Farewell Ignacio Springs, Hello Mulege

Sunday, February 14

We took our time this morning at Ignacio Springs. Such a relaxing place. B and I walked out along the river, and inspected the next-door property. The river is tranquil. The resort has kayaks; we'll save that for another time. There are a couple of yurts on the next-door property, echoing the theme at the Ignacio Springs resort. Apparently the fellow who owns the property will sell you a chunk if you build a yurt on it. Hmmm.

At breakfast we are 7 at table, latecomers all; the four of us, a couple of French guys, and Christine from Germany-Canada-England, married to Vish (English-Indian, absent from breakfast since he never gets up early by choice). Christine and Vish are 4 months into a year of travel in the Americas. They have a never-ending supply of adventure tales. Conversation is lively. One of the French guys speaks very good English. He is traveling with a company computer, and having trouble connecting with wireless networks in the US and Mexico. I am able to help him connect; now he has the secret (what's the encryption? what's the key). Breakfast is fresh fruit, omelets with bits of bacon, and toast made from lovely homemade bread. Oh, and the homemade jams and jellies. Another great breakfast!

We settle up with hostess, Terry, and load up our car. It is a short trip to Mulege. Spring is come to the Baja. Bush lupine is blooming everywhere, there are bushes and bushes of apricot mallow, and what looks like brittlebush. We don't stop to take flower pictures; the road is twisty windy and there is no place to pull off. We motor into Santa Rosalia looking for an ATM. Eventually we happen upon one, and successfully replenish our money supplies. On we go, to Mulege.

Now we're in Mulege, so where is Clementine's? Our rented house is supposed to be on the river. We turn into what appears to be the main entrance to town, and get the self-guided tour on one-way streets. We end up down by the river, but eventually figure out that we're on the WRONG SIDE of the river. Well, darn. So we backtrack through town, and get back to the highway by traveling on a dirt road underneath the highway bridge. This looks familiar from the last time we were in Mulege. Back on the highway, we travel south ... too far south. When we pass La Serinidad, we figure we have come too far. So back we go. We try a number of side roads. At  last, we think we are close. We stop at a river-front restaurant (which is closed by the way) and ask for Clementines. Go two blocks, turn left, look for the sign that says "Cliff" and has a flower on it. (Cliff is the proprietor.)

  So, we arrive. Cliff walks to the house while we drive the dirt road down the riverfront. We arrive at out domicile for the week. The house faces the Rio Santa Rosalia (not Rio Mulege, has I find out). It is L-shaped. One bedroom is to the right, with a separate entrance. To the left is door to the kitchen, with another bedroom in the corner of the L. A utility room is built into the back of the L, with a clothesline around the back.  The patio is nestled  within the arms of the L; a propane grill, table and chairs, and a standing fire pit furnish the patio. It is so cute. The block walls are painted in bright colors - yellow and orange -- with bright blue doors. The showers are likewise tiled with bright colored tiles interspersed with white. 

Cliff makes a couple of trips. First, he offers us the nickel tour of Mulege. We accept. We learn where the markets are, what they are best for, and also where the best restaurants are and what days they offer their best. He comes again with an extra key and some Tecate. And finally makes another trip to bring us a new propane tank for the barbie.

While D has a nap, the three of us shop. First we stop at the chain market. We get a few things, but are glad to move on to Penguinos, where the help is nicer and the selection looks fresher. We gather the goods for our Valentine's Day dinner -- a chicken, cabbage, a cucumber, potatoes for baking -- and head home with our haul.

A couple of hours later we have enjoyed beer can chicken (cooked with orange juice instead of beer, since G has celiac disease), baked potatoes, braised cabbage, cucumber salad, and Gamesa cookies for dessert, save for G, who has a chocolate from her tiny valentine candy box.

  This is our room. Hope I don't fall out of bed  -- it's really high.