surf camp

This is my penultimate vacation post. Soon enough you'll be free from the reigns of my Mexico photos and back to looking at pictures of my children every day. Below are surf photos, part one. I wasn't joking when I said I took 200 pictures. I've edited, but it's still too overwhelming for just one post.

This is a surf camp that Alex and I discovered when we took off on a grueling run down the beach. I was feeling very ambitious and suggested we go for a five-mile run along the sandy dunes. Just one mile from our home base at Rancho Pescadero, however, I was huffing it--must have been the margaritas from the night before--and sweating buckets as we descended upon a little surfer's hideaway. Our discovery turned into a great excuse to abandon our run and stroll back to the resort to fetch my camera. I mean, we were on vacation--who ever heard of a five-mile run on vacation (professional athletes not withstanding)?

gratuitous beach shots (evening)

In my life I've been fortunate enough to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic and set over the Pacific. Growing up on the east coast, I was always partial to the sun rise over the ocean as an answer to the ultimate ethereal question whether it is more blessed to watch the sun rise or set over the expanse of the great main. Now that I've settled in the middle of the country, I'll take either.

In Mexico on my tenth anniversary vacation, however, I have to admit that watching the sun set over the ocean was pretty romantic--the beachside palapa was a nice touch. It was also the perfect time of day for whale watching (at least until that ball of fire dipped below the horizon and darkness quickly descended). So here we are, having cocktails and watching whales.

gratuitous beach shots (morning)

If you're already tired of the vacation photos, then you should skip the next few posts. This is just the beginning of the 200 photos I took on the beach in Mexico. Don't worry--I won't make you sit through an entire album of waves crashing on the shore, but don't get me started on the surfing pics...

sleepy surfer city

The charming town of Todos Santos was located just 15 miles up the road from our resort in Mexico. I first read about the town in the book Gypset Travel, and then again in the New York Times Magazine, which solidified my obsession with it and made it a must-see on our trip. It was exactly what you would expect of a surfer town--artsy, laid-back, friendly. And we did what most tourists do--drank, shopped, relaxed. Despite the photo suggesting otherwise, Alex did not bring home the Green Bay Packer Poncho.

Although everyone says you must have a meal at Cafe Santa Fe (an Italian restaurant in Mexico) while visiting Todos Santos, we opted for the more casual Miguel's Chile Rellenos. Miguel is featured in Gypset Travel, so I felt like I was being served by a celebrity when he brought our margaritas to the table. He was totally cool as I expected him to be, and his drinks were no-frills and stiff. His food was also no-frills and delicious, and the surf boards suspended above our heads reminded us we weren't just eating Mexican in landlocked Austin...

view from the top

I hesitate to tell you exactly where we stayed on our ten-year anniversary trip to Mexico because I fear that this off-the-beaten-path--in the true sense of the phrase, we had to drive two miles down a dirt road after driving almost two hours from Cabo San Lucas (at which point Alex asked "Where are you taking me?")--boutique resort will be spoiled. However, if I had never read about it, then I would never have experienced this amazing vacation. Thus, with a sigh of regret, I give you the Rancho Pescadero.

Fear not--or perhaps you should fear--this is just the first installment of my vacation series (remember when I went on and on about Disney World?). So let's start at the very beginning with the resort itself and the view from our room. Drifting off to sleep and waking to the sound of the waves pounding the surf was paradise. I was in such a Zenned-out state of mind that I even (willfully!) participated in yoga one morning. And I loved it!

Morning views 1, 2 and 3 from our room (above).

Alex being Alex.

The yoga pavilion (conveniently located steps from our suite).

That's our place on top. You could find me in the swing on the right when not walking on the beach, lounging by the pool with one of Danny's (fabulous bartender) delicious concoctions in my hand or stuffing my face with Rodrigo's (executive chef) delights in the Garden Restaurant.

Beachside palapa near the site of our bonfire dinner on the beach (how romantic!).

Afternoon view from the room (taken from my favorite spot on the swing).

I love a bed with a colorful mosquito net.