Day Trip From Puerto Vallarta to San Sebastian Del Oeste
A visit to Montebello Italian Restaurant in San Sebastian Del Oeste and an Interview with Owners Walter and Coco
Jalisco Enforces The New Anti Noise Laws
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, Puerto Vallarta’s Oldest Restaurant on the famous Los Muertos Beach, and The El Dorado Restaurant and Beach Club right next door so you can enjoy that fantastic view of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors, or during the day in its grand splendor for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with our toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends.
This week we are cutting out of Puerto Vallarta for a day trip to San Sebastian Del Oeste, a historic mining town about an hour and a half drive from Puerto Vallarta, but first, let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta, November 30, 2018.
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It’s Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Time in Puerto Vallarta
From the Banderas News….
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico –
Every year from December 1st through 12th the streets of Puerto Vallarta come alive with festivities, processions and religious fervor culminating with the celebration of the Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Known in Spanish as Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, this important religious and social festival commemorates the miraculous appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe to a peasant in Mexico.
It was on the same day in 1851 that Puerto Vallarta was founded by Don Guadalupe Sanchez; thus, the 12th of December, also marks the 161st anniversary of the founding of Puerto Vallarta.
During this annual occasion, various groups, organizations and associations in Puerto Vallarta converge and participate in the pilgrimage to Puerto Vallarta’s Cathedral, also known as the Church of Our Lady Of Guadalupe. This unique structure is a famous landmark in its own right, as its elaborate crown – allegedly designed to resemble a tiara worn by one of Emperor Maximilian’s mistresses – simply cannot be overlooked.
Everyone is expected to pay homage to the Virgin of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta’s revered patron saint. On the eve of the December 12th, the last procession begins its journey towards the Cathedral. Once the procession reaches its destination, a special mass in devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated.
Baptisms, confirmations, first holy communions and even weddings take place within the local community to coincide with this special and blessed date. Fireworks decorate and light up the skies, folk dance groups perform, traditional parades entertain the crowds, people sing hymns and songs of praise in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and the central plaza is filled to the brim with street vendors selling fruits, food, and other specialties.
http://www.banderasnews.com/1212/vl-dec12-pv-senora-guadalupe-festival.htm
I have a link to the article and remember that there will be streets closed around the Church, the bells will ring all day and night and you will have 12 days and nights of this. It’s a great time to be in Vallarta for sure. Unless you love peace and quiet that is. And speaking of Peace and quiet, how about this?
Jalisco Noise Ordinance Taking Effect in Puerto Vallarta affecting New Bar Licenses
Last August, 2017 I reported about new laws that were coming down the pike regarding noise abatement in Jalisco.
And again, this August, a year later another article from the Banderas News from August 2018
Jalisco Congress Approves Statewide Anti-noise Laws
Victor Balam – Banderas News, August 21, 2018
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – The Jalisco State Congress Chamber of Deputies has approved a new Anti-noise Law, a state-wide ordinance that aims to cut back on the noise emitted from both businesses and private properties. Noise pollution will be regulated through municipally set schedules and decibel limitations.
This new body of laws also prohibits fireworks and pyrotechnic displays after 9 o’clock at night, unless previously authorized by a competent authority.
City inspectors (Reglamentos) will make the rounds to verify that bars or restaurants comply with the norm, and will measure the decibels with a monitoring system that, under the new law, must be installed by each business.
The law establishes sanctions of up to 50,000 pesos to businesses that fail to comply with the Official Technical Standard in decibels; and the withdrawal of business licenses if there are three offenses within a period of 1 year (currently it is 2 years).
In cases of municipal jurisdiction, when the infraction is committed in a private home or property without a commercial license, the municipal authority must go to the address and issue a warning. If the noise does not cease within a period of 30 minutes, administrative arrest may be imposed for up to 36 hours or a citation may be issued that includes a specific day and time to stand before a judge, who will determine the nature of the crime and amount of the corresponding penalty.
The law will come into force after its publication in El Periodico Oficial del Estado de Jalisco (the State of Jalisco’s Official Newspaper), at which time each municipality must reconcile their city ordinances to comply with the law.
Original article translated and edited by Ricardo Acerco for BanderasNews.com.
And I saw that the Trez Cuartoz were playing their last live show on the rooftop of the new club El Sonador because of that sound ordinance.
El Soñador sent out this Facebook announcement it reads…
DONT MISS IT!!!!!!!!!
THE ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE ( at least for the time being)
LA TREZ QUARTOZ is in the house tonight for what is their last performance at El Soñador for the foreseeable future.
Jalisco is implementing the new noise laws and we can no longer get live music licenses. Although we find that very sad, we respect their decision.
We THANK Wario and his crew from the bottom of our hearts for all the brilliant performances over the past few years.
They have become really good friends to the El Soñador family and clientele.
We will miss them and wish them every bit of good luck on their endeavors.
I reached out to talk with Ivan at El Sonador and he declined to talk about the situation with me, at least for now but what a drag! Now I’m going to get some clarification as to what all this means for the live music scene in the bay, but I imagine that because the venue at El Soñador was outdoors on a rooftop in the middle of a business and residential area, that had something to do with it.
Will be reporting back to you as soon as I have more.
Beach for Disabled Visitors
I hope you enjoyed last week’s podcast with Salvador Estrada, the Candy Man, El Dulcero and the Marathonista. Let me know if the translating over the Spanish speaker is too difficult to listen to. I sure would like some feedback on that. I have another coming up in two weeks so let me know. Anyway, call it a coincidence, but check out this article from Mexico News Daily, taken from and translated from Noticias PV and it reads….
Beach for disabled planned in Puerto Vallarta
It would be the second disabled-inclusive beach in Jalisco
Friday, November 23, 2018
Puerto Vallarta may soon have a beach that caters to the disabled.
Municipal authorities in the Jalisco city are planning to develop what would be the state’s second disabled-inclusive beach, using the Cuastecomates beach in the southern municipality of Cihuatlán as a model.
Cuastecomates became the first such beach in Mexico two years ago through a 47-million-peso investment (US $2.3-million at today’s exchange rate) that converted the small coastal town’s infrastructure, leaving it ready to receive disabled visitors of all ages.
The plan is now to repeat the mostly successful results obtained at Cuastecomates at a second beach in the state.
Cuastecomates offers signs in Braille, handicapped access, wheelchairs for the beach, amphibious crutches, specially designed vessels for snorkeling and other amenities.
I have a link to the article as well as the Noticias PV article so if you want to have a look, it’s there and how about that Salvador Estrada? Vamos a la Playa amigo!
What’s, WhatsApp?
Last week I spoke very briefly about an application called What’s App. I used it the other day to talk with Salvador Estrada
from my place in Los Angeles, to the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta as a matter of fact. A great connection I might add as well. If you have a bunch of Mexican friends, it turns out they love this thing called What’s App. You may have had one of these Mexicans ask you if you have it. Well, if you do have lots of Mexican friends, or expats living in Puerto Vallarta, you just might think about downloading it to your phone and computer.
So, What’s WhatsApp?
WhatsApp Messenger is a free app that lets you send text messages with photos and videos from your smartphone, bypassing your wireless carrier’s SMS and MMS charges. After a year of use, you pay $1 per year. Recipients of your messages need to use the app as well.
You might be thinking why use it in the US or Canada? Well, the fact is that Hispanics use WhatsApp more than any other ethnic or racial group in the US. And when I downloaded my What’s App, I discovered many of my frineds use the app as well because you can see who is using the app from the app.
And Facebook must think there’s something up with what’s app, they just bought it for 19 Billion buckaroos.
So, what do you do with What’s App and why do Mexicans love it?
As I said it lets you send text messages with photos and videos from your smartphone, bypassing your wireless carrier’s SMS and MMS charges, it is available on many different platforms, Android, IOS, Blackberry, and many others,
There are no ads, What’s App has a no ads policy,
and lastly, it’s widely used as I found out when I uploaded it to my phone. Currently, it has about 450 million monthly users. Of those, about 320 million log into the app daily, according to WhatsApp.
And I found this article called WhatsApp pros and Cons from Techuntold.com and here are the pros and cons for What’s App…
Pros
- Broadcast messages
With WhatsApp, it is possible to send a message to multiple contacts at once using the Broadcast Lists. This will benefit you in saving time while sending bulk invitation or greetings.
- Share Location
It is possible to share your location with the desired contact using WhatsApp.
- Audio and Video Calling
The popular chat app is not only limited to text messages. You can also have audio and video calls on WhatsApp.
- Listen to Audio Messages Discreetly
To listen to an audio message without earphones in public area you can simply bring your phone close to your ear while the audio message is being played. On doing this the audio volume will decrease and you can listen to it as if you are on a call.
- Email Chats
You can email your conversations easily on WhatsApp for printing or backup purposes.
- End-to-End Encryption
All the conversations you have on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted. This means that your messages are secure and no one can read or access it apart from you and the person you are communicating with. Even WhatsApp cannot look at your chats.
- Groups
It has the functionality to create Groups and have a group chat.
- Reduce Data Usage for Calls
If you are running on a tight budget for internet data then WhatsApp allows you to decrease data usage for calls. Don’t bother about the quality of the call as it still remains good.
- Ads Free
WhatsApp doesn’t have any ads in the app. This makes the messaging experience pleasant.
- Free of Cost
You can use WhatsApp without spending a dime.
- Availability
It is available for iOS, Android and Windows smartphones. Apart from that, WhatsApp also has a web version and Windows and Mac software. You will have no trouble whatsoever to use WhatsApp seamlessly across multiple devices.
- Starred Messages
Never lose important messages in a plethora of unimportant messages by starring the ones that matter. You can find them under a separate section hence making them easily discoverable whenever desired.
- GIF support
After a long wait, WhatsApp started supporting GIF from late last year apart from photos and videos.
- Good Performance
The app feels light, stable and fast.
- Stories
Like Snapchat or Instagram, recently WhatsApp also introduced stories by revamping their Status. So, you can share what has been happening in the last 24 hours with your contacts on WhatsApp.
- Support for Siri
If you are an iOS user then with the help of Siri you can use WhatsApp hands-free. Siri can read recent WhatsApp messages, send messages and place calls.
This list is expected to increase with time. All of these awesome features have contributed to WhatsApp success. But nothing is perfect. And this is true for WhatsApp too. Let’s now get to the WhatsApp disadvantages.
Cons
- Missing Face Filters
WhatsApp did launch stories feature however you won’t find those entertaining Face filters available on Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook.
- No Virtual Assistant
WhatsApp doesn’t have an inbuilt personal assistant like Google Allo which makes things pretty easy.
- Self-Destructing Messages
There is no official WhatsApp feature that allows you to send self-destructing messages. However, there are ways to get around it.
- WhatsApp Calling Limitation
WhatsApp calling feature is not available in all countries. So, if you are looking for a calling functionality in a messaging app then this can be a huge setback.
- File Size limit
You cannot send large video files that are more than 16MB and documents bigger than 100 MB with WhatsApp.
- No Stickers
WhatsApp doesn’t have animated stickers like the Facebook messenger. You have to be content with the Emoji.
- Contact Number Required
Unlike Snapchat or Facebook, you cannot contact a person on WhatsApp if you don’t have their cell phone number.
- Cannot Unsend Messages
Once your message gets a single tick then there is no way to unsend it on WhatsApp. Apps like Instagram does allow you to unsend a message.
And I have a link to that article in ther shownotes for this episode so think about getting the app…or not.
https://www.techuntold.com/whatsapp-pros-cons/
And by the way, I have an emergency whats app number specifically for use in Vallarta should you be harassed by the cops or have been shaken down by some nogoodnik working under color of authority in Vallarta, the what’s App hotline number is +52 322 245 0600. When texting to this number, English speaking contacts will be receiving your messages.
When you text message this number, English speaking contacts will be receiving your messages.
I have all this in the show-notes so download the app, add the number and check out how many of your friends and contacts are using What’s App.
Also, I see that the candy man Salvador now has a Facebook page so you can find him and his pictures there. Go Salvador. Remember to drop him some dough so he can make his second Mexico City Marathon. You know he has and depends on a pretty good-sized support team. Mostly his amazing family, but when you see Salvador on the Malecon, buy some candy and slip him 100 pesos, like $5 US, and tell him it’s for Mexico City in August. Not only will he get a big kick out of that, but he needs it.
Puerto Vallarta Basilio Badillo Downtown Shuffle
From Banderas News…
Now in its ninth year, the South Side Shuffle transforms the always bustling street into a sensory delight. Every other Friday from 6 to 10 pm, you will find friends, neighbors and musicians while wandering up and down Basilio Badillo and stopping in to visit the participating businesses that offer refreshments and a festive shopping environment.
A perfect combination of culture, cocktails, music, hanging out with old friends and making new ones, the South Side Shuffle is not an art walk; nevertheless participating galleries feature special art exhibitions, like the ones at Galleria Dantethat give you the opportunity to meet different local, national and international artists throughout the season.
Along the way, you can explore the art galleries, shops and boutiques that offer everything from fine art and Mexican pottery to folk art, jewelry and resort wear, stop for a bite to eat, a cocktail and conversation, or to dance in the street to music performed by some of Puerto Vallarta’s most popular musicians.
The fiesta hits the streets of Basilio Badillo and Constitución every other Friday from 6-10 pm, so make plans now to come out and be part of the only ongoing party of its kind in all of Puerto Vallarta.
In addition to the businesses participating in the South Side Shuffle, there also many other wonderful shops, restaurants and galleries in the vicinity that are not to be missed while enjoying these bi-weekly events, scheduled to take place November 16 & 30 and December 14, 21 & 28, 2018, and on January 11 & 25, February 8 & 22, March 8 & 22 and April 5, 2019.
http://www.banderasnews.com/1809/vl-vallarta-southside-shuffle-9th-season.htm
Facebook Page for Southside Shuffle https://www.facebook.com/SouthSideShuffleBB/
Ted Talk about Getting Residency
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 11 AM – 1 PM at the Boutique Community Theater
“Myths and Truths About Residency in Mexico”–Bill and Amy Triplett, immigration facilitators.
Inspired by their own struggles with the process, Bill and Amy Triplett started a service helping others with issues related to immigration. They can assist people who want to live legally in Mexico for more than 180 days, and in obtaining their green cards. The Tripletts run their business in an “office” at the popular gringo hang-out Captain Don’s, in Puerto Vallarta. Married just two years, the Tripletts are offering an informational session, followed by the valuable opportunity to ask questions. They can also address individual inquiries, such as the process of moving an elderly parent to Mexico.
Info is in the show notes and links and all that stuff so check them out. I’m thinking about having Bill and Amy on for an episode just for a refresher. But if you are in town, make an effort to listen to the Ted Talk, it should be interesting for those of you thinking about moving to paradise.
287 Basilio Badillo, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco 48380
+52 322 192 4616
Facebook Page for the Boutique Community Theater https://www.facebook.com/TheBoutiquePV/
Okay, let’s get on with the day-trip to San Sebastian Del Oeste.
Day Trip From Puerto Vallarta to San Sebastian Del Oeste
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First a little history, and I go to UNESCO webpage and let’s see what the folks at the United Nations Educational organization have to say about the place…
On January 20, 1605, the mines of San Sebastián del Oeste were discovered, and consequently, the town was founded. Since then, the town has had a close relationship with its surroundings, which cover more than 1,970 square kilometers. The town itself now spreads over 37 partially settled hectares.
San Sebastian Del Oeste was one the main mining centers in the New Spain during the Colonial period. By 1785, ten gold and silver reduction haciendas and nearly 30 mines had been established there. The small town became a city in 1812 and reached its full
maturity around 1830. San Sebastian’s productivity was halted by the 1910 military revolution, and soon after, foreign companies in charge of mining works moved to other areas. The last mine was abandoned 1921, and San Sebastian fell into complete oblivion. Nowadays, its main economic activities involve agriculture, stock-breeding, increasing tourism and to a lesser degree, forestry.
I had been hearing all about San Sebastian from all of my interviewees, JR well, everyone, and it was hot, Early October, so it was about time I headed for the hills.
Getting to San Sebastian Del Oeste From Puerto Vallarta
There are many modes of transportation you can use to get to San Sebastian Del Oeste from Puerto Vallarta.
Vallarta Adventures runs tours up there, you can have a guide and a van from Superior Tours Vallarta take you up there, if you have rented a car for your stay, something I never do, but many insist and so if you have your own car, Well, that my friends is an excellent way to get to San Sebastian.
I checked my UBER App and yes, you can Uber up to San Sebastian for approximately 865 pesos each way, that’s like $45 each way,
You can get there from Puerto Vallarta by bus using the ATM Red Line Bus, but that bus will not take you directly into San Sebastian, you will have to get off that bus at a town called La Estancia. You catch the ATM bus that travels to Mascota and Talpa de Allende which take off from the corner of Lucerna and Havre Street, across from Plaza Los Glorias in Versallias, I have a map for you, and the bus leaves four times a day from there, from PV to Mascota and Talpa at 9 AM, 2:40 in the afternoon, 5:30 and 6 in the evening.
Map For Bus From Puerto Vallarta to San Sebastian Via Mascota Talpa ATM Line
ATM Schedule
The trip should take about 2 hours and with the ATM bus, it should be about 6- or 7-dollars US, each way.
Then, when you arrive at La Estancia, a small town on the way to Mascota, you jump off the bus. Here you can grab a taxi to San Sebastián which should cost you about 200 pesos give or take, each way, like $10 US dollars. Make sure to check the schedule of the buses back to PV from La Estancia while you are there to coordinate the trip back. That means finish up in San Sebastian and find a cab to take you back to the bus stop in La Estancia, like by 4 in the afternoon. So, as you can see, the DIY thing with the bus can be hit and miss, but it can be an adventure too. And really cheap to boot.
I chose to go a different route, the route of a private driver because I had never taken the trip, and I was looking for a more personalized experience, at least for my first visit. Something I would absolutely suggest over winging it the first time.
Contact Information For Jose Chamaco Castillo
- Xplore With Chamaco Facebook Page
- Phone: +52-322-101-1219
I got in touch with my buddy, driver extraordinaire Chamaco Castillo, Jose, and if you haven’t heard the episode with Jose, I have a link to that in the show notes, Jose is a private driver and he has a very nice SUV that will seat 4 passengers comfortably. The price for the 8-hour day was 3200 pesos, approximately $160 US. Split between 4 people, a cool $40 per person. An excellent deal.
I talked with my buddy Bob Mc Cuaig and asked him if he wanted to tag along and he was all in. We had two others who were coming along but just at the last minute they bailed so it was just me and Bob. So, Jose picked me up at my AirBnB and he headed into the Romantic Zone to pick up Bob. Then we were off.
We headed out of town towards the airport where we caught highway 544 known as the Carratera de Las Palmas, which took us through Las Palmas, the Colonia of Xtapa, a tiny hamlet called La Desembocada which means the way out I suppose in English, and with a population of 652, looks like most of them have done just that. No, really, it’s “beautiful”. Then we turn up into the hills. The scenery was lush and green, and the road was very good. There were a number of roadside eateries that looked interesting, but I knew Jose had a place in mind for us to have breakfast, so I just kept my mouth shut. I figure there are going to be times for those places another time. They are close enough to Vallarta to get to by bus or UBER, so yes, when I want another adventure, it will be another time.
We hit another sweet little town called Las Palmas de Arriba population 3,600 souls.
Then up further we pulled over at a shrine and got out of the car. Jose explained that this was a shrine built to St. Judas. And
there was a statue of this saint who had horns coming out of his head. He mentioned that people come here to leave gifts to the saint, to thank him and to ask him for favors. The things that were left were rosary beads, cigarette packs, odd stuff to leave a Saint.
I did some research and found that this Saint Judas, was one of the 12 apostles of Christ, Judas Tadeo — or Jude Thaddeus — and has no connection to Judas Iscariot, whose betrayal led to Jesus’ death.
The venerated San Judas is the “patron saint of lost causes.”
Panaderia Carmen
We continued up into the Sierra Nevada’s, with the jungle giving way to pine tree forest. We came to a place called Progresso where there was a steel bridge spanning
a 400 foot gorge called the Progresso bridge spanning the Barranca de San Sebastian del Oeste. A beautiful spot with a cute bakery called Panaderia Carmen where we were introduced to Carmen and her helper. They had a place to sit and drink coffee
Panaderia Google map
and enjoy the most delicious muffins and empanadas, stuffed rolls filled with, well I’ll let Carmen tell you about them. Let’s listen to this sweet lady on the way to San Sebastian…..
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She was so cute. The Pastries, the empanadas were so good. Savory, sweet with the combination of cheeses. You must stop here I tell you and by the way, the bus to Talpa and Mascota does not stop here, just saying. Bob and I took some pictures and I have a video from Bob that will crack you up, but it shows the gorge and the bridge and the little grocery store next to the bridge. Anyway, you need to stop and see Carmen on the way up. I have her place marked in the show notes so check it out.
Google Map of Cruzero de Sebastian
We proceeded to the town of La Estancia where we made a turn off highway 544 and headed up the road at the Curzero a San Sebastian, and headed up the rest of the way into town passing the old air strip on the way in.
San Sebastian Del Oeste
San Sebastian Google Map
Our first stop was a coffee plantation called Café La Quinta Mary. Here they had a hands on plantation where they grew,
picked, dried and roasted the coffee, right there in one place. We looked for the tour guide, but he was busy eating, so we gave ourselves a tour with the aid of Jose and Bob, doing his best ad-lib. I love Bob. We purchased some coffee for friends and hopped back in the SUV and made our way past the tequila tasting place and the beer brewing place, and into the main square. Very quaint. The town was so I dunno, Mexican. Cobble stone streets, narrow, windy, with ancient looking buildings and homes. It was like stepping back hundreds of years to a place that time forgot.
We walked past the church and wandered past an old hacienda called Casa de Los Recuerdos Familia Salgado where we met this lovely lady who gave us a tour of her family home, some 400 years old.
She pointed out the places across the street and explained the holes at the tops of the buildings were used to fire rifles from at invading Cristeros, looking for young recruits.
She also explained that her place was thought to be haunted although she lived there. She showed us where some unlucky miners were strung up in a room, well, it was a stable attached to the building. It was very interesting. She showed us how the hinges of these large doors still
functioned after hundreds of years It was very interesting indeed. Her tour was given in Spanish and she asked for a donation at the end of her spiel.
They say the population of San Sebastian is around 5,000, but I have a hard time believing that. Maybe if you include all the area surrounding the little town. They also say the population at the height of the gold and silver mining was 20,000. I couldn’t believe they could fit so many people in such a small place, and then I looked at the stats for Virginia City Nevada, during the gold and silver rush the population, which today is at 855 people, was 25,000 people in the 1870’s. Interesting. And about the same time in history give or take 30 years.
We moved on to a little market where we stopped for a soda and as we were joking around and making our purchase, a young lady noticed Bob and me, well we were wearing our Puerto Vallarta Travel Show t-shirts and she said hey, are you the one who does the podcast in Puerto Vallarta, and of course I said yes and she said she listened and suggested we interview the lady at the shop. Well, I asked the proprietor if she wanted to talk and she said no, so I looked at Marisa and said, how about you? So, let’s hear from Marissa. She was great…
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Okay Charcuterie. Who knew?
Now I have since spoken with Marissa who wanted me to pass on this information to you all.
My name is Marisa and I am the “gringa” that you interviewed the other day in San Sebastian with the son that does art there.
I have to apologize and make a correction. I gave you the name of a cool tour company but I gave you the wrong name :0 I said “colibri” and it’s not, it’s “Malibri.”
Hope this note finds you well.
Sincerely,
Marisa
So I asked her for her picture because I never got one of her, and she passed on this email…
Good Afternoon Barry,
If I could just abuse you once more, we have actually started a small business up here since we saw you. Our name is El Pilón, Tortas y mas… and we offer handmade, homemade, local ingredients in scrumptious sandwiches and baked goods. We are just after the “arroyo” on the way to the abandoned mines, San Sebastian del Oeste, Jalisco, Mexico.
Believe it or not, I do not have a picture of me. I hope one of these pictures of our road in dry season will do 🙂
If you have already posted the episode I hope it went well. If not, I hope one of the photos will do.
Warm Regards,
Marisa
So I have that picture of the road in the shownotes. Go Marisa. Selling Tortas!
Look for her, she’s great.
Contact for Malibri Tours to La Bufa
Montebello Italian Restaurant in San Sebastian Del Oeste
As I’m walking through this cool old town. Passing these lovely old homes and casitas, I was thinking to myself, this is kinda a version of Williamsburg Virginia, well a want-to be Williamsburg, but none the less, they are trying. And we came across a silversmith. We checked out this work. He was a nice guy who spoke Spanish only. Then we were getting a bit hungry so before we hit the church, we went looking for Montebello Italian Restaurant. Everyone we have spoken with who has been to San Sebastian said you must go see Walter and Coco, the owners of Montebello, so we
wandered in and caught the two playing a came of Backgammon. I had been in touch with Walter last year and so when I came in, he was familiar with me and the podcast. I asked Walter and Coco if they would let me interview them for the podcast and they agreed. So let’s go right now to Montebello Italian Restaurant in San Sebastian Del Oeste, and let’s talk to Walter and Coco!
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Such a wonderful couple. After the interview we asked Walter to make a suggestion for us and we ended up ordering a pizza, Ravioli and a lasagna plate. Oh, the food was so good! I have picture of the dishes in the show notes.
Contact for Montebello Italian Restaurant in San Sebastian Del Oeste
- Address: San Sebastián del Oeste Centro 46990, Ángeles 11, San Sebastián del Oeste Centro, Jal., Mexico
- Phone: +52 322 297 2883
- Yelp
The Church in San Sebastian Del Oeste
We were feeling stuffed and satisfied, and needed to get going to see the rest of the town. We said our goodbyes to Walter and Coco, and made our way to the beautiful church which we toured, complete with Jesus in all the cool ways the Mexicans
portray him. Ugh. And then the city government buildings and even the old jail. It was really cool. I think I can get Bob to give me some of that video, we’ll see.
There was still lots to see but we had very little time. We skipped the drive up to the Bufa to see Puerto Vallarta from way up. Just not the time. This is why, if you bus it up, you will just not have the time to see all you need to see.
We piled back into the SUV, and headed back to Vallarta, making it back by 6 to my condo in the 5th deiciembre neighborhood.
It was a great day and thanks to Bob, for all the comic relief, and to Jose, who was such a professional. I can’t say enough about Chamaco you guys! He is a good solid individual.
So, the day was a success. Something that I would suggest you try for sure when you have a day to kill and adventure in mind.
Now I spoke with Jose and he does take people on day trips past San Sebastian if you wanted to go to Mascota or Talpa instead, or both for that matter, so keep that in mind.
If you are good, I just might be taking you to those cool places in an upcoming episode, so stay tuned for that.
Would I do anything different? Well, I might visit a brewery next time, take a truck ride up the La Bufa and maybe even go to the mouth of the old mines. That would be cool. I might even think about staying the night. Who knows. Maybe next time.
I have pictures and maps to make it easier for you all to make this trip the next time you want to have an adventure in Paradise. I also have the contact information for Jose, as well as all the other methods I spoke about and you all know where to find that. Yup, in the show notes at www.purtotvallartatravelshow.com/blog where you will find all the podcasts.
Now the next podcast won’t be till Thursday December 13th. I will be putting out the Spanish Language only podcast with Salvador Estrada the Candy Man on Thursday the 6th, so I will be posting it to the Facebook and Twitter Page so like the
Puerto Vallarta Travel Show on Facebook, and you will be notified whenever I post a podcast or a special event. I also have all the podcasts in YouTube Video form, on the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show’s YouTube Channel where I take all the artwork and pictures from the blogpost, and make it into a video with the podcast, as the audio so if you want to consume the podcast in video form with all the pretty pictures, well, you can. I have a link to the YouTube channel in the show notes as well so just another way to get your Puerto Vallarta fix. And I’m so looking forward to getting my Puerto Vallarta fix in just a couple of weeks and I can’t wait.
And stay tuned for the next episode. We will be taking another trip out of Vallarta, this time to El Tuito to a cool bird sanctuary called Rancho Primavera, then to Mayto for an overnight stay at a cool spot called Hotelio El Rinconcito. You won’t want to miss that adventure, that’s for sure, and that’s coming up as I said, on the 13th of December. Wow, this was a long episode. That should do it for this week.
So, 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.
And thank you to Carmen at Panderia Carmen in La Estancia next to the Progresso Bridge, and thank you so much Marissa, the mystery woman of San Sebastian, Thank you to Walter and Coco at Montebello Italian Restaurant. The People were right Walter and Coco. Your food is the greatest! And thank you Bob McCuaig, you are the greatest wingman a podcaster could have dude! And thanks to our fine driver Jose Chamaco Castillo! You and your vehicle rock amigo! I have his info in the shownotes.
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!