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Camino Viejo al Pitillal: An artery to the heart of Vallarta

History is woven with threads of memories. Paths made with river stones, Parota trees, Primaveras and Mangoes. This was the road that connects Pitillal with Puerto Vallarta.

 By Alfonso Baños France

Francisco Villa avenue is one of the most important arteries of our city. It functions as a connecting element between the delegation of The Pitillal (to the north) and Downtown Puerto Vallarta to the south. This strategic location has allowed it to consolidate itself as a mobility axis that connects with various neighborhoods that are scattered throughout the beautiful Vallarta geography. But 40 years ago, when my family moved to the Las Gaviotas subdivision, the dynamics of “Pancho Villa” avenue were very different. In the first place, it was known as the “Old road to Pitillal”.

The vehicular flow was less intense than at present. At that time, the rolling surface was adapted with river ball stone accommodated with earth, which gave it a smooth texture similar to cobblestone.

a prodigal nature 

In those days, contact with nature abounded. The presence of enormous trees such as Parotas, Mangoes and primroses They were furrowed by the "veins", as we called the streams that were frequently made in the rainy season. One of those streams ran laterally to the Los Mangos neighborhood, where the public Library of the same name. In that place, we children had fun when the channel carried water. We swam like they were hotel pools. We also liked to set nets to capture "prawns", that's how we named the crustaceans that ran through those streams and that we put in a bucket to transport them.

Pitillal, Puerto Vallarta
spring tree

The fauna was abundant and varied. Each house seemed like a small zoo due to the diversity of species with which we lived daily. At night, the fireflies accompanied us on the street, illuminating the days of games. I was impressed by the croaking of the toads and frogs, which sounded in the vacant lots, and whose symphony was frequent on rainy nights. There were also many poisonous insects and animals. Like scorpions, whose sting was feared but also frequent. On more than one occasion it was the reason for urgent transfers to the doctor or hospital, to be injected with the serum that counteracted its poison.

The public transport of yesteryear 

As for public transport, the service was provided by the famous "route 3". Some trucks painted white and red that passed with a very long frequency.

Between 1982 and 1985 I attended high school at the Colegio Niños Héroes. At that time it was located on 31 de Octubre street, in the center. Since I had to travel by truck, it was better for me to arrive on time because otherwise I would sometimes have to wait more than half an hour for another truck to arrive.

The sense of time was different forty years ago. Our worries were minimal and we didn't have so many distractions either. The most common games were related to enjoying nature. Climb the trees to lower mangoes, or pull the tails of the cows while they were grazing. We also enjoyed throwing stones with the slingshot.

The old Godinez hacienda

I still remember that the cultivated fields were the main image that appeared next to the Camino Viejo al Pitillal. Upon reaching the river to cross the town, there was the main house of the Hacienda de los Godínez. A very beautiful mountain farm, with a portico on the ground floor. From there, it was possible to admire the green and country landscape of this part of Puerto Vallarta.

Pitillal, Camino Viejo al Pitillal
Original photo: old Godinez hacienda

Going down this path today is a very different experience from the one I had to live in my childhood. Instead of "streams" where the rainwater ran, there are sidewalks and bus stops. Although beautiful parotas still remain, every day there are more buildings and constructions that contrast with the natural landscape of those times.

Currently, the Pitillal delegation has a number of population in Puerto Vallarta. It is a thriving place with great growth thanks to its economy. The vast majority of people are merchants or provide services from a very early hour. The patron saint festivities are an important reason for gathering for the town.

Its square and traditional temple dedicated to San Miguel Arcangel are obligatory stops to enjoy this beautiful place. Today the old road to Pitillal, now Avenida Francisco Villa, remains an important artery to the heart of Vallarta.

Pitillal, Camino Viejo al Pitillal
San Miguel Archangel Temple.
Claudio Fabian Guevara

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