This day we hooked up with a comrade in arms from our dock who had been in "that conflict" some fifty years ago. I had got to know Mick some weeks previous as he had invited us over for a jam session he was hosting with a number of other guys who had guitars and such. Any way we were invited for a drive with him and Linda in their truck to an artsy place called Todo Santos a few hours from La Paz. Funny thing is it was near the Pacific coast north of Cabo San Lucas.
Todos Santos is a unique, desert oasis on the Tropic of Cancer, nestled amongst ancient orchards of mango and palm, with spectacular views overlooking its white sand beaches and the Pacific Ocean. The town is located on a mesa to the west of the Sierra de La Laguna mountain range, between the resort cities of Cabo San Lucas to the south and La Paz to the northeast. Blessed with the most favorable climate in Baja Sur, Todos Santos is a haven for artists, craftsmen, surfers and travelers seeking adventure, natural beauty and a healthy lifestyle. It is here that rich history, centuries' old traditions and warm hospitality blend with modern conveniences to make this a magical community. One should experience the fine dining, unique resorts, excellent shopping and renowned galleries of Todos Santos, Baja's one and only "Pueblo Magíco".
Handicraft shops, owner-operated art galleries featuring landscape paintings of local scenes, upscale restaurants, boutique hotels and restored colonial buildings have contributed to the redevelopment of the town are some of the sights you will see. The Hotel California is a favorite stop here because of the name association with the song made famous by the Eagles, even though the song does not specifically reference this particular hotel, nor any other existing hotel.
We spent the whole day on our road trip and toured the town doing some shopping where I purchased a handmade blanket for about $18 US, from a shop as you enter the town on the right. This shop also sells blankets of all types and colors as well as hammocks that I wish I had bought. They have other things for sale but I was engrossed in watching a young girl about eleven years old weaving these beautiful blankets and hammocks on a makeshift loom of square tubing. In another alcove of shops Sharon bought a silver bracelet.