Trip Report -– Todos Santos to Portland/Oregon 24 Oct 2007

Hola Nomads,

Just returned from a round trip to Portland, Oregon, where we had a successful family reunion. We saw two of our three children whom I hadn’t seen for 1 ½ years since we moved to Todos Santos. Got to meet for the first time our first granddaughter; it was her first birthday and she entertained us to the delight of everyone.

Coincidentally, my son, who lives in Spain and came to this gathering, has the same birthday so we had a nice double pachanga.

[Edited on 11-1-2007 by amir]

We flew instead of driving, so I don’t have a road report, but do have a flying report: All that security stuff is a crock of sh*t. In San Diego we had to switch planes, but instead of rechecking our luggage we made it to the airport lobby to rearrange our suitcases. Then an attendant who happened to be walking by took our luggage through the security area without being checked again.

On the way back the plane stopped again in San Diego. They made everybody get off the plane to do a security check. That didn’t make me feel very secure because we had already been in it for the first leg of the trip. To inconvenience passengers and instill fear is what I think all this is about. Here in the Los Cabos airport they x-ray the bags on the way OUT of the airport. Go figure!

At all airport security checks it was my beard that they focused on; every time they asked me the standard questions: Do you have any liquids? Do you have any explosives? But then they asked me if I had any shaving cream or shaving lotions. I thought these guys were supposed to be serious! But it was worth a good laugh every time…

On the way up there was a lot of smoke in the San Diego area. There were some fires still burning and plumes of smoke rising from many blackened hilltops. I didn’t keep up with the news so I hope this catastrophe is under control. My prayers to all million + people that were evacuated, and condolences to all those families who lost their homes and possessions to the fires.

[Edited on 11-1-2007 by amir]

Portland was sunny but cold. I had a tee-shirt, shirt, long-sleeve flannel shirt, down jacket, wool hat and long pants, and was still cold. Was so glad to remove all those extra layers when I got back; now I am again in my Baja garb, shorts and tee-shirt. Oh, how I love the climate in paradise!

Two other points to comment on about this trip. The tree foliage in Portland is turning colors and it was beautiful! Yellows and oranges and reds, and cushions of leaves on the ground, and the smells of autumn in the air… I do miss the trees of Oregon.

The other comment is about the people. It seemed like everyone wears blinders and nobody acknowledges you in any way. I felt invisible; there is no eye contact, no c-cking of the head, no waving of hands, no “hola”, no “Buenos dias”, nada! Here in Baja the people are so much more friendlier. Here there is a connection between people that is heart-warming and sincere. There, in the big city everyone is a stranger and people live in their own little worlds oblivious to their surroundings. The “coldness” in all respects was striking.

When I got back it felt like I was back in my vacation home, even though this place is neither a vacation nor retirement for me. The first evening upon return I focused on the sounds of the pounding surf, the crickets, the vastness of the starry sky, the tranquility. This is my home now and I am grateful for my new life in Baja so much that I really appreciate having been away for a week so I can remember how lucky I am to have had the courage to let go of what I had in Oregon so I could start anew in Todos Santos.

End of Trip Report
--Amir

Where have I seen that child before?

Just a quick post here. Thanks, sweetie, for posting the trip report and the surprise picture of the not so little baby ...

Skipjack Joe, good observation. She weighed a healthy 25lbs 8 oz at her first year check up. 95th per centile for height and weight. Her dad is 6'4" so not too much of a surprise that she's a whopper!

Portland continues to be cool and crisp with beautiful fall colors ... rain to follow I'm sure. Rest of clan will ariive from L.A. on Sunday. A great visit so far.

Amir

Beautiful grandbaby Amir and Gnome-ad. Les and I are so ready for our first. Oh and the Baja reconnect, very powerful thoughts about folks. We sure felt it when we got back to SD. We're talking with our contacts regularly down there. Could be somthing happening soon!

[Edited on 11-3-2007 by Gadget]

You people are SO seet!

You must all be, or soon to be, grandparents yourselves...

Huh?

Better ask a surfer, they might know what that is...