Sunday, 6/26/05, First log from Cabo
Before subjecting you to my black and white prose, how 'bout some more photos?
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipPV0xWDbt4_r8SGudUHCf0nBFvwUtTh8Wje0_xe
More photos --
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMMuqr8bwmaQjZ9O8PNpsYdY8iyi-Ug3o1zDVE_
Sunday, 6/26/05, First log from Cabo
It's Sunday afternoon in Cabo San Lucas. The gals are going shopping (Daughter Kate, Sister Mary, Niece Deanna), so I can ramble on here.
We started out Wednesday, crack of dawn. Kate and I via Alaska stand-by. Plenty of seats on the flight to SF, where we barely made it connection-wise to the Cabo flight. And we knew seat availability was tight. But we made it. I asked a flight attendant how many extra seats there were and she said "none", so we were very fortunate, since we were subject to being bumped by most every other category of stand-by.
On landing in Cabo, we headed for Advantage car rental. I expected my Travelocity reservation at less than $20/day was way too good to be true. Sure enough--they make it up in charging insurance at a rate equal to or more than the rental cost. But, hey, we're fully insured. 'Had time to run Kate to the condo and get checked in and return to pick up Mary and Deanna at the airport. ('Just lost internet connection, but the staff here got it back w/o erasing--whew!).
Our week at the condo is actually Sat.-Sat. So, after the first night we headed for Cabo Pulmo, up the East Cape. Reportedly the best snorkeling on the Mexican Pacific Coast. We swung in to Santiago on our way. After a lovely lunch in a garden with mangoes and other tropical fruit, we headed up the dirt road to the hot springs. Not the most picturesque, but the water was hot and Mary and I have done another wild hot spring.
The road turned to gravel a few km. before Cabo Pulmo, but we made it by late afternoon and checked in to our 2 palapas, in time to head to the beach. Without specific instructions, we decided to try snorkeling off the beach. It was windy and after Mary got knocked down by a breaker and another stole one of Deanna's fins we didn't go in far. Instead we met Juan and make a deal to boat/snorkel Friday morning.
Thursday night was highlighted by a big black bug with red wings dive-bombing Mary and a few huge cockroaches scurrying away.
After swimming with a huge school of fish, Juan dropped us to snorkel near Playa Arbolitos. Kate had only been in the water a few minutes when, following an especially pretty fish, she was thrown on the rocks by a wave. 'Scrapped up both arms and one leg pretty good. A couple of the gashes were deeper, so we jumped in the car and headed up the coast to Rivera. The doctor was in. After some discussion, no stitches. A lot of cleaning and disinfecting and tapping cuts. Kate was a trooper. As prescribed, she's taking the antibiotics and pain pills and still joining us on most outings. Juan was a sweet guy, felt badly about not warning Kate. I too should have given her more snorkeling instruction. She's going to have a couple of scars to remind her of her first Mexico trip with her dad.
We're now back in our AC condo at the Westin/Club Regina. 'Better view than the unit we had Wednesday night. 'Made a run to Costco yesterday to stock the refrigerator and shelves. Food is good but expensive, even at less than fancy places.
We're charting the rest of our week, giving Kate time to heal before checking out snorkeling beaches near Cabo (Yes, we will stay away from those waves crashing on the rocks!). As noted at the beginning, shopping has commenced.
The shoppers are back, so time to sign off.
Hasta pronto,
John
Log II, 6/28
It's Wednesday mid-day. Monday we drove up the coast to Todos Santos. 'Great beach picnic on the way. 'Fresher air on the Pacific side of the peninsula. Todos Santos is one of many Mexican enclaves of artist ex-pats. 'Saw some good original paintings, silver work and other stuff.
Returning to Cabo, we decided to find a sunset-viewing spot. After several re-directions, we didn't find the Hotel Solmar, but we did climb a steep switchback dirt road to the very top of the highest hill near Cabo and captured the caida del sol framed by cacti and other desert foliage.
Off the mountain without sliding, we found Romeo y Julietta for yummy pizza and Caesar salad made at our table. Back at the Westin/Club Regina condo (CR) we introduced Deanna to hearts. Kate won, but Deanna was a quick learner.
Speaking of Deanna, she is our one regular sunrise greeter, from the beach below CR. Mary has made some, as have I. Kate? 'Still enjoying no morning classes.
Our condo units are very nice. Lots of tile. Side-by-side studios, one with jacuzzi and king bed, the other with the kitchenette. The non-snorers, Kate and Deanna, have the king bed. One night I slept on the balcony. Nights have been muggier since. It's a bit of a walk to the parking garage, which we usually do. There are carts regularly traversing the hillside, carrying guests to and from the lobby.
CR is perched looking out at the Sea of Cortez. The crashing surf is formidable, even in the sandy areas away from the jagged rocks. Between the Westin and CR there are 7 swimming pools, including a sheet waterfall that is a great neck massager and a volleyball net. We had a somewhat competitive game going yesterday afternoon. I reluctantly quit, even though my team was 0-3, knowing the top of my head was getting lots of sun. Mary has loaned me her "Full City Coffee Roaster, Eugene" (my birthplace) cap, but I need to get a Cabo cap I can take in the water.
Before the pools yesterday we checked out the snorkeling beaches nearby, Deanna and I doing the investigative paddling. Playa Santa Maria was a bit rough. We're more skittish of getting near the rocks after Kate's mishap. The crowd of life preserver-decked tourists off-loaded from boats coming from Cabo didn't get in our way too much. Next we explored Playa Chilena. Visibility not as good as Cabo Pulmo. We left one promising area for a return snorkel by all.
Yesterday afternoon we explored more of San Jose del Cabo, the less touristy city at the northeast end of the Cabo Corridor. 'Had a great Thai dinner at a place run by another ex-pat. 'Too tired for more hearts last night. The sun during the day had taken its toll. 'Made for another full night's sleep (something I rarely get at home).
We're headed next to Playa Medano, the happenin' beach on the edge of Cabo. We may wait a day or two to take the glass-bottomed boat from there to Lover's Beach/Land's End, the very tip of Baja.
Hasta pronto,
John
Early a.m., Monday, 7/4, Cabo, the final chapter
While it’s fresh, here goes.
Picking up from the second entry on Wednesday: we showed up for the CR bar-b-cue Wednesday night. ‘Sat with gorgeous Chris and his brother. Deanna showed potential as a new single by commenting that the male models in the fashion show were way less good looking than Chris. Typical male, he rewarded her by going over to the food line to schmooze with a bikini-clad beauty.
Thursday was fairly laid back. ‘Checked out more potential places to stay Saturday night—Mary and Deanna ticketed to fly home Sunday and CR had not a single unit to let us rent for Saturday night. More volleyball in the pool in the afternoon.
Thursday night we took in a nightspot with free drinks for the gals and a Cuban Salsa band. Danced some. Deanna got a salsa lesson and looked good for most of it (except when she appeared to be reeling out of control).
Friday morning we returned to Chileno Beach to snorkel. ‘Still choppy, with limited visibility and, after Kate’s beating at Cabo Pulmo, we didn’t venture too close to shore. We returned to the CR pools and more pool volleyball in the afternoon.
Having spent less time in San Jose del Cabo, closer to CR than Cabo San Lucas and less touristy, we headed there late Friday afternoon. The estuary used to be a pretty place, lots of birds and flowers, but we were informed a hurricane a couple of years ago did it serious damage. So, with no nature walk to do, we settled for more shopping. I liked the young salesman at the fire opal shop. My bargaining skills aren’t what they were post-Peace Corps, but in those days I was intent on stretching the dollars over months of travel.
Saturday morning we checked out of CR, took our bags to our choice for Saturday night--Cabo Club Hotel and Camping Resort, AKA Hotel 39 (For $39 single), AKA Cabo Bed & Breakfast (The breakfast, turns out, is an extra $7 each). Tucked away down a dirt road not far from Cabo San Lucas, run by a Mexican woman and her ex-Seal Beach partner, whom we dubbed “FranK”, perhaps because he was rather outspoken. He gave us a bit of a discount when I mentioned I was writing to LOTS of friends. I’m suppose to put in a plug with you to stay at his place. The quarters were spacious, although the AC struggled.
As soon as we dropped bags, we were off to Medano Beach, for Kate and Deanna to parasail. They enjoyed it, but were out on the water longer than expected, as several on the boat took a turn in the air. On their return to shore, we re-launched via the glass-bottom boat, to Lover’s Beach and the Arch—Finnistierra, the tip of Baja, where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific meet. We snorkeled from the beach, took lots of photos. Beautiful, but we all got more sun exposure than we needed.
We took in sunset at Hotel Solmar (“Sunsea”). I expect in the winter the sun sets in the Pacific when viewed from there. This time of year it sets over the hills, but the sky had some pretty clouds.
Mary and I were content to retire early while the youngsters had a last night in Cabo, bar-hopping and catching a cab to the hotel.
As mentioned in the first entry, Kate and I traveled on Alaska guest passes this trip. Sunday morning we struck out on the first two flights heading north. We elected to catch Mary and Deanna’s flight via San Francisco to Portland, with overnight in Portland, as we could stay with Deanna. However, on arrival in SF, we were able to hop a flight that got us home to Sea-Tac at 10 p.m. Nerve-racking, this flying stand-by. Especially when it involves someone else. And, Kate was hit with a bit of Moctezuma’s Revenge this morning. Fortunately, she felt better after getting whatever it was out of her system.
I climbed on the scale on arrival home and was disappointed to see I haven’t lost but a pound or two. Traveling with Lowry/Voss women I eat too well.
Summing up: While the weather was good, not very windy, the snorkeling was not as good as expected, and more dangerous. Club Regina was stunning, built in to the rugged cliffs above the crashing sea. We didn’t do it all, but the four us were very compatible and had a lot of fun.
The stellar digs at CR are made affordable by our exceptional timeshare trading power with Raintree Vacation Club (RVC). I’ve now stayed at CR Cancun and Cabo, as well as the RVC timeshares in Oaxaca and Acapulco. I’ve toured two more, Isla Mujeres and Zihuatanejo. That leaves CR Puerto Vallarta (PV) as the only Mexican RVC destination I have not been to. I’ve already made the annual reservation at Oaxaca for this November, so I’m not sure when I’ll find time to check out PV.
BTW, I have my 2006 RVC exchange calendar and our Whistler timeshares continue to have unbelievable trading power, turning two weeks in to as many as 13 weeks of use each year. I’m sure I’ve bored most of you way too much already. Being another timeshare salesman is NOT my intent! But, if you want to learn how you too can be challenged by so much vacation opportunity to use and share, ask me.
John
