La Paz is a welcome stop, and a great town. It’s a breath of fresh air after the touristy hustle of Cabo San Lucas last month. We missed the interaction with a pedestrian population and getting up and about ourselves after being on the hook for weeks so this is refreshing. I must admit I enjoy walking the town immensely looking into the local shops, and observing the differences in cultures first hand. Once you head more than 3 blocks inland from the waterfront hotels tourists become scarce and often we were the only gringos in the local stores. Love the Mercado Bravo with the multiple fish mongers, butchers, and vegetable stands. Este mucho atun por favor (holding my fingers 3” apart) for 37 pecos. Beat that Safeway! Oh and the Tortilla lady with the best Tortillas in La Paz so we were told. They were yummy and I am going back for more.

Everything is an adventure, and everyday a new experience. From flagging down a local transport yellow bus headed almost in the right direction (and yelling Alto when it gets too far in the wrong to get off), to biking the touristy Malecon waterfront with the beautiful statues every couple of blocks.

Christmas decorations are everywhere, and this is my first experience with the holiday in such a warm climate. It is quite surreal, and an unexpected surprise that the commercialism of USA Christmas has penetrated even the small towns. Pine trees…those that make it down the Baja are fit for Charlie Brown that’s for sure, though it does not inhibit the purchase of them one bit, nor reduce the number of stores dedicated to decorating them.

We have been here at Marina Cortez and La Paz for over a week now, and are beginning preparations to head north to the islands again this coming weekend. We will spend 2-4 weeks sailing around then head back to La Paz briefly before we head to the mainland. We may or may not have cell coverage so use our sailmail email address to get a hold of us. Not sure if we will go to Mazatlan and harbor hop down the coast or head directly to Puerto Vallarta afterwards. Having no plans other than PV in February is getting easier to deal with, and I am sure the control freak in me will relax eventually.

We went snorkeling with juvenile whale sharks this morning with a group of other sailors. What a wonderful experience! The largest was around 15 ft long, and they were all very impressive. We saw about 20 of them in a ½ mile area. Visibility was not much more than 2-3 meters so pictures were not an option, so sorry. I did not even take the underwater still or video camera knowing it would be futile. Those that did bring point and shoots and go pros were disappointed unfortunately. Visibility on the whole in the Sea of Cortez is not the greatest. I am hoping it will be better off the mainland when we head south.

I have included some snap shots of cell towers here in La Paz for my VZW friends. Zoning does not seem to be much of a concern here. Even the Mono-Palms are pretty under-maintained with one lit at night even. Please see the gallery entry. Until next time.
Debbie
SV Impulsive