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Published: February 3rd 2012
Friday, 27 January. We moved south to Lo de Marcos, just north of Puerto Vallarta. Church’s Mexican Camping Guide (our bible) says that this is the fastest growing destination for Rv’ers along the coast north of Puerto Vallarta. There are now nine campgrounds in this area. We chose the one called Pretty Sunset because of its proximity to town. We learned that our former travel companions, Merv and Doreen who had left our group at Celestino had been here for several days and left just before we arrived.
The highway along this section of the west coast runs inland. It is mostly two-lane but well maintained. Being former farm kids, wish we could identify the crops and orchards we pass.
The immaculately clean approximately half mile long crescent shaped beach at Lo de Marco and its rougher than usual surf makes this the prettiest beach we’ve seen yet along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
We walked along the beach and checked out the other campgrounds. There are quite a few Americans camped in Lo de Marcos but we are still well outnumbered by Canadians.
This is a common discussion. Reasons given are:
1. Media sensationalism in the U.S.
makes Mexico seem more dangerous than it is. (Truth is that of the over 100,000 ex-pats who make Mexico their home only 10-12, not involved in the drug trade are killed each year.)
2. U. S Gov’t encourages vacation dollars to be spent in the U.S.
3. Canadians, with their harsher winters, have greater reasons to head south, plus Quebecois (who make up a large number of snowbirds) are more likely to speak Spanish than English.
We had a nice visit with Denis and Renee from Quebec. They too travel with a truck camper. Denis has traveled Mexico extensively and gave us numerous tips on great locations where a small rig like ours can go but the big ones cannot. They are planning an RV trip thru Central America next year as he is curious how it will be when the Mayan calendar expires at the end of 2012. As we had made a similiar trip in 2010, Denis was interested in how we’d managed the trip without designated campgrounds, etc.
We walked the streets of Lo de Marcos and at happy hour, stopped in at Tia Juana’s. This nicely decorated cantina is owned by Jan
and her husband from Durango, Colorado. Jan, a cute little blond gal is a retired firefighter, retired college professor and an owner of a construction company in Durango. She graduated from U.C. Santa Barbara and taught political science at the university level. They found Lo de Marcos on one of their many winter trips to Mexico and realized that this is the place where they wanted to settle because, as she said, Mexican values are more about family than making money. We joked about how their liberal views were out of step with “red state” Colorado but she said that actually Colorado does have a few progressive pockets such as Durango. Their winter business is here. Next summer they will return to Durango to continue reconstruction of the three Victorian’s which they are restoring.
Jan’s restaurant’s name is derived from her’s. Being Aunt Jan to numerous nieces and nephews and God children she is “Tia Juana” so when she decided to open a restaurant, this was the obvious name.
After only two days, we were glad to say Adios to Lo de Marcos and head south to Puerto Vallarta. We do not understand the appeal of Lo de
Marcos. Lovely as the beach is, the town is simply too quiet for us. The week’s most excitement is on Saturday nights, after sunset, when local vendors set up stands around and near the zocalo selling tacos, hot dogs, churros, etc.
As we’d already eaten at Tia Juana’s, we topped of the evening with a churro. At home, churros are made in neat twelve inch strips. Here, they are squeezed out into a large circle into hot fat, then cut into approximately one foot lengths, rolled in cinnamon and sugar and served very hot. Muy delicioso!
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Cari Jewett
non-member comment
WOW!!!
Wow, Mom forwarded this to me, I have never scene this site before, it would have been great to use when Jim and I took our RV cross country a few years ago while he played poker. It looks like you are having an amazing adventure but that seems to be the story of your lives...lol. I would love it if you would put me on your e-mail list so I can keep up with your trip and stay in touch. I have exciting news....I am a Grandmother!!!! Andy's fiancé gave birth to a beautiful baby girl Sunday February 5th at 7:45 a.m. Her name is Lillianna Leah Lynn Rady, she was 6 lbs 13 oz and perfect. I was blessed to be there with them in the delivery room and what an experience, one I will treasure for the rest of my life. I don't know if Mom has told you but I am living in Las Vegas selling Time Share with a company that Jim and I have owned since 2001-World Mark by Wyndham. Sorry for such a long "comment" but wanted to give you a quick update. I hope to hear from you soon (well not "hear" but read). I love that you two are so adventurous, I hope Jim and I can follow in your foot steps.....Love you~Cari