WELCOME TO 2015!

Wow!  Where did Christmas, New Year’s and January go?  Not quite sure but I know we were in La Paz and the spectacular islands nearby for all three.  This time I’m taking a break from writing a long blog  but will share our time with photos.

This shows the bottom of the Baja Peninsula and La Paz's location.

This long, but well marked channel leads to La Paz.  El Mogote on
the left is a peninsula with a few finished and unfinished condos.
People staying in the condos ride a small passenger ferry back
 and forth to La Paz.  The water between the two is heavily
 used by boats anchoring off of town.

This was our Christmas Tree - the decorated bulkhead
heater on Falcon VII.  We also had little hand painted
decorations I made hanging from each port light.

Christmas dinner on Falcon VII.  L to R Jim, Dina, Heather, Rob, Debra, Malcolm.
We cooked a full turkey in our little oven and made both potatoes and sweet potatoes
and the gang brought everything else.  It was a wonderful evening.  We used our new
colourful Mexican serving dishes and casserole dish to capture the festive
mood of the evening, one we will long remember.

La Paz builds an annual Christmas Village with little petting zoo
 and families love it.  What's not to love about goats!
There was a 2015 time clock, Santa's sleigh, big fake
presents, pinatas and kids running everywhere.

No snow but who needs it!

This walking bridge beside the malecon is very special.  Like a bridge in Paris.

It is a place to bring locks symbolizing eternal love.

I took a long walk on this particular evening to capture the
sunset and the statues.  Here's one of a dozen - a fisherman and his net.

And another with a hammerhead shark at the top.

The Christmas crowd enjoying the best fish tacos anywhere!  Jim and I tried
fish tacos from Ensenada to La Cruz and none compared to these.  It's a small
business with 8 stools and this round table, all outside of course.
We frequented it a couple of times a week...2 fish tacos and a glass of
sweet bright red hibiscus juice for about $4.00 Canadian!

Fishboats at low tide along La Paz's waterfront.

Something quite rare - an old wooden house. La Paz and the Baha
are mostly desert so the wood likely came from BC or Oregon 100 years ago.

An ingenious Mexican makes a living out of washing cars for people.  He
used his 'motorcycle' to carry his dog's bed at the front and his cart at the back.

Nothing a little duct tape can't handle!
John and Tim Bowles ...what do you think? Ready for the Baha 1000?

This merry go round  outside a pizza place is enough to cause nightmares!
A headless horse, a  dirty duck, and a cartoon dinosaur.

The Mexican's hate to throw anything useful away!

Remnants of damaged boats from September's Hurricane Odile
at Atalanta Boatyard, La Paz.  Some owners walked away from their
boats if insurance didn't cover the damage.  Others couldn't relaunch
their boats because of a damaged boat leaning against theirs.  Fights with the
insurance companies and the boatyard continue into 2015.

Winter northerlies blow through La Paz regularly.  These guys are just trying
to get back to their anchored sailboat.  Boats often drag in this busy
anchorage so they call it the La Paz Watz. 

These colourful pennants were flapping in the 20 knot wind at the docks.
Marina Cortez is anchored in place - no pilings or breakwater.  We stayed
there for 2 weeks.  Sometimes it was like living on a bucking bronco.

The La Paz Cultural Centre had a fantastic display of these embroideries.
There were about 10 of them, each unique and about 7 ft x 7 ft!

This one captured wildlife, another featured whimsical rows of party goers in
elaborate colourful costumes carrying instruments and dancing.

Intricate stitches formed the images.  The backside was as amazing as the front.

Photographer Craig Minelly joined a bunch of us for a half day trip to swim
with the sealions and whale sharks in the waters off of La Paz.
 I am using these amazing photos with his permission.

It was so much fun being in the water with these graceful creatures plus
the bonus of snorkeling with the tropical fish who shared the habitat with
the sealions.  The bulls were huge so we stayed clear of them.

We snorkeled with the whale sharks but the water was murky where they swam.
Craig captured this close up of the patterned skin and a video none-the-less.
The whale sharks we saw were about 12 ft long.

Jim and Trish after a morning of snorkeling at Bahia Balandra.  Life is good!