A delegation from Santa Barbara Sister City Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, participated in an array of activities during a recent visit here hosted by the Santa Barbara Sister Cities organization.
Upon their arrival, the group attended a dinner party at the home of board treasurer Gil Garcia and wife Marti. President Margaret Saavedra made introductions among long-time and new members.
This year’s first-day itinerary included tours of Direct Relief in Goleta, and the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center in Santa Barbara. An oncologist at the Ridley-Tree gave a presentation on the history of the center, and provided smaller groups with a private tour of the facility.
The next day the visitors enjoyed a cowboy Chili Cook-off, hosted by Santa Barbara Sister Cities member Scott Burns and wife Lisa. Ten members entered into the competition.
The People’s Choice winners received aprons created by Puerto Vallarta President Irma Lorena Perez Coultas and husband Raul Coultas. Cook-off winners included Alex Duran, Gloria Garcia, Danny Contreras, and Bonnie Carroll.
The Puerto Vallarta guests were also treated to the annual Mass at the Old Mission with Father Larry Gosslein, OFM, and the traditional photograph with him on the Mission steps. Fr. Gosslein made special mention of the Puerto Vallarta visitors and and gave them blessings during and after mass.
Other events included a Fiesta Bash, hosted by Guy and Patricia de Mangeone in Hope Ranch, where guests had a buffet dinner, prepared by the new Miraflores, Peru members.
At the Young Artists & Authors reception in the Santa Barbara County Education Building, Puerto Vallarta guests viewed artworks created by winners of the 2023 YAAS competition.
Winners qualify to participate in the Sister Cities International competition later this year for a $1,000 prize.
The event was hosted by Kai Tepper, chair of the Creative Children’s Art Project and current coordinator of I Madonnari.
Visitors met with the new coordinators of I Madonnari in Santa Barbara, and received information about the I Madonnari Italian Art event formed in Puerto Vallarta by Kathy Kouri and Ann Heffernan. That event has become a key tourist attraction in Puerto Vallarta.
The 2023 Artists and Authors winners included:
Leighton Willow Smith, April Harper, of Dos Pueblos High School, and Sebatian Cadwell (U.S. artists).
Melany icole joya Rodriguezs, Viviana Vasquez Romero, Amara Estefania Coria Garcia (Mexico artists)
Poets — Ryan Calkins, Broch Mitchel, Penelope Walsh (U.S. authors).
For Sister City of Santa Barbara information or membership visit www.sister-cities.org.