Elaine and John from Tennessee and their "new found" friends from Mass, Mary Jane and Herb decided to travel with me on the walking tour. We met once again in our favorite place (the Martini Bar) and were immediately able to tender to Puerto Vallarta. Once on land, we took a local bus downtown to the Malec�n area. Riding the bus is easy, as the main street is just to the left of the cruise ship marina. Any bus that says "Centro" on the front will take you downtown for approximately .40 cents. (The way to catch a return bus to the cruise ship marina, is to look for "Wal*Mart," on the bus as there is a store and a Sam's Club directly across the street!) After arriving downtown, we strolled to visit the downtown parks, the beautiful Nuestra Se�ora de Guadalupe Cathedral, and then made our way to "Gringo Gulch" to see the previous home of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
"Casa Kimberly" is now a working "bed and breakfast," but fans are allowed to take a tour for $8.00. Richard Burton bought the villa for Elizabeth Taylor as a gift for her 32nd birthday. The rate for up to two persons is $75.00/night in low season and $110.00/night in high season. The villa is filled with assorted memorabilia from the era it was occupied by Richard and Elizabeth. One "strange" artifact is a bar that Richard Burton had designed. The first three pictures depict virgins, the fourth is Christ, and the rest are the twelve apostles. The house is actually two villas, with a stairway connecting the two over the cobblestone street. I couldn't help but think of the relationship that Frida Kahlo had with Diego Rivera that also included separate living quarters. Apparently, the relationship between Burton and Taylor was sometimes tempestuous. During those times, they each retreated to their separate "spaces," and locked doors on either side of the stairway "bridge." When their "spat" was over, one or the other (or both) would unlock the door and reconcile. Although many like to refer to the bridged stairway as the "bridge of love," we were informed that the locals refer to it as the "bridge of reconciliation."
After the tour, we went our separate ways. I did a little window shopping before catching the bus back to the Krystal Hotel for my Spa appointment. Millennium Massage Clinic has two locations in Puerto Vallarta, one at Marina Vallarta, and the other at the Krystal Hotel. I chose the Krystal Hotel because of the close proximity to the cruise ship. I found the Spa area and was informed that my masseuse was running a little late. She arrived within 15 minutes and I was taken to an empty casita with a massage table set up in the bedroom. I can't say enough about the Spa treatments at the Krystal. It has to be one of the best massages I've ever had. After the massage and salt-glow I was totally relaxed with baby soft skin!
The cruise ship was a ten-minute walk from the Hotel Krystal, so very soon after boarding the Oosterdam I met some of the Cruise Critic members for their early dining. Even though I had a late dining assignment, we didn't think the dining room would be full since we had a late departure from Puerto Vallarta. The dining room host graciously moved us all to a larger table (for one night only) and I was able to have dinner with the group.
After dinner, some of the group members were still looking for souvenirs, so we went to Wal*Mart (of all places) and found the usual magnets, etc� However, we did discover some very delicious chocolates with Kahlua and Tequila liquors inside! We then "scurried" to the market by the marina for me to practice my newly acquired "bargaining tactics!" We caught the tender to the ship at about 9:15 p.m. Unfortunately, one of the Oosterdam passengers had left her digital camera somewhere in downtown Puerto Vallarta. She was more upset about the lost pictures than she was about losing the actual camera. I could certainly sympathize with her.
I was so relaxed that I just couldn't stay awake for the Indonesian Crew Show. However, thanks to HAL I caught most of it later on one of the television channels. I wish I had viewed it "live," but hopefully I will have that opportunity on another Holland America cruise.
Wednesday Entertainment:
Vista Lounge - Indonesian Crew: Indonesian Show
Queen's Lounge - Movie: Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Crow's Nest - Contemporary: Cruise Control
Ocean Bar - Classic Dance Hits: Crossover
Explorer's Lounge - String Favorites: Rosario Strings
Piano Bar - Piano Player: Jeff Warren
Northern Lights - DJ Dancing: D. J. Matt Green
Signature Cocktail: Hand Shaken Margarita
Martini of the Day: Limon Martini
