The CONCACAF beach soccer championship will return to Puerto Vallarta April 29 to May 3, making it the second straight year Mexico’s Pacific Ocean resort has hosted the event.

Four countries already have confirmed their participation for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier CONCACAF: Costa Rica, El Salvador, host Mexico and the United States with additional teams possible. The deadline for entries is February 27.

This will be the third straight year the tournament has been played in Mexico. In 2007, Beach Soccer WorldWide staged the championship in Acapulco further south along the Pacific coast.

Mexico will look to defend its title and qualify for a third straight FFIA Beach Soccer World Cup set for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates November 16-22.

The tournament will qualify two teams for the World Cup. El Salvador claimed its first trip to the world championship in 2008, while the United States failed to qualify for the first time in four years.

SCHEDULE UPDATES

FROM 12 TO 16 MARCH

LATIN AMERICA BOAT SHOW 2009

The LATIN AMERICA BOAT SHOW 2009 is the most important sailing event in Mexico and Latin America with more than 100 boats on display, from small boats to super yachts of the top international brands. Manufacturers from the US, England and Italy will be represented. This event will be the largest display of boats and yachts ever held in Latin America.

The Show is open to the public and is especially for those who love sailing and those who want to keep up with the latest models of boats, yachts and marine engine technology.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I apologize here because I had assumed that “open to the public” meant that entrance to the show was without cost. It wasn’t. The entrance fee is 150 pesos. I’m sorry if people were misled.

On the other hand, those who are not very familiar with this fascinating world will discover how easy it is to buy a boat with unique financing plans.

On display at the Show will be all types of boats and sea equipment from parts and accessories to Jet Skis to Fishing Boats to Yachts to Mega-Yachts.

As part of the exhibition, there will be a presentation by the Secretariat of the Navy. There will be special events and concerts.

The Latin America BOAT SHOW 2009 will be held from 12 to 16 March 2009 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, at the Cruise Ship Terminal.

These facilities have the necessary comforts for the whole family, including rest areas, food and beverages.

Event Schedule:

Thursday March 12

• Official ceremony of inauguration of the Latin America Boat Show 2009
• Ribbon cutting by the authorities and organizers
• Exhibition of the Mexican Navy
• 12:15 Tour of facilities
• 12:40 Opening Cocktail Reception
• 12:40-19:00 BOAT SHOW open to the public

Friday March 13

• 9:00 to 19:00 BOAT SHOW open to the public

Saturday March 14

• 9:00 to 19:00 BOAT SHOW open to the public
• 19:30 Concert by the Secretary of the Banda Sinfonica de Marina Armada de Mexico

Sunday March 15

• 9:00 to 19:00 BOAT SHOW open to the public

Monday March 16

• 9:00 to 14:00 BOAT SHOW open to the public
• 14:00 Closing Ceremony of the LATIN AMERICA BOAT SHOW 2009

MORE INFORMATION:

• Raúl Serna, Director General, Cel.: (322) 294 – 0177 Cel: (322) 294 – 0177
• EMAIL: raulserna (at) boatshow.com.mx
• WEBSITE: http://boatshow.com.mx/fechas.html

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Sunday, March 22 is World Water Day and Puerto Vallarta is commemorating this day with IX Carrera Atlética por el Agua (IX Race for the Water).

More than 100,000 pesos will be awarded in prizes in a large number of categories and more than 700 people with ages of 6 to over 56 years old. Races will be run by age grouping.

Registration is until Saturday, March 21 at the Agustín Flores Contreras Sports Stadium central office from 8 am to 3 pm.

On Sunday, March 22, part of the main airport road, avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio will be closed from 8 am until noon and passage will be slow.

The small surf town of Quimixto, just south of Puerto Vallarta, will be the home of the 1st Annual Quimixto Surf Tournament on March 7 and 8, 2009.

Over 60 International and National entries and 6000 spectators are expected. 800 spectators are expected each day. Since this small beach town is accessable only by water taxi, I’m a little skeptical of these figures, but it DOES sound like a good time. Water taxis will be available for 25 pesos per person from the beach at Boca.

Registration for the tournament is from Wednesday February 25 until March 6 at a cost of 250 pesos per entrant.

Activities will be from 9 am to 6 pm each day.

Prizes will be awarded to the first four places, where the first place will receive 10,000 pesos, the second 5,000 pesos, 3,000 for third 2,000 pesos for fourth.

A Bikini Contest will also be held, with visitors judging the winners.

Corrida de Toros

“Anything capable of arousing passion in its favor will surely raise as much passion against it.” – Ernest Hemingway

The 2009-2010 Puerto Vallarta Bullfighting season will run from December 23 thru May at la Plaza de Toros “La Paloma” on the airport highway just north of Walmart and the Marina. Bullfights are held weekly, every Wednesday, at 5pm. The cost is 350 pesos.

There is blood and death for the bulls (4 a night), posing and pageantry for the toreadors. Bullfighting can be poetry and art and it can be primitive man against animal brutality. The bullfight is one notable place where cultures clash between New World sentimentality and European/Mexican sensuality.

Perhaps it would be good to take into account that this is one of the main “premiums” offered by timeshare salesmen here in Puerto Vallarta so much of the audience will probably be tourists. The Vallarta Bullfights are not premium.

Video of a Bullfight here in Puerto Vallarta:

[youtube x08RN9m6V50 Bullfight in Vallarta]

MORE VIEWS:

• A Clean Kill by Radwa Ashur
• Death in the Afternoon by Ernest Hemingway