I thought i was relaxed, when sipping my Pacifico on Mismoloya beach… but I was wrong. Now I know what it feels like to be truly relaxed…
Day 7 was spent with Ailin’s cousin Bernardo and his family : Leonor, Bernardo Jnr (4 years) and Alejandro (8 months). We travelled about 1.5 hours out of Puerto Vallarta, into the next state north called Nayarit, to a little town called Guayabitos. If you were a foreigner, you would miss this place entirely. It’s off the main road, with no more than one set of Mexican traffic lights pointing the way. But once you get there… it’s as long as Seven Mile Beach, and has the warmest water you’ve ever dipped your toe in. Although it’s hard to find, it does have bungalos and villas.. but it is in no way as overcrowded as Puerto Vallarta’s main beaches are.
We spent the day drinking and eating, and when we were done we skipped towards the sea with wild abandon! I even went in, and wait for it… boogey boarded! I know!. It was a great pleasure to spend time with a 4 year old spanish speaker. I nearly had someone who I could communicate with. (Bernadito tiene cuatro años, y su papá se llama Bernardo).
Day 8 was a great day for Ailin’s grandfather – he met up with a friend he hadn’t seen for 50 years! His name is Carlos, and he owns a Fonda (small set-meal restaurant aimed at families in the local area) in Puerto Vallarta. The two of them acted like they were twenty something again, swapping stories about the places they’d worked, what they used to get up to as waiters at the Hilton in Mexico City in 1956. It was a really great day.
Later in the evening we went for a tour of suburban Mexico at night. Either people were buying food, or selling food, or in church. I wasn’t aware of it when we landed, but the days from December 1 to December 12 are THE most religious of the Mexican calendar. Mexico is a Catholic society, and when it was coquered by the Spanish, they adopted the Virgin Mary, but gave her dark skin and the name Guadalupe. December 12 is the day that Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego – who then took the message to the bishop in Mexico City, and now he is the first Mexican Saint. Suffice it to say, Puerto Vallarta (like all of Mexico at this time) is revelling in religious ceremony.
Today (day 9) IS December 12. Did I say that everyone here was Catholic?! After relaxing again on the beach at Mismaloya, we headed back into town for a quick bite… and the place was absolutely chock-a-block with Catholics! The processions that lead into the main church in town were phenominal – and they have been going for the last 12 days. Each night… the same thing, again and again. Only tonight it was bigger, better, and much much louder than ever before. Did I say louder? I mean seriously loud. Imagine 5 police cars, 2 fire trucks and 3 police bikes all with their sirens on right outside the restaurant. No… seriously.
It’s been a really fascinating trip so far, and we’ve only been to 3 towns! Tomorrow we head back to Mexico City, and from there we start our road trip around several places near to the city. We’ll check back in soon.. but in the mean time, we’ve included (with twisted arms) a photo of the infamous ring… enjoy!
(NOTE: we ran out of credit at the net cafe, so you only get a few photos today. We promise you’ll see more… be patient and stop yelling!)
