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Natalie Ann
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Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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Playa Balandra
I am soooo longing for a trip to Baja Sur that I tapped my memory (and a few photos from last May) and today I'm taking a trip to Playa Balandra. If
you're interested, please join me.
We go fast on the drive out of La Paz, whizzing past marinas and fancy hotels all the way to that right turn that leads to the beaches - Balandra and
Tecolote.
I'm always pleased when next we turn left, choosing sweet Playa Balandra.
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Natalie Ann
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This little playa is most beautiful. After walking the white sand beach, I climbed the hill to take a few photos from above.
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Natalie Ann
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The water there always looks like it's been airbrushed.
Here's the rock formation for which Balandra is famous. (the little one looking like an exploding volcano next to the large rock outcropping) The
'stem' of this formation has been broken by storms or vandals in the past, but it seems the folks of La Paz are still putting it back together. Today
it has an iron rod inserted to help hold top and bottom together.... I think. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Natalie Ann
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The water seen from above has a particular color which I find mesmerizing, from it's depths near the sea to the pale green layer which washes over the
sand.
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Natalie Ann
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When the temps are way up there, this is my favorite way to cool off. Great way to spend the rest of the day.
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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durrelllrobert
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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great photos. is this part of bahia de conception?
Bob Durrell
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tripledigitken
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Nena,
Thanks for the day trip out to Balandra! Beautiful pictures all.
Ken
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fdt
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Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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Thanks Natalie Ann. Just beautiful.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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BMG
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Posts: 1776
Registered: 6-10-2007
Location: La Paz / Bahia Asunci�n / Away from home
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Playa Balandra
Nov 1, 2007
I think the world is run by C- students.
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Natalie Ann
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durrelllrobert - Playa Balandra is near La Paz.... out the road toward Pichulingue. (I'm always so turned around directionally in La Paz that I
cannot tell you whether that's north, south or west.)
BMG - We took a drive up that way, couldn't believe the construction going on atop that rise. Cute little casas, too, just like the one in your
picture. 
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Natalie Ann
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| Quote: | Originally posted by morgaine7
Beautiful shots, Nena! Are you sure you don't want to come down around the holidays?
Bob D, Balandra is on the Bahia de La Paz, north of the city toward Espiritu Santo.
Kate |
La Paz for the holidays.... ok Kate, you've convinced me.
Can we roast the holiday bird in your oven, or should we just take PJB sandwiches to the beach?
And thank you for getting straight on the directions. When in La Paz, I always just point and say "go that way".
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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BMG
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Natalie Ann
BMG - We took a drive up that way, couldn't believe the construction going on atop that rise. Cute little casas, too, just like the one in your
picture.
Nena |
Fortunately, the buildings on Playa Balandra are gone. They were built for a movie (Zohan something-or-other). They were there in October and gone by
November.
This is where the buildings were built.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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Natalie Ann
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BMG.... I've been informed by a friend that I'm confused about the structure in your picture, that it is not a part of the - ahem - housing
development and was instead a part of a movie scene filmed at Balandra.
Hmmmm..... I need to go back and look at the photos I took while driving the hills above that area, see if I have one decent enough to share.
Nena
(****Edit.... sorry, I cross-posted with you, BMG)
[Edited on 10-16-2008 by Natalie Ann]
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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BMG
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So far, Playa Balandra development is being blocked. I was amazed when I saw the movie set out there last year. If you look at the 2nd photo you
posted, the set was built just off the paved parking area to the left. The tree in both of my photos is the same tree. I was glad they did such a good
clean-up after filming.
Quite a bit of construction going on around Playa Tecolote area. This is part of the Maravia Country Club Estates development.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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Skipjack Joe
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Nena,
The playa looks like a great place to stalk bonefish. It's hard to guess how deep that sandy shelf may be, though.
Thank you for posting. It's been pretty quiet here since Ken Bondy has stopped diving at Morro Bay. We need more pictures.
[Edited on 10-16-2008 by Skipjack Joe]
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Natalie Ann
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BMG - The tree.... oh! now I understand where it was. I can understand your amazement upon seeing it.
And yes, the new building I'm thinking of is going on above Tecolote - just went back to check my pix. I was pretty surprised in not a good way to
discover those homes as we drove back on the sand roads. Used to be all we had to do was be careful not to get stuck or break an axel on the way out
to Coyote... now even those 'roads' have been widened and graded and have red flag markers to show the big trucks where to drive. Ah, for the good
ol' daze.
Nena
[Edited on 10-16-2008 by Natalie Ann]
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Natalie Ann
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
The playa looks like a great place to stalk bonefish. It's hard to guess how deep that sandy shelf may be, though.
[Edited on 10-16-2008 by Skipjack Joe] |
The depth of the water there is very shallow in general, and this last May during the full moon it was the most shallow that ever I've experienced it.
Only had to swim a little bit in the middle to cross it completely, the rest was could be walked or 'bobbed' across.
See my 5th picture, the one with the kayaks on the beach. Now look out a ways to where the first water color shifts, about 11:30 off the kayaks.
Those two marks you see are the two women shown in the last picture I posted. So you can see how extremely shallow the water can be.
Is it good for stalking bonefish? Don't know as I've ever seen anyone there with a fishing pole.... 
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
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Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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Nena:
In your 3rd picture with 2 palapas, swimming or boating around that far point you would find an even more perfect crescent beach with no access except
by water. Great nudie beach.
We have walked clear across the bay in the shallows to the beach on the left. The "blue hole" is full of good eatin' fish.
Don't know about bonefish (thot they were Caribbean), but way too many stingrays. 2 friends have been stung there for not walking the "Stingray
Shuffle"!
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
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Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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Baja&Back, Have spent most of my life fishing, wading, swimming, diving among Stingrays. Have never known anyone to get stuck by one of 'em. Your
friends must be accident pron.
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DianaT
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Nena,
Those are just great---think I like the third one best. It is about time you get these posted -- been a few months
And now, where are the rest of the photos from that trip?
Looks like you need to get back down here and sure hope you make it out this way next time. Guest room is empty right now.
Diane
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