Eric Nice Plays every Thursday at Mateja's
Page 1- Mexico News, Features
Page 2 - Features
Page 3 - Features, Weather, Sports,
Exchange, Community Calendar
Page 4 - Classifieds
- Real Estate
Page 3 Features, Weather, Sports, Exchange, Community Calendar
The Almost Twice Weekly Newspaper for the Jaltemba Coast
New Look for Local Landmark: 3 Flags Coffee Shop
By Tara Spears
For over twenty years the Jorge Castuera Ayon family has been providing food and service in Guayabitos. Before this beachside resort area had paved streets or internet service, Jorge owned and operated a block of stores that included a food market, a laundry, ice facility and a drug store on Avenida Sol Nuevo. Not only did they sell supplies but they had the only telephone in the area for years! Jorge said, “For 16 years we worked seven days a week with no days off. When the kids were going away to college, I decided to downsize, to just operate a coffee shop.” As you walk down the street the aroma of fresh brewed coffee entices you into the café. What a wonderful selection of beverages are available! Frappes, lattes, espresso, capuccino, smoothies, gourmet teas, and fresh muffins, too.
3 Flags Café Specialties: Cajeta Mocca and a Fruit smoothie
The tropical décor invites the patron to linger over the premium coffees that are brewed only when ordered to provide maximum flavor. Local artist, Rene Castigo, hand painted the jungle murals that showcase Mexican birds and creates the exotic ambiance. Jorge recently expanded the café to inc
lude
an additional courtyard seating area. “I want the first visit to 3 Flags
to be memorable so the customers come back,” Jorge explains in perfect
English. “We make many friends by offering only top quality beverages.
Our buns and muffins are baked fresh each day.” Another tasty café
specialty is the Triple Piquante Breakfast special: fresh squeezed
juice, thick sliced bacon, waffles, and premium coffee. The BLT plate is
also very popular.
Another important feature of 3 Flags Café is the lending library-with over 2,000 books in English. Coffee + books +muffin, humm, great way to start the day! The permanent residents hope that the tourists will leave their novels to tide us over during the summer.
Jorge lived and went to school in northern Arizona, USA, while his father worked on the Hoover Dam. After completing his education in Mexico, Jorge worked for the government. He wanted to live by the ocean to raise his children, so he decided to become a store owner in the tiny, peaceful town of Guayabitos in the mid 1980s. His wife of 27 years, Graciela worked in the stores with Jorge, as did each of his three children: Sofia, 24; Graciela, 22; and Jorge Jr., 13. The two girls are still attending university in Tepic while Jorge, a budding musician, attends local Secondario (high school).
Graciela, 22 Jorge, Jr., 13
3 Flags Café has had a positive impact on the community, not just for the quality beverages, but for uniting people to a common goal. Longtime resident, Jomie Thompson says, “For years, Jorge was our only link to the outside world. He started a club that came up with the money and manpower to build a boat ramp so the locals could launch fishing boats.” While Jorge doesn’t have much free time with running the café, he does like to relax by watching soccer and reading. “I feel very fortunate to have accomplished a good life for my family in Guayabitos and send my children to college,” said Jorge. “I’ve met interesting people from all over the world. I’m proud that I serve only the best coffee and was the first to offer international-type coffee drinks in the Riviera Nayarit area.”3 Flags Café is open November to March seven days from 7am -9 pm.
Contact George (English or Spanish) 327-274-0400
Wife
Graciela, right.
Contact Tara:
terri_sprs@yahoo.com
One of the many statues along the Puerto Vallarta Malecon
CONALEP FUNDRAISER A great
success at Xaltemba Restaurant
To view small photographs in a larger format just click on the
photograph
Great Times Hinde and Jaimes
Robert Curial Plays
Good Times Bavarian Garden
Workshop Tuesday January 6 1-2:30pm at the Clubhouse La Penita RV Park
BLOGGING 101
In just one and a half hours, you will create your own free blog &
basic website and learn how to use it to share news and pictures with
family and friends while you're traveling. Impress everyone (even
the grandkids!) with your techno-savvy, and keep those communication
lines open! You'll also learn how to keep up with all the news your
family is sharing on their blogs in a fun, easy to use way. Only $15
for the course, and at the end you'll have a working blog and website
that's all yours! You need to bring your own laptop if you can - or
arrange to share with a friend. A couple of extra laptops will be
available to share - but book early! Contact Karen Stranaghan,
stranagh@island.net
or at site #102, at La Penita Trailer Park for more
information
Want to learn more about Crystal? Check out her website at
www.cjstranaghan.com
Workshop Tuesday January 13
12-5pm at the Clubhouse La Penita RV Park
Tell YOUR story!
Do you have a story to tell? Maybe you've written a novel, or have a
collection of stories from your life that you want to publish and
share with others? Maybe you have some knowledge that you think
might help generate some extra income if it were in book form? Thanks
to some great new technologies, you can publish your book without
breaking the bank. Publisher, self-published author and publishing
consultant Crystal Stranaghan will be staying at the La Penita
Trailer Park during January 2009, and this is your chance to learn
all about how you can achieve your dream of publishing your book -
and actually enjoy the process! In the spirit of things being
cheaper in Mexico, you can take what is usually a $200+ workshop for
only $50. For more information, or to book your spot, please contact
Karen Stranaghan,
stranagh@island.net
or at site #102 at the Le Penita
Trailer Park or email
crystal@gumbootbooks.ca
Want to learn more about Crystal? Check out her website at
www.cjstranaghan.com
