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Bajahowodd
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Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Paving Over Paradise
David placed a post in a thread dealing with the possible delay in the building of the big port facility at Colonet. He noted that projects on the
peninsula, except for the Cabo area always seem to get delayed. And that's a good thing.
He got me to thinking, and lamenting Cabo. Probably some folks here that go back before I do, but my first encounter with Cabo was 1985.
As I recall, San Lucas had three hotels on the water. Solmar, Finesterra, and The Hacienda. Construction was underway up Medano Beach for what would
become Club Cascadas. North of there stood Twin Dolphin, Hotel Cabo San Lucas, and Palmilla. In San Jose, there were a couple of motel-like places,
and the El Presidente. Today, it's looking more like Cancun, with practically every meter of oceanfront covered by development. I think Cancun wins
the prize for the most hotel rooms, mainly because they did not have a height limitation as did Cabo. Not so sure Cabo still does, however, since the
project that has replaced the Hacienda looks to stand seven or eight stories.
If you wanted to shop, you were pretty much at the mercy of Aramburo and his big time market in Supermercado Plaza, as well as a really dumpy location
in San Jose. Go shopping today, you don't know where to start. Soriana's has a couple of stores, as well as their City Club warehouse. CCC has a big
box, as does Commercial Mexicano. There's Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Costco, Home Depot, Office Depot. Not sure I have them all. Traffic sucks.
I know of and value so many as yet unspoiled places on Baja. But Cabo, before the assault, was as beautiful a place as one could ever hope to see.
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David K
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Cabo San Lucas, July/1966
My first trip there... all the way by road down the peninsula... in a Jeep Wagoneer (I was 8). That's my dad helping pull the panga on the beach in
front of the Hacienda (the only hotel then).
There was a fish cannery and pier where today's harbor entrance is. The town of San Lucas had maybe 1,000 people.
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David K
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1966
Hasn't changed much...
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David K
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1966
My first dorado (dolphinfish), right off the cape, in a panga!
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Bajahowodd
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Amazing. And funny thing is the old tuna cannery building is still there.
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Skipjack Joe
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Cancun is now grotesque
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Bajahowodd
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To say the least. Traffic is like NYC. I still love the area, and when I go there, I head for isla Mujeres.
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Cardon
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Here's a picture that I took around 1980-82
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BajaVida
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Location: Motown, Califas
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Mood: muy cool
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David--you were a cute young buck!!
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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estebanis
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Location: Stuck North of the Border. They won\'t pay me
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I lived there from 1984-1985 then back from 1987-1991. We lived as one of the only american familys. I had kids in the El Camino school on the hill.
Cabo was a wonderful place then. I remember the day the Gigling Marlin caught fire from some dumb guy shooting a flare gun and catching the palapa
roof on fire.
My wife talks about how she had to go to many different stores to get supplies. When the Arambruro's opened an American Style Supermarket with air
conditioning and the Marina opened it all changed...
Esteban
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by estebanis
I lived there from 1984-1985 then back from 1987-1991. We lived as one of the only american familys. I had kids in the El Camino school on the hill.
Cabo was a wonderful place then. I remember the day the Gigling Marlin caught fire from some dumb guy shooting a flare gun and catching the palapa
roof on fire.
My wife talks about how she had to go to many different stores to get supplies. When the Arambruro's opened an American Style Supermarket with air
conditioning and the Marina opened it all changed...
Esteban |
Did you know the Crawfords?
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaVida
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You are too kind sir!
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Bajahowodd
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I'm certain that there are at least an equal number of folks who would lament the development of Puerto Vallarta. Unfortunately, although we grew to
love the primitive versions of these places, the developments have been an economic boon to our friends, the people of Mexico. Let's not forget the
awful economic conditions these folks endured in spite of the gains of much of the world in the 20th century.
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Bajahowodd
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And Cardon- Loved the picture. Maybe they should have never dregged the marina.
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BajaGringo
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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I am sure that we could say the same about many gorgeous destinations on this planet. Hopefully in the ongoing dialogue a compromise can be found
where a balance of the natural beauty is maintained while economic opportunities are developed to provide jobs to those here who struggle to provide
for their families.
Beautiful, undeveloped coastlines mean very little to someone struggling to just to keep a roof over his families head, food on the table, pay for
medical care, school supplies, etc. This is Mexico and its people have the right to seek their own economic dreams, just as those of us from NOB did,
our parents and grandparents did.
We do not have some God-given right in that regard that is exclusively ours.
But what do I know.
(Rant Over)
[Edited on 1-14-2009 by BajaGringo]
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tigerdog
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I know of and value so many as yet unspoiled places on Baja. But Cabo, before the assault, was as beautiful a place as one could ever hope to see.
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Yes, it was beautiful indeed. Sigh.
A trip down memory lane... Mr. tigerdog and I moved to Cabo around 1988, lived in Cabo Bello for a while-- which was considered waaaay out of town at
the time, lol. We didn't have to lock our doors or worry about crime at all, and friends were wont to make themselves comfortable when we weren't
home, raiding the refrigerator and leaving funny notes tacked to the door if we didn't arrive before they left. It was all A-OK. We hung around a few
years, left, came back, and left for good around 1994 or '95. The arrival of KFC was too depressing.
At that time Club Cascadas was the only resort on Medano Beach, and what a gem it was before it was surrounded by the BIG resorts that are there now.
The Aramburo plaza was not yet built, but there was a great little beer deposito right across the street that we used to frequent with some
regularity. Remember when the hotels in town used to pretty much shut down in the summer time? And horses wandered down Marina Blvd. without any
danger of being run down because the town was so empty? I remember a friend stopping his car on Marina Blvd. to say Hi to us, not another car in site
for miles; he got a ticket for "wild parking".
Remember when Cabo Mil first went on the air? Hot stuff! And the incredible solar eclipse of 1991? That was a whole body experience I'll never forget.
For a time I wrote a regular column (under a pseudonym) for one of the local rags-- it was published by Cliff Ferguson and Kaki Bassi. That was
pre-Gringo Gazette, which had just arrived in town a few issues before we left for good.
My favorite eateries were: El Pollo de Oro (best chicken and ribs in town, and very nice people who ran it); the Taqueria del Chef; the Trailer Park;
Senor Sushi (best place in town to watch the world go by); La Casa del Dorado (best breakfast in town); Mama's; Mi Casa; Romeo & Julieta's; and of
course Latitude 22, which famously advertised itself as being 1 block from the sewage pumping station. Is Mike Gryzanich (sp?) still around? For a
while, in those earlier days, there was a restaurant at the Marina Sol that served outstanding fried chicken and barbecued beef sandwiches; the Marina
Sol was quite the oasis at the time, AND they had a TV (which we lacked), so we would spend an evening there snacking, drinking Pacifico and watching
whatever was on the air. I remember watching a movie about a lifeguard starring a young Sam Elliott, possibly the worst movie he ever made. Do I
remember it because it was my introduction to Sam Elliott or because I hadn't seen TV in a couple of weeks?
When Plaza las Glorias was being built (now Tesoro del Cabo I believe), for entertainment we sometimes spent a lazy afternoon kicking back at the old
El Coral across the street (before they built that huge palapa), joking about OSHA and idly wondering what the building was going to be. Watching the
dredging of the harbor was another way to while away an hour or two.
When your options are limited, you take your pleasures where you can find them. 
I loved Cabo back then. Haven't been back in many many years.
If you've made it this far, thanks for listening to the nostalgia of this old broad.
\"You know Hobbes, sometimes even my lucky rocket-ship underpants don\'t help.\" - Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes
Visit me at Rocky Point Tides
http://rptides.blogspot.com/ |
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Paulclark
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Hopefully the climate with fog on the west coast and wind on the east coast can keep the development localized in the Cabo area for may years and the
rest of baja can maintain its' splendor for many more years.
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Skeet/Loreto
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1967 Approached through the Cut whre the Finsterra Hotel is, landed on the Small strip behind the Only Hotel at that time. The old Cannery still
there.
It was beautiful!
Also landed at Loreto and ended up there for many years. Now, as some claim, Loreto will be another Cabo.. I hope not!
There are still many, many isolated spots in Baja Sur. You just have to be willing to seek out the Isolation and do with out all those things you have
in the States.
Take a Panga trip from Loreto South to La Paz. You will be surpised.
Skeet/Loreto
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BajaDove
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Location: La Paz
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We used to RV on the beach between the Hacienda hotel and the Disco (Las Palmas?) You can't drive there now.
Rv'ers that parked there felt they added to the community, shopping.
One day we were talking to a person of vision He told us it was to the point if you weren't spending $300 a day. you weren't really wanted.
I dread going there now. Even with all the shopping We still only spend $100.
If its not where it is, its where it isn\'t.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
I am sure that we could say the same about many gorgeous destinations on this planet. Hopefully in the ongoing dialogue a compromise can be found
where a balance of the natural beauty is maintained while economic opportunities are developed to provide jobs to those here who struggle to provide
for their families.
Beautiful, undeveloped coastlines mean very little to someone struggling to just to keep a roof over his families head, food on the table, pay for
medical care, school supplies, etc. This is Mexico and its people have the right to seek their own economic dreams, just as those of us from NOB did,
our parents and grandparents did.
We do not have some God-given right in that regard that is exclusively ours.
But what do I know.
(Rant Over)
[Edited on 1-14-2009 by BajaGringo] |
Good rant. 
[Edited on 1-14-2009 by jdtrotter]
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