Traveling alone in Mexico has been something very controversial for me. The feeling of not being safe sometimes scares me. But today, I just feel like I need my ultimate personal space (as I always do in Japan). I mean, as a women you should always be aware everywhere else in the world. So, I just started this trip in the morning, alone, myself and my red-blue Ben Davis backpack full of my camera kit. Of course, my new Mavic Air from my brother (love you), too.
“I am really going this time”, I said to myself a day before.
After having a little research about how to go there, I finally found the bus stop from Puerto Vallarta, it’s Parada De Camiones ATM Las Glorias;
The bus schedule starts at 09:00, 12:30, and so on from Puerto Vallarta direct to Mascota. And going back, it starts at 15:30, 16:30, and 18:00 from Mascota back to Puerto Vallarta. Bus ticket is 165 pesos (around $8), and if you guys have your student card, 20 pesos discount! I waited for a bit and finally I stepped on that red-turquoise bus, sitting on the front seat (like all the time). I was wearing just a sleeveless top and a short jeans, the air started to get very fresh!! Thankfully, I am very tolerant to cold–I’m good! But for you guys out there, bring a jacket!
2 hours passed, I finally reached San Sebastián del Oeste for a toilet stop. One lady sold me a sandwich inside the bus that time, 25 pesos? Of course I’ll get one! Vamos! Another hour to Mascota, not bad (3 hours in total). Here we go now!
Bus situation
My 165 pesos bus ticket
- Autobuses Mascota
This is the bus stop! Make sure you guys don’t miss it, here’s the location.
That’s the bus stop
- Cafe con Leche Deli
“One Americano please”, I asked.
Before starting this long day, coffee stop! The place is soooo nice, they sell cakes too! I wish I had space on my tummy. Highly recommended! The price of the coffee is around 30-40 pesos, not bad!
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cafe+con+Leche+%26+Deli/@20.5242682,-104.7885327,18z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8426a6934c1e9c07:0x5057dadf8db7cd52!2sMelchor+Ocampo+25,+Col+San+Rafael,+46900+Mascota,+Jal.,+Mexico!3b1!8m2!3d20.5243841!4d-104.7823476!3m4!1s0x8426a68d3512844f:0xfb56be243690d876!8m2!3d20.5236358!4d-104.7886658
- Mercado Mascota
Just a 3- minute walk from the bus stop! You can start your journey with some cute souvenirs in your hand. By the time you enter the building, you can see some restaurants open with a very great atmosphere–very lovely. The sun was shining so bright through the roof, it was a wonderful day. Plus, I am a sucker for artesanal/crafts, another earring for my collection. Just look how cute that thing is!
They also got the outdoor part of it, always try to get things in a cheaper price! Speaking Spanish will help a lot. I bought a silver-coated necklace just for 100 pesos (like $4), that’s nothing!
The silver stall, this lady is super friendly!
- Plaza Municipal
Just like other towns, they have the plaza where they have space to sit and a fountain! There are some government buildings around, though. Well, you can sit there for a bit and enjoy the moment:) Also, stop by Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores!
- Museo Raúl Rodríguez
I start walking randomly to the place where they have more attractions to see and suddenly my eyes got locked to this place. Some people were outside chilling around and it seem to be a very cool museum. I stepped in the building, a dog started to welcome me, how cute! Then, people are actually having a tour here. I just joined them out of nowhere! Well another perk of traveling, knowing new people and learn how to get along with them!
Even, one of them gave us a full bag of soursop ice cream, beyond delicious…. The museum is basically a series of collections from some Mexicans who acted in Hollywood back in the days. Such a surprise that this museum is open just under reservation/touring. It’s private! Again, another surprise, I got along so well with the people from the tour and decided to continue the journey with them.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Morelos+44,+Centro,+46900+Mascota,+Jal.,+Mexico/@20.522704,-104.7896115,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8426a6f2a67b2791:0x41c2ab2e020fcf7d!8m2!3d20.522699!4d-104.7874228
- Los Yeyos, Dulces y Concervas
After a five-minute ride with the bus, we finally arrive here. It’s a candy shop where they produce everything from soursop (guanábana in Spanish), all natural. But of course, sugar!! They made so many types of sweets with different taste and shape.
I got so inspired to see people who are still doing something very traditional and homemade. You know that feeling when you know people are still willing to conserve their cultures? Highly appreciated! Not to forget, no preservatives!
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Melchor+Ocampo+25,+Col+San+Rafael,+46900+Mascota,+Jal.,+Mexico/@20.5243891,-104.7845363,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8426a6934c1e9c07:0x5057dadf8db7cd52!8m2!3d20.5243841!4d-104.7823476
- Yerbabuena Malecón y Laguna
Unexpectedly, they are planning to go to places that I wanted to visit too. We had a 20-minute ride to another town named La Yerbabuena. We stopped by a lagoon and it’s indeed, pretty and tranquil. We spend a good few minutes there just looking at the calm water just before we started walking through the small alley on the way to the church.
The lagoon
Alley-walk to the church
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Yerbabuena+Malecon+y+laguna/@20.5243894,-104.7998571,14z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8426a6934c1e9c07:0x5057dadf8db7cd52!2sMelchor+Ocampo+25,+Col+San+Rafael,+46900+Mascota,+Jal.,+Mexico!3b1!8m2!3d20.5243841!4d-104.7823476!3m4!1s0x0:0x6cef9c385b34ce5a!8m2!3d20.5305561!4d-104.7562963
- Centro Magnetico
This is the HIGHLIGHT of the trip, people gotta come here. Basically they found this place around 5 years ago, there was something happening to this area (with the sun). Suddenly, they bless this place with a father and made it as a sacred place where people can release all their negative energy and ask for ‘light’ in their life.
The entrance
The inside
There are 3 pillars, two turquoise ones and one white ones. To begin with, you have to wear the minimum as you can so that you’re at a purest state of your body and mind. Make sure you open your shoes, socks, accessories, and all your things from your pocket. By the time you feel that you’re clear enough, step up to the stairs and get inside the circular zone. This is where the magnetic field will be the strongest, you will be surrounded with those 3 pillars. The person in charge will ‘bless’ you for a bit and you have to say your name to all those pillars. You will hear different levels of echo, I don’t know how this happened but it’s real.
Next, choose and face front to the pillar that you hear the biggest echo. By that time, just feel all your negative thoughts are going out from your fingertips. I feel sooooo light right after that. Wish for something that you really wanted, and believe on it. Honestly, it was a magical experience for me, I feel very positive right after it.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Morelos+44,+Centro,+46900+Mascota,+Jal.,+Mexico/@20.5227003,-104.78797,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8426a6f2a67b2791:0x41c2ab2e020fcf7d!8m2!3d20.522699!4d-104.7874228
- Templo Inconcluso de La Preciosa Sangre
Lunch checked, just one more place that I really have to go, the ruins of this church. Me and Tere (the friend that I met in the tour) walked for around 10 minutes from downtown to this place. Basically this ruin was from the 19th century, but the framework was not strong enough to be built as the whole building. So, we were just chilling inside, on the garden!
The day trip ended at 5 pm, we gotta catch up the sunset because driving in that lightless road will be dangerous by that time. I learned a lot today, I felt that as long as you’re a great person, people will come to you. Never fake your personality, just be the best version of who you are:) See you on the next one!
Tips on what to bring: a jacket, a water bottle, sunscreen.
chromatic voyage 
Your blog is sooo relaxing and aesthetic. It inspires me quite a lot! Waiting for your next travelling feed from Bintan. Love, from Indonesia
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