Blogs from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, North America - page 8

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North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta February 13th 2010

We wanted to see more of the birds and other wildlife here, and decided to take a tour of the estuaries around Nuevo Vallarta. Now, if you want the weather of Mexico, along with the beautiful beaches, but with all of the luxuries and none of the dirt roads and chickens, then Nuevo Vallarta is your place. It is mostly big condo developments along the beach-front, and huge homes belonging to famous people like Julio Iglasias and Ricky Martin back along the estuaries with private boat docks and marina access. We didn't see any public beach access as we walked along the street that was closest to the beach - only if you were staying at the condos or in one of the resorts could you get in. I hear they have a nice beach - ... read more
Almost there - then turn left
Now walk down this road to the end
Landscaping along the main street

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta February 11th 2010

This is my first trip outside of the States or Canada. We had to be at the airport in Edmonton at 4 am, and me being the procrastinator that I am, of course I was doing laundry, etc up to the last minute. Jim picked me up at 2:30 am and off to the airport we went. We had one short layover in Pheonix, then landed in PV at 3:00 pm. No sleep yet! When we had to go through Mexican security, we found that there were lineups of at least 50-75 people in each line...and there were about 5-6 lineups (maybe more). Of course we picked the SLOWEST one! It took us FOREVER to get through. My friend Marie (from ACA in Jocotopec) picked us up at the airport - wasn't hard to find her...then ... read more

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta February 5th 2010

Well, we are getting a feel for the place now. We finally have some nice sunshine, and wow, it is hot and humid! Most days, we have to make our way home by 4 o’clock or so because we are so worn out from walking, and hot and sweaty. A jump in the pool at our vacation home is a nice way to end the day. The beach at Bucerias is absolutely gorgeous - just like you see in the travel brochures - and practically deserted during the week. On the weekends, Mexican families come and enjoy the beach too, and it is a bit busier, but still far from crowded. We walked one morning as far as we could one way, then found a place on the beach and bought a beer and sat in ... read more
Bucerias Beach 2
Steve got tired out
Vendor selling candies and nuts from a wheelbarrow on the beach

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta February 4th 2010

Today we were glad to see the end of the rain, and hopped the bus into PV to walk along the Malecon (the walk beside the ocean). We finally had a chance to take our shoes off and walk along the beach. Even though it was a bit cloudy, it was a warm day. We saw lots of pelicans sitting on boats and on roofs. I think they are the Mexican equivalent of pigeons or gulls, although they have those here as well. The Malecon is mostly a tourist walk, with lots of restaurants, street artists, and many statues along the walkway. It comes alive a night - maybe we will come back again another day to see the night scene. After grabbing a beer and a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants ... read more
Pelicans
Statue on the Malecon 1
Statue on the Malecon 2

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta February 2nd 2010

It rained all day Tuesday, putting a damper on the first day of our vacation (haha). OUr hostess Ronnie loaned us an umbrella, and we walked around a bit trying to get a feel for the place. We took a bus to the nearest Mega store for groceries, and the rain really set in on the way. we decided to take a cab back and just chill in the apartment. That night, about 11pm, the wind picked up and the rain started lashing at the windows. The plants moved around on the deck and the patio furniture crashed up against the patio doors. Then the wind took the screen right off of the patio doors off the bedroom. We looked out and saw the palm trees blowing sideways, just like in the news clips you see ... read more
Bouganvillia laid flat in the street
This tin roof would have flown through our window had it not wrapped around this tree
Another picture of a roof that blew off

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta February 1st 2010

After a few more days of good visiting with Steve's family, it was time to move on to the next leg of our trip. (By the way, if you are ever on your way to Desert Hot Springs, stop at Hadley's dried fruit and nut store, about 20 minutes before the city. They have the greatest date shakes!) The flight was uneventful, and we arrived in PV under partly cloudy skies and 85 degrees F (about 29 celcius). We pushed the button at customs and got a red light, meaning they wanted to search our bags. There was no problem, and the fellow chatted with us as he did a cursory check. Minutes later he wished us a good trip and sent us on our way. The taxi driver wasn't sure how to find the address ... read more
Inside the apartment
Our deck at night

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta January 31st 2010

Last night I watched several gray-haired grandmotherly types ride a donkey onto the dance floor of a packed bar. Flashing lights and music from the early 60´s pumping, folks dancing and whoopin. But I was wondering where they kept the defibrillators. It was a scene from an Annette Funicello beach party movie slow forwarded 50 years with all the actors in place, fresh out of their last retirement seminar and all the boys with jumbo prescriptions of Viagra in their pocket... Go Daddy Go!!! Down a couple blocks I passed the Canucks Bar... everyone staring at the big screen TV watching, yup, you guessed it, hockey. Over at the dock that afternoon I´d watched a local throw netter pull up a pelican, with terns and motor boats diving and weaving between bathers. Sunset time four guys ... read more
Sculptures
Iconic seahorse
Map of Viajo Vallarta

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta December 9th 2009

December 9th, 2009 Well, I'm definitely in my Mexico. Within the first three hours, more men smiled and said hello to me than in six months in Calgary. I stopped at Las Palomas, which faces the ocean, for my first Mexican meal (and cerveza) and lo and behold, Eduardo, one of the waiters at Salsa Mexicana Restaurant, who was part of my lifesaving apres the France Fiasco, came up to me and said I look the same as twelve years ago. Kind man. He is now married with two children. He's the manager there and bought me a celebratory tequila and has invited me back for breakfast. Then I met a "baby" shaman (young shaman in training) at the square's festivities for the Twelve Days of Guadalupe. He told me I need to work out a ... read more
Sunset
Pescadora
Whale Fluke

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta October 9th 2009

As you've all probably read, the trip up untill this point has been abit of a booze fuelled jaunt around Central America. So, in a faint detox effort, and to learn some much needed Spanish, I've gone back to school :S. I'm in Puerto Vallarta at the moment, a tropical tourist trap on the Pacific coast, packed with pubs, clubs, Spanish schools and the occasional American expat. For the last week I've just been going to classes (Christ, how mature) in the mornings and lazing around on the beach in the afternoons. Someone's got to do it. Apart from an unfortunate incident with the police in which I ended up losing $500 (about 20 pound) and a watch, hence the blog title telling local law enforcement where to stick it, it's been a pretty chilled week. ... read more
Volcan Paracutin
Salulita, near Puerto Vallarta
Spanish school..

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta July 13th 2009

Another adventure awaited us in Puerto Vallarta (pwehr-toh vay-ahr'-tah). A girl in our group's mother works for a travel agency and found us a great deal.... US $34 per night/day in an all-inclusive resort on a southern beach in Puerto Vallarta. Meals, drinks, room, towels, entertainment, etc. were all included in the price. Most all-inclusive hotels in PV cost around US $200-300 per night. We left Guadalajara on Thursday afternoon and took a six-hour bus ride again through windy bumpy roads across the mountains to the coast. A few days earlier, I had read some online reviews about the place we stayed at, Club Meza del Mar, and the reviews made it sound like a disgusting truck stop! But I was pleasantly surprised by the place. We were the only "gringos" at the hotel, and ... read more
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