mexico 2015

It's insane how fast the weeks go. I have been meaning to post about our trip to Mexico for so long now! But better late then never!

We had an absolute amazing time in Puerto Vallarta. We speak of it often, and still have a hard time not definitively saying this was our best trip yet. It was unique, it was relaxing, it was exciting. It was so many things. I took a hell-uva-lota photos. And just as many contain dogs as humans. Which is always a good thing in my book!

Months later writing this:
I always take notes on my phone of the things we do on trips…for this very thing. If I don't have time to write the details of our trip, i can look back on the notes and write as best I can at a later date.

I'm not even sure where to start or how to capture everything that was this trip. To date, this is one of the best travel experiences ever. It was the most unique, random, fantastic, cultural, just everything trip. I will try and summarize some of the things that made it so spectacular.

Landing in Mexico was great, mostly because the weather was instantly amazing. We were prepared for tourist traps right of the plane, but it was still shocking, the yelling and arms waving, trying to get us to buy time shares and sailing trips. For two passively people pleasing nice people, it was a miracle we made it out there to our host.

Ted was the definition of casual. But the definition of non-mexican. A swedish, large, big bellied blonde man with a long pony tail and a medium to thick accent. But he was fantastic all the same. He brought us to the parking lot to his beat up honda that was lined with thick dog fur. He drove us to his place, driving crazy like a local through the streets. He told us and showed us the phrase of PV, "poco de poco" little by little. He described that everything happens slow here, especially construction. if you don't have a penny now, you will wait. So things are usually haphazardly built. We settled in and met all the dogs, and then wandered down to the water. It was a 20 minute walk to the beach, through beautiful authentic mexican neighborhoods. That was one of the coolest parts about this trip, how immersed we were without even trying. It was all very commercial the closer we got to the coast. We ate dinner on the beach at the Sea Monkey, which was super yummy. The hustlers in PV are absolutely plentiful. I'm not sure I have ever been anywhere with that many street sales. We walked down the beach and just relaxed. We were pretty tired from travel. But we did end up walking back down by the water again. There were lots of people out, and there was a weird local play or street show or something? It was all in spanish, we had no idea what it was. There were military men by the sea wall that were FULLY decked in military gear. The biggest guns I've ever seen! We had a drink at a place on our way home called crossbar, who gave John the biggest cheap marg we've ever seen.

Let's talk about the bed and breakfast. So great! Beautifully crafted, casual, but so perfect. So many dogs! All the time! The hosts were awesome. They had some friends staying with them, a couple from Europe who were pretty cool. It was fun to hear them speak in English and get to know each other, but in a temporary, non committal way, if that makes any sense.

That night we slept horribly. The worst sleep i've had in years. The roosters were so freaking loud. You would think there were hundreds dying all around us. I'm not kidding. It was so loud, I can't even describe it accurately.


The next day, we left Animas at 7am. J did so well! It's always a struggle for that guy:) As I'm bouncing around hyper and ready to go, ha! We walked the 25ish minutes to the bus stop. And jumped on, what we were pretty sure was the right bus? I researched quite a bit beforehand, but you never know sometimes! We took the half hour bus ride to Boca de Tomatlan for 8 pesos (under $1).