BajaNomad - Ensenada ideas

Ensenada ideas

skipowell - 10-9-2010 at 03:16 PM

I cant believe I got talked into doing this but...
I am going on the Catalina/Ensenada booze cruise next week with 4 women.

We have a house in Rosarito so I am comfortable in Mexico and have limited Spanish skills (I can understand way more than I can speak)

So.. what should four women do when we have from 9:00 am till about 4pm in Ensenada. My husband would rather us not just hang out in a bar! Anyone know anything about the Santo Thomas Winery in Ensenada?? Not interested in going La Bufedora as we do that as a day trip every once in a while.

I know some of you Nomads are based in Ensenada so share your ideas.
I figure in the worse case scenero we can always go to Los Rosas and do SPA stuff and lunch, but I am not sure that is what I want to do.
THanks for any advice

mcfez - 10-9-2010 at 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skipowell
I cant believe I got talked into doing this but...
I am going on the Catalina/Ensenada booze cruise next week with 4 women.

We have a house in Rosarito so I am comfortable in Mexico and have limited Spanish skills (I can understand way more than I can speak)

So.. what should four women do when we have from 9:00 am till about 4pm in Ensenada. My husband would rather us not just hang out in a bar! Anyone know anything about the Santo Thomas Winery in Ensenada?? Not interested in going La Bufedora as we do that as a day trip every once in a while.

I know some of you Nomads are based in Ensenada so share your ideas.
I figure in the worse case scenero we can always go to Los Rosas and do SPA stuff and lunch, but I am not sure that is what I want to do.
THanks for any advice

There's this guy by the name of Dennis here at the chat. 555-1833 call him. He serves Uganda meals and entertains wildly for clients in Ensenada :lol:

DENNIS - 10-9-2010 at 03:28 PM

Welllll...Let's see.....There's a fairly new Art Museum near the ship terminal......or you could walk along the Malecon, you know...by the water and boats...that's kinda nice. Try the fish market at the far end of that stroll, but don't buy anything.
From the fish market, after about 11:00, Hussongs is open. That's only a couple of blocks away. Go in there and hammer down a few, then walk up to Sixth Street and turn south for I think one block and you'll be at Sto. Tomas Winery. Hammer down a couple of bottles of vino and wander back towards the Tourist Zone and buy some trinkets. Stop in at Denny's Bar and toss back one or two, but don't go in the bathroom. Save that for the Bahia where you can hammer down a few more and relieve yourselves before you go back to the ship for c-cktails.
Bon Voyage.

MsTerieus - 10-9-2010 at 03:37 PM

That sounds MUCH better than just hanging around a bar! :lol:

DENNIS - 10-9-2010 at 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MsTerieus
That sounds MUCH better than just hanging around a bar! :lol:

Well..it's Ensenada. What can one expect?
The city is planning on putting in some Bumper Cars, but they're arguing with the state and the feds over the mordida concession.

Marc - 10-9-2010 at 05:59 PM

What time does Hussong's open?

skipowell - 10-9-2010 at 06:50 PM

Dennis said Hussong's is open at 11:00

I should have thought- Nomads would likely give me the bars to stop at

Any advice for anything besides bars

And why the do not by anything at the fish market warning??
I use to eat the clam ceviche there year ago. Have things changed?

Ken Cooke - 10-9-2010 at 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skipowellAnd why the do not by anything at the fish market warning??
I use to eat the clam ceviche there year ago. Have things changed?

I walked through the fish market in July, and I wanted to stay, but the Mrs. doesn't like Fish Tacos. I really want to go back for some Mariscos. There is a movie theatre just opposite the Fish Market inside of the new Mall that was constructed near the Malecon. Maybe, you could catch a nice foreign film while you are there.

DENNIS - 10-9-2010 at 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skipowell
And why the do not by anything at the fish market warning??
I use to eat the clam ceviche there year ago. Have things changed?

It's not the best place in town to buy fish. Besides, do you want to carry around a sack of fish to all those fun spots? Pretty soon, you'll have about fifty cats following you.

Another thing....the fish market, called the Mercado Negro, has the worst fish tacos in the world.
I have no opinion on the Ceviche.

DENNIS - 10-9-2010 at 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Maybe, you could catch a nice foreign film while you are there.

That would probably be an American film....right?? :lol:

http://www.hidalgolapelicula.com/

Ken Cooke - 10-10-2010 at 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Maybe, you could catch a nice foreign film while you are there.

That would probably be an American film....right?? :lol:

This looks like a winner! :bounce:

From his jail cell at Chihuahua's Military Hospital, Hidalgo begins to remember moments of his life, particularly his tenure as Parish Priest in the town of San Felipe where he translated and produced the stage play "Tartuffe" by Moliere. During this time he fell in love with Josefa Quintana with whom he had three children and for whom he left the priesthood during a brief period in his life.

Director: Antonio Serrano
Actores: Demián Bichir, Ana de la Reguera, Cecilia Suárez, Andrés Palacios, Odiseo Bichir.
Guión: Leo Eduardo Mendoza
Productores: Luis Urquiza y Lula García

Cinepolis
Avenida Pedro Loyola 612, Carlos Pacheco, 22830 Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico‎ - 01 646 173 3305‎

DENNIS - 10-10-2010 at 07:16 AM

Looks as though this flik is a Mexican production, given the origen of the director, Antonio Serrano.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Serrano

Watching a Mexican made movie in Mexico disqualifies it for the title, Foriegn Film....I think.

.

[Edited on 10-10-2010 by DENNIS]

bajaguy - 10-10-2010 at 07:23 AM

For a great meal along the waterfront, try the Muelle Tres. Great food, friendly staff.

surfer jim - 10-10-2010 at 07:28 AM

Is there still time to cancell and get full refund?

Hire a Taxi and Go to El Taco de Huitzilopochtli

Gypsy Jan - 10-10-2010 at 08:04 AM

Tooting my own horn very softly, here's what I say about it in my Ensenada Eats listing

"For 32 years El T de H has been serving its mouthwatering mixiote, a unique Texcoco-style dish of lamb wrapped in maguey leaves and cooked for 16 hours in mesquite-fired ovens. Other dishes include tlacoyos (thick, stuffed tortillas in green chili sauce), romeritos (nopal cactus, potatoes and shrimp in a bowl of chocolaty, spicy mole) and huauzontles (a stuffed and battered broccoli-like vegetable in red sauce). Fri-Sun, 8a-4p; 646-174-2381"

Ken Cooke - 10-10-2010 at 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Looks as though this flik is a Mexican production, given the origen of the director, Antonio Serrano.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Serrano

Watching a Mexican made movie in Mexico disqualifies it for the title, Foriegn Film....I think.

When I was in Colombia, I saw "The Accordion Angel". What I would pay to see that film again here in the United States.

DENNIS - 10-10-2010 at 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

When I was in Colombia, I saw "The Accordion Angel". What I would pay to see that film again here in the United States.

http://insidemedellin.blogspot.com/2008/09/el-angel-del-acor...

Iflyfish - 10-10-2010 at 08:35 AM

Will be there in a couple of days, what is your favorite place for tacos in Ensenada?

Iflyfish

[Edited on 10-10-2010 by Iflyfish]

DENNIS - 10-10-2010 at 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by surfer jim
Is there still time to cancell and get full refund?

BajaBlanca - 10-10-2010 at 03:18 PM

Iflyfish !!! Are you going to make it to visit us locals in La Bocana ???!!! Sure hope so !! Then after us, go visit Asuncion and maybe the pitahayas will be ripe !!!

bajabound2005 - 10-10-2010 at 04:09 PM

iflyfish---what kind of tacos?
skipowell -- how about a private winery tour in the Valle de Guadalupe? Don't do the tour the cruiseship offers. Contact Steve Dryden: http://www.bajawineandtours.com/
He'll take you to some cool places that you may not otherwise ever see. And what day of the week (Wednesday or Saturday)?

[Edited on 10-11-2010 by bajabound2005]

Iflyfish - 10-10-2010 at 09:23 PM

Bajablanca will be there in January on our way back up. Hope to sip some of those wonderful pithaya margaritas.

Bajabound 2005. Isn't it wonderful to be asking the question, what type of tacos. So many tacos and so little time. I asked the question open ended because I am an omnivore when it comes to tacos. Fish tacos of course are a staple in the Baja, but a good lengua and el pastor are always hard to bypass. We will certainly visit the corn fungus taco stand mentioned in an earlier post, those are too good to pass up.

Suggestions in Ensenada?

Iflyfish

bajabound2005 - 10-11-2010 at 06:59 AM

Al pastor --- Tacos Original in Chapultepec. Coming from Ensenada, it's on the west side of Mex 1/Reforma, 1 block before the turn off to the Estero Beach Hotel. Closed Wednesdays. Al Pastor is usually ready by 12:30 p.m.

Fish tacos...for something a little different: Marco Antonio's on Rayon between 3rd the 4th. Open daily except Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. They are usually out of food by 12:45. They have a nice selection --- salmon or tuna steamed in white wine, shrimp in chipolte cream sauce and a number of other delectable bites.

skipowell - 10-11-2010 at 07:30 AM

So many great ideas
I am leaning towards the Guadalupe Valley wine tour
but the film is on my mind (would it have English subtitles?), then there would be time to eat tacos and try out Gypsy Jan's reccomendation (I am consistently a fan of her choices)
Baja bound- we will be there next Wednesday ( I am in Hawaii visiting parents this week, getting on boat in Long Beach next Monday)
Thanks

bajabound2005 - 10-11-2010 at 08:06 AM

unfortunately,the earliest showing of that film is 9:15 PM!

DENNIS - 10-11-2010 at 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by skipowell
try out Gypsy Jan's reccomendation

"Tacos De Huitzi-----" is only open Fri. through Sunday."

back from Ensenada trip

skipowell - 10-22-2010 at 07:58 PM

Thanks for all the advice
we ended up doing a variation of Dennis' bar walk
but I have to ask how did Denny's make your list of suggested bars??
We ended up walking past the place and when we saw the name I felt compelled to stop only to fortunately find that the STRIP BAR was closed. Not exactly what four girls in Ensenada quite had in mind!

The day in Ensenada was fun, cant quite say the same for the cruise ( I will NEVER go on another cruise again in my life)

surfer jim - 10-22-2010 at 08:53 PM

How about a little info on the cruise? What went wrong? We have talked about taking one of these...and just don't get off the ship.

DENNIS - 10-23-2010 at 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by skipowell
we ended up doing a variation of Dennis' bar walk
but I have to ask how did Denny's make your list of suggested bars??
We ended up walking past the place and when we saw the name I felt compelled to stop only to fortunately find that the STRIP BAR was closed. Not exactly what four girls in Ensenada quite had in mind!

Do they strip in there? I didn't know that. I thought they only rented companionship. You have to admit, it's right in the center of the tourist zone. I haven't been in there for a loooong time. I've seen a few boat people going in and out of the place in the past. You know....curiosity....a mid-day cold one....a yearning for some traditional Mexican raunch. The place is harmless.
Anyway, the other suggestions were legit. Too bad you missed Hussong's, but I guess you can catch it in Vegas now.

Bajahowodd - 10-23-2010 at 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by surfer jim
How about a little info on the cruise? What went wrong? We have talked about taking one of these...and just don't get off the ship.

No one should ever equate those three and four day cruises from LA as anything like a real cruise. There are so many different styles of cruising, and many sizes of ships. And, considering the many varied itineraries, the thought of taking a cruise and not getting off the ship??

Been on many over the years. Favorite by a mile was on a small Princess ship (less than 700 passengers) balcony cabin. Boarded in Rome, disembarked in Athens. Stops in the Greek Islands, transited the Bosporus through Istanbul whilst having brunch on the balcony. Other ports included one in Bulgaria, and two in Ukraine. Yalta is magnificent.

Main excuse for those short cruises in to overeat and drink too much. But just think how terrible it would be for Ensenada if people stopped taking those ecruises.

cruises

skipowell - 10-23-2010 at 04:23 PM

in response to surfer jim- first I agree with what bajahowod said about cruises.
The best part if the cruise is getting off at the ports.
as far as the 4 day Mexico cruise goes I should share there are some good things also. The service and crew were great, The food and entertainment is mediocre (but then what should one expect for $400). Surprisingly the prices for drinks on board were reasonable What I really didn't like was all the sales hype it felt a bit like time share sales. Every hour or so they are reminding you of something that is for sale. The Spa was a joke, the worse Facial i ever had and it was over $100. The cabins are okay (do not even consider going with an inside cabin without a window as the window is your ticket to sanity) spacious enough but the circulated air gets to me after awhile. Cruise ships are into big group sitting at meal time. Our group of 4 were assigned to a 10 top and four of our table mates were obnoxious. That our group and the other two people had to request a table change (which they nicely accommodated) but it made it awkward as we kept running across the people we didn't want to sit with and they kept asking if we were going to be with them that night. You would think with the ship going to Mexico that the dinners would include a Mexican entree, no such luck just low quality food made to sound gourmet and excessive use of salt for flavoring. Musical show was so corny we actually walked out, comedian was okay but you have to appreciate the f*** and c*** word to appreciate his humor as it was used in every joke. Liked the live music but the sound system they had to play through wouldn't allow the musicians balance the vocals with the instrument which were actually good!

We have done a 8 day cruise in the Caribbean (Holland America) and pretty much everything I shared about the 4 day hold true only that ship had over 3000 people and often multiple cruise ships at the same dock and when you get off the islanders hound you to buy their wares. The entertainment was better and the food more varied (often reflected the island we had visited that day)

One trip I would do over again my father in law took us on (Clipper Cruises). we left from Costa Rica on a small ship with only 120 passengers and went to some amazing ports as well as through the Panama Canal. We had wonderful food and wine. This ship didn't have a pool or any big shows but the places the ship could get into made up for that. Went by motorized canoes to part of the Darien jungle, saw so much wildlife.

rdrrm8e - 10-25-2010 at 01:10 PM

La Cetta is a wine store just North of downtown
Ensenada. A short cab ride.

They have wine, tasting, smoked meats and cheeses and condiments and bread. You can make yourself a nice picnic.

It's a very nice, clean store. $$

vacaenbaja - 10-25-2010 at 03:16 PM

there is / was an excellent gigalo service close to where the
cuisers disembark, Servicios Sancho kind of rings a bell,
or was it Sancho's vicios...?

DanO - 10-25-2010 at 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iflyfish
Bajablanca will be there in January on our way back up. Hope to sip some of those wonderful pithaya margaritas.

Bajabound 2005. Isn't it wonderful to be asking the question, what type of tacos. So many tacos and so little time. I asked the question open ended because I am an omnivore when it comes to tacos. Fish tacos of course are a staple in the Baja, but a good lengua and el pastor are always hard to bypass. We will certainly visit the corn fungus taco stand mentioned in an earlier post, those are too good to pass up.

Suggestions in Ensenada?

Iflyfish

Fish -- Tacos Fenix, by the hardware store at the corner of Juarez and Espinoza, Ensenada.
al Pastor -- Tacos Los Poblanos, Maneadero (south end of town).

surfer jim - 10-25-2010 at 04:28 PM

Thanks for details.