Property Journal • Up to Date Real Estate Puerto Vallarta Mexico » Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:47:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 The last diva http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/the-last-diva/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/the-last-diva/#comments Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:46:56 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=1058 The last feminine myth in the movies died the morning of Wednesday March 23th. At 79 years old, leaving behind a full life of work, glamour and excess. She and Richard Burton were the detonators of the tourist development of Puerto Vallarta, when they exposed this little town, and took refuge to live their romance.

The year 1963 was running when in Mismaloya Beach started the filming of the movie “The Night of the Iguana” directed by John Houston based on the Tennessee Williams play, with a galaxy of stars like Ava Gardner, Sue Lyon, Deborah Kerr, and Richard Burton. This determined the future of the town called Puerto Vallarta, barely known by a small North American elite, and will become through the years in one of the most important destinations in the Mexican Pacific, thank to the promotion obtained from the movie.

Everything started when in 1962 the unforgettable Guillermo Wulff while in Los Angeles CA met the movie director John Houston winner of the 1948 Oscar for the “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and convinced him to visit Puerto Vallarta, to look for locations for his next movie “The Night of the Iguana”. At the time Puerto Vallarta had 5,000 inhabitants, 4 hotels and no road to Mismaloya, Houston succumbed to the charm of the place and decided to film the movie here. Besides all this he bought a house, married a local girl and made this place his home.

The filming of the movie starts in 1963 in the middle of the turmoil caused by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor when they fell in love during the making of Cleopatra in 1961, and from that moment  on, the international press had not let the couple breathe, chasing them all anywhere they went. When Burton arrives here, Liz appears in Puerto Vallarta and make this corner in this little village lost in the Mexican Pacific their refuge.

Elizabeth Taylor was born in England starting her way in the movies before she was the age of 10. At 12 she played the role that will put her in the firmament in  “National Velvet.”

During her career she was awarded two Oscars for her roles in Butterfield 8 and Who is afraid of Virginia Woolf?. She was admired for her beauty, her purple eyes, and her dark hair.

She was also known, for her love for jewelry, and her 8 marriages; at 18 she married Conrad Hilton, marriage that will not last for more than one year. A year later she married Michael Wilding with whom she had two children. Elizabeth Taylor third husband was the movie producer Mike Todd, the man she loved the most, according to her own words. Todd died in a plane accident leaving her with one daughter. After one year she married for the fourth time with Eddie Fisher, the husband of her best friend Debbie Reynolds causing a big scandal on the press.Cleopatra

In 1961 she embarks herself in the megaproject to film “Cleopatra” an adaptation of the life of the Egyptian Queen. The filming was long and complicated (Liz ended up in the hospital for several weeks) increasing the cost of the movie to figures never expected or seen before in the movie industry. Her salary was one million dollars amount never paid to an actor before.

“Cleopatra” directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz was finally released in 1963 without recovering the investment causing the bankruptcy of Twenty Century Fox. In the movie she shared the credits with Richard Burton portraying “Marco Antonio” where they fell in love and the tw o of them had one of the most known romances in the history of the movies. They married in 1964, divorced in 1974, and married again in 1975 to end their relationship permanently in 1976. All a complicated situation because they could not hide their problems with alcohol and violence among them.

During the 80´s the actress went everywhere with a man not known Hollywood´s movie world. His name Victor Luna a Lawyer from Guadalajara, that almost married her: according to US media Víctor disappeared days before the wedding date. During this period Liz came frequently to Puerto Vallarta and Guillermo Wulff gave her a penthouse in Puesta del Sol, the first development in Marina Vallarta.

In 1976 married John Warner a politician from whom she divorced in 1982.

Her last husband was a construction worker that she met in Betty Ford Clinic, and remain married to him from 1991 to 1996.

Liz had a very close relationship with Michal Jackson, and supported him during his alleged child abuse trails, and was one of the few celebrities that assisted his funeral Taylor supported HIV and AIDS programs; she co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985, and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1993. She received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the Legion of Honour, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and a Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute, who named her seventh on their list of the “Greatest American Screen Legends”. 3 houses in condominium.

In 2004 her health problems were known, and she was diagnosed with Cronic Congestive Heart Failure. In February this year she was admitted to the hospital with this diagnosis that caused her death in the morning of March 23, 2011

Liz and Puerto Vallarta

After arriving in Puerto Vallarta Liz was charmed by its beauty but mainly by its people. History says that she was a guest in “Hotel Oceano”. To avoid the harassment from reporters (not many at the time in Vallarta)they moved to “Casa Kiberly” in “Gringo Gulch”, where most of the cast was staying, since Houston dad rented to house for that purpose.

During the course of the filming their love increased, and decided to divorce their spouses to get married. Puerto Vallarta became their heaven. Burton bought “Casa Kimberly” for her 32nd birthday in 1964 for $57.000 USD. The property was built in 1957 by an American from Santa Barbara California, it has 3 gardens, 10 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. In 1970 Burton had built a house across the street to have a pool and extra rooms for guests, so they and their children could enjoy their privacy in “Casa Kimberly”, and that is how the famous bridge was built to communicate both houses.

During those idyllic years the couple, had the almost virgin village for themselves without curious and reporters, chasing them, with their friends around them. Houston had become a resident in P.V. and Peter O´toole bought a house not far from the Burton´s. The friendly local community made them part of their lives, and integrated very easy. To this day there are many Vallartenses that befriended them, like the well known photographer Sergio Toledano who is their Godson.

Liz kept “Casa Kimberly” until 1990 sold to a Canadian that turned the house into a Hotel/Museum dedicated to both actors. In 2009 the house was sold for $2.500.000 USD; the buyer obtained from Javier Bravo a demolition permit to build 3 houses in condominium. The current owner is Banco Mercantil del Norte. As today and for several months,the construction has been stopped by neighbors and local authorities, to preserve and protect an area considered with historical and tourist value. The house is located on the number 245 of Calle Zaragoza, in downtown Puerto Vallarta (Gringo Gulch). Visiting the site brings memories of those golden years when the Liz & Dick the most celebrated couple at the time chose this our town to live their romance and presented to the world like one of the most beautiful and charming corners in Mexico.

LA ULTIMA DIVA
El último gran mito femenino del cine  falleció en la mañana del miércoles 23 de marzo a los 79 años, dejando tras de sí una vida repleta de trabajo, glamour y excesos. Ella y Richard Burton fueron los detonantes del desarrollo turístico de Puerto Vallarta al dar a conocer al mundo este pequeño pueblo, en el que se refugiaron, para vivir su amor.
Corría en año de 1963 cuando, en la playa de Mismaloya,  empezó la filmación de la película  La Noche de la Iguana, dirigida por John Huston y protagonizada por una pléyade de estrellas de la época: Ava Gardner, Sue Lyon, Deborah Kerr y  Richard Burton. Este hecho determinó el futuro de este pequeño pueblo llamado Puerto Vallarta,  apenas conocido por una pequeña élite de norteamericanos y que se convertiría en el paso de los años, y con ayuda de la invaluable promoción que le prestó la película, en uno de los destinos turísticos mas importantes del Pacífico.
Todo sucedió cuando en 1962 el inolvidable Guillermo Wulff se encontraba en Los Angeles y conoció al director de cine John Huston (Oscar en 1948 por El Tesoro de  Sierra Madre)  convenciendolo de que viniera a Vallarta para buscar las locaciones de la que sería su siguiente película,  La Noche de la Iguana. En aquellos entonces Pto. Vallarta tenía 5,000 habitantes, 4 hoteles y no había carretera para Mismaloya pero Huston sucumbió al encanto del lugar y se decidió a filmar aquí. Además se compró una casa, se casó con  una chica local  e hizo de Vallarta su hogar.
En 1963 comienza la filmación en medio de tremendo escándalo, ya que su protagonista Richard Burton se había enamorado de su coestrella Liz Taylor durante la filmación (1961) de  Cleopatra y desde ese  momento la prensa internacional no le había dado respiro a la pareja, persiguiéndola a través de todo el mundo. Obviamente cuando Burton se instala aquí, Taylor se hace presente, se encanta con el lugar y la gente y deciden hacer de este rincón, su refugio.
Elizabeth Taylor, nació en Inglaterra y comenzó su carrera en el cine antes de cumplir los 10 años. A los 12 se hizo famosa con el papel protagónico en “National Velvet”.
 

Durante su carrera ganó dos Premios Oscar por las películas “Butterfield 8” y “¿Quién teme a Virginia  Woolf?” y fue alabada por su belleza caracterizada por sus ojos violetas y su cabello negro.

Otra de las razones por las que Elizabeth Taylor fue conocida mundialmente fue por su amor a las joyas y  sus ocho matrimonios. A los 18 años se casó con Conrad Hilton Jr, pero el matrimonio no duraría más de un año. Un año después ya se había casado con  Michael Wilding, un actor inglés  con quien tuvo dos hijos.
El tercer marido de Elizabeth Taylor fue  el productor de cine Mike Todd, el hombre al que más amó, según relató ella misma.  Todd murió en un accidente  aéreo dejándola con una hija, Maria. Un año después Liz Taylor se casó por cuarta vez  con Eddie Fisher, causando un revuelo increíble en la prensa del corazón de aquellos días ya que Fisher era el marido de su mejor amiga Debbie Reynolds.
En 1961 la  actriz se embarcó en  

el megaproyecto de “Cleopatra” (1963), una adaptación de la vida de la  reina egipcia. El rodaje fue calamitoso y duró una eternidad (Liz fue a dar al hospital durante varias semanas), provocando que su costo se disparara a cifras por aquella época alucinantes, siendo el salario de Taylor de un millón de dólares, cifra nunca antes pagada a nadie.

“Cleopatra”, dirigida por Joseph L. Mankiewicz, se estrenó finalmente en 1963 sin poder recuperar el dinero invertido y provocando la quiebra de la Twenty Century Fox. En el rodaje de esta película Elizabeth compartió los créditos  con un actor británico que encarnaba a Marco Antonio, Richard Burton, con quien la actriz protagonizó uno de los idilios más célebres de toda la historia del cine.
Se casaron en 1964, se divorciaron diez años después, en 1974, y volvieron a casarse en el año 1975 para terminar separándose definitivamente en 1976. Todo un culebrón,  ya que no se podía ocultar los problemas de alcoholismo y violencia doméstica de la pareja.
En la época de los ochenta, la actriz iba a todos lados con un hombre poco conocido en el medio artístico Hollywoodense, su nombre, Víctor Luna. Un abogado de Guadalajara que estuvo a nada de casarse con la actriz. Durante ese tiempo Liz volvió a visitar Vallarta con frecuencia y Guillermo Wulff le regaló un departamento en Puesta del Sol, el primer desarrollo que se construyó en Marina Vallarta.
Según medios estadounidenses, Víctor “desapareció” días antes de la fecha civil de la boda.
En 1976 contrajo matrimonio con el político John Warner, de quien se separó en 1982.
Su último esposo fue el albañil Larry Fortensky, con quien estuvo casada entre 1991 y 1996 y al que conoció en una clínica de desintoxicación.
Elizabeth Taylor hizo noticia una vez más cuando al ser una de las pocas estrellas en ir al funeral de su amigo Michael Jackson.
En 2004 se dieron a conocer los problemas de salud de Elizabeth Taylor cuando se le diagnosticó una insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva. Luego a mediados de febrero fue ingresada al hospital por este mismo problema y no salió más hasta su deceso la mañana del miércoles 23 de marzo.
Liz y Puerto Vallarta
Cuando Liz llegó a Vallarta se quedó prendada del lugar pero sobre todo de su gente. Dice la historia que   llegó a hospedarse al Hotel Océano, pero para no verse asediados por los curiosos (que en ese tiempo eran pocos) y sobre todo, por los reporteros  y fotógrafos que perseguían a la pareja  se mudaron a  la Casa Kimberly en Gringo Gulch, donde  se hospedaban buena parte de los actores protagónicos ya que Huston la había rentado con ese propósito.
Hay que decir que durante el rodaje de la película el amor entre los actores se consolidó de tal forma que ambos decidieron divorciarse de sus respectivos cónyuges y casarse. Puerto Vallarta se convirtió en su refugio y para celebrar el cumpleaños 32 de Liz, Burton le compró la casa Kimberly en 1964 por $57,000.

La propiedad  de 600 mt2,  había sido construida en 1957 por un estadounidense de Santa Bárbara, California y contaba con 3 jardines, 10 habitaciones y 12 baños

En  1970  Burton mandó construir otra casa en frente. La idea era tener una piscina y habitaciones para las visitas, pues en la casa principal se quedaba la pareja con sus hijos. Las casas se unieron mediante un  puente.
Esos fueron los años idílicos de  la pareja teniendo como refugio un pueblito practicamente virgen, sin curiosos que los persiguieran, con amigos viviendo a su alrededor (Huston ya se había avencindado en P.V. y Peter O´toole se compró una casa muy cerca de los Burton) y una comunidad muy amigable que los hizo partícipes de la vida local y a la cual ellos se integraron facilmente.
Hoy en dia en Vallarta hay  mucha gente que los conoció y convivió con ellos como Sergio Toledano, el famoso fotógrafo vallartense, ahijado de los actores.
Liz Taylor mantuvo la casa hasta 1990 cuando la vendió a un canadiense que la convirtió en hotel-museo dedicado a los actores.
En 2009 la casa se puso a la venta por 2.5 millones de dólares y el comprador logró que el ex-alcalde Javier Bravo autorizara la demolición de la propiedad para construir 3 casas en condomio siendo el propietario el Banco Marcantil del Norte. Actualmente varias autoridades y grupos locales  han logrado parar la obra ya que el sitio se considera de interés turístico.
La casa se encuentra ubicada en la calle de Zaragoza 245 en el centro de Puerto Vallarta. Visitarla  nos hace imaginar el Vallarta de aquellos años dorados cuando la pareja más célebre de la época escogió nuestro pueblo para establecerse y lo presentó al mundo como uno de los rincones mas bellos y acogedores de México.

]]> http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/the-last-diva/feed/ 0 Magic and Mysterious Burials http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/magic-and-mysterious-burials/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/magic-and-mysterious-burials/#comments Sun, 10 Apr 2011 04:29:48 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=1048
During 1,000 years in Western Mexico the agricultural towns distinguished themselves by their magic and mysterious burials.  They were known for their tombs (tumbas de tiro) and their influence is found in the states of Nayarit, Colima, Jalisco, Michoacan and Zacatecas.  During this long time, they exchanged activities with other cultures.  From what we know today, they navigated the coasts all the way to Colombia, Peru and  Ecuador. This time frame was between 300 B.C. and 700 A.D.

Tumbas de tiro 

The Los Toriles Ruins are located about 2 miles from the town of Ixtlan Del Rio (2.5 hours from Puerto Vallarta) in Nayarit.  They are also commonly called the Ruins of Ixtlan Del Rio or the Ixtlan Del Rio Ruins.  They are the only mesoamerican civilization  ruins in the western part of Mexico that are this far north, without just being ceremonial or burial grounds.  The main attraction of this archaeological zone is the round shaped temple that was built for Ehecatl Quetzalcoatl, the god of the wind.  Also this site features “Tiros de Tumba”, which are shaft tombs. The Western Mexico shaft tombs are characterized by a vertical or nearly vertical shaft, dug 3 to 20 metres down into what is often underlying volcanic tuff. The base of the shaft opens into one or two (occasionally more) horizontal chambers, perhaps 4 by 4 metres (varying considerably), with a low ceiling. The shaft tombs were often associated with an overlying building.

Multiple burials are found in each chamber and evidence indicates that the tombs were used for families or lineages over time.[11] The labor involved in the creation of the shaft tombs along with the number and quality of the grave goods indicate that the tombs were used exclusively by the society’s elites,[12] and demonstrate that the shaft tomb cultures were highly stratified at this early date.

This civilization buried the dead in tombs that were uniquely shaped.  They dug holes and then buried them to the side of the holes.  At this site you can go down and see some of the examples of the tombs.

Unfortunately, in the latter part of 2006 thieves broke into this section and then looted the tombs of their artifacts and skeletons.  There is a thriving black market, especially in Europe for people that purchase these rare and original artifacts from the Meso-American civilizations.

According to the INAH (Mexico’s National History Institute), systematic research at Los Toriles began in 1947.  Archaeologist Jose Corona Nunez excavated and restored some of the mounds that are on the Los Toriles grounds.  This work was completed two years later after three field seasons, during which time looting in some shaft tombs was also reported.  The site is from the Early Post Classical period around 900 to 1300 A.D.  The constructions of the site show influence from the Toltecs.  Restoration work on the structures at the site continued in Ixtlan under archaeologist Eduardo Contreras.  He restored the south section of the official archaeological zone in 1967.  It was during that field season that the archaeologist Rodolfo Castro, scouring the whole site, took samplings of material and located the mounds using the grid reference method.  Castro reported 77 mounds in the area.  It is believe that the site had a dense population, especially to the north of the ceremonial center.  This is based on the amount of household litter that was found during excavations.

The temple for the wind god, Ehecatl / Quetzalcoatl  it is known as the Round Pyramid which is the archaeological zone’s landmark.  It’s one of the most beautiful buildings of the pre-hispanic architecture in Western Mexico.  The round monument measures 80 feet in diameter and is over 13 feet high.  It was originally a filled in cylinder or drum whose vertical walls were crowned by a parapet with cross shaped openings, with five stairways.  On the top of the structure, it has two rectangular shrines.

The site is open everyday rom 9 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.   The price is 30 pesos for entry.  Senior Citizens (Older than 60 years), Children (younger than 13 years), handicapped people, retired people, students and professors do not need to pay admission.  Entry on Sundays is free.

The site has a small museum that gives details on the Tiros de Tumba and examples of how the people dressed.  There are examples of artifacts from the civilization, these artifacts are located outside behind glassed windows.

 

 

]]> http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/magic-and-mysterious-burials/feed/ 0 Yo y los gobernadores de mi pueblo http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/yo-y-los-gobernadores-de-mi-pueblo/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/yo-y-los-gobernadores-de-mi-pueblo/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 04:44:18 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=1040 A MANERA DE INTROITO

En mas de alguna ocasión –durante el largo término que estuvo fuera del presupuesto y que fue cuando realmente nació, creció y murió nuestra relación amistosa- tozuda y machaconamente  insistí a Don Gilberto Flores Muñoz para que escribiera sus memorias personales y políticas; ..”” Mire don Gil, -le argumentaba- Ud., carece de todo derecho para guardar en su ronco pecho lo que le dijo y lo que no le dijo Ruiz Cortinez a Ud., y Ud., a Ruiz Cortinez,.. .y sobre todo los detalles de la sucesión presidencial del 58…  esos sucesos no son de su patrimonio personal como lo son sus sementales indo-Brasil ..sino que pertenecen al  patrimonio de todo un pueblo porque constituyen los entresijos de su  historia…así como otras experiencias y anécdotas personales y el que Ud., no lo haga..es una omisión punto menos que irresponsable”“…


“Para eso es Ud., muy bueno” -me contestaba en tono de broma ligera – “para acabar o para convencer a  la gente con esa lengua  ponzoñosa de víbora mazacuata…” hasta que, finalmente, accedió a platicar de sus experiencias que, suponíase, yo pondría por escrito y conservaría los textos que él revisaría para su publicación oportuna, en la inteligencia que se reservaba todo derecho a determinar el momento oportuno  durante el transcurso de su vida; determinación que a mí correspondería si en razón de la diferencia de edades, llegare a sobrevivirle.-

 

“”Ándele, pues, ándele …para que ya no siga jodiendo, ….-por fin me dijo el “Tigre”.-.” .tráigase su aparatito a segunda condición de que  yo no tenga a la vista  la cebolla esa”  (dijo indicando el micrófono).

 

Se verificaron tres o cuatro entrevistas grabadas con ese propósito en un par de casettes y todo el proyecto quedó ahí, trunco  un par de meses después, como trunca quedó   nuestra supuesta o real amistad.- A los cassetes los truncó esa humedad pegajosa de los veranos tepicenses y no es aquí el momento de recordar las minucias del rompimiento de nuestra relación personal.

 

Viene a mi recuerdo que fue entonces cuando de regreso de un viaje a Mérida,  donde había visto publicaciones de memorias de yucatecos cuando me nació la idea de escribir mis propios testimonios o experiencias, aunque no signifiquen entresijos histórico-político de proporción nacional o de las más altas esferas del poder, como hubiere sido el caso de Don Gilberto Flores Muñoz, sino simples chismes o anécdotas, de mi propia historia y de lo que en mi ya larga vida, he tenido en suerte ser testigo. (Posteriormente Julio Scherer publicó en Excelsior una entrevista con Don Gil, magistral por su calidad de periodista, pero –por la naturaleza propia del reportaje-  restringida al tema a la sucesión presidencial del 58) y dejando fuera otros aspectos de la vida política y personal que hubiere sido interesante conocer independientemente de estar de acuerdo o no con sus tácticas y estrategias; el anecdotario revelador de su marrullería de ranchero ladino; el conocimiento que tenía de la gente y sus facultades de manipulación, como lo llegamos a conocer el reducido grupo del que fui integrante.

 

Así, ya sesenteando, quiero cumplir también con aquella obligación que  impone  a todo ser humano pensante, -digo y enfatizo pensante- la máxima, al parecer china, de sembrar un árbol y escribir un libro, aunque este sea de tema limitado a mis propios recuerdos autobiográficos destinados primeramente a mi mismo y luego a un reducido número de gentes que siento muy cercanas a mi y estoy seguro que, aún sin mencionar sus nombres en pomposas dedicatorias sabrán a sí mismos identificarse y estarán muy seguras de sus sentimientos de inclusión.-

 

Hace ya lustros, y lo digo con todo orgullo que dejó  de importarme lo que de mí diga o no diga, piense o no piense ese ente amorfo etéreo e intangible de imposible definición que parece servir de poderoso agente  regulador de conductas de “la gente normal”;  sus debes, debieras o deberías prevalecientes en la sociedad y en la civilización en las que tuve en suerte nacer y vivir quedan dentro de mis altos grados de importamadrismo;

 

En alguna ocasión Emilio M. González –típico exponente del homo sapiens nayaritense por poseer todos los defectos y las cualidades de la tribu y gran conocedor de esta  comentó en alguna ocasión a mi hija Ana Eugenia haciendo referencia a mi, que “si algo he admirado de tu padre –le dijo, es que  “desde mocoso, lo he visto hacer y decir lo que le pega la gana”.

 

Por otro lado creo tener en el tintero algunas cosas mas o menos interesantes que compartir sobre lo que viví en Tepic, ciudad en que me tocó nacer y el propósito de contarlas tal y como yo las viví, de manera totalmente subjetiva pero también, sin la mínima intención de herir o perjudicar a nadie.- Para alguno que crea que tiene en sus manos una obra histórico-política objetiva y apegada a rigor científico, yo le diría de antemano que estará muy equivocado; solo se trata de dejar a mi magín peregreñar recuerdos e interpretaciones personales teniéndome a mi mismo como más importante destinatario; de manera secundaria a los auto identificatarios y terciaria al resto de la humanidad.- Ojalá pueda lograr mi propósito.

 

Por último, voy a seguir un consejo que me dio hace unas semanas el Doctor José María Muría, Presidente del Colegio de Jalisco.- (Cuando logro colarme entre los intelectuales,  o cuando menos sií logro quedarme callado y escuchar, siempre he aprendido algo).- La ocasión se presentó recientemente, cuando cenando en Puerto Vallarta acompañados de mi hermana Ana Elda y de una amiga común, Alisa,  -que nunca ha tenido contacto con la vida tepicense o nayarita- y al comentarles en vía de charla que tenia algunas cuartillas guardadas en mi computadora personal, José María me insistió en la necesidad de continuar escribiendo y lo hizo con argumentos similares a los que utilicé con Flores Muñoz que al principio aludo, agregando:  “Mira, Germán, cuando escribas tus experiencias hazlo suponiendo que se las estás contando a Alisa –que no sabe nada de estos temas que no conoce ni el lugar, las gentes, las costumbres y su entorno; no hagas supuestos previos; es decir, para que no supongas que quien llegare a leerte, ya tiene conocimiento de muchas cosas que pudieran parecerte insustanciales y las omitas; no des por hecho que tus lectores las conozcan y no te olvides de esos que pudieras considerar pequeños detalles.- Piensa que se los estás platicando a Alisa y no a tu hermana, quién por el solo hecho de serlo y haber vivido mucho de lo tuyo, ya sabe de antemano muchos de esos pequeños detalles y minucias.- Así es como se va escribiendo la historia”.

 

Van enseguida pedazos de la mía propia.

 

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. Municipio de Bahía de Banderas –(antes Compostela).- Junio del 2,001.

Germán Goldman Serafín

 

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]]> http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/yo-y-los-gobernadores-de-mi-pueblo/feed/ 0 Staging by Jorge Rubio http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/staging-by-jorge-rubio/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/staging-by-jorge-rubio/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:38:46 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=1032

Do I Need to Stage My Home?

Do I Need to Stage My Home?

This is a common question asked of me by a great number of prospective clients who have heard about home staging, but really do not completely understand the concept or fully appreciate its many benefits. As a designer working in the property sector in several regards, I can honestly see both sides of the argument for and against home staging, particularly in this incredibly tough real estate market. However, when studied objectively, staging almost always makes sense, regardless of the type of property sold or the economic climate of the current market, since staging is statistically proven to bring in higher offers and get homes sold faster than comparable unstaged houses or apartments.


So, “Do I need to stage my home?” Yes, I believe you probably do and this is why… Staging is always a benefit to sellers. A well staged home will always rise to the top of elite properties in the area and will certainly attract the most attention from prospective buyers and their real estate agents based on look, feel and flow of the interior and exterior spaces. A staged home will address any functional or aesthetic issues in advance of buyers ever seeing them, so the home is likely to fulfill every want without any downside in the buyer’s eyes. Best of all, staging is well known to make a real estate agent’s job so much easier for representatives of buyers or sellers, since buyers will LOVE staged homes and will immediately become emotionally attached to them… We all know that emotional attachment is the best way to get a deal done quickly and profitably…


Staging is always a benefit

However, staging is not all about upside and there are some cons to consider… First, if you intend on hiring a professional home stager or staging company, you will have to pay them. Quality services do not come for free… However, statistics once again point out the fact that an investment in home staging will likely return itself many times over in terms of a higher sales price. Additionally, the costs of home staging are fully tax deductible in the US as a marketing expense for your property. This means that the service is actually free and will make you more money… I guess there is not much downside after all.


So, the final answer to the question, “Do I need to stage my home?” really is another question unto itself. That question being “Do you WANT to sell your home?” If the answer is yes and you want to sell it fast and for the most money possible then you MUST use staging as part of your real estate marketing plan. To discount the value of home staging is simply taking another tool out of your arsenal and handing an advantage to your sizeable competition on the property market. Remember, good times or bad, you NEED to distinguish your house against all its competitors in order to make the most money with the least work possible…

 


¿Necesito escenografiar mi casa?

Esta es una pregunta común que me hacen  un gran número de posibles clientes que han oí

do h

ablar de escenografiar  su casa, pero en realidad no comprenden el

concepto o aprecian plenamente sus muchos beneficios. Como un diseñador que trabaja en varios aspectos del sector inmobiliario, honestamente puedo ver los dos lados de los argumentos tanto en  favor como en contra del Home Staging, especialmente en este mercado vallartense de bienes raíces tan competido. Sin embargo, cuando

se analiza de manera objetiva, el Home Staging (escenografiar) casi siempre tiene sentido, independientemente del tipo de los bienes vendidos o la situación económica del mercado actual, ya que  está estadísticamente demostrado que atraerá más ofertas y ventas en un periódo de tiempo muchísimo mas corto  que las casas o apartamentos no escenografiados.

 

Home Staging es siempre un beneficio

Por lo tanto, “¿Es necesario el Home Staging para mi casa?” Sí, yo creo que lo debe  hacer y la razón es esta: … Home Staging es siempre un beneficio para los vendedores

. Un hogar bien escenografiado  siempre siempre estará a la cabeza  de las propiedades a la venta  en la zona y sin duda atraerá una  mayor atención de los posibles compradores y sus agentes de bienes raíces sobre la base de la apariencia, sensación y el flujo de los espacios interiores y exteriores.

 

Una casa escenografiada  las cuestiones funcionales se abordarán antes de los compradores puedan  siquera verlas, a los ojos del comprador este tipo de propiedades  cumple todas las necesidades y requisitos sin ningún tipo de inconveniente. Lo mejor de todo, Home Staging  es bien conocido por hacer el trabajo de los agentes de bienes raíces es mucho más fácil tanto para  los vendedores como compradores, ya que estos  se involucran emocionalmente con las propiedades  … Todos sabemos que el apego emocional es la mejor manera de llegar a un acuerdo de forma rápida y rentable …

 

Sin embargo, en el Home Staging no es todo es dulzura y hay algunas desventajas a considerar … En primer lugar, si tiene la intención de contratar a un  profesional del Staging tendrá que pagar. Los servicios de calidad no son gratis … Sin embargo, las estadísticas,una vez más, señalan el hecho de que una inversión en la escenografía  de su casa es probable que sea muy redituable  en términos de un mayor precio de venta y sobre todo que no haya que hacer ningún descuento a cuenta de desperfectos visibles de la casa. Además, los costos del Home Staging  son totalmente deducibles de impuestos tanto en  EE.UU. como en Mexico, ya que es un gasto de comercialización de su propiedad.

 

Por lo tanto, la respuesta final a la pregunta: “¿Es necesario el Home Staging para mi casa?” nos lleva a otra cuestión muy imporatante que es “¿Quiere vender su casa?” Si la respuesta es sí , desea vender rápido y obtener la mayor cantidad de dinero posible, entonces usted debe utilizar Home Staging como parte de su plan de comercialización de bienes raíces.

 

Recuerde, en  tiempos buenos o malos, es necesario hacer que  su casa sobresalga contra las de  sus competidores con el fin   de lograr una venta mas rápida y que le deje la mayor cantidad de  dinero con el menor trabajo posible …

 

]]> http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/04/staging-by-jorge-rubio/feed/ 0 Jalisco’s Magic Towns http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/03/jaliscos-magic-towns/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/03/jaliscos-magic-towns/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:15:12 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=994 The program “Magic Towns” was launched in 2001 by the Tourism Department of Mexico. Its objective has been to impulse tourism to visit typical villages and small Mexican towns where the particular, traditional and typically Mexican style of life has been kept alive by its people.

Various villages, towns and their surrounding areas throughout all of Mexico have been called a “Magic Town” because of the strong indigenous influence, the great legacy of the colonial Spanish empire, the preservation of secular traditions and or have been places where ancestral and historic events of Mexico took place. The government recognizes and contributes to the peoples efforts to preserve the cultural and historical treasures that these towns enclose.

The objectives of the Magic Town Project are ample and among these lie the touristic value that they enclose for they tend the growing demand of culture, traditions, adventure and extreme sports and to the simple everyday rural life in Mexico that modern travelers are now looking for. There are thirty Magic Towns throughout Mexico and in Jalisco alone, there are three of them; Tequila, Mazamitla and Tapalpa. These places enclose the charm of everyday life and can fully be enjoyed visiting their attractive natural surroundings and participate in the diverse activities that are held outdoors offering breathtaking horizons, fresh air to fill your lungs with, , breathing in the humidity of a day break or to dance under the rain in the middle of an amazing valley or mountain side.

The views of the mountains at the Sierra del Tigre in Mazamitla, the mountains of Tapalpa and the agave landscape, (which are a heritage of humanity)  of Tequila invite us to visit these towns without any hurry.

San Sebastian del Oeste which is very close to Vallarta,  will soon be included in the list of Magic Towns . If you have any spare time while Visiting our Bay, don’t miss a trip to these magical places that are not only packed with history but also hold Mexico’s future.

Tequila

The history of this town is closely knit to the liquor that has the same name and that is popular throughout the entire world. Tequila, the Mexican name most foreigners are familiar with. Tequila sits on the skirt of the Tequila Volcano, at nearly 10,000 feet from sea level and enjoys a warm climate year round with rain fall during summer and fall.

the dozens of distilleries are Tequilas main attraction for one can visit them and observe the process of elaboration of this spirit. There is a small museum at the Tequila Sauza distillery that shows the history of this house. Casa Cuervo has impressive installations with guided visits every day. The Hacienda San Martin of the XVII century, is one of the most beautiful Haciendas of the state and possesses grand architectural characteristics like its portal, fountains and a most beautiful chapel cupola that are a delight to see.

From the top of the majestic Tequila Volcano one can see the Tequila and Matitlan valleys and the fractured geology of the gully and an interminable horizon of agaves.

You can go up by foot, car, horse or mountain bike, depending on your taste. The path takes you through an wonderful oak forest until the famous “tetilla” remembrance of the active volcano. The winds speed wil let you know when you have reached the pinnacle and you will be in awe with the 180° views.

Fifteen minutes from Tequila in the gully a breath of humid vegetation seduces its visitors.  Going into this huge natural throat that descends between bird songs and a great variety of plants you will find the water fall Los Azules, with its pristine water and its 98 feet fall, is nothing but a great experience.

Tapalpa

Its beautiful views and picturesque constructions makes Tapalpa one of the major tourist attractions in Jalisco. Without a doubt today it is one of the most famous vacationing towns with a tranquil countryside ambience. It is located to the east of the mountain and to the left of the Tapalpa River where there are gold, copper, silver, mercury and  iron deposits.

Its surrounding areas are full of interesting places like Las Piedrotas, a grouping of colossal rocks, the Cascada del Nogal,  a waterfall 345 feet, the highest in Jalisco and the sawmill for dreamy picnics and excursions, accessible all of them by foot, horseback or burros.

The  practice canoeing, hiking and fishing at the river or the Nogal damn which is full of trout, rappel and mountain biking are also very popular in the area.

Mazamitla

An hour and a half from Guadalajara enclaved in the mountain that offers natural and privileged views is the other great Jalisco secret. The name Mazamitla means Place of the Deer and it is a beautiful town in the middle of the Sierra Mazamitla that holds an abundance of creeks and waterfalls within a wonderfully healthy climate.

Mazamitla known for its torrential rains and red dirt, offers the tourist that visits delicious fruit, cheeses and wonderful jams; tejocote, blackberries, wild grapes; exquisite butter, cream and panela cheese; cobble stone streets and whitewashed facades painted with dirt. The old houses with monistic patios inspired architects such as Luis Barragan and Rafael Urzua. The town is of popular architecture, and has the characteristics to be considered a typical town with the uniformed constructions, houses that follow a traditional rustic Michoacán influence with slanted roofs of red tile, adobe constructions and predominant wood tinted white and brown.

This is the place where the forest, the houses, the people and the food join together provoking a peaceful and harmonious place to be.

]]> http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/03/jaliscos-magic-towns/feed/ 0 Mexcaltitán, the origen http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/01/mexcaltitan-the-origen/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/01/mexcaltitan-the-origen/#comments Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:19:43 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=989 Very near Puerto Vallarta, to 145 miles north, in the state of Nayarit, is located the island of Mexcaltitan. Built on an islet in the middle of the lagoon of the same name,this town is just 400 meters long and 350 wide. Arriving by land from Santiago Ixcuintla, Mexcaltitán seems to float on the water, and at the time when the San Perdo’s river grows , it gives the impression of being buried beneath the  water. This is why its sidewalks are so high.

Some say, and this has been the subject of controversy among historians, that this town is the mythical Aztlan (aztecs), from where the Aztecs left to the center of the republic, following the designs of their god Huitzilopochtli, who sent them to find a similar place where they will establish their new city, Tenochtitlan (todays Mexico City); the signal to know the right place was the finding of an eagle on top of  a cactus devouring a snake.

In fact, this has no bases and it is just supported on the idea that Aztlán “place of herons” and Mexcaltitán a place on where it abound, and it has been historically associated; another argument is that Aztlan was in Chicomostoc “place of seven caves”. In any case, the only certainty is that the founders of the Aztec capital came from the West, and whom they do have relationship with the now state of Nayarit.

Although some doubt about the certainly of these data, all agree that is a unique place, lush vegetation, colorful streets, friendly locals and relaxed atmosphere. Worth visiting the island since there are buildings of the eighteenth century as the Church of San Pedro and San Pablo, which deserve a visit.

The town counts with the museum “ The Origin” with very interesting archaeological pieces of the local cultures, especially the Aztec.

Both the coast of Nayarit as the estuary of the lake have extraordinary seafood: oysters, shrimp, bearded, mullet, bream, which give the local cuisine an unmistakable and makes it one of the most succulent in the broad spectrum of Mexican food. Do not miss the meatballs and shrimp tamales, the tlaxtihuilli (a unique prehispanic dish) or sarandeado fish.

While walking through the main square and the town’s streets will find local artisans making their curious creations, almost all marine elements such as ginger, shrimp containers made of cloth blanket.

Mexcaltitan is an excellent choice to pass the day, especially at this time which is not so hot and also there is no mosquitoes. Come, and enjoy  to the magnificent beaches of Nayarit .


]]> http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2011/01/mexcaltitan-the-origen/feed/ 0 XIUTLA. The true hidden treasure http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/08/xiutla-the-true-hidden-treasure/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/08/xiutla-the-true-hidden-treasure/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:34:51 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=950

It is no coincidence that the four small hills at the feet of the Vallejo Mountains right in front of the immense Banderas Valley, next to two huge embankments surrounded by water drippings are perfectly aligned from north to south. No, it cannot be a simple whim of nature.
Jose Beltran stands on the very top of the northern most hill and allows his gaze to lose itself in the horizon. At this beautiful site he sees all of Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, San Juan de Debajo de Tebelchia, San Jose del Valle de Ixtapa. This is where he made the discovery.
The archeologist had a feeling about it, but now he is sure to be standing on top of what could have been the mythical Xiutla, the most important city in the Aztatlan Cutlure established in the Bay of Banderas, as stated in the chronicles of the Spanish expeditions at the time of the colonization.
Why is he adamant about this possibility? There are many factors; the first of them being the vast extension of terrain where a few mounds erect that are evidently manmade.
An artificial dam, a good number of piles of rubble that make him think of small family nuclei, two embankments that figure to be a huge public courtyard, a small mound that seems to be a sacrifice altar and those four perfectly aligned hills….all hidden beneath the earth and between huisache tree roots, burying the outline of a great city.
The location is a major factor; the whole valley is dominated from the spot, it is also an ideal place for farming, growing corn and rearing cattle. The entire valley where Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit stand today, cannot escape from the eyes of this apparent ceremonial center.
Beltran has no doubt… just a few weeks after beginning excavations together with the support of Eduardo Gomez Encarnación, a student of regional history by his own passion and heritage and the owner of the 20 hectares hiding this treasure of unknown value, the INAH investigator dares to talk publicly about the possibility of this important discovery. There it lies, he is sure, one of the most important archeological sites of the bay; and probably the very Xiutla which fills all natives with pride.

A diamond amid the debris

Beltran’s first visit to Banderas Bay’s municipal government, headed by Héctor Paniagua Salazar, before his discovery, was not very inspiring.
Beltran was called in by the opposition councilor, Ismael Duñalds, whom reported the extraction of archeological material from a precinct that had been protected during Crescenciano “Chano” Flores’ administration, the first mayor that this young Nayarit municipality ever had.
A little back in history: it is 1989 and the municipal head of Bahia de Banderas is Compostela; the bay is the most prosperous coastal tourist area of the south of Nayarit. At this time Chano Flores is notified of a presence of a great amount of petro glyphs and immediately gives notice to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
Gabriela Zepeda, a young archeologist, arrived in the area for the evaluation. They named the area Piedras Azules, the place where dozens of carved rocks with symbols proper of the Aztatlán culture, such as the Spaniards had documented and also exploited for more than two hundred years.
Zepeda, like many others that preceded, found plenty of the sites documented by Isabel Kelly in the 1930’s and continued the investigations on the Nayarit side of the Banderas Valley.
“ I began by placing small crosses on a map on every historical remain we found from Punta de Mita to El Colomo . Soon there was not a spot on the map without a mark, and we decided to place a great big cross over the entire territory” confessed Gabriela in an interview we held back in 1997.
Unlike Beltran, Zepeda found support from the municipal government from Chano Flores, one which Beltran now wishes he had. Zepeda held serious discussions with one of the biggest specialists in archeology of the region, Joseph Mountjoy.
“There is no doubt that when you ask Mountjoy which is the most important sight of the region, he will state it is Ixtapa. I say the most important site is El Colomo, it is much larger, and for me, far more important“ she assured.
Back then, Mountjoy was working on rescuing the Ixtapa sight in the municipality of Puerto Vallarta. A task that today seems impossible. He manifested his quest openly and soon the rescue of Ixtapa became a political issue and the law for its protection came in too late: they had sacked it all, and as if that did not suffice, some contractor took half of the largest mound and used it as refill for the runway at the Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Airport.
On the other hand, Zepeda kept her site at El Colomo confidential and only made it public to a few articles for scientific magazines.
We are not certain that the site that Beltran today tags as the possible Xiutla, is the same one that Zepeda did. Nevertheless, during Beltran’s visit to help prevent a construction company (history repeats itself) from taking the petro glyphs from Piedras Azules as boulders for building a platform for the Marina in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle , he discovered this other site, untouched, without traces of the brutal plundering accustomed by cultural mercenaries.
Going back to the first encounter, only a few months back… “There is nothing of importance, it´s all debris and pieces of rubble, nothing worthy” replied Paniagua at Beltrans request to thoroughly investigate the area while protecting the carved rocks.
It was thanks to the fine imposed by the INAH to those that hauled the protected rocks, and not to the impulse of the present mayor, that Beltran was able to go over the geography of the zone and identifying its faults as much more than mere accidents.
The treasure was hidden within the debris and rubble, a diamond in brute; one that must be rescued, as long as the economic interests allow it.

]]> http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/08/xiutla-the-true-hidden-treasure/feed/ 0 Los Arcos: An Underwater Universe http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/07/los-arcos-an-underwater-universe/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/07/los-arcos-an-underwater-universe/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:47:01 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=942

Submerging in the waters of the Pacific Ocean is always spectacular, but to do it in front of the doorway shaped rocks that raise themselves a few feet over the ocean on the south coast of Puerto Vallarta, is an experience to be repeated over and over again say those whom have done it, for they never tire of it.
Los Arcos (The Arches) is a natural preserve closer to Mismaloya than it is to Puerto Vallarta. It is formed by a group of islets covered with exuberant vegetation rising between 16 and 160 feet above the water. This exquisite formation is responsible for the ports original name, Las Peñas (The Crags) which persisted until the beginning of the XX century when it was changed to Puerto Vallarta.
The force of the sea has created the crag´s erosion forming caves and arches making it one of the best places for scuba diving and snorkeling on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
You can get to Los Arcos on a boat or water taxi from Boca de Tomatlan or Los Muertos Beach. There are also a few tour companies that make day trips to Los Arcos and then visit some close by beach like Quimixto, Yelapa, Las Animas or Majahuitas.
You can also enjoy viewing the arches from firm land standing on the viewpoint that is on the highway between Vallarta and Tomatlan, and capture the treasured sunset falling between the crags and arches while pelicans and booby birds set atop them to rest. A magnificent spectacle!
Amílcar Cupul is an oceanographer and researcher for the Coastal University Center (CUC) of the University of Guadalajara who has been studying the coral reefs of the Bay of Bandera’s area for the last 15 years.
When he first arrived in Puerto Vallarta in 1994, he began a movement to protect the coral reefs and lay rules for the tourist boats that visit the natural preserve, declared as such in 1975. The coral reefs are being damaged by climate change, warm water currents and the El Niño phenomenon, and boat anchors were contributing to even more destruction.
Today there is a buoy that marks the limit to the boats that visit. But human presence persists to damage the more than 10 subspecies of coral in the area for they are threatened by inexperienced divers when they step or crash against them.
All in all, the experienced scuba diver is received in this underwater paradise by a school of angel fish that is a marvelous sight. Even though 95% of the coral reef is lifeless, its formation gives shelter to small fish giving them refuge from larger predators.
A couple of stylized bluefish seem enamored and about to kiss swim past the Cupul Magaña. Amilcar follows them taking notes on a special tablet, and confirms the privilege of working in this environment.
The scientist goes from shallow waters to deeper ones entering a riskier area. He scubas through 80 foot tunnels between the crags. Nearby a ray moves the water that hits its body with the flapping of his fins. In the depth he sees an eel and a few morena fish. Amilcar cannot lose his concentration.
After he covers the 74 acres that comprehend the protected natural area, Amilcar’s work day comes to an end. But he scubas to the area known as La Quijada del Diablo (Devils Jaw) where there is no way of monitoring any coral formations for it has a depth of about 2,000 feet, but travels its waters in hopes of viewing the silhouette of a giant manta ray somewhere in its depths, but today he has no luck.

NOCTURNAL PARADISE
Some specialized companies offer night diving tours to Los Arcos, assuring a spectacle not visible during the day; lobsters, octopus and infinity of fish in a bioluminescent ambience that will make you lose your breath.

]]> http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/07/los-arcos-an-underwater-universe/feed/ 0 Art and Toffee http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/06/art-and-toffee/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/06/art-and-toffee/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 05:20:52 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=938 The Gallery at the Malecon of P. V.

Juan walks slowly and in awe on the Puerto Vallarta Malecon. It is his first time at this destiny and is surprised at seeing “so much art at the side of the ocean”. He counts the sculptures, examines them, he likes some and dislikes others. Of something he is sure, he prefers to dislike some of them rather than just find “statues of heroes that no one believes in” even if they are very well made. But not everyone thinks like John. Rosa Maria has been living in Puerto Vallarta for five years and she is indifferent to the sculptures at the Malecon. She jogs by them every morning with her dog, El Barbas. When asked which is her favorite she simply replies, “and if I tell you I never even paid attention to them, would you believe me?”. But while she works out, between sit ups, she admits, “Ok, yes, I have a favorite, the one with the strange chairs” she lets out. Rosa Maria likes The Rotunda of the Sea, which is more of an installation than a sculpture. In 1997 the Jalisco born artist, Alejandro Colunga placed this series of chairs composed of characters of his own mythology, one that he has recreated in different cities. Today the chairs look out at the ocean though that is not the original placement proposed by Colunga. Hurricane Kenna in 2002 swept them away and ironically took one back to Guadalajara and left three of the smallest in the home of Carlos Manzano, the ex director of Urban Development, which have still to be reinstalled. The actual placement of the sculptures is a mere whim of others, but still function as the author intended: as a way of demystifying art and bringing it closer to the people. “I like to sit here” says Rosa Maria. She sits on Colunga’s piece that has a long spyglass and octopus tentacles. Facing the horizon, as if looking through the fog for the long lost ship of the feared Sir Francis Drake, whom during the XVI century awaited the Manila Galleon in these Pacific waters or like the one manned by Thomas Cavendish whom around the same time, docked in this bay to strip the locals of the pearls and treasures they might find here. Rosa Maria pets her dog. He was known in the olden Vallarta days as El Pajarito (the little bird) and is one of the oldest inhabitants of the city; he misses the uninterrupted view of the ocean “they look like pure toffee candies” about the sculptures he used to say. But in fact it is one sculpture in particular that brings the memory of the twisted caramels that are sold at the market in Guadalajara; The Millenniums by Mathis Lídice.

The sculpture is structure that raises in a spiral towards the sky and tells the tale of the ascension, the history of humanity. It was the artist’s proposal to celebrate the beginning of the XXI century. El Pajarito never liked it, but is one more attraction for many of those who visit the Hotel Rosita, the oldest of the hotels still around in down town Vallarta. “Now that you mention it, it does look like toffee” says Rogelio who is visiting from Salamanca. “Maybe that is why I like it; I might just lick it” he says while taking a picture. The Millenniums is now part of the gallery on his computer. Art of toffee, the sculptures that inhabit the Puerto Vallarta malecon make it one of the most interesting open air galleries in the world. One can enjoy the gallery as Juan does, slowly walking the malecon, feeling the ocean breeze, with the sunset in the back ground and the lighting that offers a clear silhouette that is seen only in the Pacific. Or to see them as Rosa Maria and her dog do, while jogging, without any fixation, feeling her lungs fill with oxygen to later take advantage of them, taking a pause, a deep breath, without forgetting that contained in the ocean are hundreds of stories to be told, this is also valid.

But there is something that without a doubt happens, it does not matter how you look at them, they remain in your memory like part of a landscape that takes your breath away, makes you shudder and fills you with joy. Maybe that is why Don Rogelio captures them on his camera, to share with others what forever he will remember.

]]> http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/06/art-and-toffee/feed/ 0 Riviera Nayarit is truly the best catch out there http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/06/riviera-nayarit-is-truly-the-best-catch-out-there/ http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/2010/06/riviera-nayarit-is-truly-the-best-catch-out-there/#comments Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:06:18 +0000 Property Journal http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/?p=933

Josh simply can’t picture his life away from sport fishing, which is not only his passion, but also his job. Born with the hook in between his hands, today he devotes himself to the sport fishing industry, and he certainly knows how to deal with truly big fish: his business is to find the best locations in the world for this activity, and then attract celebrities and high-end clients that want to use his fleet and his services. “This isn’t just a game; it’s my life, but it’s also how I make a living. This year only, one famous basketball player spent over $300,000 USD to use my services”, he assures.

There is no doubt that Josh is an expert in his field, and when he says that Riviera Nayarit is one of his favorite places in the world to fish, he truly means it. He first visited Riviera Nayarit ten years ago, and has been coming back frequently since. He currently lives in Vancouver, but his company has three ships docked at Marina Riviera Nayarit, at La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, and he declares that he’ll keep coming to fish here at least for the next 50 years.

“I’ve been to thousands of places around the world, and I can say that this is the best place to fish. The variety of fish is amazing, so you always end up with a catch – there just isn’t a day at sea when you come back empty-handed. There’s tuna and more than one variety of marlin, but also wahoo, red snapper, dolphin fish, swordfish, sawfish and a number of other species. Therefore, when you don’t catch tuna, you get a lot of marlin; when the marlin is low, there’s red snapper; and if there aren’t any red snappers, there’s always wahoo. Simply put: it’s always fishing season”, he explains.

Josh was born in Canada, and represents the third generation of a family of commercial fishermen. He’s spent his whole life on the ocean, and not even the fact that both his father and grandfather lost their lives on their ship when he was only four years old, has diverted him from his passion. When he turned 14, he left school and started making a living by fishing and then commercializing his catch. When he turned 16 he bought his first boat, then saved and bought a larger one, and an even larger third ship that followed. He then realized that he’d spent all of his life saving money to buy boats, and had spent over a couple million dollars on them, without being able to enjoy his fortune.

“I got married when I turned 19, I started a family and began looking for an activity that would allow me better financial security and to spend more time with them; but I didn’t want to stop fishing. Now I own this business where we manage and maintain boats and organize fishing expeditions all around the world. I really enjoy it; I do what I love all the time. This isn’t something I had to learn; it’s something I carry in my blood: I was born to be a fisherman”, he insists.

With all this experience, Josh’s word weighs heavily when he speaks of fishing in the open waters. He says, for example, that the feeling you get when you catch a record-breaking fish is a something that can’t be explained with words. “This is why we go to the end of the world, to remote and wild places where the catch is excellent, but the amenities are scarce”. And this is precisely the reason why he declares that Riviera Nayarit is the best place in the world to practice this sport, because even though he knows of other places that have excellent waters where you can find all the big game, they don’t have the infrastructure and specialized personnel to maintain the equipment, they’re far away from good infrastructure, or there is simply no nightlife there.

“Here we have it all: excellent marinas, people who know how to work with fiberglass, technicians that fix all the kinds of gadgets present in a two-million dollar vessel like the one we use, specialized shops for fishing goods, extraordinary restaurants and hotels, bars and nightlife to enjoy a good day of fishing. But mostly, we have extraordinary fishing all year-round, with record-breaking fish. Usually, other destinations have some of these things, but never a combination of all of them”, he concludes.

MAJOR FISHING TOURNAMENTS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER

2nd Riviera Nayarit Sport Fishing Tournament for Kids

Aims to promote the values and the passion of sport fishing in our region, though a one-day, activity-packed Sunday for the whole family, where the little ones that catch the largest game will receive prizes on the docks of Marina Riviera Nayarit, at la Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

June 6

For more information, please contact: http://www.propertyjournal.com.mx/wp-content/plugins/cryptx/images/mail_small.gif

50th International Fishing Tournament at San Blas

Every year, amongst the celebrations for Navy Day, San Blas hosts one of the most important national fishing tournaments in the country. This year they’re expecting a special celebration, as they commemorate its 50thanniversary, and will have prizes in excess of  $1,450,000 pesos.

June 9 – 13, 2010

www.clubdepescadeportivatepic.com

4th International Tuna and Marlin Fishing Tournament at Riviera Nayarit

This tournament specializes in catching the most representative game of the Mexican Pacific: tuna and marlin. It’ll offer prizes in excess of a million pesos, and aspires to become one of the most important tournaments in this country.

August 12 – 14, 2010

www.rivieranayaritfishingtournament.com

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