March 30, 2013 – Today we returned to La Paz and Campestra Maranatha for 2 evenings and a number of scheduled excursions. After a Walmart stop we arrived at the park and it has really warmed up, no more cool breezes off the Pacific. We delayed the excursion until 3pm so everyone could take advantage of the pool and most did, even though it was not heated it was still warmish, when it is almost 35c (95f) you need to cool off. Later we left for town and the Malecon and the overlook on the Panteon, another drive and site folks will remember for a while, driving through town was eerie, La Paz seemed like a ghost town with most business closed and the residents away celebrating Easter, lots of parking though. The Malecon was beautiful as ever, lots of tourists and a few locals walking about with a few shops open, strolling the La Paz Malecon is a favourite for people on tour, it does not get much prettier, many said it reminded them of the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta.
Only a couple of days ago we were in Los Cabos although it feels like a week. It was busy however the RVers like it that way. No suprise Artesano’s was a hit with the gals, not so much with the guys. Everyone enjoyed the walk in San Jose del Cabo, lots to see, some had been many years ago and were amazed by the changes. That evening we went for dinner at Lattitude 22, home No Bad Days, the food was good and the group enjoyed the character of the place, it is unique. Our swim at Playa Santa Maria was also a real hit, everyone went into the water and cooled off. As all these activities and excursions were taking place, Julio and his team were busy washing all the RVs, we had him wax ours. They did an excellent job at a very reasonable price, everyone was impressed for sure. Our last event in Los Cabos for the hosted Happy Hour, this was really fun and the beach was busy with locals and youngsters on spring break. Antonio was by to sell his lemon pots and other wares, Lisa’s Margaritas were popular and there was certainly no lack of sites to see and enjoy on the Playa!
After Los Cabos we headed off to Pescadero with a stop to see Afren and Vivian at his Factory of Mexican Blankets on Hwy 19. Everyone were impressed with the selection and quality avaialble, they were also very pleased with the new highway which had been completed for the G20 in Los Cabos last June. The drive into Bobby & Wendy’s campground was adventurous, although it seems for us to be getting shorter. Once we got set up we headed to the beach for some boogey boarding. By then we had some marine cloud roll in, so it was definitely cooler on the beach which made the water seem warmer, I caught a good wave and that sufficed. Later we all headed off to La Pasadita for dinner and another truly unique Baja experience. The menu may be simple but the food is always great, everyone had plenty to eat and a good time.
10 am the next day we headed off to Todos Santos to see the fabled Hotel California and the other sites in town, some folks also needed a bank machine which was handy as there is a couple in the village. After a walk about, some photos and shopping we met at George’s Tacos for lunch then we were off to Casa Bentley, operated by Robert & Beatrice. the gang was really impressed with this unique boutique hotel and some immediately planned to return for a longer stay. We returned back to the campground and another visit to the beach, a little warmer this time. Later Bobby joined us for our Happy Hour, he makes good company for sure, he has big dreams and has accomplished a lot, we cannot wait to see how he makes out with the campground next season.
Today we are off to Ibarra’s Pottery and the Madero Mercado, later dinner at Los Tamarindos. Tommorrow on Easter Sunday we travel north to Puerto Escondido. Happy Easter everyone, Feliz Semana Santa !
Did you know?
William Walker (May 8, 1824 – September 12, 1860) was an American lawyer, journalist and adventurer, who organized several private military expeditions into Latin America with the sole objective of establishing English-speaking colonies under his personal control, an enterprise then known as “filibustering.”
In the summer of 1853, Walker first traveled to Guaymas, seeking a grant from the government of Mexico to create a colony that would serve as a fortified frontier, protecting US soil from Indian raids. Not surprisingly Mexico refused, and Walker returned to San Francisco determined to obtain his colony, regardless of Mexico’s position. He began recruiting from amongst American supporters of slavery and the Manifest Destiny Doctrine, mostly inhabitants of Kentucky and Tennessee. His intentions then changed from forming a buffer colony to establishing an independent Republic of Sonora, which might eventually take its place as a part of the American Union (as had been the case previously with the Republic of Texas). Walker funded his project by selling “scrips” which were redeemable in lands of Sonora.
On October 15, 1853, Walker set out with 45 men to conquer the Mexican territories of Baja California and Sonora. He succeeded in capturing La Paz, the capital of sparsely populated Baja California, which he declared the capital of a new Republic of Lower California, with himself as president and his partner, Watkins, as vice president; he then put the region under the laws of the American state of Louisiana, which made slavery legal. He moved his headquarters to Ensenada to maintain a more secure position of operations. Although he never gained control of Sonora, less than three months later, he pronounced Baja California part of the larger Republic of Sonora.
Lack of supplies and unexpectedly strong resistance by the Mexican government quickly forced Walker to retreat. Back in California, he was put on trial for conducting an illegal war, in violation of the Neutrality Act of 1794. In the era of Manifest Destiny, his filibustering project was popular in the southern and western United States and the jury took eight minutes to acquit him.
In a later expedition and invasion Walker became president of the Republic of Nicaragua in 1856 and ruled until 1857, when he was defeated by a coalition of Central American armies, principally Costa Rica’s army. Ultimately he was captured and executed by the government of Honduras in 1860.
