the first two bodies of water I swam in...

I arrived to Puerto Vallarta around 4 pm yesterday, which seems like a decade ago. The flight was easy and smooth. I got to chat it up with some awesome ladies from Spokane and a flamboyant Mexican flight attendant.
I got off the plane, put on my flip flops and walked out to taxi drivers hollaring at me. I ignored them and hopped on the shwankyest looking bus that went in the direction of the hostel. The roads, cars, stray dogs and trash looked like most latin american countries I´ve been to, and then I saw Walmart ( This is awful!!). The hostel was very nice and everyone there was super friendly. I took a short nap and went out for dinner. Looking around I noticed that every 3rd person walking down the street was either a gringo or Canadian, usually over 50 years old! The Mexicans all assume my Spanish is very limited or non-existent and speak to me in English. When I respond in Spanish they don´t usually know what to do and continue to talk to me in a Spaniglish mix. It´s been a fun experiment and my Spanish is coming back quickly.
After dinner I went back to the hostel with a plan to fall asleep. I was almost asleep when my 2 suite mates asked me if I wanted to go dancing. Randomly enough, one of the girls was from Halfway, Oregon which is a tiny town we went through on our way to the Snake River this summer. My friend Brain grew up there and his adorable parents are still there. Small world.
So, I went dancing, but not just any dancing. This was a gay club with a swimming pool. Random, yes. I was with my 2 suite mates, Stefanie and Jeanne, and Dan from Isreal (none of us are gay). First we went to a different place, not knowing that we would be experiencing the entertainment of two Mexican male strippers... They were not very attractive and sort of clumsy, although I think any male stripper looks a little clumsy! We had enough, and went to the swimming pool place. We danced, swam and had a blast. The beauty of these places is that men didn´t hit on us, they just sort of laughed and danced and grabbed each other´s asses. It was awesome.
This morning I got up and said goodbye to all of my hostel friends. I was very ready to leave Puerto Vallarta. It is far too big and touristy for me. I took the bus to Melaque, a small beach town. It is cute and cheap and every Canadian goes here to die, I am convinced. At least they are less amnoxious than Gringos! On I go to Rio Nexpa tomorrow....