Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Best BBQ in the World

Best BBQ is NOT in NC, SC, Texas or anywhere else in the US - it's in MEXICO!!

That's our story and we're sticking to it.

But I digress.

First, a catch-up entry about Bob's and Sandy's first full day with us in Mexico yesterday, Wednesday, 2/4. After welcome-to-Mexico omelets, we set out to give them a tour of "our" great little town of Bucerias. As we drove around our neighborhood streets we gave them the "Ladd and Marilyn Guided Tour of Local Favorites": stores, restaurants, some beautiful homes and condos, different entry spots to the Bucerias beaches, etc. 

Next we parked at Bucerias Centro to walk and let Bob and Sandy experience all the fun sights and sounds found in the town center. Our first stop was "Our Lady of Peace" church at the center of town. After some time gazing at the ocean and soaking up some rays, we cruised up and down the aisles of shops. Bob bought a fantastic-looking hat, so now both he and Ladd look like they BELONG in Mexico! I got a couple little souvenirs. Neither Bob nor I would have made out as well as we did with the costs of our purchases without the assistance of our now "Official Master Negotiator": Ladd! ALL the guide books tell you to never take the first price they tell you, but I am truly a "soft touch" and need Ladd's help for any kind of price negotiating. After hearing Ladd's counter-offers some of the vendors would joke with him saying, "You must have had too much tequila, Senor!" However, Ladd "won" each time! Ladd may not be crazy about shopping, but after his successes today, his negotiating skills will make his presence on shopping trips mandatory! 

Back in the car we headed to Sayulita to show Bob and Sandy this "surfer town". In Sayulita we first hit "La Playa de Muerto" to see the incredible, historic cemetery. We walked on the beach and watched the swimmers and surfers for awhile.

Thirsty and hot, we decided to head back to Bucerias to "Karen's Place"- beach bar/restaurant for "Happy Hour" on the beach. Rosa, the awesome bartender there, actually remembered us! (I guess that could be a good thing or a bad thing...LOL!) After introducing Rosa to Bob and Sandy, the fun bantering between the four of us and Rosa began! Rosa is not only an excellent bartender, she is also witty and interesting. It was a "full house" at the beach bar happy hour again. We enjoyed our fun conversations and Rosa just as much as the super drinks!

Happy and relaxed back at the casa, we devoured the delicious stuffed-peppers Ladd made for dinner! Yum! A great end to a great day!

Today, Thursday, 2/5, we made another trip to Puerto Vallarta. It seems Ladd now has his own personal parking place right by the center of the Puerto Vallarta Malecon. It has been open for him on our previous trips there and was again today. We walked the Malecon browsing in the shops, taking in the sights, enjoying the sunshine, and doing some people-watching. 

Then Ladd and Bob had a "Snack Break" on the beach: fresh oysters! (Once again, Ladd managed to get a much better price on the oysters. "Master Negotiator" title retained!) Bob and Ladd were "licking their lips" as they enjoyed the sweet treat.

Bob and I walked on the beach and down to the water's edge to wade in the ocean. It was a beautiful surf and warm water temperature. Ladd and Sandy told us to get back to them by walking under the bridge and through a stream flowing back into the ocean. Well, Bob and I took one look at the force of the current of that ocean-bound stream, and decided Ladd and Sandy must have taken out extra life-insurance on us...LOL! We headed back the way we had come. You may say we were wimps, or you may say we were smart. Either way, we enjoyed every minute of our walk on the beach and wading in the ocean. 

In our reading about points of interest in Puerto Vallarta, I became interested in "Casa Kimberley".  "Casa Kimberley" was purchased for Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton. It is actually two houses, (one for Liz; one for Richard), joined by a once pink bridge. (The bridge is still there. It's just not pink now.) 

 Sandy and I talked with a shop owner to find out where "Casa Kimberley" was located and if it was still open for public viewing. This shop owner gave us a mini-history lesson on the street. He not only gave us directions, but also told us that "Casa Kimberley" is closed now for renovations to turn it into a bed-and-breakfast establishment. (What an interesting bed-and-breakfast place that will make!)  The shop owner also told us we would be very interested in seeing a "special" bed-and-breakfast place near "Casa Kimberley" called "Hacienda San Angel". He told us to "knock on the door and see if they'll let you take a peak inside". Neither Sandy nor I gave any thought to what he may have meant by those words, but did want to see the two places.

Ladd drove us up, up, up narrow, steep cobblestone streets. We first came to "Hacienda San Angel" - a beautiful, blue-tiled building with  a huge wooden door. Sandy and I got out of the car and knocked on the door. A small "look-out" in the door slid open for someone inside to see who was knocking. An employee opened the door to ask how he could help us. As he opened the door, I'm not sure if he heard Sandy and I "oohing" and "aahing", but I KNOW he could see the "Wowie-zowie" expressions on our faces. From inside the doorway all we could see was the entrance and part of a "lobby", although the incredibly luxurious, beautiful scene could never be labeled with the term "lobby"!!! I told the employee that we might like to stay there on our next visit, (That would be after we win a million dollars in the lottery!), and asked if we might be able to look around. He extremely politely replied that they had guests staying there now, and their privacy needed to be protected. As we continued to gape at the entrance way, I said I understood and asked if they had a site online for us to look at. He said they did, and as he went to get us a card I snapped a few quick pictures. As my grandmother used to say, "If you have to ask how much, you probably can't afford it." Another Grandma Truism!

Around the corner we found "Casa Kimberley" which was indeed under construction...heavy construction...so we just snapped some pictures from outside the buildings. The bridge connecting Liz's place to Richard's place IS still there, but is presently white, not pink. (Here's hoping they will paint it pink again as part of the renovations.)  

Our dinner plans for tonight brought us to "El Rio BBQ". In his many, many hours of research planning for our trip, Ladd discovered "El Rio BBQ". We knew we had to try it! "El Rio BBQ" is located at the base of a mountainside, by a stream. We had our cocktails, awesome guacamole, Mexican salsa and nachos sitting looking down at the stream and up at the mountain! The amazing setting and scenery had us all feeling this could very well be THE BEST "HAPPY HOUR" LOCATION EVER! 

As a super guitar player and singer began performing, we moved to a table near the stage for dinner. We shared a whole rack of ribs served with carrots, radishes, cucumbers and extra sauce, pulled-pork in tacos, and potato salad. The four of us struggled to finish the ribs...and could not finish the potato salad side! (This sweets lover had planned to have the "Quesadilla Dulce" for dessert, but I just did not have room for even one more bite!)  Honestly, honestly these were the BEST BBQ ribs any of the four of us have ever had! 

We decided: NO appetizers/munchies the next time we go there...just save all our appetites for the ribs! Guess when we will go there again.  Tomorrow night!! 

It will not come as a surprise to anyone who knows us that we started talking with some interesting "regulars", as well as the owner, there. One gentleman, named Felipe - a.k.a. "Santa", told us that tomorrow night they will have a "rocking" band for dancing and a really large crowd. He invited us to join his group tomorrow night: truly "an offer we couldn't refuse"!   

Buenas Noches!