¡Viva México!
What a delightful reunion I had with the Kesslers last week. They have finally made the big, permanent jump from Simi Valley, California to Vallarta. They will take their time perusing the myriad colonias to see where they will finally end up, but there is no rush. Barry Kessler’s long-running, informative podcast, The Puerto Vallarta Travel Show, will continue and we will likely put our heads together in a couple of upcoming projects for Vallarta Mirror and VallartaCalendar.com. Keep your eyes here for information as the ideas formulate and trickle down into whothehellknows?
Last night, I celebrated Mexico’s 214th “Cry of Independence.” The more or less exact reenactment took place at 11 pm across the country and anywhere in the world a Mexican happened to be standing. If she was by herself on a train in Asia, maybe a silent ¡Viva México! If, like us, tens of thousands on the Malecon in Vallarta raised our voices as one in a deafening roar of approval.
The City went all out with Arcano providing stellar eclectic entertainment before and after “El Grito,” and the fireworks were exquisite. It was probably my 30th Grito, and my fingers are crossed for another 30 to have the privilege to stand with my adopted compatriots and give my heartful thanks for being included in such unbridled joy.
It is rare, I think, to be so safe in such an enormous crowd with people of all ages and with alcohol in abundance, late at night (well), and be peacefully gathered together for hours, standing shoulder to shoulder, with absolutely no problems. I remember wanting to attend the first outdoor “Human Kindness Day” on the Mall, when I lived in Washington, DC, in the early 70s. I lost the toss and ended up at the Kennedy Center for a matinee of Madame Butterfly. Reading the Washington Post the following day made me happy I was not at the “free Stevie Wonder concert” with a couple of deaths (murders), multiple rapes, robberies, fist fights, and on and on. But here in our microcosm that is Vallarta, we live and play in peace and love. Thank you, México, thank you, Puerto Vallarta with all your warm and caring citizens, I love you. ¡Viva!