Puerto Vallarta 2013 - Part 6

Another relaxing day around the resort.  The excursion days are fun .. and the relaxing days are fun too.  I think we had such a good balance of the both of them.  Here's kind of a modge podge of various days that we hung out at the resort.

At the resort they also have a Tiger "reserve" type of program.  Those tigers were in some tiny little enclosures but they looked really healthy and were very active in the mornings.

For the most part we had breakfast in our room every morning.  If we didn't have an excursion that included lunch then we were usually eating bar food (remember 6 lbs gained!).  Oh, but that bar food was amazing .. nachos .. fries .. quesadilla with amazing guacamole .. so so so good. Then in the evenings if we didn't have an excursion that included food we usually walked over to the mall.  One night we even talked my parents into regular old McDonald's.  I guess we're cheap.  It was a first for my parents .. which I guess means we took them to a whole new low!

Jeramie didn't find it funny I was taking his picture while he ordered.

These were good!  Big potato "fries" with cheese sauce.

If it weren't for all the running I'm sure I would have gained 10 lbs. 

It was so hot and humid.  We ran on the beach with our shoes ON.  But you were at an angle the entire time too which actually made it feel much harder and gave me weird aches.  After frying my back the first full day in the sun it also hurt quite a bit to run.  But I'm really really proud of myself that we got them all in.  Making that a priority while on vacation isn't what I would call easy.  But I was always so glad I'd done it when we finished.  Another thing that really wouldn't have been easy to accomplish had we had our kiddos with us.

My dad would walk on the beach all the mornings we ran as well.

Upwards of 3-4 miles.

Fun times in the pool.

mmmm .. bar food

I'm in my happy place.  Kindle in one hand, margarita in the other.

PERFECT

The little cabana things that we would lay by on the beach.

This is the quiet pool.  The only one we ever went to.

I really really hope we can come back here one day!

Puerto Vallarta 2013, Downtown PV - Part 4

On Tuesday we decided to head into downtown Puerto Vallarta for the day to do some sight seeing, shopping and the INFAMOUS Pipi's.  Jeramie and I ran on the beach that morning and my parents spent a couple hours relaxing on the beach.  After lunch we headed downtown.

Another PV tradition is to stop for drinks at The River Cafe.

Cute little open air restaurant with a bar.

Giant and delicious.

While we were waiting for bracelets to be made these kids came and did 

a little dance performance.

 

My mum was telling me about these guys when all of a sudden there they were.

And this is Pipi's!!!

Guacamole made fresh at your table.

Oh. My. God.

SO. GOOD.

 

 One of the biggest margaritas I've ever had in my life.

As if the margarita wasn't big enough on its own.

My dad requested the song "Tequila" from the mariachi band walking around.

Next thing we knew they were pouring tequila down our throats and in our glasses.

WOW .. one of the best nights ever!

That place is a blast.  If you find yourself in Puerto Vallarta at dinner time you MUST go to Pipi's.  The food was amazing as well.  Again .. it's no wonder I came home 6 lbs heavier.

Puerto Vallarta 2013, Las Caletas - Part 3

For our first excursion we headed over to Las Caletas beach for the day.  Las Caletas was once the private home of film director John Huston who considered it one of the most beautiful places in the world. Nestled in a secluded nature preserve on the southern shores of Banderas Bay.  They promised snokeling, kayaking, wild life, nature walks, lunch, unlimited cocktails, sunning and a boat ride to get to it all.  You can only get to it via water .. that's how secluded it is.

Consider yourself forewarned .. this post is loaded with pictures.

We were up bright and early for our excursion and caught a beautiful sunrise.

When we arrived at the Vallarta Adventures headquarters they had some rescued seals there.  As well as a dolphin pen.  They do different seal and dolphin excursions as well.

The adventure began with breakfast.

As we were waiting for our boat departure they walked through with a sea lion.

As he passed my dad he stepped on his foot.  Haha.

This is THE ship where it all happened several years ago.

Jeramie looks appropriated embarrassed.

Beautiful scenery as we rode out to the island.

And then as we arrived there was THIS.

Jelly Fish infested waters.  There would be no swimming in those waters.

Isn't it just gorgeous?

Fresh home made tortillas when we arrived.

Seriously YUM.

Even the damn bathrooms were pretty.

 

Jelly fish washed up on shore.  One of many.

Island inhabitants.

Mum and I went to the nature walk area to find birds and monkeys.

We were fortunate.  We were still able to kayak even though there were jelly fish in the water all along the beach.  You just had to be careful not to tip out.  That would have been bad.  There are no pictures of the kayaking because we were all doing it at the same time.  Afterwards they pulled together a couple of smaller boats and took us around the beach a little bit to some water that didn't have jelly fish so we were still able to snorkel.  Now I never saw jelly fish but apparently they were still there because both my mum and Jeramie got stung.  It was pretty mild .. no urine necessary.

While we were afraid our day would have been ruined with the jelly fish it really wasn't.  We still had a lot of fun and it went by really quickly.  Before we knew it we were headed back to the resort.  It's always so exhausting spending the day in the sun laying around, drinking and doing pretty much nothing!