yo no soy marinero

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Independent travel is often much more expensive than following the masses into all inclusive hotels. Our dream vacation was to rent a hut on the beaches of Sayalita where we would spend the days surfing and the nights revelling with vegetarian locals. However, after an extensive search, it became apparent that given flight prices, such a trip was not within our budget. However, as the minus 40 weather raged on in Regina, the allure of affordable last minute package holidays became more and more attractive. And so, we hopped on a plane and headed for the massive strip of destructive development known as Nuevo Vallarta. If this blog had readers, I would expect angry letters in droves resulting from our decision to stay at an all inclusive. And while I agree with the fact that all inclusive's tend to remove holiday makers from the realities of the culture, and simply allow them to drink, eat and make merry on an island paradise without having to learn the language or be exposed to local poverty, I would suggest that our particular hotel was teeming with middle class Mexican Families escaping the chaos of Guadalajara and Mexico City. This being said, the all inclusive strip of hotels in Nuevo Vallarta still represent a kind of Matrix, and while we spent our days in Mexico escaping the gated community and exploring the city and surrounding countryside, I don't deny that our evenings were spent sipping frozen margaritas poolside.

Mexico felt right. The culture is filled with warm and generous locals who have benefited from tourism, and knew how to make them feel at home. While this dependance on tourism isn't necessarily healthy, Puerto Vallarta has lived with and from tourism for the last 40 years. There is a level of comfort that locals have with the existence of tourists here. In our experience, the infrastructure seemed able to accommodate tourists, and locals seemed willing to give directions with a smile.

Puerto Vallarta is located at the centre of the generous Bahia de Banderas, an expansive bay providing a refuge for Sea turtles, whales and a variety of tropical fish. The bay is also home to mountainous tropical forests, and white sand beaches, making it a natural mecca for mass tourism. The Old town of Vallarta retains a weathered charm, and though likely outnumbered by tourists, it is evident that many locals call Old Vallarta home. The city is long and narrow with a white sand beach on the Western side of the city and a mountain limiting growth on the East. As one walks East beyond the main promenades lining the ocean, the buildings become more worn, and the 10 peso fish taco's become more plentiful. Along the Ocean side of the city, each stretch of beach accommodates a different clientele. To the North German, Dutch and American families worship the sun, as waiters carry drinks to their loungers. Near the centre of the beach where the fresh water from the mountains flows to meet the salt water of the pacific, an estuary provides refuge for local families to swim, bathe, and in some cases wash their clothes. As you walk along the Mallecon south along the beach one arrives in the zona romantica, teeming with gay friendly bars, clubs, restaurant's and hotels. This diversity is what has given Vallarta it's longevity, and has guaranteed its survival.

Our basic knowledge of Spanish allowed us to take public transit and order food with ease, minimizing any discomfort that language barriers create. And so, the adventures Dennie and I had were numerous as we filled our days visiting out of the way beaches by boat, snorkelling, zip lining through the jungle canopy, touring the surrounding villages in an old army jeep with a local guide, swimming at the base of waterfalls, surfing at the beaches of Sayalita, drinking too much with Regina friends on New Years Eve, and even the quintessential mexican vacation experience of getting our camera stolen as we slept on a secluded beach south of the city.

While upon reflection, the hut in Sayalita would have been more our style, we absolutely loved every minute of our tacky touristy trip south of the border.

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Photos

late night frivolity
Me, Dennie, Dannielle, Craig

Comments

[Ashdbzz]

Heyy
Great blog bro.. how was your experience in india?