Welcome to the Spring Edition of The Baja Citizen!

It has been a busy couple of months for me In La Paz. I have had lots of family visiting. Some family who come every year, others who came to visit for the first time. And as you can imagine, just as you folks do when your company comes to visit, the kids and I turned into enthusiastic tourist guides and showed off La Paz.

But La Paz was really easy this year to show off. The weather has been wonderful. The malecon, even though still under construction, is still a real treat. Local restaurants have been serving fantastic food and more than accommodating for big groups. And several downtown shops have wonderful art, jewelry and pottery to browse through which made my shopping enthusiasts very happy.

There have also been some great events in town that transformed La Paz into something special. We took family to Carnival La Paz and although it isn’t my favorite event, we enjoyed the afternoon parades and laughed and applauded the floats and dancers. Others spent the afternoon at the fabulously organized La Paz Triathlon – in the Moonlight. My hats off to the organizers and athletes. This was a world-class event and La Paz shone bright!

And what can I say about our beaches. My cousins from Vancouver and my family spent a sunny day at Balandra beach with the tide out all afternoon so we walked and waddled for hours with the water just below our knees. My cousins from Steinbach, Manitoba tried for the first time SUP (stand-up paddleboard) at Harker Board, a sport they have never had the opportunity to try but fell in love with instantly. Another day was spent just lying around and enjoying beverages at Tecolote. Even when the sun goes down, it is still so hard to pack up and head home.

My sister and her family will be arriving for Semana Santa. Semana Santa 2018 officially begins Sunday, March 24 and runs through Easter Sunday on April 1, 2018 (Remember, Daylight Saving Time begins on the 1^st as well in La Paz).

I have already been told they want to head out fishing off of Ensenada de los Muertos and spend another day at the beach but not sure what day will work.

You see, Semana Santa is a big deal in Mexico. It is very popular outdoor holiday and because of the weather it is generally very accommodating this time of year – not too hot and not too chilly. Camping and beach going with the family are popular and the beaches, including Coromuel, Balandra, Tecolote, Ensenada de los Muertos, and San Juan de la Costa to just name a few, will be crowded! But even though I prefer the quiet, I am sure my nieces will just love the crowds!

My sister will enjoy walking around downtown though. During Semana Santa, downtown La Paz will be cleared out and plenty of parking will be available. Beaches will start becoming a sea of tents and parked cars, and grocery stores will be humming with customers at all hours of the day as they prepare for their traditional holiday get away to the beaches.

If you have company coming during the next few weeks during Semana Santa, it’s a good idea to call first to make sure your favorite small business or restaurant is open. Grocery stores, department stores, and most restaurants will be open regular hours. However, smaller businesses may or may not be open.

There really is never a dull moment in La Paz for residents and tourists alike. I really love playing tourist guide – and La Paz makes it so easy for me.

Yours,

Gari-Ellen