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Vallarta malecon Las Palomas restaruant, the Zoo, Mandala and Hard Rock Cafe (r. to l.)

Outdoor Culture and The Malecon
Mexico is an open society by North American standards. By this we mean that people, especially in the tropical coastal areas of the country, spend a considerable amount of time with their doors open: visiting with their neighbors, kids playing in the streets, or working outdoors doing physical labor. The Mexicans love to talk, visit, listen to music, drink, play soccer, party and enjoy the company of their family and friends. So there is a lot of activity in Mexican neighborhoods.

Mexico is still a traditional society in many ways. People in their neighborhoods know their neighbors' names and the names of their neighbors' children, which is an amazing fact to anyone who has spent most of their life living in a larger American or Canadian city or suburb. It is not unusual to see an entire neighborhood in the street celebrating the birthday of one of the children: the street will be brightly decorated, there is loud music, food and drink, and often a piñata full of candies and sweets is swinging overhead as the blindfolded kids try to break it open with a stick. Wakes are still often held in the home of the family, with many of the neighbors in attendance through the night. 

The most recent addition to the malecon, the sculpture In Search of Reason by Guadalajara artist Sergio Bustamante, has two pillow-head figures ascending their ladder to heaven. Then the recently placed group of strange abstract bronze figures by Alejandro Colunga entitled The Rotunda of the Sea with its half human, half alien sea or space creatures. One must see, then sit on some of them, as they are half in the shape of chairs and tables, to experience their odd effect on the senses. Tapatio Adrian Reynoso's unique blend of bronze and polymer resins, Nature As Mother, a spiraling wave on a snail comes next. At last we come to the straight couple in love immortalized in La Nostalgia by Ramiz Barquet (photo above right), which I adore. Barquet has more public art around Vallarta than any other artist.

At the north end of the malecon is the local fishermen's open market, where fresh fish caught the night before can be bought at a good price. Just past that end of the malecon is the newest sculpture The Millenniums by Mathis Lidice. See the two photos below.

So there is quite a collection of public art along this walkway untouched by vandals and spray paint. There are also dozens of stores and boutiques for shopping and the most popular nightlife area is the downtown malecon strip. Go here for a webcam shot of the northern part of the malecon

The malecon is popular at sunset and up until around 11pm or so, by which time most people are returning home or gone out to their favorite night clubs. Half the town dresses up and turns out to stroll on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The malecon can also be a good location to make friends. The south end of the malecon between the boy on his sea horse and The Arches/Los Arcos is sometimes a meeting and conversation spot for gay men.

The city has recently completed an extension of the malecon, the New Malecon, so that one can continue walking along the ocean front from downtown Vallarta over to the South Side/Olas Altas area. Follow the people around the back of the Los Arcos ampitheater to the new footbridge over the Cuale River and you end up at the northern end of the Olas Atlas area on Los Muertos/Playa del Sol beach.

A leisurely evening walk on the malecon is a must while visiting Puerto Vallarta.

Art Walk Old Town/Downtown 2008-2009
The ever-popular Old Town Art Walk this year has 16 participating galleries which host complimentary cocktail receptions and expositions on Wednesday nights from 6pm-10pm during the high season winter months starting October 29, 2008 until May 27, 2009. People wander from gallery to gallery in search of art, conversation and the perfect glass of wine. A good way to meet some artists and make new friends. Galleries participating this year are Art Gallery Millan, Corsica Galeria de Arte, Galeria Arte Latinoamericano, Galeria Corona, Galeria des Artistes, Galeria de Ollas, Galeria Emociones, Galeria Omar Alonso, Galeria Pacifico, Galeria Uno, Galeria Vallarta, Galeria 8 y mas, Galeria Uno, Galeria Whitlow, Sergio Bustamante, The Loft, and Thierry Blout Fine Art Collection. Look for a map at your hotel or in participating galleries. Main website here; further info here and also here

Walking Art Tour of the Malecon
Galeria Pacifico sponsors a Public Sculpture Walking Tour that starts at 9:30am every Tuesday at the Millennium sculpture near the Hotel Rosita at the north end of the Malecon. You can meet some of the sculptors of the statues and hear them speak about their work along the mile long malecon. Galeria Pacifico owner Gary Thompson acts as your guide and informs you about the present local art scene. And here's a good article about public art work Off the Malecon. The Art Walk is every Tuesday morning, 9:30-11:30am, Nov 18, 2008 to April 14, 2009. Free, no reservation. For further info, tel: 222-1982
 
 

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