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

ISSUE
335
www.pvmcitypaper.com
Issue 335
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
2015
Need to Know
2
ISSUE
335
manners to present the check before it is
requested, so when you’re ready to leave,
ask «La cuenta, por favor» and your bill
will be delivered to you.
MONEY EXCHANGE: Although
you may have to wait in line for a few
minutes, remember that the banks will
give you a higher rate of exchange than
the exchange booths (caja de cambio).
Better yet, if you have a «bank card»,
withdraw funds from your account back
home. Try to avoid exchanging money at
your hotel. Traditionally, those offer the
worst rates.
I
f you’ve been meaning to find a little information on the region,
but never quite got around to it, we hope that the following will help.
If you look at the maps on this page, you will note that PV (as the locals call
it) is on the west coast of Mexico, smack in the middle of the Bay of Banderas
- one of the largest bays in this country - which includes southern part of the
state of Nayarit to the north and the northern part of Jalisco to the south.
Thanks to its privileged location -sheltered by the Sierra Madre mountainsthe Bay is well protected against the hurricanes spawned in the Pacific.
Hurricane Kenna did come close on October 25, 2002, but actually touched
down in San Blas, Nayarit, some 200 kms north of PV.
The town sits on the same parallel as the Hawaiian Islands,
thus the similarities in the climate of the two destinations.
AREA: 1,300 sq. kilometers
POPULATION: Approx. 325,000
inhabitants
CLIMATE: Tropical, humid, with
an average of 300 sunny days per year.
The temperature averages 28oC (82oF)
and the rainy season extends from late
June to early October.
allowed under certain circumstances
but fishing of any kind is prohibited.
Every year, the Bay receives the visit
of the humpback whales, dolphins and
manta rays in the winter. During the
summer, sea turtles, a protected species,
arrive to its shores to lay their eggs.
FAUNA: Nearby Sierra Vallejo
hosts a great variety of animal species
such as iguana, guacamaya, deer,
raccoon, etc.
ECONOMY: Local economy is
based mainly on tourism, construction
and to a lesser degree, on agriculture,
mainly tropical fruit such as mango,
papaya,
watermelon,
pineapple,
guanabana, cantaloupe and bananas.
SANCTUARIES:
Bahía
de
Banderas encloses two Marine
National Parks - Los Arcos and the
Marieta Islands - where diving is
CURRENCY: The Mexican Peso is
the legal currency in Mexico although
Canadian and American dollars are
widely accepted.
Index
BUSES: A system of urban buses
with different routes. Current fare is
$7.50 Pesos per ticket and passengers
must purchase a new ticket every time
they board another bus. There are no
“transfers”.
TAXIS: There are set rates within
defined zones of the town. Do not enter
a taxi without agreeing on the price with
the driver FIRST. If you are staying in a
hotel, you may want to check the rates
usually posted in the lobby. Also, if you
know which restaurant you want to go,
do not let the driver change your mind.
Many restaurateurs pay commissions to
taxi drivers and you may end up paying
more than you should, in a secondrate establishment! There are 2 kinds
of taxi cabs: those at the airport and
the maritime port are usually vans that
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
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
WHAT TO DO: Even if your allinclusive hotel is everything you ever
dreamed of, you should experience at
least a little of all that Vallarta has to
offer - it is truly a condensed version of
all that is Mexican and existed before
«Planned Tourist Resorts», such as
Cancun, Los Cabos and Ixtapa, were
developed. Millions have been spent to
ensure that the original “small town”
flavor is maintained downtown, in the
Old Town and on the South Side.
DRINKING WATER: The false
belief that a Mexican vacation must
inevitably lead to an encounter with
Moctezuma’s revenge is just that:
false. For the 21st year in a row, Puerto
Vallarta’s water has been awarded
a certification of purity for human
consumption. It is one of only two
cities in Mexico that can boast of such
accomplishment. True, the quality of
the water tested at the purification plant
varies greatly from what comes out of
the tap at the other end. So do be careful.
On the other hand, most large hotels
have their own purification equipment
and most restaurants use purified water.
If you want to be doubly sure, you can
pick up purified bottled water just about
anywhere.
EXPORTING PETS: Canadian and
American tourists often fall in love with
one of the many stray dogs and cats in
Vallarta. Many would like to bring it
back with them, but believe that the laws
do not allow them to do so. Wrong. If
you would like to bring a cat or a dog
back home, call the local animal shelter
for more info: 293-3690.
LOCAL SIGHTSEEING: A good
beginning would be to take one of the City
Tours offered by the local tour agencies.
Before boarding, make sure you have a
map and take note of the places you want
to return to. Then venture off the beaten
path. Explore a little. Go farther than the
tour bus takes you. And don’t worry this is a safe place.
ISSUE
335
Editorial
Welcome to springtime in Puerto Vallarta!
If you happened to see the “floats” filled with
beautifully costumed children and balloons last
weekend, that is how they welcome spring in
Mexico!
Once again, as I try to do as often as I can, I
want to express a big Thank You! to all our
contributors, readers and advertisers (whose
number has grown each week this past season!)
Without doubt, this has been the very best
winter season we’ve had since we began in
October 2008. We were running 44 pages per
week for a while, and our circulation was higher
than ever. For that we thank you all, again!
Please continue to send us your letters, as well
as the comments and suggestions telling us what
you would like to see in your Mirror …or what
you would rather not see. We thank you for your
continued support and readership.
Your Comments
avineberg@yahoo.com
Dear Editor;
Recently we returned home after three great
months in PV. Not looking forward to the food
available on the airplane, we went to Mikey’s and
K’rico:) at Los Mercados on Aquiles Serdan. We
were so impressed by the quality of the products
from both stores.
The rare roast beef and pork tenderloin
sandwiches from Mikey’s were so tasty with all
the trimmings and they were prepared perfectly for
portability on the plane.
The cinnamon buns from K’rico:) were delicious
desserts for a complete meal.
Everything was So Good!!!!!!
Please support these excellent establishments so
they will continue to provide such amazing treats
for everyone in the future.
Shirley & Bob
Ottawa, Canada
One word of caution regarding this issue: it
happens to cover April Fools’ 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.
Allyna Vineberg
Editor / Publisher
Dear Editor:
Many thanks to you and the PV Mirror for
including the Free Malecon Sculpture Tour in your
weekly calendar of events and also for all of your
other efforts in publicizing this activity that I’ve
been conducting for the last nine years.
I want to mention that these Tuesday morning
tours will still take place March 31st during Semana
Santa and also on April 7th during Semana de
Pascua. The following Tuesday, April 14th, will be
the last tour of this season, so there are still three
more available for those interested in learning more
about these beautiful treasures along the downtown
waterfront.
No reservations are required, and one must only
show up by 9:30 on these three Tuesday mornings
at the Millennium Sculpture next to the rear of
the Hotel Rosita at the very northern end of the
Malecon.
Muchas Gracias,
Gary Thompson
Owner/Director
Galeria Pacifico
Continued on Next Page
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Sound Off
3
4
Sound Off
ISSUE
335
Continued letters to editor...
Dear Editor,
Publisher / Editor:
The letter by Chris and Joanie Bruce, in your recent edition,
prompts me to write.
Their concern about Calle Sta Barbara, and the twin towers of
Sayan, is well founded and should be mentioned in more depth. They
only mention the damage visible from the street.
Calle Sta Barbara was such a beautiful walk. The street is devastated
and scarred by ongoing construction. I heard this was to be corrected
by the developer, who ever that is. A friend owns in the first Sayan
tower and laughed when I mentioned this. In fact the reply was, “If
the developer attends to it like he has looked after poor workmanship
then you are dreaming. It will never be restored.” Time will tell. The
jury is out.
I walk Sta Barbara regularly so was aware of the damaging changes.
Then it really came to my attention when I tried to make one of my
favorite walks along Playa los Muertos to Lindo Mar.
Leaving Los Muertos, the beach peters out and becomes very
small and free of commercial activities. Suddenly I bump up against
construction restricting access or at least limiting it. The construction
of the Sayan Towers and then the new house south of the Towers is
disgusting. It is not impossible to walk there but certainly there is no
more beach and the beautiful view is no more.
Rumor is the house is being built by the same developer! How is it
suddenly the three new developments, by this builder, are infringing
on what is supposedly reserved for ALL Mexicans? This was never
permitted in the Puerto Vallarta area previously.
I always understood there was a Federal Zone along all beaches
and water. One applied to use it and paid annual rent for its use.
There was always a free area remaining for all to use. Then there was
a second permit to do with ecology and preservation. This is known
as ZOFEMAT.
Don’t take my word for it, go have a look and try to walk there. Also
what about the beautiful trees that have been cut down or otherwise
damaged so they will also die? Does this look as if ZOFEMAT has
done its job?
How does ZOFEMAT permit intrusion and destruction of what
they are to defend and preserve?
Perhaps the authorities are unaware of what is going on. Is it too
late for them to halt the destruction of some the charm bringing many
of us to Puerto Vallarta?
Take a walk on Calle Sta. Barbara and see what you think. Then
continue on along Sta Barabra downhill to the water to return to Playa
los Muertos. This circle walk will show exactly what is happening.
Returning along, what previously was public beach, supposedly
belonging to all Mexicans, and used by visitors, is vastly changed and
limited. I always thought Mexico had the right answer as opposed to
our American beaches and how they have been privatized.
Disgusting to see what is being allowed.
Sign me:
A disillusioned long term visitor reconsidering his choice of a
winter home.
Allyna Vineberg
avineberg@yahoo.com
Contributors:
Anna Reisman
Joe Harrington
Harriet Murray
Stan Gabruk
Krystal Frost
Giselle Belanger
Gil Gevins
Ronnie Bravo
Tommy Clarkson
Luis Melgoza
Todd Ringness
Tim Wilson
Dr. Fabio Cupul
Lyne & Phil Rioux
Nancy Page
Christina Larson
Office & Sales: 223-1128
Graphic Designer:
Leo Robby R.R.
Webmaster:
PVMCITYPAPER.COM
Online Team
Cover Photo:
“Christ entering Jerusalem”
by Giotto di Bondone
(1266-1337)
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An important notice
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comments. Please send them by e-mail to:
avineberg@yahoo.com
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Letters & articles become the property of
the PVMIRROR and may be edited and/or
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The articles in this publication are provided
for the purpose of entertainment and
information only. The PV Mirror City
Paper does not accept any responsibility or
liability for the content of the articles on
this site or reliance by any person on the
site’s contents. Any reliance placed on such
information is therefore strictly at such
person’s own risk.
Note:
To Advertisers & Contributors and those
with public interest announcements,
the deadline for publication is:
2:00 pm on Monday of the
week prior to publication.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
ISSUE
335
Dear Editor:
We are lucky to live in our little corner paradise with all the individual
communities within Puerto Vallarta. We all support our communities
and our local homeowners association. That is why it’s so frustrating to
see when people and especially large businesses and corporations don’t
do the right thing.
The collection of association dues is a problem for many of our
communities including Conchas China’s, Amapas and Marina Vallarta.
The Marina home owners and business association dues go to the
maintenance of our streets, lightning, tree maintenance, trash pick
up, fuel and vehicles in support of the police and traffic personnel,
marina festivals, cultural events and many other things. But it is truly
embarrassing when you see large entities and corporations refusing or
just failing to pay their dues.
The American School is one of those entities. This is a well regarded
and recognized school with the highest tuition rates in Puerto Vallarta.
The American School has not paid Marina Association dues ever, this
despite all the benefits they get from the association and the extra benefit
of police during morning and afternoon rush-hour when the mothers
drop off and pick up the children. This is done to ensure the children’s
safety.
The Marina golf course with the highest membership dues and rates
in PV is part of an American corporation listed on the Wall Street
exchange. Club Corp is the owner, a multi-million dollar corporation,
and yet the Marina Vallarta Golf Course decided to stop paying their
association dues in 2013.
This is embarrassing for all of us who reside in these communities.
I ask you as a parent, if your children go to the American School, or if
you are a dues paying member, or golfer who plays at the Marina Golf
Course, that you ask the directors and managers of these entities and all
entities that don’t pay their association dues to be good neighbors and
do the right thing, not the ugly neighbor that expects the rest of us to
carry the load.
Thank you.
Enrique Camargo, President
Joel C. Hart, Secretary
Marco Neyra, Treasurer
Marina Vallarta vigilance committee members.
Dear Editor,
I went to The Palm Cabaret on Olas Altas on Tuesday night and was
blown away by the performances of Tracy Park and Chaz Weather
performing all the characters in The Greater Tuna. It’s been running
for months and now has been extended to the end of March and yet the
production was fresh as a daisy. The audience was convulsing with
non-stop laughter. The set, the costumes, the characters, the comic
timing - all the elements - in this farce were of the highest quality.
It’s exciting to see this growth of theatre in production in Puerto
Vallarta. I called to tell a Montreal friend of mine to go see it. She
started laughing just remembering it and said, “I’ve already seen it
twice.”
Dana Zeller-Alexis
Producer, actress NYC, and resident of PV
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Sound Off
5
6
Within PV
ISSUE
335
Hockey Season in Mexico starting next fall
(PVBS) - The long anticipated opening
of the Mexican Hockey League (MHL)
will soon become a reality. In the fall of
2015, the puck will drop for the first time
in Mexico, marking the opening of the
First Hockey Season in Mexico.
Puerto Vallarta will have the distinction
of hosting “The First of The First”, which
is to say the first professional hockey
game ever played in Mexico will be
played right here in Puerto Vallarta at the
Puerto Vallarta Hockey Arena currently
under construction. Opening night will
see the Banderas Bay Humpbacks taking
on the Guadalajara Tequileros.
Tickets for opening night will be
available starting April 6th, 2015, with
prices starting at $1,250 pesos for upper
level seats, $1,750 pesos for mid-level
seats, and $2,700 pesos for front row
(behind the glass) seats. Season tickets,
for all 12 games to be played in Puerto
Vallarta, will be $9,000 pesos, $13,000
pesos and $20,500 pesos.
Opening night will be a gala event for
the local hockey team, the Banderas Bay
Humpbacks, with appearances by hockey
legends Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and
Mr Hockey himself, Gordie Howe.
All three gentlemen will be available for
autographs, photographs and selfies before,
during and after the game. This event will
not be televised in the Puerto Vallarta area.
By special arrangement with this
newspaper, the Banderas Bay Humpbacks
ticket office will open at 9 a.m. on
Wednesday, the 1st of April for advance
sales of tickets for the November 31st
opening night. For that day ONLY, tickets
will be offered at less than half price - $450
pesos for upper level seats, $650 pesos
for mid-level seats, and $1,100 pesos
for behind the glass seats. Comparable
discounts will also be available for season
tickets. Due to the popularity of this event,
there will be a limit of 2 tickets per person.
The ticket office of the Banderas Bay
Humpbacks is located at 591 Olas Altas,
half way between Calle Pulpito and Calle
Pilitas, in the Romantic Zone, and will be
open on a regular basis from 10 AM to 3
PM, Monday thru Friday starting April 6th.
If you love hockey, this is an opportunity
that you will not want to miss.
Continued letters to editor...
Dear Editor,
PV is an outstanding winter vacation destination. We’ve been coming
down for many enjoyable years and intend to continue for as long as
possible. However, even in paradise, it seems you should always be on the
alert for the odd scam artist.
Last year, we signed a contract to rent a condo and paid a deposit of $US
3,000. When we got here this year, Raùl (full name Raùl Armando Pérez
Ruiz) never showed up and we eventually discovered the whole thing was
a fraud as the owner had never authorized this particular rental.
We were reasonably confident that Raùl was on the up an up since he
had been introduced to us by another trusted agent (Xochitl Martinez).
Xochitl had shown us the condo initially and had then let Raùl finalize the
rental. Xochitl had been referred to us by other renters we new and so we
felt we were in good hands. Needless to say we’ve had to make alternative
arrangements under duress and the whole episode will end up costing us
a pretty penny. Interestingly, when we sought assistance from the Profeco
(federal consumer protection) we were told they couldn’t do anything
because rental contracts do not come under their purview! We were also
surprised to discover that the local tourist assistance agency (OAATRE)
couldn’t help either because it was a fraud!
Which begs the question: if consumer protection cannot help and tourist
assistance cannot help, who do you turn to for help in such a situation?
In the meantime, buyer beware! Both Raùl and Xochitl appear to be
operating unimpeded out there. They were even replying to our emails for
a while feigning they were trying to fix things. In fact, Raùl even added
insult to injury by requesting we provide our bank account number so he
could deposit our $3,000...
C. R.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
ISSUE
335
Within PV
7
More exhibitors, information & fun at the Vallarta Real Estate Fair 2015
O
nce a year, we organize the Vallarta Real Estate Fair in
order to make it easier for buyers, sellers, and local residents
to receive up to date information on important issues that affect
their real estate investments and lifestyle in Puerto Vallarta. This
year’s event promises to be the very best ever with more exhibits,
speakers and more entertainment than ever before.
There were a number of changes in regulations made by
Hacienda (Mexican IRS) in 2014 that affect buying and selling
property, and another new change in early 2015. This has left
some clients confused about Capital Gains exemption and
taxes in general. Lic. Fernando Castro is returning and will be
addressing the topic again along with other important changes in
laws and regulations that affect us.
We are often asked what happens in the U.S. when I sell my
Mexican home and pay Capital Gains Tax? Do I have to pay
Capital Gains Tax in the US as well? We have Cindy DuChateau
speaking about this topic as well as rental income reporting and
requirements for the reporting of foreign bank accounts to the
IRS. Also speaking at the event will be the team from PVRPV
about pitfalls in property management and how to successfully
keep your vacation home rented. David Schwendeman and
Terence Reilly from MexLend will bring everyone up to date
on available loans for the foreign investor including US Dollar
loans. There will be a Real Estate Market update presented that
will help Buyers and Sellers understand market trends and where
the market is today for Puerto Vallarta.
Please join us on Saturday, March 28th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
the plaza in front of Molino de Agua (Aquiles Serdan corner of
Insurgentes) for this informative and fun event. Entertainment
by Prana Entertainment. We hope to see you there!
www.timothyrealestategroup.com
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
8
Within PV
ISSUE
335
Vallarta Botanical Garden
One of the “Top 10 North American
Gardens Worth Travelling For”
The Vallarta Botanical Garden received for the second consecutive
occasion the distinction as one of the “Top 10 North American Gardens
Worth Travelling For” as declared by the Canadian Garden Tourism
Council. This award was presented today during the Garden Tourism
Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Vallarta Botanical Garden’s Operations Director, Jesús Reyes,
was present at the Garden Tourism Conference in Toronto to accept this
award in person. Jesús shared his heartfelt response in receipt of this
recognition, “It’s a great privilege for the Vallarta Botanical Garden to
hold this award once again. As a Mexican citizen from the Vallarta area,
I hope this sends more Mexican nationals, especially local Vallartenses,
to visit us. Sometimes we take for granted what is most important to
us and this includes our local forests and the great diversity of amazing
plants that they harbor. When we allow nature to inspire us we become
its stewards and caretakers.”
Neil Gerlowski, the Vallarta Botanical Garden’s executive director,
commented on this selection by saying, “On behalf of the Vallarta
Botanical Garden’s staff, board, and volunteers, we are once again
thrilled and honored to receive the distinction as one of the “Top 10
Gardens in North America Worth Traveling For” by the Canadian Garden
Tourism Council. In a country with dozens of fantastic and unique
garden experiences we are also humbled by this designation. Recognition
such as this undoubtedly serves to bolster tourism to our region with an
emphasis on gardening, beauty, and ecology thus providing incredible
benefits to our community.”
The Vallarta Botanical Garden is celebrating 2015 as its 10th anniversary
year. The Garden remains open year-round from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with
closures only on Mondays from April to November as well as Christmas
and New Year’s Day. Garden entry is priced at just $80 pesos for adults
and adolescents. Organized school visits are provided with courtesy
entry with advanced reservations - upon availability. Visit the Vallarta
Botanical Garden, “Where Mexican plants meet the imagination.”
For more information please visit www.vbgardens.org or contact
Garden management at info@vbgardens.org or call 223-6182.
An open letter to the tourists
to beautiful Puerto Vallarta…
By
G
Lyse & Phil Rioux
ood
choice
of
travel
destination, lots of beautiful things
to see, the beaches, top-notch
resorts, restaurants, night life, and
activities to entertain you.
Some people live here year
‘round, call this beautiful city home,
they have jobs and families, hopes
and dreams, just like the rest of us
who visit.
Still another segment of society
here struggles with extreme poverty,
the tourists rarely see them, or at
best ignore them or toss them a
few pesos. These are the people
we need to address. Our group
Amigos del Magisterio (www.
amigosdelmagisterio.com) works
with the people of the poorest
suburb of Puerto Vallarta, Colonia
Magisterio, adjacent to the old
garbage dump. The people there
survive by sorting thru our refuse
in order to find things to sell for
recycling, things they could use
or even something to eat. It is a
meager existence. Mexico is now
evolving to the concept of separating
recyclables from garbage. So that
means even less material for our
dump workers to collect.
Two years ago, in a political
decision the operation of the dump
was moved from Magisterio to El
Gavilan - about 30 km. away - which
means our dump workers must take
a bus, at their cost of 15 pesos to get
to and from work, bus fare that they
cannot afford to begin with.
Home for them is in Magisterio,
shack
dwellings,
tar-paper,
cardboard, broken pallets, rags,
anything that will give them a
semblance of shelter. You do not
even want to see the area during
a rain or much less, a summer
hurricane. They have a small water
hose that everyone shares, a bit of
electricity, but no sewers. Sewage
runs in the dirt streets, their toilets
are open pits which overflow when
there are heavy rains. Who lives
here? Many who are illiterate so
their job prospects are limited, others
who have lost their employment
since the 2008 recession, the local
economy still hasn’t recovered.
The area is actually growing. It is
difficult to estimate the population,
but it is hundreds of families, and
they have many children. Still they
appear happy, resigned to their fate.
Continued on Next Page
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
ISSUE
335
So we help by bringing food to them, especially
their staples (rice, beans, cooking oil, sugar,
pasta). Every week in the winter we have
delivered truckloads. Once in February we
brought 1300 food bags, each containing 1 kilo
rice, beans, sugar and 1 liter oil to the students in
6 schools in the area. This is to show the value
of education to the families, education, the key to
coming out of poverty.
Also part of our work also has been supplying
food to 3 organizations including Caritas PV that
makes 40-80 hearty breakfasts for street people
every weekday morning, prepared and served by
volunteers. They also make food bags for the
needy who will come and ask for help. They
operate out of the priest’s basement garage at Our
Lady of Guadalupe church downtown. Talk about
a no-frills operation! They have no web site.
We have also worked with Pasitos de Luz
(www.pasitosdeluz.org) a non-profit day-care
for handicapped children who now serve 120
kids and their families. We’ve taken truckloads
of food to them; in their latest financial report,
Amigos del Magisterio was their second biggest
supplier of goods after Costco. The other
organization we work with is New Beginnings
(www.newbeginningsmexico.org)
operating
out of Magisterio; they do many things, build
houses, even infrastructure, make upwards of
1000 lunches per week, and much more. We help
with their food program by supplying produce,
the staples, chicken, etc. By supplying them now,
they are able to extend their own resources and
for us it extends the impact that we have here for
a little more time beyond the winter months.
This winter, we raised over $230,000. pesos
which have all been used to purchase food and
delivered to the people in need. We purchased
almost 5 tonnes of rice and beans, over 2 tonnes
of sugar, almost 4000 liters of cooking oil, the list
goes on… and we delivered truckloads of donated
clothing, shoes, soaps, shampoos, stuffed toys.
For several years already, we have had an ongoing corporate sponsor, Frigorizados La Huerta.
This year, they started donating frozen vegetables
which they produce to the 3 organizations that
we have adopted. They started by donating 4
freezers and now are shipping, last week 420
kilos of frozen vegetables every week. This
marvelous donation will be on-going while we
enjoy our summers up north.
Amigos del Magisterio’s mission is simple,
unchanged since our inception 9 years ago: to
supply food to the poor at 0% administration
costs. We have access to many trucks at Tacho’s
trailer park and are allowed to make use of the
park facility for bagging and packaging goods.
All our person power is volunteer, dozens of us,
all cheerful and having a great time while doing
a good deed.
We would like to extend our heartfelt Thank
Yous to many who help make this endeavor
possible. All the volunteers, the truck owners,
the priests of the 2 parishes who allow us special
collections in our fund-raising, Father Roberto
of Our Lady of Guadalupe downtown and Father
Gonzalo from Our Lady Queen of Peace in the
Marina. Thank you to the manager of Sam’s and
the staff who were very helpful, and certainly
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Within PV
9
most importantly, to our supporters, without
whom this project could not happen. Our support
is varied, the residents of Tacho’s, Condos
la Marina, Rincon del Cielo, Club Richelieu
Ottawa, Canadian Grain Commission head office
in Winnipeg, Knights of Columbus, St. Pierre
MB the Magi Ladies, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton,
Anchorage, Alaska, and families and friends of
the organizers.
So thank you all, al año próximo! Our efforts
will be needed again.
10
Within PV
By
ISSUE
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Tim Wilson
The bathroom battleground
We at GAYPV are committed
to keeping you informed of what
is happening in the ever changing
politically correct world we live in.
First and foremost, we at GAYPV
are extremely understanding and
profoundly sympathetic to anyone
questioning his/her gender or
sexual identity. We detest bullying
and discrimination in any form. Transgender
should be made to feel comfortable and welcome
wherever they go, including public restrooms.
The latest battleground for transgender rights is the
public bathroom. This is exactly the same principle
that gay marriage was for the gay community. It
is the beginning of recognition, acceptance and
freedom in society for transgender. The next
battleground will be locker rooms. The case in
point: a woman in Michigan repeatedly complained
to Planet Fitness Gym when a transgender woman
was in the changing room. (See bit.ly/gaypv060)
Planet Fitness management told Yvette Cormier, the
complainant, the person identified as a woman and
released this statement in support of the transgender
customer… “Planet Fitness is committed to creating
a non-intimidating, welcoming environment for our
members. Our gender identity non-discrimination
policy states that members and guests may use all
gym facilities based on their sincere self-reported
gender identity. Apparently Yvettete repeatedly
complained and began speaking to other women
about this policy. Her membership was cancelled
by management. They were not going to put up
with her inappropriate and disruptive behavior
(apparently she was telling everyone how “freaked
out” she was by what she had seen. She claims she
was not notified that a transgender could be in the
locker room.) I will leave my editorial comments
for the GAYPV website for you to read.
Cities like West Hollywood and
Austin, Texas, are some of the first
to legalize the gender inclusive
public bathroom. That’s right, folks.
Everybody goes together! It will
be private stall bathrooms open to
both sexes. Men will no longer have
troughs to peer at the guy next door
when urinating. No more getting
numbers off the bathroom wall or any Congressman
Larry Craig under the stall toe tapping because
the next stall may contain the gender you are not
attracted to. GAYPV anticipates the bathroom lines
could be longer than normal because you could be
waiting on a female to finish her duties. On the other
hand you might get lucky as the one sex fits all stall
may be open and you can go right in.
GAYPV predicts indecent exposure complaints
to increase. Imagine how many times you will see
someone finishing their personal business inside the
bathroom stall with the door slightly ajar.
A primary school in New Haven, England,
introduced unisex toilets in October 2014 to prevent
transphobia (See bit.ly/gaypv061). According to
the report, “the feedback we have received from
the vast majority of parents, children and staff has
been overwhelmingly positive. As an authority,
we feel it’s important to provide a safe, welcoming
environment in our schools for all pupils.”
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Good ole Florida sunshine state Rep. Frank Artiles
introduces H583 which seeks to criminalize and fine
a transgender person from using the wrong bathroom
(See bit.ly/gaypv047). He is claiming it is a safety
concern. He fears rape, assault and voyeurism to the
innocent public. How sad to assume that transgender
persons are interested in this behavior when using the
bathroom. We will keep you updated on this. GAYPV
has just been informed that there is now a mobile
phone app that lists all gender unisex bathrooms now
(See bit.ly/gaypv062).
There are advantages to the unisex bathroom. After
all these years, where did the mother of a 4-year old
son go? The men’s or ladies’ room? What about the
80-year old handicapped man with a female caregiver?
I never noticed until being politically correct came
into play and you thought you should complain
about it. Now no one will listen to you. Remember,
porta potties at ball games were always unisex… so
you shouldn’t complain now. The unisex bathroom
solves this conundrum. It will save businesses money
because now they only have to provide one gender
neutral bathroom. I wonder what churches will do.
In terms of using the unisex bathroom, if you can’t
deal with transgender issues, you will just have to
hold it in and wait until you get home.
Tim Wilson
Is owner and editor of GAYPV Magazine (www.GAYPV.mx)
in Puerto Vallarta. This magazine features news,
a complete list of gay and friendly businesses and events,
interesting stories, and around town photos of gay and
friendly businesses and people in Mexico. It is available
in print, online and the new app on Apple newsstand in
December 2014. Tim is an official member of NATJA where
he and GAYPV contributors provide content and press
releases about Puerto Vallarta as a “beyond Gay Friendly”
destination to international LGBT media outlets.
ISSUE
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By
I
t’s been a few years, but my
delightful and only kid sister (this
time with her husband) has finally
returned to visit Vallarta!
We
borrowed a friend’s car to greet them
at the airport and get them to their
hotel. It’s good to be at the airport
during the season to see just how
many people pour off those planes
and into our town.
The endless stream of arriving
vacationers (with a few obvious
ex-pat residents as well) was mindboggling. Why on earth do so many
flights all arrive at the same time???
We finally spotted my sister and
brother-in-law (his FIRST Vallarta
visit!) and it was hugs all around.
Sandra Gaye and I quickly got
them over to the Hotel Zone to their
all-inclusive hotel (with some of
Tour Guide Todd’s helpful points of
interest along the way) and got them
checked in easy enough. All early
accounts have been positive and they
are delighted with their ocean/pool
view room.
We got to join them for some time
around the pool. While it was a bit
pricey -thanks to the guest version of
the magical all-inclusive wristbandit was really nice to just hang out and
be a tourist for a few hours. Of course
it’s nearly impossible for me to avoid
both overeating and overeating in
these kinds of scenarios, mainly
to get my money’s worth but also
because I really enjoy good food.
This is the primary reason I don’t
normally select buffet restaurants,
which helps me NOT to be a lot
heavier than I prefer.
It’s fun being a tour guide and I love
to share my insider secrets and tips.
There is really an incredible amount
Todd Ringness
of wondrous things to do and see
here in our town. And it’s ALWAYS
good for me to get a fresh perspective
through the eyes of a visitor…
especially a virgin Vallarta visitor,
a.k.a. the “Triple V”! My sister and
I are much alike and she also enjoys
researching and advance planning,
so it’s interesting to see which tours
she’s either already booked or asking
about. Good market research! Of
course, Rhythms of the Night is at
the top of the list, which I agree with
though it’s been ages since I’ve been
down to Las Caletas. No doubt it is
still very special!
As I’ve shared before, one of the
treasures that comes with living in
this tropical destination, is the regular
opportunity to welcome loved ones
on their vacations. And I am happy
that I never got that TV job right
out of school up in Lloydminster,
Alberta. Google it… not really a
vacation hotspot!
I had the distinct pleasure of
being with the SYNG! ensemble
choir when we shared the stage at
Teatro Vallarta with the Puerto
Vallarta Chamber Orchestra at
their Christmas concert this past
December. That evening and for
days afterwards, my spirit was
repeatedly blessed in hearing from
so many who enjoyed the concert.
Under the direction of conductor
Daniel Oliveros, the Puerto Vallarta
Chamber Orchestra has really come
into its own over the past year or so.
My wife Sandra Gaye and I were
able to enjoy their Spring concert at
the Krystal recently. What a treat!
Especially nice is their initiative to
involve the new Orquestra Escuela
de Puerto Vallarta. School teachers
(also orchestra members) and their
students were introduced during the
performance. Proceeds from the event
also benefit the school. Our orchestra
is one class act! Let me encourage
you now to find out the date of their
2015 Christmas concert, and if you’re
in town then, DO NOT miss it!
We were also privileged to attend
the recent memorial celebration for
Scott “Cashetta” Weston. What
an event that was! I can’t recall
EVER seeing so many performers
from different Vallarta venues cross
one stage in one night. The Red
Room at Act II Stages was packed
to the rafters, with some sadly
being turned away at the door. We
especially enjoyed the sharing of
stories by those who knew Scott
more than the rest of us… some for
more than ten years. The diversity of
talent was delightful. It truly was a
magical night and a fitting tribute to a
magical man whose memory will be
celebrated for years to come.
Rumors have started that Scott’s
untimely death may have breathed
life into a common vision for more
frequent special events that involve
numerous performers from across
our performing arts community. I
think this would be a very welcome
addition to our entertainment lineup here in Vallarta. I will keep you
posted on this development!
Many of the ongoing shows in
town are wrapping up as the Winter
Season comes to an end. If there is a
show you haven’t seen and you have
waited until now, you might be out of
luck because some will sell out their
final shows …if they haven’t already.
The 2014/15 Winter Season
has been GREAT for everybody,
including us here at VallartaTickets.
com The dust is still settling, but
it appears that we’ve served up
a few hundred more tickets over
last year, and we continue to make
improvements to serve you better
wherever we can. One or two venues
will continue in their operations
through the summer, and we have
more upgrades and enhancements
coming as well.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Within PV
11
One of the big questions is who
will be our top selling shows of this
season. It may be close, so we will
carefully tabulate the results and post
it to our Facebook page and share it
with those on our mailing list within
the next few weeks.
I sincerely hope that we were able
to serve you this season, and I trust
that we will see you again next year.
I also hope that your summer holds
delightfully sweet surprises, treasured
heartfelt memories with those you
love, and ample opportunities to
rejuvenate and center on the truth
that you were made to manifest in
this life. Blessings upon you!
Todd Ringness
Along with his wife Sandra Gaye are the
founders of Vallarta Tickets, a Canadian
online ticketing agency serving the Banderas
Bay region and beyond. You can usually see
this man about town, or you can email:
Todd@VallartaTickets.com
Beyond PV
12
ISSUE
335
Easter… Passover… Semana Santa… Pascua…
I
n Mexico, Easter celebrations
are held over a period of two weeks:
Semana Santa (Holy Week - Palm
Sunday to Easter Saturday) and
Pascua (Resurrection Sunday until
the following Saturday).
This year, Semana Santa is
celebrated from March 29th to April
4th, and Pascua from April 5th to the
11th.
The Council of Nicaea (A.D.
325) set the date of Easter as the
Sunday following the 14th day of
the paschal full moon, which is the
full moon whose 14th day falls on or
after the vernal (spring) equinox.
We know that Easter must
always occur on a Sunday, because
Sunday was the day of Christ’s
Resurrection; and the 14th day of the
paschal full moon because that was
the date of Passover in the Jewish
calendar, and the Last Supper
(Holy Thursday) occurred on the
Passover. Therefore, Easter was
the Sunday after Passover. Thus
Easter is linked to the Jewish
Passover not only for much of
its symbolism, but also for its
position in the calendar.
The Church does not use the
exact date of the paschal full moon
but an approximation, because
the paschal full moon can fall on
different days in different time
zones, so the Church set the date
of the vernal equinox at March 21,
even though it can occur on March
20. Both approximations allow
the Church to set a universal date
for Easter.
Still, Easter isn’t celebrated
universally on that date. While
Western Christians use the Gregorian
calendar (the calendar that’s used
throughout the West today, in both
the secular and religious worlds)
to calculate the date of Easter, the
Eastern Orthodox continue to use
the older, astronomically inaccurate
Julian calendar. Since Mexico is
predominantly a Catholic country
(over 90% of Mexicans practice
Catholicism to some extent), Holy
Week is a very important holiday, as is
the Christmas season.
During Semana Santa, worshippers
participate in reenactments of the
Passion, from Jesus’ arrival in
Jerusalem to his crucifixion and
resurrection.
Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos)
takes its name from Jesus’ entry into
Jerusalem where crowds laid palms at
his feet. Outside churches throughout
the country, weavers create and sell
elaborate woven fronts which are later
hung on doors of Mexican homes to
ward off evil.
Holy Wednesday (Miercoles Santo)
Zaachila celebrates Holy Wednesday
by decorating the city churches with
vegetation carried to town from the
Sierra Madre mountains.
Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday
(Jueves Santo) commemorates the
Last Supper shared by Jesus with his
disciples and Jesus’ betrayal by Judas
(see Passover).
Good Friday (Santo Viernes)
commemorates the trial, crucifixion,
death, and burial of Jesus, with silent
processions in the streets of many cities.
Holy Saturday (Sabado de Gloria)
commemorates the day when Jesus
rested in the grave. Some communities
celebrate by burning paper maché
effigies of Judas.
Easter Sunday (Domingo de
Resurrección or Pascua) commemorates
the resurrection of Jesus.
Semana Santa and Pascua are THE
time when half of Mexico flocks to the
beaches - a Mexican spring break …
and the time when most PV residents
go into a form of cocooning to
avoid it, as they often do during the
Christmas holidays.
Easter’s relationship to Passover
In determining the date of the
Gregorian and Julian Easter, a
lunisolar cycle is followed as it is in
determining the date of the Jewish
Passover, and Easter usually falls
up to a week after the first day of
Passover (Nisan 15 in the Hebrew
calendar).
Of all the Jewish holidays, Pesach
is the one most commonly observed,
even by otherwise non-observant
Jews.
This year, the Jewish
community of Puerto Vallarta will get
together in various places on Friday,
April 3rd, to celebrate this tradition
that recalls the Jews’ Exodus from
Egypt after generations of slavery.
The second Seder, on the second night
of Passover (celebrated by Jews in
the Diaspora, i.e.: not living in Israel)
occurs on Saturday night.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
The word “Pesach” (PAY-sahch)
comes from the Hebrew, meaning
to pass through, to pass over, to
exempt or to spare. It refers to
the fact that G-d “passed over” the
houses of the Jews when he was
slaying the firstborns of Egypt.
“Pesach” is also the name given to
the lamb that was sacrificed in the
Temple on this holiday.
Probably the most significant
observance related to Pesach
involves the removal of chametz
(leaven) from Jewish homes for
the week. This commemorates the
fact that the Jews leaving Egypt
were in a hurry, and did not have
time to let their bread rise. It is also
a symbolic way of removing the
“puffiness” (arrogance, pride) from
Jewish souls.
At the Seder, the “Haggadah” is
read, telling the story of the Exodus
from Egypt and explaining some
of the practices and symbols of the
holiday. Among the symbolic items
consumed during the reading –prior
to the meal itself- are maror – a
bitter vegetable that symbolizes the
bitterness of slavery, and charoset –
a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon
and wine, which symbolizes the
mortar used by the Jews in building
during their slavery.
To all our readers: the entire staff
of the PV Mirror City Paper wishes
you a most Happy Easter and Hag
Sameach!
“There are a number of spiritual,
historical and physical elements
of Passover and the Seder that call
us to address the global climate
crisis. In our generation, we need
to look at how modern Pharaohs Big Oil, Big Coal, Big Auto - are
endangering the Earth and human
society, and bringing plagues on
us.” - Rabbi Arthur Waskow, author
of “Passover as if Earth Really
Matters”.
ISSUE
335
The 7 Arts
13
Mexican drag icon ‘La Gorda’ sings live at The Palm April 1 - 5
A
lex Sol, aka La Gorda, returns
to Puerto Vallarta and The Palm
Cabaret during Semana Santa 2015
with five performances of her new
show beginning April 1st, to the 5th,
at 10 p.m. each night. The show
includes a cast of folkloric ballet
dancers from Mexico City that,
along with Alex, will take us on a
musical comedy journey through
Mexico (with live vocals by La
Gorda) and incredible traditional
Mexican folk dances from various
regions. The combination of the
hilarious Alex, in drag as La Gorda,
with the traditional folkloric dancers,
has already mesmerized audiences
in the Mexico City area. This is a
rare chance to catch this show here
in PV! Opening night, April 1st, is
a special benefit show, “Se Arma La
Gorda” to benefit SETAC and the
local gay community center health
clinic, Capasits.
Alex Sol is an actor, director and
entertainer in film, television and
in nightclub venues in Mexico City
and his hometown of Cuernevaca.
He started his career in theatre in
1985, studying in the IMSS training
center and later in the Regional
Institute of Fine Arts in Cuernavaca.
He attended the University Cultural
Center where he participated in
various special theater courses
covering production, direction,
playwriting and acting. Alex has
participated in about 80 theatre
productions in his career.
Alex Sol has been a musical guest
on several TV programs including
a tribute to Enrique Alonso called
“Cachirulo” and “Gateway to
Bethlehem.” In 1996, Alex was
in a show called “Broadway Light
Show” in Cuernavaca for several
seasons, and then spent 3 months
touring with the show in Cancun,
Quintana Roo, and Querétaro.
In 2005, he created the character
“La Gorda” and the show “La Gorda:
Crazy, Funny Little Transvestite”
which mixes drag artistry, clowning
and theater. In Cuernavaca, Alex
has entertained for nine seasons
in the “Enigma Bar Show” and
has given personal appearances in
almost all of Mexico. In his all new
show this season, ‘Cielito Lindo’,
he takes his audience on a journey
through several regions of Mexico,
celebrating the diversity of the
music, colors, and traditions through
song, and folkloric ballet. La Gorda
brings the charm, rhythms and the
poetry of this regional music to life,
showcasing the love and heartbreak
of Mexico, while paying tribute to
some of the greatest singers and
composers of popular music.
Alex Sol has become an icon of
the LGBT community in the state
of Morelos and has been a political
and community activist for many
years. For several years, Alex
was a member of the organizing
committee for the “March for
Sexual Diversity in Morelos” (Gay
Pride) and is often invited to make
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
HIV prevention campaigns for the
Ministry of Health.
La Gorda will perform live at The
Palm April 1 - 5. All shows are at 10
p.m. Tickets are available at the box
office, or online at the link below.
Also playing at The Palm is the
final presentation in our Happy
Birthday Tribute Series with Paco
Ojeda, celebrating the life and music
of Barbra Streisand on Sunday,
March 29th at 7 p.m. Music and
comedy cabaret favorite Amy
Armstrong has four remaining
shows March 28 - 31. Latcho &
Andrea - The Blond Gypsies have
their final show of the season on
March 31st at 7 p.m. Bohemia
Viva has a final show on April 5th
at 7 p.m. And the stage comedy
‘Greater Tuna’, starring Tracy
Parks and Chaz Weathers, is playing
through April 1st, along with
the Spanish version of Princesas
Desesperadas, playing April 2 - 11.
The Palm is well-known for
bringing top notch, cutting-edge
entertainment to Vallarta. Inside
you’ll find an intimate, completely
refurbished 90-seat cabaret with
outstanding sound and lighting,
creating the ambiance of cabarets
from days gone by. Shows are
scheduled seven days per week
with two different shows nightly
through April, 2015. The Palm also
offers matinées at 4 p.m. on selected
shows.
The Palm is non-smoking (a patio
is provided for smokers), located
at 508 Olas Altas in the Romantic
Zone on the south side of town.
Tickets may be purchased online
24/7, and at The Palm’s Box Office,
open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
A full calendar of performances,
information and online tickets are
available at www.ThePalmPV.
com You can also find the Palm on
Facebook at The Palm Cabaret and
Bar.
14
The 7 Arts
ISSUE
335
Hearts soar with ‘Rocky Mountain High’
“Rocky Mountain High, the music of John
Denver” features Paul Aleman with John Denver
Band member Renee Armand. Hear the music and
stories behind the music.
March 28, 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Walk Like A Man - Paul Fracassi - An exciting
tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.
“Walk Like A Man” pays tribute to hugely popular
New Jersey-based recording stars Frankie Valli & The
Four Seasons. The show features 23-year old singing
sensation Paul Fracassi, a former Star Search and
Canadian Idol semi-finalist and graduate of Toronto’s
famous St. Elizabeth School for The Performing Arts. His vocal range and showmanship are always a big hit.
March 27 and 29 at 9:30 p.m.
Miss Conception - The Wonderful World
of Miss Conception
An all live singing show with your favorite story
book characters with a twist. A Vallarta favorite and
an absolutely must-see show!
To date, Kevin has won countless titles, including
the first Zelda’s Drag Idol, Miss Canada Continental,
Smirnoff Twisted, Coors Lite Queen of Halloween,
Ontario’s Next Top Drag Queen, Miss Gay Universe,
Miss Gay Toronto, and Entertainer of the Year. He’s
also appeared in “Queer as Folk”, Degrassi: The
Next Generation”, and the first contestant in drag on
“Wipeout Canada”.
Mondays at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.,
Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.
Kim Kuzma - Being her 10th year of
performing in PV, Kim has learned to simply
give what audiences want from her. A Puerto
Vallarta favorite and must-see show. Once is not
enough and now she has two different shows to
delight you.
“Just Kim” is all your favorites and Kim’s
Acustico show features Kim and her fantastic
5-piece band.
Acustico - Sundays at 7:30 p.m., Just Kim Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.
Elvis – Rob Knight - Rob Knight holds
the title of Pacific Northwest 2014 Division
Champion as an Elvis Tribute Artist. Forever
Elvis is reminiscent of his lively and passionate
Las Vegas stage shows and concerts.
Forever Elvis - Wednesdays at 4 p.m.
Elvis Martinez - Appearing in The Red
Room Cabaret - Local performer and costar of the smash hit Forever Plaid, Elvis
Martinez opens his new show, “An Evening
with Elvis Martinez, Come fly with me”, in the
Red Room cabaret for three nights only, with
Musical Director Bob Bruneau at the piano. Last year Elvis debuted his first concert at Act
II to sold out standing room only shows, so get
your tickets fast! Elvis will be performing April
1, 10 and 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Box office opens daily at 12 noon or buy online
at www.vallartatickets.com
The Red Room Cabaret & Bar is located upstairs in the Act II Entertainment STAGES complex at 300 Insurgentes
(corner of Basilio Badillo)in the Romantic Zone on the south side of town. Tel.: 222-1512.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
ISSUE
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The 7 Arts
15
‘Forever Plaid’ continues to breaks box office records
Forever Plaid, the Heavenly Musical Hit has taken
Vallarta by storm. What happens when you take four of
the most handsome, talented men who sing like angels
and put them on a stage? Forever Plaid happens. If
you think you have seen Forever Plaid before, you
have never seen it like this. For the first time on this or
any other planet, Forever Plaid is being performed in
Mexico.
Relive an era when doo-wop was king, big hairdos were
in, cars had enormous fins, and the harmonizing bands of
the 50s were all the rage. This hallmark jukebox musical
comedy by Stuart Ross centers on a quartet whose
dream of recording an album ended in a bus collision
while on their way to their biggest gig. Now they’ve
been miraculously revived for the show that never was. You’ll be humming along with the great nostalgic pop hits
of the 1950’s and rollin’ in the aisles from the delightful
patter of the original clean-cut boy band – The Plaids. Featuring such hits as Sixteen Tons, Chain Gang, Three
Coins in the Fountain, Perfidia, Cry, Catch a Falling
Star, Day-O, Gotta Be This or That, Matilda, and Heart
and Soul.
The Plaids get a chance to look back at their lives, and
they discover that they didn’t just have wonderful lives;
their lives were wonderful, because they lived them
together. Together they can achieve the unimaginable,
the unexplainable. Forever Plaid performs at 7 p.m. in The Main Stage
Theater at Act II on March 26, 28, 31, and April 2, 3, 4.
Starring local performers, Elvis Martinez, Alfonso
Lopez, Roberto Duran and Jose Maria Caudillo with Bob
Bruneau at the piano. Forever Plaid is produced by Act II
Entertainment and Mary Amelotte.
The Voice of Vallarta Cabaret Week - with the top four
fighting it out for the semi finials.
Join us this week for the exciting Cabaret
week as the top four take the stage and compete
to win a fully produced cabaret show in the
Red Room Cabaret. Each of the contestants
must take the stage and perform at least three
songs along with host type chat. The stage is
set up like a cabaret with all the judges and
contestants sitting on the stage cabaret style,
waiter service and all. The contestant will
be mentored all week by the judges, host and
production team. The singer with the most
points will be awarded with a show to open
this summer. One thing is sure: The Voice of
Vallarta is hotter than ever! The Voice is down
to the top four and who makes it to the finales is
up to you. Join us every Sunday for Vallarta’s
favorite show, The Voice of Vallarta at 8 p.m.
Elvis Martinez - Appearing in The Red
Room Cabaret - Local performer and co-star
of the smash hit FOREVER PLAID, Elvis
Martinez opens his new show, “An Evening
with Elvis Martinez, Come fly with me”, in the
Red Room cabaret for three nights only, with
Musical Director Bob Bruneau at the piano. Last year Elvis debuted his first concert at Act
II to sold out standing room only shows, so
get your tickets fast! Elvis will be performing
April 1, 10 and 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Box office opens daily at 12 noon or buy online at www.vallartatickets.com
The Main Stage theater is located upstairs in the Act II Entertainment STAGES complex at 300 Insurgentes
(corner of Basilio Badillo)in the Romantic Zone on the south side of town. Tel.: 222-1512.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
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“Hard Travelin’ with Woody”
by Randy Noojin at ACT II
Hop a box car through the dustbowl with Woody Guthrie and
commune with the spirit, stories and songs of America’s iconic
folksinger, saint-of-the-workingman and poet-of-the-people in this
critically acclaimed multimedia one-man play with Woody’s music
and artworks.
On April 16th, 7 p.m., ACT II is fortunate to host Randy Noojin, a
folksinger from NYC and just off his 40-city tour in the USA and Canada
featuring the songs of the legendary Woody Guthrie including “This Train
is Bound for Glory”, “This Land is Your Land” and many others. The
show is sponsored by Democrats Abroad, Costa Banderas Chapter.
Randy’s performance was commissioned at Actor’s Theatre in
Louisville, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Southern Appalachian Repertory
Theatre, the 45th Street Theater, and many others.
Tickets are on sale at ACT II Box Office from 1 to 10 p.m. each
day and online at VallartaTickets.com Tickets are also available from
Democrats Abroad board members. $300 pesos for preferred seating
(first 3 rows) and $250 pesos for general seating on a first-come, first
served basis.
The show is staged at a United Mine Workers Local 92 Union Hall
in Oklahoma where striking mineworkers are on the verge of breaking
the strike due to vigilante violence. Randy’s depiction of Woody
Guthrie’s music in this setting helps to recall a protest strategy Woody
used during the Great Depression when social, political and economic
inequality was common.
Come see and relive that time with an outstanding one-man show
of art, commentary and music. Produced by Hall of Fame Director
Marshall Mason.
Join Los Bambinos for final Rock ‘n Roll concert:
Flashback World Favorites Tour
After a fun ninth season presenting
their shows in the Romantic Zone,
Los Bambinos bring their season
finale to the stage this Tuesday! Over
the years, their smiling faces have
appeared on International stages…
but no stage brings such favor as
the one right here in Puerto Vallarta,
with their original supporters and
fans who continue to seek out their
shows. Tuesday night 8 p.m. at
Roxy, join Los Bambinos for their
final Flashback World Favorites Tour
show- a true hit this season!
Alongside classic rock favorites in
their show like the Everly brothers
and the Monkees, Los Bambinos
bring to life the vocal harmonies of
the Beach Boys in a special medley.
There is no better way to round out
a great night celebrating classic rock
musical history than with a little Bee
Gees and their Saturday Night Fever
favorite: Staying Alive, fresh with Los
Bambinos memorable Latin twist.
Bring friends for a good time in
Roxy Rock House’ cabaret-style
venue. Reserve your table early for
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
the best seat in the house. Remember,
with your VIP seats, you receive the
best seats in the house, first admission
into the show and autographed
memorabilia.
Los Bambinos perform Flashback
World Favorites Tour this Tuesday
from 8 to 10 p.m. The show is held
at Roxy Rock House- with live music
every night- at 217 Ignacio L. Vallarta
in the Romantic Zone on the south side
of town. Tickets and booking at www.
losbambinosmusic.com or 222-4357,
English spoken. See you at the show!
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“Two for the Road” huge success!
Saturday, March 14 , was the
th
opening of a long awaited cultural
event between Mexico and Canada.
The collective exhibit, known as
“Two for the Road” (a year in the
making) did finally land in Puerto
Vallarta, thanks to Canadian curator
Richard Tasse and Nathalie Herling
of ArtVallarta studios. An impressive crowd of more
than 500 art buffs filled the twostory building on Pilitas in the
Romantic Zone. Local PV artists such as Tony
Collantez, Eugenia Prietro and
Alejandra Quevedo teamed up with
upcoming Canadian artists JeanJacques Hudon, Patrick Larrivee,
Bastien Tremblay, Sylvie Vincent
and Luc Gauthier among others.
The opening was also the chance
for local artists to familiarize
themselves with Canadian art thru
the screening of 16 shorts films.
The show will close on March
28th and move to Montreal, QC,
Canada for a late October fest.
We wish to thank: Allyna
Vineberg (PV Mirror), Ramiro Arias
R (Marcos y Molduras “Uruapan”),
Sarah and Rick (Cafe Mordida).
Allan Rockwell
For ArtT 2015
Photos by John Shannon
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
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18
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Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
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By
Joe Harrington
The Gunman
S
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ean Penn is, without question, a
big movie star. He is also an activist
and has traveled the world trying to
help in humanitarian efforts.
I knew nothing about the movie
when I entered the theater, besides
the title The Gunman. For some
reason, I assumed the story would
be about a gangster. I knew I was
wrong thirty seconds into the
first scene. The location was the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The time, 2006. Sean was working
as, what else? A humanitarian. I
thought, aha! He’s put together a
movie that will also be one with a
societal message. Nice. All I knew
about the Congo was that it is a very
tough country in Africa sharing
deplorable living conditions with
places like Liberia, Sierra Leone,
Angola, Uganda, Somalia and
Nigeria to sadly name but a few. To
use a couple of movies to show just
how tough the conditions are, think
Blood Diamond or The Lord of War.
As The Gunman moved forward,
the toughness glowed through like
sickening yellow stars. Poverty was
everywhere; the condition of the
people deplorable. I thought, we do
need to be reminded of these things
because it is human nature to shove
aside things this ugly and repulsive.
Then the movie shifts gears.
Sean Penn appears in a building
overlooking a road.
In an
approaching vehicle is the country’s
minister of mines. Penn has a sniper
rifle and coolly
assassinates the
minister.
What the heck? I thought. How
is this thing going to segue back to
the poverty of the citizens and their
blight? The answer is it doesn’t.
It turns into a not very well made
action movie with Penn initially a
bad guy, and years later, in 2014,
trying to atone for his sins. He does
this by dispatching a seemingly
army of bad guys in very personal
ways – usually by breaking their
necks. Penn’s character likes the
up front and personal approach, but
does not hesitate to use an automatic,
or knife, when he sees fit. Of course
there is a woman, who at first hates
his guts and then falls for him. Talk
about a rehash of boy meets girl,
boy loses girl, boy gets girl which is
supposed to be original because it’s
all done with bullets whizzing about
trying to distract us from the fact that
there is no originality. To say I was
disappointed is a minor statement.
This guy has played bad guys to the
hilt in the past – think Mystic River
and blowing Tim Robbins away
for being a suspect in the killing
of Penn’s daughter. Who turns out
to be – sorry innocent Robbins – a
whopping and unrepentant error.
As usual, I wait until I have written
much of my opinion before checking
with the top critics on Rotten
Tomatoes. How did the big guns
review this movie? Here’s a sample.
Rex Reed, of New York Observer,
wrote, “Unfortunately, nobody ever
won an Oscar for washboard abs.
And nobody is going to win for
five seconds of admiration and 115
minutes of tedium in The Gunman.”
Next Guy Lodge of Variety. “Sadly,
Penn’s veiny, sweat-glazed biceps
are the most objectively impressive
feature of this rote, humorless thriller,
a distinctly unconvincing attempt to
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
refashion the star as a middle-aged
action figure in the Liam Neeson
mold.” I have to add, Penn must
work out five hours a session to look
as buff as he does. But looking good
with your shirt off doesn’t make for
a palatable flick. And finally, one
more opinion from Christopher
Orr of the Atlantic. “A dull, generic
retread, made far worse by Penn’s
self-seriousness as an actor, by the
banal political pieties he’s grafted on
as producer and co-writer, and by the
presence of a pitifully retrograded
female lead role.”
Ouch.
In fairness, not all critics panned
this thing. I was shocked when I
read Mick LaSalle’s, San Francisco
Chronicle, review, mainly because
we usually agree.
He wrote,
“It succeeds partly because the
moral climate it presents seems so
contused, but mainly because Penn’s
particular aura of irascible integrity.”
This movie received a dismal 14%
on the rotten Tomato Meter.
Recommendation: If you want to
see the results of Sean Penn’s gym
workouts, then by all means go.
Otherwise, forget it.
Joe Harrington
Is an internationally published true crime
writer and documentary filmmaker.
Send comments or criticism to
JoeMovieMadness@Yahoo.com
Artwork by Bob Crabb.
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The 7 Arts
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Colectika Mexican Folk Gallery
T
raditions are important but
like everything, traditions can
change and evolve.
Today at
Colectika, 858 Guadalupe Sanchez,
we hope to renew your interest in
Mexican Folk Art by showing how
simple, primitive pieces have been
transformed into complex creations
that rival contemporary art today.
One of the very best examples of
this new ancestral contemporary
movement is Jacobo and Maria
Angeles from San Martin Tilcajete,
Oaxaca. This year, they participated
in the creation of a Nativity Scene
that was on display in the Vatican
Museum. Julia Fuentes, another
wood carver from Oaxaca just finished back to back
exhibitions at the Superstition Museum in Arizona
and the Cabot Pueblo Museum in Los Angeles.
Jacobo Mendoza from Teotitlan, Oaxaca, is
taking traditional weaving to a whole new level
with his incredible silk weavings.
Juan Chawuk, a Mayan from Las Margaritas,
Chiapas, has created a series of paintings that emulate
the heartbeat of the jungle. After learning the ancient
teachings of his Mayan culture, Chawuk has set out
to show the sound of nature in his acrylic paintings.
Lee Chapman –a.k.a. Lencho- a local favourite,
continues to put a smile on our faces with his pastel
colors and fun filled paintings of dancing nuns or
cute pigs sitting down to eat at the table.
Fernando Olivera’s folk
stories in oil on canvas
delight many with his truly
Oaxacan style of painting.
Enrique Flores, also from
the Tamayo School in Oaxaca,
just brought us his newest
collection, Magical Realism.
We will be displaying
Enrique’s original water color
painting as well as his prints
until the end of season.
Colectika is open from
Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. –
8 p.m. and Saturday from 6 to
12 a.m. We hope you take the
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
time on Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. to check out
the great work at all the galleries that participate in
the Art Walk.
Colectika Mexican Folk Gallery, 858 Guadalupe
Sanchez corner of Allende. Tel.: 222-1007. Email:
peyotepeople@yahoo.com
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Good Bites
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There is
only ONE…
T
he
original,
authentic
Roberto’s Puerto Nuevo, that is.
Sure, while he was gone
from Puerto Vallarta,
busy
opening
restaurants in the
U.S. and closer
(in La Cruz de
Huanacaxtle), another gentleman
opened a lovely café on the
Malecon, also called Roberto’s
(even though it isn’t his name…),
but you should not be fooled...
When it comes to the scrumptious
Mexican specialties that made the
original Roberto famous, there
is only one, and it is
located upstairs at 283
Basilio Badillo, the
street that was called
“Restaurant
Row”
and “The Street of
the Cafés” back in 1988
when Roberto was the first to
open there.
So, if you
want to treat
yourself to
his unique
dishes, like
his famous grilled
“Shrimp Puerto
Nuevo”, stuffed
with ham and
cheese,
fine
herbs, wrapped
in bacon… or his
excellent Chile Relleno, or perhaps
his version of “Linguine with
Shrimp” - sautéed in an Alfredo
sauce, go to the right place: the
original Roberto’s Puerto Nuevo.
There is only ONE.
The prices are super reasonable,
the service is excellent, and they’re
open every day for dinner, from 5
p.m. onwards. Tel.: 223-2266.
Those Easter / Passover eggs...
…are a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection for Christians - when cracked
open, they stand for the empty tomb. Eggs were always thought to be
special because although they do not seem alive, they have life within
them. In general, they were a traditional symbol of fertility, and rebirth.
For Jews, the egg on the Passover Seder plate became another
symbol of sacrifice in place of the slaughtered lamb, calling for the
consideration of the newness of life made possible by the sacrifice.
Long ago people gave gifts of eggs carved from wood or precious
stones. The first sweet eggs that were eaten were made in the
last 100 years from sugar or marzipan. Since then, chocolate eggs
have become popular, usually given on Easter Sunday.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
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By
Anna Reisman
Is there anything of value for
me to share with you this week?
I honestly don’t know, can’t
remember. It’s been crazy busy
around my place these last couple
of months, what with relatives and
friends coming down for their yearly
vacations, very much enjoyed this
year as they told of their unusually
cold winter up north. Even on the
rainy days we’ve had! “It’s okay.
It’s warm rain… Definitely better
than snow and bitter cold.” Made
me smile to see them have fun in our
little wannabe pool - which I do not
enter between December and May
as it is “freezing cold” to me.
I was glad to see them, happy to
spend time with them, but how I
wish they wouldn’t all come down
at the same time, the most hectic
time of all in Puerto Vallarta.
Can’t say I blame them. I
remember when I used to live in
Montreal, always trying to schedule
my holidays for February or March
so that there would only be a very
few weeks of cold left before spring
would spring… I just hope that
spring does come soon for them,
after such a horrid winter.
Now it’s slowing down.
I
notice it as I deliver the Mirror to
the condominium towers along
the southbound highway. A lot of
snowbirds leave to celebrate Easter
up north and most of the throngs that
will be coming this weekend -and
for the next two weeks- do not read
English, so less papers requested
by the various concierges. I also
noticed it at the various markets that
were going through thousands of
copies last month and are down to
hundreds as of last week. Oh
well. I should be used to it
by now, after so many years,
but every year it seems that
the months fly by quicker
than before. Could be they’re
right, could be because we’re
getting older…
To finish my saga with
Telmex, my phone scared
us all when it suddenly rang
last Saturday, first time in
eight days. We had gotten
our land line back! A couple
of days later, a Telmex technician
called to ask if everything was all
right. I said yes, thank you, but
what had happened? He explained
that Telmex was doing some work
in our neighborhood, they changed
some internet wirings …and didn’t
notice that they had screwed some
telephone lines in the process. He
was so nice, and I was so happy to
get a phone line again, that I didn’t
want to upset him by telling him the
whole sordid story of the zillions of
complaints I had lodged over the
8 days. Turned out to be a minor
repair, probably took the repairman
Democrats Abroad elects new officers at Annual Meeting
The Costa Banderas Chapter
of Democrats Abroad held their
annual meeting at Nacho Daddy’s
last week, to elect new officers.
Outgoing Chair Jack Kirkpatrick
welcomed Tobe Jensen as the
new chair with her slate of board
members, including David Kamp
as Vice-Chair/Secretary, Dean
McIntyre as Treasurer, and Ken
Cado, Maria O’Conner, Julie
Guerrero, Susan Wichterman,
and John Wilson-Bugbee as members at large.
In her acceptance speech, Jensen stated that
the upcoming election in the United States is not
such much a Republican vs Democrat election,
but a plutocrat vs. democracy election. “We
can’t outspend the plutocrats, but we can outvote
them because we still have universal suffrage,”
she stated, and went on to emphasize how
important it will be to increase
voter turn-out among ex-pats
who live in the communities
around Banderas Bay, if only
to protect the appointees to the
Supreme Court.
Her plans for Democrats
Abroad locally will be to increase
citizen
education
forums,
meetings, and discussions and
to bolster efforts to turn out
the vote. Plans for this month
include a fundraiser welcoming Randy Noojin
to the ACT II stage on April 16 for a concert of
commentary and song by Woody Guthrie called
“Hard Travelin’ with Woody”. Tickets are
available at www.VallartaTickets.com and ACT
II box office, as well as from Democrats Abroad
board members. (See separate article and ad in
this issue.)
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Vallarta Voices
23
no more than a minute to
do it, but hey! It’s over
now and hopefully it
won’t happen again for
another 21 years.
I plan to go to Costco
and then Mega, to stock
up on everything I think
I’ll need over the next
two weeks in order not to
have to leave the house
again until it’s all over,
sometime around April
20th. Except for my paper
route, of course.
In the interim, I do intend to go
see “Forever Plaids” and Latcho
and Andrea this weekend, before the
madness begins. I’ll also have to
start cooking in preparation for the
Seder a bunch of us are having at a
friend’s house. That’s always fun.
So, until next time, I hope you
have a wonderful time, and I wish
you a most happy and healthy
holiday – whether it be Easter or
Passover. Hasta la próxima vez!
sheis@ymail.com
24
By
Health Matters
ISSUE
335
acids and peptones. These pre-digested foods rich in activated
enzymes enhance the body’s own internal enzyme activity. By
converting the starches and proteins a higher quality protein
source develops. Sprouts are a rich source of chlorophyll,
amino acids, and proteins, all of which help regenerate cells
and boost immunity. Their accessibility to you in a fresh and
unprocessed state makes them a perfect food.
Krystal Frost
Organic Select Mexico
Sprouts
Nutrition Sprouts are super foods because of their remarkable
nutritional properties. Ounce for ounce, they provide more
nutrients than any other natural food known. Unlike foods
that are processed or cooked, sprouts contain living cells and
are, indeed, “living food”. The concentrated nutrients stored in
the seed as vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates
are transformed and dramatically increased with the process
of sprouting. Studies have shown that nutrients can increase
from 50 to 400%! Sprouts are very easy for our bodies to
digest because they are almost “pre-digested” by the sprouting
process, which deactivates enzyme inhibitors, changing
carbohydrates into simple sugars and proteins into free amino
ARUGULA has long been popular in Italian cuisine. Though
relatively new to the sprouting scene it has become popular for
its spicy taste and nutritional value. Arugula sprouts have been
shown to be a very rich source of iron as well as vitamin A and C.
BROCCOLI sprouts have been very visible in the news
lately because researchers discovered that sulforaphane, an
antioxidant found in mature broccoli increased up to 100 times
in the sprout. While other research on sprouts has never been
publicized or marketed to such an extent as this, the findings
clearly support that sprouts are a very concentrated source
of nutrition. The Brassica family -which broccoli is part ofincludes Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, spinach,
mustard, rutabaga etc. all of which can be sprouted. The flavors
of these are similar and have a spicy mustard taste.
LENTILS are rich in protein, iron, potassium phosphorus and
minerals. They are also high in antioxidants, vitamin A, C, and
E and folic acid. Sprouted, their flavor is always excellent and
they are extremely easy and fast to sprout.
The SUNFLOWER sprouting process can multiply the
nutritional value of the nutrients in sunflower seeds by 300 to
1,200 percent. In addition to the previously mentioned nutritional
benefits of sunflower seeds, sprouted seeds contain lots of iron,
which can combat anemia, and lots of chlorophyll, which helps
detoxify the liver and the blood. Sprouted sunflower seeds are
an excellent source of phytosterols, which reduce cholesterol,
enhance the immune response and decrease the risk of certain
cancers.
PEA SHOOTS are a TASTY TENTER super nutritious leaf
with high levels of vitamin C and vitamin A. A 50-g bag of
these tasty greens offers more than half of the RDA for vitamin
C, a quarter of the RDA for vitamin A and significant amounts
of folic acid.
Krystal Frost
Is a long time resident of Puerto Vallarta. Graduate of University of Guadalajara, and specialized
in cosmetic acupuncture at Bastyr University in Washington State. She is the owner of Body &
Sol for over 20 years where she practices traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, massage
therapy, yoga, meditation and nutritional counseling. She has created healing programs for
individuals, retreats and spas. For questions and comments - Cell: 322 116-9645,
Email krystal.frost73@hotmail.com
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
ISSUE
335
Boundaries
By
Giselle Belanger
Why do we need them?
We need boundaries in order
to recover from the effects of
relationships with abusive, addicted,
or compulsive people. We need others
to know where our boundaries are
and that we are serious about them.
Then we need to change our behavior
accordingly, reinforcing the boundary
with action.
All too often we say we want one
thing and we do another. Many
people live trapped in the idea that
there are stuck with no way out. Until
we say “no” or “enough is enough”
why should the other person stop the
way they are treating us? We must
stop blaming others for what they do
to us and realize it is what we allow
them to do to us!! We must believe we
have a choice and then take action to
align with what we want and the way
we want to be treated.
(NOTE: I am not referring to
threatening circumstances in which
the person is truly trapped and being
victimized. Instead, I am referring
to everyday relationships and
interactions with others.)
Setting limits does not mean
intolerance or selfishness. It means
refusing to allow ourselves to be
harmed;
emotionally,
mentally,
or physically. It means accepting
responsibility for our own beliefs,
feelings, and actions. This means
learning to take care of ourselves.
Setting boundaries begins our
recovery process.
By setting clear boundaries, we
begin to take back our lives from being
controlled by other people’s thoughts,
feelings, and problems. We are no
longer controlled by their expectations
of us. We claim ownership and
responsibility for ourselves.
We
recover our “self”.
RN, LCSW
What are they and
how do I learn to set them?
Boundaries are not limits we set on
other people’s behaviors or actions.
We have no control over them. We
can only control ourselves and how
will we react or what we will tolerate.
1) We set them to control or limit our
own behavior. And we set them to
limit other people’s behavior towards
us. 2) We need to have consequences
if they cross our boundaries. 3)
Boundaries must be clear and specific.
Consider the subtle but very important
difference in the following statements:
“Don’t you ever talk to me like that
again” which is trying to control
someone else’s behavior, versus, “If
you ever talk to me like that again, I
will hang up, or walk out or…”. This
clearly states what you will do if…
It’s not a boundary
if you can’t enforce it !
Ask yourself, “Do people respect
the boundaries I set?” and “Do I
respect other people’s boundaries?” If
the answer is “no”, the next question
is “Why not?” What were you taught
growing up that encouraged or allowed
a lack of respect for boundaries?
What message are you sending to
other people that they do not take your
boundary seriously? If people aren’t
respecting your boundaries, what have
you done in the past to indicate that
it’s okay to ignore or defy them? One
thing is for sure, you did not enforce
them with consequences.
Have you made threats and then not
followed through? How many times
do you threaten to leave a relationship
and then not leave at all or leave and
go back after a few days or a week?
Do you lessen the degree of severity
of the original consequence? How
many times has someone successfully
manipulated you into lessening the limit,
for example, an adolescent’s curfew
hour or permission to go somewhere?­
­­ Do you draw the line in the sand or in
cement? If someone keeps crossing the
line, do you keep backing up?
How can you enforce
your boundaries?
You must believe in your right to set
and enforce it. Many people will try
to manipulate you and get you to back
down. Be clear. If there is a way for
them to misinterpret it, they will find a
way. Creatively come up with ways to
enforce the boundary. “I will only help
you for 15 minutes” and then set an
alarm, and when it rings, stop and get
up. This is as much for you as it is for
them. You must do what you say you
are going to do! NO empty threats.
You must learn to say “NO”!! Learn
to say “no, I can’t”, “I don’t want to”,
“not now”, etc.
When your reaction changes, so will
the other person’s actions. They have
grown very accustomed to counting
on certain predictable reactions and
attitudes from you. You must catch
them off guard, knock them offbalance, “move the rug under their
feet” as my therapist used to say. How
many times have you heard someone
say “oh, she doesn’t really mean it” or
‘he always lets me off the hook” or “I
never get in trouble”?
Boundaries come from
speaking our truth
They require that we say the hard
stuff and align with and step into our
power. We cannot worry if the other
person wants to hear it or not. We must
speak our truth. In order to do this we
must have or develop a) self-awareness,
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Health Matters
25
b) self-love, c) honest communication.
In order to achieve this we must: 1)
Know how we feel: Knowing what we
feel helps us determine what we like or
don’t, or what we need. It helps guide our
ability to determine if a boundary needs
to be set. Emotional awareness is key
to setting boundaries. 2) Dependency
on people: as long as we are afraid of
being abandoned, we will tolerate very
inconsiderate, often abusive treatment
from others in order to keep them from
leaving. We must learn to be okay
being alone and not need someone else
to complete us. 3) Not understanding
limits: If you do not understand you
have a choice or have the right to say
no, for example, then you will not
believe you have the right to set limits.
We need to know what our rights are in
order to have or receive them. 4) Low
self-esteem: if we do not believe we
deserve better treatment how can we
expect anyone else to? When we love
and appreciate ourselves, we give and
receive respectful treatment. 5) Shame:
if it is okay to be who we are, our limits
will be okay too.
Remember, “The harder it is to
set a boundary, the more important
the boundary is”!! (pg. 36, The New
Codependency, by Melody Beattie)
Giselle Belanger
RN, LCSW (psychotherapist) is available
for appointments in person, by phone,
or by skype webcam. Contact info:
ggbelangerpv@gmail.com Mex cell: 044
(322) 138-9552 or US cell: (312) 914-5203.
26
Legal Matters
ISSUE
335
Ask Luis
By
Luis Melgoza
Dear Readers: If any of you is
aware of any organization willing
to adopt circus animals, please let
me know. Please read on to find
out why it is critical to find this
information.
This column is dedicated to the
thousands of circus animals whose
lives are now endangered, and to
their trainers and keepers, whose
livelihoods are also endangered,
thanks to the relentless pressure from
self-styled animal rights activists
that successfully forced Mexico to
join the nine other countries that ban
circus animals.
I also dedicate this column to the
true animal rights activists and the
other really caring human beings
who opposed this idiotic piece of
legislation that does not include any
means to care for the now banned
animals.
Those self-styled animal rights
activists did not stop, not even for
an instant, to develop and fund a
strategy to care for the animals that
will be banned once the Law comes
into effect next July.
So, to the winners, I ask: how do
you plan to take care of all these
animals? What portion of your day,
every day, have you allocated to
care for them? How much of your
personal worth are you donating to
feed and shelter these thousands of
animals, to pay for their medical
care, or, to simply have them
shipped to Zambia (which has
offered to receive any and all circus
animals shipped there)?
I won’t ask how those winners plan
to retrain and employ the hundreds
of trainers and animal keepers that
will face unemployment come July,
or how do they suggest the newly
unemployed feed their families,
because I know those winners
don’t really care for humans, or for
animals, for that matter.
As is the case with most greeners,
these befuddled “protectors” of
animals were only concerned with
having legislation passed, not with
the consequences of that legislation.
The animals they allegedly were
trying to protect are the primary
victims
of
their
misguided
intentions. Most of them will be
killed by their owners to keep
them from a slow, painful death by
starvation; the victims’ blood is on
their hands.
Most of the 592 Mexican circuses
are -or were- small businesses, many
have already shut their doors for
good in the states that passed similar
laws before the federal law. The
zoos do not have space or resources
to adopt these animals, their trainers
and keepers have been doing all
sorts of menial jobs and begging
on the streets of whatever town the
circus was stranded in, in an heroic
effort to provide nourishment and
care for their animals.
Mexico’s Green Party solution is
to now force the allocation of public
monies to ensure the welfare of the
“retired” animals.
I have news for them, with the
record low oil prices, Mexico has
enough trouble funding public
programs to ensure minimum living
conditions for her human inhabitants,
the government is not a never-ending
source of wealth and, at least in
Mexico, humans come first.
There is even a petition going
around to pressure the Mexican
government into caring for their
victims. It is my sincere hope that
absolutely no forward thinking
individual signs that insane petition.
Mexico’s Green Party also
proposed that, if the government
can’t or won’t allocate funds for
this purpose, donations should be
sought. From whom, pray tell? Not
from a population with a minimum
daily wage of just over $70 pesos,
or do they propose that people here
stop feeding their families in order
to care for their victims? I ask
again, how much of their personal
wealth are the victimizers allocating
for this purpose?
It is past time that people take
personal responsibility for the
unintended (I hope they were
unintended) consequences their
actions have caused. I’m all for
freedom of expression, but words are
just words if you don’t put your heart
and money where your mouth is.
What have these animal rights
activists done for circus animals
lately, other than sentencing most of
them to death?
The average cost of feeding one
circus animal is about $100. USD a
day. How is an unemployed trainer
or keeper going to raise that amount
every day? Even if the trainer or
keeper foregoes eating, there is no
way under the sun.
Oh, and about shipping all these
animals to Zambia... It is a proven
fact that animals who live together,
even if from different species, form
a bond amongst themselves and
when separated, many simply die
of sadness. Even those that make it
would have to be retrained to fend
for themselves in the wild.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Besides, shipping them to
Zambia is an extremely expensive
proposition, just consider the cost of
moving Keiko -of Free Willy famefrom Mexico City to Newport, OR,
where a $7M USD facility was
built to care for the orca, and the
unsuccessful attempt to return it to
the wild in Iceland, that led to its
death in Norway.
All in all, several million dollars to
move a single animal. What would
the cost be to move the thousands of
circus animals a radical minority’s
lack of vision victimized?
I wish folks thought things
through, particularly if they want to
be vocal about any cause.
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.
I do not take legal cases, I am retired
from the practice of Law.
Luis Melgoza
Is a former PRI (Mexico’s ruling party)
Head Counsel and Legal Adviser to the
Mexican Congress. Although retired
from the legal profession, he is a highly
respected consultant for both the foreign
and Mexican communities in Puerto
Vallarta. Luis’ PVGeeks is the premiere
wireless high-speed Internet provider in
Puerto Vallarta. For Internet service, you
can reach Luis at lumel@pvgeeks.com
ISSUE
335
VIEWPOINT
By
Harriet Murray
Real estate in Mexico
Sellers and Coyotes
We make choices every day.
They need to be informed ones.
President Kennedy said: “We choose to stay with the comfort of
opinion rather than the discomfort of thought.”
A recent discussion with a seller made me realize she needed to
become aware of misunderstandings which could happen by her
not understanding Mexican immigration and tax requirements.
In this local real estate market, nationals and foreigners should be
registered to do business and pay taxes to Hacienda (the Mexican
IRS). However, there are people who choose not to be registered
and illegally earn income they do not report.
Real Estate
27
You want the real estate agent who lists your property to be legal
and professional. You need to know if he/she has the knowledge
and experience to assist you. The only way you will know is to ask
questions and do your own investigation.
Selling real estate is a job which all nationals can do, regardless
whether they have any expertise in the area or not. A foreigner
should have written permission from Immigration to sell real estate
here. His visa should verify that he is legally able to work in this
business activity.
If a national or foreigner is not registered with a Mexican ID or
immigration visa, there is a good chance he/she is not registered in
the tax system. If their income is not reported here, you as a seller
cannot use the expense of a commission as a deduction against
your capital gains tax. These unregistered aliens (foreigners) and
nationals may be called “coyotes”.
When an agent from the US or Canada sends us a referral, we explain
that we can pay a certain percentage and must withhold tax. (It is rare
-but possible- that a referring real estate agent outside of Mexico is
able to give a Mexican tax receipt.) The professional referring agent
usually understands and accepts a deduction for tax before receiving
his net amount. These professional agents are aware of real estate rules
and ethics. We are very appreciative of their referrals and professional
understanding of the cost of doing business.
A coyote may be your neighbor who lives here part time or is
retired. He may expect a commission if he sends a buyer to you
or your agent. Why should the person who can’t get a referral fee
in the US or Canada because he is not a real estate agent there,
charge a fee in Mexico and pocket it without paying any tax? He is
working illegally and can be deported. Ultimately, it is your choice
whether to work with this type of person.
This article is based upon legal opinions, current practices and
my personal experiences in the Puerto Vallarta-Bahia de Banderas
areas. I recommend that each potential buyer or seller of Mexican
real estate conduct his own due diligence and review.
Harriet Murray
Can be contacted at: harriet@casasandvillas.com
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
28
Calendar / Directories
ISSUE
335
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
ISSUE
335
International Friendship
Club (IFC)
ACTIVITIES CALENDAR
MONDAY
Bridge Lessons - 9 a.m. free to
members. Guests $50 pesos.
Spanish Lessons Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2,
Advanced, Tourist Spanish.
Go to IFCvallarta.com
activities calendar for class
times & details.
Hollywood Classics Film Series
at 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
Spanish Lessons Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2,
Advanced, Tourist Spanish.
Go to IFCvallarta.com
activities calendar for class
times & details.
Airline Directory
AEROTRON
226-8440
AIR CANADA 01 800 719-2827
AIR TRANSAT 01 800 900-1431
ALASKA
01 800 252-7522
AMERICAN
01 800 904-6000
CONTINENTAL
See United
DELTA 01 800 266-0046
FRONTIER
01 800 432-1359
INTERJET
01 800 011-2345
SUN COUNTRY 01 800 924-6184
UNITED
01 800 864-8331
US AIRWAYS 01 800 428-4322
AEROMEXICO 01 800 021-4000
THURSDAY
Spanish Lessons Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2,
Advanced, Tourist Spanish.
Go to IFCvallarta.com
activities calendar for class
times & details.
FRIDAY
Social Bridge - 2 to 5 p.m.
Free for members.
Guests $50 pesos.
Social Hour - 5 to 6 p.m.
SATURDAY
Gentle Yoga with Adrianna
Bedolla - 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
No prior training necessary.
Chairs provided or bring a mat.
Voluntary donation of
$50 pesos minimum requested.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Calendar / Directories
29
30
Hi-Tech
ISSUE
335
Tech News Round-up…
B
efore I start this week, I’ve
had some readers ask why I include
Apple in so many articles about new
products. Some people even think I
am a die hard Apple “fan” and have
my house full of Apple computers
and devices.
There is no shrine to Steve Jobs in
my living room, nor do I even own
an Apple computer. While the Apple
computer line-ups are beautifully
designed, I’m a techie and what’s
inside matters more to me. To pay
almost double for a “nice design” but
equal insides, makes no sense to me
or my wallet.
As an example, the MacBook
Pro (without Retina display) has an
Intel i5 dual core processor, 4GB
RAM and a 500 GB hard drive for
$1099. US + tax, so around $1200.
US. Comparable laptops with the
same processor, 4 GB RAM (or even
more) and similar hard drive size
from an HP, Asus or Toshiba run you
$600-$700. US, including tax.
Now as full disclosure, I do have an
iPhone and iPod Touch. I’ve bought
probably every second generation of
iPhone since the first one came out
in 2007 - same with iPod Touch. If
you take good care of your mobile
devices (using a screen protector and
a good case from day one of buying
it), the resale value holds well and
allows you to upgrade periodically
without major wallet shock.
Now that I’ve dispelled any
thoughts you may have had that I
live, eat and breathe Apple, back to
the original question of why Apple
gets so much space for upcoming
products in my columns.
The
answer is simple - no other company
is innovating and developing like
Apple right now.
In fiscal 2014, Apple spent an
incredible $6 Billion dollars on
research and development - an
increase of 35% over fiscal 2013.
With a VERY healthy bank account
of over $180 Billion US in cash,
Apple can only win by heavily
investing in new technology and go
into innovating.
To put that cash reserve into
perspective, Apple “could” buy
Disney outright (current market
value $160 Billion US), Amazon
(current market value of $147 Billion
US) or even IBM (current market
value of $152 Billion US).
While in reality a company like
Microsoft may actually spend more
on research and development ($10.4
Billion US in 2014) than Apple, a lot
of that money goes to software and
internet technology as opposed to
hardware.
Microsoft has not had a “winner”
in the hardware category since the
Kinect motion detector for the Xbox
gaming system back in 2010. Any
money Microsoft throws at hardware
development the past years - mainly
Windows phones and the Surface
tablet, have been dismal failures.
In the hardware category, Microsoft
keeps chasing (and badly) rather
than innovating. But the fact that
companies are spending record
amounts of money on research and
development is a great sign of things
to come. When any company invests
money into this area, they are thinking
about the future and taking chances
on new ideas and technologies. We
win in the end…
Dateline Bern Switzerland: Tag
Heuer (mid to high end watch maker)
announced this past week that they
have partnered with Google and Intel
to come out with their own line of
smart watches.
The fact that Tag Heuer is deciding
to come out with their own line
of “luxury” Android watches is
interesting. Rather than making a
smart watch line that would partner
with Apple’s upcoming smart
watches, Tag is preferring to go with
Google since Google is not producing
a watch of their own (yet).
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
This new triple alliance is also
proof that Tag is still stinging from
Apple poaching of Tags Heuer’s sales
and retail Vice-President last summer.
Technical details of this new smart
watch are being kept very close to the
vest until launch later in 2015.
What is known is that these “luxury
watches” (I hear $$$) will have an
Intel processor and Android based
operating system. One “claim” made
is that the Tag smart watch line will
have 30-day battery! I have very
grave doubts about this early claim.
Often at product announcements,
claims are made that just can’t be
fully achieved by time of launch.
If it were technically possible to
make such a long lasting rechargeable
battery for a smart watch, I’m sure
Apple would have something better
than 18 hours “with normal use” for
their upcoming watches. We’ll see
how this battle shakes out after the
Apple watches come out next month
and Tag’s later in the year.
That’s all my time for now. See
you again next week... until then,
remember: only safe Internet!
Ronnie Bravo
Ron can be found at CANMEX Computers.
Sales, Repairs, Data Recovery,
Networking, Wi-Fi, Hardware upgrades,
Graphic Design, House-calls available.
www.RonnieBravo.com,
Cellular 044-322-157-0688 or just
email to Canmex@Gmail.com
ISSUE
335
Kiddie Kamikazes
on the Malecon
By
The
Gil Gevins
season is winding down,
which means it’s time for the annual
Letter to the Editor of the Year Award.
This award is bestowed upon the
letter deemed by my editorial board
(me and the cat) to be outstandingly
inappropriate, in poor taste, or
hopelessly misguided.
Letter to the editor writers
generally fall into two categories:
Whiners and Praisers. The Whiners
are further subdivided into: a) People
who (though they may like the good
weather and the great prices) dislike
everything else about Mexico which
is not exactly like the USA or Canada;
and, b) People who complain about
other people complaining.
The Praisers, though politically
more correct, often go overboard
with their effusive unconditional
applause for all things Mexican,
utilizing words like “Paradise” and
“Shangri-la”, when in actual fact
the only locations on this planet
one could accurately refer to as
“Paradise” are those which are not
currently inhabited by human beings.
This year’s winner is a Whiner, so
we will leave the Praisers in their
rose-colored world, where the forty
per cent of Mexicans living in dire
poverty are all as happy as clams. At
a clam bake.
When I read this year’s winning letter,
I almost had a heart attack. According
to the letter, a place where I’ve been
taking daily walks for thirty years is
so dangerous it makes the frontline in
the war against terror a walk-in-thepark by comparison. I am, of course,
referring to the Suicide Skateboarders
targeting civilian tourists on Vallarta’s
world class malecon.
Tragically,
all
of
these
skateboarders are children. What
is the world coming to, I ask, when
the authorities turn a blind eye
while these children skateboard
(and sometimes even bicycle) on
the Malecon? Recently, an old man
was “almost knocked down” by one
of these terrorist tykes. The elderly
gentleman, a retired ventriloquist
from Vermont, was so upset he made
it sound as if a burro parked across
the street was screaming!
I had a choice to make. Either
go to Syria, or go to the malecon to
investigate the Kamikaze Kiddies.
I opted for the Kiddies, believing
it would give me a better shot at the
Pulitzer. The Pulitzer Committee
gives substantial weight to the
amount of danger entailed in making
up -I mean- investigating a story.
Fully expecting to be maimed at the
very least, before imbedding myself
in the malecon I memorized my blood
type and made sure that my Medicare
Plan B payments were all up-to-date.
Then I went on E-Bay, where I acquired
a full complement of protective gear,
including: a defective football helmet
belonging to Ted Cruz; a badly worn
pair of knee pads, previously part of
Madonna’s volleyball uniform; and
Wilt Chamberlain’s athletic protector
(a little on the snug side, but still
effective).
Thus protected, I made my
approach to the malecon from the
north, dodging in and out of shadows,
utilizing taco stands and parked
cars for cover. All of this caution
was nearly for naught, however,
as a homicidal bicyclist almost
decapitated me as I serpentined
evasively down the sidewalk.
I was especially shocked because
the ten year-old two-wheeled tot
almost hit me as I was standing
inside the “Safe Pedestrian Zone”,
denoted by a pair of parallel white
lines painted on the sidewalk, along
with a strange symbol which looked
like a bunch of broken pencils riding
a broken saw horse. This hieroglyph,
repeated every fifty meters, was, I
concluded, the Mexican symbol for
“Safe-Walking”. Finally, I made it to the malecon.
Almost at once, a trio of skateboarders
shouting, “Praise Juarez!” came
blitzkrieging out of nowhere. They
were in the deadly spread-iguana
formation, taking up the entire “Safe
Pedestrian Zone”. I had nowhere to
go. Closing my eyes, I braced for the
impact, trusting the cracked Ted Cruz
helmet to protect my entire brain,
and not just the right hemisphere.
The truth is, I don’t utilize the right
side of my brain a great deal, unless
I’m killing roaches, or handing out
loaded guns to trick-or-treaters.
After thirty seconds passed, I
carefully opened my eyes. Somehow,
all three skateboarders had managed
to come to a screeching halt only
inches from my toes.
“Hey, señor,” one of them said,
“that is a really cool helmet. Where
did you get it?”
“From a Cuban who hates
Mexicans,” I said. “Listen, you
kids almost gave me a toe-ectomy.
Why don’t you stay out of the ‘Safe
Pedestrian Zone’ and play in the
street where you belong?”
“This is a bicycle path,” the
extremist sports-child informed me.
“Also a skateboard path. It’s kind
of scary, though, because stupid
pedestrians are always walking in it.”
“Oh.”
It took me two hours, but I finally
managed to get the Director of
Tourism on the telephone.
“What were you thinking?” I
shouted into the receiver.
“Who is this?” Sr. Mendoza said.
“An outraged foreigner!” I replied.
“Do have any idea what kind of havoc
you have created on the malecon?
Didn’t you realize, when you
installed that bike path, that children
would begin riding on it? Can’t you
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Gil Gevins’ Page
31
see you’ve put the entire future of
civilized tourism in jeopardy?”
“What? What are you talking
about?”
“I’m talking about almost being
run over. Twice. By roving bands
of mobile children. Tell me, Sr.
Mendoza, how many tourists have
been struck down by these midget
mayhem-makers?”
“None. Not one.”
“Okay, but how many near-misses
have there been? How many times
has a runaway skateboarder almost
hit someone on the malecon?”
“We don’t keep track of nearmisses,” Sr. Mendoza said.
“All right, Sr. Mendoza, then tell me
this. Can you see your grandmother
walking unaccompanied on the
malecon today?”
“Of course not.”
“And why is that?”
“She’s dead.”
“That’s no excuse. Your job is to
protect the foreign public from moving
children. Before it’s too late!”
“Did you actually sustain an
injury?” Sr. Mendoza asked.
“Not this time. Thanks to my Wilt
Chamberlain Athletic Protector. And
my Madonna knee pads, and…”
“Don’t hang up,” Sr. Mendoza said,
“I’m transferring you to the DHF.”
“What’s that?”
“The Department of Hallucinating
Foreigners. And, please, give my
regards to Madonna.”
Gil Gevins
Is the author of four hilarious books,
including the cult-classic, PUERTO
VALLARTA ON 49 BRAIN CELLS A DAY,
and his latest and greatest, SLIME AND
PUNISHMENT. Signed copies of all Gil’s
books are available at LUCY’S CUCU
CABAÑA, located at 295 Basilio Badillo;
or as E-Books on Amazon.
32
Fish Tales
ISSUE
335
Fishing improves with Rooster Fish
numbers increasing, not easy!
By
Stan Gabruk
(Owner of Master Baiter’s Sportfishing & Tackle)
F
or the last couple of weeks,
Mexico as a whole has had some
serious rain. ,Guadalajara, Mexico
City and Puerto Vallarta got a fair
share of it. This rain ultimately
results in water in the rivers, which
of course flow to the sea; in this case
we’re talking about Puerto Vallarta.
If you read my summer time online
articles, then you know dirty water
from inland will flood Banderas Bay
with coffee colored water. Naturally,
fish don’t like ¨breathing¨ this dirty
water going through their gills so
they leave the area or won’t take
baits they can’t see. With this dirty
water comes all sorts of ¨trash¨ from
dead horses, floating debris of all
kinds, I’ve even seen refrigerators
floating out there. If you’re on a
boat, then you’re looking for signs of
underwater obstructions like stumps,
tires, you name it! Other than putting
trash in the bay, these rains also bring
nutrients to the ocean that fish love to
feed on, we call this a ¨Trash Line¨.
So rain can be a double-edged sword,
a plus and a minus, it just depends on
which side of the ¨trash¨ you’re on.
As a result of this dirty water
pouring into the Bay of Banderas
we’re seeing the same situation as
we see with the summer rains: dirty
water. But things have changed
for the better now that there’s been
a week sin rain and we’re seeing
strange things happening in the bay.
Example: Sailfish are coming into
the bay and this is very unusual for
March, let alone August! What does
this all mean to the average fisherman
heading out for half day fishing? It
means you have hungry fish looking
for your bait, clean or dirty water,
you have Jack Crevalle to 50 pounds
- which is huge, Snapper to 35 lbs.,
Sailfish if you’re lucky enough to
actually find one in the bay, but it
happened, Skip Jack Tuna to 35 lbs.,
Sierra Mackerel to 25 lbs., Pompanos
15 to 40 lbs. and there have been
Dorado caught close in at the south
end of the bay as well, it just depends
on what you come across. There
are fields of churning water in the
form of bait balls with birds diving
into unimaginable amounts of bait in
the area. For now the dirty water is
filtering out where the south end of
the bay is, clear green or blue water.
Sailfish in a 4-hour trip blew my
mind, but anything is possible with
the correct conditions, amigo!
Last week, the only place with fish
was the area between Punta Mita and
the Marieta Islands. This week we
have even better conditions with the
Rooster Fish (25 – 50 lbs.) returning
to the area. If you’re in Punta Mita,
Rooster fish are just half a mile out,
and hungry. Not exactly abundant,
they’re picking up in numbers and
aggressiveness, so in a day or three it
should be much better. The Marieta
Islands are also churning in the
area with Skip Jack Tuna, sizeable
at 35 to 40 lbs, Sizeable Dorado
to 40 lbs. if you can find a buoy or
floating debris, Snapper to 35 lbs. or
smaller, Jack Crevalle to 50 lbs., as
mentioned earlier. Sailfish are in the
area as well, not exactly hungry for
your presentation, but still, they’re
fish, they’ll take a bait sooner or later.
Anywhere outside of the bay is blue,
blue water and full of bait.
Our world famous fishing grounds
of El Banco or Corbeteña are much
the same as last week. Yes we have
Sailfish, Blue and Striped Marlin
in the area of these two deep water
locations. But the deal is still the
same, turning a fickle fish’s head
when he’s got all the fast food he
needs in the form of Bait Balls
the size of a WalMart parking lot.
Because of this, you need to mimic
Flying fish bait with a lure of blue
and silver. This will get you a shot at
a billfish, they’re being boated daily.
Still less than a 40% shot, but with the
Wahoo that are still roaming the area,
you should hook-up on something
in the area. If targeting these trophy
sized gamefish, you should focus
your efforts on El Banco, Corbeteña
is full of Jack Crevalle with minimal
numbers of Billfish for the last few
days, but again, this could have
changed already! Contact me for a
more recent report if heading out.
The Tres Marias Islands, also
known as the prison islands, are up
and down with Yellowfin Tuna, some
days they’re scarce. Other days
they’re over 200 lbs. It all comes
down to time and money as you roll
the dice. I have intentionally stayed
away from this area for chartering
boats since it’s a fishery and basically
illegal to fish inside the 12-mile
boundary. It’s also a super long day,
figure at least 16 hours for this trip,
with no guarantees unless you’re
there for at least an overnight trip!
Recently the local authorities have
been enforcing the ¨buffer¨ zone as
somebody dubbed it. Anyone inside
the 12-mile limit are now being
chased down and brought back to
the island to face the local officials.
Those outside of the boundaries can
still catch Yellowfin Tuna in sizeable
ranges, but you’ll be doing it legally
because these captains don’t want
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
their boat confiscated. I am putting
together some boats to handle this
business so stay tuned, amigos...
Details: Water temps are still at the
75o range outside the bay, 72 in the
bay, which is normal for this time of
the year. What isn’t normal is Marlin
at El Banco or Corbeteña. The bite
right now is happening mid morning
after 8 a.m. And if you’re looking for
bait suggestions, mimic Flying fish
with blue and silver lures of length,
troll a little faster than normal with
these and you may hit something like
a Wahoo or Marlin, you never know.
Petroleros are working nicely also
so there you are, folks. The weather
can’t be beat right now, the fishing
is great and in a few months, we’ll
be talking humidity, heat and bigger
fish, so hang in there, amigos, and
thanks for reading!
Until next time, don’t forget to kiss
your fish and remember: at Master
Baiter’s Sportfishing & Tackle
“We Won’t Jerk You Around!”
Master Baiter’s has changed
locations in Marina Vallarta,
now between docks A and B
on the boardwalk. Email your
questions to me at: CatchFish@
MasterBaiters.com.mx Web page:
www.MasterBaiters.com.mx , local
Phone at: (044) 322 779-7571 or if
roaming: 011 521 322 779-7571 cell
phone direct. Facebook: http://www.
facebook.com/pages/Master-BaitersSportfishing-Tackle/88817121325
The trade name Master Baiter’s ®
Sportfishing and Tackle is protected
under trade mark law and is the sole
property of Stan Gabruk.
ISSUE
335
Dragon’s teeth
By
S
Dr. Fabio Cupul
peech as such is proper to the
human species. Linguists believe that
the “mother tongue” that gave birth
to all the languages in Europe and the
Middle East was spoken some 6,000
years ago north of the Black Sea and
the Caspian Sea, which is why the
called it protoindioeuropean.
Alfonso Silva Lee, the Cuban
scientist, stated that language did not
develop to speak, as it is an extremely
complex activity, depending on both
the throat and the brain, but rather
that it was a casual benefit of walking
upright on our two legs (bipedalism).
On one hand, this freed the hands
to point to things – pointing and
speaking have much in common –
which made him think that the first
human language was gestures and
facial expressions while the voice
was only used for emphasis.
On the other hand, Silva Lee
explains that bipedalism allowed the
spine to connect from the bottom to
the brain thus reducing the space for
the larynx and “forcing” it to descend
to where it is in modern humans (in
children, it is higher for the first two
years). Due to this descent, a welldeveloped cavity was produced above
the vocal chords, thanks to which the
sounds emitted by the larynx can be
modified and become audible.
Thus speech allows us to articulate
words. In fact, it was speculated for
a long time that the first spoken word
was mama. However, the interjection
“puah!” used to denote disgust, is a
strong candidate to that claim as it
implies that something (food, animal,
clothes or even one’s body) should be
rejected in order not to contaminate
or poison one’s self.
Recent studies aimed at discovering
the most beautiful word in the world
cite “amor” in Spanish, “love” in
English or “cliché” in French.
It may be that we
are captivated by a
particular word because
of its phonetics (the
perception of its sound),
its etymology (origin),
morphology (how the
word is constructed) or
semantics (its meaning)
– among others. To a
great extent, these are the
qualities that give a word
or group of words the
power to destroy curses,
attract the grace of the
gods or terrify enemies,
i.e.: words cause emotions in people.
For example, “abracadabra” appears
to be a deformed Hebrew word (abreg
ad hâbra) that means “send your
lightning to death”. However, for
one social group, “abracadabra” is a
word, a symbol, used to cause a sense
of mystery or magic that guarantees
the manifestation of a supernatural
force; in other words, the word will
achieve its effect when it terrifies
the listener’s rational capacity. But,
for this to work, the listener must
understand its meaning.
The use of the proper word can be a
tactical advantage in armed conflicts
as it can generate respect simply by
hearing it, or even freeze the advance
of the enemy with the fear it transmits.
That is what the German army
thought when it built the West Wall,
called the Siegfried Line by the Allies.
It played a crucial role between 1944
and 1945 in northwest Europe during
World War II.
Along a little more than the
fortification’s 480 Km, the Germans
placed pyramid-shaped concrete
structures aimed at impeding the
advance of the Allies’ tanks and troops
into their territory. They installed
up to six rows of those structures,
wide at the bottom and narrow at the
top, looking very much like sharp
teeth. Their presence were surely
demoralizing to the invading forces
who called them “dragon’s teeth”
as our memory is full of magical
references to those monstrous beings
that besieged the fervent imagination
of various cultures around the world
throughout centuries.
The “dragon’s teeth” of the
Siegfried Line immediately bring to
mind the Greek myth of the “dragon’s
teeth” with which the violent nature
Solution to crossword on page 35
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
Nature’s World
33
that lies in the human soul can be
explained, according to Captain
Federico Fernández-Montesinos.
It is told that Jason, following
orders given by King Eëtion of
Cilician Thebes, shot an arrow into a
field, sowing the teeth of
a dragon, which had been
given to him. Those teeth
quickly grew into an army
of armed men. However,
following the advice of
the witch Medea, Eëtion’s
daughter, Jason covered
himself with a magic
ointment that made him
invisible;
furthermore,
in order to awaken the
violent nature of the army
born of the teeth, he threw
a stone among them so
they would destroy each
other.
Dr. Fabio Germán Cupul-Magaña
Coastal University Center (CUC) of
the University of Guadalajara
Email: fabio_cupul@yahoo.com.mx
Solution to Sudoku on page 35
34
Nature’s World
ISSUE
335
Planting Roots
in Mexico
By
Tommy Clarkson
Syagrus Palm
Cultivars
Family: Arecaceae
Also known as: (Unknown)
(The following is the result of
extensive research in endeavoring
to identify a small, slow growing,
pinnate, non-self-cleaning, petiole
armed palm specimen I acquired
several years ago but whose specific
name I have never been able to
establish. I believe it to be, however,
a member of the Syagrus family.
Increasingly, I have come to suspect
that it is a cultivar.)
According to Robert Lee Riffle –
in his magnificent 2003 tome, “An
Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms”
– one of the most knowledgeable
palm authorities to have existed,
there is only species in this genus to
have armed (spines/hooks) petioles
(the stem between the trunk and the
beginning of the leaflets or frond leaf)
as does mine.
But, with hybridization, that may
have changed! In the International
Palm Society’s 2011 quarterly
publication PALMS, 55(3), Donald R.
Hodel of the University of California
wrote of new additions to the family.
In this article, entitled “Hybrids in the
genus Sygrus”, he states, “Several
natural hybrids occur in Syagrus.
(At least five natural interspecific
hybrids occur . . . where the ranges of
species overlap . . . and at least two
intrageneric hybrids - one artificial
and the other natural but occurring
spontaneously in cultivation.) (This
being) a large, diverse and wideranging genus of pinnate-leaved,
cocosoid palms . . . This relative
ease of hybridization, along with the
highly ornamental nature and cold
tolerance of some of its species from
southern Brazil, has attracted several
collectors and growers who, through
hybridization, wish to expand the
landscape potential of this useful
genus. Because at least one of these
artificial hybrids has entered the
trade and is being widely promoted, I
name and describe it here.”
For those smarter than me –
and your numbers are legion –
read his entire article at: www.
palms.org/palmsjournal/2011/
vol55n3p141-154.pdf
But, for those botanically-inclined
like me – a bit on the simple, slow
and more elementary side, I fear, after
reading such as that – let’s talk about
this family which originated in South
America and the Caribbean.
Firstly, it’s a genus of anywhere
from 30 to 42 (originally known)
solitary trunked and clustering
species of palms with a few having
but subterranean stems (no trunks)…
like the elephant that stuck his
nose where it shouldn’t have been!
Members of this family range from
small to rather large and robust. None
of these species have a crownshaft.
Interestingly, it is closely related
to the coconut palm. As one might
suspect, numerous of the palms in this
family also have edible seeds.
While some of these species like the
rainforest, most prefer – as noted by
David L. Jones in “Palms Throughout
the World”- “the dry, open habitats
such as savanna and semi-arid
scrublands”. He goes on to note,
“The genus has suffered severely from
habitat destruction with at least three
species becoming extinct (S. leptospath,
S. lilliputaiana and S. macrocrpa) and
others reduced to rarity.”
While one of my favorites – the
Arikury Palm (Syagrus schizophylla)
All members of the Syagrus
genus have pinnate fronds.
Within a couple of days of the
full inflorescence emerging!
Yep, its petioles are armed
and ready to getcha!
is in this family – so is one of my least
favorites, the Queen Palm (Syagrus
romanzoffina). “So why, Mr. Palm
Guy, don’t you like the Queen Palm?”
I’m glad you ask! To my eye, their
fronds are too scarce and scant of
leaflets giving the crown a meager
bare look; they are unsightly with its
dead, dried and ragged fronds and
stubs; not a self-cleaner, every dead
frond must be carefully cut off; often
suffering from potassium deficiency,
it gets “frizzle leaf” with ends of
the oldest leaves become necrotic
and frizzled (curled); and they are,
generally speaking, simply a messy
palm demanding much more care and
attention then they are worth. Suffice
it to say of the over ninety varieties to
be found in Ola Brisa Gardens, there
are no Queen Palms!
The Arikury Palm, however, is an
altogether different and much more
loveable palm in this family. To read
a piece on this attractive character,
please go to http://olabrisagardens.
com/palms/arikury-palm/
Should you acquire a palm that
looks like these pictures, here are my
recommendations regarding its care
and upkeep: Ensure it is planted in
fertile, well-draining soil in full sun.
Should you wish, mulch around it with
coconut fiber to retard weed growth,
and keep the soil damp – not, mind
you, drenched or soaked. But, in that
regard, water it deeply twice a week.
Mine appreciates quarterly fertilizer of
12/4/12 (I sometimes use 16/16/16.)
And, regularly, tell it just how much
that you appreciate and like it!
(To order books cited in this piece, or
numerous others – under the “Advice”
tab at the top of the home page of the
Ola Brisa Gardens home page (www.
olabrisagardens.com), go to “A
Review of Plant, Palm and Tropical
Flower Books”, find the one you wish,
click on it and you will automatically be
tied directly to Amazon Books.)
Tommy Clarkson
It’s closely related to the Coconut Palm.
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
In Manzanillo, visit Ola Brisa Gardens,
Tommy and Patty’s, olabrisa@gmail.com
please visit www.olabrisagardens.com
ISSUE
335
Brain Teasers
The New York Times Tuesday Crossword Puzzle
by M. Francis Vuolo / Will Shortz ©New York Times
Solution to Crossword
on Page 33
SUDOKU!
Sudoku is a logic-based placement puzzle.
The aim of the puzzle is to enter a numerical digit from 1 through 9 in each row,
column and group of squares enclosed by the bold lines (also called a box). Each
box must contain each number only once, starting with various digits given in some
cells (the “givens”). Each row, column, and region must contain only one instance of
each numeral. Completing the puzzle requires patience.
It is recommended as therapy because some studies have suggested they might
improve memory, attention and problem solving while staving off mental decline
and perhaps reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Solution to Sudoku on Page 33
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015
35
ISSUE
335
Saturday March 28 to Friday April 3
2015