Tag Archives: Puerto Vallarta

What’s Your Story?

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“What’s Your Story?”

One of my best friends is known to ask people the above quote.  If you think about it, each of us has a story.  While on my trip, I was intrigued at the lives of the people I met.  First there was Mimi who I met on the van shuttle to the resort.  She’s a red haired painter from Chicago.  She has 10 weeks of timeshares at the Grand Mayan and has been going there for the past 12 years.  She’s loud, proud and knows everyone there.  She and her sister come for the first 4 weeks and the husbands are ‘allowed’ to join them for the rest.  I learned so much about the resort and town in that short ride.

I then met someone I’ll call “Stella”.  Our tables were next to each other for lunch.  She’s a fly sista who is going to permanently move to Puerta Vallarta when she retires next year.  She told me about her male friend that she met there in March who’d been helping her out since her most recent visit.  Then after we bonded while listening to the Toni Braxton CD in the background she felt she could share her secret.  The night before she went out with her friend’s friend to the club and somehow or another they ended up sleeping together.  Stella got her groove back – although now she regrets it.

Lastly, there was Tammy.  She and her husband waited next to me for the shuttle to the canopy tour.  Also with them were her father and his wife.  She didn’t grow up around him because her parents divorced when she was four.  His new wife (her stepmother) was only six months older than Tammy.  It was their first father/daughter vacation together.  After an hour drive to the site, Tammy felt I was now a part of their family and became a sister.  The sexy Mexican guides would tell me where my ‘family’ was when we got separated.

You never know when you’ll cross paths again with someone.  “Stella” and I exchanged numbers and she called the next day to see if we could get together.  (I told her I wanted an update).  Mimi was always nearby at the resort and continued to give great advice through the trip.  Tammy and I have emailed each other since returning to the states.  Life isn’t only about what you do, but it’s also about the impression you leave with others.  The next time you’re in an elevator or just standing next to someone, take the time to say HELLO.  You never know what their story might be or how they could affect your life!

M.Y.  November 2007

I Got Tore Up and the Police Came

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“I Got Tore Up and the Police Came”

I hate to admit it, but for the first time in my life I got tore up. As they say, “When in Mexico, do as the Mexicans do!”  It happened the day before I left, which didn’t make for a comfortable airplane ride home.  After a couple of days back here, I still felt bad so I decided to go to the doctor.  He looked at me and said, “Would you do it again?” I told him I’d do it in a heartbeat.  I then told him about being in the jungle and gliding down the chords hundreds of feet in the air on the canopy tour.  He looked closer at the bites that tore up my legs, arms and back. They itched profusely! He said, “I don’t know what exactly bit you, but it tore you up pretty good!”  He gave me some steroids and antibiotics and I was on my way.  (-;

I was thinking happy thoughts in the taxi ride on the way to the airport to come home.  Suddenly there are flashing lights and the driver pulls over. “La policia?” I ask.  “Si” says Mr. Taxi Driver.  Supposedly my guy had been trying to get rid of me a little bit too fast and was pulled over for speeding.  He pulls out his driver’s license for the cops.  Wow, his license was so faded.  You know when your child brings home a picture colored with markers that was wet in the rain?  It’s smeared beyond belief and all you see are blended colors?  Well, this was my guy’s license.  The cop looked at the license in disbelief and then went to his car to run a check.  When he returns he tells my driver that his license expired last year and he needs to step out of the car.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?  I just had a wonderful vacation and now I’m five minutes away from being featured on Spanish Cops. “Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do?” Where are Will Smith and Martin Lawrence when you need them? I started to get anxious. What would happen if he was arrested?  I didn’t want to miss my flight.  Should I hop out and try to get another taxi?  I thought about taking a picture of the situation.  Yeah, never mind, that’s not a good idea.  My driver left the car running with the keys in the ignition.  For a brief second I thought about driving myself to the airport. Luckily Yeager Ranger had a reality check: 1. I don’t know where I’m going.  2. Duh, the police are right behind me.

Mr. Taxi Driver returned about 10 minutes later with a rather lengthy speeding ticket.  He seemed embarrassed so I didn’t say much about it.  We arrived at the airport in plenty of time and the rest is history!!!

M.Y. October 2007

It’s a Small World

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“My Vacation – It’s A Small World After All”

I just returned from a short vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  I had a timeshare that I either had to use or lose, so for the first time in my life I went solo on a trip.  I HAD A BLAST!  I learned so many things about myself and others.  People at first were surprised that I was there alone, but after a short time they realized some of the benefits and were quick to ask me to join their group.  I can’t write everything this week, so it will be spread out.

The first thing I learned is that it’s a small world.  I was walking on the beach and came across a baby sea turtle.  He was crawling at fast as he could to make it back to the ocean.  I took a picture and then tried to hold him in my hand to assist his journey.  He, however, felt threatened and each time he was in my hand, he would quickly jump out.  A couple approached me and was curious as to what I’d found.  They asked where I was from and I proudly said, “Louisville, KY!”  Their face lit up as they said, “No way, we’re from Louisville also!”  They talked about their daughter that attended Manual and how they had just moved to another part of Mexico for a job transfer.  We laughed about the UL/UConn football game that had been on tv the night before (in Spanish, of course!)

We continued to run each other throughout my stay.  They arrived at the airport right before I left to go home.  The wife and I talked in depth and we gave each other a strong hug before I boarded my plane.  We probably never would have crossed paths here in Louisville, but started the beginning of a wonderful friendship miles away!

M.Y.  October 2007