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briantroy
Nomad
Posts: 198
Registered: 5-25-2004
Location: San Diego, CA
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Punta Banda Camping
Spent the 4th of July weekend at La Joya campground in Punta Banda. We stayed in the part across the street from the beach as the place was packed. It
turned out great, however, as there wasn't anyone within 20 yards of our camp and the fireworks could barely be heard. The entire campground was well
kept with good security and clean bathrooms. The $12 per night was well worth it.
We caught a cab into town the first night for $50 round-trip and had dinner at Manzanillas. The food was fantastic and perfect if you are looking
for an intimate and romantic dinner. I highly recommend the fish in white wine and chocolate soufflé. The olive oil for bread dipping was out of this
world. I wish I would have asked where they get it.
The next day was shopping and seeing the sights (along with the obligatory beer at Hussong's). Later, we managed to get a filet of sea bass, a dozen
oysters, a big bag of crab claws, 1/2 kilo of sea scallops and 1/2 kilo of shrimp for about $25 at the fish market. After stopping for limes,
cilantro, garlic, salsa and handmade tortillas we returned to camp and cooked up a feast. While fancy dinners are nice, cooking up fresh seafood in a
Baja camp feeds both body and soul.
Yesterday we saw La Bufadora and had lunch at Dos Hermanos Carnitas on the south side of Ensenada. Excellent lunch although I'm surprised the place
hasn't burned down yet as the coals from the chicken spit were dropping all over the floor. Now that is ambiance!
I’ve been a little apprehensive about camping Baja in recent years. I haven’t been doing much lately mostly because my "manly" friends are scared.
My 5’2, 110 lb female friend was the first in a long time to volunteer and we didn’t have any problems at all. The only difference I really noticed
was an increase in security check points and the presence of federal police. I really hope things get straightened out down there; not just because I
enjoy it so much, but because the people living there suffer from the drug trade.
[Edited on 7-7-2010 by briantroy]
[Edited on 7-7-2010 by briantroy]
[Edited on 7-7-2010 by briantroy]
[Edited on 7-7-2010 by briantroy]
[Edited on 7-7-2010 by briantroy]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Yeah....I drove through the grounds and the place was full. Almost all California plates. This is a good sign. It's the best US crowd we've seen
since the bottom dropped out.
Brian...50 bucks for the cab is a good price....in case you wondered. Driving back on HWY 1 at night with half a load on is crazy dangerous.
Glad you had a good time....or, are you still here?
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briantroy
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Posts: 198
Registered: 5-25-2004
Location: San Diego, CA
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After driving over the mountains south of Ensenada at night a few years ago, I swore I would never drive that road again in the dark; it was that
scary. I especially wouldn't drive Baja at night after drinking good wine! $50 seemed great as I was expecting $80. We also noted that it was almost
all CA plates in the campground. We walked over to see some fireworks and found most everyone were Mex/Americans. The folks at the campground were
really friendly too, I liked that place. We came back last night and had a 2 hour wait. I couldn't use the Sentri because my friend doesn't have a
pass. Do you live in Punta Banda?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by briantroy
Do you live in Punta Banda? |
Yes....Just up the road a short distance from la Joya.
Two hours at the end of a holiday weekend would be considered tolerable.
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briantroy
Nomad
Posts: 198
Registered: 5-25-2004
Location: San Diego, CA
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We were so stuffed after our feast we saved the scallops. I just grilled them up and these are not scallops. They are tough and have black skin
attached to them.
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pepino
Banned
Posts: 53
Registered: 5-11-2010
Location: Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by briantroy
We were so stuffed after our feast we saved the scallops. I just grilled them up and these are not scallops. They are tough and have black skin
attached to them. |
Not scallops? From that fish market? Who would have guessed.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by pepino
Not scallops? From that fish market? Who would have guessed. |
Yeah....that place invented the term, "Rip Off." It's also the home of the worst Fish Taco in Baja.
Another trick you have to watch for is, they sell fish by weight. You have to watch closely as the guy bags your selections. If you take your eyes off
him, you'll get home with a big heavy piece of bone in the bag along with some fish. These anchors are right under the counter next to his hands.
The Scallops/Hacha that Brian ended up with probably weren't the product he saw in the bin.
Baja Ambience....part of the charm....blahblahblah. They wouldn't pull this nonsense on a local.
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
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Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by briantroy
We were so stuffed after our feast we saved the scallops. I just grilled them up and these are not scallops. They are tough and have black skin
attached to them. |
What you got were "mock scallops". Usually stingray wings that have been punched out with a round cookie cutter that is the approximate size of a
scallop....Like a "mock fillet", they are nothing like the real thing. 
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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briantroy
Nomad
Posts: 198
Registered: 5-25-2004
Location: San Diego, CA
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Is there a better place to buy seafood in Ensenada? Everything else was great, I just don't know of anyplace else to buy fresh seafood.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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There is no better place to buy fresh seafood in Ensenada. Unless you go to the lobster restaurant (I think it's called "La Casa de Langosta") just
before you enter the fish market parking lot (on the right side). They have huge coolers just as you enter the restaurant/fish market. Excellent food,
along with "Muelle Tres" as you walk on the north side of the malecon.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
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Mood: hubimos llegado
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The best place to buy fish and shellfish in Ensenada is de Garo's. It's a shop located in the row of shops behind the Santo Tomas winery, at 6th and
Miramar. The stuff they try to pawn off on you at the Fish Market is hideous.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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I'll give the fish market a try in a couple of weeks when I'm in Ensenada again, bajamigo.
However, I have no complaints from the embarcadero fish market. I know my seafood, and always pick my own. Plus, I have dealt with several of the
mongerers there, and they know me well.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
I have dealt with several of the mongerers there, and they know me well. |
Perhaps, for that reason, you'll never see the common truth.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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You know it, DENNIS!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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irenemm
Senior Nomad
Posts: 623
Registered: 7-16-2009
Location: vicente guerrero, baja
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Mood: relaxed
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Good to hear lots of CA. plates on the beach. That is good for the economy. it give us business people hope.
Let see how the summer goes.
Maybe by next year it will start to pick up a little.
Glad you had a great time.
Come back soon and stay longer.
Irene
Posada Don Diego
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Mood: Waiting
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Taco de Baja
| Quote: | Originally posted by briantroy
We were so stuffed after our feast we saved the scallops. I just grilled them up and these are not scallops. They are tough and have black skin
attached to them. |
What you got were "mock scallops". Usually stingray wings that have been punched out with a round cookie cutter that is the approximate size of a
scallop....Like a "mock fillet", they are nothing like the real thing.
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I got the "mock scallop" ripoff in Bajia Kino last year. Terrible stuff. I bought it at the wharf.
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2396
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
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ensenada
me and the wife went last year stayed at the San Nicolas,
went to the fish market on the warf,,, a young man came up to us and told us you P.. gringo go home, how special was that,,
I am 65 and have been going to Baja since early 50s,, and have never had disrespect like this. is this what is going on now,, my wife didnt like at
all, and I didnt either
[Edited on 7-12-2010 by desertcpl]
[Edited on 7-12-2010 by desertcpl]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by desertcpl
I am 65 and have been going to Baja since early 50s,, and have never had disrespect like this. is this what is going on now,, my wife didnt like at
all, and I didnt either
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The younger generation is becoming much more outspoken than the older, more traditional folks. The piece of crap had probably been deported.
Either that or he was a university student. Youthful activism is popular.
If all of Mexico would speak their mind, I'm sure we would be uncomfortable with what we heard.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by desertcpl
me and the wife went last year stayed at the San Nicolas,
went to the fish market on the warf,,, a young man came up to us and told us you P.. gringo go home, how special was that,, |
You have to have thick-skin when you travel. I have had people pick fights with me for being the only African-American for miles. There have been
many uncomfortable moments for me, but there have also been many rewarding ones as well.
I felt that I fit in the most in Northern Colombia, and I felt most out-of-place in Finland. I was threatened by 4 armed men in Sinaloa, and I
thought I would never leave Tubares, Sinaloa - a place not Policed due to Cartel violence.
Regardless, I still have the "Travel bug" and I refuse to stay at home.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Speaking of Punta Banda camping... How about any reports of the Agua Caliente campground in Punta Banda where you walk out on the wet sand flats at
low tide until you feel warmth, dig a hole with the shovel you brought, and hot spring water fills up the hole...???
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