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makana.gabriel
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Posts: 115
Registered: 1-10-2008
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Just back from Cabo San Lucas
We drove down to Cabo for New Years, our first time in 6 years. I started going there in the '80s and we moved there in '91. We were warned that we
would not recognize the place after a 6 year absence but nothing could have prepared us for what we saw. How can a place with such natural beauty
become so ugly so quickly? The existing development now is claustrophobic but when the economy turns and construction resumes on all the existing
shells and leveled land, I can't even imagine what it will be like. The day we drove the corridor to San Jose left a pit in our guts. Cabo was
always more expensive to live than other areas but now, good grief!!
When we first moved there, there was an entire contingent moving to Costa Rica because to them, Cabo had already become 'ruined' but to us, it looked
magical. I guess the tables have turned now as many are streaming in loving what they see while I can't imagine ever wanting to return.
Just needed to vent as it has really affected me!!
FAITH sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible!
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Bajahowodd
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Paving over paradise to put up a parking lot, as Joni Mitchell would put it.
I feel your pain. While you mentioned the corridor, where, for instance, the Twin Dolphin was leveled, as was the Hotel Cabo San Lucas. But, the
Hacienda Hotel at the entrance to the marina was leveled and replace with six story buildings.
Fundamentally, similar to Cancun and the Mayan Riviera, it will not be long before every inch of the corridor will be covered by resort hotels. But,
had you ventured farther, say, up past San Jose, out to La Playita.... Hmmm. I so recall spending the day out there, taking a panga off the beach, and
later relaxing at the Hotel La Playita. Yoday, there's something new and improved(?) called Puerto Los Cabos, with a new artificially designed and
built marina.
Thing is, developers do not generally commit huge amounts of investment dollars unless they can get a return on theor investment. And, there's a whole
other group of people, who probably would have never thought of visiting this area 20-30 years ago, and certainly not driving the Baja highway, who
now fill up these resorts regularly.
Even during the protracted recession, there remains a surprisingly strong occupancy rate.
It's just no longer our Cabo.
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tiotomasbcs
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Amigos, Costa rica is beautiful but toast compared to 20yrs ago. It's the American dream! Find a beautiful place and they will ruin it. Joni
Mitchell sang "Take Paradise...." I've tried to slam the door behind me for the last 20 yrs!!   Tio
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bajafreaks
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Location: Gardnerville, NV./ Los Barriles BCS
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Mood: No Bad Days !!!
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I too feel your pain. Started going to Cabo in the mid 80's my wife's family has a place in La Playita. I could go on and on about how disapointing
the whole area has gotten to be, but we have tons of memories and have had alot of good times, I guess thats all I can ask for. The East Cape is now
the place for us but is it just a matter of time ???
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tiotomasbcs
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W/o putting a jinx on the East Cape or West Side it's still very much like those old days. For the moment and maybe because of the economic slowdown
these areas are holding strong! The plans are on the drawing board, though?! There are still many other places that are rural, small town Baja>
SSSHHSSHH!   Tio
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David K
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If you like someplace... and go there because you like it that way... WHY do they CHANGE it to look like the place you left???
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baja Steve
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I started flying to the Cabo and La Paz area as a commercial pilot flying fish buyers in 1968. I have been amazed at the growth. I just left Cabo
todqay and when there this week was looking at some old photos of the airport that was where the marina is now and other photos of the fish plant.
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by baja Steve
I started flying to the Cabo and La Paz area as a commercial pilot flying fish buyers in 1968. I have been amazed at the growth. I just left Cabo
todqay and when there this week was looking at some old photos of the airport that was where the marina is now and other photos of the fish plant.
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From Cliff Cross, 1970 Baja Guide... Pretty close to what I remember from 1966... A salt flat behind the Hacienda Hotel, that was a landing field.
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krafty
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DK that would be called PROGRESS-
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baja Steve
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DK through a few small houses in and that was it. the hacienda didnt have air conditioning so I would fly back to La Paz to the La Perla hotel to
sleep.
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David K
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Interesting... thanks Steve.
Krafty... progress is improving something... Is that what you call Los Cabos... a better place than it was in 1970?
Oh sure, progress happens... no going back... but as wonderful a place as Baja is, Los Cabos is about as much about Baja as Las Vegas is about the
USA.
Now, Mulege, San Ignacio, Bahia Asuncion, Bahia de los Angeles, El Rosario are all examples of Baja towns that 'feel' like Baja (to me)!
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Osprey
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There are several Cabo San Lucas towns: they each have things to offer retirees, tourists, athletes, celebrities, golfers, etc. etc. You can buy a
new, beautiful condo with an ocean view for about $140,000 dollars, the weather is fantastic, the fishing is great. If you stay away from tourist
areas the food and entertainment are affordable and unique. Property taxes are chump change, you're close to a major airport --- all of that is very
attractive to some retiree hopefuls. I know it is just as natural that some people will be so bummed by the growth, they can't past that. Those still
have a chance to live a simple life by visiting, perhaps investing in little villages near the cape that have changed little in the last 30 years.
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stevelaubly
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
If you like someplace... and go there because you like it that way... WHY do they CHANGE it to look like the place you left??? |
Very simple - $$$
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racheldarlin
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Just wait until Hwy 5 is done. The east Baja coast will start to look like the west Baja coast.
I have said it before elsewhere in this forum -we are ALL loving Baja to death.
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by stevelaubly
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
If you like someplace... and go there because you like it that way... WHY do they CHANGE it to look like the place you left??? |
Very simple - $$$ |
Yes, right... and you can't blame the Mexicans to want some. However, they lose the people who have been going there and gain an entirely different
kind of customer.
The only good thing going for preserving Baja is the bad U.S. economy... It has stopped much development everywhere.
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makana.gabriel
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Bajahowodd- We did go to see the new marina at La Playita and it was filled with yachts already. I can see that it will be a great alternative for
those with boats who can't take CSL anymore. Somehow we missed seeing the new marina being dredged as we drove to La Paz.
DK- the rendering from '70 is terrific!
I'm surprised nobody mentioned the new 'Convention Center' on the marina courtesy of the current mayor. That is a real eye popper. One of the things
that also threw me was seeing all the auto dealerships lined up next to each other on the corridor including Cadillac & Hummer!! In fact, I don't
know when I have seen so many Cadillac Escalades before. It seems to be the car of choice there now. BTW, for those of you who live down there, you
should be seeing an old Silver Cloud Rolls from the late '50s or early '60s there soon that we passed in El Rosario unless it broke down somewhere.
LOL
FAITH sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible!
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Packoderm
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The first time I went to Cabo was in the early '90s. I could see full well that they had big plans for the place. If I were the King of Cabo, I
probably would have done things much like they have in the waterfront tourist area. However, I would have charged the hotel operators a surcharge to
help beautify the surrounding residential areas with subsidies for the local people to purchase terra cotta tile roofs, stucco wall coating and paint,
and other niceties to add to make it look like a charming Mexican village. I guess it would be in the form of a building code. The local people then
would have a nice place to set up shop to profit from tourists who would like to wander away from the core tourist area. I actually like Cabo for what
it is, and I would have liked to see it serve as a sacrificial anode to help preserve the other East Cape locations, but they seem to need to pave
over every paradise possible.
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DianaT
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Cabo is as much a part of Baja as any other place---it is a part of the "real" Baja---so is the desert, the beaches, Tijuana, La Paz, Bahia Asuncion,
etc.
Many tourists from Mexico and from other parts of the world love Cabo. Just because it is a place I do not care to visit, does not mean it is NOT
"real" Baja, and it does represent Baja!
A number of years ago while on an airplane from Mexico City to Merida, the Mexican lady sitting next to me asked why so many gringos liked to say that
Cancun was not "real" Mexico. It caused me to stop and think because I was one of those who thought Cancun was not "real" Mexico.
As she explained to me, it was just as much "real" Mexico as is every little village --- just a different part of Mexico.
So, the same, I believe, stands for Cabo---not what some like, but still very much Baja.
This comes up rather often and there are always the ones who think that Baja should remain their private playground and remain just the way it used to
be. Yes, we can all go back to remember when, when we liked something better, but many seem to accept the change north of the border but scorn the
change south of the border.
Baja is Tijuana, Tecate, Mexicali and down to Cabo and everything in between---it is all the "real" Baja and every part is loved by different people.
[Edited on 1-8-2011 by DianaT]
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karenintx
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Yesterday was beach day. Three couples and one dog on a beautiful secluded beach. Watching the whales go by, eating our picnic lunch and talking
about how we love living here. On the way home we stopped at Costco to pick up a couple of things...steaks & wine for dinner. Yes, I am talking
about Cabo...my home now!
There are several non-tourist places to go in this area. At this point in my life I like all the amenities Cabo has to offer. Sorry it does not meet
your approval. In my younger years I may have enjoyed living in other parts of The Baja but not now.
Diane T said it "nicely", "Just because it is a place I do not care to visit, does not mean it is NOT "real" Baja, and it does represent Baja!
And yes I have visited several other towns and places in BCS. All of them were nice to visit but not my cup of tea...like Mom said "if you can't say
anything nice then don't say anything at all.
.
[Edited on 1-8-2011 by karenintx]
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
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And to expand on what DianaT posted, over the years, I cannot count the number of times a Mexican has expressed rapturous pride over the development.
That, and it seems to me that whenever something new, such as the Mega store, or a Cineplex opens, the locals, be they Mexican or ex-pats are thrilled
to have access to the modern world.
Just remember that Los Cabos would not have all those folks living there or visiting there if people didn't find it attractive.
Just wondering why, after so many years post-Fonatur infrastructure development, Loreto has continued to remain so undisturbed. We'll see. The Villa
Groups new resort/ time share is opening very soon.
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