1) A cultural gestalt of friendliness, honesty and openness towards strangers. In a decade of living full time in Baja (yes, in the "terrible"
Rosarito area), I have made many Gringa mistakes and been helped out by locals - we shrug shoulders, shake heads and smile at each other.
2) The wide-eyed, open-ended, non-judgmental interest in others and their lives, seeking information about experiences and values different and from
their own.
3) The ingrained, everyday social courtesies in public interactions, i.e., when entering, a greeting is made to everyone with "Buenas dias,
tardes..."; when trying to maneuver a space, you are acknowledged with, "Pasale".
So my spelling is maybe OK, but I'm not trying to post the diacritics; I think you will get the drift.
Yes, I miss things in Baja, like seasonal white cloud cherries from Washington - but I can live without them.
The heart and soul of Baja and its people fill those spaces.
[Edited on 4-5-2009 by Gypsy Jan]
[Edited on 4-5-2009 by Gypsy Jan]
[Edited on 4-5-2009 by Gypsy Jan]
I MISS SINGING IN MAMA ESPINOZA'S KITCHEN AND RECEIVING TIPS FROM THE GIRLS
ELINVESTIG8R - 4-4-2009 at 06:36 PM
24baja - 4-4-2009 at 06:51 PM
The sun and the sea and a drink in my hand.....oh ya thats a song. I miss the friendly people, the fishing, the beautiful scenery, the total
relaxation, the way I feel when we make love on a secluded beach, the way I cry when I enter Baja and the way I cry when I leave Baja. Oh, to be able
to live in Baja all the time must be fantastic, until the time comes for residency, I will look to the south with longing and to the north with
reluctance. ConnieCurt63 - 4-4-2009 at 08:33 PM
I miss waking up on the beach as the sun rises over the ocean (Abreojos) and watching the coyotes patrol the beach for whatever washed up on shore
overnight.
I miss the coffee surf check with the lads to start the day.
I miss food and drinks on the patio at Campo Rene
I miss great fishing
I miss riding quads on the beach for mile without seeing a soulCardon Man - 4-4-2009 at 08:54 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Curt63
I miss riding quads on the beach for mile without seeing a soul
I agree...
East Cape would dissapoint you. That era has passed here I regret to say.greta-inbaja - 4-4-2009 at 09:18 PM
What I miss the most is as Gypsy Jan says, The social graces of "buenas dias,,tardes, noche. As our grandparents taught us.
In the US people now avert eye contact, and a "good morning" is rare even in close passing. It makes my husband and I appreciate Mexico even more.
Sitting on a secluded beach, the sea of cortez in front of you and the desert mountians behind. You can still find them on the east cape, it just
isn't as easy anymore.
How often you encounter great people and some of the coolest patterned cows.CortezBlue - 4-4-2009 at 09:22 PM
watching all of the news about the violence in MexicoAcuDoc - 4-4-2009 at 09:58 PM
in a word....EVERYTHINGCurt63 - 4-4-2009 at 10:14 PM
Can't wait to get back!!!bajachris - 4-4-2009 at 11:23 PM
Eating fish the same day it is caught
The stars at night
200 yard point breaks at low tide
Making a fishing run on the quad to some distant river mouth with mi eijo
Yellow tail fish tacos in San Juanico
LangostaBajahowodd - 4-4-2009 at 11:31 PM
As Jan said, it's the wonderful people. Except for those who sing off-key in the kitchen.DT.IN.LB.BAJA - 4-5-2009 at 06:25 AM
Everything!Bajagypsy - 4-5-2009 at 06:35 AM
I miss the smell of the ocean, the warm sun on my face, the feeling of the beach under my feet.
I miss the wonderful friends we have made on our many trips down.
I miss our wonderful town, with all the wonderful people in it.
I miss staring out at the ocean, with my coffee cup in my hand, just me standing there, as the sun is rising, to see that increadable sunrise.
I miss sleeping under the stars, and hearing the ocean lull me to sleep.ELINVESTIG8R - 4-5-2009 at 06:43 AM
Bajahowodd must have heard me sining in the kitchen beforedianaji - 4-5-2009 at 06:56 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by ELINVESTI8
Now THAT is adorable! the bowl, i mean. i'm sure u are worth every penny of it!
dianacapt. mike - 4-5-2009 at 07:24 AM
drinkin and drivin around town - in moderation of course - but no fear of some cop pulling me over for an open container!Byron - 4-5-2009 at 07:48 AM
BallenasELINVESTIG8R - 4-5-2009 at 08:08 AM
Dianaji,
With those meager propinas I can now call myself a professional guitar player and singer. Oh Noooooooo, Great Architect of the Universe please save us
all. dianaji - 4-5-2009 at 08:40 AM
elienvest18:
if u are in san diego, have u ever gone to the red fox? there is a great piano player/accompianist who invites singers. i have sung with him many a
year. are there any piano bars in baja? i guess i'm a pro too...one time sang in a restaurant and some lady comes up to me and says, "u made me
cry" and put $20 under my arm.
gee, maybe she cried cause she couldn't stand it? and the $20 was to stop? never thought of that until now.
Gypsy Jan
DianaT - 4-5-2009 at 09:12 AM
You described those important things so very well--I agree with them all.
Right now, we travel between two worlds, both of which we like very much. Sometimes it is like being in a time machine. We travel back and forth
about every month or six weeks, with more time in Baja than Imperial Beach at this point in our lives. And, it is the people of Bahia Asuncion that
keep us there longer.
So we often don't think about what we are missing at either end---we just enjoy what each world has to offer. We want to keep both even if we don't
spend as much time at either location.
We need to get moving again and travel the mainland, get back to Central America and we have only traveled in two countries in South America. I still
need to see tierra del fuego. And there is a longer list just waiting for a little improvement in the economy.
We feel fortunate to be living two different lives---it works for us very well right now. What our next adventure will be, we do not know, but for
us, change keeps us going.
Now, if you ask our dogs, there is no question. They miss running free through the dunes and on the beach. They miss the dry land walks on the dirt
roads with no leash.
Diane
besides the view from my pillow?
woody with a view - 4-5-2009 at 01:58 PM
EVERYTHING ELSE!!!!
[Edited on 4-5-2009 by woody in ob]
Iflyfish - 4-5-2009 at 03:35 PM
Buenos Dias, Buenos Tardes, Buenos Noche, Buen Provecho, Avai Bien....grins....abrazos forte....fish tacos....noche buena.....grandote
pescados....Juan...Shari.....Diver et. al.....magic cactus blooms....snow in the mountains of Baja....surprise.....the glow of the sunset....campfires
on the beach.....eagles on cacti, snake in mouth....green desert....lion paw scallops....lobsters..lots of lobsters.....diving pelicans.....swooping
blue footed boobies.......the silent swirl of the frigate bird soaring....soaring....curious seal pups.....the turquis/green blue of the sun through
the breaking wave.....marlinfins....spinner dolphins....phosphorescent glow of sand, surf and small fish setting off like rocket away from the shore
as you walk the beach at night....stars, stars, horizon to horizon...stars....wonder....awe....sun warming me to the bone....to the core...to the
essence of me......sex on the beach....the smell of the sea.....fresh tortillas.....loss of sense of time.....shore birds dancing with the surf....in
and out....dip,dabble,slide....camerones ajo....mas camerones por favor....uno mas cervesa por llavar.....free association mind cleaning.....whales
floating above the water in magdelena bay.......e amore
Iflyfish
[Edited on 4-5-2009 by Iflyfish]Skip_Mac - 4-5-2009 at 03:45 PM
Thanks Iflyfish, You described those important things so very well... The physical and biological parts of the places are the setting, the people make
them incredibly extra special. thanks to you all for your parts.
Thanks in Revese
Gypsy Jan - 4-5-2009 at 07:11 PM
I really love the sharing and the kind compliments.
I believe that Baja Time heals our souls.greybaby - 4-5-2009 at 07:33 PM
You all make me miss it even more: the ocean, the people, the friendliness, the food, the smell of the food on the street, the courtesies, the
language, the smiles, the hugs, the stars that seem brighter in the skies over the water, the sounds of the water truck, the gas truck, the neighbor
kids passing by on their way to school, the ladies hanging their laundry outside, the dogs (do I really miss the barking dogs??) yes - I miss it all.
I am so jealous of you who can go back and forth more often. What a wonderful place. Those who only read about the violence on the news have no idea
what dear, sincere people live there and really care about each other.805gregg - 4-8-2009 at 06:24 PM
