Mexico, 2013

Just got back from another fantastic trip with my good friend Matt. He drove down the Baja, spent 3 weeks getting there. I don't have that kind of time, but I did manage to join him for 10 days in southern Baja.

I love travelling with Matt, cause it means living by the moment, no plans, no expectations, and submerging yourself in the culture. The past few years we have embarked on such a trip to Belize, and then the Philippines. This trip marks our third such a trip. While each trip creates its own memories, this one didn't disappoint.

We started with a night in San Jose, in a cheap but clean hotel. Then we headed to Cabo San Lucas. I was excited to visit Cabo Wabo, home of Sammy Hagar and Cabo Wabo tequila. Man, what a disappointment. Sammy should be ashamed of himself. I fully expected a wicked rock bar, with a wicked band, but fell short triumphantly. The place was full of young night club goers, and the music sucked as well. Unless your into boom chick boom chick dance music, don't waste your time. The night was somewhat saved by The Jungle Bar, with an awesome mid 90s era metal band. I found myself at home the most there. The Cabo Blue bar, and Happy Endings bar (just a clever name) were great places to drink and converse with other travelers and locals.

After a couple nights in Cabo, that was enough. We made our way to Cabo Pulmo for some of the best Baja Sur snorkeling. In Cabo Pulmo, we enjoyed a serious flat tire, which we only noticed after driving on it for about 10 minutes, when I saw rubber flying off the side of the van through the side mirror! LOL We then carried on to La Ventana, then to La Paz. La Paz is a bigger city, and not all that pretty from what I could tell, we only spent one night there.

Matt likes to surf, so from La Paz, we headed west to Todos Santos. What an beautiful city. Cobble stone roads, and hilly, with tons of art and great food. We only spent a few hours there, and settled in the small town of Pescadero at the "Surf Camp". This is a really cool relaxed place, where surfers and travelers alike hang out for weeks at a time, living life. The accommodations were basic, just a hut style room, with 4 walls and straw roof. Mosquito nets cover the beds, and a small fridge is about all you'll find here for accommodations, but the community kitchen and pool is a great way to hang and drink with the other travelers. Matt surfed every day at Los Cerritos, I was happy to sit poolside and play guitar and drink margaritas. Worked out well for both of us.

 

Be warned however, in Pescadero the dogs begin to howl at about 10 pm till about 2 am, and then the roosters crow from about 5 am till 8 am religiously. You should be a sound sleeper if you want to have a good nights sleep. I found myself usually napping at about 9 am till about 11 am, just to feel like I got some sleep, but that's just my own damn clock not working for me. Matt slept like a baby.

3 days in Pescadero was about enough for me, and I only had a few days left, so we decided to live it up in extreme luxury for the last 2 nights, so we made our way back to San Jose, where we booked into a swanky 3 star all inclusive Holiday Inn and took full advantage. Meals came secondary, but from what we actually ate, I suppose the food was suffice, but a comfy bed and poolside margaritas and sunshine was about exactly what I had needed, as did Matt. It was Matt's first all inclusive, and I think he enjoyed himself. At least, by the amount of sunshine and beverages consumed, it didn't look like he suffered all that much. lol

Here comes another song about Mexico

I just can't help myself

I lost my old lady

Got my lures

Got my bobbers

Now I'm gonna go

Got off in the wrong direction

Found a hooker and lost my erection

So I had to lie

In the letter to the boys back home

Now the good guys and the bad guys

Never work past noon around here

They sit side to side in cantinas

Talk to senoritas

And drink warm beer

- "Mexico" by The Refreshments