The Ramadas of Boca de Tomates are a Row of Restaurants, Thatched Roof Palapas, Serving Fresh Seafood Vallarta Family Style
Restaurant Ramada Sabino Ron Has Been Serving Seafood on the Beach for 70 Years
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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.
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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 your 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 going to Boca de Tomates, in Puerto Vallarta and we’ll learn about the fun you’ve been missing if you haven’t been to the Ramadas of Boca de Tomates and you will meet the owner of one of these Ramadas, Sabino Ron. He has a great story but before we get to Sabino and the Ramadas, let’s see what’s happening in Puerto Vallarta the 29th of June, 2020.
Rainy Season Returns to Puerto Vallarta
Rain and heat and humidity in paradise as Vallarta battles through the pandemic as is the rest of the world. According to Angela the weather station lady we have about 6 ½ inches of rainfall so far in the month of June, and year to date approximately 17 inches.
Remember we had lots of rain unusually in January The New Year was rainy. So, it rained last night too so welcome back rain and thunderstorms in Vallarta. Thanks Angela!
Reopening continues in Puerto Vallarta as cases of corona virus continue to rise. Visitors and locals are asked to wear masks while outdoors and in restaurants, on public transportation, cabs and Ubers.
Word has it that both locals and visitors have been seen without cobre bocas, mouth coverings about 50/50.
As of now, the beaches are open, social distancing is recommended, and so far, the majority of visitors are from other parts of Mexico, not many Americans yet, but as I mentioned last week, my buddys Hillary and Zoie were in Puerto Vallarta just last week, and I can’t wait to hear from them about what it’s like on the ground. What they did. What precautions are being taken in paradise and if any of you have any questions for Hillary and Zoie, send me an email and I’ll add your questions to my list.
Hillary and Zoie, next week, stay tuned and send those questions.
Fredy’s Toucan Opens in Fluvial
Fredy’s Toucan is opening a second location in the colonia Fluvial today… The wait is over, see you this June 29 at Fluvial Vallarta!
We are waiting for you at Avenida De Los Tules 260, in Fluvial Vallarta.
Telephone: 3223655504
I have a link to the new location and a map in the shownotes.
An Environmental Mess-up on The Rio Pitillal
A couple of weeks go by and look here, another environmental mess-up in paradise. I got a message from one of my Mexican buddies with a video that showed horrific destruction of the Rio Pitillal and I so surprised and shocked by it. I’ll think about linking it on the website, but it’s pretty gruesome with dead crocks and it’s made to shock. I’ll tell you I was shocked by it. It seems that the Pitillal river is one of those rivers that goes practically dry in the winter season, but when the rains come, it floods and causes havoc and floods neighboring colonias.
For some perspective. The Pitillal River originates up in the Sierras, not far from the town of Cuale actually, and it works it’s way through Playa Grande and runs through town, Pitillal, Fluvial, Tabachines, the hotel zone and it runs out past the La Isla Shopping Village and the Grand Venetian and out to sea at playa de Holi.
So the city council thought it would be a good idea to clear away brush and overgrown trees, and do a clean-out of the riverbed while the river was dry, and they just destroyed the watershed that protects this ecosystem. Just tragic. Maybe well intentioned, we have to believe that, but just not good. Let me read from Vallarta Independiente, translated from Spanish so it might sound a but rough but here goes…
Jalisco legislators will initiate an investigation to establish responsibilities for the ecocide in the channel of the Pitillal River.
The deputy Rosa Angélica Fregoso Franco, president of the environmental commission of the Jalisco congress, said this Friday in an interview with the Tribuna de la Bahía, that they will initiate an investigation to find the person responsible for the ecocide in the Pitillal River.
The deputy argues in the interview that “an initiative was submitted to the state congress to exhort the Puerto Vallarta city council information on the acts of lack of compliance in the basin.”
Fregoso Franco warned that they will go ‘to the last consequences’ and these, if irregularities are found, would reach 3 years in prison for those who gave the order and financial fines for those who carried out the work.
The deputy’s statements are in addition to the position issued by the rector of the University Center of the Coast, Jorge Téllez López, who severely criticized the way in which they destroyed the entire ecosystem and affected thousands of animals.
In addition, thousands of people from Vallarta who know the area also complained, because they had never seen a development as aggressive as that developed in the river basin.
We will keep an eye on this story and when I get to Vallarta in August, I’ll report to you and bring you pictures of the damage.
And I have a link to that article in the shownotes.
Rodolfo The Blind Tenor on The Malecon Doing Well During the Pandemic
I spoke with Rodolfo the blind tenor on the Malecon the other day. If you don’t know who I’m talking about, Rodolfo is an incredibly talented singer who sings opera and ballads with a type of karaoke machine, as he walks along the boardwalk, the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, and if you like, I have liked the episode with Rodolfo in the shownotes, and he’s doing well, but he’s anxious to get out and sing again on the Malecon. He wasn’t aware the Malecon and beach were open and was surprised when I told him. But let me read an email sent out by our friend Skip, from friends of Rodolfo, about how Rodolfo is doing during the pandemic…
Many have asked about Rodolfo and Julia. Thanks to Rodolfo’s appearances at Coco Tropical and Barrio Bistro and the tips that many of you provided, he and Julia have been able to manage through difficult times in Puerto Vallarta.
Like all who are following a nation-wide order, Rodolfo and Julia have been staying at home. Occasionally they venture out to a local market. Because of his talents and constant desire to improve himself, Rodolfo has kept busy. With assignments from his talented coach, Jean-Guy Comeau, Rodolfo sings and practices on the keyboard daily. His joy of music has been a great outlet. Julia is entertained at home while she makes rosaries that she gives to others.
Rodolfo will be happy to get out on the Malecon, which hopefully will be in June. When you hear him next winter, you will note his improvements and some new songs. He looks forward to entertaining you then.
So, I’ll be getting together with Rodolfo in August, assuming they will still let me travel. I’m counting down the days 40 days from now.
Emails From Listeners
I’ve been getting some emails and ideas for my upcoming trip to paradise, one from my friend Trish
Hi Barry, This is Colette Zarry’s Spay + Neuter clinic. She also owns Langostino’s and is the most amazing woman. We adopted a dog from her and just donated for half a clinic. Maybe a good one to share for all the people who want to help the people’s pets in Vallarta! She’s seriously one of the women I admire the most!!! Thanks Trish
Okay, well I asked Trish if she would do the introductions because I’ve dropped my card at Langostinos more times than I can count, and she did, and I will finally get a chance to interview Collette, if she’s crazy enough to be in town in mid August. So thank you Trish. We’ll corner Collette….
Here’s an email from a new listener Horacio….
Hi Barry, I am so glad I found your podcast and became a listener for the past 2 months. I had the chance to visit Vallarta in February and fell in love with the city. Thanks for your valuable time and information you provide with your podcasts. Today I was able to make a donation to Vallarta Food Bank.
Regards and stay healthy
Horacio
Well thank you Horacio, Thanks for your donation to the Vallarta Food Bank. It’s amazing isn’t it Horacio, how easy it is to fall in love with Vallarta. Here, I’ve been going for over 30 years, and fell instantly in love, it still holds the same charm today, even for the newcomer. The Vallarta virgin.
Let’s see what’s happening at Vallarta Food Bank…Here’s an excerpt from Jimmy’s Thoughts, a weekly article Jimmy Plouff writes for the Food Bank…..
I have been over to the new facility a few times to check on progress there. Guys… it’s looking GREAT! Roberto the tile man and his team have been CRUSHING it! Knocked out almost 140 square meters in a week! We are super close to making the transition to our permanent facility! Super exciting stuff going on there. We’ve had several folks and groups generously donate to the facility fund (seperate from the main fund which is primarily for food!) We’ve raised about 25% of the money already for the build out and modifications. The cement for the roof of the despensa bodega is finally cured so we can keep moving forward there! Lights and fans going in this week.
Next we need furniture items. We will need those big plastic folding tables, a couple desks, and some other items. Bit by bit with your help we are cruising along. We have a great team of volunteers helping us put everything together at the new facility but some stuff just requires money and skilled people that cost money (masons, tile guy, plumber, etc.) We are doing as much as possible by hand to keep the cost as low as possible. I’m doing a lot of the electrical stuff and some of the minor details myself (wish me luck! haha). It is getting closer every day!
The demand while is has dropped a bit (we are at about half what we were last month at this time) but we aren’t out of the woods guys. We know everything is opening back up and it seems a little more “normal” I expect there may be another spike in a few weeks. We are preparing in case that comes to pass… stocking up and being twice as cautious as before. (hence my self isolating after traveling outside Vallarta) We want to be ready no matter what!
Batman (VFB Director of security and remover of dropped foods) is doing well and even running and playing regularly now. He gets tons of love and treats! He’s even starting to get a bit chonky! We are happy he is doing well in his new position and working hard!
Also we now have T-shirts and travel mugs with the VFB logo on them for sale to fund the new facility! If you’re interested please message the page and we’ll get them to you! Shirts come in 2 styles and adult sizes small to xxl. We are asking $300 pesos for shirts and the same for mugs. See the photos below! Really cool!
Thanks again guys for your continued support! Our volunteers and donors are Vallarta’s best! Together we are #Vallartastrong!
If you’d like to help us specifically realize the dream that the facility will be someday we’ve set up a PayPal specific to this purpose: VFBpaypal@gmail.com
As always you can donate to our ongoing despensa effort at www.vallartafoodbank.com
Please LIKE and SHARE this post far and wide. Thanks again for all the support!
And thank you Jimmy! Keep up the great work and please friends, give if you can. Donate your time if you are in Vallarta, get on a monthly donation program to keep this going today, and in the future. It’s a great cause…and thank you to Horacio, and to all of you who have contributed, and are contributing to The Vallarta Food Bank.
The Guadalajara to Vallarta Highway is Almost Complete
From Vallarta Opina online….
Despite the abrupt pause that lasted more than 70 days in most of the day-to-day activities, the works to finish the Guadalajara – Puerto Vallarta highway never stopped, its workers continued at full speed making their way with heavy machinery and state-of-the-art engineering to through the jungle to connect the coast with the state capital.
The third and last stage is being built by Grupo Carso, it is 76 kilometers long, and it will integrate 3 tunnels, the largest of them 1,100 meters long, that is, with a length greater than that of the largest skyscraper in the world.
This is the “Guamuchil” tunnel, at the same name as the town of the same name on the Riviera Nayarit; This will pass under jungle-filled hills in the Sierra de Vallejo, and parallel to the curved line that Federal Highway 200 currently makes and takes time for all travelers.
The tunnel is right now in advanced works, it will have ventilation and drainage systems, resulting in a spectacular engineering work with high safety standards. In this section there will also be other tunnels: the “Bueyes”, 540 meters long and at the height of the access to Sayulita; as well as one still without a name, almost immediately after the Guamuchil.
In addition, a gigantic bridge, “Las Truchas”, is also built, 300 meters long by 75 meters high, to connect two ends of a straight line that crosses between two hills and crosses a ravine. Images obtained by Vallarta Comment from documents exposed in the files of the construction companies that participate in the work, showing the pharaonic work being done to make this highway possible.
And I have a link to this article in the shownotes.
How long have we been talking about this highway? Will they really finally finish it? Sure! Manana!
Okay, let’s get to the interview shall we?
The Ramadas of Boca de Tomates and Ramada Sabino Ron
Almost from the beginning of the podcast, guests have talked about an area in Puerto Vallarta, called Boca de Tomates. It’s famous for crocodiles and a row of thatched roofed restaurants on the beach known as Ramadas. And what happens at these ramadas is real Vallarta. The food, the sounds and sights are pure Pata Salada.
I got a message from my buddy Robina Oliver, also a friend of the show asking if I had been to the ramadas to do an interview yet, and I told her I hadn’t, and asked if she had a favorite and if so, could she hook me up with an interview.
So, she said she did, and she would, and much to my surprise and delight, she set up the whole thing for me and a whole group of our friends.
Originally I was to meet up with everybody at the Walmart, and drive in with the caravan, but I was interviewing the Black Momba Band, and was running late, so I took a cab to Boca de Tomates, and went looking for the gang.
The drive takes you past the Crocodile preserve where you must stop to take a picture of these magnificent beasts, and then to a dirt parking lot where you will find a line of these
thatched roof Ramadas. These ramadas have the sand floor kitchens in the back away from the beach, with the tables where the customers sit, out front with a view of the ocean. Many of these Ramadas have jumpy rooms for the kids and karaoke for the adults.
Helado or ice cream carts are pulled along the sand from ramada to ramada, mariachis roam from place to place, table to table as well.
There’s drinking, singing and serious eating going on and it’s beautiful you guys. It’s pure Vallarta…
Families having fun and enjoying the simple things in life.
So coming right up, you will meet Enrique the Pie man….you will hear some incredible karaoke and you will be hearing from Sabino about his restaurant…
Let’s go right now and meet my new friend, thanks to Robina, the Mermaid Queen, my new
amigo Sabino, owner of Ramada Sabino Ron who will give you a little history of the
Ramadas, and of his family business in Boca de Tomates Jalisco Mexico, right on the border of the state of Nayarit, Let’s go meet Sabino….
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Thank you Sabino!
I can’t recommend this experience to you highly enough.
Please go, and experience the Real Vallarta, before Vidante or someone else buys them up. Really. They are in danger of disappearing from Vallarta so go, experience the experience. After you are done, take a plastic trash bag down to the shore and pick up
trash, then, if Nan is doing baby Turtle releases, that evening, join in the fun and make the day complete. Turtle camp is just about 100 yards south from the ramadas. It’s a two fer…well, a three fer if you include the crocodile stop.
I have pictures, maps instructions, all in the shownotes so go!
Okay that should do it for this week.
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.
Thank you Sabino from Ramada Sabino Ron. I love your place and I love your food. It’s so good. Check out the pictures in the shownotes. The Maps and directions. And thank you Robina from our favorite lady’s swimwear store in all of Vallarta, La Serina Reina, the
mermaid Queen. Thanks for introducing me to Sabino and Ramada Sabino Ron. I have her link and info too for when you need a swimsuit in paradise. And don’t forget to make sure to donate to Vallarta Food Bank! I have links to it 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!
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