El Arrayan Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta Mexico An interview with Carmen Porras, Co Owner. We Talk Her concept, menu, and Cooking Classes  Subscribe to The Puerto Vallarta Travel Show on iTunes Listen to the Podcast Below!       Hello fellow travelers, welcome this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler and I am just so happy to be to introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico. That music you were just listing to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants,  La Palapa and The Eldorado Restaurant on [caption id="attachment_196" align="alignright" width="300"] La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico[/caption] the Southside of town, right down on the beach in Puerto Vallarta La Palapa is one of Vallarta’s oldest and most loved restaurants with that toes in the sand experience right at the water’s edge. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, a great location and a great time awaits you. It’s so romantic, so Puerto Vallarta. If you haven’t been here yet, take my advice and get your selves down here. The people of Vallarta await you with open arms. Take my word for it. Semana Santa in Mexico This week I have a real treat for you guys but before I get to the show, let’s see what’s happening in Puerto Vallarta this week, the 16th of April, 2017. Today is Easter and  Easter in Mexico is a two-week holiday consisting of Semana Santa (The Holy Week, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending Easter Saturday) and Pascua (Starting with Easter Sunday and ending the following Saturday). Now believe it or not, because the holiday calendar is really long and frequent here in Mexico, Semana Santa is without a doubt, the most important holiday in [caption id="attachment_382" align="alignright" width="300"] Semana Santa[/caption] Mexican culture. Many Mexican families go on holiday during Semana Santa and Pascua so if you plan on just popping in during this time of the year, you may have trouble squeezing into a room so be aware of that. Anyway, all around Mexico, Mexicans celebrate the last days of Christ during Holy Week with elaborate processions, ceremonies, and rituals. Most of the larger Semana Santa celebrations include a dramatic reenactment of the capture, the trial, and the crucifixion of Jesus. Mexicans are known for practicing unique traditions during Semana Santa such as acts of physical torture, public displays of political/social ridicule, and displays of resolutions and commitment. [caption id="attachment_383" align="alignleft" width="300"] Semana Santa[/caption] In some of the more devout regions of Mexico like Taxco, the reenactments include penitentes – men and women who show their penitence and prove their faith by inflicting physical pain. Many of us have seen these reenactments. Very interesting. Lots of parades and processions. Very cool. Just be ready for the crowds. In fact, the reports I’m getting and the pictures I’m seeing of the crowds at the beach are all pointing towards a record number of visitors. Traffic was backed up for miles on the road coming into Vallarta on Friday. The Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta Highway to Open Soon Also, this week, the new highway connection between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta was supposed to have it’s grand opening. This highway will shorten the time it takes to travel by road from Puerto Vallarta to  Guadalajara from 5 hours to 2 1/2 hours. That is a big deal for travelers who want to see Guadalajara while in Puerto Vallarta. You can actually make it a day trip. Really cool. Puerto Vallarta Airport Updates And they are still slaving away at the airport. One day it will be complete and I will update my photos if they become unusable so let’s see. For information on what [caption id="attachment_109" align="alignright" width="300"] What to Expect When You Arrive at the Puerto Vallarta Airport[/caption] to expect when you arrive at the Puerto Vallarta Airport, Packing tips, cell ph