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Pacific Coast Road, Nogales to Puerto Vallarta Driving and Travel Guide Log 2011 only $9.99

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September 2, 2011 ..the heartbeat of the Riviera Nayarit

The Sol, the English Language source of News for the Riviera Nayarit Mexico, including La Penita de Jaltemba, Rincon de Guayabitos, Lo de Marcos. Los Ayala, Lo de Marcos, and San Pancho

Editor Bill Bell

Win a dinner for two at Mateja's Bar and Grill on the beach in beautiful Rincon de Guayabitos! To be eligible, all you have to do is tell us in 50 words or less why you think Riviera Nayarit is the best place for a winter holiday! One entry per Friend of Riviera Nayarit. Winner will be announced September 30 2011. Submission must be posted on Friends of Nayarit Face book

Become a Friend on the Riviera Nayarit Click Here

Storm clouds over Jaltemba Bay

Mariachi Groups From Around the World Gather in Mexico

latino.foxnews.com
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The United Nations of Mariachi: From Sweden to the US, groups are gathered in Guadalajara for the International Mariachi and Charreria Conference.

Guadalajara, Jalisco – About 40 mariachi groups from Sweden, the United States, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico paraded over the weekend through Guadalajara, capital of the western Mexican state of Jalisco, to mark the start of the International Mariachi and Charreria Conference.

The musicians played songs made famous by the "charros," or Mexican cowboys, of the country's golden age of film, such as Pedro Infante, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Javier Solis and Jorge Negrete, during a march of some 5 kilometers (3 miles) Sunday along Guadalajara's main thoroughfares.

This year's edition of the International Mariachi and Charreria Conference will run until next Sunday paying tribute to the golden age of Mexican movies, officials said.

About 15,000 spectators were on hand for the parade, with 500 state and municipal police officers providing security, the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce, which organized the conference, said.

Click here to read the entire story

El Monteon's Field of Dreams golf course now has its own Facebook Fans Page click here to become a fan

This Week

Mexican snobs beat, insult cop, raise debate

An odd instance of police abuse in which two snobby women shoved, slapped and insulted a cop has captured Mexico's attention and sparked debate on gender and class issues.

Tapes of the late-night confrontation in the upscale Mexico City neighborhood of Polanco have been a hit on social networking and video-sharing sites. The two aggressive, shouting, swearing women have garnered the ironic nickname "The Ladies of Polanco."…go to original article

U.S. Widens Role in Mexican Fight

The Obama administration has expanded its role in Mexico’s fight against organized crime by allowing the Mexican police to stage cross-border drug raids from inside the United States, according to senior administration and military officials….go to original article

Mexico declares 3-day-mourning for 52 dead, offers $2.5 mln bounty

Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Friday declared three days of morning in the wake of an attack on a casino in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey that left 52 people dead.

In a message to a number of television and radio stations, Calderon described the attack as a "brutal and unspeakable homicide" and ordered the country's attorney generals both at state and federal level to vigorously investigate the event and hold those responsible accountable….go to original article

4 miners killed when explosion caves in section of coal mine in northern Mexico

Four miners have been killed in an explosion that caved in part of a coal mine in the northern Mexico border state of Coahuila.

The Minerales de Monclova company says Friday’s accident at its La Esmeralda mine was caused by methane gas, which apparently exploded. It says 132 other workers escaped unharmed and the bodies of the dead miners have been recovered….go to original article

New Mexico lawmakers sue to stop governor’s plan for verifying immigrant driver’s licenses

New Mexico state legislators are asking a judge to stop Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration from trying to verify whether immigrants who received a driver’s license are still residents of the state.

A group of lawmakers filed a lawsuit Wednesday in state district court in Santa Fe seeking to block the Taxation and Revenue Department from checking a random sample of 10,000 license holders who are foreign nationals to determine their residency. The state sent notices to people that they must schedule an in-person appointment with the Motor Vehicle Division….go to original article

Mexico announces court proceedings on the Internet

Mexican officials have announced that select court proceedings will be available through the Internet for the first time in the country.

Officials say that civil, tax and administrative cases will be processed through a state website. Officials expect everything from filings to rulings to be done electronically.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon says the initiative will allow broader and faster access to the country's legal system. Officials didn't say when it would be launched….go to original article

Brazil, Mexico stocks climb after overseas data

Brazilian and Mexican stocks jumped Tuesday following a string of encouraging economic data from overseas markets that are key for exporters and companies across Latin America. …go to original article

Calderón administration slams Mexico's state governments for spiraling debt

Ahead of next year's presidential race, Mexico's ruling party is touting fiscal responsibility since most indebted states are run by the opposition, but unlike in the US, most voters don't seem to care.

The administration of Mexican President Felipe Calderón has been warning in recent weeks that while the federal government does not have the debt problem plaguing so many other countries, its state governments are a different story….go to original article

Kidnaps spur some in Mexico to implant own tracking chips

The tracking chips are about a half-inch long and the width of a boiled spaghetti noodle, and are implanted in fatty tissue of the upper arm. Critics say the chip strategy is worthless. Of all the strange circumstances surrounding the violent abduction last year of Diego Fernandez de Cevallos, the Mexican power broker and former presidential candidate known here as "Boss Diego," perhaps nothing was weirder than the mysterious tracking chip that the kidnappers allegedly cut from his body.

Lurid Mexican media accounts reported that an armed gang invaded Fernandez's home, sliced open his arm with a pair of scissors and extracted a satellite-enabled tracking device, leaving the chip and a streak of blood behind. …go to original article

Austin woman who smuggled guns to Mexico gets 30 years

Calling it reprehensible that American citizens would sell firearms to the drug cartels that continue to kill innocent people in Mexico, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel on Monday sentenced the woman authorities said led an Austin-to-Mexico gun-smuggling ring to 30 years in prison.

"It's disturbing that we would provide both ends of the drug pipeline," Yeakel said in sentencing Aurelia Ochoa Hernandez, 55. "We provide the market for the drugs here, and ... we send the weapons back to allow the cartels to control their territories and kill innocent people and keep the supply of drugs coming to this country."…go to original article

Last Week

Fishing ban brings species back to Mexico park. But can it rebuild a fishery?

A study finds that a fishing ban at a Mexican marine park – with critical help from local residents – has successfully restored the fish population. Whether it's enough to restore the industry is not clear.

You can sunbathe, go kayaking or windsurfing, or try your hand at diving. No fishing. Period.

That, in effect, is the dictum residents of the tiny village of Cabo Pulmo, at the tip of Baja California, have enforced throughout a 27-square-mile patch of ocean that a decade ago was severely over-fished. ..go to original article

France, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal are final four of U-20 World Cup: Fan reaction

The semifinal matches are set for the U-20 World Cup in Colombia after quarterfinal play wrapped up August 14. The quarterfinals made for an exciting weekend of action, with three of the four going into extra time, and two on to penalty shootouts. The only exception was the Mexico win over host nation Colombia.

A bitter pill for the host nation as Colombia falls to Mexico

Colombia had gotten through all it's matches in relative ease, pleasing the huge home crowds and raising hopes for a dream run all the way through. Mexico would have not of it, and advanced over Colombia 3-1…go to original article

Rain clouds over north beach of Jaltemba Bay Photograph by Bill Bell

Security for Canadians in Mexico will get 'higher-level focus': Baird
Canada and Mexico will do more to improve security for Canadians in the Latin American country, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said on Monday.

Baird told journalists he and Mexico's Foreign Affairs Secretary Patricia Espinosa had a "significant" discussion about consular affairs and said both countries have a "keen desire" to work together to ensure cases involving Canadians are dealt with fairly, judiciously and swiftly…go to original article

WestJet welcomes expanded Canada-Mexico air agreement

WestJet today welcomed the announcement of an expanded air transport agreement between Canada and Mexico. WestJet is scheduled to fly non-stop 95 times per week to Mexico from 19 Canadian cities as part of its 2011-2012 winter schedule.

"Given that Mexico is a key part of our international air and vacation package strategy, we commend the Canadian and Mexican governments for their initiative and look forward to a completely open framework for non-stop flights between the two countries," said Hugh Dunleavy, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Strategy and Planning…go to original article

Mexico City reaches 1,000th gay marriage

Mexico City has marked its 1,000th same-sex marriage since lawmakers in the capital approved such unions in March 2010.

The city government says in a statement that about 6 percent of those getting married in same-sex weddings in the city are foreigners…..go to original article

Correction

Good afternoon:

I recently read your August 28, 2011 on-line issue and would like to congratulate you on an outstanding publication.

However...........in your "local news" article on page 2 by Tara A. Spears regarding the Dia de la Marina (Navy Day), I must make a correction.

Ms Spears wrote..."Mexico has not participated world conflicts for over a hundred years"........this statement is factually incorrect.

A Mexican Army/Air Force unit the "Aztec Eagles", Esquadron 201, participated in WWII and served with distinction in the Philippines:

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-mexican-air-force-helped-liberate-the-philippines.htm

Thank you for allowing me to correct the record, and the story of the Aztec Eagles might make a great article for a future edition.

Terry Callison

Captain (Ret), US Army

Letter to the Editor

Hi Bill & Dot,

We just received our latest copy of JaltembaSol.. Wow! It gets better with each issue...a real PLUS to the community...THANKS FOR THE GREAT SERVICE!!

Charlie & Carmen

How to Dial a Number in Mexico

One of the challenges for gingos in Mexico is mastering the telephone dialing system. The uninitiated reader is thinking, huh, what’s the big deal, you just punch in the numbers….. but the process is different from the north of the border system. First off, you do not dial a land phone in the same way as a cellular number, plus add in the complication of needing to know if the number is a local call and the situation quickly turns frustrating. Not knowing Spanish really poses a challenge and increases the intimidation factor. While not a techie expert, I’ve managed to learn enough over the years that I can share some general guidelines that will empower you to place a call successfully.

Click here to read the entire story

Mexican Migrants Coming Home in Droves

laht.com
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Over the past 5 years, almost 1 million Mexican emigrants have returned to Mexico from the United States, due largely to the recession and reduced expectations for an economic recovery in that country.

Mexico City – The number of Mexican emigrants who opted to return to their homeland from the United States increased sharply over the past five years to almost 1 million, according to census data.

The Deputy Secretary of Population, Migration and Religious Affairs, Rene Zenteno Quintero, told a press conference that that figure was 2.7 times higher than the amount registered in Mexico’s 2000 census.

The exodus of Mexicans to the United States has likewise been reduced, “seen in a net zero balance between emigrants and immigrants who return to Mexico, meaning we’re experiencing a historic moment,” he said.

Click here to read the entire story

Guayabitos 1974

rincon de guayabitos Arial view 1974

Photograph by Tom Bennett

Guanajuato, Guanajuato
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photography by Bill Bell

Guanajuato is a city and municipality in central Mexico and the capital of the state of the same name. It is located in a narrow valley, which makes the streets of the city narrow and winding. Most are alleys that cars cannot pass through, and some are long sets of stairs up the mountainsides. Many of the city’s thoroughfares are partially or fully underground. The historic center of the city is filled with colonial area mansions, churches and civil constructions built with pink or green sandstone and small plazas. The city was the result of the discovery of mines in the mountains that surround it.

Click here to see and read more

Huichol Indians from the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit spent more than 8 months to fully decorate a Volkswagen Beetle

Huichol Indians from the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit spent more than 8 months to fully decorate a Volkswagen Beetle car with 200 pounds of beads and a special polymer glue, as reported by CBSNews' WorldWatch. Following a multi-city tour in Mexico this year, the beaded Volkswagen, which includes artistic designs of the Huichol Indian culture, is scheduled to tour around different key cities in the United States and Europe in 2012.

Cecilia Barbara de Moctezuma, President of the Association of Friends for the Museum of Popular Art, shared in exclusive with MexicoToday that they have already received a request from the Smithsonian in Washington, DC and are in the process of finalizing plans. Barbara de Moctezuma also added, "We are also talking to museums in Los Angeles, San Diego and possibly Atlanta. Sometime in 2012 we plan to bring the car to Paris, Berlin, and we'll see about also going to London and Madrid."

Click here to read more

San Miguel de Allende

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photography by Bill Bell

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Official name: Protective town of San Miguel de Allende and Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco

San Miguel de Allende is a city and municipality located in the far eastern part of the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico. It is 274 km from Mexico City and 97 km from the state capital of Guanajuato.[1] Historically, the town is important as the birthplace of Ignacio Allende, whose surname was added to the town’s name in 1826, as well as the first municipality declared independent of Spanish rule by the nascent insurgent army during the Mexican War of Independence.

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Indulge Your Sweet Tooth with Mexican Candy

VisitPuertoVallarta.com
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On your next visit to Puerto Vallarta, wander into a candy store or outdoor market and have a look around.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Puerto Vallarta is known for having some of the best in food, from sophisticated molecular gastronomy to street tacos to everything in between. Nonetheless, no visit would be complete without treating yourself to some traditional Mexican candy.

click here to read the entire story

Diego Rivera, Presidential Palace Mexico City

Photography by Bill and Dorothy Bell

The central door leads to the main patio which is surrounded by Baroque arches. Only the balustrade of this area has been remodeled, conserving the murals by Diego Rivera that adorn the main stairwell and the walls of the second floor. In the stairwell is a mural depicting the history of Mexico from 1521 to 1930, and covers an area of 450 m2 (4800 ft2). These murals were painted between 1929 and 1935, jointly titled "The Epic of the Mexican People". The work is divided like a triptych with each being somewhat autonomous. The right-hand wall contains murals depicting pre-Hispanic Mexico and centers around the life of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcóatl appears in the mural as a star, a god, and a human being. Created by serpents, he sails through space as a star that accompanies the sun at night. Quetzalcóatl then assumes a human body to teach the Aztec people as their king and patriarch. Last, when he sacrifices his blood to give life to men, he returns to the sky having completed his earthly cycle. Once he leaves the earth, Quetzalcóatl assumes the shape the morning star, called Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli.

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A New Marina Projected at Rincon de Guayabitos/Los Ayala

Written by Luis Dominguez

Guayabitos will have its own marina Guayabitos/ Los Ayla will have its own marina cc César Rincón

Riviera Nayarit has quickly become a very popular destination, which means plenty of visitors every year. In order to improve its infrastructure, Riviera Nayarit is now projecting to build a new marina at Rincon de Guayabitos.

The new marina is projected to have capacity for 250 boats, and it will be located at the South end of Guayabitos, in the area known as Los Ayala, according to Vallarta Opina.

Hi, just read the latest Sol and saw the article on a marina at los ayala. i clicked on the Vallarta Opina. the photo in the article seemed to indicate a breakwater maybe across the entire front of the beach and then all the slips behind it. this would basically make the lovely little los ayala beach unuseable for swimming and all the things that have made the place so charming. does anyone know anymore about these plans?? it's pretty scary. thanks, ginnie porter

Click here to read the entire story

Click here to read about what is planned for Punta Raza

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__________________________________

Manuel Gomez and Jo Lorimar

Artistic Couple-Jo and Manuel- Enhance Riviera Nayarit Coastal Living

The creative endeavors of local residents, Jo Lorimar and Manuel Gomez, add so much enjoyment and beauty to the already spectacular tropical setting of the Guayabitos/La Penita area. They share a zest for life and huge talent: Jo is an accomplished professional artist who excels in several art mediums, and Manuel’s music touches everyone who hears him play. Together they are establishing a creative studio in La Colonia, a north La Penita neighborhood. What distinguishes their artistic talent is that they create from the heart and strive to have a positive impact on the audience.

Go here for complete article

Suggested Crackdown on Beach Jewelry Vendors

Javier Santos - Tribuna de la Bahia
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Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Marcelino Santiago, president of la Asociación Civil Amigos Vallartenses, recommended that the Navy and the Attorney General's Office (PGR) should intervene to stop the alpaqueros who sell fake silver jewelry to tourists on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta.

"Tourists buy this costume jewelry on the beach, believing that it is real, but it is often recycled silver, called pedacera. In addition to that, there is another type of jewelry coming in from Korea, alpaca, with wire annealing figured in chains or bracelets that is chrome, not silver," he said.

click here to read more

Readers opinions

Mateja Mikunda;" I think the goverment should focus on some of our other problems first. Like the sewer or
robberies. At least the beach venders are trying to make an honest living. I like the beach venders. It's what makes Mexico. Sitting on the beach drinking a margaritas and buying souvenirs.
about an hour ago via mobile ·

Doug Bryden: "I totally agree with Mateja's statement. There are far more pressing issues that need to be addressed than restricting beach vendors."

Robin Serafini: "Agreed!"

Monica Szymczak Jurjaks
"OMG ... get a grip ... what would our experience be without the VENDORS. Over the years we have met and befriended many, many, vendors. Not only are the vendors something us CANUCKS love but what a better way make a connection with your people. Mateja you are 100% on the mark there are so many more important issues to deal with in Mexico NOT only those you have stated but what about getting the government to clean up the roadsides of trash and what about thinking about charging for ALL drinking bottles .... thereby creating a desire for people to return their empties rather than tossing them all over the highways/roads and helping the enviornment???"

Do you have an opinion on this topic? Click here to voice them

_________________________

Mexico Apartment-Hopping

By Dorothy Bell

We have discovered a new way to travel! We have either RV'ed or hotel stopped throughout this country half a dozen times or more and both have their up and down sides.

RV’s are a great deal of fun; you can sleep in your own bed, have all your own stuff, cook your own meals and be somewhat economical to boot. By the day RV parks can cost $200 to $300 pesos on average for full hookups. $5000 to $7000 pesos per month.

I am being brave here because pricing is relative to preference and there are those out there that will prefer to boon dock or stay in a Wal-Mart rather than an RV Park. On the flip side, there are those that will not stay in many of the parks that we think are just fine…they are too “rustic” for them. I am trying to generalize here so bear with me.

Hotels are a matter of personal preference too. For a clean motel/ motel 6 type room in a city you are likely to spend $500 to 750 pesos. If you stay a week, it calculates to $3500 to $5250 pesos a week. The sky is the limit on the upper side. You can spend as much as you want for the high end stuff.

So this trip Bill said why don’t we try booking apartments in the places we want to stay for more than a few days. We went on line and Googled apartments for rent in Oaxaca. Sure enough there were many to choose from. We decided to take a “lower-end” apartment – not just because we are CODO (cheap) but because we wanted to be able to walk out of the deal in case it didn’t work out.

Click here to read the entire story

High tides in La Peñita de Jaltemba threaten flooding along frontage roads Photo by Octaviano Figueroa Salazar

Guayabitos Flooding Must Stop!

By Bill Bell Jaltemba Sol

Rincon de Guayabitos residents, merchants and hotel owners filled a makeshift outdoor meeting place at the Posada Del Sol Tuesday to hear proposals to stop the recent spate of flooding in the town.

That flooding caused by infrastructure failure and recent alleged tampering with outflows by the State of Nayarit has seen severe damage to houses, stores and hotels with water in some areas reaching well over a meter.

“I lost everything in my store, I’m wiped out,” said one merchant.

“I was taking care of three houses and it has taken me days to clean up, some of the water damage is serious,” said another person at the meeting attended by 70 people.

click here to read more

How Safe is Travel in Mexico?

Carol Pucci - Seattle Times
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Chichén Itza and other Maya ruins draw visitors to Mexico's Yucatan. (Ellen Creager, Knight Ridder)

I'll be taking my first trip to the Yucatan in Mexico later this year, and I'm excited to delve into Merida's music scene, explore ancient ruins and relax along the Mayan Riviera.

I'm also thrilled about the prices. I'm paying $60 for two, including breakfast, at the Hotel Julamis, a boutique inn with a garden and pool in Merida's historical center. For a short stay in the beach town of Puerto Morleos, I found a studio apartment for $80, with free bikes thrown in.

I've traveled in Mexico for years, and I always look forward to going back. Mexico is cheaper than Hawaii and, to me, more interesting than Costa Rica. But with all the reports of drug-related violence and killings, people ask, "Is it safe to go Mexico?"

I put the question to Mexican Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara, who was in Seattle recently for meetings with airline executives and travel agents.

Her answer: "Get a map."

Misconceptions of Mexico

Surprisingly, Guevara didn't sugarcoat the impact the violence among warring drug cartels has had on how people feel about travel to Mexico. How could she when I brought along a news clipping about a man's torso and arm found on a street near a beachfront hotel in Acapulco? Mexicans are as upset about what's happening in their country as anyone.

Click here to read more on this story

Kirk Swaggerty (ADAM) found guilty of murder…could serve 60 years

Kirk Swaggerty aka “Adam,” once Illinois State’s most wanted criminal, and the Jaltemba coast’s ‘man about town” while on the lam from the law was found guilty of murder.

Swaggerty was charged in a 2005 home invasion that left one man dead and another wounded was found guilty of murder Wednesday night.

Kirk B. Swaggerty, 41, was found guilty of murder, home invasion and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. Stephanie Klein, DeKalb County Assistant State's Attorney, said the sentencing range for Swaggerty is 20 to 60 years in prison.

Click here to read the entire story

Check it out here Mateja's Restaurant and Bar on the Beach in Rincon de Guayabitos has its fan page on Facebook Click here

Eastern Pacific Shark Species

My reason to educate myself about the species and habits of sharks began more than 20 years ago due to a personal encounter with these predators. My sons and I were fishing in south Florida, having an exceptional morning having landed more than 50 fish. By noon it was hot so we put down the rods and dove into the ocean. Foolish idea. As I was handing a cool soda to my youngest son- who was sitting in ankle deep water at the shore- he screams and leaps up, blood running down his back. To this day, he has scars from the 40 puncture marks from the shark bite. The lesson we learned is that you do not swim where you have been catching fish, as the larger predators are also working the same school of fish. This incident didn’t deter my family from continuing to enjoy ocean water sports- both of my sons are certified scuba divers besides avid fishermen.

Click here to read the entire shark story by Tara

Prepare

Happy Birthday Petra

Friends and family gathered at the Bavarian Gardens Deli to celebrate Petra's birthday.

Tara Spears made the cake and gave Petra a hand made tile wall/light decoration.

Dengue Fever Information: What to Do?

Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. In the last 50 years, incidence has increased 30-fold with increasing geographic expansion to new countries and, in the present decade, from urban to rural settings ….

Dengue: transmitted between humans in the Americas by our friends(?) Aedes aegypti.

An estimated 50 million dengue infections occur annually, and approximately 2.5 billion people live in dengue endemic countries.

The affected countries include México and almost all other countries in the Tropics. Fatality rates from extreme Dengue Virus infections (DHF & DSS) have ranged from 1%-3.5% in Dengue endemic areas. Yucatán and along the Gulf coast of Mexico are Dengue endemic areas (areas maintaining Dengue Virus).

Click here to read more

On the beach in Guayabitos Photograph by Bill Bell

Mexican Woman Celebrates 124th Birthday

laht.com
go to original

In Jalisco, Becerra has 40 grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, according to information provided by one of her great-grandchildren, Miriam Alvear Hernandez.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Authorities and residents in the western Mexican city of Zapopan celebrated the 124th birthday of Leandra Becerra Lumbreras, who may be the oldest woman in Latin America.

Becerra attracted no notice for a number of years until in 2008 the DIF family services agency of Zapopan took note of the case and sought out her relatives. Then it was learned that the woman has 148 descendents in Mexico and the United States.

In the surrounding state of Jalisco she has 40 grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, according to information provided by one of her great-grandchildren, Miriam Alvear Hernandez, who cares for her.

Becerra participated in the 1910-1917 Mexican Revolution as a leader of the "Adelitas," women who accompanied their husbands serving with Pancho Villa to the battle front.

Leandra "is Zapopan’s longest-lived woman and could be (the oldest) in Latin America," said the DIF in its communique.

Her party was livened up by the Quetzal chorus of elderly adults and a number of her family members attended the celebration.

"The birthday girl has no degenerative chronic illnesses and when she’s awake she shares anecdotes from the Mexican Revolution," said the DIF.

Simply Puerto Vallarta - Making the Move to Mexico

Laura Gelezunas - Video Diva Productions
September 2, 2011

In this edition of Simply Puerto Vallarta, Laura talks with Nicole Majewski, a young American expat who lives and works in Puerto Vallarta. (Video Diva Productions)

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - A declining U.S. economy, poor job prospects, not only for college graduates but for everyone, sky rocketing health care costs and you have just some of the reasons why people are moving to Mexico. It is not just baby boomers retiring any longer.

Walking a path seldom taken by young Americans, Nicole Majewski began the next phase of her life's journey when she left her home town of Buffalo, New York.

"I moved to Puerto Vallarta when I was 21 years old," says Nicole, "A couple of friends of mine and I took a bus all the way down to Puerto Vallarta. "I didn't know anything about Mexico and I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing. I just knew I wanted a change and wanted to travel a little bit."

It's not only baby boomers moving to Mexico, there is a surge of younger expats relocating. Many are disillusioned by the current job prospects in the US and living is simply less expensive south of the border. Nicole spent some time working at various restaurant jobs before diving into the tourist industry.

"After that first year of working various restaurant jobs I found a job with Vallarta Adventures and I kinda stuck that out, and that was my commitment, my time when I knew that I was going to stay and work it out," says Nicole. She worked as a guide in the Dolphin Center because she spoke English and Spanish and would be able to communicate will all tourists.

Nicole found living outside the US refreshing but at the same time adjustments were made. "When I first moved down to Vallarta, there were a lot less health food stores and vegetarian options," says Nicole, "It was really hard to find a box of tofu or it was really difficult to get organic soaps, and so that was my goody list for when I went back home. And of course we still can't get Reese's Pieces and licorice or things like that but that's not survival. It's funny because you hear people saying, how can you survive with this or how can you survive without that, but you're like 20 blocks from the beach and it's sunny all of the time, and you can see the mountains and the ocean everyday, so you just have to make some sacrifices."

Lack of consumer goods does not discourage Nicole from the time she has spent discovering herself and a new life focus. "I feel really lucky to be here," says Nicole, "I've met young people between the ages of 20 and 40, everyday. I have friends from all over the world. I think Vallarta is a very transient town for young people and they just kind of pass through. They are either coming for a vacation, coming for a month, coming to volunteer or intern and then they are gone. I feel very lucky, my friends here are my family and we have a really big family."

After working for about seven years in the tourist industry, Nicole found a new job, which satisfies many aspects of her personality, and she continues to strive toward emotional fulfillment. "I have been working for the last year with the non-profit called PEACE, (Protection, Education, Animals, Culture, Environment) based out of the Punta Mita area," says Nicole.

"I am the volunteer and events coordinator and it's been something I have wanted to do since I was a little girl, and I've known Molly Fisher, the director for many years, and always tried to make it work, and finally the day came when I could make it work, and I've been working with them full-time for a year and it's a very gratifying and exciting job, and I love going to work everyday, I feel very lucky," she adds.

Living and working in Mexico is not for everyone and Nicole recommends giving it a test drive before committing yourself.

Simply Puerto Vallarta is a multi-media promotion campaign that highlights the richness and diversity of Mexico's premier coastal tourist town. Unlike traditional PR efforts, the video series was designed to put the media message back into the hands of those it most affects - area residents.

OPEN ALL SUMMER

Travel & Leisure Names Four Seasons Punta Mita #1 Family Resort

Live Punta Mita
go to original
September 1, 2011

Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort's Lazy River is a favorite of all visitors, both young and young at heart. And speaking of fun... the Four Seasons Kids’ Club is amazing!

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Known as one of the world’s leading travel magazines, Travel + Leisure has just released the results of its annual poll to determine the 2011 World’s Best Awards, and Punta Mita’s Four Seasons Resort is among the winners.

From December 15, 2010 to March 31, 2011, T+L invited its readers to participate through Travel + Leisure magazine and online at TravelandLeisure.com in selecting the "World’s Best."

As a result, Punta Mita once again earned top honors as being among the favorite destinations of the readers, with Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita receiving the award for The World’s Best Resort for Families in Mexico!

There’s no doubt that Punta Mita is a magical place and Four Seasons Resort multiplies that magic with their exceptional service and attention to detail, such as welcoming your kids with a special amenity, child-size bathrobes and colorful alphabet bath sponges.

As well, the restaurants have special menus created to appeal to the discerning tastes of the little ones. And when we talk about fun... Four Seasons Kids’ Club is amazing, with its 2400-square-foot space equipped with all types of toys, games and even video games for kids of all ages, staffed by a team of employees skilled at working with youth.

The fun doesn’t end here, the Lazy River is a favorite of all visitors, both young and young at heart. Relax on an inner tube in this cool and refreshing river while the gentle current moves you along...

Readers voted on their favorites, assigning a ranking on a scale of 1 to 5 of a selection of categories, which included: rooms/facilities, location, service, restaurants/food and value.

Four Seasons Punta Mita received the best grades among all contenders, consolidating the resort as the Top Destination for Family Vacations in Mexico.

Congratulations to Four Seasons Punta Mita for this award and thank you very much for proudly representing this wonderful destination that is Punta Mita.

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As Mexico Hurricane Season Approaches, International Insurance Group Offers New Tips For Homeowners

Mexico Homeowners Insurance provider International Insurance Group, Inc. offers consumers tips on reviewing insurance coverages for homes and condos in Mexico in preparation for hurricane season.

Many Mexico based homeowner’s insurance plans do not offer hurricane coverage, and those that do may include severe coverage restrictions, or use outdated policy language.

Most of the Homes and Condos owned by U.S., Canadian and other foreigners in Mexico are located near the coast. The 2011 hurricane season is predicted to be an especially active one, both in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico. In anticipation of the predicted active hurricane season, Mexico Homeowner’s insurance provider http://www.mexpro.com (an International Insurance Group, Inc. Company) advises owners of property in Mexico to take the following steps to prepare for hurricane season.

1. Get Mexican Homeowner’s Insurance. If a policy is already in place, it should be reviewed carefully.. Does it even offer hurricane coverage? Is the insurer A-rated with the A.M. Best Company, and thus able to withstand thousands of hurricane claims? Is the policy written on U.S.-style coverage forms?

Many Mexico based homeowner’s insurance plans do not offer hurricane coverage, and those that do may include severe coverage restrictions, or use outdated policy language. Mexpro.com, a U.S. based insurance provider, offers new Homeowner’s Insurance with hurricane coverage, available with fixed deductibles and low co-payments in all coastal areas.

“At this time, we do not have any moratoriums on writing new policies. But that could change quickly, as storms begin to develop”, stated Jim Labelle, CEO of Mexpro.com.

Property owners are advised to act now to obtain coverage before moratoriums take effect. Mexico Homeowners can get A-rated coverage, based on U.S.-style policy language, directly online at http://www.mexpro.com or by calling 1-888-467-4639 (U.S. and Canada) or 001-888-467-4639 (toll free from Mexico).

2. Protect belongings. Those homeowners in residence in Mexico home during hurricane season should pay attention to the weather.When a storm is approaching or threatened, homeowners should take precautions such as storing valuables in a safe place.

3. Be vigilant. Keep an eye on the local weather tracking websites. Have your insurance policies handy.

4. Board up windows. If a storm looks like it is going to hit, cover windows with boards. These don’t have to be special hurricane shutters, but they need to be thick and securely nailed over the windows.

5. Owners of homes and condos in Mexico who rent their houses out should also communicate this items to the renters. .

Hurricane season can be damaging and expensive, especially to the unprepared. Consumers who own homes in Mexico are encouraged to contact Mexpro to discuss their current policy coverages and receive a free, no obligation coverage analysis and premium quotation.

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WEATHER

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Acapulco	Loreto	Puerto Vallarta
Aguascalientes	Los Mochis	Queretaro Airport
Cancun	Manzanillo	San Felipe
Cozumel	Mazatlan	San Jose Del Cabo
Cuernavaca	Merida	San Luis Potosi
Durango	Mexico City	Santa Rosalia
Ensenada	Monterrey	Tampico
Guadalajara	Morelia	Tepic
Guanajuato	Oaxaca	Veracruz
Bahias De Huatulco	Puebla	Zacatecas
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo	Puerto Escondido
La Paz	Puerto Penasco