International Flavor

I recently returned from my first week long trip in over five years. It was heaven! My friend Mrs M and I stayed with my MIL who rents a condo in Puerto Vallarta every year for a couple of months. The weather was absolutely perfect, the scenery was breathtaking, the food was delicious (PV is a foodie's delight) and the shopping (from trinkets to extravagance) was super. The condo was spacious - Mrs M and I shared a large double bed corner room with floor to ceiling sliding doors on two side for wonderful night breezes and we each had our own bathroom for privacy (we used the third bedroom for storage/dressing - so decadent!). The condo grounds were beautifully manicured with infinity lounge areas, swimming pools, hot tub (though at 80+ degrees why?) and a restaurant for table or poolside service. It was like an all-inclusive for access without the wristbands.

Sunday

Arrival

Dinner at Grand Venetian (hotel district - a few miles north of downtown PV)

Monday

Marina
Breakfast with a view
Shopping at Andrea’s jewelry shop
Thrifty ice cream

Shopping

Dinner at Barcelona Tapas *everything was good, but the Paella was amazing and the view was as good as the food!

Tuesday

Beach walk

Downtown Boardwalk El Malecon – Los Arcos, Our Lady of Guadalupe funeral

Shopping (jewelry)

Dinner at Gabby’s *tamarindo con chile margarita; old time Mexican movies on the adjacent building wall after sunset!

Wednesday

Sayulita by cab - laid back surfing community north of PV by about an hour, beautiful driveLunch at Mary’s *Sayulita taco was worth the trip alone!

Shopping (glass)

Dinner at El Palomar de los Gonzalez - former home with amazing outdoor spaces including waterfall

Thursday

Lounging poolside

Shopping (purses/jewelry)

Lunch at Oscar’s by the river 

Dinner at PiPi’s

Friday

90 min. massage - the BEST I've ever had ... and for only $36! Wish we could have gone every day!

Pina Coladas and guacamole poolside

Dinner at No Way Jose Flan was best I've ever tasted

Saturday

Downtown market (like a State Fair, Craft Fair and Farmer's Market all in one!)

Shopping & Starbucks at Marina

Dinner at Grand Venetian

To continue my international mood I made Irish Soda Bread, Irish Potato Pie, Irish Stew, and my first corned beef and cabbage the week of St. Patrick's Day. I can hardly wait for Cinco de Mayo!