Puerto Vallarta - a gem that is being ruined

Tuesday 13 February

There was no good direct connection to Puerto Vallarta , so I took a bus to Tepic and caught a First Class bus to Puerto Vallarta from there. I like this journey through the foothills with glimpses of real cowboys at work.

How do you say THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG in Spanish?

The Adagio Inn in Puerto Vallarta proved to be a good home for the next week. I have a spacious apartment with full kitchen (alas, I used it only for breakfast), well decorated and very clean .. for $70 a night including tax (Not cheap for Mexico, but cheap by Puerto Vallarta standards). It is located about 10 blocks from the beach in a real Mexican neighborhood, not at all fashionable but interesting. Views from the rooftop terrace include the nearby mountains and the city roofs. Michael and Armando who own this small place (there are 4 apartments) are extremely hospitable and fellow guests were friendly.

Most of my time was spent with my friend Michael Natzke (from San Francisco) and his friends Jack and Simeon. We were there for Michael’s birthday which we celebrated in style at Café des Artistes (Guadalupe Sanchez 740 – Downtown) .. a real 5 star place ; we ate in the garden under the stars. Excellent food and wine and great company. http://www.cafedesartistes.com/the-restaurant/index.htm

I think Puerto Vallarta is being ruined by overdevelopment. Last year it was Plaza Hidalgo near Hotel Rosita which was ‘improved’ by removing the local street traders and covering the whole space in concrete. This year it was the plaza at the end of Olas Altos which was being converted to an underground car park with a sea of concrete above it. The area near the river which once had Hotel El Molino de Aqua (Lonely Planet description: Fully in keeping with Puerto Vallarta’s tropical village image with cabins dotted around a tranquil garden) is now raw land on which a huge condominium development is under construction. All the trees and greenery have been swept away. The former arts and crafts market near the central plaza is now a multi storey car park (why cars need an ocean view is beyond me). In addition to ‘uglifying’ the city, these developments are pushing out ordinary Mexicans in favour of franchise units, posh shops and foreigners. How do you say THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG in Spanish?