When I travel, my favorite souvenirs are food. Wherever I travel, I will no doubt come back with cases of snacks. I love to try snacks from different countries because what’s unusual in one country is the norm in a different country. Plus, it allows me to experience different flavor combinations I would never think to go together i.e. butter flavored chocolate.
I tried my best to taste all the snacks, amongst all the meals I ate, but it was a hard feat since there was such a large variety. Japan takes their snacks seriously. Chips, chocolates, and cookies in every flavor combination possible. And then there’s the matcha; it is not JUST matcha. There’s Uji matcha, sakura matcha, matcha with soybean powder, etc. It’s like snacks on steroids. The ones I didn’t have time to try, I brought home to savor. Below is a picture of all the snacks I bought. Yes, I fit all the snacks above, 1.5 weeks of clothes, and a bottle of whiskey all in ONE carry on suitcase. I know I’m nuts, but I LOVE my snacks. Here is a breakdown of the snacks I think are worthy of trying:
Gas Works Park was once Seattle Gas Light Company in 1906. It was a plant to manufacture gas from coal. In the 1950’s, this plant became obsolete when importing natural gas became more popular. In 1975, Seattle turned it into a public park with remnants of the plant still standing.
The old boiler house is now a picnic shelter.
The pump house is now the play barn.
Here you can enjoy magnificent views of the Seattle skyline.
The one thing on my Texas bucket list was BBQ. I was starving and drooling while reading reviews of the best BBQ in Austin. They all said to be prepared to wait in line for hours. Not one or two but FIVE. Luckily, but not really, most BBQ joints were closed on Mondays. The only one with good reviews and open on Monday was John Mueller Meat Co. I soon came to learn John Mueller is the heir of BBQ.
When I arrived, the wait was only 20 mins. For those who have never ordered BBQ in Texas, the cooked meat is sold by the half pound. This can be a pro or con depending on if you order ribs. I followed suit of those in front of me and grabbed an empty tray when I got up to the window. The guy threw down a piece of butcher paper on the tray. He plopped my order of beef rib, brisket, and siracha coleslaw on my tray, and I headed to the next window to pay.
I didn’t learn of pirozhkies until this trip to Seattle. They are Russian baked buns with a meat or vegetable filing. They remind me of Spanish empanadas. You can find Piroshky, Piroshky a few stores down from the original Starbucks. Be sure to stop by and grab a mid-day snack. You won’t regret it.
There will be small line but it moves quickly. They offer sweet, meat or vegetable pirozhkies. I went twice, and each time, I got a savory pirozhki.
The salmon pate is adorably shaped like a fish. The bread was amazing. Its sweetness balanced the smoked salmon and cream cheese filling.
The beef and onion reminded me of Porto’s potato balls but with a flaky crust.
Growing up in the Bay Area, my standard of good clam chowder was what they sold at San Francisco’s infamous Fisherman’s Wharf. Boy, did I not know what good clam chowder was until I tried Ivar’s. The creamy, savory clam chowder with its bursting clam flavor and unexpected bacon makes it the best clam chowder I’ve ever had.
The smoked scallops won’t disappoint either. The scallops have a wonderful smoky flavor that balances out the sweet cracker that it’s served on.
If you aren’t overwhelmed yet by the clams from the clam chowder, order the clam entree. Cooked in white wine sauce, it’s so good that you’ll slurp every last drop. My family kept fighting over this dish that we had to order two to keep the peace.
Seattle loves art. So much that the government will fund a good portion of it. On just about every corner you can find some sort of statue or art display. The Fremont Troll was the winning design to the Fremont Arts Council’s plan of rehabilitating the area under the bridge, which was becoming a dump. The troll is holding a real Volkswagen Beetle, while its one eye is a hubcap. When you visit the infamous troll, feel free to climb on the troll.
In the heart of Guadalajra, lies its history. With buildings lying along the axis of a cross, with the Cathedral of Guadalajara in the center, here in Centro Historico (Historical Center) you will find:
Plaza de Armas has an ironwork gazebo made from Paris.
This faces the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace). The clock will always remain at this time due to a stray bullet aimed at the president, who was visiting at the time. The bullet hole is still visible and lodged in the workings of clock.
On the east side of the Cathedral is the Plaza de Liberacion, where protest demonstrations are held. Teatro Degollado faces this plaza. It is the oldest surviving theater that still holds performances.
Behind the theater is the Fuente de los Fundadores (Fountain of Founders). This is the exact spot where the city was founded by Cristobal de Onate.
If you continue walking from the fountain along Plaza Tapatia, you will come upon Hospicio Cabana. This was founded as an orphange and homeless shelter in 1810. Now it is a museum.
Walk towards Calle Dionsio Rodriguez and look for vendors selling leather goods. Squeeze in between the shops and you will discover Mercado Libertad, known as Mercado de San Juan de Dios to locals. Here you can shop for jewelry, leather goods, candy, and fake name brand items. I was in awe at this place because you generally only find this in Asia.
There are many ways to travel from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara. The fastest and most expensive way is to fly. You could also rent a car and drive the 4.5 hours. However, I chose to take the bus since it took the same amount of time as driving but without the stress of navigating in unknown territory. The three bus companies that operate from PV to Guadalajara are: ETN, Primera Plus, and Vallarta Plus. The stop is located at Carr. Fed. Tepic Km 9.5, Col. Las Mojoneras, 48292 Puerto Vallarta, Jal. Mexico. I found that none of the websites listed where the bus stop is. I told the taxi driver to go to the Primera Plus bus stop and hoped for the best.
I went with Primera Plus because it was the cheapest at 441 pesos. I was very impressed with their service. Before you board the bus, they hand you a packed lunch and a drink of your choice. The bus is very spacious; the one I boarded only had 5 passengers. Each seat comes with a TV. There’s also wifi and it’s fast! There’s also a bathroom on board.
Sit back and enjoy the ride. Before you know it, you’re in Guadalajara.
I booked this trip on a whim and was very pleased. It was within my budget for a last minute trip and had everything on my to do list: beach, beach, and oh! the beach! Puerto Vallarta is a tourist driven town. Keep to yourself and you won’t have anything to worry about.
How to Get Around (To and From the Airport)
Car Service- There are various car services you can arrange to pick you up from the airport. The one I used was Superior Tours Vallarta. Dependent on the size of your party and the location of your hotel, the trip will cost $25-$145 per vehicle.
Taxi- Ask your hotel how much it should cost to reach your destination by taxi and confirm with the driver before jumping in. If they over quote you, move on to the next one. For the few times I used the taxi, these are price points:
Centro to Marina- 70 pesos
Centro to the Airport ~135 pesos
Bus- If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the city bus for 7.50 pesos. There are no bus maps nor websites. Look on the left side of the front window to know where the bus is headed.
Where to Stay
Puerto Vallarta is broken up by the following neighborhoods:
Nuevo Vallarta- The newest area of Vallarta. This is where the all inclusive resorts are located. About 45 minutes away from the heart of Vallarta.
Centro- Right above the bustle of Malecon. The beaches here are rockier but cleaner.
Malecon- The heart of Vallarta. Lots of tourists attractions on the streets and the beaches. I found the beaches here to be crowded and dirty.
Conchas Chinas- South of Malecon
Mismaloya
Things to Do
Walk down Malecon for food and souvenirs.
Los Muertos Pier on Los Muertos Beach- The beach here is dirty.
If you are looking to add to your Puerto Vallarta itinerary with more than just relaxing on the beach, I highly suggest going on a boat tour to the surrounding beaches and islands. Initially, I was intrigued by Las Marietas Islas but in order to get there, you have to be able to swim 30 feet deep. I can’t swim so it was quickly crossed off my list. Los Arcos, Las Animas & Quimixto was referred to me by a beach peddler. (There are peddlers selling various items. Just say “no gracias” if you’re not interested.) He was selling me a package for 450 pesos/ person but luckily my hotel’s concierge was selling it for cheaper at 400 pesos. Tip: Be sure to check with your hotel concierge for their rates before booking online. It can be cheaper.
The concierge booked us with Vallarta by Boat. We meet them at the Marina Terminal at 10 am, paid the 25 pesos port tax (per person) and got ready to enjoy the day. This package included the following:
Breakfast of fruit and orange juice
Snorkel gear for Los Arcos
Kayaks and paddle boards at Las Animas
Hike to Quimixto
Lunch
Open bar on the boat
Los Arcos is Spanish for the Arches. Vallarta by Boat provided snorkel gear and life vests in exchange for an ID. They parked by the arch below for a 30 minute snorkel session.
Then we headed over to Las Animas, where we were given the option to hang out on the beach of Las Animas or hike to the waterfall at Quimixto. They said the hike to Quimixto requires forging three rivers. This can be done by renting a small horse for 200 pesos or walking. Reviews I read said the horses are small and sad. In addition, the waterfall is blocked by a restaurant. To see the waterfall, you have to pay the restaurant fee. After hearing all of this, I opted to stay on the beach at Las Animas.
The water at this beach was crystal clear.
Kayaks and paddle boards were available to all.
There were also options to play volleyball on the beach or for an additional fee, you can go parasailing.
Lunch options at Restaurant Ohana were: fish fillet, quesadilla or chicken fajitas. I opted for the chicken fajitas. It doesn’t look like much but it was surprisingly delicious. Full of flavor and kept me full. Keep in mind, the lunch does not include drinks so bring some extra cash for drinks.
Shortly afterwards at 3 o’clock, those who went on the hike, came back. It was time to call it a day and head back. I had lots of fun on this trip and highly recommend this all inclusive package.
YUMTRAVELS 