It begins at 4:45am when I awake a half hour before my alarm was to go off. I need to be at the family compound by 6:30 with the bus leaving at 7 for Puerto Vallarta for my last two days. My return bus is reserved for Saturday 12:45pm since the family bus returns on Sunday, too late for my flight home. I checked out of my hotel here in Guadalajara last night and so, with one bag and my backpack, I go the front desk, arrange for my cab and off I go. It was nice staying at the Quinta Don Jose Hotel. My friends here took good care of me and I'll right them up on Trip Advisor when I return. However, peace and relaxation will soon be replaced with noise, confusion and disappointment. Read on.

I arrive right on time with the street crowded with family eager to begin, perhaps, they're going on their first vacation in years. Grandmas, kids, everybody is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the bus which promptly shows at 7:15am, 45 min late. Ah, Mexican time. I grab a milk and some cookies from the local store (see previous pictures) and board the bus. Seat # 38. We're off at 8:30am and I recline the seat back to continue my interrupted sleep from earlier.

Not happening. The whole group is so excited about the trip they're all hootin' and hollering, singing, running around and just plain loco. So I give up on sleeping and watch the scenery. An hour later, everyone's burnt out and so peace and quiet prevail. Our ride moves from the city to the outskirts and up into the coastal mountains that separate Guadalajara from the coast. There is construction with one way traffic that delays us for a good hour. Add in a couple of rest stops and we arrive in Puerto Vallarta a bit after 4pm.

Check in at Los Arcos Hotel is hectic since 45 people show up on a bus at one time. I'm assigned my room. We first go to Martin & Cindy's room and it ok. Small but good located inside the courtyard. Now we all head to mine. It's on the outside of the building, 2nd floor, facing the street. My view was framed by telephone poles, wires and abandoned buildings. Great. The hotel was full but I was promised another room tomorrow. Forget it. Let's go to the bar, amigos.

We eat dinner and have free drinks until about 10:30pm when I call it quits and return to my "suite". The smell was horrendous. I thought it was insecticide but it was mildew in the ac unit. I had to shut it off to stop it but now I have no windows or doors to open and it's hot. The tv has few English channels but I find Fox News and wait for the smell to dissipate. I go to bed but wake up during the night from the heat. I think of people held by the Taliban and wonder if this is how they must live as prisoners. No kidding, those were my thoughts. Finally, I open the door to let whatever and whoever wants to come in just to get air and some sleep. The street noise at 3 in the morning is loud but not enough to stop me from collapsing on my hard bed.

It's just has to get better.