Sayulita

I decided to go to Sayulita today. It is a little town about 30 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. It's known for surfing and is much more laid back than Vallarta. I absolutely loved it. I'm coming back at least once before I leave. The town itself is small and easy to navigate. I parked and walked two blocks to the beach. Even though there were a lot of Americans, this place is more "Mexican" and less touristy than Puerto Vallarta. The waves are a lot calmer and the little bay is shallow. It is easier to relax out in the water rather than fight the waves coming in every ten seconds. There were gold flakes in the sand, and it made the water shimmer. The town and the beach were much cleaner than in Vallarta, and though there were vendors selling things on the beach, not once was I asked if I was interested in buying anything. What a change! Politely rejecting the vendors on the beach in Vallarta becomes exhausting after an hour or so.

Main plaza in Sayulita.


A view of a street in Sayulita.


Another street.


View of the beach.


Beach at Sayulita.


Another view.


View of the bay.

Marisma

There are lots of street vendors near my place, but they all serve beef. I am tired of making all of my own meals so I searched the internet to see if anyone had discussed Puerto Vallarta street vendors. Someone actually had a website with maps and ratings of all street vendors and I chose to try Marisma, about five blocks north of me in a neighborhood I hadn't yet explored. I got shrimp finger tacos and they were amazing. Two of those with a drink was less than four dollars. I will be going back often before I leave. However, they close at 5pm, so it's strictly a lunch place for me (since Mexicans usually eat lunch around 3pm, this makes sense, but I'd like to go for dinner too if it was open longer).

Day Tour

Josh and Sarah decided they wanted to do a day tour on Monday. We started by getting on the boat and traveling to Los Arcos, a rock formation just off the coast where we snorkeled and saw fish, jellyfish, eels, etc. Then we traveled to a beach accessible only by boat to walk 30 minutes to a waterfall in Quimixto. We had lunch there and traveled back to Vallarta. Of course, complimentary drinks were available while we were on the boat. They both went home today and I'm back to my routine here at the apartment.

This was a seagull who was flying next to the boat. It was eating cheetos from peoples' hands.


This is one of the rocks that are "Los Arcos." We were able to swim inside to see the wildlife under the water.

More Fun

We went to the beach Saturday for most of the afternoon and had drinks and lunch under the umbrella. It was actually a lot less busy than Friday. Then we went out to eat at a place on the beach. Vallarta has this "restaurant week" where participating restauarants give you a package deal for a fixed price. We all got the same entree, which was seafood. Then we went out to the bars. We stopped at the first one to see the friends I've made who work there. Then we went to another one to see a show and watch Josh attempt to dance (just kidding, Josh, you dance fine!) and finally to one more where we decided at 3:00 and some change in the morning that we were ready to call it a night.

At the restaurant.


Sarah and I at the restaurant.


Sarah and Josh.


The three of us at the beach.


Again!


Sarah and I staring into the sun. She still managed to smile though.


Sarah and Josh at the only bar we went to on Friday night. Everyone was still a little jet lagged so we called it a night early.

Visitors!

Josh is here! He got in yesterday afternoon. We went out to eat when he got in, and then off to a bar where my friends work for some drinks. Josh was thirsty, so we went to another place afterwards. We'll just say he had a good time. Today was all about the beach. Another interesting day. Sarah will be flying in in a few hours, so we'll catch dinner before picking her up and hitting the town.

Josh and I at the beach.


Josh at dinner last night.

Leo at the beach

I took Leo to the beach this afternoon. He sometimes gets spooked by large crowds but he did well. The water, though, still makes him nervous. More than one person called him an "oso," or a bear.

Testing

I bought a new camera today and it has a lot of options on it that I'll probably never figure out. The user's guide is on a CD rom, which my laptop doesn't have, so it's trial by error. I took some pictures of Leo, in which he always managed to look pathetic. He doesn't seem to enjoy having his picture taken.

Today's been the only consistently cloudy day I've seen since February. No rain though, and none in the forecast. I took a bus to buy my camera instead of driving, since parking at the mall costs money and it was just cheaper for me to take the bus. It took longer than normal but it wasn't difficult.

New photos and a Dying Camera

I walked around today to take photos. However, my camera's little screen was going from black to white to fuzzy, like bad reception on tv, and two photos I took didn't come out. I gave up. I suppose it's time for a new camera. I took a photo of the outside of my place as well as graffiti that says "Kill Canadiens." There are a lot of Canadians here in Puerto Vallarta, so I'm not sure if this relates to them or their sports team (hockey?). The other photos are here.

I live three blocks from the beach, but between my block and the next block is a huge hill. This is a photo from my street TWO blocks away from the beach but facing away from the ocean.


This is a view of the interior: courtyard and the building where I live.


Another view from inside the building.


Between two and one blocks from the beach from my street, facing the ocean.

So far

It has been nearly as easy to make friends here as it was in Guadalajara. My neighbor, Jacobo, works at one of the bars near here and has been invaluable with info on what to do at night, as well as getting me a discount at the gym and we've been going together this week. Even though I have my car, we take the bus, because it is easier, faster and probably cheaper. I have spent everyday at the beach for at least a little while, bringing a blanket and a book everyday this week except for today. I really love being able to walk everywhere. The only time I've driven so far is to have my car washed, since it is sitting outside of the apartment, where it is dusty and in direct sunlight all day. Since vegetables and fruit are cheap when compared to those in the U.S., I've been making a lot of egg/vegetable/sometimes bean/cheese burritos. I've eaten out only a few times, and even then, you can find really reasonable places to eat if you look.

I took Leo to the beach this evening for the first time, and he sniffed around as eagerly as he did the first time we walked in Guadalajara, except this time he was a little intimidated by the sound/sight of the waves coming in. He really seemed to enjoy it though. We went after sunset to avoid people out on the beach, and there were only a handful when we went.


My bedroom here in Puerto Vallarta.


My kitchen.


My front patio. My apartment is inside a courtyard so other than the sounds and voices of the others in the "complex," it is totally quiet and secure as well as cool - no need (yet) for A/C, which is good since I don't have it.

Vallarta

I love it here. I haven't driven since arriving. I have been cooking most of my meals and it has been cheap. Even eating out, since there are so many places, is cheap if you want it to be. The beach is great. I found a gym. The bars are fun. I may not leave. Pictures coming later.

Tequila Express

Yesterday Mom, Kristin and I took the Tequila Express to Amatitan to see the Herradura tequila distillery. We took a train there and back. I forgot my camera, but Kristin took a few photos. There was folk dancing, Mexican food, guided tours, and unlimited free alcohol on the train. Most everyone on the tour was Mexican and a great majority of them were drunk by the end of the trip. I went out last night which was a mistake, already being tired, and having to drive to Puerto Vallarta today. But I am here safe and sound and I already love it here. It is beautiful. The drive was too. Highway 15 from Guadalajara to the half way point between PV and GDL is amazing. The landscape is really beautiful. Mountains, cacti, lava, pine, palm and anything else you would think would be here (and maybe not). I really like this apartment. It is in a courtyard of a three story building on a pretty quiet street just blocks from the beach. I don't think I am going to the beach today but I plan to walk around in a while to get a feel for where I am. Plus, I have to find a phone charger and a leash for Leo as I left both in Guadalajara.