A global ramble - RTW 2017

[JohnM]

Coming into SJD (San Jose Del Cabo).




The two main towns at the S tip of the Baja are SJD and Cabo San Lucas. The former is much more genteel while Cabo San Lucas is a pretty noisy party town full of LOTFAP tourists. I guess it corresponds to Bali as the Australian equivalent. I also think it's the original Margaritaville...

Most of the action is around the marina.

 

[JohnM]

The coast ('tourist corridor') between the two towns is chockers with hotels and condos, with plenty under construction. A very nice wide beach and thankfully there is public access in places and scope to avoid the crowds.

 

[amaroo]

Enjoying the TR! I'm into ruins ... this TR and RooFlyer's earlier report make compelling reasons to visit.

 

[JohnM]

Full moon (or close to it) last night.



A mandatory margarita at the legendary Cabo Wabo (started in 1990 by one of the members of van Halen) early in the evening last night.

 

[JohnM]

Drove N today about 1h to Todos Santos, a very lovely artsy/surfer town on the Pacific coast, then about another hour to La Paz on the gulf side. La Paz had a nice promenade that went for kilometres.

The Pacific side is like the W coast of LOTFAP with the cold current generating rolling fogs. Also more surf than the calm and warmer gulf side.

Fishing on the Pacific side, a quaint memorial or chapel and wide coarse-sand beach.




Warm and calm with a very low tide in the bay at La Paz.



Very calm waters in the gulf.



This is Mexico, gringos

 

[JohnM]

Enjoying the TR! I'm into ruins ... this TR and RooFlyer's earlier report make compelling reasons to visit.

Make sure to do ATM cave (scope out some images by googling it). Not ruins, but fascinating and ties in very deeply with the culture of the societies that gave rise to the ruins. You need to wear light clothing that you can get up to your neck in water in and some light reef shoes (not thongs). The rocks are not sharp but bare feet would not be advisable. As well as being highly informative, it's great fun.

 

[amaroo]

Make sure to do ATM cave (scope out some images by googling it). Not ruins, but fascinating and ties in very deeply with the culture of the societies that gave rise to the ruins. You need to wear light clothing that you can get up to your neck in water in and some light reef shoes (not thongs). The rocks are not sharp but bare feet would not be advisable. As well as being highly informative, it's great fun.

The dice have fallen! We're now spending 9 nights in Guatemala and Belize ... have just spent the best part of the weekend making arrangements. Not sure if the kids and SWMBO will be as keen as me

 

[RooFlyer]

Wow! Nine nights:shock: I guess you'll do the seaside / reef bit as well.

 

[amaroo]

Wow! Nine nights:shock: I guess you'll do the seaside / reef bit as well.

Not quite. I'll update the other thread I've got going and leave JM to carry on..

 

[JohnM]

OK, back to Cabo Wabo - but after dinner tonight. One margarita was while waiting for the very good live band that came on at 1030. Another followed...

Interesting oz influence - a couple of AC/DC including a very good rendition of 'Highway to Hell' - but the real surprise was, IMO, a better than original version of the Oils' 'Beds Are Burning'. Had the house going right off.

 

[JohnM]

Explored along the gulf coast to about 100km N of Cabo today. There are some quite isolated small communities and holiday destinations along the coast - massively less crowded than near the tip of the Baja. Most of the roads close to the coast are still dirt.

On the way made my first terrestrial crossing of this landmark.



Found a lovely little sleepy settlement aptly called Buena Vista. Went for a decent walk along the beach. It was tranquilo - despite the occasional interruption caused by the quad bikes that are a favoured mode of transport.

 

[JohnM]

The small isolated settlement at Cabo Pulmo is interesting. Formerly a fishing village, the local fishermen decided in the early 1990s that a better long-term future lay with tourism so they campaigned to have a marine park established. It has the only area of coral reef in the gulf and is visited by migrating whales and whale sharks.

The marine park was declared in 1995 and by 2005 it was World Heritage listed. Impressive stuff.

Approaching the area.



The settlement. Lots of scuba diving available.



Looking S and N along the beach from the settlement.





In the southern gulf the current is cold enough to generate sea fogs and fogs around the hill tops.

 

[JohnM]

Pleasant afternoon on the ride SJD-ORD today. Doing a little SC and points running over the next two days to get to SCL the long way through LOTFAHP (land of the free and hyper paranoid).

The view from SJD terminal.





It's a pretty busy place.



East coast of the Baja looking about where I was yesterday.

 

[JohnM]

Crossing the E coast of the Baja into mainland Mexico.



Setting course for ORD. Clear running for about the first third of the flight then full cloud until into descent to ORD.



Positioning over the city for approach.



Just managed to capture downtown from 3A (front row for those unfamiliar with AA seat numbering).



Cleared LOTFAHP entry in a breeze and over to the ORD Hilton (for convenience only...) for the night.

View from 8004.

 

[JohnM]

Oops, should have said crossing the E coast of the Gulf of California (aka Sea of Cortes) into mainland Mexico.

 

[JohnM]

Bright morning at ORD today with the sun streaming into a near-deserted AA International First Class Lounge (previously known as the Flagship Lounge).



Over the Rockies en route ORD-LAX.



A bad shot taken hastily of the new QF maintenance hangar out the back of LAX.

 

[TomVexille]

Bright morning at ORD today with the sun streaming into a near-deserted AA International First Class Lounge (previously known as the Flagship Lounge).

View attachment 91033

Those are the chairs blackcat20 and I sat in on Jan 1

After all, it pays to know the right people

 

[JohnM]

LAX-JFK today and on to SCL tonight.

I was slightly bemused by the AA J wine list on the A321T. No loyalty to US producers whatsoever - and the Zin from Australia is bizarre given the US kills it with that variety! I didn't bother trying it on the 0700h flight. Saving myself for the LA flight over dinner tonight...

View attachment 91079

AA is currently upgrading lounges. The IFCL at ORD is still the same traditional place. A bit small but I like it. LAX is in temporary space. JFK is in the same space as previously but with a much updated look.

View attachment 91080

Taittinger was the Champagne offer at ORD and LAX; Bollinger at JFK.

 

[JohnM]

WiFi is deplorable at the moment. It killed the pics. Try again.

 

[TomVexille]

... Bollinger at JFK.

You're making me regret booking a cheap $50 fare from LGA over spending $120 from JFK :mrgreen: