Hotel Paraiso Las Palmas Ensenada

... CA via Mexicali. Just soaked in the last several days and looked forward to more......................... Oh yeah afterI went back to Palm Springs and dropped Jenny off I headed straight to Santa Monica to pick up my buddy Andy and take him down to Ensenada for a couple days. Went bottom fishing one day on a Saturday and had the entire boat to ourselves. I thank them for even going that day. The boat usually would have at least 20 ...

My last days here in Ensenada have had some ups and downs (but mostly ups). Although my spanish has improved, it's not at a level where I was hoping to be at the end of my stay here. I think that I've reached a point where I understand enough to realize how much I still can't say/understand and so I just get frustrated. What makes it all worse is that I blush so easily!! and so my frustration/embarrasment is clearly advertised across my face. Overall though I'm ...

... include mountain climbing, beach-combing and hiking. Ensenada hosts the very popular Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride, the Baja 1000 Off-Road Race and the Newport Beach-Ensenada Regatta. Valle de Guadalupe, one of Mexico's finest wine growing area is close by. Gray whale watching in the winter time is very popular in Todos Santos Bay.

This morning we continued our drive to Lago Tagua Tagua. This was one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen. The Feng Shui energy of the area was so strong. We pulled up to end of the road where we were going to take a leisurely ferry ride to the other side. Jim and I got out and waited by stretching and doing Qi Gong. Naked Jim was talking to a woman who we eventually got know as Maria. She was Argentinean ...

El Bufadoro (or The Blow Hole) is a natural geyer of sorts: the waves come in and as they hit the rocks, send a "geiser" of sea water shooting up possibly 20 feet. Very dramatic. Check out the deep fried abalone stand that's right there, and of course, a Dos XX cervesa.

... The next day, we went to Seaworld. It was amazing!! I love sea animals. I saw sharks, dolphins, sea otters, pelicans, a walrus, and a killer whale! I have never seen dolphins so close before. I love sea animals, they are so smart. The ocean is this new world of creatures (70% of the world is water after all!) where so many interesting (and undiscovered!) species exist freely. I was actaully reading today that they discoevered this new shark in the west pacific that ...

... Kosi Valley, staying 100m above the river on it's West Bank. The trail leads to Jorsale (2810m) where you enter the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. From here you will continue on a steep trail to Namche Bazaar (3446m), known simply as Namche. Enroute you have to cross the spectacular suspension bridge high above the confluence of the Bhote Kosi and the Dudh Kosi, and shortly after a first glimpse of Everest, way off to the northeast. The trail to Namche is steep and ...

... bus to Ensenada--the small city an hour and a half south of the border where Amanda lives and works as an English teacher--leaves Tijuana at 8, and we have just an hour and a half to make the airport and back.

It's mission impossible, and after a few false starts and countless announcements updating us on the situation, we decide to throw up our hands and head back to the border. We've made it half way to the airport shuttle but the prospect ...

... and James Dean used to have (don't ask me the names), plus some original really old ones. There were also loads of motorbikes, which I also like, but to ride, not to look at! For some reason I also like the smell of old cars, but I wasn't allowed in any of these. There weren't as many cars as I like to see, but I enjoyed it anyway. Next to the Automtive Museum was the Aerospace Museum which looked great, but was not free to get in. The next museum was the Museum ...

... place to be. It is named so because of the lamps that line the streets! I was very polite when I got to the USA Hostel and they didn't have my booking, but they were quick to sort it out and my 'home from home' relationship started with everyone there. I thought I would start the day with some shopping as this is what I seemed to be surrounded by (as well as many lush restaurants including TGI Fridays, my weakness!). I ...