Mexico

Year Visited: 2006 – Jul; 2011 – Dec

Mexico, set between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and bordered by United States, Guatemala and Belize is a country in the southern portion of North America. Settled as a colony of Spain in the early 16th century, Mexico gained its independence in 1821. Today, Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking nation in the World.

Pre-Columbian Mexico was home to many advanced Mesoamerican civilizations, most well known among them the Maya and the Aztecs. Mexico ranks first in the Americas and 7th in the world for the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Mexico is a land of extremes, with high mountains and deep canyons in the center of the country, sweeping deserts in the north, and dense rain forests in the south and east. As its official name suggests, the Estados Unidos Mexicanos (United Mexican States) incorporates 31 socially and physically diverse states and the Federal District of Mexico City, its capital city and largest metropolis.

I have visited Mexico more than 10 times, mostly as business trips. So didn’t took many pictures. Pictures below are from two pleasure trips to Mexico; Puerto Vallarta and Cancun.

Puerto Vallarta:

Year visited 2011 – Dec

During Christmas 2011, I visited Puerto Vallarta, 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, 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.

The residents of Puerto Vallarta are very friendly and generally willing to help with directions and other requests. Old Town Vallarta (or the Zona Romantica district) south of the River Cuale is more like a Mexican town and less like a tourist trap.

Pictures below are from my five days visit to resort town of Puerto Vallarta.

Welcome to Puerto Vallarta! A sand sculpture of Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Mexico. One of many Sand Sculptures along the Malecon (boardwalk) in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Pictures below are from my walks around Malecon, a 12-block promenade offering ocean views & sculptures, plus restaurants, bars, galleries & shops.

The Boy on the Sea Horse was the first sculpture placed on the Malecon (boardwalk) in downtown Puerto Vallarta. The original sculpture of the Seahorse was inaugurated in 1960 at Las Pilitas, which was washed out to sea after a strong storm and couldn’t be found again. In 1976, a larger replica was sculpted and is the one that can currently be seen on the Malecon. The statue has become a symbol of Puerto Vallarta.

La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, a Catholic church in Puerto Vallarta, was built between 1930 and 1940. The Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin Mary. She is the patron saint of Mexico.

The Beach at Puerto Vallarta downtown.

The famous Arches, “Los Arcos del Malecon” in downtown Puerto Vallarta Mexico on the beachfront boardwalk.

Malecon, a 12-block promenade offering ocean views & sculptures, plus restaurants, bars, galleries & shops.

Bailarines de Vallarta, Xiutla Folkloric Dancers at Parque Lazaro Cardenas on the Malecon.

Triton and Nereida mermaid statue on the Malecon.

One of many mermaid angels playing musical instrument on the Malecon.

Sand Sculpture artists presenting their talents along the Malecon

This is the first time I saw many street artists floating in the air.

A pirate ship full of tourists.

Beach Huts serving delicious sea food.

Shops along the beach road.

Authentic Burrito with Pacifico, one of the popular Mexican beer, overlooking Pacific Ocean.

Mariachi, a traditional Mexican music, is inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

Pictures below are from the Whale Watching tour. Every year the Humpback visit the Bay of Banderas in order to reproduce and give birth.

Beautiful Banderas Bay, one of the largest and deepest in the world

Looking for Humpback whales in the Banderas Bay.

Humpback whale in the Banderas Bay. Every year the Humpback visit the Bay of Banderas in order to reproduce and give birth.

A young Humpback whale in the Banderas Bay.

A young Humpback whale swimming closer to over boat.

Pictures below are from my stay at Casa Magna Marriott hotel.

My home away from home during five days visit to Puerto Vallarta.

One of the residential wing of CasaMagna Marriott.

Swimming Pool at CasaMagna Marriott.

Beautiful colors of Sunset Afterglow

A pair of Dolphins playing in the bay in front of the Marriott.

A Dolphin playing in the bay in front of the Marriott.

Birds trying catch their breakfast.

Beautiful reflection in Swimming Pool at CasaMagna Marriott.

ready to take a flight.

A marina and apartments for expats.

Enjoying a glass of Don Julio, one of my favorite Tequila.

While in Puerto Vallarta, I took a public transport to visit Punta Mita, a spear-shaped peninsula surrounded on three sides by nine and a half miles of Pacific Ocean beaches and coves.

Took a public bus to Punta de Mita, now home to upscale hotels and resorts

Rocio, a beach front restaurant and bar at Punta de Mita, serving delicious Mexican food.

Enjoying spicy Michelada at Rocio with a stunning view of Pacific Ocean. Michelada is a drink made with beer, lime juice, assorted sauces, spices, tomato juice, and chile peppers.

Beautiful colors of Sunset Afterglow at Punta de Mita.

While in Puerto Vallarta, I took a public transport to countryside with my local friend.

Countryside near Puerto Vallarta, this visit would not be possible without help from my local friend.

An Old distillery producing Mezcal or Tequila, now a museum.

First time I saw a family size Corona, one of the most marketed beer of Mexico.

A little hike in the countryside.

After a week long stay in Puerto Vallarta, it was a time to go back to home in Dallas.

Cancun:

Year visited 2006 – Jul

During 4th of July Week of 2006, I visited Cancun with my boys. As this was a family vacation, most pictures below are of my boys.

Cancún, a city on the Yucatán Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea, is known throughout the world for its spectacular white sand beaches and its fascinating sea in turquoise blue tones. It’s composed of 2 distinct areas: the more traditional downtown area, El Centro, and Zona Hotelera, a long, beachfront strip of high-rise hotels, nightclubs, shops and restaurants. Again, as this was a family trip with my kids, we stayed at CasaMagna Marriott in the Zona Hotelera.

Pictures below are from our stay at the Casa Magna Marriott Hotel in CanCun.

Blue Caribbean Sea and Blue Swimming pool, a view from our room at CasaMagna Marriott Cancun.

The Beach at the Zona Hotelera is kind of private as each resort has huge sea front.

Neil and Raul Ready for some beach action.

Beach football with Neil and Raul.

Father and Son.

Neil is busy making a sand-castle.

Don’t know who is having more fun, Kids or Dad? 🙂

Neil and Raul ready for some swimming pool action.

Raul ready to throw football Underwater.

Neil ready to catch football underwater.

Raul is playing Tornedo underwater.

Neil is practicing snorkeling in swimming pool.

Celebrating 4th of July in Mexico

Raul posing at Piano in the hotel lobby.

Photos below are from our visit to La Isla Shopping Village.

Sunset from La Isla Shopping Village, Cancun. Raul showing off his new toy.

Neil and Raul with Señor Frog.

Family photo at La Isla Shopping Village.

Enjoying a glass of Kahlúa, a coffee liqueur from Mexico.

Enjoying a glass of 1800, one of my favorite Tequila.

Couple of pictures below from our day trip to Playa del Carmen.

Neil and Raul on the street of Playa del Carmen.

Neil and Raul at Señor Frog’s Playa del Carmen.

Pictures below are from our a day trip to Isla Mujeres, a laid-back, peaceful paradise just across from CanCun. Isla Mujeres is an island where the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea meet.