An Hour on Playa Cochorit

We took a field trip Friday to a place that felt like Old Mexico.  I'm constantly wandering Playa Algodones in front of the condo picking up shells, so we decided it was time to check out some different beaches in the area.  A neighbor down the beach had told us about some 'wild' beaches south of the town of Empalme in Sonora.  She said one, Playa Cochorit, was loaded with amazing shells.  I had to go!

I wrote down instructions I found on Trip Advisor to help us find the location.  We followed Highway 15 down through Guaymas to Empalme, then started looking for the road that would take us west to Playa Cochorit.  After wandering for awhile and dead ending into a port area, I finally decided to turn on my phone data and use Google maps for directions.  Lo and behold -- it worked!  We had turned off the main highway 5 kilometers short of the location, so we never would have found it without the wonders of Google.

When we finally arrived at Playa Cochorit, we found a windswept abandoned beach destination on the Sea of Cortez with one remaining palapa bar.  Someone else had arrived before us and created this happy face in the sand with clam shells for eyes. 

It appeared that the palapa bar El Tiburon might still be in operation, but the rest of the Cochorit fishing village looked like the photo below. 
 

 

 

Several fishermen's pangas were pulled up onshore.

And a gull was perched on this fisherman's truck.

 

 

It was a windy day with rough surf, so I imagine that's why the fishermen's camp was uninhabited.

 

Love this fish mural on the wall of the one remaining palapa restaurant.

 

 

After snapping some photographs, we busied ourselves with the main event.  Playa Cochorit is shelling/beachcomber nirvana.  I've never happened upon a beach like this!  As far as the eye could see, the beach was littered with a huge variety of spectacular finds, including murexes, augers, towers, olives, scallop and clam shells, limpets, and on and on.  The photo above is just a sampling.  We spent less than an hour plucking all the shells we could take with us, leaving thousands behind.

 

 

The patio coffee table is completely covered with piles of shells.  I've collected shells for years, but I've never seen anything like this.  No words!  I'm in love!

 

As we were headed back up the beach to the car, a couple roared by on a moto -- the first humans we'd seen.  Nearing the car, a little girl ran out of the empty palapa restaurant carrying two black murexes.  She wanted to know if we'd buy her shells for 7 pesos.  Craig dug all the change out of his pockets, a little over 20 pesos, and handed it to her.  She was thrilled with the pesos (for me???), and I was thrilled with the shells!  We'll take more pesos with us next trip!

The Other Soggy Peso

No, I'm not posting about the Soggy Peso on Isla Mujeres.  There's actually another Soggy Peso in San Carlos on the other side of Mexico!

After we booked a month at Playa Blanca on Playa Algodones in San Carlos, I found out the other Soggy Peso was just a short walk away from the condo.  I'd actually liked the San Carlos Soggy Peso long ago on Facebook (maybe by mistake).

The day after we arrived, we decided to stroll down the beach and check out the other Soggy!  We found a fun palapa bar with great views of the water and sunset, good food, and live music.

Our first outing, we split an order of shrimp ceviche and a huge bowl of guacamole.  The grand total for the ceviche, guac, drinks, and 20% tip was 300 pesos, which converts to $16 U.S.

By the way, that tall building in the background is the condominium resort where we're staying -- Playa Blanca.  They have smoking hot deals for snowbirds in the winter season, and we often run into our new neighbors from Canada and the U.S. down the beach at the Soggy Peso.

The gorgeous water view from the bar at Soggy Peso.

 

Craig and I may have to buy Soggy Peso t-shirts here in San Carlos to confuse our friends on Isla Mujeres.

Once the sun sets, we love walking down the beach towards our home for the month watching the colors progress in the sky.

A few nights ago we just happened to run across a mariachi photo shoot on the way home. 

 

 

I love the twilight colors we see around the bay on our evening stumbles back down the beach. 

 

 

 

Just to update, Craig and his partner won a gold medal in the men's doubles 4.5 Sombrero Showdown.  He's a happy camper! 

 

I, on the other hand, wasn't quite as fortunate.  I got stitches after trying to walk through the glass sliding door here at the condo.  Not to worry!  The wonderful management and staff here took great care of me.  Jorge accompanied us to the Rescate (basically the local emergency medical services here in San Carlos) to serve as our translator.  After finding out I needed to go to the emergency room in Guaymas to have my face stitched, Sofia at the front desk called a doctor and arranged for her to meet us at her clinic here in San Carlos so I wouldn't have to spend hours waiting.  A week later, the stitches are out and my face looks almost untouched.  Any scar I end up with will be hidden by my eyebrow.  So I'm a lucky girl too!

 

Stay tuned!

 

 

A Month in San Carlos

It all started with pickleball.  Of course it did.  The minute I heard there was a strong pickleball club in San Carlos, Mexico, 7 hours south of our home in Arizona, I knew I could trick my husband into another month at the beach in February.  The only obstacle (all in our minds) was our first drive trip south of the border.  We've lived in Arizona 12 years and we'd never driven a car into Mexico.  Big babies!!!

So here we are.  And loving it!

Craig plays pickleball every morning for three or four hours with fun people, and even plays in a four day tournament starting the end of this week.

Meanwhile, I spend my time beachcombing.  That's our condominium building on Playa los Algodones in the photo above.

My shell/seaglass collection is growing after the first few days. 

 

Even the seaweed is beautiful here.

 

I snap a few pics on every walk.

 

This particular morning, the water was like glass and it was hard to distinguish the sea from the sky. 

 

The topography of the area is outstanding.  The views are spectacular from dawn to dusk.

 

After the exploring, we return to this gorgeous seaview condo.  I could live here.

 

 

 

Here's a short video of a 360 degree view from our area.

 

 

 

Stay tuned.  I'll get back to Roatan, but February is all about San Carlos.

 

 

Avenida Juarez -- Isla Mujeres

My favorite street on the island has always been Avenida Juarez.  In addition to being the most colorful street, it's also the best place to people watch as locals go about their daily business.  Here are some of my Juarez shots from the past few trips.

 

In December after annoying locals for years with my camera, I finally got punked on Juarez while taking photos of a procession.  LOL  It's about time!

Walking on Water: Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres

Some people love to sunbathe.  Us -- not so much.  Our favorite past time at the beach is water walking.  We love to take the plunge and walk from one end of Playa Norte to the other out by the buoy line.  We found out February water temps are slightly chillier than November/December -- probably in the high 70's -- but still very doable.  By March, the water was wonderful and warming up!

He used to hate going to Playa Norte, but like me, just loves to get in and walk.  It's good exercise!

Small pangas drop sightseers and snorkelers just beyond the buoy line towards the eastern side of Playa Norte. 

One of the smaller Albatross boats drops anchor just beyond the buoys so daytrippers can enjoy Playa Norte.

The Punta Sam car ferry crosses the northern tip of the island on its way to the dock.

 

Fenix Beach Club by the Mia bridge.

This guy makes it look so easy!

 

 

Happy Monday!  I've been back four days now and have almost recovered from jet lag.  Hope 2017's treating everyone well!

 

I Miss the Village!

The struggle is real.  I'm missing the village.

I miss the convenience of walking into town, plunking down in a chair overlooking the street at Mogagua, and ordering my 60 peso fruit plate with yogurt and granola for breakfast. 

 

Afterwards I stroll around El Centro.

 

 

Matamoras always seems to be festooned with street banners.  Locals must have a lot of fiestas on this street! 

 

Evidently I'm not alone in my love of people watching.  These giraffes stand on the curb everyday watching humans pass by.

 

A lone chair waits on the sidewalk on Juarez.  I imagine someone else watches the village pass by from that perch.

 

I photographed this woman strolling down Hidalgo decked out in local finery on one of my morning walks.

 

December's a special time of year on the island with Catholic confirmations and first communions for boys and girls.  This pretty young girl and family were walking down Hidalgo after a ceremony at the church.

It's always fun to spot Senor Queso Oaxaca walking the streets selling his cheese.

 

On this November morning walk, I noticed a mural painter with a work in progress.

 

Another morning I heard laughter above me and looked up to see men building a palapa.

 

Sometimes we're joined by furry friends on our morning walks.

 

 

 

Mary, from her position atop the church in the zocalo, occupies the ultimate people-watching perch.  I guess I'm in good company with my daily habit!