Sports

Sports Topics

060808 - The last touch has been put on the new tennis court, part of the new sports facilities. The 5 a side Futbol court will be open and available for free from 1800-2200 hrs through the month of August. Included in the pictures are the Futbol and Tennis Courts as well as the Bolos Cartageneros Court.

230708 - The final rush is on to finish the courts in time for Santiago Apostol Fiesta and the 24 hour 5 on a side Futbol. Indications are the complex will be something to admire. I smell a big dedication coming on.

100708 - Further progress on the sports courts, they have now been paved and the fences are being put in place.

060608 - Work continues to progress on the new sports area.

The area bordering Paseo Colon is getting a facelift. A new tennis court is in the process of being built and the futbol/netball court will have a new surfacing. Together with the new bols court the area will be a focal point for team playing.

Walking and Cycling

The newly formed walking club, informally named Portman's Half Fast Walking Club, meets at the foot of Paseo Colon every Monday through Saturday morning at 0830. The standard route is around the Bahia de Portman (see Routes below) however a variety of walks are undertaken throughout the Portman area. The club's purpose is to help members keep fit and to facilitate communications with others in Portman.

Around Bahia de Portman (See green route in picture on left) - Starting from Puerto Vallarta take the road to the old port and the dirt road to the beach (signed La Playa). Cross the beach towards the lighthouse. You will have to negotiate around the small harbour and up the steps to the road. Note the enhancement to the Playa Lastre area. Then follow the road through the pine forest to the round-about (Glorieta). Turn left and follow the road back to the compound. It's about an hours walk flat out, contains varied views - mountains, sea, forest, etc. - and, if you are running, contains some slight grades.

Portman's Lost Train - If one climbs up the old processing plant hill behind Puerto Vallarta one will find an old railway at the top. Following the rail bed to the left will lead you to some of the old rolling stock and the entrance to the mine.

If one walks out of the village on the road to La Union and takes the last dirt track to the right (just before the entrance to the old port on the left - the road may be the focus of construction as the new water pipeline has been laid along the track) one can climb to the san Jose pit where, it has been noted, the slag from the new bay will be dumped. Take care along the way as there are open pits and loose earth however the road has been upgraded with the installation of the pipeline.

On the right near the bomb shelter are the storm surge barriers to manage floods from heavy rains.

On the left about a third of the way up, the remains of an old bomb shelter used during the bombing of Portman during the Spanish Civil War. The entrance is covered with a large fig tree. The pictures include a shot of the immediate inside of the front door and the second entrance to the major chamber. Be careful when entering.

On the left before Marble Mountain is a spring. This water is not potable and could make you sick. Do not drink the water.

On the left past Marble Mountain is an old smelting oven. Although decayed it gives one a picture of what the working conditions might have been like.

The pit itself (Photo to come) is significant with a huge veins of lead evident.

If one climbs up the old Calle 33 (San Jose Mountain) towards La Union one will see that it was not only metals the Romans were after. Above the mineral mining they also mined paints. The pictures on the left show an old mine easy to get to from the side of the road. One can see the red, purple and yellow earth that was used as the colouring for paints. There are also white and blue and hues of other colours.

La Union-Portman: If you ever get stuck in La Union and have no way of getting to Portman you can always walk. It's about 6 km and takes approximately 2 hours at a steady pace. La Union is higher than Portman so the walk is more than 50% down hill. The opposite route is much harder.

Calblanque Park - Car from Puerto Vallarta (it's a long ride on a mountain bike as the roads from the motorway to the beach are dirt) past La Manga Club towards Loa Belones. Take the motorway towards La Manga and then take the Calblanque exit (Exit 10) on the right. The map on this site provides and overview of the area. The coast and beaches remind one of Monterrey, California. There is an information centre which provides more detail of the area's amenities.

Portman Lighthouse (Faro) - Great views of the surrounding area and the Med. Situated alongside the 'La Chapa' coastal battery.