Puerto Vallarta? Yes, please!

Total miles driven: 2,361
Times we've been pulled over: 3

My crystal ball prediction was correct. We have been pulled over by the policia a total of 3 times. Twice when I was driving, once when Dinh was driving. The last 2 were within a half hour of each other. In our defense, we didn't give the cops any reason to pull us over. The fact that we have California plates was enough. Now that we are farther from the US border, the cops look at us more suspiciously , which I understand. There's a possibility that we are driving a stolen vehicle. 
After accusing us of absurd violations, it was obvious that they wanted a bribe. Once again, a flash of Dinh's police badge allowed us to continue along on our journey without forking over any pesos . Thank Dios for that badge!!

So far, I would have to say that my favorite coastal city in Mexico would be Puerto Vallarta. The town seems to have their stuff together. It felt safe, so we didn't have to worry about our car parked on the street outside of our hotel. The touristy parts of town are kept very clean. We stayed in the "romantic zone" or "viejo Vallarta", which is definitely the place to be. It has quaint cobblestone streets, houses with Tuscany-like tiled roofs and stores that looked like they have a real history to them. We took a morning to explore the windy roads heading towards the mountain. We witnessed locals going about their daily grind outside their cute artsy houses. 

The whole city is very artsy , paying close attention to details, which really pays off. Murals on the walls, carefully laid sidewalk art and artists intently working on their masterpieces. There is no shortage of crafts in this town. Also, the city is very gay friendly.

The best part about Puerto Vallarta is their boardwalk. Lining the beach, it creates an entertaining atmosphere with it's dazzling clubs, sculptures and stores.

The time passed quickly as Dinh and I walked it twice daily . Spray paint artists captured our attention, as well as the other art work that speckled the boardwalk. 
Huge fancy clubs line the strip. My eyes sparked with amazement as I stared at the clubs like a kid in a candy store. Their facades are very inviting, with enormously tall ceilings and over-the-top lavish decor. 

Not a great pic, but you can get the idea

One club named "Zoo" had cages nestled in between trees with a big giraffe greeting you at the entrance. A very African feel. Another club had ginormous sparkly chandeliers and velvet couches, creating a New York City vibe. 
They were all extremely impressive and looked very new. There was only one problem. They were all empty , desperate for customers. 
Workers attempted to con passerby's in with quirky sayings like "Taste it, don't waste it" and "free tequila shots for you!" Loud music pumped through their speakers and feel-good tropical scents were sprayed into the sea salty air to lure customers in. 
It seemed like a perfect location for a bachelorette party. A place where you could really go wild.
Among these flashy clubs were plentiful shops, selling everything from bikinis to maracas. Tourist prices included. 
Walking along the boardwalk one rainy afternoon, I saw a local man carrying a teeny tiny dog. I cooed at it and, without asking, he placed the sleeping puppy in my hands. It was TOO cute!!!! I almost died, it was so cute. The pup was so young, his eyes weren't even open yet.

One day as we were perambulating through town, we stopped at a barber shop to get Dinh's hair cut. A very nice man named Pablo cut his hair with expertise while he told us a little about himself. He loved to fish and he had 3 girls. The best part of traveling is getting to know the locals.  

The bill came to a pea sized $4 ! Over the next couple of days, we kept running into Pablo on the street, in the grocery store and while walking by his shop. A friendly "Hola, amigo!" was exchanged between us each time. 

Another afternoon, we were approached by a charming local girl named Jasmine. She was trying to sell us fake flowers. We saw her mom, a lady wearing traditional clothing, sitting a few feet from her. We were intrigued, so we decided to strike up a conversation with her. 
They belonged to a tribe from Oaxaca. We were both interested in talking to her since we planned to go to Oaxaca. She had 3 children. 
After a warm conversation with her, I bought an overpriced pen from her, decorated to look like a little girl with pig tails. It was cute and I thought my niece would like it. I didn't barter because I knew her family was probably hurting for the cash. I agreed to her price and then asked if I could take a picture with her.

So overall, Puerto Vallarta is pretty swell and my top pick for "best coastal town" thus far, with Mazatlan being a close 2nd!!