This week my Sister, who was a recent Guest staying with me, has contributed a Guest Blog about her visit that included her Grandsons, I hope you enjoy . . .
This trip to
Loreto, our fourth, was a very different experience for us all; instead of
coming for a quiet, restful adult holiday, we travelled with one of our
extended families - mom and dad and two grandsons on their first visit to
Mexico. Less restful, yes, but full of new discoveries. Instead of revisiting
the familiar pleasures of the ex-pat community, the serene beauty of the Baja landscape
and the charm of the historic town of Loreto, we were treated to an entirely
new perspective on this magical world, through the sparkle of the boys’
eye-view!
When we got out
of the airport terminal and into the sun and warmth of the afternoon, the
four-year old pronounced that he was coming here to live. He wasn't going to
wait until he was grown up – he was coming here NOW! TO STAY!! Our host looked
somewhat alarmed. Of course, the boys had been
prepped with photos and maps before the trip; school projects helped identify
things like cactus and ocean … but Baja reality began to hit home when the
first small group of horses ambled onto the highway just outside the airport.
This doesn't happen much in urban Ontario!
Later, coming
“home” to my brother’s villa in the Founder’s neighborhood to relax over an
early supper, the meal was interrupted by a noisy flutter of small birds
zeroing in on the tree in the courtyard – prompting the observation from a
Grandson that “Hey, there’s no roof out there!! You can see the sky!!” While
dinner on the deck at home is a familiar summer routine for the grandsons,
small birds flitting into the dining room is relatively rare, and had to be
investigated immediately!!
Like most
youngsters, bedtime usually comes well before deep darkness; here, however,
walking home along the Paseo after the short twilight, they were treated to a
vivid light show, the moon and star-filled sky dazzling our city eyes. Next
morning, the experience was shared in breathless excitement – “We saw the
moon!”, “Yeah, and VENUS!!”, “And all those stars!! There were MILLIONS of
stars”
And cactuses?
Well, the towering pillars that dot the landscape along the highway were not quite
the finger-sized specimens that had been found in the local flower shop. On
later inspection, the big, sharp spines projecting from the ridges of the Cardon
had to be tested, as were the thick yellow bristles on the ornamental Barrel
cacti used in the village landscaping. Tested with a gentle finger, and found
to be, yes, sharp! 
But of most
interest in these odd plants were the “pimples” that the boys noticed at the
top of some of the cacti – flower buds, of course – but what adult would have
made that association? And when the pimples blossomed? Why, then they must be
blooming pimples, or “bimples”. The fact that the flat paddles, or Nopalitos,
of the prickly pear cactus are also sold as vegetables in the market was
another curiosity they enjoyed – but weren't interested in sampling .
Little,
quick-footed striped grey geckos scampering over the pale gravel replaced the
darting squirrels and green lawns of southern Ontario, and were just as hard to
sneak up on! Which didn’t prevent them trying, again and again!
And the pizza
shop, with the ginormous pepperoni pizza – and the coffee shop with the
swing-out stools at the long table, where they served chocolate almond milk,
and cookies the size of Big Macs, and huge fruit cups with chopped papaya,
pineapple and mango, and grilled cheese sandwiches toasted with parmesan on the
outside, and hot dogs with two doggies in each bun … Boy heaven!
To say nothing
of three pools – a big swirling pool with deep and shallow
sections, and a non-functional hot-tub which became a private wave pool, with
its own waterfall; the quiet, grown-up lap pool where Baba liked to sit with
her book – and the other, best pool near the pizza shop, not so big, but on the
way home there was always a chance of stopping at the little store – where
once, we found the most enormous marshmallows – huge – the size of cupcakes,
vivid pink and virulently flavoured with chemical strawberry! We heard the
siren call of s’mores all the way home – and survived the sugar-frenzy that
followed!
Just because
it’s there! Punta Nopolo, the iconic tooth of volcanic rock that sits in the
bay was a constant lure – nothing would satisfy the boys until they climbed to
the peak – or as close as possible, with adults helpfully behind – King of the
Mountain as they looked over the bay, the village and the golf course lying
below. 
The adventure of
the glass bottomed boat tour was literally, an eye-opener. Along with the
grown-ups, they sat along the sunken viewing tank, watching the swirling
schools of fish undisturbed in their native habitat – without getting water in
their eyes or up their nose! The gold-striped Sergeant Majors were everywhere,
but schools of silvery barracuda, lumpy-faced parrot fish, Yellow-tailed
surgeonfish among other exotically coloured and shaped fishes kept us
entertained while dozens of vividly coloured starfish decorated the rocky
landscape below. When we discovered that the four-year old was counting the
sting-rays, the whole boat-load chanted along – sixteen, seventeen, eighteen –
all the way up to twenty-six! His proudest moment!
And then there
was the afternoon when the surf came up – a wind blew in past the cruise ship
in the distance, and tossed big whitecaps against the shore, “white horses” for
the boys to jump and chase all along the clean sandy beach. Later, the palm
fronds whipping back and forth, the rattle and swish of their wide leaves
whistling in the dying wind provoked worried concern about spooky night
visitors. But before daylight, the wind was finished, and we woke to a calm sea
and clear skies. Just another day in paradise.
Mexican food was
a challenge – while the grown-ups enjoyed fish and shrimp tacos, the Clam shack
produced quesadillas for the boys – “Mexican grilled cheese” – a success; the
elegant restaurant in town treated the grown-ups to a wonderful evening; Mom,
Dad, and the Grands fully appreciated the delicate creamed cilantro dressing on
the shellfish and shrimp, to say nothing of the silky Flan that
ended the meal. (Note to self – NEVER pass up a Mexican Flan!!) Although the
boys were underwhelmed with their grilled chicken and veggies they
were fascinated by the pick-up soccer game going on in the plaza just outside
the restaurant patio, and delighted by the ice-cream sundaes that arrived to
make everything perfect!
We made a final
tour of Loreto Bay before the trip home, where the boys showed me some of their
favorite things. We gently poked cactus spines, found a bird-nest tunnel in a
larger Cardon cactus, enjoyed some lizard antics, splashed in a fountain on our
way to the beach, and finally, shoes off and splashing, into the gentle
wavelets lapping on the shore. No “white horses” today – but miles of empty
beach to run, and warm sun and gentle breezes.
One last ride to
the airport, luggage checked in, sweaters ready for the arrival in Calgary, and
suddenly, they were away – until next time! But for a few days, we shared the
magic they found here in Loreto Bay, experiencing the wonder and mystery again
through the eyes of a child.
