Exploring La Paz

     Today we left the RV park at 10 am with all but 4 off us in a van. Liz and Bill explored in their jeep they pull behind their Class A and our "wagon masters" stayed behind as did the puppies, Cleo, PiPi and Tucker. They got to sleep the day away in the trailers. The van took us to a taxi stand deep into the heart of the Malecon or Beachwalk near the big colors letters that announce LA PAZ. 

The water along the Beachwalk was so clear and appeared to be quite shallow for aways out. As you can see there were lots of small and large sail boats anchored out a way from the beach. That is a bench you see in the foreground were one can just sit and enjoy. Along the walk was a playground devoted to kids with disabilities as the swings, merry go round and teeter totter were all designed to accommodate wheel chairs. It was the first playground any of us had ever seen. 

There was also a small pier that jutted out a ways to accommodate the larger yachts. You can see still more sailboats out in the distance. People travel out to them in small row boats.

Wonderful sculptures lined the entire long Beachwalk. This one was exceptional. Among others, was one devoted to the black pearl which once was found in La Paz but is now gone due to disease and over fishing. 

We wandered with Kristina and Paul through many shops and discovered the Tuesday market. There was much negotiation over T-shirts especially. Paul has a remarkable collection of T-shirts from his many travels with bright colors and designs. He and Kristina helped Jim find two special ones to take home. We looked at some wonderful women's flowing garments designed by the young woman in the market. Kristina bought one cleverly designed to wear three ways in rich colors and gossamer fabric. The woman said the fabric is Turkish which she sews into her designs. We asked if she has a website and she said "no time." The woman with her laughed and said we all tell her that but she is too busy sewing and raising her kids and helping her minister husband. They both appeared to be expats and spoke English as a first language. 

After all this shopping we found a Taco Bar about a street away from the malecon, and thought would be a  good place to sit down but, to our surprise, it also had great food and cold beer. This is a picture of Jim and Kristina as they waited for Paul and I who had left the table for a minute. They had every kind of fish taco to include stingray which Paul declared good!

We discovered this very unusual mural on our stroll. If you look closely you can see the coyote is made up of the many fish and wildlife in the area with the rider and donkey on his back. 

Of course, we did not want to stress Kristina's foot, so we just had to stop for drinks on our way back to the van pickup. Our stop had a great view and shade!

And Jim thought that an apple strudel was needed to complete our walking tour of La Paz! It came freshly made from the kitchen though not exactly native to the area. We all then packed into the van, and I do mean packed, and bounced our way home past a Walmart, Home Depot on the way home. At least it is on the out skirts of town and is the first we have seen. Wherever Norte Americanos seem to congregate, we seem to drag our culture along. Else where in Las Paz, except for this out skirt of town, the real La Paz remains on back streets, the home to Baja California Sur people and their way of life. At least the waiters in the Taco Bar did not speak English as did some at the little brewing bar off the square in Loreto.