Carnaval!!

Carnaval La Paz is every February and tied to

Mardi Gras events.

There is a week of festivities, including daily parades, carnival rides, plenty of food and music, music, music. Three HUGE bandstands started up after dark and drew big crowds. Lots of margaritas involved~similar to Halloween for the kids - all in costumes. The cascarones, or eggs filled with confetti, are everywhere. Each night, magic fairies come out and clean the streets for the next day's events.






Even the little ones get into the action!

The floats are pretty amazing, very intricate and participants all having a blast. Floats were sponsored by companies, such as car rentals, beer and grocery stores.

Ride 'em cowboy at the bull on the Malecon. Some of the afternoon events and you can also see one of the three music stages in the background, behind Bill.

Always things for sale for the kids - balloons, hats, cotton candy...note the margarita booth in front of the Burger King!

Bill with his Kettle Corn popcorn, Linda with her margarita.

The normal street along the Malecon, the Abasolo, is closed off for the entire week, making a nice wide walking area, all along the water.

Even time for some quiet times under a palapa on the beach, just next to all the events!!

There are various kings, queens and princesses crowned on on the floats, changing daily. The parades happen daily about 5 PM and start at one end of the center Malecon area one day, then switch the other end of town the next day.







Lots of "stuff" for sale, including blankets...it was about 80 degrees out. Not sure how those sales went!

The Queen of Something.....and the kings of...???

Happy faces at the end of a parade one evening. It was a fun, very noisy week. We actually missed half of the fectivities as we were on our trip to San Jose del Cabo. But still got the feel of the fun and good times had by all.

South toward Cabo San Lucas.....

On the road to Cabo and beyond.....even the cactus were in a festive Mexican mood!

Viva Mexico!

Why not a nice hammock in the shade? The Las Palmas hotel in Bairelles was lunch stop but looks like a spot to return and hang your hat for a bit.




Guess what? We passed south at the Tropic of Cancer demarkation. Amazing, it was dramatically warmer, balmy....yeah, right! Heading toward San Jose, we found our real destination in San Jose del Cabo, which is a strand of resorts between Old San Jose and Cabo.




Club Regina in San Jose del Cabo.
Note the cell tower on the mountain, disguised as a palm tree, sort of. A beautiful resort built into the cliffs and looking into the rocky/sandy beach. The "endless pools" were fun to sit in and watch the ocean. And they were all heated....!

The white wall is the pool's edge.

A map of the resort built into the mountain, Linda in the lobby and the cart paths they use to shuttle guests.

More Club Regina in San Jose del Cabo .......

....and a few pools....

Several swim-up bars kind of spoil one!

The sea gulls liked the pools, too!

Below is "our beach" area at Club Regina, down below our room....

Onward south to Cabo San Lucas, which was very cruise-ship touristy, crowded (both with people and tight boat spaces!) and expensive. Had a nice lunch and said adios!!


A party catamaran returning with the tourists full of margaritas and sunshine!

OK, we were tourists, too...

Then on to Todos Santos on the Pacific coast....where are those whales....???

NO whales near - very distant spouts! But the huge Pacific waves were pretty awesome! Sat for hours watching the water and sea gulls.

Welcome to the Hotel California! Yes, the Hotel California! Lovely place to stay in Todos Santos, while looking for the elusive whales.

Gorgeous little courtyards with character, very ecclectic. The rooms were very comfortable and updated. A queen room was $125.night. We checked in at 2 PM and they only had 2 rooms left.

Time to go back to the boat, men!!!