Etiqueta: Baby boomers

  • Puerto Vallarta Living: The Mighty Avocado

    The Mighty Avocado

    Avocado toast is all the rage north of the border but it’s been a staple here in Puerto Vallarta for as long as we can remember. Some smart person suddenly thought of this new use for avocadoes and it now appears on breakfast menus in small cafés to fine restaurants.
    It’s a simple recipe: Toast bread to your liking; halve an avocado and remove the seed; while the toast is hot, straight out of the toaster, lightly rub the surface with the cut side of a garlic clove. Then use a spoon to scoop out the meat of the avocado; with a fork, spread it onto the toast. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and voila! Breakfast! Tasty and nutritional.
    Little did we know there are over five hundred varieties of avocado on this planet! Though they are considered fruit, most North Americans call them vegetable. Avocado is derived from the word ahuacatl, Aztec for testicle. Along with other foods that resemble reproductive parts of the human body, it’s thought to be an aphrodisiac. Once you realize the Aztec word for soup is molli, you can almost see where the word guacamole came from. With their reptile like outer surface, avocadoes are known in some countries as alligator pears.
    Avocados are first foods in countries from where they originate. Easily digestible, they are packed with fiber, loaded with potassium and high in vitamins B and C. Avocadoes have the good kind of cholesterol that increases HDL (high density lipoprotein), responsible for good digestion.
    As a best food for vegetarian and vegan diets, avocadoes are dairy and gluten free. They are ready to eat when they have a soft, ripe feel to the touch and turn dark in color. To speed up ripening, they can be put in a drawer or a brown paper bag. Add a banana to the cluster and it will hurry up the process.
    A bowl of guacamole is where many ripe avocadoes end up in Puerto Vallarta and we never get tired of watching it made in a molcajete, tableside. The molcajete is a stone bowl with a surface perfect for grinding with the blunt tool called tejolote. The molcajete is the Mexican version of a mortar and pestle.
    To make your own guacamole at home, use one avocado for every two diners, scoop out the inside and mash with a fork. Don’t use a blender or whipping tools, as you want it to be chunky. It would end up watery if you beat it too much. For simple guacamole, ready to eat in minutes, squeeze the juice of a lime, add salt to taste and mix with a fork. Scoop with chips or plop onto a pile of nachos. For a different twist you can add onions, tomatoes, cucumber or zucchini.
    Que cómo es 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 a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

  • Puerto Vallarta Living: In The Navy

    Navy Day in Puerto Vallarta

    Mexico celebrated her first Navy Day in 1942 and Puerto Vallarta took up the tradition not long after, in 1949. Navy Day is one of the holidays Mexicans observe that usually misses tourist attention. Expats living in Puerto Vallarta eventually catch on and some are fortunate enough to be invited to join in on the activities. Navy Day in Puerto Vallarta is a holiday that begins with solemn ceremonies, commemorating events in the past that happened on the oceans, battles on both coastlines, missions that have focused on the eradication of drug trade on the high seas; and the heroes associated with these incidents. Navy Day in Puerto Vallarta honors the nation’s service of men and women in the present and past.

    Puerto Vallarta is a great place to be for Navy Day. Always on the first day of June, and often resulting in a three day holiday, festivities continue into the evening, with parties and the typical entertaining song and dance, food and drink.

    For family members, it’s an all hands on deck occasion. Everyone gets in the act of spit-shining the vessel, regardless of size, a small panga or a fancy fishing rig. Flags, banners, flowers, lighting (after dark in the form or candles or strings of lights), boats are decorated with love and pride. Those who enjoy a day afloat will be waiting on shores, piers and docks for permission to come aboard.

    Sailing competitions, tournaments, parades and fireworks are scheduled throughout the day, often ending with formal and non-formal dances.

    The Mexican Navy controls an enormous area, one of the largest coastlines in the world at 11,122 kilometers (6,910 miles), with a stated mission “to use the naval force of the federation for external defense, and to help with internal order.” It’s a big job, utilizing nearly 200 ships and over 130 aircraft, with a consistency in maintaining modernity to achieve the utmost response. There is a huge amount of pride in the duties required and initiated in the ongoing war on drugs, not to mention the assistance in hurricane relief operations and unavoidable natural disasters that cross borders. The Navy also is assigned to protect PEMEX’s oil wells in Campeche and in the Gulf of Mexico.

    Our recommendation in Puerto Vallarta is to find an amigo with a panga, a yacht or a good viewing platform, mix a pitcher of margaritas and enjoy this wonderful day that commemorates tradition, loyalty, patriotism and a lot of fun!

    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 a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

  • Alan Wanzenberg’s Luxury Home Decor Ideas

    When Manhattan’s luxury developers want a sure thing, they bring in Alan Wanzenberg. The New York architect’s imprimatur is the gold standard for a clientele that appreciates his emphasis on craftsmanship and understated luxe. “I love the intimacy of residential work,” he says. “It’s so close and personal.”

    Alan Wanzenberg in his Manhattan office
    Alan Wanzenberg in his Manhattan office. Photography by Rebecca Greenfield

    • Luxury can be intangible. It can be a day with nothing to do. It does not require a big budget. If anything, money can be destructive to luxury. I’ve worked for people with 15 Kelly bags in their closets. At some point that becomes a burden. Luxury 
is a sensibility, one that requires discernment.
    • The most luxurious project I ever worked on was Maureen and Marshall Cogan’s apartment, which we did in 1993. It was a synthesis of architecture, decorating, and art. That was luxury: a Picasso drawing on a beautifully proportioned wall with a Jean-Michel Frank–inspired sofa.
    • In some of the fanciest houses I’ve done, I’ve 
used Noguchi paper lanterns. They look fantastic and cost a couple hundred dollars.

    Modern Times

    Wanzenberg-designed living room
    Warmth and texture in a Wanzenberg-designed living room. Photography by William Abranowicz

    • The design industry is seeing an enormous shift, mainly because of technology. In the course of an afternoon, you can go online and look up 101 things. But just because the information is available doesn’t mean you shouldn’t kick the tires. There is no substitute for tactile, direct experience.
    • A lot of our younger clients have grown up around design. They’ve got the technological tools to participate in design more exhaustively than my generation. The market is very sophisticated.
    • There is tension between two tendencies in design: the proverbial glass box and the more textured, crafted home. I’m in the latter camp. Jed and 
I loved working with craftspeople and seeing the hand of the maker.
    • The elasticity of a house is critical. I have clients who want to entertain, but they also want a simpler, smaller home where they can be alone with their kids. It’s like Alice in Wonderland: Can you shrink it down and can you blow it up? That’s where you earn your stripes as an architect.

    Deluxe Details

    Wanzenberg's intricate detailing
    An example of Wanzenberg’s intricate detailing. Photography by Don Freeman

    • Bathrooms are the status rooms. They have 
become more spa-like, and the latest upgrades — like quick-draining showers — are so seamless. In two New York apartments, I’ve installed Japanese furo baths, where the water goes right up to the edge and flows over into trench drains around the base of the tub.
    • I like to have a tour-de-force room that takes 
your breath away. I designed a living room in Water Mill, New York, where massive pocket doors slide into the walls and the screens pull out. The breeze wafts through the room. It blows your mind.
    • Small houses are usually the ones with the big ideas. Think of Philip Johnson’s Glass House, the Eames House, or the home Robert Venturi built for his mother. They’re all tiny but have impact. For a dream client, I would build a jewel box of a house.
    Five Upgrades

    Noguchi paper lanterns
    Noguchi paper lanterns in a West Palm Beach, Florida, home. Photography by Michelle Rose

    1. Hardware and doors.
    2. Window treatments.
    3. A really great paint job.
    4. Beautiful wood floors with radiant heat.
    5. Great lighting. Today’s miniature LED fixtures make the whole room come alive.
    Simple Pleasures

    The architect's home
    The architect’s home in Costa Rica. Photography Courtesy of Alan Wanzenberg

    • When you’re young, you have exuberance for lots of things. As you get older, your preferences narrow. We used to do a lot with materials — the marble inlay that met the marble border that had metal banding, which met the wall, which had a special wenge detail. Today I’m more interested in distilling that down, working with one or two materials.
    • I bought a simple home in Costa Rica. It has electricity but no air-conditioning, just shutters. Da Vinci said simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
    Author: Ingrid Abramovitch – Elle Decor

     

    Timothy Real Estate Group has professional designers and stagers that can help you prepare your home for the war.  Gorilla tactics that work because it is a Price War and a Beauty Contest that can mean making and saving more with your property investment.  Stay informed about Puerto Vallarta Real Estate and sign up for our newsletter… click here

    Timothy Real Estate Group – An innovative company setting new standards in Real Estate sales and services has the most professional and experienced Realtors in the Puerto Vallarta area who understand the intricacies of Mexican Real Estate ownership, the local market, Puerto Vallarta property codes and regulations and financing.  The Timothy Group uses that knowledge to provide a sound analysis on every aspect of property ownership. Timothy Real Estate Group is known for professionalism and experience and they bring this to every transaction they work on for the benefit of Real Estate investors and developers alike. Ask about our Real Estate Listings

  • Valentine’s Day in Puerto Vallarta

    Luckily for many of us, just being in Puerto Vallarta says it all for Valentine’s Day!  But, if you really want to enjoy, relax and dazzle your friend, partner, husband or wife, please allow me to give  you a few tips or recommendations for this special day.

    Hotel La Galerita

    Two special getaway boutique hotels that I think are terrific are the Hotel La Galerita  and the Hacienda Matel  in nearby San Sebastian del Oeste.  Both are romantic spots where wonderful memories can be made.  San Sebastian is a very special place that I know you will enjoy and these two properties are both exceptional.  I strongly recommend reservations for each.

    OCEAN GRILL

    Puerto Vallarta has an incredible amount of fantastic restaurants and for lunch I love to recommend Ocean Grill,  located just south of Boca de Tomatlan.  The food, atmosphere and service is wonderful!

    One of Vallarta’s  (and mine) all time favorites is Vitea, located on the Malecon, in front of the statue of San Pascual Bailon (the patron saint of kitchens and cooks). This memorable restaurantr is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all delicious!

    A fun beach front restaurant that has great food is Barracuda, located at the north end of the Malecon, at the foot of Calle San Salvador.

    Best choice to me for a lovely dining experience is TRIO, located on Calle Guerrrero in El Centro.  Fantastic food, ambiance and service are what make this successful restaurant one to definitely not be missed.

    Happy Valentines Day, 2013!

     

    Timothy Real Estate Group has professional designers and stagers that can help you prepare your home for the war.  Gorilla tactics that work because it is a Price War and a Beauty Contest that can mean making and saving more with your property investment.  Stay informed about Puerto Vallarta Real Estate and sign up for our newsletter… click here

    Timothy Real Estate Group – An innovative company setting new standards in Real Estate sales and services has the most professional and experienced Realtors in the Puerto Vallarta area who understand the intricacies of Mexican Real Estate ownership, the local market, Puerto Vallarta property codes and regulations and financing.  The Timothy Group uses that knowledge to provide a sound analysis on every aspect of property ownership. Timothy Real Estate Group is known for professionalism and experience and they bring this to every transaction they work on for the benefit of Real Estate investors and developers alike. Ask about our Real Estate Listings

  • Puerto Vallarta Living: Souvenirs

    Souvenirs from Puerto Vallarta

    There’s no reason to be stumped when shopping for souvenirs in Puerto Vallarta; there’s something for everyone. Check out your hometown Starbucks and you’ll find some of the best coffee in the world comes from Mexico. You can pack home a gift for your favorite coffee drinker; whole or ground beans. Though much of the coffee that comes from Mexico is from Veracruz, Oaxaca and Chiapas, we do have our own local markets that receive a lot of praise. To name a few: Café Catedral, El Fortin, Café Oro Verde, San Sebastián del Oeste.
    Doña Maria is a great brand of mole paste and super convenient, but if you want something more authentic, check out our neighborhood markets. You will find more than fresh produce in colonias like Palmar de Aramara, Emiliano Zapata, and the tiangues (flea markets) You can pick up incredible mole paste; fresh and made locally. They will also have ground mole powder; try your hand at making your mole at home!
    A molinillo is a cooking utensil found in any authentic Mexican kitchen. It’s used to make stove-top hot chocolate from scratch (the best way). More than an implement for cooking, molinillos are works of art. We also recommend wooden spatulas and spoons, and love those with burnt carvings that over time take on a beautiful patina.
    To go with your molinillo (pronounced mo-lin-ee-oh), don’t forget to buy real artisanal chocolate, another main product of Mexico, in powder or block form. The variety of options and flavors is plentiful and gives inspiration to the adventurous cook.
    Vanilla is a must for yourself and as a gift, available everywhere, including pharmacies and the airport. We buy the small (4 – 8 ounces) bottles that give less danger of leakage in a suitcase. Add a bit to your hot chocolate for true genuine taste.
    One of the biggest hits bringing back mementos from Puerto Vallarta are the Lucha Libre masks. The original El Santo, one of the most famous masked luchadores in Mexico is available, as well as current wrestlers such as Shocker and Rey Mysterio. It’s a great Halloween or masquerade costume and they come in adult and kids sizes, available at the Mercado Municipal, the main tourist market in the middle of town.
    Whether it’s a large platter or a small butter dish, hand crafted pottery is a sure bet to make someone smile. Our store with the largest inventory is certainly Mundo de Azulejos, however there are smaller boutiques everywhere in Puerto Vallarta where you can find good quality ceramics, tiles and glassware.
    Textiles from scarves and pullovers, to rugs and linen are big favorites. A beautiful woven piece of art made in Mexico and purchased in Puerto Vallarta can be displayed and used for generations to come.
    Que es cómo es.

    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 a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

  • Puerto Vallarta Living: 15th Birthday

    The Mexican Quinceañera

    Every Mexican girl has a quinceañera. The translation means fifteenth birthday but in Puerto Vallarta it can mean so much more. A young lady often gets a party to outdo all parties; a celebration of many things. The priority of a quinceañera is the acknowledgement of social responsibility, which symbolizes the passage from childhood into maturity. The focus is on family, friends, music, food, dance and religion. Quinceañera is also what we call the young lady being honored.
    Akin to the tradition of cotillions and debutante balls, the young lady will choose an escort (chambelan) to accompany and present her, dance with her, and be by her side for the entire event. Being chosen as a chambelan is considered an honor. At some quinceañeras, you will see several chamblanes and perhaps young women damas to counter them. The waltzes they do have often been practiced for months in preparation for the party.
    Traditional quinceañeras begin with a mass at church, followed by what is most often a lavish party. They are not only similar to a wedding; they often cost more than the average Mexican wedding. It’s not unusual for a father to pay upwards of $10,000 for his daughter’s quinceañera. Venue, food, music, DJ’s, decorations, dresses for the honoree, outfits for the rest of the family.
    At the mass, the young woman will be presented to God and make promises to honor herself and her religion. The changing of the shoes is fun ceremony where the parents symbolically give their daughter her first high heels and help her change out of flats into shoes that indicate she has transitioned out of childhood. Chances are she has tested these shoes out beforehand, since she will spend the evening dancing in them. Sometimes the young lady will pass on a favorite doll to a younger sister, another sign of growing up. The father-daughter dance kicks off dancing for everyone, just as in a traditional wedding. An MC, or maybe a DJ, will have members of the family and community take the microphone and say something memorable about the quinceañera.
    Appropriate gifts, should you be invited to a quinceañera, are rosaries, bibles, tiaras, scepters, medals that can all be purchased in the cathedral shop. Money is also a highly regarded gift and the most common. Grandparents often present the quinceañera with fifteen red roses, stems that signify strength, and roses for sweetness. Birthstone rings and bracelets are often gifted.
    Though a quinceañera seems like a very dressy event, it’s mainly the celebrants and family who are decked out in fancy apparel. Guests are expected to dress nicely, but gowns and tuxedos are not expected.
    Que es cómo es.

    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 a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

  • Back To My Beloved Puerto Vallarta

    I recently returned to Puerto Vallarta to spend a 10-day Thanksgiving holiday with my partner and 4 other close friends. It had been a long seven-year hiatus since I last visited this beautiful vacation destination. It was great to be back!

    What I love most about this Mexican seaport, besides its beautiful and remote beaches, are the people. The locals are friendly, informative, having a simple and authentic approach to life.

    Taniel Chemsian of Timothy Real Estate Group recommended we stay at a villa named Villa Azul Celeste in Lower Conchas Chinas. His suggestion couldn’t have been a more perfect and ideal vacation property for me and my friends.

    View from Amapas Romantic Zone
    View from Amapas Romantic Zone

    The property is about 2 miles south of downtown Puerto Vallarta and a few minutes taxi or bus ride to virtually anywhere you wanted to go. The villa was secluded and right on the water with its own pool and private beach. The staff was incredible; our private cook prepared delicious, Mexican specialties. Whatever we wanted we received. One thing to remember is if you want fresh cranberries for your Thanksgiving dinner, ask the staff to purchase them from the market early since they are imported and sell out fast.

    A lot has changed over the seven years; there are more conveniences such as Costco and Wal-Mart, new shopping malls hosting prominent department stores, great new restaurants and incredible new condominium developments for someone wanting to purchase a home in this tropical paradise.

    A fabulous new steak house in the Marina Vallarta recommended by Taniel Chemsian is a place called Sonora Grill. The ambiance was inviting, sophisticated and modern. The quality of the meat was incredible and the price point was reasonable.

    The new Malecon, where only pedestrians are allowed to roam freely, now provides for a relaxing and comfortable venue for a little shopping and having a great lunch. The Malecon is now connected to the famous Playa Los Muertos by the new Rio Cuale pedestrian bridge.

    Puerto Vallarta has developing nicely and has created a beautiful place to not only vacation but an ideal town at which to retire. During my stay I viewed a fine and affordable selection of condominium properties with Taniel. I was amazed at what your money can buy here vs. a property on any American coastline. There simply is no comparison.

    I am 53 years old and definitely could see myself spending half my time in Puerto Vallarta and the other half in San Diego where I live. At these value prices, it can be easily done.

    There is one more thing that I always do when I visit Puerto Vallarta and that is to take a private boat or water taxi to a more secluded beach. In the past I have been to Yelapa and love it because it is quiet and quaint with a beautiful old church and pleasant restaurants.

    This time we went to a beach called Las Animas, which I highly recommend as well. The water is clear and pristine, with white sand stretching out. The beach is also dotted with 3-4 restaurants, which is just perfect. It is a wider and bigger beach than Yelapa with chase lounges and tables setup with white tablecloths.

    There is nothing like spending a Sunday afternoon with great friends, sipping tequila, eating ceviche and listening to a guitar player singing old Latin pasillos and ballads. It was truly magical and a moment in time I will always remember.

    Once again I thank Taniel Chemsian who has lived in Puerto Vallarta for 10 years serving the community for recommending that special day to me. Muchisimas Gracias!

    By Rick Capitanio – San Diego, California

     

    Timothy Real Estate Group has professional designers and stagers that can help you prepare your home for the war.  Gorilla tactics that work because it is a Price War and a Beauty Contest that can mean making and saving more with your property investment.  Stay informed about Puerto Vallarta Real Estate and sign up for our newsletter… click here

    Timothy Real Estate Group – An innovative company setting new standards in Real Estate sales and services has the most professional and experienced Realtors in the Puerto Vallarta area who understand the intricacies of Mexican Real Estate ownership, the local market, Puerto Vallarta property codes and regulations and financing.  The Timothy Group uses that knowledge to provide a sound analysis on every aspect of property ownership. Timothy Real Estate Group is known for professionalism and experience and they bring this to every transaction they work on for the benefit of Real Estate investors and developers alike. Ask about our Real Estate Listings

  • Puerto Vallarta Living: Health Tips

    Health Tips When Traveling

    We love to eat, whether we’re in Puerto Vallarta or anywhere else in the world. So far we’ve been very lucky to not experience Montezuma’s Revenge or Delhi Belly, but it’s mostly about using common sense. You can partake in the local fares and not worry about spending your vacation in a bathroom, or worse yet, emergency room. Here’s how: Drink water, lots of it and make sure it’s purified (bottled or filtered). When flying, avoid coffee, sugary drinks and alcohol. They dehydrate you and the most important thing when traveling by air is to stay hydrated.
    When flying, get up and move around as much as your flight allows. We advise sitting without crossed legs, however unless you’re in First Class, that’s not likely possible anyway. Blood clots, especially in older travelers, can be very dangerous. Eat protein and avoid loads of carbs; you’ll feel much better. If you don’t take vitamins, this is a good time to start. We take a probiotic every morning. Eat fresh and don’t frequent establishments that look grubby or unkempt. Make sure you aren’t eating pre-prepared food. Yogurt is beneficial and you will see it in different forms in Puerto Vallarta; Yakult is everywhere and provides protection for the tummy.
    Wash your hands and keep them off your face and out of your mouth. Hand sanitizers are great for bacteria but they don’t do the job on viruses. Keep your hands clean, every chance you get, with soap and hot water.
    We recommend getting in shape before you take a trip. Walking is the best way to see things and there are a lot of stairs and hills in Puerto Vallarta, and you can expect to find them when you travel. If you are a runner, swimmer, biker, or whatever your healthy sport is, do a little research of your destination ahead and you will find the best locations and paths.
    We always travel with moleskin. It is readily available in any pharmacy, as well as Body Glide. Both products can make life a lot more pleasant if you’re walking a lot. Blisters and chafing can be avoided, and Body Glide works for rubbing sandal straps, knapsacks and backpacks and is a must for anyone using a wetsuit. Be sure to have well fitting shoes, more than one pair.
    Don’t overdo, over-drink, or over-think. Get enough rest each night to start out your next day fresh. Being inebriated can get you into all sorts of trouble, so limit your intake and don’t go wild. If you’re traveling in a country or town you aren’t familiar with, you’ll see things that aren’t normal to your senses. Don’t jump to conclusions and if you think you’re witnessing something odd or unusual, ask a person in a reasonable position of authority. If you feel ill, find out how to see a doctor or what types of walk-in clinics are available. Chances are the cost will be surprisingly low, someone will speak your language, and putting things off can make you really sick. Your stomach may be upset for a day or two in any foreign place; take this is stride. You’re probably adjusting. Don’t drink a lot and stick to mild foods; likely you’ll feel better in a matter of hours.
    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 a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

  • The Story of Raicilla

    Travelers along the western seaboard of Mexico in the vicinity of Puerto Vallarta occasionally happen onto roadside vendors of a moonshine mezcal called Raicilla (rye-see-ya). The name Raicilla was originally used to disguise this type of mezcal in order to escape restrictions on alcohol production and the related taxes. My experience has always been that the sale of Raicilla was somewhat clandestine; sales being made on side streets or in small palapas clinging to the mountainsides at the edge of town. Packaging was usually a screwtop Coke bottle or some other recyclable container and the quality of the beverage verged on the raw side. Behind the harsh flavor, there was always an interesting aftertaste that brought me back and fueled my search for a smoother more civilized Raicilla.

    For the past ten years I have crisscrossed Mexico looking for new tequilas and mezcals and adding to my research notes, always searching and sampling. Recently, I discovered a legitimate producer of Raicilla, one who has combined the best of historic techniques with the advantages of modern technology. This is the “Destiladora del Real” located in the mountains above Puerto Vallarta. In the past, this area was famous for it’s mining, and the well-paid miners expected their liquor to be of the best quality.

    The towns producing Raicilla are San Sebastian del Oeste, Hostotipaquillo, Talpa, Mascota, Atenguillo, Guachinango, and Etzatlan. A combination of reddish brown soils, sun, and rain in this part of western Jalisco created the perfect environment for the growth of the Agave Lechuguilla which is the sugar source for Raicilla. This agave is a member of the botanical Group Crenatae and is identified as Agave Inaequidens or Agave Maximiliana, commonly known as “Pata de Mula” (Mules Foot). Agave Lechugilla is somewhat smaller than the agaves that pulque and tequila are made from. As the agave matures it begins to put up a flowering stalk (quiote); this is cut off so that all of the plants sugars are directed to the heart. About the 8th to 10th year the plant matures and is harvested by “Jimadores” who cut away the spiny outer leaves with long handled knives (coas). The heart of the plant that remains looks like a pineapple and in fact is called a “piña”. These piñas, weighing about one hundred pounds, are taken from the fields to the “taberna” where Raicilla processing takes place.

    Every step of this process is done completely by hand. The piñas are placed in large wood fired brick ovens (hornos) where they are cooked for 24 hours. After cooking they are chopped into chunks with machetes and beaten into a pulp with large wooden mallets (mazos) in a wooden tray called a”batea”.

    The crushed agave and juice is placed in 100 liter wooden vats with copper bottoms (perols), or 55gal. drums, where it ferments with the natural plant yeasts for 7 – 9 days. After fermentation is complete, a cap is placed on the vat and sealed with adobe mud, this is connected to a copper distillation coil and the vat heated.

    After distilling for about 8 hours, the resulting distillate is a high quality, 100% natural Raicilla known as “Las Raicillas del Real” or “La Punta”

    To appreciate the efforts that go into a “boutique” Raicilla, consider that it takes 15 pounds of agave to produce 1 liter of Raicilla and that only 50 liters of distillate are made every 24 hours.

    Traditionally, the first few drops of distillate that emerge are tossed in the air, if it evaporates before landing, the brew is good.

    Raicilla can be consumed straight in a “Caballito” (tequila shot glass), but is more commonly served chilled in a wineglass, over the rocks, or with Squirt or some type of grapefruit soda.

    A popular saying of the Mexican people is: “Para Todo Mal, Mezcal y Para Todo Bien Tambien” (For everything bad, Mezcal and for everything good too)

    Source: <tequilamescal.com>

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  • Avocados and Puerto Vallarta

    To our amazement, we have discovered there are over 500 varieties of avocados in the world! Avocados are considered a fruit, though most North Americans think of them as a vegetable. From the Nahuatl (Aztec) word ahuacatl, avocado means testicle and is therefore considered an aphrodisiac, since fertility foods often resemble reproductive parts of the body. Run around that word a little bit and add molli, (the Nahautl word for sauce or soup) and you have guacamole!

    Considered one of baby’s first foods in Latin America countries, they are easy to digest and full of fiber, with ten whole grams to each medium sized avocado. Avocadoes have 60% more potassium than bananas, are high in vitamin B and C, and have the good kind of cholesterol that increases HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which has the added benefit of keeping us regular.

    At one point in time, avacadoes were known as alligator pears, due to their inedible exterior, which is not unlike the reptile skin, and their similar shape to the Bartlett or Bosc. Avocadoes are one of our favorite picnic and snack items, since they travel so well and are easy to eat with a spoon. Cut in half, we sprinkle a little salt or squirt Salsa Huichol (found in any store in Puerto Vallarta) into its like bowlike center and voila…lunch!

    Surprisingly, avocadoes are dairy free, cholesterol free and gluten free, as well as vegetarian and vegan. They are ready to eat when they turn dark in color; bright green is pretty but it’s not ripe and will be hard on the exterior as well as inside. If they are slightly soft to the touch, they’re edible. We put them in a drawer or a brown paper bag to hasten the maturation and add a banana or apple to speed up the process.

    Some cooks like to add sour cream; prepared salsa; chopped tomatoes, cucumber, or zucchini; mayonnaise or yogurt; and other ingredients to their guacamole recipes but our favorite is simple and easy to make.

    Depending on the size of the crowd, we figure half an avocado per diner. Scoop the insides out and mash with a fork (using a blender makes it too creamy and possibly watery)… chunks are good. Lightly salt, squeeze lime juice generously and mix together. Serve immediately with tortilla chips or plop on the top of a pile of nachos. To customize and add some zing, we sometimes toss in chopped sweet onion, especially when in season. Buen provecho.

    Que cómo es es.