Just a quick update.
It rained this afternoon. Just a few drops, but enough to make brown muddy spots on my van instead of the soft dusty patina.
I still have those shorts on tho.
Monday, December 28, 2009
It's a day for shorts
Ahhhhhh, warm again and back into my shorts and sandals.
Had a long walk south on the beach today. A lot of construction work happening between the beach and the airport. Apparently, Fonatur (the government) is getting land ready for sale. Before the government can sell government land they have to put in streets, curbs, sidewalks and utilities. No notices of sale yet, but guess they will be ready when they want to sell lots. There are a lot of rumors about what will eventually be there, from high-rise hotels, homes and commercial big box stores. And a rumor that it will be another malecon that will go all the way (5 miles) to Loreto Bay where thousands of condos are already (and have been for several years) being built near the hotel and golf course.
Chet had a couple swims and like in Juneau I have to watch to make sure he doesn't eat fish bones. At least these are so dry I don't think he would be stinky like he is after rolling in salmon.
Darn mean dogs! Most of the dogs around are fine and only bark and sniff as Chet and I walk by, but today 3 dogs zipped out of a yard and hit Chet in a hind leg. That hurt! No bite, but he limped for a bit and was skittish when other dogs barked at him. Being skittish is a good thing. Springers don't understand mean behavior from people or dogs and are surprised when it happens. We won't walk down that block again.
I learned that the birds I had been calling buzzards are Turkey Vultures.
Bought my weeks supply of fruits and veggies at the outdoor market yesterday. And brought home some chicken tamales. The tamales I have been eating in Baja usually have one green olive (with pit) and potatos and carrot along with the meat. The woman who made the tamales said she is in the Centro on Indepencia in the afternoons. I'll try and find her on one of my ventures across the dry riverbed to Centro.
Had a long walk south on the beach today. A lot of construction work happening between the beach and the airport. Apparently, Fonatur (the government) is getting land ready for sale. Before the government can sell government land they have to put in streets, curbs, sidewalks and utilities. No notices of sale yet, but guess they will be ready when they want to sell lots. There are a lot of rumors about what will eventually be there, from high-rise hotels, homes and commercial big box stores. And a rumor that it will be another malecon that will go all the way (5 miles) to Loreto Bay where thousands of condos are already (and have been for several years) being built near the hotel and golf course.
Chet had a couple swims and like in Juneau I have to watch to make sure he doesn't eat fish bones. At least these are so dry I don't think he would be stinky like he is after rolling in salmon.
Darn mean dogs! Most of the dogs around are fine and only bark and sniff as Chet and I walk by, but today 3 dogs zipped out of a yard and hit Chet in a hind leg. That hurt! No bite, but he limped for a bit and was skittish when other dogs barked at him. Being skittish is a good thing. Springers don't understand mean behavior from people or dogs and are surprised when it happens. We won't walk down that block again.
I learned that the birds I had been calling buzzards are Turkey Vultures.
Bought my weeks supply of fruits and veggies at the outdoor market yesterday. And brought home some chicken tamales. The tamales I have been eating in Baja usually have one green olive (with pit) and potatos and carrot along with the meat. The woman who made the tamales said she is in the Centro on Indepencia in the afternoons. I'll try and find her on one of my ventures across the dry riverbed to Centro.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas decorations in Loreto's Church Square
Just returned to my little home away from home and took these pictures on the way. Had a wonderful Christmas feast with friends at La Damiana Inn and met new friends. People coming in from Seattle, Danville, California and Salt Lake City were there too.Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Dry river road, North wind and Pacha Mamas
My 152 peso pancho. Spent most of the day over in town and this afternoon a strong cold north wind began to blow. I wanted to stay in town longer so went in serch of a jacket. Found this big blue pullover with a pouch pocket and asked the price. $17.00 dollars he said. I looked in my pocket and told him I have only 152 pesos. OK, he said taking my last peso and we both laughed and I went away warm. This picture was taken at Loreto Shores beach and shows the rough sea from the wind. Chet is braced kinda funny with his front legs all spread out.
Looking west along the dry river. New road across the riverbed in forground and truck driving across the riverbed. There are several "streets" across the riverbed and all of them excet the new road very bumpy and dusty. Mountains to the west are Sierra de la Gigante. I find them quite beautiful and rugged. What you see changes thruout the day with varying light.
Looking east along the dry river. I know, I know............it is blurry, but the only picture I have now and I want you to see the riverbed east to the estuary and the sea. Another car driving across...........this is the way you go when you are on Nicholas Bravo street.
Ah. The new road across the dry river. It is a fine road and we wonder if it will still be there November after the next flood. This picture is looking south toward main part of town. Chet and I usually walk to town this way. The new road is 14 metres wide. Enough room for two lanes of traffic and parking on each side. The space you see to the left of this road is where the vendors come for the Sunday Market and set up their tents. On Monday morning it all cleared ground again.Ohhhhhhh, one of my favorite restaurants is gone. Pacha Mamas is closed and was having a garage sale today. I went to the garage sale with my friends and owners of La Damiana Inn. They found some useful items for the inn. Some kitchen stuff, glassware, a side table and oodles of plants. I didn't find anything I could fit into my RV, but was interested in some shelves, glassware and heavy baking pans. There was an electric crepe maker that looked interesting, but again "Where would I put it?!"
A tour ship came to town today. Small one. Held about 150 passengers and maybe 100 people were on board. I ran into them by the church as they were getting ready to attend a fiesta in their honor. This was all about the time the cold North wind was blowing so I hoped the festivities were moved indoors. Vendors had some good sales with the wind. I wasn't the only one looking for a wrap. Saw several people wrapped in colorful blankets they just purchased.
The new road looking south at the DARK clouds that came with the cold north wind. In this picture you can see the sidewalks that are being built also.Tuesday, December 22, 2009
A day in Loreto
Pictures: If you look closely you can see the early morning sailboat passing by in the first picture. I just liked the clouds and the pool is where I swim when I don't swim in the sea. Up until yesterday the sea was rough and dirty, but calmer now. The last picture is my "computer center".Wandered thru town today. There is a new hotel on the Malecon called La Mision. It is beautiful and looks like an old Mission. When I was here last it was a pile of rubble and renovation was just beginning. Decorations are up near the old church in the center of town with lots of lights and a stylized Christmas tree made of hoops and lights. I'll have to go over there after dark to see what it looks like.
Life is pretty simple here. Eat, sleep, read, walk, swim, visit, shop. Like home except I don't have to wear so many clothes outside.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sunday Market
Walked over to the Sunday Market this morning and bought 2 chicken hindquarters and fresh vegies and kiwis and dates. The produce looks great and fresh. A lot of peope at the market. The market is spread out in the dry riverbed and they sell produce, meats, fish, clothing and other things. There are several vendors for menudo, tacos, etc. This is the best place to get fresh produce and we look forward to it. Much of the produce comes from the Pacific side of Baja over by Cd. Constitucion and Cd. Insurgentes.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Herons and rules of he road
Good morning! Chet and I went for our morning walk down to the estuary at the dry riverbed that separates the 2 parts of Loreto. The main downtown area is across the river from where I am. At the estuary we watched many herons, egrets and pelicans. On the bank was a group of larger dark colored birds warming their wings in the morning sun. I couldn't see them well enough to know if they might have been buzzards. There are lot of buzzards in the desert and in parts of town. We watched sardine size fish darting about in the shallows near the road.
The main route across the riverbed is closed to traffic as a concrete road is being built there. It will be nice to have a nicer driving surface than bare dirt, gravel or sand. I am curious to know how they are building to withstand the Fall floods. It does have a lot of concrete and rebar.
Rules of the road.
Left blinkers and left turns. When driving down here, we were told not to use our left blinker to make a left turn. A left blinker on the Transpenisular Highway means that it is clear for the cars behind you to pass. If you use your left blinker for a left turn you might be T-boned. We used the blinkers a lot to let traffic get past our 4 vehicles (a 5th wheeler, a motorhome, my van and a pickup). We all had CB's and the lead vehicle could tell us when it was clear ahead to "blink them on by". Sometimes we had to wave them on as the blinker signals weren't understood or believed.
If you do want to make a left turn off the main highway, move to the center line and when clear ahead take command of the left lane and go off at an angle as the edges are usually rough and bumpy. In some of the larger towns, there are actually left turn pockets like we usually see. Another way to make a left turn off the highway is to take an access road to the right then turn left to be at right-angles to the highway and when clear go straight across all the lanes to the other side. This is the preferred method to get into Loreto from the North and also Nopolo a resort/golf complex 5 miles south of Loreto at Loreto Bay. Cd. Constitucion is a much larger city and has 6 lanes for traffic. The two on the left and right are one way each direction and the two lanes in the middle are two way. You do not make a left turn from these middle lanes. Again, you go to the outside lanes and go straight across the middle lanes to the other outside lanes or across them depending on where you want to be.
Flashing headlights. While driving you may see an oncoming car flashing headlights at you. This usually means to slow down and watch for some sort of hazard ahead. Hazards are often cattle, horses or goats beside or in the road. Sometimes, there has been an accident or there may be workers beside the road. So............you slow down when "flashed' and watch for whatever hazard there may be.
The main route across the riverbed is closed to traffic as a concrete road is being built there. It will be nice to have a nicer driving surface than bare dirt, gravel or sand. I am curious to know how they are building to withstand the Fall floods. It does have a lot of concrete and rebar.
Rules of the road.
Left blinkers and left turns. When driving down here, we were told not to use our left blinker to make a left turn. A left blinker on the Transpenisular Highway means that it is clear for the cars behind you to pass. If you use your left blinker for a left turn you might be T-boned. We used the blinkers a lot to let traffic get past our 4 vehicles (a 5th wheeler, a motorhome, my van and a pickup). We all had CB's and the lead vehicle could tell us when it was clear ahead to "blink them on by". Sometimes we had to wave them on as the blinker signals weren't understood or believed.
If you do want to make a left turn off the main highway, move to the center line and when clear ahead take command of the left lane and go off at an angle as the edges are usually rough and bumpy. In some of the larger towns, there are actually left turn pockets like we usually see. Another way to make a left turn off the highway is to take an access road to the right then turn left to be at right-angles to the highway and when clear go straight across all the lanes to the other side. This is the preferred method to get into Loreto from the North and also Nopolo a resort/golf complex 5 miles south of Loreto at Loreto Bay. Cd. Constitucion is a much larger city and has 6 lanes for traffic. The two on the left and right are one way each direction and the two lanes in the middle are two way. You do not make a left turn from these middle lanes. Again, you go to the outside lanes and go straight across the middle lanes to the other outside lanes or across them depending on where you want to be.
Flashing headlights. While driving you may see an oncoming car flashing headlights at you. This usually means to slow down and watch for some sort of hazard ahead. Hazards are often cattle, horses or goats beside or in the road. Sometimes, there has been an accident or there may be workers beside the road. So............you slow down when "flashed' and watch for whatever hazard there may be.
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