Whale release

A huge thank you needs to go out to all the volunteers and
staff involved in the recent whale rescue in Bucerias
at the end of March. Mexican authorities, the Mexican Navy
and Vallarta Adventures teamed up to perform the
capture and release that saved this whale’s life.

A stranded Pygmy Sperm whale weighing 100 kgs and measuring
over 2 and a half meters in length was rescued by Vallarta Adventures’ staff
and released back into the ocean as soon as its condition was stabilized by the
onsite Veterinarian Dr Paola Smolensky. 

The beautiful mammal was spotted near
the beach of Bucerias in shallow waters on March 22nd. Several attempts were
made to release it but only served to stand it on the beach. Ingeniously,
Vallarta Adventures staff used a panga (small motor boat)to assist the PROFEPA
(Mexico’s environmental protection agency) to take the whale off shore approx 8
miles into deeper waters, giving it a greater chance of survival and making it
less likely to end up on the beaches once again.

The great news is that this rescue seems to have paid off as
no further sightings of the whale in shallow waters have been declared. A
wonderfully happy ending for what could have been a tragic story.

Well done to all of those involved!

Old Town Cultural Festival

The first annual Old Town Cultural Festival
 was held last week on Park Lazaro Cardenas in the heart of Old
Town Vallarta.

Tourists, locals and nationals alike gathered around the
stalls and displays. It was an excellent turnout and many local artisans and
restaurants participated making the event a great success.

It was open from 5pm until midnight and hosted some of my
own favorites, Chantel’s Vintage Spoon Jewelry, Chelow
Designs and some amazing bathing suit and informal wear
creations from “TY” by designer Tere
Moreno.

Let’s hope there is more advance warning and more publicity next
season to ensure as many people as possible come out to support our local
produce and arts.

Malecon Boasts Cultural Awareness

If you have been to the Malecon of Puerto
Vallarta lately you will surely have noticed the wonderful
flying display given by the “Voladores de Papantla”
(the Papantla Flyers).

They have had a presence on our Malecon since 2004 but have
now taken up residence on the north end of the new Malecon. Several flying
ceremonies are performed daily where the flyers risk their lives without safety
harnesses to scale the pole and then literally fly around it gradually being
lowered to the ground by a rope tied around their ankle!

This traditional ceremony is an important part of Mexican
culture. Each of the colorful garments has significance for the
performers. The red color of their outfits represents bravery (necessary for
this feat), white stands for purity of human race and their mirrors represent
the reflection of life.

Beautifully dressed and cordial in their manners, the flyers
spend hours between each flight sewing articles and decorations in bright
festive colors on the Malecon itself. Stop by and chat with them, it is an
enlightening experience. Enjoy the music and the flying but please don’t forget
to leave them a tip for their bravery and for cultural significance they bring
to Puerto Vallarta!

World Economic Forum on Latin America in Puerto Vallarta

Vallarta has been selected to
be the host of this year’s World Economic Forum
for the region of Latin America in 2012. The focus
behind the meeting is to discuss social, economic and political priorities
affecting this region and discuss viable solutions for issues that can affect
economic growth and stability in the region.

This year’s Forum is also the setting for the annual meeting
of Young Global Leaders, an exciting chance to
give valued experience and the possibility of sharing thoughts and ideas with
some of the forum’s newest and youngest members.

The most important leaders of Latin America will be
converging on our town to develop strategies and work towards a joint solution
to improve healthcare, social rights and security for all of us in this region
of the world.

Welcome to Puerto Vallarta and
we wish you success in your endeavors.

Photo source: visitpuertovallarta.com

Dutch DJ sensation “Tiesto” in Puerto Vallarta

Great news for Clubbers, Tiesto will be performing here in
Vallarta for the Electro Beach 42-day music extravaganza over the Spring Break
period.

The Dutch DJ and record producer has had numerous hits
worldwide and has been featured with well known artists such as Mobe, Busta Rhymes
& David Bowie. His version of “Adagio
for Strings” was a theme of the Olympics in 2004 and he performed at the
opening ceremony in Athens, Greece.

Tiesto, or his real name Tijs Verwest, has long been
associated with dance and trance recordings. He started Dj-ing professionally
while still at school in the Netherlands and has progressed to international
fame.

Now is your chance to catch him here performing live in PV
over the coming Easter vacation. Don’t miss him!

Image source: visitpuertovallarta.com

Mexico Beats U.S. in macroeconomics!

When speaking to the Mexican Stock Exchange this month the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Mr Richard Fisher, told his listeners that Mexico is in much better economic shape than the United States.
In the speech he stated; “Mexico is actually doing better than the United States in many macroeconomic areas, thanks to the soundness of its economy.”

The US Congress, and its presidential candidates, he said, should “take a chapter from Mexico’s book about implementing real fiscal reform. They might well benefit by broadening their perspective on Mexico; from focusing solely on illegal immigration and drug and gun trafficking…”
If the two countries are compared then Mexico has lower levels of debt and also lower levels of fiscal deficit. Mexico has also managed a balanced budget whereas the US has soared into billions of dollars in the red. This is excellent news for Mexico and proves that it is taking all the right steps to be an economic success story. 
The fiscal reforms that the Mexican government has taken over the last decade under the leadership of President Fox and now Felipe Calderon have managed to strengthen the economy. Fisher commented that “Mexico’s national debt is about 27 percent of its GDP; the US’s debt-to-GDP ratio, on the other hand, was 99 percent in 2011, and is expected to hit 116 percent in 2012.”
Another good reason to come to this paradise!

So, just what is the Tianguis Turistico?

So you have seen the signs all over town and been witness to the many public works that have been getting underway for this great event but what is it you may ask?
The Tianguis Turistico is a very important event for Puerto Vallarta and Mexico as a whole.

Delegates representing the country’s political groups and tourism sector converge on our town for conferences and events. Until this year, the event had always been held in Acapulco (for the last 36 years) but it was decided that from 2012 onwards the location would move. The contingent from Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit won the contest against many strong rivals. 
The leaders of tourism converged on our town to meet one another and to rub shoulders with politicians, international buyers, hoteliers, airline companies and other VIPs. The event officially began on March 26th with a large firework display on the new Malecon for the opening event that was attended by large numbers of visitors. A Mariachi concert wowed the crowd, performed by the famous group Mariachi Vargas. Other events that have been a great success are the Wine Festival at various restaurants in town and the 8th Annual Restaurant Week.
Any Tianguis attendees will be given preferential treatment at participating restaurants and clubs in town and many will give discounts, special menus and no cover charge for entry. Vallarta will show the best we have to offer during this time and I’m sure these attendees will come back for more…

Vallarta Clean-up a great Success for its 3rd year

Clean
Attitude Puerto Vallarta 2012

On
March 17th a superb show of support was shown by local residents and
companies to promote a Clean Vallarta.

Groups
of residents, young and old, took to the streets and the beaches here in Vallarta
to clean up trash, sweep the streets and collect debris from the ocean.

The
event was a huge success and was able to generate plenty of interest (and
plenty of trash – unfortunately).

The
groups had several starting points and it planned out as follows:

1. Hotel Zone –
AHMPVR
2. Maritime Terminal Area – API
3. Around the Convention Center – CIC
4. Pitillal- Holiday Inn – SETUJAL
5. Puente de Camarones – FIDETUR / OCV
6. Villa Premiere at the Teatro Vallarta – ADAVPTUR
7. Teatro Vallarta  â€“ Start of the Malecon including
Hidalgo Park – CANACO
8. Start of the Malecon – Mandala – ADEPROTUR
9. Mandala – Lighthouse – COPARMEX
10. Lighthouse Square – Arches on the Malecón – TOURISM BOARD
11. Restaurant Exteriors in Puerto Vallarta – CANIRAC
12. Municipal Market and the new Malecon -MUNICIPAL MARKET
13. Cuale Cultural Center – DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE
14. Cuale Island – Playa Amapas – ROMANTIC ZONE ASSOCIATION

Puerto
Vallarta  looks and feels better thanks to the huge group
effort, well done!

Teatro Vallarta

Last week was the much anticipated live piano concert at Teatro
Vallarta “Diez Pianos Extravaganza”.

A double billing Sunday performance delighted the
PV crowd who attended.  As well as the wonderful 10 pianists other
notable individual musical performances were from Luis Ortega,
the solo violinist and Alejandro Sanchez on the
trumpet.

Several operatic numbers were performed by 7 singers, most
impressive renditions from Tenor Cesar Rodriguez
and Bass Humberto Ross.

If you haven’t
already visited the theatre this season you still have the opportunity to do
so. The schedule for 2012 is listed on the website: http://www.teatrovallarta.com/

Support the arts! Locals also get discounts so don’t forget
to ask at the Box Office.

Kite surfing

The eight day kite surfing
competition kicked off on March 10th.  Some of the world’s best kite surfers are set
to attend this exciting event on our Puerto Vallarta
shores.  

As part of the Regatta Copa Mexico
the competitors will be surfing downwind from La Cruz
to Bucerias.

Even though a lot of the action is sea bound the daredevil
gymnastic stunts will be performed close enough to the shoreline to be visible
from the beaches at Bucerias.

So don’t miss out! The freestyle stunt event will have over
60 competitors and should be a great crowd pleaser. 

Pulling interest from 10 nations, the last three World
Champions will be in attendance, including the 2011 World Kite
Surfing Champion, Johnny Heineken. 

Head out to Bucerias this weekend to catch some of the
action.