This post brings us way back to our New Years days in Puerto Vallarta… yes we are posting that far back. Hate to admit it, but it is easier to process the hundreds of pics we shoot and it gives us time to digest our experiences. This may not translate to good photo albums or good narrative, but it is what it is.

We have to admit that we were more than pleasantly surprised with the tourist Mecca of Puerto Vallarta. We expected it to be just another tourist town with the big hotels and resorts. Instead we found a great old town with neat shops and a great malecon along the beach. The hotels and resorts are still there, but they are for the most part located away from the oldtown area. We also found a really nice campground that is quiet and comfortable right in the middle of town. We spent the weekend of New Years here because we decided (especially after just witnessing an accident with people we knew) it was better for our health and the health of the Landcruiser if we didn’t drive around Mexico on a major party week.

On new year’s eve we walked downtown and checked out the crowds. We were surprised that the majority of tourists we saw here were not foreigners, but were Mexican tourists it made things feel more authentic. We were hanging out on the Malecon when fireworks started going off and everybody was singing and carrying on at 11:00. We couldn’t figure out what was going on, we thought maybe it was a weird Mexican custom to welcome the New Year an hour early. More than slightly confused, we adapted and made the most of it by joining in the dancing and were treated to a great fireworks show. We later asked a police woman who gave Luis a “you friggin’ drunk gringo” look and proceeded to tell us that we had probably missed the time zone change when we arrived to PV, the time zone switches to Central just outside of PV. Another holiday almost missed by the intrepid travellers. Even though a little late in the game, we quickly found a little bar and had a shot of tequila to toast in the new year!