366 - pvmcitypaper

Transcription

366 - pvmcitypaper

366
www.pvmcitypaper.com
Issue 366
Saturday 7 to Friday 13
November - 2015
November - 2015
2 366
Need to Know
manners to present the check before it is
requested, so when you’re ready to leave,
ask «La cuenta, por favor» and your bill
will be delivered to you.
MONEY EXCHANGE: Although
you may have to wait in line for a few
minutes, remember that the banks will
give you a higher rate of exchange than
the exchange booths (caja de cambio).
Better yet, if you have a «bank card»,
withdraw funds from your account back
home. Try to avoid exchanging money at
your hotel. Traditionally, those offer the
worst rates.
I
f you’ve been meaning to find a little information on the region,
but never quite got around to it, we hope that the following will help.
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
November - 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.
Sound Off
366
3
Your Comments
avineberg@yahoo.com
Dear Editor,
Now that we have closed down the
Patricia Relief account after raising over
$44,000. USD, we are focusing on ordering
and delivering rebuilding supplies by the
truckload. Retail won’t cut it as everyone
has been so generous.
I am treating this like my own money
and we are keeping careful track of every
peso and distributing to people in need,
(…) the latest and more truckloads will be
on their way this week. We are ordering
supplies now to rebuild another 15 homes,
getting us close to our goal of 50. Anyone
who donated who wants to see the records,
no problem, we are proud to have them.
I am seriously recovering, myself,
from the awesome shock of the storm,
the immense sense of wanting to repay
Karma for missing Puerto Vallarta and to
help those who took the direct hit. And
happily shocked by the reawakening of
faith in real people who care so much to
actually do good. It’s an awesome sense of
responsibility to see that this is done well
and correctly, and I am so appreciative of
the trust everyone has shown in us - Julie
Guerrero, Danny Mininni and me to see it
through.
It would not have happened without
Stephy Finch and crew.
I am in awe of her tireless energy. Here
are some of her photos. And thanks to
Fernando Hernandez Garciabada who
is doing a great job of administering the
process, and our Casa Cupula maintenance
men all of whom have pitched in to help
the victims with sweat and muscle.
Don Pickens - feeling awesome
November - 2015
4 366
Within PV
Publisher / Editor:
Allyna Vineberg
Veterans and Remembrance Day Observed
November 11th 11 a.m. and Autumn Fest 2015
The Navy League of Vallarta and The American Legion Post 14 invite
Americans, Canadians and Mexican Citizens to pay tribute to those who
gave their lives so the world could live in peace.
Veterans Day is an official United States holiday which honors people who
have served in armed service also known as veterans. It is a federal holiday
that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as
Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of
the world and also mark the anniversary of the end of World War I.
Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day) is a
memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World
War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the
line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, is also recognized as special days
for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance
Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War
I on that date in 1918.
We will meet at Steve’s Sports Bar (Post 14 Hqd.) 10 am coffee, pastries
provided and breakfast available for purchase. We will leave 10:40, walk to
Lazaro Cardenas Park (Romantic Zone) for the service.
FEEL FREE TO JOINS US ON THE IMPORTANT DAY IN WORLD’S
HISTORY.
The American Legion and Navy League of Vallarta through Community
Relations continuously work with DIF and other charity organizations to
maintain/upgrade buildings and landscape.
avineberg@yahoo.com
Contributors:
Anna Reisman
Joe Harrington
Harriet Murray
Stan Gabruk
Krystal Frost
Giselle Belanger
Ronnie Bravo
Tommy Clarkson
Luis Melgoza
Gil Gevins
Catherine Beeghly
Office & Sales: 223-1128
Graphic Designer:
Leo Robby R.R.
Webmaster:
PVMCITYPAPER.COM
Online Team
Cover Photo:
“After Patricia” by David Hoffman
PV Mirror es una publicación semanal.
Certificados de licitud de título y
contenido en tramite. Prohibida la
reproducción total o parcial de su
contenido, imágenes y/o fotografías sin
previa autorización por escrito del editor.
An important notice
The PVMIRROR wants your views and
comments. Please send them by e-mail to:
Thursday November 12th 5:30 to 9 p.m.
continuous buffet $500 pesos donation. Bar not included.
Happy hour 5:30 to 7 p.m. 50% OFF - Proceeds distributed to: Navy
League of Vallarta & American Legion - Community Relations Projects.
Tickets can be purchased at the event or Steve’s Sports Bar, Carol’s Boutique
(both on Basillio Badillo) or any member Navy league or American Legion.
Serving Puerto Vallarta, La Cruz and
Guayabitos, the mission of American
Legion Post 14, Headquartered at Steve’s
Sports Bar on Basilio Badillo, is to support
All Veterans in the Banderas Bay area;
to maintain an updated website with
information to assist Veterans, to provide
sources for medical treatment in Vallarta,
and to contribute to the community
through various fund raising efforts.
Meetings are held every 1st Thursday and
3rd Tuesday. Visit AmericanLegion14.org
for more information and meeting locations.
The Puerto Vallarta Navy League is a nonprofit, civilian organization dedicated to
supporting the sea services of the United
States, Canada, México, and other friendly
countries. You need not be a veteran to belong.
We seek to provide a positive difference to the
citizens of Puerto Vallarta and surrounding
areas through activities such as our COMREL,
Community Relations, and Toys For Tots
programs. The organization’s objective is to
provide social assistance to needy children and
young Mexican people. This organization is nonprofit and has no political or religious affiliation.
November - 2015
avineberg@yahoo.com
250 words max, full name, street or e-mail
address and/or tel. number for verification
purposes only. If you do not want your name
published, we will respect your wishes.
Letters & articles become the property of
the PVMIRROR and may be edited and/or
condensed for publication.
The articles in this publication are provided
for the purpose of entertainment and
information only. The PV Mirror City
Paper does not accept any responsibility or
liability for the content of the articles on
this site or reliance by any person on the
site’s contents. Any reliance placed on such
information is therefore strictly at such
person’s own risk.
Note:
To Advertisers & Contributors and those
with public interest announcements,
the deadline for publication is:
2:00 pm on Monday of the
week prior to publication.
Within PV
366
5
Vallarta, fifth worldwide in
cruiseship passengers satisfaction
Democrats Abroad Costa Banderas November Event
Democratic Presidential Candidate Debate Social
Saturday, November 14, 2015
At Luna Azul 308 Lazaro Cardenas
(next to Los Muertos Brewing) 7:30 PM
Cesar of Luna Azul has been gracious in allowing us to host our
Debate Watch Social at his wonderful establishment. There will
reasonably priced appetizers and libations. Please join us as we
watch how adults and responsible candidates debate!!
Let’s listen to REAL issues being discussed civility!!
C
ruiseship passengers mailing on Carnaval Cruise Line qualified Puerto
Vallarta as the fifth best destination in the world with the best satisfaction
index, said the spokesman for the Jalisco Department of Tourism (Sectur),
Enrique Ramos Flores.
The American company stated that the annual ranking is based on the
evaluation and emotional comments of cruiseship passengers.
To achieve this distinction, various elements are taken into consideration:
service, attention and attitude given to the passengers by the staff of various
establishments upon their arrival in Vallarta. “It is thanks to its attributes
that Puerto Vallarta was ranked fifth in the world.”
This year, 400,000 national and international cruiseship passengers
arrived at the port of Jalisco, representing an increase of 39% in
comparison with the same period in 2014. Ramos Flores added that when
this qualification was made public, six other international cruise lines
showed interest in including Vallarta in their routes in 2016.
He pointed out that the public and private sector must increase their
tourist and cultural offerings within the city in order to continue being
awarded good international qualifications.
Among the cruise lines coming to Vallarta are Carnival Cruise Line,
Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. Another situation being
studied by Sectur Jalisco is the strengthening of the Mexican Pacific route
made up of Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.
(Source: Roberto Larios, Un1ón Jalisco)
November - 2015
6 366
Within PV
The season opens
By
John Warren
M
embers of the International
Friendship Club (IFC) are pleased
to announce that the new season
has already started and that we have
fun-filled times ahead. That’s good
news for all the people that we help
in Puerto Vallarta.
At the IFC, our members and
visitors not only meet old friends
when they return to the tropics
from the north, like so many
migratory songbirds, but they
also make new friends, learn new
skills (like Spanish and Bridge)
and raise a swack of cash that IFC
uses to make the lives of local, less
fortunate, people a little bit better.
“What’s on the program?” you ask.
Well, let me tell you.
1. Next Tuesday, the 10th of
November, we will be having our
first Brunch of the season. It’s
going to be held at the gorgeous
Casa Fantasía located at 203 Pino
Suarez, Col. Emiliano Zapata.
That’s in the “Romantica Zone.
The fun will start at 10 a.m. but
if you want a choice of seats I’d
arrive 15 or 20 minutes before that.
Last year’s brunch was filled to
capacity and we expect the same
high attendance this year.
The food is always excellent
(***** rating on Trip Advisor) and
the people you meet will, of course,
be worthy of the same rating.
Everyone is welcome. You don’t
have to be a member, so come, meet
some new people, learn about IFC
and start the winter with a tropical
party.
2. Our fabulous Home Tours
will start on Tuesday, November
17th and run on every Tuesday and
Wednesday until mid-March. On
each tour, our knowledgeable and
caring volunteers will take busloads
of visitors and residents on a guided
visit to four different houses. Each
of the houses is architecturally
unique, has wonderful interior decor
and is located in an interesting and,
sometimes, spectacularly beautiful
part of town. The buses leave from
the Sea Monkey Restaurant (299
Olas Altas) at 10:30 and return to
the downtown area at around 1 p.m.
The cost of $500. pesos ($30. USD)
is such a steal that it should not be
missed.
The profits from the Home Tours
are used to pay for our signature
cleft palate program. For almost
30 years, the IFC has worked with
a dedicated team of physicians,
nurses and volunteers to correct
cleft palates that seem to occur in
babies in this region of Mexico at a
rate far above the national average.
Our teams work with them from
the time the kids are infants,
through childhood to adolescence
and adulthood. They save lives
and bring happiness to dozens of
children each year and do so at no
cost to the patients or their families.
How cool is that?
3. November is still early in “the
season” but the IFC is offering
Spanish Classes three days a
week. The classes take place on
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
at the club. The Intermediate 1
class runs from 9:15 to 10:15, the
Intermediate 2 from 10:30 to 11:30
and the Advanced class from 11:45
to 12:45. The Tourist Spanish class
(an excellent choice for short term
vacationers and beginners) is from
1 to 2 p.m. Single class tickets are
$65 for IFC members or $80 for
non-members per class and there
are packages available for a group
of classes. Not only is this a great
way to learn Spanish with a group
November - 2015
of people who are just as bad as
you are, but it also serves as a way
to meet new friends. People who
conjugate irregular Spanish verbs
together tend to have something
more in common than just that!
4. Towards the end of the month,
Dan Grippo will lead a group
of deep breathers in Meditative
Meditation for an hour and a half
each Saturday morning from 9 to
10:30 a.m. These sessions start on
Saturday 21st and will run every
Saturday morning at that time until
the snowbirds return to the north in
April. This activity takes place at
the club. Everyone is welcome and
is asked to contribute $50 pesos
towards the charitable programs
offered by IFC.
If you would like to support
programs for the children of Puerto
Vallarta you can do so by donating
to the IFC (http://www.ifcvallarta.
com/class_custom1.cfm) or by
taking one of our Home Tours
(http://www.toursforvallarta.com)
The International Friendship
Club is a registered charitable
organization in Mexico listed as
Club Internacional de la Amistad
de Puerto Vallarta A.C. It is
located at the northeast corner
of the Insurgentes Rio Cuale
Bridge above the HSBC Bank, in
downtown Puerto Vallarta. Phone:
222-5466. Website: ifcvallarta.com
Email: ifcvallarta@gmail.com
Within PV
“Laugh and the world laughs with you,
snore and you sleep alone.”
― Anthony Burgess, author of Clockwork Orange
A
s much as many of us could relate to
the quote, getting a good night’s sleep is no
laughing matter. It is imperative to our health.
A good night’s sleep is more serious than many
realize, and snoring can be a sign of a much
deeper problem.
Do you wake up in the morning feeling just
as tired as when you went to sleep? Do you
snore, gasp, or choke at night? If so, you may
have sleep apnea - a condition that affects an
estimated 20 million Americans. Sleep apnea
has been linked to major health issues including
diabetes, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, heart
disease, high blood pressure, stroke and other
health problems.
PV Sleep Well, open since 2010, is located in
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco to service the Banderas
Bay area and Mexico. PV Sleep Well opened
to create an awareness of Apnea, educate the
public of its dangers, and assist the local Medical
community by offering diagnosis & treatment
of Apnea. In their continuous effort to meet the
needs of CPAP users in the Bay of Banderas
community , PV Sleep Well offers trial and
emergency CPAP rentals and sell supplies and
accessories specifically for CPAP users. The
trial rental program will give you time to see if
a CPAP is the answer to your problem of apnea
or snoring before you make the final decision
to purchase, while the emergency equipment
rental program was established for travelers that
may have forgotten a part or have problems with
their equipment, because your stay in Puerto
Vallarta should be pleasant and restful.
During the first year PV Sleep Well was open,
they discovered a lack of oxygen equipment
suppliers. Understanding the essentiality of
accommodating traveler’s healthcare needs,
PV Sleep Well began offering medical oxygen
concentrator rentals, along with FAA-approved
oxygen for emergency travel.
PV Sleep Well was started by Kevin & Rhnee
Mohan of San Antonio, Texas. Long-time
visitors to Puerto Vallarta, Kevin and Rhnee
went on holiday one summer to their beloved
vacation spot. At the start of their vacation, one
of PV’s tumultuous evening summer storms
disabled Kevin’s CPAP machine. (Note to self:
Use a surge protector!) Kevin, a 7-year CPAP
user, spent the rest of his vacation searching for
anyone who could repair his equipment or could
offer to rent him another CPAP. Nobody knew
what a CPAP machine was - let alone how to
repair one. The rest of his vacation was spent
tossing and turning. A good night’s sleep that
so many of us take for granted was well outside
of his reach without his CPAP. Vacation ruined.
With this experience, Kevin understood firsthand the need to provide CPAP users with rentals
and equipment to ensure a restful night’s sleep,
so he decided to open up a business offering
CPAP rentals, equipment and accessories to
ensure that residents and visitors to Puerto
Vallarta would not have to suffer any disruption
to their travels.
In 2014, Rhnee and Kevin partnered up with
Erik and Michelle Fulfer of Bahia Chiropractic
and American Chiropractic. Erik and Michelle,
along with their young daughter, Sofia, moved
to Puerto Vallarta more than 5 years ago from
Atlanta, Georgia. Erik, a US Board-Certified
chiropractor, began a chiropractic practice and
currently splits his time between an office in
the Mega in Flamingos / Bucerías and a mobile
practice in Puerto Vallarta. Their mutual interest
in wellness made this partnership an ideal one.
PV Sleep Well offers solutions to a better
night sleep and an optimal vacation. Please
contact them with your questions about CPAPs,
Sleep Apnea and Oxygen Concentrators. email:
info@pvsleepwell.com. Local PV phone: 322117-2255. www.pvsleepwell.com
November - 2015
366
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8 366
Beyond PV
Unhelpful bureaucracy, politics slow delivery of hurricane aid
Slow response,
rain challenge victims
R
esidents of Jalisco are still struggling to rebuild their lives after
Hurricane Patricia as government aid stalls and torrential rains lash
the Mexican coast in the wake of the storm.
The municipality of La Huerta, where a census was taken, serves
as an indicator of the plight faced by residents in the aftermath of
the Category-5 storm: 84% of its 247 buildings were damaged with
only a handful of homeowners succeeding in patching up their roofs
before torrential downpours hit over the weekend.
In the 10 days since Patricia struck Jalisco, efforts at reconstruction
have been slow, with government aid varying from one neighborhood
to the next and affected by unhelpful bureaucracy, uneven media
coverage and – according to some accounts – party politics.
“It depends a lot on the place,” said a worker for the charity Oxfam
when asked about the quality of government aid. “[The town of]
Chamela, for example, has received a lot of media coverage and a
lot of help has arrived.”
Speaking last week in the coastal municipality of Cihuatlán, state
Governor Aristóteles Sandoval – without knowing that the storm
Photo: Stephy Finch
that night had provoked a new emergency in the region – insisted
that aid had been delivered rapidly.
“This has not been the first catastrophe nor the first adversity that
you have confronted,” he told residents. “But also never before have
you seen a response with such speed.”
At first sight, Chamela, with just a few houses in need of repair,
would appear to justify such a confident claim. But upon closer
investigation it appears that much of the aid it received came as a
result of private bodies and individuals taking it upon themselves to
demand or provide it.
“After the hurricane on Saturday night the governor’s wife arrived
with a mobile kitchen to give us food,” said Alberto, one of the
residents. “And an organization called Cadeno Mano a Mano sent 15
workers to help us repair our homes.”
Fifty kilometers south of Chamela, some are a lot more cynical
about how helpful the government is being. In La Manzanilla, one
of La Huerta’s few public beaches, Galvina García and her family
are working round the clock to rebuild their restaurant overlooking
the sea so they can reopen for business when the high tourist season
starts in 15 days. The government has promised aid, but García has
little faith that it will materialize.
“Already they are playing politics with the food supplies, giving
them to whoever they want – those who voted for them,” she said.
“You can imagine the rest of it.”
(Source: mexiconewsdaily.com - El Universal)
November - 2015
Beyond PV
366 9
Mexico puts magic into the F1 Grand Prix
F
or the 135,000 auto racing fans
who welcomed the return of the
Mexico Grand Prix yesterday there
were two heroes: race winner Nico
Rosberg and Mexican driver Sergio
“Checo” Pérez.
But for the drivers, it might have
been the fans themselves who were
the big winners of the day.
As Reuters’ Alan Baldwin wrote,
Mexico provided the magic for
Formula One’s return after a 23year hiatus.
“An absolutely awesome crowd,”
said Mercedes team driver Rosberg
after winning his fourth race of the
2015 season and earning chants
of “Nico, Nico” during the trophy
presentations.
The fans also went wild for
Mexico’s Pérez when he was
“For my country the results didn’t
matter. What mattered was to see
me here. I’m really grateful.”
Those fans numbered 90,000 for
the practice on Friday, 111,000 for
the qualifying rounds on Saturday
and 134,850 for yesterday’s big
race, in which 20 drivers on 10
racing teams completed the 71 laps
in just under two hours.
Fans and drivers were full of
praise.
“The best I’ve ever seen in all my
life. The best,” said Niki Lauda,
a former driver and now part of
the Mercedes team. “The magic
is the Mexicans. The magic is the
organizers who made this happen
… Formula One got back where
you can feel it and touch it and this
is the most important thing.”
presented before the start of the
race, while the 40,000 seated in
the circuit’s stadium section did so
every time the Force India driver
went by.
The first Mexican driver to score
F1 points on home ground since
1970, who finished eighth, said it
was a weekend he will never forget.
Pérez, 25, said he had not expected
the level of fan support he received,
“at every moment” of the event.
The atmosphere and the energy
were unbelievable, he said.
“I’ve never seen a crowd like
this, it’s like a football game,”
said Mercedes driver and world
champion Lewis Hamilton, who
finished second. “The fans have
been amazing. I’ve never seen
anything like this.”
His comments were echoed by
a Mexican fan who has traveled
abroad for other races and found the
Mexico’s favorite race car driver,
Checo Pérez – Revista Central
atmosphere lacking. “In Europe,
people are stiffer. Here, people are
full of joy.”
One observer said the race
brought back memories of earlier,
November - 2015
more passionate Formula One
events. Others had memories of
earlier races in Mexico, such as the
time British driver Jackie Stewart
had to abandon the race after hitting
a dog.
Gabriel Cerda said the event was
better organized this year — he
attended the last race back in 1992
— but lamented that ticket prices,
which ranged between 1,500 and
19,000 pesos, were not more
accessible.
The race was run in a refurbished
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
in Mexico City, and was the first of
five that have been scheduled.
(Source: mexiconewsdaily.com,
Reuters.com, NDTV, La Razón)
10 366
The 7 Arts
The Palm Cabaret and Bar
aligns the stars for its 16th Anniversary Season!
Paco Ojeda
(Part 2 of 3)
The Palm Cabaret and Bar will open their
Amy Armstrong
16th anniversary season on November 19th with
Luis Lujan and Andrea Mottura of Bohemia Viva.
The special opening night show will also feature
highlights of the coming season with special
appearances from many of the stars of The Palm
stage.
Paco Ojeda: Musical Salutes
Known to many for his work as Managing
Editor for Vallarta Lifestyles Publishing Group,
Paco Ojeda pursued musical studies at the
Berklee College of Music and the New England
Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. Paco
joined our Palm family two seasons ago and has
been instrumental in forming bonds with local
musicians and educators, and showcasing his
own talents in his presentations. Whether they
be behind the piano or at the lectern, Paco’s
presentations have been extremely well received.
Paco will soon announce his musical salutes to a
few of your favorite Broadway Musicals, complete
with ‘light staging’ and selections performed by
your favorite Palm Cabaret and visiting artists.
Amy Armstrong
Celebrating her 11th season performing in
Mexico, Amy Armstrong is back starting in
December.
Her well-deserved popularity
continues to grow with her willingness to find
a new creative project or two for herself each
season. Affectionately known as the gal with ‘the
voice of an angel and the mouth of a sailor’, Amy
was cited by Vallarta Lifestyles Magazine as a
winner in their annual ‘Best of Vallarta’ 2015,
naming her ‘Best Reinvention Diva’. She has
performed all over the USA, Mexico and Canada
and on many RSVP cruises around the world.
Amy is best known for her brassy, bawdy, overthe-top comedy and powerful vocals. Amy’s wise
collaboration with Andrea and Luis of Bohemia
Viva, our resident Argentinean sweethearts, is
pure magic! Their popularity has skyrocketed
during the past two seasons of performances at
The Palm Cabaret in PV. Amy will also perform
her new one-woman show, “And Something for
Barbra
Shawn
Spencer
Miss Conception
Mama” which explores the life and music of Mama
Cass in February 2016.
Shawn Pelofsky, Stand-up Comedy
In mid-December, this sassy gal will blow you
away with her physical comedy and high energy.
Shawn will take you on a wild ride with her
outrageous impersonations and knowledge of pop
culture. Her ability to nickname and work a crowd
will have you in hysterics. Once you “Stretch it
Out” with Shawn Pelofsky, you will never stop.
Simply Barbra and Friends
An audience favorite since the debut two seasons
ago, Simply Barbra is actually Steven Brinberg doing
his famous Barbra Streisand LIVE impersonation and
again this year, he’s bringing her friends along for an
‘only in Vallarta’ version of the show with multiple
characters joining Barbra! Standing ovations were the
norm last season! Elegant, classy and funny, Simply
Barbra always leaves audiences wanting more.
Spencer Day
His third season at The Palm and this singerSaturday 7 to Friday 13
November - 2015
songwriter is proving he’s as much a fan of
Vallarta as we are of him! Audiences around the
world have enthusiastically supported Spencer
Day for over ten years at venues as diverse as
Birdland in New York, the Hollywood Bowl, Jazz
Alley in Seattle, the Pacific Rim Jazz Festival in
Manila, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC,
Tanglewood Music Center in Boston, and The
Craig Ferguson Show. Day has been a perennial
favorite in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York,
NY, and is widely regarded for his original songs
that blend compelling melodies, smart lyrics and
lush arrangements. Spencer performs shows
that infuse elements of cabaret, storytelling, and
comedy with his piano and vocals.
Miss Conception
The brainchild of Kevin Levesque, Miss
Conception is Canada’s hottest international drag
sensation and after debuting at The Palm in 2012,
is making a return on January 25, 2016. Often
referring to himself as a ‘female delusionist’,
his audiences marvel at his incredible costumes
and gasp at his lightning-speed changes as he
transforms to some of your favorite characters
from stage and screen with elegance, grace and
just the right amount of bawdy humor. His alllive singing show is usually sold out so early
reservations are in order!
The Palm Cabaret is well-known for bringing
top-notch, cutting-edge entertainment to Vallarta.
Inside you’ll find an intimate, completely
refurbished 90-seat cabaret style theatre with
outstanding sound and lighting, creating the
ambiance of cabarets from days gone by. Shows
are scheduled seven nights per week with two (and
sometimes three with their new 4 p.m. matinées)
different shows daily through mid April 2015. A
full calendar of performances is available online
at www.thepalmpv.com The Palm is non-smoking
(a patio is provided for smokers) and is located
at 508 Olas Altas. You can also find the Palm on
Facebook at The Palm Cabaret and Bar.
Editor’s Note: In the next issue, we will tell you
about the rest of the fabulous line-up of stars featured
at The Palm after January 2016. Watch this space!
The 7 Arts
November - 2015
366 11
12 366
The 7 Arts
The Act II Entertainment STAGES
Lorena Peril Married and Looking ...
opens to sell out standing room
only crowd Every Tuesday
& Friday at 7:30 The reviews are in and Vallarta
is in love with Lorena! The Latina
Las Vegas headliner Lorena Peril
has been entertaining audiences
on the Las Vegas Strip since her
arrival in 2005. She headlined as
the Lead Singer in Anita Mann’s
hit production “Fantasy” at the
Luxor Hotel and Casino. The
self-taught performer headlined
in Michael Chambers’ “Sin City
Bad Girls” at the Las Vegas Hilton
where she met her talented Lead
Male Vocalist and Guitar Player
Ray Jon Narbaitz III. Lorena also
performed as the Lead Principal
in “American Superstars” at the
Stratosphere Hotel and Casino,
and performed the role of Sandy
in the Las Vegas production of
¨GREASE”. Brittney Kingery Dream In Blue
opens to sold out house
Every Monday at 7:30 Joan Houston All That Jazz The Houston Family Musical
Dynasty returns to The Red
Room in All That Jazz. Only 2 more shows
Sun. Nov. 8 at 7:30
and Nov. 15 at 9:30 “5 stars Joan is the real deal.
Best cabaret show in Vallarta”. Joan Houston is a native of Seattle,
Washington, and has traveled to
all parts of the world performing
her music and in true family style
Brittany Kingery brings her
soaring voice and critically
acclaimed original songs to the
Act II Entertainment Red Room
Cabaret every Monday in the 201516 season. Brittany’s experiences
and life here in the Vallarta area
are the inspiration for many of her
tropically themed songs, which
have earned her a following all
over the continent among fans of
tropical rock and acoustic singersongwriter music.
Brittany Kingery, a native of the
US Pacific Northwest, is in her
third season as a performer in the
Puerto Vallarta area. After training
in musical theater and dance at the
American Musical and Dramatic
Academy in New York, Brittany
embarked on a career as a singer
and recording artist, releasing two
CDs of original tropically-inspired
music, Edge of the Ocean (2013)
and Dream in Blue (2014). She
is nominated for four 2015 Trop
Rock Music Awards, including
Female Vocalist of the Year,
Album of the Year for Dream in
Blue, and Song of the Year for
“Tequila Talking.”
captivates her audiences. She has
lived in Puerto Vallarta for nearly
4 years. Joan made her P.V. acting
debut as Jewel in The Boutique
Theater production of The Best
Little Whorehouse in Texas. She
has since appeared as Magenta
in The Rocky Horror Show and
to her surprise was cast in the
Olivia Newton-John role of Bitsy
in Sordid Lives. Both Act II
productions. All That Jazz is her
first ever Cabaret performance in
the Red Room Cabaret .
“All Shook Up!” World Premiere
Previews - Nov. 7 and 11 at 7:30 November - 2015
And starting Dec. 1st,
“The Happy Hour Show” Every Tuesday & Wednesday,
2x1 Drinks
Award winning performer Tony
St. Martin brings Elvis back to life
in the King’s own fantasy concert. Between singing, swinging, and
strutting to his greatest hits, the
resurrected rock star speaks on
subjects from Lisa-Marie and
Michael Jackson, to why his music
changed the world.
Tony St. Martin celebrates his
first year here in PV with a bust out
musical performance after years as
a legitimate stage actor. An awardwinning veteran of the New York,
San Francisco, and Los Angeles
Stage, and former artistic director
of North Beach Repertory, Tony is
making his third appearance in the
ACT II venues, having appeared in
Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,
and Equus. Tony won SF. Critic’s
Circle Awards for Best Actor for
Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love,
and Writer/Director for “BEAT”,
his original portrayal of the Beat
Poets. Film and TV credits include
Cotton Club, Blacktop Afternoon,
and Midnight Caller.
The 7 Arts
Respect - The Musical
Nov. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20,
21, 26, 27, 28 – Dec. 3, 4, 5,
10, 11, 12 at 7:00 p.m. In The Main Stage Opening Night Party
Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. Encore
Respect... A musical journey of
women. From “Someone to Watch
Over Me” to “I Will Survive”,
Respect tells the historical journey of
women, told through Top 40 songs. Featuring 3 of Vallarta’s “must see”
performers, Elizabeth WigginsEnsor, Joan Houston and Patrice
White, plus a special guest star from
the original touring company, Eileen
Matthews. Respect is destined to
366 13
become a Vallarta favorite. From
the co-dependency of “I Will Follow
Him” to the independence of “These
Boots Are Made for Walking” to the
strength and exuberance of “New
Attitude”, Respect, The Musical
is both a must see and a must
hear. Combining excerpts of 60
songs with personal stories, fashions
of the times and issues of the day,
Respect will take you on a musical
journey spanning 10 decades. Funny,
heartfelt, informative and poignant...
Respect will have you leaving the
theater with a head full of memories
and a song(s) in your heart.
The Act II Entertainment STAGES complex is located
on the second floor at 300 Insurgentes, corner of Basilio
Badillo, in the Romantic Zone on the south side
of town. Tel.: 222-1512. Tickets can be
purchased at www.vallartatickets.com Please go to www.actiientertainment.com
for show details. Box office open daily at 11 a.m.
And coming in November...
“Rocky Mountain High,
The Music of John Denver”
Staring Renee Armand and Paul –
Nov. 15 and 18 at 7:30, Nov. 16, 18, 22 at 9:30
Opening Night Party
Nov. 15th at 6:30 p.m. in The Red Room
“Sutton Lee Seymour The way off Broad!”
Mondays and Saturdays at 9:30,
Opening Night Party Nov. 21 in
The Red Room in Encore followed by show
“Elviz Martinez - Come Fly Away!”
With musical director Bob Bruneau
at the piano Saturdays at 7:30,
Nov. 14 to Dec. 5 in The Red Room
“Maggie Worsdel The Lady Is a Tramp”
3 Shows Only: Nov. 25 and 26 at 9:30, and
Nov. 27 at 7.30 in The Red Room
November - 2015
The Skivvies
Nov. 23, 25, Dec. 2 at 7:30 – Nov. 24, 26, Dec 3 at 9:30
6 shows only in The Red Room Nov. 23 Opening Night Party
6 p.m. in Encore
“Respect - The Musical”
Nov. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 Dec 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 at 7 p.m. In The Main Stage - Opening Night Party
Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. in Encore
“Forever Plaid,
Home For The Holidays”
Nov. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 –
Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22 at 7 p.m.
The Voice of Vallarta Season 3 Opening Nov. 22
The 7 Arts
14 366
By
Joe Harrington
Burnt
I
f you have ever watched the
television show called Gordon
Ramsay then you will have an inkling
about the contents of this movie.
Gordon makes a living travelling the
world with a camera crew. They go to
various restaurants that are
in trouble and Ramsay tells
them what’s wrong and
how to fix things. He does
this by screaming at the
top of his lungs, swearing
enough to make a linguist
blush, and treating people
like dirt. People pay him
to do this.
No one paid me to go
to this movie. I plunked
down money. This is what
I received in return. A
story about a chef played by Bradley
Cooper. There are all kinds of
restaurants available to suit almost
any possible demand made by the
most sophisticated of taste buds. This
story involves the kind of place where
everything – linen, silverware, plate
setting, floral arrangement, have to be
fit for royalty.
My background, before I state my
heartfelt opinion of this flick: I was the
working proprietor of an Irish pub in
the heart of San Francisco’s Financial
District for almost thirty years. Like
most pubs, I served solid, hearty
meals that no one would confuse
with the high-end stuff served at a
five-star French restaurant. I didn’t
have a lot of French customers, I did
have workingmen and professionals.
Lawyers sat on barstools next to
carpenters, bankers by iron workers.
Good food, reasonable prices and
friendly service are the hallmark of an
Irish pub.
Back to the movie. The protagonist
is an arrogant, opinionated, verbally
brutal yet brilliant chef. This seems
to be the way screenwriters like to
portray what goes on behind the scenes
in top eateries - people agonizing over
perfection. Bradley’s character doesn’t
want people to eat his food because
they are hungry; he wants them to
long for it with yearning taste buds,
salivating mouths, quivering lips. He
tries to accomplish this by screaming at
those who work under him, under the
misguided belief that abusing someone
will bring out their best.
Believe me, the working staff in
a busy restaurant better get along,
because to do what they do they need
to perform like a well-tuned machine.
Cooper acting like the French chef
in the animated flick Ratatouille
annoyed me. I became
even further annoyed
when – spoiler alert – he
(Cooper, not the adorable
cartoon rat) instructs his
staff on the clues to spot
the Michelin food critics
when they come to rate
the food.
When he thinks they
have arrived he bends
over to the Nth to create
exquisite culinary joy.
Bull.
Any honest restaurant, if it is worth
a damn, serves every customer the
exact same thing in the exact same
way. Or at least tries for that kind of
consistency.
Emma Thompon is in this film.
She is a sensational actress but you
wouldn’t know it as her screen time
is so brief as to be borderline nonexistent.
The cinematography is fantastic,
especially when concentrating on the
food being prepared – but food is
not only visual – is hits other senses
like smell and taste which can’t be
delivered in a movie. This means the
heart of this effort – a chef’s love of
food - cannot be paid off because the
chef is heartless. Cooper is hard, if
not impossible, to root for.
We learn early on that he is not only
a bully and a bombastic blowhard,
he is also vindictive, going so far as
to harm a fellow chef with whom he
became angry by letting rats loose in
the kitchen and then calling the Board
November - 2015
of Health. I’m supposed to root for
this jerk?
Rotten Tomatoes top critics didn’t
take too kindly to this film either – it
received a dismal 29%. If you have
to see one flick this week and the
movie Truth is playing, go see that.
Cate Blanchett is fantastic and so
is Robert Redford. It is based on a
true story involving the reporter Dan
Rather. That movie delivers a feast
that satisfies not only sight, but also
the heart because at its soul is truth.
On another note: I congratulate my
editor and boss Allyna for beginning
another season of delivering her
publication in hardcopy – the PV
Mirror City Paper. Something I am
proud to be a small part of.
Joe Harrington
Is an internationally published true crime
writer and documentary filmmaker.
Send comments or criticism to
JoeMovieMadness@Yahoo.com
Artwork by Bob Crabb.
The 7 Arts
366 15
Tribute artist reflects grace of world’s greatest superstar
Spirit of Elvis shines at Boutique Dinner Theatre
By
R
Catherine Beeghly
ob Knight’s vocation, he said, is a
24-hour job. “I’m always ‘Takin’ Care of
Business,’ in memory of Elvis.”
The tribute artist embodies the qualities
he admires most about the man behind the
superstardom, Elvis Presley. This year, Rob
Knight is bringing his heartfelt Elvis shows
exclusively to The Boutique Dinner Theatre.
“I’m not an impersonator, I’m myself,” he
said. “I’m not fake, and I’m not trying to be
Elvis. I am me, paying tribute to someone
whose music I love. I try to be humble, be
gracious, respectful, and grateful if I’m given
a gift.”
A former country singer from Canada, Knight
years ago sang Dwight Yoakam’s version of
the song “Suspicious Minds.” “People said I
looked and sounded like Elvis,” Knight said in
a recent interview, surprised, as though it were
just happening for the first time.
That’s what started his Elvis evolution. “I
finally decided to follow my dream, full-time,
four years ago, and started competing.”
Knight said anywhere from 30-400 hopefuls
can show up for the competitions, which
are governed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.
His status of “three-time Pacific Northwest
Champion Elvis Tribute Artist” shows he’s
studied his craft. “Competition is very
important to earn the title,” he said. “I say it’s
earned, because we are judged by our clothes,
stage presence, vocals, and mannerisms. The
judges are not identified, so you don’t know
when they might be watching.”
Wardrobe, as you might imagine, is a key
ingredient in pulling the complete package
together. “The jumpsuits, the belt, the jewelry,
everything I wear - they’re all authorized
reproductions. It’s costly.”
Knight noted there are 75,000 registered
Elvis tribute artists, and Elvis has the secondmost-recognized face in the world - after the
face of Jesus. “The Elvis legacy will never
die,” Knight said simply. He and his wife Leonie Knight have been
married almost 20 years. She plays a behindthe-scenes role that makes his entire enterprise
possible, he said, with a generous dose of
appreciation. “She runs my music and lights,
packs everything, all my cords and mics - she
looks after all that, and makes it so I can focus,
and give 150 percent to the show.”
Knight enjoys meeting his audience members
after the shows. “People can take pictures, ask
questions, I’ll sign autographs, or give them a
hug,” Knight said, an Elvis grin pouring over his
face. “A lot of people say I do this from the
heart. I do songs that connect with people’s
hearts, songs that have emotions I love to share.
Sometimes people say, ‘I thought he was singing
just for me.’”
Catch one of these heart-felt tributes
Wednesdays and Sundays, now through April 27.
* “Elvis: The Concert Years” plays the
following Wednesdays: Nov. 11, 18; Dec. 2, 9, 16,
November - 2015
23 and 30; Jan. 13 and 20; Feb. 3, 10 and 17;
March 2, 9, 16 and 23; and April 6, 13, 20 and
27. These are the special Wednesday shows set
for curtain at 7:30 p.m. “The Concert Years”
show can also be seen Sundays: Nov. 29, Jan.
31, Feb. 21, and March 13, where dinner is
served at 5 p.m. before the shows at 6.
* “Elvis
Inspirational
Gospel
Tribute” will put you in a spiritual, musical
mood, Sundays: Nov. 22, Dec. 6, 20 and 27,
Jan. 24, Feb. 7 and 28, March 6 and 27, and
April 10 and 24.
* “This is Elvis: You Asked For
It” presents the most requested songs in
Knight’s three years of performing as Elvis,
Sundays: Nov. 15, Dec. 13, Jan. 3 and 17,
March 20, April 3 and 17. Titles include
“Teddy Bear,” “Return to Sender,” and
“Unchained Melody.”
* “Elvis Our Way” is your chance to see
two award-winning Elvis tribute artists in one
night, “Taking Care of Business in Memory
of Elvis.” Rob Knight shares the stage for
two shows only with Dino Macris, known
in the Elvis tribute artist world as “The
Velvet Voice.” Dino Macris is a three-time
champion Elvis Tribute Artist. The Concert
Years-themed show is Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m.,
and the Inspirational/Gospel show will take
the stage at 6 p.m. Jan. 10.
* Sweethearts will want to add to their
calendars, the special Valentine’s Day Elvis
show - when else but February 14!
The Boutique is located upstairs at Nacho
Daddy’s, 287 Basilio Badillo. Mouth-watering
dinners will be served at 5 p.m., with the shows
at 6 p.m. - except, on Wednesdays, no dinner is
served and the show is at 7:30 p.m.
Diners can choose a steak, chicken, or
vegetarian meal - or, order from the Nacho
Daddy “Mex-Tex”-style menu. Tickets can be
ordered for dinner and a show, or the show only.
For information, call 322-728-6878. You
can always find out more from The Boutique
Dinner Theatre on Facebook. Boutique
show tickets can be obtained at www.
vallartatickets.com, +1 562-336-4552.
16 366
The 7 Arts
Galeria Pacifico Public Sculpture Tours
E
very Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m., spend a pleasant
morning walking Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon while learning about
the many bronze sculptures located along the waterfront. No
reservations are necessary and one must only show up at the
Millennium sculpture next to the Hotel Rosita at the north end of
the Malecon. The tour was created by and is guided by Galeria
Pacifico’s owner, Gary Thompson, who has 35 years’ experience
in the Vallarta art scene and who knows personally many of the
artists who created the sculptures on the tour. This includes
Mathis Lidice, the nom de plume of Fernando Baños, who created
and talks about the first sculpture on the tour, Millennium. At this
sculpture, chairs are provided by Marcelo Alcaraz of the Hotel
Rosita, and free handouts with information on the sculptures are
made available at the gallery. Other information sheets about
the Huichol Indians and their artistic symbols that have been
recreated in pebbles in the pavement of the new Malecon are
provided by Kevin Simpson of the Peyote People and Colectika
Galleries. He also walks along during the first half of the tour
explaining each symbol encountered along the way.
Although the tour lasts around two hours in total, Thompson
looks for opportunities for people to sit in the shade near each
sculpture whenever possible. The tour ends at Galeria Pacifico’s
second floor location at 174 Aldama street. Guests are given
complimentary beverages and the opportunity to meet and talk
to Jim Demetro, the artist who created the “Dancers of Vallarta”
sculpture on the extension of the Malecon , the “Woman Washing
Clothes” in front of the Molino de Agua Condominiums and the
sculpture “Andale Bernardo” - currently known as the “Donkey
Sculpture” - installed at the Lazaro Cardenas park. Although the
tour is free, a no pressure opportunity is given to make a donation
to Vallarta’s Biblioteca Los Mangos public library, an institution
also serving as a community center, but receiving absolutely no
funding from any branch of the government, and thus heavily
dependent on donations and other fund raising efforts. More
information on the tour may be obtained at www.GaleriaPacifico.
com, by calling 222-1982, or by visiting the gallery from 10:30
a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
November - 2015
The 7 Arts
366 17
Galería Pacífico
beginning 29th season
Galeria Pacifico was opened on November 27 , 1987, by its founder,
th
Gary Thompson, with the premise that Puerto Vallarta presented a unique
window to the world for displaying the immense artistic talent and
heritage of Mexico. Emphasis was given from the beginning to Mexican
artists, and this continues today with such artists as Ramiz Barquet,
Hugo Barajas, Alfredo Langarica, Magdiel Perez, Juan Ezcurdia, Angel
Pahuama, Roberto Vazquez, Aida Emart, David Leonardo, Alfonso
Sosa and Luis Espiridion, as well as two not sounding very Mexican,
Mathis Lidice and Brewster Brockmann. Two artists with a Latin
American heritage are Lorenzo Ruiz of Cuba and Francisco Marugan,
born in Chile. American artists with a strong presence in Mexico and
a commitment to its artistic sensibilities are Jim
Demetro and Cati Demme.
This group in total presents a wide overview
of artistic styles and subjects as well as multiple
techniques of drawing, painting and sculpture, the
later including cast bronze, terra cotta and fused
glass. Most of the artists have acknowledged the
highly mobile nature of the clientele in Vallarta
by creating works in a variety of sizes, including
small enough to fit in carryon bags.
Galería Pacífico also uses major carriers to
safely ship much larger pieces to clients in many
parts of the world. The gallery’s collection is
available for viewing at its spacious second floor
location at 174 Aldama Street, just up from the
Malecon, from 10:30 to 8:00, Monday through
Saturday, and by appointment.
Brewster Brockmann
Aldama No. 174 Centro
2nd Floor / Piso
Tel.: (322) 222 1982
Fax: (322) 222 5502
www.galeriapaciﬁco.com
galeriapaciﬁco@gmail.com
Hugo Barajas
November - 2015
18 366
Map
November - 2015
Map
November - 2015
366 19
18 366
Good Bites
www.festivalgourmet.com
CasCades, Hotel Viceroy Bali
Bali, Indonesia
La Docena Oyster Bar & Grill
Guadalajara, Mexico
Yerika Muñoz
Astrid y Gastón
Mexico City, Mexico
La Leche
The River Café
Hotel Castello del Sole
Ascona Ti. Switzerland
La Terrasse San Roman
Valle de Guadalupe, BC, Mexico
Blackforest, Germany - PV Mexico
Coco Tropical
La Palapa
Café des Artistes
European - Asian Fusion
Guadalupe Sánchez 740 Centro,
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Tel. (322) 222 3228
David Pérez
Fusion of Swiss Mediterranean
Cuisine
Basilio Badillo 101,
(Playa/Beach), Zona Romántica.
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco,
Tel. (322) 222 5485
Liz Galicia
Friendship
Blvd. Fco. Medina Ascencio
Km. 2.5, Zona Hotelera Norte
Tel. (322) 293 0900
Tropical mexican cuisine
Púlpito 103 Emiliano Zapata,
Tel. (322) 222 5225
El Mural de los Poblanos
Puebla, Mexico
Cortez Cocina Autentica
Guadalajara, Mexico
EMILIANO
Michel’s
Daniel Eardley
& Tara Glick
Andreas Fischer
Kaiser Maximilian
Fresh cuisine - Ocean Front
Malecón No. 1, Playa
Los Muertos, Col. Amapas
Tel. (322) 223 3264
Regional cuisine from puebla
Emiliano Zapata 91, Ote.
Centro Histórico, Tepic, Nayarit
Tel. (311) 216 20 10
American Cut
New York City - USA
New american cuisine
Olas Altas 380-B Centro sur,
Tel. (322) 223 0760
Casual and sophisticated,
Italian - Mediterranean
Olas Altas 507 Zona Romántica,
Tel. (322) 223 2060
Hotel Kemmeriboden-Bad
Emmental, Switzerland
Sapphire Ocean Club
November - 2015
Peruvian inspiration
Isla Río Cuale Local 4,
Tel. (322) 223 0788
Trio
Cooking in honor to my great
masters
Guerrero 264, Centro,
Tel. (322) 222 2196
Ryan Steyn
El Jardin de Adobe
Baja California, Mexico
Vista Grill
Fine modern mexican cuisine
Pulpito 377, Col. Altavista
Tel: (322) 222 3570
Restaurant Gourmet Lucca
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya, QR Mexico
Andrea
Velas Vallarta
Artisanal flavors of Liguria
Av. Paseo de la Marina Norte
No. 585, Fracc. Marina Vallarta,
Tel. (322) 226 9500
Good Bites
366 19
Todas las noches hay creaciones y delicias de Grandes Chefs en todos los hoteles y restaurantes asociados.
Every night gourmet creations at all restaurant and hotels. The master chefs will pamper you with their best.
MENÚ DE DEGUSTACIÓN O A LA CARTA - TASTING MENU OR A LA CARTE
Reservación requerida en cada establecimiento - Reservation required in all participant restaurants.
Eric Pansu
Lula Martín del Campo
Angel Carbajal
AZUR
la corona
Nicksan
Braserías del Grupo Paul Bocuse: L’Est,
Le Nord y Le Sud. Lyon, France
Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta
Culinary journey for France
Av. Paseo de las Moras s/n
Fracc. Náutico Turístico
Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit
Tel: (322) 226 4000 Ext: 4060
Pato Persico
Argentina
Carolina
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
Modern Mexican Cuisine
Lote H4, Cond. Maestro Ramal,
Carretera Federal 200, Km 19.5
Punta de Mita, Nayarit
Tel: (329) 291 5811 Ext: 5957
Gabriel Jiménez
Hacienda San Martín. Toluca, Mexico
Green Bistro
La Tranquila Breath Taking Resort & Spa
Contemporary mexican cuisine
Carretera Punta de Mita
Sayulita Km. 2 Litibú
Punta de Mita, Nayarit
Tel. (329) 298 4222
Restaurante Roca y Carbón.
Mexico City, Mexico
Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa
Sophisticated Mexico
San Salvador 117, 5 de Diciembre,
Tel. (322) 226 7040
Restaurant Nicksan, Los Cabos San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Marival Residences Luxury Resort,
Nuevo Vallarta Riviera Nayarit
Japanese cuisine with a touch
of mexican ingredients
Av. Paseo Cocoteros Lote 53 Villa 811
Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit
Tel. (322) 297 2464
Martin Ríos
Michel Mustiere
Le Delice
Piaf
Hilton Puerto Vallarta
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
Randy Placeres
José Manuel Baños
Restaurante Martín.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Contemporary french menu
Av. de las Garzas 136-1 Zona
Hotelera
Norte, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Tel. (322) 176 1176 Ext. 8303
Fundador, propietario y chef de Aspen
Culinary Solutions.
Colorado, USA
Mikado
CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta
Resort & Spa
Fusion of flavors from the eastern
world
Paseo de la Marina Norte 435
Tel. (322) 226 0017
Chef Ejecutivo Hotel Grand Velas
Riviera Maya, QR, Mexico
The story continues
Paseo Cocoteros Lote 28 Villa 8
Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit
Tel. (322) 226 8007
Pitiona Cocina de Autor
Oaxaca, Mexico
Tuna Blanca
Hotel Cinco Punta de Mita
Flavors of Mexico and Oaxaca
Interior / Inside Hotel Cinco
Punta de Mita, Riviera Nayarit
Tel. (329) 291 5414
José Alfredo Bazán
Casona STK restaurant at Villa del Palmar
Cancun Resort & Spa.
Cancun, QR, Mexico
Hiroshi
Hotel Mousai
Cuisine of the Oriental Fusion
Carretera a Barra de Navidad Km. 7.5,
Tel. (322) 176 0710
Reserve en nuestro sitio o llámenos
Book your event through our website
or call
festivalgourmet.com
+52 (322) 222 22 47
Festival Gourmet International
inform@festivalgourmet.com
@GourmetFestMX
November - 2015
22 366
Good Bites
Qué Rico! PV
Local restaurateurs combine their talent
Barcelona Tapas, El Arrayán, Michel’s,
Sapphire Ocean Bistro create common front
to offer fun & unique culinary experiences
For the first time, these 4 original restaurants in downtown PV and
the Romantic Zone have joined forces for this new venture to promote
fun, culinary culture and teamwork.
Together, the owners of these restaurants William Carballo, Carmen
Porras, Claudia Victoria and Michel Ferrari have over 90 years of
experience in the Food & Beverage field. This includes different
stages of each one’s life, in positions as diverse as wait staff, hostess,
cook or beverage representative and even up to assistant managers or
general managers in various destinations in Mexico, North America
and Europe.
To encourage visitors and residents alike, this group of entrepreneurs
wants to share their enthusiasm for the culinary arts with the public.
They have created 5 events with the same quality as each of their
businesses already provide, considering the price-quality relationship.
Also, when they programmed Qué Rico! PV, they considered that
all events feature live music and some guest chefs. They hope that
each event is fun and engaging for everyone.
The 5 Qué Rico! PV events are:
Wednesday November 11th, 6PM
Barcelona Tapas “Welcome” tapas tasting & sangria $ 395.Thursday November 12th, 7 pm
El Arrayán “Raicilla, Mezcal & Modern Antojitos”
with Carmen Miranda (TV program Master Chef Mx) $ 440.Friday November 13th, 7:30 PM
“Progressive Dinner” Tour of the 4 restaurants,
including transport owners $1,150.Saturday November 14th, 7:30 PM
El Arrayán “Carmen Miranda cuisine /
Casa Madero Wines” 5 courses & 5 wines pairing $550.Sunday November 15th, 7 pm
Sapphire “Beach Party at Sunset” dinner from the 4 restaurants,
open bar, live DJ, fire show & fun for everyone!
Live background music at all events, all prices are in Mexican
Pesos. For full information on each event & reservations,
please refer to the host restaurant or FB Que Rico PV
FB
FB
FB
FB
Barcelona Tapas Puerto Vallarta tel. 222 0510
arrayan tel. 222 7195
Sapphire Ocean Club — Bistrot Local — Lounge tel. 223 3264
Michel’s Restaurant tel. 223 2060
November - 2015
366
November - 2015
Health Matters
24 366
Is someone you love
a “borderline”?
By
Giselle Belanger
(Part 2 of 2)
Last
week’s article described
many characteristics of the Borderline
Personality Disorder (BP). This week
I am focusing on how their behavior
affects the people who are or have
been involved with them.
Do you feel controlled?
“Borderline”s need to feel in
control of others because they feel so
out of control themselves. So much
of their environment is, or at least
feels, out of control to them that it is
very important to control what they
can. They are anxious and gaining
control over something or someone
calms them down. Ultimately, they
are trying to make their world more
predictable and manageable. They
put people in no-win situations and
create chaos.
Are you left feeling like you
can’t do anything right?
Continual blame and criticism…
they may be blaming you for
something “real” that really
happened but they tend to exaggerate
it or sometimes they blame you
for things that are not real; never
RN, LCSW
happened. The blaming can become
verbally and emotionally abusive.
They can have drastic mood swings
and sudden emotional outbursts.
They may also respond by making
threats, setting up no-win situations,
or giving you the “silent treatment”
for hours or days.
The challenge then becomes more
intense and complicated because
then, if you respond by objecting
to the criticism or try to defend
yourself, you are then accused of
being too sensitive or over-reacting.
You start to feel like your only
choice is to take whatever they dish
out. They cannot take any criticism.
They are extra sensitive which
makes it very difficult to have any
healthy or productive discussion
after an outburst or when they are
unfairly blaming you for something.
This makes it impossible to change
or improve the relationship. It
seems like the non-BP is always
walking on eggshells, always the
one adapting, desperately trying not
to upset the BP.
“My mom always acted like
nothing happened”
…and then they act surprised
when you are still upset. Then you
feel baffled and frustrated because
the Borderline doesn’t seem to
understand the impact of what
they’ve done which makes you
angry because they never accept
responsibility for their behavior. So
who is really right or wrong here?
You start to question if you did overreact or if it was all of your fault.
That’s called, “crazy-making”.
Again, change cannot occur on the
part of the BP since they believe
they haven’t done anything wrong.
Essentially, everyone has to change
to accommodate their expectations.
Constant chaos
Is the borderline in your life addicted
to drama? Do they seem to attract or
create chaos? Just when things are
going good and there is a calmness,
possibly even a routine, they seem to
do something to disrupt it. It’s like
they can only stand it so long because
it’s so foreign to them. “I love to be
busy, I can’t just sit around”.
The rest of us are “so boring”
Everything and everyone is “so
boring”. “Boring” for a borderline
is anything not completely chaotic
or extreme; extremely challenging,
stimulating, exciting or extremely
complicated, tragic, or dramatic. They
seem to thrive on all of the details of
their own drama or someone else’s.
“Oh my God, you won’t believe what
happened to me now”.
So… are you crazy or wrong…
…because you like downtime
or home-time, or if a day off or
a weekend doesn’t need to be
packed with activity? Are you
crazy because you like routine and
predictability such as a regular
mealtime or bedtime, or if you find
it very satisfying to read a book or
take a walk alone? BP’s always
seem to need to be busy or distracted.
Some become very angry with their
partner and accuse them of being
boring or unsocial, and insist that
something is wrong with them (the
non-BP) because they don’t want
November - 2015
to accept every invitation or do
something every minute.
“Everyone else thinks
she’s great”
In social situations, the female
BP can be very engaging, gracious,
and endearing.
The male BP,
especially in work situations, can
seem confident, self-assured, and
charming. Since they cannot stand
to be alone, this is where they
shine. It’s where they get positive
reinforcement and build their selfesteem and self-worth. The external
world is where they thrive.
“Borderline”s need people around.
They do not know who they are. A
sense of inner emptiness and chaos
leaves BP’s dependent on others to
figure out how to behave, what to
think, and how to be. Therefore,
being alone leaves them without a
sense of who they are. This is why
they make such frantic efforts to
avoid being alone.
Recommended reading:
1) Surviving a Borderline Parent:
How to Heal your Childhood Wounds
and Build Trust, Boundaries, and SelfEsteem, Roth, Kimberly and Freidman,
Freda, (2003), New Harbinger
Publications, Inc. ISBN# 1-57224-328-7
2) Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking
Your Life Back When Someone You
Care About Has Borderline Personality
Disorder, Mason, Paul and Kreger, Randi,
(2010) New Harbinger Publications,
Inc.
ISBN#
978-57224-690-4
3)
Understanding the Borderline
Mother: Helping Her Children
Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable,
and Volatile Relationship, Lawson,
Chrisitne, (2000) Rowman and
Littlefield Publishers, Inc. ISBN#
0-7657-0331-9
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.
Health Matters
By
Krystal Frost
The Hormone Replacement Tango
I
t seems all my friends are talking
about hormones. Someone mentions
what some other friend said works,
another keeps me informed on what
the newest theories are, what the
latest fads are, what the new boutique
and costly prescriptions are… the list
goes on and on. So, this thought took
me to do a bit of research.
First of all, menopause is not a
disease. It is a natural cycle of most
normal women’s life. I often wondered
how my grandmother lived to be a
lively nearly 100 before she gracefully
checked out while dreaming. She
never took, or even heard of hormone
replacement therapy. She danced, ate
what she wanted, and even shocked
me once by smoking in public at the
horse races in L.A.
Menopausal symptoms are not signs
of illness, and they can be effectively
relieved without toxic chemicals.
Unfortunately, doctors usually have
you take an HRT regimen that includes
the completely unnatural progestin.
Synthetic progestin (like Provera),
are responsible for many of the side
effects of HRT. Check this out…
•
Osteoporosis
•
Blood clots
•
High blood pressure
•
Vaginal bleeding
•
Rash and acne
•
Weight gain.
•
Anxiety and moodiness
•
Lower libido
Who needs it, right?
One study, published in the British
Medical Journal in January 2013,
found that synthetic HRT is actually
linked to an increased risk of stroke,
typically ischemic (caused by
blockages of blood flow to your brain).
One of the trials reviewed in that
meta analysis also linked synthetic
HRT with higher risks of both
breast cancer and heart attack. The
trial (which included almost 17,000
women over 50) also found taking
HRT for five years doubled your risk
of life-threatening blood clots. Wow!
Who can you believe these days?
Maybe that’s why we have to rely on
girlfriend chat.
The experts go on to declare, if
estrogen supplementation is in fact
indicated, and necessary, such as after
you’ve had your ovaries surgically
removed (surgical menopause), they
believe your optimal bio-identical
hormone estradiol is all you would
really need.
bases as your body chemistry changes
so will your reaction to the hormone
doses. This can be a tricky business
as a young healthy women has 16
hormonal changes in a 28-day period.
(Who?? Us???)
Simple lifestyle changes can offer
you your natural means to optimize
your hormone levels as well: You
have heard this before...
•
Adopt a better diet
•
Balance your omega-3
•
and omega-6 fat intake
•
Start an exercise program,
•
even of the low- to moderate•
intensity variety
•
Eliminate grains and sugars
•
as they cause yeast
•
overgrowth that worsen
•
hormone levels
Eliminate caffeine and alcohol, as
they can also have adverse effects
In P.V.
We are lucky to have wild yam
cream available to us at our local
health food store. I have friends that
come down and load up on it, saying
Bio-identical hormones
THEY say estradiol is bioidentical
to the primary human female
hormone, as opposed to Premarin
(the old school popular estrogen
replacement), which comes from
horse estrogens. You should avoid
using animal estrogens for hormone
replacement, as there are excellent
human
bioidentical
estrogen
hormones easily available through
any compounding pharmacist. The
one that seems to work the best is a
transdermal preparation of human
estrogen. (I wonder where they get
that.) Application through your skin
allows lower doses than oral, and
decreases production of potentially
dangerous estrogen metabolites.
If you are going to do some hormone
replacing, your hormone levels should
be monitored by blood, urine, or
saliva, to ensure they reach a target
level that corresponds to the reference
ranges for healthy young women.
This testing should be done on regular
November - 2015
366 25
it is the best in the world. We also
have access to the maca herb, the
wonder drug of the Incas, exclusively
used by Peruvian royalty to stimulate
the glandular system used by men
and women. This well kept secret
stimulates your glands to produce
your own perfect hormonal formula.
I don’t think my Grandma had any of
these things either... she must have had
something going on… her last marriage
took place on her 75th birthday..
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
26 366
Vallarta Voices
W
here to begin?
It’s been a great couple of weeks
here since Hurricane Patricia
was forced to bypass our town,
thanks to the blessed Sierra Madre
Mountains. The sun has been
shining, the skies were and still
are blue, and we who live here
want to believe that the fall season
has finally begun, with hot sunny
days and cooler nights ahead. We
did have one cloudy, rainy day - with winds much
stronger than Patricia’s - last Friday, but nothing
else worth mentioning.
However, much of those days were spent raising
funds for those whose lives were shattered by
Miss Patricia. Many of those villages just south
and east of us were totally destroyed. Various
organizations were set up and the generous
people of Vallarta pooled their resources to
help those in need. (See Don Pickens’ letter in
this issue).
Also, November 2nd was a bittersweet
evening for those of us who were friends of
Brenda Retzlaff, including yours truly. Brenda
was one extraordinary lady whose life ended
way too soon. November 2nd would have
been her birthday. A number of years ago, she
started an internet forum called AllVallarta
that generated myriad new friendships among
its members, friendships that endured over
the years. Everyone loved her, but none
more than her young husband, Carlos Rivera.
This gentleman left everything to go be with her
when she fell ill during a trip to the U.S. where
she contracted the dreaded West Nile virus. She
nearly died then. Brenda was never 100% after
that, diabetes, nearly total loss of eyesight, etc.
etc. Carlos organized a “celebration” of his late
By
Anna Reisman
wife’s life at Los Muertos beach – where they
were married a number of years ago. The photo
I’m inserting was taken by a common friend of
ours, Harold Sokolove, who wrote: “Lots of
AllVallarta people at Brenda’s Celebration of Life
on what would have been her birthday celebration
at Los Muertos Beach.” Carlos also made sure
that Cuates y Cuetes’ webcam would be turned
on during the entire event so that Brenda’s friends
could “be there” via cyberspace technology.
Rest in peace, my dear friend. You will be
remembered by many, including me as I think
of you every time I use the can opener you gave
me, and every time I see one of your beloved
unicorns...
November - 2015
By the way, anytime you have doubts about what
a weather channel or one of those big networks
tell you about Puerto Vallarta, you can always log
in to that webcam to see the truth: http://www.
cuatesycuetes.com/en/index.php/webcam
Looking to the days ahead, there is so much
excitement around town that it is palpable. The
Saturday Old Town Farmers’ Market, the “big”
one in Lazaro Cardenas Park is opening this
weekend. The other two are in full swing already,
and they’re all different one from the other.
Act II has been selling out its shows this past
week, while the Boutique Theatre opens its doors
to its beautifully renovated location this weekend.
The Palm Cabaret and Bar –celebrating its 16th
season! - has a most impressive roster of stars
lined up. Its doors will open on the 19th.
And then there are the two big culinary
events starting this weekend: our famous
International Gourmet Festival in its 21st
edition and the brand new Qué Rico! PV that
looks just as yummy. Did you know that the
word rico is used in Mexico to signify more
than “rich”? It also means “delicious”. So
when a waiter or restaurant owner or waiter
asks how your meal is, you can answer “Muy
rico!” instead of “muy bueno” or “delicioso”.
That’s your Spanish trivia for today.
And still on the topic of food, Hacienda
Alemana’s annual Oktoberfest is this Friday
and Saturday. That’s one I never miss! I
also highly recommend that you visit Patricia
Saxonis’ recently opened Deli. Wait ‘till you see
all the goodies she’s got for you to take home!
I’m running out of space and my mouth is
watering so I’ll call it quits for this week.
I wish you all an absolutely deeelicious week,
stay well, stay healthy! Hasta la próxima vez...
sheis@ymail.com
Gil Gevins’ Page
Out of the teepee,
into the frying pan
By
S
Gil Gevins
unbeam, our eccentric friend,
lived in a remote area of central
Mexico. She lived there by herself, off
the grid, with no electricity, growing
organic vegetables, and then watching
them be devoured by organic worms.
When Sunbeam invited us out to
her ranch for an “Authentic Midnight
New Age Indian Sweat-Lodge Peyote
Ceremony”, the only word which
caught my fancy was “Peyote”.
“Midnight” was far past my bedtime.
“New Age” brought to mind fields of
senile hippies. And “Sweating” was
an activity I preferred to avoid - unless
it involved sex.
That left “Peyote”. For many people,
peyote has a negative connotation. They
see it as just another mind-distorting
drug. But peyote is also the sacrament
of two religions, one based in America
(The Native American Church), and
one in Mexico, La Iglesia de Salsa
Huichol. Indians ingest this sacrament
in order to produce a mental state in
which they find themselves in closer
proximity to the Divine Whatever.
Being a great fan of the Divine
Whatever myself, I had participated in
peyote ceremonies on two occasions,
both times with gratifying results.
Convincing my wife to go was not
easy. After several days of negotiations,
I was reduced to bribing her with the
promise of a new refrigerator. That she
did not divorce me once the debacle
was over, is a testament to her limitless
powers of forgiveness.
Sunbeam faxed us a map, which
resembled the map of Middle Earth in
The Hobbit. Covered with all manner
of neat little drawings and symbols, it
bore little relation to the real world.
We finally located Sunbeam’s house at
the end of a long dirt road, just as the
ceremony was about to begin.
Everyone was gathered in front of a
small teepee, the site of the impending
temazcal. A temazcal, or sweat-lodge,
is a barbaric practice in which people
voluntarily enclose themselves in an
extremely hot, dark confined space,
sitting in a circle around a pile of
extremely hot rocks. A moderately
heated temazcal, with lots of breathing
room can (almost) be enjoyable. This
particular teepee, on the other hand,
was destined to become more crowded
than a free concert in Edinburgh, and
hotter than a Miley Cyrus tampon.
Outside the teepee was a large circle
composed of logs with a blazing fire in
the center. This was where they heated
the rocks before carrying them to the
teepee and placing them (carefully)
in the hot rock pit. Sunbeam and
about twenty other sweat-seekers
were gathered around the circle now,
hanging on to every word spoken by
a bossy woman (Wellwater), who
claimed to be half-Indian, but who
looked more like a mean librarian
from Milwaukee.
Wellwater, doing her best drill
sergeant impersonation, was giving
instructions prior to the mass
interment. “Take off your glasses!”
she ordered me.
“Why? I won’t be able to see.”
“They’ll be too hot to wear,” she
replied. “You want to get burned?
Besides, it’s too dark to see anything.”
Too hot to wear? Too dark to see?
What about the peyote?
Soon we were all lined up, like
amenable victims eagerly waiting to be
tortured, at the entrance to the teepee.
The women entered first. Then the men.
Then Wellwater. The small teepee was
now insanely overcrowded. I sat down,
banging my head against the low roof.
The heat was unbearable; the air, nonexistent. Bent over nearly double, I felt
a sharp pain in my chest.
And they hadn’t even closed the
door yet!
(Perhaps I should mention that
my wife and I are both closet
claustrophobics. Nothing clinical - we
just don’t like being locked in closets.)
On top of my closet-claustrophobia,
I’d recently had a full knee replacement,
and my new knee did not like being in
confined spaces either. Experimentally,
I stretched out the limb in question to
see where my foot would wind up. It
would, I soon surmised, wind up in the
middle of the hot rock pit!
“Sorry,” I said to no one in particular,
“I gotta go.”
As I began to crawl towards the open
door, Wellwater said, “Stop! You can’t
leave. You’ll break the energy flow.”
“I just had a knee replacement,” I
told her, “and I can’t sit here with my
leg bent. I have to stretch it out.”
“Then stretch it out,” she said,
blocking the door, which kind of
annoyed me.
“You want me to roast my foot?” I
shouted. “What are you going to do,
eat it after the ceremony?”
As I slithered past Wellwater, I
expected my wife to follow suit.
Unfortunately, Lucy was wedged in
solid and couldn’t move.
Half an hour later, as I sat outside
on a log wondering where the peyote
was, I clearly heard my wife say
from inside the teepee, “I have to go
outside. I can’t breathe.”
“Hold on,” Wellwater encouraged
her. “You can make it.”
Several other young women echoed
this sentiment, to which Lucy replied,
“I can’t breathe.”
My poor wife, I later learned,
November - 2015
366 27
was stuck between a fat, shirtless,
malodorous man, and a fat, sweaty
stinky woman. Feeling desperately
about in the dark, Lucy discovered that
the frame of the teepee was not flush
to the ground. On her back, wriggling
for all she was worth, bruising four
ribs in the process, Lucy managed to
scrunch her entire head (and half her
upper torso) out of the teepee, where
she kept it for the next hour, gulping
in the cool mountain air.
Finally, when it was time for the
first official break, before they opened
the door, Lucy slid herself back inside
the teepee. Whereupon Wellwater
said, “Let’s have a cheer for Lucy, for
her fortitude in holding on through the
entire first round!” Everyone cheered.
Lucy said, “Let me out of here!”
Outside, the group headed for the
bushes to take care of its personal
needs. Except for Lucy, who came
marching straight at me, her hand
clenched around an imaginary machete.
“How was it?” I asked. “See any
visions?”
“I saw a vision of you,” Lucy said
sweetly, “hanging from that tree. By
your balls!”
Gil Gevins
Is the author of four hilarious books,
including the classic, PUERTO VALLARTA
ON 49 BRAIN CELLS A DAY, and the sidesplitting novel, SLIME AND PUNISHMENT.
Signed copies of all Gil’s books are available
at his wife’s wonderful shop, LUCY’S CUCU
CABAÑA, located at 295 Basilio Badillo.
28 366
Legal Matters
Ask Luis
By
Luis Melgoza
Dear Readers: This column has information
originally published online only in issues #363 and
#364 of the PV Mirror; I believe the information is
important enough to republish it in print.
The ACLU, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant
Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), the Pomona
Economic Opportunity Center and the San
Bernardino Community Service Center filed a
class-action suit against Immigration and Customs
Enforcement that resulted in a settlement benefiting
thousands of Mexicans unlawfully deported.
US Immigration authorities (ICE and Border
Patrol) settled the suit, acknowledging that their
officers in Southern California forced, through
lies and coercion, thousands of individuals who
were at the time lawfully in the US into signing
“Voluntary Deportation” waivers, when arrested
and/or processed by Border Patrol or Immigration
and Customs Enforcement officers assigned to
the San Diego Sector, the former, and to the San
Diego and Los Angeles Field Offices, the latter,
between June 1, 2009 and August 28, 2014. The
class members were thus denied the right to
appear before an Immigration judge and prove or
regularize their lawful status in the US.
Although lies and other forms of coercion,
including psychological torture, are common
practice to force “Voluntary Deportation” waivers
out of foreigners throughout the US (during the
almost 30 years I worked pro-bono as an Emergency
Human and Civil Rights Representative for the
Mexican Embassy to the US, I encountered and
fought exactly this type of official misconduct
literally tens of thousands of times), the settlement
only benefits Mexican nationals deported within
the dates above by personnel of the sector and
field offices mentioned, as long as the deported
individuals had reasonable claim to be in the US
lawfully at the time. In order to enjoy the benefit
of returning to the US to regularize their status,
affected individuals must join the class while
physically in Mexico.
Countless families have been separated from
each other by the misconduct of border patrol
and ICE officers over the years, hundreds, if not
thousands, of children born in the US to foreigners
have been sent to foster care and, ultimately, set up
for adoption when their parents were unlawfully
deported and were not allowed back into the US for
10 years, depriving them of any chance to recover
their children (one of the first things we had to do
in these cases was to register US born children of
Mexican parents as Mexicans, to ensure that they
would leave the country together).
Please share this column far and wide, you
never know if one of your friends or acquaintances
knows a class-member.
Potential class-members must contact the ACLU
San Diego office to receive information and legal
assistance and to join the class at absolutely no
charge. From within Mexico, the ACLU can be
reached toll-free at 01 (800) 681-6917, or by e-mail
to avd@aclusandiego.org. Individuals within the
US may call (619) 398-4189.
December 6, 2015 is the deadline to join the
class.
References:
https://www.aclu.org/…/families-separatedcoercive-immigrat…
http://www.salidavoluntariaacuerdo.com/Index
Dear Luis: My rental contract is in US dollars
and my landlord refuses to accept pesos in payment
for my rent, he only wants US dollars in cash. Is
this legal?
Dear Reader: Regrettably, landlords and
everybody else in Mexico may set pricing in US
dollars since the early 90’s ( earlier, dollar contracts
and/or pricing were illegal, not simply unlawful, in
Mexico); however, everybody must accept payment
in pesos at the day’s exchange rate for US dollar
obligations in Mexico published in the Official
Journal: http://dof.gob.mx/indicadores.php
If any creditor refuses to accept payment in
pesos, for any reason, the debtor may deposit the
resulting peso amount in Civil Court, citing the
refusal of the creditor to accept pesos; the creditor
would have the choice to retrieve the pesos or
leave the money in court. Legally, the debt is paid
when the deposit is accepted by the courts and the
November - 2015
creditor may not retaliate against the debtor in any
way. Accepting payments exclusively in dollars in
cash and without issuing a fiscal invoice (factura)
in exchange for the payment, shows the intent
of the creditor to commit tax fraud and money
laundering.
A factura must be electronically issued either
through the SAT’s website or through an authorized
provider (a paper representation is not needed, but
may be given to the payor as a courtesy) and it
must contain at least:
RFC (Mexican tax ID), name, tax category and
fiscal domicile or registered branch address of the
payee.
Serial number assigned by the SAT (Mexico’s
tax authority) and SAT’s digital stamp.
The payee’s digital stamp
Place and date issued.
Payor’s RFC (if non-existent, the RFC
“XAXX010101000” if the payor is Mexican,
“XEXX010101000” if the payor is foreign.
Quantity, unit measure and class of the goods,
merchandise or description of the services or
benefits paid.
Unit price in numbers.
Total amount in numbers or letters.
Statement that the amount is a payment in full or
a partial payment.
If applicable, detailed breakdown of taxes paid
or withheld, by type of tax and amount.
Form of payment: Cash, bank transfer, check,
credit or debit card (or a points or rewards card
approved by the SAT).
If applicable, Customs documentation (for firsthand sale of imported goods to consumers only).
SAT certification date and time.
Serial number of the SAT digital certificate used
to stamp the factura.
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
Real Estate
VIEWPOINT
By
Harriet Murray
Due diligence and risk
New construction projects
Mexican real estate
P
erhaps nothing is more
important in buying pre or new
construction in our market than for
you to understand that as the buyer,
you may not have a clue about what
you are doing.
The state of Jalisco, which
includes Guadalajara, Mismaloya
and Puerto Vallarta, does not
require the registration of a
condominium
regime
before
beginning construction.
The
developer may record and transfer
the condo formalization, with rules
and regulations, at the end of the
development project.
The developer will expect to
finish construction and be paid
the majority of the purchase price,
before legally transferring the
property to your trustee (if you are a
foreign citizen) or to your escritura
if you are a national. Chances are
that you will be given a notice to
pay the remainder of the purchase
price or risk losing the property,
before you can close at the notary.
Changes can be made in the
building
during
construction
without your approval or your
being informed in advance. Why?
Because the developer can, being
the majority owner at this point.
Checking out whom you are
doing business with to purchase
this condo: How do you know the
experience of the developer and
builder? How do you know if there
are more funds available for the
developer than just the ones being
collected from “sales”? Are your
funds being escrow? Is there a
mortgage on the property? Do you
have some form of protection and
recourse to recover your money if
something happens?
Do you know that it is rare for
developers to have performance
bonds? Did you pay a larger down
payment to obtain a bigger discount
off the promoted price? Do you
know what you can do or whom
you can go to for help if things start
to fall apart and the project does
not sell successfully, or there are
delays on the construction or other
problems?
You don’t have to be in this
position or take this risk. If you
will approach buying in a more
conservative manner, you can make
a more informed decision as a part
of a team, and not be in the dark
and a victim.
The three AMPI chapters in
the Bay - Vallarta, Nayarit and
Compostela - do require developers
who are listed with AMPI members
to go through a checklist and
provide documents and answers
to a lot of these questions we have
raised.
We must still advise you as a
buyer of pre- or new construction
that you must use caution and
exercise serious due diligence to
examine the amount of risk and to
determine for yourself what you
want to do.
Every new development, which
is listed in FBS MLS, has been
reviewed and the listing agent has
been required to provide documents
as a condition of being able to
promote the development through
our public and broker sponsored
MLS searches.
There is no other marketing MLS
database or organization, which
conducts this due diligence. AMPI
members cannot guarantee you that
November - 2015
366 29
the project will be successful or
tell you that you have no risks or
potential loss. We take the steps to
investigate and you must go further.
Do not assume there is insurance
for performance or that there is
a government agency overseeing
these new projects.
The solution can be simple,
however. You need professional
legal, bilingual advice before you
decide to go forward. You need
to be patient and realistic about
the time it will take to obtain the
information you need. And you will
need to ask thorough and detailed
questions and insist on straight
answers. This is not a bad thing to
have to do. You can certainly find
out if you want to go forward after
you have done your inquiry. You
can decide on the amount of risk
for the reward you want to take.
This article is based upon legal
opinions, current practices and my
personal experiences in the Puerto
Vallarta-Bahía de Banderas areas.
I recommend that each potential
buyer or seller of Mexican real
estate conduct his own due
diligence and review.
Harriet Cochran Murray
Can be contacted at
harriet@casasandvillas.com
30 366
Calendar / Directories
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
SOUTHWEST 01 800 435 9792
November - 2015
Fish Tales
It’s Black and Blue at
Corbeteña, Marlin that is!
By
Stan Gabruk
(Owner of Master Baiter’s Sportfishing & Tackle)
I
n the world of Big Game fishing,
Puerto Vallarta is in the middle of
Prime Time Fishing! Conditions
couldn’t be better. Blue Water, plenty
of bait, and although we’re still a little
warm on the water temperatures, this
will be changing soon, the sooner the
better! The rain has continued inland
so the rivers are full and dumping dirty
water into the bay. This has resulted
in dirty water near the coastline
presenting bay fishing challenges.
Daytime temps are starting to drop
slowly but surely as we are beginning
to see a change in the seasons, finally!
Once again Corbeteña is the place to
be. Once again this week, it’s Marlin
City between The Rock and El Banco.
The area directly between there is full
and alive with action. Those with a
locked-in mindset need to expand their
consciousness and have your boat
captain use some fuel. The problem
with cheap boats: they don’t move
to where the fish are. Many can, but
they don’t because it will cost them
more fuel, which means more money,
which in turn means the fish you could
have had, you’ll never know about it,
because that is what you paid for. Just
remember, these boys are not going to
be losing money to take you fishing,
they’re business men, not stupid.
Anyway, Sailfish are thick, Marlin are
getting bigger by the day ranging from
300 to 750 lbs. Cubera Snapper are
there for the taking, the wounded bait
trick works well. Plenty of bait in the
form of Skip Jack Tuna, Bonito, Bullet
Bonito, Flying fish, Goggle eyes, you
name it, no shortage of bait. Plenty of
high visibility blue water and frankly,
if we had some more Tuna it would
be perfect. El Banco is the same as
last week: Sails all around, no Marlin
to speak of, not much of a reason to
be in this area for the moment. Your
best bang for your fishing buck is at
Corbeteña right now.
The area around the Marieta Islands
is still not producing as we would like.
However, Sailfish are everywhere, so
they’re here as well. El Moro is alive
with Sailfish as is the whole area over
to the Punta Mita point. Ten miles off
the point of Punta Mita you will still
find Blue and Black Marlin in the 500lb range. Dorado are still pretty much
a no show, having said that, you could
run into a rouge Dorado in the 25lb range. They should be all around
there, go figure. Nothing much more
to say about this area.
Inside the bay we’ve seen some
changes. Hurricane Patricia left its
mark with massive amounts of water
flowing into the bay. Dirty water I
should add, so as you’d expect the
bay was very dirty this last week, yet
the areas around the river mouth have
been active with massive amounts
of Jack Crevalle. Normally a winter
fish, they’ve been hanging out. The
rains are still happening in central
Mexico so we’ve still got some heavy
rain happening, plenty of water in the
rivers, but the dirty water is moving
out slowly. The fishing in the bay is
bound to improve. With Yellowfin
Tuna footballs around the Yelapa area,
Sailfish have been seen and boated
off the Los Arcos rocks and around
La Cruz. Then of course the regular
players of Bonito, Skippies, various
baits, Snapper and Snook around the
river mouth, but they can be tough to
convince…
What we’re seeing is warm water
and fish that move without the
restrictions of frigid currents and cold
water. We’re seeing many of our
fish in San Diego, Catalina and even
Ensenada. We’re here with perfect
conditions, but for some reason the
currents that took our fish north
will soon change and things will be
different. When we see the water
temps drop a few degrees, we should
see some major Yellowfin Tuna and
Dorado start to move in. Cross your
fingers …and keep informed.
Coming off a full moon, the bite
is still early so make sure you get
out there before mid-morning. Water
temps are still in the 85-degree range,
but warmer below. In fact there were
some strange and strong currents
blasting their way north, so we saw
some warmer water temperature days.
Lures: stay with the brown, purple and
green combos. Rapalos are working
well, remember the blue and silver
combo with a white belly. Don’t
forget a nod to the fish gods and you
should be good to go, amigos!
I have been publishing my weekly
fishing report in video form. Nothing
fancy, no editing, very underground,
hell I may even do it as a selfie
type report if I have to. But the
information is great, I normally post
on Friday so now you’ve got ¨Reel
Time¨ information designed for
locals heading out, professionals like
concierges to pass to clients, and those
November - 2015
366 31
coming down on vacation or planning
a fishing trip. Check it out!
We’re still doing shared charters, just
contact me with your date and we’ll
see if we can hook you up. Naturally
the more that are interested in shared
pangas, the better it works. So tell your
friends and share this article, could
save you money, amigos! Those on a
budget you can still catch world class
fish on vacation with this option!
Until next time, don’t forget to ¨Kiss
Your Fish¨…
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 52 1 322 779 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.
32 366
Hi-Tech
Tech News Round-up…
F
irst up this week, I have to give
my hat off to Microsoft. Intentional
or not, they have managed to stretch
out the buzz for Windows 10 to
never before seen lengths.
Back in early June and almost 2
months before the actual release,
Microsoft introduced the voluntary
“reservation” system for the free
upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows
7, 8/8.1 users. This reservation
notice came in via Windows Update
and caused a stir among computer
users around the world.
The actual release of Windows
10 came on July 29 and many users
started the free upgrade process.
To date, more than 110 million
computers have been updated to
Windows 10. Well, that number is
going to change… and dramatically.
Up until now, the Windows 10
free upgrade has been on a voluntary
basis. Microsoft just announced that
Windows 10 will be automatically
rolled out next year to all users of its
older Windows, who have selected
to receive Windows updates.
Microsoft seems determined to get
everyone on a PC built in the past
5 years, onto Windows 10 sooner
rather than later. Soon the Windows
10 upgrade will appear in the
“optional” Windows Updates and in
2016 the Windows 10 upgrade will
become a “recommended” update,
which installs itself automatically,
if you have that option selected for
Windows Updates.
Now if you are happy on Windows
7 and do not want to be forced to
upgrade to Windows 10 next year,
you can change your Windows
Update settings. Simply go to the
control panel and into Windows
Update, to the left you will see
“change settings”.
There you
will see the default option “install
updates automatically”.
You can then click on that and a
small pull-down menu gives you
other options and you can select
“allow to download, but I will choose
what to install” then click “save”.
Now there is also an option to turn
off Windows Update all together,
but I do not recommend that option,
as you will miss out on important
security updates that you do need.
So far we are at month 5 of
Windows 10 buzz and I’m sure that
buzz will continue into next year
with this “forced” upgrade.
Now with last week’s weather
taking center stage, I have to
catch you up on the digital media
streaming box news. Last week, the
new Roku 4 was finally introduced
and the new Apple TV is finally
hitting store shelves this week.
The new Roku 4 has received a
nice bump up internally, including a
new quad core processor and 1.5GB
RAM. The remote control still has
the audio plug for private listening
and also has voice search.
But most of the buzz around Roku
4 seems to be all about 4K/Ultra HD
(2160p) video streaming. Ok… 4K. In
theory, 4K streaming is great and when
all the pieces of the puzzle are there, it
really is amazing to watch. But what
pieces need to be in place for 4K?
First let’s look at available
4K content. There are very few
movies and even less TV shows
available in 4K. Now Roku 4 can
upscale standard HD to simulate
4K resolution, but at the end of the
day, you also need a TV capable of
displaying 4K. Those 4K model
TVs are not yet in the price range of
the average home.
Next is internet bandwidth for
streaming 4K video. MINIMUM
for decent 4K streaming is 15MB
service. At least down here in
paradise, most internet is between
5-10MB service. So unless you
have a 4K TV (or plan on getting
November - 2015
one) and have exceptional internet
speed, the main feature of Roku 4
will not benefit you.
While I do like the many port
options that Roku 4 has (HMDI,
optical audio out, microSD slot,
USB - to plug in a flash drive or
an external hard drive), the price
of $129. US may be a bit hard to
swallow. If 4K is not in your plans,
I think you’ll get better value with
picking up a Roku 3 ($99. US) or
even a Roku 2 ($69).
To remind you all, Roku 2 and
Roku 3 both received internal
upgrades this year and both have
almost identical speed. The main
difference between the Roku 2 and
3, is no headphone in the remote
of Roku 2 nor voice search like on
Roku 3. If thinking of buying a
Roku 2 or 3, make sure you get the
2015 models - some stores are still
getting rid of old stock. For the 2015
models of Roku 2, look for model
4210 and for Roku 3: model 4230.
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
Nature’s World
366 33
The Vallarta Botanical Garden’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
November 14 & 15, 2015
Adding a second digit to one’s
age is a right of passage of sorts.
For a privately initiated public
institution such as the Vallarta
Botanical Garden, it’s evidence
that the project has been truly
embraced by its local community
and destined to become a legacy for
future generations.
Ringing in such a milestone is
a brilliant opportunity to not only
celebrate with the local community,
but to also welcome in supporters
who have embraced this vision
with us from near and from afar.
All are invited to a magical
weekend on November 14th and
15th to experience the Garden and
learn from what others have to
share when we will receive more
of our professional colleagues with
us than any other moment in our
history. So far, plant researchers and
botanical garden staff representing
12 different institutions have
confirmed their participation. They
will share their knowledge with the
public through guided hikes, open
house experiences, special exhibits,
and captivating talks by dynamic
guest speakers. After a time to learn,
we welcome you to celebrate as
each evening a series of great local
live music acts will take the stage.
Event entry is included in regular
garden admission (adolescents and
adults 80 pesos, children 20 pesos).
If you’d like to be part of making
this a truly unforgettable experience,
please check in with the Garden’s
Event Committee Vice Chair, Sue
Keevil info@pvseadive.com for
communications in English, or our
biology intern, Cynthia Martinez
Hernandez biologia@vbgardens.
org for communications in Spanish.
We’re still in need of volunteers
(especially plant experts and/or
aficionados for tours and our open
house) as well as event sponsors.
Solution to Sudoku on page 35
Solution to crossword on page 35
Garden Amenities and Services
Visit the Gardens’ Hacienda de Oro Restaurant for authentic
Mexican food and brick-oven pizza. Our new menu includes
delicious dishes such as fish and shrimp tacos. Hike the Gardens’
nature trails and bask in tropical mountain scenery. Experience the
Orchid Conservatory, Gift Shop, plant nursery, tequila tasting and
more. You can even shop the Gardens remotely through our online
store. The very best of Vallarta!
Spend the day in the Gardens for only $60 pesos. The Gardens
are about a 30-minute drive south of Old Town, Puerto Vallarta,
on Carretera a Barra Navidad at km 24, just past Las Juntas y Los
Veranos, all easily accessible by public transportation. Our worldclass plant collections, miles of hiking trails through native forests
and a host of special activities give you countless reasons to visit
us soon. Tel.: 223-6182. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to
Sunday. Web site: www.vbgardens.org
November - 2015
Nature’s World
34 366
Planting Roots
in Mexico
By
Tommy Clarkson
Shell Ginger
Alpinia zerumbet
Family: Zingiberaceae
Also known as: Shell Flower,
Pink Porcelain or
Pearls of the Orient
T
he genus Alpinia consists of
somewhere well over two hundred
evergreen, rhizomatous, herbaceous
species – all of which come from
tropical Asia (including Japan)
eastward to Polynesia. Coming from
New Guinea and Malaysia, Shell
Ginger is among the more popular
of them with, virtually, all parts
emanating a fragrant scent.
Now here’s a nifty nugget of
knowledge for use on Jeopardy or
in Trivial Pursuit: Alpinas differ
from other gingers in that they have
no arillate - which is “an accessory
coating that may form a fleshy, cuplike
structure around the immature seed”.
(Now who says I don’t enhance your
broad base of intelligence?)
Blooming in second year growth,
Alpinias are prolific producers of
large clumps – which spread by
rhizomes - that may need to be reset
every so often. Furthermore, it is
important to remember to cut back
the old stalks after the flowering is
complete. Keep in mind that they are
no lovers of the hot sun which will
parch leaves and flowers alike. With
this awareness, try to remember to
apply a deep layer of mulch around
them as this will substantially reduce
both the moisture and fertilizer needs
of your plants.
The Alpinia zerumbet was named
after Prospero Alpino (1553-1616)
who was a professor of Botany at
Padua in Italy in what may have been
the very first, botanical garden.
The epithet zerumbet is of Arabic
origin and it’s thought to have been
first used by Serapion - an 11th century
physician and scholar – describing
the aromatic roots of these plants.
These plants have been in cultivation
in the West for over two centuries.
As a result of the Shell Ginger’s
lush thickness and height of six and
a half feet (two meters) or more, it is
generally grown outdoors, normally
as a understory and, sometimes, in a
border plant role. Here at Ola Brisa
we have included several Alpina
zerumbets in a rich, full “Living
Bouquet” along with several other
Ginger varieties.
They are happily situated in their
own, private “surround” on the
International Terrace, toward the
bottom of our gardens overlooking
Santiago Bay. A well-draining area,
it is further appropriately sited as this
is, seasonally, in sunny to partially.
Furthermore, this location is ideal as
they need a protected site as excessive
winds can shred their leaves.
Should you ever venture down to
“The Big Easy” or “Crescent City”
in Louisiana, you will note that,
as Kirsten Albrecht Llamas has
observed, it “grows to great height in
the (area’s) ‘Gumbo’ soil.”
As to those delicate, scoop shaped
flowers, in terminal, drooping, fuzzy
raceme-like panicles of ten to sixteen
inches (25-40 cm) they are seen
among pink to white bracts - 3/4 to
one inch (2 – 2.5 cm) long - being of
yellow and white with red lines.
They bloom, in multiple numbers,
year around. The fused petal corolla
1¼ - 2 inches (3 -5 cm) is divided
at the halfway point into three lobes
with a red center. Its fruit are red,
globose and many seeded capsules
5/8 – ¾ inch (1.5 – 2 cm) in size.
Suffice it to simply say that they are
The Shell Ginger flowers are
unique and exceptionally beautiful.
They are prolific producers
of large clumps that may need
to be reset every so often.
Such rhizomes are used in various
Asian cuisines – my very favorite
of which is the Thai tom yum goong
(Hot shrimp soup).
Lastly, according to the on-line,
Tropical Plant data Base, various
parts of Shell Ginger can be used
as “a heart tonic and for high
blood pressure, as a digestive aid
for stomach upset, indigestion and
intestinal gas, for colds, flu and fever,
as a mild diuretic, and for candida
and fungal conditions”. It further
states that its “Properties/Actions Documented by Research – (include
it being) analgesic, antibacterial,
anticandidal,
antifungal,
antiinflammatory,
antimycobacterial,
antioxidant,
antiparasitic,
antiplatelet,
antispasmodic,
antiulcerous, diuretic, hypotensive,
insecticidal, (a) muscle relaxant (and
a) uterine stimulant”.
Beyond all of that it says that “in
Brazilian herbal medicine (where)
the essential oil of the leaf is used for
high blood pressure and as a heart
tonic. In other parts of the world the
plant is considered balsamic, diuretic,
and stomachic and traditionally used
for colds and flu, fevers, flatulence,
stomach problems and indigestion.”
And you thought its only virtues
were good looks and a wonderful
scent!
Tommy Clarkson
Yet their leaves are simple and
unassuming in appearance.
wonderful in floral arrangements.
They can be propagated by rhizome
division or via its seeds.
Having culinary and medicinal
properties, its rhizome can be used
as a substitute for the galangal of
related plants in Southeast Asia.
November - 2015
In Manzanillo, visit Ola Brisa Gardens,
Tommy and Patty’s verdant, multi-terraced
tropical paradise nestled on a hill overlooking
the magnificent vista of Santiago Bay.
Leisurely meander its curved, paved path,
experiencing, first hand, a delicious array
of palms, plants and flowers from all over
the world. Or, e-mail questions to him at
olabrisa@gmail.com
For back issues of “Roots”, gardening tips,
tropical plant book reviews and videos of
numerous, highly unique eco/adventure/
nature tours, as well as memorable
“Ultimate Experiences” such a Tropical
Garden Brunches and Spa Services, please
visit www.olabrisagardens.com
https://www.facebook.com/
olabrisagardens?ref=hl
Brain Teasers
366 35
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
November - 2015
366
November - 2015

366 - pvmcitypaper

Transcription

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