San Blas, Jan 21, 2014

Tony and Gayle offered their car for a day trip to San Blas so of we went with John for the day.

A little detour out to Chacala so he could checkout the beach he had camped at thirty years earlier. The campground has been closed because of the lack of  infastructure for sewer but the beach will never change.

30 years memories 

and some sailing thoughts

The campground had been here

But the beach remains a treasure

An hour through beautiful green agricultural landscape, we arrive at San Blas, stop in the square for a cappicino and check out The Bells Of San Blas from the very popular poem of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the last poem he wrote, twelve days before his death. The church is in disrepair but the bells still toll. A newer church has been built right beside the old one.

part of Longfellow's famous poem, The Bells of San Blas

The new church

Cappacinos and smoothies at the square

come on John, only 10 pesos for all these bananas

The bells of San Blas are on this old church

Off to the beach for lunch at a palapa. Dave and John shared a huge shrimp ceviche, I got the mixed plate of filet, clams and onions. Yum to both dishes.

More 30 year memories for John

Best banana muffins on the coast

Before the breakwater was built, surfers would ride the wave for a mile, get a ride back to the point of the peninsula and do it again!

Our restaurant was the third from the left

A lovely swim then on to the first fort on the coast, from which Spainards sailed up and down the whole Pacific Coast. Area first explored in 1530 by  nuño Beltran de Guzman then the port of San Blas was founded by Don Jose de Galvez in 1744.

History inside the restored naval building

checking out the vantage point from the top

Padre Serra

And this dear man is the author of a written history, of which he is very proud. He lured us into the museum and told us "one more history" and "one more history" ten times I believe. We are now proud owners of one of his books!

That same year, under the leadership of Padre Junipero Serra, 16 Franciscan Missionaries left here to take over missions in Baja  California from Jesuits expelled from Mexico.
The first mission was built in San Diego between 1769 and 1823 and then 21 missions are built byvthe padres in Alta Cal.
Dave and I have visited a good number of those sites in our travels.

Meanwhile Juan Perez has been exploring from here all the way to Nootka, Canada then on to the NWT.

And "one more history"......


Thus ends our month in La Penita area, it went so fast.

last evening we did Juan's place for a sunset drink, then to the Potato Mans for a special treat for dinner.
This morning, breakfast at Hinde's , off to tianges for long socks, then had a haircut.
 Dinner will be at Hitem's, our farewell and thank you dinner, Arabian style.

Moving on to Mazatlan in the morning for two weeks.