LEAVING ALL CARES BEHIND AT LAS GEMELAS BEACH

Unobtrusive and just 15 minutes away from the Malecón, there is a beautiful little beach called Las Gemelas. People who speak Spanish may wonder, and justifiably so, about the name: Las Gemelas means The Twins, and there are, in fact, two little beaches that lay side by side and look very similar. I went there this weekend and just have to share my discovery with you.

Getting there is quite simple, even for a person like me who has no good sense of direction.Downtown Puerto Vallarta consists of different zones, and I took a bus at Zona Románticathat said “Mismaloya”. It travels south of Puerto Vallarta, and along the way I have seen many beautiful beaches like the famous Conchas Chinas and Punta Negra. This day, however, I decided to visit the smaller twin beaches, and I immediately fell in love. It is less crowded than the other beaches I have seen so far, and the water and sand are very clean. An attentive life guard ensures safety, which is an important issue for me, since I am quite a poor swimmer.

Speaking of swimming, I just loved it. With an outdoor temperature of 33ºC, the water was totally refreshing at approx. 20-25ºC. My experience with the sea in Germany is that you can stay in the water for a maximum of 20 minutes and come back freezing and with chattering teeth. At Las Gemelas, I was able to swim and relax in the sea without feeling cold or uncomfortable. Drifting in the sea, gazing at the mountains and the coast of Puerto Vallarta, I felt like I was in an outdoor spa. Really awesome experience! I also enjoyed the number one favourite tourist activity at the beach: just lying down, lazing about, doing nothing but tanning in the sun. When it got too hot, I would just jump in the water. After this day, I felt like the most relaxed human on earth.

There are also some people selling stuff at the beach. Even if you don’t feel the urge to buy a watch, you should nevertheless try some of the delicious food. Mostly there is a broad variety of fresh fruits, mussels, roasted fish and other little snacks that are highly recommended. As far as I am concerned, go with something I tried that day--a Mexican dish called Ceviche. It is served on a tostada (a fried tortilla) and comes with a mix of fish and vegetables such as carrots, cilantro and avocado. As a topping, I added some lime juice and a traditional salsa. The result is a simple but incredibly tasty Mexican meal.

Maybe I awakened your appetite by showing a picture I shot that day. After this weekend, I am even more eager to get to know all the aspects of this gorgeous little town called Puerto Vallarta. I will keep you posted!