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Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (December 6, 2019) The Emerald Princess docked in Puerto Vallarta, the first port of call on our 14-day Panama Canal cruise. We’ve visited Puerto Vallarta many times, so Debra opted for a day of R&R. Me? I joined fellow passengers on a tour of a tequila factory and Old Town.
Old Town had a certain charm – narrow cobbled streets, colorfully painted facades, artisan shops and bakeries, and more. There were also several cultural landmarks, including my favorite: the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which soared above other buildings. Its architecture was said to be “a true expression of Mexican folk art.” Opened in 1940, it was built on the foundation of a chapel dedicated to Lady Guadalupe (the Virgin Mary) in 1901. The beautiful crown atop the bell tower, styled as European baroque, was created by Jaliscan artistisan Carlos Terres in 2009. The Sanctuary was impressive: alabaster walls and arched ceiling, tall ionic columns with gilded capitals and flowing blue drapes, intricate carvings and lacquered wooden sculptures, a marble altar with gold leaf, a sunlit octagonal cupola. The Church was moving, and a place of peace! |
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