Sculptures of #PuertoVallarta

One of the highlights of the Malecón is the bronze sculptures located along this Oceanside boardwalk. The Bay of Banderas provides a brilliant backdrop for these works of art. The sculptures are the creation of various sculptors from across the globe. Though these sculptures appear impenetrable to the elements, a few pieces fell victim the whim of Hurricane Kenna in October 2002, but have been restored to their pre-hurricane magnificence.

For the purpose of this article we will start our tour from Hotel Rosita

The first sculpture you will find is located in front of Hotel Rosita. It is entitled "The Millenium" and was created by sculptor Mathis Lídice. It was dedicated November 2001 and symbolizes the passage of time through the millenniums. The lower portion suggests the millennium before Christ, linked by life that evolved from the sea with different symbols of Christ appearing farther up. The fist millennium is represented by Charlemagne; the Aztec king Nezahualcoyoti evoke the second millennium and finally the third millennium is symbolized by a woman holding a dove.

The two couples enjoying the view of the city is aptly entitled "La Nostalgia," inspired by the romance between the artist Ramiz Barquet and his wife. This is the same spot where the couple came to enjoy the beautiful sunsets of Puerto Vallarta. The sculpture has been enjoying the magnificent Puerto Vallarta sunsets since 1984. Barquet was born and raised in Mexico City and later studied in Montreal, Canada. He first began his career working with wood, stone and marble until he discovered his now favored material, bronze. Barquet is the most prolific contributor of public art in Puerto Vallarta, his adopted home.

The Sutil Comepiedras; by the sculptor, Jonas Gutierrez, this is an interesting piece. Standing at a height of about 7.8 feet (2.4 meters) and the combination of materials such as bronze and obsidian, give substance and depth to this original sculpture.

Next sculpture you will encounter is "Naturaleza como Madre", Nature as Mother, buy sculptor Tapatio Adrian Reynoso. The work depicts a spiraling wave on a snail and represents the cycle of life and death.

The whimsical sea inspired high back chairs are the work of Guadalajara native Alejandro Colunga. This installation made its debut on the Malecón in 1997. One chair is crowned by an octopus and another by what may be a seahorse. One of the original chairs surrendered to the forces of Hurricane Kenna and was replaced with a stunning replacement that appropriately pays homage to the strength of the sea. Colungna studied various subjects in the university, but he is a self-taught artist.

You will often see performance artists in the area and the public enjoying the mystical seating created by "La Rotunda del Mar." Besides the Malecón you can find Colunga's work throughout Mexico, the US, Europe and South America.

At first glance the next work is simply a ladder covered with tourists. After closer inspection you will notice it is a ladder with two bronze children climbing up it with a figure, presumed to be their mother, calling to them from the ground. The sculpture appeared in 1990 and generated much controversy. It was created by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante entitled "In Search of Reason".

Rafel Zamarripa's "Caballeo del Mar" ("The Seahorse") has become the calling card of Puerto Vallarta. It is a 9' high bronze statue featuring a naked boy riding this larger than life sea creature. The sculpture is found in front of No Name Café, voted the home of "the best ribs in Puerto Vallarta" by the according to widely published press. If you need to take a rest after your stroll down the Malecón the No Name Café is a great choice, not only for the ribs, but because it is air conditioned. The original seahorse sculpture was located at the end of Los Muertos beach, but ended up in the bay after Hurricane Kenna. Zamarripa was commissioned to create the replica you see now.

Italian artist Carlos Esprino is the sculptor behind "Triton and Nereida", two mermaid lovers forever reaching for each other. The sculpture took its place on the Malecón in 1990. Originally Triton was to hold a trident in his hand, but to this day its location is a mystery. Triton is the son of Neptune. His partner, Nereida, is the daughter of Doris and Nereo. You can find more of Espinos work throughout Mexico and abroad; he has created pieces of various sizes, from table top displays to grand statues.

"The Friendship Fountain", the only fountain on the Malecón, was created by California sculptor James "Bud" Bottoms. It was a gift to Puerto Vallarta in 1987 from Santa Barbara, our sister city. The three dolphins represent the two cities and the friendship that unites them. One dolphin looks toward the city, one towards the sea, and one toward the sky. Bottoms has created similar fountains that can be found in Santa Barbara, Japan and Russia. The sculptor feels a deep empathy with the creatures of the sea and believes that we can learn from dolphins and whales that live joyously and harmoniously within their environment.

After the fountain you can make your way to the recently restored "Aquiles Serdán Ampitheatre", also know as "Los Arcos". If you find yourself here at night you will likely see some variety of public performance: the municipal band, folkloric dancers and even clowns. Local vendors have anything you need to quench your thirst or your sweet tooth during the performances.

The 14th of January, 2011 was when the most recent sculpture was installed ("The Good Fortune Unicorn")Artist, Anibal Riebeling created this piece in bronze and wax. The intention is that this piece brings good luck for locals and visitors.

So there is quite a collection of beautiful public artwork along this boardwalk walkway, untouched by spray paint, as you can see in the photos below. In fact, the amount of top-notch art on public display makes the town outstanding among tourist destinations in Mexico. During the day and into the early evening one can also find local artists painting and displaying their watercolors for sale.



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Magical Towns of Jalisco

Mexico is made up of fascinating and epic historical episodes, vibrant traditions, surprising customs and delightful natural settings that, when brought together into one place, take the shape of a Pueblo Mágico, or “Magical town”, the spaces that safeguard the essence of a whole country, protected by the warmth of its people.

In these picturesque corners, tradition and culture stroll through the streets in the form of typical dishes, handicrafts, rituals, archeological sites and music, which are enjoyed with a zealously-protected everydayness. In one of these small towns or villages you can get to know first hand the architectural, cultural and artistic gems the beauty of which will help you to understand more deeply Mexican ways.

Cobbled streets, ancient churches, beautiful houses with red-tiled roofs and white walls, run-down buildings, women with embroidered skirts and shawls and men returning from their day’s work in the fields, are just some of the marvelous sights you can appreciate on your tour of one of the Pueblos that safeguard the magic of Mexico.

Practically every single state in the country boasts at least one such space in which time moves more slowly and the face of the Mexican essence remains intact, meaning you should not miss the opportunity to visit one of them and let yourself be enchanted by the soft winds and the sheltering skies.

 TEQUILA

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The history of this town is closely knit to the liquor that has the same name and that is popular throughout the entire world. Tequila, the Mexican name most foreigners are familiar with. Tequila sits on the skirt of the Tequila Volcano, at nearly 10,000 feet from sea level and enjoys a warm climate year round with rain fall during summer and fall.

The dozens of distilleries are Tequilas main attraction for one can visit them and observe the process of elaboration of this spirit. There is a small museum at the Tequila Sauza distillery that shows the history of this house. Casa Cuervo has impressive installations with guided visits every day. The Hacienda San Martin of the XVII century, is one of the most beautiful Haciendas of the state and possesses grand architectural characteristics like its portal, fountains and a most beautiful chapel cupola that are a delight to see.

From the top of the majestic Tequila Volcano one can see the Tequila and Matitlan valleys and the fractured geology of the gully and an interminable horizon of agaves.

You can go up by foot, car, horse or mountain bike, depending on your taste. The path takes you through an wonderful oak forest until the famous “tetilla” remembrance of the active volcano. The winds speed wil let you know when you have reached the pinnacle and you will be in awe with the 180° views.

Fifteen minutes from Tequila in the gully a breath of humid vegetation seduces its visitors.  Going into this huge natural throat that descends between bird songs and a great variety of plants you will find the water fall Los Azules, with its pristine water and its 98 feet fall, is nothing but a great experience.

TAPALPA

Embraced by the great Sierra Madre Occidental in the state of Jalisco, is the “Land of color” among pine and oak forests, crystal clear streams and rock formations.

Tapalpa is a popular destination for tourists looking for a taste of old Mexico. This historical town is best known for its community fountains and architectural attractions like the San Antonio Parish Church, the Purisima Chapel, the Temple of Nuestra Señora de la Merced and the Temple of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

The community fountains, known locally as pilas, are still used by the town’s inhabitants as a source of water and have retained their original names of De las Culebras (The Snakes'), Del Tecolote (The Owl's), Del Perro (The Dog's) and La Colorada (The Red One). At the center of the town you will find the San Antonio Parish Church, a neo-classical structure that was built out of brick by the Franciscans in 1650. What’s most impressive about the church I the precision and leveling achieved by the Franciscans while using brick as the primary building material.

Tapalpa is also the source of one of Jalisco’s most famous dishes, borrego al pastor, which is still especially famous in Tapalpa because it inhabitants continue to cook it in the traditional style. This regional specialty involves cooking a whole lamb in white wine, bay leaf, onion, garlic and peppers.

The Pueblos Magicos program identifies towns that reflect “the culture of Mexico” through attributes like architecture, traditions, customs, music, gastronomy, festivities and handcrafts. There are currently 52 destinations throughout Mexico that have earned the Pueblos Magicos classification.

MAZAMITLA

On the heights of the Sierra del Tigre, the fog creeping is Mazamitla. Place the fresh aroma of fruit trees and the open hospitality of the people seduces the visitor, who will find the true spirit of this people in its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses with tile roofs, peaceful countryside in the middle of the forest and ideal sites for the adventure. Mazamitla magical town, located south of the state of Jalisco to 122 km from the city of Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico. This beautiful mountain town, wrapped in a huge blanket of forests and streams with a fresh annual temperature of around 21 ° C, and has all the amenities to make your visit an experience to remember.

Sheltered by beautiful forests and streams, this Magic Town of the south of Jalisco is called by many as the Mexican Switzerland.

Parrish of San Cristóbal, of eclectic style with influences of the Eastern influence s, is the architectonic emblem of this municipality.

The beautiful viewpoint el Cerro del Tigre; the fresh natural environment of Jardín Encantado (Enchanted Garden) with a waterfall of 35 meters; and the beautiful forest of the Municipal Park La Zanja, are the places charming the visitors in their tour through Mazamitla.

SAN SEBASTIAN

Tucked away in the hills of the Sierra Madre lies the historic town of San Sebastián del Oeste. Founded over 400 years ago as the mining capital of New Spain, this picturesque town is a living example of colonial México.

Its attractions such as the imposing Cerro de la Bufa, its historic buildings as the Hacienda Jalisco and La Quinta, the church of San Sebastian and consistorial portal.

Just a short distance from the busy beaches of Puerto Vallarta, San Sebastián is nestled amongst the pines trees, 4600 feet up in the Sierra.

An upcoming UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Sebastián is a secluded paradise that has been preserved through the centuries.

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Take a breath

While  you are travelling through unknown roads of México, you can feel the rush of adrenaline about taking an adventure to new things, new worlds, new faces, new traditions. your senses start  identifying  the world that your eyes build in an special scenary, villages filled of  details, sparks of color, flavors. 

This  is the  meaning of Travel in México. You will find more than green spaces,but  a history under every stone, every tree, you just have to take the direction to live this beautiful place.

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Tenacatita, Bahía libre.

Hay situaciones que te hacen experimentar gusto y  repudio a la vez, cuando dañan y atropellan no solo los derechos de las minorías si no cuando se meten con el suelo que tanto nos ha dado, esta es una  de esas situaciones. 

Luego de la obstrucción que se impuso el 4 de agosto de 2010, cuando  con lujo de Violencia fueron desalojados los lugareños, comerciantes, etc. sin tener alguien que pudiera evitar que sus derechos fueran atropellados, fue liberado el acceso a esta Bahía que se encontraba totalmente secuestrada, totalmente privatizada.

Tenacatita se encuentra a casi de 40 kilómetros de Barra de Navidad y a más de 200 kilómetros de Puerto Vallarta circulando por la carretera federal 200.

El  acceso a la playa de Tenacatita fue liberado  por autoridades estatales, luego de dos años y 10 meses en los que el empresario José María Andrés Villalobos, vicepresidente de la Concanaco, mantuvo cerrado el paso tomando un tramo de la carretera federal 200, apoyado en su momento por la administración de Emilio González Márquez.

La costa de Jalisco sufre un acelerado proceso de privatización de playas. Una de las últimas donde se obstruye el acceso es Careyitos, también en el municipio de La Huerta, donde empresarios ya han querido quedarse con la zona promoviendo el proyecto denominado Marina Careyes que implica además el dragado del estero para recibir embarcaciones. El proyecto se encuentra detenido.

Fuentes: http://www.lajornadajalisco.com.mx
                http://verdebandera.com.mx

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