Puerto VAllarta, Jal.— “Again, we do apologize," came over the intercom.

Passengers on Delta flight 4507 From Salt Lake City to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, knew something wasn’t right as soon as one of the pilots started talking on the intercom and the airplane started turning around.

“It's something that we wouldn't have known what to do as pilots as far as this airplane not being allowed to land in Mexico." That announcement was recorded on one of the passenger’s cell phones.

The pilot was telling passengers their flight to Puerto Vallarta couldn't land and they were turning around to land in Tucson, Arizona and refuel before flying back to Salt Lake City.

"We got pretty close. I think they said within an hour, or under an hour,” said Casey Boyd, who is from Denver and was heading to Mexico with his wife and child on vacation.

However, when the pilot told passengers they couldn’t land in Mexico because of a paperwork error, Boyd couldn’t believe it.

"No, it sounds pretty unbelievable," Boyd said. "Yeah, I don't know. It doesn't sound like maybe the whole story."

The flight was a Delta Connection flight operated by SkyWest Airlines based in St. George.

According to SkyWest's spokeswoman, the flight “returned to Salt Lake City at approximately 6 p.m. to correct a paperwork issue. The 57 passengers onboard will be provided with hotel accommodations and have been rebooked on a new flight tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. We apologize to those customers we've inconvenienced and are working to get them on their way as quickly as possible.”

Boyd said before the flight left Salt Lake on Tuesday morning, the gate agent asked for passengers willing to take a later flight because they were using a smaller airplane than originally planned.

It's possible that smaller plane didn't have the proper paperwork to land in Puerto Vallarta, and no one caught the error until it was too late.

"I would like to know more about what happened,” Boyd said.

Still, he says Delta gave him vouchers for a hotel, food, and other expenses, as well as a flight to Mexico for Wednesday morning.

A Delta spokesman said all 57 passengers have been re-booked to Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday morning.

"They've taken pretty good care of us,” Boyd said. “It’s just one less day of vacation.”

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- With a series of reinforcement work, such as cleaning, renovation of public places like highways, natural areas, rivers, streams, and beaches, Puerto Vallarta is getting ready for what will be the first vacation period in 2015: Holy Week and Easter Week, which this year will be from March 29 to April 12.

Oscar Perez, General Director of Tourism, informed that after walking around Francisco Medina Ascencio Boulevard, they saw things needed some work and improvement. So, they instructed a team of workers from Public work to repair things that were damaged, such broken benches, remove risky objects, trim trees and collect the garbage accumulated in the area.

He also said that work is also being done at the beaches and other water places like in the Centre Zone and the tourist strip, since these are the more susceptible areas and the most visited by tourists. It is mandatory for these places to be in the best possible conditions.

The civil servant went on to say that with all these things being done; one can be certain that Puerto Vallarta is getting ready, the best way it can, to initiate the first vacation period. During the month of March there is also the long week end of the 21st. A super busy month for the hotels is expected.

“Tourists need to find a home, clean and in good condition; that’s why cleaning work started several months ago; the team has been working every weekend. Civil servants and the community in general have been working together for this purpose”.

As for the work being done on Francisco Medina Ascencio Boulevard, unnecessary cables on some light post are being taken away, benches, drainage, sewer and other similar urban elements which we have seen as a risk to drivers and pedestrians, are being fixed.

The first stage of these work should be finished a week before Holy Week; but work will continue as soon as vacation period is over.

“We understand this kind of work should be an ongoing job, and that is why we are asking the working team to continue doing their jobs. We will always be on the alert making sure the main avenue; the beaches and the tourist strip do not deteriorate”.

He said that to all of the above, we should add the “Clean Beach” certificate which was awarded to Holiday Inn Beach. This comes to show that working together towards specific and clear goals, produces good results. It is up to the citizens to maintain the beach as nice as when the flag, indicating “Clean Beach Certified”, was raised.

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Tuesday March 24th 10 am Mar Y Sol Restaurant Ave Pacificio No 4 Puerto Vallarta

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Photos courtesy of Tom Bastek

On Mexico’s Pacific coast lies the beautiful and historic city of Puerto Vallarta. What was once a haven for pirates and smuggling is now one of the premiere resort destinations on the Mexican pacific coast. No matter if you are staying at an all-inclusive resort or just stopping for the day with a cruise ship, there is plenty for you to explore in the historic downtown area.

The Malecon

The number one activity/area in Puerto Vallarta is just a short drive from any resort or hotel in town. The Malecon is a 12 block-long walk right along the water in downtown Puerto Vallarta. Peppered with street performers, art statues, and sand sculptures, The Malecon is a pedestrians-only place to see and be seen. Lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and more, during the day you can meet tour guides, and tequila peddlers, and at night the fun turns up a notch with clubs and bars abuzz with activity. On Sunday evenings, take in the locals who come out in force for the Paseo, a gathering of the family for socialization and fun. There is also entertainment every night of the week at the amphitheater here.

Don’t Miss: The Papantla Bird-men. These acrobats sing a song, say a prayer, and launch themselves off a platform 75 feet in the air. Gracefully spinning around, slowly making their way to the ground, all the while playing their instruments for the gods. All that for the price of a tip in the passed hat. Awesome.

The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The spiritual center for the Catholics in town, this is as much as a pilgrimage for the locals as much as the tourists. Constructed on and off between the 1920s and the late 1940s, the building was finished with the exception of the towers, which were not completely finished until 1987. The church has been through much, but has always survived to offer both Spanish and English masses on Saturday and Sunday.

Don’t Miss: The crown at the top of the tower is technically the third. The first was placed in 1965, due to erosion restored in 1981, then only to be knocked off by an earthquake in 1995. It was then replaced with a temporary fiberglass crown until the famed Jaliscan aritist, Carlos Terres could sculpt another.

The Flea Market

There are plenty of places that claim to be “flea markets” downtown but the one you really want to go to if you are looking for something artsy/crafty to bring home is the municipal market that is located along the north banks of the Cuale River. This two story building has everything you could possibly want from authentic leather goods to silver jewelry to chachkies to take home to the kiddies. Upstairs there are food stalls and vendors to boot.

Don’t Miss: The art of tactful negotiations. The vendors here already have pretty cheap prices here, so go easy on the locals, but that doesn’t mean you have been offered their best price. A well-timed sigh and an artful offer can go a long way. Don’t be afraid. The worst they can do is say no.

Isla Cuale

Just a short walk to the island in the middle of the Cuale River are the open air stalls of the Isla Cuale. Along this well-shaded and cool strip of shops you will find a continuation of the municipal market with some larger items as well. There is also a restaurant, art gallery, and a fountain that is certainly photo worthy.

Don’t Miss: The hanging bridges. Wood and net swinging bridges appear occasionally along the river to let pedestrians get to island. They are bouncy, wobbly, and fun!

Zona Romantica

The south side of Puerto Vallarta is often referred to the Romantic Zone and for good reason. There are more restaurants, bars, art galleries, and boutique hotels here per square foot than anywhere else in town. The food options here are abundant and if you are thinking about getting street food anywhere in PV, this is the place. The nightlife is bustling in this area as well. Take note, the streets here are narrow and the footing is a little unsteady at times with sometime high curbs and cobblestone streets

Don’t Miss: The Pier at Playa Los Muertos. In addition to offering access to water taxis and sailboat trips, the pier lights up at night and is great for a stroll, day or night.

There you have it, five places to get you going in Puerto Vallarta. There are many more, and with Puerto Vallarta being a very safe city to begin with, do not be afraid to explore a little on your own. The locals are easy to talk to and the food is phenomenal. Puerto Vallarta is more than just a pretty face! Get to know some of the culture, the history and the fun of this beautiful Pacific Coast town.

Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui was fired shortly after exposing a major corruption scandal in Mexico. Photo by N. Parish Flannery. Instagram: @nathanielparish

Mexican radio station MVS fired popular journalist and talk show host Carmen Aristegui and her assistants Daniel Lizarraga and Irving Huerta, the reporting team responsible for exposing scandals that hurt the reputation of Mexico’s president Enrique Peña Nieto. The exposure of the “casa blanca” scandal relating to the purchase of a multimillion dollar home from a contractor connected to a billion dollar infrastructure project became one of the major news stories of 2014. Now, with the firings at MVS, Aristegui has become the story. The station claims that Aristegui violated is code of ethics by using its logo in connection to her scandal-exposing platform MexicoLeaks. In a statement, the company explained “ we sincerely regret the termination of our working relationship with Carmen Aristegui” and added that the decision was made because Arestigui had “comprised the name of the business” with her actions relating to MexicoLeaks.

The reaction on Twitter has been swift. Political analyst Alejandro Hope tweeted “I don’t listen to Carmen Aristegui. Her style can irritate. But we have to defend her presence on the radio. Without plurality we all lose.” Mexican political activist Denise Dresser tweeted that “the crime of Carmen Aristegui was to try to give Mexican citizens through #MexicoLeaks a platform to denounce corruption anonymously. Since she was going to receive tons of complaints they shut her up.” From a business perspective, the decision is difficult to understand. Over the last two decades Aristegui has turned herself into one of Mexico’s most famous journalists and has used her radio show to amass a huge following. Mexican journalist Enrique Acevedo tweeted “Firing Carmen Aristegui to protect the brand means they don’t understand the client…unless the client lives in Los Pinos [Mexico's presidential residence.]” Journalist Jan-Albert Hootsen tweeted “Many Mexican Twitter media users are now tweeting that they will stop listening to @NoticiasMVS due to firing of Carmen #Aristegui.

Although Cablevision does have a presence in Mexico, Mexican broadcast TV is dominated by Televisa and TV Azteca. Aristegui is a unique voice within the world of Mexican media. Roberto Remes, the director of the Fundacion Ciudad Humana tweeted “apart from the journalistic work of Carmen Aristegui, it’s terrible that in Mexico liberty of expression is so vulnerable.”

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- Luz de Maria Ornelas Montiel is a fifteen year old high school student, who, six months ago began working during her free time, as a Life Guard volunteer in Puerto Vallarta.

There are 30 young students who, the same as Luz de Maria work as volunteers with Municipal Civil Protection and Firefighters Coordination. Luz de Maria is the only girl in the Life Guard field, and she works hard and does her best everyday in order to get qualified as such.

As a little girl, Luz Maria use to imagine herself working in the rescue field. Her passion has always been to serve and help others; this is the kind of work that she loves and makes her feel proud of her; therefore, as soon as she had the opportunity and got her parents approval, she registered as volunteer at the Fire Station.

Ornelas Montiel has participated in several training courses; one of them for life guards, given by Jose Palacios. This training revived her passion for this kind of work.

Her work as a volunteer consists on helping the lifeguards in their endless routine at the beach, and in their rescue drills, providing them with the necessary tools for their maneuvers and being in charge of radio communication.

“There are neither limits nor complications if you really like what you do. I go to school every day, and take advantage of my free time to come and work as a volunteer. This is something that satisfies and motivates me every single day”, says the teenager.

She realizes that the work done by the rescuers is not at all easy. “It requires discipline and a great commitment to your co-workers and to yourself. It is not that simple; we need to prepare ourselves every day and give the best of us, because the safety of the persons to be rescued and that of our partners doing the job, is on the line”, she said.

To Luz de Maria to be part of the Life guards group has been the best decision she could have ever made, it helps her personal development and, although she is planning on going to college, she will look for the opportunity to work in this field when she becomes of age.

The teen ager took the opportunity to send a message to the youth; “I want to tell all young people to participate in the training courses offered by Municipal Civil Protection and Firefighters Coordination, by doing that you will learn of the great work of this institution and will be motivated to be part of the team of rescuers who go out on the streets to help those who are in any danger”.

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- For many years, drug cartel killings in Mexico dominated the news.

Gruesome, unthinkably barbaric killings left indelible images in the minds of would-be travellers who decided to go elsewhere — somewhere safer.

Of course, the government fought back, often parading their prized human trophies in front of cameras once they had captured the bad guys.

But this only perpetuated the image of violence and insecurity.

When it came to foreigners and their impressions of Mexico, their experiences divided along the line of those who had been to Mexico recently and regularly, versus those who only “knew” Mexico through the scary media coverage.

NEGATIVE PRESS

Yet Mexico could not merely wish away the negative press; if drug war killings leave torched bodies hanging from bridges, or leave sacks of decapitated heads, that will be news, and news that will give nightmares to parents of families looking for a vacation destination.

What the Mexico government changed, when it came to media and country branding, was nothing short of morphing a scary cartoon into a sophisticated cubist painting.

In the absence of any other narratives, the drug war narrative took the spotlight every day. New narratives — credible ones — needed to be created to reveal these intriguing, multi-faceted aspects of Mexico that were not being talked about.

If Mexico merely depended on beautiful, new tourism campaigns, prospective foreign visitors would have experienced a severe cognitive dissonance between what they hear and read in the news versus the claimed beauty and safety in an ad campaign. In a head-to-head war like that, news usually wins.

So a comprehensive plan had to be enacted that would be rooted in credibility while not dismissing fears.

While neither the media, nor any advertising or public relations agencies should seek to bury the bad news, it can recede to the background when fresh, compelling narratives are crafted.

In the case of Mexico, this meant organising the storytelling along thematic lines to engage different interests of different audiences.

WORLD HERITAGE CUISINES

For example, gourmet travellers had no idea that Mexico has one of only two World Heritage Cuisines (can you guess the other one?).

Or that Mexico has more World Heritage Sites than any other country. No one knew that Mexico had made great strides into environmentally-sensitive and sustainable tourism.

Few knew that Mexico has a very powerful, educated, young demographic that is propelling the country into a new “BRIC” status.

In fact, Mexico often graduates more engineers than the United States does. And because of that, among other factors, Mexico became a magnet for moving high-tech specialised business there for giant multinationals.

It was no longer the sweat shop to the south.

When it came to the split image of Mexico held by people in the United States, two separate strategies emerged.

First, Mexico actually had to embark on a geography teaching tour in the US.

Officials went on local and national TV and newspapers asking questions like this: “If there was a shooting in Los Angeles, would you cancel your family vacation in Orlando, Florida?” (Of course, no one would because the distance between the two is 2,504 miles).

This simple illustration helped Americans understand that while the violence in Mexico was real, it was nowhere near where they would be visiting.

Next, the Mexico government worked to get the US State Department to revise its warnings from generic, country-wide warnings to very specific state and city localities.

MARKED DIFFERENCE

If you compare the travel warnings today from the US State Department on Mexico versus Kenya, you will see the marked difference.

When it came to veteran US visitors to Mexico, the repeat visit rate was very high.

So rather than use an official government voice or its proxy through a tourism campaign, Mexico leveraged the peer-to-peer value of social media, encouraging American bloggers and tourists who knew and loved Mexico to tell the prospective travellers not to fear Mexico.

In a cynical, social media world, the official voice may never be believed or may even backfire, while hearing from fellow parents talk about their own repeated visits without fear for their safety engenders credibility and allays fears.

Tourism and destination branding and marketing today should reverse the old school marketing approaches.

Instead of cooking up a single, beautiful, advertising-led campaign in hopes of winning a struggle with news coverage, or drowning out the lingering fears, destination marketers must first listen to each audience in each market in order to better understand them.

Using social media and search analysis tools, we can hear the real conversations and real impediments to understanding.

THEIR OWN INTERESTS

Then, instead of pushing our destination at them, we can approach them by their own interests first: they may be eco-tourists looking for a sustainable option; or they may be golfers or cyclists looking for a magical locale; or they may be hikers or balloonists; or they may be archaeology buffs.

By understanding each affinity group and approaching them on their terms via their existing interests, you may earn the right to present your destination as a surprising and wonderful option to further their passions.

We do this through creating content of interest to each group, or by being useful to them by pointing them toward more information.

Or by supporting them by introducing them to other fellow travellers with similar interests.

This, then, is the cubist approach to portraying a humanised, multifaceted brand.

Christopher Graves is chairman of Ogilvy Public Relations.

Nick Wachira, a former Nation journalist, is now MD of Ogilvy Kenya

Orphanage:  a residential institution for the care and education of orphans.

"Some children are abandoned and end up in orphanages, which have a difficult time caring for them."

Puerto Vallarta, Jal. - Travel Agents from Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey received a dynamic training workshop on the distinctiveness and uniqueness that Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit offer their visitors. This workshop was done in the form of a caravan, as a different way of training those in charge of selling this tourist destination.

Presentations were in the form of ‘trade show-dinner-interactive games-prizes’, with the already well known teamwork of Puerto Vallarta’s Board of Tourism and Riviera Nayarit’s Visitors and Convention Center.

The first workshop was done in Monterrey, with 100 travel agents; the following workshop was the next day in Guadalajara, with a similar number of guests; the closing was in Mexico City with the attendance of 120 agents.

Besides the workshops for travel agents, an Office Training for whole sellers, limited to five hotels, was also offered in Mexico City, where a breakfast with Magnicharters was organized. Training for Interjet’s Call Center was also offered to 100 sale agents.
To change the training dynamics, Procesa Event Management and Incentives Company, was hired to coordinate the caravan in its different aspects; such as stage, preparation of activities, prop up materials, sound system, lighting, sketches for two actors for Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit’s presentation; among other activities.
Moctezuma Loza, Advertising Coordinator for Board of Tourism, pointed out that with these workshops, Puerto Vallarta introduced a new and fun way of training tourist agents.

“It was stimulating to see travel agents taking notes and participating in competitions; a different way of learning and a good way to demonstrate how to sell our tourist destination using the knowledge acquired at these workshops”, said Loza.

He went on to say that as for the promotional sketch, two actors participated in the presentation of each destination. One of the actors impersonated a new travel agent; he was good and the public could identify with him. The second actor is the owner of a travel agency impersonating an unknown tourist who helps the new travel agent to get to know the destinations by taking an imaginary trip to both areas of the region.

“The information learned in this sketch was the means to participate in the games; it also makes the agents aware of the importance of their jobs as Mexico tourist promoters” Moctezum Loza said.

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

IFC Clubhouse, Thursday, March 19, 7 PM

Puerto Vallarta, Jal. - The implementation of the Operative “Salvando Vidas” which is carried out in a permanent manner by the Municipal Highway administration continues fulfilling its primary objective, which is to prevent accidents that may cause death or serious consequences to people. It also helps to generate conscientiousness among citizens and at the same time, it gives a sense of security on the roads.

A total of 67 breathalyzer tests were administered this past weekend, out of which 26 people turn out to be at 40 to 80 degrees. These people were detained and placed at the disposition of the Municipal Judge; their vehicles were sent to the car lot.

According to Traffic and Transportation Law, the fines in the State of Jalisco for drunk driving, is the equivalent of 150 days of the minimum salary, equivalent to 10,445 pesos (a little over US$600.00). If the person is a re offender, besides paying the10, 445 pesos, their license is suspended temporarily or definitely, depending.

There were also 4 drivers whose results were between 25 and 30 degrees; these kind of drivers just go back home in their vehicle, and they only pay fifty percent of the regular fine.

At the same time, with the operative, the traffic agents do some preventive work, encouraging drivers to respect speed limits and obey security procedures to avoid accidents.

Motorcycle riders are also checked to verify the vehicle is in good condition and safe to ride, and that have the required legal documents; this has helped to recover a good number of stolen vehicles.

The check points will continue as established, on weekends, and in a sporadic manner on weekdays, making sure that our tourist destination continues being a very a safe place.

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Photo By Clint J. Farr A walk in the river's canyon in Yelapa

(I'd like to blame my editor for the title, but it's mine)

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- On the plane to Mexico, I imagined how I would use my latent and well-hidden athleticism to fend off cartel gangsters trying to nap my kids. This "knowledge" of Mexico is based on hours of "Breaking Bad" and a few minutes on Homeland Security's travel advisory page.

Homeland Security's travel advisory page actually paints a worse picture of Mexico than "Breaking Bad." Wherever you go, you are going to die, violently. The travel pages for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not much better. According to the CDC, if the cartels don't get you, dysentery will.

A bloated colon of insecurities, I wondered if our first trip to Mexico was our last trip anywhere. I was not reassured by the first hour in Mexico. A harrowing taxi ride to Boca, south of Puerto Vallarta, resembled a car chase, except nobody was chasing us. The water taxi from Boca to Yelapa skirted the coastline just outside and atop massive breakers from 25 foot swells. No one wore life vests. None were apparent. Once on the dock, I plucked the kids out of the boat with each rise of a wave.
Mexico has a different relationship with risk than the U.S.

Children and luggage accounted for, a Senor Gato gathered our bags into a wheelbarrow and pushed them to our casa three-quarters mile up the local river. It occurred to me, as I followed the elderly man, I should be carrying my own bags. He's old. I'm able-bodied. It felt bad. It felt vaguely colonial.
Senor Gato didn't seem to care one way or the other. He was gracious and patient with our questions. Senor Gato was our first experience with what would become an overriding Yelapian theme: kindness.

To a person, the locals were friendly. It is a decided contrast to other destinations like Hawaii where the locals tire of tourists. Even here in Juneau, as a fishing guide once told me, by the end of summer you can "run all out of friendly." But in Yelapa, your business is appreciated; as long as you're not a jerk.
I think this is due in large part to the locals being in charge. In Yelapa, all shops, restaurants, houses, and lodging are locally owned. Yelapa is a protected area for its first people, the Comunidad Indigena. From what the locals told me, a foreigner can live in Yelapa, but have to lease their place from a local. You can't live there if the locals don't like you.

The distinct lack of large boxy hotels in Yelapa also no doubt stems from local ownership. There's no land for the big chains to buy. After all, Yelapa is not undiscovered country. Bob Dylan hung out there in the 70s. The beach makes top ten lists in travel magazines. I'm sure the Hyatt would love to build some monstrous gray monolith on the beachfront, but can't.

Which brings me to the next obvious point. Yelapa is not for people looking for a safe and sterile travel experience. Yelapa is about mules, stray dogs, chickens, and their gifts to the world. It's about your kids stepping barefoot in those gifts. Electricity has only been around for 10 years so no surprise when Yelapa's dark trails might surprise you. These things build character and your immune system.

Yelapa is organic. Not organic in a hippy way, but in a don't-have-enough-money-to-buy-pesticides sort of way. Lack of pesticides means there are bugs; many bite. My irrational fear of cartels was quickly replaced by a much more rational fear of scorpions.

But again, the roughness is more than made up with Yelapa's friendly hosts and amazing sights.

Our first day, we splayed out on the beach like a hide nailed to the shed. When sufficiently toasted, we came home to find the door handle to our casa locked. We had specifically been instructed to lock only the deadbolt, but somehow the door handle was locked and we had no key.

Tired, hungry, thirsty and sun burned, we needed to get to the bed, fruit, water and shade inside. I tried to sacrifice my Costco card to trip the latch, but no luck.
A crowd started to form.

Neighbors came out to help. They called Geraldo, Jelapa's fixer. He is like Wolf in "Pulp Fiction." Geraldo, I was assured, would figure it out. And he did. I won't say exactly how, but it was genius and simple. Some even clapped. I tried to pay Geraldo with a Pacifico cerveza. "Gracias!" I croaked like a drunk John Wayne to a Tijuana barkeep. But, as fixers do, Geraldo had disappeared.

Just so you know, my ignorance of Spanish does not reflect on my family. My wife and daughters have been taking Spanish for years. I, on the other hand, have no time for things like knowledge. This is probably why I made our 6-year-old daughter sound precociously man-hungry. "Tiene hombre" does not mean "She is hungry," it means "She has a man." And just in case you were wondering, "A ella le gustan los caballertos," does not mean "the girl likes horses." It means "the girl likes gentlemen."
I think most folks knew what we meant, through the titters.

The Yelapian children were delighted and confused with my girls. They were mystified why they couldn't swim. "They turn blue in Juneau's ice cold public pools" is obviously beyond my Spanish, so I'd shrug.

A grandmother and her granddaughter, Osmara, guided us upriver for one of our better adventures. We were in search of the langoustine, a large crayfish that ply the local river. Osmara bounded up the trail and back to check on us. She was eight, in cutoffs, a t-shirt, and barefoot. She waited as her guests took their sandals off at every water crossing. She jumped into the river wearing her clothes and treaded water while her guests put on their bathing suits. Osmara had no concern for the thorns, ants, sand fleas, snakes, spiders, scorpions, jaguars, rocks, rapids, or quickly darkening skies. She helped my girls with an emphatic sign language, held their hands over the lip of the rock wall, and was sweet; so very sweet.

I am happy childhoods like this still exist.

My girls were bit by mosquitoes, ants, fleas, and stung by at least one jellyfish. We were a lumpy, splotchy, peeling mess by our last day, but happy. Perhaps the extra risk heightened our sense of joy. Perhaps it was a vitamin D high; a melatonin euphoria. But for a brief moment on our last day, we considered ditching all our Juneau obligations. We could stay longer; one more swim, one more bowl of ceviche, one more walk with Osmara. We could stay longer...we could never leave.
Alas.

As we left (carrying our own bags), the girls sounded like exotic birds chirping "gracias" to everyone on the trail. I imagine to the locals, visitors say "thank you" a lot. Yes, in part, that's because it's the only word we know in Spanish. I just hope the locals also realize we mean it.
Adios Yelapa, go with God.

• Clint J. Farr can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Yelapa rescources:
Yelapa connexion- www.yelapaconnexion.com
Air B n B - www.airbnb.com. Type in "yelapa".
Yelapa English-Spanish Institute - www.talkadventures.com/spanish/index.html