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Puerto Vallarta
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September 23rd to 29th, 2002
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Quinta Real Returns to Vallarta
The official opening of the Quinta
Real Puerto Vallarta at the beginning of this month
marked the return of one of the most prestigious Mexican
hotel chains to this town.
Quinta Real has taken over the jewel
of a hotel located right on the Marina Golf Course -
the only one in the region to enjoy such a privileged
location. In the past few years, the property has changed
hands -and names- a number of times, operating as the
Bel-Air, and Hacienda Cora among others. The new owners
have invested many millions in changing, remodeling
and adding to an already beautiful place.
Along with a new name, the property
now offers its guests a luxurious Spa and an exclusive
beach club, features it did not have in the past.
According to the expert in the hotel
industry, General Manager Paul H. Ingebretsen, this
hotel stands for "luxury, attention to details
…and ambience. We seduce our guests with details.
We've broken many paradigms to make things different.
For us, every day and every new guest is an inauguration
for us."
Off to Europe Again
The Mayor of Puerto Vallarta has
been invited by the Governor of the State of Jalisco
to join the official committee that will tour Europe,
visiting countries like the U.K., Ireland, Belgium,
Italy and Spain. The Director of the town's Tourism
Trust will also be included in the group scheduled to
leave on September 28th for the two-week tour. The mayor
reiterated his interest in promoting the natural attractions
of Puerto Vallarta in Madrid and Barcelona during his
stay in Spain, in London, England, Dublin, Ireland,
as well as Milan, Italy.
According to the President of the
local Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor should consider
creating a delegation and set the bases that would allow
for follow-up work after his trip, so that it will not
be just a simple "promotional trip".
SOS Animal to the Rescue
This new group's short-term goal
is to acquire its own plot of land to offer shelter
to abandoned animals. The task is difficult due to lack
of support, and although this is voluntary work that
will benefit the animals as much as the community, much
is lacking. Notwithstanding, the enthusiastic group
believes it will achieve its goal sooner or later.
Cities in first world countries and
some in Mexico too have animal shelters, generally intended
for lost or abandoned pets and wounded animals. The
SOS Animal group wants to raise awareness in the community
with regard to the mistreatment and abandonment of animals.
It hopes to enlist the help of volunteers so that it
may set up a first world class shelter, something that
would put Puerto Vallarta among the top cities in Mexico
in that field. This is due to the town's tourism activity
as it is the foreigners who are most concerned about
the plight of animals here. Therefore if there were
such a shelter, it would have very good consequences
for locals and visitors alike.
Approximately 80 people attended
the group's first get-together last week at a local
restaurant, where they discussed the next steps to take.
United to Remember
The memorial service in remembrance
of those who perished on September 11 was held at the
Sheraton Hotel on the first anniversary of the attack
on the World Trade Center. The event was led by the
U.S. Consul General of the State of Jalisco, Mr. John
Tavenner.
Sadness and tears were everywhere.
A minute of silence was respected at 8:45 a.m. One New
Yorker said a few words to those present, recalling
the statement: "Let us remain free of vengeance."
Mr. Tavenner's message was clear:
"We refuse to forget." He also informed the
audience that President George W. Bush had officially
declared September 11 the "Day of the Patriots".
Well-Known Artist Loses Everything
Painter Hellmut Bornemann needs help.
He needs help from the municipal authorities, the Department
of Culture and other artists because, according to him,
there have been many professional artists who have had
to leave this town due to the mistreatment to which
they are subjected here.
The artist originally comes from
Chile and has been living in Vallarta for the last 6
years. He recently rented a place with the intention
of opening his own gallery in which to exhibit his work.
The landlady assured him that there were no defects
in the building. Once he was set up there, Bornemann
had to go abroad so he asked a friend to look after
the place. Everything went well, but the trip had to
be extended. He realized he was late in paying his rent
but when he called the landlady, she told him not to
worry, that he would pay it upon his return.
Imagine his surprise when his friend
called him one night to advise him that he all his paintings
were lost, as well as his paints, because of the water
that had seeped into various parts of the building.
He immediately returned to Vallarta, just to see his
work of the last five years irreparably destroyed -
expensive pastels, imported paper, drawings, paintings,
everything.
Now the landlady is demanding payment
of the rent, even though the artist is holding her responsible
for the damages and his loss. Bornemann says, "I
would like to wipe Vallarta from my mind, and like me,
there are various artists who have left already. When
I first came here 6 years ago, I had a group of friends
of great worth - artistically speaking. Now not a single
one of them is left."
Chef Gérard Dupont To Coordinate
Puerto Vallarta's 8th Gourmet Festival Symposium
Internationally-renowned Chef Gérard
Dupont, President of the Académie Culinaire de
France, will be in charge of coordinating the round
table within the symposium of Puerto Vallarta's 8th
Gourmet Festival program. The event will be held at
the auditorium of the Coastal University Center on November
14th at 11 a.m.
The purpose of this important event
is to create alternatives and innovate gastronomy standards.
The festival itself is scheduled to take place from
November 7 to 17 as announced by its organizing committee
made up of prestigious Chefs of Vallarta.
High class cuisine and novel dishes
will be part of the festival in which 11 independent
restaurants and 7 hotels will participate. All the dining
rooms are open to the public.
The festival will also include other
attractions such as gourmet dinners in different restaurants
as well as a wine exhibition on November 10th at the
Salon Margarita of the Velas Vallarta Hotel, where 80
of the very best wines will be featured.
Moreover, there will be cooking classes
given by renowned Chefs from various countries at the
Hotel Premier & SPA. These are just some of a series
of activities that will make the 8th Gourmet Festival
an experience worthy of Vallarta and especially so for
those who enjoy haute cuisine.
The Coastal University Center of
the University of Guadalajara is organizing the Chefs'
Symposium in collaboration with the Festival's organizing
committee and it should be noted that everyone is invited
to this important event, admission is free.
Tourists and Service Providers
Upset by State Government Operations
After various tourist transportation
vehicles were fined recently, the General Security Coordinator
of Public Transportation in the State, informed us that
the operations conducted by his department will continue
in Puerto Vallarta. These consist in the verification
of documents previously authorized by the State and
Federal Departments of Tourism for the transportation
of national and foreign tourists. They began on Monday,
September 9th and have caused much discontent among
the tourists aboard the vehicles that were stopped.
The personnel that conducted the
aforementioned operations came from Guadalajara and
worked in conjunction with the municipal authorities
on Thursday, September 12th when they blocked transportation
vehicles that were carrying tourists from the Sheraton
Hotel, units belonging to the "Tany Tours"
and "H" tour agency. The drivers were asked
to show their permits, but as neither had the required
State documents, and the Tany driver did not even have
his driver's license with him, they were blocked and
detained, even though there was a total of 32 passengers
aboard. The latter were brought back to their hotel.
After expressing his disapproval
of the operation, the Vice-President of the Association
of Tourist Transporters spat out, "We've been fighting
with the taxis for 30 years and now the municipal authorities
want to damage us, I feel like burning the buses"
to the Assistant Mayor of Puerto Vallarta. The upset
caused by the operations conducted was obvious at the
meeting.
Representatives of both "H"
and Tany Tours registered their complaints with the
municipal authorities stating that although they agree
to the operations, they do not approve of the poor impression
left to the tourists. Nor do they agree with the request
for a permit issued by the Roads & Transport Department
as none of the companies have one. The Municipal Director
of Tourism responded by saying that the operations were
requested by the Mayor himself in order to advance the
regulation of tourist transport and avoid blockades
in this town.
One radio commentator added, "it
is not only the taxis that hinder the work of tourist
transporters, now it is the state and municipal authorities
too… No one cares for the image of this town. At
least a hint of sensitivity, something sadly lacking
within the municipal authorities."
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