An Interview with David Muck President of the Vallarta Garden Club. He talks about how they beautify Puerto Vallarta with plantings and flowers

Learn How You Can Join The Vallarta Garden Club and Help Make Vallarta the Jewel of The Bahia de Banderas

The Building of the Rio Horcones Dam is Shut Down….For Now

Hello fellow travelers, welcome this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

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That music you were just listening to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta’s Oldest Restaurant on the famous Los Muertos Beach, and The El Dorado Restaurant and Beach Club right next door so you can enjoy that fantastic view of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors, or during the day in its grand splendor for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with our toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends.

This week we are going to talk with David Muck with the Vallarta Garden Club. David is going to tell us about how they make Vallarta an even more beautiful place but before we get to David, let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta the 14^th of July 2019.

Jorge’s Hideaway and Shrimp Shack on Vacation

Places are beginning to take some time off for the slow season, so I want to give you a heads up that Jorge Tovar from Jorge’s Hideaway and Shrimp Shack that they are taking a well deserved summer

vacation the last night is today July 14^th, and they will come back and reopen October 1^st. Rest up Jorge, see you in October!

Chenando’s is also closed for vacation till October, so Fernando and family, take a break is amigos!

 

 

 

An Update on The Dam on The Rio Horcones

A little background for those of you who haven’t been following this saga, let’s go over the story of the proposed hydroelectric dam on the Rio Horcones. The Rio Horcones is a long river originating east of the

town of El Tuito. The Rio Horcones has carved a beautiful canyon, and it comes down the mountain, past the Botanical Garden, and the road, highway 200 follows the river all the way down to and through the

town of Boca de Tomatlan, and into the pacific ocean. The river Horcones is part and parcel of the Puerto Vallarta experience. It has been for years. 35 years ago, as part of our tour package the first time here a bus took us up to Chico’s Paradise on the Rio. So beautiful. I have some picks in the show notes that I took in 1984, you can see how beautiful the place is and was. They took us to Boca de Tomatlan to take a panga ride to Las Animas.

Anyway, it was discovered that heavy work was being done in the canyon by passersby, and inquiring mands need to know, and what do you know, they were building a hydroelectric dam, and nobody down stream knew about it.

The heads of the ejido sold out to the powers that be, and there were demonstrations, by the people of Boca whose livelihoods were at risk, their way of life, the environmental damage caused and the damage that would be caused. If you want to have a good rundown you can go back a couple of episodes to the Tunnel Road BBQ episode with Jimmy Pluff and I discuss it in depth. I have a link to that episode in the show notes if you can’t find it and that’s at www.puertovallaertatravelshow.com.

So last week I talked about a planned protest on Carretera 200 at Boca de Tomatlan 17km south of Vallarta, where they planned to shut down the highway. And protest and shut it down they did. After discussions and negotiations, the work area was padlocked, and a closurado sign was posted on the chain link fence.

From Independiente Nayarit Online I translated this Facebook post so hold on for dear life, I’ll do my best….

The river is not for sale … the river defends itself !: Community of Boca de Tomatlán

By Viridiana Aguirre

Mtra. in Local Economic Development – UAN

PhD student in Sciences for Development, Sustainability and Tourism – UdG

The people of Puerto Vallarta defends the water and joins in a single voice: No to the dam in Los Horcones River, which is intended to be built with the threat of serious environmental risks, as well as using its resources to satisfy the ambition of the tourist real estate developments, this before the disputes over water that currently prevail in the different destinations of the entire bay, from Sayulita, Nayarit to the municipality of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco.

From the early hours of Tuesday, July 9, 2019 and until the afternoon, a demonstration was held that consisted of taking the federal highway 200 at the height of Boca de Tomatlan for a few hours and intermittently, in order that the authorities of the three levels of government follow up on the complaints filed in different instances, with the main demand for the total closure of the work.

Since February of this year, the community of Boca de Tomatlán has witnessed the destruction of its natural environment, without knowing for sure what was happening in the Los Horcones river basin that flows into this town. Derived from inquiries from various actors such as the academy, social organizations, ecotourism workers and the general population, they discovered that the company Energía Verde Meyer SA de CV is building a hydroelectric plant on the river between the limits of the municipality of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo Corrientes.

As soon as possible, those affected were given the task of taking legal action (protection, denunciations to the municipalities of Cabo Corrientes and Puerto Vallarta, PROFEPA) for flagrant actions, when building on land without valid permits or using land not included in the permits. that the company has, the affectation to the jungle and the cause of the river, the use of explosives without proper information to the community, as well as the absence of recognition of the rights of the community and the ejido founded since July 5, 1937 “as dictated by the petition of the social movement.

The ejidos of the aforementioned communities made agreements in the first instance with the town councils, and later with the SEMARNAT, on which all these grievances are sustained, given that no information meeting was held towards the community, let alone consultation on the management of this water resource. Likewise, the existence of technical and precise project information, such as the Environmental Impact Manifestations (MIA), is unknown.

Parallel to this the academic community -mainly from the University of Guadalajara- has held information forums with the community in general, in which the environmental, economic, social and cultural impacts of the construction of the hydroelectric plant in the region are discussed, concluding that a great biodiversity of flora – hundreds of trees have been cut down – and wildlife – among which endemic and migratory birds, felines and river otters – are at risk.

During the last demonstration, the community demonstrated that through social organization it is possible to defend natural resources, defend life in the interests of hotel companies in collusion with the authorities of the three levels of government, even with the intimidation that the State I try to sow in the presents, sending a long deployment of State Police and his squadron Antimotines, Federal Police and the brand new National Guard, giving a message and showing muscle to replicate the community, which for no reason gave way back in its objective. As part of the negotiations, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (PROFEPA) carried out an operation where the construction maneuvers were completed, such as dynamiting large rocks very close to the local communities,

The fear of the residents of Boca de Tomatlan that the water is taken away is not unfounded, in this year the disputes over water have subjected the entire region to dynamics of social conflict, which have led to the mobilization of the population in Sayulita, Punta de Mita, Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Bucerias, Jarretaderas, Nayarit, as well as Puerto Vallarta and Cabo Corrientes de Jalisco, in defense of their most vital resource, water.

All this in a global context of savage capitalism in which wars over water are the daily bread, even with the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations that establishes that access to sources of safe drinking water, as well as sanitation, they are an essential right for the full enjoyment of life and of all human rights.

I have a link to that article in the show notes, it’s in Spanish but use your Google Translate app.

I was given some video footage of workers drilling holes in the rocks and boulders and riverbed where the dam is planned, and I embedded it in the show notes, but you can find it on the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show Facebook page, and I’ve got to tell you, such a relief to have the project finally halted, but these are very, very connected and powerful people we are dealing with, and they won’t stop. So we need to keep up the pressure and make sure they don’t take the river and the livelihoods from the people of Boca de Tomatlan. To the Protesters and la gente do Boca de Tomatlan. Bravo! Bravo! Stay strong!

Listener email

I love getting emails from you listeners, and I got one the other day that really warmed my heart, and tell me if this guy isn’t an overachiever. It’s from Erick Martinez, and he writes…

Thank You Barry!

First of all, Thank You for the effort you put into your podcast!  This e-mail is a long time coming.  My wife and I traveled to PV last August to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.  While we were planning our trip at the beginning of 2018, I looked up Puerto Vallarta in my podcast app on a whim and found your show.  I am so glad I did!  We initially intended to stay at an all-inclusive but after listening to a few of your shows, found that most of your guests recommended NOT doing that.  I devoured as many episodes of your podcast as I could and made a loose itinerary of what we wanted to accomplish during our week there.  I posted a very long trip report on TripAdvisor which you can read here – https://bit.ly/2xJZU6X .  In short, we took your advice and booked a beautiful Airbnb just steps away from the ocean in the Romantic Zone and enjoyed food at La Palapa, Poncho’s Tacos, Gaby’s, Joe Jack’s, Tony’s Please, Las Gueras, Coco’s, Cuates y Cuetes, Fredy’s Tucan, Memo’s, and a few others.  Some of the adventures we went on were the ATV/Zip Line Tour at Canopy River (booked it through JR), took a panga out to Yelapa and walked to the waterfall, went on a day cruise with Ally Kat Sailing Adventures and spent a night in Sayulita.  I think we fit in more than most would in a week, but I would do it again tomorrow.  As you know, we went during rainy season and being accustomed to California weather reports (we live near Sacrament), were a bit nervous about how the weather would dampen our plans.  We used our umbrella once and didn’t even take it with us after the first day of walking around town. Even though we haven’t made plans to return (yet), I still faithfully listen to your podcast and can’t wait for our next trip.  We’ve already discussed bringing our friends, family and kids (we have 3 little ones) along next time!

Keep up the good work and Thank you!

Erick

I have a link to his TripAdvisor trip report if you want to read the longer version, but wow! Great job Erick! And thank you for using JR and booking your tour through Vallartainfo.com. Way to go!

Trip Advisor Link:  https://bit.ly/2xJZU6X

Okay with that, let’s get to the interview shall we?

The Vallarta Garden Club

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Contact Information for the Vallarta Garden Club

• Facebook Page Vallarta Garden Club
• Website for The Vallarta Garden Club

There are all kinds of charities in Vallarta. Animal rescues, child rescues, scholarship funds, shoes for kids, the list goes on and on. As I’ve said time and time again, the expat community, many of them, not all by

any means. I wish more of the pensioners, those who do live there and take advantage of all Mexico, and especially the people of Vallarta’s kindness and welcoming attitude, I wish they all would find time to give

back but many do, and this particular group of volunteers are into beautification. Beautifying the streets and parks in Puerto Vallarta with plantings and what they call installations, and you will hear a lot about those installations as we talk with our next guest, David Muck with the Vallarta Garden Club.

I was quite surprised at how the Garden Club does more than plant. They build too. And they work very closely with the city governments as you can imagine.

I was coming to the end of my latest visit to paradise and was running out of time to meet with David, I found out he was a very busy guy. Meetings left and right. So I was so happy to be able to get the

opportunity to talk with David at his condo overlooking the Bahia de Banderas, early on a beautiful Vallarta May Morning, so let’s go right now, and meet a very interesting person who is going to tell you

about a very interesting organization in our beautiful Puerto Vallarta, and let’s meet David Muck, Director, President of The Vallarta Garden Club.

What a lot of great information Wow! What wonderful work these folks at the Garden Club do for this town. Jan 21, 2020 Fiesta Tropical (Annual Gala)  and I will get you that information as we approach the date.

Suggestions From David Muck at The Puerto Vallarta Garden Club

Breakfast

• River Cafe, Puerto Vallarta
• Vitea Restaurant Puerto Vallarta...Enfrioladas

Lunch

• Blue Shrimp Restaurant Puerto Vallarta
• El Barracuda Restaurant Puerto Vallarta

Dinner

• Tre Piatti Restaurant Puerto Vallarta
• Red Cabbage Cafe Puerto Vallarta
• Trio Restaurant Puerto Vallarta
• El Arryan Restaurant Puerto Vallarta

A hidden Fonda…. The Bells…near the church

Suggestions for a first time visitor

• Get to know the locals. Ask what they like to do and like to see

Word of warning

• Be careful about drinking water

Day Trip

• San Sebastian
• The Botanical Garden
• Sayulita

Three Day Trips

• Lake Chapala
• Pueblos Magicos
• Morrellia
• Guadalajara

 

It was so exciting to meet David wasn’t it? You can get involved too. Check out their Facebook page and their website. I have links to those and some wonderful pictures of their installation’s, their volunteers, the future renderings of the Parque do los Azulejos, so check them out in the show notes too all right?

Okay.

Okay that should do it for this week.

Next week, stay tuned for more on the ground reports from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with travel tips, great restaurant and excursion ideas and more.  Until then, remember, this is an interactive show where I depend on your questions and suggestions about all things Puerto Vallarta. If you think of something I should be talking about, please reach out to me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending us your message.

And remember, if you are considering booking any type of tour while you are in Puerto Vallarta, you must go to Vallartainfo.com, JR’s website and reserve your tour through him, right from his website.

Remember the value for value proposition. His experience and on the ground knowledge of everything Puerto Vallarta in exchange for your making a purchase of a tour that you would do anyway, you’re just doing it through him as a way of saying thank you. It costs no more than if you were to use someone else so do it. Really. And when you do take one of these tours, email me about your experiences. Maybe you can come on-board and share with others what you liked or didn’t like about the tour. Again, contact me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending off a message. Don’t forget his maps, his DIY tours and his revitalized Happy Hour Board. I have links to all of those in the show notes.

And once again, if you like this podcast, please take the time and subscribe and give me a good review on iTunes if you would. That way we can get the word out to more and more people about the magic of this place. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Remember I made it easy for you to do just that with each episode I create. But if you haven’t been to my website, you really need to have a look there.  I have the links to the places we talk about, interesting pictures and the more all right there in my blog-posts and show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven’t already all-right? All right.

Thanks to David Muck from the Vallarta Garden Club, Join them, go to their January Fundraiser I have  links and pictures, meet some of the greatest people who love this town so much, they just want to make it beautiful, colorful, clean and fresh. So nice!

And thanks to all of you for listening all the way through this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is Barry Kessler signing off with a wish for you all to slow down, be kind and live the Vallarta lifestyle. Nos Vemos amigos!

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