Saturday in Loreto Baja California Sur

 As I write this our Rivera Del Mar RV park in the area of Loreto where the residents live, is slowly filling up with the people who came through the border from Canada and US on the 8th. We were one day ahead so we have run ahead of the many following us. That is good and bad. Our park, though we had a reservation had some electrical problems, we had to run an extension cord, and it has been clear we are the first wave. One expatriate greeted us with so glad to see you, you are the first caravan since the Covid shutdown. This blog will have a lot more pictures than usual as we finally have a more reliable date connection. I will start with Saturday. Paul, Kristina, Ann and Greg, and Jim and I took a tour van with Oscar our driver to the San Francisco Javier mission which is up a very twisting grade to a higher place in these rugged mountains which has a spring that provides a water supply. You could tell the few places that have water as the date palms brought by the "missioners" as Oscar called them, have gone wild and sprung up in these places. The first mission was established in 1697 among the Monqui inhabitants but moved several times because these people revolted. The San Francisco Javier mission was started in 1744 and finished in 1759. 

This was the view from the road looking back to the Sea of Cortez. As we climbed up the canyons, it seemed some of the rougher country we have seen. 

On our way up, we took a side drive down this cobble filled gravel road you would expect the Baja Drivers to take. They did indeed run the trail very near this side road. This is a 300 year old ficus. We know it as the house plant with twisty roots. This one has managed to survive with only the summer monsoon rains that fill this water ways and leave little bits of water behind. That is Ann standing at the bottom. The picture on the bottom is one of the roots working through the rocks looking for water. It is about 25 feet long. The ficus is the street tree of Loreto and the bougainvillea grows every where on every house. They are beautiful and appear in so many colors. 

It was about an hour up to the mission about an 8 percent grade. These people had to be very self sufficient as is Kristina who is making her way up the stairs on her twisted ankle. The accident happened our first night in Portrero and she has been walking on it for two weeks with it hurting. She saw a doctor in Loreto Friday who x-rayed it and declared it not broken. He tendons are strained and swollen and the doc said two weeks no walking. Well, she is trying to limit but it is a challenge. Paul and Jim and observing her go up the stairs to the mission. 

Inside of the mission, we spend some time sitting but the music was very loud. The centerpiece was completed in the 18th century. 

The village at the mission was very colorful, here are some more bougainvillea growing in tough situations with the date palms behind. 

More of the village with mountains in in background. 

This puppy was happy with his shade and growled at another dog who wanted his shade. He did not move for humans either.

On to Sunday at the plaza in Loreto Jim and the Lady of Dia de Las Muertos. Tourists for sure. 

Judy being a total tourist!

OK, total tourist these are the first fish tacos and beer in Baja at Zapalote Brewing on the plaza. Totally American and Canadian as everything in English. This is no fun at the plaza it is so Americanized but great shops. 

Christmas has come to Loreto, many people have already decorated. We have seen decorated for Christmas. This is a bar restaurant along the La Malecon.