Best of Puerta Vallarta, Mexico

Welcome to Dr. Mary Travelbest:

In this episode: The FAQ is how to avoid blisters on your feet. The destination is Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The mistake is my friend who went hiking alone and regrets that now and the tip is about drinking fluids.

The FAQ is: Laura has a lot of blisters after she hikes. She asked me, “How can I avoid these blisters and enjoy my walks more?”

Answer: What’s a blister in the first place? A blister is a pocket of fluid between the upper layers of skin. The most common causes are friction, freezing, burning, infection, and chemical burns. Blisters are also a symptom of some diseases. The blister bubble is formed from the epidermis, the uppermost layer of skin. Don’t pop them or remove the skin. That will protect it.

Preventing blisters can be part of your routine.

Wear the right shoes, and clean socks. Moist skin blisters more easily, so socks that manage moisture and changing socks often can prevent some friction and moisture. Foot sweat can be a culprit, so the right socks can be critical. Break in your walking or hiking boots in advance, too.

Put some tape, padding or moleskin on the blister points on feet to prevent them. You can also add these to the inside of shoes, which last even longer, through many changes of socks or insoles.

Today’s Independent Destination- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

One of the favorite destinations for a solo woman traveler is to venture into Mexico, to a city that is welcoming tourists, like Puerto Vallarta. Once the US/Mexican borders open again, this may be a good destination for you.

 

Puerto Vallarta is a resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast, in Jalisco state. It is known for its beaches, water sports and nightlife scene. Its cobblestone center is home to the ornate Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe church, which we will describe in a few minutes, boutique shops and a range of restaurants and bars. El Malecón is a beachside promenade with contemporary sculptures, as well as bars, lounges and nightclubs.

Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's most affordable coastal towns, with plenty of pristine beaches and street markets, as well as an old town with a Spanish colonial atmosphere. ... This is generally the most affordable area in Puerto Vallarta and, as an added bonus, you're just minutes away from the main beach.

The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe known locally as La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, is a Catholic place of worship in Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It is open daily, with services in English available on Saturdays and mass in both Spanish and English on Sundays. The Church, built between 1930 and 1940, was constructed on the original foundations of a chapel initially dedicated to Lady Guadalupe in 1901. The Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin Mary. She is the patron saint of Mexico and is considered a religious symbol of Catholic faith and female empowerment.

 

Do you want  to experience some small group cooking classes?

 

Chef Mavi will take your group of 2-6 to the various local markets to buy the ingredients i.e., fish market, veggie market, tortilla market and then you to her home for the cooking class. 

 

Chef Mavi <[e-mail]

Thursday nights and Saturday morning farmers markets are big and great fun. 

 

Plaza Lazaro Cardenas, Puerto Vallarta 48310, Mexico

2019, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 Puerto Vallarta List:

Vallarta Torre:

Paseo de las Garzas

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco 48321

(322) 22 62024        [e-mail]
Eduardo Hernandez, Reservations Manager, [e-mail] and ROSIE

**** PV Angels event calendar :  http://pvangels.com/events/month

Restaurants 

• Café de Olla (no reservations)

• Barcelona Tapas (from Bobbin)

• Joe Jacks Fish Shack (our fav in 2019)

• cafe de artistes  $$$$ but spectacular (hard to get reservations)

• El Palomar – fancy, view, outdoors, up on the hill, $$$$$

• El Brujo – cheap, local, BEST SHRIMP (wrapped in bacon) I’ve ever had, on the local’s side of town.  Not far from the tunnel $$ Make reservations if during high season. SKIP THE BBQ sauce (also possibly the stuffing of cheese). 250 pesos for each entree (2 plates plenty to feed 3 persons)  6 per plate, $100 cab fare

• Sonora Grill (In the Marina, close to Starbucks and the liqueur store).  Turn left at the Whale.  Paso del la marina 121 Fracc.  www.sonoragrillprime.com    phone:  [phone]

• Bachas:  Mexican food – in the marina.  Avenida Paseo De La Marina 245,   48335 Telephone  ($20 killer Margaritas)

• Hacienda San Angel:  ALISON RAVES ABOUT THIS PLACE to stay at as well as music / food

(52) 322 222 2692 www.haciendasanangel.com Miramar 336  

• Bucerias

• Miguels (in the Plaza) 

• Adauto – on the beach (we had lunch there with Walter)

Recommendations from other locals:

• Trios – 1 block from Cathedral in Old Vallarta (local place, closed Monday) recommended by Kirk and Mavi

• Cenaduria Celia in the Emiliano Zaparta area, described by Mavi as “sinfully delicious”.  Closed Monday

• La Ochinta

• La Tarossa de Roma (In Marina – deck over water)

• Vitea – interantionl

• Varcelona (tapa restaurant downtown)

• Ocho Tostadas (behind football field by Sheraton)

• La Palapa (beach)

• Arches Wok (Thai) downtown

• Costa Chica restaurant (Seafood) I think this was Mavi’s recommendation

• Dulce Alejandra Beltran Flores / Mariscos El Colequita.  – recommended by mom’s friends.  In the Marina.  Calle Popa s/n loc. 17. Condominio Marina del rey.  322-281-6181

To do:

• Mavi Graf and Kirk – Art Culinario -  322-221-0914(h), 044(322)135-8570(c), www.arteculinario- mavigraf.com  Marina Sol #307M, Mastil #2  Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico zip 48314  

• Sayulita (surfing town)

• Day trip to Waterfall at Yelapa

• Dinner Cruise with Rhythm of the night

• Waterfall day trip to Quimixto

• Fernando Vivanco – [e-mail], 044(322)142-3920

Massage:  

• 322-108-41-76, 322-184-1931 (2 60 minute massages for $50 USD), includes a short foot massage or facial

• Yego salon and spa.  044-322-77-99-165, [e-mail]     Plaza Marsol local “K” entrada a la  Terminal Maritima (walk down to the port dock, turn right, walk into the little plaza on the right.  It has moved to the 1st massage place on the right.

• 2012 or 2013 - They charged us $25 for 70 min, including a foot and hand scrub.  Or 2 massages, 70 mins each for $45.  In 2014 they charged us $25 for an hour.  In 2015 we paid $25 + 3 tip.

• Shopping:

• Gauze clothes Maria of Guadalajara (Corner of Morelos and Corona)

• Another nice gauze shop in the Cruise Ship market.  Location # 44.  Not open Sundays

• Shoes / Sandals:  closer to cathedral than Maria of Guadalajara’s, on Morelos

• Unicornio Boutique:   Well priced and interesting jewelry.  Gauze clothing items. Morelos 174.  Telephone [phone]

• Thursday Marina Market – 6 pm- 9 pm

• Teresa Moreno – she is also at Old Town on Saturday). 

• Some Jewelry vendors prices better than beach.  Food vendors close to Main Street.  

• lady selling Maria of Guadalajara’s clothes

• Get dropped by taxi 3 blocks further than lighthouse and walk towards main drag.    

• Market in SamsClub parking lot – similar to stuff on beach w/ wider selection & better quality /$

• Saturday Market: Old town farmers Market (9-2pm)

• www.carolinedelmar.com is one vendor there on facebook: caroline del mar collective (I bought pants from her)

• Teresa Moreno – hand made dresses and bathing suite ([e-mail] or facebook at TYBIKINISYMAS).  She takes measurements or an existing garment and recreates it in your fav print / fabric. Dresses $550 pesos, bathing suits $30 USD  

cell 322-137-0477, [e-mail]

• Art Brooms www.artbroomsmexico.com

• Griffith+Mathura (Creatively designed Jewels) [e-mail]

• Transportation

• TAXI: (Van) – Juan taxi 464  322 126 0608

• Franco 323-159-6609