Manners Missing in Paradise
The bus system here in PV is a great way to get
around for both the locals and “visitors” alike.
There does however seem to be an attitude amongst
some of the “visitors” that leads one to believe that
they have left their manners and values at home.
My wife and I use the bus on many occasions
and during the times that the bus is crowded I do
not hesitate to get up and offer my seat to a lady
or small child, after all it is only good manners to
do so.
Lately it seems that many women and small
children are forced to stand during their ride while
many men remain seated, thus the title of my article
“Manners Missing….”.
The most recent occasion where I witnessed
this occurrence was Friday night last (Jan. 30th)
on our return home to the Marina after an evening
enjoying Dame Edna at the Red Room (great by
the way). The bus was very crowded and at one
point there were five local ladies standing and one
holding a small child, all beside men (looked like
visitors to PV) that, from my vantage point, neither
stood nor offered their seats to any of these ladies,
although a young lady did so.
The point being is that manners seem to go by
the wayside on many occasions when one is on
vacation / away from home. Many of these ladies
have put in a hard day’s work and are on their way
home to do even more work, and I am sure they
would enjoy a few minutes of relaxation.
Hopefully my article will serve as a reminder
that while we may not be “at home”, our manners
and values should remain with us at all times.
J. James
Larry Leebens and Rolf Engstrom
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Sound Off
5
6
Within PV
ISSUE
328
It’s Mardi Gras!
Corazón Valentine Gala
By
This spectacular celebration oceanside
will be February 14, 6:30 p.m. at the
Sheraton.
Three-course dinner, sensational silent
auction, major door prize, several raffle
prizes, and dance music by the Gecko
Band. Suggested donation of $750
pesos in advance or $800 at the door.
Tickets available at Carol’s Boutique on
Basilio Badillo and Kristina’s Salon in
the Marina. More information at www.
corazondenina.mx
Please join us and support Corazón de
Niña, the home for children from high
risk situations such as abandonment,
neglect, or abuse.
I
Valentine’s Day is also
International Children with Cancer Day
Don’t forget to get your tickets to their Annual Breakfast
on Friday, the 13th of February at Oscar’s Restaurant
on the River Cuale.
You can buy your tickets at Oscar’s Restaurant,
Lucy’s Cucu Cabaña and Carol’s Boutique on Basilio Badillo,
and Alexander A Salon in Plaza Marina, Local 25-D.
The price is US$20 or the equivalent $290. Pesos.
Please don’t miss this event or the opportunity to help support
a child and his family during these difficult times.
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Gary Green
f your plans are still ‘up in the air’ for Tuesday,
February 17th, join over 20,000 other spectators as riotous
colors and general goofiness will be the order of the day
as Puerto Vallarta’s Annual Mardi Gras Carnaval Parade
takes to the cobblestone streets at 8 p.m.
Buckle your seatbelt, put your chair in an upright
position and enjoy the 3.5 kilometer ride from the
Municipal Stadium to Olas Altas’ stunning new pier.
A $5,000-peso cash prize to the most creative parade
entry in 2015. Non-profit organizations are invited to
participate for free and local businesses can register at
www.mardigraspv.com for just $200 pesos.
As of last week: Act II Entertainment, Andale’s,
Anonimo Bar, Apaches Martini Bar, Bar Frida, Café des
Artistes, Casa Enigma, Casa Isabel, Cassandra Shaw
Jewelry, Eddie On The River, Fiesta Bar, Flowers To
Go, Garbos Martini Bar, La Margarita Bar, La Piazzetta,
Ladies Outdoor Club Adventures, Mantamar, Marsol
Friday Market, Mora Design & Construction, Mundo
De Cristal, Nacho Daddy, No Way Jose Restaurant
& Bar, Paco’s Ranch, Pasitos de Luz, Perro Bravo
Productions, Puerto Vallarta Mens Chorus, PVRPV,
Reinas Bar, SETAC, Superior Tours, The Dog House,
The International Friendship Club, The Property Girl
Rentals, The Property Girl Sales, The Swedes, Therapies
Unite, and Vallarta Pride will join our Grand Marshall’s
from Act II’s Voice of Vallarta.
What are you waiting for?
ISSUE
328
PV visitors love IFC Home Tours!
By
Conrad Kostelecky
“Great way to spend a day in PV”
“Outstanding tours for charity”
“A peek into breathtaking homes”
“See fabulous traditional and modern homes”
“See the sights and help the kids”
T
hese are just a few ways
people describe the International
Friendship Club (IFC) Home Tours.
First time and repeat guests alike
have praise for the approximately
3-hour tour. Many guests visit us
year after year. Many enjoy several
visits on their annual stays of a few
weeks in our beautiful destination.
Last week, we met a couple that
might hold a record. They have
gone on an IFC Home Tour every
year since they began 30 years ago!
We have a variety of homes and
never show the same homes two
weeks in a row so they are almost
always assured of a different
experience each time they visit.
Deborah who visits each year from
Arkansas and Richard who visits
from California added up a total of
11 tour visits in our 2013-14 tour
season. They’ve even become
friends on their several visits on the
tours! Deborah commented “I love
the tours and especially appreciate
the great cause that they support”.
We thank you both for YOUR
generous support!
The IFC has been touring some of
the most unique and beautiful homes
in Puerto Vallarta for almost 30 years.
We visit four homes each week in
air-conditioned buses throughout
PV from downtown to the hotel
zone in the north, south of town in
the Conchas Chinas hills, and past
beautiful beaches along the south
shore to homes near Mismaloya.
We show a variety of home
styles from traditional “Vallarta
style” Mexican homes to multimillion dollar ocean front condos
and villas. The homes are all
generously donated by owners in
their support of the IFC allowing us
to give these special private tours!
Experienced and knowledgeable
volunteers help guide you through
the homes and also have great
recommendations for things to do
and places to see and visit in and
around Puerto Vallarta.
And all this fun is for a great
cause!
The IFC community
programs vary from our well known
Cleft Palate program to educational
programs like our English Outreach
Program that offers basic English
skills to those who need it for their
work advancement and medical
programs helping those needing
assistance without the financial
means to obtain them.
Our Rice and Beans Program
helps with daycare and meals in
impoverished areas of the city.
We also support various other
established charities with monthly
financial support throughout the Bay
of Banderas including the BECAS
scholarship program, Corazón de
Niña, Casa Hogar, RISE, SETAC,
Los Mangos Public Library,
Maximo Cornejo, a senior living
community for those who have no
one to help support them, and many
others. For more information on
how you can help with donations
or volunteer service, look on our
website
www.ifcvallarta.com
under “what we do.”
Tours for our 2015 season are
well under way! We tour Tuesdays
and Wednesdays each week
through March. We depart at 10:30
a.m. sharp! We meet at the Sea
Monkey restaurant at the Malecon
and Aquiles Serdan on the south
side, each tour day starting at 9 a.m.
A breakfast special is available for
purchase for early starters from 9
to 9:45. Tickets are available the
morning of each tour starting at 9
a.m. but SEATING IS LIMITED
so please purchase tickets before
tour day online with a credit card
at www.ifctoursforvallarta.com
or with pesos at the IFC club office
above HSBC bank at the foot of the
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Within PV
7
Cuale bridge in downtown. Tickets
are $500 pesos each (pesos only
please, at the clubhouse or day of
tour) and all proceeds after our
transportation costs go toward our
programs for Vallarta.
Join us on our wonderful tours
and help us help those in need in
this beautiful beach paradise!
The International Friendship
Club is a registered charitable
organization in Mexico listed as
Club Internacional de la Amistad
de Puerto Vallarta A.C., located
at the northeast corner of the Rio
Cuale Bridge above the HSBC
Bank downtown. Phone: 2225466. Website: ifcvallarta.com
Email: [email protected]
Within PV
8
ISSUE
328
A party invitation
Dear Supporters of Puerto Vallarta Beautification,
W
e are delighted to announce the 2nd annual Puerto Vallarta Garden
Club party in celebration of our continued efforts to beautify Puerto Vallarta.
Date: February 26th, 2015
Time: 6:30 to 10 p.m.
Location: Hacienda Palo Maria
Cost: 800 Pesos
Tickets: Available at Carol’s Boutique and Galleria Dante
on Basilio Badillo, and directly from the Garden Club via paypal.
www.vallartagardenclub.com
Hacienda Palo Maria is a stately hacienda reflecting the elegance of
Old Mexico, set in lush gardens right on the ocean. Mr. Phil Stewart has
graciously opened the doors of his beautiful home for this event.
As anyone who attended last year’s sold out event at Casa Chickie
knows, the PV Garden Club hosts the biggest and best party of the season!
The best of everything - location, entertainment, food, dancing and wine.
A beautiful, clean city with flowering shade trees and bougainvillea
cascading over the streets gives pleasure to our visitors and residents alike,
encouraging repeat tourism and patronage of the city’s businesses. Tourism
is the primary economic driver in our city and provides employment for
most families in the area.
To encourage tourism, the PV Garden Club maintains the trees and
bougainvillea with a year ‘round gardener, watering truck, and provides
volunteers for ongoing maintenance of the planters and over 200 trees and
1000 bougainvillea the Club has planted over the past four years.
We invite you to attend this party to support continued beautification of
Vallarta, have a wonderful time with friends, and enjoy one of the most
exquisite haciendas on the Bay of Banderas.
Medical Matters 2015
Speakers Schedule / Program
It’s almost Monday, February 9th, 2015, and Medical Matters 2015
will be underway!
We hope that you will plan your day around the speakers that you
would like to hear, fitting in a breakfast or lunch as the Hotel Marriott
gives a great discount to all attendees. Take your time meandering
through all of the exhibits and chat with the exhibitors. Medical
Matters takes nearly a year of planning and we are so very proud
when the day actually arrives! This is YOUR chance to learn all
about healthcare providers in the area. We’ll see you there!
Thank you,
Pamela Thompson
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
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It’s Déjà Vu with Déjà New!
Another Fashion Show Luncheon!
After
an overwhelming success
at the last Déjà New fashion show,
Kathleen Palmer is back with another
one of her fabulous shows! Come
and enjoy the fun all over again, or if
you missed the last one, now is your
chance! Get your tickets early for this
sure-to-be-sold-out event!
Déjà New is presenting a February
fashion charity luncheon at Restaurant
Oscar’s with all proceeds going to
Colina Spay and Neuter - a free spay
and neuter clinic for cats and dogs. This
exciting luncheon event will take place
on Saturday, February 21st at 12:30
p.m. There will be special appearances
by Kim Kuzma + Miss Conception! Tickets will go fast for this highly
sought out event at only $350 pesos
each! You will enjoy the wonderful
Restaurant Oscar’s overlooking both
the Rio Cuale and the beautiful Bay
of Banderas. A delicious three-course
meal will be served - appetizer, meal
and dessert with coffee, tax and tip
included.
The fun includes great fashions and
fantastic food, plus you can win a
door prize, buy raffle tickets, bid on
silent auction items and try your luck
on the 50/50 raffle. You get tickets
for the door prize by donating gently
used clothing for the Colina Spay and
Neuter account at Déjà New. You will
receive one door prize ticket for each
clothing item you bring with you to
donate. The raffle and silent auction
prize opportunities are unbelievable!
The certificates and items come from
some of the best businesses in Puerto
Vallarta.
Items include restaurant
certificates, entertainment passes, hotel
stays and more.
Colina Spay and Neuter provides a
vital service in Puerto Vallarta. Our
services are provided free of charge to
those who cannot afford it and for those
weakened stray dogs and cats that live
on the streets. Come out and enjoy an
afternoon of fun and support our very
deserving cause! Tickets are available
at Déjà New Consignment Clothing
– three locations (280 Jacarandas on
the south side, 31 de Octubre #171
downtown near Woolworth’s, and
Plaza Marina - local F9), Restaurant
Oscar’s, Cassandra Shaw Jewellers,
Nacho Daddy’s and Alexander A Salon
in Plaza Marina. Bring your friends
and join us at this great event!!
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
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By
Let’s
face it; absolutely
everybody is busier than ever.
Yes, there is the new internet
(a.k.a. Facebook) and that helps us
feel connected, but I still wonder
if this emergence is more of an
illusion of connectedness. Often,
the ONLY way to truly connect
with people we care about is
through face-to-face time. In my
opinion, nothing can match the
genuine warmth of two souls in
close proximity, mutually sharing
in two non-verbal languages: spirit
and body. Okay, somebody bring
me a beer.
One of the best parts of living in
Vallarta is the special opportunities
to regularly welcome guests who
come for their winter escapes. I
truly love the annual rhythm of
returning friends and family, with
the opportunity to fully reconnect.
Some years in Vallarta are busier
than others. And a few winters
come and go without some friends
showing up at all. But no matter,
because when they do we usually
Todd Ringness
pick right up where we last left
off... as the actual time-distance
gap condenses with an opening
hug and shared smiles.
Many want to get all caught up
on the latest news around town,
and others are more interested
in connecting with their annual
Mexico routine. And therein lies
the beauty and grace of healthy
hospitality… space and time for
whatever you would like or need.
This is a difficult discipline that
both my wife and I first encountered
during an internship at a retreat
center near the Canadian Rockies.
And it’s something we practice
whenever we can; though Sandra
Gaye is MUCH better than I am at
connecting grace with beauty!
We enjoyed a serendipitous runin and soul face-time with Jimmy,
our friend and head cheerleader,
when we dropped into Que?Pasa
on Aquiles Serdan for their
Superbowl celebration. Even with
the surrounding chaos of history’s
largest sporting event spectacle:
true connection. Like I said,
there’s nothing like it.
A couple of dear Texas friends
are coming over for dinner this
week… more connection, storysharing, faith-building, and fun.
Of course, we will miss them
when they leave and we likely
won’t even keep in touch much.
But no matter… true connection
carries hearts further, and it lasts
all the way until next time.
With the recent rains, I have great
empathy for those who have saved
up for their big beach vacation
and end up inside or scurrying for
cover most of the time. I have had
more than one vacation where wild
winds whipped up swimming pool
whitecaps. It’s not as if you can
get back on the plane and go home,
right? I hope our visitors are able
to connect with rest and relaxation
and magical memories, whatever
the weather. But selfishly, I love
the cleansing winter rain that renourishes our surrounding jungles
and sparkles everything up.
Speaking of sparkle, my
sweetheart and I will soon be
spending an evening with Ms.
Lorna Luft at her new show,
Accentuate the Positive in the
Red Room Cabaret. Lorna is a
cancer survivor and she’s pretty
connected as the daughter of
Judy Garland and the sister of
Liza Minnelli. Lorna Luft will
sprinkle her magical stardust in
town for four nights only, and then
she heads over to Ajijic on Lake
Chapala for one concert there.
We hear that Lorna’s husband
Colin Freeman will accompany
her on piano. Last time we saw
Lorna, we so enjoyed the little
sharing she does between songs;
she’s got many a story to tell from
her growing up in Hollywood
with an ultra-famous mom in
the house. Seating in the Red
Room is very limited, so get your
Lorna Luft tickets early to avoid
disappointment.
If you or someone you know is
interested in getting some more
PEP in life, I am hosting a free
90-minute workshop to explore
your personal life mission and
purpose. We will explore your
gifts, passion, personality and how
it all connects together to make
you, YOU! Everyone is welcome
(though space is limited) so come
and join me for a LIVE version of
my PEP Quiz, Thursday morning
at the Boutique Theatre above
Nacho Daddy on Basilio Badillo.
FREE tickets and more info at:
VallartaTickets.com/pep
You’ve got many entertainment
options this week, as Valentine’s
Day approaches. I was single for
many years at this time of year, so
I know that it may not be easy for
some. This is why I really like the
Mexican spin on this holiday, as
Friendship Day. I hope you have
a true friend or a sweetheart with
whom you can enjoy some faceto-face connection time this week.
Maybe there’s someone you need
to reach out to, just because.
Blessings upon you!
Todd Ringness
Along with his wife Sandra Gaye are the founders of Vallarta Tickets, a Canadian online
ticketing agency serving the Banderas Bay region and beyond. You can usually see this man
about town, or you can email: [email protected]
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
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2nd Annual Valentine’s Day party
at Galeria June Rosen Lopez
On February 11
and 12th, June
Rosen Lopez will be having her 2nd
Annual Valentine’s Day party, from 2
to 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday. She
will be opening her home to celebrate
the concept of “El dia de la Amistad”,
Friendship Day. She will have her
gallery open and be serving wine and
desserts, and would love for friends,
clients and new visitors to stop buy
and look at her new collection!
A note from June:
“In the 42 years that I have been
designing and fabricating jewelry,
I never really was very attracted to
heart jewelry. Whenever I would be
with gem dealers, and they would
show me a heart cut stone, I would
reject them. I usually said I wasn’t
into hearts. One day I broke down
and bought a beautiful mabe pearl
th
heart. I made a few pieces with them.
While I was at a show in New York,
a very dear client, whom I thought I
really knew, saw the heart and said ‘I
have to have that piece, I love hearts.’
I was a bit surprised, but happy that
she wanted the piece.
Recently, I had an interesting
thought about hearts. Why do some
people love to wear hearts and others
can’t imagine wearing one? I don’t
really have the answers. In the last ten
years, I have enjoyed adding hearts to
my collection, gradually. Of course,
I will have plenty of other exciting
new pieces and look forward to
having you all come over to celebrate
friendship and love! I hope you can
come up to my Día de la Amistad
party and celebrate with me.
Galeria June Rosen Lopez is
located at 200 Francisca Rodríguez.
That’s the same street as the pier,
just cross Olas Altas and walk up the
hill, on the corner of Pino suarez and
Francisca Rodriguez.
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
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Ongoing Events & More...
The Museum on the Isla Cuale is open Tues. to Sat., from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission. Entrance to the Historical Naval
Museum (right next to Los Arcos Amphitheater) is also free.
The Voladores de Papantla perform @ 6 p.m. on the Malecon.
PLEASE leaf through this issue for so many events that
do not appear here, especially Vallartatickets.com’s listing
on page 12 ...and JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!
N.B.: All events are subject to change without notice.
Mondays - 6:30 p.m. - Hollywood Classics Film Series at the IFC Clubhouse *
Tues., Wed., & Sat. - 9 a.m. & 12 noon - City Walking Tour
- meet at the Tourism Office in the Main Square
Tuesdays - 9:30 a.m. - Malecon Sculpture Walking Tour meet at the Millennium statue by Hotel Rosita
Wednesday - 4:30 p.m. - PuRR Project Bingo at Margarita Grill - see ad in this issue
Wednesdays - 6 to 10 p.m. - Old Town Art Walk - see map of galleries in this issue
Wednesdays - 7 p.m. - Dems Abroad Film Series - “Still Mine” - at the IFC *
Fridays - 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. - PuRR Project Adoptions - in Plaza Marina
Fridays - 7:30 p.m. - Xiutla Folkloric Ballet - at Lazaro Cardenas Park.
(Get there early, the stands fill up fast!)
Fridays - 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Marsol Market - by the pier.
Saturdays - Tres Gallinas y Un Gallo Market
9 a.m.- 1 p.m. - V. Carranza between Naranjo & Jacarancas
Saturdays - Old Town Farmers’ Market - 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. - Lazaro Cardenas Park Pino Suarez & Venustiano Carranza
Saturdays - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - SPCA Pet Adoptions - across the street from Los Mangos
Public Library, between the market and the food stand.
Saturdays - 10:45 a.m. - New Thought Group - at the SETAC bldg, 427 Constitución,
corner of M.M. Dieguez. Contact: (322) 170-3027
Saturdays - 11 a.m.-2 p.m. - AngeliCat & Acopio Pet Adoptions - at Plaza Caracol
Sundays - 10:30 a.m. - Christian Worship in Paradise - at Act II Stages, Basilio Badillo
corner of Insurgentes
Sundays - 9:30 a.m. - English Worship Service - First Baptist Church, next to Park Hidalgo
Sundays - 6 to 7 p.m. - Municipal Band, 7 to 8 p.m. - Danzon Music - Dancing in the main square
* IFC (Int’l Friendship Club) is located above the HSBC by the northbound bridge
ACT II STAGES - see VallartaTickets.com or www.actiientertainment.com for more info
THE PALM CABARET & BAR - see VallartaTickets.com www.thepalmpv.com for more info
THE BOUTIQUE - see VallartaTickets.com and www.boutiquetheatre.org for more info
For a comprehensive list of most -if not all- charity groups and non-profit organizations in and around
Puerto Vallarta, you may want to check out: www.puertovallarta.net/fast_facts/non-profit.php
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
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AEROTRON
226-8440
AIR CANADA 01 800 719-2827
AIR TRANSAT 01 800 900-1431
ALASKA
01 800 252-7522
AMERICAN
01 800 904-6000
CONTINENTAL
See United
DELTA 01 800 266-0046
FRONTIER
01 800 432-1359
INTERJET
01 800 011-2345
SUN COUNTRY 01 800 924-6184
UNITED
01 800 864-8331
US AIRWAYS 01 800 428-4322
AEROMEXICO 01 800 021-4000
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Calendar / Directories
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Plain talk from Kai Doyle
By
David Kimball
“I didn’t come to Mexico to live
with a bunch of other gringos”.
Kai Doyle doesn’t waste anybody’s
time.
She moved to El Tuito nine years
ago because she felt that this small
town represented “the real Mexico.”
“I don’t like Vallarta during the
high season,” Kai says. “It’s too
crowded for me. It seems like L.A. by
comparison to El Tuito.” Kai looked
at other small communities near
Vallarta, but none of them had the
unique features that El Tuito offered.
For example, San Sebastian is “too
cold and too far.”
El Tuito, by comparison, has perfect,
mild weather year ‘round and is less
than an hour’s drive from Vallarta.
With a population of approximately
4,000, this mountain town is large
enough to have basic amenities such
as ATMs, good television service and
cell phones that share the Vallarta
area code.
There are a few very good
restaurants: Mario’s Courtyard
on the Plaza in front of the Cabo
Corrientes Municipal Office Building,
Valle Azul on the western edge of the
Plaza, and El Divisadero, 15 minutes
from El Tuito on the road to Chacala
(see their website for instructions:
www.haciendaeldivisadero.com)
The town has internet
service, although slow, and
some of the residents have
learned to live with sending
and receiving internet
messages at night when
transmission speeds are
highest (but still painfully
slow). There are perpetual
rumors of the near term
installation of much greater
internet capacity, but Kai
counsels patience rather
than false hopes for a
sudden improvement in the
town’s internet infrastructure.
In fact, Kai is generally ambivalent
about “progress” in El Tuito. For
example, she would like to see
continued improvements in health
care such as the city sponsored doorto-door inoculations for children.
She also welcomes the local
program for reducing dengue cases
through eliminating standing water
throughout the community. And, Kai
would like to see local government
support for recycling as well as for
reducing litter throughout el Tuito.
On the other hand, Kai is not eager
for the kind of progress that would
cause El Tuito to “lose its charm.”
“I know that El Tuito is going to
grow,” Kai says. But she finds herself
feeling protective and a little secretive
about the features and attractions
that could bring too much growth
too soon. For example, the nearby
Pacific beach town of Tehuamixtle
(“Tehua”) has wonderful lobsters
and oysters pulled directly from its
beautiful sheltered bay and prepared
in sunny beachfront restaurants as
yet undiscovered by high volume
tourism. The road from Tuito to
Tehua is finally being paved, and
when complete (nobody is predicting
when) the travel time to the coast
will be reduced to about 30 minutes.
However, with much improved
access, a town like Tehua will soon
enjoy its own tourism boom. Tehua
will change.
Kai confesses to an urge to keep
such places a secret, but she also
recognizes and welcomes the
benefits of tourism revenues for the
communities of the Cabo Corrientes
Municipality. Despite her misgivings
about the “discovery” of her beautiful
El Tuito region, she loves her
Mexican neighbors in El Tuito and
wants the best for them. “They have
a generosity of spirit, kindness and
affection which I admire. Mexico is
in my heart,” she says. “And El Tuito
is the real Mexico.”
Of course, much of real Mexico
is sparsely settled and very poor.
Kai works with the El Tuito Rotary
Club on a variety of projects in Cabo
Corrientes that add basic educational
infrastructure such as housing for
teachers and bathrooms for rural
schools. She and her comrades in
the Rotary Club have also started a
“BECAS” or scholarship program for
local students.
This lady also contributes time and
energy to reducing the local stray dog
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
population through Spay and Neuter
clinics. “The treatment of animals in
Mexico is an educational problem,”
she says. “Change is going to take
time. Change always seems like it’s
either too fast or too slow. When it’s
too slow, it’s frustrating even though,
yes, I know we are not living in the
States here. And when change is too
fast, I worry about El Tuito losing its
charm. I would hate that.”
There is so much in Mexico that
should not be changed, Kai says.
“Where in the US would you find
active folkloric dance groups like
the one we have in El Tuito? These
people are proud of their culture, as
well they should be. And
Mexicans care for their
elderly in a way that is much
more loving than in the US.”
Kai says, “I have never
looked back” during her
years in El Tuito. She has
tried to find the right balance
between preserving the past
and embracing the future.
For the most part, she seems
to have enjoyed the ride.
At the moment, what
change would she like to see
in her beloved El Tuito?
“Well, we do need a really
good bar.”
David and Xochitl Kimball
Have been developing a 7 hectare (17
acre) mountain property for custom built
mountain cabins as vacation or retirement
homes. Their property, Tierra Alta, is one
mile from El Tuito, less than 45 minutes
from the Pacific Coast beaches and a one
hour drive from Vallarta. Sale information:
Wayne Franklin, Tropicasa, 222-6505.
Rental: 222-9180 or cell: 322-103-0901.
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T
ierra Alta, the mountain cabin
development less than an hour from Vallarta,
has announced a one-time special offer of
$59,000. US for a 1,600 square meter lot
with a one bedroom, one bathroom cabin
measuring about 50 square meters with a
large deck.
“This special offer won’t last long
because we only want to sell a couple of
cabins of this size at this time,” said David
Kimball, co-owner of the project with his
wife Xochitl. “We want to demonstrate
how a small cabin can be designed to be
‘expandable’ in the future as a family grows
and needs more space.”
The cabin is designed to expand in a
second stage to include an additional
bedroom and bathroom for only about
$10,000 in incremental cost, Kimball said.
Beginning with the original small cabin
module, you can continue the expansions
to eventually include four bedrooms and a
family room. “All of the expanded stages
are very affordable, so it’s a way to enjoy a
beautiful cabin retreat now in a magnificent
landscape with a flexible plan for adding
space as needed in the future.”
Information on cabin packages: Wayne
Franklin at Tropicasa. Tel.: 222-6505.
www.tierraaltatuito.com
Kimball Cell: 294-2141.
Beyond PV
Special offer of
Land and cabin
packages
for only US $59,000
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
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The 7 Arts
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Drag Icons Miss Richfield 1981 & The Kinsey Sicks
debut new musical comedy shows at The Palm!
It’s drag comedy is at its best,
as Miss Richfield 1981 makes
her Palm debut, Feb. 11th - 24th.
And Dragapella Quartet - The
Kinsey Sicks return for a second
engagement with two new shows,
Feb. 9th - Mar. 1st.
Dedicating her life to the friendly
citizens and responsible merchants
of her hometown of Richfield, MN
(“where butter’s a spice and gravy’s
a beverage”), Miss Richfield 1981
is fast becoming one of America’s
national treasures. This Midwestern
maven’s interactive format that
combines homespun warmth and
edgy improv, leaves audiences
in hysterics. In her all new show,
Miss Richfield lowers the ‘Cone of
Silence’ and discusses everything
we’re taught we’d better not talk
about,
incorporating
hilarious
videos,
twisted
sing-a-longs,
and a healthy heap of audience
interaction.
Family problems,
medical issues, politics, religion…
we’re only as sick as our secrets, so
anything goes!
Miss Richfield 1981 is the alter
ego of creator Russ King. A 1981
graduate of a Richfield, MN high
school, King created the character
on a whim when he and a friend
attended a Miss America party in
1996 as Miss Little Rock and Miss
Richfield. They were a big hit with
the crowd. King developed the
character over the years, and now
Miss Richfield’s live performances
have received critical acclaim: “The
must-see act in Provincetown”
wrote the New York Post, and The
Chicago Sun-Times described her
as “Garrison Keillor meets Mary
Tyler Moore”. Miss Richfield also
appeared on The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno, Today on NBC, Cake
Boss on TLC, and, most recently, as
a television spokesperson for Orbitz
and the City of Philadelphia. Miss
R. is also a headliner for Atlantis
Events cruises & resort vacations,
the largest LGBT vacation company.
Returning
for
a
second
engagement at The Palm this season
is Dragapella Quartet - The Kinsey
Sicks with two shows: ‘America’s
Next Top Bachelor Housewife
Celebrity Hoarder Makeover Star
Gone Wild’ (Feb. 9 – 26) and their
new show which will makes its
debut at The Palm, ‘Chicks with
Shticks’, playing Feb.12 - March 1.
When they began in 1993, they
were a group of refugees from
successful careers as professionals
and activists. Member Ben Schatz
(Rachel) is a Harvard-trained civil
rights lawyer, former Director
of the National Gay and Lesbian
Medical Association, and one-time
presidential advisor on HIV issues.
In 2004, the group was joined by
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
actor/singer/designer Jeff Manabat,
who is responsible for Trixie’s
inordinate glamour and soaring
counter-tenor, as well as the entire
group’s hot couture. And beginning
in October of 2008, the Kinsey Sicks
added the hilarious and talented
Spencer Brown (Trampolina), a
Kansas City-based actor and singer.
Newest cast member Nathan
Marken, a lyric baritone, is tickled
pink to drop the bass with the Kinsey
Sicks, having first been exposed to
them in the early 2000’s as a young
music student. Marken will replace
the retiring Irwin Keller as Winnie
in future shows.
In America’s Top…, a brilliant
reality TV send-up, we find
America’s Favorite Dragapella
Beautyshop Quartet in the jungle,
trying their best to score at
challenges that involve singing,
dancing, dating, dieting and, of
course, large insects. The Kinsey
Sicks were, in fact, contestants on
‘America’s Got Talent’. America’s
Next Top… brings the group’s
firsthand knowledge of the reality
show experience to bear, poking fun
at the genre’s blatant manipulation
of the contestants and audiences
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328
alike – but, of course, all in effortless
4-part harmony! This show boasts
some of the group’s best music –
wicked parodies and objectionable
originals – plus brilliant new songs
about the ethics of stardom. This
show will play Feb. 9 - 26.
In Chicks with Shticks, the group
will premiere more than 20 brand
new songs throughout the month
of February in the group’s most
interactive show yet! Every night
features a different combination of
memorable musical numbers, and for
the first time ever, YOU determine
the fate of every one of them! Come
more than once to hear new numbers
each time and to banish others!
Note: there will be special prizes
(and surprises!) Chicks with Shticks
will play Feb. 12 - Mar. 1.
Also currently playing at The
Palm is the third installment of Paco
Ojeda’s ‘Happy Birthday Series’
with a tribute to singer-songwriter
Carole King. One performance only
on Sunday, Feb. 8th at 4 p.m., when
Paco will be joined onstage once
again by local favorite Kim Kuzma,
along with singer extraordinare
Joëlle Rabu. “It is only fitting to
pay tribute to such a talented lady
with two equally talented women,”
commented Ojeda.
More often than not, when
one thinks about Carole King’s
accomplishments in American pop
music, Tapestry, her seminal 1971
album comes to mind, with hits such
as “I Feel the Earth Move,” “So Far
Away”, “(You Make Me Feel Like)
A Natural Woman,” and “You’ve
Got a Friend.” In fact, Tapestry was
released 43 years ago —on February
10— and it is one of the best-selling
albums of all time, with over 25
million copies sold worldwide.
However, King’s very first hit song,
“Will You Love Me Tomorrow,”
co-written with then husband Gerry
Goffin for the American girl group
The Shirelles, topped the charts in
1960, 11 years prior.
Returning for a second run is
‘Greater Tuna’, starring Tracy
Parks and Chaz Weathers, playing
Feb. 10 - Mar. 30. ‘Greater Tuna’,
the comedy about small towns,
small minds and big hearts, that has
been running at The Palm since midNovember 2014, has been extended
for the third time this season. This
will make ‘Greater Tuna’ the longest
running, most successful show ever
produced by The Palm.
The comedy, starring Tracy Parks
and Chaz Weathers, takes place in
Tuna, the third smallest (fictional)
town in Texas, ‘where the Lion’s
Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline
never dies’. The two actors play 20
characters (men, women and dogs)
and make 42 costume changes
throughout the two-act play.
The Greater Tuna cast is currently
in talks with a theatre in San Miguel
de Allende, Mexico where the show
is likely to play in June, 2015.
Watch for those details soon.
Also, drag comedy icon Miss Coco
Peru is now playing through Feb.15th.
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
The 7 Arts
17
The Palm is well-known for
bringing top notch, cutting-edge
entertainment to Vallarta. Inside
you’ll find an intimate, completely
refurbished 90-seat cabaret with
outstanding sound and lighting,
creating the ambiance of cabarets
from days gone by. Shows are
scheduled seven days per week
with two different shows nightly
through April, 2015. The Palm also
offers matinees at 4 p.m. on selected
shows.
The Palm is non-smoking (a
patio is provided for smokers) and
is located at 508 Olas Altas, in
the Romantic Zone on the south
side of town. Tickets may be
purchased online 24 hours a day,
and at The Palm’s Box Office, open
at 11 a.m. daily. A full calendar
of performances, information and
online tickets are available at www.
ThePalmPV.com You can also find
the Palm on Facebook at The Palm
Cabaret and Bar.
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Joe Harrington
The Imitation Game
O
ut of the eight movies nominated
for Best Picture by the Academy
Awards, five are based on true stories
involving extraordinary lives. This
movie is one of them.
There has been such a slew of
World War II movies involving the
Nazis that I have become a little tired
of the rehash. When I read that The
Imitation Game was another one, I
actually passed on watching it last
year, but now that it’s been nominated
I decided to see what the fuss was
about. The fuss is earned.
But first, over the decades there
has been erosion regarding the use
by Hollywood in the words, “Based
on a true story,” or, “Inspired by
a true story.” I have no problem
with making a composite character
out of many for ease of viewing. I
do have a problem with changing
historical facts to make for more
drama. Take The Butler. Why did
the screenwriters feel they had to
invent an imaginary and rebellious
brother who never existed? The
story of that man, who served many
presidents, was compelling enough.
That movie claimed it was, “based
on,” the butler’s life. And, I have to
admit, got many of the facts correct,
but why are screenwriters seduced
into embellishing?
Even worse,
when you watch a movie claiming,
“Inspired by,” you’re lucky if they get
the names right.
This is not a problem with The
Imitation Game. This movie claims
it is fact-based, which, I assume,
made it bow to a higher standard
than “inspired by”. Rotten Tomatoes
Meter gave it a whopping 90%
from top critics and a sensational
93% from the paying public. That’s
rarified air. The movie stars Benedict
Cumberbatch and he’s brilliant.
Plot: In 1952, a burglary is reported
at the home of British war hero
Alan Turing, a mathematician and
cryptanalyst. Instead of a robbery, the
authorities discovered something – to
them – even more shocking, a crime
labeled “Gross indecency”.
They
arrested Turing for being a homosexual.
What had this man contributed
to his country? He led a group of
what today would be called “nerds,”
to develop a machine (now called a
computer) that cracked the German’s
code-encrypting Enigma Machine.
This was thought to be impossible.
One of the things that struck me was
the immense size of the device these
geniuses put together, a machine
as big as a bus that cranked along
making sounds like an old trolley,
whose rusty wheels had never been
oiled. While watching, I couldn’t
help thinking that now we have
computers smaller and thinner than a
pack of cigarettes that are a million
times faster.
I won’t spoil the story of how this
team, led by a brilliant man, finally
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February 2015
deciphered the German’s code. At
the end it’s claimed by historians
that, by doing so, it shortened the war
by two years and saved an incredible
number of lives. I have no doubt
that cracking that code helped win
the war, but I doubt very seriously
it shortened it by two years. The
overwhelming and growing power
of the Allies, from both the East and
West, was relentlessly closing in on
Berlin to the point that the only thing
slowing them down was not a code,
but shortage of fuel supplies.
That said, those men did make
incredible sacrifices in their lives and
did contribute to winning the war.
Here’s what a few of the top critics
had to say. First, Ann Hornaday
of the Washington Post wrote: “The
Imitation Game leaves Turing’s
essential mysteries intact, but they
will nonetheless find even the most
public contours his story ripe with
drama, excitement and deeply
effected resonance.” Next, Rafer
Guzman, Newsday: “Cumberbatch’s
finely calibrated performance helps
bring to life one of history’s lesserknown stories and most shameful
injustices.”
What was the shameful injustice?
What was Turing’s reward for all
his self-sacrifice? Arrest for his
sexual orientation. Imprisonment
for two years. Despair. Eventual
suicide. Not exactly Britain’s highest
meritorious service award. Not that
any more information is needed to
expose the hypocrisy of governments,
this movie just reinforces what we
already know: they will sell out their
most loyal citizens if it is, at the
moment, expedient. Or, as my Irish
grandfather was fond of saying, “The
government you have to watch with
the wariest eye is your own.”
Joe Harrington
Is an internationally published true crime
writer and documentary filmmaker.
Send comments or criticism to
[email protected]
Artwork by Bob Crabb.
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Lorna Luft - Accentuate the Positive
Coming from a ‘show biz’ family
has its advantages. But unless one
is truly gifted, works hard and is
incredibly persistent, it’s very difficult to sustain a career in entertainment. Lorna Luft, the daughter of
Judy Garland and the sister of Liza
Minnelli, has established a long
and successful career in her own
right. Puerto Vallarta is pleased to
welcome back Lorna Luft for performances on February 11, 12, 13
and 14 at The Red Room of Act II
Entertainment. She is the author of the 1998
book Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir. In 2001, the book
was adapted as an Emmy-winning TV miniseries Life with Judy
Garland: Me and My Shadows.
Having premiered her one-woman show, Songs My Mother Taught Me, in London in 2004, she has
since toured several times with the
production. The show is a celebration of her mother’s most famous
songs. Lorna puts her own spin on
Garland standards like ‘The Man
That Got Away’ and ‘Chicago’. A
CD of the music from the show was
released in 2007.
Having both experienced and
contributed to many different areas
of the entertainment business, Lorna Luft is perhaps most at home on
the intimate cabaret stage, communicating the lyrics and music of beloved songs to her audience. Welcome back, Lorna. We have missed
you!
February 11, 12, 13, 14
7:30 p.m.
Joëlle Rabu sings Edith Piaf
Piaf… and Much More, a highly
acclaimed hit show written by Joëlle Rabu and Ted Galay, is an intimate musical drama, re-creating
Edith Piaf’s final New York concert
at the Waldorf Astoria in 1961.
In the Red Room…
Joëlle’s award winning portrayal
of the legendary French songbird
will leave you breathless. Piaf…
and Much More is performed in
English with Piaf’s most memorable songs sung in both French and
English.
The show also features a quartet
playing more than a dozen instruments highlighting the passionate
music of that era.
This spectacular piece of musical theatre has toured extensively;
constantly receiving standing ovations, encores and rave reviews.
February 5, 7 and 10 at 7:30
p.m., February 6 and 8 at 9:30 p.m.
Miss Conception
This year, Miss Conception will
be launching her new show called
“The Wonderful World Of Miss
Conception”, an all live singing
show with your favorite storybook
characters, with a twist.
Miss Conception started from
Cawthra Park high school for the
Performing Arts to Mississauga
Youth Theatre and now this international female Delusionist is ready to take the world by storm or
take their heels.
Mondays at 7:30 p.m. and
9:30 p.m., Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.
Mix * Mingle * Munch with
Special Guest Miss Conception
Mix * Mingle * Munch is a Red
Room Event that offers a special
intimate pre-party (limited to 25)
with the performer at a local restaurant. Enjoy assorted canapés and
appetizers with like-minded new
friends that are also lovers of food
and entertainment.
Afterwards, immerse yourself
in The Wonderful World of Miss
Conception at The Red Room CaSaturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
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baret. Mix * Mingle * Munch is
hosted by Nancy Page and Marcia
Blondin. Tickets available at the
box office.
February 9 at 5:30 PM at Boccon
Di Vino. The Wonderful World of
Miss Conception at 7.30 p.m.
Michael L. Walters
as Dame Edna
“Renowned vocalist and actor
Michael L. Walters takes the stage
by storm in a critically acclaimed
full-scale homage to Dame Edna’s
fabulous Broadway shows!”
Final dates for Dame Edna: February 7, 10, 14 at 9:30 p.m. Kim Kuzma
Puerto Vallarta’s favorite, Kim
Kuzma! Enjoy her Acoustico show
which features her full band and
her high energy disco show Wednesday Night Fever.
Acoustico - Sundays at 7:30 PM
Wednesday Night Fever - Wednesdays at 9:30 PM
Rob Knight as Elvis
Rob Knight is a Pacific Northwest
Award Winning International Elvis
Tribute Artist.
Rob’s performance provides an
opportunity to travel back in time to
enjoy the music from Elvis’ career.
Rob most enjoys singing the songs
of the powerful 1968 Comeback
TV Special and the unforgettable
Aloha and Las Vegas Concerts.
Forever Elvis Wednesdays at 4 p.m.
The Red Room Cabaret and Bar
is located upstairs in the
Act II Entertainment STAGES
complex at 300 Insurgentes
(corner of Basilio Badillo)in the
Romantic Zone on the south side
of town. Tel.: 222-1512.
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EQUUS opens on the Main Stage
A
fter last season’s smash hit
comedy Desperate Princesses,
Perro Bravo Productions brings
for the first time to the Puerto
Vallarta stage Equus, a play
by Peter Shaffer.
Equus tells the story of
a psychiatrist who attempts to
treat a young man who has a
pathological, religious fascination
with horses. An explosive play
that took critics and audiences by
storm, Equus is Peter Shaffer’s
exploration of the way modern
society has destroyed our ability
to feel passion. Alan Strang is a
disturbed youth whose dangerous
obsession with horses leads him
to commit an unspeakable act of
violence. As psychiatrist Martin
Dysart struggles to understand the
motivation for Alan’s brutality, he
is increasingly drawn into Alan’s
web and eventually forced to
question his own sanity. Equus is
a timeless classic and a cornerstone
of contemporary drama that delves
into the darkest recesses of human
existence plays from February 4th
until February 21st, Wednesdays,
Thursdays,
Fridays
and
Saturdays at 8 p.m. There will be
a Saturday matinée on February
14th at 2 p.m.
The Voice of Vallarta
goes dark for one week
only on Feb. 8th for the
PVMC special concert. The Voice of Vallarta returns to
the Main Stage on Feb. 15th for the
most exciting show to date. Mark
your calendars now for Fight for
Your Life Week. We start the
show with 13 contestants but before
the night is over we will introduce
the TOP 10... Yes, 3 participants
go home on Feb. 15th. Don´t miss
Fight for Your Life Week.
Puerto Vallarta Men’s Chorus
- PVMC - takes the
Main Stage with its
Valentine’s week concert.
The PVMC’s Valentine’s gift to
their audiences: Magia del Amor!
This Magic of Love Concert is
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
being performed on February 8,
10 and 14 at ACT II Stages under
the skilled leadership of Alfonso
Lopez, the new Artistic Director of
the PVMC, whose debut concert
Higher and Higher won acclaim
in the local media last December.
Your hearts and souls will drift
into dreams of brotherhood and
LOVE as you sway in your seat,
smile and gently squeeze your
partner’s knee while enveloped
in songs of puppy love, new love,
and magical love. The variety of
selections for everyone to embrace
are: dance, choral poetry, show
tunes, 70’s retro, and a Tuscan
folk song, plus many more!
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performed by Vallarta’s foremost
dance
troupe,
Latin
Team
Productions.
Using the story
that takes place in Germany at
the beginning of the Nazi era and
combining it with their own Latin
rhythms, the Latin Team puts
forth an impressive and highly
ACT II Stages will host a “meet
and greet” in the Encore Wine
and Piano Bar after the concerts,
serving light appetizers to enjoy
with your drinks. The most elegant
will be on THE DAY, February
14th, with bubbly and chocolates!
The PVMC family of singers and
members look forward to spending
time with their greater family, their
audience and supporters, each
evening. Please join us and bring
your hope-to-be love, your closest
friends, or your love of 50 years to
this “enchanted evening”.
Spectacula Spectacular A Cabaret Burlesque Show
opens on the Mainstage
Feb. 16th at 5 p.m.
This is a modern interpretation
of the classic musical “Cabaret,”
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enjoyable
dance
spectacular.
Beginning with the strong opening
“Cabaret” that evokes the turbulent
Thirties, as “decadent” lifestyles
and music were beginning to
be suppressed in Germany, the
program moves on to “Mein Herr”,
“Burlesque”, and the famous
“Roxanne”, ending as powerfully
as the beginning with “Moulin
Rouge”. All with a charming
Latin touch - an evening not to be
missed. Feb. 16th at 5 p.m., Feb.
18, 19, 20 at 3 p.m. Produced and
directed by Benedicto Rodriguez
Ovalle & “The Latin Brothers”.
The Main Stage theater
is located upstairs in the
Act II Entertainment STAGES
complex at 300 Insurgentes
(corner of Basilio Badillo)
in the Romantic Zone
on the south side of town.
Tel.: 222-1512.
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22
Map
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1st Film and Diversity Festival in Puerto Vallarta - “Cinema DiVa” (Di = Diversidad, Va = Vallarta)
Ivonne “Ivo” Guevara at Di Vino Dante
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Cocktails 7 to 9 p.m.
F
or some artists, one art form just isn’t enough
to scratch their creative itch. More than one passion
gets under their skin. So it is with Ivonne “Ivo”
Guevara, who has achieved international fame and
acclaim in both popular music and fine arts.
Born October 31, 1961, in México city, Ivo studied
graphic design at Universidad del Nuevo Mundo
while also studying film and theatre, foretelling a
dazzling career in the spot light.
While internationally renowned as an artist, Ivo is
also beloved around the world as a singing sensation
in the multi-platinum Hispanic music group “Flans”.
Since 1985, Ivo and Flans have toured the world,
thrilling fans to sell-out concerts everywhere.
Meanwhile Ivo never lost her passion for the graphic
arts - Her natural talent and visual restlessness led
her to develop her own unique style.
She explored innovative new techniques and before
long, she had become a respected and revered artist.
In fact, she became one of the most highly profiled
practitioners of “Pop Realism” in México. So while
her stardom in the pop music world endeared her to
countless fans, her art work was being embraced in
headier circles. It all really started in 1988 when Ivo
had her first solo exhibition in Coyoacan México,
El Hijo del Cuervo. Her notoriety began to rise. In
1991, she participated in a collective exhibition at
the Centro Artesanal Independencia in México City.
During the next few years, while living in Spain, she
began producing works that established
her unique style in which volumes and
perspective create an optical illusion,
making objects appear to spring from the
canvas in a play of light and shadows.
In 1995 Ivo took part in the prestigious
exhibitions Les Artistes et Maitres du
XXe siécle (Artists and Masters of the
20th Century) and Le libre d’or des
collectionneurs et amateurs d’art (The
Collectors and Art Lover’s Golden
Book). It was here that her works were
shown for Les editions Arts et Images du Monde
(World’s Arts and Images editions) in Paris, France.
She then shared an exhibit with venerable art legends
including Pablo Picasso, Rufino Tamayo, Joan Miró
and Rafael Coronel at the International Festival
Jaime Sabines in Tapachula, Chiapas, México in
1996. She followed this with an individual exhibit
at Plaza Loreto in México City during 1997.
The Crown Plaza Hotel in México City hosted
Ivo’s work in 1999 where she presented another
successful individual show. The year 2000 saw
Ivo recognized as a painter of international renown.
It was in Vercelli, Italy, where the Accademia
Internatzionale del Verbano di Lettere, Arti e Scienze
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Greci-Marino recognized her as Caballero Oficiale
Accademico Seccion Art. In fact, the general
rector of the academy bestowed upon Ivo the title
Consejero Nacional Honorario and Académica
Correspondiente Sección Art, representing México
in the year 2004.
She made Houston her home for three years where
she continued to create ground breaking work; the
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts hosted her
with an individual show. The Houston Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce saw one of Ivo’s greatest
works using one of her paintings as the piece
representing the Triunfando Awards.
Galería Pecanins in México City, an art gallery
known for showing works of top European artists,
invited Ivo in the year 2007 to have an individual
show. It was a success and became a media event.
In 2008, Flora lounge, an eclectic corner in
la Colonia Condesa of México City had Ivo’s
paintings in an individual show that was combined
with performance art and music. She showed fresh
work in the year 2009 at Enanos de Tapanco and La
Casa de Juan Art Gallery, where the ground for her
aesthetic compromise with art recognized her as one
of the top painters to represent the Pop
Realism genre in México.
Music claimed her voice and she was a
special guest for the 2009 Riviera Maya
Jazz Festival where she performed with
the renowned Jazz musician Fernando
Toussaint and his band “Agua Mala”.
2010 was the year in which Puerto
Vallarta started flirting with Ivo; she had
collective show at the Compass Rose Art
Shop Gallery. At the height of her craft,
she created “Sofá” a smooth jazz, lounge
and chill-out album.
Lyrics and Music by Ivonne Guevara - Executive
produced by Hugo Carrillo Brumbaugh. Music
producers: Gus Reyes, Ian Dozol and Jethro
Carbonell. The art on the album cover was also
painted by Ivo. Warner Chapell launched this
fantastic album in 2012.
In 2013 Ivonne Guevara made Puerto Vallarta her
home. She is inspired by this paradisiacal town.
She continues to create and explore realms in music
and the plastic arts.
Please join us in support of this very talented artist!
Di Vino Dante is located at 269-A Basilio Badillo
(above Galleria Dante)! Cocktails 7 to 9 p.m.!
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Angeline Kyba
Inaugural Exposition
Thursday, February 12 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
635 Cuauhtemoc in downtown Puerto Vallarta
Animals in art, the deer
A
nimals have been important subjects in art, culture and
myth from the time of the cave man and the deer have figured
prominently throughout the world. The spectacular beauty of the
animals painted in the Lascaux caves of France so stunned Pablo
Picasso that he said man has learned nothing new since then.
Still, the challenge remains and I have recently been painting the
reindeer which came out to feast at dusk. Standing majestically
still when I first approached, they quickly continued eating. To
the Huichol people of Mexico deer are sacred animals. Deer
are depicted in Huichol art as Deer of Maize for a good crop
and as Deer of Peyote for spiritual guidance. Deer songs and
deer dances are performed by the Huichol and Yaqui people in
celebration of their beauty, strength and swiftness.
Here are some deer facts:
Deer are herbivores feeding on grass and plants.
Deer are primarily nocturnal and browse at dawn and dusk.
The stomach of a deer has four chambers allowing digestion
of tough food.
Deer eat quickly and then when they rest, cough up
the food and chew it.
The eyes of deer are located on the sides of the head.
Muscles on their ears allow deer to turn their ears without
moving their heads.
Deer can hear higher frequencies of sounds than humans.
White tail deer communicate danger by raising their tail.
Deer are found throughout the world except in Australia
and Antarctica.
Deer have powerful legs and can run 30 miles an hour (48 kilometres)
Deer can leap 10 feet high (3 meters) and as far as 30 feet (9 meters)
in a single bound.
Deer are the only animals that have antlers, the fastest growing
tissue on earth.
Antlers grow up to half an inch a day.
There are over 100 species of deer, the largest being the moose.
Elk is a large deer species, as is the antelope which have horns,
not antlers.
You are cordially invited to Kyba’s annual show Thursday February
12 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at her studio gallery at Cuauhtemoc 635 in
downtown Puerto Vallarta. Just follow Guerrero, it is the same street
with the name changing at the first curve or come by way of the new
bridge over the Rio Cuale. A long time resident of Mexico, Canada and
the U.S., Kyba paints people and creatures large and small in oil. The
National Geographic recently used her painting “Carmen” for a second
printing in their educational division. Her painting “Miriam Reclining”
was selected in the prestigious Quinta Biennal de Monterrey. Kyba’s
studio is open to the public weekdays from 12 to 5, please ring the bell.
“He prayeth well who loveth well
Both man and bird and beast.” - Coleridge
222-4238 www.angelinekyba.com [email protected]
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
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The Loft Galería
New paintings and fine art prints
T
he season is in full swing and The Loft Galería has
new beautiful works of art for collectors and admirers of fine
paintings and prints. New paintings by gallery favorites Bill
White, Mario Cinquemani, Nicola Wheston and Paulina
Vilchis as well Cuban artist Zenen Vizcaino Ortiz, grace the
gallery’s walls.
We are also excited to now offer the wonderful limited
edition prints and giclées of Wosene Kosrof for those
looking to round out their holdings of his work or for first
time collectors.
Visit us and allow us to show you the
variety of strong works of power and
beauty that have become our signature.
The Loft Galeria is at 176-A
Calle Corona, just steps up from the
Malecon, in the Central Historic District
(downtown) of Puerto Vallarta. We are
open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday
through Friday, Wednesday until 10
p.m. during the ArtWalk and Saturdays
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, by
appointment: 222-6353.
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
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Publisher to consider manuscripts
By
Bill Jory
A
s Puerto Vallarta’s aspiring
writing community well knows,
authoring a book is one thing, getting
it published is another.
An opportunity to bridge that gap
will be offered at the Puerto Vallarta
International Writers Conference at
Bibioteca Los Mangos Public Library
March 6th to 8th. Evelyn Bryne of
White Bird Publications will be
attending both to give tips on how
to get books published and also to
consider manuscripts.
“I hope everyone will learn the best
way to hone their writing skills,” she
says of the seminar she will present.
“I will mainly focus on the things
needed to prepare a manuscript for
publishing. The process a manuscript
goes through.
What editors look for in a manuscript
and why manuscripts are rejected.”
In addition to representing the
publishing firm, Byrne is the author
of five books – three paranormal
romances, an inspirational book and
a children’s book. She is currently
working on a sixth.
Conference
participants
with
manuscripts are invited to email them
to [email protected]
by the Feb. 15 deadline.
Byrne says she will consider the
first five pages of a manuscript along
with a short synopsis. Manuscripts
must be professionally edited and be
double spaced with one-inch margins
in New Times Roman 12 point. She
is limiting the number of manuscripts
to 20. Whitebird accepts most genres
with the exception of erotica.
Literary agent Elise Capron,
representing the Sandra Dijkstra
Literary Agency, will also attend to
consider manuscripts.
The conference is being organized
jointly by the PV Writers’ Group and
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
the Library and will be held at Los
Mangos Public Library. Registration
is $125 U.S. Registration forms and
information are available by email at
[email protected] Payment can be
made via Paypal.
Texas writer Caleb Pirtle, author of
more than 55 books, also promises to
motivate as keynote speaker. A propos
to the conferences theme of Leaving
Our Mark ... Awakening More than
Memoir, Puerto Vallarta’s Maurice
Monette, author of Confessions of a
Gay Married Priest, will offer tips
on memoir writing. Other presenters
-- Sarah Cortez, Donna Dahl, James
Callan, Thomas Pulley and Melissa
Frost – will also offer an inspiring mix
of seminars, workshops and interaction.
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Tango Festival in Puerto Vallarta
February 11-16
Dancers in Puerto Vallarta and
the Bahía de Banderas are eagerly
awaiting the arrival of Miriam
Krashnan and Froyamel Corro, who
represented Mexico in the 2014
Festival Mundial de Tango.
The young couple will meet our local
community on Wednesday, February
11th, in the weekly Practilonga at J&B
Dancing Club from 8 to 10 p.m. From
Thursday through Monday, February
12-16, Miriam and Froyamel will teach a series of
workshops on Feelings and Musicality in Tango
sponsored by TangoVallarta. All workshops
will be held at Al and Barbara Garvey’s home
downtown, as will the annual Milongon tango
ball on Valentine’s Day.
Traditional Argentine tango is a social dance
which originated in the streets of Buenos Aires
about 150 years ago. Invented over decades
A season hit!
LOS BAMBINOS’ fabulous 2015 shows
D
o you love music that emphasizes vocal
harmonies? Are you ready for a show with Latin
Flavor, but hoping for a little green,
green grass of home? Are you looking
for some live-local music that is just a
touch quieter? If you answered yes, then
we have the perfect night out for you
and your friends! Friday nights through
April, join Los Bambinos for their
second season presenting a brand new
LOS BAMBINOS: UNPLUGGED show
for your listening pleasure.
This show offers music selections from around
the globe, in an easy-listening evening of Latin &
international rhythms, with Los Bambinos’ four
charming Morales Brothers. The quartet brings
over a decade of inspiring instrumentation and
unique blend of voices that have come to embody
the essence of Puerto Vallarta. Alongside tastefully
selected international songs, the show features
a mellower selection of Los Bambinos original
when thousands of single men, lonely
European immigrants and gauchos
arriving from the countryside, flocked
to those cities, the tango embrace
offered a way to connect with women.
Thus the soul of tango is intimacy;
the dance is only possible when the
partners concentrate only on each
other, four feet moving as with one
heart. This intensity lends drama to
the tango when performed on stage,
although in the commercial version
acrobatics and theatrics are often
added, quite contrary to authentic tango.
For further information about schedule, costs
and location of the workshops and all tango
events, please contact Barbara Garvey at (322)
222-8895, email [email protected] or see
Facebook page TangoVallarta. La Practilonga
dance party is at J&B Dancing Club, 2043
Francisco Medina Ascencio weekly, from 8 to 10
p.m., entrance free.
music, perfect for the refined listener. Bring your
celebration to the next level with a contemporary
spin on traditional Latin standards and international
rock and roll favorites with Los Bambinos music!
They bring choice entertainment to each and every
event, melding disciplined vocal study and inherent
musical talent with over ten years international
performance experience. Set the stage for a perfect
wedding dance celebration for three
hundred; add the touch of live music for
a hopping cocktail party or bring in the
quartet for a memorable serenade-dinner
for two. Los Bambinos’ music will bring
your party to life.
Whether already a fan or simply
a music enthusiast, wanting some
excellent local music, Los Bambinos
entertainment is sure to satisfy this season. See
Los Bambinos Tuesday nights for their Flashback
World Favorites Tour and Friday nights 8 to 10
p.m. at the Roxy Rock House. Reserve your table
early for the best seat in the house. Information
and tickets at www.losbambinosmusic.com or call
222-4357, English spoken. The Roxy Rock House
has live music every night at 217 I.L. Vallarta in the
Romantic Zone on the south side of town. See you
at the show!
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
The 7 Arts
29
30
The 7 Arts
ISSUE
328
“From the Heart”
By Time2Play
February 13th and 14th, 2015
T
he New Boutique Dinner
Theater is delighted to announce
that they will once again celebrate
Valentine’s Day by featuring
Vallarta’s own talented and
entertaining group of musicians
and singers, Time2Play. Concerts
will be held on Friday and Saturday,
February 13th and 14th, with dinner
served from 5:30 and shows starting
at 6:30.
Over the past 4 years,
Time2Play’s six-person ensemble
has entertained local audiences with
tight four-part vocals and their own
instrumentation on piano, guitar,
violin, bass and drums. Every
performance knits seamlessly
together with the easy banter and
spontaneous humor that only longtime friendship, mutual respect and
a shared love of performing can
ensure.
Audiences are regularly surprised
and delighted by the versatility
within this group. Each member will
display instrumental virtuosity, then
casually set their instruments aside
to sing tight a capella harmonies,
or perform solos accompanied by
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
others within the group. And this
versatility is only outdone by the
variety of their musical offerings.
Typical programs include blues,
jazz, country, folk, classical, as
well as hilarious novelty numbers,
all delivered with virtuosity,
humor and heart. No one has ever
complained of being bored at a
Time2Play concert.
And this year’s From the Heart
concert will include traditional
Valentine ballads such as Bob
Dylan’s Feel My Love, by Joy
Lehman and Garry Carson;
classical piano and violin virtuosity
on Lambscapes by Lois Rogers
and Mary MacLachlan; and fresh
and funny comic relief by Don
MacLachlan, who will once again
try to convince us that “He Is
Cow”. Drummer Enrique Jimenez,
as usual, will provide impeccable
rhythm, winning smiles, and
perhaps a note or two of vocals
when inspired.
Tickets
are
available
at
Vallartatickets.com or at the door,
upstairs at Nacho Daddy, 287
Basilio Badillo, tel.: 223.0838.
ISSUE
328
Dear Editor,
Your Comments
[email protected]
Dear Editor,
Frankies Spaghetti House has only been
open since Sept. of 2014 but by far the
greatest, cutest little Italian Restaurant in old
town. The VERY best fettuccini Alfredo I
have EVER tasted and I am always looking
for great fettuccini whether here in P.V. or
at home in B.C. Great pasta… pizza… and
super friendly wait staff (yes, Eduardo, I
mean you) and very reasonable prices.
This little gem is on V. Carranza (across
the street and up from El Torito). Give it a
try... you will NOT be disappointed!
Yours truly
Vina V.
I would like your readers to know that we no
longer participate in the Saturday market. The
Director, Charlotte Semple, has been harassing
all vendors with children. She informed us that
they are moving to ban children from the market.
Mexico has an ancient, rich tradition of markets
with hands-on involvement in those markets from
the whole family. The current family vendors of
the Old Town Farmer’s Market are proud to be
part of this great tradition.
But, good news! We will be offering our
products out of our house. For this Saturday, I’ll
be home fulfilling orders from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Marisa will be at the market explaining to our
customers the new arrangement.
We are excited to have this new opportunity to
provide our clients with the best in specialty food
and customer service.
Best regards,
Richard and Marisa
El Pilon Charcuterie
460 Francisco I Madero, between Naranjo
and Jacarandas. [email protected]
and El Pilon Charcuterie on Facebook
2nd Annual Festival of Typical Family Cooking
of Puerto Vallarta
Hola Amigos!
We are very excited to present
this 2nd Annual Festival of Typical Family Cooking from Puerto
Vallarta.
This year, we will introduce
new participants with new reci-
pes, new flavors, new histories,
and a new recipe book.
The event will take place on
Saturday, February 7th, 2015, at
Plaza Lazaro Cardenas Park in
the Romantic Zone on the south
side of town, from 5 to 10 p.m.
Bracelets will be available for
sale for $200 pesos. They will
allow you access to sample all of
the dishes. Tapa tasting will also
be available, and can be paid for
item by item.
Join us for great food and entertainment, including a traditional Mariachi Band and Mexican
music. Step back into time and
taste the delicious food and drink
made by the people native to this
region.
GRACIAS! We look forward
to seeing you!!!
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Good Bites
31
32
Vallarta Voices
By
W
ISSUE
328
Anna Reisman
hat is it with the folks who
upload the weather forecasts
online? Do they all go to the
same school on this continent?
Ever since last Saturday when
the summer rainstorm broke over
Puerto Vallarta, in January (!), all
I’ve been hearing is how the bad
weather was going to continue all
week – according to the various
weather forecasts online. It’s not
just that I’m an optimist. It’s that
I know, based on over two decades
living here, that they’re wrong more
often than not. Sure enough, thank
heavens for the tourists, Tuesday
morning was clear and sunny and
just plain beautiful.
Even a little chilly
for us adopted Vallartenses.
I remember one year, during the
summer, which is traditionally
hurricane season along Mexico’s
west coast, when dire warnings
were issued about an approaching
behemoth. The headline on the
front page of the Number One
Spanish-language daily in PV was
printed in wartime-sized letters, all
caps: “ALERTA!” I took a photo
of it that day, with the bright blue
sky and lush green mountains as
background. The hurricane never
even came close and the skies
maintained their intense blue color.
True, it is unusual for the Bay of
Banderas region to be rainy and /
or overcast for more than one day
per month during the winter time,
but with all the never-to-be-utteredout-loud (climate) changes we have
caused to our poor little planet, we
really shouldn’t be surprised.
Although I’m no fishing enthusiast
(the first and last time I went deep
sea fishing was in 1966), I do read
Stan’s columns - just checking… so I know that the oceans are also
experiencing some changes. El
Niño, La Niña, whatever… and the
fish respond accordingly.
My plants and those on the
mountains around us appear to
thrive on the extra cleanings, and I
didn’t have to wash down my solar
panels last weekend, so it’s all good.
Talking about good things, I
cannot believe how many events
are scheduled for next weekend,
Valentine’s Day weekend. It is
as if every non-profit group in
town is hosting one or another…
Fundraisers of all types, special
dinners, shows and more shows, etc.
etc. How is one supposed to pick
which one(s) to attend?
By the way, I was pleased to hear
that the reason why the Boutique
Theatre upstairs from Nacho
Daddy’s is not promoting anything
this week is because the shows they
had lined up ARE SOLD OUT.
That makes me happy. I like to see
all our live entertainment venues
do well. Heaven knows they work
hard to make it happen.
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
I’m not sure whether the guilt
should be attributed to one of my
cats or one of my dogs, but one of
them killed a teeny tiny baby bat the
other day. And of course, they left it
as a gift for me.
Poor little thing. I guess there’s
something to be said about how cute
a baby (nearly) anything is. Bats are
not known for their good looks, but
this little furry thing was actually
cute.
Ah, yes, guilt… Why is it that
buses and taxis can fly through
stop signs and red lights and not
get tickets? I’ve seen them doing
it at intersections where there was a
police(wo)man and …nothing. Ni
modo. Viva Vallarta!
This is going to be a good week
for me: the first of my relative visits
is arriving and they’ll be spending
one month in their condo here. I
usually have friends who come
down for one, two or three weeks,
but this year will be the first in over a
decade when they won’t… They’re
awaiting the arrival of a grandchild,
so I’ve forgiven them. It’s so nice
to spend time with loved ones,
especially if you haven’t seen them
in a while. And even more so when
there are so many new restaurants
for them to discover – with me.
That’s all I’m going to share with
you this week, dear reader. Enjoy
our great weather if you’re in PV,
and I wish you patience, strength,
good health …and warmth if you’re
not. Hasta la próxima vez.
[email protected]
ISSUE
328
Sexual abuse - Part 2:
Connecting the dots
By
Giselle Belanger
Last week, I introduced the painful
and often taboo topic of sexual abuse. I
explained how common it is to live with
the secret for years well into middle
or late adulthood as well as finding
the courage to break the silence and
tell someone. I shared some people’s
stories of not being believed and the
pain and agony of living with the
horrible memories. I explained many
ways such trauma manifests itself into
adolescence and adulthood including
alcohol and drug addiction, selfmutilation, eating disorders (anorexia,
bulimia, binge eating and overeating
and obesity), as well as depression,
which often goes undiagnosed and/or
untreated and suicidal attempts.
I explained that with depression, the
person may not know why they feel the
way they do because their memories
of the abuse are completely blocked or
very vague and disconnected pieces.
On the other hand, they may remember
every detail of the abuse but they’ve
never connected it to their subsequent
depression or any of the other problems
that manifested.
One woman spent her entire adult life
getting extremely drunk a few times a
year and she suffered with depression
until a few years ago when she was
finally put on anti-depressants. For
the first time in her life, she admitted
to someone, her therapist, that she was
sexually abused by her older brother.
She remembers everything, but she
never knew that it had anything to do
with her other problems. It was like a
light went on… “you mean my choice
of men, my depression, and my drinking
is all related to that?! I thought I had
put that behind me!”
Another woman has attempted suicide
3 times starting at age 11, by her third
attempt at age 22, she was serious, and
was lucky to survive. She spent almost
2 months in the hospital and never
RN, LCSW
talked about the abuse nor did she think
it anything to do with her unhappiness
and wanting to end her life.
It can take a long time before treating
the underlying cause of the depression
becomes possible, because it depends
on the capacity to remember and fill in
the missing pieces.
Remembering / Memories
Memories can come in bits and
pieces, and may be fragmented and
not in chronological order. You may
not know what age the abuse began
or when it stopped, you may only
remember the scent of the abuser but
not his face, or you remember one
abuser, ie: your brother, and many
years later remember that your father
or grandfather also abused you. The
memories or the details, may be so
suppressed that they come back in
adulthood related to certain experiences
that trigger an association to something
from their past. (The Courage to Heal,
Bass, Ellen & Davis, Laura, Harper
Perennial Publishers, third edition
(1994) Pg 79-83).
A partial memory: One man
remembers his older brother trying to
sodomize him when he was 13 and
described in detail how he stopped him
pinned him up against the wall and
almost choked him to death. He denied
any memory of any other incidents. It
is safe to assume this had been going
on for years and that all he remembers
was the last time; the time he was able
to stop it; the time he was empowered
enough to stop the victimization.
He had all of the symptoms in his
childhood and as an adult. One
childhood example is that he recalled
bedwetting for years, up until he was
12 or 13 (not a coincidence) and his
parents asking “why do you do that?”
and him feeling so angry and frustrated
answering “I don’t know, don’t you
think if I knew, I’d stop?!”
Memories can come back when she
(the victim) becomes sexually active
with her boyfriend or gets sober from
an addiction, or has something similar
happen recently which reminds her
of the abuse. It can also feel safe to
remember after one or both parents die
so that there is no more question about
whether to confront them or tell them
what happened. (pg. 83-84)
A “flashback” is a memory that is
so vivid that you feel “as though the
original experience is happening all
over again”. Flashbacks may include
the feelings you felt at the time or
there may be “emotional detachment”
as if you are watching a movie of it
happening to someone else. (Pg 79)
“Dissociation”
is
a
defense
mechanism in response to overwhelming
trauma, pain, terror, or violence. It
occurs “when our mind cannot endure
what we/our bodies are being forced
to endure, we separate or dissociate
ourselves from the experience”. Some
survivors describe “leaving their bodies”
or “watching it happen to me from above
my body”. Because they dissociated
during the abuse, they may remember the
experience in fragmented bits; sounds,
smells, or a visual image and may not
realize they were abused. (pg.81)
Media coverage of a sex offender
can trigger memories and make you
realize you too were a victim. (pg 84)
One man remembers vividly the day a
pediatrician was arrested for sexually
abusing many young boys. Although
he was in his 20’s at the time, it made
him wonder if he had also been abused
because that was his pediatrician
too. Although, he knows he received
legitimate medical procedures which
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Health Matters
33
were very traumatic and terrifying,
he is unsure if he was abused. His
memories are somewhat sporadic and
fuzzy. He may never know for sure,
but either way the experiences were
traumatic and he is very emotionally
scarred from them.
NOTE: The case examples I used in
both of these articles were being told
by adults currently 40 years or older,
so their childhood years range from the
late 1940’s to the mid 1970’s. Society’s
attitude and understanding of abuse
was so limited back then, which greatly
impeded the likelihood of talking
about it, reporting it, or being believed.
There was little to no education in the
schools for the children or the teachers.
Survivors always say, “that wouldn’t
happen now”, realizing the impact of
the time period in which they grew up.
Thank goodness that today so many
survivors have come forth and told
their stories and created an incredible
and horrifying awareness of the
problem. Now there is media coverage
and professionals like doctors and
nurses, teachers and school counselors,
who have been trained to be aware of
behavioral symptoms and are obligated
to report anything suspicious.
Investigations are conducted and
children are rescued and protected.
Giselle Belanger
RN, LCSW (psychotherapist) is available
for appointments in person, by phone,
or by skype webcam. Contact info:
[email protected] Mex cell: 044
(322) 138-9552 or US cell: (312) 914-5203.
34
By
Health Matters
Krystal Frost
Food for the Soul
I
ISSUE
328
recently ran into a friend of mine,
Ignacio Alvarez, a painter. He works
in an ancient Japanese technique
called Norisome, which is painting
on silk. (http://virtualvallarta.com/
puertovallarta/news/local/El-tigreriviera-nayarit.shtml
Nacho learned this technique
in Vancouver some 20 years ago
and brought it to back to Mexico
where he made it his own with the
rich hues, passions and subjects of
Mexico. His media embraces color
and light bound in the sensual and
fluid texture of silk.
I always feel inspired after a visit
to his studio; it seems the ancient
Japanese were on to something
bigger than creating something
solely of esthetic value, it had to
have a subtle deeper effect.
Colors affect moods and
emotions.
Color therapy uses
this sensitivity to color to identify
and correct any imbalances in the
body’s internal energy patterns that
might lead to emotional or physical
ill health. Therapists believe that
each organ and body system has
its own characteristic vibrational
energy, and disorders can be
healed by applying color of the
corresponding vibrational energy,
either to the whole body or to the
organ concerned. For example, the red spectrum
affects our physical energies. It is
stimulating and warming. Blues
are cooling and cleansing, affecting
our spiritual energies. The yellow
shades serve to bridge them,
affecting our mental energies.
The three colors together provide
opportunities for healing our body,
mind, and spirit.
All of us sense color on many
levels, in fact, the body’s intelligence
perceives color on multi dimensions.
It sets a vibrational tone (sound) that
affects the sensory system. There
have been many human studies on
the psychology of color and how it
affects the mind and all of the body’s
sensors on different levels, physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual.
Color and art is a fascinating
arena. This duo in fact may well
be the next manner in which you
will be treated for wellness. Light
is also part of that process. It is
possible to heal people by them
bathing in a color, whether it is a
room, clothes or contemplating a
piece of art work.
On a very deep level of DNA,
it affects the chromosomes and
cellular complements. Many are
starting to become awakened to
the power of color and light. Have
you noticed how some works of art
makes you feel anxiety and others
bring your body and mind into
harmony and focus?
Certainly you have noticed how
some sounds or types of music
have the same effect.
Noise is one of the biggest
contributors to stress and fatigue.
The ear is directly linked by
nerve paths to many other body
organs, so the sounds we hear
have an immediate effect on our
whole system. Researchers have
discovered that the ear is intended to
hear mainly high frequency sounds,
because most of the sensory cells in
the inner ear are accumulated in the
high frequency zone.
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
It is the high frequency sounds
which replenish the brain’s energy
and activate the cortex, improving
our ability to think. Unfortunately,
most of the sounds we hear in our
mechanized, urbanized lifestyle
are low frequency sounds. Traffic,
factories, household appliances,
refrigerators, fluorescent lights and
computers put out a low frequency
drone which drains the brain of
energy and causes stress. To remain
healthy and fully charged, the brain
must receive three billion stimuli
per second for at least four and a
half hours per day. This level of
stimulation can only be achieved if
the ear is regularly exposed to high
frequency sound. You may notice
how different you feel after a day in
natural surroundings, hearing only
the high frequency sounds of nature
- bird songs, wind and running
water, or the rhythmic sound of
the ocean. These sounds stimulate
the ear in a way that releases latent
energy that soothes and nurtures
the body and soul.
So, we are blessed to be in this
place of natural abundance of
light, color, art and sound and
artist expression. Take a stroll at
sunset, dwell on the deep tones
of the changing sky, indulge in
contemplating your favorite piece
of art, allow your eyes and ears to
open to the moment and be well.
Krystal Frost
Is a long time resident of Puerto Vallarta.
Graduate of University of Guadalajara,
and specialized in cosmetic acupuncture
at Bastyr University in Washington State.
She is the owner of Body & Sol for over
20 years where she practices traditional
Chinese medicine, acupuncture, massage
therapy, yoga, meditation and nutritional
counseling. She has created healing
programs for individuals, retreats and
spas. For questions and comments Cell: 322 116-9645,
Email: [email protected]
ISSUE
328
Ask Luis
By
Luis Melgoza
Dear Luis: I need some legal
advice. There is a real estate agent in
town who refuses to pay me money
he owes me for renting out my
house. I have proof that he agreed
to pay $4,600.00 dollars. He only
paid me one half of that amount. He
still owes me $2,300.00 but for one
month has refused to answer my
emails or phone calls. I am unable
to reach him. I left a message with
his partner, with whom I spoke on
the phone, asking him to have the
agent in question call me, but he
never returned my call. I don’t
know how to reach him, but it seems
clear he is avoiding me because he
owes me this money. What remedies do I have? He has
a website but no office.
Any help, will be appreciated.
Dear Reader: The first result of
a Google search of “this person’s
name Puerto Vallarta” (without the
quotes) shows a local street address
and phone number for a company
with this individual’s name on it.
If Google had failed to show the
necessary information, I would
have tried finding the person’s
website domain registration going
to https://www.whois.net/ or
similar sites and searching for
the agent’s domain information
(website minus “www.”, or, as in
this case, just the website address).
Unless that particular domain has a
private or proxied registration, you
should be able to see who registered
it, with at least a phone number if
not a full street address, if registered
in Canada, Mexico or the US.
In this particular case, the
registration shows only a street
name in PV, different than that
shown by Google, without number,
a zip code incorrect for Puerto
Vallarta and a telephone number in
either La Quinta, CA (most likely),
or in Antwerp, Belgium (according
to
http://www.fonefinder.net/).
Not much help, in this case; but it
also contains a gmail address where
you might also be able to contact
this person.
Now, to the question of how to
collect the remainder of your rent...
It depends on whether this person
was acting as your agent, or if he
was your tenant, and, if the former,
on whether there is a written agency
agreement in place.
Either way, you may sue this
person in civil court; however, be
aware that your legal fees might
amount to more than the costs you
may legally recover. If willing to
proceed, you should retain a lawyer.
On the other hand, and going
back to the domain registration
- GoDaddy, as a US company is
required by US Law to keep accurate
contact information for all domains
registered through them.
Since the contact information in
this case is, at best, incomplete, you
may report this fact to ICANN (The
Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers) at https://
forms.icann.org/en/resources/
compliance/complaints/whois/
inaccuracy-form
ICANN will
forward your complaint to GoDaddy,
which must take reasonable steps to
investigate and correct inaccurate
data.
If either GoDaddy is unable to
contact this person, or if this person
is unwilling to provide complete and
accurate information, the domain
may be deleted (shutting down the
website at least for some time).
by an agency. Since I am going to
sell the condo, I allowed the agent
to use the rent money for repairs.
The repairs were never done, and
the agency has kept thousands of
dollars. What can I do to get this
money back?
Dear Reader: You can send a
letter to the agent, via courier with
signature required, or by certified
mail, demanding repayment of the
money you allowed them to use to
pay for the repairs not done, within
a reasonable time (15 days are more
than plenty); informing them that
their failure to comply will leave
you no choice other than to seek
redress through the legal system.
Do NOT, under any circumstances,
threaten to press charges. That
would be extortion.
If they fail to comply to your
satisfaction, you may file a criminal
complaint for “abuso de confianza,
o lo que resulte y contra quien
resulte responsable” (abuse of
trust or whatever crime or crimes
result, against whomever might be
responsible) at the State Attorney’s
offices.
Sending the suggested letter and
giving them reasonable time to
repay is completely optional; you
may file charges immediately.
Abuse of trust is a crime equivalent
to obtaining money under false
pretenses in US criminal law, and
is punishable in Jalisco with three
to six months imprisonment and a
fine of 2 to 8 daily minimum wages
Dear Luis: I own a condo and
house in PV which were rented out
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Legal Matters
35
if the amount does not exceed 450
daily minimum wages; six months
to four years imprisonment and a
fine of 2 to 16 daily minimum wages
if the amount is between 450 and
2,500 daily minimum wages, or, if
exceeding 2,500 daily minimum
wages restitution is made before
sentencing in appeal; and, four to
eight years imprisonment and a fine
of 20 to 190 daily minimum wages
if the amount exceeds 2,500 daily
minimum wages.
The daily minimum wage for
Puerto Vallarta is $66.45 MXN,
and there are no plea bargains in
Mexico.
Send me your questions to
[email protected], I am not able
to answer each message privately
due to the volume of mail I receive.
I do not take legal cases, I am retired
from the practice of Law.
Luis Melgoza
Is a former PRI (Mexico’s ruling party)
Head Counsel and Legal Adviser to the
Mexican Congress. Although retired
from the legal profession, he is a highly
respected consultant for both the foreign
and Mexican communities in Puerto
Vallarta. Luis’ PVGeeks is the premiere
wireless high-speed Internet provider in
Puerto Vallarta. For Internet service, you
can reach Luis at [email protected]
36
Real Estate
ISSUE
328
VIEWPOINT
By
Harriet Murray
History of property ownership in Mexico
1917 - The Constitution of 1917 proclaimed that all land in Mexico
would either be ejido (communal) or owned by Mexican nationals only.
Ejido land was given to every village in Mexico, and could not be sold.
1973 - A constitutional amendment known as the Foreign Investment
Law allowed foreigners to purchase real estate anywhere in Mexico, except
the restricted zone. The restricted zone consists of areas within 100 km
(64 miles) of international borders or within 50 km (32 miles) from the
coastline (at high tide).
1993 - Mexico amends the constitution to allow foreigners to purchase
real estate within the restricted zone by means of a fideicomiso (bank trust).
1994 - The NAFTA trade agreement between the United States, Canada,
and Mexico is passed. A constitutional amendment allows corporations to
be 100% foreign-owned. A corporation may own property in a restricted
zone without a fideicomiso.
History on buying in Mexico
In 1917, after a long war, Emiliano Carranza formed a convention between
the government and the Mexican rebels in Queretaro. Finally there was
created document which set new political and social laws. This was the
Mexican Constitution of 1917. The Constitution, among other things, gave
communal or ejido land to every Mexican village. This land was given by
the government to the villages for their use only and could never be sold
away to the highest bidder. All land was to be either communal land for use
only -or owned- by Mexican Nationals only. This law was very important
to the Mexicans to address the past problems with the Spanish, French and
Americans who were controlling both land and waterways in Mexico.
In 1973, a constitutional amendment known as the Foreign Investment
Law allowed foreigners to purchase property anywhere in Mexico, except
in the restricted zone. The restricted zone, stated in article 27, is 50 km (32
miles) from the high tide water line and 100 km (64 miles) from any border.
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
The largest problem with this amendment was that most of the foreigners
wanted to purchase specifically in the coastal and border areas.
In January of 1994, the NAFTA had been finalized and President Bill
Clinton gave a multibillion-dollar loan to Mexico. In succession with
the NAFTA, Mexico passed another amendment to the Constitution that
foreigners could now own property in the restricted zone with a bank trust
or fideicomiso. The trust system circumvented the Constitution, allowing
foreigners to legally own in the restricted zone.
Over the years, the length of the trust was increased to 50 years,
renewable. Several times politicians lobbied to change the Constitution
to allow foreigners to own in the restricted zone for residential purposes
without a fideicomiso. At this time, all efforts to change the Constitution
on this issue, have failed.
My person belief is that the trust serves a strong purpose of providing
a fiduciary for the beneficiary (which can be foreigner or national) and
becomes the will for the property, not requiring probate.
This article is based upon legal opinions, current practices and my
personal experiences in the Puerto Vallarta-Bahía de Banderas area of
Mexico. I recommend that each potential buyer or seller conduct his own
due diligence and review.
Harriet Murray
Can be contacted at: [email protected]
February 2015
ISSUE
328
Unusual conditions continue with
out of season Dorado & Marlin
By
Stan Gabruk
(Owner of Master Baiter’s Sportfishing & Tackle)
I
nteresting title if I do say so myself,
but one thing I haven’t been talking
about is how we’re on the back end
of an El Niño Year. If you remember
last March, we were seeing 300-lb
Yellowfin Tuna at Corbeteña. That
was about when the ¨strangeness¨
began. Now we survived a less than
spectacular summer fishing wise and
now we’re seeing Dorado in February,
the midpoint of winter fishing! The
same can be said for Sailfish, Striped
and Blue Marlin, that that have been
hanging out off Punta Mita about 15
miles or so for weeks now, strange stuff
indeed. For the person looking to boat
a Dorado when they shouldn’t be there,
well now’s the time, amigo, because
this ¨Strangeness¨ can’t last forever.
First off, water temperatures, a key
factor in the species we have, are still
running in the 77o range, which is just
on the low side of what Striped Marlin
can tolerate, Blue Marlin prefer it a
little warmer, but again will tolerate
cool water temps when bait is wildly
abundant. Normally we’re seeing
water temperatures running in the 73o
to 75o range come February. Normally
the coldest water temps you’ll see is
at 72o or a touch lower. This isn’t the
strangest thing that could happen, but
it’s outside of normal. Because of this,
we’ve had large Dorado hanging out
at El Moro for weeks. The abundant
bait in the area is reason enough to set
up ¨house¨. So for the last couple of
weeks this has been the place to be,
but for the last couple of days they’ve
decided to change ¨digs¨ and have
moved back to the Punta Mita area.
If you’re in the area, the Marieta
Islands are still in low gear. With
unimaginable amounts of Sardines
there, you’d think there would be
Rooster fish all over the place, but
that’s not the case.
Yes, there are some, but I couldn’t tell
you to go there and give it a shot since
you’d most likely come back in empty
handed. Still, for those in the area, Jack
Crevalle (35 lbs.) are everywhere and
they’re taking any bait you put in front
of them. Lures or live bait, to them for
the moment it’s all the same. The other
regulars of Skip Jack Tuna in the 20 to
30-lb range, Bonito at 35 lbs., a few
Snapper under 20 lbs., Rooster fish shot
at 40 lbs., Sierra Mackerel of course,
and the list goes on.
For the last couple of weeks, El Moro
has been where the action is, Dorado
in February is something you’d never
expect. Another surprise: Barracuda.
Yes, I said Barracuda of good size are
all over El Moro. With razor sharp
teeth, you better be running wire
leader and be ready for a fight. The
Dorado have changed location now,
moving to the area around Punta Mita
to Guyavitos, still in the 35 to 50-lb
range. With a little luck, you’ll find
Rooster Fish at the reef of Anclote.
For my fishing dollar this is where
I’d be heading to for the moment, so
figure on a 8 to 10-hr day to get these
targeted species.
If you’re looking for Sailfish,
Striped Marlin and Blue Marlin, you’ll
be rolling the dice, but there are some
around El Banco, enough to make you
think you’ve got a shot at them, which
is about all you’ve got, a shot. This
¨shot¨ seems to be enough to get the
die-hards to run out this way. Out of 12
boats, you’ll find one boating a Marlin
or Sailfish, so your percentages are
pretty low at best. If nothing happens
here, you can always come back and
take the Punta Mita area over. So, do
you feel lucky??
Inside the bay, you can’t go
wrong. Jack Crevalle at 35 lbs. are
everywhere and in the bay they’re
thicker than molasses in winter. As
mentioned earlier, they’ll hit anything
that qualifies as a lure. Skip Jack Tuna
at 35 lbs., Sierra Mackerel are great
eating and at 20 lbs., they’re perfectly
sized for the dinner table and great
tasting. Bonito are always reliable,
running 30 lbs. Surprisingly, Dorado
in the 25 to 40-lb range are hanging out
in the La Cruz area. So there is plenty
of action in the Bay of Banderas, but
I suggest the 6-hour option if fishing
in the bay to give yourself the best
chance of finding the species you’re
looking for. No matter what you’re
being told by the local promoters as
they like to call themselves, there are
no Sailfish or Marlin in the bay.
Pay particular attention to the Moon
Phase. We’re in the Full Moon Phase
and this means the bite will be earlier in
the morning, so maximize your fishing
potential and be at the place you want
to be fishing before 9 a.m. if possible.
All in all, this week’s fishing report is
a carbon copy of last week’s - except for
the Dorado moving to Guyavitos and
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Fish Tales
37
Barracuda at El Moro. We should see
the Rooster fish population pick up in
February. Marlin and Sailfish should
also be in the area, but don’t expect their
numbers to increase and frankly, I am
surprised Marlin of any species are still
in the area. With water temperatures
still in the 77o range, El Niño is still
raining its havoc on us with strange
species showing up and summer species
hanging out in winter waters.
Until next time, don’t forget to kiss
your fish and remember: at Master
Baiter’s Sportfishing & Tackle “We
Won’t Jerk You Around!”
Master Baiter’s has changed
locations in Marina Vallarta,
now between docks A and B
on the boardwalk.
Email your
questions to me at: CatchFish@
MasterBaiters.com.mx Web page:
www.MasterBaiters.com.mx , local
Phone at: (044) 322 779-7571 or if
roaming: 011 521 322 779-7571 cell
phone direct. Facebook: http://www.
facebook.com/pages/Master-BaitersSportfishing-Tackle/88817121325
The trade name Master Baiter’s ®
Sportfishing and Tackle is protected
under trade mark law and is the sole
property of Stan Gabruk.
38
Hi-Tech
Tech Potpourri…
A lot of tech news came out this
past week, most of which would not
merit dedicating a whole article on.
So I thought I’d give you a summary
of some of the most newsworthy
tech items from the past weeks.
Apple released their fiscal first
quarter 2015 numbers last week and
to call them record smashing is an
understatement. In the three-month
period ending December 27, 2014,
Apple sold a record 74.5 million
iPhones, a record 5.5 million Macs
and another 21.4 million iPads.
Apple also announced that they sold
more iPhones in China than even in
the US!
Its quarterly revenue reached
a company-best of $74.6 Billion
USD, with net income in excess of
$18 Billion. That’s a 30% increase
in sales and a 38% increase in net
income over the same period last
year! These numbers are staggering.
With those $74 Billion Dollars,
Apple could give everyone in the
world a $10 iTunes gift card or even
buy ALL 32 NFL teams!!
ISSUE
328
It seems the Apple’s upward climb
in dominating the tech sector is going
as strong as ever. Apple has cash of
over $178 Billion and the company
in general is worth over $695 Billion.
If Apple were a country, it would
rank number 20 in the world for GDP
(gross domestic product).
Apple also announced that in
November they sold their one
billionth iOS device since 2007
(iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad). But
one noticeable product quietly got
left out of the earnings reports for
the first time in 14 years - the iPod.
It seems the classic iPod numbers
are dwindling and not worth the
mention anymore. Since its debut
in 2001 with a small 5GB hard
drive, monochrome screen and click
wheel, the iPod has sold over 400
million devices and generated over
$65 Billion Dollars in revenue, in
the various incarnations.
The iPod definitely did revolutionize
the personal music device sector.
Before the iPod, the Sony Walkman
and audio cassettes were king! But
with the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad
all doing what the iPod could do (and
more), the iPod seems to have come
to the end of its product life. RIP.
Wearable technology has been
around in one form or another for
many years now, but it has not caught
on in a large scale yet. Well Apple
has finally joined that developing
market with the Apple Watch and it’s
scheduled to make its debut in April.
This will be the first new category of
technology that Apple has ventured
into since the passing of Steve Jobs.
The Apple Watch will come
in 3 main models with a host of
customizable bands. Apple Watch’s
screen is surrounded by casing made
of custom alloys of stainless steel
and aluminum. Beyond the “Apple
Watch” and “Apple Watch Sport”
versions, a special “Apple Watch
Edition” mixes in 18-karat yellow or
rose gold for a premium look. All
versions come with a Sapphire glass
to make it very scratch resistant.
The variety of Apple Watch bands
will give you a way to personalize
your smart watch. Standard straps
include a Leather Loop that conceals
magnets for easy fastening, the
leather Modern Buckle and the
leather Classic Buckle.
There’s also a gym-friendly
elastomer Sport Band with a host
of colors available. Like most
smart watches, the Apple Watch
is designed to be used with your
smartphone. It’s meant to stay paired
and connected while you wear it for
most features, but it also does some
things while disconnected, like
fitness tracking and playing music.
The Apple Watch has a small,
bright color touch display, plus you
use the digital crown to zoom in
and out, and will have a button on
the side for extra features. You can
touch and swipe to interact or speak
to its microphone.
Now Tim Cook (Apple’s CEO)
did reveal in a Q&A last week that
the watch would need daily charging
of the battery. That battery news and
the price tag which starts at almost
$400 US for the watch, could be a
deal breaker for most of us.
In non-Apple news, AT&T
announced last week, in addition
to its purchase of Mexico’s cellular
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
company IUSAcell (which I wrote in
detail about back in December) that
it is also buying Mexico’s Nextel
cellular company. AT&T is serious
about the Mexican cellular market
and I hope it benefits us consumers.
One benefit I have already
heard is that AT&T will have one
large network in the future. So
whether your phone is based in
New York, Seattle, Mexico City or
our lovely Puerto Vallarta, it will
be all considered on one network.
Roaming and its associated fees
may be finally getting kicked to the
curb… as they rightly should be!
Another notable news item this
past week was that YouTube was
dropping Flash in favor of the newer
and more secure HTML5, as its
format of choice for online videos.
With YouTube being the biggest
source of multimedia videos online,
this could signal the end of Flash
but as well may soon eliminate the
constant hassles of updating Flash!
Flash originally debuted in 1996
under Macromedia (before Adobe
purchased them) and quickly became
the standard for online video. Not
everyone was a fan of Flash. In
2010 Steve Jobs even issued an
open letter, on how Flash would
NEVER be integrated on Apple’s
mobile devices (iPhone, iPad etc.),
due to its heavy power consumption
and having more security holes than
Swiss cheese. It seems Steve Jobs
has won this fight, although post
mortem.
That’s all my time for now. See
you again next week... Until then,
remember: only safe Internet!
Ronnie Bravo
Ron can be found at CANMEX Computers.
Sales, Repairs, Data Recovery,
Networking, Wi-Fi, Hardware upgrades,
Graphic Design, House-calls available.
www.RonnieBravo.com,
Cellular 044-322-157-0688 or just
email to [email protected]
ISSUE
328
Bored of Education
By
E
Gil Gevins
very year my wife and I spend
a month in the charming colonial
city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico.
The principle aim of this trip is to
buy folk-art for our shop. And eat
like pigs. Oaxaca boasts the best
food in Mexico, not to mention
beautiful colonial architecture, ideal
weather, friendly people and daily
demonstrations.
In Oaxaca, they absolutely adore
demonstrating: hanging banners,
chanting slogans, blocking streets.
Teachers, taxi drivers, pirate taxi
drivers, campesinos - they all get in
on the act. Mostly, they are angry at
the government - except for the rival
taxi drivers, who are angry at each
other.
The first hint we had that something
might be amiss on our last visit was
the sight of a blockade on the road
to our hotel. Later, we learned that
the perpetually problematic teachers
union had seized a pair of buses,
parked them in the middle of this
important artery, and set them on fire.
When we finally arrived at the hotel,
I asked the owner if the teachers were
on strike again.
“No, it’s not a strike,” Ernesto
sighed. “It’s a protest.”
“What are they protesting now?”
“They don’t want to take the test.”
“What test?”
“The test to see if they’re qualified
to be teachers.”
“Aren’t they already teachers?”
“Not these idiots. After they
paid for their jobs, the government
changed the law. Now they have to
take a test. And they’re all going to
fail.”
“But, Ernesto, how do you know
they’re going to fail?”
“Are you kidding? Half of them
can’t even read.”
Sad to say, Ernesto was not
exaggerating by much. These aboutto-be-teachers had acquired their
positions by making a “donation” to
the union. Their only qualification
was that one of their parents had
recently retired, making them first in
line for the opening. This practice
of teachers buying their jobs is fairly
widespread, but is especially rampant
in the south of Mexico.
Oaxaca’s zocalo (town square)
could not be more picturesque. The
tree-lined colonial quadrangle is
bordered by restaurants and sidewalk
cafés. Lucy and I like to sit at their
outdoor tables, downing the delicious
locally grown coffee and watching
the colorful and exotic parade of
people constantly ebbing and flowing
in the car-less street.
Once we’d unpacked, we headed
down to the square for a leisurely
lunch, and to enjoy the show. Upon
arriving at the zocalo, we were
momentarily stunned by the ocean of
pup tents (over two thousand) which
had invaded the center of town. The
tents were packed together so tightly
we couldn’t really see the zocalo, let
alone get inside it.
The next morning we set out for one
of the neighboring villages to do some
serious shopping.
Unfortunately,
just outside town we found the road
blocked by a police car. “Can’t get
through,” the cop told me, “teachers
union is blocking the road. Again.”
“Where’s the blockade?” I asked.
“Just after the airport. Probably be
there all day.”
This was far from being our first
blockade and I had worked out
several strategies for getting around
them. One was lying. “Listen,” I
told the policeman, “I’m picking up
my grandmother at the airport. She’s
never been to Mexico before. If I’m
not there when she arrives, she’ll
probably drop dead right there in
the lobby. She has diabetes, a heart
condition, varicose veins, flat feet…”
“Okay, okay,” the cop said, waving
us through.
The next day, walking back to the
hotel from the bank, we were accosted
by a man who thrust a flyer into my
hand. He was in his early thirties,
poorly dressed and smelled of port-apotty. “You’re one of the protestors?”
I asked. Lucy grabbed my arm and
attempted to pull me away.
“Wait a minute, honey,” I told her in
English. “I want to talk to this guy.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,”
Lucy said.
“Yes,” the man said, “we are
protesting a big injustice.”
“The test?”
“Yes,” he said, “they have no right
to make us take that test. We’ve
already paid for our jobs. It’s
government oppression!”
“But what’s the big deal?” I asked
innocently. “Just take the test and get
it over with.”
“The test is too hard,” the would-be
teacher said. “Everybody fails it.”
“I bet you could pass,” I said. “For
example, how much is twelve times
ten?”
“What?”
“Twelve times ten.”
“What do you mean?” he asked
with suspicion.
“I mean…”
“Let’s go,” Lucy said, tugging my
arm.
“Okay,” I said, “let’s try an example
from real life. There are ten brothers.
Each brother has twelve chickens.
How many chickens do they have
between them?”
“That’s a stupid question,” he
complained.
“Math not your specialty? Okay,
we’ll skip the numbers. So. How do
you spell ‘tortilla’?”
“What? You don’t spell tortillas,”
he snarled, “you eat them.”
“Yes, I know. But just for the heck
of it, let’s try spelling one.”
“What are you,” he demanded, “a
government spy?”
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Gil Gevins’ Page
39
Lucy tugged my arm with extra
urgency.
“Why,” I asked, “would the
American government be spying on
teachers in Oaxaca?”
“You’re an American?” he asked
doubtfully. “You speak Spanish as
good as me.”
“As well as me,” I corrected him.
Lucy grabbed my shirt collar, finally
managing to haul me away.
Three weeks later, our shopping
completed, we packed the truck
and headed for home. By now, the
would-be teachers were everywhere,
spreading like an under-educated
fungus over the forebrain of society.
About twenty miles outside town, as
we approached our first toll booth,
we saw with dismay that it had been
overrun by the demonstrators.
“Oh, no!” Lucy said.
“I know. We could be stuck here
all day.”
But as we pulled up to the small
plaza we saw that the toll-takers had all
been locked inside their booths, while
the almost-teachers were waving the
cars through, free of charge.
Crawling by the booth, I rolled
down the window, raised a clenched
fist and yelled, “No more tests!”
“Why in God’s name,” Lucy asked,
“did you do that?”
“Are you kidding, honey? Those
brave foot-soldiers for freedom just
saved me six bucks.”
Gil Gevins
Is the author of four hilarious books,
including the cult-classic, PUERTO
VALLARTA ON 49 BRAIN CELLS A DAY,
and his latest and greatest, SLIME AND
PUNISHMENT. Signed copies of all Gil’s
books are available at LUCY’S CUCU
CABAÑA, located at 295 Basilio Badillo;
or as E-Books on Amazon.
40
Sports
ISSUE
328
The butler did it
By
Mark Hanley
15 years ago this week past
week, something unprecedented
happened. In a 36-hour period,
Pete Carroll was fired as the coach
of the New England Patriots, and
Bill Belichick resigned as coach
of the New York Jets and grabbed
the Patriots job. Carroll went on
to USC where he won two national
championships then fled Dodge
before the NCAA came a calling
and imposed very nearly the death
penalty. I’ve already explained
why I don’t like either. So for me,
this Super Bowl came down to the
players. Except for one thing: I
think the Seahawks defense is and
has been arrogant beyond all belief.
The Legion of Doom indeed. I
think there are several defenses
that may take exception to that:
the Fearsome Foursome, Purple
People Eaters, Over the Hill Gang,
No Name Defense, Steel Curtain,
Doomsday Defense, Orange Crush,
and the 1985 Bears to name a few.
Get real.
People asked me this past week,
who do you like in the game? I
said, 27-21 and I have absolutely
no idea who will come out on top. I
wasn’t far off. Look, I really don’t
like either coach but I like Wilson
and Lynch, the O lines on both
teams, and Brady, Gronkowski,
Amendola and Edelman. So, guess
I’m old school at the end of of the
day. But the Seahawks defense is
offensive in their arrogance. So I
found myself rooting for the Pats
late in the game. With Seattle in the
Red Zone at the end of the game,
they ignored Marshawn Lynch
and Wilson tried to throw it in.
Malcolm Butler jumped the route
and intercepted the ball. Ballgame.
And at the end of the game, the
Seahawks proved me right. With 20
seconds left, Michael Bennett, their
defensive end, went offside, giving
the Pats leeway from the 1-yard
line where they could have made
a safety and a horrible mistake.
Next play, he started a fight and
linebacker Bryant Irvin jumped in
and was ejected. Classless Act.
Pats 28-24. 10-point comeback at
the end. Well officiated game. Run
Lynch in the red zone next time.
They’re already explaining the call
in Seattle.
Passings and Milestones:
RIP Mr. Cub: Ernie Banks passed
last week at 83. A Wrigley field icon,
he was not only a great player and
Hall of Famer, but a great person,
family man and Ambassador of the
game. In his peak seasons - 19551960 - Banks hit for more home
runs and RBIs than the other 3 peak
players of his time: Mantle, Mays
and Aaron. Yes, a shortstop. A 14
time All-Star at short and 1st Base,
he deservedly won the NL MVP
awards in both 1958 and 1959,
making him one part of the answer
to a great baseball trivia question.
You can “play two” every day in
Heaven, Ernie.
Excellence and Longevity: is
what it takes to achieve 1,000 wins
as a college basketball coach. Duke
coach Mike Kryzyzewski (yeah, I
had to Google it and my spell-check
hates it) became the first college
basketball coach ever to achieve that
feat last week. Tied for 2nd with the
legendary Adolph Rupp of Kentucky
with 4 National Championships.
UCLA Coach Wooden has 10 titles,
unobtainable goal, but at 68, Coach
K has no intention of retiring and his
teams are notable for their class and
academic achievements. Well done.
Turn on your Blinkers: Jeff
Gordon, 43, announced last week
that 2015 will be his last NASCAR
season.
While not “retiring”,
Gordon is hanging them up after
20 years during which he amassed
92 wins, behind only Richard Petty
with 200 and David Pearson with
105. He also won 5 Brickyard
400s, 4 championships and 3
Daytona 500s. Learn to turn right
for a change, Jeff.
2015 NFL Hall of Fame Class:
Jerome Bettis, Junior Seau,
Charles Haley, Will Shields,
Mick Tinglehoff, Ron Wolf, and
Bill Polian. Last year I loved the
selection of Claude Humphrey, this
year I love Mick. As I say, I’m old
school. But I will say this is the
best Hall class and class of people
in years.
Serena
Williams
defeats
Sharapova in Australian Open final
for her 19th Grand Slam title. Um,
dominance anyone?
Tiger misses the cut at the
Phoenix Open, shooting a career
worst PGA score of 82. Just rusty
and mentally tired, he says.
Next week, no football, I
promise. On to new sports. But
since February is the slowest sports
month of the year, let me know
what you think. Like the column,
hate the column, what am I doing
right, what am I doing wrong?
What do you want to see? Want
some banter? I’m at mph914@
gmail.com and I welcome your
comments
and
suggestions.
BTW- this publication’s ads have
increased 50% since I started
writing this column a month ago.
Must be doing something right.
Solution to crossword on page 43
Solution to Sudoku on page 43
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Mark Hanley
Is a sports fanatic and our sports
editor. A longtime PV resident, he
welcomes your polite comments or
suggestions at [email protected]
ISSUE
328
Skins and masks that transform
By
Since
Dr. Fabio Cupul
time
immemorial,
humans have marveled at the
physical abilities of animals. This
admiration of nature was the
inspiration for great technological
advances throughout the history
of humanity.
Thus, although
the Wright brothers, Orville and
Wilbur, are renowned worldwide as
pioneers in the history of aviation
for successfully accomplishing the
first self-propelled flight in history
on December 17th, 1903, in Kitty
Hawk, North Carolina, with a plane
called “Flyer I” (the flight traveled
120 feet and lasted 12 seconds), in
addition to their genius, they surely
fulfilled their dream by imitating
birds that circle the skies with grace
and ability.
On the other hand, some groups
of humans went beyond the
observation of animals to imitate and
acquire their physical capacities:
they possessed them. Thus, it is
argued that the widespread belief
in lycanthropy during medieval
times in Europe is based on the
existence of a type of wizards who,
with the help of ointments rich in
narcotic substances and animal
skins wrapped around their bodies,
participated in the hallucination of
converting themselves into wolves
in order to acquire their qualities.
In that manner, the wizards could
fight the demons on their own
supernatural plane, as the wolf was
the incarnation of evil spirits and
forces that were hovering around to
affect the community’s well-being,
i.e.: they would repel evil with evil.
Among the Aztec and the Maya,
the image of the victorious warrior
was the one where he was depicted
wearing jaguar or eagle skins,
animals from which he derived his
strength, astuteness and predatory
capacity. The warriors’ costumes
could be layers of jaguar skins or
simply its head hung on their back,
like feather headdresses. Similarly,
humans in Paleolithic Europe
left images in the walls of caves
where we can see hunters dressed
in animal skins, with the heads on
and even bathed in blood, with the
intention –according to scientistsof magically acquiring the animal’s
“vital energy” or simply to adopt
its appearance and blend into the
environment.
Ashurbanipal, the last great
Assyrian king, is renowned not only
for his great interest in accumulating
and preserving archives and
documents of all Mesopotamia
within the great library of Nineveh,
but also for his cruelty. It is said
that this bibliophile king was not
content with violently quashing
the rebellions in his empire; he
would then unleash all his rage and
cruelty upon them. He would have
the enemy soldiers skinned, to then
hang their skins on the walls of the
city as a symbol of the power he
had to take everything away from
the vanquished while they were
still alive. Curiously, it is also said
that today’s custom of exchanging
shirts among rival soccer / futbol
teams at the end of a game
represents the removal of the skins
of the vanquished by the victorious.
The exchange on today’s field is
mutual, to maintain the honor of
the losers and stress the values of
honesty, effort, responsibility and
teamwork in the game.
It is precisely in sports (cars
and trucks too…) that we notice
how some teams have adopted
the custom of taking the names of
animals to enhance the qualities of
the city or region they represent, or
to “clothe” themselves with a little
of the qualities that makes them
worthy of our admiration. Thus,
the U.S.’ NFL has teams called
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
Nature’s World
41
the Dolphins, Jaguars, Falcons,
Ravens, Bears, Lions, Cardinals,
Panthers, Eagles, among others.
Among them, I want to specially
mention the Seahawks of Seattle,
that team from the American
northwest, that has the stylized
head of a sea hawk on its helmets,
which was inspired by a mask from
the 19th Century of the Canadian
First Nation of Kwakwaka’wakw
of Vancouver Island. This mask,
which is on exhibit in the Burke
Museum at the University of
Washington, shows the head of
what appears to be a sea hawk on
the outside and a human face on the
inside. Various surrealist artists see
the direct expression of the human
instinct and unconscious thought in
this mask.
For the Kwakwaka’wakw, these
masks allow the wearer to transform
into different animal shapes or
supernatural beings, thus acquiring
their abilities, as the skin is the only
thing that differentiates us from
them. Seattle’s football team surely
values the ancient symbolism and
mythology associated with the sea
hawk mask, as it has “transformed”
itself into one of the best and most
complete teams in the league.
Dr. Fabio Germán Cupul-Magaña
Coastal University Center (CUC)
of the University of Guadalajara
Email: [email protected]
42
Nature’s World
ISSUE
328
Planting Roots
in Mexico
By
Tommy Clarkson
Mosaic Plant
Fittonia albivenis
Family: Acanthaceae
Also known as: Nerve Plant
or Silver Net Plant
(At some time in the not too distant
past, I saw, read or was told that this
was called a Window Pane Plant
and have called it that ever since.
However, upon commencing to write
about it I have been unable to confirm
such a name and, accordingly,
apologize to all who have toured Ola
Brisa Gardens and to whom I have
given this erroneous information.
Nevertheless, based on my process
of research through multi-source
confirmation by various botanical
professionals, you may rest assured
that the following is – to the best of
my knowledge – correct!)
This delightful, small, stemrooting, creeping herb is native
to the rainforest understory of the
Peruvian Andes.
To quote Nellie Neal, “their
incredible network of white veins
crisscrossing their surface (with)
every curve and angle in the
designer’s notebook … covered in
(these) patterns (is) proof to any
that need it that all art has organic
origins.”
In fact, these most striking of veins
also come in colors of pink or silver!
As to its Latin name, it was so
designated to honor Elizabeth and
Sarah Mary Fitton. They were
both botanists and the writers of
Conversations on Botany that was
published back in 1817 when – if
my enfeebled memory rings correct
- I may have been but a callow lad
playing among the Sunflowers,
Milkweed and Lambsquarters Plants
of western Kansas!
Those attractive, elliptical, fourinch (10 cm) long – dare I repeat
myself – heavily-veined leaves
(borne in pairs) facilitate the Fittonia
albivenis to growing up to nearly six
inches (15 cm) tall. Simply stated,
there are few such plants that can so
delightfully light up a shady area as
can the Mosaic Plant!
Its shallow roots spread slowly,
give rise to new variegated leaves and
then, tenaciously, move on making
a wonderful groundcover. A bonus
is that, every so often, greenish,
trumpet-shaped, flowers - found
among green, hairy bracts – arise.
As to their preferred location in
which to plant their roots, this water
lover likes a warm mostly shady
to bright, indirect light with rich,
organic and well-draining soil. (If
you can possibly find some African
Violet potting soil and place your
Mosaic Plant in it, you’ll have a
plant friend forever!)
They favor mulch and as it
decomposes, work it into the soil.
Regularity in care is their byword,
so water and fertilize accordingly.
Providing the proper amount of
water is key with this plant, so strive
to keep the soil constantly moist but not soggy. On the other hand,
it will collapse if allowed to dry out.
In the dry season, misting of the
leaves is encouraged.
(Some I
know faithfully mist their Mosaic
Plant every day!) Lastly, once a
month – at half strength – give them
a balanced, soluble fertilizer. If
the leaves begin to yellow you are
probably overwatering.
To shape the plant and promote
a denser foliage, pinch off the
ends of its stems and, in fact, some
growers pinch off the flower buds as
The Mosaic Plant is native
to the rainforest understory
of the Peruvian Andes.
Every so often, greenish,
trumpet-shaped, flowers rise up
among its green, hairy bracts.
that find their new growth quite
tasty.
Other possible problems
include aphids, scale, slugs, thrips
and spider mites.
The Mosaic Plant is very attractive
when employed around Lady Palms
or grouped with such as the Persian
Shield which will present itself in a
veritable riot of color! They also look
great when potted with Arrowhead
Plant, Dieffenbachia, English Ivy
or Heart Leaf Philodendron. It can
also be used in hanging baskets or
in a bed as we have so done in Ola
Brisa Gardens. Lastly, as a result of
its low-spreading habit, the Mosaic
Plant is ideal for dish garden or
terrarium use.
If one finds these to their liking,
then they might wish to also use
the red-veined variant (Fittonia
verschaffeltii) - which can tolerate
more sunlight. But remember: both
varieties are highly sensitive to
cold, dry air, and avoid direct sun as
it is anathema to its sustained good
health!
For propagation, take stem tip
cuttings and insert them in moist
potting mix where – if in warm,
humid environs - they will root in
two to three weeks.
Small and compact, it’s great
for home, office or niche planting
outside!
Tommy Clarkson
The leaves have an “incredible
network of white veins
crisscrossing their surface (with)
every curve and angle in the
designer’s notebook.”
they appear so as to direct all of its
growth intentions to its leaves.
If your specimen is potted,
I’d encourage re-potting and refreshening the soil every couple of
years.
On the “Beware of Nasties” side,
keep a sharp eye out for Mealybugs
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
In Manzanillo, visit Ola Brisa Gardens,
Tommy and Patty’s verdant, multiterraced tropical paradise nestled on
a hill overlooking the magnificent vista
of Santiago Bay. Leisurely meander its
curved, paved path, experiencing, first
hand, a delicious array of palms, plants
and flowers from all over the world.
Or, e-mail questions to him at
[email protected]
For back issues of “Roots”, gardening tips,
tropical plant book reviews and videos of
numerous, highly unique eco/adventure/
nature tours, as well as memorable
“Ultimate Experiences” such a Tropical
Garden Brunches and Spa Services,
please visit www.olabrisagardens.com
ISSUE
328
Brain Teasers
The New York Times Tuesday Crossword Puzzle
by Harvey Estes / Will Shortz ©New York Times
Solution to Crossword
on Page 40
SUDOKU!
Sudoku is a logic-based placement puzzle.
The aim of the puzzle is to enter a numerical digit from 1 through 9 in each row,
column and group of squares enclosed by the bold lines (also called a box). Each
box must contain each number only once, starting with various digits given in some
cells (the “givens”). Each row, column, and region must contain only one instance of
each numeral. Completing the puzzle requires patience.
It is recommended as therapy because some studies have suggested they might
improve memory, attention and problem solving while staving off mental decline
and perhaps reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Solution to Sudoku on Page 40
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015
43
ISSUE
328
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
February 2015