SUCCUMBING IN PUERTO VALLARTA

OK, I admit, I succumbed to the wiles of a charming younger man! When I stepped off the plane last Tuesday evening, I heard, "Taxi? You need a taxi, miss?" With a beguiling smile, tall, slender, handsome, Anuar beckoned me over to his desk where I presumed I could negotiate a prix fixe taxi fare into Puerto Vallarta. $20, seemed a bit steep, but I had no idea how far out we were.

"Oh, here's the possibility. I can get you a free taxi ride into the city, if you would like to come see this beautiful place called The Flamingos. Free transportation and free beautiful breakfast, all for 75 minutes of your time!" By the time Anuar (pronounced Ahn-war) and his equally handsome cohorts had beguiled me with their promises to help find an apartment, not to mention show me where to dance salsa, I gave in.

That's how I found myself the next day savoring the beauties of this elegant resort out past Nuevo Vallarta. Of course, that was preceded by numerous questions about my vacation habits (they didn't know I sometimes stay in hostels), and listening to not one, but two presenters, one a gentle young guide, and the other a savvy Russian named Marina whose toughness was no match for my slipperiness. When she couldn't sell me the timeshare, or in their lingo, persuade me to "Join the Club," whose exclusivity costs a mere $19,000, she tried to persuade me to work there. The 75 minutes stretched into about 4 hours.




However, this was my reward:

A swim in their lovely pool after the presentation
A discount card for numerous restaurants in town, plus access to the facilities at their other resorts if I choose to go there
A free taxi ride from the airport into town
Free taxis to and from the resort
A free taxi ride through Bucerias, a nearby town I wanted to explore.
A delicious FREE MASSAGE in their exquisite spa
AND, a bottle of tequila which is still sitting here in my new apartment.


Given my tendency to interview, I heard about my young guide's fiance and her need for freedom, as well as Marina's hysterical tales of her Jewish grandmother, who told her at the age of 7, "You vill suffer een zees life." Sassy and sexy Marina has survived 4 husbands (She doesn't date well. She just gets married.) and she's raking in commissions from gullible travelers here in Puerto Vallarta. I thought the day was worth it for the stories!