Gil Gevins and Lucy's Cucu Cabaña in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Gil Gevins is an author and Co-Owner of Lucy's Cucu Cabaña, in Puerto Vallarta, a Shop Specializing in Mexican Folk Art. Much of Their Inventory is from Remote Villages Throughout Mexico.
Gil tells us about life in Mexico, his love of writing books, and Lucy's Cucu Cabaña. Also a Fundraiser for Corazón de Nina and the Guadalajara to Vallarta highway is coming closer to completion. Listen to the Podcast.
Tips For The Puerto Vallarta Airport
Okay, so now we are all packed. We know what to bring. Passports, pack light, think cool, review what to do about money and your cell phone and internet needs in episode 2. Now you have arrived at the airport. What happens next?
After getting off the plane you will follow the signage to the immigration line. Depending on how many planes arrive at the same time, the longer the line of course. You will need the immigration card the flight attendant had you fill out, and you have it entirely filled out, even on the bottom where you didn’t notice you needed to fill out but need to anyway, and your passport.
By the way, I got an email from Brett from Seattle Washington who reminded me about a tip regarding filling out those immigration forms that we talks about in show 2 and 3. You know, the one you get from the flight attendant before you touch down in Puerto Vallarta, they are called FMM’s which stands for Forma Migratoria Multiple. Anyway, he says in his note…Barry, Listening to your second podcast and noticed you didn’t mention that you can complete the FMM online. It’s so much easier, and you don’t have to worry about a pen and writing small enough to get everything in the tiny boxes. When printed, fold it several times so they can separate the ‘top’ part from the ‘bottom’ like the pre-printed ones. I occasionally have to tell them it’s ‘nuevo – en linea’. Big time saver! Here’s the site: … there’s an ‘ES’ and an ‘EN’ button you can click for Spanish or English.
Links to Download the FFM
It’s at this point where the immigration person after looking you up and down and checking your mug against the mug in the passport photo, maybe even asking you a question or two, will stamp your passport. You will be waived on through another long walkway to a place with luggage carousels, money exchange windows and even places where you can buy cigarettes and booze. There is also a veterinary room where you check in with Fido or Tigger. After you collect your luggage you will be asked to proceed to the customs lines where you will work your way up to the front where you will hand over your declaration card and you will be asked to press a button. If you are lucky, most people are, you will get a green light and will proceed to the next part of your journey. If you get a red light, you will be asked to proceed straight ahead of you to some tables with customs agents where they will ask you to open your bags for inspection. I have, in the many, many times I have been here over the last 33 years never been asked to open my bags. Not once. Call me lucky, but that has been my personal experience.
Now. This is the moment you have all been waiting for. This is it ladies and gentlemen. If you listen to all of my podcasts and get absolutely no information from any of them, this is the part that you must listen to. After you escape the customs room you will go through some glass sliding doors and you will find yourselves in a place, nicknamed in a most loving terms of endearment, The Shark Tank. You will be walking through a corridor where on either side counters and tables and very official looking people nicely dressed, some in uniforms will try to be getting your attention. They will ask you if you need a taxi. They will say to you that they will arrange a taxi for you. They will ask you where you are staying and try to strike up a conversation with you. They will attempt to offer you things. Do Not Stop. Do not Engage These People. They are attractive, they are smiling big white toothy smiles. They look so harmless…they want to help me with my trip? They want to help me with a ride. DONT STOP!
They are there to sell you a timeshare. They are there to rob you of your greatest commodity. Your time. Time is precious Folks, and your vacation time is sacred. Don’t let these sharks rob you of one single moment of your hard earned vacation. Please, push through. Smile and say no thank you. Tell them you already have a condo, tell them you are not interested and walk on by............
La Troza Beach Resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
An interview with Sofia Boettner, Marketing Director of Grupo La Palapa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We talk about the amazing Luxury Private Beach Resort, La Troza. We also talk about La Palapa, the Vista Grill and El Dorado Restaurants.
Also the 12 Day Celebration and Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the history behind the Holiday....
This week, I have a special guest, Sofia Boettner, with Group La Palapa will be talking about their beautiful property, La Troza, south of Puerto Vallarta, actually just north of Playa Las Animas, but before we get to that conversation, let’s see what’s happening in Puerto Vallarta this week, November 29, 2017.
Last week I promised you I would talk about the Pilgrimage, the 12-day pilgrimage of our Lady de Guadalupe. The one that is going to be celebrated in Puerto Vallarta for 13 days this. Well, in Puerto Vallarta, there is this beautiful church and it serves as an icon. It is part and parcel of the landscape and the center of all the tourist brochures, everyone wants a picture of the church, the Iglesias de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. And because of its name, and dedication to the Lady of Guadalupe, it has been one of the places in Mexico, besides the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where the faithful make the pilgrimage to honor this occasion, this event that changed Mexico, and entwined Mexico with the Catholic Church.
I want to tell you about the history of the church in Puerto Vallarta, the Iglesias de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, but before that, let me give you a little history and let me tell you the story of the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the story of Juan Diego.
Just keep in mind that 10 years earlier, Hernando Cortez had just conquered Mexico City and just defeated Montezuma.
And in 1523 Franciscan missionaries came ‘a evangelizing the Indian people who were living there. And, they were really good at it too and an Archdiocese of Mexico City was established in 1528.
Now Juan Diego and many of his family members were among the early native Indian converts to Catholicism.
He was baptized Juan Diego. He was given that name by the church. His name was some other Indian name that I cannot pronounce it I'm not even going to try it....go to puertovallartatravelshow.com for the complete transcript.