Friday, the 17th

I've made it through yet another week and the sun is still shinning through-out the Baja peninsula. Others have told me that it will be getting "'cold" very soon, but I really doubt that our versions of cold weather are the same. Sometimes by 8am I have a light sweat even with shorts and tank tops, while some of the locals have long sleeve shirts and pants on? IT'S 80 DEGREES OUT...that calls for SHORTS and TANK TOPS!

The last week has been fun, no more driving through arches and pulling bikes off the top of my car or anything of the sort. Instead it has been more of a social week, including a lunch in San Jose with Peter, a friend of a friend. He took us to this great little restaurant where I had my first fish taco and margarita. Yes, believe it or not, I've been in Mexico for 9 days now and had not had a margy? Plenty of Pacifico's, but no margaritas. After our great meal we all headed to Costco for a little shopping spree. For those of you who did not know, Costco is prevelant in Mexico, it's amazing. I was simply going for a salmon and a bag of avocado's, but made the mistake of offering a costco run to anyone within the RV park...holy crap I've never seen such a big list! The car was filled, to the brim, honestly! Lesson to be learned here, don't offer to go to Costco for EVERYONE unless you want to spend all day there. (universal lesson).

The driving is getting a little better for me here, I've learned the following road rules, for any of you planning on driving in Mexico any time soon:

1. If you are following behind a truck and they put their left blinker on, they are telling you it is "ok" to pass them. Now, whether you trust them always...that is the question. It seems that the Mexicans are willing to pass when seeing the "curva peligrosa", or when the lines become solid and the sign says (my translation) "don't even think of passing as you will die". So you must, again, use your instinct as to whether your life is of value.

2. When they put their hazards on, they are indicating to slow down as there is a hazard in the road. Like a cow, or 3 cows as we saw the other night. The hazards may also indicate, "hey my 76 toyota pick-up truck can't go faster than 26 mph downhill, please pass me".

3. It is also ok to do a u-turn, anywhere, anytime. In fact, some of the places you want to go are only accessible by u-turning in front of on coming traffic at full speed. This equates to about 25 mph in the Pathfinder. But thus far, I've made it...thankfully I had Peter there to encourage me - yelling "GO".

4. And lastly, BE AGGRESSIVE. BE AGGRESSIVE. BE AGGRESSIVE.

I also got to see a bit of the night-life, going to "Tio Pablos" for dinner and a little karokee. Holy crap. There was so much to see and say, I'll just leave it at there seems to be a little side business for some of the mexican women here, it includes wearing short small things and hitting on the American fisherman coming into town...dancing eroticatically...kissing and laughing...and whip cream. And then you have the older american people that live here full time (or at least six months of the year) - and whoa - they think this is their time on American Idol. Ahh, so much more to say about that experience, but will leave for another time.

Now I'm outside of Los Barriles, past Punta Pescadera, at Aunt Regina and Uncle Johnny's compound. I came out to visit for a couple of days and have had the great pleasure of meeting some of their amazing friends, partaking in some awesome food, great conversation and of course, my favorite, hearing the waves crash at your door. I will stay here until Saturday, then I must challenge the road again, thank god for the 4-wheel drive on the Pathfinder, and head back to town for a festival on Saturday...complete with cock fights and dancing. The festival that is!

My best to all of you ...