Welcome Spring!

Happy Easter! It certainly seems like is going to be a gorgeous weekend, perfect for Easter egg hunt, family gathering, special meals, and fun activities. My husband and I went to visit Stanley Park today. I do enjoy photography so as soon as cherry trees and tulips blossom I am ready to go outdoors.

Stanley Park is the place to be for families with young children. There are many fun activities anyone can enjoy:

• Vancouver Aquarium that is now featuring a special exhibit on Sharks & Rays: March 15th to April 1st open from 9:30am to 6pm
• Miniature Train ride: March 23rd to April 1st open from 10am to 5pm
• Easter Egg Hunt, crafts and visit from the Easter Bunny by the train station
• Playgrounds and water parks
• Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours: March 7th to October 31st from 9:40am to 5pm
• Pitch and Putt Green open October 9th to March 31st open from 9am to 4pm 
• Picnics and walks along the seawall

My favourite activity is to take pictures of flowers. Although still to early for the rose garden to blossom, there were some interesting flowers to look at. Here's a sample:

Cherry Blossom in West End

Tulips garden outside a West End apartment building

Beautiful image of a mom and daughter enjoying a quiet moment at Lost Lagoon by Stanley Park

Stanley Park rose garden

If you happen to know the name of the flowers please leave your comments. Have a great weekend!!

Why new Pope brings no hope for Catholics and non-Catholics

During the last couple of weeks news about the Conclave and election of a new Pope have been a main topic in international media, including Canada. There was a strong Canadian contestant but in the end the Cardinals decided to pick Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Some sources allege that he came second in the last election. He immediately adopted Francis as his name as homage to the poor. Since his election he has shown a simple and humble image trying to break away from the decadence that has long existed among the Catholic Church high ranking officials.

Notre Dame, Paris by Veronica Rivas

As a Mexican I was raised catholic however it’s been more than 20 years since I distanced myself from the Catholic Church. As I grew up and starting asking questions I found the institution was too rigid and failed to engage with young people. As I read more and attended a public liberal university I realized how shockingly different my point of view and opinions were from those of the Church I was raised in. As an adult I kept my Christian beliefs but I am definitely not a practicing Catholic.

I am sure at this point you are wondering what the point of sharing these thoughts is. I believe non-Catholics are wondering why this election matters and what does it means? Catholics on the other hand, for the most part are happy to see “fresh” blood, and finally a representative from the most prominent Catholic region in the world: Latin America. 

I think it is extremely important to talk about these developments because of the influence the Pope has on billions of people across the globe. Whether we want it or not he will be “guiding” followers, interacting with other spiritual leaders and trying to exercise his influence on governments. So it is worth analyzing what are the implications of his election.

To me it was no surprise a Latin American cardinal was picked. After all, this region of the world has the largest concentration of Catholics, although according to a recent article by Time World, numbers are decreasing at alarming rates. Humility and rejection of opulence seems to how the new Pope wants to differentiate himself from other Popes. However, if Francis has made a statement about the importance of carrying for the less fortunate among society, without a doubt it does not apply to all the marginalized people. In other words as long as you are gay, lesbian, transsexual, bisexual, transgender, pro-choice supporter, or pro birth control you will not be welcomed. Also not open to discussion is the matter of priesthood celibacy or inclusion of female priests. For now I will leave aside the situation of victims of sexual assaults by priests and the lack of response and accountability to bring them to justice.

A few years back when Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage, Francis, then Buenos Aires Cardinal, was not only against it but even made hateful remarks about gay unions describing them as “a scheme to destroy God’s plan”. When it comes to women’s health it is no surprise he is against abortion (under any circumstance) and against birth control. In addition, there seems to be a cloud of mystery regarding the Church’s actions or lack of them during the dictatorial regime in the 1970s.

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona by Veronica Rivas

Looking at his own history, Francis has made more strong statements and taken a public stand against gays, pro-choice and pro birth control people than the right-wing military regime suspected of torturing and killing some 30,000 Argentinians. As a matter of fact, if he was against the regime he never mentioned it,at least not in public.

I find his comments and pronouncements against certain social groups may even contribute to marginalize, stigmatize, and endanger those individuals. Let me explain that in Latin America society, particularly in smaller cities and rural communities, society is quite conservative. Acts of violence or discrimination against gays are not uncommon. Women still face difficult barriers to access proper education, sexual health, work opportunities, and economic independence. Gender equality still very much a utopia.

When it comes to access to sexual education and dealing with unwanted pregnancies Time World mentions that “according to Human Rights Watch, 40% of all pregnancies in Argentina end in illegal abortions. Some Latin American countries, especially in Central America, suffer maternal mortality rates 20 times higher than Western Europe’s.”

In Latin America women victims of rape, incest or whose pregnancies endanger their life or the fetuses’ are not allowed to abort in 6 countries, in the rest of the region they face a kafkaesque  process, red-tape, and public humiliation before they can obtain an authorization. Government officials quite often delay the process so the window of opportunity to legally abort (before the 12^th gestational week) is passed before a decision is made preventing the abortion.

Recent reports about gang rapes, honour and spousal killings of women show a pandemic of gender related violent acts.This is the time to educate, empower, support, and provide opportunities for women in poverty and situations of disadvantage. They are often not provided with sexual education, access to birth control methods and have little or no option to decide about their pregnancies.

We have to recognize that for many reasons those who are against gay and womens rights are also against equality and inclusion. How can a Pope lead billions of people promoting outdated, hateful and discriminatory views to the upcoming decade?

I believe church should adapt and morph as any living organism to the social, technological and economical changes in the society. An institution out of touch with the needs and dynamics of new generations is no longer a place that embraces the idea of an inclusive society. After all isn’t the core of Western civilization to become a society of equal opportunities and respect of basic human rights?

Statue at a church in Paris by Veronica Rivas

Pope Francis, as a Canadian citizen I embrace the values of this country. I believe anyone should be allowed to get married and have a family, and women should have the right to decide about their sexuality and bodies. You represent little to no hope when it comes to promoting change.

Why having a hobby is no longer a low-tech activity

I must confess, I am a big fan of gadgets and technology. I am always finding ways to incorporate my smartphone, tablet, computer and of course, online activity into my hobbies. In most cases the relationship between a hobby and technology is pretty obvious such as photography or video games. Other cases, such as growing your own vegetables or composting, are not high-tech but rather hands-on, kind-of-messy activities.

In the past, as unusual as it may sounds, I have learned about technology and social media more by helping people not so techno-savvy. Technology should be thought of as a way to simplify things. In this case it's interesting how my Mom and Dad, not very comfortable with technology and social media can find a way to enjoy new or old hobbies and share them. Starting this year everyone at home (mom, dad, 2 brothers and me) have been using tablets. It has been remarkable seeing my parents learning how to use them to get tin touch with me and their grandchildren that live away. They also keep track of friends and family on Facebook, read emails, and keep up with the news.

However in recent weeks, since I introduced my mom to Pinterest she has taken social media sharing to a whole new level. She found others who enjoy doing the same hobbies she loves and she's now excited to learn new crafts, recipes, DIY projects and other activities. She has found groups of people passionate about cooking and other activities she does and has found a channel to share her creations through photo or video. Ultimately technology is meant to empower us to do more or to be more practical. Social Media give us the opportunity to have a voice and to connect with others regardless the topic, language or culture.

In my case, when it comes to growing vegetables and composting I have also found ways to use technology. For example, I found an App that helps me keep track of my harvest. I enter the type of vegetable and date it was planted and then it tells me what's the proper water and feeding schedule and when I should harvest it. I also like to share the progress of my garden through social media and look for articles and information about gardening and sustainability programs or initiatives in my city and neighbourhood.

Forums, blogs and social media are great places to find other like-minded people that enjoy sharing and providing support to others. I post photos of my garden on Facebook and Instagramusing my cell when I am working on it. I use apps to find compost facilities or find out where to buy worms.     

Technology has changed the way we interact, share, and obtain information. Suddenly we are now able to share with others, sometimes across the world, those fun activities we enjoy doing. This world becomes a bit smaller when we find out that others just like us are also excited about those little things that fill our Sunday evenings.

By all means let's keep sharing our hobbies and use technology to assist us with information, improving our methods and help us find others that also enjoy our pastimes. Life is much more fun when we have hobbies!

Gala Vallarta Newsletter

A recent article I wrote for Mexi-Go! was distributed through their newsletter about my recent trip to Puerto Vallarta hosted by the destination's marketing office:

Mexi-Go! was recently invited to cover the 27th edition of Gala Vallarta 2013, an international trade show for wholesalers, DMCs, airlines, and hotels. Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta invited the most important players in the industry to generate more business for both destinations. Primary Canadian tour operators and wholesalers were among the attendants this year, such as iTravel2000, Westjet Vacations, Sunwing Vacations, Transat Tours Canada, and Thomas Cook North America.

Canada remains a key market for both destinations which are looking to diversify their travel products in order to reach a wider audience. Leading Puerto Vallarta’s OCV we found a familiar face, Guillermo Ohem. Guillermo was once Regional Director for the Mexico Tourism Board in Canada. Since he moved from Toronto to Puerto Vallarta, Guillermo has worked on a marketing and promotional plan for Puerto Vallarta’s diverse products. Since Puerto Vallarta started getting ready for Tianguis Turistico 2012 until today, there have been major improvements in infrastructure and openings of resort properties. Some of the highlights Guillermo shared with us:

• Puerto Vallarta added 890 hotel rooms in 2012 for a total of 23,000


• Hotel options available in Puerto Vallarta range from special category, all-inclusive,boutique hotels to budget


• Puerto Vallarta's seawall or Malecon underwent a major redesign project making it a pedestrian oceanfront corridor featuring restaurants, night clubs, shopping, bars and galleries


• It is one of a few destinations in the world where the Convention Centre is 5 minutes away from the airport and 5 minutes away from an array of hotel options


• Puerto Vallarta has been promoted actively among the MTI industry


• There’s a brand new Playa Los Muertos Pier that has become the new must-visit attraction
 

Vallarta's new pier

 

It was great to hear Guillermo excited about Canadian tourism. Western Canada is the fastest growing Canadian market, and Alberta is leading the way followed by British Columbia. Through the years, Puerto Vallarta progressively became a leader among Mexican destinations for its Medical Tourism.

 Madeline Milne from Mexi-Go! with Rodrigo Esponda from Mexico Tourism Board

Guillermo Ohem

When it comes to medical tourism according to Guillermo, Vallarta has some key competitive advantages over other destinations such as new state-of-the-art hospitals, bilingual personnel, high standards in customer service, connectivity, and competitive prices. For many years travellers from the US have gone to Puerto Vallarta for medical treatments; Canadians are now catching up with cosmetic and dental procedures.

Vallarta has a Secret
While attending Gala Vallarta we were invited to stay at Secrets Vallarta Bay Resorts & Spas from AM Resorts. This property was opened in March last year just in time for Tianguis. Although I had the opportunity to visit other AM properties in Cancun and Riviera Maya, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of service, the amenities and the fact that this property did not feel like a factory-run hotel. I thought service was personalized and efficient, public areas were never crowded, and the quality of the food was outstanding. Secrets is an adults only resort that shares its facilities with Now Amber Puerto Vallarta, where families are welcomed. Altogether they offer 668 rooms, 10 bars, 12 restaurants, and 3 pools. Unlimited luxury includes 5 a la carte restaurant options, 24 hour room service, numerous beach and pool activities, free local phone calls, Wi-Fi, an Apple and Android App to make free phone calls to Canada and the US, gratuities, theme nights, nature tours, and much more. Although room service menu is somewhat limited, restaurant options include Japanese, Mexican, seafood, grill, Italian, and French cuisine. Suites are decorated and furnished in modern style; they are oceanfront and roomy. Secrets and Now have an inviting and laid-back shared terrace with spectacular sunset views that turns into a rather mellow place-to-be for social nights. Unlimited drinks and live music set the tone. Secrets and Now are located 5 to 10 minutes away from downtown and 10 minutes from the airport. Guests have plenty of shopping, entertainment and dining options nearby, within walking distance. Secrets and Now work with all major Canadian TOs including Sunwing Vacations, Westjet Vacations, Air Canada Vacations, and Transat Holidays.

Old and New
During our visit we also had the opportunity to tour Velas Vallarta, Casa Velas Vallarta, and GarzaBlanca Preserve Resort & Spa; properties particularly popular among Mexican travelers. Velas Vallarta is located by Marina Vallarta. It is an all-inclusive property that has been around for over 20 years. The Hotel is well-kept but it certainly shows an older design and architectural style. This property is popular for weddings, meetings and conventions as it offers event space for up to 1,250 people. Casa Velas is located just minutes away from Velas Vallarta. It is a hacienda style property with only 80 luxury suites overlooking Marina Vallarta Golf Club. This property offers its guests exclusive access to a private Ocean Club. This is a luxury property popular among Mexican business and relaxed travellers. Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa, on the other hand, is located by Mismaloya beach south of Puerto Vallarta. Its location makes it a more secluded property with private beach. This resort is listed in a Special Category and offers both all-inclusive and European plans. Suites include apartment-living amenities such as a full kitchen, dining room, and in-suite laundry. Lobby, suites, swimming pool and restaurants have a breathtaking view of Los Arcos islands. This is a perfect honeymoon and wedding option for a relaxed and secluded vacation. It is remarkable that in only two years they have hosted over 40 weddings.

Although most of their guests are from Mexico and the US they have plans to promote themselves in Canada.

What makes Puerto Vallarta special?
Puerto Vallarta has been able to keep its Mexican, town-like atmosphere through the years despite its popularity among international travellers. It is located in the state of Jalisco, on the footsteps of the Sierra Madre overlooking Banderas Bay, which is the biggest bay in Mexico and the second largest in the world. The Spaniards first made contact with native inhabitants in 1525 but it wasn’t until 1851 that the city was founded by Mexico's independent government with the name of Las Penas. Vallarta has welcomed visitors since the 60s. I think two key factors that make Puerto Vallarta special are the hospitality of its people with generations of experience in welcoming tourism, and some of the most magnificent sunsets in the world.

Vallarta by no means is a new destination but it has been able to reinvent itself without losing its personality and vitality as a livable city and tourist destination. We can’t wait to report what other news Puerto Vallarta will be announcing soon for you and your clients.