...I just got back from a great family holiday spent in Baja, Mexico; we actually went back to the exact same spot we stayed at four years ago because we had such an amazing time there the first time around...
A truly magical spot, the Hacienda Cerritos looks like it's been sitting beautifully on a stunning bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean for a very long time; the truth though is that it was only built in recent years, but it has such a traditional Mexican look to it from its architecture down to all its furnishings that one can easily be deceived. How can you not be charmed by a bedroom door opening onto this view...
...which leads you to your nearly private hot tub and swimming pool (you just have to share with your next door neighbours)...
...where you can enjoy this glorious view of secluded Cerritos Beach, great for swimming and surfing...
Magical, isn't it?!... Adding to the magic is the lovely inner courtyard around which the Hacienda is built,...
...a peaceful oasis offering much-needed shade from the ever-present hot Mexican sun...
...and where lovely blooms abound either weaving stunning tapestries...
...or basking in the sun as single beauties,...
...all creating a dazzling display of colour!...
While our three-night stay at the Hacienda was very enjoyable, we were surprised by the hotel's little signs of neglect and lack of maintenance; we eventually found out the probable cause for this lack of upkeep: its owner, an American property developer, has been arrested for bank fraud! Hopefully though, a new administration will come in soon before it falls into a greater state of disrepair -- it would be such a shame if it did! For the remaining four nights of our stay at Cerritos Beach, we moved down the beach from the Hacienda...
...to the very comfortable and spacious beach bungalows you can see below. That second floor balcony was so inviting, especially in the late afternoon after a day spent in the sun and water-- ah, if only I had brought a hook and a bit of yarn with me!...
Just a short drive from Cerritos Beach is the very quaint historic town of Todos Santos; the first time I visited Todos Santos twenty years ago, I don't think I saw any tourists there, but this time around, even more so than when we were there four years ago, it seems like it has definitely made its way on the tourist circuit. As you can see in the photos below, it is rather picturesque and, given that a highway from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos was built about four years ago giving the town much better access, it is hardly surprising...
I love seeing Mexican cutout banners strewn across a street -- they add such a festive splash of colour!
And how about this facade, so very modest yet so striking...
We sampled some very good Mexican cuisine in Todos Santos; on our last night, we ate at a lovely restaurant set in a stunning cactus and succulent garden you can see a bit of below...
And of course, adding gorgeous bursts of colour all over Todos Santos, rather like those Mexican banners, is the ubiquitous bougainvillea...
While we spent most of our time on the Pacific side, we did cross over to the Sea of Cortez side of the peninsula for a day where we toured Espiritu Santo Island by boat; this island absolutely amazed us with its breathtakingly rugged and varied shorelines, amusing lounging sea lions, sparkling turquoise waters and pristine white sandy beaches. We even stopped at one of these beaches and did a bit of snorkeling on a reef where we saw a lovely sampling of tropical fish. As you can probably tell by my three daughters' faces, it was the most perfect of days!...
And what did I bring back from Mexico?... Only one souvenir, but a very special one: my very own Frida Kahlo made by an artist who I found out when I got home has an Etsy shop right here!
Well, that's it for my little travelogue -- I do hope you've enjoyed it and I also hope you have a very lovely Easter weekend! Thanks for visiting...
Sounds and looks like a wonderful trip! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | March 27, 2016 at 01:53 PM
Interesting that you mentioned Frida Kahlo. There is a CAL starting this week, I think. Designed by Janie Crow, it's called Frida's Flowers and design was inspired by Frida Kahlo's colorful prints.
I've bought the color pack and can't wait to get started!
Thanks for the lovely pictures and the inspiration YOU provide to so many.
Posted by: Carol | March 27, 2016 at 10:26 PM