Puerto Vallarta - Exploring Town (Malecón)

We woke up the next morning and decided to head to town to find something to eat and do some exploring.  On the way into town we walked down the Boardwalk (Malecón), which is bordered on one side by shops and restaurants and the other side by ocean.  On the beach, there were around 10 of the most elaborate sand sculptures I'd ever seen.

One of the highlights of the Malecón are the bronze sculptures located along the boardwalk. The Bay of Banderas provides a brilliant backdrop for these works of art. The sculptures are the creation of various sculptors from across the globe.  Angel de Esperanza (called Angel of Hope in English) is an evocative statue stands a few feet behind the columned arches of Los Arcos (below) . The original sculpture washed away in the huge Hurricane Kenna of 2002. The sculptor, Puerto Vallarta native Hector Montes Garcia, replaced his work in 2007, making it one of the newest sculptures of the Malecon. The inscription on the statue reads: "Angel of Hope and Messenger of Peace. Always with the hope of Welfare and Equality for all, Wisdom, Love, and above all Peace to all Mankind." (source)

The sculpture below is a ladder with two bronze children climbing up it with a figure, presumed to be their mother, calling to them from the ground. The sculpture appeared in 1990 and generated much controversy. It was created by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante entitled "In Search of Reason". (source)

Italian artist Carlos Esprino is the sculptor behind "Triton and Nereida", two mermaid lovers forever reaching for each other (below). The sculpture took its place on the Malecón in 1990. Originally Triton was to hold a trident in his hand, but to this day its location is a mystery. Triton is the son of Neptune. His partner, Nereida, is the daughter of Doris and Nereo. (source)

The whimsical sea inspired high back chairs (below) are the work of Guadalajara native Alejandro Colunga. This installation made its debut on the Malecón in 1997. One chair is crowned by an octopus and another by what may be a seahorse. One of the original chairs surrendered to the forces of Hurricane Kenna and was replaced with a stunning replacement that appropriately pays homage to the strength of the sea.  (source)

There are also some giant ears, which provided for a great photo op.

Not all the sculptures were bronze.  This one was human.

The Los Arcos Amphitheater is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in and around Puerto Vallarta. Los Arcos Amphitheater is also known as Aquiles Serdan Theater and is comprised of four stone arches which have become a symbol of the city of Puerto Vallarta.

There were also a few gorgeous churches in the area.  Standing proudly over the Zocalo, the city’s oceanside central plaza, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, with it’s famous crown is the focal point of the skyline. It is a symbol of Puerto Vallarta known throughout the world.

There was also a smaller parish church a few blocks away.

Other sites around town included street fairs and vendors.

Hotels.

Clock towers.

Fountains.

Cool old buildings.

Neighborhood cats.

Rivers

Pavilions.

Braided trees.

And cow chairs, of course.

And after all that exploring, it was time for another margarita!

By this time we were dying of heat stroke, so we headed back to the hotel for some pool time.

Followed by more margaritas...

And more margaritas... 

And a few more margaritas. 

Cheers!

Stayed tuned for more.  Tomorrow's adventure: Ziplining!