| Walk around any town laid out in the long-ago | | | | big scale. The center of political and religious life |
| past and try to find the main square: the church | | | | for Rome’s citizens, the Forum’s open |
| will be on one long side, the town hall on another. | | | | square was surrounded by public buildings and |
| The Plaza Principal (if you’re still becoming | | | | temples. The public, open space was the site of |
| comfortable with your Spanish, just call it the Main | | | | public spectacles and official functions as well as |
| Square) in Puerto Vallarta is no different. Still a | | | | for quiet, casual conversation. Modern use |
| focus for many of the city’s important | | | | hasn’t strayed much from original purpose. |
| activities and events, Puerto Vallarta’s | | | | It’s always something |
| community makes good use of their Plaza | | | | The Plaza Principal in Puerto Vallarta isn’t |
| Principal. | | | | difficult to find, only a block from the Malecón |
| Church and State meet on the plaza | | | | and Banderas Bay in El Centro. Paseo Diaz Ordaz |
| Once upon a time, the life of the community (not | | | | runs along one side, Our Lady of Guadalupe |
| to be confused with the life of the party) likely | | | | Cathedral resides just opposite the plaza, and the |
| found its focus around some sort of plaza or | | | | Palacio Municipal (surely you recognize “City |
| town square. Folks did their business, worldly and | | | | Hall”) holds a prominent position on the square. |
| other-worldly, in buildings that were clustered | | | | It’s probably not far from your Villa Rental |
| around a nice open area. Today, folks fortunate | | | | Puerto Vallarta. |
| enough to live in a town with a plaza still gather | | | | There is often some kind of organized |
| there for special events or simply to watch the | | | | entertainment happening in the plaza, especially |
| day go by. It’s a good bet that once you | | | | during the evening hours. On Sundays, folks enjoy |
| locate the Plaza Principal in Puerto Vallarta (you | | | | dancing to the music; during the week and also on |
| might be able to see it from the patio of your | | | | Sunday evenings, the municipal band takes the |
| Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta) you’ll find | | | | stage in the bandstand to entertain everyone |
| something good going on. | | | | within earshot. And there’s always a chance |
| If you need an example of “life on the | | | | to catch an impromptu act. Whether you’re a |
| plaza,” the Forum Romanum (the Roman | | | | social butterfly or a people watcher, the Plaza |
| Forum, if your Latin is a bit rusty) might be worth | | | | Principal’s the place, so get out there and |
| looking at – it’s a main square on a really | | | | mingle. |