| Mecca, Saudi Arabia has been one of the most | | | | conquest was complete and for almost 500 years, |
| important cities on the Arabian Peninsula for over | | | | there have been no serious conflicts between the |
| 4,000 years. Being the birthplace of Muhammad in | | | | Spaniards and Indians. To the contrary, they have |
| 570AD and the home of the largest mosque in the | | | | intermarried for over 20 generations, to the extent |
| world, the Grand Mosque, Mecca is considered by | | | | where today, approximately 80% to 90% of all native |
| Muslims to be the holiest site of Islam. Since the 7th | | | | Mexicans are mestizos, a combination of Spanish and |
| century AD, Mecca has hosted millions of Muslim | | | | Indian. |
| pilgrims from all over the world on their way to Hajj. | | | | When the climate is absolutely perfect for at least |
| During the time period around 630AD, Muhammad | | | | seven months per year, it's only logical that they made |
| was successful in uniting the warring tribes of the | | | | love and not war! To this day, the natives are still a |
| Arabian Peninsula into a single nation, under one God. | | | | very kind, gentle, and hospitable group of people and |
| With this truce, there followed centuries of relative | | | | war, crime, or any other kind of confrontation is |
| peace with most of the local tribes choosing to accept | | | | avoided at all costs. They are a very religious and |
| Islam as their own faith and using Mecca as their | | | | peaceful society living the motto of "mi casa es su |
| center of prayer. Although Mecca is basically in the | | | | casa" or my house is your house. Foreigners, |
| middle of nowhere, it became a major trading hub | | | | regardless of whether they are tourists or immigrating |
| between the Byzantines and Bedouins as the | | | | retirees, are always welcome by the natives of this |
| Meccans signed treaties with everyone in the area. | | | | very special Banderas Bay region. |
| Goods from Africa and the Far East flowed through | | | | When we think of regions of the world with ideal |
| Mecca on their way to Syria and the other areas | | | | winter climates, the Hawaiian Islands often come to |
| within the Ottoman Empire. Today, the population of | | | | mind. This entire chain of islands also straddles the 21st |
| this holy city is 1,700,000 residents. | | | | parallel with Maui at the exact same latitude as Puerto |
| Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar), unlike Mecca, is a | | | | Vallarta. Although the average winter temperature is |
| relatively young city, founded in 1857 with a current | | | | 74°F, its exposure to Pacific Ocean winter storms |
| population of approximately 1,000,000 inhabitants. | | | | leaves Maui with more than 15 inches of precipitation |
| Mandalay is situated at the foot of Mandalay Hill | | | | during the months of November through May, while |
| because this is the site where around 500 BC while | | | | Vallarta receives virtually none. |
| visiting Myanmar, Gautama Buddha, the founder of | | | | When evaluating either Maui or Vallarta for a winter |
| Buddhism, pointed to the land below and around the | | | | vacation or retirement destination, a couple of factors |
| base of Mandalay Hill and proclaimed that at someday | | | | other than climate should also be considered. Maui is |
| in the future there would exist a great city on the land. | | | | approximately 8 hours from the US mainland, whereas |
| Today, the worlds largest book, the official Buddhist | | | | Vallarta is just a little more than a 2 hour flight. If so |
| Bible consisting of 729 slabs of stone, rests in a | | | | inclined, you can drive to Vallarta; don't try it to Maui! |
| pagoda at this site; thus it is accurate to say that | | | | Even though it's far from cheap, the cost of living in |
| Mandalay is Burma's cultural and religious center of | | | | Vallarta is substantially lower than that in Maui. |
| Buddhism. | | | | While the population of the entire group of Hawaiian |
| As with Mecca, Mandalay has become a major | | | | Islands is approximately 1,300,000 inhabitants, the island |
| trading hub, with goods flowing between China and | | | | of Maui is home to less than 150,000 people; whereas |
| India. Also, being the religious center of Buddhism, | | | | Vallarta has approximately 350,000 residents. Both of |
| millions of Buddhist pilgrims visit Mandalay yearly to pay | | | | these resort areas have large cruise boat terminals |
| homage to the beautiful pagodas located there. As | | | | that welcome 1,000´s of cruising passengers |
| with Mecca, the average daily temperature is about | | | | daily. Both cities have beautiful natural scenery, an |
| 75°F throughout the winter months, which might | | | | abundance of fine golf courses and world class deep |
| have had some bearing on why Muhammad and | | | | sea fishing, numerous five star restaurants, activities |
| Buddha both preached peace and tranquility in these | | | | for people of all ages, night life, and sight seeing galore. |
| beautiful climates. | | | | Again, it should be remembered that winter vacations |
| Now we ask, what in the world do these two religious | | | | to Maui can frequently be hampered by rainfall; |
| and cultural cities have in common with Puerto Vallarta, | | | | however this is never the case for winter vacations to |
| Mexico? Well, it just so happens that they both lie on | | | | Vallarta where every day is perfect for doing |
| or very near the 21st parallel north which is exactly the | | | | whatever pleases you. |
| same latitude as Puerto Vallarta. For that matter, Maui, | | | | Another magnificent city lying on the 21st parallel is |
| Hong Kong, Guadalajara, Hanoi, and Guantanamo Bay, | | | | Hong Kong with its population of 7,000,000 residents |
| also lie at this latitude and what they all have in | | | | enjoying an average temperature of 70°F |
| common is great climates throughout the winter. | | | | throughout the months of November through May; |
| Being located just south of the very northern edge of | | | | however on the downside, Hong Kong receives more |
| the tropics, near the 23rd parallel north, which defines | | | | than 25 inches of rain during this period. Any tourist |
| the northern edge of the Tropic of Cancer; these cities | | | | searching for a very unique, interesting, dynamic, and |
| possess ideal climates from November through May | | | | beautiful winter vacation, Hong Kong is a must. It's |
| when Puerto Vallarta sees an average daily | | | | terribly expensive and very densely populated; |
| temperature of 73°F with virtually no rain. As a | | | | therefore you can forget it as a potential retirement |
| note of interest, a large monument marking the Tropic | | | | destination! |
| of Cancer rests in Zacatecas, Mexico which is due | | | | In summarizing, there are millions of people living on or |
| west of Mazatlan, Mexico, also resting on the Tropic | | | | near the 21st parallel north where the tropical winter |
| of Cancer line at 23° north latitude. Mazatlan is | | | | climate is so inductive to enjoying life. Mecca, |
| roughly 100 miles north of Puerto Vallarta and | | | | Mandalay, and Hong Kong are probably not the most |
| therefore we can acknowledge the fact that Mecca, | | | | suitable for the majority of the North American baby |
| Mandalay, Vallarta, Maui, Hong Kong, etc are all | | | | boomers evaluating various retirement destinations; |
| approximately 100 miles into the tropics where the sun | | | | however Maui and Vallarta should be given serious |
| is directly overhead at noon during the summer solstice | | | | consideration. |
| in June. | | | | For the reasons discussed above, an estimated 50,000 |
| Because the climate is so comfortable in these areas | | | | North Americans have chosen Vallarta as their winter |
| for such a large portion of the year, conditions are ideal | | | | residence and the number continues to increase daily. |
| for peace and tranquility. After all, Banderas Bay, home | | | | If you're among the fortunate ones about to retire, you |
| of Puerto Vallarta, received its name when warring | | | | need to visit Vallarta and evaluate the opportunities it |
| Indian tribes and Spaniards during the Spanish | | | | has to offer; perhaps you'll be among the next 50,000 |
| Conquest of Mexico laid down their weapons and | | | | retirees that migrate to this glorious Paradise south of |
| colorful flags (banderas) and proclaimed peace for this | | | | the border! |
| beautiful and comfortable region. By 1530, the short | | | | |