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First Travel Agencies 1961 |
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In writing about the first tourist who started visiting Vallarta, I must say there was no travel agency to plan or book trips to our town. Vallarta’s name was spread only by word-of-mouth, or by just picking up the place at random on map. There were no travel agencies in Vallarta. The tourists who first found Vallarta called it an undiscovered hidden jewel, and an unexplored part of the continent. In 1954, Compañía Mexicana de Aviación brought the first tourist group to Vallarta booked through a travel agency. Mexicana had direct contact with travel agencies nationwide, and booked tourists at the few hotels which were available in our little town.
In 1961 Raúl Agraz opened a tourist information booth across the Malecón. Another local man, Humberto Mantecón better known as Beto, managed Viajes Méndez Tours, and Viajes Tropicana, following Agraz idea. Beto was a handsome man, and the classic Latin lover type who loved dating gringuitas. He was the son of our good friends Adán and Felicitas known Fela Mantecón.
Among other successful travel agencies were Turismo Puerto Vallarta, owned by Rafael de la Cruz, and Viajes Vallarta, owned by Antonio Pérez. Pérez’ travel agency helped promote the arrival of the first cruise ship Princess Patricia, which anchored at Los Muertos Beach on December 7, 1965. Señor Marcelino García Paniagua, Customs Administrator from Guadalajara City, welcomed the cruise ship. Señor Wilfrido Valverde, a local Customs agent, inspected the ship.
Among other authority personalities who welcomed the first cruise ship were Captain Jesús Espinoza Hernández, a government representative, Señor Andrés Famanía, Head of Customs, Vigilantes, Manuel Robles, Salvador Preciado (“El Guero”), Antonio García S. and Harbormaster’s Chief, Señor Leoncio Talavera Acuña.
The arrival of the first cruise ship caused a big stir in town and marked a new step in tourism development. Many people from other cities moved to Vallarta following the arrival of the cruise liner. The ship was anchored at Los Muertos beach and many of our friends and family went to Los Muertos Beach to catch a close glimpse at it.
I must mention Alfredo Cardeña, an outstanding promoter of tourism in Vallarta. Al is a native from Los Angeles, California. He is a dynamic tourism entrepreneur. His first travel agency experience in Vallarta was at Viajes Vallarta, where he showed grest initiative and skills in promoting tourism and especially in handling group business. He told me once, that before he came to Vallarta on an inspection trip in October 1962, it had never crossed his mind to move here. During his first, he found Vallarta to be the ideal place to settle down with his family and to reach his aimed goals. Al worked hard through the years opened his own successful travel agency named Viajes Bigal. He became the big Al of Tourism.
Among other names of tourist guides in 1957 were Francisco Romero an Alfredo Marañon.
Before I proceed with tourist ships and their arrival in Vallarta, I must first recap some information about the first freight vessels. Among the first passenger and freight ships were El Sin Nombre, which was the ship I boarded to come to Vallarta, El Bolivar, El Arturo, Corrigan III, Corrigan IV, and El Salvatierra, commanded by our good friend captain Pedrito Caro. Traveling by ship was the most common way of transportation.
I still remember how excited we got every time we saw the smoke of steamships and heard their whistling when they were entering the bay. We were excited with the anticipation friends visiting from out of town, of locals coming back from the big city, or just plain excited about the arrival of imported goods, such silk, perfumes, parasols, and other items. I especially loved the elegance of parasols. I have always thought they added a touch of femininity and coquetry. I can’t quite understand why they are not fashionable anymore. Another tradition lost was to meet travelers on shore to welcome them, or to farewell friends who left for the summer. It was a sign of affection to our friends.
We didn’t a Pier at that time. Loading and unloading of goods was done in a primitive way on canoes. Although each ship came with a crew of sailors, local stevedores were hired to unload heavy shipments. The stevedores were mostly strong local men of athletic constitution, who wore their pants rolled to their knees, and were always shirtless. They often showed their knees, and were always shirtless. They often showed their sunburned chests and backs. In order to pad heavy loads on their backs, the stevedores would hood their heads with flours or sugar sacks like monks. Although the work was rough, they seemed to enjoy it. One could see them contrasting with their sunburned faces. You could hear them talking sailor’s slang, such as – “…ándale vale, no seas g…no te quedes allí parado,” meaning “Comón bud, get the lead out of your ass…don’t just be standing around!” – I do want to clrify that they were never rude to me or forwarded any insults toward me. It was I who heard them talking in slang to each other when passing by.
The local sailors and stevedores were well known in the community. They called each other not by their real names but by their nicknames. Among those names I remember were El Trancas (The Crossbar,) El Bule (Big Tummy,) El Zurrón (Husky,) Tres Pelos (Three Hairs,) El Zun (no translation,) El Maguey (The Agave,) Morelos (Name of Mexican hero,) El Rorro (Coll,) El Chiri (no translation,) El Manchado (Spotty,) El Niño (The Child,) El Tiquilichi (no translation) El Pituchi, etc.
We came to know many of these people because they made home deliveries. As I mentioned before, there were not trailers or pick up trucks to transport or deliver merchandise. Everything was done manually. There were some times that three hips would arrive on the same day, and the stevedores had baskets covered with impeccable starched napkins.
The stevedores were part of the life of Vallarta. Presently, many of them have died. The ones who remain are retired, living a peaceful life, and still reminiscing in happy old times.
Catalina Montes de Oca Aguilar
Autobiografia de Doña Catalina Montes de Oca Aguilar
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Note: The segments from the book "Puerto Vallarta en mis Recuerdos" -both versions- are published in PVMirror.com with the express authorization of Sra. Yolanda Contreras de Garduño, co-author of the work and owner of the copyrights thereto. Any reproduction thereof, partial or total, in any medium is prohibited.
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