Feliz Ano Nuevo 2012

We decided to spend New Year's Eve on the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta. Our friends, Reg and Phoebe on SV Three Sheets, Terry and Kellie of SV Noah, joined us. At 5:00 pm we caught the bus from Paradise Village to Puerto Vallarta and walked to the Malecon.

By the time we got there it was already a happening place. Boats were already starting to anchor to share in the festivities and to have a great view of the fireworks at midnight all along the beach. There was a large police and military presence but everyone was friendly and there did not seem to be any threatening behavior by anyone, anywhere. New Year's Eve on the Malecon as a family affair. Many families bring chairs to sit on the beach and watch the fireworks. Street vendors are selling food as well as things that having blinking LEDs such as light sabers ala Star Wars and rabbit ear things that fit on your head and flashed. All of the restaurants provide special dinners. We were lucky to find an opening at one restaurant that was on the second floor with a balcony on the Malecon. For $700 pesos a person, we had an appetizer, soup or salad, main course and a desert with champagne. Other drinks were extra. It was not bad but the dessert as not the best. The view was great and we were the only gringos. Many tables were full of families from infants to grandparents. We enjoyed the atmosphere and everyone oooh'ed and aaah'ed over the fireworks.

Police presence *

Sand Castles on beach along Malecon *

Crowd watching fireworks at midnight *

Terry and Kellie of SV Noah

Reg and Phoebe of SV Three Sheets

Phoebe and Rich

Feliz Ano Nuevo, Puerto Vallarta, 2012

Afterwards we walked through the crowds past many parties still going strong to find a way back to the marina. The ATM bus to Paradise Village had stopped at 10 pm so that was not an option. We walked to one of the large resort hotels and asked about calling a cab. No senor, no cabs. We crossed the street and tried to hail a taxi for the six of us. One taxi stopped but would not take all of us so Terry, Kellie and Reg piled in and took off. Phoebe, Rich and I tried to hail another taxi. One stopped and let off two people but there were still another two people in the cab. The woman in the backseat of the cab said no, so we started to look for another taxi. The driver got out and asked where we wanted to go and then told us to pile in, so it was the woman, Phoebe, Rich and I in the back seat and I was sitting on Rich's lap the whole way. The driver drove like he was from New York City and in a hurry. I was holding on where his seat belts attached to the frame of the car as he was not wearing them and held on for dear life. We wove in and out of cars, no signalling, hell bent. It was the fastest ride from Puerto Vallarta to Paradise Village I have ever had. The only time we slowed down was for speed bumps, which was lucky for me or I would have received a concussion from hitting the roof of the taxi at the speeds he was travelling. We arrived at the marina around 2:30 am. The taxi driver only charged us $260 pesos compared to the fare of $400 for the other taxi. What a deal. I have no idea where he was taking the two original passengers.

We walked back to Windarra and across the water there was a party at one of the large homes and it was still going strong until 6:00 am but we were so tired we slept right through it.

We want to wish all of our friends and family, Felix Ano Nuevo, Happy New Year. May 2012 be a healthy and happy new year for your all.

* Photos from Phoebe of SV Three Sheets