Wednesday, November 28, 2012

MORE FROM PUERTO PENASCO

Hi everyone we are now in San Diego and this is the second installment on Puerto Penasco. It was definately a relaxing time. It is not a real busy tourist area although they would like to be. Part of he problem is getting there. You have to drive or drive. There is an airport but at the present time there are no scheduled flights.  The RV park we were at has probably 300 sites or more but my guess it is only 25% occupied.  There are also other parks that are not even open. But the people are upbeat and doing the best they can. We also visited some of the condos and a vacation home community all didn't seem to have very many occupants.  But for us it was super relaxing and we will return on our own again if the opportunity presents itself again. Of course we will be back in January with our Adventure Caravans group before heading to the Baja.
 
The next update will be of the Rose Parade sometime in January. 
 
  
JUST RELAXING
 
NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO STUFF IS FOR SALE

THIS BUILT UP OLD PICK-UP CHASSIS IS USED TO LAUNCH BOATS
DOWN A RAMP INTO THE SEA. IT SHOWS HOW INGENIUS THE MEXICAN
PEOPLE ARE. ITS A HECK OF A LOT CHEAPER WAY TO LAAUNCH A BOAT
WITHOUT SPENDING A LOT OIF MONEY ON INFRASTRUCTURE 
 

LAST CHANCE FOR JEWLERY


WE VISITED THE CONDO NEXT DOOR TO THE RV PARK THIS IS THEIR POOL OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN

ALTHOUGH MEXICANS DON'T CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN
THE KIDS COME TO THE RV PARK FOR
"TRICKY TRICKY HALLOWEEN



WE WERE CHICKEN

A CHEEP MEAL SHRIMP AND CLAMS

SHRIMP RIGHT OFF THESE BOATS

THE LAST SUNSET

Saturday, November 3, 2012

HI FROM PUERTO PENASCO MEXICO

After the Balloon Fiesta was over we headed down to Mexico for some RandR before our next assignment.  On the way we passed the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park and made a very interesting detour on our way.  The pictures say it all.
 
We then made our way  down to Puerto Penasco aka Rocky Point in Sonora, MX on the northern end of the Gulf of California aka Sea of Cortez.  One of the lesser known vacation areas in Mexico.  It is where Arizonians "go to the beach" since it is only about 200 miles from the Phoenix area.  As you can see, our RV site is a hop over a 3 foot wall to the beach.  There are lots of restaurants, it is cheap and you can shop from the comfort of your RV since the vendors walk along the walkway selling everything from silver jewelry to pottery and pedicures.  The people are friendly and practically everyone speaks English and the $ is the currency of choice but the ATM's only disburse pesos. Away from the beach the area is depressed. Up until several years ago the area was an up and coming tourist area but due to the American economy and the media hype on the drug cartels' violence we were told tourism was 80% off. This year tourism is returning and is up. These people rely on the tourism and it is a shame that they have suffered. We have had a nice relaxing time and have not at all felt threatened. Although there a quite a few abandoned condos and other projects things are improving. We talked to one realtor in the condo next to the RV park. This is an upscale condo with  only 13 units left for sale and there do not seem to be many resales in the condos but much property elseware for sale. Some signs of the comeback are the new Sam's Club and Bodaga Aurrera the Mexican Walmart subsidiary, a new 6 screen movie theater showing first run US movies with spanish subtitles, and rumors a cruise ship port is on the way. There is also a new coastal road that will reduce time for those traveling to southern California.





THE PAINTED DESERT





 
 
THE PETRIFIED FOREST
 
BUMP ON A PETRIFIED LOG


A CLOSEUP OF A PIECE OF PETRIFIED WOOD

SCATTERED PERTIFIED LOGS WHERE THEY DROPPED

 

ANOTHER PIECE OF PETRIFIED WOOD


A TREE THAT FEEL AND BECAME PETRIFIED IN PLACE
 
 
 PUERTO PENASCO MEXICO
 
OUR FIRST AND SECOND SUNSETS



NEW FRIENDS - JOHN, JANET, ELVA AND CASEY


RELAXING

 
 
 
RELAXING

SHOPPING IN OLD TOWN

FISHER BETTY WITH HER LARGE TRIGGER FISH
SOMEDAY I'LL LEARN HOW TO FISH AS SHE CAUGHT THE BIGGEST