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 - Laid Back and A Day of Planning

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

We started out the day with a stop at the tourist center down by the wharf.  Lots of good information and you can find some good deals as well.  We were in the search for our ride to the wineries hopefully tomorrow.  We took the city bus and we used our senior discount card.  6.50 pesos per person $.35 U.S.  Fast and what a deal.

We decided on a rental car which turns out to be the best deal.  The Valle de Guadalupe (wine country) is an easy ride, just 30 minutes away and the map for the tours is very straight forward.  More on how that pans out.

The main tourist street is empty today.  Yesterday we avoided it because of the crowds.  It's very nice and looks nothing like my first visit back in 1976.

For those that like margs!

I just realized the sign I am sitting in front of.  I was actually next door to the Hertz agency and looking on the map for the next one to check.

Club Riviera, built-in 1930 during Prohibition to satisfy the needs of the Hollywood stars and the California rich.  Today it is a museum and historical marker used mostly for private events but it is open to the public.  Well-heeled Americans would take yachts down the coast to Ensenada and spend weekends doing what rich people do.  Apart from alcohol, I'm sure it was like Las Vegas in its time.

One of the dinner/dance rooms.  Imagine the diners sitting around the top row watching the bands while having dinner and drinks and taking to the dance floor.  This room always reminds me of Jack Nicholson's film, The Shining.

A list of some of the famous people who would spend their time at the Riviera Club.  

Had to get a bite to eat.  What makes these tacos so good is that the tortilla is very thin and the fish and shimp very lightly battered.

We attempted to go to a restaurant that is highly recommended.   El Guerrerense has been highlighted and visited by many famous chefs and critics including Anthony Bourdain.  They have a stand on the street and we asked when the restaurant opened.  Closed on Monday.  On our way back to the house we saw the owner actually working at the stand.  She invited us tomorrow or Wednesday to the restaurant.  Wow!  Honored.