La Paz: Season Two

Arrival

First thing we learned. Do not skimp on airport hotels. Get a good hotel with a restaurant and a room NOT located at the end of a hall, where the sounds of the overhead rail and garbage trucks keep you awake much of the night. We spent a grumpy evening at the La Quinta Sea-Tac, after our Medford flight was delayed 90 minutes, and we had to eat a Jack-in-the-Box burger at 9:45 p.m. 

Our 6:45 flight left on schedule, and after three-and-one-half hours we roared into San José del Cabo, braking hard on the tarmac (short runway??), and Ed turned to me and said, “I guess we’ll be here a long time.”

Ten weeks on the road for many folks is no big deal, and we were gone four weeks last May. What’s six more? Maybe nothing really, however, there’s no home when we go home. But there is my brother and sister-in-law, friends and a storage unit. What else does one need?

We managed to dodge most of the aggressive sales people at the airport and found a shuttle to Cabo San Lucas Bus Terminal. Thank god for Scrabble on iPhones to pass the time. The two-hour bus ride to La Paz included a showing of the 2013 movie, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” Odd to see Ben Stiller and Sean Penn speaking fluent Spanish.

Cabo San Lucas to La Paz, only $15. 

At present, home is the Hacienda Paraiso, a B&B. We were beat by the time we arrived last night, and it’s a perfect place to be for our first four nights. We chose the place because: a) it’s lovely; b) the innkeeper is knowledgeable, and we wanted to gain some insight before we moved to other accommodations that are more in line with our budget. 

These folks have three chihuahuas, one cat, and a Gray African Parrot. I learned from the parrot that I can no longer whistle. I tried to keep up with the parrot, but I just don’t have it anymore. So along with my Spanish, I’ll practice whistling.

La Paz is not exactly walkable from our present location. It’s doable, but the walk is long, dusty and not much to see until one arrives at the marina and malecón. From that point, it’s awesome with much to discover. 

Waiting for fish

Near empty Malecón

According to my phone, we walked six miles, and that on my new hip! (By the way, my six-week post-op appointment was only good news. I have two fine-looking fake hips.) Today was our preliminary excursion, and the weather was perfect. A welcome change after our rainy spring. 

Our host said we needed a car, and we’ll rent one when we need it, but Uber is here, and it’s only a $3.00 ride from downtown.

For now, we’ll try to remain on foot and Uber it.

Also, for those interested in the hard workers and their old trucks, Ed has taken a fancy to taking photos. He’s amazed at the resourcefulness of these men, who often seem to be winging-it on their own, and the magic they can work with their vehicles. I try my best to speak to the owners in Spanish, and ask permission. Juan Angel, who I tried to speak with today, was very kind. The hood of his “camión basura” was open, but it seemed that he told me all was well. I believe I missed something in the translation.

Juan Angel

His 1987 truck

Ed just told me there’s a free concert—a tribute to Pink Floyd—on May 9 on the malecón. Come on down. We’ll be there.