February 1, 2001
This page is being written way, way after the fact (Feb 2008). I had a catastrophic computer malfunction recently. These are some files I salvaged that I never posted. The 'Mexico' web page didn't get started until several years later. The pictures are no longer dated in my files so some will be presented alphabetically
SunCountry now flies direct from Minneapolis to PV but in '01 I rode two airlines and changed planes in LA. PV is located on a huge half-moon bay and is divided into 5 zones. From the North going south they are called:
Airport, Marina, Hotel, Central, and Old Town.
OldTown is the area south of the river.
In about the exact center of Old Town is the low cost Hotel Aztecan
As I recall, paying in advance by the week got it down to ~$10/day.
Despite this being one of the lowest cost hotels in town it was clean, secure, and quiet (by Mexican standards)
=)
The guy above is filling his glass from a 5 gal jug provided by the hotel.
Sometimes house wiring can become creative. Not many lawyers down there so they figure if you get hurt it's probably your own fault. Former Minnesota Governor, Jessey Ventura once said 'You can't legislate against stupidity'.
The Azteca was full when I arrived so I stayed at the Del Mar nearby that first night and moved the next day. I was lead to believe that the airlines would transport golf club bags free so I disassembled my BiekE recumbent bike and carried it in a hard sided golf club case. As it turns out they charge extra for ALL excess baggage. Once I got moved into the Azteca the first thing to do was reassemble the bike.
PV's street construction is not recreational biking friendly. They set smooth rounded river stones in cement and let the stones take all the wear. It almost feels smooth if you're in a bus. Not much of a skate-board problem down here.
When I went exploring up on the hotel roof I found some workmen hard at it and noticed this hand-made hack saw.
In a tropical climate perspiration counts for a lot in keeping cool. This is a local bus driver and it pays to keep him cool, plus that plastic cording looks pretty comfortable.
Across the street from the hotel there was a little dentist's office. I had heard about the low prices on dental work in Mexico so I had an additional motivation for coming down. I just had the cusp of a tooth break off at home because of the huge filling it was supporting. I visited Dr Rodriguez and he estimated $100 for a gold crown. I had him do that broken tooth and one more like it with a massive filling. When the second crown came in from the lab it looked a little rough on the biting surface so he polished it up on a buffing wheel. At one point he pressed the crown into he wheel a little too hard and it got thrown out of his fingers, and disappeared. He and I spent half an hour on our hands and knees looking for the darned thing. Finally I went back to the hotel and got my flashlight. We ended up finding it in the base pedestal of the dentist chair. It had flown in through an open access panel. He finished polishing it, cleaned it up, sterilize it and cemented it in. No problemo. That was seven years ago and they still chew great.
In the meantime I'd met up with my pals and attended the excellent AA meetings each night. These overseas meetings are very interesting because of the exceptional people vacationing and traveling through. The PV clubhouse is is on the second floor above a cinema theater. Here is a view from the clubhouse deck.
A popular meeting place is the 'Internet C@fe' located a block off the beach.
There is no end to the variety of enterprises in PV.
Mexico mines a lot of silver and has a significant jewelery industry.
Notice the functional silver bicycle chain bracelets.
And the building inspector said: "I don't care where you exhaust it, you gotta have a vented hood over that grill !"
An AA pal of mine and I took off one day to visit the marina area.
Scroll right to view >>--> >>-->
One of the first things we saw at the marina was this yellow submarine outfit at the dock.
Check out the marine growth on this sailboat bottom after spending two years on a mooring bouy.
Want a closer look? There was a complete eco-system living down thre.
When racing, I'm sure it was a treat to see this rig heel over and bring that dragon all the way out of the water.
Here rests a forgotten dream. I'm sure the owner only remembers how she looked the day they finsihed painting her.
On the way back to OldTown we passed this catamaran construction project.
Here is the first Triciclo I got to see up close.
I alluded to the fact that the Mexican culture is very audio oriented. There is music palying everywhere and muffler-less cars, trucks and busses are the norm. Varoooom!! Rack Rack Rack.
I guess the phone lines need to be wired through conduit here.
In '01 I still had a VW camper bus with a fiberglass top like this at home and seeing this outfit sure got the daydreams going. After hearing some of the stories of driving cross country in Mexico I got over it.
I guess half the fun of building a brick wall is all the drinking it takes to top the wall with broken beer bottle glass.
I can only imagine what they are using them for. . . but this family is washing livestock guts in the river.
On my way home one afternoon I got to stop for a while and watch this sofa get reupholstered.
The last half of my stay is on the next page by way of:
-Home-