360 Landmark: Malecón Sand Sculptures: Aside from the magnificent sculptures that adorn our Malecon, one is endlessly surprised by the creativity of sand sculptors, who constantly reinvent the beachfront with unique figures.
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360 Landmark: Guadalupe Church: Year after year, it welcomes thousands of Catholics, particularly during an involved 12-day festival known as the Feast of Guadalupe every December.
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Photographer Spotlight: Jay Ailworth: From the time Jay Ailworth first saw the ocean at the age of five, he knew the sea would always be part of his life. The Coast Guard further convinced him. Later, while in the service in Viet Nam, Jay was convinced by some buddies to buy a bargain camera, and he discovered another essential element in his existence.
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El Tuito Sound Slide Show: This sound slide show complements our article on El Tuito, providing additional information on places to visit as well as more images. Check it out!
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A Touch of Mexico: Is anything more captivating than a touch of Mexico in your home? We talked with three local Mexican designers, asking for ideas and input for providing that special Mexican touch. Whether you live here or want to pick up something for your home elsewhere, you’ll appreciate the input they offered.
Dreaming Downtown into a New Existence: It takes a visionary to conceive a new reality for a space long taken for granted. We’ve all appreciated an evening or morning stroll on the Malecon, bumping into friends or acquaintances and exchanging a few pleasantries, if not salacious gossip.
Find It All Now!: Fashionable, stylish, chic, trendy, elegant, hip, smart and modish — not shoes or hairstyles, but everything required for your Vallarta home! From sofas to refrigerators, lighting to rugs, find it all — for indoors and out — just a short ride north of the airport in Las Juntas, along the highway to Tepic.
Mexican Collectibles: Harkening back to an era when no respectable soft drink would be sold in a can or plastic bottle, Lee and Nancy Chapman’s “Vintage Refresco Collection” of 198 unopened Mexican soda bottles makes a nostalgic statement in their Puerto Vallarta home.
Cravings: Nopales: At first glance, there is nothing particularly exciting about this rather unattractive, prickly vegetable. And yet, the unassuming cactus, or nopal as it is known locally, packs quite the star power. Native to Mexico, it was deeply entrenched in Aztec mythology, called “the plant of life” for its ability to produce a brand-new offspring from an old, dying specimen.
A Warm Salute to Inspirational Puerto Vallarta Restaurateurs: Exemplifying the wide range of qualities required to excel in the restaurant industry, each restaurateur pictured here has contributed immeasurably to the outstanding world-class dining scene this popular resort destination enjoys.
Great Finds: Caprina Cheese Shop: Visit the dairy section of any Puerto Vallarta supermarket and you’ll find a surprising selection of fine imported cheeses. But perhaps you’ll be more surprised to learn that you can satisfy your craving for Brie, Camembert, feta, fontina and other unique cheeses and support the local economy at the same time!
Eggplant Ravioli a la Lecther: Eggplant Ravioli a la Lecther courtesy of Mezzogiorno.
Jogging in Paradise: Not only is Puerto Vallarta a great destination for enjoying beaches, nightlife and art, it’s also the perfect place to enjoy exercising! Both early in the morning and late in the afternoon, it’s quite common to see people running along the Malecon, whether on their own, as couples, in groups or with pets.
El Tuito: Small-town Charm Just an Hour Away: With the advent of spectacular restaurants such as Le Kliff and outdoor activities such as those offered at Canopy Tours Los Veranos and the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens, an increasing number of visitors and locals are stretching their boundaries and exploring all the wonders our South Shore has to offer.
Raicilla, Mexican Elixir: When listing Mexican drinks, tequila is sure to appear at the top; however, there’s a new spirit that’s set to beat, or at least compete closely with, tequila in terms of popularity and quality: raicilla. According to the Mexican Wine Association, raicilla is a spirited drink with a defined aroma that reminds us of the sunny and well-drained lands that give birth to the agave.
39 Vallarta Essentials: You cannot visit Paris, no matter how brief a stay, and miss the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, or spend any time in San Francisco without succumbing to the temptation of crossing its majestic Golden Gate Bridge. Each popular world destination has its very own list of must-see/must-do items and Puerto Vallarta is no exception.
Hot Spot: El Pitillal Plaza: Thanks to modern conveniences, most of us today can tootle along major supermarket aisles and shopping centers finding just about every item we could possibly require on a day-to-day basis. This was not always the case, however, as exemplified today by the small-town charm of Pitillal Plaza.
Galeria de Ollas to Feature Miniature Pots: An unassuming thimble gives clues about the size of these exquisite miniature pots, only 1.5 inches tall, created by Mata Ortiz artist Guadalupe Gallegos.
Military Macaws: Military Macaws, or guacamayas as they are known locally, are a class of medium-sized parrots native to Mexico, Central and South America. Not quite as colorful as some of the larger members of the macaw family, the Military Macaws are equally impressive.
Refreshing Tuba: While tuba isn’t indigenous to Mexico and the word doesn’t come from the Spanish language, tuba is certainly part of the Malecón or beach experience in Puerto Vallarta.
