Well, here we are again... our annual trip away from the rainy, northwest weather. We love getting to this warm environment. This year was exceptionally nice for a couple of reasons: 1) home was not only rainy but cold and threatening snow and 2) Brad and Kaycie and the little boys were joining us for the second week. 
About the snow, we left just in time. It started snowing on Sunday after we left Saturday and there was record breaking snowfall that first week. Our home got about 18" of snow which was only beginning to melt two weeks later when we got home. We had so much snow still in our driveway that we had to shovel quite a bit just to get the car out of the garage. The car in the driveway was blocked completely by snow so would not be able to be moved for several days. Our laurel hedge suffered several broken limbs but will probably survive.
We got to Puerto Vallarta in the afternoon on Saturday 2/2, and after getting to our place we found that they were remodeling the lobby area of the timeshare building. They had built an entrance from the pool area to the elevators by taking out one room. They had closed off the little market , gym, bathrooms, spa, etc. We were on the 2nd floor north corner room which I loved because it had an entrance area with a couch. Also, it was next to the stairwell so we could easily go back and forth by climbing a few stairs. After unpacking, resting (Doug), pool dipping (me), we headed to dinner at Senor Frogs. We always enjoy the food and it's easy to get to so a great first night out.
Sunday we went to Walmart and it wasn't until a week later that I found out there was actually a Costco nearby which was about 3 years old. I look forward to checking it out next year.
My days were spent usually by heading with towels to the pool about 7am, going to the gym for 30 minutes on the treadmill, getting coffee at the hotel coffee deli, then to the pool catching up on reading and a few movies/ tv shows. Doug slept in a little, headed to town for coffee and or breakfast, walking around, working, then joining me at the pool in the afternoon. We didn't go on any tours this year. The first week we made a point to go to some of our favorite restaurants including: JoeJacks Fish Shack, Cerveceria Union, and D'z Route 66 diner at the Marina. Places we tried new the first week were La Angolo di Napoli (down a little ways from downtown Starbucks). It was very good pizza/calzone and fettuccini and Fajita Republic (Old Town) - very good fajitas.
Brad and Kaycie and the boys joined us on Saturday the 9th. We had gotten them a room through SFX so they were on the 3rd floor, while we had a 2nd floor room. Their flight was delayed due to snow at home (Oregon City) so they were hungry once they got there. The boys were troopers so we headed over to the bus stop outside of the hotel and took them to Senor Frogs for dinner. We had a great dinner, walked for a little while on the Malecon, then headed back to the hotel. Although the pool was closed we took the boys down so they could swim for awhile before bed. Once the kids were down for the night Kaycie and I rode the bus up to Walmart and taxied back.
We found it worked best if we let the kids swim in the morning, nap for awhile then head to dinner at 5 or 6. We took them to several places we liked including: Cheeky Monkey, Margarita Grill, D'z Diner, Victors, JoeJack's Fish Shack. On the last night there we walked along the waterfront just south of the Malecon but before the bridge. I tried the corn with mayo and cheese (rich but good). We found a great little place next to Pinocchio's for street tacos, 5 for $6.00. Afterward we walked back to the Malecon stopping for crepes and cotton candy for the boys.
We enjoyed beautiful sunsets, fireworks, walks along the Malecon, Old Town and Marina area and overall had a great time. The time went too fast!
Until next year...
Books: Finding Family by Richard Hill and The Summons by John Grisham
