Come write with me again in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!
January 9-16, 2011
If you've never been to Mexico before, Puerto Vallarta is a great place to visit for your first trip, because it has a modern, international airport, a solid infrastructure, and most places have filtered water. Plus, it's relatively small, (about 175, 000 people in the city itself).
I fell in love with Old Town Puerto Vallarta when I visited the first time in the spring of 2007. The jungle thick mountains to the east, the tropical weather, and the beautiful long coastline of la Bahía de Banderas (the Bay of Flags) are distinctive to this little city. And though it became a popular tourist destination for Americans after movie stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton made it their hangout back in the '60's, it's been a vacation destination for people all over Mexico for a very long time.
The long coastline to the north of the city is filled with high-rise hotels (referred to as "la hotelera"), but the old town section of Puerto Vallarta has maintained a timeless charm. This area of Puerto Vallarta is clustered around the Rio Cuale. To the north is the Zona Centro, home to the Malecón (a quiet boardwalk), as well as plenty of shops and restaurants, and a famous flea market. To the south is the quieter Zona Romantica, with pedestrian side streets, boutiques, a thriving gay nightlife, and the famous beach, Playa de los Muertos. Both areas have cobblestone streets, lovely open-air cafes, and ubiquitous bougainvillea and hibiscus flowers in every color. Old town Puerto Vallarta is friendly and safe, with many great places to eat, including some famous taco stands.
Since it has a special place in my heart, I recently began looking for a house to have a retreat in Old Town, and look what I found in the hills overlooking the bay, just a short walk from the beach:
Villa Las Palmeras!
A five-story house with twelve bedrooms, a rooftop patio, and a three person staff.
Would you like to join me here for a writing workshop?
IThis house feels like a secluded, private hotel. It's on a hill, but not too far from everything the small city below has to offer. Since I've been to Puerto Vallarta several times, I know great places to eat, to grab a taco on the street, to shop, to parasail, and to kick back with the best margarita or piña colada you've ever had in your life.
The dates for the retreat are January 9-16, 2011: a full week. The daily writing workshops will run for three-hours every morning (10 am –1 pm) and there will be a few optional evening writing sessions as well.
The official writing sessions won't begin until Monday morning, and some people may not arrive until late Sunday night, but I'll have dinner for us that night. At the other end of the retreat, we'll be able to write together in the evening, but the retreat will officially end the following Sunday at 11:00.
The house has a pool, plenty of space to relax outdoors, and access to the Zona Romantica is just a ten- minute walk down the hill, or a short cab ride away. I want this to feel like a vacation, so I want to allow plenty of time after lunch for everyone to read, nap, write on his or her own, or go exploring. I have learned from past experience that the best retreats leave plenty of time for relaxing, so after the morning workshop, the day is yours.
I’m encouraging everyone to make a longer vacation out of this, if possible. There are many places to explore nearby, including the rustic beach town of Bucerías, the quiet village of Yelapa (no cars!), and the big city of Guadalajara (1.5 million people, and famous for its handpainted tiles and pottery). Also, the major airport in Puerto Vallarta offers you the chance to fly to other places in Mexico, conveniently and inexpensively, such as Oaxaca and Mexico City.
The retreat is limited to eleven people, and the fee for the retreat is $1800 to share a room with one other person (all of the rooms are large, so there are two large beds in each room). There is one single room available for $2300. The fee for the retreat includes your room at the house, the daily workshops, and three meals a day.
A non-refundable $600 deposit is necessary to hold your place, and full payment must be received by October 15, 2010. In order for me to receive your deposit, I need to speak with you on the phone and ask you to sign a registration form. After that, you may pay your balance anytime using the Paypal option below.
I’ve included some links here for you. The first is the official web site for the house (make sure to view the photos). The last link is to a terrific travel agent named Sara Swanson. I love her!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions, or give me a call: 415-206-9771
Villa Las Palmeras Official Web Site: http://www.villalaspalmeras.com/index.html
Click here for a Google Map image of Villa las Palmeras
Directions to the house in English and Spanish:
Villa Las Palmeras: 214 Callejon de la Igualdad Puerto Vallarta, 48399
(In the Zona Romantica)
Directions to Villa Las Palmeras from the airport: In English
Follow the signs to Highway 200, and follow that road staying to the right (there will be a chance to veer left, but stay right: this way will take you through the town and along the coast.) You’ll go through the town, staying on MORELOS Street. The coastline will be on your right. Keep going, and you will go over a bridge, into the Zona Romantica, where the street changes its name to I.L. VALLARTA. Go left at BADILLO Street two blocks, and take a right on INSURGENTES.
You’ll approach a gas station (Pemex) on the right hand side of the street right before Pulpito St. Continue up hill about one hundred yards and take a left on CALLEJON DE LA IGUALDAD.
Go up dirt road and take a left at the top of the hill. Stay on this road until it ends in a little courtyard. The large villa at the end with the large iron gate is Villa Las Palmeras.
Villa Las Palmeras is just across from and above the hotel Casa Cupula on the same street. The gates to Villa Las Palmeras are just at the end of Casa Cupula on the right. There is a sign.
The Villa’s phone number is 011-52-322-22-20044
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Villa Las Palmeras: 214 Callejon de la Igualdad Puerto Vallarta, 48399
(En la Zona Romantica)
Direcciones al Villa Las Palmeras del aeropuerto: En Español:
Entra la Zona Centro, siga la calle de MORELOS sobre el puente, donde la calle cambia a I.L. VALLARTA. Dé vuelta a la izquierda en la calle de BADILLO. Van dos bloques, y toman una derecha en INSURGENTES.
Usted pasará una gasolinera de Pemex a la derecha momentos antes que el Calle Pulpito. Continúa encima de la colina cerca de cientos yardas y toma una izquierda en CALLEJON DE LA IGUALDAD.
Permanezca en este camino hasta que termine en un pequeño patio. La casa grande en el extremo con la puerta grande del hierro es Villa Las Palmeras.
Villa Las Palmeras está apenas a través y sobre de la Casa Cupula, en la misma calle. Las puertas al Villa Las Palmeras están apenas en el extremo de las casas Cupula a la derecha. Hay una muestra.
El número de teléfono en Villa las Palmeras es: 011-52-322-22-20044
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Travel agent extraordinaire! http://www.jbatravel.com/Sara-Swanson.asp
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