Who Needs Shakira When You've Got This?

I've had such a good time this week that I'm making myself jealous just thinking about it. There were eleven of us spending seven days on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta. That's a lot of time to cover. So here goes: We'd wake up. Go to the beach. Lay out. Swim. Lay out. Eat a great dinner. Hang out. Go to bed. Multiply times seven. There you have our week. The first few days we actually stayed in a condo (friend of a friend's) overlooking the beach; our rooms were on the 6th and 7th floors and both had balconies (the picture from my previous post is the view looking down from there). I felt more like I was in the US than Mexico, because most of the condo's residents were foreigners. When we weren't enjoying the luxuries of the condo we were out on the beach or at the pool. We also went into town and soaked up the overwhelming spring break atmosphere. I mean, come on, a club called "The Zoo?" Enough said. Besides all this we also went to El Eden, an ecological reserve in the hills outside the city. Way outside. We thought we could walk there, and even after passing snarling rabies-infested dogs and fording streams, following jungle paths and ducking under barbed-wire fences, we got to the road and had to walk another hour and a half, up and down hills. Mind you that this is the place where they filmed the movie "Predator," so it was a bit creepy exploring these remote stretches of dense jungle. Finally we got there... and the only restaurant was closed! We all had a good laugh and hitched a ride back in a pick-up truck (probably the only truly dangerous part of the experience).
The other part of the week we spent in the secluded beach town of Yelapa, on a cove about a thirty minute boat ride south of the city. This is the ultimate in chill, laid-back places. Our group rented out an entire jungle resort near the beach, which consisted of bungalows, hammocks, plam trees, and an excellent French chef. If possible we were even more relaxed than at the condo. At night we would sit in the light of tiki torches and listen to live music. What can I say, except paradise? You know though, I have seen a lot of beautiful places, beaches included, in my travels, and I must say that as great as they all have been, my favorite memories are of the friends I was with. Poor Jen missing her standby flight two days in a row and miraculously finding us each time. Her and Ambers' sun-burnt puffy lips. Ashley and I getting dunked by that wave (especially as told by Mysti). Kimmie sliding down that rock waterfall/waterslide like a champ. Aaron, watch out for those waves (and those shady local Yelapans). "The Llamas and the Papas." Jonathan and Kayla, Parker and I wandering down the Malecòn that last night. Chris's story about getting trampled by llamas and pelted with peanuts. And getting attacked by koala bears. Parker's story about the vegetable crisper, and Mysti's reenactment of the pencil in the eye. All the stories. All the songs. All the fun. I love you guys. Thanks for the memories.