Thanksgiving Weekend Observations

mis2810

Guest
We got down there on Wednesday late afternoon and returned to Phoenix late yesterday afternoon. This is the latest in the year I've ever been down to PP.

We got the red light at the border. They made us get out and I was waiting for the whole pet paper/pictures/scanning ordeal. The woman made a half-hearted attempt at unzipping one duffel bag, asked if we were bringing any food or drugs ("No"). She didn't even notice the crate holding our cat and luckily my little girl stayed quiet and didn't try to show off her bilingual meowing skills!

The weather was fantastic. The sun was warm, the nights cool, but not cold. The water temp was a little chilly for me - I like the water temp in late June - but there were definitely people in the water and lots riding jet skis.

It was a lot more crowded than I expected it to be - all Americans, as opposed to our last 5 or 6 trips where it was mainly Mexican nationals. Thursday afternoon the beach cleared out around 2:30 when everyone left to go and prepared their T-giving dinners.

One thing I've never seen before and this probably has to do with the time of the year. Sunday evening about 10:30-11:00, I was out on the balcony looking out towards the old port and thought they had lost electricity - no lights at all. It actually turned out that a pretty dense fog had rolled in and soon after I could barely see the next building over from us on Sandy Beach. I fell asleep so I'm not sure how long it lasted, but it was pretty creepy, but cool at the same time. On our way out of town we stopped off at our favorite cerveceria to drop off the empty bottles and noticed their glass window was smashed. The guy told us that some theives had taken advantage of the dense fog the night before and broke in.

We're thinking about coming back down for New Year's. How does the weather compare?
 
In January temps range from 60 to 80 degrees, and nights in the 40s. This year so far is warmer in the Sonoran Desert, so unless a shift happens, it should be exceptionally nice. The New Year is a popular time down there.

I, too, was there Wednesday through Sunday, and really enjoyed the warmer-than-normal conditions. (Generally from, say, November through June, I assume that any swimmers are from Canada, Chicago, or some similar place that finds the water bearable.) The crowds in town were way denser than I remember over the last few years, even for a holiday. I'm thinking that this might be a trend . . .
 

Roberto

Guest
It would be nice if things pick up. I will say that Capones had the biggest crowd I've seen this past weekend. This despite the fact that a certain conspiricy oriented forum member's boat was parked across the street. No Federal protection either.
 

El Gato

Guest
Sort of like Phoenix - can be beautiful or windy and cold. Have had it both ways but probably more beautiful then not. Of course we could be biased :)

You are right about Thanksgiving being fantastic (you are missing today!)

We managed to sleep through the fog on Sunday night. Have seen it a few time and it is rather neat as not a normal occurrence - I really like watching it in the early morning.
 

mis2810

Guest
Sort of like Phoenix - can be beautiful or windy and cold. Have had it both ways but probably more beautiful then not. Of course we could be biased :)

You are right about Thanksgiving being fantastic (you are missing today!)

We managed to sleep through the fog on Sunday night. Have seen it a few time and it is rather neat as not a normal occurrence - I really like watching it in the early morning.
It was so difficult to leave yesterday. Even the cat was lying on the floor sunning herself in front of the patio balcony door when we were packing up. It broke my heart to scoop her up into the crate! Do you guys let El Gato outside on the patio? I'm always afraid mine will jump up and fall, or start climbing higher!

The fog was really cool. The other thing I noticed that I hadn't ever noticed before was in the water in front of Bella Sirena there's a high spot that the birds hang out on when the tide is coming back in. It's completely surrounded by water and it looks like a tiny deserted island filled with birds.
 

dwig222

Guest
We only go down in the winter. From about mid November to March we love it down there. There are always going to be rainy days, windy days and cooler days, but I never remember it being too bad. Last winter it was like spring down there. I'm hoping we will get that again this winter. The shrimp is cheaper and fresher too. We are retired so we avoid the holiday weekends, but New Year's Eve is really popular. I think it's a little warmer than Phoenix because the sun is so intense. Try it.
 

El Gato

Guest
It was so difficult to leave yesterday. Even the cat was lying on the floor sunning herself in front of the patio balcony door when we were packing up. It broke my heart to scoop her up into the crate! Do you guys let El Gato outside on the patio? I'm always afraid mine will jump up and fall, or start climbing higher!

The fog was really cool. The other thing I noticed that I hadn't ever noticed before was in the water in front of Bella Sirena there's a high spot that the birds hang out on when the tide is coming back in. It's completely surrounded by water and it looks like a tiny deserted island filled with birds.
El Gato loves being out there with us and when he leans over the terrace my heart goes into my mouth! He also likes to lay on the bed and looks out at the sea, almost in a trance - he appears to watch the coming and goings of the shrimp boats. He also loves laying in the sun and getting his belly rubbed. He really leads a rough life.

I think, in general, winter is about 10 degrees warmer here and in summer it is about 10 degrees cooler.
 

joester

2 salty dawgs
we were in RP from Wed -Mon, had a grand time. red-lighted on way in - no problems + nothing taken.
5 days/nights of paradise on the beaches from Mirador/PDO to JJ's and Bird Island boat trip - perfect.
was hard to leave Monday late morning. looking forward to next trip. did get thru border pretty quick, even with a secondary inspection and a trip inside to sit on the "group W" bench (Alice's Restaurant joke). nothing taken, out in about 10 min total. sweetness!
 
Ahh! But the 75-80% humidity during the summer is the real deal, it will make the 10 degrees cooler feel 20 degrees warmer. Most people have a hard time cooling when the conditions are like that, In PHX when it is 110 or in RP at 90 with 75% humidity it's all the same, very uncomfortable. Well at least there is A/C.
 

El Gato

Guest
Ahh! But the 75-80% humidity during the summer is the real deal, it will make the 10 degrees cooler feel 20 degrees warmer. Most people have a hard time cooling when the conditions are like that, In PHX when it is 110 or in RP at 90 with 75% humidity it's all the same, very uncomfortable. Well at least there is A/C.
But at night in the summer, sitting on the terrace with a breeze off of the sea, stars up above, laughter of children, the sounds of music, heat and humidity seem to disappear.
 

mondone

Whitecaps
We got down on Wednesday afternoon and arrived back in Phoenix Monday, 7PM. Prayed for and got a green light since we brought a lot of stuff for TG dinner. Made the bird on the BBQ, smoking it with applewood like I have done for several years in Phoenix and it was best ever! Encanto had a lot of homeowners in for the holiday, it was good to see so many of the neighbors again. Did Bird Island boat trip on Friday, wife stayed on board but I snorkled with the sea lions as water was not as cool as I expected it to be. It actually was perfect. Weather was awesome, hated to head back home.
 
Ahh! But the 75-80% humidity during the summer is the real deal, it will make the 10 degrees cooler feel 20 degrees warmer. Most people have a hard time cooling when the conditions are like that, In PHX when it is 110 or in RP at 90 with 75% humidity it's all the same, very uncomfortable. Well at least there is A/C.
Well yes, but here's the quirky thing about that. Even a light wind counteracts the humidity. And the nearer the water, the better the breeze. It's a bit of a gamble, but for the few times that airflow is nil, AC and a good book is always an adviseable mid-day backup plan.
 

GV Jack

Snorin God
Yep...Was there in late September this year and it was oppresive. I've been there in late August and it wasn't anywhere near as bad.

Early morning on the beach/patio and into the a/c for the day. It was even too hot for the bugs. Still sat inside with book & computer
with a great look at the water just outside the doors. Did manage lunch outside at Sr Amigos in the breeze and those shrimp tacos will
make one forget the heat in an instant. Tecate, didn't hurt either.

Still, I'd rather be there in the heat than here in the heat. In fact, I'd rather be there in the cold than here in the cold.

In fact, I'd rather BE THERE, PERIOD.
 

playaperro

El Pirata
Back in the good old day's people cleared out of here August and part of September, gone, just the dogs roaming the streets. Now with better days and full times residents living here it seems its no longer a seasonal joint. Better you than me G/V in those months!
 

mis2810

Guest
The other thing I forgot to mention is that last Sunday night out in the water all along Sandy Beach there was a boat going back and forth with a flashing blue light. Was that a police or a Navy boat? I've never seen that before. This was about 2 hours before the fog rolled in.
 

moore_rb

Stay Thirsty My Friends
It would be nice if things pick up. I will say that Capones had the biggest crowd I've seen this past weekend. This despite the fact that a certain conspiricy oriented forum member's boat was parked across the street. No Federal protection either.

Perhaps the crowds, and the presence of the boat (and the dork who owns it) might all be related...?

After all, according to Mexico Joe, I'm a "celebrity" at Capones {snarc}

We were actually holding a "Conspiracy Theorists of North America" club meeting- We were electing our Board of Directors and public officers for 2013.

If you had stopped in, you could have had some free pizza, and some THRILLING conversation.
 
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