If you are like many of us who seem to have trouble keeping New Year’s resolutions, maybe we need
to make it simple and get back to basics. Why not try some of the helpful tips
to ease yourself into the New Year with a clear conscience!
· Leave
your car at home. Better for the environment and for your health. Now with
the newly extended green, pedestrian friendly Malecon the car in downtown Vallarta is so 2011! Catch a bus, taxi or walk along the beach to
your downtown destination.
· Clear out
your closet. Yes, such a simple move can make a real difference, not just to
the space and cleanliness of your home but to local people too. Take your
gently used clothes (already clean of course) as a donation to any one of
Vallarta’s good causes (find here a list of
charities around Vallarta) contact them directly as many can arrange collections.
· Out with
the old In with the New. If you recently moved home or have new items of furniture
or household items and old used goods that you need to get rid of, why not
donate them to Impulso de Aguila AC,
a superb local group that can arrange collection of furniture and household
goods and then decides which of the 20 registered charitable organizations it
works with will receive them. They send back up mails and photos for the
deliveries as a receipt and are always transparent in their work.
· Buy
Local. The Farmer’s Market in old town was such a hit in 2011 that for this 2012 season it has 2
locations in downtown Vallarta on Saturday mornings, at the Kindergarten
just off the Cardenas Park (behind Daiquiri Dicks) and in its former location
at the Community Center on Pulpito
Street (just up from El Dorado restaurant). A wide array of fresh, organic
vegetables, prepared meals, baked goods, salsas, deserts and handicraft are on
sale. All products are locally made or grown and what is good for your
conscience is also great for the tastebuds!
On December 8th 2011 an annual fundraiser took place
for the UK charity New Life Mexico, currently operating in Puerto Vallarta, at
a supporter’s fabulous home in downtown Vallarta.
The event was well attended by local supporters who enjoyed
the delicious brunch served by Christine and Jeanine who run the much loved
“Encanto†restaurant. Guests were treated to warm cinnamon rolls and fresh
pastries on arrival, then a wide array of freshly produced buffet servings for
the sit down brunch. Similar tasty
treats from “Encanto†can be found at the restaurant located on 518 Aquiles
Serdan, Colonia Emiliano Zapata – Tel 222 5785.
The guests had a selection of Christmas items and gift
baskets to choose from, lovingly donated by supporters, of whose proceeds all
went to NLM. The funds raised (almost $30,000 pesos) will be going towards
NLM’s field programs: buying water filters and UV lamps for the Water Houses In
Schools Project, providing clean, filtered drinking water for school children
and the local community in marginal areas in Vallarta; and craft materials and
basketball equipment for the after school programs they help coordinate.
New Life Mexico (NLM) supports local children who suffer
from abuse (mental, physical, sexual or economic), for more information on
their extremely worthwhile programs you can visit www.newliftmexico.com or contact the
field director Philippa Vernon Powell at pvp@newlifemexico.com.
The Huffington post reported this week that this September
Mexican Special Agents quashed a plot to try to smuggle the late Libyan
Dictator Gaddafi’s son, Al Saadi Gaddafi and three members of his family into
Mexico. The late ruler’s son reportedly planned to enter the country under
false names to gain access to the luxury
vacation resort of Punta de Mita on the Pacific Coast. However, he never did make the journey to Mexico,
remaining instead in Niger where he is still believed to be living.
The suspected team involved in the operation is said to be
from Mexico, Canada and Denmark. It
is alleged that these individuals flew to the exclusive Mexican coastal destination to purchase high profile properties and
open bank accounts to aid the arrival of the former Libyan leader’s son.
And who wouldn’t wasn’t to seek refuge in Punta de Mita with its pristine
beaches, private villas, sparkling swimming pools and five star hotels?
