April 1, 2007 9:36 AM
Baja California Sur, Mexico
When I could see the Pacific Ocean to my right and the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) on my left as I peered out of the window the little AeroMexico jet flew south along Baja California, I started to fidget in my seat in anticipation. I wasn't making the huge trip from the east coast to become a Mexican beach bum for a week or so; what a waist that could have been! I was touring with the travel company, Lindblad Expeditions, around southern Baja and I spent my break watching whales, studying Baja ecology, and conversing with the locals. It was a trip I could only dream about, since my two favorite subjects in school, Spanish and Science, were the focuses of the trip.
The first few days, the boat 60 other passengers and I stayed, Sea Lion, on sailed into Bahia Magdalena, the very spot where grey whales of the North Pacific migrate 10,000 miles to give birth and to mate. Every late winter/ early spring, mother whales nurse their calves in the protected waters of Bahia Magdalena, out of harms way in the vast Pacific. Fortunately, I was there at the right time. The first morning we went out on our zodiacs (inflatable rubber motor boats) to go whale watching and we spotted many whales and their calves , but that afternoon, I experienced something that I will always hold on to. We spotted a mother and calve and both swam up to the boat and we were able to pet and scratch them. It was unbelievable- I didn't expect to be able to get that close to them, and to actually touch them. I'm not exagerating, we were with this pare of whales for half an hour, touching them, studying them, getting water and whale sneeze sprayed onto us...I felt like a kid again. On the zodiac trip back to Sea Lion, I was able to converse with the local pescador (fisherman) who drove the zodiac, Ernesto, in Spanish.
As we sailed south towards the cape, El Cabo, we stopped for the afternoon in Cabo san Lucas. I was unhappy to see the amount of developement and how commercialized Cabo had become. It was resort after resort with cheesie vendors selling trinkets as far as I could see. Not exactly my cup of tea. I'm glad to know that all of the developement of Baja is only in Cabo san Lucas, much of the rest of Baja California Sur has remained authentic and rustic.
Off the tip of Cabo, though, is humpback mecca! As we headed northwest into the Sea of Cortez, we encoutered many humpback whales. "To the right!" "Look, off the bow!" "Tale flukes, look!" It was great, just being immersed into such rich nature. As we sailed further into the Sea of Cortez, I was able to see blue whales and got to snorkle with some California sea lions. One afternoon I went sea-kayaking around an island and was able to see a variety of life swimming underneath me in the blue water, crawling along the beach, and flying above in the air. Pufferfish, rays, and starfish abound by the Baja coast.
Finally, after a week of exploring the natural resources that the Baja California peninsula has to offer, I had to book it back to school since my spring break was about to come to an end.
I am grateful to have visiited Baja and I will appriciate its natural beauty always. I was disappointed to hear some of my friends say that they did nothing over their breaks, but I just feel happier and even more fortune to have been able to take everything I could have gotten out of that trip.
-Adios
Posted by Mark at April 1, 2007 9:36 AM