Puerto Vallarta

 Because of a 8 day on field session, I had 6 days off, and we took advantage of it by going to an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It's not usually our style to do that kind of traveling, but with being in the field so much it's hard to plan our normal style of traveling, plus when it's so quick, all-inclusive (cheap style) is easiest. All inclusive is really fun though b/c they have lots of activities to do, lots of different pools, and unlimited food and drink (including yummy adult cocktail beverages!)

6/9/21

We flew from Phoenix to Puerto Vallarta with a connection in Denver (which meant I got to look out the window at my snowy mountains). We were offered free tequila right away upon our arrival to the airport and were given margaritas as we checked into the resort. After settling into our room we walked the grounds of the resort and along the beach. Right away we were treated to a sea turtle laying her eggs on the beach with the sound of a Mariachi band in the background. We ate dinner at the buffet restaurant

6/10

We enjoyed the day at the resort: catching waves in the ocean, swimming in the pools, enjoying the swim up pool bars, the various snack and lunch buffets, and doing some of the activities (water polo, water aerobics, beach volleyball, ping pong). We watched the sunset from the infinity pool on top of a one of the resort towers with drink in hand. For dinner we went to the resort's fancy French Restaurant. Every night they have a cool show that we went to: tonight it was an awesome Michael Jackson show.

6/11

We had agreed to do a 1 hour, non aggressive tour of a fancy hotel in exchange for a fancy free champagne breakfast and an incredible discount for swimming with dolphins. We went to the resort in the morning for a tasty breakfast. Indeed, it was very fancy and had nice views and a nice beach. We then went to the dolphin swim. It was AWESOME! We got to pet the dolphins and get kissed by the dolphins. I didn't understand during the kissing part that it was supposed to be the dolphin kissing my cheek, so instead I did lip to lips with the dolphin. haha. We got to do a fair amount of swimming with the dolphins and then also got pulled by two dolphins while we held their fins. And Elisha and I each had a dolphin that pulled us side by side while it kicked upside down and we held on to its flippers. For dinner we went to the nice Italian restaurant.. At night we went to the show, which I think was traditional dancing, which was very good. Then we went to karaoke night where I sang "I will survive" by Gloria Gaynor, my go to karaoke song from my days back in the Philippines.

6/12

We had fun hanging out at the resort and pool. Played some beach volleyball, water polo, pool beer pong, and caught some waves in the ocean (body surfing). We read by the pool, listening to music and sipping on the yummy cocktails. We enjoyed swimming and cocktails up at the infinity pool that is on a high-rise building. We watched the sunset lounging on beach chairs on the beach. For dinner we ate at the Japanese restaurant. The show tonight was a cool Disney show.

6/13

We hung out around the pool, doing the various activities in the morning. Then we took the bus in to the city center of Puerto Vallarta in the afternoon. We walked along the beach promenade and ate super delicious tacos from a local place. For dinner we ate at the fancy French restaurant again (I think but can't 100% remember). The show tonight was a Broadway show, which was really great

6/14

Last morning at the resort. Played a really fun volleyball game and then played on some of the fun waterslides in the kids waterpark. We took an Uber to the airport where we sat in line to take our covid test (a negative test required to fly home). Then it was a flight back to Phoenix via Denver.