20 March ‘07
Tuesday
Today we left Ciudad Constitucion and headed across the peninsula to Loreto. Ciudad Constitucion is a medium sized town that makes its mark in agriculture. For weeks now I have been eating great strawberries that have come from this area, and when in the grocery stores we pick up most of our veggies that were grown from here as well. Also important to us, is this is the best place to stop and make sure that your gas tank is full. It can be a long drive in either direction if you find yourself passing the Pemex Stations here. When we make the right turn, after going through town, we start our ride on those narrow roads that have given the Baja its reputation. Prior to this point, the roads were a mix of 2 lanes and 4 lanes all the way to or from Cabo San Lucas. Yes, they were still a narrow passage way, but believe me when I say “Narrow” from now on. The road is very straight most of the 83 miles across this part of the peninsula as well as a fare amount of road and bridge construction. After we leave the farm fields we start to see the plains of scrub and small cacti until we start our climb up the foothills prior to the Sea of Cortez. At that point we see again a change. The cacti become very tall, with most being single stems that reach for the sky, and then there are others that put out an additional branch or two to add another character. The dry scrub has changed from dead to green to complement the cacti and the dark rocks of the hills that are now growing into full sized mountains. The climb is gradual although there is lots of hairpin turns. When it’s time to make the decent to the sea, it is very steep. Most of the time the transmission is in the lower gear range as we descend, and we needed the lower speed as we come into the corners that have no protective guard rails. One of my favorite sites is when we come around that last turn and right in front of us is this beautiful golf course and the town of Loreto. Loreto was the first European settlement in the “Californias”, and the religious capital for 132 years. This morning I was out for a walk about 7:30am and they were having a service in the Mision Nuestra Senora de Loreto. This chapel was first built in October 1697 and fortunately has been rebuilt many times keeping the original feeling as much as possible. So much to see and so little time to do it. Louise and I were first introduced to the La Picazon Restaurant in Cabo San Jose about 10 years ago. They then moved to San Lucas a couple of years later. Three years ago, they decided to move to Loreto. Bonnie and Doug had given a good try to find them but failed…we, arriving today asked more questions and got some good directions. Let me tell you, this was a challenge, but we did find them. They are located north of Loreto about 5 miles, that is 5 miles on a dirt “track”. Keeping strong to our desire to eat a great lunch, we kept on until we found them. This little “restaurant” is now a “destination” restaurant. The food is still great, the service is wonderful, and the family who owns and operates this operation are the best. Now, the view and the décor…well, you’ve to see for yourself, it is too much and too good to describe.
Tuesday
Today we left Ciudad Constitucion and headed across the peninsula to Loreto. Ciudad Constitucion is a medium sized town that makes its mark in agriculture. For weeks now I have been eating great strawberries that have come from this area, and when in the grocery stores we pick up most of our veggies that were grown from here as well. Also important to us, is this is the best place to stop and make sure that your gas tank is full. It can be a long drive in either direction if you find yourself passing the Pemex Stations here. When we make the right turn, after going through town, we start our ride on those narrow roads that have given the Baja its reputation. Prior to this point, the roads were a mix of 2 lanes and 4 lanes all the way to or from Cabo San Lucas. Yes, they were still a narrow passage way, but believe me when I say “Narrow” from now on. The road is very straight most of the 83 miles across this part of the peninsula as well as a fare amount of road and bridge construction. After we leave the farm fields we start to see the plains of scrub and small cacti until we start our climb up the foothills prior to the Sea of Cortez. At that point we see again a change. The cacti become very tall, with most being single stems that reach for the sky, and then there are others that put out an additional branch or two to add another character. The dry scrub has changed from dead to green to complement the cacti and the dark rocks of the hills that are now growing into full sized mountains. The climb is gradual although there is lots of hairpin turns. When it’s time to make the decent to the sea, it is very steep. Most of the time the transmission is in the lower gear range as we descend, and we needed the lower speed as we come into the corners that have no protective guard rails. One of my favorite sites is when we come around that last turn and right in front of us is this beautiful golf course and the town of Loreto. Loreto was the first European settlement in the “Californias”, and the religious capital for 132 years. This morning I was out for a walk about 7:30am and they were having a service in the Mision Nuestra Senora de Loreto. This chapel was first built in October 1697 and fortunately has been rebuilt many times keeping the original feeling as much as possible. So much to see and so little time to do it. Louise and I were first introduced to the La Picazon Restaurant in Cabo San Jose about 10 years ago. They then moved to San Lucas a couple of years later. Three years ago, they decided to move to Loreto. Bonnie and Doug had given a good try to find them but failed…we, arriving today asked more questions and got some good directions. Let me tell you, this was a challenge, but we did find them. They are located north of Loreto about 5 miles, that is 5 miles on a dirt “track”. Keeping strong to our desire to eat a great lunch, we kept on until we found them. This little “restaurant” is now a “destination” restaurant. The food is still great, the service is wonderful, and the family who owns and operates this operation are the best. Now, the view and the décor…well, you’ve to see for yourself, it is too much and too good to describe.