Old Routine and New Visitors

La Paz has been called the "bungee" because one visit is never enough...it pulls you back and you want to return. Cruisers definitely feel that pull, and our return felt like "coming home". Our daily routine kicked in quite easily: up by 6:30 AM, Jerry for his morning run and me for my walk...both of us on the Malecon, greeting other folks out for their exercise.

Outside the gate at Marina Palmira where I begin my walk

each day, under the bougainvillea (also spelled 'bugambilia' here).

Since I began my morning walks in December, many faces have become familiar. One of my favorites is Ysidro, the singing street sweeper, and I mean this boy SINGS!....at the top of his lungs, the most romantic, passionate songs, all the while sweeping, picking up trash, trimming palm trees, etc! You simply have to love it! Ysidro and I have become good friends as we sing our morning greeting to each other...."Buenos dias"....

Ysidro sometimes then breaks into his rendition of "Mary My Love".....might be original?....who cares.  He's a charmer, and I'm a sucker for charmers.  See the marina behind me?

My standard walk takes me to a great little "turn around" park on the Malecon about a mile from the marina, marked by a wind mill and benches. Many folks are there every day, stopping during their walks to stretch, some do tai chi, guys do pull-ups on the monkey bars, etc. There's a little fountain that the windmill feeds, and the view out to the sea is lovely at both low and high tide. 

My windmill turn-around point.

We arrived back to La Paz in time for the Club Cruceros St. Patrick's Day dinner. As you can see, my last minute shopping in town for some appropriate attire was successful.  The corned beef and cabbage, and Irish singing enhanced by Ireland's most significant contribution to Mexican culture, the margarita, (I made that up...)) was enjoyed by all. "Danny Boy" never sounded better!

St. Patrick's Day Dinner

The big excitment last week was our first visitors from home!  Betsy, a senior at UW-Stout on Spring Break, and my brother John, the dairy farmer, were here for a week, and we had a great time.  Included in our activities were dining on fresh shrimp which "Miss Food Channel Betsy" helped me prepare on Sea Story, a trip to see the kite boarding and windsurfing at La Ventana, two days of good day-sailing, pool-side chats, trips in town to our favorite haunts, dinner and dancing at Beach Club at Bahia de Los Suenos, and a general introduction to "What the heck do they do down there on that boat in Mexico????"

Out on the town in Bahia de Las Suenos

John looks like a natural-born skipper, don't you agree?

Our final dinner at Marina Hotel next to our slip at Marina Palmira.

And Adios....for a few more weeks...to Betsy.

Enough for this time.  I have a Bayfest 2010 performance coming up in another couple of weeks, so maybe I'll have some photos from that and other parts of wonderful life here in La Paz aboard s/v SEA STORY.


Best Regards to all..
ML

Cruise Re-Cap....

Our month-long cruise up into the islands of the Sea of Cortez ended almost two weeks ago when we pulled into our slip here at Marina Palmira in La Paz.  It had been a great trip, including some fabulous sailing both north and south. 

February 2010

Sunset as viewed from the cockpit of SEA STORY, 

 marking the end of another great day of sailing the Sea of Cortez.

We experienced beautiful anchorages (both familiar and unfamiliar), tried out the new inflatable kayak, hiked islands, toughed out a five-day stretch of "no sailing/stay on the boat/anchor watch" while snugged-in at San Juanico as a "norther" blew through (had to re-set the anchor at 1:30 AM one night, wearing our headlamps on our foreheads, boat rockin' & rollin' in the strong wind, stars twinklin' and a full moon overhead...(if you dared to take the time to look up...!)...sleeping away much of the next day while the wind still blew. It's all part of sailing....being flexible with time and literally letting the wind dictate...

One of the highlights was our visit to the interesting town of Mulege, about 200 miles north of La Paz, to visit my cousin, Dusty. Poor Mulege has endured many hurricanes over the years, the most recent being last September's hurricane "Jimena". The  river that runs through the town rose more than 30 feet, flooding the little town and destroying many homes along the river. Homes on the hillsides survived, including the two houses owned by Dusty and Susie Huber. Their warm hospitality was so appreciated, and we really enjoyed our days with them. Plus, two nights in a REAL bed...and me lovin' two baths in the sunken tub....heaven!

Susie, "Patches", Dusty, ML and Jerry 

The view from this patio was fabulous in every direction....
and they have several patios...!

With the anchor set after another great day at sea and our first "reward Pacifico" in hand, the question is: what to have for dinner?  As with many things in life, timing is everything, and it seems Mexican Fisherman Manuel's son, Miguel, has that part figured out as he approaches our boat at just the right time.  Next year we will bring more D cell batteries to exchange along with pesos for fresh seafood. Life is difficult for these folks as Mexican fish camps and communities have no electricity or access to fresh water, etc. 

Shortly after we anchored at Timbabiche, Miguel approached

SEA STORY with his latest catch.

Jerry and Miguel negotiated the deal: four lobsters for 100 pesos ($8 USD), 

plus one can of Coke and two D cell batteries.

Oh, no....not lobster again......!!!!

Life is good....very, very good....

That's it for now.  More another day...

ML