Goodbye La Paz



Sunday Brunch in La Paz

Our last stay in La Paz was spent enjoying time with friends and going out to several different restaurants.  We had a beautiful Sunday Brunch at Palermo’s Restaurant along the waterfront - the chile relleno was delicious as were the omelets, roasted meats, and various salads including the tasty cubed sweet potato salad.  On another occasion our friends Michael and Judy joined us for dinner at the Apostolis Mediterranean Restaurant, one of many excellent restaurants in La Paz.  We had first met Michael and Judy in Alameda and the four of us seemed to hit it off; we’ve kept in touch ever since. 


Out with Friends Michael and Judy

We so much enjoyed visiting with them over dinner and catching up on their cruising plans.  Mutual friends from Alameda were also in La Paz so we all got together for drinks and pizza one evening, another great time with some equally adventuresome folks. Meeting new friends among the boating community as well as experiencing the local culture makes it extremely difficult to leave Mexico.  The Mexican people are wonderful and we remember all their smiling faces and unsolicited helpful gestures.  Carlos is just one example.  He and his team of workers skillfully washed, waxed, and refinished the wood caprails on our boat.  They were so caring, friendly, and hard working. 


A Handshake Deal with Carlos

One afternoon I made a chocolate cake to share and we had an impromptu party on the dock, what fun!  On the day of our departure, Carlos came to see us off while his Mexican compatriots on the neighboring boat helped release our lines.  They all wished us farewell and stood on the dock waving goodbye as we faded from view - it nearly brought tears to our eyes.  To borrow a line in the movies quoted by actor Kevin Costner, “Nothing I have been told about these people is correct.”  As is often the case, the news media in the U.S. has incorrectly and unfairly labeled these people as all thieves and tricksters.  

Carlos and his Crew on Break

We have found the Mexican people to be very warm, friendly and supportive of each other with strong family values who want their country to be free of crime and the drug cartels.  It is our understanding that the drug cartels, which get weapons from the U.S. and deliver their products there, have currently been pushed into the southern regions of Mexico near Acapulco.  Although there are both rich and poor people in Mexico as in all countries, the Mexican people have a strong sense of unity and cooperation.  Rather than feeling entitled, they take positive and progressive steps to better their lives, resulting in an ever increasing comfortable lifestyle while maintaining the simple pleasures of family and friends.  

Shiny New Caprails

We have found that the longer one spends time in Mexico, the more the country grows on you.  We have learned to look past the uneven sidewalks; the homes in need of painting, or the cracked concrete structures – these things don’t seem so important anymore.  After taking on fuel, we left La Paz (the peace) with mixed emotions and headed for Cabo San Lucas, stopping at the Cove of the Dead (Ensenada de los Muertos) along the way for the night’s anchorage.  We would reach Cabo the following day and make the tough decision to turn right, or turn left.


At the Fuel Dock - La Paz

Lovely Sunset and Dunes at Los Muertos