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Marigalante Accident Stirs Rumors Rumors that the Marigalante was sinking spread quickly around Vallarta Tuesday afternoon. The rumors were unfounded, however, as Sergio Coronel Román, general manager of the company that operates the boat, clarified the events at a press conference. A section of the main mast broke apart unexpectedly while the replica of Columbus’ Santa Maria was anchored near Majahuitas beach. All 74 passengers were at the beach when the incident occurred. Two crewmembers that remained on board suffered minor injuries and were immediately transferred to CMQ Hospital. Other than the broken mast, the vessel suffered no further damage. All passengers were safely returned to Vallarta’s Maritime Terminal on smaller boats, unharmed.
Hollywood Cinematographer Dies in Vallarta Brianne Murphy, a Hollywood trailblazer who became the first female director of photography invited to join the American Society of Cinematographers, died of brain cancer last month in Puerto Vallarta. She was 70. London-born of Irish parents, Murphy was educated in English and American schools before setting her sights on an acting career and moving to New York City. She performed as a clown at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden on opening night, 1954, subsequently landing a job as a still photographer with the traveling circus. She later arrived in Hollywood where she became the first-ever woman director of photography on a major studio. Murphy won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1978. She also earned several prime-time Emmy nominations for outstanding cinematography. In 1984, Murphy was a Women in Film Crystal Award winner, along with Barbara Streisand and Mary Tyler Moore. She also won a 1982 Scientific and Engineering award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Vallarta to Purchase a Beach Sweeping Machine For the first time in its history, Vallarta will purchase a beach sweeping machine, informed Eugenio González, director of Municipal Public Services. The equipment, which will be purchased with federal maritime zone funds, will be capable of cleaning debris – from cigarette butts to driftwood – efficiently. Additional equipment, including two trucks with hydraulic lifts and 36 porta-potties, will also be acquired, hopefully before year’s end.
Mayan Riviera Clone to be Proposed for the Pacific The Mexican Hotel and Motel Association will host a meeting to propose the idea of creating a “Pacific Riviera” marketing strategy, similar to that of the so-called Mayan Riviera. The meeting, to take place in Puerto Vallarta, was proposed by Miguel Torruco Marqués, president of the aforementioned association, during the First World Tourism Expo, taking place in Mexico City. While Mexico’s Pacific coast is already known as the Mexican Riviera, the moniker does not encompass any such marketing effort by its hotel industry. Such an effort, however, would strengthen the Mexican Riviera’s position in the international travel marketplace.
Week of September 22, 2003
Carnival’s Pride Arrives for the First Time Carnival Cruise Line’s Pride docked in Puerto Vallarta for the first time last week, replacing the Elation. Manned by Captain Alessandro Galotto, the Pride is part of a new breed of larger, more luxurious cruise ships. The Normandy, arguably the most beautiful transatlantic ship ever built, inspired its interiors. Vallarta’s maritime terminal underwent a two-month expansion and renovation to accommodate the larger vessel.
Vallarta Goes to World Tourism Expo Puerto Vallarta will have a booth in the upcoming World Tourism Expo to take place in Mexico City, announced Aarón Hernández, a representative of the Convention and Travel Bureau (OCV). Targeting travel agencies and the public at large, the four-day event is the first of its magnitude to take place in Mexico and will include participants from many countries, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Spain and Germany among others.
Paving of Fco. Medina Ascencio to be Concluded in December Vallarta Mayor Ignacio Guzmán García recently announced that the paving of three additional stretches of Fco. Medina Ascencio’s side roads will be completed by December 20. These include the inbound section from the Airport to Marina Vallarta, from Marina Vallarta to Plaza Iguana, and the stretch from San Javier Hospital to the Pitillal river. The conclusion of this important project will increase fluidity of city traffic along Vallarta’s most important artery, particularly during rush hour.
Compost Recycling Facility Yields Positive Results The new municipal compost recycling facility located near the Vista Vallarta golf course opened its doors only a week ago, yet positive results are already apparent. So far, 300 tons of organic trash has been received daily. The project is the result of a partnership between City Hall and Tierra Viva, a company specializing in compost recycling and management. Part of the project will also include an educational module where a greenhouse will be built and lectures and demonstrations offered, explaining the benefits of composting.
Week of September 15, 2003
Elation Makes Room for New Kid on the Dock After five years of uninterrupted service, the cruise ship Elation, operated by Carnival Cruise Line, left Vallarta for its farewell voyage last week. The ship, which docked every Wednesday, was the third Carnival vessel to travel to Vallarta on a regular basis. It was preceded by the Tropicale and the Jubilee – eight years of service each – both ships smaller than the Elation. The new kid on the dock, Carnival’s larger Pride, will arrive in Vallarta for the first time this Wednesday, with a capacity of 2,700 passengers and 900 crew. The Elation initiated the “Mexican Riviera” route in 1998, departing from Los Angeles and making stops in Los Cabos, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.
Vallarta Beaches Will Have Lifeguards Vallarta’s five most popular beaches, Los Muertos, Playa Camarones, Flamingos, Holiday Inn and Boca de Tomates, will now have permanent lifeguard watch towers. Starting mid-September and continuing through December, volunteers from the Municipal Civil Protection Unit will staff such towers, said director Erick Palma Herrera. Vallarta’s beaches saw changing trends among visitors largely due to Hurricane Kenna. Those mentioned above are presently the most popular in our destination.
John Huston Tribute Successfully Promoted in Mexico City In what she described as “a successful trip,” Maria José Zorrilla, director of Vallarta’s Department of Culture, recently promote the upcoming John Huston Tribute in Mexico City along with Mayor Ignacio Guzmán García and the state’s tourism secretary, Horacio González Pardo. Zorrilla presented the event, along with Vallarta’s yearly November Arts Festival, to select members of national and international press, along with personalities from Mexico’s film industry. Huston put Vallarta in the international spotlight through his film “Night of the Iguana,” shot locally. The John Huston Tribute will take place November 22 – 29, while the Art Festival will take place November 7 – 23.
Punta de Mita Sewage Plant to be Improved An important agreement was reached between municipalities at Punta de Mita, the Punta Mita development and several smaller real estate projects in the area to rebuild and improve the existing sewage treatment plant. Construction of the project, which will increase the plant’s capacity to handle future loads, is slated to begin immediately under supervision of a Guadalajara contractor. The government of Jalisco, as well as private investors, will provide funding.
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