No doubt about it, the highlight of our visit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico this year was our visit by Senior Iggy, the Iguana.
It was time to say goodbye to Puerto Vallarta. We packed up our clothes, laptops, dock kits, etc., and were wondering where we would find space for the goodies we had bought. Like most experienced travellers, we carry minimum luggage. Space is at a premium. Somehow, we always seem to have a few square inches to spare, however. Our Kindles help; a travelling library is no longer required.
Checkout was at 10:00. The plane was leaving at 3:30. Translate: Lots of time to kill. We headed over to the hotel’s open-air restaurant that overlooks Banderas Bay. Maybe some dolphins would entertain us. We didn’t see any, but Angel, the headwaiter, spotted us and came hurrying over. Peggy has befriended him over the years. I am in charge of generous tips. The combination assures excellent service.
Peggy and our waiter, Angel, at the Krystal Hotel.
While we missed seeing any dolphins during breakfast, we found this scene rather amusing. I wonder who the boy’s father is? (Grin)
As always, we had enjoyed our two weeks— one with friends and one on our own. We had eaten several good meals, sat out on the beach, watched beautiful sunsets, appreciated the art, and enjoyed the wildlife, including Senior Iguana, who had stopped by for a visit. Walking three to five miles a day and limiting ourselves to one major meal meant we might go home skinnier than we came. That would be a first.
Much of the art on the Malecon encourages interaction, much like Burning Man art. Here I am with our friends Ken and Leslie Lake.
Numerous good restaurants in Puerto Vallarta always tempt us. Peggy chomps down on a tropical creation.
Speaking of the tropics, this plant certainly had a tropical look.
As did this flower.
And this palm tree.
Pigeons are found everywhere but this fellow with his unusual ‘flight patter’ on his back caught my attention. I must have chased after him for ten minutes with my camera.
A view of our hotel. When we started going to Puerto Vallarta, the Krystal stood side by side with one-two story buildings. Now it is surrounded by skyscrapers. So much for ambience.
We headed out to the beach every evening to catch the sunset. I liked the silhouette of these palm tress that was created by the setting sun.
Old and new Puerto Vallarta: A cowboy stops to talk with someone as a cruise ship disappears into the distance.
Counting up left over pesos is always part of our departure ritual. Peggy’s responsibility is to then go out and spend them. She darted across the street to the furniture-plus store while I worked on writing in the hotel’s lobby. I now have another blog in the Grand Canyon series (you will see it on Friday), and Peggy has two new colorful cereal bowls.
Finally, after what seemed like a long, long time, we grabbed a cab for the short ten-minute ride to the airport. And here I have something important to report— the security-check was a pleasure. What?? No way!!! Peggy and I work really hard to make TSA officials in the US laugh. On rare occasions, we even get a glimmer of a grin. I think TSA has a no-smile rule, like the guards at Buckingham Palace. But here, the agents were actually smiling on their own, like they enjoyed their jobs, like they were happy to see visitors, like they recognized the odds of us being terrorists were infinitesimally small. Back in the US they probably would have been fired.
A final Puerto Vallarta sunset.
NEXT BLOG: Back to the Grand Canyon and hostile spirits from another realm.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Adios Puerto Vallarta. Gracias por un buen tiempo real usted.
Si Senor…
Love that sunset. Mexico is high on my to do list but I am always drawn to the east of the country – can’t explain why!
Closer to Home? 🙂 Or possibly the Mayan and Aztec history… –Curt
How nice to have such a long history with a travel place.
It is Susan. We always wonder when we leave whether we will be back. But somehow we always return. –Curt
It’s always a bonus when we come home from vacation a few pounds lighter than when we left. But you’re right–it doesn’t happen often!
It was a little harder in Sacramento celebrating Thanksgiving with family. 🙂 –Curt
That last photo is a beauty! Sounds like you all had a fine time.
Alison
That we did Alison… and you can never go wrong with Puerto Vallarta sunsets. 🙂 –Curt
That does sound to have been a very special holiday. Well, if the TSA officials are starting to change their tune, might even make it to the States one day 😉
Slowly, is the word that applies to TSA officials. 🙂 –Curt
That dessert in front of Pegge is going to be stuck in my mind all day now. My fave photo is the one of the horses on the beach, with the ship in the background.
I think it is still stuck in Peggy’s mind, Crystal. As for the horses, it was one of those lucky photo ops.
I’m so glad to have another appearance from Iggy. I do like that creature. And here’s an odd fact I just learned last week. Your palm tree called to mind the fact that palm trees are, botanically speaking, grasses. Who knew? You might, but I certainly didn’t.
I love the photo of the cowboy. It’s my favorite of the bunch — perhaps because it’s a reminder that life goes on in these places, whether the visitors come or whether they go.
Palm trees, along with banana trees, pineapples, and sugar cane, Linda… all monocots and members of the same family as grass. And yes, I couldn’t leave with out including Iggy one last time, nor could I resist the cowboy photo. I thought it might be too dark. –Curt
I absolutely LOVE the close up of the Iguana. That would have been my highlight too, I just love photographing them! Even if they always look like they hate it.
Thanks, Laura. It’s the reptile look. 🙂 Even a smile makes iguanas look like they would like to eat you. —Curt