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Puerto Vallarta covered by an eternally romantic color
By The Editor
 "If there is something that identifies Vallarta from any other tourist destination in Mexico, it is the red roof tiles covering the majority of its houses and buildings. Independent of where you are downtown, each time you turn towards the east, before your eye catches the greenness of the jungle, the red contrasting color is showing up.
The origin of the tiles is uncertain, however different studies say that they go back thousands of years before Christ and they come separately from China and the Middle East. It is estimated that these plates of clay were used throughout Asia and Europe, passing through Egypt to Babylon and also amongst the Greeks and Romans. It is assumed that they reached the American continent during the epoch of colonization, adapting themselves to the necessities and raw materials of these areas.
The main characteristic of tiles made out of clay is their indefinite duration. In a time when everything seems transient, it seems impossible to believe that there is a material that could go on forever, but reality shows us that tiles last for a long time without changing excessively their appearance.
The most outstanding characteristic of ceramic tiles is their proven impermeability against water from rain, air and steam. You can add thermal and acoustic insulation to this. Not even fire succeeds in destroying them. You may say that tiles are the ideal material to use on the inclined roof of any building.
Tiles are manufactured with clay which is extracted from the ground. It should be stored for a while. Later water is added to form dough which will be molded in order to obtain the desired form and to proceed to drying the tiles. Additional treatments may be applied such as enameling and now is the moment to carry it out. The last phase is burning the tiles at high temperatures which gives them their form and definite hardness.
 Due to its characteristics the people of Vallarta started to use tiles as a perfect construction element a long time ago. Putting tiles on the roofs of their homes and main buildings first turned into a habit and later it became a tradition.
There is no doubt that the tiles, just as the fish on a stick, the palapa (palm-thatched roofs) and the bricks amongst others, identify Puerto Vallarta as a destination with the flavor of a coastal town sharing with the world.
Something worthwhile to do during your next visit is to take the time and climb up the hill walking between the downtown streets. And once you are up there, take a break to contemplate the horizon towards the ocean, encountering the red or terracotta color of the tiles covering the town's homes. This is something that will transport your mind and spirit to a new plane, from where it is possible to understand why Puerto Vallarta is considered the most romantic tourist destination in the world.
See you next time.
The Editor
editor@pvmirror.com
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