When in Rome, (don’t) do as the Romans do. The story of how I became a Puerto Vallarta resident on the first day of the summer 2002 is not all that different from that of many people I have met in my years here - I had come on a two week vacation and, before I knew it, the stars aligned themselves in such a way that I never went back home. In my first few months in Paradise, I did the things tourists do: I watched the sunset from the Malecón, enjoyed the nightly firework show of the Marigalante and roamed the streets of Old Town. However, soon enough routine set in and I got so immersed in work and family that I stopped really seeing the many amazing little things that make this such a unique place in Mexico. There would always be time to sightsee later, right? Not quite. One Saturday morning I took my camera and went downtown, planning to get a couple of pictures and perhaps finally get around to visiting Casa Kimberley – in many people’s view, the place where it all began for our quaint little town. My expectations were met by barbed wire and a half-demolished building; nothing remained of the setting of Liz Taylor and Richard Burton’s grand love affair but a broken tile plate and the bridge connecting the property to Casa Taylor across the street. I talked to a construction worker on the site and, after a lot of pleading, persuaded him to grant me access to the bridge. I did have my picture taken on the bridge, but on the drive back home I couldn’t help wondering just how much myself and others had missed out on, taking Puerto Vallarta for granted. I wanted others to be able to see what I saw upon my arrival, and to fall in love with the city just like I had several summers before. How, though? Through a friend of mine, I found a tight-knit online community called CouchSurfing at 18
www.vallartatribune.com
April 23 - 29, 2012 | Issue 785
www.couchsurfing.com. CS’s mission is to make it easier for people to explore the world and share their culture; the premise of the site is that members offer their couches (or spare rooms!) for tourists that visit their town and along with sleeping space, provide them with the means to get off the beaten path and truly get to know the city. Of course, just like with any other social network, caution needs to be exercised. In each CouchSurfer profile you have the chance to read about other members’ experiences with that person, about their interests and perspectives and you have the ability to correspond with them as much as you want before you meet them. You can always decide who to host, when and what rules will apply in your home. If inviting someone new into your home is a scary prospect for you, but you would still like to participate, you can meet visitors for coffee or a drink, or just a bit of sightseeing. CouchSurfing is all about increasing the number of interesting people and possibilities in your life experience, and learning about other cultures and perspectives. In the two years since I joined the site, I have hosted people from Singapore, Malaysia, Ukraine (via Santiago de Compostela), the United States, England and Canada. My children have had the opportunity to learn about different cultures and customs, practice their English and boast about the many hidden haunts in this pueblito that no tourist guide will mention. Even more, we have been able to join our guests in their adventures and discover new places together, seeing Puerto Vallarta with fresh eyes each time and renewing our conviction that we do live in paradise.