Gringo Loco Cantina is a Friendly Neighborhood Bar and Restaurant in The Emiliano Zapata Colonia of Puerto Vallarta
Larry, the Owner of Gringo Loco Cantina is Originally From The San Fernando Valley in Southern California
Carlos Castelo From the Vallarta Board of Tourism Talks About The Senses of Mexico Puerto Vallarta Program
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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 a little neighborhood bar in the Emiliano Zapata Neighborhood, run by a southern Californian, a Valley Boy who grew up right down the street from me in the San Fernando Valley, a gringo named Larry Voigt who’s bar and restaurant is called El Gringo Loco, the Crazy Gringo, I also have an interview with my amigo Carlos Castelo from the Vallarta Tourist Board who will tell us about those booths they have all over town, the Senses of Mexico program. Carlos has great food suggestions as well but before we get to Carlos and Larry, let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta, the 28th of July 2020.
The governor of Jalisco Preparing to Push the Panic Button
Just as tourism returns to paradise we have this…Today from Vallarta Independiente Online..
Although the indicators did not reach the established limit, the governor said that “this week we will evaluate the route to follow and I will keep you informed of any decision that is made.”
Given the fact that Covid-19 cases continue to increase due to the continued mobility of people, Governor Enrique Alfaro indicated that he will determine this week whether to implement the emergency button, which is to stop 14 days.
“In everyone’s hands is the responsibility to avoid the emergency button, to responsibly follow the path of economic recovery. But if we continue at this rate, we will have no choice but to stop completely for 14 days, ”he said.
He pointed out that, regarding the risk indicators of this week, “yes, our hospital capacity remains stable, the incidence of cases continues to rise and is about to reach 400 per million inhabitants,” which is one of the indicators you set to start the button.
“The life and health of people will always be the priority. Therefore, this week we will evaluate the route to follow and I will keep you informed of any decision that is made, ”he said.
And you can read it yourself, there’s a linl to the article from Vallarta Independiente, in the shownotes.
Of course, the numbers will go up because they are giving free covid 19 tests for anyone who wants one, sick or not sick so the numbers are bound to rise. We will see what the governor has planned this week. Keep an eye on those hospitalizations.
Ocean Live Love Grill Reopening in October
We have some big news, finally have reopening date! We’re ready to welcome you on October 1st 2020, following all the sanitary and social distancing guidelines to keep everyone safe. Reservations available through our website www.oceanlivelovegrill.com/reservaciones,
take your time as we only will be working 50% of our capacity.
Vallarta Food Bank Gets a Mural From Artist Anastacio Tolentino Vargas
Vallarta Food Bank Update The New Facility is almost Ready and our buddy Anastacio, the artist on the Malecon painted a beautiful Mural on the outside wall of the Vallarta Food Bank….let me read the post…
We want to give a big shout out to Tolentino Vargas Anastacio better known as “Tacho” for lending us his artistic skills to paint a beautiful mural on our wall at the new facility! He’s also offered to paint our logo on the wall starting Monday. Tacho normally sells his paintings on the Malecon near the Cuale bridge, however since the start of the pandemic he has not been allowed to do that or open the gallery that displays his work. Times are hard for many local
artisans. We told him we could not afford to pay for a mural when he asked if we wanted one. He said he’d do it for us no problem for all the help we give to Vallarta. Our hearts did a flip. The reason I’m writing this is we passed a hat around yesterday while he was painting to gather a little “tip” money. I want to pass the hat around on Facebook and see if you guys would drop a little bread in this man’s jar. He’ll be out there painting on Monday around 10am so feel free to drop by and grab a photo and leave him a tip. We also wanted to publicly thank him for his work making our permanent location more beautiful!
We are really grateful to all the folks who have contributed to this wonderful facility! We continue to build and improve with your support. Everything helps us along. Everything makes it just a little nicer. If you’re interested in helping us out (even in a different way like Tacho!) Check out the “volunteer” tab on our website www.vallartafoodbank.com!
I have pictures in the shownotes and don’t forget to look for Anastacio on the Malecon with his canvases set up on the north side of the Cuale bridge, across from BigToes Tacos and Piniccio Pizza, that area where there used to be a ship mast that is lying on the ground. That’s where you will find Tacho.
Don’t forget Vallarta Food Bank..please!
And speaking of artists, here’s something to look for when you return to paradise…a mural inside the small tunnel ..
From the Banderas News lifted from Puertovallarta.gob.mx…
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – After three weeks of meticulous work, local artist Elodia Jiménez has completed a colorful mural on the interior wall of the “small” tunnel that leads from the Libramiento to the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood.
The 210 square meters features fruits that are native to the region. “The idea of this mural is to give importance to the natural wealth that exists in Puerto Vallarta and to work with the iconography of coconut oil, bananas and flora that is related to the history of our city,” explained the self-taught artist, who began her training in the workshops of the Cuale Cultural Center.
With the unveiling of the Elodia Jiménez mural, the artistic intervention project within what’s popularly known as the “small tunnel” has been completed in both directions, as part of the large-format art in public spaces program promoted by the municipal government, through the Vallarta Institute of Culture (IVC).
“At the IVC we think it is very important to rescue these spaces and transform them into large canvases,” IVC director Marina de los Santos Álvarez said. “Urban art is increasingly present in large cities, conquering people from various sectors and social classes, uniting people and giving them a sense of belonging to society, while democratizing art and humanizing public spaces,” she added.
She explained that last February, Veracruz artist Lucía Prudencio intervened in the opposite direction of the tunnel with a bicolor floral mural. “What we did in these two directions of the small tunnel is to reflect what Puerto Vallarta is: its colors and flavors with flowers and fruits entirely from the region,” said De los Santos.
The constant flow of vehicles through this tunnel forced the artist to work during the early morning hours. In order to facilitate her work, the support of other municipal agencies was essential, such as the directorates of Citizen Security, Public Services and Maintenance of Assets and Administration, as well as the subdirectorate of Roads and the heads of the Markets and Public Lighting departments.
“The proposal of the Vallarta Institute of Culture, to give life to a space that can be very dark, I really liked,” said the artist. “We saw people passing by when the tunnel was closed and they appreciated that this was changing and were excited to see it finished. Adding color to this space and making the mural completely changed the feeling of the neighborhood.”
The next IVC urban art project will be carried out in coordination with local artists and the Urban Farms Owners of Puerto Vallarta Union. It will focus on an artistic intervention at the entrance of Abasolo, one of the streets that leads up to the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint, in the city’s center.
Source: puertovallarta.gob.mx
And I have that link in the shownotes with a few pictures of the Mural. Nice.
What’s happening in Nayarit?
Things change every day in Nuevo Vallarta, up in Nayarit. Beaches are closed, cobre bocas necessary, bars and restaurants all businesses are instructed to close at 10 in the evenings. And the border is open between Nuevo and Viejo Vallarta…for now.
Listener Email From Cheryl
What? You’ve never been on Rhythms of the Night?
Jim and I have been 4 times over the last 4 years with different groups of friends. It is an incredible experience! Wonderful large boat ride where you see PV from the outside in, which is so beautiful. Cocktails on the boat and some appetizers. Same on the return trip plus entertainment on the boat. Fun, fun, fun!
Well organized upon arrival and you either see the fabulous show first and then dine in candlelight or vice versa. There are 4,000 candles lit every night. Romantic❤️ The food is great, service couldn’t be better and even though it is an expensive event, you will feel it is money well spent. Plenty of restrooms. Lots of walking, some hilly so not for people who have difficulties with mobility.
We live in PV for 7 months a year and this is the only tourist-y thing we do. Never met anyone who didn’t enjoy it and feel that they got their money’s worth. And I’m not getting paid for my comments!!
Stay calm and keep podcasting!
Thank you Cheryl. Gusee I need to get Rhythms of the Night on my list and spend the duckets. I’m so cheap…sorry.
Correction From Last Week’s Show
I wanted to thank Hillary and Zoie so much for coming on the show last episode. Really gave me a lot of faith that businesses are doing everything they can to protect everyone and make it a safe experience visiting Puerto Vallarta even in times like these. Now I don’t recommend everyone travel during a global pandemic. We are learning more about age and comorbidity and proper protective measures to understand individual risks. Please don’t get me wrong. This is a deadly disease, remember travelers should always have travel insurance and if you want to be protected for Covid, there are only a couple doing that. Brett LaMar at Novamar Insurance and I think at Guardian Insurance, Mr. Trejo can help you with that as well. I have links to both companies in the shownotes.
Travel Insurance Covering Covid in Mexico
And speaking of the last episode, I listened to it after I released it, and edited it and everything and realized when Zoie talked about the orphanage and her daughters buying clothes and shoes for all of them,she was talking about RISE, Refujio Infantil Santa Esperanza and not Corazon de Nina, so sorry for my mixing that up. I’m sure most of you picked up on that faux paux. Lo siento, we do love both places don’t we.
As if The Pandemic isn’t enough, Look over there…it’s Dengue
Once again from Vallarta Independiente…this gem…
Sigue Vallarta en el Top-10 de municipios con más dengue en Jalisco
Vallarta continues in the Top-10 of municipalities with more dengue in Jalisco
With 42 infections, Puerto Vallarta continues in the first 10 municipalities with the most cases at the end of the 29th epidemic week; Jalisco is the first national place.
Puerto Vallarta saw changes in its position in the ranking of the municipalities with the most cases of dengue in Jalisco. It is eighth place with 42 infections, 2 more compared to last week, according to figures from the Jalisco Health Secretariat.
In the first place on the list is the municipality of Jocotepec with 182 cases, followed by Tlaquepaque with 129, then Zapoltiltic with 71, Acatlán de Juárez and Zacoalco de Torres with 58, San Gabriel 57, Poncitlán 55 and Puerto Vallarta 42.
Regarding the VIII Sanitary Region, there are 89 cases, 42 in Puerto Vallarta, 7 in Cabo Corrientes and 35 in Tomatlán. San Sebastián del Oeste, Mascota and Talpa de Allende do not present dengue cases yet.
At the national level, Jalisco remains in first place in confirmed cases with 1,203, more than double that in the same period as in 2019 and quite far from Veracruz, which is second.
So far, only 1 death from dengue has been confirmed in the state, although there are several cases still under study.
My trip and Skip Friend of Rodolfo
So, time is ticking and it’s a race to see if Governor Alfaro of Jalisco will push the panic button before my trip, and if he does, I plan to postpone it for two weeks because let’s face it, if I can’t leave my condo to interview people, I really don’t have any reason to go really to be blunt about it.
By the way I need to let you in on a secret, I was offered a chance to stay in one of the nicest places I have ever seen, well…online, I haven’t been there yet, but listener Skip, one of the Friends of Rodolfo the Blind Tenor on The Malecon. You Heard Skip in fact on that episode as a matter of fact. Well, Skip has a condo in tower one of the Molino de Agua. It’s a little tight, 3,678 square feet, three bedrooms, wraparound terrace the whole 4th floor right on the water. Wow. If you want to see it go to the shownotes or if you go to my website at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com, I now have a new page called Vallarta Condo Rentals, and if you click on that page you will find Skips place, and if you want to rent it, and when you see this place, you will, go for it. I’ll be blogging from there for sure so stay tuned for pics from Skips place. And by the way, if any of you listeners would like to see your condo or Vallarta property posted on that Vallarta Condo Rental page, let me know, send me a the information about it and if I think it meets the standards of you listeners, I’ll add it to the page. I’m looking out for my listeners Send um. And thank you so much Skip! I can’t wait!
Vallarta Condo Rentals Page Link
https://puertovallartatravelshow.com/index.php/vallarta-condo-rentals/
Okay, let’s get to the interviews,
Senses of Mexico and the Vallarta Board of Tourism
The first is a young man named Carlos Castelo, and Carlos works for the Vallarta Board of Tourism. And they have these booths all over town saying Senses of Mexico. So I thought I would see what they were selling. Seemed interesting so I put a microphone in
Carlos’s face, humm, I wonder if I can still do that…I need a long stick I think, I’ll have to look into that. So let’s see what Carlos has to say about the Senses of Mexico Program, from the Malecon, let’s talk with Carlos Castelo about Senses of Mexico in Puerto Vallarta.
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Okay I have a link to the Senses of Mexico Website if you have any interest in that program.
Facebook Page From Senses of Mexico Puerto
Vallarta https://www.facebook.com/sensesofmexico/
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Gringo Loco Cantina, Puerto Vallarta Mexico
Contact Information for Gringo Loco Cantina in Puerto Vallarta
- Address: Calle Francisco I. Madero 403, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
- Phone: +52 322 118 5893
- Facebook: Click Here
Now next let’s head up into the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood and meet our next guest, Larry Voigt, the Loco Gringo who has a restaurant cantina called the Gringo Loco Cantina. It’s on Francisco Madero and Aguacate so it’s a couple of blocks up into town. You walk in and the bar is right there with comfortable stools. Astride the bar is a covered eating and
drinking area with tables for 4 that can easily be joined together for bigger parties. There is a small stage area and next to the kitchen area and bathrooms is a nice outdoor patio area with no roof. A bookshelf stocked with reading material for anyone who decides to do more than have just a drink and a bite to eat. It has a bit of a sports bar feel with big screen TV’s, but it’s a cool friendly place. Economical to say the least. Hey, JR drinks there
okay? Say no more. JR introduced me to Larry and I’m really glad he did. Now I recorded this back in October last year and there was a lot of flooding remember? So he’s going to be telling that story in case you get confused, this was from last October, so let’s go right now and meet the valley boy who ventured south of the border and never looked back, the guy who put the Gringo in Gringo Loco, it’s Larry Voigt owner of Gringo Loco Cantina Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Mexico.
Okay…thank you Larry. I have pictures, maps directions websites, Facebook links, you name it to take you to this little cantina in the middle of the Emiliano Zapata Neighborhood. Gringo Loco.
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 Larry Voigt from Gringo Loco. Like their Facebook page and follow them and keep informed as to what special things are happening there. Stop in and have a drink and a bite to eat. Thanks Carlos Castelo from Senses of Mexico Puerto Vallarta. I have links to the promotion in the shownotes. https://www.facebook.com/sensesofmexico/
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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