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| Fishing in Banderas Bay of Viejo Puerto Vallarta |
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| Scooping water from the bottom of this little fishing boat |
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| Kid friendly public art on Vallarta's Malecon |
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| Puerto Vallarta sand sculpture |
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| Oversize stylized horse along the Malecon |
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| Rock Eater.... |
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| Welcome to Puerto Vallarta - deserted beach... |
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| Fishing trip... |
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| Modernistic fish eagle with propellers...hmmm.... |
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| Triton and his Meermaid |
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| Weird but funny seating arrangement, made of bronze sculptures |
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| Puerto Vallarta, the most famous beach sculpture of them all... |
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| Display in an art gallery |
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| Mask with snake... |
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| The metal crown atop Vallarta's Cathedral |
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| Mexicana walking her dog... |
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| Fisherman's Pier with new adornment... |
Jalisco Province, birthplace of Mariachis, hot bed for a Cleopatra movie inspired romance between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Houston's 'Night of the Iguana'...and the rest is history.
From small coastal village to tourist Mecca, Puerta Vallarta has it all.
High rise hotels and condos line the shore of Banderas Bay, an elaborate cruise ship terminal fronts a line up of US mega stores in spitting distance of the harbour.
As soon as the ship was cleared by local authorities, the great stampede towards Walmart, Sam's and Staples started down the ramp of Amsterdam. A little bit (or maybe a lot) of familiar sights of 'back home' seems to draw ship's passengers to these icons of USA consumerism. Walmart must be to many passengers one of the most appealing sights of Puerto Vallarta, as some only left the ship to skip across the broad Freeway separating ship and shopping mall, pay Starbucks and Walmarts a short visit, and then flee back to the air conditioned comfort and 'safe food' of the ship.
By the way...Amsterdam is off 'code red', meaning restricted self service levels in restaurants and libraries, and we are again stomach bug free.
I headed for the trusty local transport opposite 'Soriana's', a much closer Mexican Mega store with better pricing, and caught a collective (bus) to downtown Old Vallarta. 3 Pesos, about 25 Cents US, took me to the centre of action. Being at the tail end of the tourist season has definite advantages, apart from a number of snowbirds walking their collection of dogs, there were not too many tourists left in town, hence there was not too much feverish party action going on in any of the beach restaurants and bars. Pleasantly tranquil, one could meander along the broad Malecon (Shore Side Pedestrian walk) to admire the last of the typical Vallarta sand sculptures, the many quirky public art statues, and an almost deserted beach. The Riverpark in the centre of town was left to roaming cats who were laying in wait for unsuspecting iguanas, a few night herons, some gardeners sweeping the grounds and a scattering of souvenir vendors. Blessed peace.
The old Fisherman's Wharf and water taxi terminal have been renovated. Now a sweeping ramp (with comfortable wheelchair access) has taken its place, and a modernistic metal structure representing a full sail, rises above the new pier. Locals fish from small pangas or plastic ocean canoes. Fish is plentiful, cavorting Dolphins chase them all around the bay.
I suppose that many North Americans and Canadians have visited Puerto Vallarta at one point or another, ergo much commentary would be superfluous. Let the photos re-awaken old memories...
