I tend to be a bit of an environmentalist. So when I read this article written by someone that is out and about in our bay every day it made me happy. We live in such a beautiful place and with some of the new ideas and thinking in the Puerto Vallarta area I hope that we can keep it that way for a long time to come. Check out the below article from PV Sea Dive, learn a bit about our bay and see how you can do your part.

As a part of our dive briefing, we always ask our divers to pick up any trash they find, and to hand over sunglasses, wallets and anything of value over to their dive guides! More often than not, we get goodies, but occasionally, they pick up trash as this bay is really, really clean. Not as clean as it could be, but compared to other dive destinations, I am getting happier by the day. There is an a bill being passed at the moment to stop the use of Styrofoam being used by all sellers that will see a marked difference, but along with this bill, people are being educated as to why this product should not be used.

All too often we pick up garbage that is carelessly tossed into the ocean. Plastic water bottles, beer cans and bottles, food trays and cigarette butts are the most common culprit, along with fishing line, lures and lead fishing weights. I am not on a rant, but I find these items all too regularly at Los Arcos, which incidentally is a marine park where fishing is not allowed.

All in all though, I have never filled my little pocket up during the course of any dive. That being said, any trash in the ocean is not good. The reason for the bay being in such good condition is mainly due to the education of the locals by the locals. Many people in the area rely on fishing for their livelihoods, and therefore understand that they cannot pollute the water with trash of any sort. People from out of town who do not understand the ocean and throw things on the floor therefore do most of the damage. As Vallarta is at sea level, a majority of this gets washed straight into the rivers and consequently into the bay.

One local bar called Que Pasa has a great project that they run all year round called Brigada de la Basura, where the neighborhood children collect trash from the streets and the river every Saturday morning. The children are rewarded with lunch, drinks, a few days out and a t-shirt. These children are getting, and really giving a huge education though. I doubt they ever throw anything on the floor, and I doubt their families do either. I for one salute this project as children like this will hold the earth’s future in their hands. Another ex patriot bar owner, Lydia, from Uncommon Ground, placed plastic bottle banks around town, and has them emptied and recycled on a regular basis.
Apart from these good projects, I have seen local street vendors doing some ingenious recycling, making souvenirs out of tin cans, paper and plastic. Maybe another man’s trash really is another man’s treasure!
This incredible bay holds many people’s livelihoods in its hands, including mine, so please treat it with the respect that it deserves.

Puerto Vallarta – A Food Lover’s Paradise

Puerto Vallarta is the second most popular destination in Mexico for food culture and restaurants, second only to Mexico City.

Visitors and residents will find it hard to find a truly bad dining experience here along the Pacific coast, since the view is usually superb and the fish and seafood almost certainly guaranteed to be fresh.  Deciding which eateries are the best comes down to degrees of goodness — a mix of ambience, quality of service, coldness of the beer, vantage point on the beach and an indefinable feeling of balance — that for an hour or two, there’s no place on earth you’d rather be.  Of course we all have our favorites where we are welcomed back each time like family.   And new places are continually joining the restaurant scene, which is becoming more international and global.  http://www.TripAdvisor.com is a great resource for restaurant information online.

Here are some suggestions for some interesting activities for foodies:

1. 20^th Annual Festival Gourmet Internacional – Nov 13 to 23. Promoting Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant and excellent restaurants on the world stage. The 10-day event highlights Puerto Vallarta’s gastronomy on the local and international scene.   Full details at:  www.FestivalGourmet.com

1. The Old Town Farmers Market-Tianguis Cultural – Check out the organic scene at this  “producers only” Saturday market in Parque Lazaro Cardenas, it is one of Puerto Vallarta’s most popular weekend attractions. Browse a great selection of locally grown farm-fresh produce, artisan foods, handmade crafts, art, jewelry, clothing, community education and live music. All products are made, baked, grown and sold by vendors living within 75 kilometers of Puerto Vallarta.  Full details at:     http://www.OldTownFM.com

3. Vallarta Eats Food Tours -Are you looking for something fun and different to do in Puerto Vallarta’s Old Town/Romantic Zone?  And educational to boot?  Take a culinary tour and learn about the great food that Mexicans love to eat.  Vallarta Eats is a guided tour that will allow you to discover Puerto Vallarta’s most popular foods while getting a taste of Mexican culture and history.  Come hungry and ready to have a fun adventure.  Visit places the locals love and sample some of the authentic food Puerto Vallarta is famous for.  Vallarta Eats is #1 ranked on TripAdvisor.  Check it out at: www.VallartaEats.com.

Enjoy!

Russell Faulkner

russell@timothyrealestategroup.com

Timothy Real Estate Group

In Puerto Vallarta, there are some traditions that take our breath away with beauty and tradition. We have been invited to quinceañeras over the years and regardless of the economic level of the families, they have all been remarkable events. When a girl turns fifteen in Mexican culture, she is celebrated with a party, equal to a coming out ball for debutantes, which signifies her passage to womanhood, as well as gives thanks to God for having blessed her family, and presents her to the community.

The misa de acción de gracias is a mass at the girls’ local parish. In a loving ceremony, thanks are given for the completion of her childhood. She wears a frock, which has most likely been purchased with much forethought and deliberation. It is traditionally pink or white and rivals the style and elaborate design of any wedding dress. Everyone is clothed in their very best garb and the parents and godparents (padrinos) play important roles throughout the entire day. The young woman being honored, la festejada, is given special gifts, jewelry and bestowed with bouquets, while surrounded by her damas (maids of honor) and chambelanes (escorts). These are cousins, siblings and schoolmates and they attend to la festejada throughout the day.

Following the mass at the church, which introduces the young woman to adulthood, she leaves flowers at the altar for the Virgen de Gualdalupe and the party commences.

Similar to a conventional wedding, there is a large, beautifully decorated cake (the bigger, the better); gifts for the guests, distributed by the damas; and more generous gifts for la festejada. Though DJ’s have become popular, the favored music is a live band that can play cumbia, banda, salsa, ballads and traditional songs. Everyone is expected to dance as a waltz with la festejada and her father begins moving people onto the dance floor.

Dinner is served and a brindis (toast) gives everyone a chance to share memories about the girl and wish her the best in adulthood, as well as impart words of wisdom.

The quinceañera is an old ceremonial tradition that dates back beyond the time of the conquerors. There are shreds of evidence that indigenous people celebrated a young girl’s coming of age. Combined with Catholic and Spanish heritage, what Puerto Vallarta has come to know as the modern day quinceañera is a splendid, culturally rich event that is cherished by all.

Que es cómo es.

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

When shopping in Puerto Vallarta, one will find few garments as simple and yet elaborate as Huipil, the traditional dress worn by indigenous women of Central and South America. A Nahuatl word, pronounced weep-eel, the length of a Huipil can be everything from a short blouse to a floor length dress. Normally assembled with two pieces of fabric, joined together with decorative stitching, ribbons or lace, the basic construction is quite simple. Some are made with yokes, separate from the bodice. Originally made on a back strap loom, designs were woven into the fabric before it was pieced together. Commercially, and with their popularity, the preferred material is cotton or light poplin and the decoration is embroidery.

Huipil are everyday attire in Puerto Vallarta and all of Mexico, Central and South America. It is common to see them worn by women and children, though some designs are selected for men, as well. Flowers, birds and mythical animals are familiar patterns. Sizes can be found to fit the tiniest infant up to a wide range for adults. Huipil are not meant to be form fitting or flattering to the frame. They are intentionally loose fitting and cut to no particular shape; their comfort cannot be denied. Necklines, which can be square, oval, round or a simple slit to enable the wearer to slip it over her head, have much to do with the choice of the artist.

Symbolism in the embroidery of huipil conveys history, identity of region and culture and often personal details about the life of the wearer. Motifs can represent agriculture, the natural and the mythical world. Feathers, beads, ribbons and lace, incorporated in the fabric are very significant and often used for burials, baptisms, weddings and other ceremonies. Certain features might indicate rank and stature of a woman in the community. Some saints have their own designated patterns and are expressed as such.

As with many artisans in Mexico, the creation of huipil is often a family affair, with girls learning the craft from mothers and grandmothers. A tremendous amount of work can go into one blouse and may be the sole source of income for a household.

We recommend buying from the ladies on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, who lug heavy loads in the heat and are committed to finding the perfect fit for a customer. There are also many small shops throughout the town, as well as kiosks and carts where huipil can be purchased. When shopping for these gorgeous garments in Puerto Vallarta, remember the value of a souvenir that will last for many years to come.

Que es cómo es.

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

No standing on the steps of the county courthouse or packed into a hotel ballroom. You can bid at home, the office, even the airport as long as you have an Internet connection. Bidding can occur 24 hours a day over the course of days or weeks, instead of just a single day. Online auctions also broaden the types of properties you can bid on. The steps for bidding in an online auction are similar to a live auction.

Find a property you like. With online auctions, you can search for and bid on properties all over the country. You can even bid on multiple properties at once.

Do your due diligence. Many online auction sites provide information on the main property page, including maps, estimated market values and any liens. Be sure you read it all! It is also a good idea to conduct your own due diligence, and seek independent advice from a real estate broker, a real estate attorney, or even another experienced investor. Unlike live foreclosure sales, most homes sold in online auctions do have an agent commission (called “broker co-op”), which allows a real estate agent to get paid for their services.

Visit the property if you live nearby. The real estate agent may even offer open houses; if so, bring your contractor with you to help you assess what repairs might be needed.

Register for the auction. Most online auctions require you to register and submit a refundable deposit in the form of a credit card authorization. This simple process ensures that all bidders are serious and motivated.

Prepare your financing. To expedite the close if you win, start gathering the following documents before the auction:

• Proof of funds or financing information.
• Entity Documents if you’re bidding under a company name or entity such as an LLC, trust or limited partnership.
• An earnest money deposit which can vary and usually is based on a percentage of the total purchase price and is due one business day after the auction ends.

And if you’re the winner? Be ready for things to move fast. The contracting department will contact you quickly and walk you through the online purchase and sale agreement, which shows the total purchase price and the timeline for submitting documents and payments. Make sure that escrow receives your documents and payments on time; otherwise, you could lose your earnest money deposit.

Look closely at the property page for each property you are planning to bid on. Many properties have what’s called a “buyer’s premium,” which is the fee charged by the auction company for conducting the sale, from marketing through the closing. The amount can vary.