Negrito Choco Milk

An hour before my mum left on new year’s eve, Seamus arrived with a headache and promptly lay under hot towels on the bed.  I had had enough time lounging around in Puerto Vallarta after about five days so I wasn’t to displeased too have New Year’s Eve’s entertainment and then leave for the beach the following day.  We went out for dinner with Kephra and three of her friends near the ‘hotel zone’ and then walked back along the packed Malecon towards the ‘zona romantica’ – e.g. the long term gringo residents gulch and gay old age home.

Best Seafood Found in Puerto Vallarta - Cisneros Restaurant

I had suggested Frida‘s the cantina away from the crowds – alas after ordering drinks we were told they were closing in five minutes.   So after being chatted up by a somewhat haggard but exuberantly drunk fellow from Vancouver we decided to take his suggestion of going to Los Amigos “a non-uppity bar” with no cover charge.  So Seamus and I played pool and drank tequila where I soundly beat him for several games.  Except for the last game where I sunk the white ball after the eight ball in order to avoid playing the next challenger who had been groping me at every opportunity while I played Seamus.

Waking up groggy we packed up from Casa Carmen with some difficulty and made our way to the taco stand for the last best tacos of Puerto Vallarta – Cisneros Restaurant with stand outside at Aguacate between Cardenas and Carranza.

Seamus’ first time on the back of the bike was off to a rough start as we had to go down the steep hill from the flat to the taco stand, upon arrival he proceeded to fall down on his back from the bike trying to get off in front of all the

Seamus and I on Bike About to Roll down hill

bemused Cisneros’ customers.  After he inquired after my state and I answered “I feel a bit stupid” (from the hangover) he worriedly brought back two iced coffees before we were allowed to continue on our trip to San Francisco (Pancho) in Nayarit state.  Traffic was light on New Year’s day and we made it north through the city without incident to the hilly jungle portion of highway 200.  Seamus was initially rebelling against leaning into the curves making driving more dangerous but I could feel him relaxing after about 20 curves or so.  He indeed confirmed he thought I was going to fast into the curves and I realized I’d failed to do my reassuring duty.

Mum Casa Carmen PV

We arrived in San Pancho and managed to find the unmarked house of the rental management people that hadn’t responded to my reservation request – but luckily the place was available.  For $55 it’s not particularly special but will suffice for our next few days here before heading inland to Guadalajara.

		Mum Casa Carmen	Mum Casa Carmen
Seamus San Pancho Casa Ola y Sol	Negrito Chocolate Milk	Bike in San Pancho Casa Ola y Sol	Seamus San Pancho Casa Ola y Sol
View of PV	View of PV	Cupula	Flat Casa Carmen
View Casa Carmen	Pool Casa Carmen	View Casa Carmen	Pool Casa Carmen
View Casa Carmen	Bike Preparation to leave New Years Day	Bike Preparation to leave New Years Da
Bike Preparation to leave New Years Da	Seamus and I Bike	Seamus and I on Bike About to Roll down hill

Puerto Vallarta to San Francisco, Nayarit Mexico GPX

Beach and Water at Sunset

Having left the Sierra‘s and the excitement there I have been finding the careful drivers on paved roads in the coastal plain somewhat tame.   I drove to the coast at Mazatlan yesterday and hardly took any photos.  I did however catch my first glimpse of the Pacific en route and felt a small sense of accomplishment at having arrived intact and happy with my adventures so far.

Ghoulish Drying Squid

Restless I woke up ready to leave Mazatlan for San Blas – a small less developed fishing village 4 hours south.  Starting the day with goat stew and marlin tacos for $4 that were sublime, left me feeling much more content. The free coastal highway 15 was in good repair and other than a tractor trailer crashed in the jungle after hitting an SUV, the ride was pleasant and comparatively short.

Heron? at dawn on the pier

I arrived in San Blas and setup my tent for two days of camping on the beach.  Cheap beer, the freshest seafood I’ve had, and no highrise development is a good start for a little recuperation before the short hop down to Puerto Vallarta.  Mosquitoes and sand fleas be damned.  Photos are of a boatride through the mangrove swamp over the road from the town.

Mazatlan Working Neighbourhood	Mazatlan Working Neighbourhood	Ruta 15 Libre to San Blas	Ruta 15 Libre to San Blas
San Blas Playa Azul at Dawn	San Blas Playa Azul at Dawn	Sitting San Blas Playa Azul at Dawn	San Blas Playa Azul at Dawn
San Blas Playa Azul at Dawn	Bird and breakwater light	Dog following me around on beach
Mangrove Movies	Mangrove Trip	Mangrove Trip	Mangrove Trip
Mangrove Trip	Mangrove Trip	Mangrove Trip	Mangrove Trip
Mangrove Trip	Mangrove Trip	Drying squid	Drying squid
Puffer fish	Las Islitas Beach	Las Islitas Beach	Las Islitas Beach
San Blas Playa Azul

Choice, Mazatlan, to San Blas, MX