Trip to Todos Santos 12.3.21

      This morning we were picked up at 9:00 for a trip to Todos Santos which is a little over an hour away. All of us except Dave and Ruth went on the trip. We were dropped off by the Hotel California. Probably not the one the Eagles song was based on but it definitely capitalizes on the song. This is a beautiful little town and all of us went off to find the parts of town which held interest for us. The vendors had some goods of quality and, at times, we could find the artisans working. There was one we watched that uses cow skulls with sweeping horns which he covers in a wax and then places small beads, thousand of them in a beautiful pattern the so completely covers that it looks like it has been woven to fit the shape. He had animal forms of all types he had covered in patterns and multiple colors.  

     Jim and I wandered into a shop that had pottery painted in a profusion of colors but in a delicate and intricate fashion. It is made in Pueblo, Mexico on the mainland. We could not resist a piece. We started a conversation with a man named Florencio. I commented on his ease with English. He said he was raised in East L.A. and was born there. We had a conversation that lasted a long while. He is old enough that he was there when the Rodney King riots happened in 1991 and was shot at during the riot. He said many young Mexicans like himself fell into gangs. His tattoos indicated he many have also. He and his wife moved to Mexicali and struggled to make a living in the fields. His family was still in L.A. and they were close so moving was difficult. They finally took a chance 10 years ago on the advice of a friend who said try Baja your ability to speak English may work for you there. We also spoke to our server at the restaurant around the corner. He was probably in his 30's, bilingual, with startling blue eyes. He was born in Arizona near Tucson and come here a while ago when all that was available to him was working in the fields. Both men indicated this is a more welcoming place with more opportunity and lower cost of living than the US. Baja California del Sur is indeed, even with Covid set backs, is  a place of development and opportunity for younger Mexican families who come from the places these men do. 

Hotel California, several of our group went in wandered around and had breakfast. They checked out the bar, too early to try it out, and found they are renovating the hotel's rooms. 

There are many "malls" which are areas you walk back into that contain many shops. Many had patio areas and were full of plants. There would be several shop or restaurants back in these areas of the street. 

Hard to see but this was the view from our little cafe we had lunch in. It was a roof top restaurant which in common in this area and many homes have them. It is open and covered like a palapa with palms or bamboo to provide shade. It then allows the ocean breeze to move through unimpeded by other buildings. You can barely see it but that is the Pacific Ocean in the background. 

Jim could not resist the internet connection. We really did have some conversation. 

Food picture, Jim's shrimp stuffed Chili Relleno. We thought this was a nice plating. 

Ah, shrimp tacos, with all the condiments on the side. The cold Negro Modelo was not bad, either. 

One last tale, as we left lunch we wandered through a shop with silver and fire opal pieces. One of the venders asked us to look at some bracelets he had recently made. We looked and I saw some I was quite taken with one made with silver and fire opals. The two I choose, he said were 900 and the other 1200. Jim was standing behind me so he heard the whole interchange. After much trying on, I liked them, and said I will take them. One was going to require a link so I said I would wait. I thought they were certainly worth $200 + in US. So they ran my card and I sat down to wait for the link to be added. We were close to the van leaving at 2:00pm. Suddenly my phone lit up with a text which said "do you authorize a  $2,156.00 purchase. Panic! I hit N for no and went to the people at the counter. "Here, I said, is one of the bracelets and you have the other, I am returning them and I would like a credit back on my card." There fellow who had been so friendly was suddenly telling me that he told me US dollars. Jim and I never heard him say anything of the sort or we would said thanks but no thanks. I was a bit late for the bus but insisted they run the credit in front of me. Then I caught my breath, glad I had waited a few minutes and not left. I later checked with the credit card company put a hold on any charges and they said a credit was pending. Next time, I ask, pesos or US dollars. The bracelets may have been worth that amount but it seemed a bit of a scam. After 4 weeks in Mexico, this is the first time we have encountered a duplicitous vendor as all others have been open and above board on all transactions and even willing to deal.  We have also not encountered bandits or cartels and have not seen the road rage we have seen in the US. I don'zt expect that to change in the next two weeks.