View from the Top

Sunrise or sunset. Which is better? By that we mean, vacations are for relaxation, which implies sleeping late sometimes. In that case, sunsets are best.

Getting the right vantage point for a sunset or sunrise takes patience. Also, it takes imagination.

For example, the view of the pools in the left photo was taken in November 2008 at 6:45 AM (about) from the 9th floor of the Grand Mayan resort in Nuevo Vallarta. This resort is about a half mile south of the entrance to the Paradise Village marina in Nuevo Vallarta.

Alternatively, the photo to the right was taken at about 6:30 AM during Christmas week, 2005 at the end of the breakwater at the entrance to the Paradise Village marina. We took this photo in the small pagoda like structure at the end of the breakwater. It tuns out the beach with waves crashing is the same beach Grand Mayan beach. Just a very different vantage point.

The sunset is also taken from the same Grand Mayan deck as the pool shot. It is 9 floors up, and we think the view is beautiful. Of course all ocean views from elevated decks in resorts located along the shores of Bahia de Banderas are beautiful.

Regardless of your preference, you don't want to miss either. It is especially gratifying when you see something that surprises you when you review your photo for the first time. The pictures in this post surprised us because of the content and colors, each photo presenting a different view of the same place.