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| Puerto Vallarta | | March
2nd - 8th, 2003 | Maná Wins
Grammy Award
By Tom Colvin and Anna Reisman  As
a "refresher" about the history of Maná…
Did
you know that the new, chic restaurant De Santo's on Morelos is half-owned by
Alex Gonzales, drummer/vocalist with Mexico's top rock band Maná? By the
way, the other half is owned by an accomplished chef who turns out excellent Italian
food. Often in PV as well is the band's lead singer Fher, who sometimes hangs
out at De Santos. No live music, though. For those who
don't know, Maná has received a lot of recognition world-wide, being featured
at the 1994 Montreux Jazz Festival. That same year they were honored by Billboard
Magazine as "New Artist of the Year" and they received the Latin music
awards Premio "Lo Nuestro". The band actually
started under another name way back in the early 1970's in Guadalajara. Now they
are at the very top of the Rock en Español movement. Maná
has always maintained a strong, conscious interest in the problems facing the
planet ecosystem. In September 1995, the band founded an organization named Selva
Negra (Black Forrest) in order to create awareness of the problems facing the
planet's ecology. In addition to creating awareness, they have also been actively
involved in programs designed to replenish forest areas in urgent need. During
a tour in Colombia, the band had the opportunity to sit down with writer Gabriel
Garcia Márquez, with whom they discussed the problems facing the forest
areas in Colombia and the country's current ecological replenishment policies. Greenpeace,
one of the world's most important environmental and ecological organization, participated
in several cities during the concerts distributing print information among the
audience about the "ancient forest" campaign as well as about chemical
disposals at the border of Mexico and the US. Also, Amnesty International traveled
with the band giving out print information about several cases of abuse on Human
Rights that where happening in Latin America. For the
last 10 weeks of that year, MANA fulfilled their commitments in South America,
including stadium dates in Bolivia, Chile, and Uruguay, where a new attendance
record was established. One month later, in November, MANA opened the ""Hard
Rock Live"" in Guadalajara, Mexico, offering three concerts. All funds
from such concerts were destined to Selva Negra for the preservation of endangered
species of marine turtles of the Mexican Pacific coast. Also at the "Hard
Rock Live" in Mexico City, MANA performed three more shows as part of the
"Sueños Líquidos" tour. This time, the funds were destined
to the people of Acteal in Chiapas, Mexico, in order to build a Hospital for the
indigenous communities in that region. One fan website
relates that "in 1997 the band moved to the paradise of Puerta Vallarta to
work on another album 'Sueños Líquidos' which was released in mid-October
of that year... The album would win them their fourth Pop/Rock album of the year
by Billboard." For a full history of the band and
other goodies, visit the English-language website: <http://www.geocities.com/FherAlexSergioJuan/>. The
Guadalajara newspapers announced late last week that Maná will begin work
in February in Puerto Vallarta writing and recording its next album, which is
due for release in late October, before undertaking another world tour in January
2002. It is my understanding that Maná has a state-of-the-art recording
studio somewhere here in the Puerto Vallarta area -- I'm guessing much of the
album will be recorded here in PV. Vocalist Fher has also
been praised for recently taking the issue of preservation of sea turtles to the
Jalisco state government, a concern he must have picked up while visiting here…
Puerto
Vallarta Safe - CBS MarketWatch In 2001, the readers
of Condé Nast's internationally-renowned travel magazine named Puerto Vallarta
the Friendliest City in the World. Now, CBS MarketWatch.com with over 9 Million
users per month, has named this town among the top 10 destinations vacationing
abroad, and the only one it described as "secure". Excerpts of the article
follow. Safe havens: Top destinations for Americans vacationing
abroad
By Andrea Coombes, CBS MarketWatch.com (Feb. 18, 2003) SAN
FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- It's the best of times and the worst of times for international
travel. Spring and summer will soon bring warm weather,
and airfares are at all-time lows. But fears about a war with Iraq, coupled with
terror alerts and economic uncertainty, make the decision about whether to go
abroad a difficult one. Some travelers are allaying their
fears by staying closer to home, exploring only international destinations that
are a short hop away. In January, three of the four most-booked destinations on
Orbitz.com were cities in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada. A year earlier, three
of the four most-booked cities were in Europe. Some say
leisure travelers who avoid foreign destinations altogether are being overly cautious.
"This is a good time to travel," said Larry Courtney, a travel agent
who operates Travel All Over in Defiance, Ohio. "Prices
are reasonable, the availability is there, and the destinations are crying for
us because their business is down, so we're going to be well-received," Courtney
said. "People are concerned about the possibility of war in Iraq, but, unless
you're planning to fly to Iraq or one of their Middle Eastern allies, go for it,"
he advised, noting that he will embark on a 13-day trip to Italy this spring. An
added incentive to travel right now: Airfares are the lowest they've been since
1988, according to the Travel Industry Association, a travel-industry trade group. Here's
a list of the top 10 hottest international destinations, compiled from interviews
with travel experts. Vancouver, British Columbia.
Montreal,
Québec.
Dublin, Ireland.
Cape Town, South Africa.
Sydney, Australia.
Cancun,
Mexico.
San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico. For those on the West Coast, Puerto Vallarta is a quick trip
to a prime Mexico destination, with beautiful beaches, warm weather, and colonial
history and architecture. "There's a lot of history there," said Suzanne
Bull, president of Ellensburg Travel in Ellensburg, Wash. Plus, "there's
some deep-sea fishing, and it's a safe destination." Both Cancun and Puerto
Vallarta are places where travelers can get an exotic experience but with clean
water and a high level of service and hotels, Bond said. "You're not roughing
it. If you want steak and fries, you can still get it." Rome,
Paris and London.
March International
Friendship Club Events March is coming in like a lion
with our General Meeting scheduled for March 11th. Circle it on your calendar
now. General meeting starts at 7:30 PM and this month's will be the election of
officers for the year. On March 19th, Norma Schuh, M.A.,
our "Speaker of the Month" will be speaking on "Growing Older Is
Not For Sissies". Doors open at 6:30 PM. Ms. Schuh is from Minnesota and
a part-time Vallarta resident. Her topic, and indeed her program teaches us how
to embrace aging with enthusiasm and acceptance from the frustration accompanying
aging. This upbeat, refreshing and stimulating program
will make the trek into the IFC Clubhouse worth the trip. This presentation is
free to all and a cash bar is available. The International
Friendship Club is located on the upper level of the Bank Bital building on Insurgentes,
next to the Fuente del Puente restaurant. For more information call the office
at 222-5466. Other happenings for the month are:
Bridge
lessons every Monday with Murray Beer from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Every Wednesday
and Thursday we offer the IFC Home Tours. 10:00 A.M. at the Hotel Molino de Agua.
Tickets available on site.
Spanish classes are offered every Friday at 10:00
a.m. IFC received again this year a donation of 1500 toothbrushes,
toothbrush covers, and toothpaste from Drs Williamson and Burch. Susan Davalos
is setting up a Personal Hygiene Program at the Regional Hospital to distribute
the toothbrushes at the Hospital. We thank all our visiting friends and tourists
who make these kinds of wonderful things happen. We need
volunteers always, so please call Kirstin at the clubhouse if you have time to
give us for Home Tour docent program, or if you are a nurse that can help in the
cleft palate program.
Press Release Specialized
Vet Coming to PV Friends of the Animals is honored
to announce that Dr. Wallace will be coming to PV in March to help the local animals
with bone or spine problems. Larry J. Wallace, DVM, MS,
DACVS, is Professor of Veterinary Surgery at the University of Minnesota College
of Veterinary Medicine in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. He is the past president of
the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and his specific area of specialty
is orthopedic and spine surgery. He also does some general surgery as well. He
is assisted by his wife Nancy who is a Registered Nurse. They will be in Puerto
Vallarta from March 6 to March 20, 2003. He would like
to participate in our "Vets Across the Border Program" during the time
they are here. He will conduct special clinics to see patients and do surgery
at one or more local veterinary hospitals. He would also be very willing to give
a series of lectures on a variety of different orthopedic procedures to the veterinarians
in the area. For the lectures he would need a 35 mm slide projector and screen. All
dates and times for surgeries and lectures are to be arranged. If you are interested,
please contact: Roie Griego at 223-3576 or by e-mail at: roieg@prodigy.net.mx
Javier
Niño to Paint Mural in Santa Barbara, CA. Renowned
local painter Javier Niño was invited by the Santa Barbara - Puerto Vallarta
Sister Cities committee to paint a mural in the public high school of Isla Vista,
CA, that will include the symbols and friendship that exists between the two peoples.
25 students will help him in the project. We should recall
that Californian Manuel Unzueta painted a mural in Puerto Vallarta back in 1976,
with the same feeling of brotherhood. Unfortunately, his work is presently abandoned
in the public library located in Hidalgo Park, whose future is very uncertain
right now. The building is slated for demolition and the books are to be transferred
to a new local in Mojoneras, all due to the public parking project. In
that regard, Javier Niño pointed out that the ideal would be to protect
the mural either by transporting it elsewhere or leaving the wall there, but protected
with some sort of roof. He said he knew the artist well as he is a friend of his.
"Manuel Unzueta is a very famous artist, he is one of California's greats,
he's done many murals in the Western States, he is very much sought after,"
said Niño to justify the value of the work that has been so underestimated
in Puerto Vallarta. He recalled how he met with Manuel
about a month ago, when Niño was in Santa Barbara when he exhibited his
work at the War Museum there. He told Manuel of the risk that his old work here
would disappear. The response was one of resigned sadness, but it appears that
the Committee may have already asked Manuel to paint another mural in Vallarta.
Italian
Cooking at LANS The students met with Chef José
Ruis of Vallarta's distinguished restaurant, Abadía Bassó, to share
in his ample knowledge of gastronomy in an interesting session of Italian cooking. The
class was given at LANS Department store in Plaza Caracol as it has been every
third Thursday of each month for the past few years. Everyone arrived on time,
ready with pen and paper to take down every detail regarding the preparation of
the stews featured that day. These reunions always turn
out to be more than just mere classes. With the help of Chef José's sense
of humor, everyone is easily convinced to participate actively and get more deeply
involved in the culinary arts. Sometimes, recipes are
prepared by one of the "students" under the watchful eye of the Chef.
On that particular day, the lesson was so captivating and successful that even
the employees of the department store got involved. In
what has become tradition in this town, Chef José Ruis gives his cooking
classes every third Thursday of each month. So don't forget to circle March 20th
and April 17th if you haven't done so already. In the
meantime, if you want to sample some of the renowned Chef's fabulous recipes,
just drop in to Abadía Bassó for lunch or dinner any day - except
for Tuesdays. You are in for a real treat!
Vallarta
Against AIDS Organization Art Work Auction The auction
organized by the Vallarta Contra El Sida group was held recently at L'Opera movie
theater. The paintings were donated by artist Maria Escalante
to help raise funds for the organization's work in spreading information about
the disease and its prevention, as well as providing the expensive drugs needed
by AIDS patients who do not have the means to pay for them. Maria
Escalante is HIV positive. Art has helped her cope and live with her illness in
a positive manner. She uses art to share her first-hand knowledge of AIDS and
as a volunteer for the organization, like all the others in the group, she works
hard to enlighten students, housewives, folks in rehab centers and anyone else
she can on the dangers of the disease and the various means of prevention. The
organization's goal is to put an end to all the disinformation about AIDS in order
to lower the alarming rate of infection. Archives
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