vinapu

PART 1, common stuff This trip came even as surprise to myself. I was planning to go somewhere lese but things did not work so I was left with both free time and untouched travel fund allotted for that trip not to even mention desire to travel. So I decided to look for some last minute options and one of my friends who actually spent December there suggested Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. Him not being gay did not even realize how illustrious that advise sounded to me in view of supposed vast gay scene there and 273 clicks later my package consisting flight , hotel, breakfast and airport transfer in PV both ways was purchased. All I had to do was to pack, get some information both tourist and about the scene and wait few days for an actual flight to take that week long vacation. This was my third visit to Mexico but last being 20 years ago almost to the day and then free from any boy hunting made me feeling I’m discovering uncharted territory specially that previously I was in different parts of country. Puerto Vallarta is on Pacific coast in the bottom od quite vast Banderas bay and is quite big city of about 200 000 which was good new meaning there’s something to do if weather interferes. September is not a best time to go there according to my information as it is rainy season but it turned much better than expected. City was still full of vacationers , mainly Mexicans, but not crowded, flight both ways was about 2/3 full and rainy season turned quite pleasant with sunny mornings and afternoons, it was raining daily early evening but with exception of one day rain lasted 1-2 hrs max. One day deluge lasting from 6 pm to at least 3 am, perhaps longer but I fall asleep so don’t know did not stop me from having fun, all I need was to wring my shirt before entering strip bar . More about that later. City is neatly divided into 4 parts , from airport going south Marina section , then Hotel Zone changing into Centre and than after crossing the river , Zona Romantica, main entertainment and above everything else, gay entertainment part. Small island between that Zona and Centre has best art crafts market in whole city in my opinion and no souvenir shopping should be done without visiting there. Speaking about crafts , after my previous visit to Mexico out of all countries I visited and I visited more than one I rated that country along with Peru , Morocco , Iran , India and Myanmar as best place to shop but not any more as , like almost everywhere cheap, Chinese produced stuff , uniformly looking takes most of space of shelves although still a lot of interesting stuff can be found. It’s quite possible that situation in other parts of country like Mexico city is much better but PV did not impress me that much when comes to that stuff. Communication is easy, taxis are everywhere and bus system easy to master with fares of 10 peso = 50 US cents. What to do there other than shopping , strolling along Malecon and of course enjoying the ocean’s warm waters ? ( gay part will come in a while ). Out of 6 full days there I stay in the city for first and last , middle part of stay devoting to day time trips visiting attractions listed below. Vallarta Botanical Gardens, 45 minutes bus trip, fare 1.50 USD one way, cut out of jungle with trekking and river bathing options with good restaurant on the site. Take bathing suit and towel. Jungle trek along the shore from Boca de Tomatlan ( 30 minutes by bus , 50 cents ) taking about 3 hours with possible sunbathing and swimming on few secluded small beaches , including one I had just to myself for good hour. It end in Las Animas where you can have a lunch and return by boat ( 200 peso = 10 USD ) to Boca and back to PV by bus for another 50 cents. Sayulita , small but very popular city with good beach and plenty of attractive boutiques for shoppers and known for good surf. Buses from Wal Mart in Marina part of PV going there every ½ hr , trip takes 1.5 hr one way and cost heart stopping 1.5 $ USD = 30 peso. Yelapa, secluded beach village accessible only by boat, 400 peso = 20 USD round trip from PV. There’s beach , restaurants and 2 waterfalls, smaller close to the village , bigger one requiring 1-1.5 hr trek one way. I opted for big one and it was not a right decision in rainy season as getting there requires crossing the river which after last night rain was quite swollen and I backed up afraid that if something would happen to me , nobody knew as I was there alone. So wait for dry season to get there. My package included stay in Tropicana hotel very conveniently located on the beach , just south of Zona Romantica, 15 minutes walk to Anthropology ( soon you will learn why it’s important ), steps from Blue Chairs gay hotel and beach. In short location was excellent. When combing gay sites I learned they hotel is very gay friendly so it made me even more excited. I was assigned room on the last floor with view almost to die for. Room was spacious , had balcony, hotel had not one but two pools. What for with ocean just outside the gate I don’t know but both were occupied heavily during day. Disappointing part for hotel of this class and first quarter of 21 century was no internet in the room , only in common areas on ground level. I solved it by buying SIM card with data for 150 peso = 7.5 USD but still was disappointed. There was no kettle in the room to make tea or coffee , again I solved it by bringing my own immense water heater and metal cup. Drinking water was provided but only 2 bottles for the whole stay, not daily. And final, gay friendly doesn’t mean guest friendly. Guest was required to register, obtain bracelet removed subsequently on departure and host was supposed to pay 300 peso -= 15 USD joiner fee. All this in place charging 80-130 $ per night !!! When compared to Thailand we can see that hotel value there is much , much , much better. Still I would stay there again, mainly because of location and view – almost all rooms have unobstructed ocean view but only as part of package. Having flight and hotel cost me only 260 $ more than just flight only for the same dates so daily rate was slightly above 30 $, it’s why I’m not complaining. Finally before we move to more interesting subject , since this is Mexico we need to mention crime situation and here I have very good news for you. In Puerto Vallarta it is not your concern. I was walking nightly through in parts very deserted streets very late , sometimes at 1-2 pm and never ever had reason for concern. On the first day I arrived in hotel at 7 pm , by time I settled it was dark and went about the completely unknown to me city and it was all peaceful and quiet , of course with exception of being close to raucous gay and straight bars ( gay ones were noisier ). I had one more attraction included in the package , unknown to me. When we landed we were greeted with news that 3 hours earlier there was earthquake. Then when about the city on my fist night I went to restaurant I was told that they may close soon as they expect tsunami warning which did not materialize fortunately. Finally , deep into night when I arrived from Anthropology ( soon , soon , relax ) around 3 am and went to bed before I fell asleep I felt hotel dancing and it lasted good 40 seconds if not more. It was pretty strong but not strong enough to create damage. Not a first earthquake in my life but still memorable experience. Gay part coming most likely tomorrow

It's nice to defend one's country reputation and USA achievements are plenty , main being green color on American money, magnet to many you mentioned in 2nd sentence. But your blanket is too big, we are talking about Cuba here, not whole world. If you think USA's Cuban policy is right all I can say I feel jealous.

very encouraging all that above. I'd opt for Mexico instead , none of that nonsense either way. I just returned few days ago

Whatever it may be, fact is that USA policy is taken hostage by that group as USA was and is much friendlier with much nastier regimes than Cuban and for example geographically close to our hearts , did not have any problems of supporting so called Democratic Kampuchea i.e Pol Pot's murderous regime claim on UN seat representing Cambodia well after Khmer Rouge were chased to jungles by Vietnamese. We will not even mention Saddam Husain nomination to a Man of The Year of Time magazine , Somosas , Truillos, and numerous African kleptocrats and Arab autocrats.

I did and I used it when there in May as for Bangkok, traditionally best exchange rates were offered by booths at Airport railway station but I'm not sure it's still a truth as , again in May, I found better rates at XOne on Suriwong , 2 or 3 sois past soi Tawan going away from Patpong. Another place with good rates is on Narathiwas , going from Silom PLaza ( where Arena is) to MahaNakhon. Shop offering very good rates on SalaDaeng station was closed in May but can be possibly reopened now with increased tourist traffic. There are two jewelry shops offering close to the best rates , one on Thaniya close to Suriwong end on the left side going from Silom, another one beside former soi Twilight warning, at least in Patpong / Silom are all shops with good rates are not opened on Sundays and holidays and those who are opened on Sunday are opening bit worse rates than on other days so don't leave your exchange to Sundays. Keep in mind that attractiveness of rates in particular place may depend of currency you are exchanging and best shop for AUD not necessarily will be best for yen although unlikely difference will be big but still may be noticeable on higher amounts. This brings us to another issue - keep your cool as sometimes when exchanging smaller amounts is not worth to spend too much time hunting best rates. One of our members once confessed to me that he once went from Silom to shop at Nana station with very good rates to change 50 or 100 USD and savings , while existing, after deducting cost or round trip on BTS amounted to few bahts over price of Singha at 7/11

I'm fairly sure nobody in Washington DC neither knows nor understands either. or that paragon of human rights and religious freedom Saudi Arabia

Difference is all hotels in my price range in Thailand are guest friendly so one less substantial problem.

I knew bur asked in the name of new readers, alter all in 2022 we can, t expect all to know what USSR or GDR stood for

As usual I will report when return home. Answer to second question is yes but we are not fair as I know my way around Thais scene and I, m new here and being new cost money and missed opportunities.

I, d be interested to know if race and age plays any role in comparison. As we know in Thailand even octogenarian is welcomed with opened hands or at least pretended to, in bars. Is that a case with Brazilian saunas ? What about guests in the hotels? I, m now in another Latin country, staying in supposedly gay friendly hotel bordering quite active gay area and my hotels requires fee and registration of all guests. I found it obstacle and surprisingly also did at least two guys I tried to engage with.

We know that you are in the know but what GP means, not General Practitioner I suppose

Taxi on the street They may be also organized trips to those, places, not necessarily bad deal. Few years ago I took one to Nong Nooch gardens and thought it overpriced but after I saw, admission price I realized that whole tour was only minimally more expensive, like 100 baht if that much. We were given ample time to ramble around.

I like this expresion

That explains plenty

Or they are trying to cash on their good looks

I,m shocked that FIFA officials were so modest in their requests. It one reasons I don,t plan to get excited about this year ,s tournament. When IOC granted 1996 games to Atlanta instead of Athens for centenary of Olympics they did outstanding job of converting me from guy who took vacations to watch Olympics to one who doesn t give a fuck about them and this was instant !

I think you right although number of British venting against BA is surprisingly high. And I would t vote for my national as they rarely have the best price to destinations of my interest.

Lodz doesn,t have an airport, Warsaw is nearest. Not sure about Kagoshims

My comment was related to your claim that is over. Otherwise I agree and it,t time governments will starts to treat as as adults making decisions and being responsible for it If only my own was as liberal,sigh

Gee, with that it looks even I may stand a chance, Grey power and all

You will be thrilled to learn that you are not alone , you must be my long lost twin

Like they did with Roe and Wade?

Or may bite them back severely. We tend to take too many things for granted, specially younger people.

which rarely can be said about their parents

My best airline is one which takes me to my destination cheapest and in connection is necessary , with no more than 3 hrs. I have no problem flying Gambia Air or Mauritania Airlines but wouldn't take Aeroflot now for obvious reasons- Moses flies it I presume