26 July 2009
| Updated: Monday, 16 April 2012 |
Visit
our friends at:
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Rosarito Beach, Baja California,
Mexico 26 July 2009 |
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The Missions of Baja California Other TRIPS |
 WOW! Once again, like Vancouver, Rosarito Beach &
Baja feel like home! Only with a lot less clothing, bare feet and warm
Pacific sunshine and cool breezes. I've resurrected the 1993
Baja Peninsula map, taped the edges, added photos and am debating how
far for how long to go. Maybe a zero budget isn't such a bad thing. I know
how to get by on minimal Spanish, nearly no money and feel comfortable in
the culture and with the people. Since I'm not mechanically inclined, if the
VW Jetta doesn't poop out, I
could be okay. Barbara is making the usual summer sojourn to Los Cabos, but
this time in August, just several weeks from now. Could be an adventure.
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| Google Earth Placemarks |
Fun Facts |
Maps | ||||
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 Ever wonder why
Loreto, San Felipé, Los Cabos and other select
Mexican destinations come into being and grow like crazy? It's not luck or
coincidence. It's all very well-planned. Thanks to FONATUR,
the "institution responsible for the planning and development of sustainable tourism projects."
And with respect to the Baja Peninsula specifically, there is
the vision of the Escalera
Nautica, the Nautical Ladder --- a
mega project.
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CLICKABLE Baja Norté map. |
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Left Anaheim at 7:45 am, later than I wanted to. Today is my day to relax, enjoy and get re-acquainted with Mexico. Northern Baja. I love it down here. The lifestyle. The culture. The people. This history and geology. The marine life. |
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| A quick side trip down a side road took me to the Estuario del Rio Tijuana (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve) on the US side and a state park and all sorts of neat things. Insurance. Ugh! What a rip-off. $21 for one day full coverage. | 
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Notice my new
prescription, mirrored, polarized sun shades?
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| I wanted to drive the free road through town, but as usual, even after dozens of trips down here, got confused. So on down the toll (scenic) road it was. Decided to drive to Playa Tijuana and learned it's a "cul-de-sac" part of town that I had to double-back on to get back on the highway. It's hemmed in by the toll road. | 
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| They say fences make good neighbors. Hmmmm? I'm not so sure about that. I hate that "our" side is building this wall instead of finding solutions, all while encouraging other nations to "tear down their walls." | 
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| Alas, the Rock and Roll Taco is no more. I last visited in 1993 on the back up the peninsula from the cape. | 
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| It seems that the Rosarito Beach Hotel has put on a "small" addition during the boom years. WOW! | 
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| Who would of guessed? They built themselves a pier! | 
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| The from the beach in from of Pappas & Beer. | 
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| Pappas & Beer |  |
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| Two tacos for $2.00 & a Sol beer for $1.25. WOW! I could do this every day. | 
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Got a little shopping in. I despise shopping. And bartering. But, you know what. Change the attitude. People are just trying to make a living. So I got into it. Used what little Spanish I know. Said "no, thank you" and "nada hoy" alot in Spanish. And to my chef and others, always asked "como se llama?, said "me llamo Andres" and "mucho gusto" using their name, and, of course, "gracias, buenas dias." | ||||||||||||
| La Policia. And horse-drawn carriages. | 
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That gained me two free
shots of tequila from Juan at the mercado. Of course, I brought him a
couple dollars after the fact. Ditto for the poor guy collecting 50 cents
for use of the porta johns.
I love it down here. It was a wonderful day, with wonderful people experiences. |
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| Fox Studio Baja, located just south of Rosarito Beach was mobbed. See the pirate ship in the background? Think Johnny Depp. A mini Titanic is also located inside. | 
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| The obligarory military checkpoint on the free road. Looking for drugs and gun runners. | 
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with the occasional personnel carrier that goes into town checking on
things. |
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| More than one large construction project is shut down. Bankrupt. I asked. But real estate re-sales and existing inventory are apparently doing well. And beach-front / beach view apartments can be rented for under $400 per month. | 
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| Km 38 Surf Shop: My surf instructor Ché (19) on bongo and store owner Jacinto. | 
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My surfing never got off the ground (wave). My upper body strength is not good to paddle out beyond the shore break. And while my neck and shoulders didn't hurt until the drive home (yes, I threw the spine out of alignment due to the paddling and diving), surfing is definitely a skill of strength, balance and patience. I did enjoy being waaay out there on a point and a rocky beach at kilometer 38. But I need to weigh the costs of playing versus the fun and my own commitment to pain. Three minor feet cuts. | ||||||||||||
| Km 38 Surf Shop: My instructor Ché (19) on bongo and store owner Jacinto. | 
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| Coming down from the new inland highway that leads to a point between Tijuana and Tecate. |  |
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| WOW! If you take the free road, it's like in the USA --- sprawl! Inland is almost completely developed now between Tijuana and Rosarito. Check it out using Google Earth! | 
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Border wait: 30 minutes.
Secondary Inspection: rude & about 15 minutes. |
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| Was moving fast up I-805. Then at the I-5 junction, I dropped to 20-30 miles per hour all the way to Dana Point, 2 hours later! Ugh! Traffic is awful in southern California. | 
Hot air balloons out for Sunday sunset flight. |
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