We went on top of the ship after breakfast to watch our approach to our next to last port of call, Mexico, of our trip. We enjoyed watching lots of dolphins swimming in the bay as we sailed into the port...probably the most we have ever seen on our trip. One exciting moment was on the front of the ship seeing them dive under the ship with a baby one right beside the mama. So cute!
The ship tied up to the dock at 12:00 allowing us to leave by 12:30.
We were greeted by beautiful costume dancers and a mariachi band...12 musicians as well as a cute minature burro. Puerto Vallarta is the birth place of the mariachi bands.
They also invented the the little drink,Tequilla, here.The pier had completely changed since the last time we were here three years ago. It was really snazzy....green grass, lots of palm trees, a paved parking area...it was really the nicest port that we have visited during the whole trip. We shared the port with two other cruise ships...Holland and Carnival. Princess Cruises was the first ship ever to come to Puerto Vallarta back in the early years of the company and they coined the name "Mexican Riviera" that caught on quickly.
Puerto Vallarta was a quiet little sea town until actor, Richard Burton, and, director, John Houston made the film, "Night of the Iquana" here back in the 60's. Burton bought a little house on the beach and brought Elizabeth Taylor on down. From that point on, the town became known as great winter escape for northerns.
The last time we were here Larry and I jumped on a local bus and rode down to the old part of the city. Today we walked across the street to a brand new modern shopping mall to get a few things and try to call home. It was really a nice place...we kept saying, "Are we really in Mexico?" cause we had never seen this side of the country before.
We decided to walk north toward Nuevo Vallarta...where the snow birds live. We came to the Marina and some very nice condos around the harbor with great restaurants and neat little shops lining the docks of huge yachts. We were amazed again!
Entrance into the Marina
Oldest light house in Puerto Vallarta
We stopped at local fishing pier to have a couple of cool ice teas with a couple of Mexicans who ran a parasailing venue on the beach. They were so much fun to talk with. Their English was excellent and they made the afternoon slip by too quickly.
We had to hustle back to the ship arriving back just in time for the 7:30pm "All Aboard Call". We had a delightful dinner up on the back of the ship and watched the twinkling lights of Puerto Vallarta's pass us by as we left the harbor! What a great day! We had experienced a whole new side of Puerto Vallarta that left us saying..."We want to come back here again!"
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