Our “Wonder”ous Adventure To The Mexican Riviera - Page 9 - PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel
Our “Wonder”ous Adventure To The Mexican Riviera
About This Page: This is a discussion on Our “Wonder”ous Adventure To The Mexican Riviera within the Sharing Your Adventure: Disney Cruise Reports, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; Originally Posted by Tigger71
My DS noticed the hidden mickey in your meal - cherry tomato 'ears' & sliced tomato ...
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Wednesday, March 2, 2011 - Day 4 - Puerto Vallarta
We had set a wake-up call for 6:30am. I jumped right out of bed, because I wanted to watch as we sailed into Puerto Vallarta. It was very hazy this morning.
The Norweigan Star was already docked, but the Wonder is so much more beautiful!
Luckily, though, by the time we headed up to Beach Blanket Buffet and ate some breakfast, the cloud cover was burning off. It ended up being a beautiful day!
We were to meet our group in Wavebands for the Puerto Vallarta City Tour. Our guide was Jessy, and we really enjoyed the tour! Jessy was very informative, funny and entertaining.
Our first stop was at a little shopping district, where we were allowed 30 minutes to scatter in the area and shop for whatever we wanted. Now, living on the west coast, my family and I have visited Mexico quite a bit. But normally, we are on our own, visiting places off the beaten path - or at least not so full of a bunch of tourists at one time. I can barter and bargain like a native normally. I was looking forward to getting some serious shopping done during this tour! But Kaity and I observed that every single place we went to either sold in regular American dollars, or else everything was American dollar- priced. We purchased very little on our trip this time, instead spending the bulk of our souvenir money on the ship. Who would have thought? We wandered through the shops at this stop, but didn't purchase anything.
The next stop was Malecon, the sea wall and main plaza in Puerto Vallarta. There were some amazingly beautiful sand sculptures all along the sea wall. People just seemed to be wandering around taking in the beautiful day.
Jessy explained that this sculpture represents the children of Puerto Vallarta welcoming all visitors to their shores. I love it!
As I went in search of a restroom, Kait and the rest of the group watched an ariel act perform. She said these men were worshiping the weather gods.
We walked through the town square,
and past a bum wearing a police uniform (which Kaitlyn did NOT like ) and into the cathedral Our Lady Of Guadalupe.
Jessy, our tour guide
Jessy spoke about the history of the church, and then we were led inside to look around and admire the beautiful hand carved pillars and stained glass. After a few minutes of reflection, Jessy led us past all-girls school and discussed the education system there. He told us that the government pays for children to be educated there, but in turn they are obligated to donate a year of service to the government. A very interesting idea!
We then boarded our bus again, and wound our way through the city looking at the sites. The streets of Puerto Vallarta are very narrow, and people park EVERYWHERE. On top of all of that, there was construction going on on every street corner, it seemed like. Not the ideal driving conditions for a large tour bus! We rounded one corner, and there was a huge open ditch on the right side of the bus. On the left side of the street, there was a line of parked cars. The bus driver just could not make us fit onto that street. Apparently, this was the only way to go. But by this time, there was a ton of traffic behind us. Jessy jumped out of the tour bus, and went to talk to the construction workers. All of us on the bus watched as Jessy and the construction workers talked for a bit in Spanish. The next thing we knew, all of them walked over to the car that was preventing our turn, lifted it up, and put it on the sidewalk!!! We all erupted in cheers! We couldn't believe what we had just witnessed! When Jessy got back on the bus, huffing and puffing a little bit from the exertion, he looked back at all of us and said, "It was the only way, Amigos." Kaitlyn and I used that line for the entire trip, and it would just make us burst out into a fit of giggles at the most inappropriate times. It was the only way, Amigos.
The bus took us out of the city of Puerto Vallarta, and we drove along the coastline. We stopped at a restaurant called El Set for lunch.
In the price of the tour, a margarita or soda was included, along with a small plate of taquitos. Jessy encouraged us all to purchase the "Mexican plate" for $10, which I think most of us did. Kaitlyn and I shared it. It had some beef and chicken, with tortillas. It was good! The restaurant overlooked the Banderas Bay, and the view was truly spectacular.
After we ate, we were able to go upstairs. There were a couple of stands set up to purchase goods, and I did buy a pair of silver star earrings, which I really love. They had a pinata set up for the kids, and it was fun to stretch a little, look at the view, and watch the kids break apart the pinata.
I asked Jessy to take a picture with Kaitlyn. He at first thought I meant that I wanted HIM to take the picture. When I clarified that I wanted him in the picture, he said, "It would be my honor to take a picture with Kaitlyn."
Back on the bus we went. We headed further along the coastline, and we passed a gorgeous mansion which Jessy informed us was owned by Kevin Costner. It was in the boundaries of a perserve, and I am sure the wildlife there was just amazing.
There was one final stop on the tour. As we drove toward the stopping point, Jessy explained to us that there was a movie filmed there in Puerto Vallarta many years ago starring Zsa Zsa Gabor. Sorry, I can't remember the name of the film. Jessy said the movie wasn't very good. But Zsa Zsa apparently fell in love with the area, and used it as her escape from the media (before there was a papparazi). Jessy said it ended up that she brought a lot of attention to the area, and while some locals weren't happy with the worldwide attention, others were happy because it started to grow. We were finally at the stop and Jessy let us get out of the tour bus to view the overlook of the bay where the film was shot, and where Zsa Zsa continued to return for vacations. We were told that many rich and famous followed her lead, and eventually started inhabiting this area, too. While we were there, there was a man who would let you hold his iguana for $1. Kaitlyn was too chicken, so I did it. I didn't expect them to plop his little green friend on my head! I am just thankful he didn't decide to poop!
After this stop, we headed back to the town of Puerto Vallarta. Jessy gave people the option of getting off the bus at Malecon, and making their way back to the ship on their own, if they wanted to get some shopping done. While I felt completely safe the entire time we were in Mexico, and didn't see any sort of violence, I just thought it best that we stay with the group and head back to the ship.
It had been a great day so far, we really enjoyed our tour!
__________________
Me, Mickey Mouse and Kaitlyn at DCA December 23, 2012
Sounds like a wonderful day in PV! The tour sounded really good and as you said, the day ended up being beautiful! The iguana picture is CLASSIC!
OK Amy, my mom has gotten it into her head that she wants to do this cruise in February 2012. (Still deciding if my pocketbook would be able to but....) Can I come to you with questions my dear?
OK Amy, my mom has gotten it into her head that she wants to do this cruise in February 2012. (Still deciding if my pocketbook would be able to but....) Can I come to you with questions my dear?
Absolutely! How fun!! Ask away!
How do you think you will like sailing on the smaller ships, now that you have been on the Dream? I want to sail on the Magic before going on the Dream or Fantasy, just because I am still in love with the size of the Wonder. But Kaitlyn and I were looking at your pictures today, in your latest update, and ooooohhhhh the Dream is soooo gorgeous!
__________________
Me, Mickey Mouse and Kaitlyn at DCA December 23, 2012
I'll just add that they often (always??) give a free pass to the Rainforest Room when you do a spa treatment, so be sure to ask about this on your first spa day.
Just reading back over all of the comments, and for some reason I missed this one! When my daughter and I went to the Vista Spa for the first time, we were given a tour of the Rainforest Room as well as the prices for the passes during the cruise. When we went back for our first treatment, they offered us the Rainforest Room...for an extra fee.
__________________
Me, Mickey Mouse and Kaitlyn at DCA December 23, 2012
Just reading back over all of the comments, and for some reason I missed this one! When my daughter and I went to the Vista Spa for the first time, we were given a tour of the Rainforest Room as well as the prices for the passes during the cruise. When we went back for our first treatment, they offered us the Rainforest Room...for an extra fee.
Good to know! I guess the days of the free pass are over...
About This Page: This is a discussion on Our “Wonder”ous Adventure To The Mexican Riviera within the Sharing Your Adventure: Disney Cruise Reports, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; Originally Posted by Tigger71
My DS noticed the hidden mickey in your meal - cherry tomato 'ears' & sliced tomato ...
Good job, DS! 
I was looking forward to getting some serious shopping done during this tour! But Kaity and I observed that every single place we went to either sold in regular American dollars, or else everything was American dollar- priced. 
We purchased very little on our trip this time, instead spending the bulk of our souvenir money on the ship. Who would have thought? 
We wandered through the shops at this stop, but didn't purchase anything.
) and into the cathedral Our Lady Of Guadalupe. 
Apparently, this was the only way to go. But by this time, there was a ton of traffic behind us. Jessy jumped out of the tour bus, and went to talk to the construction workers. All of us on the bus watched as Jessy and the construction workers talked for a bit in Spanish. The next thing we knew, all of them walked over to the car that was preventing our turn, lifted it up, and put it on the sidewalk!!! 
The restaurant overlooked the Banderas Bay, and the view was truly spectacular. 
DisneyLand too many times to count; DisneyWorld: ('82; '94; '00; '04; '05; '08 - twice!; '10;'11 - twice); DCL (3 ships): ('00, '05, '06, '10, '11); DVC Hilton Head Resort 
<--- Dutch at Chef Mickey's 2010!
Ask away!
When my daughter and I went to the Vista Spa for the first time, we were given a tour of the Rainforest Room as well as the prices for the passes during the cruise. When we went back for our first treatment, they offered us the Rainforest Room...for an extra fee. 
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