Janice's Visit! Crocodiles! Margaritas! More Sunshine! - Marge

Estuary tour - mangrove swamp!

   

           

Such a joy seeing my wonderful sister Janice! She was here for a week! Had a great time! Here's what we did: Monday: Met Janice at the airport! Thrilled to see her! Walked along the malecon at dusk, had dinner on the beach at a table on the sand. Hugely fun to chat and drink Coronas! Tuesday: Drove north to the town of San Pancho. Went to the market. Then walked around the town-very pretty, tree-lined little streets. Afterward we ate lunch at a table on the beach. Had margaritas! Seafood. Delicious! After lunch we walked on the beach. Saw someone practicing high-wire walking on a cable stretched between two palm trees. Also saw the swamp at the end of a mangrove forest (?) that empties into the ocean right next to the town--where crocodiles are actually sometimes seen! Not kidding! And next to the swamp are tents! Where people are camping! YES, they really are camping! Right by the giant warning sign showing a crocodile with it's jaws wide open (see the picture)!

Wednesday: Went to Old Town for more walking and shopping. Went to El Rio and listened to The Zippers, a great classic rock and roll band. Ate the most delicious ribs! Such a beautiful place next to a river! Had a wonderful time!

Thursday: Went on the Estuary Tour (see pictures). A mangrove swamp at the edge of Puerto Vallarta with crocodiles, boa constrictors (!), amazing, multi colored crabs and a whole flock of buzzards! Had a wonderful time! Saw no snakes! Did see a couple of baby crocodiles in the estuary and more in the crocodile nursery. Walked on the malecon. Chatted. Ate dinner at the most wonderful Mexican restaurant, El Campanario. The Best Food! The bells of the church rang as we ate. Real bells! A beautiful sound! Saw the sunset on the malecon. Another wonderful day!

Friday: Went on the Taco Stand tour. Hugely fun! Ate street tacos until we were stuffed. Learned a lot about tacos and Mexican food and Puerto Vallarta! Really the best! Drove south on the highway for about 15 miles. Beautiful views of the ocean down below and the hills of the Sierra Madres and the jungle. Had a wonderful time! Then walked to the pier and along the malecon. Ate a wonderful dinner at Langostino's at a table on the sand only a short distance up from the water! Never get tired of those tables on the sand with the waves lapping against the shore nearby and the sparkling ocean! 

Saturday: A wonderful day! Did something we never do--went to the beach, rented an umbrella and lay on giant beach towels on the sand! The water was too rough for swimming (very relieved!) so waded and chatted and enjoyed the sunshine! Ate dinner at Panchofurters! Wonderful sausages!
Sunday: For some reason Janice refused to move to Puerto Vallarta immediately so had to take her back to the airport. Too bad! That is the only hard part about being here so far--being so far away from my magnificent sister, and other wonderful family and many dear friends! Am assuming that some will move here. It only makes sense!

Estuary tour: Can you see the baby crocodile?

On the Observation Deck looking down at the mangrove swamp
with Puerto Vallarta in the background.

                                                         

Janice holding a baby crocodile.
After the estuary tour.

Having a wonderful time!

Eric and Janice. On our way to the
malecon after dinner.

Lunch at San Pancho on the sand.
A wonderful town! A wonderful day!

A woman practicing walking across a cable
secured to a couple of palm trees.
Janice is in the background.

San Pancho. The swamp where crocodiles live, next to the beach.
See the warning sign? Right next to the swamp is a line of tents 
where people are camping.

                                                             

Such a pleasure to get to see Janice!!!!