“Life is a series of waves to be embraced and overcome.” Danny Meyer

Don’t laugh this week ~ we took time off from our permanent vacation to take a vacation for a few days of rest & relaxation by the seashore … in Puerto Vallarta! 😂

We boarded a Volvo double-decker bus with panoramic windows in Guadalajara that during our trip unfolded an ever-changing landscape. From city to suburbs to rows and rows of fields of planted agave as far as the eye could see (passing by Tequila). From the high desert to mountain passes and finally, the tropical coastline. The trip took six hours but these autobús had three-across seating and more legroom and reclining space than most business-class sections on US air carriers.

Stepping out of the bus in PV, it felt like you walked right into a pot of steaming tamales……it was muy Caliente 🔥 hot ‘n humid! We quickly jumped into an a/c Uber for our 30-minute ride to our B&B in the beach area called Conchas Chinas (aka the Beverly Hills of Vallarta). The drive took us through the hotel zone, Old Town, and finally the zona romántica before the car started climbing.

Quinta Maria Cortez is a collection of 7 distinctive rooms perched on a seaside cliff with direct sand access below and a small, semi-private beach; decked out with lounge chairs and umbrellas. Once we opened the door to our suite, we encountered an open-air living room with two balconies with a view to die for. There was a small and fairly complete kitchen (we did not use it). The bedroom was reached through double wood doors opening onto a foyer with steps leading to palatial size accommodations: king bed with mosquito netting (not necessary), a huge, black tiled bathtub, large seating, and dressing areas. The room was full of architectural details and unique pieces of furniture and decor. Have I died and gone to heaven?!

For the next few days, our most important decisions were: do we go lay on the beach, search for shells, take a dip in the pool or just sit on our balcony and watch the waves crash upon the shore? Some days we did them all in no specific order.

At night we’d sit in the living room mesmerized with the view; all you could hear was the ocean crashing on the shore and the distant lights across the expansive bay.

The B&B breakfast was a selection of fresh fruits, yogurt, granola, and eggs or omelets made to order along with other compliments. The room was supplied with coffee, beers, and an assortment of soft drinks. Great internet connection, but alas, not a tv on site 👍 👏 !

Dinners we struck gold……it happened to be restaurant week in town. It runs for 4 weeks and we came at the tail end of it and got to enjoy many different tastes of the town: Asian Fusion and killer sake and tequila margaritas at Arthur’s Wok. Seafood at Ocho Tostadas – grilled octopus and fried snapper washed down with Negra Modelo. Modern Mexican at Daiquiri Dick’s – chipotle bbq ribs for David and perch and polenta for myself.

But the jewel in the crown was the exquisite nouvelle cuisine at “Cafe des Artistes,” a Vallarta institución in el centro. The service, food presentation, and tastes were impeccable. We were introduced to an excellent Sauvignon Blanc from the famous Mexican Guadalupe Valley. Our audio senses were ignited as we were serenaded by roving musicians and singers: a wonderful Mexican harp player, violinist, and a piano player cued into accompanying them; all lent themselves to an evening of casual elegance. Incredible artwork abounded throughout the rooms. This restaurant ranks right up there on a par to any others we’ve been fortunate to experience in New York and Los Angeles.

You all know that in most of our trips I love to discover ways to push David’s buttons, scare the bejesus and fears out of him; in other words, challenge the city boy comfort zone.
This time it was an ATV adventure excursion high in the mountains above PV. Here is how it went:
David – “No, I’m not doing it, not changing the damn gears, no, no …”
Me – “Ok, will cancel or you can ride with me.”
Guide – “Let me take a few moments to make you comfortable and confident on how to safely operate it.”
David – “OK, I feel better …” He revs the engine and off we go, for the next 4 hours a smile never left his face … climbing higher and higher … splashing through the riverbed. A light lunch riverside nourished us onward.

Many a night after dinner we’d walked parts of the mile plus malecón that becomes a mass of humanity right before the nightly, glorious sunset … local families and tourists alike promenade – passing shops, restaurants, and clubs. The wide path is sprinkled with public artwork.

For both of us it was our first time in PV and certainly won’t be our last … we left many things to explore.