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Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | My little brother (he's 6'3" and a deputy sheriff, I am 5'8" and a banker so "little" is relative) is taking me to Puerto Vallarta in December (he has a time share there).
I have a couple of questions since I am headed that way.
1) Would it be worthwhile to try and take along the Adamas. I started out dismissing it, but the thought of sitting on a Beach strumming guitar watching a sunset has some appeal to me.
2) While there, what sort of things should I look to buy that would represent both value and quality. I have heard the leather is good so thought of a strap or two.
Now, I am sure there will be a volley of "whitty" answers that will have to be waded through, so two weeks should be enough to filter out the useful from the non.
Thanks
Jeff |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | There's a bar there called Philo's (or is it Filo's??).
In there you'll find a cat there playing named Russ.
He's one of of "Us" (ScreenName "musicamex").
He LIVES in PuertoViagra!!! . . .
He's a VERY nice guy!!! and has a sh!tload of Ovations there!
(ONE of these days, I'll get t'make it there myself . . .)
Enjoy!!! |
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Location: NJ | (btw: the term is "witty") |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Bringing a guitar is an excellent idea. They were meant to be brought places. I'd worry about it if it was a really nice Adamas, but if you bring it to the beach in Oregon, why not!
When I go over seas, I used to bring my celebrity, and now I bring my tacoma papoose.
As to things to buy, I've never been to puerto vallarta, though I have been to Oaxaca and Sonora on the west coast. I like going to local markets and eating local food. You never know what you'll find. Maybe some of our hermano ovantionistas have some tips. Do they have pulqarias there, or is that just cental mexico? I'm pretty sure there are some Gringo members living down there, I believe at least one of them makes a living playing music. Do some web searches and look for local music shops. |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | I recently went to Cancun and found that the leather products were quite poor quality. I wouldn't bother to look for a guitar strap in Mexico. Also, you have to be careful of the prices at the tourist areas (like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, etc) as there not a lot of bargains to be found generally.
I did come back with some stuff though. Tequila (duh!) is very cheap in Mexico but you have to buy it where the locals shop. Some of the top brands of 100% agave (if the bottle does not clearly say 100%, don't buy it) are less than 1/2 the USA price. I also got some Cuban cigars to bring back for friends. I don't smoke them but they were much appreciated by those who do. |
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Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Everything you need to know and more is available from the good folks at The Puerto Vallarta Scene . You can get excellent maps and advice from The Insiders Guide To Puerto Vallarta. .
There are guitars to borrow (an O 'natch) at the local Friday (or is it Saturday?...they run together..) coffee (?!?!) house.
FINALLY! We're talking about something I know a bit about! ;)
There are good quality leather products about, but you won't find them where most of the tourists congregate. I have a leather sports bag from a factory near Guadalahara that's just starting gain that 'lived in' quality of an old english sportcar after 22 years.
(IMO, Cancun, Marina Vallarta, and all inclusive resorts are not IN Mexico, per se. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Russ gave me a mexican made wallet made out of goats hide that is just wonderful. Where has Russ been, anyway ??? |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by JeffreyD:
a volley of "whitty" answers I think you missed the 'S' key there.... |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I would recommend that you not take anything that you would be broken hearted to lose or have returned to you in damaged condition. When in Puerto Vallarta, be sure to get up into the hills and countryside. Open air jeeps and scooters are relatively cheap to rent. Almost everything is touristy these days, but if you're off the beaten track by 50 miles or so, you might find something interesting in the second hand shops. If you have money to spend, you can't go wrong on tequilla and fresh fish. If money is tight, forget the fish. |
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Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Thanks everyone, but Tequilla would be lost on me (don't drink). The rest of the advise is great and I will take it to heart. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Oh yeah! Take earplugs!
This applies as much to small hamlets as party towns like PV. In PV et al, it's the 2AM booming of Carlos & Charlies.
In the small towns, the church bell rings on the hour and half hour, which sets off the dogs, who wake up the roosters. Just as the barnyard is quieting down, the bell ringings out again. It's enough to make you a satanist...if you don't have the earplugs. |
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Location: NJ | Dave;
I had some e-maile xchanges w/Russ a while back.
He'd been over in Asia a while back doing some R&D on guitars & amps he's gonna be producing.
I designed a couple of logos for him.
Jeff, I serously suggest you connect w/Russ via e-mail or PM here beforehand as he can offer aLOT of local insight . . . and he's just a helluva good guy t'hook up with . . . |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I shot him a PM per your advice and we will see what happens. Since I am a tag-along with the bro and his in-laws, I may not have options, but will give it a whirl if I can pull it off. |
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Location: East Tennessee | I also have been to Cancun. I did not find any of the leather to be anything to rave about either.
Best advice I could give I got from a local tour guide.
"DO NOT PAY WHAT THEY ARE ASKING, HAGGLE WITH THEM". |
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Location: East Tennessee | Oops I forgot.
"DON'T DRINK THE WATER". |
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Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Jeff, you can bring tequila back for the rest of us then... :D
Actually, my Mom and stepdad have been to both Puerto and Cancun in the last three years - their review was that Cancun was WAY better than PV, as far as more upscale, nicer places, cheaper overall, etc. The fact that they are avid golfers and spent most of their time on the beach or golf course might have something to do with it.
Word to the wise, Mike is right - DON'T PAY ASKING PRICE!!! They expect to be haggled with, and will gladly take advantage of anyone witless enough to pay whatever they ask.
As far as souveniers, you pretty much have to get out of the "tourist" areas to find anything at a fair price that might be interesting. Otherwise, you could shop Puerto Vallarta online and save yourself the plane ticket. ;)
BTW, enjoy the trip, and bring back more sunshine! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | One Word... FISH TACOS!!!!
(ShutUp, Cliff!... and the rest of you UsualSuspects) |
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Posts: 1138
Location: CT | An Adamas in Mexico? No way man, Buy an Academy on eBay for less than 50 bucks. It's all plastic, what could be better? You don't need good sound serenading the seagulls. Plus you could paddle a canoe with it, and if it got busted or stolen, it would save you the hassle of schlepping it home. Or leave it on purpose, and put your new found loot in the empty case. |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Funny what memories are evoked when you mention "Don't pay asking price". In my 4 years in the Navy I visited many countries and found that the US is about the only one where haggling is not only expected, but in some countries it was considered an insult if you DID pay full asking price.
I was looking at a really nice suede leather full length coat in Spain. I picked the one I wanted and the seller that seemed to have the best quality stuff then........I was smart enough to go get a tenured old Master Chief and said "buy me that coat". In the end, he got two of the $80 asking price coats for $8 each (1976 dollars mind you).
So, when it comes to haggling....I am the best (at getting someone who knows how to do it that is).
Thanks again. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Gotta get in touch with Russ. Seeing a place through the eyes of a local is ALWAYS best. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Wife & I have never had trouble with the water, or street food for that matter. Dehydration is more of an issue than microbial bacteria.
Folks go to hot foreign country and sit in the sun drinking all day and eating rich food then get sick and blame the water.... 
Fish Tacos are more of a Baja cuisine. I think you'll have trouble finding them elsewhere.
Bartering is fun, haggling may not be...
It's a poker game, not a football game. |
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Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I thought bartering was trading goods versus haggling being negotiating a price on goods, but what do I know....I am from the South (well south of you anyway). |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Yeah, you're right. Wrong word selections (never done that before.) I meant that it's more fun and effective to bargain with a smile on your face than trying to belittle the merchant.
Which is not to say that I would ever buy without starting to walk for the door. It's a performance art. Like most North Americans, I wasn't comfortable learning to bargain/haggle with merchants. But I learned to do it effectively and have fun, not get tense about "being ripped off!"
But I seldom purchase my larger souveneers without bartering for a good while.
First sale of the day is important to some merchants, it's bad luck to some to let the first customer get away. So it helps that I'm usually on the street before most of the crowd. |
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Location: USA | just dont drink the water ;) |
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Location: ranson,wva | its kinda off topic but when i visited my friend aaron at camp pendleton he took me to a place called pedro's tacos..they had the best fish tacos ive ever had..jason |
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Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | There was a time when we could run with this Fish Taco thing but way to many members at this point. |
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January 2006
Posts: 1479
Location: Michigan | Haggling or Bartering , Heck all of you do it everyday , only you dont do it face to face you do it on your computer,
ITS CALLED ! E-BAY !
Good Luck & have a great time . GWB. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I lived in TX. Just alittle shopping advice. If the store's name is in English, don't bother.
You want to get off the beaten tourist path. And it helps if you si habla espanol muy pecito. Alot, but not all, of the locals will speak alittle english. As for leather, in the El Paso/Juarez area, Mexicans come over here for affordable shoes. I'm not of that further south. But definitely...
Get Out Of Downtown Tourist-Land. |
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Travel to Mexico