We attacked the town of Santa Rosalia today with our Canons, a few Nikons, a sprinkling of Olympuses, and a Lumix or two. The colors, flavors and kind people were captured as pixels and transformed into a collection of photographic memories.
Color radiated from everywhere; the bright blues of the painted pangas in the harbor, a multitude of rainbow-splashed storefronts along main street, carts full of kaleidoscope-colored candy wheeled down the street and ice cream shops—truly the end of the rainbow—with their refreshing assortment of frozen fruity paletas.
From the waterfront we meandered to the church, purported to have been made by Gustave Eiffel. Inside the church pink and purple shafts of light lit a few parishioners kneeling in somber prayer. The preparations for Easter Sunday were apparent all over town. The town square benches were getting a fresh coat of paint, the bakery ovens were in full swing preparing their famous “pitaya” bread, and the local candy store “Dulceria” was doing a brisk business in sweet-tooth temptations.
We visited the local volunteer fire department and traded a bag full of the frozen paleta treats for a photographic opportunity of posing with fire hats and other regalia of the “Bomberos” or firemen.
With the cooling afternoon we made our way to the Hotel Frances for margaritas, chips, and homemade guacamole. The shaded porch offered a cool respite and a lovely view of settling seas while visiting with our fellow shipmates. You can dream of such wonderful settings, but in Baja California, the dream is real.
