Expats in Vallarta
A new group of expats from different countries, mostly from the U.S. and Canada, is forming in the Puerto Vallarta area. The purpose of the group is informal fellowship and assistance for expat residents or visitors living, working or investing around Vallarta or considering it. There is no membership fee or requirement; pay only for what you consume or use.
The first event of Expats in Vallarta was a Happy Hour held recently at Cheeky Monkey on the Malecon with over 65 people attending in spite of difficult parking that night due to construction for the concert. The organizers take this strong initial attendance as a sign there is a desire for more social exchanges among Expats In Vallarta.
Next will be a follow-up Happy Hour Tuesday, July 7 at Cheeky Monkey which will likely become a bi-weekly event to serve as a base for meeting and socializing with (new) friends. Drop-Ins are welcome!
In order to facilitate communication among expats, immediate attention will focus on creating an Expats In Vallarta net and/or website. Postings on the net by any member could be for general announcements, emergency assistance, services offered or needed, items for sale, questions on travel etc. as well as the organizers communicating details of upcoming events.
Related Expat Explorer events to go beyond the Happy Hours with fun, laughter and learning in smaller groups throughout the month will be scheduled when desired by the members. Events being considered are fun theme parties, local tours such as furniture/décor businesses and medical facilities, outings such as hiking and whale watching and presentations on subjects such as investing in Mexico and oceanography.
Organizers Sara Wise and Tish Holloway are looking forward to tapping the willing creativity and experience of local expats for assistance in organizing these and other social opportunities for the group. Anyone wanting to join or attend the July 7 Happy Hour contact sarajwise@yahoo.com
Drama and Diplomacy Author Jenny McGill Launches Website
Sample Chapters and Audio Readings Capture Puerto Vallarta History
Jenny McGill, author of Drama and Diplomacy in Sultry Puerto Vallarta, recently announced the launch of her new website aimed at Puerto Vallarta enthusiasts. McGill’s book, which covers the fourteen years she served as the United States Consular Agent in Puerto Vallarta during the 1980’s and 90’s, captures the essence of how Puerto Vallarta used to be before developing into the modern city it is today.
The book covers historic moments in Puerto Vallarta history such as a visit by the Queen of England as well as details of many of the cases McGill dealt with during her service. A consular agent’s job is dealing with the four D’s: death, disappearance, destitution and detention; and there’s no shortage of any of those in the book. The website includes sample chapters and stories from the book as well as reviews by authors such as Linda Ellerbee and James Tipton. Visitors will be able to listen to podcasts of McGill telling some of her favorite stories, some of which will be new material not included in Drama and Diplomacy.
Jenny hails from Mississippi, and entered the working world in 1954. She made her way to Texas via a job as flight attendant with American Airlines where she met her two loves, husband Howard and Mexico. The McGills married in 1959, and the couple moved to Puerto Vallarta in 1973 and is considered by many of the natives to be mas mexicanos que frijoles, “more Mexican than beans”.
After Jenny served approximately fourteen years as U.S. consular agent, she and Howard sought tranquility in the mountain village of Talpa de Allende, Jalisco, a three-hour drive from Guadalajara, where she spends her time writing, promoting local artists and herb gardening. She says, “My love of robin egg blue skies, breath-taking sunsets that only God could paint, and music which falls softly on my ear is reason enough to be in Mexico.”
Jenny’s book is available at book stores in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta and on www.amazon.com