Puerto Penasco, Mexico: We woke to a windy morning. Campers were busy stowing their awnings and anything that could blow away. DT and I huddled in beach chairs, using the Magnus Peregrinus as a wind block, sipping our coffee in the sun.
We had coffee with this guy today
The wind does not stop the vendors. Industrious hawkers walk up and down the beach selling goods to tourists at beachside campgrounds, condos and hotels. All day. Tamales. Newspapers from Phoenix and Tucson. Blankets. Art and "art". Souvenirs. Bobble-head critters. Sunglasses. Baseball hats. Straw hats. Manicures. Pedicures. Haircuts. Shrimp. Clams. Asparagus. Toys. You want it; you can find it on the beach in Puerto Penasco.
These vendors will walk up and down the beach many times today.
This gentleman has a rack with sunglasses. Even though I am wearing sunglasses, he asks me if I need sunglasses. I say, no thank you. He says, okay, thank you. When he reaches the end of the beach, he turns around and heads back towards to town. When he passes me again, he will again ask me if I need sunglasses. I say, no, thank you. He says, okay, thank you.You can assume this same scenario with every single vendor walking down the beach. (Though, sometimes I mix it up and say no, gracias.)
Carrying art down the beach. The metal wall hangings are actually of great quality and are very pretty... if you need a metal palm tree or sun for your house.Which I do not.
I also do not need a bong or a shot glass. Or a hat - notice his stack of hats for sale.
This fellow sells blankets and bar-scene dioramas made of sea shells. No kidding. Complete with pole-dancers! (No, I will not be offering this as a prize in our next contest.)
This vendor carries heavy pottery up and down the beach all day.Truth be told, most of the stuff for sale on the beach is junk. But you must give the vendors credit for working hard. Our campground is only about one-quarter full. Think of how the lack of occupancy is cutting into their daily earnings. Many of the female vendors have a few toddlers along too. Sometimes the children are so small, Mom has to schlep the kid and her tamale basket. But the Madre's are smart - dress your little baby up in a pretty little dress, put a ribbon in her hair, and we gringos want to see the sweet little baby and, hey, sure, we would love to buy a tamale or two. Everybody is a winner.
We went to lunch at one of our favorite "restaurants" in Puerto Penasco - Pollo Asado Lucas - an open-air joint that produces the best grilled chicken I have had since leaving The Philippines (in 1983, if anyone is asking).
At Asado Lucas you order either a quarter, half or whole chicken (whole, pictured above) and you receive the chicken on a platter. Each diner is served a plate with pickled onion, shredded cabbage and lime wedges. The table receives a basket of fresh flour tortillas and a bowl of the freshest salsa imaginable (a woman is making the salsa as you are seated). The chicken here is simply outstanding - crispy and favorable on the outside and juicy inside. Ten dollars for an entire chicken with all the fixings for the three of us.Back at the campsite... we enjoyed a nice (windy) afternoon with our new neighbors, Paul & Britt from Durango, Colorado. They have a new trailer and DT and Dad helped them figure-out their awning situation, we enjoyed cocktails and then DT went into serious shopping mode because of this lovely creature:
I dare any of you, Dear Sweet Readers, to resist this face.
Not to mention this braid-thang-action-going-on.
The little charmer has siblings - both in their school uniforms. Their Dad is in the back (left) in the white hat. You can only imagine how weak My Driver became under all this adorable pressure.
We are now out three dollars and own three bobble-head tortugas.No doubt, the team will be back tomorrow for another sale.
For dinner tonight I baked two 10-inch vegetarian pizzas - one in our oven, and one in Dad's oven.
One pizza was Greek-inspired with feta, black olive, tomato and oregano.
The other pizza was a very traditional Pizza Margherita - mozzarella, tomato and basil. Both were delicious - and not bad for camping food.After a very good day of vacationing, I had a very bad day in my NCAA tourney bracket. What's up with Tennessee anyway? Until my next update, I remain, your tortuga correspondent.
RV Park: The Reef RV Park - Hundreds of campsites, all in sand. 30 & 50 amp power, water and sewer. Some power hookups are shared - one camper gets the 50 amp, and their neighbor has to use the 30 amp. This campground is popular with ATVers, families and many Canadians spend the winter here. A regular campsite (non-ocean front) is $150 week.