BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:00 AM
While having plans to attend for some time now, I suffered a broken ankle a week before leaving... and was relegated to taking the
automatic-transmission Windstar van instead of the manual-transmission Tacoma 4X4 this year - as well as being on crutches which is very tiring for
me.... so, much of my (limited) time in El Rosario was spent at the Baja Cactus Motel this year.
We made it to Tacos Poblanos (sp?) to feed the kids some very good carne asada tacos (recommended location!), to the art expo, and to the beauty
contest & dance Saturday night.
Antonio, Lorenia, and family hosted BajaNomad's at the Baja Cactus at 4:00pm on Saturday with a wonderful - and seemingly endless - "buffet." First
was some delightfully spicy ceviche, then shrimp, crab, breaded fish, carne asada and grilled corn (elote). BajaAndy & friends graciously also
provided some avocado, watermelon & what seemed to be some freshly smoked tuna to the offerings.
Antonio indicated that all the seafood was locally caught and was fresh from that morning (fish) or the previous evening (crab).
Yum.
Thanks so much to the Mu?oz' for their hostpitality once again this year.
Hope to see more pictures from others, and find out more about the details of their experiences.
Details:
Got a later start than desired on Friday (not a surprise with this family), but with extra pesos from previous trips in hand, and having already
printed out car insurance online from BajaBound, no stop at the border would be necessary. Yeah!
We ended up crossing around 5pm Friday, caught some traffic at the border, in Tijuana and Ensenada. Stopped for some fish tacos in Ensenada and were
headed south by 7:30pm. We arrived at the Baja Cactus in El Rosario right around 10:45pm later that evening, with quite a few Nomads congregated out
in the courtyard.
Spent a little time in the courtyard - and had to explain the crutches and broken ankle situation (thought I'd be a tennis pro and hit balls with one
of our sons - and turned my ankle in the attempt). Being tired, we retired to the room to rest for Saturday - our main day there, as we were turning
around Sunday to return home.
Saturday we got up and ate some of the food we brought in the room. David K asked us if we wanted to go to breakfast shortly thereafter, and since
we'd eaten, thought we'd try to catch up after they ate.
We ended up criss-crossing paths and not seeing one another until back at the Baja Cactus at 4pm.
In the meantime, Michelle, the kids and I caught the art expo - where I ran into and spoke with Rob & Anthony of Diamante Del Mar. Anthony had
been in the courtyard at the Baja Cactus the night before as well. I enjoyed getting to speak with Rob and learn more about what Diamante Del Mar has
been up to. Very interesting stuff indeed. Essentially they are more focused on developing their property in Cabo San Lucas right now, and have
recently won legal battles regarding the El Rosario-area location.
After the art expo, we tried to locate a location for tacos to partake of. The Diamante Del Mar folks had taken over a small loncheria on the north
side of the road, and we saw a lot of locals over at Tacos Poblanos (near the bend in the highway), so decided to head there this time. Good choice.
Everyone VERY happy with the carne asada tacos. 12 tacos and 6 sodas was about 170 pesos if I remember correctly.
We later caught up with Nomads' back at the Baja Cactus for the "buffet" mentioned above put on by Antonio, Lorenia & family. I very much enjoyed
the short time with quite a few folks that were there - and putting some new faces to screen names from the board.
Later in the evening was the dance & Srta. Rosario Beauty Contest. I was - WOW, very cool - asked again to be one of the judges for the contest.
This is a big deal in El Rosario, and I was once again VERY honored to be included in the event this way. Lots of pageantry, with last year's winners
there to pass along their crowns to this year's winners.
The evening ended close to 2am - and that was the end of our Saturday.
Sunday we slept in and got ready to depart once we got up. We were attempting to leave by 12pm, but were still there by 12:30 when the hot rod's
paraded through town with the beauty contest contestants from the previous evening. Then, finding out from Antonio that Gabriela (contest coordinator
& M.C.) and Gabriel (2y.o. son) were looking for a ride back to Tijuana, offered to take them as well. Since we dropped them off in the Otay
area, we crossed at the Otay crossing - which went well, except for my just BARELY missing hitting a drunk (at 50mph+) who was walking in the dark
down the middle of the lane I was driving in.
Apparently I didn't know the best route to get in line at Otay, as while shortly after getting in line, out of nowhere pops Gabriela, as we had not
transferred all of her things - including drivers' license - to her vehicle, and she was just sitting by the side of the road at another entrance
waiting for us to get that far up to retrieve the rest of her belongings.
I'd say it was about an hour to an hour and a half at Otay - I think we crossed back into the U.S. about 11pm Sunday.
(I hadn't noted that we stopped at Bahia Mariscos Ensenada - in Ensenada - as a rest stop and for something to eat. As always, very enjoyable.)
I've got some pictures (mostly from Saturday). Check out the crab:
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:01 AM
The ceviche (yum!)
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:03 AM
The kids cracking the crab with stones...
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:03 AM
After being shown what to do by Antonio.
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:05 AM
John M, daughter Deb, and BajaAndy.
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:06 AM
Anthony from Diamante Del Mar, David K, and Baja Angel.
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:08 AM
Antonio with my two oldest boys, Andrew & Jonathan.
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:12 AM
Antonio with Lorenia (16 months old).
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:13 AM
16 months ago:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=9139
Lorenia with Lorenia:
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:15 AM
The youngest kids dancing to the band, using the lower "stage" at the dance Saturday night. Ryland, Lorenia and Gabriel.
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:16 AM
Lorenia's beautiful dress Saturday night at the dance.
BajaNomad - 7-25-2006 at 02:17 AM
The two cowboys sitting behind me on the ride back into Tijuana on Sunday.
Bob H - 7-25-2006 at 09:16 AM
Doug, great report. Thanks for the photos too. That crab looks wonderful!
Take care of your ankle. Ouch!
Bob H
Bruce R Leech - 7-25-2006 at 10:45 AM
thanks for the report Doug. sorry I missed you there.
David K - 7-25-2006 at 04:22 PM
We went to Otay from the main Tijuana border when that one was mostly closed by the cops... got in line at midnight and inside the USA 55 minutes
later!!!
Great photos Doug! Your son looks great in that hat!
jide - 8-15-2006 at 07:26 PM
great report! I wish I could've been there too.