Another... where am I?

Where am I?
here's the view one side of the road:

the other side of the road:

what this town is 'famous' for:

a clue to make it easy...
Maria Reina del Mundo is right by the side of the road:

Nicely done, Amir... you are correct, it's San Bartolo. And next time you cruise through, slow down and watch for this little store and restaurant on the left side of the road as you travel south. It's near the end of town and where the Aguilla bus driver stops to pick up his lunch. The Oasis has a limited choice of foods... but you'll be so hooked on the meat empanadas with salsa caliente that you'll keep going back for more. Honest.

You can also get your mango dulces there or in any of the tiendas just across the street. It's a nice little place to pull over, stretch your legs, see the scenery, get back on the highway with not much time lost.

Ya know, I didn't arrange a prize for you Amir. Perhaps I could get the town ambulance driver to give you a ride back and forth to Los Barriles with the lights and siren on.

Can I play too?

I can offer three prizes:

1. A pet stink bug.



2. An ice chest that comes with it's own guard dog.



3. A cowpattie pillow so comfy that it will even make a dog smile.

Of course you can play, Paulina. Those are great prizes. Now just post a photo of a "where is it"... and I'll do my best to win the stink bug. There's someone I'd like to share it with (evil grin).

omigosh Amir - you are friends with my dear friend Bedo. Well, this sets it... we'll definitely be meeting when next I am in the Sur (fingers crossed for soon). Here's a photo of her 'n me - sistahs. (for the rest of ya - Bedo's the blonde)

Ok, here's my entry....

Where is this Message Center located? (the message is held in place under the soda bottle)

Hint to Message Center location

It's on the Sea of Cortez side, as you head down this road you'll come to this Maytag...




From the inside of the washer you will see this view...



and you're almost there.

Yep, Paulina, on the way to San Francisquito was gonna be my guess. Hope we're right. If so... could we each please have a prize... and Paula, could I please have the stink bug? I really do have a person in mind to 'share' it with.

Paula, I love mangos that much too. Have to watch my consumption when I stay with Bedo, for I've been known to break out in a rash all over from them.
Regarding the bean empanadas... I do not remember them being mentioned. Very little variety here, although I think you might find chicken. Don't 'spose you have a recipe for the sweet bean stuff? The empanada part is easy.

Nena, I think my dog would like the cowpie, so the stinkbug is all yours.

The beean filling-- my neighbor, who cooks without recipes, taught me to make it a couple years ago because I liked her empanadas so much. But I haven't made them yet. As I rememberit was 1 kilo cooked pinto beans, 1/2 kilo sugar, and lots of manteca-- she used the vegetable kind in the tube. You just cook and stir for a loooooong time until it is smooth and carmelized. Then make the flour tortillas, fill and seal them, and deep fry. Very sweet and tasty! When I make them, I'm gonna try using pie crust and baking them, my token gesture toward a healthier version

That stinkbug! I'm so glad the cowpie works for you... oh I do hope we're right, Paula.

A cuppa fijoles and half a cuppa azucar??? Surely you jest?! If not, I'm gonna make 'em too. I have some of those pre-made pie crusts in the freezer, but I think they need to be fried up to bring out that 'real' empanada flavor... especially given the lack of lard in the 'tortilla'.

Paula y Natalie Ann,

You are almost there! It is on the road to San Francisquito, the view from the Maytag is of La Boca Grande. The message center is at the turn off to a certain someone's house, and a very nice beach to catch Lenguado from...any more guesses?

I'm glad you worked out the prize situation. There's still the guard dog cooler for the last part of the question, and a bonus Sperm whale skull chair for the correct answer.

Well, I knew it wasn't Seward because that would be too obvious. This must be a trick question. Let me see ....

Hmmm. This is hard.

I'll bet it's close to this place though:

P.S. Yeah, that's me with the coffee grinder.

[Edited on 5-20-2007 by Skipjack Joe]

Amir... MHO means 'my humble opinion'. You'll also see this written as IMHO, meaning 'in my humble opinion'.

Paula... I'll look forward to that sweet bean recipe. I do think, however, that it sounds like one that oughta be cooked up in one of those grande kettles over an open fire. Once during a visit to the rancho of a local San Bartolo family, I watched the milk and sugar being cooked up that way for cajeta. I believe they cooked and stirred for most of the day, then it went into the little molds... same as when they make the mango dulces. This stuff was good! Below is a photo of mi amigo checking on just finished candies.

Paulina... I'm stuck. Who lives just off the road to San Francisquito. Is it you? And btw, I really love your whale throne... believe that makes you the queen - no?

Pompano and Skipjack... You've left the country - did ya think we wouldn't notice? We are in Baja. How did you wander all the way up to Alaska? And why.

Nena

So Pompano... the prize is for guessing what they call those fish? And just what is the prize? (gotta figure out if it's worth the internet research on that topic) Something to wash down yesterday's banana split would be nice.

Quote:

Originally posted by Natalie Ann How did you wander all the way up to Alaska? And why. Nena

Igor,

You win! The message center is at the turn off to San Rafael.
You can pick any of the prizes I offered above, except for the whale chair, I'm taking that back.

Paula and Natalie Ann,

Here is the house at the edge of the sea, with one of the best views as far as I'm concerned.



And this is Pancho. He's a very nice man who lives here. He always tries to give you something in exchange for your company. My Spanish is limited, so it's difficult for me to carry on a long conversation. One of my best memories is of a simple afternoon spent standing a short distance apart, casting out our lines to catch halibut, smiling and drinking Tecate. One time he gave me an instant coffee jar filled with seashells. Another time when we brought friends to meet him one spring break, he wouldn't let them leave without two plastic shopping bags of shells he'd collected. Two years ago Christmas we took him a tri-tip roast. As we were leaving he ran to the truck with my most special gift. He called it a "soap rock". I think it used to be a brick that spent quite a long time in the Sea of Cortez. I keep it in the bottom of my purse for good luck. He loved our bulldog Charlie and wanted a photo taken with him. This is the photo that we took back to him on another visit.



This is a fun game, thanks for letting me play.
P<*)))><

Yeah, I've heard there are similarities to the mindset both Baja and Alaska... never had the pleasure of a trip that far north. One day.
I had no idea halibut came that big. If it is the small ones that are good eating, whaddaya do with the BIG ones?

And what does the name of these fishies have to do with fishing 'for the hell of it'? I'm confused.

If the seas are rough, I call them "Hurl-ibut".

Paulina, thank you for the pictures from up San Francisquito way, and the fun prizes. You are right -- it's a fun game to play. And I think you look like a princess in pink on that whale throne

Pompano, don't I get a prize for Seward Alaska? Or maybe it really is Homer

oooohhhhh... hell of it... halibut... I get it now.

Nooooooooooooooo, please Pompano, wait, I know the name of the town is Caught, I just havn't figured out if AT is the state or the country. Please Pompano, Please wait just a little longer.

Alaska and Baja! The two best places in the whole wide world.

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina Igor, You win! The message center is at the turn off to San Rafael. You can pick any of the prizes I offered above, except for the whale chair, I'm taking that back. This is a fun game, thanks for letting me play. P<*)))><

Yea Pompano, there're plenty of "best places". Just gotta keep on looking.

Oops! Forgot to include the marsh country of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Fishing the oil rigs off the mouth of the Mississippi River is world class.

Alaska

One of the most beautiful places on the planet. Discovered late in life I'm uncovering it's secrets. Could be a lifetime project, but I'm not complaining. This is the waterfront at Kodiak.

P.S. No cruiseships for me, Natalie Ann and Paula

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe P.S. No cruiseships for me, Natalie Ann and Paula

They do fish ... but not for fish. I'm told it has to do with cones and rods.