Exploring Ensenada Mexico

Yesterday I drove into Ensenada, about a 10 minute drive now, I just wanted to explore and try to figure out where the buses come and go from.

I drove in and found a place to park so I could just walk around the city, it is WAY easier to get around by walking than driving, at least in the tourist areas.

I started off around here, the Plaza Marina, just a few blocks from the cruise ship terminal

It feels like every street is like this, people selling everything under the sun, I honestly don't know how any of them make any money.

 This was a row of restaurants across the street from a fish market, I will be coming back here when I'm more hungry.

At the Plaza Marina there are lots of boat rides, I picked this one, I haven't been on the water in a while, 30 pesos with a 10 peso tip. 40 pesos or $2.66 dollars for a 25 minute boat ride in the harbor and out to the ocean and back, well worth it.

 Like almost every Mexican vehicle I've seen, this was one rough old boat, lots of little things wrong with it, but we didn't sink

There is a Naval base near, I need to do some research about it

The sea lions were cool as always

 Next to the Plaza Marina was a boat yard for repairs, lots of cool stuff in there.

I walked on in this area to see the giant Mexican flag, but sadly, it is not on the gigantic flag pole, this pole was much higher. Nothing going on in this little plaza.

I followed a sign that said Train, and found this, a little underwhelming Mexico!

I was thinking of my British friends Russ and Isabel and decided to try some fish and chips in Mexico

Delicious, 93 pesos, I gave a 7 peso tip, so 100 pesos or $6.65  Not bad, but not really cheap.
Ensenda is just not cheap, it is a tourist town. I guess it's all relative..

I wanted to see what was in this building, turns out there is no art in this building

No art, but they had a parkour demonstration going on in this little plaza next to the Centro Estatal building

On the way home I thought I would have some fruit, picked up this little mix  to take home for 40 pesos $2.66

I've moved, now I'm right outside Ensenada

Wednesday I got my truck back, everything seems fine, no leaks, no engine damage, very happy about that. 

Thursday hooked up to my RV and headed to Ramona Beach Trailer Park By The Sea about 40 kilometers closer to Ensenada. Seems like a nice place, full hookups, electricity, water, sewage, and WIFI!!!  I'm lovin it!

I'm going to stay here for awhile, I paid for a month $350 dll or 5250 pesos.

This park is 6-7 miles from the cruise ship  area of Ensenada, buses are everywhere here, these are 10 peso buses, that .65 cents, a hell of a deal. Over the coming weeks I plan to bus into Ensenada and really explore the city and the food.

This is my google maps location:

Dropped Pin

near El Sauzal, B.C., Mexico

http://goo.gl/maps/zkGC2

Here are some pictures from the last couple days.

These are the buses I will be using

Ramona Beach trailer park by the sea

The view from under the front of my 5th wheel, my new perch for ocean watching, cruise ships, and cargotainer ships are coming and going.

 My new "home"

Chillin

I've been taking it easy the last couple days, waiting for my truck to get repaired, supposedly it will be ready in the morning.  Time will tell if that happens.

Tonight I'm chilling at a sports bar near where my RV is parked, fish tacos, chips, salsa, aqua, $5.00 dollars, pretty tasty. 

If I get my truck back tomorrow, I hope to have more interesting things to post.

I'm disconnected

I have tmobile phone service, the y told me I would have phone 23 cents a minute to US, free texting, and 3G data in Mexico, I didn't believe them.

So far I have received some txt, no calls, and basically no data. These post have come from wifi in restaurants. After I've been here longer I will write about internet access availability.

So, I'm basically offline intill I get a SIM card for a Mexican phone service.

If I can find a bus to Ensenada from here Alisitos, I will go get some phone service, if not, I'll wait till I get my truck back.

Thanks for all the well wishes, I greatly appreciate it.

I'm going to go practice my Spanish 

Adiós mi amigos 

Into each life some rain must fall

Yesterday was a mixed bag, great start, rough end.

I was in Ensenada in the morning, drove past Ensenada on down the coast to look for a more "permanent" RV camp.

I checked a few and ended up near here:

La Jolla Camping

Baja California, Mexico

http://goo.gl/maps/ssQWq

I stopped, ask prices, walked around the La Jolla Camping RV park, got in my truck started it and got loud clattering, shut it down, checked the oil, none! Looked and saw I had left a trail and had a big puddle under the truck.

Long story shortened:

I broke down right next to a mechanic shop, they took a look, found that one of the lines for the oil cooler system was broken and spewing oil.

It must have just happened minutes before I stopped.

I sat there for 5 hours while they tried to find the part in Ensenada, no luck...

They ordered one from the dealership, and generously offered to take me back to my RV for 200 pesos for fuel.

Sooo.. I'm waiting at a bar/restaurant near my RV that has a little Internet.

When it is all done I will update the final cost, it should be 7000 pesos, roughly $465 dollars. Time will tell if they change the price.

Some pictures:

Isn't this fish man interesting?

I left Ensenada here, looking at camp grounds.

Old trucks break, it sucks, but no surprise.

The culprit, the connection for the line on the bottom is broken, not repairable. They told me you have to buy the lines and the housing, I had no internet, phone, or even txt on my phone so I couldn't do any research myself.

I couldn't have been more "over a barrel"

Hopefully I'll get it back today.

Worst case I stay where I am until Monday.

The view from my couch:

Today, I'm in Ensenada exploring

Breakfast 140 pesos

Wtf?  Foot operated toilets

The cruise ships are in