At Home in La Paz



Pangas line the Beach at La Paz

Community Church and Courtyard

The Public Library at La Paz

Museum of Anthropology & History - La Paz

Vessel Associated with War

We departed Mazatlan on March 6^th at 7am for the long journey across the Sea of Cortez.  We had calm seas during daylight hours but the wind kicked up over night averaging around 20 knots.  As morning broke, the seas calmed once again and we arrived at La Paz in the afternoon around 1pm.  We were greeted with the usual barrage of guys ready to wash our boat and ladies offering their laundry services.  With our chores out of the way and paperwork completed, it was nap time for Java and crew.  After some shut-eye we were ready to enjoy La Paz which now feels like a home away from home - the malecon, community church, library, shops, and cafes are familiar hangouts.  And it’s a great place to spend time when on your own.  Yes, Leonard flew to Seattle to take care of some business and will renew his visitor’s Visa when re-entering Mexico; unless he decides to leave me here, ha.  Travel Visas for Mexico are good for only six months; if you want to stay beyond the six month period you must leave the country and return in order to get a new 6-month Visa.  My turn comes later; in the meantime Java and I are holding down the boat in La Paz.  Our new friend Del, whom we had met on a neighboring boat along with his wife Trudy, jokingly told me he would be giving Leonard a report regarding my shopping expeditions.  I’m happy to say my only purchase thus far has been from the panaderia for some delicious pastries.  I was also successful in locating the Museum of Anthropology & History in town which houses some wonderful photographs and historical information.  The first floor includes photos and reproductions of Mayan artifacts from the Yucatan Peninsula including vessels, bowls, and figurines.  Examples include The Weaver figurine which depicts a woman at her loom working with the weaving sticks, shuttle, and warp.  Another figurine depicts the likeness of a ruler or “halach uinic” with his fine clothing and complex headdress adorned with feathers.  Examples of clay vessels on display are engraved with images from nature like the turkey buzzard, associated with war.  Snails representing life, water, and birth are also depicted on Mayan clay vessels.  The museum’s second floor includes fascinating photos of cave drawings that were discovered in the mountains of northern Baja California Sur and southern Baja California known as the Great Murals.  These murals consist of prehistoric paintings of humans and animals, often larger than life size on natural rock shelters.  Red and black were the colors most frequently used, but white, pink, orange, and green also occur.  The existence of the Great Murals was noted by Jesuit missionaries in the eighteenth century.  The third floor of the museum touches on geology and the fourth floor covers the arrival of the Spanish and Mexico's early developments. 

The Weaver Figurine

A Ruler Figurine

Larger Than Life Cave Paintings (photo)

Another Fascinating Mural (photo)