Sunday, March 19, 2017

TIME TRAVELERS (presented by Gnarly Bay in collaboration w. Forest Woodward and Brendan Leonard)) ***



 


The goal of rowing down the Grand Canyon is audacious indeed, but to break the record of arriving at the end in record speed takes great fortitude. Eight men prepare for their water adventure, building and testing their boat, preparing the meals, equipment, training in the gym, but the true test is once they launch off. 



Battling wild waters, broken oars, fatigue and night’s darkness adds great stress to their feat. 179 miles and 21 hours later, the boats’ pontoon suffers a puncture – just at the last part. It takes 3 hours to fix it. But as one member says, it really is not about setting a record, but about doing it and finishing. They make it in 39 hours and 24 minutes. “It’s not about achieving greatness, but striving to make it through and experiencing companionship along the way,” says the team leader. Great photography and honest talk by members of the team during this 24-minutes film. (Screened at Montreal's FIFA  - International Festival of Films on Art)

Friday, March 10, 2017

Garza Blanca's Stunning Residency Reserve



Las Palmas can Escort you to this stunning 5-diamond development
Imagine staying in Puerto Vallarta’s most illustrious hotel.  Garza Blanca is a private residence club that offers membership through an innovative system.
Membership
gives you access to all Garza Blanca developments in the country: Puerto Vallarata, Cabo San Lucas and Cancun. 



I was taken to the Mousia Hotel to visit its studio. WOW! I also went inside another of its six spectacular buildings – each located in a cocoon of idyllic Pacific Ocean beauty.  I marveled at the infinity pool situated on the roof over a drop dead paradise view to the ocean and circular pools far below. It is said to be the largest on the continent. Walk inside the area, and you’ll feel like royalty. 




Mr. Fernando Gonzales Corona (not the same man who owns Corona beer) owns the Garza Blanca development. He has made ultra luxury accessible to the world.


 

 If you wish to visit the premises, simply see Jorge at Las Palmas Hotel, and he will accompany you there. You will be served a glorious breakfast high above the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.  





 A 75-minute personal presentation then follows to give you the opportunity to own your little piece of paradise year-round or for some weeks. 



 I wasn’t able at this time to purchase through their points program, despite the low price options presented to me by Alison who worked hard to make it happen for me; but I did hear the popping of champagne bottles, signifying some lucky people had become part of the luxurious Garza Blanca’s Residency haven. The Sierra Madres 450 acre- jungle setting surrounding the hotel sweetened by tropical birdsong is hypnotically tranquil. Unforgettable!












PUERTO VALLARTA’S VACATION AT LAS PALMAS BY THE SEA




                                                                                     


                            Unpack your bags and live the Las Palmas experience
I’m not big on all-inclusives, but Air-Transat’s complete package at the 4-star Las Palmas by the Sea Hotel was a delightful surprise. This immaculately clean, personable hotel is just the right size, has just the right number of swimming pools, eateries, bars, sea-view rooms and cute nighttime stage shows to satisfy any discerning stress-filled traveler. The staff is adoptable!
Thirty-eight years old, Las Palmas has 225 rooms on four floors. There’s enough space between each room to give you comfy privacy.  The two pools – one for the kids and for us older folk – are warm and both offer expansive sea views of sunny Banderas Bay sparkling in front of you.






 It’s sparkling right in front of you. The spread of soft sand holds a bounty of hotel lounge chairs with space and umbrellas between each one.








I loved the enormous palapa-covered Aire del Mar Restaurant. It boasts an enormous buffet with its endless constantly fresh international cuisine. A delectable array of choices, including Mexican dishes are presented in dashing style. By the way, get David at the Coco Lobby Bar to make your drinks; he’s an expert. All drinks, like the food, is free.

Guakamajazz, à la carte restaurant is equally lovely, and like its buffet partner, it straddles with a view the sea. Fish, meats, lasagna and more are graciously served.  Order a Spanish coffee at the end of your meal and watch the waiter prepare it using his fire torch. It’s the real thing!
Las Palmas is like a spacious home-away-from-home haven where friendliness, fun and a variety of excursions put the best of Vallarta only a bus-ride away.
Warning: avoid booking during spring break for college students!
The website is: www.laspalmasresort.com

Puerto Vallarta’s Excellent Excursions
Staying at Las Palmas by the Sea Hotel in Puerto Vallarta, I was able to directly book some great excursions. Let the adventures begin! I took the Trio City and Tropical Tour (really low in price but high in variety sightseeing). The guide was a walking historian, only we were on a bus! We stopped in the neighborhood of Pitillal to enjoy its highly acclaimed Saint Michael Archangel Church.









 It looked old but its construction started in 1967 and ended in 1983. The town definitely had that real Mexican flavour –  distinctly different from Vallarta’s famous Malecon downtown area where over 2-kilometres of boardwalk boast wonderful statues with great names: Nostalgia, Millenia In Search of Reason, Teachers and more. 















Stores and markets abound



 We then headed near Mismaloya where Night of the Iguana was filmed; the more ominous site we ended up in was in the jungle spot of Kawitu where a scene from the movie Predator was shot. 


 








 



 A lesson on organic tequila was given to us before we sat to lunch at a series of rocky waterfalls.




                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                  Yelapa ‘s idyllic hippie feel
From Vallarta’s romantic zone, I hopped on a water taxi heading for the tropical island of Yelapa. On the way, we spotted several humpback whales. Captain Gama took me to a lovely waterfall in Yelapa, and then we descended little winding lanes – cobblestone gems that harken back to a time gone by. At Rogelio’s, a makeshift beach restaurant, I enjoyed a fantastic seafood soup and guacamole. Then, Gama took me to Lagunita where about 25 palapa huts become your accommodations. The beach is so lovely. Free and natural, Lagunita is a primitive paradise where simplicity flows. Owned by Luke Donahue, this unique place is a yoga and tai chi retreat, but one can simply stay here and watch the calm ocean waters whisper to you outside your cozy room.
The website is www.hotel-lagunita.com


                                            Beach Boy Boat Day is the Best
This is a wonderful day of snorkeling at Los Arcos – two enormous rocks jutting out of the ocean (oodles of fish to discover), and then being taken to silky sands of quiet  Animas Beach – certainly the most beautiful in the entire area. You can stay on the boat and travel by donkey up to the waterfall, or after enjoying your free lunch at Animas, take a sneak peek at the stunning Hotelito Mio. For a minimum of 500$ US/night, you stay in your own luxury palapa- covered glass house. The views are beyond description. The boat guys are hilariously entertaining. Before hopping on the boat, the port serves you coffee and cookies. I loved this excursion.










Garza Blanca:

Botanical Garden:









Botanical Garden’s Natural Wonders: Voted Puerto Vallarta’s third best site by Trip Advisor




Nature lover, Robert Price, founded the Vallarta Botanical Garden in 2004, and with the endless flourishing species that cover this haven of 60 acres, Mr Price –  the gardens’ curator – continues to give much love to its appealing tapestry of natural colours and sounds – a natural habitat for over 211 bird species as well.

I took many photos; the ones you see here represent a fraction of its floral munificence.












I wandered into four conservatories each featuring native Mexican plants, cacti and succulent plants, orchids and rhododendrons. There’s even a peace garden whose international plants represent universality. This tranquil area is crowned with a multi-faith church at the top of the ascending stairs.  


 

 
An extraordinary accomplishment is the Tillandsia House. Highly popular in North America, Europe and most recently in Asia, tillandisia has finally arrived here:  the gardens is the first public structure to display these amazing plants in Mexico.

 Walking trails reveal themselves naturally; they’re not manicured inventions.  Within the plethora of flowers and exotic trees, coffee, vanilla and cocoa plants thrive  here.

 


One of my favourite paths was the remarkable Horcones River Trail.  Waters descend from surrounding canyons, converging to create a natural swimming basin.  Bordering the trail is constant cascading water circling around huge round rocks. It’s beautiful.

 










































Your ticket into the gardens is good for two consecutive days, but make sure you eat upstairs; the food is sensational, and don’t leave without visiting the lovely gift area.
 You can also book this excursion at the hotel. I decided to take the 2 buses you need in order to reach this rewarding destination.  Then again, you can always hop in a taxi.
The gardens’ educational programs receive donations that qualify for the Canadian Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation, and for many garden projects.
 For more information, visit the website: www.vgardens.org.  Email them at: info@vgardens.org