This week we have two guests, both are suggestions from listeners, one is Roberto Flores Diaz from Roberto’s Silver on the Malecon, and the other is Marcos Cruz Garcia from Warique Restaurant and Bar also in Puerto Vallarta

The Life and Death of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico

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Hello fellow travelers, welcome this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

That music you were just listening to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are La Palapa, The

El Dorado Beach Club, and at night for dinner The El Dorado transforms into the ever so romantic Vista Grill with those dramatic views of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors. Of course, at La Palapa you can enjoy that same view of the Los Muertos Pier all day long for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with our toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It was so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends!

This week we have two guests, both are suggestions from listeners, one is Roberto Flores from Roberto’s Silver on the Malecon, and the other is Marcos Cruz Garcia from Warique Restaurant and Bar also in Puerto Vallarta, but first, let’s see what’s happening this week here in Vallarta, the 21^st of June 2018.

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Still Awaiting The Rainy Season in Puerto Vallarta

Last week I announced that I would be looking for rain on the Cuates y Cuetes Cam on my birthday, the 15^th of June to welcome the rainy season, but it remains pretty dry. We just had a tease from Hurricane Bud who dropped some rain, and some measurable rain a few days before that, but Vallarta is still waiting on the rainy season. Remember, that’s rain in the late afternoons, lasting for a couple of hours for the most part, so don’t be worried if you are here during rainy season, it won’t be raining all day.

The Life and Death of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico

Today in the Plaza de Armas adjacent to City Hall in Downtown Vallarta, there was a Celebration of The Defeat of The French Army and The Fall

of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico. We spoke very briefly about Maximillion with our friend Andreas Ruprichecter from Kaiser Maximilian, but I thought, because last Tuesday the 19^th was the anniversary of the execution of the Emperor Max, We should dive a little deeper into the history of the rise and fall of this historical Figure.

So let’s go to the online version of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and read the story. Let me pick up this heavy book, webpage, whatever. Remember when your parents paid an arm and a leg for those door stops?

WRITTEN BY: The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica

LAST UPDATED: Jun 15, 2018 See Article History

Alternative Title: Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph

Maximilian, in full Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph, (born July 6, 1832, Vienna, Austria—died June 19, 1867, near Querétaro, Mex.), archduke of Austria and the emperor of Mexico, a man whose naive liberalism proved unequal to the international intrigues that had put him on the throne and to the brutal struggles within Mexico that led to his execution.

The younger brother of Emperor Francis Joseph, he served as a rear admiral in the Austrian navy and as governor-general of the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom. In 1863 he accepted the offer of the Mexican throne, falsely believing that the Mexican people had voted him their king; in fact, the offer was the result of a scheme between conservative Mexicans, who wished to overturn the liberal government of President Benito Juárez, and the French emperor Napoleon III, who wanted to collect a debt from Mexico and further his imperialistic ambitions there. Backed by a pledge of support from the French army, Maximilian sailed for Mexico with his wife Carlota, daughter of Leopold I, king of the Belgians.

Crowned emperor on June 10, 1864, Maximilian intended to rule with paternal benevolence, viewing himself as the protector of the Indian peasants. He upheld Juárez’ sweeping reforms (to the indignation of the landed proprietors) and was determined to abolish peonage, and he antagonized the Roman Catholic hierarchy by refusing to restore vast church holdings confiscated by Juárez. The treasury was so bare, however, that he had to use his own inherited income for daily expenses.

By April 1865 the French army had successfully supported Maximilian by driving Juárez northward almost into Texas. But that month the American Civil War ended, and the United States demanded the withdrawal of French troops from Mexico on the grounds that their presence was a violation of the Monroe Doctrine. Carlota rushed to Europe to seek aid for her husband from Napoleon III and Pope Pius IX, only to suffer a profound emotional collapse when her efforts failed. The French forces withdrew in

March 1867, and Juárez and his army moved back into Mexico City. Refusing to abdicate, feeling that he could not honorably desert “his people,” Maximilian was made supreme commander of the imperial army by his conservative Mexican backers. At Querétaro, Maximilian’s small force was surrounded, starved, and finally betrayed into capitulation (May 15, 1867). Even though Victor Hugo, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and many of the crowned heads of Europe petitioned Juárez to save Maximilian’s life, the Mexican president refused to grant clemency, given that thousands of Mexican lives had been lost in this latest struggle for independence from foreign domination. On June 19, 1867, Maximilian was executed on a hill outside Querétaro.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maximilian-archduke-of-Austria-and-emperor-of-Mexico

And if you go to Queretaro, you will see the Grave markers The site was initially marked with piles of stone topped by crosses made of sticks; later, wooden crosses were placed on the site, which are now housed in the Cerro de las Campanas Museum. In 1886, the first monument was constructed on the site: three stone columns engraved with the names of the deceased, surrounded by iron bars supported by wooden columns, commissioned by Governor Rafael Olvera .

In 1900, after relations between Mexico and Austria resumed, the Emperor Maximilian Memorial Chapel was constructed on the site. Commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph I in memory of his late brother. The chapel was dedicated on April 10, 1901.

So, pretty interesting.

So let’s have a quick look at the Monroe Doctrine in the wiki pages. What is all that about…

The Monroe Doctrine was a United States policy of opposing European colonialism in the Americas beginning in 1823. It stated that further efforts by European nations to take control of any independent state in North or South America would be viewed as “the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States.”[1] At the same time, the doctrine noted that the U.S. would recognize and not interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal concerns of European countries. The Doctrine was issued on December 2, 1823 at a time when nearly all Latin American colonies of Spain and Portugal had achieved, or were at the point of gaining, independence from the Portuguese and Spanish Empires.

I have a link to all these stories in the shownotes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_Doctrine

So how about that, the Monroe Doctrine chased off the French after the US turned their attention to Mexico after the American Civil War. Wow! Who knew? There has to be more to all this but for now, That is the story about Emperor Maximilian.

Well we better get to the interviews right now.

Roberto’s Silver Shop in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

When I wrap up each show I ask you listeners to send me suggestions of things I should be talking about and people I should be talking to and more than once, Roberto Flores Diaz from Roberto’s Silver came up. Roberto has a small shop on the Malecon, across from Parque Lazaro

Cardenas, now known as Tile Park. It’s a busy spot with beach restaurants like Burro’s Bar, and the Red Onion, which never seems to be open. Anyway, Roberto I found is a great guy. You guys were right. Now I don’t know if you remember or not, but in my days before Real Estate, I was in the, selling, designing, repairing, appraising. The Whole nine yards, so I was happy to wander into a jewelry store and talk with your friend, and now mine, Roberto Flores Diaz of Roberto’s Silver.

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Suggestions From Roberto

Favorite Restaurants

• Ok Delicioso, Puerto Vallarta, México
• Serrano’s Meat House, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Cafe de Olla, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Fredy’s Tucan, Puerto Vallarta, México

Places You Should See

• The Church Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
• Mismaloya

 

Thank you, Roberto. Such a nice man and he really has a nice selection of all kinds of silver jewelry. I took pictures inside his shop, and I got a photo of Roberto and his family too. It’s a family affair at Roberto’s Silver. Just like it was at my father’s jewelry store. I have JR’s map that shows where you will find Roberto in the show notes.

 

 

 

Contact Information for Roberto’s Silver in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Address :Olas Altas #250 Colonia Emiliano Zapata Puerto Vallarta México

Phone : +52 322 205 4138

Roberto’s Silver Puerto Vallarta Facebook Page

 

Warique Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

 

I love to eat and I’m sure most of you do too. It’s no wonder I love Puerto Vallarta so much. There are hundreds of places to choose from. This next interview is with a man named Marcos Brandon Cruz Garcia, dang those Mexicans have long names, Marcos is a really cool dude, he is the right-hand man to Chris, the owner of Warique, one of Puerto Vallarta’s newest, and voted actually the best newest restaurant in Vallarta by Vallarta Lifestyles Magazine or one of those great Vallarta Publications out there.

I had tried to talk with Chris back in January, but they were so busy, I decided to come back in May, and because Chris was a little shy, I asked my buddy Marcos, Marcos is the Manager, the waiter and I think, one of the biggest promoters of this new restaurant if he would sit down with me and talk about the restaurant and a little about himself. And what do you know, he agreed! So, let’s go to Aquiles Serdán 280, in the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta, and let’s have a seat in a cozy courtyard at a table in the lovely new restaurant, Warique and let’s meet Marcos Brandon Cruz Garcia…

 

Favorites of Marcos From Warique

• Warique is Incan for “Hole in the wall.”
• “Pisco Sour” is the House Drink
• Pisco is a Grape Brandy

Favorite Restaurants

Breakfast

• Azul Bistro, Puerto Vallarta      Loves the Huevos Azul and Azul Eggs Benedict

Lunch

• All Access Bar, Puerto Vallarta,    Mexico Great Cheese Burgers

Dinner

• Warique Restaurant, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Favorite Day Trip

• Panga to Yelapa

Long Weekend

• Guadalajara

 

 

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Thank you, Marcos,! Thanks for stepping up to the plate and pinch hitting for Chris. What a nice place. It’s tiny, but very elegant inside with that patio courtyard in the rear of the restaurant. Beautiful Bar, oh and if you are in town right now, they are having an art exhibit with Sharon Gerber’s wonderful works right there in the restaurant so stop in, I believe it goes till the end of June, and see some of Sharon’s work. Sharon is amazing and is one of Marcos’s favorite artists. I have a link to her work in the show notes as well, so if you are in town, pick up a pisco sour and gaze at her work. It’s on the walls at Warique.

Information for Warique Restaurant, Puerto Vallarta

• Address: Aquiles Serdán 280, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., México
• Menu: google.com
• Reservations: tableagent.com
• Phone: +52 322 223 0889
• Website Warique PV
• Warique Facebook Page

Okay, that should do it for this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show.

Next week, stay tuned for more on the ground reports from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with travel tips, great restaurant and excursion ideas and more.  Until then, remember, this is an interactive show where I depend on your questions and suggestions about all things Puerto Vallarta. If you think of something I should be talking about, please reach out to me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending us your message.

And remember, if you are considering booking any type of tour while you are in Puerto Vallarta, you must go

to Vallartainfo.com, JR’s website and reserve your tour through him, right from his website. Remember the value for value proposition. His experience and on the ground knowledge of everything Puerto Vallarta in exchange for your making a purchase of a tour that you would do anyway, you’re just doing it through him as a way of saying thank you. It costs no more than if you were to use someone else so do it. Really. And when you do take one of these tours, email me about your experiences. Maybe you can come on-board and share with others what you liked or didn’t like about the tour. Again, contact me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending off a message. Don’t forget his maps, his DIY tours and his revitalized Happy Hour Board. I have links to all of those in the show notes.

And once again, if you like this podcast, please take the time and subscribe and give me a good review on iTunes if you would. That way we can get the word out to more and more people about the magic of this place. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Remember I made it easy for you to do just that with each episode I create. But if you haven’t been to my website, you really need to have a look there.  I have the links to the places we talk about, interesting pictures and the more all right there in my blog-posts and show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven’t already all-right? All right.

So, thanks to Roberto Flores Diaz, look him up the next time you come to Vallarta. Remember, he guarantees you love his jewelry. You can’t go wrong. See the other great items he sells right there in his shop on the Malecon across from Lazaro Cardenas Park. Stop and say hi to him and his family all right? And Thanks to Marcos Brandon Cruz Garcia from Warique Restaurant and Bar. Make sure you stop in during your stay for a great meal, maybe even one of those Pisco Sours he was talking about. Check out the links and maps and pictures in the show notes as always. And thanks to all of you for listening all the way through this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is Barry Kessler signing off with a wish for you all to slow down, be kind and live the Vallarta lifestyle. Nos Vemos amigos!