La Paz, Baja, Mexico - Receiving Day!!!
While Larry purchased our duty-free tequila at the airport I took this mans photo. I told him I liked his shirt and he told me he ordered it just for his trip to Cabo San Lucas
The travel world does seem to be opening back up as our flight from San Francisco to San Jose del Cabo was completely full. Thankfully, the flight is only three hours long. After the flight, the drive to La Paz is another two hours. The roads are so much nicer than I recall them being over thirty years ago. Of course, there were no toll roads then and in the mid 80’s the population was 35,000 and now this bustling city currently has over 250,000 residents. People have moved to La Paz for security and employment opportunities in maritime, mining, agriculture but mostly tourism. COVID has been difficult for the city but they are making strides to slowly reopen, currently at 30% capacity in hotels, restaurants and bars. Of course the mask, thermometer gun and hand sanitizer are forever present.
La Paz became the capital of Baja, California by default, after a large hurricane destroyed Loreto in 1829. Prior to that (much prior) the native people did their best to fight off the Spanish conquistador, Hernán Cortés in 1535 and then again a century later they fought the Jesuit missionaries. The missionaries finally became a permanent fixture in the region in the early 1800’s, quickly followed by a brief occupation of American forces during the Mexican American War from 1846 to 1847 ending with the signing of the Neutrality Law between Mexico and the United States after the American invasion.
Larry and I feel fortunate to be in this welcoming and charming city while we wait for the Daisy to arrive with the independence. After her arrival, in a few short days, we will move a few miles out of town to the Costa Baja Marina and will most likely keep her there until the end of hurricane season in November….but again you know what happens when you make plans…
Just steps from our hotel room is the hotel bar/restaurant/cafe with its’ amazing view of the La Paz harbor
The view from the same restaurant/bar a little after sunset
In 2017, twenty-six artists from all over Mexico came to La Paz to start a mural project to paint 1,350 square meters of the neglected buildings in the city center. The project is called Cuidad Mural and was started by Colectivo Tomate. The outcome of the mural project is spectacular. The thought behind each mural, by each artist, took into play the historical, cultural and environmental cues of La Paz. I have only seen a handful of the murals but, as time goes by, I hope to find them all.
A view of the harbor from our lunch table
Larry finds a bike for a post lunch workout in the 90 degree afternoon heat
Colorful sights along the Malecón
A backyard Mango tree bursting with fruit
A volkswagen ‘Thing’ in amazing condition!
I believe the box delivers drinks from the bar to the hostel across the street
More murals….
The artwork continues on the Malecón with sculptures every few hundred yards…
Guillermo Gomez Marcias sculpture titled El Viejo del Mar
Evidently, Jacques Cousteau rented a small house on the bay of La Paz to watch the whale migrations
Larry spots the Independence while on Calle Independencia
The Daisy is actually out there in the bay
See…I told you so…
A beautiful sunset shot by Larry
Finally! The Independence has arrived!!!
Someone looks happy
Back in the water! She started like a charm, batteries at 100%. We take her for a little spin before going to the harbor
Happy (and relieved) time to celebrate the safe arrival
We explore the areas near our marina…the pretty beach club is one…unfortunately, currently not available to us during this level of COVID shut-down
The Spanish restaurant is a find. This is the best Paella I have ever tasted.
The view from the stern
Yes, back to sunsets…the view of the freshly cleaned Independence…so shiny!