Keeping Kurrent

Looking North from a hotel rooftop in the Romantic Zone toward the Bay of Banderas. You can see hotels on the north shore from this location. It is an easy drive to the north by car or bus. It only costs 5 pesos (about 50 cents) to take a bus ride up north. It's well worth the opportunity. The airport is located in the north side of town as are many North-American style hotels. These hotels offer everything you need right on the premises. It is about a 20 minute ride from the north into downtown Puerto Vallarta. Other visitors choose to stay in Viejo Vallarta (Old Vallarta) because it's quaint, romantic and has more hotels per block than you would ever think possible.

Americans and Canadians in Puerto Vallarta

Changes from 2003 to 2007

The Vallarta Tribune, an English weekly newspaper, has a section enltitled, "Jus' the Facts, Ma'am." This section provides some valuable information about Puerto Vallarta. Items included here are: Area: 1300 square kilometers, Population: 300,000, Climate, Flora and Fauna, Economy, Currency, City Transportation, Time Zone, etc. For someone who visited in 2003 and returned in 2007 it seemed like a massive change. It seems that there's construction everywhere. There are new condominiums on hillsides, near the Bay, in adjacent cities and in the north side of the Bay of Banderas. There are vehicles on every street. You have to wait for minutes to cross the street because of the bumper to bumper traffic and the large tourist busses which are too big for the narrow streets.

Puerto Vallarta restaurants are always changing. In 2003 the Sand Bar Sea Food Restaurant was located on the 2nd floor of the building located on Olas Altas and Fancisca Rodriguez. (pictures below). However, upon my return in November 2007 the restaurant was turned into a French restaurant. I've forgotten the name of the restaurant, I think it's the Café des Artistes. It looked a bit expensive.

New information about an elementary and highschool in P.V.

While visiting in Puerto Vallarta I took a short ride north out of the city to visit the Colegio Mexican-Americano school. I took a look in the class rooms and met the school administrator, David Bender. I recently received an email from him talking about the school and asking for money. Take a look at his email by double clicking on school.

Hank Muffett and Conrad Kostelecky were owners of Chiles which, in 2003, was located on Pulpito street just off of Olas Altas.. They sold the restaurant and their recipies for rotisserie chicken, bread salad, and more to another person. The restaurant is now called Picnic. The food is not as good as it was when Hank and Conrad operated the restaurant as Chilies. We talked with them while visiting in P.V. and learned that they might open a new restaurant. Operating a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta has become a real challenge.

Gil Gevins being interviewed in 2003 by Wayne Potter at Lucy's Cu Cu Cabana. Lucy is Gil's wife. They have lived in Puerto Vallarta for some twenty years. Givens and his wife still own and operate Lucy's Cu Cu Cabana in 2007. He has now become a Mexican Citizen, continues to write books, and always has something to say about Puerto Vallarta. Unfortunately, he wasn't available for an interview during Nov. 2007. However, I did have a chance to meet him

Arlene O'Reilley is no longer the owner of the restaurant named Mama Dolores. She sold the restaurant to a couple in 2005 and left to go home again to Alberta. She was involved in a terrible accident and died while driving through Texas. This was really a sad event. The restaurant has great breakfasts with a French twist. One of the owners is French Canadian. They have a for sale sign up. This is a sign that restauranting is tough in P.V.

Carol Clarke is the Puerto Vallarta representative for Mexico Online. I met her in 2003 while visiting. I didn't run into her in 2007. However, You can ask her questions about Puerto Vallarta by connecting with Mexico Online(About Us page).

Here are some web site links that you can use if you're planning on visiting Puerto Vallarta or other Mexican cities.

1. Transitions Abroad
2. Live Abroad
3. Escape Artist
4. Expat Communities
5. Solutions Abroad
6. Meet Expats in Your Area
7. Travel Meet Up
8. Expat Forum
9. Vallarta Information
10. Seniors Travel Guide
11. Mexico Online