One of the main reasons I moved here was because I could smoke almost anywhere. OKAY, the main reasons were that it was warm and cheap. Still after living in California where there is no smoking on the beach, many sidewalks and certainly nowhere inside. There are even non smoking condos and apartment buildings. So, being able to smoke in any bar seemed like Paradise for me. There were a few bars and restaurants (high end mainly) that had non smoking signs, but I avoided them.
After a couple of years, a few more restaurants and bars posted No Smoking signs. This should have given me a view of the future. I knew that several years before I moved here the Federal Government passed a no smoking law. It was just ignored. No surprise here; I have yet to discover a law here that the Mexicans don't ignore. I asked a few bar owners and they said that since Puerto Vallarta was tourist destination, they would not enforce the law here. I was happy.
Then one day at the restaurant where I play bridge they posted "No fumar" sign in their patio. I had never smoked under the covered area where we played bridge for I knew the other members would fuss. But this was a huge patio open to the beach. I said, "You have got to be kidding!" Nope! they were not. If I wanted a cigarette I would have to stand on the sidewalk. The patio picture shows this now almost empty restaurant.
A few weeks later I stopped after bridge at Apache's for a much needed margarita. It was the height on the season and all of the outdoor tables and chairs were taken. Not spotting anyone I knew, I moved inside to sit at the bar where I was told that there was no smoking inside anymore. The owner told me that the cigarette police had been there and it was a 50,000 peso fine for smoking inside, but she said I could still smoke outside. I re scanned the tables and spotted someone I vaguely knew. Cigarette in hand I moved toward the table and asked if I could bring up a chair. Someone I did not know said, "I would rather you not smoke, I am allergic to it" I felt like saying "Then you move inside and I will take your chair" But I did not and lowering my head slunk away.
Another evening I was talking to Endra, the co-owner of Apache's (and a woman not to be messed with) and she told me that they tried to stop smoking at the sidewalk tables because there was an awning. She made a big scene and said, " So, are you going to arrest people walking along the sidewalk with a cigarette in hand?" She insisted that since it was an area open on three sides people should be allowed to smoke. Later I heard that the "cigarette czar" wanted to fine her just for being so obnoxious.. Several weeks later I was seated outside and saw Endra standing in the doorway with a cigarette in hand. I told her she should step onto the sidewalk or the "cigarette police" would arrest her. She took a big drag on her cigarette, turned into the bar and blew a big puff of smoke inside.. She also told me that they were working their way through the town hitting all the bars and restaurants. So, I was quite shocked one day when passing my favorite bar "Un bar Frida" to find ash trays on the bar. That owner told me that none of the gendarmes had stopped there, so as far as he was concerned he knew nothing about the law.
So far (over a month later) it is the only bar I know that still has smoking. The government has hired 200 extra cigarette police to monitor all the establishments in Vallarta. Sooner or later I knew that they would win. So I decided to go to the electronic cigarette. Which I understand they are also trying to ban in the United States even though no smoke or tar is emitted. They still sell guns to crazy people who blow away schools, but an electronic cigarette is a No, No, CNN just had a story about a teenager who was sent to prison for 30 years for selling some pot brownies. The law makers in the U.S. are nuts. (another reason I left). I went to the one Smoke Shop in town, but found they only had one style. As is typical here, the owner was extremely rude and unfriendly (they are the worst businessmen in the world). The only electronic cigarette he carried was the kind where you have to carry little bottles of tobacco liquid to refill it. I had done some investigation and learned that these cigarettes are not only cumbersome to use, but could be dangerous (do not know why). So I kept asking people who had them (most brought them from the U.S. or Canada) But one guy at bridge told me to go to the wine shop at Los Mercados.
Nina is the American shop owner and is a heavy smoker. She had done some research and found a company in Mexico City that had the good ones that come with a package of cartridges. For some reason they cannot be shipped from the U.S. Surely Mexico is not worried about drugs being sent into the country from the United States. Anyway she told me to go online and pick the kit that I wanted. The kits ranged from 900 to 2,200 pesos (not cheap at all). The extra pack of five cartridges is another 189 pesos. You also have to select the level of tobacco and the flavor. Yes, they not only come in mint, but chocolate and pina colada. I went for Absolute Tobacco. I gave her the money, she added no extra charge and waited for her to call and tell me the package had arrived.
Five days later my package arrived. It is a cute little case and easy to figure out. The main part is the battery which you can plug into a socket or your computer to recharge it. Then there is a package of five cartridges you screw into the main part. I tried it and did not really fine it that satisfying. For a couple of weeks, I just kept it next to my computer so when I felt the need for some nicotine, I just pick it up and take a drag on it. I do not smoke inside my apartment, so it was easier than moving to the balcony or deck. Finally I took it to one of the nonsmoking bars. "
****************************************
