Rusty had a one-day "conference" this past January in Puerto Vallarta but we decided to make a four day weekend out of it. We left Louisville's 12 degree weather and arrived 8 hours later in Mexico's 83 degree weather. Here is the view from our hotel room balcony. We slept with the sliding glass door open in order to hear the waves.
Our second night there we took a tour called "Rhythms of the Night." I thought it would be totally cheesy; it was any thing but. We took an hour-long boat ride across the bay. I had a Margarita in my hands before I sat down on the boat (which was quickly replaced with a Diet Coke). Mexican hotties (men) serving alcohol, with loud music blaring. I renamed it the "booze cruise." This is what we saw as we pulled up to the beach. There was a long trail with candles that lead to tables and buffet. They also had people dressed up as ancient Mexicans from the Aztec period leading the way and playing instruments (I renamed them Lamanites).
We had our own table on the beach overlooking the ocean (no electricity in this place. . .only candles). The food was awesome and finally we experienced a show consisting of mostly drums and modern dancers dressed as ancient Mexicans. I am not doing it justice, but it was super cool and kind of romantic, which I'm never really romantic. After all the romance, we were thoroughly entertained yet again by the even more drunk people on the boat ride home. I have not laughed that hard in a long time. 
Why take only one dessert when you can have three?
Rusty's the one on my left.
The third day (Rusty didn't have to go to classes;) we took a more adventurous trip called "Outdoor Adventure." It began with a half -hour speed boat ride to the mountainous area in Puerta Villarta. We arrived in a small fishing town that looked like this. Rusty was in heaven. He does not like the "touristy" section of any where we go. He wants the "real deal."
More "culture."
Then we were positioned in these rather large, rather LOUD trucks and driven up the mountain. The only saving grace was the bus-like hand straps above our heads to keep me from laying on the guy next to me everytime the driver made a sharp left. After a quick stop by the driver to get some fruit from his friend, we were at our destination.
Our tour guides. What they didn't lack was comic relief to make me forget I was zip lining 200 feet above the ground. They were all hillarious!!!These guys didn't know Rusty spoke Spanish at first, so after they put me on a psycho-mule-with-a-mind-of-his-own- that-almost-threw-me-twice, Rusty heard them tell each other what a HUGE mistake it was to give me that creature. My mule was quickly replaced, and that, for me was the hardest/scariest part of the "adventure."
Rusty and his very tame mule.
Now that we were at the top of the mountain, we needed to come down. We alternated zip-lining and repeling. This leg ended in freezing cold water.
I'm below Rusty, almost at the bottom.
I look at these pictures and can't believe I did it. I think the trick was that the guides did a little training on how to hold the ropes and slow down before you landed , but they didn't really give me a chance to stop and think about what I was doing. 
The final zip line was a race. Of course I won (the guides pushed me hard and first to give me the advantage, but I think I would have won anyway).
Rusty and his very tame mule.
Now that we were at the top of the mountain, we needed to come down. We alternated zip-lining and repeling. This leg ended in freezing cold water. 
I'm below Rusty, almost at the bottom. 
I look at these pictures and can't believe I did it. I think the trick was that the guides did a little training on how to hold the ropes and slow down before you landed , but they didn't really give me a chance to stop and think about what I was doing.
The final zip line was a race. Of course I won (the guides pushed me hard and first to give me the advantage, but I think I would have won anyway).We had a blast. This was the PERFECT vacation for me and Rusty because we did adventerous stuff (like he prefers) and layed on the beach and ordered room service by the pool (like I prefer).
Thanks Grandma Kathy for taking care of our little kids once again.
