Rosarito Beach and Professional Baseball with El Toros in Tijuana

 

The fun continues.

El Tijuana Toros take on El Tigres at the Tijuana Stadium and we were there to see them win on their home turf with a grand slam.  

First Michelada ever.

Next morning, off to Rosarito, an upscale beach town. 

Too cold for swimming but two surfers tackled the waves in wetsuits.

I found a warm sweater.

Isaac always finds a clever shot.  

Horseback riding is the main game in this cold weather.  I've been told it finally gets warm in July.

And kite flying.  The air currents are perfect.  His kite hovers effortlessly. The other day, in Playas Tijuana, we watched a young walking the beach with his kite following him the whole way, no tugging or adjustments necessary.

Love for this chair made from worn out skateboards.

There is more than a touch of R. Crumb here.

The Festival Plaza was easily the most intriguing building in town.  Closed until further notice.  Maybe July.

Playa Organo Revisited. Fantastic new developments

 

 

It has been a few years since I last visited Playa Organo.  It's a lovely beach but they all are and others don't require a hike through the woods or hiring a boat.  That is going to change soon.

 

Cruising around on the new scooter, I learned that the whole area, including the scenic route from Playa Entrega all the way to the trailhead at Playa Cacaluta has had an incredible upgrade.

 

 

 

 

 

  There is a concrete bicycle trail at a safe distance from the auto route, sometimes with guard rails to keep 2 wheelers protected on tight turns.  Bus stops are in place.  Soon these more distant beaches will be only an affordable bus ride away.   

 

This will mean fewer days like this most recent visit where there was virtually no one there.  Some people may not care for that but the truth is the beaches are for everyone and populated beaches are automatically safer than deserted ones. 

 

Six years ago, I took pictures and gave complicated directions to help others find the place .

Just compare now and then.  Today the trailhead is well-marked with signs and safety reminders.

Even the trail itself is better kept, wider and tidier.  This time there were no fallen trees to climb over, under or around.

 

 

For a while at least, there is still time to fantasize about enjoying your own private beach but don't waste time.  Get out and play immediately.

 

 

 

 

Picture Day

I finally got around to putting my new smart phone camera to use and took a few random pictures yesterday en route to the beach and back.  As far as I can tell, there is no zoom. 

A section of Chahue Boulevarde has been closed to traffic for about a week now. 

 

I'm not sure what the protest is about this time.  I can't read the signs.

 

 

The protestors camp out at night with hammocks and tents.  It's all very peaceful and the detour flows quite well.  For me on the bike, it's been a bit of advantage because the traffic has slowed down and it's safer to cross 6 lanes.  I don't even have to look but I always do anyway.

 

   

 

Completely random shots.

 

Marina Park Chahue

This is something new.  This lot has only recently been flattened.  It was mounds of dirt, occasionally used by dirt bike stunt riders, previously.  Open up the full picture and you can see a few pieces of equipment remaining from a cross fit obstacle course.  I didn't notice it myself until returning from Arrocito later when I saw some people swinging on the monkey bars.  I haven't done this since the playground in Korea.  I lost a lot of strength in my left shoulder back then after a bicycle accident.  I'm proud to say I made it across this time but 2/3rds across I knew I couldn't do the Tarzan swing anymore and finished up by baby steps.  But I finished.    

 

A new hotel going up, possibly an extension to Isla Huatulco.

 

Arrocito.

 

 

 

 

 

I had the Sony Action Cam with me to test out the advice on anti-fogging from this video. 

Fogging was a problem at last Umarela. 



 



A few water drops are to be expected but the difference in temperature didn't affect it all.  Success.

 

Huge development at Playa Conejos

The giant hotel has arrived at Playa Conejos. It looks like it should be open for business any week now.
Understandably, a lot of people hate to see new development on these pristine beaches but it is an impressive building, very inviting to tourists.

It's quite a dramatic change from what it was almost three years ago when the trees had begun to be cleared.

Check out this old post for the contrast.
http://alackofcleardirection.blogspot.com/2009/03/conejos.html

Puerto Escondido weekend

Here are some pictures from a run to Puerto Escondido a couple of months back. It's such a beautiful place but I don't get down too often.

Last trip there was a lot of street construction in Zicatela. That's all been completed now except for a few finishing touches. Check out the spanking new public shower building. It looks ready for business. It's still locked up for now though.


I arrived in plenty of time before sundown to check out Zicatela beyond the paved road.
Those clouds ahead moved in quickly and turned dark, putting a little pressure on to find a room for the night.


All the affordable places in Zicatela were packed for a big surfer competition and a lady advised me to move on to Carazilillo.

There isn't too much accomodation in Carazilillo to choose from but I found my sanctuary after a few misfires. First I tried a nice looking place with a bell to ring for service. A maintenance man came along and called the front desk on his cellphone. I didn't even know if I could afford that place and five minutes and several warning rumbles of thunder later, we were still waiting for a response and the sky had turned black.

I moved on to Shalom. The gate was open and I gave myself the complete tour of the premises without seeing a soul. The first rain drops had started to fall.

I ended up in a nice place with an ocean view and a pool I had completely to myself during the day until a huge family returned from the beach for 150 pesos. It was a great place to watch the heavy lightning storm.




Here's a great view of Carazilillo from the balocony of another hotel I couldn't afford. I checked the place out anyway.

I left early Sunday morning. No one was awake to open the gate at the hotel. I pushed the scooter through the pedestrian door.

I bombed around town before breakfast and found a whole section I had never seen before, full of palatial hotels.



I nearly always have breakfast at Cafecito's in Zicatela when I'm in town. I felt like a change. Some of these other places had to be worth a try. When I saw the giant shark mouth for a door, my decision had been made.

What could be more inviting?

The food was very simple and cheap. They weren't as organized as Cafecito's. They're new after all. The menu was a choice of 5 set breakfasts and they were running out of almost everything by the time I got there. But they have a giant shark mouth for a door!

The rest of the place was two stories made up like an old wooden ship. Great panoramic beach views.





Riding home, the highway was a cool tunnel of green, merging ahead at the vanishing point and I almost smashed through this fallen tree.