Something to the South
Trip Start
Unknown
1
6
22
Trip End
Ongoing
Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico
Saturday, October 3, 2009
We flew out on flight 1629 from gate A39 at 11:10am on a Super 80. Eco class, but hey, I had the window. I've definitely decided that I love flying. But I think the motivating factor behind that is I love being high. Yes. That's it. Got lost in the window wonders and watched three hours of ground pass below me. No staring, I was watching. I saw the west Texas wind farms, the New Mexico mountains and the Arizona deserts. I held San Diego under my gaze, saw a very tiny shadow of a Super 80 grow until it met itself on the tarmac. It was a very good flight. San Diego has a very glamorous airport that we left all too quickly. Summer and Chris were waiting for Mom and I so we swept right into our intentions. A quick pit stop at the Baja Duty Free store which while on US soil still manages to offer heavy discounts on wares as long as it is strictly for exportation to Baja. An unmarked van followed us from the store all the way to the border to be sure we were agreeing.
Apparently it is no real problem getting yourself into Mexico. We drove right to the booth, green light illuminated that wonderful "PASE" and away we were. I feel like I was very visually prepared for Mexico and it has thus far been as I expected. Mexico is Mexico. So far I have been nothing but pleased. It has that look, that smell, that sound, that taste, that feel. Baja of course has it's own special air surrounding it and it is nothing to play down. The Ocean! The Mountains! The most wonderful sunsets can be had here. A perfectly flat and clear ocean horizon provides the ideal resting place for any sun. We drove past Calafia and instead opted to drive straight to the KM38 surf shop and get myself set up for the following day. La Fonda restaurant was up next and we had a very fitting buffet with matching margaritas (the strongest I've had since we've been here). After that we returned to Calafia and wetsuit donned, I entered for the first time in my life the mighty Pacific Ocean. Too good to be true. Just enjoy it. Cooled the evening down in the Calafia oceanfront jacuzzi and retired to bed.
Heard the waves as soon as I woke up. They were calling. I decided to answer. Summer had graciously offered me to break in her brand new boogie board so I took her up. That ocean is so strong. You can feel it in every wave. Power. I was shooting all over that coast. Great way to start my first proper Baja morning. Surfing lesson at 11:30am so we had a light breakfast and headed out to the shop. My instructor was Shae, 19, and he was exactly what you would expect as a surf instructor. Now to save you and me both I will condense the next two hours. Waves, paddle, waves, paddle, waves, paddle, waves, paddle, big wave that throws you way back so......paddle. I did end up catching two sizeable waves and rode them both for what was in my mind an eternity which came out to something like five seconds each. But it happened at KM 38. I felt great. And then my left calf completely locked into a cramp after about two hours which conveniently coincided with the end of my lesson. Surfing is not something someone learns in a day. Surfing, just like any true adventure sport, takes a lifetime and is more of a lifestyle than an activity. If you can't give yourself it with true commitment, than you can never begin to grasp it. It takes time. But that is what makes it a worthy effort. I was absolutely beat after my lesson and was literally shaking all over. I needed food. And what better place to go than Lobster Village!
Puerto Nueva is a small fishing village just a short drive south of Rosarito and it has earned its keep as the original birthplace and resting home of Baja-style Lobster. They fry these bad boys which are actually langoustines, but there must be something in the water down here because these guys are sizeable and taste wonderful. They are served with rice and beans, of course, and were the perfect lunch for the time. After lunch, we walked the town and I got my first taste of Mexico shop vendors. If there is one thing they are not, it's lazy. Even if everyone is working an angle of some sort or another, you better believe they are working it. After that, we made the drive to Rosarito proper and did a walk thru of the original Rosarito Beach Hotel, est. 1925. If you ever wanted to see what life looked like in a 1960s beach party, this is it. Walked Rosarito proper afterwards and ended up at El Nido to refuel ourselves. Headed back to Calafia after that and entertained ourselves the rest of the night. I learned more spanish from a nine year old boy and a seven year old girl that night than I have this whole trip thus far. Sleep came easy.
October 3rd. Hoy es mi cumpleaņos. Tengo viente y dos aņos. We woke up bright and early around 7am and got moving on our planned day to La Bufadora and then to the aguas termales along the San Carlos river. But right this second it is 12:20 am and I am about to fall asleep in the lobby since it has the only internet access around. We will finish this story mas tarde. Buenos noches amigos.
