Travel day 17 and we are leaving Cabo, turning the corner and heading north along the Pacific Ocean to Los Cerritos Surf Colony for one night.
On the way we stopped at the Blanket Factory, an excellent location to buy authentic textiles made by a Mexican family. Blankets, tablecloths, ponchos, hammocks, purses, hoods and rugs in several color combinations all nicely displayed. Efrain and Vivianne are a young couple who run the shop with Efrain’s mother. Upon our arrival we were treated to warm freshly baked buns, an old family recipe. We all enjoyed the buns as we shopped; everyone bought something. A couple of the guys walked out with bags of goods as big as them, well almost.
At the Surf Club we dry camped in the parking lot but had access to their wi-fi, restaurant, pool and hot tub. The beach is right there as well where we walked and watched the surfers and boogie boarders waiting for the perfect wave to ride in or out. The ladies walked and picked shells and drift wood.
That evening we went out for dinner to Pescadero, a small rural village just south of Todos Santos and north of the surf club. It is surrounded by fields of aromatic basil and cherry tomatoes.
We dined at Las Pasaditas a truly Mexican back street patio restaurant owned by Jose. Jose and his family cook up a varied selection of food including hotdogs, hamburgers, tortas, papas rellenos, tacos, burritos and much more. No one was disappointed with their meal.
Travel Day 18, to La Paz ( The Peace) for 3 nights but first we had a 3 hour excursion in Todos Santos, just 1/2 hour north. We have a place right in town to park all the rigs while we have a walking tour of Todos Santos; shopping, eating and visiting the sights such as; Hotel California, the cultural Center & Museum, and the Mission.
Todos Santos, meaning “All Saints” is a quaint artist community thriving alongside ordinary Mexican life. It is abundant with wonderful shops, art galleries and good restaurants.
For Dom & I, this has always been one of our favorite stops in Baja; years ago we used to camp in town in a small campground that is not set up for caravans.
After 3 hours well spent we met at the Rv’s and continued our journey to La Paz.
After a fuel stop at the south end of La Paz we proceeded with ease through the city to Walmart to get a few provision and have lunch. This is an ice cream group and I guess even Walmart ice-cream hits the spot.
Around 3 pm we drove through the gates of Campestre Maranatha RV Park, a lovely place to be for 3 nights. This is another overlap stop for both Baja Amigo groups. Dan & Lisa greeted us and once we were set up the groups got together for happy hour in the middle of the camping area. It rained but we soon remedied that; everyone brought out the beach umbrellas which worked well. Later we moved under cover to the pool area once the children’s group had left.
Campestre Maranatha is a large full service park, also used for children’s camps. Originally the area was a runway for Cindy’s parents who were missionaries.
La Paz is an important regional commercial center with a population around 250,000 which includes surrounding towns. La Paz was known for its black pearls and was always a port. Near by Pichilingue is now the main port and ferry terminal with daily sailings to Topolobampo and Mazatlan on mainland Mexico. In 2007 Dom & I sailed to Topolobampo with our camper van.
The next morning we gathered the group and headed out on an excursion to Ibarra’s Pottery where Vicky met us and introduced the group to the shop and explained the pottery process. Vicky’s father recently passed away and for Dom & I it was sad not to see him sitting at his pottery wheel. Mama does painting and creates interesting patterns, also the son paints patterns on the pottery. Many items were bought and Dom & I always buy a piece or two.
Afterwards we went to the Panteon Overlook which offers a great view of La Paz and the cementario (cemetery) which from the view point looks like a condo complex. We usually let the group figure out what it is. On thee way back to the RV Park we drove along the Malecon then stopped at a big mexican grocery store for a quick grab of something and a look see.
Back at the RV Park we had lunch and a quiet time then all the guys headed out for a walk in the neighborhood to a used parts yard while the ladies sat and visited and learned the Australian national anthem because today was Australian day. We celebrated the day with our Australian group members. Christine sang the song while the group sang the chorus.
Christine was the only one to go into the pool. With the cool weather, the others didn’t try it.
We all sat together and visited until dark.
Day 20, our third day in La Paz finds us gathered at the van at 10 am. for an excursion into town. The group got off at the Madero Market. They walked and toured the cathedral, the gallery, cultural center, Hotel Yeneka which is a very unique place which is a museum of all kinds of collectables. The Perla Hotel on the Malecon s a lovely spot for a meal. doom & I had coffee there but on this occasion there was a cool breeze coming off the water so not as cosy as it normally is.
After their walk about and a bite to eat the group met Dom & I on the Malecon for a photo at the newest statue, an oyster shell with a pearl. We spotted a few of the guys eating ice-cream cones. Neil, George & Cliff can sniff out an ice-cream shop anywhere.
Back at the RV Park we all spent a quiet couple of hours then all 12 of us went out for an evening meal to Los Magueyes Restaurant. An authentic Mexican experience with a varied menu. A man sang and played guitar for us, as we dined and visited. We had fun time together.
