Monday, March 29, 2010

Back Home And Boca

I am back home in Brooklyn and it is chilly, overcast, and drizzly. Kind of like when I first got to Puerto Vallarta, only about twenty-five degrees colder. Surprisingly, it is quieter here. You can't believe how loud the booming of the surf can be. And our place in Puerto Vallarta is on a street with a lot of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian.

There is also construction going on someplace nearby so there were trucks going up and down the street all day. Plus, although it is supposed to be a two-way street with no parking, the no parking regulations are never enforced so only one way traffic is possible. However the one way is both ways. There is an endless dance of cars and trucks backing up and maneuvering around each other. Surprisingly little horn-blowing, I must admit. I guess this dance is part of the culture here.

Kind of funny to be saying that in some ways it is more peaceful and quiet here in Brooklyn than it was in Puerto Vallarta. But, and please don't misunderstand me, in some ways only.

After our morning and early-afternoon in El Tuito the gang caught the bus back down to Boca de Tomatlan, the little village at the mouth of the Tomatlan river. As I have said many times before, this is one of my favorite little day trips when I visit Puerto Vallarta. If you catch the city bus directly here and don't take the El Tuito bus it costs less than a dollar each way. And it is an exciting ride of about half an hour. More exciting and less time if you holler "mas rapido" or "andale, andale" at the bus driver.

Once you get off the bus you have a fairly long walk down to the town. The road is cut into the side of the mountain and the town is at the mouth of the river.

Heading On Down


But when you can get fresh fish like this, who cares about the walk. Besides, it is the walk back up that is the killer.

We Took The Big One, Of Course


The don't even start the coals until you order your fish so there is always a bit of a wait. But hey, you don't come here for service that is "mas rapido." You come here for a leisurely afternoon. And if it takes awhile for the food to arrive, the buckets of beers and little treats that go with them show up plenty quick.

Marge And Jim Enjoying A Brewski


We got pretty good service because one of the waiters seemed to be a bit smitten with Valerie.

There Eyes Met Across The, Well, Sunlit Beach


This Waiter Didn't Wait


Okay, now don't get all excited. It was all in good fun and no unwanted advances were made. The staff here is most accomodating and willing to pose for the camera. (Valerie made me say that).

And then the fish arrived, and what a fish it was.

Done To Perfection, As Always


The Mysterious Chinese Woman immediately fell into a swoon.

At Least She Didn't Poof


And Then We All Fell Into Eating


Another delicious feast. We had, of course, the snapper, grilled and with their fantastic barbecue sauce, and then the restaurant's specialty, Mummy Shrimp and also their delicious coconut shrimp. Now I don't usually like coconut shrimp because in the United States most restaurants use that shredded coconut that comes in bags. Yuck, dry and stringy. But in Mexico they use something else altogether. The shreds are thicker, not nearly as dry, and quite tasty.

After our meal was over the waiters once again tempted us with their racilla. And who could refuse such generous hospitality?

Not Me And Marcie


Nor The Mysterious Chinese Woman


Carol Was Game


As Was Her Husband, Jim


Jim, The Other Jim, Of Course


And Valerie, Too


Bill, of course, said it tasted like gasoline and, worse yet, wasn't pink and didn't come with an unbrella. I can still here Bill as if he were sitting next to me: "How can you drink that stuff?"

At Least He Tasted It


I Think Jim's Wife, Marge, Just Sniffed


We had yet another great time at Boca and I am already looking forward to going back again next year. May this restaurant never change.

After we paid our bill and started to head up toward the bus a couple of the waiters came out and flagged me down to give me a tee-shirt.

How Nice Of Them


Just My Size


I gathered that this was to say thank-you for showing up at their restaurant three times during my stay and bringing a fair-sized crew with me each time. Either that or we grossly over-tipped.

After we got back a few of us stopped by my place for a few more hits of racilla out of the bottle that I bought the last time I was at Boca.

Never Say Die


And, you will be happy to know, Valerie made it back too.

With Her Honor Uncompromised


If you ever get to Puerto Vallarta, be sure to visit Boca de Tomatlan and stop at the restaurant with the yellow tablecloths.

And Yellow Tee-Shirts Too


Well, that is pretty much the end of our trip. I have a few shots from our last meal at Daiquiri Dick's to post and I will do that tomorrow.

As a vaguely related (last meal, Last Supper) aside, I just read that over the years the size of the plates and the amount of food depicted in paintings of the Last Supper have increased dramatically. I guess super-sizing affects everything.

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