Bucerias Heart Tiles – A Scavenger Hunt
Former Interior Designer turned mixed-media artist, Sharon Parker, and self described “super-geek,” an academic with a PhD, Marshall Parker, have made Bucerias their home since 2019.
Sharon told us a bit about their shared history. They met in South Carolina during college and raised their two sons in Indianapolis, where they lived for twenty-five years. They’ve also lived in Wisconsin, North and South Carolina and Hawaii.
Marshall had previously stayed in Puerto Vallarta for a few days while working. On retirement, Sharon says, “We really wanted to be done with the corporate world.” They watched a program on HGTV that highlighted Bucerias, along with contact information for a local real estate agent. They subsequently arrived and saw several homes in Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, and La Cruz, but experienced their “Aha” moment in Bucerias. “We fell in love with the house and the town.”
The Game
The Parkers have recently introduced a bunch of fun to those of us who wander the streets and beaches. Bucerias Heart Tile participants are determined to find special tiles, sometimes hidden, with clues given, or sometimes just tossed in the sand or surf. Winners of events receive a prize, along with bragging rights, and I must tell you, these players are serious!
What are Bucerias Heart Tiles All About?
Marshall: I started collecting the tile, along with glass, on my morning walks where I would hide turtle tracks and collect plastics from the local beach. The tiles adventure grew from there; a love for Bucerias, and a need to just be kind and share the love. My wife Sharon said, “You should make it a game,” and that was all the encouragement this lifetime gamer needed. The Game, the included events, and the tiles have continued to evolve from there.
What Exactly are Bucerias Heart Tiles?
Marshall: Bucerias Heart Tiles are made from beach tile. Beach tile, much like beach glass, is prevalent on our beaches and “comes” in all shapes, colors and sizes. It is collected, engraved and repurposed for a little bit of fun, either in a game or just as a keep sake someone finds and takes home because it made them smile.
How To Play
Join the Facebook Group, “Bucerias Heart Tile.” You can find tiles at local businesses, follow clues to find special tiles, or search for random tiles on the beach and throughout town. Once found, take a photo showing the tile number and location and post it on the Facebook page. Marshall records and tracks each tile, keeping his spreadsheet current as players accumulate points for finds/posts. He says, “What ever you do, let us know where it ended up. I do like playing with the data and reporting fun facts about travel and tile counts.”
Game Tile Types
Traditional Game Tiles – are placed randomly around town or the beach for people to find as a curious treasure of Bucerias. Think of it as sharing the Love of Bucerias.
Event Tiles – are made with a theme in mind and released within a set time window. The tiles are hidden and clues are provided to aid in finding them. The current event features tiles engraved with shamrocks…especially look for the four leaf type!
Hot Tiles – can be found in local Hot Spots (businesses). They stay in the “shop,” so don’t walk off with them! Take and post a picture, and thank the shop owners for participating by staying for a while. Enjoy the various offerings…breakfast, lunch, dinner, beer, coffee or ice cream.
Travel Tiles – game tiles that someone has taken a liking to and keeps with them. They may take it home, or to new locations as they travel. Although the game commenced in February of this year, Travel Tiles have already made it as far as Montana, Wisconsin, South Carolina, British Columbia, and one is headed by water to Hawaii with a young couple from La Cruz.
Someone from the group asked if it bothered Marshall and Sharon if tiles go missing from their locations, without being photographed, posted and recorded. Their response? Not at all! Although each tile is numbered so it can be tracked, the primary purpose was to make people smile and feel the Love of Bucerias when they discovered a treasure here. That said, just finding the tile will build a little curiosity, a little conversation, human interaction. If they ask around and find our Facebook group, great! I love knowing where the tiles end up. But when a tile goes missing during an event, I like to think it means someone thought it was special. People are wonderfully curious. Imagine the conversation around the table speculating where this silly tile came from if they find a game piece by accident. It’s supposed to be fun. The abundance of tiles is second only to the love for Bucerias that we are sharing with visitors and locals alike.
This game is never ending. Perhaps next winter season more businesses will be involved, galleries, jewelry and clothing stores. “We certainly anticipate when shops are open, the Art Walk, (the game will) leverage a way to encourage people to explore Bucerias and the businesses.”
And what a benefit to our environment…the game began by picking up plastic and garbage off the beach. If everyone did that while searching for the marked tiles, well, just imagine. Join the Facebook page today to get started. Remember, post your tile photo with it’s corresponding number so Marshall can track it!
“Everybody needs something fun in their life right now.”
Thanks to the Parkers for meeting with us to explain the game. And, thanks, Marshall, for allowing me to plagiarize directly from the Bucerias Heart Tile Facebook page. Now I’m off to find more tiles!
