More Mexico travel woes...Vancouver Island vistas...Jim's deal of the day

We Canadians love our Mexico winter holidays. Spring, summer and fall, too. There's plenty to like.

But news today that two British Columbia men were found shot to death at a condo in Puerto Vallarta can't help Mexico in its continuing bid to lure more of us to the sunny south.

Reports say the shootings took place early Sunday and that at least one man was found by the condo's swimming pool, shot at close range.

It's been a rough go for Mexico. They've had to deal with ongoing drug wars that have led to many shootings, albeit mostly in border towns away from most tourists. They've also had natural disasters and a swine flu outbreak, which they appear to have handled well.

We don't know the complete story of what happened in Puerto Vallarta on the weekend, but it's surely bad news for Mexico tourism. And surely a concern for Canadians thinking of a winter break.

VANCOUVER ISLAND VISTAS

I had no idea Vancouver Island was so stunningly beautiful and rugged. I was in Victoria when I was about knee high to Steve Nash but all I remembered was Butchart Gardens, the Empress Hotel and the Parliament Buildings. I'd never been to Tofino or Comox or Nanaimo before and had never driven much on the island. But I saw some wonderful scenery this past weekend, staying at the remarkable Wickaninnish

Inn just south of Tofino, taking long walks on Chesterman Beach to watch the surfers, taking in a whale watching tour on a rollicking, 65-foot ship on the Pacific and having a Sunday night dinner as the sun set over Victoria Harbour. I'll have more on BC coming up in the pages of the Star over the coming weeks, so stay tuned for a story and lots of pictures...

JIM'S DEAL OF THE DAY

Goway Travel’s AdventuresIncorporated division is offering free airfare with many of its Antarctica sailings this fall and winter. There’s no booking deadline but only certain itineraries and dates qualify for the deal. Antarctic Quest, departing Nov. 2, 2009 and Jan. 22 and Feb. 22, 2010 on the 82-passenger Ocean Nova, is a 20-day journey from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Falkland Islands, South George and the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. A shorter trip, the 11-day Classic Antarctica departing Jan. 15 and Feb. 20, 2010 on the 110-passenger Lyubov Orlova, heads straight to the Antarctic Peninsula for four days, with frequent trips ashore on inflatable Zodiac expedition boats. See www.adventuresincorporated.com.

Comments

[Rocky Point Mexico]

Have you been in Puerto Penasco which is also known as Rocky Point? Its also nice beach to visit in Mexico.