I woke up the next morning, and already we were running late. Iliana had told me she had been trying to wake me up, but of course I wouldn’t get out of bed (sounds about right). So when I finally did wake up and take a shower, we were almost certain of missing the early bus. We called a cab and made our way to the bus station. The city was enormous, and looked very different then what I expected. The mountains were very large, and the city seemed to go on and on. The city was like a desert city, and reminded me a bit of when I lived in Phoenix, AZ. As we arrived at the bus station it was about 8 or 8:15 AM. There was a bus leaving in the next 15 minutes so we bought our tickets and boarded the bus. This was a nice bus, with air conditioning and tv’s for movies to be played during the trip. We got on to a almost empty bus, and there was only about 4 other people on the bus. We waited a bit and then our journey began. The trip was about a 5 hour trip, through the mountains and jungle down to the coast where Puerto Vallarta lie. The bus traveled fast, the driver seeming to be in the world’s biggest hurry. I remember still feeling a bit sleepy, and as I lay my head against the window, I fell asleep.
I woke up again, this time to my head banging against the window. The bus was traveling fast still, and as I looked over at Iliana in the seats across from me, she was there laying down. She didn’t look good. I asked if everything was ok, and she told me that she has motion sickness. Not a good thing to have while riding in a bus that is careening down the road, with a driver driving like he just stole the bus. I shook off what sleepiness I had left, and pulled the curtain aside to get a good look outside. The scenery I saw was beautiful. Rushing by me was what seemed to be farms, or ranches, all growing a particular crop. There was rolling hills and in the distance mountains, all green and lush in the sunlight. It was a beautiful scene, and I remember thinking that I had never seen such a place. How different it was from the city, which was brown and dusty. As I shut the curtain, I noticed that a movie was playing. “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was the onboard movie. I hadn’t seen it, and at the moment I wasn’t very interested. Not only was it in Chinese, but it had Spanish subtitles, so even if I wanted to watch it, I couldn’t have. Instead I continued to stare out the window of the bus at all the scenery, as we sped our way forward. Soon we were in the mountains, driving through thick jungle on steep windy roads. The bus ride seemed to go one forever, the hours seemed to never end. But just then, we started making our descent. We came around a corner and then, there it was. In all it’s blue beauty and brilliance it was there in front of us. The Bahia de Banderas. The Bay where Puerto Vallarta rested on. We were very close now, I could feel excitement starting to pump through my veins. Just the very site of the water made me full of energy, and I was eager to get off the bus. Soon, yes, very soon now.
We arrived at the bus station and I grabbed the luggage while Iliana grabbed a cab. The day was beautiful, and as we drove down the main avenue the wind and the sun welcomed me. It was about 70 or 75 degrees with little humidity and a nice wind coming from the water. The sun was bright and the sky was clear, it was perfect weather. I just relished it, as San Antonio was still cold and a bit rainy at that time of the year. We drove past the Marina and all the big resort hotels and made our way to the downtown, the old town, the true heart of Vallarta. As if in a dream it stood before me, the main street, along side the Malecon (the promenade walkway along the beach downtown). It was gorgeous, the palm trees swaying in the February wind, and the waves crashing against the beach. I had missed this place, it had felt like a second home to me. I was glad to be there. I remember we payed got out in front of Carlos O’Briens (a bar on the main strip) and walked up the street. Just a block up was my cousin Joel’s (said like Ho-el) burger joint. At the time it was going full swing, with tourists and locals eating there frequently. It was a small place, but it had the best burgers. The Best Burgers in all of Vallarta! Now I have had some good burgers in my life, but none were as good as his. I don’t know how he made them, but they were just delicious. The flavor, the taste, the temperature, he got them all right somehow. The name of the place was Archi’s. Why Archi’s you might ask? Well Joel is kind of an anomaly to the regular stereotypical impression of a Mexican. He lived in Vallarta most of his life, coming to the US to work and visit. But he doesn’t fit the Mexican mold, I guess he doesn’t fit any mold. He has light skin and bright red hair, which growing up earned him the nickname Archi. Then on top of that, he is a surfer through and through. His little burger place was all surfer’d out, painted bright colors, with surfboards hanging from the ceiling and Bob Marley constantly playing over the speakers. At the time, Joel wasn’t there though. So his wife Karina (Iliana’s sister) was running the show. As we made our way up the block, we stopped in and said hello, and to see if Karina was at the restaurant. She wasn’t there, so we continued up the street two more blocks till we got to Karina’s apartment. It was a small apartment, but had everything we needed. As we dragged our bags in the kids greeted us. Joel and Karina had three boys, Christian, Jonathan, and the newest addition Kalani. He was about 2 at the time, and was a cute little bugger. We sat on the couch for a bit, and then Karina came home. We gave our hello hugs and sat and talked for a bit more. Iliana was hungry (big surprise) so we walked down and had a burger at Archi’s. I would say it was about 2 or 3 now and we walked back up to the apartment. It was a good location for the apartment, close to Archi’s and very close to the Malecon and to the main strip of bars and clubs and restaurants. The only bad part was it wasn’t quiet, the sound of tourists walking, cars driving, and the occasional “Smith party of 2!” “Johnson party of 4!” echoing from the touristy restaurant catty corner to the apartment. I remember I walked into the apartment and decided I would take a nap. I was tired from the day before, the whole day at work, the plane ride, and the excitement that came with the reality of it all. I made my way to the bottom bunk of the kids bunk bed and laid my head down on the pillow. I was out instantly.
I woke up numerous times, each to Iliana trying to get me out of bed. And each of those times she failed. Eventually I did get up, and I looked outside and it was already almost dark. Oops, late again. See I had made reservations that evening at a very nice restaurant named Le Kliff (www.lekliff.com) . I had originally wanted to take Gaby there, but because she couldn’t go to Vallarta, Iliana and me decided to still go. Le Kliff looked like a awesome place, it was a huge Palapa situated on a cliff over looking the ocean. From what I had heard it was the best place to view the sunset. And I had prepared. A month before, while at work, I had looked up on the internet the time the sunset was going to occur on this day, and planned the reservation for about an hour before. That way we would be eating as it was happening. I had even emailed and had them reserve a private table for me. No not a private table next to others, but one that was all by itself, on a big boulder that they had made into it’s own balcony. We would have a great view of the sunset. And who doesn’t like to eat while enjoying a sunset over the ocean? I know it seems very romantic, and at the time it probably would have been, but that was not my intention. I was stuck on Gaby, and didn’t have that intention with Iliana. She knew it, and I knew it, so there was no pressure to be romantic. I looked at it as two friends enjoying a nice dinner. I loved to do that, and because I hadn’t seen Iliana in years, it was nice. But, we didn’t make it. I had slept too long and we had missed our reservation and the sunset. No point in going now. I was a bit disappointed in myself, but I soon got over it. We would just go to a more local place instead. The place “La Dolce Vita.” The Sweet Life. And sweet it was. It was a nice Italian restaurant over looking the Malecon and the bay. They sat us out on a balcony over looking the bay, and even though the cars drove just below us, it was still very nice. The night was a very cool and calm and the food was delicious. As we sat there talking and laughing the booze/dinner boat “Marigalante”, pulled into the bay, and as it always does it released it’s fireworks into the sky. What a first night so far, great dinner, great friend, and now fireworks that lit up the sky. What could be better?
The night did get better. After dinner we went back to the apartment, because it was still somewhat early. See in Vallarta, nobody goes out early. The bars and clubs usually don’t even get started until 11 PM, so there was no need to rush. Plus, the apartment being so close, we could just walk two blocks and be in the middle of it all. The hours passed and we made our way back out. I was wearing the same clothes, jeans and a blue knit shirt, and I was a little worried they wouldn’t let me into any of the places. I was pleasantly wrong. See the thing is, Vallarta is a beach town. So people dress, like they are on the beach. Plus it is touristy, so if you look like a tourist, your getting in. Myself, I looked like a tourist, and I had no trouble. We decided to go to one of the calmer clubs, so we ended up in Carlos O’Briens. The place was packed, the music was loud and the alcohol was flowing. We grabbed a table and got some drinks as I watched all the tourists dance around in the their drunken stupors. How funny they all looked! Karina joined us a little later, and soon after Iliana’s cousin Leo joined us. This was the first time I had met Leo, and I could tell something was a bit different about him. My suspicions were confirmed as Iliana leaned over and told me in my ear, “Oh, by the way, Leo is gay.” Oh ok, no problem. Turned out him and his partner shared a very nice condo just south of Vallarta, and he invited us over the next day for lunch and a swim. Sounded good to me! As they chatted on in spanish I drank my alcoholic beverage and laughed. I was here! I was really here! I loved Vallarta! I could live here for the rest of my days! As the hours went on, so did the drinks and the music. I had lost count of all the drinks I had had. Karina had left and now it was just Ili, Leo and myself. Leo asked if we wanted to go to another place. Sure! Why Not! I must have said in my newly alcohol induced high. I remember taking a cab over to the old part of Vallarta, and walking up a narrow stairway to a what seemed like a upstairs room. It turned out to be a very big open room, with the roof open so the night air and the stars could be seen. It was quite nice, and full of people. And when I say people, I really mean “men.” As we sat down I looked around the room, starting to put 2 and 2 together. Hey where were the women? I had seen one, but she looked like she was the waitress. How odd! How could it be physically possible to not have ANY women in a club like this? The music was great, and the place was awesome! Where were all the beautiful mexican women! The truth then hit me like a ton of bricks. There were no women. And there wouldn’t be any women. None had been called, none were on their way, none were expected. Because at this club, the men weren’t interested in women, oh no, they were interested in men. I felt so stupid, hello!!! remember Leo!! This was the place HE wanted to go! I soon accepted my fate, and relaxed in my chair. Ok, no biggie, I had Iliana, and if a guy did come up to talk to me, then I would politely tell him no thanks. Just then Iliana told me, “Oh my god, don’t turn to your right.” Now what do you AUTOMATICALLY do when someone tells you NOT to turn to a certain direction. I know what I do! I turn DIRECTLY to that direction to see what I’m not supposed to be turning and seeing! And I still remember the sight. There to my right was a rather buff male, on top of the bar, dancing around with nothing but a RED G-STRING on. Now I have seen a G String before, granted it being in the box that it is sold in. But this man, lets just say he was rather gifted. Yes somebody up there had smiled on his manliness. As I quickly turned away I remember taking a quick drink of my alcohol and Iliana and Leo bursting into laughter. Thanks, Thanks a whole freaking bunch! The night continued and after a while we left the club and got a cab. Leo was going back to his place, so as we left we said our goodbyes to him and headed back to the apartment. As I stepped over the sleeping kids in the living room and made my way to the bunk bed, I gazed at my watch. It was almost 4 AM. A truly enlightening evening I had experienced, but that’s how Vallarta life was. I rested my head on the pillow, things still slightly spinning from the drinks. I was soon asleep. Day 2 was in the books.
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