Russel and Elle Rens From New Zealand Were Looking For a Tropical Paradise to Retire to. They Picked Mexico Out of a Hat
What’s It Like Moving Half Way Around The World From Family and Friends
The So You Think You Can RISE Talent Show is Entering The Last Weeks in Vallarta
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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, 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 you will meet a couple from New Zealand via South Africa who came to live in Mexico by simply pulling the name out of a hat. You will love Elle and Russel. We are going to dip into the mailbag, something I need to get to for sure and we’ll talk about my latest trip to paradise, my ninth trip from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta during the pandemic, we’ll talk about what it’s like getting the rona in paradise…you’ll hear my firsthand experience …but before we get to all that, let’s see what’s happening in Puerto Vallarta this week, the 8th of February, 2022. Alert the affiliates…we’re going a little long…
Make plans for your Valentine’s day in Paradise
Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching and if you are going to be in Vallarta or anywhere on the Bahia on or around St Valentines Day make your reservations at your favorite restaurant early. Remember seating at some of these places is restricted so plan accordingly. And save some pesos for a bunch of flowers while you are at it.
The Governor of Jalisco Tests Positive For the Rona
What do you know the double vaccinated and boosted, Governor of the State of Jalisco Enrique Alfaro announced this…that he has tested positive, and is recovering from a case of the rona…
From Guadalajara Reporter.net
Thursday, Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro announced that he is Covid-19 positive, shortly after taking a test when he was informed that he had been in contact with people infected with the virus.
“I was surprised by the news because I don’t have any symptoms”, Alfaro said.
He confirmed that his daughter has also tested positive. The governor said he will continue with his work remotely and provide timely updates on his health status.
And from Vallarta Today dated January 21, 2022
Surprised and without symptoms, the Governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro, expressed himself this Thursday morning when through a message on his social networks he informed the Jalisco society that he tested positive for COVID-19, after learning that some of his closest collaborators had been infected. “Yesterday afternoon I was confirmed of some cases of very close co-workers with whom I was in contact in recent days that came out positive, and so I took a test yesterday afternoon evening, of which I got the results very early today, and I want to inform you that I came out positive to COVID, the truth is that I was surprised by the news, because I have no symptoms, I’m fine, in fact I had just taken a test last Friday, it had come out negative in the meeting we had of the entire cabinet.”
I have a link to that Vallarta Today and Guadalajarareporter.net articles in the shownotes.
And I listened to Alfaro give that announcement live and he sounded congested like he was suffering from a cold.
https://www.vallartatoday.com/puerto-vallarta-health-medical/vallarta-general-medical-news/governor-of-jalisco-tests-positive
It seems the twice jabbed and once boosted Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau also just tested positive for the coof. Man these rare breakthrough cases are going through the roof.
Sponsor a Turtle Nest at Turtle Camp Puerto Vallarta
Turtle Camp…Vallarta’s sea turtle rescue known as Campamento Tortugero Boca de Tomates..Saving Sea Turtles in Puerto Vallarta is looking for baby turtle huggers to adopt a nest of turtles, incubating currently at the camp. For a donation to the camp you can sponsor a nest of those cute baby turtles.
I have a link the Campamento Tortugero Boca de Tomates..Saving Sea Turtles in Puerto Vallarta Facebook page in the shownotes. And if you plan to be in town check their page to see when they are planning their next release.
https://www.facebook.com/campamentobocadetomates
Bird and Nature Fest at The Vallarta Botanical Gardens
The Vallarta Botanical Gardens is having a Bird and Nature Festival February 25, 26 and & 27th.
The Bay of Banderas is always full of colorful birds, friendly people and plenty of birders. Throw in a few tacos here and there and you have a fiesta. Bring a pair of binoculars, your camera and head up to the Garden for a party.
It’s Whale Watching Season in Vallarta
Speaking of binoculars, it’s whale watching season on the bay and there’s plenty of activity so point those binoculars seaward and see what you can see. Or take a whale watching tour and get out on the water. JR has one or two of those whale watching tours over at Vallartainfo.com if you are in need.
Join RISE for the So You Think You Can Rise Talent Contest Finals February 20th at Teatro Vallarta
If you remember a few months back we had Lisa and Billy from RISE…Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, a home for children at risk in the Benito Juarez colonia in Puerto Vallarta on the show talking about the talent contest/Fund raiser called So You Think You Can Rise. This is a major fund raiser for the orphanage. Let me read the latest….here from Lisa… So, You Think You Can RISE!
Tickets For So You Think You Can Rise February 20th
First Annual Variety PV Talent Contest
We have our 3rd finalist for the Grand Finale at Teatro Vallarta, February 20th at 7:30pm!
We welcome Tay, a 19 year old singer with an incredible range of songs – she’s small, but mighty!
Join the fun! Come select the next finalist in Round 4 this Sunday at The Palm Cabaret at 3:00pm
Each Round is packed with great talent – it is hard to choose!
Round 4 Contestants:
Mauricio Andrade – Magician
Lilieth Grace – 11-year-old, Solo Pop Singer
Kathleen Naomi Atkins – Comedic Performer and Actress
Edgar Zavala – Regional Mexican Singer
Moises Chama – Solo singer, Spanish pop songs
Enel Ram – Solo Singer, Unique Vocalist
Eyes on Earth – Soulful Music Group
Can’t make it this Sunday? Round 5 is around the corner, so get your tickets now. AND Don’t forget to buy your Grand Finale tickets, so you don’t miss the chance to be part of selecting the next PV SuperStar!
Support the kids at RISE and live entertainment!
Tickets For So You Think You Can Rise February 20th
When Lisa and Billy were planning this fundraiser they asked me if I would, as a favor, as a promotion, if I would agree to interview businesses and individuals who pledged a certain amount as sponsors for their fundraiser, and feature them in a future podcast episode. Of course, I thought that was a great idea and said yes.
And so, as a result, over the last few trips down, I’ve interviewed some really interesting people. I had a great interview with Stephanie Watts at El Granero and Los Muertos Brewing. We have met her husband Connor on multiple occasions and this time Connor said you know Barry, I’d love to talk with you again but how would you like to interview Stephanie, my wife? I said sure and I was surprised to find Stephanie has a business matching up fine upscale properties and villas in the bay and around Mexico with vacationers and event and wedding planners. We will be hearing from Stephanie in a few weeks. You will love her. I also spoke with a lovely lady, Georgia Darehshori from the stunning Casa Karma in Conchas Chinas. What a beautiful property and what a lovely and interesting person Georgia is.
Speaking of South Africans, remember we will be meeting some in a few minutes, Ellie and Russel, I met another South African, Alec Wilson at Artsi Gallery in Bucerias. A beautiful gallery and a very interesting guy. We’ll learn a little bit about Bucerias from Alec.
I spoke with a realtor Barry Ewert and his associate Karine, with Century 21 Riviera Realty. We spoke at length about buying and selling real estate in Vallarta. I got a chance to sit down again with Fredy Garcia of Fredy’s Toucan in the Romantic Zone and now the
newest location in Fluvial. The new place is lovely and has an upstairs banquet room. The old location has been updated and Fredy has gone full on 21st century. It’s been years since we talked with Fredy and you will hear from him in the coming weeks…..and today you will hear from Eddie Rodriguez from American English Tree. We have already met with Eddie, but we are just going to catch up with him now, and see what’s new at American English Tree. Let’s go right now to Cacao Magico, one of Vallarta’s sweetest spots, at the Port where the cruise ships come in, in Puerto Vallarta, at Puerto Magico, and let’s visit with Eddie Rodriguez, Teaching English to Mexicans, and Spanish to English speakers, American English Tree, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Thank you Eddie. I have links to all that great information in the shownotes. Hey…Learn Spanish and help a Mexican learn English and give them a big step up in life.
And thank you Eddie for sponsoring the talent show, and teaching the kids at RISE, English and the English speaking teachers and volunteers, Spanish. What a cool thing to do.
Contact For American English Tree Puerto Vallarta
Listener Emails
Okay, let’s hit the email bag here…the first is from listener Jeff from ….and Jeff writes, have you seen the new laws in Puerto Vallarta regarding vaccination passes…and he sent me a link to an article which I was already aware of because the new laws and rules were enacted right in the middle of my latest trip.
And here’s an article from the NY Post by Nathan Diller dated January 12th, 2022…
Some Mexican states roll out vaccination mandates for bars and events
Travelers to popular Puerto Vallarta will soon have to follow new vaccination and testing requirements for many activities ordered by the Mexican state of Jalisco.
The state will require proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test result for bars, clubs, casinos and concerts, Jalisco Gov. Enrique Alfaro announced Monday. The requirement, which will take effect Friday, also applies to other venues such as convention centers and stadiums.
People over 18 will be required to show proof of full coronavirus vaccination. A negative PCR test result will remain valid for entry for 48 hours.
The new rule comes as Mexico sees a surge in cases, including in Jalisco, following the holiday travel season. According to tracking data compiled by The Washington Post, as of Wednesday, Mexico reported 127 new cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days, with a 174 percent week-over-week increase in daily cases.
Tlaxcala, a state east of Mexico City, is implementing a similar requirement this week, requiring proof of vaccination to enter places such as supermarkets, taquerias and hotels, making it and Jalisco the first entities in the country to establish such rules, according Forbes México.
Health authorities in Baja California stopped short of a mandate, but they issued a similar recommendation last week. It said businesses such as restaurants, bars and casinos can decide whether to ask customers for proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test result.
Is it safe to travel to Cancun?
The new rules stand in contrast to Mexico’s relatively relaxed approach to entry and health requirements. The country has remained open to international tourists throughout the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rates the country with a Level 3 warning, advising unvaccinated travelers not to take nonessential trips to Mexico.
Its highest warning is a Level 4, which advises people to avoid travel. The CDC added Canada to that list this week.
Mexico has remained a popular travel destination over the past two years, and economic dependency on tourism in places such as Cancún have made it challenging to turn visitors away, exposing workers to potential health risks.
The new proof of vaccination and test requirements may similarly leave the staff tasked with enforcing them vulnerable to confrontations with unruly customers. Over the course of the pandemic, employees such as restaurant workers and flight attendants have faced hostile and sometimes violent interactions with customers over mask mandates and other health and safety rules.
And I have a link to that article in the shownotes…so thank you Jeff..
https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/01/12/puerto-vallarta-vaccine-mandate-bars-casino/
Here’s my experience…No, I was never asked for a card or a qr code or whatever people carry around with them these days. That’s not to say it’s not happening, in fact when I was walking up Lazaro Cardenas evenings, walking back to my hotel, I could see the guys and gals with their phones out to prove their status out in front of the nightclubs and gay bars. So, it must have been happening there, but this trip, I have to be honest with you, I spent most of my mealtimes at taco carts and beachside restaurants, so nothing fancy. And when I did hit a fancy place or two, it was generally to do an interview so I never got asked.
But I did reach out to a smattering of my Vallarta buddies who do eat and drink…out, and most of them said no, they didn’t notice folks asking at restaurants. Some bars there were some issues, and yes they were strict clubs and theaters. But what I was told, is if they were asking, they weren’t studying the document very closely, let’s just put it that way.
As a matter of fact, the guy from Denver that I met at my first Airbnb I stayed at had a fake vaccination card which he offered to show me. It looked pretty simple to duplicate. I mean it’s just printed on heavy paper. I’m not saying you should do that mind you…just saying this dude was using it to get around that’s all.
So, Jeff…thanks for your email. As I understand it, the governor mentioned the new restrictions go through the 12th of February so hopefully this will expire before Valentines Day.
By the way, let me know if you have gotten any pushback at a Vallarta establishment. I don’t want to shame anyone I just want to know what’s going on so I can report back to you. Vax passes don’t make me happy by the way. I can stay in Los Angeles if I wanted that.
I got another email that I think is a good one to share…it’s from Joan who I believe she thought she was emailing Freddy the Pharmacist at Olas Altas Farmacia….she writes…Hi. We’ve been doing business with you for years now but have never had to have a prescription renewed. When we left California my husband was due to pick up his prescriptions, however they were not ready when we had to leave for the plane. He takes two prescriptions that need to be refilled. Can you do this for us? Levothyroxine 112 mcg and Donepezil 10 mg.
We can have his physician email you if necessary. Please email us a reply. Thank you. Joan
Okay I thought this was a great email, and I already answered Joan, so don’t worry about that…
But here’s what I told her
Hola Joan,
You can do this…
Go to a Doc-in-the-box attached to the Pharmacy and he will write you a prescription to take next door…charges are like 50-60 pesos for the prescription. That’s like $2.50-$3 US.
Let me know if you have any issues with that.
Have a great time!!
So yes, you can go next door to most of the bigger pharmacies there is often a little office with a separate street entrance attached to these farmacias. You sit in the waiting room until it’s your turn. Then the Doctor asks you what you want. You tell him, or her, although I’ve never seen a her doc-in-a-box, although I’m sure they exist. All of them speak at least a little English, and if the farmacia won’t let you buy a certain drug, like the last time I tried to buy some doxycycline, I just went to the doc in the box and told him what I wanted, and wrote me a prescription so I could put together my covid kit.
So yes, if you run out of your meds, or if you forgot to bring them, see your local doc-in-the-box. He’ll fix you up.
Listener Eric, sorry we couldn’t get together this time down amigo. Just had no time.
Listener Sherry writes…
I don’t recall hearing a podcast about the International Friendship Club but if you can snag an interview with Caryn, I highly recommend it. She is well- spoken and will do a great job explaining the IFC. They support several local charities, including a program that helps children with cleft pallets. We just took their home tour – visited four very different and magnificent homes that the owners graciously allow you to visit. The cost of the tour is 1000 pesos, all of which goes to support their charities. It’s money and a few hours well
spent! Website is InternationalFriendshipClub.org
Facebook Page for International Friendship Club
So I have a link to the international friendship club in the shownotes and Shelly, thanks for the suggestion and your email and I will contact Caryn and invite her on the show. What a great suggestion.
Okay, I have a couple more emails that I will get to next week, okay? Thanks so much for writing and listening, and please keep them coming.
Ninth Visit To Vallarta During The Pandemic
So let me tell you about my last trip to Puerto Vallarta. But before I get started I need to add that I’m going to be talking about medications and supplements I took. I am in no way suggesting that any of you do what I did. Okay, this my story about what happened and what I…did.
My last trip began the same way as it has for the last few trips down. I have for the last three trips down, taken a van from downtown Los Angeles to the Mexican Border, in order to fly out of Tijuana, down to Puerto Vallarta. At the border, there is a facility called the Cross Border Express or CBX. It’s built right up against the wall separating the US and Mexico, directly adjacent to the Tijuana Airport. From this facility you can park your car short or long term, visit a ticket counter for one of the 4 Mexican airlines that fly out of Tijuana, fill out your FMM or your tourist card, then buy a pass that will allow you to walk through a 380 foot long walkway that literally goes over the wall that separates the two countries, and drops you right into the Tijuana Airport.
This trip my flight was leaving at 1PM, so my wife dropped me off at the downtown pickup spot at 5 in the morning. The ride was very comfortable. It was a big tour bus with a bathroom, so lots of passengers flying out that morning. I flew out Volares, and it was a very uneventful flight. When we arrived in Puerto Vallarta, as this was a domestic flight I didn’t have to go through immigration or customs in Puerto Vallarta because I’d already done all that in Tijuana.
My buddy Dean Regher picked me up from the airport. I mueled in some gadget he’s going to use to make something taste good. And I got a free ride and he dropped me off at my first Airbnb where I stayed for the first 4 nights, right on the Malecon just a block north of the three loud nightclubs all next door to one another. La Vacatia, The Zoo and Mandala.
I took a video of the place and I’ll embed it into the shownotes. The room was clean, but had no view.
The window faced away from the ocean, towards Morelos which is a busy street where all the incoming traffic flows south into the downtown area. And I thought it might be loud, and I was right, but it wasn’t because of the three nightclubs on the Malecon, it was the two karaoke bars facing my room on Morelos. I recorded some Audio from my room…listen….
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Anyway, it was a new Airbnb listing so the bed, which was big and comfortable , by the way…had only been slept in maybe once. So that was aa bonus. The shower and bathroom were sufficient and you could walk out of your room and down the hall a couple of steps and look out over the Malecon, just above La Dulce Vida Italian restaurant.
I planned ahead and used the wax earplugs which with proper adjustment blocked out all that awful noise. I met three Swiss travelers and a cool guy from Colorado at the Airbnb. We shared stories. I practiced my German, they spoke English fluently.
This particular trip was spent checking out different colonias for renting or possibly purchasing a place in paradise. I also am working on getting my temporary residency but my double vaxed and boosted facilitator was sick with another rare breakthrough case of the rona. So, I never met with him. More of that pattern.
And so for the first four nights, I was at the loud Airbnb. Moving day came and along and I checked a couple of Mexican Style hotels out and decided to check out of the Airbnb, take my luggage to JR’s place and decide from there. JR said why don’t you stay in the spare room, so I took him up on that.
Most of the next day I spent doing interviews and I was texting back and forth with JR that evening, and when I got up to JR’s place, it must have been close to midnight, his landlady had locked the front gate, and I didn’t have a key for the gate, I looked up to his apartment and the lights were off, so I figured he was asleep and I needed to find a place to stay for the night.
So, I walked down to the Belmar Hotel to see if they had a room for me, and they did. It was a tiny 8 x12 interior room for $30 a night, so I took it. It was on the 3rd floor with a comfortable bed, a portable air conditioning unit, ceiling fan and a clean bathroom. What more could you ask for?
By the way, I recorded the progress on the Insurgentes Bridge over the Rio Cuale and it’s coming along very quickly. They have both spans over the river finished. And I understand it was just paved. So next handrails to be added. I have a video embedded in the shownotes.
The next morning, Sunday, I walked up to JR’s and he explained that I had just missed him. That he had a late night and was hoping we would have dinner together, but got back home around midnight.
And then, my double vaccinated and boosted cohost told me that he felt like he was running a fever, and that he was coughing and had a sore throat. So, this sounded all too familiar and …I gathered a few things like my shaving and bath items and meds, a shirt and my laptop, and skedaddled on back down to the Belmar, hit the front desk and asked if my room was still available for the next night. Then I went across the street from the Belmar to the 24 hour farmacia, and picked up a nebulizer of albuterol for JR of ….and grabbed my baggie of over the counter natural supplements I had packed just in case I or someone else got the rona and hiked up to JR’s place in Coloso. Now JR isn’t a horse medicine type of guy like me, so went with my more natural covid supplements I pack. That includes quercetin, olive leaf extract, ginger extract, saffron extract, NAC, Garlic
extract, vitamin D3, vitamin C, and zinc. I explained what I was leaving to JR and I’m not sure if he took the vitamins and supplements I left him. He was kind of rolling his eyes I can tell you that. I’ll have to ask him if he took the meds, but I can tell you that he is finally, as of yesterday all better. At 81 years old, JR beat the rona. How about that?
That night, I went with a friend to a local Botanical Garden for a private birthday party. By the way, the Botanical Garden is a lovely place for an evening dinner party. Great food and bar and service.
So, Monday, I woke up and went shopping across the street at the farmacia because that’s discount day at most of the big farmacias in Puerto Vallarta. I talked with the doc in the box and had him write up a script for the doxycycline for my covid kits I was putting together to bring home. Then walked next door to the farmacia and ordered my horse medicine which is over the counter…it’s not really for horses, it’s for human consumption in pill form okay? I just have to watch what I say. Look what they are doing to my fellow podcaster and former Bernie Bro Joe Rogan. Anyway, I order the horse meds and the doxycycline, and I picked up a couple of nebulizers of albuterol for my take home covid kit. By the way, if you want to see what the kit looks like I have pics in the shownotes at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com . They are known as Zvirdo Kits and are distributed
in India, Japan, Mexico and many other countries who have chosen to hand out this medicine as a early treatment therapeutic, to people who come with symptoms of covid, rather than like in the US, where there is no protocol for early treatment or therapies for covid, none, except Tylenol. Two full years into the pandemic and there is no early treatment protocol. Just go home and if you feel really sick, come into the hospital. It’s criminal. So yes, I make these kits and bring them home for my family just in case.
Then I did my final interview of the trip and did some last-minute shopping and visiting. That’s when I got a PM from my friend who invited me to the Garden Party the night before told me that the birthday boy, who was double vaxed and boosted had messaged her to tell her that he had a rare breakthrough case of the rona and she should get tested.
The next day I needed to stop and get a covid Antigen test for the plane trip back to Tijuana. If you remember a show or two ago, I talked about taking the antigen covid saliva test that they advertised they offered at Labrotorio San Paulo, and I thought I would give that a try as an alternative to getting a stick up the nose. So I walked down to the Labrotario San Paulo in the Zona Romantica, and asked them if they do the Saliva
test, and she said yes, but not at her lab, but the lab in Versalles. Well, I didn’t want to go to Versalles, so I asked them to do the stick up the nose test. Which they did. She was very gentle. Thank goodness. She told me the results would be in my email by 6 in the evening.
The rest of the day was spent wrapping up loose ends, had a late lunch at Cuates y Cuetes then dropped off some pesos and dinner to Salvador, the candyman in the wheelchair by the crazy chairs and the loud clubs on the Malecon. I figured I’d swing past JR’s on the way out to the airport the following morning to pick up the remainder of my luggage and bring him whatever he might need.
When I got back to the Belmar, I opened my email and saw the results had already come in. So I sat down to read the results, and I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Positivo. I sat back in the chair and let the reality sink in. I got the rona and I’m not leaving tomorrow afternoon. I got a Facebook message from my buddies Chris and Gilbert asking if I was free for dinner. Sorry guys, I had to pass. I was so bummed but, in the end, you two lucked out missing me.
I started to feel a bit tired and could feel a fever coming on so being the type of guy I am, and having the proper protocol for the situation literally staring me in the face, I took the first dose of the Zvirdo kit that I made up, chased it with a lot of water and vitamin c, and got out a blanket and laid in my bed and sweated out the fever, falling in and out of sleep and waking up about 4 hours later, feeling pretty good. No fever, no symptoms, no sore throat, no coughing, no runny nose, no congestion, just tired. I called my wife to break the news to her and she wasn’t surprised. I had been telling her during our nightly calls that everyone around me was dropping like flies. I took a shower and went back to bed, hoping for the best and in the morning, I still felt reasonably fine. I took the second dose of the antibiotic, and took all my backup natural meds.
Luckily the Belmar ended up being a great place to isolate. Clean, hot water when you needed it and filtered water in the room. And also lucky for me I have some friends who were so sweet to bring me tacos the first two nights. Across the street from me was a 24 hour farmacia with a doc in the box. Very handy but I already had all the drugs I needed including plenty of weed. Isolating can be a bit boring. It was like Groundhog Day. Get up, shower, go downstairs and ask the guy at the desk if I could stay in the room one more night. He always said yes and took my credit card and charged 600 pesos. There was a sandwich shop across the street, so the owner could take my order from the table in front, and for the first 2 mornings, I had a ham and egg croissants and orange juice. He was a sweet guy. He made good burgers too.
If you know where the Belmar is, it’s just down the street from Incanto on the south side of the bridge. And because the bridge is out, there is no traffic going by on Insurgentes except for the construction crews. But the location is perfect for isolating, and I had 5 days of isolation to endure. The taco stands were right around the corner I had my sandwich guy, OXXO’s were close too. I went through the entire drug protocol including the supplements I brought along with me, and the entire time, no cold symptoms, no stomach issues, no loss of taste or smell, just a bit of brain fog I suppose.
Day 2 I got a text from JR who asked me to bring him some soda water and vegies from the mercado when I pick up the rest of my luggage. So, I walked along the Rio to avoid people, and made my way to his place, stopping at the corner market for his soda water. When I got to his apartment he looked at me and said, when are you supposed to leave? I said well, two days ago but I tested positive for the rona. So, I’m here for at least a week. He looks at me and says you know, you probably got that from me and I said JR, I’m not blaming anyone. I feel fine and just need to wait a few more days to test negative. I grabbed my bags and told him I’ll be down the street at the Belmar if he needed anything.
I laid very low for the first five days in my tiny room at the Belmar. Day 3 I get a call from my wife. She tells me she’s sick now with the rona. Great. This stuff is so contagious she caught it through the phone. Anyway, I told her where to find the covid kit at home but she was too sick to take pills. So, she waited an extra day and a half to start her protocol. Then she calls to tell me one of the dogs injured herself and my wife, who was taking care of the business while I was gone, was feeling lonely and overwhelmed which really depressed me, knowing I couldn’t leave without a negative test. So day 5 I took a retest, but still the result was positive. Day 7 I tried again and the result was positive again. The lab lady told me that it was possible that I could get positive results for 30 days or longer and suggested I make an appointment with a doctor to get a note to clear me to fly, which I did, and on the 8th day, I took my letter of recovery to the airport, and flew out of Puerto
Vallarta and into Tijuana where I crossed the border the same way I came, via the bridge over the wall at CBX, caught the bus back to Los Angeles where my lovely wife was waiting for me with a runny nose and a big smile. And you might ask Barry, did you need to show the results of your test or the doctors letter to anyone to go home? Nope. Nobody asked. Not at the ticket counter in Vallarta, not at the customs and immigration checkpoint in San Diego.
As for the meds that I took, did they help? Well maybe it was just a very mild case of the omicron, who knows. All I can say is I have no residual issues, no sinus infection, no cold or flu symptoms, totally asymptomatic as they say I believe. I was kinda hoping the horse meds would make my dick bigger but no such luck…….. I mean just think, that would add a whole new meaning to the term long covid, but that’s another show now isn’t it?
Well JR is feeling fine, he’ll tell you it’s because he’s vaxed and boosted otherwise it’d be a lot worse and me, I can’t say what JR can about the vaccination thingy, but I am feeling fine, so sorry to disappoint those of you who’ve been hanging around to see if I die from the coof. My wife is feeling much better too and that’s what really counts now don’t you think?
So that’s my story of being stuck in paradise for 8 days with the rona. I’ve been so busy since I got back, catching up on 8 days work and filling in while Debbie gets better, so that’s why I’ve been so long getting out this episode. Now the big question is…will Debbie ever let me go back to Puerto Vallarta? I sure hope so.
If you are interested in the protocol and the other supplements I took, I’m not promoting them mind you, this is just show and tell k? and I have them in the shownotes.
Moving From New Zealand to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Okay, let’s get to our interview shall we?
My buddy John, the Canadian spicy pickle guy who’s been on the show is always looking
out for me and introducing me to interesting places and people. Anyway he says to me I have this very interesting couple who are from South Africa by way of New Zealand, and they arrived here by picking Mexico out of a hat. He told me they had an interesting story so I said set it up John, and so he did. I wandered up to Café Roma on Calle Encino alongside the Rio Cuale. It’s a bar and pizza place on the second floor overlooking the river. A nice spot for a cold beer and a chat with a lovely couple from where the Kiwis are. Let’s meet Elle and Russel Rens..the couple who plucked Mexico from a hat…
Listen to The Podcast
Thank you Russel and Elle. They have actually gotten wheels and have visited many other places along the bay. They are truly adventurers aren’t they?
Places Russel and Elle Like To Eat and Drink
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner:
- De Cantaro Puerto Vallarta
- Margarita Grill Puerto Vallarta
- Si Senor Garden Puerto Vallarta
- IK Mixology Bar & Cuisine Puerto Vallarta
Bars
I have pictures of Russel and Elle and some of their adventures, in the shownotes at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com.
Okay, that should do it for today…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.
Make sure you get your tickets got the RISE event I have links in the shownotes. Thank you to Eddie Rodriguez from American English Tree, and thanks to our special guests Elle and Russel. Love you two and I’m looking forward to having a few drinks together when I get back…if I get back down to paradise I should say…
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.
