Leaving it all behind for
life on the road
By
Dorothy Bell
Original Print
Publication:
March, 2009
This story was
originally printed in Inside Mexico,Go to original
Image:Bill Bell
1992: A tiny beach on the Sonora
Coast, Mexico
It seemed that the only quality time
the Bells spent as family was during
their car vacations to Mexico.
We camped overnight in our VW Westphalia
camper and woke up to the sound of waves lapping
the shore ten meters away. Unfortunately, the
van had sunk overnight and was belly deep in the
sand. The tide was rising and there was no one
around.
The kids were very young; Adam was about
three and our daughter Dylan was still in
diapers. My husband Bill grabbed a board and
tried to dig us out while I scoured the beach
with the kids looking for solid objects to put
under the tires.
It didn't work. The VW was now in a
three-foot-deep hole. While we were frantically
trying to figure out what to do next, something
magical happened: the turtles hatched.
Hundreds upon hundreds of tiny turtles
suddenly emerged from the sand and started their
trek to the water. It is a tenacious struggle to
rise to the top of the sand and then walk a
predator-ridden journey ten meters to the water.
Our children waddled the beach amazed at nature
and these tiny creatures.
Two kilometers down the road, we found a
construction crew who pulled us out with a
rusted marine chain and an old beat-up pickup
just minutes before the VW was engulfed by the
rising tide.
2000: North Vancouver, Canada
We were working two jobs each. Besides owning
a major government consulting business, Bill was
elected to the North Vancouver City Council, and
I to the North Vancouver School Board. Our lives
were filled with meetings and a never-ending
stream of nannies and babysitters. Weekends were
spent at Home Depot and remodeling our heritage
home. Adam and Dylan were shuffled from school
to swimming lessons to soccer practice. We were
socked in by the trappings of a successful
Canadian lifestyle.
It seemed the only quality time we had as a
family was on the six-to-eight week car
vacations to Mexico that we began taking in
1990. We were fascinated with the differences
between Mexico and Canada. We enjoyed the
beaches and warm weather in the winters, the
colonial cities and culture in the summers. Most
of all, we liked the way Mexicans responded to
our children. We were welcomed with open arms,
as if part of the family. Family in Mexico is
the most important thing in life.
We had snapshots of what our life could be:
an album of family memories, from Chiapas to
Baja, that tugged at us with the promise of a
new life.
We can't pin down the exact day we decided to
quit and sell our home and "stuff," but the idea
first took hold when Bill's older bother Padraic
died of a massive heart attack at 51. He didn't
smoke or drink, and he worked out daily: he just
went to bed one night feeling a bit off and
never got up.
"Life is short" became our mantra, and we
started fantasizing about selling everything and
traveling as a family.
To read more
click here
UP CLOSE AND
PERSONAL
Microscopes for
Kids
  Dr.
Brian Gibbs and Jane Benjamin recently visited Plan
Ayala Secondary School to donate two microscopes to
the sciences laboratory at the school.. The
pictures show students lining up to get a first look
at the tiny world of bug parts! The two
microscopes, brought from the University of
Saskatchewan through the Casita de La Peñita School
Project, will give students hands on experiences.
Dr. Gibbs and Mrs. Benjamin also brought a supply of
support material such as vials, collection tubes,
petri dishes, slides and sample dye to the school
lab. Also shown are Brian, Jane and Genoveve, one
of the teachers, getting a look while the lab
teacher looks on.
Free Spay and Neuter Clinic, March 18 to 21 and March 25 to 28
Clinic Set up will take place at 9 am on March 17th. If you wish to help out,
please join us at the clinic site: No. 12 Av. Los Flamingos in Zona Residencial
Meeting of all new volunteers for an orientation of the clinic will take place at 12:00 noon.
Please help by passing out flyers so the word get out to everyone! Thank you.
The band MOST WANTED would
like to thank the staff and editors of the jaltemba sol for their
continous and unfaltering support and coverage for our local band
this year...
Without their entertainment
calender ,which they provide free, to musicians....there would be a
lot of people not knowing where to go for some fun...
I also would like to invite
people who enjoy reading the free paper or who use its services....
to be free with praise for the editors....
After all...it is a thankless
job to have to live here all year and report all... while the rest
of us get to go back to work...Hudd
Jala...the real Mexico
Special to the Jaltemba
Sol by Lilliane fuller
Mexico is a land of
contrasts. Sandy beaches line lush tropical forests; quiet seaside
villages reside beside hedonistic tourist towns and brand new Cadillac
Esplanades share the road with carts pulled by horses and donkeys. This
year in our quest to see the real Mexico we de cided
to go off the beaten path and visit a small town called Jala. It is a
vastly different place from the frenetically paced Puerto Vallarta.
Jala is small and
colonial in nature. Its location, high in the Sierra Madres makes it
less accessible than the cities that dot the Pacific coast. It isn’t
entirely remote but getting there takes some planning. The town that is
home just over 5000 people is nestled under the shadow of Ceboruco, a
dormant volcano. It is the home of a beautiful basilica, the Basilica
Cateranense de Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion was built in the mid 17th
century at the height of Spanish colonial influence. It is also the home
of a stunning 5 star spa hotel, the Casona Xali.
The Casona Xali was
built in 2005 as a project of Governor Antonio Eshevarria Dominguez to
accommodate visitors to Ceboruco and to the Basilica. Small in size with
just seventeen suites, it is the ultimate in Spanish luxury. We decided
on the Junior Suite. It featured a beautifully appointed living room,
bath & shower and a large bedroom. The entire suite was white marble and
was accentuated with white quartz rock. For a one night stay, breakfast
and a spa bath of our choice the cost was just under 150.00 Canadian
dollars.
Getting there can be a
bit of trick. Pacifico is one of the main bus lines in Mexico but Jala
is not on its regular route. It is a case of you have to go here in
order to get there. When we made our reservation we received travel
instructions. We were to pick up the Pacifico bus bound for Guadalajara
and stop in a place called Ahuacatlán. This would take approximately 2
hours and from there a taxi could take us the 20 minute drive into Jala.
What was not mentioned was that the
bus to Guadalajara could be cancelled at any time.
On the day of our
departure we bought our tickets and waited for our bus to arrive. M inutes
before our scheduled departure time we were told that ‘there will be no
buses today....come back tomorrow’. We told the bus agent that we needed
to get to Jala; he shrugged in that very Mexican manner that signified
mañana, tomorrow. In limited Spanish I told him that we had
‘reservations’ and could not go mañana. Thankfully, in English he gave
us our new travel directions. We could get directly to Jala via Tepic
but suddenly a 2 hour bus-ride had become a 5 hour trip.
In Tepic City we
connected with the Norte Sonora bus line and purchased tickets. It was
too late when we noticed that the Omnibus Mexico line went to Jala every
20 minutes via the toll highway. We had truly taken the long way around.
We rode through rustic
towns climbing steadily through the mountains. It was a beautiful drive.
The tropical flora of the coastal region gave way to plants more suited
to the extremely dry soil and pine trees replaced palm trees. At one
point we drove through the lava fields from Ceboruco’s eruption in 1870.
We finally arrived in
Jala but because of our late arrival, we could not receive our spa
service that day. We booked for the next morning and set off to explore
the town. Because of the hot temperature and high elevation Jala
continues in the age-old tradition of a mid afternoon siesta so all the
shops were closed. We returned to our hotel and after enjoying a cool
drink found that siesta is a very civilized way to spend an afternoon.
That evening
 we
visited the only restaurant in town, the El Monesterio. We dined on a
virtual feast of large coastal shrimps and hot spicy salsa and chips.
The tab including drinks and tequila nightcaps was under $20.00.
The next morning we
enjoyed our breakfast and because of the cooler temperatures decided to
walk around the town. During our walk we found the reason that orange
juice and other citrus fruits are so inexpensive in Mexico. Every street
was lined with orange trees with ripening fruit on every tree. Numerous
trucks passed by laden with limes and oranges enroute to the coast.
Before it got too warm we found a bus that was bound for Ahuacatlán.
From there it was on to Tepic where we boarded a Pacifico bus that
returned us to the coast. It had been a busy two days.
Mañana is a Spanish
word to describe many things. It can mean ‘morning’ or ‘tomorrow’ or
even a philosophy that means ‘sometime later”. When going off the
beaten path in Mexico you may need this mañana attitude but it can pay
huge dividends. It allows you to find some real gems that don’t make it
into the mainstream travel guides. If you decide to go to Jala however,
pack your Lonely Planet Phrase book because not much English is spoken
here.
Mexico is a land of
contrasts. If you are planning a visit to this fascinating country,
consider an excursion off the beaten path. You will see firsthand what
this diverse place has to offer and you won’t be disappointed.
Quilt Raises Dollars for Scholarships
This is the quilt made by Mavis Larmour and donated for the
Fran Milski Education Fund. This is a fund administered by the
Jaltemba Foundation where students can apply for help to attend
a higher education facility. Currently we are helping to fund a
medical student, a phycology student and a turism student. All
hope to be able to help the local community when they complete
their education.
The La Penita RV Park is committed to fund raising and supporting this
fund in the memory of Fran Milski.
The quilt was won by Barbara Webber.
The raffle raised $16,370 pesos for the Fran Milski
Education Fund
For Sale Boat
14' Livingston on Trailer
30 HP Yamaha
$1500 USD
See Ken Lot 65 La Penita RV Park
or Kennk@telus.net
 Gulls:
Flyboys of the Sea
Fourth
in the seabird series
by Tara Spears
These sleek, soaring seabirds have long been the inspiration for artists
and fishermen, such as the popular 1970’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull
book that epitomized the self-discovery movement and spawned movies,
posters, and music. What is it about these medium sized birds that
captures the human imagination? Perhaps it is their effortless flight
and diving antics as they pilfer food from pelicans or your picnic lunch
that is so entertaining: a day at the beach watching the gliding gulls
is guaranteed to make you smile.
To read the entire Tara Spears Story
click here
Guayabitos Artists Collective Reception!
A reception at the Xaltemba Restaurant and Galeria was held Sunday March 1 to
kick off the presentation and sale of paintings from the Guayabitos
artist collective.The exhibit and sale will last two weeks.
Extraordinary works; go to the Xaltemba Galleria just for a look.
-
Hinde and Jaimes Friday Night with Roberto Cruiel
 
BIG THANKS from Tannis
Thank you to the Pina Colada Restaurant, Ada's Cafe,
Armando's Joyaria, El Zafiro's Joyaria, Arnies Joyaria,
Maytes Salon, The Rotary Club, Rocky's Restaurant.
for all there donations to help me raise money for Breast
Cancer. And to all of the people who donated to the prizes.
We raised nearly $5,0000pesos.
Muchismos Gracias everyone!!!!
Tannis
Classifieds
For Sale
1998 Volkswagon Pointer 2 door white sedan, Mexican plates. Good
upholostery, new exhaust and tires. $2,000 USD.
322-174-0734 or 274-1252.
Se Vende
Sedan Volkswagom Pointer 1998 color blanco, en bueno dondicion,
llantas nuevas y escape nueva. 24,000 pesos.
322-174-0734, 274-1252.
Hola Bill Thanks for the e-newsletter
We are back in Canada and it is a balmy 13 degrees!!!!
It was great getting to know you ad Dot a little better
this season
Thanks for printing my Pics and we are looking forward
to seeing you again next year
All the best to you and your family
Dianna and Larry Belitski
Learn
Spanish Today 
- Learn Spanish on-line for free, using interactive audio/visual lessons.
Photography by Bill Bell to view Mexico Photography click
below
Colonial Cities and Towns
Archeological Sites
Go to original article
 MEXICO
CITY – President Felipe Calderon on Wednesday in
western Mexico led the ceremony marking the
start of diverting of the Santiago River to
allow construction of the La Yesca dam, which
will be the second-highest dam in the world.
To be able to divert the river it was necessary
to build two enormous tunnels 14 meters (about
46 feet) in diameter to channel the waters away
from the site.
The diversion of the water exposed the river bed
so that workers can construct the dam, which is
located on the mutual border of the states of
Nayarit and Jalisco.
The project will require an investment of $767
million and is being carried out by the Mexican
firm ICA for state-owned utility CFE.
Calderon said that the dam “will be the most
important hydroelectric project” undertaken by
his administration and will put “Mexico in the
vanguard in the generation of clean electrical
energy.”
He said that the structure will be the world’s
second-highest dam, after one built in China.
La Yesca will produce 750 megawatts of
electricity, Calderon added.
 According
to government calculations, the construction of
the dam will create 5,000 direct jobs and around
15,000 indirect ones.
The Mexican president said that his government
will increase spending on infrastructure despite
the economic crisis.
“This year, we want to give a boost of at least
500 billion pesos ($32.89 billion), if not more,
to infrastructure,” he said. EFE
Expats Need Permits for Volunteer Work
Twila Crawford - PVNN
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Questions undoubtedly will be
endless about what is
volunteerism, and what is not. |
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Expatriate volunteers in Puerto Vallarta
need to file papers to receive
permission from Immigration to volunteer
here. No fee is charged at this time.
Compliance by volunteers is to be by the
end of April. A brochure of rules is to
be available by March 15th. A news media
release also is to be provided by
Immigration to media.
Talk to the organization heads where you
volunteer to receive their form, write a
letter yourself in Spanish explaining
how you volunteer, and provide copies of
the first two pages of your passport,
that includes your photo, for
presentation to Immigration.
Last week, the International Friendship
Club (IFC) community room was packed
with expatriates full of questions. U.S.
Consular Agent Kelly Trainer coordinated
the two-and-one-half-hour meeting with
three Immigration personnel present. The
new director, or subdelegado, is
Alejandro Sandoval Hernandez, handling
regional Immigration.
Examples of concerns given by
Immigration are some bartenders saying
they are volunteers... and issues in the
real estate area. Volunteer musicians
and receipts of donations and tips
(considered income) are going to need
some further discussion.
Issues also came up concerning churches
and their charities work. Further
clarification also is needed concerning
condo boards and what is considered
volunteer work and what is going to
require work permits. Questions
undoubtedly will be endless about what
is volunteerism, and what is not.
Persons earning money, who do not have
working papers, need to get their papers
in order. Whether earning money, or
volunteering, note that the persons
fined recently at Santa Barbara Theater,
needed to pay up or were to be deported
within 24 hours. As in our own
countries, we need to follow the rules,
regulations and laws of this country,
Mexico, whether we agree with them or
not. Or probably move on.
The director of Immigration will be
available at the Immigration office from
9 am to 1 pm, Monday-Friday, to receive
papers from expatriates. Attendees at
the meeting also were reminded to carry
a copy of your visa and of your passport
at all times.
The Immigration phone number is
322-224-7970. If you feel you must state
your observations to U.S. Consular Agent
Kelly Trainor, her email is
amigakelly(at)prodigy.net.mx.
If you need help with typing or filling
out forms any time, Lorenza M. de Arias'
business is located in Plaza Marsol,
next to the Immigration office. Her
telephone number is (322) 224-3555. She
is very helpful.
 An
award-winning journalist, Twila Crawford
lives in Puerto Vallarta, where, in
addition to contributing articles to
BanderasNews, the PV Mirror and other
local publications, she writes Out and
About in Puerto Vallarta, an informative
column that offers inside information
about who, what, why, where and when
it's happening around Banderas Bay.
Click HERE to read more articles by
Twila Crawford. |
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San Pancho AA
Alanon Monday at 5:00pm, CoDA Wednesday at 5:00pm, and
AA Friday at 6:30pm in San Pancho in the museum on main street, between
Galeria Corazon and San Pancho Cafe. Info at devasaya@gmail.com email or
311-258-4243.
Speak Spanish - That Should be Your Goal!
Learn Spanish
Today
Make 2009 the year that you learn Spanish
Can you Speak Spanish? How long have you been studying
Spanish? Between high school classes, college classes
and you own efforts you could easily have a couple years
already under your belt. During this time you have
likely built up a good Spanish vocabulary, along with a
basic understanding of Spanish verb conjugation. But can
you speak Spanish?
Why is speaking Spanish
so hard? Would you feel comfortable approaching a native Spanish speaker
and starting a conversation? Why not? Why is it so hard to speak Spanish
even after years of study?
Beginning high school
and college Spanish classes, as well as most self study Spanish courses
start off by teaching vocabulary and verb conjugation. You practice
speaking, but the focus is on the individual word or phrase. Lists of
words are memorized and tests are given on verb conjugation. So when it
comes time to speak, the words and phrases are separate in your mind. It
becomes a matter of trying to pull all the pieces together and form them
all into a sensible sentence, not just speaking.
The key to becoming more
comfortable in speaking situations is to practice and learn the
sentences as a whole, not in separate pieces. This way when you are
trying to remember what to say, the whole sentence pops in your mind,
not just one word. You will speak Spanish more correctly, more fluently
and more confidently than ever before.
The Visual Link Spanish
Course allows you to utilize this effective way of learning and practice
speaking Spanish. In our
free online demo lessons, you can see
how we utilize these strategies to truly teach you to speak Spanish. You
will be able to recall everything you learn and words will come into your
mind as a complete sentence not separate individual words. You will already
be on your way to speaking Spanish more fluently and more confidently.
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