Organizers Announce Half Marathon 2011

Preparation is the key to success, and this is why this May, organizers have announced the Third Riviera Nayarit Touristic Half Marathon 2011 that will take place on November 19, but is already revving up the engines to attract a larger number of participants and to create a better competition.

The event organizers already have the support of the Mexican Athletics Federation, and of the Athletics Association of Nayarit, which is endorsed by the AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races). Mexican and international runners are now invited to participate in the third edition of the Touristic Half Marathon of Riviera Nayarit, which will take place on the main avenues of the Nuevo Vallarta touristic development.

SCENIC ROUTE

Extraordinary natural landscapes, golf courses, a marina, hotels, ocean views and 6.2 miles of navigable channels comprise the route that awaits runners amidst an ambiance that combines festivities, camaraderie and sports.

The formula to organize this half marathon has been the following: bring together the experience from top organizers, and choose an amazing place with first-class lodging and infrastructure, impeccable streets and exuberant beauty; secure the endorsement from the FMA and the State’s Athletics Association to guarantee the support of all pertaining authorities, and obtain the AIMS certification to give the event an international scope.

In previous years, Riviera Nayarit even caught the eye of the AIMS representatives that measured the route, who stated that in the more than 150 destinations that they’ve worked on, they hadn’t had an experience like the one that this route offers.

EVERYBODY RUN!

It’s easy to participate in the Touristic Half Marathon of Riviera Nayarit, whether in the 21 K or in the 10 K category. You can already register online at www.delcorredor.com using your credit card or through an EFT, and also at all Mistertenis stores, during the Leon, San Luis Potosi and the Atlas Marathon in Guadalajara, or even one day before the race at the registration table. Upon registration, runners will enjoy the following benefits:

1. Welcome lunch on Friday, November 18, 2011
2. Official t-shirt of the event
3. Commemorative medal to everyone who finishes the race satisfactorily
4. Time tracking at kilometer 10 and at the finish line, with the “Time Ipico-sports” system
5. Water and electrolyte supply along the race
6. Snack at the recovery area
7. Awards Brunch on Saturday, November 19, 2011
8. Official results published on the Internet website, starting at 13:00 hrs
9. Free photo downloads at: www.delcorredor.com
10. Official time record


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
www.MedioMaratonRivieraNayarit.com

Pitaya, a Cactus Fruit Found in Neighboring Nayarit

On the afternoon of May 4, while I was driving through La Peñita, I noticed a woman sitting on the corner of Main Street with a table overflowing with Guamúchil. I decided to stop the car so I could take some more photos. On the side of her table sat a medium blue plastic bowl filled with a few small semi-round and very odd looking things. Quite honestly, I wasn't sure if it was a type of food or an insect. She and her client explained that they are called Pitaya (pronounced pee-tie-yah).
 

Pitaya fruit comes from the Pitayo cactus (Stenocereus queretaroensis). The Pitayos are columnar in shape, and are very common in the arid zones of central and northern Mexico. The fruit has attractively colored pulp that ranges from bright red to yellow and orange. To eat it, you peel back the skin and eat the fruit as well as the numerous soft black seeds. It didn't occur to me to buy one at the time (why, I'm not sure), so I went back the following day. Luckily, she had another bowlful. These were larger, riper, and bright red inside. She told me that she was saving these "special ones" for a client, but agreed to sell one of them for 5 pesos. I was delighted! I walked home, washed it in Microdyn, and cut in in half (as you can see in the photo above). 

The consistency is similar to that of a watermelon but less firm, and the flavor is mildly sweet and tastes like a pear. It is much better tasting than it looks, that's for sure. The woman explained that Pitayos bloom in the spring, are harvested, and commonly sold at local markets or transported to nearby cities at the end of April. In this particular case, both the Pitayas and Guamúchil were grown in the town of Cuastecomate, which is located east of Jaltemba Bay in the municipality of San Pedro Lagunillas, Nayarit.

This article was originally featured in the Jaltemba Bay Life Newsletter on May 16, 2011.

Out of the Heat and into the Water

Last weekend saw as many as 150 kite-surfers and windsurfers descend on Banderas Bay for the Riviera Nayarit Wind Festival 2011. With competitors from all over Mexico, United States and Canada, the beaches from La Cruz de Huanacaxtle to Bucerias were teeming with man-sized kites and wind-surf sails of all shapes, colors and sizes; the horizon was peppered with somersaulting sails lashing the breaking white water. As the sweltering heat this last week reminds us of the temperatures yet to come, what better way to cool down this summer than take to the water.


Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit offer a host of different water sports for all levels of ability to keep us in the ocean during the hot and humid summer months: amazing scuba diving and snorkeling, wakeboarding, kayaking and so forth. Below is a list of some of the more adventurous aquatic activities in and around Banderas Bay:

Surfing
By far one of the most popular water sports in the area, surfing (and boogie boarding) has long been an attraction for many visitors. The warm waters of the bay relieve surfers of the need for wetsuits and its soft sandy beaches make learning to surf even more pleasurable for children and adults alike. There are some fantastic breaks both to the north and south of Puerto Vallarta, with the most popular surf beaches found around Punta de Mita, Bucerias and Sayulita. Beginners will find plenty of surf schools providing top quality instruction and board hire, while the local surf communities are surprisingly friendly and accommodating to more experienced surfers.


Paddle Boarding
Paddle boarding or stand up paddle surfing came originally from Hawaii, where it was a method used by surfing instructors as a means of managing larger groups of students: they gained a better view and could see oncoming swells. Today, it is a pleasant, and relatively easy, pastime that involves balancing on an extra-large surfboard, either standing or on your knees, while using a paddle to navigate the sea beyond the breaking waves. For more adventurous and skilled paddlers, there is also plenty of scope for tricks and maneuvers as surfers catch the waves as they would with any long board. There are various places in the bay that rent paddleboards, including Sayulita, Bucerias and Punta de Mita.


Kite Surfing
January to June is the kite surfing season in Banderas Bay, when the onshore breeze provides just the right winds to make the area perfect for this evermore popular water sport, especially in Bucerias. The equipment can be expensive, so renting is a great option at first, and instruction is essential owing to the complexity of the activity. It combines various sport skills, such as surfing, wakeboarding and kite flying, giving you the freedom of near weightlessness and adrenaline. The equipment includes a board, similar to a wakeboard or snowboard, which is lightly attached to the feet and used to surf the waves, while you hold onto a traction kite, which helps you lift yourself over the water, flying or somersaulting through the air.


Sea Kayaking
There are many places in Puerto Vallarta that offer kayak rentals and tours of the bay. The water beyond the waves provides an idyllic setting for leisurely and safe kayaking. Los Arco beauty spot is a popular location as well as tours to Colomitos, just south of Boca de Tomatlán, where there is a picturesque sandy cove. Kayaking also provides the perfect opportunity to combine a snorkeling adventure, exploring the wonderful world beneath the surface of the ocean.

Sea-Doo / Jet Skis
For those who are looking for speed and adrenaline, renting a jet ski might well be the answer. Like an aquatic motorbike, you control the speed and direction of your excursion, blending freedom, velocity and exhilaration in an idyllic setting. Many rental companies offer combined tours that include Jet Ski rental and secluded beach breaks.


Wake boarding
Wake boarding combines the principles of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing. The rider is towed by a motorboat traveling between 18 and 25 miles per hour and navigates the water’s surface on a board similar to a snowboard. While beginners will be happy to simply hold on and avoid falling into the water, more experienced wake boarders find pleasure in the tricks and jumps that make the sport truly invigorating and addictive.

With such an array of thrilling water sports on offer in Banderas Bay, there is no reason to be hot and sticky this summer? Slap on the sunscreen and dive into the sea of possibilities – don’t get hot, get wet!

Destination for Upscale Shoppers

Cheryll Gillespie is a confessed compulsive shopper, and only after a few hours in Riviera Nayarit we can already see her luggage growing. “I came here with a small suitcase, and now I’ll have to send some things home via parcels service because I can’t carry all my luggage myself”, she says while smirking in complicity with her daughter Samantha, her co-host in Let’s Shop.

Gillespie raises her glass with an exotic fruit cocktail while she enjoys a manicure and pedicure in front of the Vallarta Palace Resort, which has been their home in this destination, while she states that shopping in Riviera Nayarit is a wonderful experience… to the extent that she can’t avoid shopping while she’s being pampered by the endless luxury offered at their hotel.

This is the way in which the Let’s Shop host gets ready for her show, which is broadcasted through CNBC. This time, she’s touring Riviera Nayarit, looking for the best shopping, the best Spas and the most exciting activities to share with her viewers.

Let’s Shop is a show that focuses on travel, shopping, lifestyle and cuisine, inspiring the spectator to enjoy different and entertaining activities.

The various boutiques and galleries located from Nuevo Vallarta to Punta Mita and Sayulita are the most exciting places to shop in Riviera Nayarit. Huichol art, architecture and design set the tourist infrastructure apart in Mexico’s Pacific Treasure.

Cheryll and Samantha are also looking to promote the adventure and activities that can be enjoyed in this destination to round up a day of shopping, making it a memorable experience.

CNBC World is a TV network that reaches over 300 million homes around the globe. Its shows are some of the most respected in the world of finances and most of its viewers are affluent decision makers.

Visitors Recommend Riviera Nayarit

High ratings for hospitality, cleanliness and quality of the service

Riviera Nayarit, the northern part of Banderas Bay in the neighboring State of Nayarit, is a charming destination that captivates everyone, and proof of this is that 98% of all who visit Mexico’s Pacific Treasure would recommend it to their family and friends, according to a study made by the Convention and Visitors Bureau of this destination.

The quality of services, cleanliness and safety, but mainly the hospitality of the local people are the defining characteristics of Riviera Nayarit. The beaches and amazing natural settings are qualities that capture the hearts of visitors, according to the data generated by the survey.

According to the survey, 75% of all tourists in Riviera Nayarit would “most likely” recommend the destination after spending their vacations here, and 23% said they would “probably” do so.

The results were also generated for the three micro destinations that compose Riviera Nayarit. Therefore, 75% would “most likely” recommend Bahia de Banderas, while 23% would “probably” do so. 75% would “most likely” recommend Rincon de Guayabitos, while 22% would “probably” do so. San Blas was completely endorsed by its visitors, because 74% would “most likely” recommend it, and the remaining 26% would “probably” do so.

The same study made by the CVB revealed that 75% of all visitors that come to Riviera Nayarit did it after enjoying a previous satisfactory experience (40%), or after the recommendation of a friend or family member (35%).

The survey also allowed visitors to evaluate the different aspects that influence their travel experience on a scale of 1 to 10. Riviera Nayarit also achieved high ratings in this part of the study.

The most important values during visitors’ stays in Riviera Nayarit were hospitality, cleanliness and safety. Hospitality in Bahia de Banderas was rated with a 9.3, Rincon de Guayabitos with a 9.6, and the same for San Blas.

The cleanliness of our beaches and touristic services were highly appreciated. Bahia de Banderas received a cleanliness rating of 9.1, Rincon de Guayabitos 8.9 and San Blas 8.3

Tourists pointed out that they felt safe during their stay and praised this aspect of their travel experience. Bahia de Banderas was rated with a 9.1, Rincon de Guayabitos with a 9.3 and San Blas with a 9.3 in security.

Happy Snapping

We’ve been writing for the Tribune for a while now, and thought it would be a good time to write about something that would interest scuba divers, photographers and videographers, so pretty much all of us. It’s been years since anybody has taken photos with a film camera. Technology has moved on so much that we can now view a photo immediately and decide if we want to keep it or not. Most land cameras can have a case made for them called a ‘housing’ so you can use them underwater.

My camera needs a waterproof housing, but some of the newer models you can use in the pool and take snorkelling without any protection at all!!! I’ve taught skills to children in the pool with their parents filming, giving them a great memory of that first underwater breath. Probably the equivalent of my parents filming me bathing in a plastic tub with a rubber duck, except the quality now is better than just different shades of yellow!! Those cameras are fantastic fun but only to about 5m, and they don’t have a white balance function which is crucial to taking great underwater photos.

So, what is white balance? Every reader of this article should have a white balance function on their cameras, but what is it for? Well, as we descend into the ocean, we lose colour.

The suns ray is distracted and the water absorbs colour. By taking a white slate down on our dive, we can point our camera at it and set the ‘white balance’ at each depth. This way, our photos don’t look blue/green as the camera is clever enough to adjust its colours in conjunction to the light that depth. I actually don’t like to carry too much with me when I dive, so I just roll the leg of my wetsuit or shorts up and use my thigh instead of a white slate. My thighs rarely see the sun, so it works perfectly! An alternative especially for close up still shots is to use a strobe or high powered flash. Ideal for nudibranches and seahorses, just turn off the white balance and let the artificial light do the work for you.

The key to taking great photo’s are good buoyancy skills and an understanding of your camera. When I get a new camera, I practice taking photo’s on land 1st, ensuring I know where all the settings are and how to use them. Once you have your camera mastered on land you are ready to go diving with it.

Underwater cameras vary in price from $200 to whatever you want to spend. I have a small digital camera, as like I said, I don’t like diving with a ton of equipment and it is great. Used correctly, you can get some great quality photos and videos from them.
There are disposable cameras for use underwater, but these do not have white balance on them, but any memory of your dive is better than none.

A friend of mine who loves gadgets came diving with us last year in a mask camera! It looked like a James Bond accessory with 2 lights on each side of his head and a something in the middle that looked like a gun sight. It also took video’s, but the quality was poor as the white balance couldn’t be set. The boy was happy with his toy though and that was all that mattered.

Puerto Vallarta May 2011, Cultural Festival Calendar of Events

Wednesday, May 25
Contemporary Dance
Adriana Quinto
"Fragments of Carmen"
Opera-based Choreography
Downtown
8:15 p.m.

Thursday, May 26
Local Talent Night
AQSTI-K and Jorge Aguilera Band
Acoustic Rock and Indie Pop / Rock
Downtown
8:15 pm

Friday, May 27
Municipal Folklore Group Xiutla
Downtown
8:15 p.m.

Alternative Activity May 27
Luna Sureste Peninsula Plaza
Music + Photo + Wine + Gastronomy
Multidisciplinary event for the whole family in a single framework.
Saturday, May 28
CLOSING EVENT
RADAID * Group Presentation
World music and rhythms
Downtown
8:15 pm


Saturday, May 28
Alternative Youth: Closing Fiesta Electronics
MARTIN PARRA
Downtown
10:00 p.m.
Considered one of the greatest DJs that Mexico has produced, through constant touring Europe, mainly Germany, Holland and France.


Film festival
"A celebration of life.”
Classical films that captivated moviegoers.
Cinemark Plaza Caracol 8:00pm