Thursday - 17 Jan 2019 - Puerto Vallarta

Woke early and went to O’Sheehans for a tea and some computer time. It was only 23 C so it did not seem as hot as the last few days

Sunrise was not until 739 so it was dark and could not see anything but a few lights in the distance which could have been either boats or coastline villages in Banderas bay where Puerta Vallarta tis located. But the map showed that we were going to Marina Vallarta so we were a little confused.

 Margie joined me and we ordered breakfast. Oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon and brown sugar. Brown toast and jam. Tea and coffee.

 There were lots of little boats in the harbour going out fishing. Charters, and smaller ones. There were already two other cruise ships at the port so we figured that town would be crowded. 

The port is new and lovely to look at, not like the last three that were container ports. Puerto Vallarta or Marina Vallarta, wherever we were appeared to be all new high-rises and lots of building going on. We passed a pirate ship in the bay. Was it a restaurant? We did not know but it looked good. 

The passenger terminal was lovely all clean with gardens and music and dancers to greet usunder a large canopy to keep us out of the sun. I heard a gentleman on the loudspeaker say that this weather was very unusual for them at this time of year. So Cool 24 C . We thought it was nice. 

We got onto our yellow bus  with Jesus and sat at the back of the bus which turned out to be a mistake as we could hardly hear him throughout the tour. 

We went along the shore going south but not close enough to see the bay except at roads. There were hotels all along the water and then a pedestrian malacon with statues at every street but we were one block away and moving so I never really got a good photo of the malacon area. 

We were headed to old town Puerta Vallarta and soon the buildings were definitely showing signs of getting old and some were in need of some TLC. Some needed more TLC than others.

We finally stopped and got off the bus and walked down to the malacon for a The sea was rough and the sand beach was pretty much non existent.  Big rocks all along the shore.

 There was a small area where there was sand some people were balancing rocks  and had a donations box out but we had no change yet so I hoped we would come back that way but we did not. the piled rocks looked cool.

There was a sandcastle person who required a bit of repair work but we could tell it had been lovely to look at earlier. The Malacon in Puerto Vallarta   is decorated with pebble designs in the concrete  gives me ideas for my garden back home. Like all good malacons, there were statues of mermen and mermaids. 

A quick photo stop at the colourful Puerta Vallarta sign where Margies’s dress made her blend in quite well. They still had a few Christmas decorations up but Jesus explained that they celebrated for a month not a day. There was a lovely statue of three dolphins leaping.  And a nice prospect of the beach going back along the malacon. 

We came to a square with a statue of Mr Vallarta, the first Governor of the area. The square was nice with the gazebo and the benches and the trees. Right by the big cathedral with a crown on the top and a clock which told us it was 10 o’clock in the morning. the day was still young and it was not hot at all as it was so cloudy.

Jesus told us we had 30 minutes to use the washroom and see the church so Margie and I headed off to see the church first.  It was lovey white with stained glass windows and gold leaf trim. Very light and airy. a pretty church with quite a few tourists taking pictures, us included.

Very light and airy. There were a few tables outside the front door where some nuns and lay men were selling a few religious articles to help support the church . 

We ended up buying a pendant and a hummingbird to get change to be able to light a candle in the church. We said a few prayers and I put some money in the box to help take care of the church some more.  They were fund raising ,as most churches of any age are, maintenance costs being what they are.

We then used the ladies room in the city hall building across the street and met Jesus and  the rest of our tour group outside in the square.  we walked back to the malacon and took a few more photos and then it was time to pile back onto the bus and off to somewhere up the coast. 

We went speeding past lots of hotels with occasional glimpses of views of lovely beaches  and trees, lots of trees. Green blurs really. The road was the only highway along the coast so it was actually pretty busy with traffic going in both directions.

Kevin Costners house was pointed out to us, which he probably wouldn't really appreciate if he knew that the tour buses were telling everyone where he lives. I happen to like Kevin Costner so I took a photo of his house, not that I would ever stalk him although it seems odd that I just keep missing him in lots of places that I have been. In the Queen Charlottes, he was there just a week before I was, in Canmore he was staying in a house right up the street but I never saw him. and now I know where he lives in Mexico. Pretty funny.

 We stopped at a little spot right off of the highway to take some photos of the beach and there was man with the two iguanas, one large, not Lucas, and a bright green smaller one, Pochocillo.  He literally thrust the large iguana into my arms and perched the little one on Margies shoulder. quick take some photos and get the money from us so he could thrust the iguana into someones eases arms. felt bad for the iguana but I really just wanted to wash as I was not sure how clean the iguana was. Back onto the bus and we headed back into town. We still could not really hear Jesus, so we just looked out the window. 
On the way back we were treated to trees practically touching the windows , high walls of stone and earth. I could see where mudslides would cause big delays here. Back into town to go to Oscars for our free drink. 
A lovely little restaurant down some steps by a river and the sea with steps up to the malacon. We shared a guacamole and enjoyed our free margaritas. Then went up to the malacon and it was nice. Not  a great beach like in Mazatlan has but nice. there were lots of statues and the malacon, or sea sidewalk, was wide enough to give one plenty of room to amble by the sea. We shopped for a little while at the few souvenir shops  on our way back to the bus.

Onto the bus with our purchases and we were back to the “chip”, they all pronounce it chip.  We had dinner and went to the 7 o’clock show ‘Swing’ at the stardust. It was a good show with lots of singing and dancing and music. 
It had been an Interesting day. I like Puerto Vallarta but I think I like Mazatlan better. Probably only because I know it better.

Towel Animal  - Snelgrove the snail. We are getting quite the collection now.