THIS WAS THE ROAD TO WHALES AT LAGUNA SAN IGNACIO |
THE WHALE WATCHES ALL LEFT FROM THIS BUILDING |
EVERYONE HEADED FOR THE PRIVY AFTER A BONE JARRING RIDE |
THERE WAS A JUG OF WATER TO FLUSH-THE INTERIOR DECORATOR HAD A REAL SENSE OF HUMOR |
WE HEAD OUT INTO THE BAY TO FIND THE MIGHTY GREY WHALES.. |
"THAR SHE BLOWS" -WE SIGHT OUR FIRST WHALE |
WE SPLASHED THE WATER TO ATTRACT THE WHALES....... |
THIS WAS OUR FIRST LOOK OF A GREY WHALE CLOSE UP-MY GOD THEY ARE HUGE AND BEAUTIFUL |
AND MOM LOOKED US OVER BEFORE SHE BROUGHT HER BABY TO THE BOAT |
MOM PROUDLY SAID TO US "lOOK AT HER-ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL.." |
AND THEN HER BABY CAME TO THE BOAT-NOTICE THE BARNACLES ALREADY GROWING NEAR ITS BLOW HOLE |
THE BABY CAME BACK TO THE BOAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN |
HERE IS BABY ON THE BACK OF HER MOM- MOM WAS OVER TWICE THE LENGTH OF THE BOAT |
DON WAS IN ECSTASY-ALWAYS DREAMED OF SEEING A GREY WHALE |
WE SPLASHED, AND RUBBED AND THE WHALES WANTED TO PLAY SOME MORE |
THE MOM LIKED SARA SO MUCH AND TRUSTED HER WITH HER BABY |
SARA GAVE THE BABY A LOVING RUB |
WE WERE SO CLOSE WE COULD FEEL THE SENSORY HAIRS-CAN YOU SEE THEM? |
AGAIN AND AGAIN THE BABY CAME TO THE BOAT... |
TO TOUCH A WHALE...............HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT? |
SARA BENT OVER THE SIDE OF THE BOAT TO GIVE THE WHALE A KISS AND GOT SLIMED |
THE GUIDE GIVES THE WHALE A KISS TOO |
THE WHALE SKY HOPPED AND LOOKED US OVER ONE LAST TIME |
AND THEN THEY WERE GONE....WE WILL NEVER FORGET OUR ENCOUNTER WITH THE GREY WHALES & WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL |
ONE OF THE FIRST FOOD STANDS WE SAW ON THE BAJA-IT WAS ON THE BEACH |
THERE ARE FRUIT STANDS EVERY WHERE ON THE BAJA AND IT IS SO FRESH |
THERE ARE FANCY RESTAURANTS IN THE LARGER COMMUNITIES |
THIS ONE IN CABO SAN LUCAS HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR |
WE SOMETIMES DINED WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CARAVAN OUTSIDE |
THE MARGUARITAS FLOWED AT MOST MEALS......IT IS THE DRINK OF THE BAJA |
WE DINED AT THE FAMOUS HOTEL CALIFORNIA AT TODOS SANTOS-AN ARTIST COMMUNITY OFTEN CALLED THE CARMEL OF BAJA |
THE FOOD WAS WONDERFUL AT HOTEL CALIFORNIA |
WE JOINED OUR TAIL GUNNERS OF THE CARAVAN DOUG AND JULIE FROM TEXAS |
NOT ALL THE RESTAURANTS OF THE BAJA ARE AS FANCY AS THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA |
ONE OF THE MANY STREET STANDS-THEY ARE EVERYWHERE |
IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A LINE AT EVERY FOOD STAND AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM IN THE BAJA |
THE MIGHTY FISH TACO-THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR 200 PESOS ($2 US) WHAT A DEAL AND THEY ARE DELICIOUS |
THE "CONNOISSEUR OF CONDIMENTS" LAYS OUT HIS LINE..... |
JUST SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR TACO |
SARA COULD ADD THE GOODIES TO A FISH TACO SO THAT EACH WAS DIFFERENT AND DELICIOUS |
NO WONDER THE LOCALS EAT OUT ALMOST EVERY DAY-WHY COOK WHEN YOU CAN EAT LIKE THIS.. |
STREET FOOD WAS ALWAYS AVAILABLE-INEXPENSIVE AND DELICIOUS.. |
YOU CAN EVEN BRING IN YOUR OWN FISH .......... |
WE OFTEN WOULD STOP FOR A MEAL ON THE ROAD |
A TIME FOR GOOD FOOD AND GOOD CONVERSATION |
SARA DIVES INTO ANOTHER ROUND OF FISH TACOS.. |
THE PROUD COOK-SHE MADE WONDERFUL GOAT BURRITOS-A FACT SARA LEARNED ONLY AFTER EATING THEM |
BAJA INGENUITY-USED OIL DRUMS FOR A CHIMMEY |
EVERY VISITOR TO MEXICO IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A TRAVEL PERMIT-THERE ARE NO "UNDOCUMENTED ILLEGALS" IN MEXICO |
WE WAITED IN LINE TO GET OUR TRAVEL PERMITS AND THEY ARE NOT FREE |
APPROACHING OUR FIRST MILITARY CHECKPOINT-NOTICE THE PLYWOOD GUARD AT THE RIGHT |
EACH CHECKPOINT HAD LIVING QUARTERS FOR THE SOLDIERS AND SAND BAGGED MACHINE GUN NESTS... |
THE SOLIDERS WERE ARMED, POLITE BUT STERN AND WELL RE ENFORCED |
ANOTHER CHECK POINT FURTHER DOWN THE BAJA |
SOME OF THE CHECK POINTS WERE ENVELOPED IN FOG........ |
GOT A COMPLAINT ON HOW YOU WERE TREATED-JUST CALL....BUT WHAT IS THE NUMBER?????? |
SOME CHECKPOINTS WERE VERY HARD TO MISS....... |
BUT NO ONE EVEN THINKS OF NOT STOPPING.... |
AND HERE IS WHY...WHAT ARE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING OVER THIS LITTLE ITEM? |
YOU CAN GET STOPPED ANYWHERE ON THE BAJA-USUALLY THEY ARE LOOKING FOR DRUG, GUNS OR ILLEGAL PASSENGERS.... |
THIS WAS ONE OF THE LOCAL POLICE STATIONS IN A SMALL COMMUNITY ON OUR WAY SOUTH... |
THERE ARE LOCAL ELECTION SIGNS EVERYWHERE-BUT ONE WONDERS WHAT CHANGES |
JUST LIKE THE STATES-EVERYONE IS PROMISING A BETTER LIFE |
THIS IS ONE OF THE INFAMOUS MEXICAN PRISONS--LOOK AT THE HEIGHT OF THAT WALL |
THERE WERE GUARD TOWERS AT EVERY CORNER AND RAZOR WIRE SURROUNDED THE PRISON |
THIS WAS ANOTHER PRISON ALONG THE ROAD DOWN THE BAJA |
ONE COULD ONLY WONDER WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THESE WALLS-WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A DESPERATE JUNGLE.... |
BUT THIS IS THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT VERSION OF WHAT CONDITIONS ARE LIKE-GOVERNMENT ISSUED PHOTO |
ANOTHER GOVERNMENT PHOTO-SURVIVORS TELL A DIFFERENT STORY. |
SARA GETTING READY FOR CHURCH-CHARLIE OUR SCHNOODLE WANTED TO COME ALONG. |
THE MISSION AT LAREDO-IT WAS BEAUTIFUL |
EVERYTHING WAS IN SPANISH INCLUDING THE SERMON-DON SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST HE HAD EVER HEARD... |
THE PADRE GREETED ALL THE PARISHIONERS AFTER MASS |
THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS DRESSED IN HER SUNDAY BEST AND HER PARENTS WERE SO PROUD OF HER |
THESE WERE SOME NATIVE FOLK DANCERS PERFORMING IN A NEARBY CITY SQUARE. |
THE YOUNG MAN PORTRAYED A CHARGING BULL-WE THINK......... |
THESE COSTUMES REPRESENTED HOURS AND HOURS OF SEWING AND WERE SO COLORFUL... |
THE FOLK DANCE PERFORMANCE WE ATTENDED TOOK PLACE UNDER THIS GIANT PALAPAS OR PALM HUT... |
THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE ROOF OF THE PALAPAS-THEY ARE MADE OF DRIED PALM LEAVES |
THESE STRUCTURES ARE HANDMADE, WATERPROOF AND VERY EXPENSIVE |
SARA AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE DAY-WE WERE GLAD WE ATTENDED THE FOLK DANCE |
EACH DIFFERENT DANCE REPRESENTED A DIFFERENT REGION OF THE BAJA PENINSULA |
THE PROGRAM BEGAN WITH THE MACHETE DANCE BY THE YOUNG MEN AND THEY WERE GOOD |
THEN THE LADIES TOOK OVER.... |
THE MUSIC HAD EVERYONE TOE TAPPING AND SWAYING TO BEAT |
HEARING THE COTTON EYED JOE IN THE MIDDLE OF BAJA WAS DELIGHTFUL |
THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS SO DARLING..... |
THIS GAL DANCED IN MANY OF THE SETS... |
SHE OFTEN HAD A PARTNER-THEY MUST HAVE PRACTICED FOR HOURS |
OH HOW THIS GIRL COULD DANCE-LOOK AT THAT SMILE... |
SOME OF THE LAST DANCES WERE LESS "TRADITIONAL"-PROBABLY TO KEEP THE PERFORMERS HAPPY... |
BUT IT WAS THIS COUPLE THAT ABSOLUTELY STOLE THE SHOW....... |
AFTER THE DANCES THERE WAS A ROPE TWIRLING ACT WHICH REFLECTED THE COWBOY CULTURE OF MUCH OF THE BAJA |
FATHER FOLLOWED HIS SON-HAD TO SHOW EVERYONE HE STILL HAD THE TOUCH |
AFTER THE PREFORMANCE WE WERE ALL INVITED TO JOIN IN A FINAL DANCE-SARA WAS REALLY ROCKING |
THE ENTIRE GROUP POSED FOR A FINAL PICTURE-ALL MEMBERS OF A LOCAL DANCE SCHOOL |
SOME OF THE PARENT "COACHES" IN THE BACKGROUND-LOOK AT THE PRIDE IN THEIR EYES |
THE PARENTS OF THE BAJA REVERE THEIR CHILDREN |
SHOW THEIR CHILDREN ATTENTION IN ANY LANGUAGE AND YOU HAVE INSTANT FRIENDS |
LOOK AT THOSE SMILES-WE NEVER SAW A DIRTY CHILD ANYWHERE IN THE BAJA |
TWO GIRLS ON THE WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL-CRISP UNIFORMS WITH NOT A SMUDGE OR STAIN |
THE STREET DOGS OF THE BAJA-THEY CAN STEAL YOUR HEART IN AN INSTANT |
THEY COME IN EVERY SIZE AND SHAPE AND ALWAYS SEEM HUNGRY |
THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THE MEXIMIX STREET DOG |
YOU FIND THEM SLEEPING IN THE STREETS |
AND CROSSING THE ROADS-HEAD ALWAYS SCANNING |
THIS WAS OUR "STREET" DOG-ALWAYS ON A LEASH |
CHARLIE WOULD HAVE LASTED ABOUT AS LONG ON THE STREETS OF BAJA AS I WOULD HAVE IN A MEXICAN PRISON |
DURING A RARE DESERT BLOOM THE DESERT FLOOR TURNS FROM THIS..... |
AND THIS........ |
TO THIS AND ......... |
AND THIS................ |
THIS IS THE BAJA DESERT IN BLOOM-FLOWERS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE |
COLOR IS EVERYWHERE-SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT WAIT 20 YEARS FOR THIS SCENE |
THE BOOJUM TREES THAT SO FASCINATED DR. SUESS AND WERE FEATURED IN HIS BOOKS |
THE BOOJUM WERE SO GREEN IN THE DESERT BLOOM |
EVERYTHING WAS IN BLOOM-EVEN THE OCOTILLO TREES |
WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE DESERT BLOOM |
THERE WERE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUAL FLOWERS |
YOU COULD SMELL THE SWEET FRAGRANCE OF THE BLOOM AS YOU DROVE DOWN THE ROAD |
A PICTURE OF GOD'S GRANDEUR LONG ASLEEP AND NOW AWAKENED |
IT IS HARD TO FIND THE WORDS..... |
TO DESCRIBE THE BEAUTY OF A DESERT BLOOM |
SARA LOVED THE PURPLES AND BLUES |
OFTEN THE PURPLES AND YELLOWS BLENDED INTO A MULTI COLORED COAT |
THE MAGIC OF THE BLOOM............... |
EVEN THE INDIVIDUAL FLOWERS HAD THEIR SINGULAR BEAUTY |
A DESERT BLOOM INCLUDES SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF FLOWERS |
WOW..... |
CHARLIE LOVED THE DESERT BLOOM TOO |
CARPETS AND CARPETS OF COLOR.. |
IT JUST WENT ON AND ON.......... |
WE ENJOYED THE BLOOM FOR SEVERAL WEEKS... |
THE MIGHTY CENTURY PLANTS WERE IN BLOOM TOO |
CENTURY PLANTS BLOOM ONLY ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME OF 20-30 YEARS |
THE ELEPHANT TREES WERE IN BLOOM TOO |
ELEPHANT TREE ARE SAID TO "BLEED" RED WHEN THE BARK IS SCRAPED. |
THESE ARE THE RARE BLUE PALMS |
WHAT A SIGHT |
CHOLLA CACTI SPROUTED FLOWERS TOO...VERY SMALL |
ONE LAST LOOK AT A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE-THE BAJA DESERT BLOOM |
GOOD BYE BAJA...PART III OF OUR BAJA EXPERIENCE TO FOLLOW..... |