Things To Do In Puerto Vallarta #3

#3: Enjoy Public Art

One of the things I love most about Puerto Vallarta is the Malecon. The Malecon is a mile long walkway along the oceanfront in downtown Puerto Vallarta. That in itself would be gorgeous, but the city planners really got it right with the 10 or so installations of bronze sculpture by various artists spanning the length of the Malecon. The image above is a portion of a sculpture by Sergio Bustamante. This gentelman(?) stands before a very tall ladder on which two similar figures are ascending to an unknown destination. It really is quite stunning. What makes all these public sculptures really fun though is that the public is allowed to interact with them. On the ladder sculpture there is enough room below the two climbing figures for visitors to climb up a few rungs and pose. Another sculpture features a council of odd sea creatures that also happen to be chairs. Another features a mermaid whose whole body has acquired a lovely patina, all except her breasts, which are fondled so often they are bright shiny bronze.
Sunday night is the big night on the Malecon. It is the night when all the locals and visitors come out with their loved ones to walk up and down, enjoying a variety of food and craft vendors as well as local entertainment. No one is in a hurry and the atmosphere is that of a very mellow carnival. Very nice.