We spent a few days in San Diego, finishing our travel research, and catching up with family. It has been several years since we last saw Bill, Mo, and their beautiful, kind daughter, Cali. It was so nice to catch up with them at their home, play, chat, and see what they are up to these days. A short, but sweet visit.
Passports, Mex auto insurance, dogs’ health certificates, and a pocket full of pesos, we are ready for the border! The drive from San Diego to Tecate was absolutely beautiful, at least that’s what Jodi kept telling me, too busy trying not to soil my pants from nervousness, I really did not notice. Deciding to cross in Tecate, versus Tijuana, was definitely the best decision for us. We were the only vehicle crossing south bound upon arrival, immensely lightening our stress.
The idea that most people speak at least some English in Baja, yeah right, not today. Only one, of the four federales, had very limited English. But they were all calm, and immediately put us at ease, very patient with our poor Spanish. They wanted a look inside the van, “tenemos dos perros grande señor”, I replied. And of course, as we opened the door, everyone fell in love with Rasta, the rockstar.
After securing our visas, we were off. Wow! Zero transition, we are in Mexico! Random road work everywhere, with really no posted signs or detours, sent us barreling along the busy roads in wrong directions, lefts, rights, abrupt stops, and then go! We had no choice but to join in the hap-hazard traffic pattern. A memorable way to get our feet wet.
Our first destination was Punta Cabras, about an hour south of Ensenada. While traveling down Mex 3, on the lush and mountainous ruta del vino, we happened upon a hitch hiker. I try to help hitchhikers when I can. Often hitch hiking myself, I know all too well how it feels to be along the road, hoping for a brave soul to pick me up, a typical scenario of whitewater paddling. Our new hitch hiker amigo, Jose, knew zero English. The hour long ride to Ensenada, where he works on the barcos, was one full of smiles, laughter, and some head shaking, accompanied with a lot of arm gestures. It was a fun way to practice our Spanish, and I am sure Jose is still laughing about us silly gringos. He quite possibly, will start checking license plates, before thumbing his next ride.
A few years back–in either 2011 or 12, I visited Pueblo Bonita, a small resort on the Bahia Peninsula in Mexico right off the Bay in western Mexico. My friend and his wife owned a resort there. We enjoyed going twice. The town, Pueblo Bonita was a charming spot, but they sold it about a year ago because his wife did not like the comp0sition of the town’s negative factors–drugs.
Another good friend of mine, a retired doctor, vacationed in the jungle, roughly east of Pueblo Bonita about 60 or 90 miles. He learned Spanish and lived with the town folks in the village and was taken care of by a woman called Mama. He lived to age 97, and when he died about three years ago, he donated in his will that enough money be left to the village to erect a statue of himself to the village. One day I hope to visit this site to see the statue of my good friend.
Meanwhile I am immensely enjoying your rapport with the natives and your good sense of humor.
All our best,
Ray from Florida
Hope you can make it! Glad to have you following and enjoying! Gracias!
Enjoying this journey with you thru your blog. Sade travels amigo!
Gracias amigo! Glad to have you following!!
Jodi scouting out horses for Olin
Haha, he looks like a keeper! ?