They say that paradise is a state
of mind, but when all the ingredients are right, it can
also be a place. Puerto Vallarta is such a place. When
folks from Vancouver complain of 60 straight days of rain,
and folks from Phoenix talk of plus 100 degrees of heat,
and East coasters dig themselves out of snowbanks, the
planes heading south are full carrying visitors to fulfill
their dreams of a respite in paradise. And we are not
talking about Florida. Humidity and people sitting on
park benches awaiting their maker are not what we are
about.
Puerto Vallarta offers amenities
not readily available in any other part of the world,
let alone a resort destination. Temperatures hover in
the mid 80's throughout most of the year. The rainy season,
from late June to the first week in October, offers a
respite from the hotter weather of the summer months,
and the streets and sidewalks delight in being clean.
There are electrical storms that produce an orchestra
of lightning that dances across the sky. Then, it's back
to those glorious sunsets which produce "visitantes"
on every rooftop across the town, counting down to see
if there will be the proverbial "green flash"
as the sun sinks beneath the surface of our beloved Bay
of Banderas.
For those who choose to dance upon
the surface of tourist attractions, there is an unending
source of attractions, be it sailing, surfing or snorkeling,
sportfishing, golf, a trip on a balloon to gain a strategic
sight of the city above the madding crowds, and restaurants
galore. There is the marina where the boats hang out,
and the Malecon where the gals stroll up and down on Sunday
nights, brandishing their newly sewn dresses.
Marina Vallarta has come of age with
its host of European owned hotels. It has been compared
to the "Zona Hotelera" of Cancun, but unlike
the latter, it is but a 15 minute drive to the busy Malecon.
In Cancun, it requires a 45 minute drive to experience
anything authentically Mexican.
The town of "P.V." is filled
to the brim with authentic Mexico. From the airport south
to Mismaloya, adventure abounds. It used to be that folks
got off the plane, found their way to their hotel in the
Marina or Zona Central, and never got to the south side.
All that has changed. The "Romantic Zone" with
restaurant row centered along Basillo Badillo has been
discovered and rediscovered with every new restaurant
added. The shops along Olas Altas, the homes reaching
into Gringo Gulch, and the introduction of exquisite homes
along Amapas and stretching into Conchas Chinas has made
a bonanza of jeep renters.
Puerto Vallarta has the traditional
marks of gringo progress. Walmarts, Sam's Club, Mac Donalds,
even Home Depot has given rise to many a "double
take." The roots of Vallarta, however, go much deeper
than the surface trimmings. There is the family life that
huddles around an outdoor taco stand, and Los Muertos
Beach that fills with tents and sleeping bags during the
ceremonial times of Semana Santa and Semana de Pascua.
Outlying trips to Sayulita and San
Sebastian await the more curious. The streets there, mirroring
Vallarta, are filled with natives who proudly display
their culture. Just remember. The whales are not standing
in line at MacDonalds, awaiting an order of double cheeseburger
and french fries (freedom fries).
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