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Bucerias Life in The Slow Lane https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/ Follow Daily Living in Bucerias, Mexico. Sun, 05 May 2024 20:14:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 170486354 Up and Coming – Community Events https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/up-and-coming-community-events/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=up-and-coming-community-events https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/up-and-coming-community-events/#respond Sun, 05 May 2024 20:14:16 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=9639 The annual gastronomical celebration, where to celebrate Mother's Day, and,
hold onto your hats, the Wind Festival is coming right up!

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On the cusp of a change in pace, we wish you all a wonderful “low-season,” whether you’re near or far.

***

…on a weekly basis…

Bucerias Farmer’s Marketnote: this market will recommence in November – Wednesdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm in the La Comer parking lot. The market offers many booths with a wide variety of hand made items, paintings, clothing and hand bags, leather goods, jewelry, hand rolled cigars, and plenty of food and drink options – come to experience the market and stay for lunch!

Bucerias Art Walknote: this event will recommence in November – Thursdays along Lazaro Cardenas and trickles down some side streets, between 6:00pm and 9:00pm. There’s a nice array of participating businesses; galleries, restaurants and shops. Some locations offer free tastings. You’re also likely to see some lively street performers for your entertainment pleasure. The Art Walk has a great vibe – be sure to add it to your weekly plans.

The Sunday Market “Under the Bridge” is held every Sunday throughout the year. Get yourself to the arroyo at Hwy 200 and you can’t miss it. With a genuine local feel, it’s always bustling with activity. Enjoy the aroma of food booths, browse the wares, buy kitchen gadgets, and, well, the kitchen sink, too! Immerse yourself in the merchant’s goods and try your Spanish!

***

May 15 – June10 – Restaurant Week – One of Our Favourite Events, and Luckily, it Lasts More Than a Week!

In Bucerias, visit Bistro Cobojo, Meet Meat, Mikoh and Sandrina’s, but don’t limit yourself to our town…see participating venues by clicking on the link.

Buen Provecho!

restaurantweekpv.com

***

May 12 – Fundraiser for Salty Dog Rescue – Mother’s Day Sip and Dip at Los Arroyos Verdes

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May 17 to 19 – Annual Wind Festival on the Beach in Bucerias, and Across the Entire Bay!

Bring your chairs and umbrella and watch as the competitions unfold.

***

Remember to send us your event information to include here.

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Early Morning Musings https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/early-morning-musings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=early-morning-musings https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/early-morning-musings/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:38:20 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=11732 Mutterings, Musings...Dennis describes what's on his mind.

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Isidro Miranda, aka Isi the Coffee Man!

After a cup of Isi’s dark roast INTENSO coffee, early morning mutterings ease into early morning musings. Kind of like the fine tuning dial on an old TV. Starting to get some focus.

Santa Semana is upon us. Pretty interesting timing this year. Many of our winter friends leave the end of March. Winterbirds as the locals refer to them. In any event it is always a sad week, as we say goodbye to a lot of friends we won’t see until next winter season. As that group of folks make their way to destinations north, a new group are making their way to our town to celebrate the two weeks of Easter. Quite likely the busiest two weeks of the year in Bucerias. Banderas News claims Puerto Vallarta will have some 157,000 visitors for Santa Semana, while the rest of the bay will receive 90,000 additional visitors.

The Guadalajara-Puerto Vallarta highway is open. A Facebook post stated someone travelled from the Zapopan exit in Guadalajara to Bucerias in exactly 2.5 hours. With the Santa Semana traffic, we probably won’t notice any change in local traffic. As we get further into April, will we see any change in traffic passing through Bucerias on Highway 200? Will the heavy truck traffic now bypass Bucerias? I think I count 8 intersections controlled by traffic lights passing through Bucerias as far as Lago Real in Nuevo. I suppose it will depend on the cost of the tolls versus the inconvenience of red lights. I gave up predicting years ago, so will be watching how things develop.

For some months now, there has been some focus and a greater recognition on the east side of Bucerias. East of Highway 200 to be exact. Some refer to that side of town as the upper east side. Without question it is changing. More food choices, quieter environment. I recall a conversation with Ezekiel of Culi’s and Beer and Tacos, and Fernando of Buclas Brewery. They have chosen to locate their businesses on the east side. Their point was “we don’t have the beach to attract customers. We must provide a better product and better service to entice people to make the effort to cross the highway to the east side”.

My wife Kelly and I play this little game. We call it the Culi’s Corner Crawl. We put 5 names in the hat.

Buclas Brewery, la Glorieta de Enrique, Buci Burguer, Culi’s, and Tacos and Beer.

We draw three names. The first two are cocktail stops, and the third is dinner. Last time it was flight of beers at Buclas. I was somewhat concerned when one of the drafts selected by my wife was called “Psycho.” Anyway it turned out ok. Next Culi’s for one of their margaritas. Finally dinner at Tacos and Beer. Great outing. Highly recommended game. Impossible to lose!

Think I am ready for another cup of Isi’s coffee…

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International Women’s Day – Gloria Tellez Benavides https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/international-womens-day-gloria-tellez-benavida/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=international-womens-day-gloria-tellez-benavida Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:13:53 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=11571 Gloria Tellez Benavides, a local businesswoman and humanitarian, shares her thoughts on the values of International Women's Day.
Gracias, Gloria!

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For our final article in our International Women’s Day series, we end with thoughtful words from Gloria Tellez Benavides.

I have always admired Gloria for her neverending compassion for the citizens of Bucerias and surrounding areas. Along with being a wife, mother, sister and daughter, she is also a savvy businesswomen and fierce fundraiser through her role as Director of the John Ozzello Memorial Food Bank and Humanitarian Aid.

We thank you, Gloria, for sharing your thoughts with our readers, and for your immeasurable community altruism.

***

Being a female business owner/operator in Mexico can be daunting due to the machismo attitude that prevails here. I’d like to think that the tenacity I bring to my businesses, as well as the charity that I direct, encourages new generations of women to dream big and know that anything is possible…whether those possibilities are in business, politics or charities.

Women are already strong. It’s our successes that will change the way the world perceives that strength.

Taking over as director of the John Ozzello Memorial Food Bank and Humanitarian Aid since 2017 has been a humbling experience.  

***

Looking over the 10 values that guide the International Women’s Day, it is easy to apply them to my journey.

***

Justice – Providing food, we try to afford those with less the same equal rights as others.

Dignity – Our despensas are always distributed by caring volunteers considering the recipients have the right to be valued and receive ethical treatment.

Hope – We are always hoping and expecting that our contribution will be a leg up for people, trying to ensure it will be a road to a better life.

Equality – Everyone should have equal opportunities.  Nobody should have poorer life chances because of their background.

Collaboration – We could not make any of this happen without our volunteers and community support.

Tenacity – As suffragettes have tirelessly fought to make changes, we must keep fighting to make changes.  It’s together that we can make a difference.

Appreciation – Our volunteers are everything.  They make my job easier every day.

Respect – Respect for others and respect for self are an important part of obtaining equality.

Empathy – I am constantly reminded of the empathy of others who want to help make positive changes in our community.

Forgiveness – It is important to focus on moving forward.  Forgiving while encouraging awareness.

I am a firm believer that: Together we CAN and DO make a difference.

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International Women’s Day – Celebration for the Soul https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/international-womens-day-celebration-for-the-soul/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=international-womens-day-celebration-for-the-soul Thu, 07 Mar 2024 17:09:02 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=11572 Continuing with our International Women's Day series, local artist Cesar Medina shares a man's point of view.
Gracias, Cesar!

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Today, in recognition of International Women’s Day, we offer thoughts from our only male guest columnist in the series. Cesar Medina, a local musician and artist. He describes himself as “an information addict,” and as such, is well read. Check out Cesar’s website http://cesarmedina.com.mx or find him on Instagram www.instagram.com/cesarmedinaart

Thank you, Cesar, for allowing us to share your perspective. And, many thanks for supplying the Spanish version!

CELEBRATION IS REST FOR THE SOUL


As a man, when thinking about childbirth, I can’t help but tremble as I poorly imagine feeling such pain and being able to endure it like a woman. And women endure that and much more. In the prehistoric era, and for a few thousand years, tribal matriarchy was the norm, not the exception. And that feminine control emanated, mainly, from the ancient mystery of conception. Women were bosses, matriarchs, goddesses.


The man, perhaps spurred on by his weaknesses, managed to change history and maintain a patriarchy for another several thousand years in turn. And this is not over yet, despite the indomitable efforts of women to break the current system.


Personal or public anniversaries are considered individually in various ways. Some celebrate them, others suffer them, those others don’t even care. There are those who claim to hate their own birthday. The truth is that everyone has the right to live a special date as they see fit. Some even, as I myself hail, ask that on the day of our death our life be celebrated and not that our departure be suffered. I would appreciate a big farewell party.


As a free-thinking and independent human being, I have always decided to embrace progress, independence, and freedoms for all, and I emphasize ALL my fellow human beings. And of course, I feel happiness and joy for all women on their International Day, regardless of whether the origin of that date is painful or not.


Precisely, if the path has been difficult to achieve a goal, that does not mean we will have to save or maximize that pain. It is then time to celebrate. Every woman who celebrates the birth of her child forgets the nine months of anguish, of dizziness, of burden, of pain.


Celebrate women, regardless of the arduous path, celebrate every achievement, whether small or huge. Celebrate that here is a man who applauds you and who celebrates women’s civil and human progress.

***

LA CELEBRACIÓN ES DESCANSO PARA EL ALMA


Como hombre, al pensar en el parto, no puedo menos que temblar al pobremente imaginar sentir tal dolor y poder soportarlo como toda una mujer. Y las mujeres, soportan eso y mucho más. En la era prehistórica, y por algunos miles de años, el matriarcado tribal era la norma, no la excepción. Y ese control femenino emanaba, principalmente, del antiguo misterio de la concepción. Las mujeres eran jefas, matriarcas, diosas.


El hombre, tal vez azuzado por sus debilidades, se las ingenió para cambiar la historia y mantener un patriarcado por otros miles de años a su vez. Y éste, aún no ha terminado, a pesar del esfuerzo indomable de la mujer por romper el sistema actual.


Las efemérides personales o públicas son consideradas individualmente de diversas maneras. Algunos las celebran, otros las sufren, aquellos otros, ni siquiera les importa. Hay quienes afirman odiar su propio día de cumpleaños. Los cierto es que cada quién tiene el derecho de vivir una fecha especial como mejor le parezca. Algunos incluso, como yo mismo aclamo, pedimos que el día de nuestra muerte sea celebrada nuestra vida y no que sea sufrida nuestra partida. Yo agradecería una gran fiesta de despedida.


Como un ser humano libre pensador e independiente, he decidido siempre, abrazar el progreso, la independencia, y libertades de todos, y enfatizo TODOS mis semejantes. Y por supuesto, que siento felicidad y gozo por todas las mujeres en su Día Internacional, sin importar si el origen de esa fecha es doloroso o no.


Precisamente, si el camino ha sido penoso para lograr un objetivo, no por eso habremos de guardar o maximizar esa pena. Es entonces el momento para celebrar. Toda mujer que celebra el nacimiento de su hijo se olvida de los nueve meses de pesares y angustias, de mareos, de carga, de dolor.


Celebren mujeres, sin importar el arduo camino, celebren cada logro sea pequeño o enorme. Celebren que aquí hay un hombre que les aplaude y que celebra su avance civil y humano.

***

Just a small sample of Cesar’s beautiful art work.

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International Women’s Day – Women of Hope https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/international-womens-day-women-of-hope/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=international-womens-day-women-of-hope Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:51:21 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=11570 Second in our International Women's Day series is a message from Karen Swanson, Co-Founder of Refuge of Hope. Thank you, Karen, your work is so impactful.

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To help us honour the people around the world who are dedicated to supporting their community through selfless acts of kindness, our guest columnist, Karen Swanson, is exactly one of those exceptional women. She and her husband are changing the lives of Bucerias’ families for the better, every single day.

Thank you, Karen, for your passion and endless hope, and for allowing us to share your thoughts and exciting news.

Karen and her daughters.

Women of Hope

March 8. International Women’s Day. A day to celebrate and lift up women.

Refuge of Hope opened our doors on April 1 of 2021. Our first guests were four sweet little girls. Then two more. From the start, we knew we were being called to pour love and hope into those girls. To be their safe place. To teach them how to love themselves and how to dream of a future they had never seen or imagined.

Eventually the boys came and we loved them too, but the girls and their moms tugged at our hearts deeply. So many challenges and barriers. Poverty, violence, disease, addiction, lack of opportunity, abandonment. So much disappointment. But also resilience. Beauty. Laughter. It was still there, under the wounds.

It’s three years later and it’s time for us to open new doors. Hope Women’s Center is begging us to move from a dream to a reality. A place where women can join together in a safe community to learn skills and to nurture one another and to see themselves as the daughters of a King. To start businesses and support their families and refuse to accept unhealthy relationships ever again. To model independence and grace and strength to their daughters.

It’s time. Time to create another safe space where love will live and hope will grow. A place where families will be repaired and hearts will be healed.

We hope you will join us as we take this next big step of faith. Stay tuned!!

She wraps herself in strength, might, and power in all her works. She tastes and experiences a better substance, and her shining light will not be extinguished, no matter how dark the night. Bold power and glorious majesty are wrapped around her as she laughs with joy. Proverbs 31:17-18, 25 TPT‬‬

Refuge of Hope: http://refugeofhopebucerias.com

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International Women’s Day – Our Daughter https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/international-womens-day-our-daughter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=international-womens-day-our-daughter Wed, 06 Mar 2024 08:40:00 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=11573 Continuing with our series this week, we’d like to introduce our daughter, Dana Wilson. As you can imagine, it’s difficult

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Continuing with our series this week, we’d like to introduce our daughter, Dana Wilson. As you can imagine, it’s difficult to explain how proud we are of her accomplishments. Dana possesses a certain inner light, and exudes energy while keeping very busy as a wife, mother to our beautiful grandchildren, with a full-time work schedule (plus more) as a manager in public health. Somehow, Dana manages to squeeze three days out of every 24 hours. Thank you, Dana, we love you back.

International Women’s Day is a day when I am humbled and inspired by the bravery, dedication, and accomplishments of women throughout history and today that have made a difference in support of the rights of women and girls everywhere. I think of my mom and other mentors and role models throughout my life that I have learned from and who have encouraged me and I feel immense gratitude. 

This day also reminds me that there is more to do and that I have a role to play in the path forward. I have come to reflect more on my own privilege in my adult years, which is something I did little of as a young adult. The wage gap between men and women persists, and many women today still strive to reduce basic power imbalances while facing multiple intersecting forms of discrimination. This day encourages me to do better – to celebrate of course, but also to continue to learn, to connect, and find ways to support and amplify the accomplishments, complexities, and challenges of women everywhere.

Today is a day to celebrate this important global movement and a day to celebrate you! Happy International Women’s Day. 

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International Women’s Day https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/international-womens-day-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=international-womens-day-2 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 23:55:45 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=11506 This week we celebrate International Women's Day, March 8. We hope you enjoy our series of guest columnists... take it away, Cheryl!

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This coming Friday, March 8, just like every other March 8th since the United Nations designated the particular date in 1975, the world observes International Women’s Day. Interestingly, several European countries and the United States deemed the cause worthy of celebrating as far back as 1911.

I’ve recently been reading a fictional series, on Book Three now, about a brilliant and feisty female character. A present day FBI agent fighting modern day crime when, through an “event,” she suddenly finds herself in London, England, in the year 1815.

Not normally a lover of fantastical stories, I got caught up in this one.

Knowing our Bucerias Life in the Slow Lane was planning to feature articles from various participants this week (thank you, all), my interest was piqued and I found, while lost in the book, that I paid special attention to the now archaic ways of those olden days. The treatment of females, meant to be oh, so proper, is for me, a bit difficult to imagine.

The leading heroine is not “allowed” to be outside of her home without a chaperone; women are not “allowed” to own property; wives are “owned” by their husbands, and can easily be placed in a special home for unruly women, where they would likely be exposed to or used in some type of behavioural experiment; and, women had certainly not been “granted” the right to vote, not until 1928, in Merry Old England.

Sadly, some of this still holds true for too many of our world’s nations.

As the global population continues to champion human rights and equality among all, let us celebrate all those who have made and will make strides to take females from then until now. And beyond.

We hope you enjoy our series this week, and we sincerely thank our guest columnists for their time and truly epic thoughts.

I’d like to introduce Cheryl, our long time friend. Cheryl moved to Canada at the age of twenty from the beautiful island of Dominica. Today she is retired from the world of finance and enjoys her time travelling, swimming and playing tennis, among other recreational and community activities. Cheryl is a wife, mother and dear friend.

“I am the beneficiary of all the women who have struggled in the past to allow me the privilege of being who I am today.

I am strong, independent, confident and opinionated without being aggressive. I can tell anyone “No,” and not be threatened by my decision. I discovered early on that saying No is a very powerful feeling and a harder decision to say than Yes.

On International Women’s Day, I thank, to name a few, Dame Mary Eugenia Charles – the First Lady Prime Minister of Dominica, Margaret Thatcher – The Iron Lady, Indira Gandhi, Jacinda Arden…female politicians who made a difference. Women get the job done!

Gloria Steinem said, “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

Cheryl Willms

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Today I Met…Doctor del Toro https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/today-i-met-doctor-del-toro/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=today-i-met-doctor-del-toro https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/today-i-met-doctor-del-toro/#comments Mon, 04 Mar 2024 19:34:39 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=11313 An exceptional hero, Doctor del Toro offers his orthopedic services, allowing patients to live pain free, including some extra special cases!

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We came away from our meeting with Dr. del Toro impressed by his generosity and incredible drive. This man, who holds double university degrees, is kept very busy with his numerous projects.

Francisco del Toro Lomeli was born in a small town in south Jalisco, La Grana, Autlan. He describes La Grana as a quiet and typical Mexican town where everybody knows each other.

“I had a really happy childhood but when I finished my elementary school there were no high schools (in his small town), so at fourteen years old I went to live by myself in Guadalajara.”

To find his way to his apartment in Guadalajara, his father drew Francisco a map.

“My father had a napkin and drew me a map…’you go to this street and take this bus…’ ”

While attending Catholic high school in Guadalajara, Francisco decided to become a priest.

“After highschool I went to the monastery for almost two years. Then I decided to serve God in a different way. That’s when I left the monastery to do surgeries.”

***

The Road to Surgeon

Dr. del Toro returned to school to study medicine. After completing his studies in Guadalajara, Mexico City, Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago, focusing on orthopedic surgery, he was accepted to complete is fellowship in articular and prosthesis surgery. Two years of fellowship followed by one year specializing in spinal surgery, and the Dr’s next step was working at Hospital CMQ. That’s fourteen years of education.

Since coming to Hospital CMQ, Dr. del Toro and his team have performed numerous surgeries. His services also involve medical tourism, with many patients hailing from north of the border.

Contact Dr. del Toro’s team – 322 245 0873 http://www.orthopedicsurgerycenterpuertovallarta.com

An interesting note: the Dr.’s dedication and commitment shone through. When it came time to pass the board, there were 60 thousand doctors with only 5500 spots available. Dr. del Toro’s marks put him in the 365th place.

Dr. del Toro told us of a unique situation. “My father is an orthopedic surgeon and so is my brother and the brother of my father, my Uncle. In all of Mexico and South America we are the only family with two generations of two brothers to be Orthopedic surgeons.” Remarkable.

Today, Dr. del Toro is a member of The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

“Embark on a journey of medical excellence with Dr. del Toro and his expert team.”

***

A Degree in Architecture

As a kid, Dr. del Toro held a black-belt in Taekwondo. While attending a tournament in a large city, he was sitting in the hotel lobby and noticed how beautiful the surroundings were. That’s when he decided he’d like to become an architect! “I always had that in my mind. Five years after finishing all my (medical) training, it took four more years to get my license as an architect.”

In addition to his surgical work, Dr. del Toro now runs his own architectural firms in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta. His day typically starts by visiting various job sites, then attending the hospital for surgeries and patient follow-up, then back to visiting architecture sites before returning home for the evening.

His architecture offices are titled “Arquitectura206”, a nod to the 206 bones in the human body.

***

The Best of Times

Dr. del Toro told us, “The best hour of the day is in the morning, when the sun is rising up and I have a coffee in my hand, when you start seeing the lighting change. The best time of the day is when I am with my boys and my family, and I thank God for a productive day.”

***

Giving

Dr. del Toro’s generosity was nurtured by his father, who volunteered his services for the monks at the monastery.

“When I left the monastery, my father taught me, ‘Every time you see a patient in front of you, think about how you’re going to resolve the problem and do it. You win. If you win money, you win two times. If you don’t win money, you still win.’ So all the priests in the monastery go to my father’s office and describe a problem, maybe with their knee, and he would do the surgery for free. He taught me that. And when I came here, (Vallarta) I went to the nuns and the monastery and I said I’m an orthopedic surgeon, and if one day you need me this is my card. I’m trying to do the same thing my father taught me.”

***

Martin and Fiorela

Dr. del Toro has developed a special relationship with some Bucerias children.

“A patient I did surgery for texted me and said this house, Refuge of Hope, they need specialized surgery for one of the kids. They were looking for a doctor who didn’t charge them much and I said, ‘No, I’ll do it for free’. I met the patient, Martin, and I said, ‘what do you want to do?’ He said, ‘I want to play football.’ We’re still working on it.”

And just last week, the surgical team began casting Fiorela, also a child from the non-profit organization, Refuge of Hope. Fiorela’s case is a little more difficult. She will require new castings every two weeks, for anywhere between three and six months, to help straighten her foot in preparation for surgery.

Doctor del Toro, you are a true hero!

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Today I Met…Wendy Cavanagh https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/today-i-met-wendy-cavanagh/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=today-i-met-wendy-cavanagh Thu, 29 Feb 2024 20:28:12 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=11319 Follow the Facebook Group, "Adopta Una Calle de Bucerias," and join your neighbourhood clean-up crew, or start your own!

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What are you doing this Saturday morning? I know how Wendy will spend some time. She’ll be found on her block following through on her initiative, “Adopta Una Calle de Bucerias,” encouraging neighbourhood groups to keep our streets clean.

We caught up with Wendy as she lead a new start-up crew along Avenida Las Palmas, and she told us a bit about herself.

 

I’m Wendy Cavanagh.  My husband Paul and I are from Calgary. We’ve been wintering here in Bucerias since we took possession of our condo during the pandemic in 2020. We both have extensive volunteer experience back home with community groups, and I just completed a year as President of our condominium Vigilance Committee here in Bucerias. 

Birth of the Initiative

Above – Wendy’s Condo Crew

It began with daily beach trash pick up.  Then we joined  the monthly beach clean up supported by Amigos de Bucerias. 

The never ending trash started us thinking about the garbage on the streets and how it all eventually ends in our beautiful ocean.  I was chatting with fellow resident Andy Adams a couple years ago and we discussed the idea of people adopting blocks near their buildings.  Last season, Paul and I purchased rakes, scoops, brooms etc. from the local hardware store.  We invited our neighbours in our condo building to join us for a street clean on the coming Saturday. We’ve been meeting on Saturdays ever since!

I presented the idea at a few meetings of Amigos de Bucerias. Gabriela, President of the Amigos, took an interest and came out and joined us to encourage the volunteers.

Wendy Inspires

This year I wanted to reach more people.  The vision is to have every street in Bucerias adopted by nearby residents.  This will also raise awareness about garbage and how it’s harmful to the ocean.

I started the Facebook group ‘Adopta Una Calle de Bucerias’ so we can share our stories and thank the volunteers.

Thank you Wendy, and all the volunteers who give their time.

You, too can contribute to a cleaner Bucerias. Our community and the ocean will thank you.

Join the Facebook page here: https://facebook.com/groups/1359330658030531/

Not only generous with their time, the volunteers for the Avenida Las Palmas clean-up crew helped pay for the supplies.

And the Result…Bravo!!

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Today I Met…Paco Guajardo https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/today-i-met-paco-guajardo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=today-i-met-paco-guajardo Sat, 10 Feb 2024 16:46:58 +0000 https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/?p=11246 Paco Guajardo, Executive Director of Human Connections, shares some of his life history with us.

The post Today I Met…Paco Guajardo appeared first on Bucerias Life in The Slow Lane.

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Paco Guajardo, Executive Director at our local non-profit social enterprise, Human Connections, tells an interesting life story.

Enjoy his responses below as we learn a little more about this gifted yet humble man.

Many thanks, Paco, for sharing your time with us, and for all that you do for our community.

Tell us about your childhood. Where were you born, where did you grow up?

I was born in Mexico City in 1964 to a father with roots in northern Mexico and a mother from a Yucatecan family. Six months after I was born, my parents moved to Veracruz and a few years later to Chihuahua.

I grew up in a small community called Colonia Dublán in the northwestern part of the state, not far from the U.S.-Mexico border. I lived there until I was 18. It is a town in the semidesert plains at the foot of the majestic Sierra Madre mountains.

With dogs, horses, bicycles, and the freedom to play outside in a neighborhood where all the families knew each other well, my childhood was idyllic in many ways. This little corner of Northwest Chihuahua is a place where many cultures, traditions and religions come together. It has a history with very interesting characters such as Pancho Villa, Billy the Kid and the Apache chiefs Jeronimo and Juh, among other important figures of the Mexican Revolution. It was also not uncommon to hear English, the German dialect of the Mennonite community, and the Raramuri language of the Tarahumara ethnic group all in the same day while working in my father’s store. Having a family background from other places was quite normal.


Do you have any siblings?


I’m the oldest of a brood of five (two brothers and two sisters), all born within a span of seven years. So, it was a noisy and busy household growing up. We remain close and I admire each of them immensely.


What is your earliest memory?


I’m blessed to be able to remember many early life experiences vividly. One early memory in particular stands out. I am a toddler playing on my parents’ bed. My father is taking a nap, a fan is whirring in the background, and the sight of a bright blue toy cube fills me with a sense of curiosity and wonder. There is a sense of awe, security and happiness in that moment. This brief memory comes to my mind often.


Do you continue with your family traditions?


My family was not a very traditional one in the conventional Mexican sense of the word. However, after many years of being uprooted from both my family and my country, I’ve developed my own set of customs and traditions. I think this is true for many as our society becomes more global.


I understand you are quite accomplished. What is your educational background?


I’m grateful to my parents, who believed in learning and encouraged us to always question. I graduated from Brigham Young University Law School and also have a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in Jewish American literature.


Any hard knocks learning?


I’m pursuing a lifelong degree in everyday survival at the University of Hard Knocks. It’s a fascinating field of study. It was a rough start at first, but learning becomes easier as one gets older, I just have to commit to stay the course.


How many countries have you lived in?


Mexico has been my home for many years. But I have also lived in the United States and spent extended periods of time (more than a year) in Spain and the United Kingdom, and South America.


Do you have any funny stories about your travels?


While flying from Santiago, Chile to New York, our plane suffered a serious mechanical failure and the pilots announced that we were going to have to make an emergency landing. I watched in horror as we approached some white peaks and immediately thought that I was going to be my fellow passengers’ next meal on this crossing of the Andes. The peaks turned out to be sand dunes from the Iquique Desert in northern Chile. My confusion was comical, but only after the emergency landing. As you might guess, I have a very dark sense of humor.


Describe “tourism,” how it is, or how it should be.


So much of who we are determines our experience of travel. My personal hope, however, is that every journey beyond the comforts of home makes me a different, and hopefully a better, person when I return.

That’s why I was immediately drawn to Human Connections’ mission to promote responsible tourism, which is really about creating better places to live and visit.

Paco with Leonarda, one of Human Connections’ artisan partners.

What hobbies do you enjoy?


I have had many hobbies over the years, but at the moment I am passionate about photo editing, cooking, and Vipassana meditation.


Who has been the biggest influence in your life?


I didn’t have any role models. But I did learn a lot from certain influential men and women in my formative years, and I’m very grateful to them. Especially my parents.


How would you like to be remembered?


I would like that my memory, once I’m gone, gives anyone who thinks of me a chuckle and a smile. That, for me, would be the best way to be remembered.

Talk more with Paco while taking one of Human Connections cultural tours in Bucerias. http://humanconnections.org

See our story about the newest tour, Gifts of the Earth, here: https://buceriaslifeintheslowlane.com/gifts-of-the-earth/

The post Today I Met…Paco Guajardo appeared first on Bucerias Life in The Slow Lane.

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