Colorful and Vibrant Mexico

Sunrise from our balcony

We’ve just experienced two gorgeous weeks in Neuvo Vallarta, on the West Coast of Mexico, with absolutely perfect weather. It couldn’t have been more ideal. We savored cool evenings (but not cool enough for a jacket) and warm sunny days with a sea breeze.

Another view from balcony

 

What could be more perfect that staying in a lush, green tropical resort positioned just on the ocean front with mazes of walkways, pools and a beach? And of course there were plenty of restaurants and bars so in addition to our own happy hours on our balcony overlooking the ocean, we were never far from our much loved guacamole and margaritas.





 

Church in San Sebastián

Our first week was a busy one with activities such as Spanish lessons, looking at areas that might be a possibility to move to (even going as far as looking at some condos), a trip into the mountains to San Sebastián, a village that is over three hundred years old, a tequila distillery and a cooking class (highlight of our first week). The second week our schedule was much more relaxed so we had more time to either lounge and read or participate in various activities centered around the pool. I did get to take a “back of house” tour which blew my mind away and on our last day, we had the ultimate finale, a swim with dolphins. It couldn’t have been a better way to end our holiday.

Our cooking class was held at My Mexican Kitchen in Bucerias, a short drive from Nuevo Vallarta. Travis and Edgar were waiting and warmly welcomed us into an intimate kitchen set up for six students, the two chefs and their helper. Chef Edgar, who is from Puebla Mexico, and Chef Travis, who is from Seattle, had laid out the ingredients that we would be using to prepare a five-course dinner. There were all kinds of colorful peppers and vibrant vegetables and fruit. Their display was truly a work of art.

We started by preparing an Agua Fresca, water that has been infused with fresh fruit, then prepared the Salsa Verde, a green salsa. Travis enlightened us on the differences in the peppers and the taste and spiciness of each and asked if we liked our foods spicy. Three preferred medium spicy but I wanted the level of spicy that causes tears to run down your cheeks. We learned that the tomatillos used in our recipe have a totally different flavor than tomatoes and that different flavors can be given to the salsa by roasting, sautéing or boiling the tomatoes or chilies. Edgar blended all of our ingredients and reserved some for the “mild flavored” students while adding more chilies to make extra spicy salsa. We got to sample the salsa with handmade tortilla chips. YUM!! Actually, I nibbled on the chips and salsa all evening.

One is spicy and the other HOT!



Learning to make tortillas

The rest of our meal included some new foods for us, including Tlacoyos, a bean stuffed tortilla. Did you know that a tortilla in Mexico has two very different sides? (one side is a little puffy and the other is flat and it makes a difference how you fold them!) The rest of our menu included Sopa Azteca or Tortilla Soup, Arroz Mexicano or Mexican Rice, Calabacitas or Pan Fried Zucchini and Mole Poblano. We each got to chop the ingredients and help in the cooking but the best part was getting to eat our traditional meal! As we were eating, Travis and Edgar made Plantanos Fritos, Sweet-fried Plantains, as the dessert and the grand finale Cafe de Olla or Mexican Coffee. I didn't have room for the Plantanos Fritos but the smell that wafted my way was warm, sweet, cinnamony and delightful. The coffee was pure heaven. Even those who don't like coffee wouldn't able to resist the cinnamon and dark sugar that enhance this coffee. It's more like a dessert than an after dinner coffee.

YUM!!

If visiting the Puerto Vallarta area, I would recommend anyone who likes Mexican food to take a class with Travis and Edgar at My Mexican Kitchen. You'll leave full of the wonderful food and filled with enthusiasm for trying the recipes at home.

The afternoon of our last day, we went to the Vallarta Adventures’ Dolphin Center for our swim. Before we got in the pool, we had an orientation to tell us about the Bottlenose dolphins that are in the Center. Steve and I were in a group of eight and our dolphin was Mila who is a six-year old female. She had broken her jaw at the age of six months but had survived so her name is a shortened version of Miracle (el Milagro). 

Mila

 

After entering the chilly pool, we stood on a platform so that we were in water about waist to chest high. Our trainer brought Mila over to us so that we could pet her and feel her skin, which felt a bit like wet plastic. He gave us more in depth information about dolphins and their environment before putting Mila though her “tricks”.

 

She seemed to love all of the attention but then dolphins always look as if they are smiling and they are so playful. We all had our photos taken with Mila, got a kiss from her and gave her a kiss, and then we each got a ride around the pool on her belly. The dolphins ended our session by racing each other around the pool just a couple of feet away from us causing waves that nearly knocked us over. What an extraordinary and memorable experience!

Everyone we met was so warm and friendly and hospitable and their culture so colorful and vivid that you can’t help but fall in love with Mexico . The end of our holiday came all too quickly but I’m already looking forward to my return. Hopefully, it will be soon!