Monday, November 16, 2020

I'm Baaaack!

NOTE TO SELF: Another 'found' draft. I must have been waiting for photos. And never returned.

I know, it's been a while. A long while. I needed a break, I guess. But writing is therapy, and goodness knows I need therapy this year. Not sure how often I will be able to post, but it will surely be more than in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

So even though 2017 has brought way too much drama into my life, it also has brought some new adventures. We haven't done any international traveling since we moved up here to heaven on earth. Until now. Before we knew it was going to be worst winter since we arrived in 2007, we planned an 11 day escape to Baja California, like a good number of other folks who live here. Now we know why everyone does this.

1. It's sunny.
2. It's warm.
3. It's laid back.
4. Food is good, and cheap.
5. Margaritas and beer are good, and cheap.
6. Alaska Air flies to San Jose del Cabo nonstop from PDX.

And that's just for starters.

We snuck out between snow and ice storms on Feb. 2nd, and in 4 hours or so we were in Mexico, clearing customs quickly, and ordering our first of many margaritas at the bar outside.

Thursday is Art Walk night in San Jose del Cabo. The galleries were wonderful, open late, and full of people enjoying the evening. Rooftop bars, open air restaurants, and a quaint little city hotel for the night with a French Bakery next door for breakfast. What's not to like?

We spent several days in Todos Santos at a wonderful B&B called Serendipity, where we had our own little casita just 2 minutes walk from the beach. Sharon was a fantastic hostess, and the breakfasts were excellent, with many choices each morning. I was very fond of the fresh passionfruit juice, huevos rancheros with salsa verde, bacon, and home fries, but alternated with yogurt, fresh fruit and granola, or an omelet.

The beach had a turtle hatchery and release program, so at sunset folks would gather to watch the hatchlings of the day head into the sea. You can volunteer to man the beach for your vacation if you like. Check out their website here. Not a swimming beach, but beautiful to walk, and listen to the waves crashing at night.



We also spent a few days in La Paz, where we hit the beaches, went snorkeling with whale sharks. We could have used wetsuits, that water was COLD!

On a day trip out to Isla Espirtu Santo, we got to snorkel with sea lions (with wetsuits this time)!



Birds from as far away as the Galapagos stop here, and we spotted a blue footed booby.

The frigate birds were mating, and the male displays were awesome.

Fresh ceviche on the beach, with cold Modelo Especials, what a life!



We even took a bus back to Todos Santos, a 90 minute ride for $5. Such a deal. Got to watch cartoon in Spanish on the little video screens.

The last weekend we went to a geology talk, a geology walk, and to artist open studios. What a busy and vibrant town. And ate. And drank. Including a flight at a mescaleria!


All good things must come to an end, though, and we rolled back through the Gorge between storms to settle back in at home. Buddy was happy to see us. 


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