Mexico Part 2
We left the resort late Saturday morning. It was pouring and looked like it would be raining for the rest of the day.
We took a taxi to PUERTO VALLARTA
And the drive was a bit exciting. I also think it was further than, at least, I expected.
The taxi dropped us off at HACIENDA ALEMANA and took off. There we were left on the side of the road with all our bags. At least it was not raining hard. This hotel also has a restaurant and it seemed like that was all there was.
A lovely lady who was from California but living in Mexico stopped to help us. She thought the building was only a restaurant.
I could feel the tension building.
At just the right moment, Irma, one of the owners, walked up and unlocked the door. We were in the right place.
She showed us to our rooms. I never saw Leslie’s room but ours was quite nice and well designed. We had a lovely porch overlooking the courtyard in the center of the hotel. The cost of our room included a nice breakfast that was different every morning. The restaurant in the hotel looked lovely. Although we never ate there we did make good use of the bar. The family that owns the hotel could not have been friendlier and more helpful.
The first night, remember it is still raining, we decided to go to the Vista Grill for dinner. I think this was either the first or second rated hotel in town. It looked very close, only around the corner and up the hill. Well, it was just a bit further than that and the hill was cobble stone water fall that seemed to go straight up into the black nowhere. As we were climbing up we decided that we would take a taxi home. When we got to the flat area that should have been the address of where we were headed, we could only barely see two houses. Fortunately a car pulled up to one of the drive ways and the four of us dripping gringos walked up to his car, praying he spoke English. I was practicing how to say HELP in Spanish. He pointed just behind us to some stairs we could not see and said the restaurant was up there.
At that moment we saw two musicians coming down the almost invisible stairs and headed up all 60 of them. No, I really did not count. I was too busy praying once again.
The restaurant was beautiful. They even brought me a lovely shawl to keep me warm. We were all pretty soaked.
The next morning Tatiana was our tour guide to a lovely Botanical Garden just outside of town. She drove us past beeches and arches in the ocean made out of rock. The mountains were glorious. I had wanted to get up into those mountains ever since we started coming to this area about 3 years ago. Leslie picked out this tour because she knew I would love it.
In case we needed more excursive the garden was up and down the mountain on endless steps that were always changing. It seemed like every step was a different height or width. To make it a little more fun everything was covered in wet red clay. Yes, it had rained there as well. For a little extra variety there were giant roots criss crossing every which way.
There was a railing and Neal did an amazing job of guiding once again.
Everywhere I turned there were more unusual plants. It was like my father’s garden in Florida only the plants were so big I could not believe it. Plants I took home from Florida and grew in 8 inch pots were 7 feet tall. I saw a spider’s web holding rain drops like diamonds and I got to touch it. Our guide showed me so many wonderful things.
After the tour we had a snack in the building we saw earlier on our drive. It is part of the garden and just kind of hangs off the side of the mountain.
What a wonderful gift that day was.
We had lovely morning walks on the beach and many more good meals.
I bought some lovely glasses that were shipped home. They arrived today without a crack.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip.
We had so much wonderful travel this fall but it is good to be home again.