Right in the middle of Mexican lifeCreated in the computer center of the Unversity in La Paz, Mexico, in February 2004After the loneliness of the desert, it's always a happy change to cycle into the smaller or bigger little towns of Baja California, for example Santa Rosalia, Loreto, and La Paz. Here we could fill up our food reserves, watch colourful goings-on in the streets, or visit small museums and mission churches. Here and there on Mex 1 we had very nice encounters with the Mexican population. |
 After weeks in the desert, the oasis town of San Ignacio came into view like a mirage. A subterranean river feeds palms and lush vegetation. In the centre of the town, a large plaza and the beautiful mission church with its orchards invited us to relax. (mi) |
 At a "Mini-Supermercado" in one of the many small villages along Mex 1, we met Alvaron, the falcon breeder. He prouldly showed us the latest offspring of his breed. The gorgeous bird on Markus' hand is only four months old! (mi) |
 Shy little Esmeralda took us to her dog and a vixen just being fed by her father. Her parents run a plain little restaurant at the side of the street, as a ranchero's (farmer's) income is hardly enough to survive on. (mi) |
 Looking for a garage where Markus could get the broken front rack of his bike repaired (one of those wild roads must have been a bit too wild), we met Antonio, who is also an enthusiastic cyclist. He often cycles to work, and now and then he spins the crank of his bike up and down the peninsula's mountains. He did the welding and varnishing for us for free, during his lunch break. (mi) |
 La Paz was a beautiful place to finish our stay in Baja California. The town is like ist name says (the peace). Inspite of a population of about 250,000 it's pleasantly peaceful and calm here. Even the cocks don't seem to crow so loudly in the mornings. In the franco-mexican culture centre, we met Israel, a student talented with languages who led us through the streets of his home town (also see the "Who we met" page). (mi) |
 Mexico is full of colours: here the colours of La Paz. (mi) |
 Malecon, the beach promenade of La Paz provides visitors with the most beautiful sunsets and a colourful nightlife. We enjoyed licking our first ice creams in ages, and strolling along shops and bars as leisurely as the tourists. (mi) |
 For years, "Peluquaria Ole" in La Paz has been a meeting point for cyclists from all around the world. Heber is just building a "Refugio de ciclistas". During the building times, we slept and eat in the barber shop. Of course, Heber's homemade crepes scored a bulle's-eye with us pan cake fans. Since we live at Heber's place, our Spanish is making enormous progress. Our word of the week is "chingón" = great! (mi) |
 Wearing either sandals or hiking shoes, we are bad customers for the shoe cleaners. But that doesn't keep them from saying a friendy hello and having a little chat with us. La Paz, Jardin Velasco (mi) |
 "Lotéria" is a popular game of chance on the green city square Jardin Velasco in La Paz. You can borrow a board for one peso per round. Each board displays a different combination of little pictures. The caller draws cards with these pictures at random and calls them out on a microphone. The pictures that were called out are marked with a token or a grain of maize. The first person to mark all pictures on their board wins 170 Pesos (apprx. 12 Euros). A great way of learning Spanish, we thought, and with Heber's help, we joined the game right away. (mi) |
