LOS JARDINES DE BOTANICOS

Since most of my posting are about problems I encounter living in Mexico, I thought I would write something on a lighter note.  The Botanical Gardens are one of the many good things about living in Vallarta.   I wrote about them a couple of times before a few years ago (but most of you will not remember anyway).  Also it was the first time I went there right after some heavy rains.

Friends of mine from San Diego were in town and they came up with the idea.  I was delighted especially since I love showing it off to new people.  The bus leaves from the corner of my block.  It leaves about every 30 minutes and the cost is only twenty pesos (about $1.50).  It takes a little over a half hour on the road along the coast.  Out of the bus window you get wonderful views of the Pacific Coast.  We pass Mismaloya and several other hotels and mansions along the coast.   Then cuts inland at Boca, and climbs into the mountains.  The property was purchased about seven or eight years ago, by an American who raised the money through donations.  It is quite beautiful and covers hundreds of acres.  The cost to enter has gone from 45 pesos to 60 pesos (everything is going up here).

There are many trails taking you though the jungle of palms, ferns and orchids.  The trails can be treacherous and I would advise wearing tennis shoes.  There are several small streams that lead into a river at the bottom of the valley.  Oddly many of the blooming plants I remembered where not in bloom, but the greenery is gorgeous.  One in particular was the jade vine, which has a flower that does not look natural for it is an iridescent  blue green.   The river can be viewed from the restaurant.  The climb down is difficult, and the trip back up out of the canyon is grueling.

 The restaurant sits atop a hill with a view over the vast gardens.  It is quite lovely and the food is good too.  They have added some bird feeders of fresh fruit and many beautiful birds greedily fought for the food.  My camera had a hard time catching a shot of them.  Every time I opened the camera the birds flew away (camera shy, I guess).  There were blue birds and lots of black ones with brilliant yellow wings (orioles, maybe)   I was also disappointed in the new Orchid Conservatory.  It has been under construction for four years and although the structure is lovely, but the plan display of orchids is pitiful.  Hopefully they are not through with it.  There were many more orchids in a display where you could buy them.

Like most things in Mexico it does have it's down side.  Having been there before I knew to coat myself with mosquito repellent.  I used a cream first then followed with a spray and wore a long sleeve shirt and tennis shoes with calf length socks.  Alas, it did not work.  We all think that the bites occurred while we waited half an hour at the bus stop.  You could see them buzzing around.  I was not prepared for what I discovered when I got home.  My legs with covered with more than twenty bites. The long sleeve shirt protected my arms, so they bit my knuckles.   One even bit my ankle right through the sock.  Still it is a worth while trip that I would recommend, but take along a better bug spray.

was very sparse.  Many they are not through with it yet (I hope so)