EARTH DAY was founded in 1970 by Senator Gaylor Nelson.  On April 22nd of that year,  20 million Americans demonstrated at rallies across the U.S. for a healthy, sustanable environment.  Earth Day ultimately led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the passage of the Clean Air,  the Clean Water and the Endangered Species Acts.  Twenty years later, Earth Day was global, mobilizing 20 million people in 141 countries.  Today, it is the largest secular movement in the world.

NATURAL CAVES FORMED BY EROSION – LOS ARCOS – CUEVAS NATURALES FORMADAS POR EROSIÓN

On this year´s Earth Day,  I celebrated the planet by returning by panga to los Arcos for swimming and snorkeling.  It was an overcast day, affecting the temperature of the water, which was much cooler than usual.  Last week when I was there,  I had seen an endangered leatherback  sea turtle bobbing on top of the water.  Sadly, it was dead, its back sliced open by a propeller. There are always  a few boats anchored close to the rock formations.  Unfortunately, bread is usually thrown out in order to attract the many beautiful fish.  Apparently the result is less variety of fish in the area.   The Marieta Islands, created by volcanic activity, are an hour northeast of Vallarta.  Thanks in part to the efforts of Jacques Cousteau years ago, they became a national park years ago.  Although it is illegal to set foot on these islands inhabited only by birds (the blue footed boobies are favorites),   the vast number of tourists who choose to sightsee and swim there are threatening the coral and wildlife with the sunscreen they wear in the water.

PELICANS – PELÍCANOS – LOS ARCOS

At Punta Negra beach later in the day when the sun finally came out, I swam next to hundreds of tiny fish, while streamlined pelicans plunged into the water close by.  I looked up at the jungled, green foothills of the Sierra Madres tumbling down to the curved bay, and I wondered and wonder if there could be anyplace more beautiful in the universe than this earth.  

LAS ISLAS MARIETAS – BAHÍA DE BANDERAS – PARQUE NACIONAL

WAPOS – NUEVA BOUTIQUE AYUDANDO

Near the stadium,  I noticed a large plaster blonde Labrador in front WAPOS, a pet grooming and supply shop.  The dog had a sign around his neck saying “adopta, no compra mascota.”   (adopt, don´t buy a pet).  On the ground next to the dog was a bowl filled with water. 
Sara Ledesma, who prevsiously worked for Dr. Tamayo,  opened her location a week ago and will be donating a limited number of free groomings to rescued cats and dogs going out for adoption.   Calle Brasilia 272 in Col 5 de Diciembre – directly across from the south side of the stadium.  Cel:  044 322 245 1699   Note:  For 50 pesos extra, your pet can be picked up and delivered back to your location.

PLAZA DE SAN VICENTE, NAYARIT

SAN VICENTE, NAYARIT – From Vallarta, one crosses the Almeca river and is immediately in another State where the popular beach spots are Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, Sayulita and Punta de Mita.  San Vicente is about a 40-minute drive northeast, making the turn at Mezcales, which doesn´t have a beach.  After passing San Juan de Abajo, one is almost immediately in San Vicente, where the clinic has visited  a few other times.  Facing the plaza is a large, mostly empty enclosed field which the town uses for events.   This government property is where we always hold our clinics.  I arrived a little before 10 AM on Saturday, at the same time a young woman was bringing in a very pretty little Terrier mix wrapped in a blanket.  She had rescued the dog a week ago and is keeping it, but arrived too late in the morning to have the dog spayed.  People had been lining up daily at 7 AM and although Saturday is supposedly a half-day, 40 cats and dogs were accepted.

CLÍNICA EN SAN VICENTE, NAY.  NO TENEMOS SUFICIENTES HAULAS PARA TODOS LOS ANIMALES QUE LLEGAN.  PLEASE HELP WITH DONATIONS OF USED OR NEW KENNELS.  WE OFTEN RUN OUT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH NUMBERS OF ANIMALS BROUGHT TO US.

On a non-animal note, there is an excellent seafood restaurant on the main narrow street in front of the plaza called FERNANDO.  It´s only open for lunch (1PM-6 PM), and one can order a specific fish in advance.  I ate there last week-end with friends, and had the best shrimp enchiladas I´ve tasted.  As one of our group said – “¡DE – licioso!”

DR. POLI Y DR. ANTHONY – SAN VICENTE

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