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Author: Subject: A Trip Report of Sorts—Part 2
Baja Bernie
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[*] posted on 10-13-2007 at 04:01 PM
A Trip Report of Sorts—Part 2


Okay, fingers poised (imagine a relatively long pause) and brain engaged with only a minor rattle and here we go.
Next stop was La Salina where I guess you all know I spend more than a few years—this place is definitely in a lovely but major time warp. It is still a place where everybody knows each other and most of the time they speak nicely of their neighbors. Like a cocoon it seems to be mostly protected from the B.S. of the Condo Craze that seems to have engulfed most of what is called the Gold Coast.

I had planned to visit with many of my old friends, most of whom are women because their superior (joking—just how superior can you be if you kick off first most of the time) halves have already checked out as a result of having been exposed to the rat race for much longer than was healthy. When I got to my old house I thought no one was home so I sorta snuck around the house so I could take a peek at the Pacific which used to be my front yard. I guess I kinda dreamed off because when the guy I sold the house to tapped me on the shoulder I almost……….. well you know!

We yakked for a while and then he hit me over the head with the news that he had terminal cancer—you’ll notice that I will not use his name because of this bit of news. He was a guy we had selected to buy our home because we figured he would fit best in our community. Boy! We sure picked a winner because everybody in camp loves the guy.

He explained that he had never been more at peace with the world as he had been over the last four years since he moved here. He told me that he had lived in the same house in the states for over 25 years and never really got to know anyone other than the neighbors on either side of him and that when he went to church he would get an occasional nod as someone rushed by. Here he knew everyone and they cared about him as a human being—yeah! like the humans JR used to describe—and when he went to the little chapel over in La Mision even the Mexican people would come up to him and spoke briefly and always with a huge smile on their faces. Says he is going to spend his days right here in paradise with his Baja friends.

Damn it, enough of this stuff we talked for about two hours and it was time to head back to my bride. We headed down toward Ensenada for a late lunch or an early dinner—whatever.

I was amazed how much the tuna farms have expanded there must be at least a half a dozen of those pens floating around just south of Salsipuedes, means get out if you can or something darn close to that. We both noticed that new palm trees had been planted at the entrance to Playa Saldamando which until recently was owned by a great friend of mine and a guy I tutored for his sergeants exam on the San Diego Police Department way back when. He went on to retire as an Assistant Chief and I stumbled with a bad heart and retired as a Captain. Anyway, he recently sold his family’s land here for something over 22 million American. Just could not happen to a nicer guy.

As we approached El Sauzal I was amazed at how it had grown—it is still a windows up type of place and one of the only places in all of Baja that I would not even think of stopping unless I was about to get a ticket.

It stinks!

When we pulled into Las Rosas Hotel and Restaurant I knew we would be comfortable because all of the cars in the lot bore Baja license plates. My MIBAJA plates seemed to fit in very nicely. The wind was gusting briskly and the waves were crashing nicely over the rocks as we got out. A fairly large gust almost swept Lu Ann off her feet but I caught her before she could be blown over the wall and onto the highway.

I was correct because we were the only ones in the place who spoke English as a first language. Ordered dinner/lunch and had a wonderfully leisurely meal as we watched them shoot a model in a skimpy bathing suit as she lounged around the pool. They were having a heck of a time because of the wind and the very high tide with the waves threatening to invade the pool.

I very much enjoy watching that pool, even without the model, because the way it was designed just carries the eye from the pool to the crashing waves, to the white caps and then on out to the Islas de Todos Santos and the horizon beyond. Okay, okay —so they really didn’t shoot her.

Idyllic is the word.

Stand by for part 3 where I meet Bob the eccentric millionaire and listen to his crazy story as we sip on a bit of wine on the patio of the Pyramid.

[Edited on 10-13-2007 by Baja Bernie]




My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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amir
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[*] posted on 10-13-2007 at 04:21 PM


Can never get enough of your writings. Keep it up!
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[*] posted on 10-13-2007 at 04:28 PM


Bernie

that 4th paragraph is beautiful....in the sense that even in the face of death there is still much beauty all around to be absorbed...

all my best to your friend!!!




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[*] posted on 10-13-2007 at 06:49 PM


Always an experience to return to places from the past. Thanks for sharing this----Next...

Diane




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[*] posted on 10-14-2007 at 11:26 AM


Thank you Bernie. You express your emotions so beautifully. I was breathless for a few minutes. Awaiting more.
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