Drove down on April 11th and returned on the 18th. We saw so many new things -- in fact everything there was new to me. Mike and Cheryl had been there several times before so they were the perfect tour guides. We didn't miss anything.
Cheryl and I both enjoyed collecting shells - we were truly insane about it. She would get up every morning early and around 6:30 be out collecting. We both enjoyed our photography and took hundreds of pictures. Here, you will see a tiny sampling. Mike and John had fun joking around, eating Mexican food and drinking beer and margaritas.
Puerto Penasco is a small town that used to be a sleepy fishing village. Now the tourists from California and Arizona enjoy visiting and it is considered the beach for Southern Arizona. The people were nice and friendly. Very different from Cancun in the bargaining as the people are not aggressive. I enjoyed that and even bargained a little which is something I rarely do. Mike is a great bargainer and watching him helped me understand that the people do expect and enjoy this.
So here are a few of my pictures.
The ocotillo were in full bloom
Beautiful mural along the way in Why, AZ
The beginning of our trip
This was my first view of the water. I had it in my mind that
the water would be sort of brown - surprise, it was beautiful
This is in the Sea of Cortez
Looking across the bay, several condos and hotels, but nothing
compared to Cancun. I hope they don't over develop this area
At the fish market on El Malecon.
Great seafood straight from the water
fish, scallops, shrimp of every size
The early bird shell gatherer
Eggs - its what's for breakfast
Cheryl and I peeling and deveining several pounds of shrimp
Mayan Palace
We didn't spend much time here
We didn't spend much time here
Seagull enjoying the pool
Lucky's Cantina - buy a $5 cocktail, free breakfast of
bacon, 3 eggs, ham, beans, and the drink was not watered down.
We were so surprised to see huge Boise State sign there.
Mike & Cheryl - long time, dear friends
This is the "rocky point" sand. You can rent ATVs and drive around
much of the area. Jeeps, 4-wheelers are for rent. Looks like a ball
A little shopping at Cholla Mall
A little off the beaten track downtown, but great items with good prices
Very, very nice shop owners who were nice, fun and not aggressive
Nice shops at Cholla Mall
If I lived closer and had a truck I would
buy up almost everything. I love Mexican art - so bright
and beautiful. Their work just makes me feel happy.
We probably brought home 85 lbs. of shells between us. I left mine at Cheryl's house to pick up on
our way back to Florida. Picture below is low tide. If you can't find shells here you have a problem
Mayan Palace beach
Cheryl was up every morning and out by 7:00 a.m.
We each had "grabbers" so we didn't have to keep stooping over
The Marina where the shrimp fleet docks. The Sea of Cortez is
teeming with "pink gold" during the season. We surely ate our share.
Down at El Malecon
Sculpture to honor shrimp fishermen
Shopping, having a beer
blue sky, blue water - who could ask for more
Nice statute at a main intersection in town
Sandy Beach, a bit out of town looking toward Old Port
Flower lady - I bought some beautiful paper flowers from her
We had a wonderful late lunch here
Came back another day for Happy Hour
Amazing high and low tides in Puerto Penasco
This contraption pull boats out of the water and put them on their trailers
You can see how far the tide is out
Seagulls enjoying the catch
Wind generator that was not working
Seems it is sitting there waiting for something from Spain
So many birds to watch and enjoy
Pelicans plunging for dinner
Fun bar - we did not get "wrecked"
Horses for hire on the beach
Visited with the horse owner, a very nice man
Mike & John playing corn hole.
John won -- at the last possible minute.
I love this picture of Mike & Cheryl
Sunset over the Point
Tide out, look at all these shells
Mike walked the beach on morning and found these huge shells
He brought Cheryl and me back the next day. We were astounded. Biggest
shells I've ever seen on a beach and we got so many of them. Our bags got so heavy.
Met some fisher folks and they showed us a ray
that they found on the beach. Saw a dead seal and turtle too.
Non venomous snake. His mate had just been run over.
He is pretty long.
Adorable Merry Margarita, not often
do you see an entire pink boat
Last minute shopping at El Malecon
Mike's seafood platter, served on a pizza tray
This food was so good we ate 3 meals here. My favorite.
This food was so good we ate 3 meals here. My favorite.
John's chili verde burrito
It was amazing
Our servers were great, excellent service and happy smiles
Our favorite place
Guy working hard - I like that they use their people and give them jobs
In the U.S. they would lay down a stencil and it would be done by
a paint truck in one second.
RV park we checked out
Perfect on this trailer for Mexico on the beach
Gold from the sea
Our shrimp & scallops
View of downtown area from hill top
Pre-sunset - looks like liquid silver
Great dinner here, Chef Luca's new restaurant
The Fish Seafood Restaurant and Bar
The view is absolutely perfect to see the entire town
Beautiful sunset
Our bell boy was amazing. Can't even believe
the amount of stuff he was able to pack onto the cart.
I told him he was the best and probably magical.
Saturday Market in downtown park
We stopped on our way out of town
They can make art from anything - wonderful ingenuity
Recycling tires - useful and so cute
Goodbye beautiful Mexico. I will miss the people, food, colors and beaches. Puerto Penasco was a "best" trip, made more special with our friends. We'd been planning this trip for 1 1/2 years and now its over. Thanks Mike and Cheryl for going with us.
