El Gato
Guest
Our daughter, son-in-law and grandson (age 13) came down for the first time ever. They were warned repeatedly about the dangers of going to Pensco - although no one who issued the warnings had ever been here. They ignored the warnings - then found out which "dangers" they should have been concerned about.
Border guards - both sides - were super nice to them. They got the green light, cruised through slowly while being waved to by the Mexican guard. They took my warning to heart about not speeding through Sonoyita and had time to look around. People kept waving and smiling at them - like they were pleased they were visiting. They found the road from Sonoyita was a better road then the one from Ajo to Lukeville. They enjoyed the Organ Pipe cactus and the vistas of mountain and desert. They couldn't believe how fast and easy it was to get to Penasco!
We live in a Coop so when they arrived we were waiting for them at the gate. They met the guard who had been giving us Spanish lessons (they all do since they know we are trying to learn Spanish) - so the kids were immediately included in the mini lesson. Going up in the elevator the housekeeper gave another Spanish lesson - by now our grandson was counting up to ten, saying hello and how are you, and naming colors in Spanish - rough way to learn a new language.
Then a view of The Sea of Cortez. WOW! All words, English and Spanish, left them. They fell in love instantly - another major danger. Then they were encounced in chairs on the terrace with a cold Corona in hand (not the grandson - he had a coke that he said tasted better then any coke he had ever had - pure sugar instead of all the chemicals - will get you every time). And we talked, and talked - and the 13 year old talked - no Ipod or cell phone in sight. Another danger encountered - your teenager might actually talk to you.
They had been to CA beaches and hated the cold water. Carefully stuck a toe in the water - and sighed, a big smile on their faces as they waded into the lovely warm water. Of course we had a terrible time getting them out of the water - off the beach - out of tide pools and swimming pools. But finally they got hungary. So off to La Curva, which was closed for August - then to Cocina de Ramon where they ran into another Spanish lesson and great food and lots of smiles from everyone. Gosh dang it - another danger - people actually seems pleased that you were here.
Next day actually got busy - hit Thrifty Ice Cream and the Malecon. Of course they had to run the gamet of more smiles and someone came out and directed traffic (actually there wasn't any) to make it easy for DH to back the car out. Jose shelled and cleaned the shrimp and packed it in ice. Back home to fix fresh shrimp cocktails and melt in your mouth Sonoran NY strip steaks, after stopping at Super Ley. Of course they met people all over the place - again made to feel welcome and safe.
Turns out after being here for a half hour they were already planning their next trip and how they could possibly call work and beg for an additional day (another danger). After all, they didn't get much accomplished on their list of things to do - the terrace, the beach, the water, kept beckoning. Manana is another major danger. You just get so darn relaxed - and sleep so well with the ocean breeze coming in (they turned off the a/c and opened doors) - of course in Vegas one does not leave doors and windows open.
They also went for a lovely moonlight stroll on the beach - hand-in-hand. Good grief, they have kids, and grandkids - what were they thinking - oops another danger - Penasco tends to make you feel young and carefree.
They were going to leave very early yesterday morning so they could get home at a reasonable time - Vegas is a long drive. They did managed to get away by 2:30pm - that darn beach kept them trapped.
After they breezed back across the border - being told about the Sunday flood by the friendly border guard they started texting their friends - telling them that they were REALLY stupid for not being down here. In fact, at the next check point DD told the guard there, who hadn't been down, that he really should come down - that he would love it.
Oh gosh, another danger over took them - they are now Penasco converts. And already planning their next trip.
Border guards - both sides - were super nice to them. They got the green light, cruised through slowly while being waved to by the Mexican guard. They took my warning to heart about not speeding through Sonoyita and had time to look around. People kept waving and smiling at them - like they were pleased they were visiting. They found the road from Sonoyita was a better road then the one from Ajo to Lukeville. They enjoyed the Organ Pipe cactus and the vistas of mountain and desert. They couldn't believe how fast and easy it was to get to Penasco!
We live in a Coop so when they arrived we were waiting for them at the gate. They met the guard who had been giving us Spanish lessons (they all do since they know we are trying to learn Spanish) - so the kids were immediately included in the mini lesson. Going up in the elevator the housekeeper gave another Spanish lesson - by now our grandson was counting up to ten, saying hello and how are you, and naming colors in Spanish - rough way to learn a new language.
Then a view of The Sea of Cortez. WOW! All words, English and Spanish, left them. They fell in love instantly - another major danger. Then they were encounced in chairs on the terrace with a cold Corona in hand (not the grandson - he had a coke that he said tasted better then any coke he had ever had - pure sugar instead of all the chemicals - will get you every time). And we talked, and talked - and the 13 year old talked - no Ipod or cell phone in sight. Another danger encountered - your teenager might actually talk to you.
They had been to CA beaches and hated the cold water. Carefully stuck a toe in the water - and sighed, a big smile on their faces as they waded into the lovely warm water. Of course we had a terrible time getting them out of the water - off the beach - out of tide pools and swimming pools. But finally they got hungary. So off to La Curva, which was closed for August - then to Cocina de Ramon where they ran into another Spanish lesson and great food and lots of smiles from everyone. Gosh dang it - another danger - people actually seems pleased that you were here.
Next day actually got busy - hit Thrifty Ice Cream and the Malecon. Of course they had to run the gamet of more smiles and someone came out and directed traffic (actually there wasn't any) to make it easy for DH to back the car out. Jose shelled and cleaned the shrimp and packed it in ice. Back home to fix fresh shrimp cocktails and melt in your mouth Sonoran NY strip steaks, after stopping at Super Ley. Of course they met people all over the place - again made to feel welcome and safe.
Turns out after being here for a half hour they were already planning their next trip and how they could possibly call work and beg for an additional day (another danger). After all, they didn't get much accomplished on their list of things to do - the terrace, the beach, the water, kept beckoning. Manana is another major danger. You just get so darn relaxed - and sleep so well with the ocean breeze coming in (they turned off the a/c and opened doors) - of course in Vegas one does not leave doors and windows open.
They also went for a lovely moonlight stroll on the beach - hand-in-hand. Good grief, they have kids, and grandkids - what were they thinking - oops another danger - Penasco tends to make you feel young and carefree.
They were going to leave very early yesterday morning so they could get home at a reasonable time - Vegas is a long drive. They did managed to get away by 2:30pm - that darn beach kept them trapped.
After they breezed back across the border - being told about the Sunday flood by the friendly border guard they started texting their friends - telling them that they were REALLY stupid for not being down here. In fact, at the next check point DD told the guard there, who hadn't been down, that he really should come down - that he would love it.
Oh gosh, another danger over took them - they are now Penasco converts. And already planning their next trip.
