Two more sea days and then LA

La Paz

We did a highlights tour with a really good tour guide. He was a true naturalist with good English and who used people in skits to illustrate some of his points.

The pier was over 30 min drive from the city which is 350,000 people but you couldn’t tell it from what we saw.

Ceramics

This was kind’ve unimpressive but you did get to see and feel the clay, see how they are made and painted. There was a lovely large fountain near the rear of the property. We saw some clever designs such as a dish especially for putting salt on the edges of margarita glasses.

Church

Of course there was a church! But what puzzled me is that it was 10 am on a Tuesday and they were having Mass including a sermon. The church is pretty inside, cool and breezes going through but you couldn’t take pics inside because of the Mass. It was made of solid stones not like you often expect of Spanish style designs in Mexico.

Museum

While small, it had many nicely displayed dioramas and other displays of old historical (Spanish Conquistador outfits and equipment) and real skeletons. The building was cool with marble floors, very quiet and with personnel everywhere while still being unobtrusive.

Police

At some point it dawned on us that we were never without police around us. They held the traffic for us to cross the street, and a police van with rotating red light on the top was always nearby. We were told several times how “safe” the town is. There was one aside about “narcos” but it slid by quickly.

Cultural center

Had two displays: one looked like a May shrine to the Virgin Mary and the other room had much boxing memorabilia.

The weather was actually very nice with a mild temperature and breeze. But the sun was very hot. The bus was a nice one with two bathrooms (which were very handy) and good air conditioning.

Cacti

The tour guide was actually a wonderful naturalist and he took time to tell us a lot about the various cacti around. I certainly learned a lot.

The Malecon

Or the beach side. Had many vendors set up and you could walk along and see the neatly spaced and very interesting public sculptures. The wares actually looked very good but there wasn’t anything I was interested in dickering for.

The water

Is incredibly clear for a long distance out to sea.

Old Mexican coins

I had taken the old money had has had forever and when I put it on the counter to pay the donation (to take photos in the museum), the young lady took all but two coins out and said they were too antique and could not be used. The bill and two coins left did not make enough for the $3 donation. At supper one of the wait staff who is from Mexico told us that several years ago the government had totally changed the currency (in the 80s?) and there were several of the coins, with Aztec designs, that she had never seen. Perhaps a collector would be interested.

So now we have 3 different types of defunct currency we have to figure out what to do with them.

Return to ship

Around 12:30 and there were several vendors set up outside the ship but again, nothing of much interest unless you are into cheap dresses, artificial fabric hammocks and serapes, jewelry of unknown provenance, etc.

We had lunch in the buffet and then spent the afternoon watching the movie “Woman in Gold” about the restoration of the Klimpt painting. Helen Mirren stared and she is always superb in all that she does.

So would I return to La Paz?

If you like sea sports: deep sea fishing, whale watching, snorkeling and scuba diving, boating. And/or laying on the beach frying—and getting drunk and wild at night, then this is the place for you. Otherwise, it’s pretty sparse and dank. There are no direct flights but you can come by car 1 ½ hrs from Cabo San Lucas or flight from Mazatlan or ferry from the same for 12 hrs.

Trivia

We don’t have to hang our heads in shame but Frances bought happy hour margaritas so I had to help her out by drinking one of them. These had real alcohol in them and the result was predictable.

Entertainment

Singers and instrumentalists.Ed went. I passed.

It is almost 8 pm and the sun has just gone down. It seems very strange. The sail away from La Paz showed islands and interesting terrain in the far distance.

Getting ready to disembark

I have thrown away my dried flower experiments and am straightening up other things. I got two cardboard boxes for crushable and I hope it is just left for me to take care of. The usual way is for me to simply leave the cabin for several hours and let Ed do his thing.

This has been a wonderful journey. I have enjoyed it even more than the previous two if that is possible. I love the routine and predictability of it all. The way the staff arranges so many interesting activities. The people you come to know and enjoy. It is the best assisted living I could imagine.