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February 23, 2003
Hola, While
visiting your wonderful Puerto Vallarta, I picked up a copy of the Feb.3-9 Vallarta
Tribune. I read the letters to the editor and was very
upset and sad really, to read that visitors think they have the right to enter
someone else's city and tell the citizens what they should do. Two
years ago the topic was to do with getting rid of the vendors, this year it is
to do with getting rid of some of the busses, or at least putting regulations
on the busses. I think if the visitors want regulations let them stay at home
in their own over regulated countries. The livelihood of the citizens of Puerto
Vallarta, although seemingly not that important to the visitors, is at stake here. We
have been to P.V. six times and feel very safe on the buses. We think that two
of the more charming aspects of P.V. are the vendors and the buses. We talk to
the vendors and thereby learn about the Mexican people and yes, we do buy from
them. Leave the Mexican people alone. They still seem to enjoy sharing their little
piece of paradise with us, let's leave it that way. We'll
be back again next year and hope to see the buses and the beach vendors still
working. Gracias.
Mrs. Vina Vandervelde
B.C., Canada
Dear
Editor, Just a couple of things I wanted to (1) tell you
and (2) a small thing I noticed in my years of living with these wonderful people
called Mexicans. (1) It is somewhat necessary for me to
park in a handicapped spot whenever available, so I was pleased to see a number
of these spaces available at the new Wal-Mart store, until recently when I noticed
that most cars parked there were not identified as handicapped, until I noticed
people wearing the Wal-Mart uniforms getting into the cars and driving away at
the end of their shift. They are using these reserved spots as their personal
parking places for employees. Since then I have noticed
5 cars at a time in the handicapped spaces at the Mega Commercial with no tags
identifying them as handicapped. I really hate to see this happening down here. (2)
Have you noticed how most of the Mexican people walk on the left side of the sidewalk?
While Americans and people from Canada walk as they drive, on the right side.
A curious thing. Found the Tribune this week at my resort,
but it didn't arrive until Wednesday.
I am very pleased to have it.
Regards, Jim
O.
Dear Editor, My
wife and I and our two children have used the buses in PV for a number of years
when vacationing there. We have seen the racing from stop
to stop against other buses, but some of it seems to be in slow motion as the
streets are cobblestone and uneven, contributing to the Disney-like rides.
The
drivers seem to be courteous and a lot of times concede defeat to the others when
its clear they could not get ahead (N.B.: the speeds seen are about 25 to 50 kph).
These buses rattle a lot due to loose windows and doors that have worn hinges. Whenever
we have ridden these buses we quickly learned to stay seated and hang on because
of the uneven roads and the sudden signaling of new fares wanting to be picked
up at locations other than the appointed stops. Some of
our fondest memories are of taking the buses from around the Sheraton thru the
tunnel and having a group getting on the bus and singing and having a monologue
somewhat like a Jay Leno pre-show routine and somewhat understanding they are
poking fun at the people on the bus but all done in Spanish. The
above memories are great to us and each ride is memorable. Thanx,
Ron
& Lorraine
Dear Editor, I've
noticed that ALL the Mexican local papers have jumped onto the anti-bus bandwagon.
Hopefully, something positive will come out of it. G.G.
Dear
whomever it may concern, I am an American who will be
moving to Mexico within one and a half years and am looking for possible career
opportunities. I was hoping you could tell me a little bit about the expectations
and requirements for people in journalism and radio in Mexico. Thank
you for your time,
Jarrett Brown Dear Mr. Brown,
I'm
afraid there is no one here who can give you the right answer to your query, however
perhaps one of our readers can. Watch this space, we never know!
The Ed.
Hi-
Re the damn phone message, you are going to like this. Dial star 66, dial
star 45, hit the pound sign, then hang up and try dialing. Voila!!
I called
and complained once and said they should give us lower rates and not something
we didn't ask for. They promised they would get rid of the voice in 72 hours.
Never happened. I called again a week later and then they gave me another number.
So then I called the other number and then they told me to call the first number.
At that point I started yelling and they gave me the above secret numbers. No
more voicemail. :)
Chris
Editor, In
response to L.A. from Seattle, Washington in the Mirror, February 10-16, 2003
with regard to "we foreigners" coming to Vallarta to "dictate what
we think is best," I would make the following comments: I have been living
and with my own business in Puerto Vallarta and Mèxico for almost 30 years.
My wife and home are both Mexican. I take the bus to and from work almost daily
as I have for the past 6 years. Prior to that, I walked
to work. I mention this only to indicate that Mèxico is my home and I am
not an occasional visitor as your letter implies. There are many residents of
Puerto Vallarta who are not Mexican nationals, but have been graciously accepted
into local activities. I have always advocated that constructive
criticism together with specific proposals for improvement should be made by any
resident or visitor to Puerto Vallarta. This is the only way to have a meaningful
forum for the community. It also provides useful information for the authorities
to determine the likes and dislikes of the visiting foreign tourists and residents. Most
Mexicans I know, and there are many, would like to have less traffic and fewer
buses in the center of the city. A study by the State of Jalisco in July of 2001
indicated that Vallarta could reduce the number of buses in the center of the
city by 70% and continue with the same service to the local users. Recent information
indicates that fully 50% of the number of buses in Vallarta, approximately 150
buses are without permits and some even without license plates. The
authorities and the bus companies have been in discussion over a restructuring
of bus service for more than 5 years. All of this information has been available
in the local press and indicates the longstanding importance of this matter to
the Mexican community. The blockade created by buses on February 9th and reported
in the Tribune 306, February 17-23, 2003 edition, further testifies to the current
importance of this subject to the Mexican authorities, bus companies and community. Dangerous,
contaminating buses in Puerto Vallarta are no more the desire of most Mexicans
than they would be the desire for Americans in the U.S. Just as the U.S. and other
countries of the world have experienced an improving ecological awareness over
the past few decades, Mèxico also has the right to enjoy improvements without
the danger of losing it's culture. To achieve this, in my opinion, there should
be complete community involvement. I thank L.A. for expressing
his/her opinion on the subject of buses in the center of the city. However, I
do not share the opinion that most Mexican nationals "feel the need for more
buses downtown" nor the opinion that a comment by a foreigner living in Mèxico
is necessarily an attempt of nationalistic coercion. In
fact, I view the request for fewer buses in the center of the city, by the Mexican
and foreigncommunity, to be one of just common sense. R.C.
Walker Member - Grupo Ecológico de Puerto Vallarta, A.C. Archives
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