Dia Cinco en Puerto Vallarta (part 2)

Day 5 continued...

So yes, sorry about the flash back in part one to our check in experience. It was worthy of making a two part entry don't you think?

Now dressed for the day and riding the elevator up to the 2nd floor thoughts wander onto the need for breakfast.

Chef Kori? Are you here?

Of course she is with a menu of Huevos Rancheros gourmet style and a pitcher of freshly blended mango and pineapple smoothie. Yummy!

Now this next part isn't usually on the activity list for the normal day of guests at Villa Balboa. Typically you'd be lounging by the pool, having massages, or getting ready for your wedding, or supermodel photo shoot or what have you... But we decided to go to market with Chef Kori.

She said she likes it when folks want to get out and see some real Mexico...Not that Villa Balboa isn't real, though we took turns pinching each other the entire time, its just that's not were average Mexican stay, not how they live, and Chef Kori, who is originally from California, was happy to be our guide to the city. We all piled into her Dodge Ram extended cab pick-up truck and off we went to market.

As we toured through the streets Kori told us stories about her life in Puerto Vallarta and how fabulous it is to live there and have the opportunity to work as a chef for some very cool people in some very cool places. Her only complaint was the local police, whom she said, "Want to take my big truck!"

The open air market was roughly the shape of a square with a courtyard in the middle and vendors wrapping around the inside and out. We first walked by fish vendors offering the morning's catch on ice. There was red snapper, mahi mahi, crabs, huge shrimp, octopus, and more. We would be back! Don't want to buy fish first, keep it on ice until the last minute.

In another corner of the market was the produce area where we found bins and bags of the usual fruit and veg suspects and many more, including the most fragrant fruit I have ever smelled. I don't remember the name but it was small and yellow with a pear like outer consistency and a scent so strong and so sharply sweet that it reminded me of smelling a starburst candy. So we had to get some! Along with some star fruit, Mexican plums, limes, a few types of squash, cilantro, several more things I cannot remember and cactus. When in Rome.

We bounced from shop to shop picking out the best items here and there, peeking at the fresh local food, a few oddities and watched a tortilla mill and bake machine in action. It was really really cool, but not for the faint hearted as there are butchers doing their dirty work live during your tour and sometimes you don't want to know the cow before you enjoy the fillet.

Back our Puerto Vallarta Villa life!

While I shot photos for a bit my companions enjoyed a dip in the pool and lounging in the sun. Kori made a fresh batch of margi's and fixed us a very light smoked mahi-mahi dish served on tostadas. It was really incredible.

Later in the afternoon Christian, set us up with a wine tasting featuring Mexican and South American fine wines. (Villa Balboa receives a wholesale discount with a wine distributor making a tasting that we would have easily paid $500 for, a modest $150. We tasted 4 different wines, and had 2 bottles of each kind, so that we could choose our favorite to have with dinner.

Presentation was superb, and Christian was a lovely and knowledgeable host.

The wine we chose for dinner was a Chardonnay from a boutique family owned winery in Baja, if I am remembering correctly... It was splendid sharing this moment with friends in a setting like this.

Thank you Christian! And thank you Kori for everything today! We finished dinner, the most amazing chili rellenos, enjoyed a mango Flan for dessert that was so jaw droopingly good it was hard to get our mouths to chew and finished our wine as the sun set of the edge of a golden sparkling sea.

Yeah...whatever you are imagining right now, reality was much better. You'll have to come stay to find out just how much.

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)

Dia Quatro en Puerto Vallarta

May 3

Hasta Luego Villa Caliente…Hola Villa Balboa!

We will stay in Villa Caliente again. It was so nice and so affordable. I cannot image finding a better vacation value anywhere in Puerto Vallarta. Its classic Mexico and Mediterranean feel really enhances the luxurious, movie star feeling you get when staying in Conchas Chinas.

Hasta Luego (see you later) Claudia, Beba, and Reena! Thank you so much for a fabulous stay!

On…

…to Villa Balboa.

Alright pause. Reality check. Is this really happening? Yes, I am still breathing. I do have a pulse. I have not died and gone to heaven. Or have I?

Dia Tres en Puerto Vallarta

May 2

Levanta! (get up!)

There is so much to do here its hard to find the time to sleep. And because of the Coronas and Cubans poolside until after midnight we’re having a little trouble getting up at 7:30 in order to catch the boat to Playa Los Animales.

…but somehow we did.

It was a gorgeous morning. The first that hasn’t been a little overcast. It made for some amazing pictures on the taxi ride to the marina. Our house keeper Beba suggested we take the bus, as the marina will cost you about 15 dollars via taxi, but we weren’t up early enough to catch the proper line from Conchas Chinas.
The cab ride through old town, on the cobblestone streets with the sun, freshly cresting the mountains and sparkling on everything, was a visual I’ve seen only in spy movies filmed in Mediterranean cities.

At the marina we paid our 15 pesos to enter, found the ticket booth for the boat we wanted, mentioned Jose Riveria the house keeper’s husband, and got $5 off the ticket price.

The tour boat served us breakfast, which was ok, and then headed out. They followed the edge of the bay, which gave us a sea side view of some of our other villas, Mandarinas and Esplendora we unmistakable.

The first stop was Los Archos Marine Preserve where people were allowed to get in the water with snorkeling gear. After about a half hour everyone was back on board and we were off to the playa.

The beach was amazing. You could have shot a Corona commercial on this beach. Canvas backed chairs, tables with umbrellas, palm trees.

This beach was accessible by water only. There were a few rental cabins, 3 cantinas, and a jungle tour.

We soaked up the sun, some amazing food, and several coronas and I do believe the was a Pina Colada in the mix that was also awesome.

After a few hours on the private beach it was a speedy trip back to port.
That evening we decided to have our one nice dinner out while in Puerto Vallarta.

Upon the recommendation of Chris, we decided to visit the River Café. It was fantastic and, as you might guess, was located on the edge of a small river. It was very very classy.

Soft music, soft lighting, open air over-looking the river. The frogs provide an additional rhythm section. The wine list was extensive and the menu offered a variety of flavors to suit any palate. I enjoyed the poached sea bass with a mango citrus sauce. The fillet was enormous. The salmon with lobster sauce reduction looked good and was raved about, but my deathly allergy to shell fish precluded my indulgence in that dish. The lamb sadly was the only deliciously average meal at the table. Prepared well, but it was something you could find in a fine restaurant just about anywhere. Dessert we had Spanish coffee prepared in the most amazing way I have ever seen. We got a video clip of it which you will want to check out once it is posted…I will probably title the video “waterfalls of blue flame” if you’d like to use your imagination.

Buenas noches! Tomorrow we leave Villa Caliente for Villa Balboa. It’s going to be an exciting day I think.

(Sadly all the pictures I took on the private beach have gone missing from my camera. I do have some video and our other camera that I will pull photos from so all is not lost. You'll just have to wait until i get back to see them.) But for now take a look at a couple of these that did survive the day...

Dia Dos En Puerto Vallarta

May 1

It couldn't be jet lag since we gained two hours flying here...maybe it was the pure excitement...but I was up this morning before 6am. The city was very still. The sun had yet to begin its climb over the mountains. The birds hadn't yet awakened.

Every thing was very still except for the rolling ocean several hundred feet below our hillside perch at Villa Caliente.

The panorama from the roof top pool and patio certainly proves that Conchas Chinas is the Beverly Hills of Puerto Vallarta. All around Villa Caliente there are similar, hillside homes. Unique. Mediterranean.

Our desayuno (breakfast) was the other half of the pineapple, papayaq and mango that was left from our welcome party. It was after 10am so cervesa and margaritas were on the menu.

What to do today?

Sit by the pool.

Visit old town, viejo Puerto Vallarta.

How about everything!

Lunch (almuerzo)para el recommendacion de Noe.

:El Brujo

El Brujo for lunch and it was amazing. I enjoyed the fajitas, the other members of the party had crab quesadillas and the sea food soup. The fajitas we adequate but the crab quesadillas were delicious and the seafood soup was unbelievable. We will put the video up upon return to the USA and after appropriate mixing.

In la tarde, (in the afternoon) we had Cuban cigars on the patio of Villa Caliente, no fumar inside, and sipped Coraonas and we watched the the fall, fall, fall...

En el noche el restaurante Riviera, not to be confused with the River Cafe, was the place we visited. Radio Taxi was fabolous and if you can get Rey in the cab 080 he speaks fluent English from about 10 year in California. So if you can order Radio Control Taxi and Ask for Rey, en la 080, you will be well taken care of.

The restaurant, which is off the strip, is very nice. But if you've visited El Brujo that is not unfamiliar. There is lovely sea themed decor on the walls, even a pool in the restaurant, even though there was no one using it, was cool. A nice jukebox, a helpful staff, an honest manager and of course delcious food made it a wonderful choice for the noche primero en Puerto Vallarta.


As we catch up from jet lag and the traveling (and waking up at 4am pacific) we will give you a much better account of our travels.

Take a look at these pictures from out first full day in Puerto Vallerta!


And there are so many more...

Dia Una Puerto Vallarta

Friday, April 30th, 4:25am. Still no power. Tired. Excited. The cab pulls up to the front of the house. So far so good.

Breakfast in Portland.

Lunch in Phoenix.

Dinner in Puerto Vallarta!


Skies were overcast around the bay so it was quite a site when we descended through the clouds and found our plane was now swooping into a valley with low mountains on both sides. Landing gear down.

"Ladies and gentlemen on behalf of US Airways we'd like to welcome you to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico."

Wild cheers erupted as the throngs of college kids eagerly rushed toward the airplane door.

Not.

The plane, which was at 2/3 capacity, mostly middle aged tourist types, was vacated quickly. The Puerto Vallarta Airport was clean, equipment on the ground looked new. And the baggage claim and customs area had been recently redone with polished marble everywhere.

Customs was very efficient and very friendly.

Its a very pleasant airport and certainly nothing to be intimidated by. Certainly there are the usual people at the exit asking if you need a cab and if you'd rather not fight with them call Noe.

Pronounced No-eh! Rhymes with no way!

No-eh Jose! Was the joke in his very clean leather upholstered white Chevy Suburban.

On our way from the airport to Villa Calliente, Noe, pointed out many restaurants that are worth while, good ares for shopping (and over priced areas), pointed out a few sites along the way and before we knew it we where here.



Claudia the house manager met us at the entrance, gave us a tour, and introduced us to the house keeper who had Margaritas, fresh fruit, homemade quacamole and pico de gallo, and chicken tacos and cheese quesadillas. YUM! I mean... DELICIOSO!


Corona's in the fridge, rooftop pool and patio, and truly amazing views of Conchas Chinas and the bay. This villa is a great value at full price. It is a steal at the summer rate they are currently charging. Of all the villas in the VillasAndCondos.com portfolio I can't imagine how you could find a better place for your money.

Check out a few pictures I snappen of the villa and the surrounding hillside and bay. Then check out all the details on Villa Caliente here: http://www.villasandcondos.com/locations/puerto_vallarta/villa_caliente/puerto-vallarta-vacation-home-rental-villa-caliente.html

Packing By Candlelight

It sounds romantic to spend the evening before a trip to Mexico in warm glow of candlelight... Unless the power went out while you were packing.

We had just dropped the dog off with friends and were preparing for our trip to Puerto Vallarta and our flight out of PDX at 6 the next morning. I was in the back yard making sure everything on the exterior fo the house was prepped for our lengthy absence when, BOOOM!!!

Lights on all the houses in the neighborhood go out. In the sky, flickering white flashes accompanied by the sound of arching electricity. Then silence.

That was a big explosion. My gut told me the power wouldn't be coming back on. So packing by candlelight began and it was very pleasant. Except it took twice as long to find anything...but nothing worth doing was ever easy. Puerto Vallarta here we come!