Travels about Town

Among the pleasures of staying a while in one place is the opportunity to make repeat visits to favorite spots. We have become regulars at the Bagel shop and come to laugh every time at the motto on its neighbor’s tile house plaque.

Home Security Humor

The other day I realized we’d seen so many matching tile signs, including all over this marina, because they’re made locally at Ibarra pottery. Our friend Bonney L. emailed that we should get out to visit this family business so I did. It’s up in our neck of the woods anyway. I had a nice chat with the daughter of the owner who turned up again with her wares at Subasta.

Radio Ramble

Almost every day we have squinted up at the top of our local mountain looking for parties of hikers who show up at the rock tower there, take a photo and disappear. We could see a Mexican flag on a cross implanted in the tower, but didn’t exactly get it. The other day I finally decided that the afternoon was cool enough to make the climb myself.

With my trusty 2 meter radio and some water in the backpack I crossed the carretera (dual carriageway) outside the marina and worked my way around to a trail. It’s really only a 30 minute climb, interesting mostly for the geology, sandstone with loose rocks on top, and amazing cactus growth.

The view was worth it. I now get the lay of the land, especially the Mogote peninsula, to the right, formerly a mangrove swamp, where a partially built huge hotel, marina and golf course development has gone bankrupt. The photo looks southwest.

On the way down, a very drunk young man joined me trying to start a conversation on the trail and asking for money. Using the radio to let Charlie know what was happening worked really well. It confused the guy and Charlie could hear everything that was going on. Soon he showed up and we parted with the drunk in a friendly fashion. Another score for our expensive Mexican ham licenses.

Santa Claus Viene a la Ciudad!

Across the carretera just south of the mountain, are the Education Department Offices for the State of Baja Sur. They appear to be a few one-storey portables behind a big lawn planted with palms. About a week ago we noticed unusual activity on the grounds along the road. Pretty soon a palm tree had been wrapped in green and decorated with ornaments, a sleigh had appeared, gingerbread men much bigger than me and candy canes sprouted up, and a collection of gigantic mylar wrapped presents was stacked on the lawn. At unusual hours Christmas music would start blaring from the speakers on the grounds.

Finally we had to check it out. We weren’t the only rubberneckers. Actually cars were stopping and families getting out to wander around. Some posed with the crèche scene in which all the men are wearing nice straw hats. Charlie checked out the Norte Pole mailbox but it was empty. (Maybe we’ll take more pix later.) Apparently the state has no problem with spending to show kids how to set high holiday expectations!

N.B.

Charlie would say that the advantage of remaining in one place for a while is more time to work on the boat, but as we know, he doesn't write this blog.