Say Hola
by extremist
I love traveling, and the best part is to see the culture of other people and meet and talk to other people, even though we could not speak eachothers language, a warm smile and a handshake is all people need sometimes. I was watching the sunset one evening right on the beach and sat next to this individual, he seemed to sad or lonely, but I knew he was trying to tell me the sun was going to set in 20 minutes, I asked if I could take his photo, and he seemed to perk up and give me a smile, I felt good walking away that I had touched his heart in maybe some way. I love talking to the people, or at least listening to them, I get the sense that they are happy to meet an Eskimo from Alaska... as you can see, I look like one of the locals. But a warm handshake or hug makes me smile. Listening to the kids is fun too... The smell of the food, carnitas, and fresh salsa... always a busy town... the malecon hosted a mime show that was fun for the locals and visitors alike...
the Pacific beaches
by aventurera
Instead of taking one of those expensive organised cruises go with the city bus towards Boca de Tomatlan wher you can take a watertaxi for 50 pesos towards Playa Las Animas a secluded beach wher you can eat good fish enjoy the blue water, and the nice landscapes.
swimming with clothes on
by rkearns
for some reason, all around mexico, and in some parts of south america, mainly in chile, i have seen people sitting in the sand and letting the waves lap over them, with clothes on! this is all new to me, because i want to be comfortable when i swim. i have asked a few locals about this custom. here are the responses i have gotten:
mexican men will look at you and think "easy" if you are walking around with only a bathing suit"
"mexican women don´t think it´s feminine to work out, so they get fat, and cover their bodies because they are embarrassed"
"it´s improper for women to wear only a bathing suit unless they are young teenagers"
i don´t know what the custom is about, but chances are, you will be the only person only wearing a bathingsuit in the water, with the exception of young girls.
Haggling
by Carmanah
I didn't actually enjoy haggling, even though I understood it was a common practice. At the time I was 15 years old, still in my relatively shy and quiet ways. I found haggling too confrontational and imposing for my liking at the time so I would often pawn it off on my mom or my dad. My dad enjoyed haggling and did so playfully. My mom did so politely with respect and a smile. We all had a mutual understanding that haggling should only be done playfully, and not seriously, as most of the prices were already cheap to begin with. It was hard watching wealthy tourists brag to their friends and family how much they bargained, when it was obvious the vendor was making less money than the customer.
Of course, many vendors, especially those who sell their wares along the beach, enjoy playing the haggling game. It's not an issue of customers ripping off the vendors, but a local custom that the vendors encourage.
By contrast, there are also stores where the price you see is the price you're expected to pay. These stores are normally well-marked. You would not (from my experience), for example, haggle over the cost of a fish taco from a vendor. Nor would you haggle in a grocery store. Yet, when it comes to touristy knicknacks and souvenirs, it's almost always expected. If you're unsure, try to haggle. The merchant will either accept your bargaining or they will inform you that it's not practiced at their store.
Packing List
by Carmanah
Bring comfortable shoes if you're planning to visit Puerto Vallarta. While the city is relatively small, there's a lot to see by foot!
Photo: Me, my mom and my sister resting at the Malecon in downtown Puerto Vallarta.
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Strollers and more are available to rent
Church tower from the main plaza
Clown at Los Arcos
Krystal Resort pool, just one of many
