Click ad for more information

New Listing

Ocean View Bargain!!!

Click to see more

Click this ad for more information

March 6 2010 page 3

Peter vine holds up his very large rooster fish

Gold Medal Play for Casa de Los Ninos Golf Tourney winners!

Winners

1^st Place: Lloyd Hodgins, Don Hawk, Peter Fairchild, Patty LaBossiere, and Bruce Marshall

Click Here to view complete story and winners line up

Jan Poteat's Hole in One

Hole number 2

A very special 21 st birthday at Nellys

We have been coming to RDG for the past seven years and many of our Saskatchewan friends have followed suit. This past Feb. 24/10 we celebrated our friend's grandaughter- Hailey Precesky, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada- 21 birthday at Crazy Nellies. One of the dart teams was there as well as a local ex-pat who sang happy birthday to our amiga. As usual Natalie showed us a great time. We wanted to share some of the memories with your paper.

Thanks

Cecile Parentea

Men's Day winners

Second Place

Last Sunday's Mixed winners

Women's Darts every Friday at Hine and Jaimes

Women's Darts at Hinde and Jaimes Restaurant La Penita de Jaltemba dianna belitski Photographs

Mateja's Flag Day Party on beach in Rincon de Guayabitos

Bill Bell photograph

To view more Mateja photographs of this fun event click here Mateja's Flag Day Party on beach in Rincon de Guayabitos Bill Bell photograph

1st Annual Punta Sayulita Surf Classic
PRWeb
go to original
February 23, 2010

For contest information, updates and entry applications visit: www.puntasayulita.com

Sayulita, Mexico - The 1st Annual Punta Sayulita Longboard & Stand-Up Paddle Classic is set to take place on April 17-18 in beautiful Sayulita, Mexico. The international field of professional surfers from the United States and Mexico is led by Honorary Ambassadors James Pribram of Laguna Beach, CA, renowned Mexican big wave surfer, Carlos �Coco� Nogales of Puerto Escondido and Mexico�s current national longboard champion, Patricio Gonzalez of Sayulita.

The field will be limited to 30 competitors made up of both professional invitees and amateurs competing in various age group divisions as well as in the �open� contest for the longboard and stand-up paddle surfing categories. Professional short board surfers will also entertain spectators with an �expression session� air show of acrobatic aerial maneuvers.

On Sunday, April 18, a variety of Stand-Up Paddle races will be held including the �Punta to Punta� race, a 5K and 10K open ocean distance races where paddlers will travel between Sayulita and the neighboring village of San Francisco (�San Pancho�). The SUP distance races will be open to all ages and abilities.

�We are very excited to launch the Classic contest with the overwhelming support and assistance we have received from our professional surfers, sponsors, volunteers and the Sayulita community. Sayulita is the ideal location to hold an international surfing event like the Classic and we are pleased it has attracted some of the top professional longboard and SUP surfers to the field seeing that this is the event�s first year. We look forward to growing the event each year and raise as much money as possible for the local charities. We feel the mix of a surf contest showcasing some of the best professional and amateur surfers with a variety of Stand-Up Paddle distance races will give spectators plenty of action to watch and also enjoy time with their friends and family in Sayulita,� says Kevin Roberts, a principle with event organizer, Punta Sayulita.

The Classic organizers are also very excited to have actor and environmental activist, David Chokachi, participation in the Classic. David is one of the most recognizable actors and best known for his role as Cody Madison on the television blockbuster series, �Baywatch.� In recognition of David�s work as an activist for environmental awareness, The Surfrider Foundation recently awarded David the prestigious �Keeper of the Coast Award.� Chokachi is an avid Stand-Up Paddle Board and Longboard surfer and will be competing in the Classic.

On Sunday evening following both days of completion, the Classic Awards Dinner Fiesta will be held at the Don Pedros oceanfront event palapa where the competitors and guests will enjoy an authentic Mexican BBQ buffet, live music and a live raffle. The Classic Fiesta is open to the public and tickets may be purchased at the door.

Proceeds raised from the Classic will be donated to the local Sayulita chapter of the Reef Check Foundation and The Punta Sayulita Foundation.

The Reef Check Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical and rocky coral reefs around the world reefcheck.org . The proceeds for the Classic will go to directly fund Reef Check�s Adopt the Reef Program for the Sayulita and Bay of Banderas areas. This will be the first program of its kind on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Professional surfer, James Pribram, through his affiliation with Reef Check and the Eco-Warrior Project www.ecowarriorsurf.com, will be the honorary ambassador of the Adopt the Reef Program.

The Punta Sayulita Foundation (�PSF�) is a non-profit organization established by the Punta Sayulita residential community with the charter of supporting various initiatives benefiting the community of Sayulita and the Bay of Banderas area. Initiatives include educational programs for the arts and music, environmental awareness and protection, community organized beach clean-up events as well as supporting programs for underprivileged children to allow them the opportunity to enjoy various water sports such as surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, etc., that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to pursue. PSF, in conjunction with the Coco Nogales Foundation, will apply the proceeds generated from the Classic to support the underprivileged youth surfing program for youths living in Sayulita and the greater Bay of Banderas area.

For contest information, updates and entry applications visit: www.puntasayulita.com.

SPONSORS:

Punta Sayulita, Don Pedro�s, St. Regis Resort Punta Mita, de Reus Architects, Corona, Victory Wetsuits, ATL Surfboards, Tequila Casa Noble, SayulitaLife.com, Sayulita Fish Taco, Sayulita Tequila Bar, Hotel La Casona, Stand-Up Paddle Sports, Sunset Surf Shop, Ramos Designs, Power Balance, Long Hard Ride, Livity Clothing, Burrito Revolution, Wa Kika, Mexican Surf Mafia, Sticky Bumps, Axia3, Planeta Surf, Vallarta Lifestyles, Nayarit Surfing Association, Mexican Surfing Federation, Native Instinct, Costa Azul Adventure Resort, Nestle Water, Maxwell Magazine, TPMC Realty, Riviera Nayarit, Central Surf Shop, Tinqui TV.

ABOUT PUNTA SAYULITA

Punta Sayulita is a private oceanfront club and residential community that rests on an extraordinary 33-acre private peninsula adjacent to the quaint seaside village of Sayulita located approximately 35 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. Punta Sayulita has been carefully designed to be a very intimate, low density community that will embrace only 62 detached homes whereby residents will have access to a full-service private Beach & Surf Club. The tropical design for the beach club and the custom homes at Punta Sayulita are by the boutique architecture firm of de Reus Architects of Hawaii. The developer of Punta Sayulita is Contact Development Company, LLC (CDC) of Sausalito, CA. See www.puntasayulita.com.

Fisherman's Friend:

We are pleased to invite you to our First Great International Fishing Tournament "Coraz�n de la Riviera" on Friday 5 and Saturday March 6, 2010 with more than $ 60,000.00 pesos in prizes. The proceeds from this tournament will benefit the Club de la Tercera Edad of La Pe�ita de Jalemba. To fish species are Sailfish and Dorado.

AWARDS BY TEAM SAILFISH
1ST PLACE
RECOGNITION AND $ 10,000.00 CASH
ACOMODATION COUPON FROM Decameron WITH A VALUE OF $ 4000.00
CONSUMER COUPON FROM RESTAURANT VISTA GUAYABITOS WITH A VALUE OF $ 1000.00
5 TICKETS DOUBLES FROM BOAT FIESTA GUAYABITOS WITH A VALUE OF $ 2000.00

2nd Place.
RECOGNITION AND $ 5000.00 CASH
ACOMODATION COUPON FROM MARYSOL LAS PALMAS HOTEL WITH A VALUE OF $ 4000.00
CONSUMER COUPON FRO RESTAURANT LAS CODORNICES WITH A VALUE OF $ 1000.00
5 TICKETS DOUBLES FROM BOAT FIESTA GUAYABITOS WITH A VALUE OF $ 2000.00

3rd place.
RECOGNITION AND $ 3000.00 CASH
CONSUMER COUPON FROM XALTEMBA RESTAURANT WITH A VALUE OF $ 500.00
2 TICKETS DOUBLES FROM BOAT FIESTA GUAYABITOS WITH A VALUE OF $ 800.00

The minimum weight for SAILFISH is 20 kg ..

DORADO AWARD FOR TEAM
1ST PLACE
RECOGNITION AND $ 5000.00 CASH
ACOMODATION COUPON FROM HOTEL COSTA ALEGRE WITH A VALUE OF $ 4000.00
CONSUMER COUPON FROM RESTAURANT PINEDA WITH A VALUE OF $ 1000.00
3 TICKETS DOUBLES FROM BOAT FIESTA GUAYABITOS WITH A VALUE OF $ 1200.00

2ND PLACE
RECOGNITION AND $ 2000.00 CASH
ACOMODATION COUPON FROM HOTEL AS DE OROS WITH A VALUE OF $ 3000.00
CONSUMER COUPON FROM PI�A COLADA RESTAURANT WITH A VALUE OF $ 500.00
3 TICKETS DOUBLES FROM BOAT FIESTA GUAYABITOS WITH A VALUE OF $ 1200.00

3rd Place
RECOGNITION AND $ 1000.00 CASH
CONSUMER COUPON FROM HINDE & JAIME RESTAURANT WITH A VALUE OF $ 500.00
2 TICKETS DOUBLES FROM BOAT FIESTA GUAYABITOS WITH A VALUE OF $ 800.00

The minimum weight is 5 kg DORADO

SPECIAL AWARD TO THE MOST WEIGHT MARLYN DURING TOURNAMENT
RECOGNITION AND $ 5000.00 CASH
CONSUMER COUPON FROM NIVEL ZERO BAR WITH A VALUE OF $ 1000.00
CONSUMER COUPON FROM TULIPANES RESTAURANT WITH A VALUE OF $ 1000.00

PROGRAM

Friday 5 March:
06:30 hrs. Coffee, and muffins.
07:00 hrs. Honors to the flag.
07:15 hrs. Inaugural speech by the mayor H�ctor L�pez Santiago
07:30 hrs. Check out fishing.
17:00 hrs. Time limit for filing catches on the Scale

Saturday 6 March:
06:00 hrs. Exit at the discretion of the judge's indication.
16:30 hrs. Time limit for filing catches on the scale.
18:30. Dinner and Awards at the TIBURON TRAILER PARK.

REGISTRATION FEE
$ 3500.00 PER TEAM
Registration fee includes cap and official tournament shirt for each team member and entitled to the awards dinner.

Registrations in the Department of Tourism and Economic Development Association of hotels and motels in the municipality of Compostela in Rincon de Guayabitos at tel: (327) 274-0693.

GOOD FISHING!

Click here to view rules and qualifications

A Guide to Puerto Vallarta Water Taxis
Phil Kerr - Precision Productions
February 18, 2010

A cold beverage on the beach before boarding the water taxi for your return trip across the Bay provides the perfect ending to a Five Starfish Day. (Precision Productions/The Tallboys Band)

There really is no better way to experience the Bay of Banderas than by taking a water taxi to one of the coves along Vallarta's southern shores on the way to Yelapa. The day starts off at the pier at Los Muertos Beach, and you can choose which seaside village you would like to visit for the day.

Just getting on the boat is an experience you will not forget. From the moment you step aboard and put your life jacket on, it is nonstop action. The ride there is fast, fun, exciting, and accompanied by an experienced guide who will be explaining and informing you on the way.

The first beautiful site you will be able to see up close will be the Los Arcos Islands. Second is all the amazing wildlife such as dolphins, turtles, whales, and schools of fish.

Then we approach the cove known as Quimixto where half of the passengers on board decided to spend the day. Now we are off to the coves of Las Animas and Yelapa, where you ride the boat in on the surf and land directly on the beach. What A Ride!

At "Lunch Time" in Yelapa, you can choose from a variety of restaurants. If you are into some great tasting seafood, I would personally recommend Tino's Restaurant Bar and Grill "Oasis". (To get your FREE margarita, let Octavio know you saw this ad on BanderasNews.)

And last but not least, you will also be able to enjoy some beautiful waterfalls and even horseback riding. A cold beverage on the beach before boarding the water taxi for your return trip across the Bay provides the perfect ending to a Five Starfish Day.

P.S. Remember to tip well, as these people work very hard to provide you with the best of services.

Contact Info For Water Taxis

� Beautiful Sea Water Taxi: 044-322-168-7434
� Electra Water Taxi: 044-322-306-1126
� Boat La Guera La Prieta Linda: 044-322-140-0687
� Yelapa Water Taxi Rayando El Sol III: 044-322-133-7235
� Jack Water Taxi Marbella III: 044-322-209-5022

Water Taxi Schedules

From Los Muertos Pier
AM - 9:45, 11:00, 11:45
PM - 12:30, 1:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:00, 6:00

From Yelapa Beach
AM - 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30
PM - 12:00, 2:30, 3:30, 4:00, 4:45

For more information, call Octavio Lorenzo Gordian at (322) 209-5105 or 044-322-168-7434.

Special Thanks to The Tallboys Band; Flip, Joel & David for providing the music for this video.

As one of the largest production companies in the Bay of Banderas, Precision Productions' video services range from a multi-camera high end production to a single camera short video promo to put on your website.

Click HERE to learn more about the Puerto Vallarta video services provided by Precision Productions.

Field of Dreams new fee schedule.

Mexico maps out World Cup plans

Go to original article

SAN FRANCISCO � The geography is a little twisted to be sure. But then the best way to get from one point to another isn�t always by following a straight line.

Especially if you want to win some soccer games once you get to the World Cup.

That�s why Nestor de la Torre, the director of national teams for the Mexican soccer federation, has mapped out an arduous itinerary for his country�s World Cup team, one that will take it to at least 11 cities in five countries before landing in South Africa for this summer�s tournament.

It�s a 29,000-mile journey that begins Wednesday night when a young, inexperienced Mexican team takes on Bolivia at San Francisco�s Candlestick Park.

"You can have the best practice systems, but competition is what will ultimately allow you to grow and play better soccer," de la Torre said. "We looked for the best teams in the world, world champions that have star players that we believe we will get a lot out of to take with us down the final stretch and be ready for June."

But the team de la Torre and Coach Javier Aguirre chose for Wednesday�s "friendly" will bear little resemblance to the one Mexico will likely select in May, when World Cup rosters are due. Among the missing here are goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defender Rafael Marquez, midfielders Giovani dos Santos and Andres Guardado and forwards Omar Bravo, Nery Castillo and Carlos Vela.

All but Ochoa and Bravo are playing overseas, which makes call-ups difficult. But de la Torre said the young roster Mexico will use Wednesday � nine of the 18 players have fewer than five international caps � serves a purpose by allowing the coaching staff to get a closer look at some players who may be ready to challenge for a national team berth. "We divided the preparation process into two parts," de la Torre said. "The first part includes matches that will help us observe the players, matches that are intended to help establish the definite squad and find the players that will best fit the coaching staff�s systems and needs."

It�s an uneven schedule, with early matches against World Cup qualifiers New Zealand and North Korea mixed in with games against Iceland and Senegal, two countries that aren�t in the top 90 of the FIFA rankings.

Bolivia, which has beaten Mexico just once in nine matches, is in between. But de la Torre said this match provides a good test because Bolivia has a style similar to that of Uruguay, a team in Mexico�s first-round group for the World Cup.

"It is all about seeing the candidates and finalizing the training camp squad," he said. Among those hoping to leave a good impression is 21-year-old Chivas striker Javier Hernandez, the leading scorer in Mexico�s Primera Division; 22-year-old defender Hugo Ayala; and 29-year-old midfielder Israel Castro, a veteran of 25 international caps and a likely World Cup selection.

"We�re all in the same situation," Castro said. "Nothing is guaranteed."

And though the Mexican team came together just two days ago, Castro said the attitude has been "very positive."

"We�re all hungry to win a place in the World Cup. We�re all eager to compete with one another. And that will benefit the national team."

Not every player trying to make that team is a young, wide-eyed youngster.

The roster for Wednesday�s match includes forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 37, who has more than twice as many international goals (37) as any other national team hopeful.

"I know this is my last World Cup. So I have to prepare myself," said Blanco, who played in both the 1998 and 2002 tournaments.

Golfing in Puerto Vallarta
While Puerto Vallarta is best known for white sand beaches, tropical weather and beach vacation getaways, one of its most striking assets is the wide range of golf courses found here. With 6 world-class golfing facilities in the Banderas Bay area, and 3 exclusive golf resorts just a few hours' drive south, Puerto Vallarta is quickly becoming one of Mexico's leading golf destinations.

With the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Mexican Pacific providing a stunning tropical backdrop, it's no wonder that some of the world's greatest golf course architects have chosen to design golf courses in this region, including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Robert von Hagge.

Golfing in and around Greater Puerto Vallarta The first golf course in Puerto Vallarta was built almost 20 years ago at the Flamingos Hotel located in the Bahia de Banderas municipality in the state of Nayarit. This golf course was renovated and reopened last November to the delight of Vallartans and visitors alike. For several years, the Flamingos Golf Course was the only one in the area. It was not until the Marina Vallarta mega construction project that Puerto Vallarta could claim its own Marina Vallarta Golf Course.

With time, additional golf courses were designed and built: Golf great Jack Nicklaus designed the one at Punta de Mita, as well as one of the two Vista Vallarta Golf Courses, where the World Golf Championship was played last December - the other was designed by Tom Weiskopf.

Eight of the holes at Four Seasons Golf Course have a view of the ocean. The 13th hole runs parallel to a lagoon surrounded by natural flowers and animals. It also includes and optional par-3 hole that will challenge the most ardent golfers. The tee is on the mainland while the green is located on a natural island, 194 yards from de coast.

Later on came the Mayan Palace and Paradise Village golf courses. The latter, designed by Robert Von Hagge, is appropriately called El Tigre Golf Course. Professionals say that the El Tigre can be intimidating from the very tight first hole all the way up to the end. It has traps in 13 of the 18 holes, including the island green.

For its part, the Mayan Palace Golf Course, designed by Jim Lipe is a encounter with nature. The beautiful, whimsical facilities created by the hand of man turn this golf course into a unique challenge. As a reward for the effort they have made, players get an incredible, panoramic view of the Bay of Banderas from the 18th hole. This natural scenario represents a challenge to all those willing to face it and conquer it!

About a 2 hour drive from Puerto Vallarta, El Tamarindo Golf Course has been rated "The Best Hidden Link in the World" by many golf publications. Rivaling some of the greatest golf courses in the world, El Tamarindo features fairways that wander through the jungle, 3 breathtaking oceanfront holes, and 9 holes with spectacular views of beautiful beaches.

A little further south, the Isla Navidad Golf Course is one of the most lush golf resorts in the world, with twenty seven holes that offer spectacular ocean, lagoon and mountain views. In Manzanillo, you'll find La Mantarraya Golf Course at Las Hadas, which is considered one the best golf resorts in Latin America, featuring wide fairways and 11 water holes including #18, an Island green built on the ocean.

Manual of Tourist Entry Mexican government

Manual of Tourist Entry ( 282 Kb.)

In this manual you can find the necessary information to visit Mexico, Whether by land, in your own vehicle, by sea, or by air, Whether in a commercial airline or on board a private plane.

Email: mejoraregulatoria@sectur.gob.mx

WEATHER

Puerto Vallarta

SAN Pancho Weather www.sanpanchoweather.com

Weather in Mexico

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

Living and Loving Life in This Moment
David Lord - PVNN
February 12, 2010

If you would learn to focus only on this moment you will find future moments will be filled, like this one, with meaning and purpose.

You and I experienced the Military way of life, but most of us had a dream of someday (with luck) making it to the civilian side of life. I considered myself whole after the war even with the scars that were both emotional and physical. I felt upon discharge that I was independent and self-sufficient even if beat up some; ready to face the odds and excited by the prospective challenges in the civilian world.

What I had learned in the military was how I could succeed in any situation, against any odds and I believed what I was told. Little did I know that the military life was really a cocoon, it isolated me from the disorder in civilian life. Their rigid code of conduct, where the hierarchy was determined by one's rank gave the military life an inflexible dogma, orders were to be carried out and military policy was to be strictly adhered to.

The military rules being focused on predetermined objectives would gage my success against any defined goal, the objective having a point at which I had succeeded or failed, a point in time that had a finish line. That was years ago, and as I look back now from the civilian side, I see what was clear and defined during military service does not exist in civilian life.

There are few ways to solve a problem in a straight and detailed way, there are no defined targets as such, only the intention of finding some solution to meet some goal. Bit by bit watching the definition of a problem change as more and more information is gathered, add some political correctness, then apply social conscious for the supposed benefit of all.

What was going to be solution of a problem is turned into to a solution for none. It reminds me of attempting to paint with radiant colors, some reds, blues, greens, yellows but then mixing them together before the application so that you come away with no color, only muddy gray.

So when the veteran transitions to civilian life they find the rules they learned no longer apply and no one tells you why, do they? The need for a path of clear direction ends up being any direction, so long as it is forward.

As long as you remain moving and on your feet amongst the herd you may someday break away. Under this stampede for success we keep our balance, but at the cost of our individual being, we become just like everyone else.

Then one day we find that we have broken away from the herd and traveled alone to Mexico. Here it was that we slowed enough to catch our breath, look around and glimpse the beauty of life that we had always run past. We knew that each moment here was a moment in peace and worth many more compared to the herd's chaos.

This new way of living does not require learning. Interesting and rewarding, it only requires your being present in this moment and living life now. Exerting effort is not what will bring you to happiness in life. If you would learn to focus only on this moment you will find future moments will be filled, like this one, with meaning and purpose.

You cannot enjoy life always planning ahead, you only really have this moment, let the thinking subside and enjoy this moment, give it your full attention and understand that the quality you give to it will reflect back making a full, more rewarding life for you.

I will be unable to write a column next week due to surgery on my right hand. We will see how Houston V.A. does. So until next time, SEMPER FI!
David Lord is a V.A. accredited Veterans Service Officer living full time as a resident of Mexico. David is retired from U.S.M.C. for a gunshot wound, his unit received the Presidential Unit Citation at Khe Sanh Combat Base. He was a rifleman with the 1/26th, 5th Marine Division in 1968 during the 77 day Siege at Khe Sahn, then awarded The Purple Heart for a gunshot wound in Quang Tri Province. For more information, email him at david.lord(at)yahoo.com.

Click HERE for more Veteran Affairs with David Lord

Currency

EXCHANGE

Euro Mexico Pesos

1.00 EUR = 18.3485 MXN

United States Dollars Mexico Pesos

1.00 USD = 12.9772 MXN

Canada Dollars Mexico Pesos

1.00 CAD = 12.2653 MXN

Last Week

Euro Mexico Pesos

1.00 EUR =
18.6743 MXN

United States Dollars Mexico Pesos

1.00 USD = 13.0185 MXN

Canada Dollars Mexico Pesos

1.00 CAD = 12.4033 MXN

The Calendar has moved to Page 9