Irma’s Bar And Grill is Located in Colonia Paso Ancho, Up River From the Romantic Zone in Puerto Vallarta. Irma serves Mexican, American and Canadian Comfort Food and Daily Specials
Puerto Vallarta History and Folklore: Silver, Smokey the Cowboy and The Quinta Maria Cortez With Otto Andriadis
Also two Boutique Hotels on The Rio Cuale Garlands Del Rio and Rivera Del Rio
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Hello fellow travelers, welcome to 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, in fact my new home, and maybe even yours too and that’s 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 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 lovely restaurant in the Paso Ancho Neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta, a stone’s
throw from the old El Rio BBQ property on the Rio Cuale, now La Huerta BBQ, the Restaurant we’re going to visit is called Irma’s Bar and Grill. We’ll get the story of this sweet place from Irma Mejia herself.
Then we will be talking a little Puerto Vallarta history with my friend Otto Andriadis. Otto goes way back, to
the early 80’s in Vallarta. He’ll talk about his ex mother-in-law, a very famous Vallarta personality by the name of Silver. And about Alex, his son, who has two boutique hotels along the Rio Cuale. The Garlands Del Rio and Rivera Del Rio. Otto is a very interesting guy.
We have Vallarta news and more, so let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta, the 9th of September, 2024.
We Sold Our Home and Moved to Puerto Vallarta
Well, we did it, my wife and I left Los Angeles behind, sold our house that we’ve lived in for the last 26 years in Simi Valley. Retired from the Real Estate Business, and emptied that 2,000 square foot house into 4 suitcases, two roll-ons and two daypacks, and flew to paradise last Saturday, the 31st of August, and today, I’m coming to
you from my new temporary studio outdoors on my balcony in Upper Conchas Chinas. I hope the audio is good for you. You may hear an occasional jake-brake from a truck coming down the 200. Most likely night bugs and birds. I promise to get my studio set up better soon. I’ll be doing my next couple episodes from here.….I’ll get back to all that in a few. Let’s take a look at what’s happening on the ground in Puerto Vallarta this week, if you are already here, or if you are arriving soon.
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
First of all, Mexican Independence Day is fast approaching, and the new Mayor of Vallarta will be proclaiming Hidalgo’s Grito from the balcony overlooking the Malecon from the Presidencia, the City Hall on the evening of September the 15th. At Midnight. If you are in town, it’s going to be crowded but you should try to get to the Malecon early to experience the Grito. Mr. Handsom Luis Mungia will not disappoint.
And what is this Grito?
To explain, let’s go to the encyclopedia Brittanica, the online version, not the stack of dusty books version….
Grito de Dolores, battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, first uttered by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, parish priest of Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato state), on September 16, 1810.
Hidalgo was involved in a plot against the Spanish colonial government, and, when the plot was betrayed, he decided to act immediately. After arming the people, he addressed them from the pulpit, encouraging them to revolt. The exact text of this most famous of all Mexican speeches is not known, and a wide variety of “reconstructed” versions have been published, but he may have said, in essence, “Long live Our Lady of Guadalupe [symbol of the Indians’ faith], death to bad government, death to the gachupines [the Spaniards]!” Hidalgo amassed a large popular mob-army, but, after much reckless pillage and bloodshed, the movement was suppressed, and Hidalgo himself was captured; he was later executed, on July 30, 1811. Hidalgo’s “cry” became the cry of independence. In commemoration, each year on the night of September 15—the eve of Mexican Independence Day—the president of the republic shouts a version of “el Grito” from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City: “Viva México! Viva la Independencia! Vivan los héroes!” The ceremony is broadcast throughout the country and is repeated in smaller scale in many towns and villages.
And I have a link to that article from Encyclopedia Brittanica online, in the show notes.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Grito-de-Dolores
So, at the stroke of Midnight the newly elected Mayor will recite the famous words.. “Viva México! Viva la Independencia! Vivan los héroes!”
Be there for sure, that is, if you can stay up late and all that.
Of course, Vallarta does it up big with fireworks, live music from a stage that they set up on the Malecon near the lighthouse. Folkloric dancers, parades. It will be a great time to be in Vallarta for sure.
Puerto Vallarta Needs Money To Run the City
The new mayor is going to start his term with very little money in the City coffers. Where did all the money go? Nadie conoce.
And hey, it’s not my place to get involved in the politics of Mexico or Vallarta. I’m just a reporter.
However, the city council is scrambling to work out a way to raise money by raising water rates and property taxes. It’s reported that the council is planning on concentrating on raising taxes on properties in the tourist zones to start with, and on new construction, so brace yourselves for a property tax hike if you own in Versalles, the Zona Romantica Cinco, Conchs Chinas, Amapas, or are buying new construction….get ready.
Lots of Rain is Falling in Vallarta
We’re experiencing some good rainfall over the last week. Almost every night, except last night it’s rained pretty heavily raising the levels of the Cuale and Rios Pitillal. In fact, the reservoirs up in Cajon de Pena in Tomatlan are full, and they’ve opened the spillways. The Rio Ameca was looking pretty high as well. In fact, it was early September in 2010 when a section of the Ameca Bridge collapsed during the night, and several cars went in. I’ve told you about the conversation I had with a Taxista, Marcos Joya Rodriguiez, who survived the ordeal by clinging to a tree in the river for about 45 minutes, waiting for help.
So, I hope we won’t have a repeat of that bridge collapsing. But hey, we asked for rain, didn’t we?
I have a YouTube Video in the show notes where you can hear Marcos the taxista tell his story. Look for it at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com .
The Dollar is Making a Comeback Against The Mexican Peso
All of a sudden, we are seeing the US dollar strengthen against the peso.
When Debra and I were in Vallarta back in May, the exchange rate at the ATM machines was barely 16 pesos to the dollar. Today the 9th of September it was 19.98 pesos to the dollar.
A huge rebound. So, what’s happening… why are we seeing this big swing in favor of the US dollar?
Let’s see what they are saying about it…apparently it has to do with politics…and proposed judicial reform…this has made leaders in the US and in Canada nervous, and calling for Mexico to put off their plans to reform the judiciary.
I’ll just read a little bit from this Wapo wapo wapo Washington Post article. It’s pretty long but you’ll get the picture…
Why everyone is suddenly worried about Mexico’s democracy
President Andres Manuel López Obrador, in his final month in office, is pushing legislation that would send appointed federal judges home and let voters elect their replacements.
September 4, 2024 at 11:52 a.m. EDT
MEXICO CITY — The lower house of Mexico’s Congress approved a radical reform of the judicial system on Wednesday — a constitutional amendment that has raised alarms in Washington and in the business community.
Under the new system, voters would choose nearly all the country’s judges, even those on the Supreme Court.
Critics are especially concerned because President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party holds an overwhelming majority in Congress. If voters were to elect judges friendly to Morena, the leftist party would effectively control all three branches of government. That could return Mexico to a one-party state of the kind that ruled for much of the 20th century.
The proposal, passed early Wednesday by Mexico’s House of Deputies, now goes to its Senate, which is also expected to approve it. Here’s what to know about the change.
Mexican voters would elect Supreme Court justices
At present, the judicial system itself names most federal judges, based on experience, qualifications and exam results.
If the reform package wins approval, nearly all federal judges will be required to resign in the next three years. Mexican voters would pick new judges from candidates nominated by the presidency, the Congress and the judicial branch. They would choose 1,686 federal judges, including nine Supreme Court justices, in elections next year and in 2027. Another 5,000 state and local judges would also be elected by popular vote.
The reform would do away with tenure and experience requirements. It would set nine-year terms for judges.
Critics warn that elected judges could pander to voters
The reform will likely weaken judicial independence, legal analysts say. Judges who rely on popular support could be tempted to tailor their decisions to please voters, rather than upholding the law impartially.
The article goes on to point out that in the United States, we also elect our judges on the state level, but not federal judges. There’s more to read, but if you like, just follow the link to that Washington Post story in the show notes.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/04/mexico-judicial-reform-democracy-lopez-obrador/
So very interesting. We’ll see if the dollar continues to climb, or if the peso will rebound.
Stay tuned.
The Puerto Vallarta Travel Show Moves to Puerto Vallarta
As I said earlier, we emptied our home into 4 large suitcases, two roll on bags and two daypacks, and as planned, we arrived in Vallarta the 31st of August to start our retirement in paradise.
The first month will be spent in a lovely condo I found on Airbnb for a steal. It’s up in very upper Conchas Chinas, and it being September, Septi-hombre, as it is called in Vallarta. It’s slow season. It’s really hot and
humid during the day, with sometimes dramatic and intense lightning and thunder and rainstorms evenings and nights. Of course many of the restaurants take this slow time to give their staff time off and give themselves a rest. They do repairs and renovations on their properties too, to get ready for high season. It’s a vicious cycle.
During this time of year, September, you need to search out the restaurants with air-conditioning, aire, or a
ventalador, a fan, Mexican Air Conditioning. And I have to give a shout-out to El Granero, Stephanie and Connor’s place on Madero in the Zona Romantica. It’s air conditioned, and the food is very reasonably priced. The menu is huge. Pizza, Craft Brewed Beer brewed right there. Big screen tv’s with your favorite sports. Happy hour specials. This is a great spot amigos. The food is outstanding. I have a link to the interview I did with Stephanie in the show notes as well as the contact information for El Granero. Bravo Amigos!
Contact Information For Restaurant and Brewery El Granero Puerto Vallarta Mexico
- Address: C. Fco. I. Madero 333, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Phone: 322 274 9959
- Website: https://granero.com.mx/menu
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elgraneropv/?locale=es_LA
Also a big shout out to Vallarta Factory for their 80 peso Mocha Frape in an air conditioned restaurant. It’s heaven after walking in the sticky heat of September.
The Airbnb is cool and we really lucked out finding this place and got it for a steal, $1,200 total for the month. I
would normally have a link to the property, but every time I find a place I really like and I share it, I can’t ever get inside again darn it. So, not this time. It’s mine. I’ll be sharing pictures of this beautiful place with a drop dead gorgeous view, in the show notes. I’ll share pictures from the outdoor kitchen on the teraza, the terrace,
with a small plunge pool and two bedrooms and two bathrooms They’ll be in the show in notes. I’ll add more as the month progresses on the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show Facebook and Instagram pages.
The only thing about living in upper Conchas Chinas is it’s pretty remote. There’s no tiendas up there, and one restaurant next door to Club Ocho Cascadas.
Actually, Ocho Cascadas is a very famous timeshare place with 9 villas cascading down the hill in Conchas Chinas. 10 levels and pools with 8 waterfalls, or Ocho Cascadas cascading down to the beach. I can only imagine that’s how Ocho Tostadas, the Marsico’s restaurant chain in Vallarta got its name using a play on words…anyway, getting back to Upper Conchas Chinas, You need a car, an Uber, or there’s a sitio at Ocho Cascadas. And often times, you can find a cab. But it’s up steep windy cobblestone roads, and cabs and Uber drivers don’t like going up there in the rain.
In case you aren’t familiar with where Conchas Chinas is in Vallarta, It’s south of the Romantic Zone in the hills just beyond the area called Amapas. If you look up at the homes and condos on the hillside from the Zona Romantica, that area is known as Amapas…you travel about one or two or three kilometers down the 200, it’s just before the Lindo Mar where Restaurant La Playita is, and head up the steep hill. We’re just below another resort called The Gran Miramar. What a view.
Since we’re here, I plan to do more videos as we travel around Vallarta. And of course, since I’m a retired stiff, I’ll be doing more episodes of the podcast.
And now that we’ve had a week to settle in, our plan is to, during this slow month of September, be looking for a long-term rental, or a home to buy. I’ll keep you informed. We are going to have a great time amigos, but now, let’s get to the interviews, shall we?
Irma’s Bar and Grill in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
If you’ve been up the river Cuale in Paso Ancho, where La Huerta BBQ , where the old El Rio BBQ was, you may have seen this little restaurant just up the street from there. It’s a sweet little place called Irma’s Bar and Grill. Irma serves home cooked comfort food as well as having a full bar. Irma has worked all around the bay in
the service industry, and really knows how to make her customers happy. She has a sweet story to tell to. So, let’s get to know her a little better. Let’s go right now to a sweet little restaurant with a lot of charm, and meet this charming lady, Irma Mejia, owner of Irma’s Bar and Grill, Faisán 520, Paso Ancho Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Contact Information for Irma’s Bar and Grill in Paso Ancho, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Address: calle Faisán #520 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
- Phone: 322 159 3533
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/IRMASBAR
Thank you so much Irma.
I have pictures, links to her Facebook business page, phone number and a map to take you right to the front door of Irma’s Bar and Grill.
Next up we are going to get a bit of Vallarta history. We are going to be meeting a very interesting men, Otto Andriadis. Otto goes way back…like 40 plus years back. When the town was smaller, and Americans and Canadians were just starting to get their toes wet in starting business and integrating with the locals. Otto is here to talk about that and more, including his son Alex’s boutique hotels on the Rio Cuale. The Rivera Del Rio, and the Hotel Garlands Del Rio. Both beautiful properties.
So let’s go to the beach, Swell Beach Club, where Debbie and I sat down for a sip of an adult beverage, and a talk about the Puerto Vallarta of old and some of the characters who came to give it some character and pazzaz….Let’s meet my friend Otto Andriadis who will tell us among other things of the legendary Lady, Silver, his mother in law, her husband Smokey and the Quinta Marie Cortez…in Conchas Chinas, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Thank you so much Otto. What a story my friend.
Contact Information for Rivera Del Rio Boutique Hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Address: 04 Calle Rivera del Río 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
- Phone Number: +1 480-669-5530
- Email: reservations@riveradelrio.com
- Website for Rivera Del Rio Puerto Vallarta
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiveradelRioPV
Contact Information for Garlands Del Rio Boutique Hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Address: Aquiles Serdán 367, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jal
- Phone Number: 322 205 6093
- Website: https://www.garlandsdelrio.com/
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/garlandsdelrio/?locale=es_LA
I have some great photos of some of the characters he spoke about, in the show notes, as well as links to his son Alex’s two boutique hotels along the Rio Cuale, the Garlands Del Rio and the Rivera Del Rio, in the show notes, and we will keep you posted on that possible acquisition by Alex of the Hotel Quinta Marie Cortez, in Conchas Chinas.
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 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 follow share with a lover of Puerto Vallarta or give me a good review wherever or however you happen to be listening. 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 to Irma Mejia from Irma’s Bar and Grill in Paso Ancho, and have some of that home cooked comfort food and refreshing drinks from her bar. I have maps and links to Irmas in th shownotes. And thank you to Otto Andriadis for sharing your stories of some of Vallarta’s most interesting historical figures. You are a good man Otto. I really enjoyed your company amigo.
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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