Hola de Mexico! I am alive and well and suffering no ill affects other than the dent in my wallet from the pacificos with lime we seem to consume daily.

This is my favorite picture that i’ve taken so far, it is the sunrise from Playa Escondida. We spent 5 days literally beach camping in a secluded, beautiful spot about 300 feet from the tide line. The days were hot but breezy, the nights cool and star filled. I can now identify 4 constellations, make mushroom stroganoff for 35 and teach the masses an Aussie drinking song designed ensure that everyone involved ends up under the table, even if you don’t have a table. If I keep developing these kinds of skills, I should have no problem getting a job when I get back, right? right?

The trip down into Mexico was uneventful, I was one of three selected for a bag check at the border, but the guard seemed to be amused by my attempt to engage him in spanish so he let me off the hook and waved us through after lightening our wallets by $21 US. The first town we hit was Ensenada. We arrived on the afternoon of a festival and cruise ship departure so it was mayhem, but a nice way to start navigating semi solo. We kicked off the whirlwind tour by taking showers in a Banos that had steam or sauna if you wanted. This was a new experience for me, to take a shower at a bath house, but i was so dirty that the $6 shower [i went for the steam] and the .50 cent soap were sights for sore eyes.

The best thing about Ensenada was the fish tacos at Marisco’s [$9 us w/ a soda] and the electricity in the air surrounding the festival and parade. Although Ensenada is border town run down, the food and the festival made it a fun stop. I also seem to have found myself a bit of a boyfriend, though he’s only 15 now, I’m keeping my options open. His family owns the bathouse and I love a little bit of an entreprenuer.