The trip to Mexico was fairly uneventful apart from our brief stop in Las Vegas where we spent a few hours playing Blackjack and soaking up the lights of Sin City. We alternated drivers and made good time, arriving quickly in Southern California. It was late by the time we had stocked up with supplies at Wal-Mart, and not wanting to enter Tijuana at night, we camped in San Diego.
I’ve never been to Mexico and it’s a surreal feeling crossing over into Tijuana. As you near the border on the interstate, you can clearly distinguish an entirely different world in the distance. The primitive buildings along the hillsides of Mexico contrast strongly with San Diego’s upscale homes. There were no checkpoints or inspection stations and we sped freely into Mexico. We miraculously navigated the labyrinth of roads and turns in Tijuana and ended up successfully heading South on Mexico Highway 1.
The highway began with four-lanes but quickly changed into a narrow and windy two-lane road. Driving Highway 1 is an experience unto itself. There is no shoulder and the road drops off less than six inches from the white line ends along the right hand side. Guardrails, when they exist on precipitous corners, are usually damaged and sections often hang in mid-air over the expanse. Every passing car seems to come perilously close as drivers are forced to thread the needle between other drivers and the non-existent shoulder. Drifting even slightly out of your lane can be deadly and it’s good we had three people to share in the driving responsibilities.
During the next week, we traveled throughout Baja, experiencing as much as possible. We camped on deserted beaches overlooking the ocean and watched glorious sunsets over the Pacific. We ate at modest family-owned cafes and tried our best to communicate through our poor Spanish, hand signals and smiles. We hired a local fisherman to take us out for a day and caught wild looking fish which we happily fried up and devoured. We spent three nights at a quaint beach-side hotel run by Americans along the Sea of Cortez and smoked cheap cigars on our private balcony while discussing life. We intercepted a school of dolphins and came within 20 yards of them in our small, self-propelled boats. Jesse accidentally ordered and ate cow intestines. We also managed to snap a few pictures along the way:
Beachside Sunset on the Pacific
Our Private Deck Overlooking the Ocean
A Wildman and the Sea of Cortez
One Very Kissable (and edible) Fish
View From Our Room at 6:30am
When Dogs and Seals Have Babies
Storms and Cactus
Camping in an Oasis
Silhouettes at Sunset
Our Gypsy Camp
Capturing the Sun
After a week, we finally returned to the U.S. and were successful in smuggling Luke, who had forgot his passport, through customs. We had traveled nearly two-thirds of the way down the Baja peninsula and had managed to avoid death on the highways, theft, banditos, and so far, Montazuma’s Revenge. It was a bittersweet moment when our trip came to a close as my traveling companions left me in Salt Lake. It not only marked the end of the Baja trip, but of my extended travels as well. Annie, sensing my impending melancholy, made some unbelievable tasty steak sandwiches which helped to smooth over both my stomach and the mood.
Despite the end of my traveling adventures, I’m really excited about life. I’ll be living in Salt Lake City striving to learn as much as I can about freelance photography, web design, and the financial markets. I’ll also be living (finally!) in the same city as my wonderful girlfriend, Annie, as well as a number of other good friends. The blog, unfortunately, faces a grim future as this vagabond has set down some temporary roots. As I’m not as narcissistic to think that you, dear reader, desire to be constantly informed as to my current emotional status and recent food intake, this will be my last large entry. I will be posting my finished American Perspectives documentary to the site in mid-February so please stop by then to check it out.
To all my readers - thank you! It’s been great reading your comments and I appreciate you taking the time to follow my adventures. If you’re considering traveling and/or taking an extended trip, I’d highly recommend it. While traveling gives you a better perspective of the surrounding world, it also helps you really appreciate the people and place you’ve temporarily left behind.
Until the travels begin anew I faithfully remain your ex-vagabond.......
Andrew
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