VISITING SAN SEBASTIÁN DEL OESTE—An Old Pueblo Mágico

     Jon and I have talked for years about visiting San Sebastián del Oeste, a 400 to 500-year-old Pueblo Mágico (a Mexican Magic Town) in the Sierra Madre mountains of Jalisco state. We decided it was a good time to go now that the rains have stopped and before the weather turns too cool in the mountains. I convinced Jon to take an all-day, all-inclusive tour for our first visit to this charming town and we were glad we did.

San Sebastián del Oeste's Plaza and Cathedral's Bell Tower

     Our first stop was Panadería Carmen’s Bakery. Jon and I shared one pastry, a flaky jam-filled empanada, and it was delicious. We wished we would have shared one more! The courtyard and gardens there were beautiful and relaxing.

Jon Talking to the Birds at Panadería Carmen's Bakery

     I was amazed at the mature banana tree and its 2-foot long bunch of bananas, some of the fruit from the bottom already harvested. Jon talked to the pair of parrots for a while but they were busy building a nest inside a gourd so weren’t too interested in talking. We’d like to go back to Carmen’s bakery again.

How did this Banana Tree NOT Fall Down!

     La Quinta Mary (The Fifth Mary in the family) coffee roaster was our second rest stop. We had a tour of the edge of the plantation where our guide gave us an education on café de altura (coffee of the highlands), coffee roasting, and the family history. It was very interesting to learn that the citrus trees planted interspersed with the coffee plants provide a natural insect repellant for the coffee berries—organic farming.

Coffee Roaster at La Quinta Mary

Beautiful Macaws in the Aviary at La Quinta Mary

     The four macaws were screeching furiously when the group of tourists passed by, possibly looking for attention or hoping someone would feed them. Jon came up to their aviary and started “talking” to them in macaw language and they settled down immediately. Jon is a “bird whisperer”. As he continued to mimic them, they looked at him, stretched, and nonchalantly started to preen. One even closed her eyes and took a nap, hypnotized by Jon’s crooning.

Blue Agave Plants, Years from Maturity

     We stopped at a blue agave field for a look and education on growing the plants and making tequila, raicilla, and mezcal, distilled products of agave in the state of Jalisco. Our tour guide smilingly promised tequila tasting later in the day.

     After we arrived in the village, once a thriving silver and gold mining town established in 1605, we toured the Casa Museo Doña Conchita Encarnación museum, the beautiful cathedral which was constructed starting in 1608, and the Casa de La Cultura (House of Culture). Then we were free to wander around the plaza and along cobblestone roads to admire the old adobe and brick buildings and to shop. I enjoyed the cooler, dry mountain air in San Sebastian del Oeste while Jon admired the old architecture.

Touring Casa Museo de Doña Conchita Encarnación

Town and Family History Inside the Museum

Inside the Beautiful San Sebastian Cathedral

Casa de La Cultura Courtyard and Mural

Quaint Architecture and Cobblestone

Very Old Adobe and Stone Architecture

      The San Sebastian del Oeste plaza was beautiful and peaceful, a complete contrast to Sayulita’s, the Pueblo Mágico where we lived for six years. We wondered what it would be like on a Saturday evening with live music and lovers strolling hand in hand.

San Sebastian del Oeste's Peaceful, Pretty Plaza

     Our last stop was for lunch and tequila tasting at Hacienda Don Lalin, a small distillery and brewery. The multi-course, freshly prepared lunch was traditional Mexican food served family-style with six to eight people sharing a table. We enjoyed getting to know travelers from Britain and Michigan while we dined. Finally, it was time for tequila tasting. We loved the almond tequila and chocolate-coffee flavored tequila, which would be delicious over ice cream or ice with milk for a dessert.

Hacienda Don Lalin Tequila Tasting

     We booked our tour with Vallarta Adventures and recommend them. Having a friendly, knowledgeable guide who is bilingual and a good driver to expertly handle those windy mountain roads made it worth the price. One note for future tours—the instructions did not mention using insect repellent against the no-see-ums, but we had itchy, red evidence of their bites the next day. We were glad we had worn long pants, socks, and shoes as our legs and feet were spared the invisible insect attacks.

     It was a worthwhile day-tour. Even Jon agreed.

     Thank you for reading my blog articles and books. As a self-published author on Amazon, I love it when readers leave a brief review of my books to help others find them. I invite you to SIGN UP for my Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico Newsletter, published monthly with stories about our latest adventures, my recent blog articles, and news about my books.

     If you’d like to take a look at my recent newsletter, you can read it HERE.

     Happy reading and traveling! Stay safe and healthy. 

     Terry

Terry L Turrell, Author

OUR 12 FAVORITE PUERTO VALLARTA RESTAURANTS--So Far! (Part 2)

 Wine Selection, Quality, and Temperature are Factors

Cheers! Many More Restaurants to Try😄

     We have three more Puerto Vallarta restaurants to add to our Favorites List. Did I mention that I don’t list our favorite restaurants in any specific order? We just like them all, but for different reasons.

     I thought Jon and I might be able to call ourselves “foodies” until I researched the definition and decided we’re not foodies because we aren’t gourmets, don’t know food pairings, and aren’t able to properly cook. But that’s why we like to dine in good restaurants and we do fit these criteria, “Always have a restaurant recommendation, eat healthy food, and have a taste for wine.”😀

     So here are three more of our restaurant recommendations with healthy food and a good wine selection. Jon leans toward Vino Espumoso (Sparkling Wine) by the glass during the hot weather or a good margarita on the rocks. My new favorite is Pinot Grigio by the glass because it’s refreshing and goes well with seafood, chicken, and most foods I choose.

Part 1 of this series can be viewed HERE.

4. La Dolce Vita

     The Malecón location of La Dolce Vita has been a favorite of ours for years, starting long before we moved to Puerto Vallarta. We often go there when we are taking a walk and want the ocean view. This is our favorite Italian restaurant. Now they have a new location on Basilio Badillo that we like just as much except it doesn’t have the ocean view. It’s close to our condo in Colonia Emiliano Zapata, so it’s a good choice when we want to walk a shorter distance to dinner.

Chicken Parmigiana with Fettucine Alfredo

     For a long time, we were stuck on pizza here—it’s so good! Recently, we tried the Pollo alla Parmigiana (Chicken breast with crusty parmesan cheese) and a side of Fettucine Alfredo. It was delicious. With a shared salad to start, this meal was plenty to share.

5. Azafrán Restaurante Bar

Pechuga de Pollo Rellena Azafrán (Stuffed Chicken Breast)

     I’ve often thought that this restaurant should be rated higher on TripAdvisor. (I gave them a 5-Star rating on that important site.) Though Azafrán is located on Olas Altas in Old Town, it’s a bit off the beaten path so it doesn’t get as much notice from walking traffic as some restaurants. We walk by it often and were enticed by the beautiful dining room and intriguing menu. Open-air dining on the terrace is nice, also, offering a great people-watching view. The European Fusion salads, main courses, and desserts offer a wonderful change from the plentiful Mexican and Italian food in Puerto Vallarta.

Jon's Ribeye Steak with Grilled Potatoes

     I highly recommend this restaurant! The food, service, and setting are wonderful. My Pechuga de Pollo Rellena Azafrán (Chicken breast stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, served with risotto) was so good, I’ve had it on two occasions. Jon said his Ribeye Steak was great! The Apple Beignets, made here, served with Vanilla Ice Cream are a must. This is one of our new favorite dinner restaurants when we don’t want to walk too far to and from dinner but want a delicious, healthy meal. The menu changes occasionally, so we’ll have to visit again soon to see what’s new.

Outside View of the Restaurant/Bar from Our Table

6. La Cappella

     La Cappella is one we reserve for special occasions. The setting is wonderful on the upper floor of an old chapel behind the famous cathedral, Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. The food, wine list, and service are exceptionally good. It’s a little expensive, so we only go there once or twice a year. Maybe our upcoming anniversary will be a good opportunity to make a reservation for a front-row seat.

Celebrating Jon's Birthday at La Cappella Restaurant

     The restaurant’s website describes it so well, I’ll quote it. “La Cappella is an open-air restaurant that overlooks the city of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay and serves contemporary Italian Cuisine, reveling in violin music, in an elegant but informal ambiance. A full bar and wine list are also available. House specialty cocktails take advantage of local fruits, herbs, and spices to create a uniquely enticing selection.” 

Wood-Fired Salmon with Baby Potatoes and Vegetables

     Hmmm, I notice we tend toward Italian restaurants. If only there were more good Asian restaurants… I do miss Chinese food here.

     Links for Parts 1 Through 4 of Our 12 Favorite Puerto Vallarta Restaurants Can be Found Below:

Part 1 https://retirementbeforetheageof59.blogspot.com/2021/10/our-12-favorite-puerto-vallarta.html

Part 2 https://retirementbeforetheageof59.blogspot.com/2021/11/our-12-favorite-puerto-vallarta.html

Part 3 https://retirementbeforetheageof59.blogspot.com/2021/12/our-12-favorite-puerto-vallarta.html

Part 4 https://retirementbeforetheageof59.blogspot.com/2022/01/our-12-favorite-puerto-vallarta.html

Enjoy!

Have you read my Healthy Living in Mexico 5-eBook series? Available in all Amazon markets. Free with Kindle Unlimited.

Healthy Living in Mexico on Amazon

     Thank you for reading my blog articles and books. As a self-published author on Amazon, I love it when readers leave a brief review of my books to help others find them. 

     I invite you to SIGN UP for my Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico newsletter, published monthly with stories about our latest adventures, my recent blog articles, and news about my books. If you’d like to take a look at my recent newsletter, you can read it HERE.

     Happy reading and traveling! Stay safe and healthy.

     Terry L Turrell, Author

See My Amazon Author Page HERE

Terry L Turrell, Author

END OF LIFE PLANNING WHILE LIVING OR TRAVELING ABROAD (Part 1)--Particularly in México

Planning for Death While Abroad 

     What happens if we die while visiting or living abroad? What do we do if a loved one dies while in México? These are not comfortable thoughts but are important to plan for. This is Part 1 of the End of Life articles, planning for death while living or traveling abroad, particularly in México.

     Jon and I recently attended Pamela Thompson’s End of Life talk and found the information to be very helpful. Pam has many years of experience with health care and is the Patient Service Coordinator at Sanmaré Clinic in Puerto Vallarta. She also has a great deal of experience aiding with the process of death at Hospital Joya, sadly a common occurrence during COVID-19.

     Pam has helped us make appointments with doctors, dentists, and surgeons, appointments for lab tests, ultrasound, and MRIs, and provided information about eye care and eyeglasses. We've found her services to be priceless. Many foreigners agree.

Pam Thompson's Sanmaré Checkup Tour Video

      With Pamela Thompson's permission, I have summarized Pam’s talk and added some points of my own. Part 1 includes steps to take before death. Part 2 will be steps for your spouse or another family member to take after your death. Some of this information is specific to Puerto Vallarta, but most steps below are very important regardless of what country or area you travel to or live in.

1. Register with your home country consulate

U.S. Citizens: United States STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program)

A SERVICE OF THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS

U.S. Department of State link: https://step.state.gov/

               ·       Set up an account: Allow plenty of time and patience! This is a typical                            government site—it took me three attempts.

·       Register your travel plans and/or address in Mexico

·       Register your emergency contact (a designated family member other           than your travel partner)

·       Register your travel partner or spouse

     Jon and I were elated when we finally succeeded and received this STEP Enrollment email. But really, we had only completed Step 1 of this planning process. There’s more work to be done.

Step 1 Success: STEP Enrollment Email Received

            Canadian Citizens: Registration of Canadians Abroad

     2. Secure your important documents in your home safe. Give a designated family member a key or code to the safe so they will be able to manage the required Mexican procedures after your death.

              ·       Codes and passwords for computers, phones, email, etc.

·       Real estate escritura (deed) which states beneficiaries. A Mexican will is not necessary unless you have assets besides real estate such as a bank account.

·       Instructions for cremation or burial, written and signed by you. (Having a witness sign this document might be wise.)

·       Passport

·       Will prepared by an attorney in your home country

·       Marriage certificate, if applicable

·      Your personal information including a copy of your residency card, Mother’s and Father’s complete names, and where they were born (city, state, country) which will be needed to obtain the death certificate at the Civil Registry

             ·     A plan for pet care after your death

Planning for Death at Celis Funeral Home

     3. Whether cremation or burial in México is desired, visit your local funeral home to make plans. In Puerto Vallarta, Pam Thompson recommends Celis Funeral Home to arrange this and prepay. The cost of cremation at Celis is currently $1050 USD (non-refundable). Celis works closely with Pam and Clinic Sanmare to deal with the bureaucracy of death in México. (If death is due to COVID-19, cremation is required within 24 hours.)

     4. Preparing a plan for pet care after your death is very important. Write the instructions out and put them in your safe.

     5. Let your designated family member know about your plans and desires after death and the location of your safe.

     I recommend, from my personal experience with my mother’s estate, that you leave sufficient cash in the safe so that family members can deal with necessary expenses, including tips to Mexicans who assist them with procedures and paperwork after your death.

     Part 2 of this End of Life series has been published. Thank you, Pamela Thompson, for your helpful summary, which finally got us motivated to take the above steps. This will help our spouses and other family members after we die in México and give us peace of mind now.

Healthy Living in Mexico Book #3

     Have you read Living In Mexico Lessons Learned: Healthy Living in Mexico #3? This is my most popular book this month, ranking highly in Amazon’s Mexican Travel (Kindle) category, thanks to many readers downloading it and leaving great reviews. Available worldwide, it’s FREE with kindleunlimited.

     I invite you to SIGN UP for my Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico Newsletter, published monthly, más o menos, with stories about our latest adventures, my recent blog articles, and news about my books. If you’d like to take a look at my recent newsletter, you can read it HERE.

     Thank you for reading my blog articles and books. As a self-published author on Amazon, I love it when readers leave a brief review of my books to help others find them.

Terry L Turrell, Author

     Happy reading and traveling! Stay safe and healthy.

     Cheers

     Terry

Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico Facebook Page

OUR 12 FAVORITE PUERTO VALLARTA RESTAURANTS--So Far! (Part 1)

 And So Many More to Try!

A Taste of Europe in Puerto Vallarta

     One of the reasons we love Puerto Vallarta is the huge selection of quality restaurants. TripAdvisor claims there are 1000 restaurants in PV and I’m sure that doesn’t include all of the taco stands. We’ll be busy trying to get to all of them!

     We live in the Romantic Zone, also called Old Town, so we can walk to hundreds of great restaurants. Going out for dinner is one of our favorite excuses to take our daily walk, often getting two to three miles recorded on our Fitbits by the time we walk to and from a restaurant, plus fifteen to twenty minutes of aerobic minutes walking up the hills.

     My criteria for a favorite restaurant are delicious food for a fair price, good wine, a pleasant ambiance, and a clean restroom. I’m convinced that if the restroom is clean and well-stocked with soap, running water, toilet paper, and paper towels, then the employees wash their hands and the kitchen is also clean, probably. Some of the restaurants here are starting to add grab bars next to the toilets for the elderly and handicapped. We don’t need those yet, but the day will come, so I make a mental note of which restaurants have added these though they aren’t required by law.

1. Kaiser Maximilian

    When we’re hungry for something besides Mexican food, and we want a peaceful, air-conditioned dining room on a hot, humid evening, Kaiser Maximilian is frequently our choice. An Austrian bistro with an Austrian menu, it offers a nice variety from beef to vegetarian and an extensive wine list in addition to the full bar. Seated in our corner table, the photo behind us of Vienna, Austria is a beautiful backdrop for our dining experience and memory photo.

     The beef tenderloin I ordered was wonderful. Jon enjoyed their rack of lamb—again. Next time we go for dinner, I want to try the pan-roasted duck breast, or maybe their version of “Wienerschnitzel”. So much variety to choose from! And one of these days, we’ll go to Kaiser Maximilian for breakfast—I’m on a quest to find the best Eggs Benedict in Puerto Vallarta.

One of Kaiser Maximilian's Pleasant Dining Rooms

Yummy Dessert at Kaiser Maximilian

2. No Se Nada

     No Se Nada is one of our favorite restaurants for Mexican food. The food, service, and ambiance are wonderful. Photos are helpful, but this one needs to be experienced to fully appreciate what a gem it is. No wonder it’s rated #8 of 1000 restaurants in PV!

We Started with this Healthy, Nicely-Presented Salad

I Enjoyed Chef Jonathan's Special Pork Chop

Jon had the Beef Dish, Beautifully Presented and Tasty

It was Fun to Watch Our Chefs Work in their Clean Kitchen

Jon And I Look Forward to Returning to No Se Nada

3. De Cantaro

De Cantaro Restaurant's Sign

     When it’s Jon’s turn to choose a restaurant for the evening, he often chooses De Cantaro, an open-air pub with delicious food grilled over a wood fire. He usually orders the grilled half chicken and always enjoys it. My shrimp tacos were especially good—and inexpensive. They are listed as an appetizer but the three tacos are a meal for me. The shrimp are grilled rather than fried making them healthier. These were served in blue corn tortillas which are tougher so they don’t fall apart while eating the tacos. Maybe I’ll try the grilled octopus next time.

Jon's Grilled Chicken and Espumoso

Shrimp Tacos with Blue Corn Tortillas

     Links for Parts 1 Through 4 of Our 12 Favorite Puerto Vallarta Restaurants Can be Found Below:

Part 1 https://retirementbeforetheageof59.blogspot.com/2021/10/our-12-favorite-puerto-vallarta.html

Part 2 https://retirementbeforetheageof59.blogspot.com/2021/11/our-12-favorite-puerto-vallarta.html

Part 3 https://retirementbeforetheageof59.blogspot.com/2021/12/our-12-favorite-puerto-vallarta.html

Part 4 https://retirementbeforetheageof59.blogspot.com/2022/01/our-12-favorite-puerto-vallarta.html

Enjoy!

Healthy Living in Mexico Book #3

     Have you read Living In Mexico Lessons Learned: HealthyLiving in Mexico #3? This is my most popular book this month, #6 in Amazon’s Mexican Travel (Kindle) category, thanks to many readers downloading it and leaving great reviews. Available worldwide, it’s FREE with kindleunlimited.

     Thank you for reading my blog articles and books. As a self-published author on Amazon, I love it when readers leave a brief review of my books to help others find them. I invite you to SIGN UP for my Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico Newsletter, published monthly with stories about our latest adventures, my recent blog articles, and news about my books.

     If you’d like to take a look at my recent newsletter, you can read it HERE.

Happy reading and traveling! Stay safe and healthy.

Terry L Turrell, Author