On Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend I attended a Resort Theme party with a croquet tournament. I have always felt there was an alarming lack of croquet in the U.S. so I was very excited to attend this party. I went with an Hamptons/Italian look for my resort wear, but the party included everything from Cannes to the Jersey Shore, it was fantastic and everyone should give themselves a high five. Everyone was enjoying the food, games, blue grass band, and costume contest but this was no ordinary fete. Oh no, this fete wasn't simply beer and hot dogs *, no it was also a fundraiser for a town in Mexico called Tenacatita.
Tenacatita is a small town and bay a few hours south of Puerto Vallarta. This land of Tenacatita and bay was highly desirable, so desirable in fact that although the land was classified as Ejido (which is just another way of saying Farm Commune until 1992 and could not be converted to private property), hired guns stormed the small town and with bullets and tear gas pushed the farmers, fisherman, and yes expatriates, and tourists off the land. Now here is when things get a little dicey. Many locals of the Ejido and expatriates purchased lots after 2006 however, a wealthy business owner claims to have purchased the land in 1991 and obtained the beach concession in 1993. But, as previously stated, Ejido land was not available for private purchase before 1992, and even today there are rules and regulations and red tape. What this picturesque little village is left with is an estimated 600 displaced residents, a story that would have received limited coverage had a few Canadians and Americans not been involved, and a Government embarrassed by their "tainted Real Estate Industry".
*PNW factoid- no one in the Pacific Northwest consumes hot dogs unless they're organic, local and vegan.
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