Diary of 3 Weeks in Mexico

June 9th- Saturday
11am

We woke up to rain today- our first morning in Puerto Vallarta, on the beach. The rain had stopped to a sprinkle by the time we were really ready to leave the hotel at 10. We explored our hotels amenities, found the outdoor pool and ended up here- on the beach under the clouds... where we plan to be for the next few hours. That is if the beach vendors don´t pester the pale skinned and therefore immediately recognizable American girls too badly.

We arrived in Puerto Vallarta yesterday afternoon around 4. What should have been maybe a three hour drive to the coast distance-wise turned into a five and 1/2 hour adventure. Mexican roadways arent laid out very logically- no direct city to city connections really- every road is the scenic route. And though the seats were as comfortable and spacious as any first class plane ride, though the snacks were plentiful and the movies good- five and a half hours on any mountianous road, and on a bus no less, are enough to make anyone nauceous. We also stopped a few times to let passengers out or pick them up on what seemingly was the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. The ride was equivalent to if my parents drove route five from New Hartford to Fredonia, stopping to pick up both Brian and I in towns like Silvercreek, Chittenango or Stockton. Eww no thank you. So glad we´re here.

We checked the weather forecast last night and learned the next few weeks on the Mexican Pasific coast will be cloudy with scattered rain. So much for those sun-soaking days on la playa. Kristen and I however. are not bothered by this (though slightly dissapointed...). Just because the sand is wet, doesn´t mean you can´t lay on it. Just because the rain is falling doesnt mean we can´t walk the Malecon, swim in the Ocean or visit the plaza and cathedral. This city stop is still all about relaxation.. and if we have to relax in our hotel room as the lightning strikes over the ocean.. so be it.

There is a lot more english in Puerto Vallarta and many more American tourists than in Guadalajara. THere are some absolutely beautiful hotels and resorts, many ´tours and expiditions´to sign up for, lots of shopping, movies, restaurants. When our taxi drove south through the ´Hotel district´ from the bus station yesterday, it really looked as if someone picked up the resort area in Orlando, Florida and moved it here. Same big hotels, with the same brand names, all offering American food and english television channels.

While our hotel is quite a step down from these, it is quite a step up from our hostel of last week (which we loved). It is not, however, an American resort. It´s in the old town, south of the Hotel Zone ... the original Puerto Vallarta on la playa de los muertos. It´s quite nice, we have our own private room and bathroom and kitchenette. The Hotel Emperador is situated amongst Mexican condos, and old style stores and taco stands. Our balcony is oceanside and overlooks a fishing pier in which at any given time about 30 men and boys can be seen running from side to side with nets, capturing all sorts of things and then grouping excitedly together to look whenever someone´s caught something great. The pelicans, and there are so many, sit close by the dock waiting for whatever the fishermen may release.

I think it may be time to dip my toes into the Pasific.