Mirador el Cerro de la Cruz

Another journey in Puerto Vallarta – our traditional climb to the overlook called Mirador el Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross Viewpoint). Sam and I have climbed to this site three times now, so it’s kind of a tradition. Eventually we’ll either stop going to Puerto Vallarta or become unable to climb up this steep hill, whichever comes first.

Our timing became clear after the sunset climb was ruled out. Sam and I would go early in the morning on our last day in PV. We started out in the dark. The roads were easy enough to navigate on foot. No one was out except the leaf cutter ants who were busy carrying pieces of leaf along the grooves in the hilly roads.

One of the last turns was marked by this shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe, all lit up.

Soon after that, we came to the start of the staircase. Part of it is under construction, but it was easy enough to figure out how to get started.

We were at the top before we knew it. Every year it seems to get quicker. The first time it seemed to take forever. Maybe I was overheated, I don’t remember. Dawn was just breaking. Other people were already up there, although we encountered no one on the stairs.

I wore this woven medicine bag from Nancy for good luck on the climb. I took it off to get a photo with the colorful mural backdrop.

I saw this graffiti on my way down – should have seen it on the way up! Of course, it reminded me of Grace.

And finally, a photo of the shrine on the way down. Looks like it will be a cloudy cool day.

We met our friend at our favorite little restaurant, El Planeta Vegetariano, for breakfast. There are many brightly painted walls in side and out, but this one spoke to me that morning.