From upscale market to hole in the wall diner

---

Geo: 20.6509, -105.215

Old Vallarta is the busiest, most lively part of town with more shops, bars and restaurants per square inch than anywhere else. It's a fun place to roam but really? There's an awful lot of gringos.

It's for those who want to escape northern winters and find a beach with just a touch--a bare hint-- of old Mexico.

Mexico has many faces, yes, and this is a shiny clean one. There's nothing wrong with that if that's what you want. It's safe, has great food, gorgeous beaches, beautiful sunshine, a Walmart and a Costco and we're trying hard to adjust our expectations and be content here--as many obviously are.

We have paid accommodations for 5 weeks. Perhaps by the end of that time we'll have been converted. We have to I get our heads around what PV does have to offer and go from there.

Where we're staying saves us though. We're in a very traditional Mexican neighborhood where you only hear Spanish on the streets, the neighbors give you the "are you lost?" look and the streets are such broken uneven cobbles you can hardly walk them--makes driving nuts.

There's a quinceanera going on across the street now--a young girl's coming out party. The block is filled with music and families and lots of laughter. Mexicans play their music so EVERYONE gets to enjoy it. It's great. I love it.

Back to Viejo Vallarta...we went in the morning to the market then back in the afternoon for the NFL playoffs to watch the Seattle Seahawks.

---

Photos

Watching the game
We went down to Old Vallarta to a gringo bar to watch the Seahawks where we met this guy from Spokane with room at his table. It was a riot watching these guys. Bob finally had someone to appreciate the finer points of football with--notice the disgusted look of the guy behind them... afterwards Spokane man took us to a REAL Mexican hole in the wall mom and pop restaurant where he and his wife go for breakfast every morning. Awesome! Fabulous

Small family restaurant makes the BEST food
The guy from Spokane walked us through the back streets of old Vallarta promising us a real Mexican meal and yes, we found it. The place doesn't even have a name. Sure hope we can find it again.

Check this out!
See her pan? It's higher in the center, not lower like a wok. When the meat's done, she slides it down off to the cooler sides.
Slick, huh?

Comments

[Paul]

Hope you enjoy Puerto Vallarta. I know it's a very popular American tourist destination, which is not really your thing. On another topic, I heard on the national news today that there's been a ton of violence and lots and lots of kidnappin
gs in Michoac?n south of you. You may want to stay out of that area.

[Agnes]

The mole sauce looks wonderful, I love the stuff, wish it wasn't so hard to make, they don't have a lot of it in the restaurants around here. Have a great time and enjoy the sunshine.

[Allen & Judie]

Hi Karen, What a time you both are having! Just make sure you try to stay where you can stay safe. You well come back all tan and beautiful! We love reading your travels. Thank you for sending them.Cool Bob was able to watch the Seattle Se
ahawks. Like seeing Pic's they are so good. Stay well & safe! Love You!

[bobnkaren]

Paul will do that. promise.

[bobnkaren]

Agnes, would you do something for me? Check to see if you can find Do?a Maria brand Mole sauce there--maybe in a Mexican grocery if not Frye's. It's awesome and if I can't buy it there I'll bring some home with us. It's in a drinking glass
with a metal lid, 235g. Thanks. Oh, and we're coming back to Phoenix after all--be there in March.