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 This Week

Mexico Changes in Energy, Transport Cabinet Posts

Mexican President Felipe Calderon shuffled his Cabinet on Friday, changing the two ministers in charge of energy, communications and transportation in order make his government "the infrastructure administration."…go to original article

Mexico Confirms Border Teen Died From Gunshot

Forensic Experts Determine Bullet Went Through Barron Torres' Right Arm, Entered Chest and Punctured Lung

Mexican officials said Friday there is no doubt that a teenager involved in a shooting with U.S. Border Patrol agents in Arizona died from a gunshot wound….go to original article

Mexico stocks edge up; inflation rate rises

Mexican stocks ended fractionally higher Friday, but lost grip of bigger gains as investors digested a weaker-than-expected monthly jobs report from the U.S., Mexico’s largest trading partner. ….go to original article

DOT seeks to resolve trucking dispute with Mexico

The Obama administration Thursday released a proposal for re-opening U.S. roads to Mexican trucking companies, describing it as a starting point for negotiations aimed at resolving a longstanding dispute between the two nations….go to original article

Big Bend to get informal US-Mexico border crossing

Authorities on Thursday announced a plan to build a border crossing in West Texas' remote Big Bend National Park that would allow outdoor enthusiasts to explore the picturesque region on both sides of the Rio Grande — despite U.S. government warnings that some parts of Mexico are unsafe to visit due to drug violence…..go to original article

Mexico's 'secular Taliban'

The language used in the first Sunday paper of 2011 could not have been more attention-grabbing: the capital government, said the Mexico City archdiocese, is so intolerant it acts like a “secular Taliban.”

And sure enough the lively phrase grabbed headlines, flashing over the front pages of several Mexico City newspapers and sparking explosive responses….go to original article

Try this! Whale watching from a small boat

What's the deal?

Beach camp and get up close with grey whales as they give birth.

Where's it at?

Each year, hundreds of grey whales make the nearly three month, 8,000-kilometre journey from the Arctic to their winter mating home in the warm waters of Magdalena Bay, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico's Baja peninsula. ,,,go to original article

Mexico Real Estate Coalition Announces "Live Mexico" Campaign

For the first time, a nationwide array of companies are joining forces to promote living and real estate investment in Mexico. Individuals from some of the most respected companies including Grupo Questro, Capella Pedregal, Punta Mita, Querencia, RCI International, BBVA/Compass Group and Stewart Title Latin America have compiled a stellar group of talent to combat the negative media, security concerns and perception challenges that have faced Mexico the past year. www.livemexico.org.... go to original article

Mexicana to restart ticket sales on January 24

Ailing Mexicana airline, which suspended all flights in August, will open ticket sales again on January 24 but does not yet have a date to return to the skies, a transport official said.''The 24th is maintained as a start date for commercial operations, but not for aeronautical operations,'' deputy transport secretary Humberto Trevino told a news conference after meeting with airline representatives, potential investors and government officials. ….go to original article

Last Week

Mexico Adds More Than 730K Net New Jobs in 2010

Mexico's economy and labor ministers Tuesday said the nation has added just over 730,000 net formal jobs during 2010, and 1.36 million since the start of the current administration.

"The last time there were so many jobs created," said Javier Lozano, the nation's labor minister, was 1996. He added that the nation had added 837,000 formal jobs since June last year, the month he said marked the beginning of the recovery from the pervasive international financial crisis, compared with 700,000 jobs lost from November 2008 to May 2009, when the crisis was biting. …go to original article

Global Warming? Not in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!

Those of us that have lived in Puerto Vallarta for many years agree, the fall and early winter of 2010 was the coldest we’ve witnessed. Everybody seems to be talking about the unusually cool evenings and mornings; so cold that many of the local women are wearing sweaters and some of the guys are even wearing long pants! We were curious as to just how cold it’s been so we decided to do a three month weather review of Vallarta. According to the Wunderground website, there has been no measurable amount of rainfall since the first of October…go to original article

Mexico's other enemy: Obesity rates triple in last 3 decades

Mexico arrests high priest of 'Saint Death' cult

— Mexican police have arrested the leader of Mexico's "Saint Death" cult and accused him of kidnapping and posing as a member of the feared Zetas drug cartel.

David Romo, considered the high priest of a cult with millions of followers across the Americas, was presented to the media on Tuesday in the Mexican capital after being arrested in late December along with eight others including a minor….go to original article

Crimetrackers: Helping Mexico solve crimes

Not only are U-S authorities getting tough on human smugglers, but a recent request from the Mexican government is showing they are too.

A Crime Trackers investigation learned Mexico is requesting the help from the Pima County Sheriff's Department via the Department of Justice so Mexico can charge two smugglers with homicide….go to original article

Delta to unveil flight to Mexico City

Delta Air Lines Inc. is unveiling its new Memphis to Mexico City flight with a ceremony on Jan. 8….go to original article

U.S. agents are armed with insider information that could help lead them to top Mexican drug-cartel leaders, thanks in part to a Houstonian who was a member of an arms-trafficking group that sent more than 300 military-style weapons to Mexio …...go to original article

Archaeologists find new clues why the Maya left

How Mexico's drug war affects tourism

Violence has increased, but some areas are relatively safe and airlines are adding flights. What can travelers expect from Mexico in 2011? That's at least a $64-million question, given the many Americans who visit the country every year. And the answers seem to point every which way….go to original article

Grey whale migration underway

An estimated 18,000 gray whales have begun their southern migration from the Bering Sea to their breeding grounds around Baja, Mexico and can be sighted from shore over the next week or two….go to original article

Violence reachs new heights in Mexico in 2010

Mexico City • Mexico’s drug violence in 2010 was striking not only for its scale but also for its brutality.

In the northern city of Santiago, the mayor’s body was found with the eyes gouged out. In the picturesque town of Cuernavaca, four decapitated men, their genitals severed, were hanged from a bridge along a heavily traveled highway. And in Ciudad Juarez this week, two university students were hunted through a maze of streets, shot in the head, and their bodies were set on fire….go to original article

San Miguel del Allende and Chicago Selected as Top Cities for Art Lovers

After playing second fiddle to New York’s vibrant art scene for year’s Chicago is getting its due as a place to come and enjoys the arts.  Sherman’s Travel who provides expert travel advice and MSNBC travel have put Chicago on its list of ‘Top 10 Cities for Art Lovers’ and ranked it #2 ahead of New York. …go to original article

When choosing Mexico real estate for your retirement, there are many different areas from which you can choose. Besides simply a variety of high quality Mexico properties, the various areas also offer a distinct lifestyle to suit the tastes of different retirees.The TOPMexicoRealEstate Network prepared a list of the 10 best places to retire in Mexico. Within these areas, there are a few main “styles” to choose from, which are are as follows….go to original article

Mexico cites breakdown in La Familia cartel

Mexico's federal police said Friday that the once-fearsome La Familia drug cartel has been "completely dismembered" and has broken down into small groups that commit robberies to pay their members.

The cartel has dominated the western state of Michoacan for several years, making money by trafficking methamphetamines and extorting protection money from businesses there. It has also become known for its bloody ambushes of federal police….go to original article

Mexico army's failures hamper drug war

The army often relies on numbers over intelligence and falls back on time-worn tactics, such as highway checkpoints, of limited use against drug traffickers. The shortcomings alarm U.S. officials….go to original article

Preening Paris Hilton is a strutting peacock on the beach in Mexico

Looking as good as Paris Hilton is clearly hard work. The hotel heiress displayed her fuller figure on the beach in Mexico yesterday. Strutting around in a white bikini, the socialite split her time between canoodling with boyfriend Cy Waits and preening herself….go to original article

Mexican archaeologists look back on a banner year

A roughly 1,000-year-old Maya sarcophagus, vestiges of an extinct tribe, the oldest tomb in Mesoamerica, dinosaur fossils and human remains dating from the early 8th century are some of the most noteworthy archaeological finds made in Mexico during 2010.

"We haven't had such a fruitful period since the (19)80s, and we haven't undertaken so many investigations across the length and breadth of the country," Julio Castrejon, the head of communications for Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History, told Efe….go to original article

Where To Find Inexpensive Real Estate In Mexico's Popular Lake Chapala Area

With prices starting at less than one-tenth the cost per square foot of northern shore lake properties, the south shore side of Mexico’s Lake Chapala  offers expats open vistas, quaint fishing villages and all the beauty of one of Mexico’s most popular expat destinations – but at a much lower cost. New infrastructure improvements will soon make the areas on the south shore side of the lake – which include San Luis Soyatlan, Mazamitla, and Tizapan el Alto – even more attractive. See the following article from International Living for more on this….go to original article

Sunny Puerto Vallarta Mexico Lures Sun Seekers with Good Deals

NEW YORK – December, 2010 – Travelers looking for a last minute getaway for the winter Holidays need not look further than to the authentic Mexican charms of Puerto Vallarta. Located only a short or mid-haul flight from many US gateways, Puerto Vallarta is an ideal destination offering a wide range of attractions and activities for couples and multi-generational families alike. Visitors can chose to lounge on endless miles of sandy beaches set amidst the beautiful vistas of Banderas Bay, or explore the historic center’s cobblestone streets for beautiful arts and crafts. ..go to original article

Fashion Show Models/Designers Meeting Jan. 18 at 4:00 pm

Headline News

The Jaltemba Sol would like to apologize to its readers for coming out so late this week but the Bell family was busy with the wedding of our daughter Justine to Memo Trejo in Patzquaro Michoacan.  It was a great wedding!.

To view more photographs of Justine and Memo's wedding

click here

2^nd Annual Jaltemba Bay Rotary Club Dinner Dance

Saturday, January 22^nd in La Peñita

 January 2, 2011, La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nayarit -  The Second Annual Rotary Club Dinner Dance will be held at Toñita III on Saturday, January 22^nd.  Featured is a delicious dinner, lively music, dancing, a silent auction, a floor show, prizes and loads of good fun.  It all starts at 6:00 pm and ends at 11:00 pm.  The ticket donation is $300 pesos per person, which includes dinner and one drink.  Tickets are on sale at:  Xaltemba Restaurant, Piña Colada Restaurant, Jafiro’s, Fitness Pad, Centro Chiropractico, Interactive Computing and from Rotary Members.  Buy your tickets early because they are hard to come by as the day of the event gets closer.

The dinner dance is Jaltemba Bay Rotary Club La Penita’s big annual fundraiser.  Donations raised at the first dinner dance were largely responsible for the realization of the club’s three big 2010 accomplishments.  The club proudly inaugurated a new kinder at the Colonia Las Cabras on March 2^nd.  Education is a Rotary hallmark and so said Kinder La Patria behind the Pemex in Guayabitos also became a reality. Lastly, La Peñita Rotary co-partnered with Los Amigos de La Peñita, federal and municipal governments and the local Ejido on the La Peñita Beach Clean-up Project demolishing two derelict buildings on the beach, making La Peñita a more beautiful place to visit.

What does the Second Annual Dinner Dance mean to our communities?  La Peñita Rotary is the proud recipient of three 2010 Rotary grants.  The donations raised at this coming dinner dance will help fund each of the grants, soon to become our major 2011 projects.  The first grant provides for consistent water, a security fence and a safe play area for the Luis Pasteur Kinder Luis Pasteur Project.  The second grant provides for the remodeling of the Zacualpan La Preparatory High School (CBTA #107).  It is a large project with the goal of repairing the school roof, installing a new computer lab, installing a new kitchen lab and repairing a number of the classrooms.  The logistics of coordinating 12 international clubs led by Berkeley California and the local parents and craftsmen is a project in itself.  Lastly, continuing to focus on education, Kalispell Montana’s Rotary Club’s Learning for Life project (scholarship and leadership training) will be jointly managed by the La Peñita Rotary and Los Amigos Clubs as well as partnering with Chacala’s Cambiando Vidas.  Join us in making a difference in our corner of Paradise.

 Club Rotario Bahía de Jaltemba meets every Wednesday from 7:30 am to 9:00 am at Piña Colada’s in Guayabitos.

Humpback Whales are in abundance right in Jaltemba Bay... Bill Bell Photo

Window on Marine Life: Jaltemba Bay Tide pools

                     © Tara A. Spears

One of the favorite activities along the Riviera Nayarit is strolling the gorgeous beaches. But most people stay on the sand and miss out on a remarkable phenomenon, the Pacific Ocean tide pools.  It’s worth the extra exertion to climb the rocky outcroppings at either end of the Jaltemba Bay to view the tide pools that contain a wealth of marine critters. Tide pools are a unique and brutal habitat where the ocean meets the land. This tidal zone is continually shaped by the actions of sun, wind, water, and rock. The sun bears down, heating exposed surfaces and organisms, ocean breezes blow and contribute to the wave action, erosion, and drying of exposed plants and animals; the ever changing water level requires tide pool inhabitants to have adaptive characteristics; and the rocks are etched by the force of the pounding tides constantly approaching and receding.   If you want a perfect spot to meditate or just enjoy the natural beauty of the tropical ocean, sitting beside a tide pool is a guaranteed de-stressor.

Nicole Martin - PurrProject.com

Please visit PurrProject.com or contact info(at)purrproject.com

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Many folks vacation to Puerto Vallarta and during their stay and a homeless cat or dog is found! What do you do? Take it home with you of course! Here are a few tips as to what steps should be taken to make sure your new family member receives the frequent flyer miles he/she so deserves. IT’S EASY! Please consult with your airline as each one has different criteria.

1. A Health Certificate: (carta de salud) is required by all airlines and can be easily obtained from any vet.

• Rabies Vacine is required for pets over 12 weeks of age

• Common tests on stray dogs that you may have rescued would be PARVO and DISTEMPER

• Ask your vet what YOUR animal needs to be able to fly home with you.

2. Make a reservation: You must reserve a spot on the plane for your animal. You can even do this after your flight is booked. So if you find an animal that you want to take back after your flight is booked, you probably CAN! Just check with your airline.

3. Small animals: can fly in the cabin under the seat in front of you. Your airline will provide the details (hard or soft kennel – and size restrictions)

4. Larger animals: need to fly in cargo. Again, your airline will provide the details. If your animal must go in cargo, DO check with your airline – especially on “temperature restrictions” for departure and arrival as it is NOT safe for animals to fly during some months (extreme summer heat in Vallarta or extreme winter cold up north)

5. Airline blackout dates: most airlines have these in place for the safety of animals that fly in cargo due to extremes in temperatures…or during busy seasons (Christmas, Easter…). Check with your airline.

NOTE: Kennels are more affordable in supermarkets in Canada and the US than in Vallarta, so if you KNOW you are going to rescue an animal, consider purchasing your kennel up north and bring it down to Vallarta ‘empty’ with you. Check with your airline to see if they would accept an empty kennel on your trip down to Vallarta, and if there is a charge to do this.

This article is courtesy of PuRR Project a no-kill feline rescue shelter with 260 residents. PuRR Project needs your support. Please visit PurrProject.com or contact info(at)purrproject.com

If you don’t see her at the market, try her in the shopping arcade in La Penita across from Petra’s Deli. Lise is usually there selling various homemade German bakery items including Pretzels and rolls. We are particularly fond of her light rye……Delish!

Over 1,200 Same-Sex Marriages Performed in Mexico City in 2010
EFE
go to original
January 06, 2011

A total of 60 foreigners married in the capital, including people who were born in Romania, Spain, Italy, France, the United States, England, Canada, Panama, Venezuela, the Philippines, Argentina, Austria, Ireland, Brazil, Cuba and Colombia.

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Mexico City – More than 1,200 people, including two women ages 81 and 90, married a partner of the same sex in Mexico City last year, the Federal District said.
The Federal District's Legislative Assembly overhauled the civil code in December 2009 to permit same-sex marriages, but the new law did not take effect until March 4, 2010.
Of the 612 same-sex marriages performed last year, 318 involved men and 294 were entered into by women.
March was the month with the most same-sex unions, with 94, officials said.
The legal change benefited "spouses with foreign nationality" who were able to marry in the capital, the Federal District said.
A total of 60 foreigners married in the capital, including "people who were born in Romania, Spain, Italy, France, the United States, England, Canada, Panama, Venezuela, the Philippines, Argentina, Austria, Ireland, Brazil, Cuba and Colombia," the Federal District said.
Forty-four of the foreign spouses were male and 16 were female.
A total of 405 of those entering into same-sex marriages were between the ages of 31 and 40, while 376 were in the 21-30 age group and 264 were in the 41-50 age group.
People in the 61-70 age group accounted for 27 same-sex marriages, while four people were in the 71-80 age group and two spouses were ages 81 and 90.

More than 67 percent of the 612 same-sex marriages registered last year were in the shared-asset category and the rest were in the separate-assets category

Earlier this fall, Geri De Moss the Barbie Grandma, was worried that she would not have enough Barbies dolls to go around for the holidays.

At that time she only had a couple of hundred of Barbies. However, at the end of November, shortly after she arrived in Los Ayala, Barbies kept rolling in like pennies from heaven! The final tally was 680

Barbies. It did not top last year’s count of 835 Barbie’s but nevertheless it was plenty to be divided between all groups who asked for them. 

    Geri De Moss advises that they were able to provide Barbie’s to two area schools, six kinders in the La Penita area, the communities of Los Ayala, El Monteon, Guayabitos, La Penita and La Colonia, for

their holiday parties, two privately sponsored small village groups and even the ladies at La Penita Senior Center.

     Geri says, “Many thanks to my wonderful crew of 18 women and two men, who spent 21 hours during seven Barbie’s dressing parties working this year here at my Los Ayala home, bathing coiffing and dressing the Barbie dolls. I couldn’t have done it without them! They certainly

brought smiles to the faces of many little girls who welcomed the dolls into their loving arms and new homes!

Christina Stobbs on Behalf of Geri de Moss

Alyssa Glaspie - PVNN
December 29, 2010

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Check out this weekend's beach clean up and first annual "Kids Only Surf Contest / Expression Session" in Sayulita, happening Sunday January 2nd.

Kids of all ages (5-75 yrs) and skill levels, as well as boards of all kinds are welcome. Come ride the rad waves of Sayulita while vying to win in categories that include Best Beginner, Best Wipeout, Best Wave, and Best Beach Cleaner!

The brainchild of longtime friends Isaac Nichelson (LiViTY founder and eco-activist) and Gullermo "Tigre" Cadena (Owner operator of Tigre's Bar and Surf School and founder of Sayulita Wave Riders) this is an event designed to give back to the community. According to Nichelson, "...the Expression Session is basically a surf party that is designed to be more fun than hardcore competition. we want to inspire local and visiting kids of all ages to take pride in helping keep their beach super clean."

Full community support from pro surfers including Diego Cadena and the Sayulita Wave Riders, as well as critical help organizing from the crew at Tigre Surf School will make it all possible.

Lots of Eco-Friendly gifts for contestants provided by one of Sayulita's favorite brands... LiViTY Outernational - www.livity.org - check out the LiViTY Mexico Facebook site for more local information.

This event should be a blast, see you there!

Livity is a lifestyle of sustainability and unity. We live this way through the products we design and the cultures we support. By using organic, renewable and recyclable materials and engaging in fair-trade practices, Livity’s apparel and accessories are an expression of our commitment to activism through conscious living and positivity. Visit the website at www.livity.org

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Beach and sun is what it is all about on the Riviera Nayarit and especially at Mateja's on the beach in Rincon de Guayabitos... click here to view more great pictures of fun on the beach at Matejas