Up To dat, nearly 500 people working together for the target environment have filled more than eight thousand black garbage bags ..

The author saw many authentic Mexican towns throughout her journey. (Photo: Thinkstock)

I don’t want to open up a debate about the best way to travel through Mexico (or any country for that matter), as it changes from person to person based on budget and personal preference. However, I will say that until you’ve traveled Mexico by bus, you have not had the full Mexican experience.

Most people think that all buses in Mexico are similar to the chicken buses, which are old school buses in Central America that are converted into public buses, where you usually have to stand for hours. And sometimes, there’s even livestock on board. But unless you’re taking a small bus that transports you between small towns, Mexican buses are nothing like those in Central America. Fact is, Mexican buses are a million times better—even better than buses in the  United States and Canada.

Behold: a very luxurious bus…for a bus. (Photo: Pamela MacNaughtan/Savoir Faire Abroad)

Related: How to Travel to Mexico for $17 a Day 

A couple reasons why:

1. Mexico does not have a first-come, first-serve policy, like many buses in North America. Nope. In Mexico, you reserve your seat when you buy your ticket.
2. Some buses have free WiFi, like the one from Mezcales to Guadalajara.
3. The seats are cushy, and they recline! Or have foot rests!
4. There’s no livestock on board.
5. There are different classes, and the first class buses are crazy nice. They come with free earbuds, water, a blanket, a pillow, and an eye mask. It’s like you’re flying, but you’re in a bus.

The photo shoot of Samantha Hoopes posted in Ocean Magazine, was reproduced by Sports Illustrated, generating more than 24 million of impacts to the Treasure of the Mexican Pacific.

When things are done well, the results are always better than expected. That is exactly what happened with Samantha Hoopes’ photo shoot done in Riviera Nayarit, by Ocean magazine; the publication pleasantly and surprisingly reached the showcase of Sports Illustrated.

The thousands of expected hits became millions, when photos and content of Riviera Nayarit’s Ocean Magazine, published on March 12, were reproduced by Sports Illustrated a few days later.

75,000 copies of Ocean Magazine are published monthly, in addition to its Internet followers on line. Sports Illustrated on its web site has more than 24 million unique visitors a month.

In addition Samantha Hoopes social networks’ friends increase by the minute, so, to the above numbers, we can easily add quite a few more hits; which will mean a few more millions viewers looking at and learning about our destination.

This work was in mutual collaboration with the CVB Riviera Nayarit and The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort. It was done in November 2014. Sayulita, Islas Marietas and Punta Mita served as the photo shoot backgrounds...
La gastronomía, la aventura de la mano de la naturaleza y el lujo, fueron los elementos destacados en esta acción de relaciones públicas.

Gastronomy, the beauty of nature and luxury, were the elements highlighting this event of public relations.

Want to learn more? Go to: http://www.si.com/swim-daily/2015/03/16/samantha-hoopes-ocean-magazine-spring-2015 And http://oceanmagazine.com/ocean/spring-2015/.

[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.- Upon obtaining a few weeks ago the certification for the Holi Beach, located in the North Hotel zone of Puerto Vallarta, the municipality became the nationwide destination with the largest number of certified beaches.

At the moment there are five beaches that have been certified by organizations that evaluate and dictate aspects such as: quality of water, services, cleaning, security, presence of lifeguards, blogs of control, management plans, environmental and educational programs and infrastructure; among other criteria that are fundamental for the safety and enjoyment of visitors and bathers.

The beaches of Puerto Vallarta that have been certified are: Garza Blanca, Amapas - Conchas Chinas, Camarones, the Holi and Playas Palmares, being this last one which, in addition to national certification, it also obtained an internationally recognized award Blue Flag, which places Playas Palmares at the level of any European beach.

The director of Puerto Vallarta’s Environment and Ecology Office, Juan José Navarro Amaral, said that one of the central themes of environmental policies that the municipality of Puerto Vallarta implements, is the conservation and enhancement of coastal ecosystems. He also explained that "the certification of quality in beaches started with the intentions of helping the coastal ecosystems to retain their great range of habitat, their great variety of species and nutrients and to protect the coastline against erosion, as well as other health and safety aspects”.

Another distinction the destination has gotten, is that, unlike other beaches with certification that are protected, are difficult to access or they are part of natural reserves, Puerto Vallarta is at all times, visited by tourists and locals; in other words, open to and for everyone.

Navarro Amaral reminded everyone that they are working so that, in the near future, the Mismaloya Beach will also certified, which will make it the sixth certification by the Mexican Institute of Standardization and Certification; an independent highly recognized and prestigious Institute.

Los Muertos y Olas Altas, are two beaches that are currently being evaluated and there is already a plan so that, in conjunction with the residents and entrepreneurs of these areas, they can be part of a review process to obtain their certification.

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Tsumat (Photo credit: superyachtfan.com)

PUERTO VALLARTA: When it comes to personal choices, some of Mexico’s superrich like to buy real estate, art collections, and zoos with exotic animals, while others prefer luxury yachts, expensive and professionally crewed vessels. There are currently five Mexican billionaires and millionaires known to own luxury yachts, according to superyachtfan.com, a web site about luxury yachts and their secretive owners.

Because of her outstanding lavishness, Tsumat–a 164 foot tri-deck custom built super yacht bought by Mexican millionaire Alfredo Chedraui Obeso–outshines the other yachts owned by Mexicans. Chedraui is Chairman of Grupo Comercial Chedraui.

In December 2012, Trinity Yachts, Tsumat’s U.S. based builder, announced Tsumat’s delivery to her owner in a press release that did not identify the owner by name. According to Trinity Yachts, Tsumat‘s layout includes six state rooms which are able to accommodate 12 people. There is living space for the 11 crew in the lower deck. A tender garage, instead of the usual helipad, allows for an oversized sundeck with workout stations and entertaining options. The sundeck has a hot tub, bar, dining for eight, quad chaise lounging, treadmills, weights and large sunning areas.

Tsumat‘s interior features open-grain walnut and dark oak veneer accents, hand-stitched leather walls, wool carpets, heated onyx floors, backlit onyx columns, custom-made onyx sinks, natural granite and onyx slabs as well as different marble blocks imported from Mexico. Transitional areas like foyers and stairs are distinguished with chocolate tile leather floors and leather covered railings.

Wall and ceiling panels are upholstered in suede. Leather headboards in the guest suites continue around to the side walls. Even the doors and hinges are wrapped in leather. Pieces of art from the owner’s private collection are displayed throughout.

Tsumat, which reportedly means “beautiful girl” or “princess” in an ancient Mexican indigenous language, was commissioned to Trinity Yachts in 2009 and delivered to Chedraui in December 2012. Chedraui closely monitored the process. According to Boat International, “the owner” was very hands-on and visited the yard upwards of 20 times during the build. With an estimated price of $50 million, Tsumat replaced Tajin, which Chedraui sold in 2009. Tajin was also built by Trinity Yachts.

Tsumat is registered in U.S. records under Alfredo Chedraui, with his company Grupo Comercial Chedraui’s headquarters in Veracruz’s capital, Xalapa, as the address. Yet people close to Chedraui declined to confirm the owner’s identity. William Smith, spokesperson for Trinity Yachts, told me by email that the company’s policy “is not to comment on any potential or actual owners of our yachts.” Patricia Medina, Chedraui’s secretary in Veracruz, told me that her boss is out of the country and that she was not authorized to disclose any information. Tsumat’s leading interior designer, Ramón Alonso of Loguer Design with offices in Mexico and Miami, did not return emails or phone calls.

Ricardo Salinas Pliego (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Why the secrecy? “It most likely has to do with both taxes and privacy. Yachts are mostly owned through off-shore companies to avoid taxes or ownership duties,” an American expert on luxury yachts who requested not to be named told me.

Privacy is also an issue. Mexican owners of luxury yachts are controversial figures who typically run big corporations which often face labor disputes. By hiding their lavish yachting lifestyle, in a country where half of the population lives below the poverty line, owners may be trying to avoid a public opinion backlash caused by displaying further proof of economic inequality. The combined estimated value of the yachts owned by Mexicans is just shy of $600 million.

The following are the Mexicans who, according to superyachtfan.com, own luxury yachts:

Alfredo Chedraui Obeso, Tsumat‘s owner is a low-key businessman of Lebanese descent from the state of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico. As Chairman of Grupo Comercial Chedraui, he runs one of Mexico’s leading retailers. With brother Antonio and other family members, including son José Antonio Chedraui Eguía, Alfredo oversees the company founded by his immigrant grandparents in 1920. In 2013, Forbes Mexico estimated Alfredo Chedraui’s net worth at $931 million, and Antonio’s at $656 million.

Emilio Azcárraga Jean, chief executive of Grupo Televisa, Mexico’s television monopoly, owns the yacht “TV“, a 259.84 foot vessel built by Lürssen Yachts in 2008. Azcárraga is reportedly trying to sell “TV” for $180 million. Yachts are part of the Azcárraga family. The luxury yacht Eco, owned by his late father Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, was sold by son Emilio after Azcárraga Milmo died in 1997. With a net worth estimated by Forbes at $3 billion, Emilio Azcárraga Jean ranks # 555 richest in the world.

Alberto Bailleres owns Grupo Bal, a holding company which controls Industrias Peñoles, the second biggest Mexican mining company and the largest silver producer, as well as El Palacio de Hierro, a department store chain. Bailleres’s Mayan Queen is a 301.84 foot yacht built by Blohm & Voss in 2008, which is reported to have cost $140 million. With a net worth estimated by Forbes at $11.3 billion, Bailleres is Mexico’s third richest person.

Ricardo Salinas Pliego owns retail, banking and Mexico’s second largest TV network, TV Azteca. His luxury super yacht, “Azteca,” is a 236.22 footer built in 2009 by CRN Spa with an estimated built value of $80 million. With a net worth estimated by Forbes at $7.4 billion, Salinas ranks # 177 richest in the world.

Carlos Peralta Quintero, Chairman and CEO of Grupo IUSA, was listed by CNNExpansión among Mexico’s 100 top businessmen in 2013. In 2012, Peralta sold Princess Mariana, a 250 foot yacht built by Fraser Yachts. The asking price was $180 million. Peralta currently owns Moon Goddess, a $7 million 115 foot chase boat. In the 1990s, Peralta said he gave Raúl Salinas de Gortari, the former President’s brother who became a symbol of Mexico’s corruption and impunity, $50 million, no receipts given and no questions asked. The funds ended up in a secret Swiss bank account.

Twitter: @DoliaEstevez

 Hilario Ramírez Villanueva, the controversial mayor of San Blas city, in the northwestern Mexican State of Nayarit, went beyond the giving of chocolate eggs over the Easter weekend — instead giving away four cars during a festival that began on Thursday, April 2, and finished on Saturday. Ramírez is yet to comment on how the cars were paid for.

The festival, organized by local authorities, consisted of dancing and singing competitions, with the winners of the vehicles decided by those who got the loudest round of applause.

“This is one of the four cars that we will give away, as a municipality, for tourism, for singing and dancing. We do it gladly to promote our beautiful town,” the mayor said while unveiling the first car before the festival began.

The unorthodox prize-giving isn’t the first eccentricity of Mayor Ramírez. Last February, he celebrated his 44th birthday by throwing a US$1 million public party, where he danced provocatively onstage with an underage girl.

During his campaign for reelection in 2014, he also confessed to stealing “only a little” from the municipality.

Reputation Management

As festival proceedings kicked off, Ramírez thanked State Governor Roberto Sandoval Castañeda for his support and for donating one of the four cars.

“I called the governor to support us with a car and he did it right away,” said Ramírez, also known by his nickname “Layin.”

Regarding the purchase of the rest of the cars, the mayor claimed that it was “a minimal investment compared to the economic benefits and the world’s perception [of San Blas] generated by this competition”.

Ramírez claimed that local hotel occupancy was at 100 percent, and that the festival would reactivate the whole economy of the city of San Blas.

During a promotional video posted on Facebook, Ramírez boasted that no other city in the country gave away cars in the same way as San Blas, and said that the city’s generosity was boosting its reputation around the world.

In a second video, the mayor is shown driving one of the cars and greeting “the people of San Blas and the people that visit us from the entire world.”

Prior to the event, Ramírez meanwhile did his best to drum up local attendees, visiting nearby cities and on one occasion dancing on a plastic tabletop to the amusement of locals.

The winners of the contest were dancers Pedro Gonzalez Gomez and Claudia Carrillo Gonzalez, and the singer Gerardo Aguilar Macias. The winner of the remaining car is yet to be revealed.

Robin Hood Defense

Ramírez’s previous exploits include giving away tablets for children, providing the money for a child that needed an organ transplant, and throwing bundles of money to the audience while riding a US$250,000 thoroughbred horse into an official engagement in 2008.

His birthday party in February for 25,000 people similarly attracted criticism, for spending the same amount as the entire annual municipal budget for security (MEX $15.9 million). He claimed that “almost everything” had been paid for by his friends, as the municipality was “broke.”

Nevertheless, Ramírez is mostly known for having admitted publicly that he has stolen from the municipality only “a little,” defending himself on the grounds that he redistributed funds to “his poor compañeros.”

“I like money, just as you do, and like everyone does, but I love working. Did I steal from the presidency [municipality]? Yes I stole, yes I stole a little, because it is really poor,” said the mayor in 2014, who first took office in 2008 with 40.32 percent of the city’s vote

If you have a fear of bunnies, look away—this one is colossal. Actually, there are two this huge.

Darius is a Continental Giant rabbit who weighs in at roughly 50 pounds, and measures four feet, four inches in length. This year, his son Jeff is giving him a run for his bunny money at the world record title for largest rabbit. Jeff, who still has at least 6 months of growing left to do, is just under four feet long.

The giant animals belong to Annette Edwards, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, in the U.K. The 63-year-old woman spends about $5,500 feeding them each year. If you think that's an astonishing price tag, consider this: Jeff and Darius eat 2,000 carrots and 700 apples yearly, as well as a dog-bowl-size serving of specialized rabbit food daily, and a bale of hay each week. Despite their hearty appetites, Edwards says her pets are "totally chill."

They sleep in her garden in crates meant for large dogs and love attention from children. But these two aren't the only pets in Edwards's family.

She also owns Sally, another Continental Giant and Jeff's mom, as well as a boxer dog named Kay (who became best friends with Jeff). She expects the youngest rabbit to outgrow his father very soon, explaining that "Darius was always big, but Jeff is huge considering he's still a baby."

PUERTO VALLARTA, JALISCO.- The Breast Milk opened four months ago, but it hardly has enough milk to feed one third of hospitalized infants in Mother and Child Hospital, in need to be fed. Up to this moment, it has only has15 donors.

The Bank, located in Guadalajara’s Mother and Child "Esperanza López Mateos" Hospital, attends premature and underweight babies. The 15 volunteers donate a portion of their milk, as many times as they wish, or whenever they decide to do so. To be a donor, both, mother and their babies, have to be in good health and at home.

There is also another group of 50 women, who are also donors, but they their babies are hospitalized and whatever milk they generate is mostly for their own babies. They can only donate if and when they have a surplus.

Despite these contributions, there is a deficit of breast milk for 70% of hospitalized infants. The bank gets just enough milk to feed 30 % of the babies; the other 70 % is fed with formula, in spite of their vulnerable conditions.

"The 30% of the premature and underweight babies that are fed with donated milk are babies that have been in the hospital for a long period of time. It is expected that by feeding them with nutritious breast milk, their stayed at the hospital could be reduced. “It is necessary to promote and to create a culture of breast milk donation", commented Jorge Castro Albarrán, Manager of the milk bank. Adding that, sometimes mothers just throw their milk away, when they could very well donate it. "We intend to reach all these mothers so that with their help we fulfill our goal of feeding 100% of the babies who are hospitalized."

According to Castro Albarran, a healthy nursing mother usually generates more milk than what her baby needs. He also wants everyone to know that the milk that is donated is analyzed to determine if it is feasible to be administered to a newborn, and that it is pasteurized.

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Carmen Aristegui has urged MVS Radio to reinstate her and her colleagues dismissed last week after a row over their support for a platform aimed at uncovering public sector corruption. Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

Carmen Aristegui urges MVS Radio to reinstate her after she was dismissed after helping uncover scandal that embarrassed Enrique Peña Nieto

A Mexican journalist fired from her popular radio show after helping uncover a conflict of interest scandal that embarrassed Enrique Peña Nieto, the Mexican president, has said that she believes his office backed her dismissal

Speaking to a packed room of reporters, Carmen Aristegui urged her former employer, MVS Radio, to reinstate her and her colleagues dismissed last week after a row over their support for a platform aimed at uncovering public sector corruption.

This week, the interior ministry urged MVS and Aristegui, a prominent government critic, to resolve their differences. But when asked if she believed her dismissal had been orchestrated by Peña Nieto’s office, Aristegui on Thursday said: “It looks that way because I can’t imagine something of this magnitude without at least some kind of consent from the highest presidential power.”

Last year, Aristegui’s investigative team at MVS revealed Peña Nieto and his wife had bought or used homes owned by a major government contractor, sparking a series of other revelations that have embarrassed his government.

The president has said he acted properly and broke no laws.

Speaking about an hour after Aristegui, an MVS Radio spokesman, Felipe Chao, told reporters she would not be reinstated. “Our relationship has ended. We wish you well,” he said, referring to Aristegui.

MVS Radio last week fired two members of her team on the grounds they had backed new online news platform Mexicoleaks in the name of the company without prior authorisation.

Aristegui demanded the two journalists be reinstated, sparking a standoff with MVS, which culminated with her dismissal from the radio station on Sunday.

Critics of Peña Nieto leapt on Aristegui’s removal as evidence that the president was cracking down on a dissenting voice in a country where politicians enjoy considerable impunity and are rarely subject to serious scrutiny from much of the mainstream media.

“We want to return to broadcasting so that we can continue producing journalism and continue providing a service to Mexican society,” Aristegui said.

'It was in its mouth for ages, not moving at all': Tourists horrified as crocodile snatches local shop owner's pet dog from a marina and calmly swims around with it for HOURS.

A local bike shop owner's dog was snatched by a crocodile. The crocodile was swimming through Puerto Vallarta marina, in Mexico  New Zealander Tim Weston was on holiday and saw the bizarre sight. A video of the dog in the croc's jaws has been viewed half a million times

A video of a menacing crocodile swimming through a public marina with a dead pet dog locked in between its jaws has been viewed more than half a million times online.

The clip shows a large croc calmly moving through the marina in the tourist hotspot of Puerto Vallarta, in Mexico, with a black dog wearing a red collar lifeless in its mouth. 

New Zealander Tim Weston was on holiday in Puerto Vallarta with his wife when the attack happened and described how 'the crocodile kept the dog in its mouth for ages, not moving at all'. 

Mr Weston told Daily Mail Australia the dog belonged to the local bike shop's owner.

'There's a sanctuary for these crocodiles up the river (200m away) which runs out to the sea and the marina,' Mr Weston explained.

'The dog went to the water's edge to see the crocodile (being curious I guess) but things didn't go according to plan obviously.

'It was certainly a shock to the system. Guess that's nature though,' he said.

In the video the beast glides through the water, with rocks on one side and a footpath on the other, as crowds gasp in amazement. 

Mr Weston said: 'A couple of hours later we walked back past and there was still a crowd... But we didn't want to look at it again as we had just eaten. Yesterday morning there was no sign of either.' 

Social media users have reacted in horror to the video that was posted on the Bogged Facebook page. 

One woman called the video 'horrible' and another said 'I hate crocodiles now'. 

But crocodiles are a common site in Puerto Vallarta as the Mexican beach resort is built amongst the mangroves that the creatures have called home for centuries.

As well as living in the nearby sanctuary, crocs are regularly spotted on the resort's golf course.

In Mexico the 'American Crocodiles' can reach lengths of 6 meters and as a result of urbanisation are living closer to humans than ever before.

PHOTO GALLERY

PUERTO VALLARTA. -  The State’s Attorney General  reinforced security operations on Holy Week, with the purpose of offering greater attention and security to thousands of tourists visiting our State, informed Attorney General Edgar Veytia."
 
More than 100 police from Nayarit’s division, bike patrols and an ambulance which also has a quad bike when needed, were available to provide the best effective and timely care and safety that all vacationers deserve for their peace of mind.

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