The Disney Wonder and the Holland America Otterdam

The Disney Wonder in Puerto Vallarta

I missed getting Donald Duck in the shot, I’ll get him next time and post it here!

The Roads in Mexico

The other half of the safety equation is the roads themselves. The roads in Mexico are generally pretty good… not great, but serviceable.  If it is your first time, you’ll want to stick to the toll roads (autopistas de cuota) as much as you can.  They can get a little expensive, but the roads are usually in very good condition with wider shoulders, passing lanes, better grades, less curves, etc.  But toll roads don’t go everywhere.  When you are on the free road just go easy, there is usually a lot of truck traffic, so be patient and pass when it is safe.  The lines on the road are similar to those in the USA; dashed lines mean you can pass, solid means do not pass.  You’ll see some roads where the lines are either very faded or non existent, just use some common sense and understand that there is less room for error on Mexican roads.  Some roads, like the stretch between Tepic and Puerto Vallarta, are long twisty two lane mountain roads.  These roads can definitely try your patience as there are few opportunities to pass and getting stuck behind a truck trying to go up a grade is never fun.  In those cases just take a deep breath and relax… the one good thing is many of these roads have fantastic scenery, which makes it easier to enjoy the ride.

The road to Puerto Vallarta has excellent scenery and a canopy of trees you won't want to miss!

Gas stations are not as plentiful as in the USA or Canada, so don’t let yourself go below a quarter tank.  If you are not sure where the next gas is, it’s better to top off than to find yourself out f gas in the middle of nowhere.  A lot of people travel with GPS’s these days, and GPS data in Mexico is pretty good.  But if you still prefer to use a map, then you’ll need a good road atlas.  The “Rand McNally” type atlas in Mexico is called Guia Roji.  Guia Roji prints map atlases for the entire country as well as city atlases for major cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.  These guides are usually available in gas stations (those with a convenience store), book stores and news stands all over the country.

In Part 3, I’ll give some pointers on how to drive in Mexico.  Meanwhile, I’d like to hear your feedback.  Please leave a comment if you have any questions or remarks.

Click here for Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

Click here for Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

Is it Safe to Drive in Mexico?

I have lived and driven extensively in Mexico for the last 12 years.  I have never really felt worried for my personal security.  In fact,  most people I have met have been friendly and helpful… although some get a little intimidated by foreigners (or at least at the prospect of trying to communicate with foreigners).  It helps if you can speak some Spanish.

Driving into Down Town Puerto Vallarta

Mexico has been taking a lot of heat recently because the the “drug war”.  These issues are generally centered around border towns and once you get past those towns it is largely a non issue.  There are no gangs of ‘banditos’ roaming the countryside looking for wayward gringos (unless you include timeshare salesmen ).  I remember someone saying of Las Vegas in the 50′s and 60′s, “No one got shot who didn’t deserve it.”  I’m not condoning the violence, I’m just saying that as a disinterested 3rd party your chances of getting involved in some sort of violence while passing through a border town in Mexico are next to nil.  When visiting the interior of Mexico, you will find many amazing places like Puerto Vallarta, Guanajuato, Morelia, Guadalajara, Mascota… way too many places to list here… which will more than make up for the perceived risk of coming to Mexico.

In large metropolitan areas like Mexico City there are areas you probably don’t want to go, as is the case in any big city.  If you are staying in places like that, use common sense and stay at a decent hotel (which should keep you in a decent part of town). Use the same rules you’d use when visiting New York City or Detroit.

Next up in Part 2 – The Roads in Mexico. Meanwhile, I’d like to hear your feedback.  Please leave a comment if you have any questions or remarks.

Click here for Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

It is during this same winter time that many foreigners will search for, and buy their dream home in the sun. Even after purchase, it is again mainly during this winter period that many vacation home owners will use their property, rarely visiting vallarta during the summer. (This is a generalization and I know of many tourist that actually prefer the summer due to the lower occupancy and spectacular fauna and flora transformation).

For those of us that live here we know how different the summer and winter climate conditions are in Puerto Vallarta, and the drastic effect these 4 months of constant humidity and rain have on houses and condos, especially those that are poorly constructed. If you are buying during the winter, it’s important to keep this in mind and to try to forecast how the property you are buying will react to our summer climate.

Surrounding terrain

The first thing to pay close attention is the surrounding terrain.

Is there a river close by ? (dry or not). Vallarta is surrounded by steep mountains that during the rainy season act as natural water-slides accelerating the rain water down to the ocean. These rivers can be drastically transformed by the rain, and the calm rivers that you see in the winter can become lethal rapids. For example, the youtube video below shows how the downtown Rio Cuale is transformed by the rain.

Also pay attention to dry rivers. For example, the Pitillal river (which runs through Fluvial and joins the ocean at Penninsula) is bone-dry during the winter but becomes a major rain evacuation route during the rainy season.

No river? the rain still needs to get through! If there’s no river close by try to find out how rain water passes through the surrounding terrain. Most roads of Puerto Vallarta don’t have drainage and this transforms some roads (drive-way / gardens / parking lots …) into temporary rivers – which can cause major problems for constructions. Take a look at the video below that shows how one of the main roads in the Pitillal is transformed during heavy rain.

Ideally, you want the surrounding terrain to be leading away from the property. Most of Vallarta is on an incline (leading towards the sea) so rain water will need to move around the grounds. Look for water evacuation routes, drains and any other preventive systems. Pay particular attention to this for constructions with underground facilities or parking lots.

Construction

After evaluating the terrain you will need to look closely at how the property has been built. Which materials have been used? (pay close attention to the extensive use of dry-wall. Dry-wall + humidity = problem). Does the roof have an inclination? Are there any gutters? How old is the building?

Look closely at areas with gaps, pipes, windows, doors, A/C inlets etc. If given a chance, water will find it’s way into any space. Look for leaks in the walls and ceilings. Also look for any miss-match in paint colour. If you see a wall with a clearly fresher line of paint that may indicate a leak stain that has been hidden. Also look for humidity stains, especially in the upper corners of walls on top floors, and the lower corners on the ground floors. Do however keep in mind that in such a humid climate it is very frequent to find some small humidity stains or leaks, even in the best-built homes. Just make sure that you find them, understand them and don’t be frightened to challenge the seller for an explanation about them.

Don’t think that you shouldn’t pay attention to this if you are buying a new construction, or if you are buying a condo on the middle floor of a high tower. Glossy brochures and great sales presentations have no effect on rain and tropical humidity! Obviously, the reputation of a construction developer is very important but check for yourself where possible.

Vegetation

Many new houses in Puerto Vallarta have a flat roof. Before the rainy season starts always make sure the roof is clear from any vegetation that may trap water and humidity. Also consider vegetation and trees surrounding the property. Think about how these affect the surrounding humidity and their potential threat in the case of strong winds (or even hurricanes) – this is especially important for tall palm trees.

Advice

As with any important purchase decision be sure to surround yourself with people and realtors that are able to give you impartial and honest information. Don’t be scared to ask them tough questions and to demand answers. Also do your research amongst the locals. Like everywhere in Mexico you’ll find that people are more than willing to help wherever than can.

♥ the Rain

Although this article focuses on the negative impact of the rain one must not forget it’s positive impact. The plants and jungle surrounding Puerto Vallarta are literally transformed by this rain. The mountains become a vibrant green colour, new animals appear and the air is cleansed. We have spectacular lighning storms over the bay and the rain and it’s flash floods are sometimes quite entertaining. It’s a great time to vistit our town. It  generally rains only in the early morning and late afternoon, the daytime is virtually always rain free.

The international media and tabloid press have had a field-day with the swine flu and even with very sketchy statistics the news panic has spread like wild-fire. Clearly, this has and will continue to have a negative economical impact on tourism in Mexico.

A couple of weeks ago when this was the world’s #1 topic you will have heard that many businesses in Mexico, including Puerto Vallarta, had been ordered shut until Wednesday the 6th of May. This included indoor restaurants, cinemas, bars and nightclubs. On the 6th of May when it was widely established that the scare was perhaps exaggerated Mexico got back to work. Then, what you perhaps didn’t hear is that on Friday the 8th May the State of Jalisco decided to re-close these businesses until the 18th of May due to some confirmed cases in Guadalajara (the state’s capital) . This decision was criticized by many in Puerto Vallarta and since today, as mentioned above, things have returned to “normal”.

So, where does this leave us? Firstly,  to answer the burning question “is there Swine Flue in Puerto Vallarta” let’s look at the official stats.

Are there any confirmed cases of Swine Flu in the state of Jalisco ?

Yes, there are currently 36 confirmed cases of Swine Flu in the state of Jalisco. These are mainly located around the Guadalajara area (about 5 hours from Puerto Vallarta) and are in steady decline.

Taken from the official information webpage on Swine Flu for Jalisco : http://informacioninfluenza.jalisco.gob.mx/

Are there any confirmed deaths from Swine Flu deaths in the state of Jalisco ?

No, there are currently 3 cases that have been classified as “suspicious”, but there are currently no confirmed deaths from Swine Flu in our state.

Taken from the official information webpage on Swine Flu for Jalisco : http://informacioninfluenza.jalisco.gob.mx/

Are there any confirmed cases of Swine Flu in Puerto Vallarta ?

No. There are currently NO confirmed cases of the A/H1N1 “Swine Flu” in Puerto Vallarta as shown by this map (Puerto Vallarta is where the circle is located). The cases are shown by the yellow and red shading, far from Puerto Vallarta.

Taken from the official information webpage on Swine Flu for Jalisco : http://informacioninfluenza.jalisco.gob.mx/

What about Nayarit?

Nayarit is our northern boardering state. Places like Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, Punta Mita and Sayulita are popular destinations for visitors to the Puerto Vallarta area and are all located in the state of Nayarit. Today, there are currently only 9 confirmed cases of A/H1N1 in Nayarit, and non of those infected are in a life-threatening condition. Taken from the official information webpage on Swine Flu for Nayarit: http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/notes.asp?id=16617)

Putting things into perspective

We’ve all heard the statistics relating to “common flu vs swine flu” but I think it’s important to mention them once again. Taken directly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flu

…approximately 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations are directly associated with influenza every year in the United States.

So, ignoring flu seasonalization, that means that every month in the United States of America about 3,000 people die from existing types of flu. The Swine Flu has been with us for about that same period of time (1 month) and there are currently 58 confirmed deaths in Mexico and 3 in the United States of America.

Should I stay or should I go ?

I don’t pretend to be an expert in this matter and I have no medical background. I am purely stating the facts and writing about my experience living here, today, in Puerto Vallarta.

Before traveling or moving to a foreign country it is the responsibility of each and everyone of us to inform ourselves of the risks and dangers  associated with the destination, and I would advise anyone considering traveling to Puerto Vallarta to check all these facts for themselves. I simply ask you not to let CNN or FOX News make the decision for you.

I personally would recommend my friends and family to come to Puerto Vallarta.

What now ?

It is now time for all of us to try to repair the damage that has been made to our local economy and I urge those traveling to Mexico to not enter into the panic. Please feel free to circulate this to your friends and family and spread the word.

Today in Puerto Vallarta there is virtually no one wearing face-masks in the streets. There are no confirmed cases of the swine flue. There is no panic. All business are open. The sun is hot. The beer is cold. Everyone is as happy and friendly as always.

Resources

Jalisco State Information Page : http://informacioninfluenza.jalisco.gob.mx/

Nayarit State Information Page : http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) : http://www.cdc.gov/

World Health Organization (WHO) : http://www.who.int/

Puerto Vallarta Scene (local info page in English) : http://www.pvscene.com/?p=4081

You Tube Video showing Puerto Vallarta during the Swine Flue outbreak : http://tinyurl.com/q3fwqa