What a strange first quarter we have had. First it is winter and then it is spring and almost summer on occasion. It seems that this year so far has been quite a mix.
Every year in January, I try to get away and take some time in the sun. I think I have a bit of that SADS they find so much of in Alaska. I just need the sun. So off I was to Puerto Penasco (also known as Rocky Point) just 100 miles south of the boarder at Ajo, Ariz. It is a desolate drive through desert with miles of sand and nothing to see but cactus, and then you come to the end of the road and this sleepy fishing village with a population of only 57,000. There it is on the Sea of Cortez with magnificent blue waters and sandy beaches.
There were only six of us traveling this time, and we stayed at the Grand Mayan Resort, 23 miles out of the town center. This is a beautiful, full-service resort with pools, hot tubs, restaurants and a golf course. All condos have full kitchens, and we made good use of ours running into town for fresh seafood.
This is not a heavy tourist time of the year, which left us with plenty of space and no rush to reserve a lounge by the pool. The lazy river was not crowded, and the beach was open to explore and collect shells.
We took a day trip and drove to the end of the point and the village at Cholla Bay. This seems to be inhabited mostly by Americans who have beach homes along the water or nestled into the hillside.
We made the requisite stop at JJ’s Cantina, with terraces down to the beach and views to watch the sunset. On the way back, we drove through the Sandy Beach resort area of new hotels and condos. It is here that work is progressing on the Home Port cruise ship docks. Ships such as Princess Cruises will be coming here within the next couple of years. (We will have to keep track and take one of those cruises).
Into the Old Town on another day let us shop with all “tourist” stores. So many things to see with a lot of repeats and much to bargain over. There is a pharmacy on every corner and restaurants galore with color and people all over. We explored some of the older buildings, including a hotel which was established by Al Capone in the 1920s.
Our favorite restaurant was at the top of a hill with a glorious view over the Sea of Cortez and the lights of the city. We celebrated Florence Bargmeyers 99th birthday while watching the sun set.
A picnic under a palapa at the end of a very rough, sandy road turned out to be a pleasant surprise birthday for Della Troupe. Here was an oyster farm where you placed your order and then they went out to get them. You can’t get any fresher than that.
Back home again now and working on trips for others. There is still room on the Alaska cruise for May 7 on Norwegian Cruise Lines, and we have added another on July 10 with Princess. In September, we still have a few more spaces available for the riverboat trip between Paris and Prague. A couple of day trips have been added to the schedule with the Harness Races in Langley on March 16 and our annual Tulip Trek on April 12.
For information and reservations, call me (Linda Finch) at 253-927-8207 or e-mail me at linda.finch@gmail.com.