Cracking Thunderstorm Here - Impressions of Puerto Vallarta
Aug 3, 2016 9:21:20 GMT 7
smokie36, onionluke, and 1 more like this
Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 9:21:20 GMT 7
Cracking thunderstorm, and of course it's the one time I haven't taken my camera out with me for a walk. No images, sorry.
The rain is teeming down the same way you see in Thailand, with the streets instantly flooding, catching out those who were determined to stay on the beach until the set went down. There's a waterfall cascading off one of the shop canopies, and every little boy considers it their duty to stand below until their mother screams for them to move. If I'd hv been their age, I'd be doing the same thing.
Beautiful women are pouring past me, soaked to the skin in their tight bikini's - damn, just when I needed that camera.
Anyway, I'm in the old town area - I was talking to an American lady who's family built a villa in this town in 1962. Her first visit was in 1968. She said that back then it was a sleepy fishing village, ( remind you of anywhere? ) but now it's like Miami. I think that's an exaggeration. The thing is, this town has grown and avoided the drugs war, unlike Acapulco which is a no-go zone now. That's happened relatively recently, my sister was there a few years ago and loved it. Tragic, the consequences of drugs.
There's a big American gay contingent here, so noticeable I wondered if I'd booked into the gay zone. They're all of a certain age, fifties and sixties - survivors of the Aidspocalypse. I was talking to one Californian last night who was telling me he's lived here for six years. He reckons that $1000 a month is doable if you are prepared to live in the equivalent towns of Jomtien, just up the coast. I read a highly rated blog that said $750 a month is doable here all told, again, out of town. The waiter in my local coffee shop was telling me that while there is a big gay contingent, the Old Town is mixed, with a great vibe - he's right.
A Swedish guy told me it was an alcoholics paradise, that's why he's here. Carafe's of local vodka for as little as $5. I'm off the drink, I won't indulge. A retired Canadian nurse was telling me that the food quality is excellent, and safe. Montezuma's revenge is not an issue in this town. On a trip to Walmart today the driver pointed out the best brothel in town, $60 short-time for the best looking girls, "aged around 20," he said with a knowing smile.
I'm finding the people very hospitable, English is widely spoken, and I know enough Spanish to understand a lot of what is being said to me. I'll need to brush up on that, though - should be easy to learn five hundred words in a few months. Invitations are flying in to go stay in local ranches and other assorted places. I'll pass for the moment but I will travel to see an American friend who has booked into Baja California soon.
The people run to help you. I was well-stocked with water and other essentials at Walmart, turned my back to speak to the Nivea sun lotion girl and the Mexican family in front of me were loading my trolley onto the conveyor belt. They felt sorry for me with my ten gallon water bottles. I thought was nice, and what was nicer was the actions of the receptionists at my first hotel.
My bag went missing, Iberia Airlines lost it. The receptionists took control of the whole situation making repeated calls on my behalf. I could see them getting stressed and said that I would do it myself ( I was already pestering Iberia on twitter ). "No," came the reply. "This is our country and we know how to get things done." So the bag arrived on Friday, and that resulted in a standing ovation when I walked back into the hotel with it. The saga of the missing bag had been big news to all the hotel staff. "Go check it and see if it's okay," asked the receptionist.
Ten minutes later I was downstairs with the good news that the bag was untouched. "Thank god there's still honest people in the world," the receptionist replied. She's right - and the two ladies that helped me know that there's people in this world that appreciate superb care and customer service. I won't post how much they know they are appreciated as I don't want to feed the Social Spastic Stalker Brigade. What a life it must be to wake up in the morning and go internet stalking a guy that's literally half way around the world. I must really be under their skin - maybe they should have sussed that I've been trolling the life out of them for years, and it's worked. Fantastic.
It's after 9.00 now, it's dark, and there's still people pouring off the beach, The beach ain't great, about the same depth as Patts, and way too busy. I find the heat down there searing - hotter than I've felt in Thailand. It was "only," thirty-one degrees the other day but with the sea and sand it felt forty plus. 've been warned it's only going to get hotter - fair enough - I'll do my digital nomad work in the afternoon and only appear in the mornings and evenings.
The cobblestones are a nice touch, and while there's an element of concrete jungle going on, it's done with a bit of style. You do see a few street hawkers going about but they're as goddammed persistent as the one's you see in Thailand. What's nicer are the buskers, who go from restaurant to restaurant playing local music. That lends to the atmosphere in the place. I even noticed a brass band playing to a group of American girls on the beach today - they work hard for their money.
Now the night owls are starting to appear, sharp dressed men and women tip toeing across the floods, The women have the right idea, off with their high heels and plunder through. The men? blunder through and hope the shoes won't be destroyed. They will be.
I'm pleased I came here. I'd never heard of this town before I started researching where I wanted to go. I didn't fancy Cancun, and as I said, Acapulco is off limits. It's a safe town, a good town - I hope to have that same impression when I leave in four months. I never fancied being rooted in Thailand, I think I've found a good CM equivalent here. I'd like to find a couple more, and with the world being a big place, I'm sure I will.
The rain is teeming down the same way you see in Thailand, with the streets instantly flooding, catching out those who were determined to stay on the beach until the set went down. There's a waterfall cascading off one of the shop canopies, and every little boy considers it their duty to stand below until their mother screams for them to move. If I'd hv been their age, I'd be doing the same thing.
Beautiful women are pouring past me, soaked to the skin in their tight bikini's - damn, just when I needed that camera.
Anyway, I'm in the old town area - I was talking to an American lady who's family built a villa in this town in 1962. Her first visit was in 1968. She said that back then it was a sleepy fishing village, ( remind you of anywhere? ) but now it's like Miami. I think that's an exaggeration. The thing is, this town has grown and avoided the drugs war, unlike Acapulco which is a no-go zone now. That's happened relatively recently, my sister was there a few years ago and loved it. Tragic, the consequences of drugs.
There's a big American gay contingent here, so noticeable I wondered if I'd booked into the gay zone. They're all of a certain age, fifties and sixties - survivors of the Aidspocalypse. I was talking to one Californian last night who was telling me he's lived here for six years. He reckons that $1000 a month is doable if you are prepared to live in the equivalent towns of Jomtien, just up the coast. I read a highly rated blog that said $750 a month is doable here all told, again, out of town. The waiter in my local coffee shop was telling me that while there is a big gay contingent, the Old Town is mixed, with a great vibe - he's right.
A Swedish guy told me it was an alcoholics paradise, that's why he's here. Carafe's of local vodka for as little as $5. I'm off the drink, I won't indulge. A retired Canadian nurse was telling me that the food quality is excellent, and safe. Montezuma's revenge is not an issue in this town. On a trip to Walmart today the driver pointed out the best brothel in town, $60 short-time for the best looking girls, "aged around 20," he said with a knowing smile.
I'm finding the people very hospitable, English is widely spoken, and I know enough Spanish to understand a lot of what is being said to me. I'll need to brush up on that, though - should be easy to learn five hundred words in a few months. Invitations are flying in to go stay in local ranches and other assorted places. I'll pass for the moment but I will travel to see an American friend who has booked into Baja California soon.
The people run to help you. I was well-stocked with water and other essentials at Walmart, turned my back to speak to the Nivea sun lotion girl and the Mexican family in front of me were loading my trolley onto the conveyor belt. They felt sorry for me with my ten gallon water bottles. I thought was nice, and what was nicer was the actions of the receptionists at my first hotel.
My bag went missing, Iberia Airlines lost it. The receptionists took control of the whole situation making repeated calls on my behalf. I could see them getting stressed and said that I would do it myself ( I was already pestering Iberia on twitter ). "No," came the reply. "This is our country and we know how to get things done." So the bag arrived on Friday, and that resulted in a standing ovation when I walked back into the hotel with it. The saga of the missing bag had been big news to all the hotel staff. "Go check it and see if it's okay," asked the receptionist.
Ten minutes later I was downstairs with the good news that the bag was untouched. "Thank god there's still honest people in the world," the receptionist replied. She's right - and the two ladies that helped me know that there's people in this world that appreciate superb care and customer service. I won't post how much they know they are appreciated as I don't want to feed the Social Spastic Stalker Brigade. What a life it must be to wake up in the morning and go internet stalking a guy that's literally half way around the world. I must really be under their skin - maybe they should have sussed that I've been trolling the life out of them for years, and it's worked. Fantastic.
It's after 9.00 now, it's dark, and there's still people pouring off the beach, The beach ain't great, about the same depth as Patts, and way too busy. I find the heat down there searing - hotter than I've felt in Thailand. It was "only," thirty-one degrees the other day but with the sea and sand it felt forty plus. 've been warned it's only going to get hotter - fair enough - I'll do my digital nomad work in the afternoon and only appear in the mornings and evenings.
The cobblestones are a nice touch, and while there's an element of concrete jungle going on, it's done with a bit of style. You do see a few street hawkers going about but they're as goddammed persistent as the one's you see in Thailand. What's nicer are the buskers, who go from restaurant to restaurant playing local music. That lends to the atmosphere in the place. I even noticed a brass band playing to a group of American girls on the beach today - they work hard for their money.
Now the night owls are starting to appear, sharp dressed men and women tip toeing across the floods, The women have the right idea, off with their high heels and plunder through. The men? blunder through and hope the shoes won't be destroyed. They will be.
I'm pleased I came here. I'd never heard of this town before I started researching where I wanted to go. I didn't fancy Cancun, and as I said, Acapulco is off limits. It's a safe town, a good town - I hope to have that same impression when I leave in four months. I never fancied being rooted in Thailand, I think I've found a good CM equivalent here. I'd like to find a couple more, and with the world being a big place, I'm sure I will.
