There was a time, not so long ago, when Puerto Vallarta had no electricity and no running water in the houses. For the district called “Caloso and Canoas”, which follows the River Cuale in the hilly area east of the Zona Romantica, this has been a reality untill the late 90’s.
During this time the people would take advantage of the river for bathing and washing clothes, as well as for fishing its sweet water shrimps and fish (of which there was definitley a greater abundancy than there is today).
Nicanor Ureña Garcia was one of these natives. Born in Talpa de Allende, a silver mining municipality at the south border of PV in Jalisco state, he reached Vallarta when he was only twelve to help some relatives in construction works.
It was 1978. His story at this point is similar to the one of many other people attracted in town by the fast growing tourist economy of the municipality, which has never stopped since the early 40’s of the 20th century. But there is something special which connects Nicanor’s life to the changes that occured in PV since that moment on, a fairy-tale which runs along the river’s waters, as in Puerta Vallarta's finest tradition.
The story starts when an elderly couple from Talpa de Allende started to patronize the young and willing fellow citizen Nicanor with help and affection. The couple owned a humble hut on the river eastern shore for 40 years, and decided to organize a picnic along the river to celebrate the old woman’s birthday. Maria de los Angeles Olimpia Zanabria Castillion, a close friend’s 14 year old daughter with sweet blue eyes and lots of romantic dreams in her heart, was invited, and it was love at first sight.
It was 1983. Two years later Nicanor and Olimpia got married and startend raising their dreams together. He was almost 20 years old and she was almost 16. Their love never stopped from that moment on.
During the two years before the marriage and a couple years after, Nicanor started building a house along the river for his new family. Since the road called Libramento and then new tunnel which now connects the area with the main city roads were not there, he was taking the construction materials on the back of a donkey, daydreaming about opening a restaurant, a very romantic and quiet place along the river, exactly where he met his beloved wife. At the same time, he started working as a dishwasher in a hotel, then as cook and waiter in different restaurant and hotels, starting his apprenticeship in catering.
On the 17th of October, 1998 the restaurant that Nicanor dreamed of, which serves down-home mexican food and cocktails, was finally opened. They named it “Cuale Paradise” in honor of the natural beauty and harmony of the place where they met, and truly is the most romantic restaurant in Vallarta; a relaxing, rejuvenating place filled with all the love which made Nicanor and Olimpia’s dreams come true.
Nicanor and Olimpia now have 3 delightful daughters and a son.
Electricity and running water is now there, and the road which connects the main central roads to the area was finally completed in 2007.
[readon1 url="www.vallartatoday.com/index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=360:Cuale-Paradise-Riverside-Dining&;Itemid=212"]More About Cuale Paradise - Riverside Dining[/readon1]
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