This morning's walk was over the River Cuale and a steep climb to a neighbourhood that has legendary status in Puerto Vallarta. Oscar-winning director John Huston filmed many of his movies in the Mexico of the 1940's and 1950's (see The Treasure of the Sierra Madre). In 1963 he filmed Richard Burton and Ava Gardner in The Night of the Iguana on location in PV. A huge scandal ensued because Elizabeth Taylor arrived to stay with Burton ----- she was still married to singer Eddie Fisher!
This created the world's first paparazzi frenzy, with flashbulb-popping photographers from around the world staking out the street. So Puerto Vallarta suddenly became a household word in households everywhere, and the town boomed. Burton gave Taylor the house at 446 Zaragoza as a gift. After they were married, they also bought the house across the street and built a bridge to connect the two.
Decades have passed but the curious still come to see the lovenest of these film icons. The gulch now has many classic darkwood mansions owned by wealthy gringos.with spectacular views and narrow staircases. If only the streets could talk!
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