Ensenada - Club Riviera

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Today is Friday and I am heading for Tijuana in an hour or two by bus. I have a hotel reservation at the Palacio Azteca for tonight. Tomorrow morning I will get up early and do some exercise, maybe running on the streets of Tijuana (hmmm!). My flight for Monterrey leaves at 9:30 in the morning but because of the time change between here and there I won't arrive until 14:30.

I just received word that I will be going to Oaxaca on Sunday and working there for a week. That should be interesting considering elections are on Sunday and Oaxaca is known for conflict. Well, something exciting to look forward to. It may just turn out to be uneventful.

As I told you the other day, I have been to the Club Riviera that was built in 1930 for Americans to have a haven during the Prohibition period. It was really quite a place and below are some fantastic pictures.

The story goes that the "margarita" was invented in the Riviera in the 40s.

Here's the bar where the margs were made by David Negrete for the first time. I had a double vodka on the rocks here on Tuesday night.


A list of famous people who had been to the club including Desi and Lucy Arnez. Click on the photo to read the list.

A spooky hallway that once had personalities, the rich and beautiful women walking up and down them, gambling, drinking and having fun.

I waited in the dark to see if any ghosts would show up but I never saw any.

Ensenada Tourist Zone - Malecon

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Today is Thursday and I am running out of steam. I have been out everyday doing my exercise, being a good tourist and then working from 3 to 7 p.m. I usually come back to my room, have a drink and check my mail and then get a bite to eat.

Yesterday we took a drive out to San Miguel, a small gringo community that has mostly travel trailers with add on rooms. I checked a house there that was two small bedrooms and one bath for 70,000 dollars. The view if great and it is semi-private. They charge 5 dollars entrance and have quiet hours so it keeps the malvivientes out.

The hotel I'm staying at is one block from the beach and this is the big tourist zone. It is about 12 blocks long and covers two streets. Just about everything is expensive in terms of food, drink and souvenirs. You go two blocks over and you can get the locals prices. However, it is really nice here and still has that flavor of old Mexico. I have really enjoyed my stay here and I hope we come back to spend a whole summer. Today it is so cold that I need a jacket. Can you imagine, here it is 68 degrees and at home it is 102. Where would you rather be?

I haven't had time to check out this hotel in front of mine, Villa Fontana. It looks interesting, kind of like an old motor hotel. Everything in town is well-maintained, the streets are clean and people are very courteous drivers.

As I said the other day, there are no franchise or brand-name hotels here in Ensenada. Most are family owned. Most are older hotels but in very good condition.

I took a walk along the malecon which runs along the water where the cruise ships dock. I have yet to catch a picture of one. Everytime I go down here they have already left.

This picture was taken from "El Mirador" (lookout). This is the port terminal which receives containers and ships from all over the world.

A view of Ensenada from above. The city now boasts a population of over 500,000 people.

And of course there is the famous Hussong's. This is actually around the corner from the original watering hole and this is their clothes and souvenir store. Everything Hussong's. If my brother were to see this he would remember us drinking beer and eating tacos. Things have really changed in the last 33 years.

Tijuana To Ensenada

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I'm finally getting around to posting. I have free time in the mornings but by the time I exercise, get cleaned up and have breakfast it seems like the day is gone. Also, the director of the English program here in Ensenada likes to take me places. So yesterday I had to go to a school to see the last day of classes that included a spelling bee. Woweee!


When I arrived in Tijuana I caught a bus right there in the airport. It cost 220 pesos direct from the airport to Ensenada. It saved quite a bit of time and I arrived in Ensenada an hour and a half later.

Flying over the Sea of Cortez between the mainland and the peninsula.
I think this is the reservoir just East of Tijuana.

Industrial parks abound near the airport. The maquilladora is still big business.


The Tijuana International Airport.

The trip was quite surprising. As I said the other day it has been 33 years since I was in Ensenada or taken the coast highway. I have been to Tijuana many times for work and it continues to grow. It has become a nice place. Just like in Ensenada, and most other Mexican cities, people have obtained higher levels of education and in turn found much better paying jobs. You can see it in the new neighborhoods and the consumerism that is taking place. Chain stores abound here in Ensenada; CostCo, Walmart, Starbucks, Chili's, Sears the list goes on and on.

Ensenada has also become a bit more expensive too. Fish tacos are now 11 pesos, some places that aren't so nice are 3 for 20 pesos. To each his own. I still have lots of pictures to take like the Riviera Casino which was built during Prohibition and drew crowds from the U.S. including William Hearst, Al Capone, Myrna Loy, just to name a few. It is now an historic landmark and is used for special events. We went there last night for drinks. It has been restored after it had been left to elements and vandals for years. They were able to salvage the chandiliers and painted ceilings.

Cruise ships continue to pull in and out and Ensenada is back in business after the impact of the Swine flu. The streets fill up in the late morning and by 4 p.m. the crowds dwindle and the ship pulls out. Alls cruise ships stop in Ensenada as it is the first port out of the U.S. and into Mexico.

There are lots of campgrounds on the way down to Ensenada. Granted, these are not rv parks but primitive campgrounds along the oceanfront just perfect for the boondocker. I don't know what the cost is but one great location is Salsipuedes off of the toll road about 20 minutes north of Ensenada. Camping is $8 per night, or $5 to park and surf for the day.

Another before getting to Ensenada is Saldamando, dry camping with water. 17 dollars a night for motorhomes up to 32 ft. I don't know what the other rates are but they do have a webpage.

First signs as you are leaving Tijuana indicate the water is near.

All the rage, highrise condos going up all along the coast.

102 kms of oceans views between TJ and Ensenada.

Retention and Soffocation

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I have several complexes. I hate leaving a place dirty. I know I'll never see the person again but I feel I need to leave a good impression. One of those times is the hotel room. This morning I had some difficulty getting out of the hotel on time to get to the airport because I had to clean up my room. I like to put all the dirty towels together, pick up, and empty all the trash cans into one. It comes from an old habit when I worked as a "maid" in Seqouia Natl Park right out of high school. I was surprised by the way people left their rooms. Pigs I tell you. And the things we found, I won't mention them here, we are all adults and probably know from experience, hearsay or just plain ole imagination.

The other problem is breathing. My biggest fear. I don't have anxiety attacks or anything like that, but very humid hot air makes me feel like I can't breath. That's how I felt this morning when I left Los Mochis. But don't worry, I've never had an attack or put on a show, I can control it quite well. (am I a nut or what!)

So here I am in Ensenada. I got to the airport, took the bus down the coast (buses leave directly from the airport), checked into my hotel and did some sight seeing. A cruise ship left this afternoon. It was fun watching and waving to all the people. I had shrimp for dinner.

Lots to show and talk about but I have lots of time this week. I'm free everyday until three in the afternoon. This is a wierd place, I haven't been here as a tourist since 1975. Amazing the changes. It is beautiful though and the coast is just wonderful. I can't for us to rving around here.

Good Food in Sinaloa

Traveling along the Mexican coast line you can always find good food. I'm sure lots of you have your favorite places to eat including fine restaurants, palapas and taco stands along the avenues. Here in Los Mochis, El Farallon is an icon. It just happens to be two blocks from my hotel and I went there last night for dinner. The place is very elegant, the prices middle of the road (120 pesos), and the service excellent. I wish now I had taken more photos of the interior.

I ordered camarones con salsa chipotle. They were quite spicy, very flavorful and served with rice and steamed vegetables. You can see the plate of totopos or tostadas with salsa in the background which I finally had to tell the waiter to take away. To help keep the fire down, I had a chilled glass of chardonnay and passed on the desert.

It now looks like I will be here until Sunday morning. My reservations were changed and I will arrive in Tijuana around 1 p.m. and then head out for Ensenada. Tomorrow a group of teachers has invited me to lunch at the beach in Topolobampo. Ceviche and cold beer will be on the menu and I will show you Los Alamos numero 21 which we pass on the highway to the beach. A little surprise.

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Los Mochis To Ensenada 2009

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I came to Los Mochis today only to find out that I will be spending the next week in Ensenada. Sounds great to me! I can eat some of those great fish tacos and look up some old haunts. When I lived in San Diego my brother and I would go to Ensendada all the time. I will fly into Tijuana and take a bus down to Ensenada. I hope it is daylight, I love that coast highway drive.

Today was an exceptional day for flying. We headed out at 7 a.m. for Guadalajara. Take a look at this mountain formation. Fantastic!

Here is the Guadalajara Airport.


After I arrived in Los Mochis, I took a nap. Then I headed for the mall to have lunch. It is so hot and humid outside I needed to find a cool place to walk around for awhile. I had a pretty good salad and then did some clothes shopping. Wow, a first for me. I was told I needed some new clothes :).

Came back to the room to hear the sad news about Michael Jackson. I was really stunned. I just couldn't believe it. On top of the news about Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon. I dreamt the other night that Jerry Lewis had died. I guess you just never know what will happen.

Get out there and rv and don't waste any time.

Is This What A Last Meal Feels Like?

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I think I mentioned that I bought some ribeyes at La Laguna Carniceria, famous for Coahuilan beef. I was a bit skeptical as I have seen hundreds of businessmen carrying those little frozen boxes of beef on the plane back to Monterrey.

Guess again, they're right! We started up our little 12 inch grill and cooked up two of the eight ribeyes we bought. Just like budda. So soft you could cut it with a fork. I used a steak knife but it was so tender, so delicious, flavorful, juicy. Well, you get the idea.

Here it is served up with some fresh brocoli, mushrooms and garlic bread. A glass of red wine to help in the digestive process.