Puerto Vallarta in Mexico is a well-liked vacation spot for Canadian vacationers, and lots of of them are ready to see what is going to occur subsequent after airways cancelled flights to and from the world Sunday following an outbreak of violence.
B.C. resident Ryan Voutilainen and his associate are visiting the favored vacationer city, staying within the Zona Romantica district.
“Final night time was a standard night time. It was presupposed to be my final night time right here in Puerto Vallarta, so I used to be out with some associates having fun with the night,” he mentioned.
“Nothing final night time would have given you any indication that something uncommon was occurring.”
He says he travels to the world typically and has at all times felt secure. Saturday night time, they went to mattress ready to pack up and head dwelling within the morning.
They didn’t anticipate to have their plans utterly modified.
They bought up and have been on the brink of head to the airport, and it wasn’t till somebody from again dwelling reached out to them asking in the event that they knew something uncommon was occurring.
“I don’t even have any outward-facing home windows or doorways; it’s all into an inside courtyard,” Voutilainen informed CityNews.
“I didn’t hear something, and it was really a good friend of my associate and mine that was really messaging us saying, ‘Hey, are you aware what’s occurring?’”
He says that’s when actuality hit him.
“We began checking social media after which came upon that there was some form of subject with vehicles being set ablaze, not solely right here, however in different kinds of PV as nicely,” he mentioned.
“Solely to search out out later that this was one thing that was really taking place in a number of totally different areas throughout the town and probably even throughout the state of Jalisco, which is the place Puerto Vallarta is situated, the capital being Guadalajara.”
Voutilainen says he went to the rooftop of his Airbnb to see what he may see.
“There’s no one on the market, there’s no automotive site visitors, there’s no pedestrians. There’s no signal of any police enforcement,” he mentioned.
“What I did see throughout the a part of the time that I used to be watching is there was really a bunch on motorbikes that truly pushed the automotive into one of many intersections and set it on fireplace. And that is one thing I’ve been listening to from others I do know, some folks that truly reside right here in Puerto Vallarta.”
Later within the day, he noticed police, helicopters, smoke, and burned out automobiles and shared photos on social media.
He warns folks to not imagine every little thing they see or hear.
“I do know I’ve seen a few photos of the place I’m staying, displaying that the entire space’s on fireplace, and that’s actually not the case, not less than not at this level,” he mentioned.
“I do know there have been some movies, for instance, which have gone out about folks operating from Guadalajara airports … then I’m seeing stuff from the …state authorities stating that a few of these movies which are being put on the market should not essentially true.”
Voutilainen says the scenario is “a little bit hectic.”
“We don’t know what’s going to occur,” he mentioned.
“That mentioned, I really feel like we’re in a form of a secure place as a result of the constructing that we’re in is pretty safe.”
However as a result of they have been anticipating to depart immediately, they weren’t ready when it comes to having meals available.
“In order that’s going to be now the factor, about if we’re going to, in a while immediately, be capable to go away and really get one thing to eat from anyplace in addition to the water that we’ve right here, that we nonetheless have left from earlier than.”
Voutilainen says he has been working with Airbnb and the host to ensure they’re able to keep there for the night time.
“We’re good till tomorrow, not less than at this level, and we’ll see how the remainder of the factor, the day pans out.”
He says he obtained a message from Air Canada informing him his flight was cancelled. Apart from that, he says, he hasn’t obtained a lot info.
“All I’ve seen is one thing from Federal Affairs simply telling that there’s a journey advisory now in place and for these which are right here to make sure that they’re sheltering in place,” he mentioned.
“Myself and my associate, we’ve already registered with them as nicely to allow them to know that we’re right here within the occasion issues go sideways or issues or the scenario turns into worse round right here.”
Now they play the ready recreation as they’re caught in limbo.
“We’re doing every little thing we will to ensure that we keep and hold ourselves in a secure place in order that we’re not placing ourselves in hurt’s approach,” he mentioned.
“I assume we’ll see how the subsequent 24 to 48 hours pan out and the way issues form of transfer on from right here.”
For now, he says, it’s an “fascinating state of affairs to be in.”
“By no means thought I’d be right here.”
Canadians are urged to register on-line with the Registration of Canadians Overseas (ROCA) to get essentially the most up-to-date info and steerage as quickly as attainable.
With information from Michelle Meiklejohn