FREE issue pvmcitypaper.com 31 July to 6 August - 2020 Issue 610 2

250 words max, full name, Publisher / Editor: Graphic Designer: I N D E X : street or e-mail address and/ or tel. number for verification Allyna Vineberg Leo Robby R.R. purposes only. If you do not [email protected] want your name published, we Webmaster: will respect your wishes. Letters Office & Sales: pvmcitypaper.com & articles become the property Online Team An Important Notice: of the PVMIRROR and may be 223.1128 The PVMIRROR wants your views and edited and/or condensed for Cover comments. Please send them by e-mail to: publication. The articles in this Photo: “Lookin’ Good!” By Bob McCuaig [email protected] publication are provided for the PV Mirror es una publicación semanal. Certificados purpose of entertainment and Contributors: de licitud de título y contenido en tramite. Prohibida information only. The PV Mirror la reproducción total o parcial de su contenido, City Paper does not accept imágenes y/o fotografías sin previa autorización por Ronnie Bravo / Krystal Frost / Giselle Belanger escrito del editor. any responsibility or liability for the content of the articles Harriet Murray / Stan Gabruk / Marcia Blondin NOTE: on this site or reliance by any Sheryl Novak / Leza Warkentin / Jennifer Mann To Advertisers & Contributors and those with public person on the site’s contents. interest announcements, the deadline for publication is: Any reliance placed on such Ricardo Mazcal / Gabriella Namian 2:00 pm on Monday of the information is therefore strictly Lic. Roberto Ortiz de Montellano Farias week prior to publication. at such person’s own risk.

You are here, finally! If 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 We wish you a warm 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 - Welcome 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 mountains- the 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 that can only be boarded there. They have pre-fixed rates yet, if you have a “bank card”, withdraw funds from your POPULATION: 350,000 inhabitants per passenger. City cabs are yellow or white, and charge by account back home. Try to avoid exchanging money at CLIMATE: Tropical, humid, with an average of 300 sunny the ride, not by passenger. When you ask to go downtown, your hotel. Traditionally, those offer the worst rates. days per year. The temperature averages 28°C (82°F) and the remember that your fare covers the ENTIRE central area, so WHAT TO DO: Even if your all-inclusive hotel is everything rainy season extends from late June to early October. make sure you are brought to the main plaza! Pick up a free you ever dreamed of, you should experience at least a FAUNA: Nearby Sierra Vallejo hosts a great variety map, and insist on your full value from the driver! Note the little of all that Vallarta has to offer - it is truly a condensed of animal species such as iguana, guacamaya, deer, number of your taxi in case of any problem, or if you forget version of all that is Mexican and existed before «Planned raccoon, etc. something in the cab. Then your hotel or travel rep can help Tourist Resorts», such as Cancun, Los Cabos and Ixtapa, SANCTUARIES: Bahía de Banderas encloses two Marine you check it out or lodge a complaint. were developed. Millions have been spent to ensure that National Parks - Los Arcos and the Marieta Islands - where Uber has also been available in PV for the past year or so. the original “small town” flavor is maintained downtown, in diving is allowed under certain circumstances but fishing of Download their app in your smartphone. the Old Town and on the South Side. any kind is prohibited. Every year, the Bay receives the visit of TIME ZONE: The entire State of Jalisco is on Central Time, DRINKING WATER: The false belief that a Mexican vacation the humpback whales, dolphins and manta rays in the winter. as is the area of the State of Nayarit from Lo de Marcos in the must inevitably lead to an encounter with Moctezuma’s During the summer, sea turtles, a protected species, arrive to north to the Ameca River, i.e.: Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías, La Cruz revenge is just that: false. For the 26th year in a row, Puerto its shores to lay their eggs. de Huanacaxtle, Sayulita, San Pancho, Punta Mita, etc. North Vallarta’s water has been awarded a certification of purity for ECONOMY: Local economy is based mainly on tourism, of Lo De Marcos, Guayabitos, La Peñita, San Blas, etc. are on human consumption. It is one of only two cities in Mexico that construction and to a lesser degree, on agriculture, Mountain Time, i.e.: one hour behind PV time. can boast of such accomplishment. True, the quality of the mainly tropical fruit such as mango, papaya, watermelon, TELEPHONE CALLS: Always check on the cost of long water tested at the purification plant varies greatly from what pineapple, guanabana, cantaloupe and bananas. distance calls from your hotel room. Some establishments comes out of the tap at the other end. So do be careful. On CURRENCY: The Mexican Peso is the legal currency in charge as much as U.S. $7.00 per minute! the other hand, most large hotels have their own purification Mexico although Canadian and American dollars are widely CELL PHONES: Most cellular phones from the U.S. and equipment and most restaurants use purified water. If you accepted. Canada may be programmed for local use, through Telcel and want to be doubly sure, you can pick up purified bottled BUSES: A system of urban buses with different routes. IUSAcell, the local carriers. To dial cell to cell, use the prefix 322, water just about anywhere. Current fare is $10.00 Pesos per ticket and passengers then the seven digit number of the person you’re calling. Omit EXPORTING PETS: Canadian and American tourists often must purchase a new ticket every time they board another the prefix if dialling a land line. fall in love with one of the many stray dogs and cats in Vallarta. bus. There are no “transfers”. LOCAL CUSTOMS: Tipping is usually 15%-20% of the bill Many would like to bring it back with them, but believe that the TAXIS: There are set rates within defined zones of the at restaurants and bars. Tip bellboys, taxis, waiters, maids, laws do not allow them to do so. Wrong. If you would like to town. Do not enter a taxi without agreeing on the price with etc. depending on the service. Some businesses and offices bring a cat or a dog back home, call the local animal shelter for the driver FIRST. If you are staying in a hotel, you may want close from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., reopening until 7 p.m. or later. In more info: 293-3690. to check the rates usually posted in the lobby. Also, if you restaurants, it is considered poor manners to present the LOCAL SIGHTSEEING: A good beginning would be to take know which restaurant you want to go, do not let the driver check before it is requested, so when you’re ready to leave, one of the City Tours offered by the local tour agencies. Before change your mind. Many restaurateurs pay commissions ask «La cuenta, por favor» and your bill will be delivered to you. boarding, make sure you have a map and take note of the to taxi drivers and you may end up paying more than you MONEY EXCHANGE: Banks will give you a higher rate places you want to return to. Then venture off the beaten path. should, in a second-rate establishment! There are 2 kinds of exchange than the exchange booths (caja de cambio), Explore a little. Go farther than the tour bus takes you. And of taxi cabs: those at the airport and the maritime port though not all offer exchange services to foreigners. Better don’t worry - this is a safe place. 3 Vallarta continues to restore public sculptures The monument to General Lázaro rehabilitation, and maintenance of (Malecón), “La ballena y su calva” Cárdenas was recently restored as the municipality’s sculptural heritage (Marina Vallarta), “Don Agustín part of the permanent cultural heritage continues with the intervention to the Flores Contreras” and “El pescador” maintenance program promoted monument of General Cárdenas,” (downtown), as well as the relocation by the municipal government, led said the director of the Institute, of “La naturaleza como madre” (to by Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña, Marina de los Santos Álvarez. the Malecón) and “Golfista Lorena through the Vallartense Institute of As part of the maintenance work Ochoa” (to Marina Vallarta). Culture (IVC). The work of totally the effigy of the illustrious former The placement of identification cleaning and replacing the copper president of Mexico was reinforced cards on the eleven monumental nitrate-based patina was carried out and turned 180 degrees on its base, so of the set of sculptures by Alejandro sculptures that were produced during by Vallarta sculptor Héctor Manuel that it now points towards the ocean Colunga called “La rotonda del mar,” the I and II International Sculptors Montes García, under the supervision and overlooks the public square as well as the monuments to Don Forum Puerto Vallarta, respectively, of the IVC, and in coordination with that bears his name. The director of Benito Juárez García and to Miguel was also concluded, and they were the Administration and Maintenance the IVC announced that renowned Hidalgo y Costilla. donated to the municipality by the of Assets Directorate. sculptor Octavio González will soon In accordance with its mission to Centro Universitario de la Costa “The program of restoration, begin the comprehensive restoration preserve, protect, and promote the (CUCosta). tangible and intangible elements that In addition, the rehabilitation of the make up Puerto Vallarta’s cultural kiosk in the main plaza downtown is heritage, over the last twelve months, currently underway, in conjunction Watching foreign television the IVC has given corrective and with the Directorate of Property preventive maintenance to a total of Maintenance and Administration. from your home in Mexico ten sculptures that required immediate (Sources: Margarita Bonita - intervention. Among the most BanderasNews.com, A great way to improve your Spanish is to watch Spanish language important were: “Tritón y Sirena” puertovallarta.gob.mx) television programs and movies, but if you have purchased a property in Puerto Vallarta, you will likely want to be able to access some content from the USA and Canada, like favorite TV shows and local news stations. Luckily, as technology changes and streaming sites – like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime – have increased in both content and popularity, finding American and Canadian television programing from Puerto Vallarta has never been easier. Cable television is available in Puerto Vallarta from IZZI and Cosmored. IZZI offers many US and international TV channels that give you the option of watching in English or Spanish, while the majority of the programming on Cosmored is in Spanish, and familiar English language shows will most frequently be dubbed in Spanish. Many foreigners prefer to go with satellite television from Dish Mexico or SKY Mexico, both of which offer a larger number of USA and Canadian television stations, however, satellite service can at times be unreliable during rainy season storms. One of the most popular options is to use streaming sites. While sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime do not offer all of the same content choices as in Canada or the USA, you will find many of the same shows and get the added benefit of having access to some fantastic programming from Mexico, Latin America and Spain, all of which comes with the option to add subtitles or dub into English. Now more than ever, it is easy to get that little bit of home entertainment from your country of origin, while you enjoy the beauty and lifestyle of living in Puerto Vallarta. Since 1997, Wayne Franklin and his team at Tropicasa Realty have been a trusted name in Puerto Vallarta real estate. Tropicasa Realty is the region’s representative for “The Leading Agents of the World” and with over 100 years of combined experience in real estate, all agents of the company are affiliated with AMPI. Wayne Franklin or any member of his knowledgeable team can be contacted in-person at their Romantic Zone Office - Pulpito 145-A at Olas Altas. While in PV they can be reached at (322) 222-6505 or by calling 866-978-5539 (Toll-Free) from the U.S., or visit tropicasa.com Map) on Central number (See location 7 4

invention. Building on the concept of the water conditioner, his design focused on adding moisture to the air. His goal was to change the air in factories, controlling the temperature and the humidity. He considered this conditioning or changing the air properties. Hence the term “air conditioner.” Interestingly, Willis Carrier took these two words, incorporated them, and began using it in his company’s name. The first home in North American to have air conditioning In the latter half of the 1600s, was in Minneapolis in 1914, we started cutting blocks of ice owned by Charles Gates. David Welcome, Home! and storing it for use to cool things St. Pierre DuBose, a visionary down in the summer. In that same electrical engineer, installed a Sheryl Novak period, a Dutch inventor named network of ducts and vents for Cornelis Drebbel created and his home shortly after that. This demonstrated a contraption for is considered the first home with the King of England that used salt central air conditioning. Keep your cool, part 1 added to water. This was another The portable, in-window air early form of what we know today conditioner came along in 1945, It is at this time of year that I give The concept of air conditioning as air conditioning. invented by Robert Sherman of thanks to the inventor of the air is often credited back to the times Although there were many Massachusetts. conditioner. Maybe it is because I of ancient Egypt. To escape enhancements over the subsequent His invention could cool grew up in a dry climate. the excessive heat, they would 200 years, the first mechanical and humidify, as well as heat, After over ten years of living by hang reeds in windows that were cooling device, as we know of it dehumidify and filter the air. the ocean in Mexico, I still cannot moistened with water. The water today, was envisioned and built With mass-manufacturing, box grow accustomed to the humidity. on the reeds would evaporate, in Buffalo, New York, in 1902. air conditioning units reduced in For those unfamiliar, here is a bit and the cool air would then blow American inventor Willis H. price, making it more affordable of history on this clever appliance. through the window. Carrier wanted to regulate the for the average home to add this It seems that from the dawn of We also know that in the 2nd temperature in a printing plant. luxury feature. By 1970, it was time, mankind has always wanted century, a rotary fan was invented With a more controlled unusual to see a newly built home to stay cool. Archeologists and used for air conditioning in temperature, the company could in North America without central have evidence that snow and ice China. This fan had seven wheels better maintain the ink’s alignment air. Today, we are blessed with were used for cooling, even in that were 10 feet in diameter and and keep the paper dimensions this amazing invention that allows prehistoric times. was powered by prisoners. consistent. Carrier took the idea us to live a lot more comfortably of steam heating and reversed in hot, humid climates like Puerto the process. Instead of sending Vallarta. air through hot coils, he filled the Next week: Over 100 million coils with cold water. This cooled homes in North America have air the temperature. Not only did his conditioning, but how do we know invention succeed in controlling which is the best model for our the temperature, but productivity home in Mexico? also increased. His device was Do you need a new air conditioner referred to as a water conditioner. or want to get yours serviced and The term “air conditioning” is cleaned to run correctly and keep you credited to an American by the healthy? Contact me at furniture@ name of Stuart W. Cramer. solutionsmexico.com or join our He filed a patent claim using Facebook Group: Furniture and these words to describe his Décor Mexico. 5

in Vallarta. All were incredibly I had long lunches at Co-Exist expensive or just unsuitable. Cafe and dinners at Barrio Bistro From Here I was still running the Summer and today I wonder how both Market at the Marsol Hotel. places are doing. If they are open Marcia Blondin Life is so much easier now! No for business and if they are, how [email protected] packing and schlepping bags every business is faring. Friday morning like a bloody pack I miss the theatres. I miss Bingo mule. Then breaking everything with Aunt Pearl at Incanto. I know That was then, and this is now down, putting it away... ugh. So there is an online game every much work. Now, of course, Saturday but it isn’t the bingo. It’s I spent this past weekend at was doing in slightly more normal everything I make goes to work climbing the steps up to the lounge, home, working in my studio and times. with me to Arte Viviente. sinking into an overstuffed chair, catching up on boring life details I was busy. Meeting with Kim On a Wednesday night last July, getting my cards, beans and drinks like laundry and sweeping my Wilson in Nuevo Vallarta that I went to hear Lady Zen sing at in a row and enjoying the others in floors. After I sat down in front of week, we put our heads together, Ella then continued down Lazaro the space and Tracy Parks’ crazy my computer to write my column, trying to open an artists’ co-op. Cardenas to sit in on my favorite character whom everybody loves. it occurred to me I wouldn’t That ended up well eventually, rock and roll band - Tequila Rush - I miss all of that - the folkloric DARE bore my readers with any didn’t it? Arte Viviente was an at Kelly’s Pour Favor. LOVE Lady dancers who entertain like they more information about the first idea in Kim’s head - we knew Zen! What a voice! Last time I heard are in front of an audience at the sentence of this week’s ramblings. what we wanted to do but didn’t her sing was at the Palm Cabaret’s Kennedy Center. I wonder where So, I grabbed my daytimer from have a place to put it! Lots of opening night. She aced Shirley those kids are if they are dancing. a year ago to see what the hell I venues available - every summer Bassey. And I miss talking to her; How can they? Dancing requires she is so bright, so interesting. Take touching another human. They a bow, Lady Z; wherever you are; won’t be traveling to Shanghai DiVino Dante is open! you are so special. for competition this year, that’s Tequila Rush knocked my socks a given. Poor kids. I am sad for off a couple of months before - Tracy, for all the singers who aren’t March 16th to be exact, with a Led singing. The musicians who are Zeppelin Tribute at the Roxy. I not playing. The actors, directors, had been to Incanto earlier that playwrights who usually use the evening for a Lennon/McCartney summertime to rehearse, plan the tribute so I was jacked to listen coming season, keep their craft to more great music. The concert moving forward. And, maybe was fabulous. They added a they are. I hope so. couple of players to the band for a While I am thinking of great few songs, but the core members song lyrics, Pink Floyd says, “I Danny, Steven and Carlos are have become comfortably numb.” tremendous musicians and Danny There is an anecdote I am sure, can sing anybody. Perfectly. I it just isn’t handy tonight, From We have new hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday. miss them, too. Here. Closed Sundays. In the last year, we doubled the size of the restaurant which overlooks the Galleria Dante garden. This allows us the space to social distance our tables as we adjust to our new normal. We are happy to announce that with our change in hours of operation we have added some new brunch and lunch items. Enjoy a welcome drink on the house prepared by our Bartender Jazz Moncada with your meal. It is a beautiful place to meet friends for coffee, drinks or brunch, lunch and dinner. We are an “Artistic Experience”! We also have a large air-conditioned space for the summer months. We have complied with all necessary sanitary requirements and are excited to see our patrons again. Di Vino Dante is located on the 2nd floor at 269 Basilio Badillo in the (See location number on Central Map) on Central number (See location (See location number on Central Map) on Central number (See location Romantic Zone on the south side of town. Phone: 223-3734 22 6 6

I was maid of honor when she married in 1982, and she was matron of honor when I married six years later. I watched her and her husband, Steve, raise fantastic kids, Ian and Anna, My View and Kathy was there for me when my husband, Chip - one of her nearest and dearest friends - died in 1998. When her mom, Joanie, my beloved Jennifer Mann “other mother,” died, she gave me a beautiful, filigree gold crown from her [email protected] mom’s charm bracelet. Strangely, like I said earlier, sometimes it’s actual streets that connect us. By happenstance, my dad - Big Bad Bill to Kathy - and her family ended Homage to Lovie up living on the same street within four blocks of each other for 28 years. I think Kathy became the daughter most like my dad (Kathy and her Sometimes it’s the actual streets we live on that bring the best connections little sister, Kelly, and I called each other “ugly” stepsisters, and I’m the in life. For Kathy and I, that coincidental street connection was Club House youngest of three girls, so there were lots of “daughters” around.) Drive in North Kansas City, Missouri, the same street both our families Kathy and Big Bad Bill (he was 6’5”) both had huge gardens with corn moved onto in 1970 when we were 12, in a development called Sunny Hills. and tomatoes and potatoes and lettuce and squash and onions and so much It was our first year of middle school, each of us from different grade more. He was kind of an old hippie composter guy, and she was Mother schools. We were the only two kids living in the new development, where Earth personified. When my dad decided he didn’t want to hassle anymore the so-called “bus driver” wouldn’t drive us up to the said “sunny hills,” a with his asparagus patch - which took several years to cultivate - he and long, steep climb we hoofed together. Kathy transplanted it to her own huge plot, just down the road. So, that’s how we met. Soon, we introduced our parents, and the rest was When morel mushroom hunting season came around, they traded tips and history. Her parents, Don and Joanie, and mine, Bill and Liane, became secrets and sources. Once or twice a week, she’d mosey down the road to thick as thieves. God only knows what sort of tomfoolery and shenanigans pop in on him, or he’d do the same, each with their beloved, loyal lab mutts our parents engaged in. trailing behind. I do know, however, of some of the horrible things - relatively speaking I loved it. I loved that my best friend and my dad were so close, for by-then 13-year-olds - Kathy and I used to do, including sneaking our particularly since she’d lost her own dad, Don, the bail bondsman, when parents’ cars out while they were out carousing at places like Gaetano’s we were 17. Kathy’s mom and dad had moved to Oklahoma during our Restaurant and Lounge, a great Italian restaurant and mafioso hang-out (see last year of high school, knowing that Kathy had a loving home with me “Casino” based on the Kansas City mafia, including people both our families and my family. counted as friends) and the Jewel Box Lounge, a female impersonator And then one night, we got the call. Her dad had died, not unexpectedly, nightclub on Troost, offering what was then called Femme-mimic… of a heart attack. He’d had heart surgery in the 1970s, when it was pretty Once, on a Friday night, we snuck out to a carnival in Kathy’s mom’s primitive, and was also a hard-living, life-loving man. He pulled no super cool Flame Orange Cutlass convertible with white leather interior - punches when it came to doing whatever the hell he wanted, including we were 13! - when we spotted them scouting for us. We circled back to drinking and smoking. the Cutlass and hightailed it back to Club House Drive! And since Kathy’s So I was more than happy to share my dad with Kathy. dad owned a bail bonding company, and literally hunted down criminals If you’re still reading this, you’ve probably surmised this is an obituary for for a living, it drove him and them crazy that they could never catch us red- Kathy, my dear, sweet, darling wonderful friend, she of mile-high cheekbones, handed. Tee hee. We won! dimples and the quintessential “never met a stranger” girl who could turn the We actually discovered that we’d been connected since birth, born four grumpiest of grumps (my dad) into melted butter within minutes. days apart at St. Mary’s, back in the days when women - believe it or not Her darling daughter, Anna, called me on July 17th to tell me her mom - stayed in the hospital for a week after giving birth. So while our mothers was dying. Of course I knew the day was coming. I knew my beloved “recovered” in their private rooms, we were probably both wailing our friend, who was Lovie to her darling 4-year-old granddaughter, Payton, lungs out in the nursery. was dying. I know my dad, who died in 2010, was waiting for her with And so our connection went for the next 50 years. a big, old goofy grin, waiting to say something like, “What are you up to, you crazy kiddo!” I was almost 3,000 miles away, but Anna and I texted for hours, and I felt like I was at Kathy’s bedside. I laid in bed just before midnight on the 19th, and snorted, ruefully - “OK, Kathy, so, you’re actually going to wait to die on the same day Chip died? Of course you are!” And sure enough, she joined him the next day at 8:09 a.m. after a hug and a kiss from her beloved Payton. Anna asked me, on behalf of her family, to write Kathy’s obituary, which was an honor. It was weird - I was able to sit down and write it without referencing anything. I knew the moment she was born, the moment she died, and just about everything in between, the parents who had died, the uncles, the cousin, the nephew, the niece who predeceased her, and most all, those of

(See location number on Central Map) on Central number (See location us who survive her. 19 And we are many, and our love for her is fierce and everlasting. 7

Paradise and Parenting On Thursday, my A swim in clear, gentle waves son declared the under the shade of an enormous, official beginning of flowering tree. An international Having enough Burrito Thursdays festival filled with all of my as he bit into the children’s favorite things. Leza Warkentin second half of his Food that I didn’t have to cook, www.mommyinmexico.wordpress.com bean and rice delight that can be eaten without utensils from The Real Deal or even plates. I’ve been trying to come up with the amount I thought we’d California Burrito. Is it perfect? Well. No. It really ideas to get away from reality a save fixing the blown tire This place makes isn’t. I still wish our family was bit. I don’t think I need to explain and the bent wheel rim. The truth an incredible burrito, with any out on the open road, staying in that our current reality is one that is, we’ve had some funky travel fillings you could possibly desire. (possibly) haunted hotels. needs escaping. Not only that, moments. I had French fries, guacamole, Is it enough? My family is our family normally does an “exit, And honestly, I didn’t think I’d cheese, beans, veggies and pico healthy and together. We have stage left” every summer because say this, but I do appreciate the de gallo in mine. What else could everything we need. We have we do enjoy a bit of adventure opportunity to just be. This time anyone even want in a burrito? some things that we want. from time to time. of year, we are normally arguing Guys. This is what summer And, for right now, that is On the other side of the coin, over a map or eating on the run should look like, world health enough. we realize that staying home is or sitting on top of our luggage crisis or no. probably the smartest thing to because our discount flight is do, because we are doing our delayed again. Now that we are best to stay healthy and follow at home, we are arguing over government guidelines. Also, my our table spots or eating ramen musician husband works in the again or sitting in front of the fan. tourism industry, which is just a Which isn’t necessarily better, tad shaky at the moment. And hey, but at least we know where we’re let’s face it, Vallarta is by far one sleeping tonight, right? of the nicest places in the world if This past week we got up early you have to stay somewhere. and threw our stuff in the car and But I really miss our summer went to a small beach just outside travel adventures. Traveling of town. And, by the way, when I is one of my favorite things to say we “threw our stuff in the car”, do. Actually, the dreaming and it means “I got everything together planning are some of my favorite and threatened people until they things to do. I love picking a spot got up and ate something.” We on the Mexican map and then just got there and the sandy stretch digging around until I figure out was almost completely empty the coolest ever vacation on a of people. From our towels, the budget. I’m going to say that my water was gem-blue. When we family doesn’t always appreciate got up close enough to get our feet the hours of effort and the ways in wet, it was completely transparent. which I try to cut costs in order to Later in the week, we found extend our time on the road. out that Comic-Con in San Diego For example, we have stayed had gone international, virtual, in at least two places that were and, best of all, free. While we possibly haunted and definitely as parents might worry over creepy. We’ve taken the bare the screen time, the truth is that bones airline packages that don’t Comic-Con is not something we allow us to choose our seats are going to be able to afford to do and force us to the back of the on the regular. And here my kids plane. We’ve rented cars on are with access to all of the panels basic insurance and then spent and online events for free. Map) on Central number (See location 17 8

Legal Matters By the Way... The real estate pre-sale contracts Gabriella Namian in Puerto Vallarta: are you securing [email protected] your investment or are you buying air? Lic. Roberto Ortiz de Montellano Farias One finds out that the most difficult circumstances encountered in case. However, these agreements must real life can make us discover the real character of an individual. include certain terms and conditions that Hard times can bring out or awaken the worst or the best in some will provide you with protection in case a people. I know. I have seen it. One minor example was a lady who was asked to put on a mask upon controversy arises such as a fixed closing entering an OXXO. She was so adamant about not wearing one that date, an escape clause, clear penalties I was afraid the whole argument could have ended in a fistfight. She against the developer for not complying swore at and insulted the cashier until the latter was close to tears. I with delivery of the unit, and so on. was in no mood or had the courage to be on John Quinones’ WWYD program and act accordingly. I was too tired and in a hurry to pay for And what should the contract my things and leave. establish about payments I must make Then, there are gestures of great generosity that left me completely to the developer? speechless and in awe. Deeds that signified not only a profound Regarding the payments that you will solidarity during these trying times but feelings of human compassion make to the developer, you should try which I thought were only depicted in books. to establish in the contract a calendar Then, there are the social media pages where at times, rudeness, payment that will allow you to gradually cyber-bullying, arrogance and sheer malice became a form of catharsis In Mexico, when you buy something pay the price of the unit so that you can for all frustration outbursts regardless of whether some people might that is not tangible yet, many people joke verify that the developer has initiated get hurt. saying that you are “buying air”, meaning the construction of the development On the other hand, there are amazing social media pages with the that what you are paying for is something and is executing it without delays. intent of bringing people from everywhere together, keeping in touch, that doesn’t exist yet, and in the worst Preferably, a large payment should be making new friends and spreading some love. case scenario, it may never exist. This scheduled for the date in which the unit I have been a constant silent spectator and observer for the past few saying is also used when buying real will be delivered and the last payment months of self-confinement and adjusted to this new way of life in estate on pre-sale here in Mexico, since should be scheduled to take place at Vallarta. I have conformed to the new rules and thought that despite there is always a certain risk, such as closing, this way the developer will try everything, I shouldn’t complain; others have it much worse than me. the scenario in which the developer to avoid delays on the delivery date and Think of war-torn countries, waking up to automatic gunshots on the might never finish the construction and on the closing date. street where you might live, having to walk miles for a bucket of water, therefore you are very likely to lose Even though buying on pre-sale is going through garbage for left-over food, not knowing what soap and practically all the money invested in that a way to get a lower price for the unit water means to one’s body, famine, illness, inhuman living conditions, purchase, or that the developer refuses you will be acquiring, the truth is that no access to medical care, natural disasters… to name a few. Yes, we to honor the entire contract or a specific there is no guarantee that you will get are lucky where we are and should be grateful for everything we have! clause of the contract. your unit until you sign the deed where “How about a distanced game of cards?”, asked my neighbour. you acquire title. The best way to be “I don’t have a deck but I do have an old European tile game called So what can I do to minimize this risk protected is to do your due diligence Rummikub”, I answered. if I’m buying a property on presale? and sign a pre-sale contract that is not “Do you play backgammon?” The first thing you should do is lacking the basic elements that are “I’m afraid I don’t”, I said. make inquiries about the reputation beneficial to the buyer. “How do you really spend your time again?” she asked. of the developer. Serious developers “Housework, laundry, cooking, calling my friends, television and care much about their reputation and Roberto Ortiz de Montellano is a reading”, I replied. the product they are selling, and they Mexican-Licensed Attorney at Law with “Don’t you get bored?” want satisfied customers to give good over twenty years of professional legal “Never have time to get bored … time flies by like you wouldn’t references to future clients. You should experience. He started his own practice know it!” ask about the previous developments in Puerto Vallarta six years ago. His “Don’t you meet some of your friends for drinks or a coffee?” and the delivery of the units. areas of expertise focus mostly on Real “Not yet. But I will one day.” A Promissory Agreement to Sell-Buy Estate Law, Business Law, HOAs and I hope that day will come soon. I know talking on the phone or video or a Promissory Agreement to Establish Estate Planning. is one of the best technological means of communicating, but human a Trust (in case of foreigners acquiring He may be contacted at: contact is what I’m missing because, you guessed it, I love closeness property in the restricted zone) are the [email protected] and hugging. Don’t worry; I plan to catch up when all this is over. Hug adequate agreements to execute in this www.ortizdemontellano.com everyone. Even a tree. 9 To go or not to go: how the virus has affected expats’ travel plans

Janet Blaser Gillian. “If the community needs harder than I’d hoped, and being a U.S.,” wrote Phil from Washington, help, we’ll work to help them. We pensioner gringa in a foreign country D.C. “Have been stuck in the U.S. As Mexico and the United States love our friends and neighbors and was not comfortable for me on many but are headed back to Mexico in report thousands of new coronavirus want to see them.” levels,” she wrote. Connie, who has 10 days. Absolutely cannot wait. cases every day, air travel options Health considerations, age and taught and lived abroad for much of Neither place is “more open” than the are increasing and cities throughout available medical resources figured her life, said she knows countries are other but I’ll take Mexican air, food Mexico are welcoming visitors with strongly in your decisions, and many desperate for tourist dollars. and culture over what we have here in open arms. of you said you were doing extensive “But I can’t risk it,” she said. “So D.C. all day long.” So we wondered: are you changing research using information from all I donate to charities that support my Billy, who’s lived in Chapala with your travel plans? sides of the border. Those waiting communities abroad and hope we all his family since last year, says they’re The question was posed on the till 2021 to travel are hopeful, but survive.” eager to return, hopefully next week. MND Poll June 8. With almost 1,500 choosing to err on the side of caution Puerto Vallarta resident Wendy is “All good, no worries!” he wrote, responses, it showed that nearly twice despite the heartstring pull of life in waiting until 2021 to travel anywhere. noting that Puerto Vallarta has opened as many folks are putting travel plans Mexico. “I’ve only been to one friend’s house “beaches, bars, everything. What on hold until at least 2021 as are set to “Our 20 years of a winter stay in and the Costco parking lot since could be a safer place than the beach go this year. San Miguel de Allende depends on a March 7 and don’t see things changing with few people? We’re not afraid and But an informal poll in a popular cure for the virus,” wrote Vic. for the better any time soon.” use common sense when necessary.” expat Facebook group said exactly “As a Canadian,” shared Gregg. “I “We’re canceling all our plans to Many are waiting and watching the opposite: many more are planning have no plans on traveling to Mexico travel around Mexico until after it’s to see what happens in the next few to return or travel to Mexico this year (or anywhere out of the country) safe to do so,” shared Elaine. “We live months before deciding to travel. and have not changed their plans. until there’s a vaccination/cure for here in Mexico and are self-isolating “I love Mexico and I’m looking “A virus is not going to get the best Covid-19.” and social distancing at present, and forward to visit in 2021,” said of me,” wrote JC. “Come hell or high Despite the Mexican government will continue to do so for the next Michelle. “I’m really hopeful that water, if I can travel in mid-August opening up tourist destinations like several months.” everything will be ‘better’ around that like I usually do, I’m gone!” Puerto Vallarta and Cancún, some Reader David shared what’s time. I can’t wait!” Others were less adamant, but still potential visitors are also feeling probably a common sentiment among Nancy, who’s hoping to make her calmly determined to return to Mexico cautious. full-time expat residents of Mexico. annual visit to Mexico in January in the coming months as usual. Regretfully, wrote one reader, “I live here and ain’t going nowhere.” 2021, feels like there’s still time “We’re looking forward to our trip “We’ve pushed out our vacation in Some say the choice is basically for “some of the problems” to be to Mexico this year,” wrote another Playa until August 2021. This year six of one, half dozen of the other. resolved. reader from the U.S. “Our area has is a complete wash-out; can’t plan or Mexico’s Covid-19 situation may “The reports are a bit daunting flattened the curve. We’ve done our chance anything.” be worrisome, but it’s the same in now,” she wrote. “Probably no research and feel safe with the safety David, who splits his time between most parts of the U.S. without the vaccine by then but maybe treatment? measures put in place for us … we’re Ajijic and Denver, said he had planned added factors of the tumultuous I’m hoping for the best.” basing our personal decisions on facts to visit Madrid and Portugal in May politics, increasing police violence The most philosophical (and maybe and research, not fear and opinions.” but put that trip off until next year. and turbulent protests. (Editor’s note: logical) outlook came from Diane in For folks with homes in two “A Mexican beach vacation sounds Yes, that’s all going on in Mexico as Veracruz. countries, the decision is more appealing now, but I think it will be well but, as foreigners, we can’t get “I live in paradise, so no need to complex. Many feel the pull of their months before I feel it’s safe to go,” involved.) travel until there’s a vaccine.” Mexican communities, which are as he added. “We own homes in Mexico and in the (Source: mexiconewsdaily.com) much “home” as their residence north Many who live full-time in Mexico of the border. are re-evaluating travel plans too. “We’re hoping for a short trip in “We’ve been in San Miguel de October or November to check on Allende for 17 years and travel a lot in workers, the village and our house,” Mexico, the U.S. and internationally,” wrote Kevin and Chris. “Our town shared Patricia. “We canceled four is still closed, and homeowners are trips and don’t plan on traveling until raising funds for the needs of the it’s safe.” population. We love our pueblo Connie, who finished building and our friends of Costa Brava, a house on Lake Chapala this past Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa.” September, said she won’t return That sentiment was echoed many to Mexico until a vaccination “is times over. available to the masses.” “Our second home is Mexico, and “After living there, I decided the (See location number on Central Map) on Central number (See location we plan to go this year as usual,” said Covid-19 crisis was going to hit 12 10 (See location number on Central Map) on Central number (See location 26 11 (See location number on Central Map) on Central number (See location Map) on Central number (See location 10 16 12

The Healing  Coffee drinkers do not have an increased risk of heart disease and have a lower risk of stroke. Power  Coffee drinkers live longer and have a lower risk of premature death. of Plants  Coffee is rich in powerful antioxidants, many people get more Ricardo Mazcal antioxidants from coffee than from fruits and vegetables combined. The benefits are significant, that is why coffee is so popular! Now [email protected] Herbalist and Nutritionist more good news, throughout history many cultures have enjoyed the use of coffee and other herbs and their additional benefits, to mention a few:  Coffee and ginger create one powerful free radical-fighting mix. COFFEE IS GOOD FOR YOU! Ginger coffee is a traditional Middle Eastern spicy and delicious drink - it can also aid in digestion. Millions of adult people drink coffee daily, and coffee drinkers regularly  Chukku coffee is a famous traditional drink of South India, made by ask, “Is coffee good for me?” brewing dry ginger with The answer is yes, but as Mark Twain used to say, “Too much of coffee. Chukku (Dry Ginger) has digestive properties. In the ancient anything is bad.” science of Ayurveda, Dry Ginger Coffee is the second most consumed beverage worldwide. promotes a healthy body and has a rich aroma instantly cheering up It is a powerful herb of the Nervine family, a natural stimulant that can your senses, especially when you are safely and effectively benefit you. feeling low. A Nervine is the description for herbs that affect the nervous and limbic  Coffee and Yerba Mate for a spicy coffee drink. Yerba Mate is a systems of the human body. common Central American tea. Coffee is the world’s most popular prepared pick-me-up, thanks to its  Nettle and coffee strengthen the blood and calm your body while high antioxidants and beneficial nutrients. Coffee drinkers have a much nourishing and repairing the nervous lower risk of several serious diseases. system. Here are the top health benefits of coffee:  There are other coffee/herb mixes including coffee with cocoa or  Caffeine increases fat burning and boosts your metabolic rate. cinnamon, but we will leave that subject for another article. Caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your brain, which Now for the bad news... causes a stimulant effect. This improves energy levels, mood and How much coffee do you need to drink to get these benefits and how numerous aspects of brain function. Caffeine increases adrenaline levels, much caffeine from coffee is too much? Many studies call for drinking 4 releases fatty acids from your fat tissues, and provides significant physical cups a day or less. One cup of brewed coffee (8 ounces) contains about performance improvements. 70–140 mg of caffeine, or about 95 mg on average.  Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a serious Coffee over-consumption has several disadvantages and adverse condition that affects millions of caffeine effects to consider are: people worldwide.  It’s addictive. Consuming too much caffeine can have an addictive  Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s side effect, leading to a caffeine overdose. It can overstimulate the body, disease a leading cause of dementia. damage the adrenal glands leading to headaches, anxiety, irritability,  Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of cirrhosis, which can be trouble concentrating, fatigue, digestive issues and changes in appetite. caused by diseases that affect the liver.  Caffeine can worsen symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease  Coffee drinkers have more than 50% lower risk of getting Parkinson’s (GERD), which is a condition characterized by heartburn, nausea and disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. belching.  Coffee lowers the risk of developing depression and dramatically  It may alter mood and increase anxiety. Caffeine in coffee can impact reduces suicide risk. hormones, neurotransmitter function, nerve signaling and muscles. This  Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of liver and colorectal cancer. is especially true if existing health conditions include underlying fatigue, These are the third and fourth leading causes of cancer death in the world. ongoing stress or chronic anxiety.  It can be high in calories when piling on the cream and sugar, causing extra calories and hindering weight loss. It is best to enjoy coffee black with a natural, low-calorie sweetener like stevia to add a hint of flavor. Almond milk or cinnamon are a few other simple ways to enjoy your coffee cup without gaining weight. If you have any comments or questions, contact me by email or find me at Arte Viviente (Living Art) at 800 Morelos, downtown, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 p.m. to closing. You can find organic coffee, honey, Ceylon cinnamon, apple cider vinegar with the Mother, Maz- mix, moringa super herb powder, tinctures, spices, herbal supplements - everything mentioned in this article at Arte Viviente. Please contact Marcia Blondin, 322 159 9675, for assistance with delivery and after- hours appointments. Email me at [email protected] for information about herbal supplements, tinctures, antiviral herbs, and ancient Aztec food recipes to achieve your nutrition and health goals. 13

Take the time to rediscover what Couple time Retirement challenges you do have in common. This also applies for weekly for couples activities in and around home. It Is the marriage really falling doesn’t matter if the reasons are lack Giselle Belanger apart or are you just in the next of interest or physical incapacity. RN, LCSW stage of married life? Sit down and make a weekly or The first thing to do is realize monthly schedule. Decide what you that you still love each other even want to do every Tuesday or how though you may feel hopeless or many times a week you are going I recently discussed the challenges dates or helping a school-aged child desperate and the next thing is to to go play tennis and then consider of retirement and considered the who needs to be encouraged to be honest about what you want this what you can do together. Literally, impact of finances, physical health, become involved in extra activities. phase of your life to be like and schedule “couple time”. For and general lack of preparation. Their arguments usually include feel like. Share the list with each example, which evenings are you Many people are surprised at how two opposing expectations: his other and instead of hearing all of going to eat together, are you going difficult it is to adapt to being retired neediness and dependence versus the differences and imagining all to the farmers’ market together, are after so many years of working and/ his accusing her of being too of the obstacles, think about ways you preparing it together, are you or raising a family. Retirement also controlling and mothering. of helping each other achieve their inviting any friends over, etc.? greatly impacts the couple. Pick, pick, pick: Other couples list. Collaborate. What better time Create a “date night” and allow Before retirement comes along, feel like they are fighting all of the to put to use all of the great life one to plan it one week and the other most couples face the “empty nest” time. They’re suddenly spending skills (problem solving and creative the next week. Which friends do period in which the children move way too much time together and negotiating with children, teachers, you both enjoy? Is there something out, go off to college, get married, they start to pick everything apart. employees, business partners, upper new you’d like to learn together? and leave “the nest”. The “parents” One or both have become very management) you’ve acquired This schedule also helps with survived, but did “the couple”? Life judgmental and highly critical … along the way. communication, accountability, can get so crazy that they wake up of everything. They’re constantly and predictability. Each of you and realize they don’t know or like bickering and growing less tolerant Can you find your way… together, will have an idea of what the other each other and choose to divorce. If of each other … “What are you by spending time apart? one is doing and more or less they stay together, they live separate doing it that way for?” or “Are you So what if he wants to sail to Fiji when they will be home. It also lives; she adapts to life without the wearing that?” or “All you do is talk all summer and you want to attend eliminates the “I forgot” or “I didn’t kids and he dedicates 10 or 15 more on the phone” or “You spent how every one of your grandchildren’s know” conflict. There is much less years to his career. much?!...” They are so focused on sporting events? What difference resentment towards the other when what they don’t like that they have does it make if she wants to take you are meeting your needs and that Adapting to retirement lifestyle lost sight of their partner’s good cooking classes in Tuscany and of the couple. Retirement can be as a couple qualities. you’d rather not go along? What if an exciting wonderful time of life! Assuming the couple survived, Nothing in common: Do you he wants to visit his adult son and the next big challenge is retirement. complain to your friends that “all you can’t stand him or she wants Now, that empty nest couple finds he wants to do is golf or watch TV” to visit her mother for a month? Giselle Belanger the newly retired man waking up or “She spends hours in the garden Let him go! Take a break! Give RN, LCSW (psychotherapist) is available every day at a loss of what to do or going out to lunch”? Are you each other space! Give each other for appointments in person, by phone, or by skype webcam. or he does something that takes a frustrated that you have nothing the freedom to find fulfillment and Contact info: [email protected] few hours and then is bored the rest left in common? Maybe you have happiness without suffocating and Mex cell: 044 (322) 138-9552 of the day. She has already built opposite priorities such as working demoralizing the other. or US cell: (312) 914-5203 a “retired” life; has her interests, out at the gym while the other one activities, set of friends… and she is overweight and eating whatever isn’t bored. they want, or one wants to travel He’s needy and bored: It is so and the other wants to stay home common to hear her complain that and attend every grandchild’s “He’s bored and I’m not”, or “I sporting event all summer long. can’t stand it, he’s too needy” or “If It may seem like there isn’t he had his way, we’d be together anything left to do together, but 24 hours a day”. Many women that’s probably an exaggeration. describe similar situations in which It’s true that you may not enjoy the their husbands fail to put together same friends or activities and you a retirement lifestyle. They feel may have developed new interests like they are the mommy dealing over the years, but neither of you with a toddler helping set up play have changed completely. 14

Karma…

Krystal Frost

Are we spiritual beings having comes around. You reap what you a human experience, paying it sow, etc., etc. forward or paying it up? You may or may not believe in It’s been heard said Good Karma. I fully respect whatever even lifetimes. If you are very others, generally speaking, you Karma, when somebody seems you believe with no intention of disciplined and committed to will receive love and respect in to be lucky, or Bad Karma… or changing your mind or enticing serving humanity, your bad karma return. Well, except some of those that person is paying Karma when you into believing an idea that will be cleansed. Its effects trollers on Facebook who just pop something unexpectedly bad doesn’t hold water for you. Your will be softened and postponed. up nasty. I bet those guys have happens. Every one of our actions beliefs are your own. Potential disasters in your life can some karma payback coming. has a reaction. Having said that, I do wish to be deferred or even averted. The If one argues with, disrespects, The philosophy of Karma states share my thoughts with you on spiritual world will give you more abuses, or hates others, they will that the sum of a person’s actions this as a mental / spiritual exercise. time to completely clear your receive conflict, disharmony, and in this and previous states of I mean what else are we doing Karma. The more you serve, the bad treatment in return. existence, viewed as deciding hanging around the house baking more blessings you will receive. So, let’s just take this one step their fate in future existences. In cookies and bread. Really? When you offer good service, you further. simple terms, what goes around As a human being in the are extremely blessed in every Spiritual blockages or bad physical world, we are subject aspect of your life. karma are the root blockages in to the laws of our country, state Personally, I have had some life. Serious, chronic and life- and town. When we break those pretty tight times. Fortunately, threatening illnesses typically are laws, we may become involved the lessons learned where pretty karma related. Inability to achieve with lawyers and judges. You fast and things could have been a successful romantic relationship, may not realize that your soul, MUCH WORSE. I got out of automobile accidents and constant my soul, every soul, is subject to some bad circumstances with my business failures could be karma the spiritual laws of the universe. life and limbs intact. Grateful, I related. Do you know anyone (Remember Deepok? He had am to be here with you now. who makes the same mistakes or a way of explaining eastern On the other hand, if you do encounters the same blockages philosophy to western minds, not realize that bad karma needs again and again in their personal which made him a rich man.) to be cleansed and continue to lives, careers or finances? Why And just as there are lawyers and do ego-based, selfish things, then do they keep having the same judges in the physical world, there blockages and disaster will come reoccurring illness, pain and are lawyers and judges in the to every aspect of your life, physical complaints? Why do spiritual world called spirit guides including health, relationships, some folks seem STUCK in the or angels or whatever you want to finances and family… (is there same patterns with bad luck? It call them. Indigenous folk usually anything else?) won’t change until that person relate to personal spirit animals. Wrap you head around this, evolves to see their own blocked Whatever, they help us out with which I just heard and it resonated patterns. This takes time, tears choices during our human journey with me… maybe it will with you and it’s hard work. through this life to pay it forward, too - Karma, honey… clean it up and pay past karmic UNCONDITIONAL Deal with it and hope for some debt. What we want to do is create UNIVERSAL SERVICE. good weather. good Karma... right? Like money UNCONDITIONAL in the bank. UNIVERSAL SERVICE. Krystal Frost When does Karma affect one’s And of course, Do unto others life? The effects of Karma could as you would have them do unto For questions and comments - Cell: 322 116-9645 appear instantly, or in years, or you, because if you give love to Email: [email protected] 15

Currently, establishment of proper resolution of conflicts between owners residency requirements acceptable is also addressed in this act. This law to the notary avoids capital gains. is very important for condominium Viewpoint An FM3 or FM2 helps establish the owners to read and understand. residency requirement. - Contrato de compraventa: Harriet Murray - Licensing: There is no licensing Purchase sales agreement. Real estate requirement to sell real estate in contracts recorded before a notary Mexico. Individuals or groups such as public become binding to the parties AMPI create their own requirements of the agreement. Mexican real estate definitions for membership, in an effort to raise - Certificado de no Aduedo: The professionalism of the sale of real estate. certificate of no tax liability issued - Finiquito is the final bill or by the local taxing authority or Office - Ejido: Farming land owned by a per state. The responsibility of settlement. Without a finiquito, of Catastro. Predial is the name for legal entity, or group called the Ejido. the notary is to search the title in a payments and penalties can continue. property tax. Collective land that can now be Mexican transaction. Their fees are Without a finiquito from Social - Escrow of monies: There are privatized. Foreigners cannot acquire separate from the government charges Security, liability for payments to limited ways that money can be rights to Ejido property. Through a for establishment of a bank trust. The construction workers can continue, escrowed legally in Mexico. Several proper process, the Ejido can sell to notary is responsible for collecting long after completion of the home. of the banks have legal departments a Mexican individual. The Mexican money due the government, such as - Restricted zone: In 1994, the empowered to escrow purchase money can then sell to a foreigner. taxes and capital gains. The notary federal governments of México for a sales transaction. Some US based - FM3: Foreign Immigration Visa is not responsible for handling the liberalized ownership of property title companies have Mexican offices for Foreigners. Issued for retirement money of the buyer to the seller. within the constitutionally protected and authorization to hold escrowed or work purposes to non-Mexicans. - Apostille is the document that area knows as the restricted zone. This funds. The escrowed funds can be kept Persons with FM3’s can stay within authenticates signatures to a document area includes 10 kilometers along all- by these institutions in US dollars. Mexico longer than the tourist visa that are not signed in the presence of natural borders, 50 kilometers along Mexico belongs to the North permits. This document establishes the notary. The apostille is notarized coastlines and all of Baja California. American continent and is not part of residency and is renewable every year. by the Sec. Of State where the The Bay of Banderas is a restricted South America. Its laws have evolved - Escritura Publica: The document person signing resides. This is how a zone. Ownership of property is from Spanish and French law. The issued by the notary to transfer document from the US can become a within a bank trust for non-Mexicans. laws are very different from English ownership of property. The escritura legal document in Mexico. - Federal Maritime Zone: The Common Law, which is very influential is a public deed. If there is bank trust - Certificado de Libertad de area of land owned by the government in the laws of the United States. for foreign ownership it is described Gravamen: The notary checks with adjacent to the tide line. Any usage in the escritura. In the escritura the the public offices to determine is or structure such as terrace or pools, This article is based upon legal bank defines its authority and sets there are liens filed against a property. bedrooms, located within the federal opinions, current practices and my out its fees. The time to negotiate This lien certificate should show the land will have to have a concession personal experiences in the Puerto the terms of this agreement is at the owner of record, the surface area and title to approve use of federal land. Vallarta-Bahia de Banderas areas. I beginning of the purchase process. classification of property type, the - Condominium Act: In 1995, recommend that each potential buyer - Fideicomiso is the Mexican bank legal description and whether there The New Civil Code of the State of or seller of Mexican real estate conduct trust that holds residential property are lines or encumbrances filed of Jalisco established the legal aspects his own due diligence and review. for foreigners. The foreigners are record against the property. of the condominium. In this act, granted the rights of ownership such - AMPI (Asociacion Mexicana the roles of the administrator, the as possession, right to construct and de Profesionales Inmobiliarios) executive committee of owners, the Harriet Murray to tear down, renting, selling, through Association of Professional Real required homeowners’ meetings, etc. Can be contacted at the fideicomiso. Estate Persons. AMPI is the were established. The setting and [email protected] | - Mexican corporations can hold Mexican equivalent of the National administration of maintenance fees, and www.casasandvillas.com title within the restricted zone for non- Association of Realtors and the residential real estate. This type of Canadian Real estate Association. corporation cannot establish residency Not all real estate agents in Mexico requirements, so it is not exempt from are members of AMPI. AMPI has its capital gains tax. Building and selling own requirements and dues required condominiums or building commercial for membership. buildings are examples of uses - Contrato de Promesa is a permitted. Foreign condo buyers will promissory agreement. It is not a require a trust in the restricted zone for contrato de com-praventa. their residential ownership. - Evalua: evaluation of taxable - Notario Publico is an attorney value established in pesos. The with a specialized education who is evalua is not a market evaluation. appointed by the Mexican State to - Capital Gains is the amount of transfer real estate. There are a limited tax, if applicable, owed by the seller number of public notaries appointed upon the sale or transfer of property. 16 Emergency Ongoing Events & More... The Historical Naval Museum (right next to Los Arcos Amphitheater) may still be open. $45. Pesos. Voladores de Papantla usually performed @ 6 p.m. on the Malecon in front of La Bodeguita del Medio.

- Fridays – Virtual Shabbat Services until further notice. Info & Reservations: [email protected]

PLEASE NOTE! In accordance with authorities’ recommendations, all markets in the Puerto Vallarta area were cancelled until next season.

SPCA - To find your perfect companion animal rescued by the SPCA, please contact: [email protected]

- Mondays to Saturdays - 9 & 11 a.m. + 1 PLEASE leaf through this issue for events & 3 p.m. - El Salado Estuary Mangrove used that do not appear here ...and JOIN US ON to offer tours with bilingual guides, which FACEBOOK! could be reserved at 226-2878 or 044 (322) 175-7539. Last week, they offered a beautiful For a comprehensive list of most -if not all- virtual tour. Please check out their Facebook charity groups and non-profit organizations page for more information: in and around PV, you may want to check out: https://www.facebook.com/esteroelsalado ww.puertovallarta.net/fast_facts/non-profit.php

Solution to sudoku page 19

Solution to crossword page 19 17

Striped Marlin disappear, hour fishing trips are fun with the possibility of Blue Marlin at 300 to Football Yellowfin Tuna, 500 lbs. ten miles off the point on a Sailfish and Killer Whales heading of 300. Stan Gabruk Inside the bay we’ve seen a bit (Owner of Master Baiter's Sportfishing & Tackle) of a slowdown with a pod of Killer Whales causing havoc. When the Killer Whales (or Orcas) show up, everything in the water is food. This likely on their way to Cabo. We’ll included Jack Crevalle, Turtles, see them on the flip side come mid- and any other swimming species. January. If you’re serious about Naturally this scares several species catching fish and willing to put the out of the bay but that’s not to say time and distance in, Corbeteña is the fishing is bad. For now, we’re perfect and right on time according still lucky enough see Jack Crevalle to our yearly expectations. Even near the river mouths. The trash though it’s the end of July and lines have been forming nicely as beginning of August, the fishing is the seasonal rains are kicking in a improving daily. bit. So Dorado in the 5 to 10-lb range As mentioned earlier, the area are plentiful but babies. However, with a six-hour bay trip. With the from El Moro to Corbeteña is filling baby Dorado like this are a great bait rains there could be some dirty in nicely, with more Sailfish by the fish, so Sailfish have been drawn water around the shoreline and day. One interesting development into the bay. If you’re around la beaches, but normally this is only a is Wahoo - boated off El Moro Cruz Marina or a few miles off Los few feet thick so don’t freak. The The more things change, the more as well. Wahoo love this water Arcos Sailfish are skipping across bite is still at the mid-day mark. If they stay the same. We have seen temperature and they’re fond of the surface chasing bait. Smaller heading out for a longer duration some small changes this Yellowfin Tuna in the 20 trip, it wouldn’t hurt to leave a little week in our world famous to 35-lb range off Yelapa, later in the morning and feel more fishing grounds of Vallarta. but there are tricks to this, comfortable about being able to see Water temperatures are chum with live bait, draw the obstacles. still a steady 85 with bait them up, then let the action Until next week, don’t forget to and water conditions just begin. With the Orcas kiss your fish! this side of perfect. Blue around, the fish are spread water, Sailfish, Marlin and out so be ready to move Stan Gabruk Yellowfin Tuna are here around to where they’re for the taking. Dorado are “not”. Web page: www.MasterBaiters.com.mx Local Phone at: 322 779 7571 or still small, but we won’t With water temperatures our international number is: 011 complain. The whole a steady 85 degrees, 52 322 209 1128 10 to 9 local time. area from the beaches to massive amounts of bait #MasterBaitersSportfishing on Instagram Corbeteña are full of action everywhere, and plenty of Master Baiter’s ® Sportfishing and Tackle is protected under trade mark law and as we continue deeper into fish, you can’t go wrong is the sole property of Stan Gabruk. High Season for fishing in the Bay of Banderas. the El Moro area. Wahoo is not a Once again this week we’re school species and they’re mostly seeing Yellowfin Tuna in the 50 a lucky “hook-up”. Where there’s to 100-lb range, a touch smaller a few, there are always more. At this week but still perfect for the Punta Mita we have a nice mature fisherman looking for action but not Trash Line which of course means wanting a two-hour fight. Sailfish Dorado. Find any floating debris are also picking up in numbers from and you’ll most likely find 15- El Moro to Corbeteña. With plenty lb Dorado. Sailfish are still off of Blue Runners, Green Runners, the point with the possibility of Caballitos, Sardines, Bullet bonito Rooster fish off the sandy beaches and Skipjack tuna the fishing is of Sayulita. Rooster fish have been wide open right now. Striped in the 15-lb range so throw them Marlin have disappeared and most back to fight another day. Eight- 18

online back-up? The new buzz word But for some reason, Microsoft in cloud storage is UNLIMITED. chose to downgrade their free One After years of high resolution photo Drive to 5GB storage. Microsoft taking and more videos these days, recently brought back the 100GB many of us are easily hitting the paid package for $2/month or ceiling of online storage limits $24US/year, 200GB for $3.99 per currently offered for free. month and 1TB- $6.99 per month. Back-up… Local or cloud? Amazon had an entry level I for one, have already used 30% package of “Unlimited Photo” of my free 15GB Google Drive with Judging by the “bad news” I’ve your best bet for data storage these storage for just $11.99 per year or just my Gmail over the years and had to break to a few clients the past days. You can get sizes to fit your $.99 per month! Well this was a have yet to store a single photo or few months - that their computer need/budget. A 1TB external hard great deal and the thought was, that document up there. YES… Like hard drive has died and their data is drive starts at $75US and can go up this would pressure other cloud many people, I do need to do some lost - it’s time revisit our friend the to 2, 3 or even 5 Terra Bytes (TB). storage providers to play catch up - housekeeping on my Gmail, which back-up. You have all the time in But treat your external hard drive competition is always good. goes back to 2006. The old line the world to back up your important with care!! It is a sensitive device Funny enough, the opposite of “do as I say and not as I do” is documents and photos when your and if dropped, you can have a actually happened. Amazon quietly haunting me as I type (ha-ha). computer is running perfectly-it’s paperweight on your hands fairly discontinued this amazing cost Google Drive does offer a paid just a matter of getting into the habit. easily. If you only have a small effective online storage program. extra storage at $2 US/month ($24 When there’s a problem, it’s a amount of photos and documents, a But why? Huge demand causing US/year) for 100 GB storage. They panic situation as to whether one of 64 GB USB flash drive may do the server congestion? Not likely as also have the same plan as others for a kind grandchildren photos or tax trick for you. Just remember where Amazon has more server space than 1TB (1000GB) storage option for returns can be recovered. Often, you put it. The little buggers can Microsoft and Google combined. $10US/month ($120US per year). data can be retrieved, but sometimes disappear in a drawer quickly…lol Industry pressure? Possibly... Apple’s iCloud has the same it just can’t. Best to be prepared in Now as many of you know, I’m not While those of you who signed standard they’ve had for years. 5GB case the worst does happen. If the the biggest fan of backing up to an up for Amazon Unlimited Photo free with a 20GB (recently lowered data on your computer is important online service as your only backup online storage before the change, from 50GB) paid package for $0.99/ to you, you should make the time to source. But there is absolutely were now being offered to sign up month or a 200GB for $2.99/month back it up. nothing wrong with using online for Amazon’s 1TB Storage plan, and 1TB for $9.99/month. The Anyone who knows me, knows back-up in conjunction with a local which costs $60 a year (five times paltry 2GB or 5 GB free options I’m a little OCD when it comes to backup, as extra insurance. Having the original cost that they signed up above for online storage, will fill up MY data. I don’t rely on just one your irreplaceable data saved in for) or 100GB for the same $12US/ fast, even if you only take a modest location for my data. For really more than just one location only yr! That’s almost a classic bait and amount of photos on your device. important, irreplaceable photos and makes sense to me. switch as far as I’m concerned! If planning on travelling with your documents, I have them backed up Another pitfall of cloud back-ups Amazon Prime customers are now smartphone or tablet and plan on in 2 or 3 locations… some online the past years was the cost. For also being offered the standard old taking plenty of keepsake photos, in the form of email attachments to a free basic storage in the cloud 5GB free online storage. make sure you have a laptop handy to myself, a flash drive and an external running a mere 2GB to 15GB from So instead of creating competition offload those memories to, or have a hard drive. most sources, it left many people in this category, the other main good online storage source in place, to So what are the best back-up running out of space quickly. players seem to be basically free up your device while travelling, options then? For backing up So what are you options for cloud remained unchanged pricing for for more photos and videos. locally, the external hard drive is storage and who is the leader in their paid options. I smell collusion That’s all my time for now. If here. Currently the very popular you’d like to download this article DropBox offers a paltry 2GB free or previous ones, you can do so cloud storage. This was fine a few at www.RonnieBravo.com and years ago, but most people now click on “articles”. See you again can take enough photos on a single next week... until then, remember vacation now to fill that 2GB limit only safe Internet! AND stay safe without a problem. personally by staying home! DropBox does offer a 1TB (1000GB) storage option for $10US/ Ronnie Bravo month ($99US per year). Up until Ron can be found at CANMEX recently, Microsoft One Drive and Computers. www.RonnieBravo.com Google Drive both offered 15GB of Sales, Repairs, Data Recovery, free cloud storage, which included Networking, Wi-Fi, hardware upgrades, Graphic Design, House-calls available. what your Hotmail and Gmail Cellular 322-157-0688 or just email to accounts use up. [email protected] 19 The New York Times Tuesday Crossword Puzzle Jonathan Gersch |Edited by: Will Shortz | New York Times

Solution on Page 16 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 on Page 16