Last year we got a great deal on an RCI exchange visit to the Mayan Palace in Puerto Vallarta, and while there we purchased our own timeshare. So, here we are again thinking about Mexico and wanting to take advantage of our week. Although the Mayan Palace has other locations we both loved Puerto Vallarta and wanted to go back. I asked my sisters if they would like to bring their husbands and come with us. Carol and Mike will be going to Hawaii but Ruth thought it would be a great birthday surprise for Earl, so we started making plans. Last year we had no problem getting an exchange rate room at the Mayan at the Marina, so I didn’t anticipate a problem. As I started looking there was nothing available there, however they had rooms available through RCI at the Nuevo Vallarta Sea Garden, which is part of the Mayan property. We had visited there during our timeshare presentation and I knew it was beautiful; however it was about 20 minutes north of our hotel. Ruth indicated that she would be fine with that and I was under the impression that there was a shuttle between the two hotels. Additionally, we decided to go back to Old Town for a few days prior to moving to our condos, so we both booked rooms at the Posada de Roger where we had stayed last year. Two days prior to leaving for our trip I came down with a sore throat. I started gulping Vitamin C and anything else I could think of to knock this out before we left. Well, that didn’t work and as we flew down I was feeling all the more miserable. When we met up with Ruth and Earl at our hotel I was quick to nix the hugs and let them know to keep their distance. I tried hard to make the best of things as we explored our area, trying different restaurants and shopping. We warned them about the timeshare pushers who were several to a block. We learned that you just had to keep on walking. They would even come out when you don’t expect it, for instance you can be at a restaurant and your waiter might be making casual conversation with you- where are you from, do you like this area, etc. Next thing you know they are inviting you to a timeshare presentation. 
We walked along the malecon and enjoyed the entertainment that was going on. We love the malecon with all the beautiful statues, scenery, street performers. There are lots of shops and restaurants across from the malecon so there is really something for everyone. We also went into the City Hall building which has several adminstrative offices. There were huge paintings in the lobby and the stairwells. We took a bus down to Mismaloya bay and walked along the beach and went over to the beach restaurants. It was a good time to just take a break, have drinks and relax at the beach restaurant. Ruth and I went to get pedicures at the outdoor spa, and the guys entertained themselves.
We had told Ruth and Earl about the “Pie Lady” so while Ruth and I were at the spa, the guys talked to the waiter and found out that Juanita would be coming soon, so they were looking forward to that. By the time we got back they were visiting with Juanita and getting ready to purchase pie. We each ordered pieces and it was just as good as we remembered from last year. Ruth and I had also met Juanita in 1994 when we came to Puerta Vallarta with Carol. 
We took a walk out to the point where the ruins are from the movie set “Night of the Iguana” which starred Richard Burton. John Huston selected Puerto Vallarta to film the movie and that was the beginning of tourism to this area. There is a statue of John Huston along the Rio Cuale downtown. Down here in Mismaloya out at the point where the movie set was there is a post with an Iguana on it in memory of the site.
One of the days we took a Jungle Tour. The tour bus picked us up at the Posada de Roger and we made a stop at le Kliff
restaurant on the way, then we went south of Mismaloya Bay and went on to the tiny fishing village of Boca de Tomatlan where we visited a Tequila Factory nearby.
After a tour of the distillery we were given free mini sample shots of tequila, (and a free additional shot for me guaranteed to knock my cold out- didn’t work). Once we left there we headed back north to the jungle road directly across from the La Jolla de Mismaloya hotel. We started up the hill toward El Eden which was our final destination on this tour. We climbed the mountain on a dirt road which didn’t seem too sturdy and after more than a half hour we finally reached our destination. El Eden is the site where The Predator was filmed, and some of the set is still in place. They have since built a restaurant around the set, and they also have Canopy Tours that start there.
The restaurant does not have any electricity so daily they are bringing in fresh food, and cooking everything over wood stoves. We had a wonderful lunch and if we wanted we were invited to swim in the river, and slide down the natural rocks. We didn’t take them up on that offer! Ruth and Earl had booked the canopy tour for the next day, not realizing that we would be going to the same location on this day. After lunch we made our way back down the mountain and back to the hotel. It was a full day which we all thoroughly enjoyed. After resting a little we headed back downtown to the malecon to take in the evening entertainment.
We also took a taxi up the hill above the church and went to the reatuarant Ay Caramba and had a wonderful dinner. We timed it so we would be able to view the sunset. All the seating is outdoors on the deck and there is a beautiful view of the city. The mariachi singers stopped at our table to serenade us. The picture at the top with Ruth and Earl was taken at Ay Caramba. Sunday we moved to the timeshares. Since we were unable to get a room for them at our hotel, we rode with them to their hotel first, got them checked in and looked around the grounds. Then we left with them to go to our hotel to check in. We soon found out that there is not a shuttle between the hotels as we formerly thought, and that the bus they we catch immediately outside our hotel would not take them to their hotel. They could either take a taxi for $13 each way, or they could take a bus from their hotel to the Walmart, which was past our exit, then catch another bus (that came from our hotel) to get downtown, or at the Walmart cross the highway and take another bus to our place. From our place they could get downtown in 15 minutes. It wasn’t going to be ideal, but we would make it work. Speaking of Walmart, it is a good place to go and stock up on things for the condo so you can eat breakfast and lunch during the day, and go to town in the evening. That worked good for both of us. About the time we moved to the timeshare, Doug started feeling sick and I was beginning to feel a little better. We had scheduled an evening at a La Iguana Mexican Fiesta so we went downtown one evening. Doug really didn’t feel well but thought he would enjoy it. Well, as the evening went on we had a good time but at one point I think Doug fell asleep! Ruth, Earl and I enjoyed the evening, but when the show was over we went back to our room right away. From then on Doug was sick the remainder of the time and barely came out of the room. During the day I spent time by the pool and Ruth and Earl came over to join me a couple times. We went together downtown a few times and we all felt bad for Doug who didn’t even want to leave the room. 
We had a good time, even though we were sick, and even though our condo situation was not the best. Ruth and Earl enjoyed it and agreed it is a beautiful place, especially this time of year. I’m signing off with a picture of a Bougainvillea plant, which are everywhere in Puerto Vallarta. To see more pictures click below:
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