www.pvmcitypaper.com Issue 283 Saturday March 29 to Friday April

Transcription

www.pvmcitypaper.com
Issue 283
Issue 283
Saturday March 29 to Friday April 4
2014
2014
2
Need to Know
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.
Look at the map in this issue, you will note that PV (as the locals call
it) is on the west coast of Mexico, in the middle of the Bay of Banderas,
the largest bay in this country, that 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
mountains- the Bay is well protected against the hurricanes spawned
in the Pacific. Hurricane Kenna came close on October 25, 2002,
but actually touched down in San Blas, Nayarit, some 200 miles
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
Issue 283
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
2014
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.
Sound Off
EDITORIAL
3
Your Comments
[email protected]
Dear Editor,
I have been traveling in Mexico for over 30 years
and appreciate the culture, the music, the smells, and
the warmth of the families. With that being said I must
admit I have one complaint. I was always told that if
you haven’t something nice to say pause the lips. But I
cannot go another day without expressing my opinion
on something that just gets in my craw (whatever that
is). I have visited several Tequila “factories”. If I visit
a beer maker, it’s a brewery. If I visit a vineyard where
wine is made, it’s a winery. PLEASE, for the love of
agave, can the Jalisco folks change the name of the fine
places to sip blue agave? I plead my case for the name
TEQUILA DISTILLERY.
Well now, I am feeling better and may pour a snifter
of fine Añejo to sip this afternoon.
Thanks for listening.
This
is repetitive, I know,
but I feel I must do something I
don’t do often enough, and that
is to express a big Thank You!
to all our contributors, readers
and advertisers (whose number
is growing each week!) It is
the latter who provide our sole
source of income – which allows
us to offer you the Mirror free of
charge.
And again, if you visit those
who have put their faith in us by
advertising in the Mirror, please
tell them you saw their ad here,
so they’ll know their money was
well spent. Only thus can we
continue to provide you –for freewith as much interesting content
as we can gather every week to fill
the space we have.
Also, I thank the many of you
who have complimented us on our
publication. We intend to continue
fulfilling your expectations, as the
only English-language publication
featuring all the local news “that’s
fit to print”.
One word of caution regarding
this issue: it covers April Fool’s
Day, so do be careful with what
you believe and what may be
aimed at “fools” in these pages.
In the meantime, on behalf of all
of us at the PV Mirror City Paper,
I wish you all a most pleasant
holiday in our beloved town.
Stay safe, happy and healthy,
and may God bless us all.
Michael Bailey
Dear Anna [Reisman],
Reading your column -in issue # 279- about someone
having a heart attack in PV prompts me to share my
experience.
I had a heart attack Feb. 11. 2013, while on a bird
watching excursion in San Blas. It was my decision
to be driven to Puerto Vallarta, our Winter home, to
Medassist hospital. My care, surgery, hospital stay and
follow up were more expert and more hands on than
I could have ever expected. My primary doctor, Dra.
María del Carmen Villalvazo Piemienta, was in my
hospital room THREE times each day! Later in the
spring I had more heart surgery in the US. My care in
PV was much more thorough and personal, and cheaper.
As in your article, I had to pay for my care before my
release, which I did using a credit card. The hospital
gave me two bills, one which I paid in Pesos for my
stay, one in American dollars with proper codes to
send to my secondary medical insurance in the US.
Medicare does not pay outside of the US, but my
secondary insurance paid 80% of the submitted bill.
When everything was cleared and done, with the
exchange rate, I actually MADE money by having my
heart attack in Mexico, quite a lot of money!
Allyna Vineberg
Publisher / Editor
PV Mirror City Paper
Ken Binder
Issue 283
Continued on Next Page
2014
4
Sound Off
Continued from Previous Page
Dear Editor,
My daughter Kim Panko and her fiancé David Grevill had their wedding
ceremony conducted at the LeKliff Restaurant on February 21 2013. They
planned for two years for the perfect wedding. Kim employed a wedding
planner in PV to set up the “royal wedding”. They paid $500 to the
co-owners of LeKliff for the marriage ceremony. The contract specified
water and champagne only after the wedding. One of the owners -Carlos
Guzman- agreed to this contract. After the ceremony, the other co-owner
Jose demanded another $500 for the champagne and water. The groom
said he had already paid for this and they should honor their contract.
Jose said, “I make my own contract”. Instead of causing a scene on my
daughter’s special day, the groom paid the extra $500. The bride was not
aware of this until after the honeymoon when they received the charge
card receipt. They tried unsuccessfully through the wedding planner to
get the money returned. This is fraud on the part of the LeKliff owners.
My wife and I found out about this breach of contract December, 2013.
We are in PV for February and March. The owners thought they could
get away with this since the bride and groom are living in Australia. My
wife contacted Jose Guzman before writing this letter. He said he would
contact me the next day, which he failed to do. Based on this episode,
I would not recommend anyone planning a wedding at LeKliff. The
owners are dishonest and do not honor their contract.
[email protected]
Contributors:
Anna Reisman
Joe Harrington
Harriet Murray
Giselle Belanger
Krystal Frost
Stan Gabruk
Ronnie Bravo
Tommy Clarkson
Luis Melgoza
Dr. Fabio Cupul
Dr. Jim Starr
Gil Gevins
Astrid Van Dam
Janie Albright Blank
Charlynn Robertson
Polly Vicars
Mary Stehley
Graphic Designer:
Leo Robby R.R.
Dear Editor,
Webmaster:
My favorite months in paradise begin for me in March. Most of the
snowbirds have gone back to the tulips and other spring flowers in the
frozen tundra. We spend 9-10 months here and just love the pace of life.
The waiters and locals have more time to say Buenos Días!, etc.
But I write to thank all of you at the PV Mirror. You are all great
contributors. I do have my favorites. The writing from that small desk at
Lucy’s Cucu Cabaña (Gil) keep me in stitches. Stan always seems to catch
more fish than I do but his advice is sound, glad they didn’t run you off,
Stan. Ronnie is a heaven sent for computer problems and in general I love
all the articles. I want to specially thank Luis Melgoza for his “Ask Luis”
pieces. I ran a large company in DF and I know about lawyers’ advice.
He is the most accurate and honest lawyer I have ever read. I specially
appreciate his reply to Mr. Jonathan. His accuracy and correctness is
incredible. For all of you who do drive US or Canada-plated cars, I say
go buy a Mexican car and help pay for the roads. Don’t be a free loader in
paradise. Listen to Luis. It’s great advice. Gracias, Licenciado!
To all at the PV Mirror, “THANK VERY MUCH” for all you do. I eat
better, see better shows and get great plant and health advice thanks to all
of you. Keep it up.
Joel C. Hart
PVMCITYPAPER.COM
Online Team
Cover Photo:
“Primavera!”
by Anna Reisman
PV Mirror es una publicación semanal.
Certificados de licitud de título y 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
The PVMIRROR wants to hear your
views and comments. Please send
them as part of an e-mail to:
[email protected]
Not exceeding 250 words, and include
your full name, street or e-mail address
and/or telephone number
for verification purposesonly.
If you do not want your name published,
we will respect your wishes.
Letters and articles become the property
of the PVMIRROR and may be edited
and/or condensed for publication.
Note:
Dear Editor,
We arrived at Las Palmas 2 in the Marina on January 9 . The construction
started on January 10th. We have been here for 66 days, all of which have
been dust, jack hammers and work done on the condo above us. We came
for the view, the peace and beauty of the Marina.
th
Allyna Vineberg
Office & Sales: 223-1128
Richard & Margo Panko
Canton, Michigan
Issue 283
Publisher / Editor:
2014
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.
Sound Off
The construction starts at 9:30 am till 5:30
p.m. The dust is so bad through our condo that
we cannot breathe. The administration said it
would only be 2 days, then 2 weeks, then 66
days. This is not the first time this has happened
to us at Las Palmas; the same thing happened
last year. The administration said they have
no control over what the owners do. Then the
complete condominium complex was painted
for 3 weeks. This meant we could not even go
out on our deck for a week. We asked the owner
to be let out of the last month’s rent as the place
has been unlivable for the time we have been
here. We had to put down a damage deposit,
but there is nothing to protect the renters if this
happens and in some cases, such as Portofino,
they did not even get their money back that they
had put down for a deposit when the place was
unavailable for them to rent. Out of 66 days,
we will have had 12 days without construction
without being able to use our deck. This again
has turned into a vacation nightmare.
Will we ever come back to the Marina? No.
Will we come back to Mexico? Maybe.
I do not fault our agent has she had no control
over this happening, but I do fault the owners
and the lack of response of the administration.
I cannot believe that this was allowed to be
done at the peak time of people coming for
vacation and put at such a health risk. The
owners must hold some responsibility to the
renters. Once you have paid for the unit for
3 months, you cannot get your money back.
Most of us are in our 70s. We kept thinking it
could not last, but this is day in and day out. We
hope that you do put this in your paper.
This is not what we saved for all year.
Lynda
Dear Editor,
I assume you know Dee’s Coffee Shop had
to move out because her landlady demanded an
Issue 283
5
unacceptable rent increase. This is a tragedy
in my view. Have there been any letters to the
editor, etc. about this as signaling the beginning
of the end of the “livable” Vallarta?
What’s going to take its place, another
drugstore or phony jewelry store??? Argh!!!!
Just though I’d ask.
Janet
Dear Editor,
I read with interest (and a little humor) the
letter about the fumigation trucks. Obviously
these people aren’t here during the rainy season
to experience the effects mosquitoes have on
us. Apparently they’d rather walk through
clouds of bugs and risk illness than be exposed
to these “drastic sprayings.” (It would be nice
if they lived through the mosquito season
before writing letters). Several of my friends
were hospitalized with dengue last summer
and it wasn’t pleasant! So, until the city has
an effective alternative, I’ll take the spray all
day long!
M. M.
Dear Editor,
As a full-time resident of Grand Venetian for
the last 7 years, the time has come to express
details on an issue that has caused me and
hundreds of other residents in the hotel zone
sleepless nights.
The issue is “La Santa”, the new disco
located directly across from Grand Venetian
and Holiday Inn. For the last 4 weeks, usually
Thursday through Saturday, this establishment
plays “music” so loud that the noise invariably
disturbs the tranquility of soundless sleeping.
No longer can we enjoy the cool night air
when we retire for the evening; once their
2014
amplifiers are turned up to maximum noise
level, we have to get out of bed and remove
our screen doors so we can close our sliding
doors to block out 80% of the noise - the noise
that continues until 5 or 6 a.m.!
There is no doubt that La Santa is guilty of
violating Puerto Vallarta’s sound ordinance laws,
but they seem not to care despite the numerous
calls to the city’s office of ‘rules & regulations’.
Many yearly tourists have voiced their
discontent to the extent that they will not
return next year. Tourism is the life-blood
of Puerto Vallarta, but if La Santa’s illegal
practices continue, they will not have tourists
patronizing their establishment. Unfortunately,
the same can be said of Puerto Vallarta’s hotels
and restaurants in the area.
Linda
Dear Editor,
For each of the last ten years, my wife and I
have been fortunate to spend three months here
in PV. We discovered the walking/hiking trail
from Boca to Las Animas in our first year and
we have been hiking it 3-4 times each month
ever since.
During the last two years, it has become
increasingly popular and unfortunately this has
resulted in garbage left along the trail. Even
though there is a garbage bag midway (it was
full), we spotted empty soft drink bottles,
aluminum cans and other debris along the trail.
Also, let’s remember it is a jungle and therefore
native species exist. Very recently, there was a
4-5-foot snake on the trail just outside of Boca.
We showed it “respect” until it decided to move
into the jungle. Let us remember to enjoy the
trail, be aware of the environment and PLEASE
do not leave garbage.
W.H. Waterloo
6
Within PV
Now that the ball is over…
N
By Polly G. Vicars
ow that the ball is over, we are planning a fun final season Becas
Breakfast at Coco’s Kitchen on April 9, at 9:30 a.m. The tickets are the
same reasonable $150 pesos and can be obtained from any Becas member,
from me at [email protected] or 223-1371 or at Coco’s Kitchen.
Coco, always a magnificent hostess, is planning a great menu that starts
out with Fresh Fruit Juice or Coffee, French Toast or Spanish Omelette
served with Salad or Beans or Huevos Rancheros served with Salad or
Beans and a choice of Corn Bread, Toast or Biscuit – the Corn Bread and
Biscuits are mouth watering home made! With those choices, there is
something delicious for everyone.
We have an array of great prizes for the raffle, which is always the
highpoint of the morning. At the raffle, called by the great MC, Gil Givens,
Becas supporters can win meals at Vallarta’s best restaurants and gifts from
Vallarta’s best businesses. Raffle tickets are, as usual, 100 pesos or three
for 200 pesos. Bring your pesos for the raffle and the Silent Auction that
will feature some exciting items including a beautiful Talavera vase from
Mundo Azulejos, a print by the late Sefan Lókós, an original Rodrigo Lepe
painting, jewelry from Diamonds International and much more.
Attendees at the ball met some of our university students, an impressive
group who were hosts and hostesses and helpers and who acquitted
themselves very well. They, and the rest of the almost 400 scholarship
students are the reason for all of our activities. Our only goal is to raise
enough money to keep them in school, eighth grade through university,
until they reach their educational goals - be it doctor, lawyer or stay at
home Mom or Dad. Even though this is the last official fund-raiser for now,
there are many ways to help educate this fine group of students. Please
think of our foundation when honoring a friend or family for a special
occasion by making a donation in their name. Many also use this method
to honor loved ones who have passed. We send notices to the families of
those those so honored. And you can sponsor a scholarship - $160 USD
for junior high, $500 USD for high school and $700 USD for university
Contact me at [email protected] to initiate any of these methods of
supporting the students.
As this season winds down, some of our loyal supporters have returned
to their other homes, but those of you who are here, join us at the last of
our breakfasts. Call me 223-1371 and come to the final Becas Breakfast
of the season. See you there?
Issue 283
PEMEX to offer discount gasoline
(PVBS) - The Mexican Government
has come to the realization that there
are a lot of automobiles in the country
that are not registered in Mexico. Most
of these vehicles have license plates
from other countries, and are not being
driven legally in this country.
In an effort to rid the country of
illegally driven vehicles, the Secretary
of Foreign Relations has asked
PEMEX (Petróleos Mexicanos) to
offer discounts to vehicles that are
being driven out of the country.
PEMEX has responded with an offer
which has the following conditions:
1.
The vehicle must have a nonMexican license plate.
2.
The driver must have a nonMexican driver’s license.
3.
The name of the driver must
match the name on the vehicle registration.
4.
The driver must fill out a
form with all the above information,
and certify that the vehicle is being
driven out of the country at this time.
5.
Once
completed,
and
authorized by the PEMEX station
manager, the vehicle may obtain 25
liters of gasoline or diesel fuel at a 75%
discount, and up to an additional 75
liters of the same fuel at a 50% discount.
6.
This offer is valid ONLY
during the month of April.
2014
A spokesperson for PEMEX, Pablo
Francisco Hernandez Rodriguez ,
stated in an interview that the forms
will be at select (but not all) PEMEX
stations throughout the country. It
is important that drivers check with
the station attendant first, to ensure
that the station is participating in
this generous offer by the Mexican
Government. Only a limited number
of stations throughout the country are
participating in this program.
Sr. Hernandez went on to say that the
paper work known as the “Forma de
Ofrecer Obrar de Llevar” (offer form
to effect leaving the country), will be
a simple 4 part form, where one copy
is given to the driver of the vehicle, a
second is kept by the station, a third is
sent to PEMEX headquarters, and the
fourth will be used for reimbursement
by the Mexican government.
He also pointed out that severe
penalties will be imposed on drivers
who do not comply with the terms
and intent of this offer, specifically, to
leave the country with the vehicle.
Within PV
The IFC updates Patrocinio Program
- each one helps one
The term “Patrocinio” means
sponsorship. Most IFC members
spend a stretch of time, sometimes
full time, in Puerto Vallarta. In
the course of daily life in Vallarta,
most members get to know local
residents whether those working
at their favorite shops, those
working where they live, from
classes or simply from social
contacts and friendships.
The newly updated and revised IFC Patrocinio Program invites and
encourages members to bring to the attention of the club leadership
a Mexican citizen of limited economic means who faces a serious
medical or dental challenge which requires some financial support
to address. The IFC member, as sponsor, will help the person in
need fill out an application form with an estimate from a medical
professional of the treatment need and its cost.
The Patrocinio Program does not replace the ongoing humanitarian
and charitable support programs of the IFC, but rather gives IFC
members a chance to be more closely involved in helping a local
person they know receive the aid they need. Thus the motto “Each
one helps one.” In this way the IFC hopes to help build bridges of
friendship and support across cultures.
Furthermore, the program is not a simple “hand out.” When a
resident’s application is approved, the resident and their IFC sponsor
must first come up with and deliver a percentage of the cost of the
treatment. Only at that point does the IFC approve the treatment and
reimburse the medical / dental provider the entire cost of delivering
the treatment, within the parameters of the program.
The program was updated this year by IFC President Dan Grippo
with the able assistance of IFC member and office volunteer Nova
Jacobs and Susan Davalos, R.N., who has tirelessly served the IFC
as volunteer coordinator of social services for many years. The
motto “Each one helps one” was added to help convey the message
of Patrocinio, or personal sponsorship, which is a social tradition
deeply embedded in Latin American culture.
The IFC office has Patrocinio application forms on file and current
members are encouraged to request one and set the process in
motion. The application includes a clear set of the guidelines and
steps involved. Questions can be directed to [email protected].
Buffet Breakfast / Art Sale
for children with cancer
T
he Old Town Bistro restaurant
and Galería Vallarta have cordially
offered to host a fabulous Buffet
Breakfast & Art Sale for benefit of
Canica (Children with Cancer) of
Puerto Vallarta on Friday, April 4
at 9:30 a.m. at 180 Basilio Badillo
in the Romantic Zone on the south
side of town. There will be raffles
with great prizes, music and a large
selection of paintings and prints for
sale at very accessible prices since
a portion of the art sales and tickets
will go to Canica for the continuing
treatment of our precious children
who are suffering from cancer.
The buffet will consist of Farm
Fresh Scrambled Eggs, Home Fries
/ Re-Fried Beans, Smoked Bacon /
The International Friendship Club is a registered
charitable organization in Mexico listed as Club
Internacional de la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta A.C.
It is located at the northeast corner of the Rio Cuale
Bridge above the HSBC Bank downtown. Phone: 222-5466.
Website: ifcvallarta.com. Email: [email protected]
Issue 283
7
2014
Chorizo, French Toast, Pancakes,
Chilaquiles with Chicken, Fresh
Assorted Fruit Platters, Coffee and
Orange Juice.
Local and international artists
participating in the sale are
Marta Gilbert, Evelyne Boren,
Oswaldo Orozco, Steven
King, Philippo LoGrande,
Ernesto Godinez, Ezequiel
Esparza, Anton Hardt, Colin
Bell, Jane Romanishko, Pat
Haley, Alfredo Garcia, Steve
Fischer, Sonia Saldaña, and
more.
Tickets
include
the
buffet for only 200 pesos
available at the Old Town
Bistro and Galeria Vallarta,
187 Guerrero, #110, 2nd
floor, or reserve by emailing
[email protected] or
[email protected]
More
information
about
the
organization
offering
comprehensive care for local needy
children suffering from cancer
can be found at http://canicapvr.
wordpress.com/our-children/
or
www.pvangeles.com
Please get your tickets now for
this special event and give hope to
these special children.
8
Within PV
From the Saturday Market Co-0p…
By Charlynn Robertson
A
rt is the combination of
many elements and can take many
forms. Meet Paul, the talented
artist from Canada who brought
his creativity to the market. Paul
has taken his vision from canvas
to glass, offering customers the
opportunity to enjoy his work in
another medium. With roots in
both Ottawa and abstract painting,
he has no boundaries in his ability.
Paul is self-taught, combining his
vivid imagination with the love of
color and experimentation, while
incorporating other materials into
his paintings. His style is unique
and constantly evolving.
From Paul’s artistic growth came
the hand-painted glassware he
designs for the market. Customers
are presented with many options in
glass and paint motifs. While both
may look delicate, they are sturdy
in their durability. Paul selects
glass that can easily be utilized in
daily life.
His glassware includes vases and
numerous serving pieces. Each
piece is both functional and elegant.
Just as he extends his art beyond
Issue 283
painting canvas, his pieces can,
also, grace the most sophisticated
setting. Using a more fluid painting
style on his glassware, Paul
creates a transparent vision that is
beautiful and useful. Once painted,
each piece is fired to ensure its
durability. All tableware is food
and dishwasher safe.
Paul’s vision doesn’t end there.
He believes art is one form of his
communication style. Another one
is personally connecting with each
person who visits his table. He
appreciates the intimate interface
with people that the market
provides.
It gives him an opportunity to
relate with his customers on a
different level. Paul takes time to
talk with each one and believes
it adds another dimension to
the experience beyond simply
purchasing table ware.
Visit Paul’s website at www.
visionsinabstract.com to view more
of his art. While he maintains a
home in PV year ‘round, he divides
his time between PV and Ottawa.
In Ottawa, he participates in several
art showings, using his unique
artistic and relationship talents.
Jan Saridakis is another of the
market’s gifted artists. She is a
brilliant food artist. Her newest
product, guava jam, is just the most
recent example in a long list of
exceptional offerings. Her passion
is food, creating new tastes for all
to incorporate into their own lives.
Jan’s foundation is in catering.
During an extensive career in this
field, she expanded into specialty
food products. In the 1990’s, Jan
could be found selling her exclusive
merchandise at the world famous
2014
Seattle Pike Place Fish Market
each weekend. Six years ago, she
moved to PV.
Before
establishing
herself
here, she did a lot of homework,
demonstrating
her
business
acumen. She walked the various
markets in and around PV to gain
an understanding and appreciation
for what products were offered –
and, more importantly, what was
not offered.
That’s where Jan found her
market niche. She launched her
organic specialty foods, partnering
with this market in its second
year. Throughout her time in
PV, she has incorporated jellies,
salsas (including her famous
chipotle salsa), jams, honeys,
spicy jams, pickled ginger, along
with marinated mushrooms and
beans. Jan continuously monitors
her product quality and selection
to ensure customers find the
best at her table. Additionally,
she continuously envisions new
ingredient
combinations
that
keep her creating and testing new
recipes.
Jan’s superior food specialties are
also offered at Organic Superfoods
PV (OS PV). This collaboration
attests to the excellence of her
food art and business judgment.
Like Jan, OS PV is discriminating
regarding products and only the best
reach its shelves. She has a strong
following at both OS PV and the
market. Jan knows a lot of people
because they return to buy and to
see her week after week. She finds
the environment at the market to be
a plus in her business. The palapa
setting provides a cozy atmosphere
for vendors and customers alike.
It also ensures that year ‘round
vendors like Jan can offer their
products rain or shine.
The Saturday Market Co-Op
is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every
Saturday of the year at the Paradise
Community Center, 127 Pulpito,
across from Coco’s Kitchen.
Within PV
ENCORE! Piano Bar
opening a huge success!
L
ast Saturday’s Grand Opening of Encore! at Act II STAGES was
met with delight and enthusiasm by a very large crowd who attended
the gala. Encore! is the crowning jewel at Act II STAGES, and is an
atmosphere in Vallarta like no other.
The evening celebration was a night of fun and entertainment with
music brought to the audience by Vallarta favorites, Steve and Lisa
Troy, Don Pope and Rhonda Padmos, Kim Kuzma, Lamar Lewis,
Stephanie Watts, Rodolfo (Rudy) Loredo, Daniel Portela, Dwight
Blake, Dorys Agua Luna, and several more!
We welcome you to visit Encore! for your favorite libations, drink
specials, fine wine by the glass, and first rate piano bar entertainment.
There is never a cover charge at Encore! and you can come and enjoy
this nightclub anytime, whether or not you are attending a show at Act
II STAGES that evening. Spontaneous singing and dancing are always
welcome at ENCORE!
Thank you, Vallarta! Your support is what keeps us motivated to
raise the bar and keep you entertained!
Issue 283
2014
9
10
Within PV
Stones and their meaning
By Mary Stehley
You may be surprised to learn that gemstones have meaning.
They do. Gemstones are valued for their spiritual energy, their
healing properties and their ability to hold and channel energies.
Is the stone of spirituality and
contentment. It bestows stability,
strength, and inner peace. It is a great
stone for meditation and enhances
your intuition and psychic abilities
with its calming and peaceful
energy. Amethyst provides clarity
and enhances conscious perception
and understanding.
Amethyst assists in calming the mind. It reduces insomnia and allows
restful sleep, reduces stress, eases headaches, helps with hormone production,
strengthens the immune system and it reduces bruising and swelling.
Carnelian
Is a warm and joyous stone. It enhances
and vitalizes the physical, emotional and
mental bodies. Its warm and joyous
energy attunes with the inner self helping
to open the heart. It is excellent for
restoring vitality and motivation and for
stimulating creativity.
Carnelian is full of life force and gives us courage and vigor to
make the right life choices. It helps anchor you in the present, aiding
concentration and willpower, allowing you to trust yourself and your
perceptions. Carnelian improves quality of the blood, stimulates the
metabolism, circulation and blood flow. It aids tissue regeneration,
helping the kidneys, lungs, liver, gall bladder and pancreas.
I
s the emotional balancer. It
brings peace and purity into
your life and removes negative
thoughts and energy. It promotes
unconditional love, serenity,
clarity of mind, courage and
wisdom. Jade is the stone of luck,
prosperity and friendship. Jade
strengthens the heart, kidneys and
immune system. It cleanses and filters toxins from the organs and blood,
heals stitches, assists fertility and childbirth, helps relieve menstrual and
menopausal symptoms and promotes longevity.
Issue 283
2014
Within PV
Rose Quartz
Is
the stone of love and peace. It
promotes unconditional love, forgiveness,
infinite peace and compassion. It creates
harmony in relationships and teaches us
about the true essence of love. It purifies
and opens up the heart allowing us to express our emotions. It reduces
stress and tension, allowing us to express love, sensitivity and compassion
towards ourselves and others.
Rose quartz brings a deep inner healing, enhancing self love, self trust,
self worth and self confidence. It can be used to attract love into your
life and maintain happy loving relationships. Rose quartz strengthens the
heart and circulatory system, releases impurities, aids in healing chest and
respiratory problems and increases fertility.
Tiger Eye
At Faith Colectiva we have a large
selection of malas made of the
traditional sandalwood beads and
gemstones. We are located at 314
Basilio Badillo in Old Town.
I
s the stone of personal power.
It brings confidence, strength,
courage, protection and good luck.
It sharpens the senses, promotes
intuition and helps one to be
practical, centered and grounded.
It enhances personal power, allows
clarity, good judgment, clear
perception and insight, aiding in
good decision making. Tiger eye
can be used to stimulate wealth and
maintain it.
Tiger eye balances emotions,
reduces headaches, aids the
digestive
organs,
spleen,
pancreas and colon. It helps the
reproductive system, relieves
asthma attacks and enhances
night vision.
Issue 283
2014
11
12
Within PV
PVGC news
In our three years of existence, the Puerto Vallarta Garden
Club (PVGC) has planted dozens of trees and bougainvillea
throughout Old Town PV, and Lazaro Cardenas Park was
completely renovated in 2012. Our most recent project is planting
Francisca Rodriguez, the street leading to Vallarta’s new Pier.
To fund these efforts, PVGC sells hand-painted tiles to adorn
the planters, filled with one primavera tree surrounded by
bougainvillea, Crown of Thorns and other flowering plants. The
“designer” tiles feature names, a philosophic note or memorial
with the exact words penned by the sponsor. The gorgeous
yellow blossoms of the primavera and the colorful bougainvillea
now cascade over the streets; all of this in only 3 years!
The annual Bugambilia Festival - May 9 to 11 - is the major
project of PVGC. Those who attended our Preview Event
Fundraiser at Casa Chickie heard about our ambitious plans to
beautify all parts of our city, making PV an ever increasingly
attractive destination for tourism which, in turn, will result in a
more vibrant economy and better livelihood for all our citizens.
Join us please! www.vallartagardenclub.com
Solution to crossword on page 35
We have a new truck! And it’s just waiting for her water
tank to splash all the Garden Club’s plantings until the rains
get here. We have enough pledges to pay for this beauty by
March 31st; the $80,000 peso challenge has been met! BUT,
time to cough up the bougainvillea money everybody, please!
Leave your contributions with your name and contact info at
Mailboxes, Etc., 130 Ignacio Vallarta, the PVGC c/o Matthias
Vogt, Box 298. Matthias is our tireless treasurer/pruner/bon
vivant. And do feel free to give more than you pledged to
make our “Blue Babe” possible. Now we have insurance, gas
and oil to add to our list of ways to make Puerto Vallarta the
Bougainvillea Capital of the World!
You may also drop off donations and pick up event tickets
for our Festival at my table every Saturday Market from 9 to
1 at the Paradise Community Center. Just think: one small
bougainvillea planted in your name has the potential to WOW
your grandchildren’s children. Help us make this Festival G-LO-B-A-L in importance: a few sponsorships are still available!
For further information please contact: Kimberley at
[email protected] or
Matthias at [email protected]
Issue 283
2014
Solution to Sudoku on page 35
The 7 Arts
13
Opening at Galleria Dante
Cocktails
6 to 10 pm
Galleria Dante
is located at
269 Basilio Badillo.
Enrique Loza Ambriz
Patricia García
Born in Guadalajara,
Jalisco,
Mexico,
in
1967, Enrique obtained
his degree in Graphic
Design at the Universidad
Autónoma de Guadalajara
(U.A.G.)
and
later
became a professional
photographer, field in
which he worked from
1984 to 1993. He started
painting in 1988 and has
been a professional artist
ever since.
His works are essentially figurative but he likes miniatures and
surrealistic flavors. Most of his paintings are very colorful and
frequently combine typical Mexican iconography with children and
people from fairy tales.
He has reached over 45 personal and more than 90 collective
exhibitions. He has also appeared in several events organized by the
Federal and State Departments of Art and Culture, such as the “Casa
de la Cultura” and “La estación del Tren Ligero” in Guadalajara, and
the one held in
Tampico, Tamps for the re-opening of the “Aduana” during the April
festival that takes place there.
Enrique has been selected three times to take part in the “Salon de
octubre”, an annual event held in the “Ex-convento del Carmen” in his
native city and in different festivals and hotels; his work also appeared
in the “Festival of Contemporary Art” in Arkansas, U.S.A.
His work has been included in three books of historical information
about Mexican artists: “Galderia” and “Indice de artistas plasticos en
Jalisco”, both by author Carlos Navarro, and “Historia abreviada de la
pintura del siglo XX en Guadalajara” by Guillermo Ramirez Godoy.
At the moment, his paintings are on exhibition in galleries in
Guadalajara, Ajijic, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and
San Miguel Allende.
He prefers to work with acrylics on canvas and has developed unique
techniques to textures and raise, this allowing combining different
ways to shape with color shades and obtaining distinctive finishing
touches in his paintings.
He states: “Acrylic is surely the best way I found for expressing my
ideas, although it gives me a different challenge in every work I try,
but still, it allows me to reach the intensity of colors that live inside
my head.”
Born in Guadalajara in 1977,
she began to draw at an early
age. Her father was a textile
seriagraphist, which was her
initial inspiration. Her works
are oriented in surrealism. “I
paint what I would like to
exist.” She likes the human
figure, especially women
and children. “I like that my
characters look directly to the
spectator, so that somehow
achieves a primary connection,
as if the character would like to
involve one in the scene. I like
the movies a lot, and reading, I
think everything is feedback for everything else. I enjoy sitting and
observing people. Everything is an influence in my work.”
Patricia has collectively exposed in Havana Wilfredo Lamm-gallery,
and in the cities of Tepic,
Chihuahua, Monterrey, Los Cabos, BCS and Miami, Florida.
In Guadalajara, her paintings have been exhibited in the galleries:
Jorge Martinez, Center of Modern Art, Museum of the Sister Cities,
Liberarte 2001 and 2002, Gallery of Modern Art,
Panteón de Belén, Chucho Reyes Gallery, Guadalajara World Trade
Center, Trompo Mágico Museum, Journalism Museum, Art in Space
Televisa Guadalajara, Adriana Valdés Gallery and in CRIT West.
She has exhibited individually at the Chamber of Commerce of
Guadalajara, Casa Museo Lopez Portillo, Centro Cultural Casa
Vallarta, in the Casa de Ensueños Art Gallery, Ruiz Rojo Gallery,
Adriana Valdés Gallery, Urban Light Rail station Gallery, Metropolitan
Center for Older Adults and the National of Tequila Museum.
Included in the book The Jalisco painting XXI century, in Book 101
painters, 101 poets and in the Index of plastic artists in Jalisco (Volume
III). She’s also been selected for the sixteenth -and won honorable
mention at- XVIII catalog illustrators and Youth 2008 CONACULTA.
Patricia has illustrated the book The Dreams Guardian by writer
Rossana Defossé Curiel, ed. CONACULTA, and she was selected to
participate in the International Exhibition of Children’s Illustrators
“Paper Dreams” organized by the Trompo mágico Imteractive
Museum and Zapopan Art Museum, and the “Art in Barrels” by
Tequila Herradura.
As of 2012, her work has been part of the permanent collection of
the Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago.
Friday, April 4 , 2014
th
Issue 283
Friday, April 4th, 2014
2014
14
The 7 Arts
Live on the Paradise Stage! “The Best of the Bay”
T
he Paradise Stage at the Paradise Community Center
announces the season’s final performances of Luna Rumba and
the Banderas Bay Jazz Allstars. This is your last chance to hear
these incredible musicians on Paradise’s beautiful stage under the
big palapa and tall palm trees.
Luna Rumba
On Thursday, April 3rd, our “Best of the Bay” series continues
with Luna Rumba. We introduced them to Vallarta and their
fan base here continues to grow rapidly. Luna Rumba is a world
music group featuring Cheko Ruiz on vocals and guitar and
George “Geo” Uhrich on violin, mandolin and guitars. These
amazing musicians have added a percussionist and not one, but
two, talented dancers to enhance their performances. Their music
is a fusion of Gypsy, Latin, Celtic, Flamenco, Middle Eastern and
Rock, all spiced up with hot Rumba and Cuban rhythms. From
beautiful, romantic ballads to fiery dance pulsations, the group
delights a diverse audience with its infectious sounds.
We don’t speak “world class” and the “Best of the Bay” lightly.
Their music has been judged “world class” in international
songwriting competitions. Last year, a song that Cheko wrote
won finalist in the World Music Category of the John Lennon
Songwriting Contest. This was literally out of thousands of
entrants. Another song off the CD entitled “Espiritu Amor”,
written by Geo, was awarded “Honorable Mention” in the USA
International Songwriting Contest--number two in the world in
the instrumental category! See you on Thursday, April 3!
The Banderas Bay Jazz Allstars
Then on Friday, April 4th at 8 p.m., the world class Banderas
Bay Jazz Allstars play their final show of the season. This year
they have recorded their concert live on the Paradise Stage.
Issue 283
We are looking forward to that CD release party! But this is your
last chance this season to hear them live on the Paradise Stage.
Here is a recent review from Dave Ganapoler:
“We went to the Paradise Community Center, in downtown
Puerto Vallarta, to hear the Banderas Bay Allstars. Everyone
in the band is a virtuoso in their own right. Bryan Savage, on
flute and saxophone, blows the sweetest melodies and burning
improvisational solos. Chas Eller, on keyboards, maintains a solid
foundation over which everyone weaves a musical spell. He plays
driving solos and soulful melodies through a collection of piano,
synthesizer and Hammond organ sounds. Steve York’s bass playing
has unique qualities as he sings his solos with heart and soul; both
melodic and metered, he’s a rock. Lazaro Poey, on drums, well, it’s
hard to put words down to describe what he does. Perhaps one of
the greatest groove masters of all time, he has you moving in your
seat in ways you’ve never moved before! Complex rhythms pour
through timing changes and dynamics that will blow your mind
and keep your head engaged. Together they create a force that takes
you on a joyous musical romp. Don’t miss them!”
As Dave just said, don’t miss this incredible weekend of live
music on the Paradise Stage.
All shows start at 8 p.m. and, being good neighbors, end by 10
p.m. General seating is only 200 pesos. Reserved seats are 300
pesos and includes a free drink. VIP seats sell out first at $350
pesos including stage front seating and 2 free drinks. Remember to
arrive around 6:30 p.m. for drinks, socializing, and a la carte dinner
choices from our various food vendors. All net profits support the
local initiatives of CompassioNet Impact. “Good times. Good food.
Good cause.” Tickets can be purchased at the Paradise Community
Center, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or online
at ParadiseCommunityCenter.com
2014
The 7 Arts
The Voice of Vallarta
Season Finale
15
Act II STAGES proudly presents award-winning
KASSIANO
Act II STAGES
Sunday, March 30, 2014
LIVE IN CONCERT
An evening of Caribbean international music
also featuring JULIE MURILLO
April 2nd on the Main Stage
AND THE WINNER IS…
Host Juan Pablo Hernandez
will announce the long-awaited
results at the end of the two-hour
finale, finally answering the question
lingering in Voice of Vallarta fans’
minds since November.
Though it was anyone’s game
going into the finale — seriously,
all three finalists deserve to win!
Audience participation, the judges’
votes, and online Facebook voting
will determine the winner of
VOV! After months of hard work,
determination, and surprising
upsets, the contestants will be
challenged as never before this
Sunday at 8 p.m.
Who will it be? Will it be Ofelia,
Coral, or Dorys? All three are
have huge fan bases because of
their distinctive talents and stage
presence. Come see for yourselves
who will win out on Sunday!
For
tickets
and
more
information, please visit www.
actiientertainment.com or www.
vallartatickets.com
Issue 283
W
inner of the Best New Artist Award in
Jamaica in 1990, Kassiano, a native Jamaican, performs
his enchanting music all over the globe, and has also
been featured in two films; “Going to Extremes” with
Christopher Walken and “Showtime” with reggae
superstar Maxi Priest.
His energetic and charismatic musical performances have
brought him from the white sandy beaches of Montego Bay,
Jamaica, to sizzling performances at the One and Only
Palmilla and La Querencia in Los Cabos, The Windstar
Cruises, Ritz Carlton and The Four Seasons Hotel chain
in places like Hawaii, the US, Mexico, the Cayman
Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis and St Thomas, entertaining
some of the biggest names in the entertainment and
corporate world. He has recently released his new single,
BOTE DE BANANAS, a hot Jamaican classic with a
Mexican twist and has been featured in Telemundo’s
programs like SABADO GIGANTE with Don Francisco,
Un Nuevo Dia, and Desayuno Alegre.
Accompanied by talented pianist and singer, Julie
Murillo, expect a night of toe-tapping fun!
For tickets and more information, please visit: www.
actiientertainment.com or www.vallartatickets.com
2014
16
The 7 Arts
By Joe Harrington
Noah
N
ot a Biblical scholar, but I did
spend time behind monastic walls
for almost two years when young.
The screenwriters of this movie
did research the Biblical story of
Noah. How do I know? At the very
end they have Noah getting drunk
and taking his clothes off, a scene
ripped from the Bible. However, the
screenwriters apparently got drunk
themselves and invented rock angels literally angels made of rocks. Those
heavenly winged ones who fell from
God’s grace were not, as told in the
scriptures, cast down into Hell, rather
sent to earth and turned into stones.
I was stunned when the first
granite angel appeared. A gigantic
and ugly creature made out of a
conglomeration of rocks, large and
small, with gleaming fiery eyes
peering out of a stone skull. I seemed
to miss that while reading the Bible
and wearing brown robes.
The flood was a downpour of rain
for forty days. No way is enough
rain going to come from the sky for
the ark to end up on Mount Arafat seventeen thousand feel above what
used to be sea level. The movie
actually addresses this bit of illogic
by having the water not only flood
from the sky, but erupt in geysers
from the ground.
How much water a day would
be required to flood our planet?
Multiply 40 days times a 100’ and
you get 4,000 feet of water covering
the earth. Meaning Mexico City
would be fine, they’d be waterskiing
in Denver, and my place in Nevada
City would have ocean frontage. But
all humans on earth eliminated? Not
even close. The highest point on
earth is Mount Everest: 29,035 feet.
This means more than 700 feet of
water for forty days would have to be
added to cover all land.
Other
logistical
problems.
Currently there are 950,000 species
of insects, 5,416 mammals and 8,240
reptiles. Remember, that number has
to be multiplied by two. Impossible
for Noah to gather up all of them.
The movie addresses this, kind of,
by having all the species come to
Noah. But explain how animals like
the kangaroo, on the island continent
of Australia, managing to get to the
ark? That critter is not exactly built
to swim.
Drinking water? Huge problem.
All that water coming from the sky
and erupting from the ground is
merging with the liquid on the planet
containing salt. After the forty days
of rain, the ark slopped around for
an additional ten months. Where did
the drinking water come from? For
that matter, where did the food come
from? One elephant eats on average
500 pounds of hay and vegetables a
day. The ark was floating around for
almost a year. Rounding numbers
off, say 500 pounds times 300 days
is 150,000 pounds of food - for one
pachyderm. That ark would need to
be towing a train of other arks just to
water and feed its occupants.
How big was the ark? The Bible
gives the following dimensions: 450’
long, 75’ wide and 30’ high. The
picture neatly skirts all these problems
by having all creatures great and small
come aboard, with the lion laying
down with the lamb, and immediately
falling into deep slumber. I’ve seen
people in a coma. They still need
nourishment, water, and to eliminate
waste. Picture the sanitation on the
USS Noah or HMS Ark or whatever.
Loaded to the gills with sleeping
yet alive and defecating, urinating
creatures. The awake humans don’t
get sick? Anybody ever had a bout
of Montezuma’s Revenge? In a week
after floating off to nowhere, that ark
would be a huge, enclosed cesspool.
The movie, thankfully, dodges this
hygienic nightmare by sweeping it
onto the cutting room floor, hoping
no one will notice.
When is the movie industry going
to realize the Old Testament is the
greatest source of violence and sex
ever written? No need to embellish
- those early writers knew their
business.
I admit, Noah and his ark is tame
as written in the Good Book. But the
movie could have done so much better
instead of making up rock angels
and other nonsense. Great actors
misused. An example a wonderful
job done from the past: The Ten
Commandments, which followed the
Bible rather closely.
Joe
Is an internationally published
true crime writer and
documentary filmmaker.
Send comments or criticism to
[email protected]
Artwork by Bob Crabb.
Issue 283
2014
The 7 Arts
17
Galería Caballito de Mar offers antique Mexican silver
The genesis of this collection originated with the
sisters’ mother who acquired jewelry on her many
visits to Mexico over a 50-year period. The gallery
owners have continued to augment the collection of
necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, crucifixes, pins
and other silver items.
Each rare piece has a unique history that has been
researched and authenticated by the gallery owners.
Important designers in the collection include Hector
Aguilar, Beto, Los Costillo, Margot de Taxco,
Victoria Ana Nunez de Brilanti, Matilde Poulat,
Antonio and Sigi Pineda, Enrique Ledesma, Bernice
Goodspeed, and Los Ballesteros. The collection also
includes other gifted artisans whose love of their craft
and culture is equal to the great maestros of silver
jewelry. Although they may not be as well-known,
they are no less important in their creativity and skill.
The techniques of these silversmiths have been
replicated by many international designers for decades.
Only in Mexico between 1920 and 1980 was
there a dedication to inspired design and exacting
craftsmanship. This inspired combination of stone
and metal, as well as exacting workmanship, is not
easily found in most modern-day Mexican silver
jewelry.
Galería Caballito de Mar also features fine
ceramics. Work by Grandes Maestros de México
and the winners of the Premio Nacional ceramics
prize are on display.
The gallery is at 162 Calle Aldama between
Morelos and Juarez, in the heart of the historical
center downtown. We are open every day but
Sunday and have extended hours on Wednesdays for
ArtWalk night.
Every Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m.
F
rom its pre-Columbian past until today, Mexico
has had a rich tradition of jewelry making. Mexico’s
history of silver mining has encouraged the creation
of stunning silver jewelry and silverware for
centuries. Among all the fine crafts of this country,
it is Mexico’s jewelry that has generated both
recognition and admiration around the world. At
Galería Caballito de Mar, an unmatched combination
of beauty and technical superiority can be found in
the gallery’s antique and vintage Mexican jewelry
collection.
Two sisters, Carol Simonton and Gloria Auch,
offer this incomparable jewelry made between
1920 and 1980 in Taxco and other parts of México.
Issue 283
2014
18
Issue 283
Map
2014
Map
Issue 283
19
2014
The 7 Arts
20
Under the Lights
I
t’s now springtime and the season is
changing. Our Northern visitors are frantically
trying to figure out how they can stay here in
PV for another month or so until spring reaches
the frozen North! As the season winds down,
so too does Calendar Girls with this being the
last weekend for this poignant, funny and true
story. Calendars will be available at the theatre
and at SETAC as the funds from the calendar
contribute towards the “Milk for Mothers”
program. Good job, SETAC!
Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat is back taking the Monday 7 p.m.
time slot for the next month. This show has been
a constant crowd pleaser with the choreography,
music and live vocals. The largely Mexican
cast choreographed by Paul Guerrero allow six
actors to tell the story of Abraham and his twelve
sons and daughters. An Andrew Lloyd Weber
favourite, the show delivers and teaches as it
entertains - a rarity these days. This story will be
performed every Monday at 7 p.m. in April.
Still Crazy for Patsy takes the best of the
Patsy Cline shows and presents them in a
nostalgic evening of songs from the Queen
of Country Music. Performed by Mikki
Prost, who is pitch perfect in her renditions
of those songs that has kept record, CD and
MP3 sales going for generations. Nostalgia
is the mood and toe-tappin’ is what you will
do when you attend a Still Crazy for Patsy
show. Always a crowd pleaser, this show
runs Tuesday nights at 7 p.m.
FOSSE... and All That Dance returns for
4 more shows on Fridays at 7 p.m. The hit
show from December has thawed out and
will be tearing up the floor at The Boutique.
The crowd you see here are typical of the
engaging magic of a well done show. The
cast get it done in fine style. If you missed
the earlier shows, here’s your chance!
F
reddie and Paul’s The New York Radio
Show finds a home every Wednesday night at
7 p.m. Set in a New York Radio studio, the
audience is witness and participant in the events
as they happen and are broadcast. From Jewish
Mothers to a murder in the shower, the show
covers all the bases.
A quick summary of next week’s shows at The Boutique where retired just doesn’t apply:
Friday Mar 28th Saturday Mar 29th Sunday Mar 30th Monday Mar 31st Tuesday Apr 1st Wednesday Apr 2nd Friday Apr 4th
Calendar Girls 7 p.m.
Calendar Girls 7 p.m.
Closing show of Calendar Girls 4 p.m.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 7 p.m.
Still Crazy for Patsy 7 p.m.
The New York Radio Show 7 p.m.
FOSSE... and All That Dance 7 p.m.
Basilio Badillo at Naranjo
Box Office 044-322-728-6878
www.theboutiquepv.com
Issue 283
2014
The 7 Arts
4 Annual Every Tuesday
Night Film Series
th
Costa Banderas Chapter of Democrats Abroad
April 1st - 7 p.m.
Forks over Knives
This film is no April Fool’s joke;
it could save your life.
The major storyline of this important
documentary traces the personal
journeys of Dr. T. Colin Campbell,
a nutritional scientist from Cornell
University (who co-led The China
Study), and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a
former top heart surgeon at the world
renowned Cleveland Clinic. Their
research separately and independently
led them to the same startling
conclusion: degenerative diseases like
heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and
even several forms of cancer, could
almost always be prevented-and in
many cases reversed-by adopting a
whole foods, plant-based diet. This
film will have people talking for years.
Director: Lee Fulkerson. 90 minutes. Gates open at 6 p.m. and all films
begin at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are
available for a donation of 60 pesos
at the Paradise Community Center.
The PCC box office hours are from
9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tickets can also be purchased at
the door for 70 pesos. We invite
moviegoers to come early to enjoy
ordering from the food venders at the
center. Food is available at 6 p.m.
Paradise Community Center is
located at 127 Pulpito, directly
across from Coco’s Kitchen. For
further information, please contact
Tobe Jensen at tjensen1942@
hotmail.com or David and Judy
[email protected]
Issue 283
21
The American School of Puerto Vallarta
proudly presents
The Wizard of Oz!
April 3 – 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the American School of Puerto Vallarta theatre
General Admission - $100 Pesos / Children under 12 - $50 Pesos
We are very excited to present
this musical classic that has inspired
generations and hasn’t been presented
at the American School in over 10 years.
This will be a slightly different take on
the classic tale - there will be narrators
telling the story and characters will
sometimes break the “fourth wall.” The
audience will be asked to participate in some parts of the story - making
storm sounds for the tornado, spooky sounds for the haunted forest, etc.
The show will take place on stage, but also all around the audience as they
make their way down the yellow brick road. We’ve also included a song
from the Broadway sensation, “Wicked: The untold story of the Witches
of Oz.”
Students participating with lead roles range from grade 5 through 12.
The ASPV Primary Chorus will be playing the Munchkins. The production
was cast before winter break and rehearsals started soon after in January.
Please do join Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, on their musical journey
down the yellow brick road! See you there!
2014
22
Beyond PV
Destination of the week: Tulum
a lot to do. However, know that the
area there is much more expensive
and tourist-oriented than Vallarta!
Have fun!
By Astrid Van Dam
Hi Astrid,
Our daughter is getting married
in Tulum this spring, what can we
expect there?
Daisy and Mike,
PV residents
Astrid Van Dam
Every week, Mexico expert Astrid
Van Dam writes about different
destinations in Mexico. Astrid is a
Federally-licensed guide for tours
in the whole country (!) who has
guided hundreds of trips in Mexico,
Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.
For any travel advice in Mexico, or
if you have any questions about a
specific destination in Mexico, just ask
her! Feel free to send her an email to:
[email protected]
Your question -and her responsemight be published in one of the
next issues of the Mirror.
Hola Daisy and Mike!
Tulum is a small village along the
Caribbean Sea, with some of the
most beautiful beaches in Mexico.
Up to several years ago, it used to
be a backpacker destination; right
now, most hotels are small upscale,
boutique hotels, and indeed a very
romantic place to get married! Most
hotels are pretty new eco hotels,
where services such as Temazcal,
yoga and massages are offered.
There are some unique places to
stay, right on the beach, and there
are several nice cabañas.
In front of the beaches of
Tulum you can snorkel at
the largest coral reef of the
Western hemisphere; after
the Great Barrier Reef in
Australia, this is the largest
in the world. Needless to
say, snorkeling and diving
are the main activities in
this area.
For sure, I would suggest
you visit the archeological
site of Tulum, without
fail. Be aware that this site is one
of the most visited of Mexico, so
I recommend you get there either
really early before most tours
arrive, or in the late afternoon, as
most tourists are there between 10
a.m. and 2 p.m. My profile picture
on Facebbok was taken in Tulum
when I was there a few months ago.
The archeological site of Tulum
is truly unique, as this is the only
excavated one in Mexico that is
right on the coast. It was built in
the post-Classical period, which
means after 900 AC. In this case
even much later, as Tulum was built
around the year 1300. During the
post-Classical period, the buildings
that were built were much less
spectacular than those of the
Classical perdiod (200BC-900AC),
however in Tulum the attraction
is the combination of the amazing
Issue 283
colors of the Caribbean Sea with
the archeological site overlooking
it. Tulum used to be a trading
city; the Mayans went all
the way to Cental America
with jade, salt and feathers
to trade them. The cities of
Coba and Chichen Itza had
direct roads to Tulum.
I also recommend that you
spend a few hours in Sian
Ka’an, a huge biosphere
where you can see dolphins
in the wild, turtles, many
species of birds and tropical
fish. The whole area is
almost one-fifth of the
whole State of Quintana Roo, and
it’s a World Heritage Zone.
Furthermore you are very close
to Xel Ha, one of the most famous
adventure parks in Mexico, which I
personally like better than Xcaret.
Be prepared to spend a huge part of
your holiday budget there!
If you go to Tulum, I advise you
to go for at least a week, as there is
2014
Vallarta Voices
By Anna Reisman
We
had a little virtual tête-àtête last week, my colleagues and I,
to decide whether we were going to
publish anything “special” for April
Fools’ Day this year. During the
“meeting”, we reminisced about what
we’d done in past years. Once, when
I was with the Tribune, we published
an article according to which Vallarta
was going to get pollution-free buses
downtown, straight from British
Columbia. Problem was that folks
didn’t read the article all the way to
the end... so we got all sorts of e-mails
from readers who were delighted with
the project.
Then, on Mexico’s Day of the
Innocents (December 28th) that
same year -the equivalent of April
Fools’ Day in Canada and the U.S., we published a few articles written
by “John Innocuous” and “Paloma
Innocente”. One of the headlines
read something about the PV airport
being closed permanently. Well, once
again, this publication was deluged
with e-mails -AND phone calls- from
panicking readers who were asking if
they should cancel their reservations
for next year. And some of the e-mails
were downright nasty, even though that
same issue contained an entire page at
the very beginning explaining exactly
what the Day of the Innocents was in
this country. We even received phone
calls and e-mails from our friends
at Vallarta Lifestyles (definitely the
No. 1 magazine in this destination,
celebrating its 25th year this year!) to
tell us of all the calls THEY had gotten
about that article. We all arrived at a
unanimous conclusion: some readers
only read headlines.
Talking about traditions, I
remembered a little conversation I had
many years ago with our friend Ron
Walker from the Ecological Group of
Puerto Vallarta. We were sitting at the
now gone “Once Upon a Time”, a great
little ice cream parlor located next to
the Santander bank by the bridge. We
were having a wonderful chat, (solving
the problems of the world... well,
maybe not, maybe just Vallarta’s...),
sipping on our respective espresso and
cappuccino, watching the buses go by
- unfortunately not the pollution-free
type from British Columbia, nor the
electric ones promised to us... All of
a sudden, there were horns honking
and a caravan of cars and pick-up
trucks, beautifully decorated, filled
with costumed children laughing and
waving. I turned to Ron (who really
does know everything there is to know
here, not like me, the wannabe) and
asked, “What’s this?” Gracefully, like
the gentleman he is (and not wanting to
make me feel stupid), he said, “That is
the kindergarten children welcoming
Spring! They do that every year...”
So now I know, and if you didn’t, now
you know too. It was delightful!
Another event that has become
tradition in Vallarta is what City
Hall and the town’s hoteliers call the
Gala Weekend. This event will take
place on April 2nd to 5th this year, a
little before Mexico’s famous annual
Tianguis Turistico (the largest Tourism
Trade Fair in Mexico, this year, the
3rd itinerant venue, the Tianguis’ 39th
edition, will be in the state of Quintana
Roo –Cancun & Tulum- at the
beginning of May), when Canadian and
American wholesale tour operators,
airlines and travel agencies meet here
for a few days to sign contracts for the
following season. Most already know
the town; the ones who don’t are taken
on tours. All are usually royally wined
and dined. However, I don’t envy
their lot. They have to run around like
mad for three days or so.
Issue 283
23
I know some of them, they’ve told
me all about it, and I think that if I had
to do what they do, I would need a
vacation at the end of it all.
In any case, these Galas are quite
successful. They got more participants
each year, everyone loves the host
towns and their only complaints are
the same as those of the tourists, which
are the same as always. According to
a survey taken at PV’s airport among
3,400 tourists, these were: public
transportation, time share vendors,
beach and street vendors and taxi
drivers. The same survey established
that 59% were Americans, 31% were
Canadians and 4% were Mexican.
I presume the rest were Europeans,
South Americans, Asians, etc.
I do not make it a habit of going to
the Malecon during the tourist season,
but it is always an “experience”
when I do. And this is one I forgot
to share with you when I wrote about
Cerveceria Union and the wonderful
meal we all had there. At one corner,
there were a few cabs parked along the
2014
side street, their drivers waiting for a
fare. One of them accosted one of my
gentlemen companions with “Wanna
try a really good restaurant?” as he
handed him a card. We had walked
about a half block when my friend
burst out laughing. He had looked
at the card the taxi driver had given
him; it depicted two naked ladies,
promoting one of Puerto Vallarta’s
numerous,
infamous,
so-called
“escort” services! You have to hand
it to them, it is a rather novel form of
promotion…
Good news, at least for me: A nice
lady I met at k’rico’s told me that
a new place opened in Plaza Santa
Maria that sells… are you ready?
Real lemon meringue pie! Now that
Dee’s is closed, I’ll just have to get out
there to check it out.
Have a wonderful week, dear
readers. Don’t forget your sun block
when you go out into the sun, please.
Take good care of each other.
Hasta luego! [email protected]
24
Health Matters
Imagine looking like yourself ...only better !!!
Permanent make-up makes it possible to look better
around the clock - and be less self-conscious.
When you look better, you feel better.
Micropigmentation –
your guide to permanent make-up
Will I really look like myself… only better?
A
bsolutely! Permanent make-up (cosmetic tattoo) helps give back
what time has taken away and saves you precious time you normally
spend “putting on your face”. You can save countless hours that were
formerly spent struggling to draw eyebrows evenly or eyeliner halfway straight… that’s a lot of extra free time! Time with your family,
leisure activities and that much-deserved beauty sleep.
Plus, imagine the money you’ll save not buying expensive cosmetics.
Permanent make-up is not necessarily intended to completely replace
cosmetics. Because the color is placed “in” your skin and not “on”
your skin, a more natural, softer look results. When you’re ready to
kick up your heels and go out for a night on the town or want a different
look, you can apply as much additional make-up as you wish.
Certain medical condition -or simply getting older- can make
applying make-up a little trickier: eye shadow powder sinks into the
creases and folds of our eyelids, eyeliner becomes difficult to apply in
a smooth straight line, our eyesight begins to fail, our hand trembles.
For many, the frustration leads to abandon of previous grooming
habits, and this can also contribute to an overall decrease in personal
satisfaction about one’s personal appearance.
What is the “feathering technique” and how is it different?
Erika Lamas developed and perfected the “Feathering Technique”
in 1997, now considered the gold standard in permanent eyebrows.
This technique is distinctly different from other methods and designs.
Tiny angled hair strokes are drawn into the eyebrow area following
the natural growth pattern to simulate the look of eyebrows. The
result is tridimensional and natural, instead of rigid and harsh. Since
there is minimal trauma to the skin, healing time is rapid and the
result immediate. Be ready to go out for dinner the same day!
The traditional method of implanting color into the skin involves
a type of mechanical tattoo gun that creates bold results that are
suitable for body tattoos, but not for the delicate features of the face.
Feathering is done with the Nouveau Contour, a state-of-the-art
micropigmentation device. Personalized pigments are gently placed
into the skin with the highest precision. Innovation in color blends
gives natural looks and undetectable make-up. You feel fresh and
confident, ready to go anytime. Think of all the time and hassle you
would save by not having to apply make-up.
Also, all supplies and tools are disposable, so clients know that
nothing that touches their skin has ever touched anyone else.
10 GOOD REASONS FOR MICROPIGMENTATION
- 1 Convenience. You just need more.
- 2 Sensitive skin or allergies.
- 3 You wear glasses or contact lenses or have had laser surgery
- 4 Arthritis or painful hands.
- 5 Difficulty applying make-up or you don’t like the way
it smear and disappears
- 6 Aging changes in brows, lips, eyes.
- 7 Active, outdoor lifestyle.
- 8 You like a natural “no make-up” look
- 9 Hair loss due to alopecia, chemotherapy, accidents,
burns or cosmetic surgery.
- 10 Color correction. Scar camouflage, breast areola loss,
cleft lip, and more…
We all know that true beauty comes from the inside, but a pleasant
personality and a winning smile are keys to happiness.
For beautiful eyeliner, lovely eyebrows, fabulous lip color, or special
needs, do call Erika for a consultation or to make an appointment.
Her clinic is located at 1-A Timon, right near the entrance to Marina
Vallarta. Tel.: 221-0102
Erika Lamas
Is a permanent make-up artist who started her career as an esthetician.
She then studied corrective make-up artistry for one year, to become
a specialist in designer eyebrows, eye liner, lip liner and full color. In
1996, she trained in paramedical procedures and pigmentation removal
in Mexico City. In 2007, she received her certification in advanced
complementation from the State of California, USA, adding to her 10
years’ experience in enhancing the natural beauty of today’s women,
innovating and specializing in feathering eyebrows.
Erika’s reputation is renowned throughout Vallarta. She is
recommended by the city’s top cosmetic surgeons and aesthetic
professionals. Safety, satisfaction and professionalism are her utmost
priorities. Erika can analyze your features, understand your needs,
and determine what types of enhancements are best for you,
creating natural harmony within the face.
Issue 283
2014
Health Matters
Body & Sol
By Krystal Frost
Our changing views on aging and yoga
“We need to change our idea
of what aging is. If I know my
biological potential is 130 years,
then I don’t consider myself middleaged until I’m 65… One of the great
principles of mind/body medicine is
that expectancies determine outcome.
If you expect to remain strong in your
mature years, you will.” - Deepak
Chopra M. D.
As a society and as individuals, we
can expect that our notions of aging
will continue to change dramatically
in the years ahead. Leading pioneers
in the field of mind/body medicine
such as Deepak Chopra, M.D.,
endocrinologist, bestselling author
and
internationally-recognized
authority on how our consciousness
affects our health, urge us to consider
the power that our beliefs about aging
have over us. The latest research
shows that how we age has more to
do with our belief system and mindset
about aging than any other factor.
In the last several decades,
gerontologists have proved that
remaining active throughout life halts
the loss of muscle and skeletal tissue.
The news is spreading among mature
adults that they should continue all
the activities they enjoyed in earlier
years, walking, hiking, bicycling,
gardening, golf, tennis, karate,
swimming, lovemaking, dance and
YOGA. Not long ago I read about a
wild, 100-year old daredevil, whose
name I do not know, defying age,
common sense and the fears of his
doctors and children, made his first
bungee jump from a 210-foot tower…
then of course there is that snapshot
of the sisters… age 102 and 104, one
practicing a shoulder stand, the other
stretching in a yoga pose with one
foot behind her head. Sounds a bit
extreme?
What happens when we change
our expectations about aging? Tufts
University found out when they put
a group of the frailest nursing home
residents, ages 87 to 96, on weighttraining regimen that included Hatha
yoga.
Traditionally, doctors believed that
this type of elderly person belonged
in bed, in a rocker or wheelchair
out on the porch or in front of the
TV. Exercise would exhaust or kill
these fragile people. Well, they
thrived. Within eight weeks, muscle
tone improved by 300 percent,
coordination and balance improved as
well. Most importantly, these folks’
confidence in being active returned.
Some of them who had not been able
to walk unassisted could now get up
and go.
Hatha YOGA SLOWS DOWN
AND REVERSES THE AGING
PROCESS
What is Hatha Yoga? O.K., now
pay attention because we get this
question A LOT, especially with
many new styles of yoga... Astanga,
Inyengar, flow, dance yoga… kick
yoga, it’s really all the same. Hatha
means a physical discipline that
explores the connection between
the body, mind and spirit. The goal
of yoga is to balance and unify the
positive and negative energy flows
(ji, chi, life forces) within the body.
Using the flow of the breath and the
internal flow of these energies, yoga
helps us to realize our potential for
health and self-healing.
Issue 283
25
All of the approaches to Hatha
yoga involve the practice of various
movements and postures.
In
general, they consist of forward
bends, backbends, twists, inversions,
standing and balancing poses as
well as relaxation and breathing
techniques. These postures, or
‘asanas’ along with conscious use
of the breath, remove stiffness and
tension from the body, restore vitality,
strength and stamina, and improve
balance and coordination; they also
promote the efficiency of the body
processes of digestion, assimilation
and detoxification.
According to yogic tradition, the
years after 50 are the ideal time for
psychological and spiritual growth.
The practice of yoga not only restores
the health and vitality of the body, but
the philosophy behind yoga aims to
open and expand a human being on
all levels so that maturity can become
a time of greater perspective and
illumination, rather than deterioration.
2014
There are a couple of places you can
find yoga around PV. Try Davanna
Yoga, which is a beautiful space
and well trained talented guides.
Also, Vallarta Yoga studio on Basilio
Badillo offers a variety of classes in
yoga, and salsa too.
Questions? You can write me at
[email protected]
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 15 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.
Questions and comments
may be directed to
[email protected]
26
Health Matters
Caring for our parents
(Part 2 of 2)
By Giselle Belanger
RN, LCSW
L
ast week’s article addressed a
challenge that most of us will face
eventually: that of caring of for our
parents. I described many different
situations and the effect on the “adult
child” who must meet their parents’
needs while raising their own children,
maintaining a demanding career,
living out of town, etc.
Must do no matter what
Everyone must create certain legal
documents, “advance directives”,
before any problems occur. It is so
much more difficult to make decisions
in the midst of a crisis or stressful
situation. It is essential to know who
(one or more persons) is legally
allowed and required to make both
the medical and financial decisions
if the person became incapacitated.
Everyone seems to know this is
necessary, but not everyone follows
through and gets it done. Things
quickly become very complicated if
such documents are not in place. You
must have a living will and power of
attorney letters and a patient advocate
form and/or health care proxy. These
must be drawn up ahead of time while
the person is still of “sound mind” or
considered capable of making such
decisions. They cannot be made
afterwards!
Can you imagine what it’s like to try
to check someone into the ER when
they have had a seizure or a stroke or
are hallucinating or don’t know who
they are because of dementia? Try and
get them to agree to some procedure or
to sign a waiver, etc. In the beginning
of dealing with my Dad’s Alzheimer’s,
we had power of attorney letters but no
patient advocate form registered with
the hospital. After a great deal of arguing
and insisting that my Dad couldn’t sign
his name, we finally took his hand and
wrote an “X” as his signature. It is very
stressful and upsetting for the patient
who is confused, for the staff, and for
the family.
Financially, imagine if suddenly in
an emergency, you (the adult child)
couldn’t get access to your parents’
bank account or couldn’t sign on
their credit cards? What if you never
completed the power of attorney
letter giving you the right to handle
their banking; sign their checks and
credit cards, sign their tax returns,
handle property transactions, pay
bills; mortgages, utilities, deal with
their health insurance, social security,
etc.????
Issue 283
I’ll tell you “what if”… you would
have the nightmare of legally obtaining
“conservatorship” or “guardianship”.
And then you would have to keep
impeccable expense records to show
that you have not misappropriated the
money or properties and would then
present these records in court every
year for approval. I’m sure no one
thinks that sounds fun! When choosing
between getting advance directives
and power of attorney letters drawn
up or waiting for the sudden incident
or disease that requires that you go
to court, no one would intentionally
choose the latter. Act now!
Other conversations to have
Ask your parents (or those of you at
this age, please consider), where they
want to live if one of them is widowed
or becomes ill, or unable to live alone
or on their own anymore. Many adult
children just assume that their parent
will come live with them when the
time comes and never even ask their
parent what they want.
Most elderly who have moved away
to warmer weather do not want to
return to the northern cold winters,
for example, or they do not want to
live among the chaos of you raising
your children, or they don’t want to
give up their home, their friends, their
lifestyle, nor their independence.
If they can no longer take care of
themselves or it isn’t safe for them
to live alone, what do they want to
do? Do they want to hire in-home
staff, move into a senior citizen living
center, or go to an assisted living or
nursing home? Most people do not
prefer the whole nursing home idea.
In fact, they would rather consider
almost any other option. Once my
father realized he had Alzheimer’s he
specifically made us promise not to
put him in a nursing home or assisted
living facility. Besides the disease
process itself, that was his greatest
fear and concern. In fact, nobody
wants to be left alone or forgotten or
only visited sporadically around the
holidays because “they don’t know
any different anyway”.
Obstacles
You must also consider obstacles
to such choices. Assisted living and
nursing homes do not allow pets, for
instance. One colleague told me about
2014
an elderly patient who has Alzheimer’s
and refuses to leave her home because
she refuses to give up her dog. This is
a very real emotional attachment and
should not be underestimated. Many
facilities have long waiting lists that
could take months or years to get in
or they may not accept patients with
certain diagnoses.
Then there is the emotional detachment
of letting go of all of their belongings,
selling their home, and leaving their
memories behind. Everyone fights for
their independence and resists anyone’s
attempts to take that away, so imagine
being told “you can no longer drive,
give me the keys”, or “you might set the
house on fire, you can no longer cook
for yourself”. Imagine going from a
home with several rooms to a one room
space that you are supposed to adapt to
and feel comfortable.
The financial drain of assisted living
and nursing homes is tremendous. The
average cost starts at $56,000/year and
any long term stay is not covered on
insurance or Medicare. In-home care
could cost less or as much or more,
depending on the number of hours/
week you have staff. The financial
burden must be considered and talked
about beforehand. Believe it or not,
it is sometimes worth considering
qualifying them for Medicaid. No
matter what you or your parents’
financial situation, there is a lot to
consider, strategize, and plan.
Ask your parents where they want
to die; in the hospital or at home. Ask
them how they want to die; what life
sustaining and/or saving measures,
a “DNR” (do not resuscitate) order,
hospice, etc. Ask if they want to be
cremated or buried and where.
Although these subjects may make
you or your parents uncomfortable,
they should not be avoided.
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.
Fish Tales
Water temps drop,
abundant bait, picky fish!
By Stan Gabruk
Owner of Master Baiter’s Sportfishing & Tackle
S
ometimes what seems like a
good thing can actually turn into a
¨pain in the drain¨. Right now there is
abundant bait to the tenth power. And
there is a variety of bait to choose from
if you’re a game fish here in Banderas
Bay and vicinity. Water temperatures
have returned to 74 degrees, not a
bad thing, and the fishing is great,
but only if you hit the bite. Which of
course means we know the place, we
just have to be there at the right time,
which now is mid-afternoon with a
full moon. As the moon fades like it is
now, there will be a morning bite. The
full moon was causing problems this
past week as fish were using the light
of the moon looking upward to zero-in
on the baits. As far as winter fishing
goes, it’s still great, but the summer
species may be harder to find until the
water warms up a little more. Since
it’s spring, that won’t be long.
Instead of going into the normal
report this week, I am going to use a
situation to describe what is happening
in our world famous fishing grounds.
Every boat gets bait in the morning
as we leave Marina Vallarta, we pay
about a dollar or so a bait and get ten
to fifteen, standard procedure for the
fishing boats. But that doesn’t mean
that the fish will prefer these baits
(Google Eyes). If you head out to
an area and find there are plenty of
targeted fish, you could gaff them
up on the boat (but that’s not being
a sportsman), however… they won’t
take the bait you have. At that point,
you better have the bait they’re seeing
around them which of course means
you have to catch what they’re biting.
Once you catch what they’re hitting,
then you too have a chance to
get one or several as well. You
may also find these fish are so
¨full¨ from a nite or super early
morning feed, they won’t even
glance at your presentation.
This has been the case as well
this week at all the fishing
grounds, period.
Inside the bay, the Snapper
are picking up in numbers,
the bite will be great in the
next few days as the full moon
continues to fade. They are
running 20 to 30 lbs. - if you
can get them to take a bait. Jack
Crevalle are just thick in the Los
Animas / Majahuitas areas. Sierra
Mackerel are great eating, but better
for bait to lure Rooster fish. Bonito,
Skip Jack Tuna, the normal winter
species, are all here as well. Late day
fishing is great, but the morning hours
are not working, so sleep in a little and
keep an ear to the wind, amigos.
The Marieta Islands and the Punta
Mita Point are great with action with
a variety of species available. Just
like everywhere this week, finding
fish is not difficult, getting a fish like a
¨stuffed to the brim¨ Rooster fish from
feeding all night long, taking your bait
is the challenge. Rooster fish in the 35
to 50-lb range, hitting Sierra Mackerel
or their favorite bait of bullet Bonito.
Sailfish and Dorado are 3 miles off
the point and the Marieta Islands are
Issue 283
27
stuffed as well. Snapper to 35 lbs.,
mostly smaller in the 15-lb range are
picking up in numbers. Bonito, Skip
Jacks in the 30-lb range are abundant
as are Jack Crevalle to 40 lbs. Mucho
Pompano, and the list goes on. Next
few days should show improvement.
El Banco, Corbeteña, the same story.
Cubera Snapper to 60 lbs., No Marlin,
No Sailfish and smaller Yellowfin with
the spinner dolphin in the 35 to 55-lb
range. Not enough reason to head to this
area. Wait a week, things could change
and normally does. Water everywhere
is back to the bluest it can be. Next
week could be a different story.
This past week, we’ve seen White
Tip Sharks hanging around the
Marieta Islands. They’ve been biting
your baits in two and there is nothing
you can do about it, amigo. So for
now, keep an eye open and avoid the
shark-infested waters or you won’t be
getting any fish. Sharks, si, they are
never around for long.
Look for the bite to begin again in
the earlier morning hours after the
2014
moon fades, so get out early if you
can. The afternoon bite is going to be
about 2 p.m. so plan accordingly.
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 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-Baiters-SportfishingTa c k l e / 8 8 8 1 7 1 2 1 3 2 5
The trade name Master Baiter’s ®
Sportfishing and Tackle is protected
under trade mark law and is the sole
property of Stan Gabruk.
28
Legal Matters
Ask Luis
By Luis Melgoza
Dear Luis: We are leasing a condo
for six months. The condo association
tells us that the owner has not paid the
maintenance fee and that they will cut
gas to the condo we are renting until the
fees are paid. We paid the six months
and security deposit in advance to the
owner’s property managers. Is there
anything we can do?
Dear Reader:
While a tenant
and any authorized occupants are
jointly responsible with the owner for
maintenance and all other HOA fees,
it is unlawful for the HOA to suspend
or throttle utilities, including gas, or to
impede, in any way, access and use of
any of the property common areas by any
authorized occupant of a unit absent a
court order, regardless of circumstances.
All the HOA can do to collect
delinquent fees from an owner
unwilling or incapable to pay is to
sue to force the sale of the unit at
auction to recover any delinquent
fees. Many expats are under the
incorrect impression that this won’t
work because the foreign owners are
not really owners but just fideicomiso
beneficiaries. The suit must name
the Bank (owner of record), Owner
(beneficiary listed) and, in case
of rented units, the tenant(s), as
defendants. All three, in this case,
are jointly and severally responsible.
In my experience, usually the simple
notice of intent to sue suffices to cure
a delinquency in cases like this. All the
evidence needed for the HOA to prevail
in court is an HOA statement showing a
90 days or longer delinquency.
You should talk to the HOA where
you are renting, since they have already
informed you of their intent to act
unlawfully, and tell them to stand down
(feel free to show them this column).
You should also talk with the owner
and her/his property managers and urge
them to cure the delinquency.
If the above fails, you may file
two separate complaint with the
Federal Consumer Protection Agency
(PROFECO - Procuraduría Federal
del Consumidor, its official name in
Spanish); one against the HOA, and
the second against the owner and her/
his property manager(s). You may
either appear in person to file your
complaints —you must take with
you someone fluent in Spanish— at
900 Franciso Villa Ave., Col. Las
Gaviotas,
48328 Puerto Vallarta
(look up “Procuraduria Federal
del Consumidor Puerto Vallarta”
in Google maps for directions), or
you can send an e-mail message
to
[email protected]
detailing your complaint and including
Issue 283
your name, phone and address; name
of the provider(s) —the HOA in the
first, and the property manager(s)
and owner in the second one —while
all of them are jointly and severally
responsible of depriving you from the
quiet enjoyment of the rented unit,
the causes of action are different—,
copy of your picture ID issued by any
government (Mexico’s or your home
country, state or province), proof
of address, pdf “printout” of filled
form at http://www.profeco.gob.mx/
formas/f_3i_quejas.htm (form is in
Spanish, English and French), copies
of receipts, contracts/agreements, etc.
All services provided by PROFECO
to consumers are free of charge. You
can also contact them by phone at 2225028. Alternatively, you may file a
civil suit against the same defendants;
however, a civil suit is costly and
might be more protracted.
The owner, her/his agents, assignees,
heirs and successors are all jointly
and severally guarantors of your quiet
enjoyment of the rented property. If
you have any months left on your lease,
you may instead demand your money
back, including security deposit,
from the owner and her/his property
manager(s) —for what you wrote,
you might have evidence enough to
press fraud charges, too. A criminal
complaint should be your last resource.
If you hadn’t paid the entire lease
and security deposit in advance, you
could have satisfied any delinquencies
(up to the full amount of the rent) by
paying the HOA directly, the owner
would have absolutely no recourse
against you. This is just one of the
reasons why my advice is to never
2014
pay more than one month in advace
for long-term rentals; if the landlord
or landlady doesn’t accept rent one
month at a time, find a different place.
Dear Readers: When you call me
and get my voice mail, please leave a
verified full callback number and please
tell me the country where it is located.
I haven’t been able to return calls
from a specific caller because the
number left by him is not valid for
Mexico, Canada or the US. In some
other cases, no callback number has
been left. I make every effort to return
calls asking for a private consultation,
but I can’t do it unless you leave me
a working number, if at all possible
indicating what country I should call.
Send me your questions to askluis@
pvgeeks.com, I am not able to answer
each message privately due to the
volume of mail I receive. Should you
need personal attention, please call
me at (322) 164-4049 to schedule a
private consultation.
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
are the premiere commercial
and residential computer and
networks solutions experts in
Puerto Vallarta. For computer
or network issues, you can reach
Luis at [email protected]
Real Estate
VIEWPOINT
By Harriet Murray
Investment visas to attract overseas capital
The United Kingdom, Australia, Portugal
W
hat other countries are competing with the
USA, Canada and Mexico to attract investment?
The United Kingdom has a Tier 1 Investment Visa
for wealthy foreign nationals who want permanent
residency in the UK. There are three investment
levels: £10 million, £5 million, and £1 million
for different terms of residency before achieving
citizenship.
75% of the funds must be invested in the UK
government bonds, share capital or loan capital for
active and trading companies registered in the UK.
The rest can be invested in real estate or deposited
into a UK Bank. It is clear the plan is to use the
funds actively and not passively in order to stimulate the UK economy.
The Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa is for foreign nationals who want to
start and run a business. The applicant must invest a certain amount
of funds in liquid assets or use it for venture capital. The foreigner
must show also funds sufficient to live in the UK and that he has
English proficiency. Temporary residency is given for 3 years to show
evidence of job creation. Eventual citizenship is the goal, and for the
applicant it is based on achievement in creation of jobs or annual sales
volume.
Australia has an “888 Significant Investment Visa” targeting high
network individuals willing to invest in complying opportunities over
a 4-year period. The visa is meant for any wealthy foreign national,
but was chosen with Chinese Investors in mind. 888 is associated
with wealth in China.
The program does not require job creation. Its goal is to infuse
capital into Australian companies and the economy which should
stimulate job creation. An accepted investor who spends 160 days
in Australia and maintains his investment over 4 years is eligible to
apply for a permanent resident visa.
Recently, the government broadened its investment options to
include certain annuities, and mortgage backed securities, bonds,
equity and investment in Australian corporate debt.
Australia also offers Business Innovation and Investment Subclass
188 visas for investors and business owners who want to develop
business in the country. Those who wish to apply for this business
development must be nominated by a state or territorial government.
Selections are based on the skill set of the applicant and his passing a
test based on business ownership experience. He must show a certain
amount of net assets.
Issue 283
29
In 2012, Portugal launched its Golden Visa Program. This is a
fast-track for non-European Union citizens to obtain a five-year
residency permit. This program is very popular because of its flexible
investment requirements, and it gives freedom to travel throughout
most of Europe.
There are 3 ways to qualify. Least expensive is to invest in real
estate in Portugal in amount at least €500,000.00 and to maintain the
investment throughout the term of the visa. A second option is to
invest at least €1 million in any Portuguese business or deposit the
same into a Portuguese’s bank account. The third option is to invest
in creating at least ten permanent jobs meeting certain requirements.
The visa is initially for one year then renewed for successive twoyear period. The visa holder must spend at least seven years in Portugal
in the first year, then 14 days during each of
the following two-year periods for a total
of 35 days.
The Golden Visa gives the holder and
their immediate family the right to live in
Portugal and the freedom to travel in the
Schengen area, which covers 26 Europe
countries, but not the United Kingdom.
Children of the visa holders may study in
European Schengen countries. The first
year this visa was available, €222 milion in
investments were made in Portugal.
As we can see, countries around the
world are using visa programs to gain a bigger foothold in the investor
market. An investor should do his homework to find the right fit for
himself and his family.
The return of capital is an issue, as is the number of days a year an
investor is required to live in the country.
This article is based upon legal opinions, current practices and my
personal experiences. I recommend that each potential buyer or seller
of real estate conduct his own due diligence and review. Information
for this article has been provided by “Global Perspectives”, published
for CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) members.
Harriet Murray
Can be contacted at [email protected]
2014
30
Issue 283
Calendar / Directories
2014
Gil Gevins’ Page
Practical situational Spanish
CHAPTER III
By Gil Gevins
www.gilgevins.com
AT THE DENTIST’S OFFICE
E
very year hundreds of North
Americans flock to Vallarta for dental
work. The quality here is excellent,
and the savings, enormous. However,
not all Mexican dentists speak English.
And most of the migratory “SnowMouths” don’t speak Spanish. Sadly,
this discourages many infected folk
from taking full advantage of what
might be the savings of a lifetime.
In order to make the non-Spanish
speaking dental patient feel more at
ease, I have compiled a collection of
Spanish words and phrases to cover
every possible dental contingency.
For the sake of readability, I have
woven this comprehensive lexicon
into an account of my last visit to the
office of Dr. Seymour Mendoza, my
dentist and friend of thirty years.
Whenever I see Dr. Mendoza,
I always bring a pad and a pen.
Seymour is a curious man who loves
to ask questions. Since my mouth is
usually stuffed with dental miscellanea
(cotton tootsie rolls, metal clamps,
mirrors-on-a-stick, drills, fingers,
plastic suction tubes and condom-like
rubber devices), I cannot answer his
questions verbally.
So whenever I need to say something
to Dr. Mendoza, I write it down. This
technique of writing out questions is
a must for the non-Spanish-speaker,
since any attempt at mispronouncing
the words out loud could easily lead
to tragic consequences, such as trying
to say, “That really stung!” but really
saying, “Hurry, take out my tongue!”
On this particular occasion Dr.
Mendoza was performing a root canal
(endodoncia: $225 US), which would
be followed by the placement of a
crown (corona $300 US).
First, Dr. Mendoza gave me a shot of
Novocain (anestesia). Once that took
effect, he began to drill (taladrar), and
I began to write:
“¿Con que me inyectastes, cabron
sadistico? Agua?” (What did you
inject me with, you sadistic bastard?
Water?) “¿Eres demasiado codo para
comprar anestesia?” (Are you too
cheap to buy Novocain?)
Dr. Mendoza read my short missive,
and said, “¿Necicitas mas anestesia?”
“Si!”
Seymour gave me another injection
and took a phone call from his bookie
while we waited for the shots to take
effect. Finally, he said, “¿Ahora estas
entumido?” (Now are you numb?)
“Si,” I said, “estoy mas entumido
que una ardilla congelada.” (Yes, I’m
number than a frozen squirrel.)
Dr. Mendoza re-stuffed my mouth
with his dental apparatus, and said,
“¿Cuando has visto una ardilla
congelada?” (When have you seen a
frozen squirrel?)
“En Saskatchewan,” I wrote.
“¿Los Canadienses tienen la
costumbre de congelar ardillas?” he
asked. (Canadians are in the habit of
freezing squirrels?)
“Es la ley en Canada,” I wrote.
(It’s the law in Canada.) “Si tu matas
algún animal con tu coche, tienes que
comerlo.” (If you kill an animal with
your car, you have to eat it.)
“¿Y, si tu aplastas una cucaracha?
Tienes que comerla también?” (And
if you run over a cockroach, you have
to eat that, too?)
“No, Seymour, en Canada, las
cucarachas son muy pequeñas. (In
Canada the roaches are very small.)
“Ni tiene bastante carne para llenar
Issue 283
31
una cuchara.” (The meat from one
wouldn’t even fill a teaspoon.)
Dr. Mendoza began to drill,
simultaneously complaining nonstop
about my mouth and everything in it.
“¿De donde viene todo esta saliva?
¿Que tienes en tu pinche boca, Niagra
Falls? Me voy a ahogar.” (Where
does all this saliva come from? What’s
inside your mouth, Niagara Falls? I’m
going to drown in there.)
“¿Y para que,” I wrote, “es este tubo
de plastico?” (And what is this plastic
tube for?) “¿Es para succionar la
basura de tu piso?” (Sucking up the
dirt from your floor?)
“Trapeamos el piso diario.” (We
mop the floor every day.)
“¿Con que, tu nariz?”
(With
what, your nose?) “¿Y que son esas
manchas? Parecen sangre seco.”
(And what are those stains? They look
like dried blood.)
“No escribes mientras estoy
taladrando. Puedo perforar tu cerebro.”
(Don’t write while I’m drilling. I could
put a hole in your brain.)
“Tu haces otro hoyito en mi cerebro,
Seymour, y te voy a demandar!” (You
put another hole in my brain, Seymour,
I’m suing you for everything you
own!)
“Ja! Ja! ¿En Mexico? ¿Me vas
a demandar en Mexico? Para que?”
(Ha! Ha! In Mexico? You’re going to
sue me in Mexico? For what?)
“Malpractica.”
“Malpractica?” Dr. Mendoza said.
“Que es eso?” (Malpractice? What’s
that?)
“Olvidalo.” (Forget it.)
“Tu boca es muy chica,” he
complained. “No hay donde trabajar.”
(Your mouth is very small. I have no
room to work.)
“Pues, perdooooooooname por
nacer con una boca demasiado chica
para tus manos gordas y carnosas!”
(Well, excuuuuuse me for being born
with a mouth too small for your fat
meaty hands!)
“No escribes mientras estoy
taladrando!” Dr. Mendoza warned
me again.
“Bien. Entonces, dejas de insultar
mi boca.” (Okay, just stop insulting
my mouth.)
2014
“Esta lengua! Siempre me estorbas,”
Dr. Mendoza moaned. (This tongue!
It’s always in my way.) “Es demasiado
grande!” (It’s too big!)
“Dice lo mismo mi esposa.” (That’s
what my wife says.)
“Y como esta tu esposa? Como están
sus dientes?” (And how is your wife?
How are her teeth?)
“Perfectos.” (Her teeth are in
perfect condition.)
“Lastima.” (That’s too bad.) “¿Que
te parece unos implantes?” (How
do you feel about getting a couple of
implants?)
“¿Yo ocupo implantes?” (I need
implants?)
“No, pero yo ocupo el dinero.” (No,
but I need the money.) “Relájate a
tu pinche lengua! (Relax your damn
tongue!) No puedo trabajar con tu
lengua culebreando como una Babosa
Banana.” (I can’t work with it
slithering around like a banana slug!)
“Mi lengua, Seymour, no tiene nada
en común con una banana podrida!”
(My tongue is nothing like a rotten
banana!)
“No estaba hablando de bananas,
idiota.”
(I wasn’t talking about
bananas, you idiot.) “Me refiero a
esos caracoles enormores, amarrilllos
y babosos que ves en los bosques.” (I
meant those giant slimy yellow snails
you see in the woods.)
Well, that about wraps it up, oral
hygiene-wise.
Now that you’re
perfectly prepped to visit a Mexican
dentist, don’t miss my next chapter
of Practical Situational Spanish:
“HAVING A BABY!”
Gil Gevins
Is the author of four hilarious
books, including, PUERTO
VALLARTA ON 49 BRAIN
CELLS A DAY, and 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 Kindle.
32
Hi-Tech
Printers - useful tools or devil’s curse?
Whether
you’re a novice or a
seasoned computer user, it happens to
all of us eventually. Your printer dies
and usually right after you’ve stocked
up on ink (which of course only fit that
particular model). Did you know HP
has almost 100 different numbers for
ink cartridges now!!! Insanity!
Too many manufacturers don’t
reveal the three numbers that can help
determine how long your new printer
will last. If you poke around on the
Web (or sift through my inbox) it’s not
hard to find complaints about printers
dying just a few months after purchase.
There’s usually a good reason why
the printer gave up the ghost - namely,
the owner asked more of it than it was
designed to handle. If you use a tool
that’s too lightweight for the job, it’s
not fair to blame the tool. Don’t get
that 400-peso bargain at Costco and
expect it to run your office.
On the other end of the spectrum
down here in paradise is the opposite
problem. Too little use or not printing
anything for months at a time. Inkjet
lines and print heads can get clogged
with dried ink if not used regularly.
Best to print at least a page or two
each week to keep the ink flowing.
That said, however, I place most of
the blame on the manufacturers, for
not broadcasting - loud and clear - how
many pages each model is designed
to print. A key specification that you
can find in the spec sheets for most
laser printers is monthly duty cycle.
This tells the maximum number of
pages you can print in a given month
without risking damage to the printer.
Unfortunately, most inkjet (home
printers) spec sheets don’t offer this
bit of information.
I know of two laser printers, for
example, with significantly different
maximum monthly duty cycles - 20,000
and 5,000 pages - but with essentially
the same design lifetime, of about
50,000 pages. Hit the maximum duty
cycle every month in each case and the
first printer has a life expectancy of less
than three months, while the second
should last ten months.
PC Magazine asks for all of these
numbers whenever they review a
printer. A few manufacturers make all
three available. Unbelievably, others
consider some or all of the numbers
proprietary - particularly for inkjets
(home printers). Worse, the answer for
inkjets often comes back as not rated.
Issue 283
If you take the answer literally, you
might think the manufacturers don’t
have any idea how much their printers
can print. More often, it means
that they’re assuming you won’t
be printing enough pages for the
information to matter. Unfortunately,
judging by the complaints I’ve seen,
some people certainly are printing
enough for it to matter.
I’d argue that these three key
numbers - the maximum duty cycle,
recommended maximum per month,
and design lifetime in pages - should
be on every spec sheet. They should
also be on the outside of every box, in
large type, along with the ratings for
dots per inch (dpi), page per minute
(ppm), and other selling points.
If you can’t find that information,
send an Email to the manufacturer
and ask. You may not get an answer,
but if enough people ask for it, the
company may eventually change
its policy and start publishing the
numbers. Grocery store products
didn’t used to have calorie/fat
content, until people asked for it.
They wanted to be able to compare
products properly. The same is
needed for the printer industry.
Now what to do when your printer
does break down? Well, that 400peso special you got 6 months ago
in Walmart is not worth the effort
to fix. Most parts inside are plastic
and not replaceable. You wouldn’t
buy a disposable camera and try to
get it repaired because you still have
pictures left on it. Same goes for
disposable printers. Just because
you have ink left over, doesn’t justify
spending 600 pesos to repair a 400-
2014
peso printer! Your father told you...
“You get what you pay for.”
Too many times, I hear people
rushing to buy the cheapest printer
they can get. Like any other part of
your computer, take your time and do
some homework. Look at your top 3
choices for a new printer and compare
them as best you can. Don’t rely on
just the companies web-page promo
of the product… read reviews on-line
from the professionals and owners of
the models you’re considering. My
favorite website for product review is
www.cnet.com. They review specific
models for everything from kitchen
appliances, to cell phones, to LCD
TV’s and yes, printers.
Before buying my first LCD TV
seven years ago, I took the night before
and compared the reviews from cnet.
com experts, of the models available
here in Vallarta. I was surprised by
my research and rewarded with a very
good purchase. The reviews were
dead on and 7 years later, that TV is
still delivering as promised!
That’s all my time for now. See you
again next week. Until then,
Remember: only safe Internet!
Ron
Can be found at CANMEX
Computers. Sales, Repairs,
Networking, Wi-Fi,
Hardware upgrades, Graphic
Design, Data Recovery,
House-calls available. www.
RonnieBravo.com Cellular
044-322-157-0688 or just
email to [email protected]
Nature’s World
Toads: A story of
magic and extinction
By Dr. Fabio Cupul
W
hen the Spanish Conquistadores
set foot on the lands of the New
World a little over 500 years ago,
they marveled at the abundance of
plants and animals. Among them
all, they were surprised by the body
size of the toads, their scandalous
croaks and bad temper. One ancient
chronicler wrote “they were so big
that when their dead bodies were
rotted and their bones visible, they
could easily be mistaken for those
of a cat.” Also, the Conquistadores
noted the negative environmental
damage that the cutting down of
trees and the introduction of venison
caused to the toads. They noticed that
those practices turned the landscape
into deserts and eliminated bodies
of water, while the song of the toads
nearly disappeared completely from
the new lands.
Although toads are usually
associated to bodies of water, in reality
they spend most of their time on land,
under tree trunks or rocks, buried to
protect themselves from the heat of
the day. Their activity intensifies at
night, when they come out to feed and
mate. Their diet consists mainly of
insects like scarabs, ants or butterfly
larvae. The stages of their life cycle
are: egg, tadpole and adult form.
Many fantastic stories have been
woven around the world about toads.
For centuries, they have been linked
to ingredients essential to potions and
magicians’ and wizard spells. They
are believed to cause warts and hair
to grow on the hands of those who
handle them. Furthermore, they
purportedly attract luck, which is why
they were dried and hung as amulets
in homes.
With regard to this last point, during
the plague that devastated Europe in
the 14th Century, some people carried
live toads in a little box made of horn
as a means of protection against the
disease. Also, it is believed that all
toads are potentially venomous, while
in fact they are totally inoffensive for
the most part. They are relatively
small and lack the organs (like fangs
or spines) needed to shoot out or
inject venom.
Issue 283
33
They can only cause some
poisoning through contact with their
skin’s secretions. In Mexico, the
belief that they can spit out venom
continues, but what happens is that
when the toad is pursued or captured,
it shoots out urine to distract the
potential attacker.
The Aztecs knew the toad under the
name of tamazolin (old shape) due
to the warts or growths on its skin,
which made it look old and wrinkled.
They also considered it to be a rather
inefficient messenger of the gods as
its movements through jumps and
pauses delayed its delivery of the
messages. The legend says that,
because of that, the toad was punished
by the gods, who committed it to be
eaten by snakes.
The toad also played a fundamental
role in the Maya culture. It was called
bab (the rower). At times, it was
represented seated, with its parotid
glands exposed (the big bulges we
see behind its eyes), exuding venom.
They also used it as the symbol for the
20th day of their ritual calendar and,
in some paintings, we see important
personalities seated in its open mouth
– metaphorically indicating that
Maya kings were born of toads.
In the Maya region as well as in
other Mexican States and some Latin
American countries, the use of “toad
syrup” persists as a reconstitution tonic
and medicine to cure illnesses such as
asthma and even cancer. A variant of
this syrup is the one made by the ancient
Maya and today’s as well. To make it,
tobacco roots and leaves were put in a
syrup of fermented sugar cane. Then a
live toad is put into the mixture, which
is covered and left to “rest” for 15 days
before drinking it (of course, the toad
is dead by then!) Other combinations
of the tonic involve liquefying the live
toad with raw eggs, then drinking the
“beverage” immediately. In some
regions, this practice puts the survival
of these amphibians’ population at
great risk.
Mexico’s toads suffer the same
problems that endanger the survival
of nearly all types of wildlife
populating the planet: the loss of
2014
habitat due to deforestation for the
extraction of wood, agricultural and
hunting activities, illegal trafficking,
contamination
and
pollution,
ultraviolet radiation, exploitation of
water resources, displacement due to
urban growth, etc.
The
situation
grows
even
worse if we take into account
the recent discovery of a fungus
(Batrachochytrium
dendrobatitis)
that affects the development of
tadpoles and infects the skin of adults,
causing fatal complications.
In addition, we should not forget
the famous “climate change” which
is reducing and extinguishing entire
populations around the world in what
has been called the “world decline of
amphibian populations”.
To counteract the negative effect of
these factors, Mexico’s government
has protected various species of
toads. In addition, it has created
“protected natural areas” to preserve
its diversity. Toads are a natural
resource because they help control
plagues, they are food for other
species, and biological indicators
of environmental deterioration. Its
toxins could be used as part of the
medicines that control our diseases.
Dr. Fabio G. Cupul Magaña
Coastal University Center
(CUC) of the University
of Guadalajara Email:
[email protected]
34
Nature’s World
Planting Roots
in Mexico
By Tommy Clarkson
Photos by Rowdy L. Williams
Cycads
A very basic overview
“Cycas” comes from the Greek
word for palm tree …but it ain’t!
Cycad is the common name for
approximately 100 species that
comprise the plant division of
Cycadophyta. Many do resemble
palm trees in their leaf and stem
structure, and some species were
incorrectly identified as palms when
first discovered, lending yet more
confusion to the issue.
Sometimes called “Living Fossils”,
cycads have remained virtually
unchanged for a very long time.
During the Jurassic Period, 199.6
to 145.5 million years ago in the
Mesozoic Era, they proliferated
around the world. (Some scientists
believe them to date back as far as 250
million years ago!) So, doing a bit of
comparative analysis, as archeologists
estimate that modern humans have
been around for about 200,000 years,
I guess we’ve a ways to go before we
can match these old timers!
Appropriately, that 54-million year
chunk of time is sometimes called the
“Age of Cycads”. Back then, there
were no palms or, in fact, any other
flowering plants. What did thrive
were ferns, ginkgoes, cycadeoids
(resembling cycads but with different
methods of reproduction) and, of
course, our cycads.
It was then that the largest land
animals of all time - the humongous
sauropods such as the Diplodocus,
Brachiosaurus and Apatosaurus –
stomped around pretty much wherever
they wished. This period derived
its name from the Jura Mountains,
on the border between France and
Switzerland, where rocks/fossils of
that time age were first studied.
While several varieties still exist, many
– such as C. microcycas in western Cuba
- face very possible extinction in the wild
and C. taiwaniana is so rare that it was
thought to be extinct for 80 years until a
few remaining plants were rediscovered
in 1975 in a remote region of Taiwan.
Thankfully, no few of us enjoy them and
have made them feel welcome in our
homes, yards and gardens. (At Ola Brisa
Gardens, we presently have ten different
varieties of these wonderfully primallooking beauties.)
In his book, Cycads of the World,
David L. Jones effectively describes
the array of locales in which they may
now be located, stating that “(C)ycads
are found in the tropical, subtropical
and warm temperate regions of both
the north and south hemispheres.
While substantial numbers exist on
the continents of Africa, Australia
and South America, they are also
prominent in Central America
(which has the greatest diversity)
and the Caribbean Islands. Cycas
is the most widespread genus, with
representatives occurring as far north
as Japan and others being scattered
throughout various Pacific islands,
China and India to Madagascar and
the east coast of Africa.”
With their seeds being arranged
in a cone, cycads are grouped with
gymnosperms (cone-bearing plants
like pine trees). Most cycads have
leaves that are pinnate (like a feather
in appearance having leaflets growing
opposite each other) developing a
palm-like crown of fronds. Those of
Stangeria look much more like the
fronds of a fern. However, in the
Australian genus Bowenia, the leaves
are twice-divided or bipinnate. None,
ever, have flowers or fruits.
Some species reach heights of more
than 60 feet with leaves ten feet long,
while others never get much taller
Issue 283
No, I’ve not a strange head of
green frond-like hair sticking
out from my head. That’s our
Emperor Palm (cycas taitungensis)
from Taiwan behind me.
This healthy and happy Mexican
Cardboard Palm (Zamia furfuracea)
grows on our Calle Terrace.
Male cones are smallish (I heard
that comment – shame on you!) but
the female cones can reach several feet
in length. The brightly colored seeds
produced by the females have a fleshy
outer covering that birds and rodents
find most attractive. But this helps
propagation. In the process of eating
the flesh, the seeds are dispersed.
Another way to get babies is via “pups”
which emerge from the trunk or in the
ground near the trunk. These can be
transplanted to expand your family.
Slow growers.
The basic
requirements to raise cycads are
(those who know me saw this one
coming) good draining (healthy) soil –
I mix two parts of rich composty soil,
with one part dried cow manure, one
part of river sand and one part of the
native soil in which it is being planted
- and plenty of water.
Generally
speaking, they are sun loving, though
some forest species like more shady
conditions.
Those who wish to get more deeply
involved with learning about cycads
may wish to visit the Cycad Society
website at: http://www.cycad.org/
P.S.: I have been requested to do
an article on gardenias. None of
mine have their best floral display
going. If you have such pictures and would like them featured with
photo credit given - please send
them to me. Thanks!
The large fleshy - and actually rather
attractive - seeds of the female grow
in what is called a korm.
than one foot. Cycads all develop
a large taproot, with numerous
branching secondary roots near to or
on the soil surface. All Cycads are
dioecious, meaning that each member
of a species will produce either male
or female cones.
2014
Tommy Clarkson
In Manzanillo, visit Ola Brisa
Gardens, Tommy and Patty’s
verdant, multi-terraced 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
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Prefix
with
active,
chemically
9. Petite
pasta
51.10.
37. Treaty
Freewheeling
42. Battery size
Contingency
___
54.disturbance
38.warriors
Comes down with
Lao-tzu's "___
Ben
&so
Jerry's
12.
42.management
1960 Everly
Hippolyta's
Golden 44.
rule
word
55.TeUrban
puzzle,
to speak
36. Spike Lee's
Down62.offering
of this chemically
25. Thailand,
once 59. Theme
2.
Not
active,
management
52.11.
Ski Blitz
run
43. British gun
3.
Contradict
Ching"
28.
Thurman
of
"Pulp
10.
Contingency
___
offering
38.
Lao-tzu's
Te
55.Solution
Urban"___
disturbance
Brothers
hit so to speak 43. Deems it appropriate
to Crossword
1. Long,
pass
63.high
48.
2002
Eddie
Blow
off
steam
"Summer
of ___"
56. Häagen-Dazs
26.
Prefix with
61.Murphy
Between
the
linespuzzle,
54.Contradict
Comes down with Fiction" 28. Thurman of "Pulp
3.
44. Ben & Jerry's
Ching"
African trees
with
41. Columbus Day
mo. 56. Häagen-Dazs
11. Blitz
48. Blow
active,
on Page 12
management
13.4.Determined
to have
(to)
alternative
49. chemically
Fitzgerald
forteoff steam
37.
Mom-and-pop grp. 2. Notfilm
61. Between
offering
the
lines
55.African
Urban
disturbance
Fiction"
4.
trees
with
thick
trunks
29.
Gun
rights
org.
3.
Contradict
28.
41.
Thurman
of
"Pulp
Columbus
Day
mo.
alternative
49.
Fitzgerald
forte
45. Language suffix
18. Verne's thick
48. Blow
64.50.
off steam
reclusive
Inuit
transports
56.
Häagen-Dazs
Snigglers'
prey
39.
Medical
plan, for 4. African
trunks
29. got
Gunissues
rights org.58. Half brother of Tom
Fiction"
trees
with
5.
Bars
of
Avon
30.
They've
alternative
49. Fitzgerald forte
50.
prey
captain
Sawyer 58. Half brother of Tom
46. Goes haywire
65.53.
"Hey
you!"
short
Roth
___Snigglers'
thick trunks
29. Gun rights org.
5.
of Avon
They've
got issues
58.Bars
Half
brother
of Tom31. Corn30.
50. Snigglers' prey
6.
Food
store
chain
inits.
Sawyer
flakes
or
raisin
53.
Roth
___
22.
Ali
vs.
Liston
60. Capt.'s
inferiors
47. inits.
of54.
Avon
Cry out for
Place-kickers'
props
30.
They've got issues
40.
Transcribers' goofs5. Bars66.
Saxophonist
Stan
Sawyer
6.
Food store chain
31. Corn flakes or raisin 60. Capt.'s inferiors
53. Roth ___
bran
7.
In
sum
outcome,
1964
6. Food store chain inits.
31. Corn flakes
or raisin 60. Capt.'s inferiors 51. Freewheeling
54.
Saxophonist
Stan
42.
Battery
size
55. Fix in a cobbler's
54. Saxophonist Stan
7. In
sumor
bran
32. Atonebran
Down
7. In sum
Befitting
a son
25.8.Thailand,
once
in a cobbler's
55. Fix
52.
in a cobbler's
Ski run 32. Atone
shop, say55. Fix
43.
British
gun
32. Atone
8. Befitting a son or36.
8. Befitting
a sonhigh
or pass
daughter
1. Long,
Ukr. or Lith., once
shop, say
shop,
say
26.
Prefix
with
54.
57.
Comes down
with
Impression
44.
Ben & Jerry's
daughter
36. Ukr. or Lith., once
daughter
36. Ukr.
or Lith., once
57. Impression
9.
Petite
pasta
37.
2.
Treaty
Not
active,
chemically
management
57.
Impression
9. Petite pasta
37.
offering
Treaty
55.
59.
Urban
disturbance
Theme
of
this
9. Petite ___
pasta
37. Treaty
59. Theme of this
10.
38. Lao-tzu's
3. Contradict
"___ Te
28.
Thurman
of "Pulp
10. Contingency
59.toTheme
38. Lao-tzu's
of
this
"___
TeContingency
puzzle,___
so
speak
48.
Blow
off
steam is
puzzle,
so
to
speak
56.
Häagen-Dazs
Sudoku
a
logic-based
placement
puzzle.
10.
Contingency
___
38. Lao-tzu's "___ Te
Ching"
Ching"
Fiction"
11.
Blitz
11.
Blitz
4.
African
trees
with
puzzle,
so
to
speak
61. Between
the lines
61. Between the
alternative Ching"
lines
49.
Fitzgerald
forte
41. Columbus29.
11. org.
DayGun
mo. rights
Blitz
41. Columbus Day mo.
thick trunks61. Between
the
lines
58. Half brother
of Tom Day mo.
50. Snigglers' prey
41. Columbus
5. Bars of Avon
30. They've got issues
Sawyer
53. Roth
he ___
aim of the puzzle is to enter a numerical digit from 1 through 9 in each
row,
6. Food store chain inits. 31. Corn flakes or raisin
Capt.'s inferiors
column
and group
Each
54.
Saxophonist
Stan of squares enclosed by the bold lines (also called a box).60.
bran
7. In sum
box
55.
Fixmust
in a contain
cobbler'seach number only once, starting with various digits given in some
32. Atone
Befitting
a son
cells
(the
“givens”).
Each8.
row,
column,
andorregion must contain only one instance of
shop, say
daughter
36. Ukr. or Lith., once
each
numeral. Completing the puzzle requires patience.
57.
Impression
Petite pasta
37. Treaty
is recommended
as 9.
therapy
because some studies
have suggested they might
59. It
Theme
of this
10.
Contingency
___
38.
Lao-tzu's
Te
improve
memory,
attention
and
problem
solving
while
staving"___
off mental
decline
puzzle, so to speak
Ching"
11.
Blitz
and
perhaps
the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
61.
Between
thereducing
lines
41. Columbus Day mo.
The New York Times Tuesday Crossword Puzzle
SUDOKU!
T
Solution to Sudoku on Page 12
Issue 283
2014
Issue 283
2014

www.pvmcitypaper.com Issue 283 Saturday March 29 to Friday April

Transcription

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