Sunday Photo and Monday Walk

February 2016 - Puerto Vallarta Mexico

Click here to read about our first impressions of Puerto Vallarta after 22 years. I know places and people change over the years so I'll leave it at that.
I will say that this PV is a sanitized Disney (I love Disney, just to make that clear) version that has little to do with Mexico and more to do with being on vacation and not travelling.
But I do get it if you are taking your vacation from work in the middle of a cold winter you might just want sun and sand.
Maybe it is culture shock as we have spent the last two months in lovely Mexican towns.


We took a cab into town and started at this church, surprised, right? John didn't even come in but went down the street to take another photo.
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Refugio is located in front of the Miguel Hidalgo Park, one block from the boardwalk (Malecon) in Puerto Vallarta.

There was a small market in the square.

Another statue of Hidalgo, he's been with us on our travels.

We turn down a street to get to the Malecon, a "Malecón" is the Spanish name for a "esplanade along a waterfront".
The north side starts off by Hotel Rosita (The Millennia Statue), ends by the Amphitheater (Aquiles Serdán Plaza) beside the Plaza de Armas (Main City Square).

This piece was created to celebrate the new millennium and is full of symbolism and meaning. Inaugurated in its present location on October 31st, 2001.

The sculpture's spiral form symbolizes the passage of time, but on the sculpture itself you are shown various elements that give a clearer idea of the message the artist, Mathis Lidice, is trying to convey.

Quetzalcóatl, the feathered serpent, symbol of wisdom.

Next, on the corner of Allende and the Malecon, you'll find "Origin and Destination" by Pedro Tello. The sculptures represent the beginnings of humanity, music, time and knowledge. The boat represents mankind's quest for new horizons. In the second sculpture, a chimera, symbolizes humanity's unity with reptiles, birds and marine animals, with musical notes that represent the harmony existing between them. The final sculpture is an obelisk, representing humanity's spirituality. The obelisk contains an hours glass filled with sand, a symbol of the transience of the present.

Next along our walk is "Nostalgia" by Mexican artist, Ramiz Barquet, who created this sculpture to symbolize his love for his wife, Nelly Barquet.

On the corner of Leona Vicario and the Malecon you'll find an interesting and strange sculpture named "El Sutil Comepiedras",The Subtle Rock Eater by Guadalajara artist Jonás Gutiérrez from 2006. It's a 2.4-meter-high, bronze-and-obsidian sculpture.

The beginning of the pedestrian mall along the Malecon.

Some sand sculptures, not quite as long lasting.

You'll find this statue on the corner of Abasolo and the Malecon. This sculpture by Carlos Espino, Triton and Mermaid, concentrates on the human form and classical mythology, which can clearly be appreciated in this piece.

“La Rotonda del Mar” (The Roundabout of the Sea) by Alejandro Colunga from 1996, is found on the corner of Aldama and the Malecon. Colunga is a self-taught painter and sculptor from Guadalajara.
A blogger, reading my post about the chairs in Guadalajara, told me about the  chairs in Puerto Vallarta.

"Search for Reason" (En busca de la razón) by the famous Mexican artist, Sergio Bustamante, a very distinctive 60 foot high statue with three strange pillow headed figures and a ladder which two are climbing, like searching for an answer farther and above the normal limits of humanity.

There is even a Bubba Gump's now. I expect to see them in the States and have even seen one in Hong Kong, but really??

There is fresh seafood literally on their doorstep and this is probably frozen imported.

Rafael Zamarripa's famous "The Boy on the Seahorse" (Little Seahorse) statue on the Malecón has become a symbol of Puerto Vallarta, now placed in a new location with better space and stairs to sit around it. It's a 3 meter high bronze replica of the statue that was placed initially on a group of rocks called "Las Pilitas" at the end of Los Muertos Beach, but it was thrown over by the waves and strong winds, so in 1976 the artist was requested a new version which was then installed by the old Lighthouse on the Malecon.

We had to repay a visit to the iconic and famous church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was packed with cruise ship (shudder) gawkers.

Back to the Malecon and a bite to eat.

Behind the arches you'll find the Friendship Fountain (Dancing Dolphins Fountain) "La Fuente de la Amistad" by James “Bud” Bottoms together with Octavio Gonzalez Gutierrez (1987).

Puerto Vallarta and Santa Barbara, California have been sister cities since 1972, Santa Barbara's sculptor James Bottoms designed this fountain with three leaping dolphins inspired by a Chumash Indian legend.

This mosaic mural "Fish Vendors" is displayed on the Malecón II right in front of the Naval Museum. This work was painted by Manuel Lepe in acrylic and silkscreen.


His paintings of small angels, children and Puerto Vallarta landscapes can be found in the homes of presidents and art collectors. The Queen of England, Elizabeth II, has one of his paintings at the Royal Mews Museum at Windsor Castle.

On our way back we found this colorful masterpiece created by Glass Gallery M owner Mariano Perez Vivanco as a tribute to the late Vallarta painter Manuel Lepe, reinterpreting the painting called “La Ronda”.

We continue to stroll along and reach Rio Cuale.

Now it gets crazy busy with tourists.

On our way back there is a touch of Mexico, someone is swimming in the Rio Cuale and polished his boots. They also lay their clothes out to dry.

Cutting through the market which we will come back to visit.

Monday Walks 

Sunday Photo