Family Vacation in Puerto Vallarta - Part 4

Thursday - My day for Boats!

In the morning Jill and I used the gym on the elipical machines and weight machines then got some play time in at the beach before heading off on my America's Cup tour. I spent over 7 hours on the ocean on a variety of boats.
This big Iguana was waiting by the dock before my first boat trip of the day.

Starting out with a small 'zodiac' boat ride for 20 minutes from the Nuevo Vallarta Marina, out and south to the Puerto Vallarta Marina to transfer to a larger 'apex' (a 30 person Zodiac-like boat) out to rendezvous with the America's Cup Race Boat.

I was on the Aus 29 boat that lost in the 2000 America's Cup Finals by 2.4 seconds. - A many tens of millions investment... made totally of carbon fiber with 1/4 million dollar sails... something that was on my 'bucket list' - glad I got a chance.

We had to sail around for awhile while the other boat had to offload a passenger who fell and twisted their ankle during the first 'warm up' maneuvers. These race boats really 'heel over' and it's hard to stay in your assigned position...

Then we had three races against the Aus 31 boat (crewed by other tour folks like myself) - we had to 'grind' the headsail back and forth during tacking maneuvers as well as the mainsail. It was great fun to be in such a craft. Then we got an 'extra' hour of sailing in the bay as the tender boat unloaded some passengers from each boat who had to get back to their cruise ship... So I got a chance to actually steer the boat as we sailed around Banderas Bay.

Then a transfer on the Apex back to the marina, then a different 'Scuba Tender' boat from the Marina back north to 'our marina'.

Then after checking in at the hotel, we all went back out in another 'Ketch' rigged sailboat for a dinner cruise. Ryan, Brent, Jill and Alysha all got seasick and really didn't enjoy the sailboat ride, along with most of the other passengers - so we brought the boat back early and got to watch the sunset from the Italian place at the Vallarta Palace instead. Later that evening Alysha and Katie were picked to participate in a 'Game Show' type entertainment at night...

Family Vacation in Puerto Vallarta - Part 3

Wednesday - We had time to play on the beach and pool before getting cleaned up and all but Keith went up to the 'Canopy' Tour (Zip Lines in the mountains) They had a good time - and I had a chance to catch up on some work (I went to the lobby and commandeered a desk - I like to work at a desk rather than the table in the hotel room)

Then at night we ate at the Oriental Restaurant. Then the nightly entertainment was some 'risque' and poorly performed dancing... but Alysha really got a 'kick' out of the feeble attempts at dance.

Here are some pictures from last night's 'Cirque' - not great... but still fun to watch.I asked for a 'large' drink one night for dinner... and this is what I got!

Family Vacation in Puerto Vallarta - Part 2

Tuesday was our day to go to the Sea Life Water park, play on the slides, lazy river, etc. Then we got to watch a Sea Lion show, as well as a Dolphin show...
But the main event for the day was all of us getting to swim with the Dolphins. Of course we had the requisite Kiss the Dolphin, Shake the Dolphin's Pectoral Fins, and give them a rub down... but we also got to go Swimming with them.

We had 'Poseidon' - the 'Alpha' Dolphin of the group. And we all got to do a 'Belly Ride' - the Dolphin is upside down, and you hang on to the two pectoral fins and he swims you along very fast. As well as a 'Foot Push', where you lie on top of the water like superman, and the dolphin comes behind you and pushes on your foot and makes you 'fly' on top of the water.

It was great fun playing with the Dolphin, as well as great fun watching the reactions of the kids and Jill as they interacted with a Dolphin at very close range.

I couldn't get any photos; one, I was in the water at the time, and two, they didn't allow any photography so they could sell you expensive prints ($16 each!) - but we did spring for the Video of the entire event so we can watch it over and over. I'll get some clips off of it to put on the blog after I get back home to the bigger computers there.

I don't know if it was a 'life-changing' event - but it was very cool!After retuning and playing in the hotel pool and then having dinner at the Oriental restaurant, we were entertained by a 'Cirque Du Soleil' troupe. Ok, they weren't a *real* troupe, but they tried very hard and I was impressed with some of their tricks. Especially good for a Mexican Hotel Entertainment night!

Tomorrow is 'Canopy' Day (the Zip live above the Jungle). I was supposed to be on an America's Cup boat race (two ex-Australian boats that do a race together for tourists) but it was canceled. Bummer.

Family Vacation in Puerto Vallarta - Part 1

Sunday morning we drove up to SLC and flew down on Delta to Puerto Vallarta. The flight wasn't very full so we all got to spread out a bit. There was a van waiting to take us to the Vallarta Palace hotel. After a bit of changing things a bit... we ended up in two adjoining rooms.
We then went to the beach and pool for some water time - then late at night ate dinner at the Italian restaurant.

Monday we worked with the services desk folks to get our tours and such worked out - what a pain! Trying to 'upsell' you to condos, pre-paid vacations, time-shares, etc.

Then off to the beach for some time playing in the water, sea kayaks, and sand castles. Then back to the pool, lunch, pool, water polo and more reading by the pool.Monday was 'Mexican Fiesta' night and the kids (and Jill) enjoyed the flea market, crafts, jewelry and the like. Brazilian for dinner then a Mexican Dance entertainment.

I think we all enjoy the 'all-inclusive' bit - no worrying about what to order, drink, eat, costs... just easy food and drink choices. It's like a cruise... but on land!
Here are some photos from our first day and a half on Family Vacation to Puerto Vallarta.
Of course... to make it a 'vacation' I had to get some reading in. Sunday's book was 'Wildtrack' and Monday's 'Crackdown' both from Bernard Cornwell.