After several weeks staying in the Philadelphia area with friends, Matt Greene and Jim Pearson, Bob and Cathy Nobil-Dutton, and our son Bradley and his girlfriend, Krissy, we finally arrived in Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta, or PV, is a busy, Mexican town located about half way down the west coast of Mexico on the Pacific Ocean. While the ocean is not the beautiful, Caribbean blue, the town is lively, walkable, warm (actually hot and humid now), and has a large ex-pat community. It is nestled into the mountains of the Sierra Madre and so the city is quite hilly.
When we arrived here last Friday night the 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo was dirty and even filthy in places and smelled of mildew. The rental agent agreed that it needed a good cleaning and sent her cleaning lady the next day. After 5 hours of scrubbing, washing, dusting and polishing it finally was presentable. We are living in a 6 unit condo with an in-ground pool approximately 1/2 mile from town. It has the basics, unit air conditioning, a washer/dryer, wifi, a balcony and a toaster oven that only toasts! The owner has agreed to let us replace it since it is our only oven. If you walk downhill along a cobblestone street you arrive downtown. The walk down isn't bad, but the walk up is challenging.
The first full day here we met one of our neighbors, a very friendly and helpful couple from Canada and originally from New Zealand. Margaret invited me to join her for daily yoga lessons which are held right off the beach in the city center. Since I want to get involved in the community and tone up my body, it was a great idea. I've already attended four sessions. It makes me get up early in the morning, limber up my aching muscles and joints, and get out of the condo. I've become friendly with the instructor, Josie, who has invited me to join the local theatre group, and participate as a volunteer with some local charities. If I want the part, I can play a character in the female version of The Odd Couple which opens on January 2. Apparently the woman who had the part has been a no-show. I'm a bit reluctant since it would require that I learn all my lines in 2 weeks. I haven't decided yet, but am signed up to attend rehearsals tomorrow. I usually return to the condo around 3:00 and we have made it a habit to go for a dip in the pool on a daily basis.
More later...
