Yoga in Yelapa 2018 | Becoming friends with Vallarta

I am sitting on the top floor patio and pool deck of my hotel listening to the trabajadores on the construction site behind me, hoping to pick up a few words of  Spanish they don't teach in class. Casa Susana is only a block or two up from the waterfront and Malecón so from the other side there is a vista through the high-rising hotels to Bahia Banderas. There are humpbacks out there in the hundreds. (On our trip over from Yelapa out captain detoured to get within photo distance of a pod of six.)

The River Oasis Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta

 This side, which faces the water, is shaded by a giant tree I cannot name, but since it is rising up four floors through the stairwell and towers over by another 15 feet, I can say that it is un muy gran arbol. The pool is L- shaped, providing about a 20 m lane for swimming. The rails are lined with pots, and sunny yellow hibiscus are nodding their heads in acknowledgement of the day. A tiny sparrow pokes around looking for something to eat. Oh, there he goes headed for what looks like a split leaf philodendron that wraps around the elevator shaft. The hotel has been here a long time.

I have been in Vallarta now for two days and it becomes more friendly with each slowly passing hour. I found Salud again with its fine coffee and healthy savoury dishes. I found Cafe Coco this morning and had oatmeal for breakfast with raisins and cinnamon and warm milk. Yesterday I walked the Malecón early, and went to Her Lady of Guadalupe for the bilingual service where I added a few words to my vocabulary. I met a woman from Saltspring Island at the Chocolate Factory and Cigar shop cafe then wandered along the river walk and through the market. I ate scallops and grilled romaine salad and managed to get a second Margarita because I said the first one was too sweet. I drank them both, and was out for the rest of the day.

Today I am meeting my friend Frances and we will walk the streets and browse the shops before heading up--way up she tells me--to their casa for dinner. They have booked a local chef to prepare dinner for us so in addition to enjoying their company I hope to pick up a few cooking lessons and practice my Spanish.

Off to find some lunch--I am smelling street tacos!