Vacation 2017 10

Our timeshare weeks were going to expire, so we exchanged them for two weeks at the Westin Resort and Spa in the Puerto Vallarta marina. We usually go further into winter, but you take what you can get. The flight is just over 4 hours, mainly uneventful, but I was wanting us to get to the ground as I was soon going to need to change my bag. Made it to the hotel.


The Westin is very nice. The rooms were large, the common areas nicely decorated, the pools refreshing, and the staff helpful and friendly. Monday, I went for a haircut at Susy's, then went to Gaby's restaurant for lunch and to check out cooking lessons. Signed up for the next day. Cooking was fun; we made tamales, salsas, and chicken mole. Thursday night, there was a turtle release we attended at Boca de Tomates beach. We each got a bucket with 3 turtles in it to release. They gave a talk about the turtles, then drew a line in the sand to stand behind, and we released the turtles and watched them go for the water. They had a bigger tub with turtles, and in total, over 200 turtles were released to the ocean. Friday, cooking lessons again, this time with Rosie. We made salsas, tortillas, tortilla soup, and bread pudding. Sunday, we went to the Bucerias market to find a molcajete, a stone bowl to make salsas with. Found one for 190 pesos, then went for lunch on the beach and back to the hotel. Monday, into town for supper at the Red Cabbage; we always go at least once on our trips. The restaurant theme is Frida Kahlo. The food is very good traditional Mexican. Tuesday was a trip to the Botanical Gardens. Everything is green from last month's rains, lots of flowers, and a couple of very large spiders. Went to the Malecon that night as it was Halloween, to see all the kids dressed up. It was wall-to-wall people. Wednesday, made the hike up the hill to the cross. I forgot to take a picture last time. Shopping for stuff to take home, vanilla and tequila. Try La Casa de la Vainilla tomorrow as it is not open today. Friday, got some vanilla and vanilla liquor. We will buy the tequila across the street from the hotel, a dark and white chocolate. It was hot, 30°C throughout the trip.


Time to pack, by the way, they will not let you take a molcajete in your carry-on. Had to go back and check an extra bag. The flight back was late by 45 minutes, and the temperature was -10°C with snow in Calgary; there was a foot of it in the yard.

Just had 2 weeks in Fuerteventura with my beloved Ellen; it went like clockwork. No worries with my bag, apart from one day waist-deep in the sea, and all the kids were wondering why all the fish were around me. Haha, goddamn leak...