On the Road Again with Mrs. V: All bets are off...or on...

For the past couple of mornings I've been hearing music and what sounded like the voice of a dance instructor. Yesterday when Marina was here cleaning, I asked her about it. She said there was a dance/exercise studio a block from here. So today, Tuesday, 2/10, even before our omelets brunch, Sandy & I took a walk to check it out.

We walked down the block, found the building which is both a fitness center and dance studio, and went in to take a look. The place was jumping! The first floor fitness room was crowded, as was the second floor where a zumba class was in session. The zumba class had about 20 participants, mostly older (read: my age) "gringos". We watched for awhile, but could not take pictures of the class in session. The studio also offers pole-dancing classes, so on our way out Sandy snapped a picture of my first, (and only!), self-taught mini-lesson...LOL!

Across the street is a bakery/cafe called "Pie in the Sky" that is ALWAYS busy, so that was next on our list to explore. Anyone who has even a touch of a "sweet tooth" will begin salivating immediately upon entering! We brought some mini-scones and mini-pecan sticky buns back to the casa to have with our bacon omelets. Yum!

We were glad to be able to introduce Bob & Sandy to Antonio, the hard-working pool man, when he came today. Then we took off for Puerto Vallarta to give Bob and Sandy a chance to try their luck at some Mexican casinos!

The first casino we went into was located in a complex called "Peninsula Plaza": a very pretty group of fancy shops and the casino - "Yak". It was a relatively small and clean casino, and all four of us played some machines for awhile.

Then we headed to central ("centro") Puerto Vallarta to an older casino. While Bob & Sandy tried their luck there, Ladd and I walked on the malecon and enjoyed the sun, the sights, and the shops. (Well, one of us enjoyed the shops more than the other. Can you guess which one? Ha!) I got a little gift for my mom and one for my dad.

Ladd actually DID get excited about one shop we discovered: an awesome tequila shop called "Tequilera Azteca". We learned a lot of interesting facts about tequila from the interesting, kind, and fun shop-owner, Judith. Her shop has only special tequilas that are NOT mass produced and therefore do NOT have chemical additives. We knew Bob and Sandy would love this place, too!

As soon as we met up with Bob and Sandy outside the casino, we headed back to Judith's "Tequilera Azteca". The tequila samples were awesome, but we enjoyed our chats with Judith just as much. We left with two kinds of tequila, some cool tequila glasses, and with a new friend. Thanks for a great time in your special shop, Judith!

Then we headed down the malecon to a place we'd heard about called "Cheeky Monkey". "Cheeky Monkey" is a bar and restaurant that covers a second and third floor and looks out over the malecon and the ocean. Given the location and the view you really shouldn't need another reason to frequent this establishment, but if you do: How about margaritas and beers for $1.00?? We settled in at a table overlooking the malecon and the ocean, and enjoyed our drinks, stuffed mushrooms, and excellent, huge coconut shrimp! (If I keep up this eating streak, my new Mexican dress will be too tight before I even get to wear it! Yikes!)

We've been to the Puerto Vallarta malecon three times and have experienced new things each time. Today was the first time we've been there at night. New at night was the "food court": a line of about 15 tents, each with different, homemade foods! No, even I did not have room for any of the tempting treats after our feast at "Cheeky Monkey"! Next time, maybe??!! Ha! We watched a cruise ship sailing out of the port, the sunset, the lights on the malecon, the fireworks across the bay from Bucerias (where "our" casa is located), and a performance by Native Mexican dancers.

As we headed back to the casa, we were having withdrawal symptoms and so just HAD to stop at the "Mega" store! LOL We really DID need eggs for brunch tomorrow...honest! As we walked down the aisles, we ran into Rosa, our friend and awesome bartender at happy hour at "Karen's Place"! This was a happy surprise...and a treat because we got to meet her ADORABLE and polite little boy and her husband. So glad we got to meet your family, Rosa!

Back at the casa: a nightcap of our new cafe tequila, then off to sleep!