As you may have guessed from the long delay posting that entry, the gremlins of the computer world had their way with me. I've looked long and hard into every nook and cranny I can think of on my computer to no avail. No draft report on Puerto Vallarta to be found.
So here we go again. Maybe the report will be better now that the memories have aged and had a chance to improve. Although, I must say we all agreed at the time that Puerto Vallarta was the best of the three stops we made in Mexico.
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After an uneventful overnight voyage from Mazatlan on smooth seas we arrived in Puerto Vallarta a little after six in the morning, 1/21/16.
After breakfast we watched the early debarkees lining up for their excursions. On one side were harbor and bay cruises and a pirate ship, on the other were catamarans offering more water trips.
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| Cruise passengers lined up to board boats for a cruise around the bay. The pirate boat line was shorter. Maybe passengers were frightened off by the realistic looking pirates. |
First we asked how much to take us to the old part of town. He said there were two rates, one of $6 each for the closest part of the old town and another for $8 each to the middle of the old town. He then offered to drive us anywhere we wanted to go for three hours for $140. Well, that price was lower than most of the excursions but we thought it high so we said no that was too high. After a couple minutes he seemed to take our side and offered us the same deal for $60. We agreed and hopped into his little taxi and went to town. First stop the "boardwalk" as he called it.
The boardwalk was made of concrete and pavers. It was a nice promenade but no wood to be found. Palm trees marched down the middle of the walk with smaller tropical trees and bushes alongside.
In Spanish this type of "boardwalk" is called malecon, meaning a a walkway along, and above the stone breakwater behind the beach.
In any case it was a pleasant walk and wonderful weather so we wandered along until we came to a steel pole about 80 feet high on the beach where some local (I guess) Indians (I guess) were performing a ceremony. They were dressed in colorful clothes with feather headdresses.
When I first saw them there two atop the pole winding some ropes around the top of the pole. They worked at it until they had four ropes wound around the top of the pole. One by one three more guys climbed up the pole (not a safety belt or harness to be seen) and sat on a small platform on top where one began to play a flute and the others chanted.
During the chanting and fluting four of the Indians tied a rope to one leg and finally after the chanting was finished those four launched themselves backward over the edge of the platform and the ropes began to unwind. At the beginning they were swinging around the pole quickly but as the ropes lengthened the pendulum effect set in and the rotation slowed until finally they reached the beach, released the ropes and landed upright as the Indian still on top finished his flute music.
After the show we made our way back to our taxi and our friendly driver took us to the famous Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in the central area. There was no parking so he dropped us off then drove around a few blocks while we looked at the church. The inside looked inviting but there was a service in progress so I didn't want to intrude and take photos in the midst of the worshipers.
On the steps leading into the church were two beggars, the first I'd seen in Puerto Vallarta.
Next stop, the central market where there were over 500 vendors according to two of the shop keepers I questioned
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| The market was a large complex of buildings surrounded by open air vendors |
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| Inside the market were many aisles with many vendors. |
Back in our taxi our driver seemed to sense that we were near exhausted, and certainly made very thirsty by our bargaining and sightseeing so he took us to the waterfront where we found seats in a nice bar facing the beach. The roof was thatched, the framing was rough poles and the margaritas were handmade. Couldn't ask for a better place to relax, watch the passers by and quench ones thirst.
Too soon the time arrived to leave our pleasant refuge and head back to the ship.
We arrived at the pier, paid our driver, passed through security and went on board to watch the crew cast off and set sail for Los Angeles.
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As we sailed out of the harbor we all agreed that Puerto Vallarta was the best stop of the trip. The weather was perfect, the surrounding hills were green, the people were friendly and the margaritas were top notch.
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| Our ship at anchor three days before at Cabo San Lucas. |
On the way back to Los Angeles the seas were lumpy and we lost connection to the satellite so no internet, or so claimed the Internet Cafe Clerk. Personally, I think it was a WiFi problem aboard the ship itself, but what do I know.
The last night out of Los Angeles was the night of the full moon. I had taken a photo of the nearly full moon the night before and that will have to do since it was cloudy the night before arrival.
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| The nearly full moon rising over the ocean. |
As we pulled into the channel at San Pedro a little before six on Sunday morning, 1/24/16, we saw the full moon setting in the west.
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| Full moon setting in the west over San Pedro. |
Then Sunday night as we were entering final approach to SEATAC from my window seat I saw the rising moon off the wing of our plane. It isn't a very good photo but it fits into the series of moonshots so I include it here.
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| Moon rising over the Cascades and our plane's winglet. Safety light on the back of the wing below the winglet |
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