Kathy & Eric's travels: A day with Merv & Monica at the Riu Vallarta Hotel.

Tuesday February 14, 2012

We hopped out of bed early for us and hit the road to see Merv & Monica about 8:30 a.m. We needed to get there between 9 and 10 am in order not miss breakfast. As the highway between here and Puerto Vallarta is a two lane windy highway you never know how long the trip will take!

One of the first little towns you hit is loaded with topes (speed bumps) and the traffic grinds to a very slow pace….well except for the Mexicans passing. It is very dangerous for the local people to cross the highway and passing just makes it more so.

We followed the truck in front ….we think it was loaded with white beans as they were bouncing out all over the highway….and didn’t break our windshield! The truck behind was loaded as well but we made pretty good time.

As we were driving along the highway through Bucerias right before our turn off to the Nuevo Vallarta hotel district I spotted this gal! Now you tell me….am I supposed to look like that before, or after I join the gym!

Merv met us at the front gate when we arrived at the hotel and showed us where to park the truck. We were checked in at the front desk and were amazed at the grandeur of the lobby. We have never been into one of the these large all inclusive hotels so it was all new to us. The first thing the young Mexican on the desk wanted was a picture I.D. from both of us. Eric wouldn’t give up his driver’s license and I didn’t have mine with me. We offered our tourist visas but he didn’t like that. Merv just smiled and said “Go talk to the boss!” No problemo. Merv paid a huge fee for our 5 hour passes and with bracelets we were on our way. We were totally unprepared for the cost. Off to Merv and Monica’s room and then to breakfast.

Their room is on the 8th floor in the centre of the hotel so they have a great view of the ocean from a beautiful balcony and an extremely nice room. The room is stocked with a help your self bar and beer is delivered every day if you have emptied your fridge. Your liver could really take a beating on a long stay.

This is a shot towards Puerto Vallarta from the 8th floor landing. Impressive. Monica told us they could also use one of the adjacent Riu hotels as well. All of the services including liquor, food etc. are included and I can see that for a two or three week vacation it would be an option for many people especially woman who do all the cooking! Eric didn’t think it was something he would do. Too many people!

We had to hurry to the large breakfast dining room as it closed at 10am. A huge amount of food and many people eating. We loaded up and enjoyed a really good meal…..and now off to the beach.

Merv had been down to the beach early that morning to reserve chairs right on the shore line. What a guy.

A cloudy day but still nice and warm with quite a few people in the water.

That’s Merv and Monica in front with Eric, Merv’s Uncle Ray and Brad Schultz who just retired from Telus on the Queen Charlotte Islands in the back. The poor guy has an abscessed tooth and just got back from the dentist (who was in the local mall by the grocery store) who told him he couldn’t go in the sun while he was taking the antibiotics that he had given him. How rude is that!

Merv, Eric, Brad and Uncle Ray.

Merv and Eric.

By 1pm we had to trot back to the dining room for lunch! Another big meal and I must admit it is a bit like a cattle feed lot with that many people eating! We were just one of the herd! Good food but I would get mighty fat after two weeks at the trough! We had to hurry and eat and be back for check out by 3pm or they would charge Merv a hefty fee for another 1/2 day. A whirlwind day!

This gorgeous arrangement was in the lobby.

Look at these happy people after a quick day together. Thanks Merv and Monica….we had a really nice visit. Funny how you have to go 3000 miles to visit with people you hardly ever see at home.

Now it was off to the Mega for a little shopping and the drive home.