Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Good Morning! Well it is at least while I write this. And that in and of itself is an oddity for me as I'm much more of a night owl. I always have been. I find it much easier to function in the evening... and even later. I seem to get more energy as the evening wears on. It's part of my biorhythm or energy patterns or whatever the woo-woo people would say. But as the season has been a busy one this year, I find myself getting up earlier and earlier to get to the tasks at hand for any given day. This morning, even though we are mid-May, is no exception.

Many of the foreign community who wish to call Puerto Vallarta home rest their heads close in to town in areas such as Amapas, Alta Vista, Olas Altas, and Conchas Chinas. Their primary desires are to be within walking distance to town - they've had it with the long commutes at home. They want to walk to their favorite coffee shop in the morning, stroll the charming village of Olas Altas or exercise on the Malecón. The desire is to be in close proximity to the heart and energy of Puerto Vallarta.

I, on the other hand, given that I'm in the thick of it all day, and often by my choosing, much or all of the night, reside in a more rural setting of Vallarta. Horses often share the streets with cars and some of the only traffic patterns heard will be the cows rustling in the adjacent land. And despite the tranquil nature of the setting and the lack of a sensation that you are anyplace close to a thriving metropolis, the most wonderful feature that I have come to enjoy is the bird life.

Not one to have ever paid much attention to birds, I am now surrounded by these little creatures. There are literally hundreds of them of all varieties living in my and the neighbor's trees. I am less than a novice when it comes to birds. Blue ones, black ones, yellow ones... that's about as experienced as I am on the topic. But other than their spectacular plumage, I find their calls to be extraordinary. And there is no better times than early in the morning and just about dusk to experience their chanting.

I lived in Mismaloya for a while at the beginning of my stay in Vallarta. The condo that I was in was extremely unique in that there were no doors or windows... it was like living in a treehouse. Up in the hills of Mismaloya where the jungle meets civilization and seemingly one lonely condo amongst the palms is where I was fortunate enough to call home in the early days. Outside my window was a bird... I never saw him, and he only was around in the mornings, but he absolutely let his presence be known. Every morning, he would wake me up with what is best described as a bellowing laugh... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. At the top of his little lungs, he would belt out this raucous laughter... or so it sounded like. I woke up every morning laughing. What a GREAT way to start a day.

This morning, as I got out of bed, while I didn't hear the laughter, there was the sound of a bird that appeared to be saying, "Yeah RIGHT," with an uplilt on the "RIGHT" - as if to be responding to somebody's chisme (gossip). It was absolutely delightful.

Over the few years that I've lived here, the birds of all shape, size and color, have flown through my home and have played with the idea of using the fountain as their own personal spa. Initially unsure of their own safety, once in a while they would bounce down to the fountain to literally test the waters. After a while, they would sprite down for a quick gulp of water and then fly off to safety. With time, though, they've determined that this can be as much a sanctuary for them as it is for me, and now they come individually or even in flocks to bathe, drink and otherwise play in the three-tiered water park that has magically been provided for their pleasure, languishing for sometimes hours. I never tire of watching them and seeing how much enjoyment they get from their natural ritual.

There are many wonderful places to live in Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding Bay of Banderas. Some want to be close to their pleasure centers - golf, ocean, marina. While others feel they cannot just yet give up some of the excitement that they are leaving behind in their former city lives. But there are some who embrace the slower pace and revel in the sights and sounds that are experienced when the roar of life is brought down to the most pure of sounds... a bird chirping or bathing in plain view on a Wednesday morning. I hope you enjoy all that Puerto Vallarta offers you today.

Since 1997, Wayne Franklin and his team at Tropicasa Realty have been a trusted name in Puerto Vallarta real estate. Tropicasa Realty is the region's representative for "The Leading Agents of the World" and with over 100 years of combined experience in real estate, all agents of the company are affiliated with AMPI. Wayne Franklin or any member of his knowledgeable team can be contacted in-person at their Romantic Zone Office - Pulpito 145-A at Olas Altas or in their San Marino Office - San Marino Hotel at Rodolfo Gomez 111-4. While in PV they can be reached at (322) 222-6505 or by calling 866-978-5539 (Toll-Free) from the U.S.

Click HERE to learn more about Tropicasa Realty, or visit tropicasa.com.