Puerto Vallarta, MX
Trip Start
Jan 02, 2012
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16
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Trip End
Apr 12, 2012
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Monday, January 23, 2012
The tour started with a bus tour of the hotel area and some of the residential area and after a stop at a shopping area were driven through the old part of the city and the market on River Cuale Island.
This was a pleasant tree covered area with many traditional vendors with the usual Mexican merchandise. Then we crossed a hanging bridge and walked through the older streets to Our Lady of Guadalope Cathedral and a view of the famous bell tower that was damaged by an earth quake but which still presides over the city.
After leaving the cathedral we proceeded to the city hall to see one of the famous Mexican painting which grace many of their municipal buildings. The Malecon was nearby and the breeze off the water was a welcome change from the heat contained in the narrow streets.
Our last stop was at one of the local restaurants where we were served the ingredients for a variety of Mexican dishes and given a cooking lesson before we chopped the items and prepared each dish at the table before eating. The salsa was great and the moule enchilada was a good finish to the meal. Eddie and Sheila, dining room table mates, joined us for this lunch. A great way to get to know them better.
This was not one of the most exciting of tours and we felt rushed throughout. However it was a pleasant day and an overview of this very touristy town.
Puerto Vallarta was essentially a hideaway for the rich and famous, until 1963 when John Huston made the film 'Night of the Iguana' starring Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr and Ava Gardner. Elizabeth Taylor accompanied Richard Burton to the town during the filming and attention was focused on this small community as the public followed the famous 'affair'.
We arrived back at the ship with plenty of time to relax before the ship left harbor at 5 pm - Just in time for us to change for dinner. From the dining room we headed to the Showroom at Sea to watch the acclaimed movie 'The Way' followed by the Filipino Crew Show. The crew work all day and after all their chores are completed don native garb and perform some of their local dances and songs. It was a good introduction to the homeland of much of the crew.
