| | |  Vallarta Living | October 2009 
Out and About in Puerto Vallarta
 Twila Crawford - PVNN
October 22, 2009
| | Cheri Sibley and five of her art students are painting a mural of Sally Conley's higuera (fig) tree in the new children's wing at Los Mangos Library. | |
Have you ever been penniless and homeless? I have been... for a few hours. A taxi driver here robbed me of my wallet. He was a criminal, very practiced and fast. He was sitting in a taxi outside Daiquiri Dick's and took me to El Centro where he took my wallet. He comes across as gracious and really wanting to help a person... and then the wallet is gone. He is young, slight and speaks some English. I reported the theft.
Then penniless, and not able to get into my home because of missing keys, I wandered to the southside. Good friends Sol's and Chris's Café Bohemio waiters gave me some money. Charlotte Semple of the chocolate store offered money, too.
I then sat outside friend Barbara Yates' place until she arrived, meanwhile talking to nearly everyone in town passing by. We enjoyed each other's company until we finally reached someone who keeps my keys for emergencies. Thank you, too, to Justo for speaking with appropriate persons. The rest of the week was spent replacing items that were in the wallet. I hope the taxi criminal gave some of the money to his mother.
Awful happenings weren't over. I heard a crash in the middle of the night and the lower kitchen cupboards fell down to the floor. And a large framed mirror in a bedroom came apart. So the only thing in the kitchen I can use are the refrigerator and the microwave. I can't use the kitchen sink and I am afraid to use the stove... at least it isn't leaking gas. I am blaming this on the recent earthquakes around here that might have loosened up some things in my home. Hope all of you are okay.
Tiffany's, the new salon at Albatross #420 in Marina Vallarta, is absolutely stunning. Len's staff of the former blu salon created Tiffany's with Betty as the designer. You see a salon like this in a 5-star hotel. The high-ceilinged interior is open, airy and beautiful in silver and off-white decor, with glass and mirrors everywhere.
A large hand-blown glass chandelier combines green and apricot colors for a striking presence. Thoroughly enjoyable to look out the windows is the estuary outside with water, greenery and islands with birds of all kinds. And crocodiles come out of the water to take in the scenery.
Congratulations to Betty, Clay, Daniel, Sara, Jessica and Miguel who provide this glamorous oasis for us to be repaired, to be soothed and to relax. For more information, click HERE or call (322) 209-2193.
New Tango classes begin October 26, from 8-9 pm, at J&B Dance, Francisco M. Ascencio 2043. Tango always is on Wednesday nights. A seminar called Tango Coatl is from October 28 - November 3 with guest teachers. For more information, contact alybarbara(at)yahoo.com or call (322) 222-8895. Al and Barbara are among the classiest persons in town!
Galleria Dante, Basilio Badillo #269, is open from 10 am-2 pm. Artists in residence paint in the gallery. Cheri Sibley and five of her art students are painting a mural of Sally Conley's higuera (fig) tree to be placed in the new children's wing, El Rincon de Sally, of Los Mangos Library.
2009-2010 Viejo Vallarta Art Walk maps/brochures are available at the tourist office on the main plaza. Directories of doctors and health organizations also are available.
Festival Gourmet International Vallarta is November 12-22 this year. Renowned chefs will be coming to town to join local chefs in spectacular preparations for dining. This is the 14th year of the event. For further information, go to FestivalGourmet.com.
Author and poet Karen Blomain, a part-time resident, benefited from a Belin Arts Scholarship in Pennsylvania. Last weekend, she and 45 recipients from over the years gathered for a Belin Arts Celebration Weekend. Karen used her scholarship for the creative writing program at Columbia University. She returns to Vallarta in January, along with writer and photographer Michael Downend.
Last Sunday morning, I walked on the Malecón to get the feel of hurricane weather, with clouds coming in and waves increasingly becoming larger. I saw D'Rachel and Antonio carrying their equipment into Daiquiri Dick's so I followed them inside and decided to have brunch.
The good food is so much better with D'Rachel's and Antonio's singing and playing of the harp, flute and keyboard. The executive chef is Ignacio Uribe and the sous chef is Hugo Mejica. A waiter brought over a gin-covered napkin to take care of a bug or spider bite on my arm. Now that is service! In November, D'Rachel will be at Archie's Wok on Friday and Saturday evenings. She also will be at Vitea on Wednesdays.
The 37th Cervantino Festival at Guanajuato continues until November 1. The internationally known festival features plays, music, dance performances, art and photography exhibits. Quebec is the invited region this year. One of the highlights of the festival will be a series of performances by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Persons from Vallarta often attend the festivities. For a schedule, go to FestivalCervantino.gob.mx.
Hand gel appears in a number of stores and restaurants now. Just a good feeling of cleanliness when using it.
Consider taking strolls on the Malecón in the early evening before the sun sets on weekends. You can enjoy all kinds of activities from Mariachis to groups in the river performing rituals to people-watching, especially the adorable children.
 An award-winning journalist, Twila Crawford lives in Puerto Vallarta, where, in addition to contributing articles to BanderasNews, the PV Mirror and other local publications, she writes Out and About in Puerto Vallarta, an informative column that offers inside information about who, what, why, where and when it's happening around Banderas Bay.
Click HERE to read more articles by Twila Crawford. |
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