Categoría: Living in Mexico – We Have All The Lifestyle Information You Will Need.

Long before Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess and Carnival Cruises started mooring their ships in Puerto Vallarta, the bay welcomed huge freight vessels. Ships were also the primary form of transportation for people arriving in the port, as well. Entire households were transported by mid-century settlers.

The first passenger and freight ships, with names like El Sin Nombre, El Bolivar and El Salvatierra anchored in the bay, since there was no pier at the time. Everything was transported via primitive canoes. There was nothing that couldn’t be brought to shore, including furniture; large crates, suitcases and trunks; dry goods and things that weren’t available in Puerto Vallarta. Silk, perfumes, and the well loved parasols were among the treasures that found their way through the shipping lanes that led to all parts of Mexico.

Loading and unloading was the job of the sailing crew and the stevedores (estibadores) on land. They worked fast and enjoyed the labor. Everyone had a nickname, El Bule (Big Tummy), El Zurrón (Husky), Tres Pelos (Three Hairs), El Niño, El Chiri and El Zun. They wore only pants, rolled up to the knee, and were shirtless, and barefoot, of course. Their skin turned as dark as coconuts, which contrasted with their gleaming white teeth and they were always smiling. Some sang and many were excellent singers. Sometimes, when the sun beat down and the heat got to be too much, they wore flour and sugar sacks on their heads and looked like toiling monks.

When it was time to eat, their wives brought them lunch and dinner, tortillas, tamales and other homemade food in baskets, covered in brightly embroidered, highly starched towels and napkins.

The stevedores of Puerto Vallarta are a thing of the past and the modern cruise marina is now the place of disembarkation. The smoke of the steamships and their blasting whistles has been replaced by the low grade diesel that blows through the air and sometimes leaves a big trail of black. The horns announce arrivals and departures in much the same way as their ancestors.

Que es cómo es.

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

Hands on the Wheel

We have learned it’s best to keep hands on the wheel while driving in Puerto Vallarta and eyes on the road. While cruising along recently with our visiting granddaughter in the back seat, we stopped at a light and pulled out the cell phone. Our intention was to let friends know we were almost to their apartment complex so they could come and meet us at the gate to let us in for an afternoon swim. The light turned green and we tooted on along, phone to our ear, waiting for someone to pick up on the other end. In the meantime, an ominous blurping sound interrupted our forward motion and we were forced to pull over and have a conversation with an office of traffic law, who had signaled us from his scooter.

There was no argument. I knew I had been caught phone-handed. I was issued to ticket that he said would be halved if I paid it quickly. At the police station. On the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta. This is painful, because one would much rather be entertaining the grandchildren at the beach. The ticket was $75 pesos so the final cost was $37.50 pesos, a pittance. However… we had to travel, altering our schedule with visiting family in town and go to Las Juntas to stand in a line in the hot sun to pay a silly ticket. It’s not the amount; it’s the inconvenience. This is about to change in the State of Jalisco.

Pending final approval, this new regulation is expected to be take place soon, considering that at least 55 citizens a day are involved in accidents as the result of cell phones. This includes drivers of all types of vehicles, their victims and pedestrians who are distracted while texting and phoning while walking.

The fine for driving in Puerto Vallarta, while being distracted by one’s cell phone is about to leap from a paltry $75 pesos to perhaps somewhere in the vicinity of ten times that much. It won’t simply cause irritation, it will pain the pocketbook, which is exactly what authorities intend. An impact needs to be made on errant drivers.

Puerto Vallarta won’t be caught off guard. This initiative will be accompanied by a PR campaign to inform drivers in Puerto Vallarta and the wider areas of Jalisco to be alert and put the phone away. We can’t argue with the sensibility of this motion.

Que es cómo es.

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

We never tire of gazing at the large photos in the hallways of the restaurant La Palapa, on Los Muertos Beach. We recommend paying a visit; they’re in the back, past the cashier, by the restrooms. Other businesses in town have similar displays but none quite compares to these.

Though they don’t depict the entire pictorial history of Puerto Vallarta, these photos show a lot of what progress does and doesn’t represent.

The earliest photos in existence of the town are probably from about 1922. A small studio existed for a short time and portraits were the main focus of the first photographer in Puerto Vallarta, though he did produce some landscape photos as well. The first notable photographer, Rodolfo Pulido, arrived in 1930 and his business continued for several years under the auspices of his wife and daughter, who became his faithful assistants. Señor Pulido had no competition for a couple decades until Oscar Rosales Rodriguez arrived from Guadalajara with state-of-the-art equipment and began producing postcards of the area. Rosales Rodriguez carried on his business for many years and was a very well respected member of the community, attending social events and school functions with his camera. He was known for originality and getting clever shots, climbing high up in the hills to capture the panoramic views; roaming beaches to catch local action; and shooting from offshore to get land vistas from north to south.

When we first visited Puerto Vallarta, finding a place to develop instant prints was a challenge. There was no such thing as one-hour; we waited until at least the next day. We were pleased to watch competition spring up along Libertad and soon Farmacia Guadalajara got into the act and installed a fully equipped onsite lab, where we dropped rolls of film off mornings and came back to retrieve developed photos in the afternoon. This was a source of some amusement to neighborhood boys (and a few girls) who watched the machine located next to the window as it churned out interesting prints that unsuspecting honeymooners and the like could not have realized would be on such public view.

Times have changed to the point where it is rare to see anyone with a real camera dangling from their neck. Photos these days are produced on telephones and sent immediately into the universe, back home and elsewhere. If you do come across a photo session, it is more than likely a professional, such as Josef Kandoll, taking the place of Señors Pulido and Rosales Rodriguez. Though times have changed we must still fulfill the need for memories and souvenirs.

Que es cómo es.

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

İProspero Año!

We love New Year’s Eve in Puerto Vallarta. Everyone gets in on the act and the fun goes on all night long, with dancing in the streets and endless fireworks. There are so many great venues where you can hang out to say goodbye to the old year and greet the new. The beach at Los Muertos has always held a special draw for us, whether we go fancy, all dressed up, or jeans and t-shirts with tacos on the street for dinner. We’ve gone both routes, and from year to year, it can be a difficult decision, because both are a lot of fun. Many of the local restaurants on the beach have fixed menus and reservations are highly recommended. They plan accordingly and it’s a time of year for everyone to show off, too. Wherever you dine, you will most likely be served 12 grapes after your dinner, at midnight. You can munch on them while you watch the incredible fireworks display the entire length of the Bay of Banderas. Eat each grape, make a wish for the coming year, twelve months in all, and if you’re close enough to the church, gobble them down with the striking of the midnight bells. If you’re looking for love, don’t forget to wear your red underwear for good luck!

After the fireworks have ended, we love to walk down the Malecón with crowds who linger into the early morning hours. It will have cooled down considerably, sometimes getting as low as 60° F/15° C, so be prepared with a light jacket or wrap.

If the beach doesn’t interest you, there are fine dining establishments where reservations also are necessary, not along the beachfront, but those tucked in the back streets, away from much of the hubbub and noise. Entertainment is often the enticement for these venues and performances will be memorable.

An option we have participated in the past is the bonfires at the beach at Playa del Holi, which is adjacent to Peninsula, across the river, down a long dusty road. Locals set up canopies over tables, which are covered with elegant lacy cloths. Fine china and crystal are carried into the site during the daylight hours; candles and lanterns are lit after dark, and a New Year’s Eve feast ensues, usually around midnight. Barbeques dot the area with low flames and delicious odors, music from portable devices mix with laughter and singing. Iceboxes full of beverages arrive full and depart empty.

The spirit of camaraderie that exists in Puerto Vallarta begins at the unfolding of each New Year with ringing bells, raised glasses and voices, dancing and singing, and a pyrotechnical show that few can rival. Enjoy, don’t drink and drive, and tip generously.

Que es cómo es

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

Thursday Marina Market

We love to take a Thursday trip out to the Marina in high season. The Marina Market was once a small shopping experience that we enjoyed before dinner at one of the fine marina restaurants. We would buy some vegetables and sometimes pick up bread or sweets from one of the bakers. This market has grown significantly and we now find we must arrive much earlier than we once did, if we want to partake in all the fabulous booths and peruse the many vendors. The Marina Malecón has been a favorite stroll of ours for the past two decades and a drink up in El Faro is often a highlight. There is much to see from up in the lighthouse and it is a great place for watching the changes in the north part of Puerto Vallarta. The Thursday Market opens at 6 pm and merchants stay open until 10 pm or until they have sold all their products, which frequently happen with the food booths.

What’s truly delightful about this market is that every item is made locally. Not only is nothing imported, every item is handmade, and you will most likely have a chance to meet the person or people who crafted your purchases. We have adorned our home and body with such items as remarkable jewelry, lovely handbags and fine clothing; gorgeous baskets and paintings; wonderful holiday decorations and amusing Day of the Dead pieces. The marvelous Huichol art is here, too, of course and they do such a great job of wrapping purchases for travel.

Fruits and vegetables are organic and a variety of bread can be found, including several grains and gluten free. We often buy dinner at the market these days, and take it home to cook or reheat. These are excellent chefs who sell everything from fine meats and cheeses, to fancy liqueurs, pizza, cookies and cakes. With nearly 200 stalls, there isn’t time to take it all in.

We have been fascinated to find local hand rolled cigars that rival the most expensive found in town and at a very fair price. Ice cream, yummy cups of corn, and the typical Mexican nieves de garrafa (snow cones) are also available.

The atmosphere at the Thursday Marina Market is very festive with live music, strolling Mariachi and visiting musicians. We love the family ambiance with a mixture of locals, ex-pats and tourists.

Que es cómo es.

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.