Chasing the Winter Sun Southwards

The splendid beauty of this earth splayed at sunset in Bufadora, Mexico.

The slinking autumn sun culminates lower along the meridian with each passing day. In the little time I have on this short break, I follow it’s steady course south in search of warmer coastal climate. From Playa Rosarito, I wound along the toll road a bit, stopping by even sleepier coastal  towns that hardly register on most maps. Near La Mission, I strayed inland from the main coastal highway for a closer look at untouristed parts of Mexico. As with much of Latin America, there are shanty towns here and there, makeshift shacks dot the landscape; however, unlike any other part of Central or South America, this region of Mexico seem to have many abandoned mobile homes littering the landscape. One can only assume these were left behind by many an American who came to escape their past or simply to drop off radar. Certainly, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they are drug related.

With each winding turn down a lone country road, I drove closer until I edged near the bluffs of La Bufadora. This place would not even be on the map were it not for its namesake: the world’s largest “blowhole” that frequently spouts water 100 feet above sealevel. Unfortunately, the visit was anticlimactic as I happened to arrive during slack tide. Fortunately enough, the outing offered one spectacular sunset over the calm Pacific and numerous opportunity to nibble at local cuisine.

Excursion into Baja at Playa del Rosarito

Just in time to see the sunset over the vast, flat beaches.

As another glorious day sinks into the distant horizon over endless sands of Playa del Rosarito, I came to reflect how through all these years I never ventured pass the Mexican border. Baja is famed for some of the finest stretches of secluded beaches and sleepy Mexican towns; however, Mexico’s general notoriety for corrupt police and infamous drug cartels dominates in reputation stateside. So it is, after all these years I drove across the border with someone whom I had met while wandering through Bolivia. As neither one of us seems to be able to slake this thirst for adventure, nor have pressing obligations or engagements, I convinced her to fly out to visit for a quick excursion for lobster tacos down south. We’ll have a few days over the extended holiday weekend to explore – some fine local cuisine in dive restaurants and whale watching is on order.

Encounter locals returning from a fishing outing on the pier.