Mar 21, 2002 12:13 PM
2264 Views
(Updated Mar 21, 2002 12:13 PM)
We took our children to PUERTO VALLARTA, JALISO in MEXICO. One Christmas School breaks. We thought we would get away from the freezing weather in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We rented a Condo near the Cruise Ship Port. During the two weeks we were there we had exactly 3 days of sun. I wasn't a travel agent yet and no one told us that Puerto Valllarta was in the same climate zone as Arizona, (and it's not warm in Arizona in December and January). We each bought straw cowboy looking hats, (because if you roll the rim down the water runs off), wool ponchos and knee high rubber wading boots. With these on didn't stop us from having a lot of fun and adventures. Our Condo was across the street from the Los Arcos Hotel, and in the 'package tour' we were allowed to have a free breakfast, (daily), and to use the pool and beach facilities. A high fence made of clay blocks surrounded the Condo and a 'door man' was always on guard to check us in. In the yard was a garden and a cage with a strange looking animal in it. We asked the bellhop what it was and he told us it was a 'cote'. This animal had the body of a dog but had a snout like an anteater. I asked why it was there and was told the gate men kept it as a pet and it was wild and we should stay away from it. I wonder if it was there to keep the peddlers away.
The first day it was sunny and we went to the beach. On the beach were huge umbrellas and sun cots and chairs. My Husband loves to sit in a chair and smoke a cigar. He also loves to bargain with the peddlers who were allowed to sell their wares. At that time my Husband was a 'bit' heavy and looked like a 'Buddha'! By noon every peddler on the beach was calling him 'the rich man from Arabia' because he had bought so many trinkets, (this is a nice word for junk). The town was a 15-minute taxi drive away. Each of our taxi drivers made it in less than 10 minutes. My Husband kept yelling, 'dispaso, (slowly) or I'll el vomito, (his made up word)'. When you reach the town you see it is on a Bay. Most of the shops and cafes are on one long street and the Church of Guadalupe Church Square. The Church was built in 1951 and has a red brick bell tower, (to make it look like it was built is Spain in the mid- 1800’s). The town looked very charming with the cobblestone streets and white or clay colored buildings.
The Sierra Madre Mountains are behind the city. We found out that there was a second area of shops that sold art, designer cloths and original handicrafts. You had to walk under a bridge to reach it. At one point Elizabeth Taylor had her house on one side and her Husband, Richard Burrton's home was on the other side. We did take a Jungle Tour to see the variety of fauna, flora and wild life that life on the edge of the town. We saw Crocodiles, Sea Turtles, and a hump back Whale. We saw a baby turtle break through its egg and that was the high point for my Daughters. The high point for my Son was when he was allowed to hold a baby crocodile in his hands! The highlight for me was when we saw a meadow of orchards and the birds of paradise flowers. My Husband loves to watch birds and he saw a few blue and red jaybirds, some doves and a peacock. There is every type of summer sport here and we would have enjoyed playing golf, tennis, fishing, take a horse back ride along the beach or go scuba diving, (etc), but we couldn't in the torrential rains. One night our hotel had a show that showed us the various types of dances and music of Mexico. Each of my Children was given a 'Mexican jumping bean' and to this day none of us knows what makes the bean jump around in your hand. I checked to make sure if the places we ate in town were still there and they weren't! I can tell you my Children fell in love with red snapper and ate it as often as they could. We only went into town to eat lunch a few times and dinner 4 times and other than that we ate at our Hotel or the dinning rooms of the Hotels near by because we were terrified every time we took a taxi home after the sun set.
The nicest thing we experienced was on Christmas Eve. We were in town and we sat at a cafe watching the shops close. The shop farthest away, (on either side), from the town closed first and the family each held a long candle walked to the next shop...etc. etc. They were singing 'Feliz Navidad', (I wish you a Merry Christmas), and by the time they reached the Church there was a parade of candlelights. Beautiful! SOME THOUGHTS: I did enjoy our visit to Puerto Vallarta but I would not go back. My Son did and had a great time, as do younger people who visit here. I have found other places in Mexico I prefer. If you have never been to Puerto Vallarta and you are not planning a trip in December or January I would recommend you try a visit here as it is now one of the cheapest Mexican Resorts to visit. ©LL
