Our second day sees us piling into the rented van and heading for Artisanos to see the best variety of ceramics, cast goods, classware, carvings, onyx, and so much stuff that it’s overwhelming! Need a bathroom sink? how about a life size Don Quixote? Anyone need a planter, how about a chimenea? It’s a;; here, and I have to drag everyone out after an hour of shopping! It’s a good place to shop, indeed.
Then it’s off to the other town, San Jose del Cabo. Here we see a nice old town, with lots of artistic shops, silver ware, jewelry, and tequila(!). it’s a nice relaxing time for all, and after lunch we’re back to the van and it’s off to the park, to rest up for our supper at Latitude 22 Roadhouse.
Decent food, interesting atmosphere, and good company round out a great day at “the bottom” of Baja!
Beachbound, we are. It’s time to hit the Santa Maria Playa for the morning, and spend a grueling day snorkeling, watching, and hanging out. It;s a busy day, as Santa Semana is in full swing, and The Locals are filling up the beach, and the boats are streaming into this tiny cove for paddleboarders to splash around.
The new palapas are in high demand, and soon we are filling up a few of them. The new parking lot is a LONG way from the beach. Remember that it was 10 feet to the beach, well now it’s 300 yards down a very nice disabled accessible ramp!
So it goes; it’s nice at first, but then the sheer volume of beachgoers demands more controls, and better parking. Lifeguards, police, vendors, bikinis. So Soon, it’s gentrified, and not quite what it was.
It’s over so soon, and we hightail back to the Park, for a little rest before it’s time to go to our second beach of the day.
Playa Medano is right downtown, right in front of the cruise ships, right in the busiest zone of beach in Cabo. We find a nice spot and set up shop for our margarita party!, it’s party time again, as Diane sets up a fancy repast for us all to enjoy.
3 hours slip on by, and it’s time to wander back to the vehicles and back to the park for the last evening in Cabo.
As we turn the corner and head north, we find the highway is much improved, and soon enough we’re at Afrain’s Blanket factory. Always a decent place, Afrain has good product at good prices, and everyone finds something that catches their eye.
Only just up the road is our home for 2 nights: Los Cerritos Surf colony and Beach Camp.
An ordinary parking lot leads us to the really nice pool/palapa/restaurant. There’s good wifi, and the beach is electrifying, with huge waves crashing all around. It’s a surf beach, and surf’s UP!
A very busy beach, with a tent colony appearing along the beach, Mexicans really like to camp on beaches at Santa Semana, and this beach is no exception. The smell of BBQ briquets permeates the air, and they’re obviously setup for the week!
The sand is fine here, and it is continually changing the shape of the beach, from month to month it looks like a different place.
We’re set for a nice relaxing day around the pool, and Teresa is there to make sure that everything is going smoothly. Dinner beside the pool is very good, and some Baja Amigos join together for drinks as well. Lovely place indeed.
Next day, the taxis arrive to whisk us off to Todos Santos, and our day trip to look around this “Puebla Magica”, as the government designates it. Despite its large gringo zone (it’s hidden away to the north) the town looks very Mexican yet, and it’s clean, safe, and fun to wander about. Lots of restaurants and shops to haunt.
We finish at 2pm, and the taxis take us back to Los Cerritos, promising to return at 5:30 for our supper date in Pescadero. And return they did, right on time, to take us to Jose’s La Pasadita backyard BBQ eatery. I always tell people that this is a highlight, and it certainly was tonight. Jose has T shirts now, and sold a few this night. Papas rellenas are flying out, hot dogs, super burritos, tortas. It’s a feast, and everyone is pleasantly surprised at the flavours of Mexican BBQ fare.
Next it’s back to La Paz; Walmartto stock up, and Campestre Maranatha, for one night to dump tanks, get cleaned up, and ready for the next two days on the beach, at Playa el Tecolote. Cindy kindly offers to let me use their van for outings on Wednesday. What great people!
Tecolote is nice and quiet when we arrive. After the madness of Semana Santa camping, it had cleared out completely, and we have the beach almost completely to ourselves….. until some of the stragglers who had the day off came by and set up the beach camps again. It’s a very quiet group though, and they’re having family time anyway, so no huge thundering stereos to introduce us to Mexican Country music/tuba tuning/ accordion squeezing fun. Overnight a huge wind buffets all our rigs, and I think it might be time to return to the shelter of Campestre Maranatha. Amazingly, the wind dies down by 8am, and another nice day appears. It’s Mens’ Breakfast Potluck today, a first that could be continued on, ’cause it was a great success even if I say so myself. All kinds of neat breakfasty stuff appeared and just as quickly disappeared. Totally amazing, if you ask me! AND ON TIME. Who said that?
Then the afternoon dinner potluck came out, pretty much on time, I guess. But well worth the wait in every way! So many interesting and tasty dishes come out of our little homes. I’m always very happy to sample all the great grub.
Another mostly windy night, and we’re back to La Paz, and excursion day. It’s time to walk the malecon, peruse shops, look at the tourists (we’re NOT tourists, we’re travellers, adventurers). Most of the tourists are Mexicans now, as we’re in the middle of the two weeks that make up the Santa Semana. They blend right in with the few gringos though: ice cream, candy, wandering the streets in search of the elusive…… stuff-to-buy. 🙂
Los Maguayes is our evening destination. Liz is there to greet us, and we’re soon having a really nice meal and enjoying the company! It’s always nice here, and tonight is no exception. Thanks guys.
Then it’s really time to head northward. Puerto Escondido is quite full of sailboats this month, many are hiding in the outer harbour, and there’s a big wind coming, says Rachel in the Port Captain’s office. It’s a nice place to stop for the night: full security, great showers/washrooms, a restaurant, a store and….. wifi. So it’s nearly perfect. Wayne was complaining though. He missed the sounds of roosters all night, and said it was just too darned quiet. 🙂 Morning brings the spectacular red mountain view as the rising sun catches the surrounding hills in brilliant dawn colours.
Now we are in Mulege. It’s windy still, but we’re sheltered in the compound, and it’s not so bad. The group is scheduled to go for a tour of the sights and shops with Salvador as soon as we arrive. It works out really well, and he gives a good tour. He returns at 5:30 to take us all to Las Casitas for supper. It’s such a nice atmosphere there, and it’s a hit for most. It looks like Javier has found another cook, as the food arrives in decent time, and is very good. Not bad margaritas, and good company, again!
Next: Guerrero Negro
