Category Archives: Mexico

Cacti and a desert oasis- San Ingnacio

Driving across the dusty, rocky back roads of Baja has been just amazing (and fairly slow going at times). One leg took us about six hours to drive 55 kilometers (we were going about five miles per hour). The landscape here is just magical, the cactus are huge and there are so many varieties of them that the scenery never gets old. It is a harsh part of the country and the the red rocks and the green cactus are really the only colors you see aside from the dramatic blue sky. We felt very alone driving through central Baja, alone and very safe.

Huge cactus in the backroads of Baja.

Huge cactus in the backroads of Baja.

This was a type of cactus I have never seen before.

This was a type of cactus I have never seen before.

Driving down very corrugated dirt roads is slow going.

Driving down very corrugated dirt roads is slow going.

More XP in the desert....

More XP in the desert….

Desk to Glory passing by us on a glorious paved road.

Desk to Glory passing by us on a glorious paved road. Notice the three volcanoes in the back ground.

The crazy thing about driving for so long in the dry desert is when you get to an area with water it is like you are entering a different country. San Ignacio was our first palm oasis town and we were thrilled to see all of the tropical plants, date palm trees, bougainvillea and water! It was a wonderful break from weeks in the desert and the sleepy town of San Ignacio had a special feel about it. We were there for two days and one of the days a bunch of school children took over the town square. There were bake sales, date filled empanadas, and tons of kids in giant jumpy houses. Many of the kids were dressed in traditional Mexican clothes and they were just adorable. The day made us all happy and we sat in a small cafe and ate tasty huevos rancheros and just soaked it all in.

The beautiful Mission in San Ignacio.

The beautiful Mission in San Ignacio.

Sun setting on the Mission.

Sun setting on the Mission.

Took this driving by. It is the lovely river that provides the water for the oasis.

Took this driving by. It is the lovely river that provides the water for the oasis

Here is a video of us jumping next to the jumpy house near the town square. The little girl inside was squealing with joy at our shenanigans.