Dia Cinco en Puerto Vallarta

May 4

Waking up to the sounds of the Ocean below your bedroom balcony is dream worthy.

Waking up to the sounds of the Ocean below your master suite at Villa Balboa is beyond imagination.

We were staying in the sea shell room which was appointed with mostly white linens accented with colors of sea foam and brushed aluminum, which together seamlessly faded into the pink, blue, and light greens of the Puerto Vallarta horizon just before sunrise. Our room featured an infinity jacuzzi, full bath with dual sinks, lovely glass enclosed shower, and large walk in closet. As a humble marketing guy, raised in the woods of northern Minnesota, this is luxury beyond anything I could have ever possibly imagined experiencing.

But for those accustomed to the finer things in life, Villa Balboa would seem like the natural place for a luxury family vacation or business retreat.

When we arrived the day before the home appears humble from the main coastal highway. The one level that you can see is clearly finely crafted but if it weren't for the subtly placed electric security fence running across the top of the front of the building there is nothing that hints at the absolute opulence that lies hidden behind the wooden double doors.

Once swung open the secret is revealed. Koi ponds, fountains and a lush, colorful tropical garden greet your eyes. Christian, the house manager, greets your other senses with cool cloths that are soaked in some kind of rosemary potion. After you are refreshed Christian directs Eduardo, the lead houseman, to take our luggage to our rooms while the tour of the home begins.

Leading us from the main entry and the trickling koi ponds we pass through square archways to the rooftop patio and garden. From here you have full views of the bay. There is a tiled area to the left for entertaining with chairs and umbrella table, and a grassy garden area to the left that is used for professional photography and for wedding ceremonies.

You have two choices in leaving the rooftop sanctuary. Stairs...or elevator.

Christian says, "On the way down we take the stairs, on the way up, we take the elevator." You'll find out why that is shortly. On our way to the second floor (in Villa Balboa the floors count up as you go down. Street level is one, main living and dining is floor two, the first level of bedrooms is floor 3, second level of bedrooms is 4, and the private apartment is on floor 5. There are two additional levels below that accessible only by staff for maintenance and mechanical. So Villa Balboa actually has 7 floors!)

Fine artwork greets us in the stairway down to the second floor. Christian points out that the villa features a mix of fine art on display that we will see as we tour.

As we step out of the stairwell onto the 2nd floor its stunning how bright and airy the home is. It seems every wall is made of windows and those windows slid open to let in the sounds and smells of the ocean. Christian points out a large and fully functional office area to our right the movie theater and media room is just beyond it set back into the hillside. To our left is the main living area, furnished with a large white couch, large paintings on the walls, wet bar, and amazing coffee table created from a whole cross section of a tree trunk at least 6 inches thick and 5 feet in diameter.

Looking directly out from the living room is the main floor terrace with white deck chairs, tables with umbrellas, and equally amazing views of the ocean.

On the other end of the terrace is the home's infinity pool. turning back toward the home you see the open air gourmet kitchen where chef Kori is squeezing fresh limes for our welcome margaritas that we shall enjoy poolside following our tour. Chef Kori was very friendly and spoke perfect English. Walking back into the home we passed the formal dining area that featured a completely custom built glass top table and brushed aluminum chairs upholstered with fine cowhide.

Our jaws were on the floor...the second floor and there were three more. Down the stairs again lead us to the level of the first master suite. Expansive, lavish, lovely. The gym was on this floor, a couple more bedrooms, and a nice view of the home's main water feature, a 4 story waterfall. This home was really incredible.

More fine art, more bedrooms, and more attention to detail than I could have imagined possible to interconnect the room by room feeling of a home this large.

On the 4th floor was the master suite where my love and i stayed, another bedroom, a lounging/garden area at the base of the water fall, a secret sanctuary area where massages and private dinners area held, and more I'm sure as my senses were overloaded by the sublime decadence this home offers.

On the 5th floor, you'll find an apartment home with fully functioning gourmet kitchen, bedroom, living area, terrace, and private bath. This place is perfect for the president of a company or similar team leader who requires privacy for planning, small group meetings, or needs accommodations that are more segregated from the employees. This level is accessible from the top floor, by elevator, and is able to offer restricted access to insure privacy.

Having seen the entire house we climbed into the elevator and went back up to floor 2 for Margaritas. And that was the end of our tour on the first day.

Back to reality on the balcony, in the morning of day 5 in Mexico, overlooking the ocean in the finest accommodations I have ever know.

I could spend the rest of my life in this moment.

(Continued in Day 5 Part 2)