These days our life has become consistent in it’s inconsistency. Our days are mostly spent circling San Diego. We have been here for 12 days. We have spent nights in 7 different locations. Our nomadic lives have taken on an even greater transiency .
At this point we hope the T-rex just eats us already!
The crowing woke me first. Soon after the garbage trucks begam to rumble by, the dogs began to bark, the birds to chirp, and the music to play. Ahhhh, the symphony of Mexico.
La Ventana ~ a conflicting mix of emotions will forever come into play when we hear that name. For La Ventana is perhaps both the best and worst of our time in Baja. It is fair to say that the town itself was not our favorite, yet our two weeks there were two of our best in the company of wonderful family and friends. And while the day to day took on a comfortable pattern, La Ventana is also where we said our final goodnight to Porter. La Ventana will always be bittersweet.
We spent 87 nights in Baja, camping at 19 different campgrounds (4 of them multiple times) 87 nights. Nearly 3 months. Here is a list of where we stayed so match up with the stories of our time that have been flowing as we traveled. I’m working on a follow-up blog but the writing is coming slowly. Baja, although wonderful, took a toll on us in more ways than one.
Estero Beach RV Park ~ Ensenada, BC
We had stopped at Clam Beach en-route and planned to stay, but after driving on the toll road 40minutes into Ensenada and with darkness approaching, we opted for the closer option of Estero Beach. Pricey at $40 night (negotiated down), we were irritated at paying so much, and yet in our two nights there we recovered from our traumatic border crossing, spent a couple of hours streaming Netflix, and during a break in the storm on day two dipped in the steaming hot tub. Just what we needed. Close to downtown, it offers nice facilities, laundromat, pool, hot tub, beach walk, and even a museum. We ended up staying here again for our final night in Baja before crossing the border.
Never fear. We are not actually living in Los Barriles. We did, however, end up spending more time there than any other place in Baja. More than three weeks during three different time periods. So I guess, basically, we were living in Los Barriles!
We were in Los Barriles. Still. We ended spending more time there than anywhere in Baja, for several reasons. But right then, as much as we were enjoying the town, we were searching for solitude.
After a wonderful weekend free camping with friends, followed by a scorching hot walking tour of lovely Todos Santos. We only had one thing in mind. We were searching for COOL.
Founded as a mission in 1724, Todos Santos has long been admired as an artsy community. Perhaps best known in modern times as the home of the Hotel California, this Puebla Magico retains her original charm.
We have spent little time on the West Side of Baja. The reasons vary but it seems like the pounding waves of the Pacific Ocean, making for often unswimmable beaches, is just a bit too familiar. Too much like our much loved beaches of the Pacific Northwest.
I am now fully certain I am not a desert person. Although I can appreciate the stark beauty and dramatic contrast, a more lush foliage speaks to me and is where i feel at home. Driving down these many miles of dusty roads, with only cactus for company, I have begun to long for the tropical heat of the mainland. Imagine, in the middle of all of this desert the thought of finding beauty in unexpected places.
