BajaNomad - Playa Balandra

Playa Balandra

BMG - 1-24-2008 at 09:18 PM

Took some guests up to Balandra the other day. Here is a photo. You may recognize Ana in the water standing next to her friend, Ann.

Ana_Ann__Jan23_2008.jpg - 49kB

fdt - 1-24-2008 at 10:11 PM

Ana is the one on the left right? I hardly recognized her. Tell me what's that on Ann's hand? Oh, I see now it's a camera.
:rolleyes:

Dannyrose - 1-24-2008 at 10:28 PM

I'm guessing that if I did a google map view of the area that they'd be in the middle of a lunar landscape or at least the middle of nowhere. Y'all are hard core desert dwellers!!!

debindesert - 1-24-2008 at 11:02 PM

Breathtaking. Simply breathtaking.

Thank you.

Natalie Ann - 1-25-2008 at 09:05 AM

Ah BMG... you've made me long for one of my most favorite beaches. Thank you for this lovely photograph.

Nena

Alan - 1-25-2008 at 09:11 AM

When I was there in October it looked like they were building a facade for a movie shoot right on the beach. Is it still there?

DianaT - 1-25-2008 at 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt
Ana is the one on the left right? I hardly recognized her. Tell me what's that on Ann's hand? Oh, I see now it's a camera.
:rolleyes:

No, No, No,---you need glasses---she is carrying a purse. :tumble:

Really a beautiful picture!---thanks

Diane

Okay I have to ask

Keri - 1-25-2008 at 10:01 AM

Where is Playa Balandra. It's beautiful. I want to go there,k :yes:

fdt - 1-25-2008 at 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt
Ana is the one on the left right? I hardly recognized her. Tell me what's that on Ann's hand? Oh, I see now it's a camera.
:rolleyes:

No, No, No,---you need glasses---she is carrying a purse. :tumble:

Really a beautiful picture!---thanks

Diane

It's sure a small purse, fooled me for sure. What I am certain of is that she is digging for clams, I can clearly see her tows burried in the sand. :bounce:

Skipjack Joe - 1-25-2008 at 10:26 AM

Looks like paradise!

That's a really wonderful picture of a truly beautiful place. I, too, would like to know where it is.

Natalie Ann - 1-25-2008 at 10:31 AM

Balandra is just outside of La Paz - the turn off before Tecolote beach, I believe. Has a totally different feel than Tecolote... small and sweet, it is.

Nena

BajaDanD - 1-25-2008 at 05:49 PM

If you hike around the bluff at bottom right you can almost hike to Tecolote beach at low tide we swim and snorkle the rest of the way. along the walk is a big rock ballanced on a vary thin chunck of rock caused by the tide I guess.
I have a picture of it somwhere. but cant seem to find them
DAND

[Edited on 1-26-2008 by BajaDanD]

Ken Bondy - 1-25-2008 at 07:22 PM

Magnificent photo BMG!!!

++Ken++

BMG - 1-25-2008 at 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alan
When I was there in October it looked like they were building a facade for a movie shoot right on the beach. Is it still there?

They had built a movie set for an Adam Sandler movie due out later this year. Something with 'Zohan' in the title.

Playa_Balandra_movie_set01_Nov1_2007.jpg - 31kB

Playa_Balandra_movie_set01_Nov1_2007.jpg - 31kB

BMG - 1-25-2008 at 07:43 PM

The set was gone in late November. Note the end of the wall and the lone tree standing in the parking lot. Don't know why I didn't get a picture from the same view. Can't even tell they were there now.

Playa_Blandara_Dec1_2007.jpg - 46kB

BMG - 1-25-2008 at 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Keri
Where is Playa Balandra. It's beautiful. I want to go there,k :yes:

Playa Tecolote is at the end of the paved road when passing through La Paz, up passed the ferry terminal. About a mile before the end is a well marked turn off to Playa Balandra. A beautiful beach right on the edge of a nice parking area. You can also hike around the point to another long white sand beach or swim/wade across to a couple of beaches across the bay. (The tree close to the camper is the tree that is in the movie set photo.)

IMG_5222_Jan23_2008.jpg - 42kB

BMG - 1-25-2008 at 07:54 PM

The beach around the point.

IMG_5226_Jan23_2008.jpg - 42kB

castaway$ - 1-25-2008 at 10:27 PM

We stayed at Tecolote about a year ago, what a great spot!!!

Natalie Ann - 1-25-2008 at 10:58 PM

Famous rock at Balandra Beach. The original rock formation fell over. It's been resurrected with a long metal pole in the center for support.

Nena

Paula - 1-25-2008 at 11:30 PM

WOW!!!!

I had no idea that the formation we've seen at Balandra isn't authentic! When was it reconstructed? Balandra is a favorite beach of mine. The first time we saw it the tide was low as in BMG's first photo. That day it was an enchanted place, as was the "beach around the point".

Another time there the water was higher, but Balandra was as beautiful and magical as always...

Natalie Ann - 1-25-2008 at 11:52 PM

It was more involved than I made it sound, Paula, and quite interesting. Let me go looking for this link again... I'm real tired and keep messing it up.

Nena

[Edited on 1-26-2008 by Natalie Ann]

[Edited on 1-26-2008 by Natalie Ann]

Alan - 1-25-2008 at 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paula
WOW!!!!

I had no idea that the formation we've seen at Balandra isn't authentic!

It's formation was authentic. It just had its life extended for a few more millineums.

Natalie Ann - 1-26-2008 at 12:02 AM

The rock formation is authentic. But during the winter of 2005 it was found broken, the top having fallen from it's precarious base. No one knows for sure when it happened or how. Anyhoo, the city of La Paz paid to have this big metal rod inserted between the two parts, then 'glued' them back together... for what you see now.

There's a neat article about it in the Baja Insider; you'll find it if you google it. I cannot get the link to work. The article has photos of the reconstruction.

Did you know that the rock in the fountain in the zolcolo in La Paz is a replica of the balandra rock. I'll look for a photo of it.

Nena

Paula - 1-26-2008 at 09:27 AM

Thanks for the answers, Nena and Alan. I really meant rebuilt rather than authentic, and had known nothing of the steel rod holding it up. I have noticed the replica in the zocalo-- the rock is certainly a La Paz icon. Maybe it will play a role in keeping Balandra beautifull and natural into the future.

Baja&Back - 1-26-2008 at 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Natalie Ann
Famous rock at Balandra Beach. The original rock formation fell over. It's been resurrected with a long metal pole in the center for support.

Nena

Sorry to tell you, but El Hongo has fallen again. We were there the other day & it was on it's side - no longer a local landmark. No plans to resurect again.

Paula - 1-27-2008 at 08:21 AM

That is very sad news :no:

fdt - 1-27-2008 at 08:25 AM

From what I know last time it was vandalized by some drunken chilangos and they made it fall and it laid there for a long time until an american paid to get it back up and placing that metal rod in the center. If it's true that it's fallen again, pretty sad.

BAJACAT - 1-27-2008 at 08:44 AM

Endee my friends, El Hongo was a death giveaway,that you where in BALANDRA.I hope the put it back.

Me & wife, don't remember the date.lol :?: