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The sculpture corridor of Puerto Vallarta
By The Editor - September 2005
 One of the newest attraction of Puerto Vallarta and which is quickly turning into one the favorite things amongst locals and visitors, is walking along the boardwalk in order to admire the corridor of sculptures extending along the northern zone.
For many years along this coastal strip with a broad sidewalk bathed by the sea it was a tradition for the people to come and look at Los Arcos (the Arches), made from quarry and which originally had been brought from some hacienda in Guadalajara, as well as the Seahorse ridden by a cowboy boy, the work of Rafael Zamarripa. Eventually both sculptures together with the crown of the Church of the Virgin of Guadalupe turned into the most representative icons of the city.
The "Friendship Fountain" with three dolphins in its center is also from long ago and is located next to the open-air theater. It was donated in 1987 when Puerto Vallarta became a sister city to the city of Santa Barbara in the United States.
Gradually other monuments have been added. They not only catch attention but by awakening an intense curiosity, they also motivate an interaction in the person who is observing.
 The most recent piece of work is the sculpture of "The millenniums" created by Mathis Lidice which was revealed on October 31st, 2001. It is located at the beginning of the boardwalk on top of a rocky base in front of the Rosita hotel. It was created in order to represent all the time that man has spent on the planet including the arrival of the third millennium. There are two plaques in this place, one with the poem of Netzahualcóyotl written on it next to the footprints of Christopher Giovanni Vázquez, the last local of Vallarta to be born in the second millennium, whereas on the other plaque there are the footprints of Itzel Alexandra Rodríguez Langarica, the first local of Vallarta of the XXI century. She was born at 12:20 am on the first of January of 2001.
 Walking towards the south, in front of the worldwide known Carlos O'Brian's we find "Nostalgia" created by Ramiz Barquet. It is about a couple made out of bronze summing up a story of love. Observing this sculpture during the hum of the day generates tranquility, during the sunsets it evokes romanticism and during the night it awakens sensuality. It is already a costume that couples have a photo taken there with the ocean behind their backs as a witness to their love.
It is followed by the sculpture called "Mother Nature" made by Adrián Reynoso where a woman transforms herself into a wave with her arms extended towards the front. It is important to point out that this piece of work exerts a special attraction for adolescents.
 Then we arrive at the very flashy "Rotunda of the Sea" by Alejandro Colunga. It is composed of seven fantasy figures (which is usual in the works of this artist from Jalisco) of marine mythology in the form of chairs. People enjoy themselves admiring them and sitting down on them in order amongst other things to take a souvenir photo. The sculptural characters have faces of octopuses, astronomers, beings with diving suits or fish. Small figures of children alternate with them. .
 This style of an overflowing imagination is also present in the sculpture called "In Search of Reason" which is situated a little further ahead, just in front of the gallery of its creator, the artist Sergio Bustamente. The piece of works consists of a ladder and three humanoid.
Following the route we will encounter "Neptune and Nereida" which is a piece of work by the Italian C. Espino consisting of the two mythological figures.
 Thus we arrive at the place where we have the open-air theater which at present is the beginning of the new section of the boardwalk extending the stroll along the coast up to the beginning of Playa los Muertos beach, crossing the bridge which was also constructed recently and which has turned out to be an excellent place to appreciate the sunsets framed by the spectacular Bay of Banderas.
Vallarta definitely has it all... and the most impressive things are still found on the streets. Today the city boasts with having the only open air sculptural museum in Mexico.
Until next time
The Editor - editor@pvmirror.com
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