Viva Mexico!

We really enjoyed the Occidental Grand Resort in Nuevo Vallarta. The rooms were modern, the food was good (typical resort food), and it was smaller than your typical all inclusive, but most of our fun was had off the resort.

I had read that you can walk from Nuevo Vallarta to the little town of Bucerias on the beach in about 45 minutes. This is not true. After an hour and a half of walking and only getting halfway there, we decided to jump in a cab. We shopped in the market, ate tacos, and drank beer on the beach.

One morning, we rented a car and drove to the little surf town of Sayulita. We rented surf boards, got massages on the beach, ate tacos, and went on a little adventure to the smaller, more secluded Playa  los Muertos. That cute little town did nothing to help my wanderlust!

We went into Puerto Vallarta a couple of times. We shopped, ate tacos (are you sensing a theme here?), and just wandered. Every time Eric and I go somewhere tropical, I always tell him I want to drink directly out of a fresh coconut, but it had somehow never happened until Puerto Vallarta- which is why I look ridiculously excited in the photo.

 Friends had recommended a restaurant called Pipi's, so on our second last night, we decided to give it a try. The only real details I had were that they make your guacamole table-side and there's a great mariachi band, so I was picturing a cute little family run spot- boy was I wrong! We walked into a party! The mariachi band was doing Johnny Cash covers while our entire section (after having tequila poured down their throats) sang along at the top of their lungs. After the initial shock of it all, we ordered margaritas the size of our faces and went with it. We ended up having a great time! The food is a bit more Tex-Mex in both style and portion size, but if you're looking for a place to start a wild night, Pipi's is it. They're also famous for they sizzling fajitas hence the hazy photos.

We're so lucky to have great friends to travel with. Our trip wouldn't have been nearly as awesome without Deana and Cole. Thanks for organizing, driving, having patience with Eric and I while we tried to remember how to surf, for making us stop to watch the sunset every night, and for all the memories!