Nov 09
5
A Magical Night in Mexico
One morning in early October 2009, I awoke with the realization it was my 60th birthday. Having been out late the night before, attending a symphony concert, I was tired, but anxious to get my special day started. Think about it, you only turn sixty once in your life. To my surprise my wife was already up and busy around the house. She greeted me with a kiss, a cup of hot coffee, and an even bigger surprise. Our luggage was packed and I was told I am being kidnapped! Kidnapped? Well that’s a first for me.
We left for the airport soon after, and I was still un-aware of where our travels would take us. Upon our arrival at the airport, my kidnapper/wife advised me we would be flying Mexicana al occasions with friends and family, but I always found an excuse not to go, needless to say, I Airlines, she checked us in, and I was still un-aware of our destination. When we arrived at the gate I got my first clue. We were going to Puerto Vallarta! My wife had traveled there on severdidn’t care for Mexico.
The flight was surprisingly pleasant we even got a hot meal, a free movie, and all the free rum and cokes you could consume in a three hour flight. All this was un-usual in today’s no frills air travel culture. While in flight my wife asked me to keep an open mind and enjoy myself. Something I have not always been able to do because I generally get caught up in details and forget to enjoy things as they occur.
On our arrival at the Vista del Sol in “Old Town”, we were quickly escorted to our room by a bellman and to my complete and utter surprise my two daughters were there with their significant others, wearing birthday hats, they all yelled “surprise” and the celebration began. I was in a total state of shock! How did they pull this off?
We enjoyed a dinner out at a great beach front restaurant. The servers, aware of the special day, sang (or tried to sing) HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The evening came to an end with walk along the beach front, a birthday cake and gifts. What a delightful and unforgettable experience from a great family.
That night, while sleeping, we were unaware that a storm had moved in, and while we were in an open air type penthouse suite with louvered doors the storm took us by surprise, as we hadn’t closed the doors in order to hear and enjoy the crash of the waves on the shore below. Well, I have been in a few hurricanes and tornadoes in my life, but nothing like this storm. The sky was alight with the most magical lightning and thunder I have ever experienced, with winds that were easily moving furniture and other objects in the penthouse due to the un-closed doors. It rained harder that night than any other night of my 59 years, err 60 years. And then to my amazement it stopped, and as quickly as the storm arrived, a beautiful star light night appeared, soon after, a beautiful Baja day was upon us, and our birthday celebration/family vacation was in full swing.
And what a fabulous vacation it was, with fine dining, walks on the beach, long naps, drinking, parasailing, fighting off the street vendors, enjoying street food, drinking, horseback riding, eating in beach restaurants, watching breath-taking sunsets, drinking, snorkeling, boat rides, drinking, long bus rides with my new found native friends, laying by the pool, drinking, sea turtle hunting at mid-night, night swimming, shopping, did I say drinking? Well you get the idea.
Mexico is a great place to vacation and I strongly recommend Puerto Vallarta. The people make it special, the beaches make it memorable, a family together makes it noteworthy, but a storm makes it simply “A Magical Night in Mexico”.
Thanks for reading!
John Monestere,
President of HTR
Don't wait get news, travel deals, and hotel discounts from HTR first!
