An Jalisco Garden Paradise
Plants I discovered in Puerto Vallarta amongst mishaps, crocodiles & drag queens.
I do love visiting gardens while I’m abroad. It’s one of my favourite pastimes. However, this pretty courtyard and garden was right on my doorstep whilst in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I didn’t have to travel very far; down one staircase and past a rather over-zealous and decidedly indignant resident who had a fixation with pool rules, to be precise. Here’s a little round-up of the plants I discovered once I got through ‘pool security’ with Mr. Grumpy Chops. But first, a few insightful musings and anecdotes from our recent trip.
I’m home! We arrived back in jolly old Blighty yesterday afternoon from our much needed Christmas and New Year break. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with your friends and family. Our trip was split into two; one week in a very festive Kansas City with our wonderful American friends and the second week in Puerto Vallarta to soak up some much needed golden rays from that big yellow ball of joy in the sky!
The British gloom fest of grey clouds and rain decided to follow us to Missouri, which was rather unfortunate. I had been watching the weather forecast for about a month before our arrival and every day was sunny, yet crisp and cold. As soon as we stepped foot on American soil though it poured down. Typical! We did get a flurry of the pretty white stuff on Christmas Day though.
Our friends had gone all out to show us a true American christmas. Every inch of their beautiful home was adored with something sparkly. If it stood still it had baubles on it! In fact, even two or three of the christmas trees (yes, I believe there were at least nine) rotated so that every ornament could be examined up close. They went to so much trouble to make us feel welcome.
Everything is oversized in Kansas City including the hospitality. Our guest quarters were the size of most four-bedroom houses in the U.K and their pick up truck, which I believe they called a mid-size, was more like Mariah Carey’s tour bus. When you open the passenger door steps rolled out for one to be able to climb in with grace and style. Only in America!
If you read my previous post about being in the moment and not wishing away time, then you’ll know that our luggage went on a separate journey of its own. I’ve no idea which cities it visited, but I do hope it had a chance to unwind, relax and perhaps grab a cocktail or three. The life of a well-travelled hard case is a tough one. Particularly if you belong to a globe-trotting gay couple in their 50s with a penchant for champagne and far-flung adventures. Anyway, the whole experience was enormous amounts of fun and I must thank British Airways wholeheartedly in the coming days for their thoughtful and caring approach to its customers not having any clothes or presents on Christmas Day.
Our weary and decidedly pissed off luggage was eventually found (phew!) and was delivered back to our home just in time for us to unpack it all and stow it away ready for the next time we decided to put all our favourite clothes in the hands of the inept. How very kind!
Puerto Vallarta was exactly the way it always is: hot and lush with tropical greens and a distinct whiff of fajitas and over-indulgence in the air. Over the new year it is invaded by what seems like the entire world’s LGBTQ+ population. The Zona Rosa area is a veritable melting pot of true Mexican culture and every possible type of human our wonderful world has to offer. Everyone is welcome and nobody gives a damn. I love it! This time, however, it seemed tired and like it needed a bloody good detox. Thank goodness for the vibrant exuberance of the tropical plants!
Read on to find out more about Puerto Vallarta and discover the wonderful horticulture it has to offer. If you’re currently a free subscriber, or you’ve just stumbled on my little space on here, you can get full access to my archive, join the community and many other benefits by upgrading.