The pace in Loreto is just what we need after yesterday!  After waking from a much needed nights rest, we are finding a few more sore spots.  Mardi’s got a bruise on her shoulder and a nice sized lump on her head from the accident.  She even had a little dried blood from the bump on her head!  Amazing that we are all safe and vacationing in Loreto the next day!

That’s Sarah enjoying the morning views of Isla Carmen across the straights.  What a beautiful place in rural Baja Mexico.  Oh, did I say it is rural?  This is what our walk into town looks like.

By the way, you can click on any of these thumbnail photos for some larger versions.  That’s Mardi pushing Clara, with Sarah on a borrowed bike from the hotel.  We are walking across the arroyo – a seasonal river bed.  Good stuff, huh?

The town is nice.  Here are a few photos from Loreto.  The first is from the tourist area of shops.  Those are ficus trees that they’ve sculpted into arches.  Check out Mardi on Sarah’s bike.  We had just visited the El Pescador Supermercado.  Just a fancy superette to you and me, but the best supermarket in town!  The next 2 photos are of the town Mission.  A beautiful 300+ year old Catholic Mission.  Loreto was the kickoff point of the Mission building that stretches from Baja Mexico up the west coast to Northern California.

Finally, I’ve included a few photos from when we returned from town.  Mardi and I traded off the girls from needed adult nap time!  Mardi first, and them me.  During Mardi’s nap, Clara, Sarah and I went walking on the beach.  The bird life here is pretty amazing.  Lot’s of seabirds including white and brown pelicans, cormorants and other "waders" that I have no clue of their identity.  The girls love the ocean and the pool, and we could be in Timbuktu and have a good time as long as there was some water to play in!  That’s them on the water’s edge below.

The girls are wiped out!  Sarah asked to go to bed, and Clara let us know she was ready.  We all need a good nights rest.  After a dinner in the hotel – Mardi had the Mexican Platter, I had Loretian Pescado (Fish of Loreto), and Sarah ended up with fruit and tortillas – we are headed to dreamland.  Sarah doesn’t like Mexican food, she tells us.  Hope she eats soon!

We’re off to bed!  Going back into town tomorrow to the museum.  Oh, by the way, my suitcase was delivered to the hotel tonight at 7:00 p.m.  Joy of joys!  I was able to get a shower and put on clean clothes!  I did buy a shirt and shorts in town today.  Since it is winter here (low 80s during the day), I had a hard time finding any shops with short pants for sale.  Oh well, those are my souvenirs!

Off to bed.  Buenos noches from Loreto.