July 29, 2010

Puerto Vallarta’s Plaza is the Place

As its name suggests, the Plaza Principal in Puerto Vallarta is the main square, the place where much of the city’s moving and shaking occurs throughout the day and into the night. The public space offers a fascinating counterpoint to your Puerto Vallarta villa rental, which represents everything that is modern and new in town. The Plaza Principal is a traditional central point where you’ll find the institutions that are important in the lives of people who live here.

In many cities with a past, community life found much of its focus in the main square. Government buildings and religious structures had prominent locations on the streets that formed the square. People conducted official business and said their prayers indoors and used the open space for social gatherings.

The Plaza Principal continues to serve the modern Puerto Vallarta community in much the same way it did a century or more ago. Street vendors offer their treasures and trinkets for sale; the city’s band is often found onstage doing a public performance; and street entertainers are likely to be showing off any time. The Palacio Municipal and Our Lady of Guadalupe church overlook the scene.

Just one street off the Malecón (and not that far from your Puerto Vallarta villa rental), the plaza offers visitors an opportunity to take a seat and watch as life unfolds in this very popular public space.

July 26, 2010

Traditional Huichol Art in Puerto Vallarta

There’s no question that your hosts in Puerto Vallarta know how to throw a great party, and the area is thick with opportunities to get outside and enjoy a huge adventure. This city by Banderas Bay has another side, though, a quieter side that some people only learn of when they step inside their Puerto Vallarta villa rental: it’s one of Mexico’s most well-known centers for the fine arts.

You’ll see examples of the arts everywhere. Stroll down the Malecon and enjoy the sculpture; visit some of the city’s splendid galleries; take note of the pieces that add an extra elegance and style to your Puerto Vallarta villa rental.

Many people are especially drawn to the colorful scenes of daily life featured in traditional folk art, particularly the work of indigenous people. Some of the most popular work is that of the Huichol, in western Mexico.

Huichol artists are known for their beadwork, their textiles and their yarn paintings. The latter, in particular, are a spectacular display of vivid color and intricate design. Artists originally created prayer masks and ceremonial bowls for religious celebrations; today, they continue to draw on familiar symbols in their work. You can see fine examples of Huichol yarn art at Galeria Piramide at Basilio Badillo 272.