ESCONCED IN ESCONDIDO

It’s a relief and a recharge to settle in one place for a couple of weeks. Puerto Escondido is familiar from a two years ago. Long sweeping bay, a range of waves from mild to maniac, and somehow stubbornly very Mexican. No Walmart, no Starbucks, no KFC/PH/PJ’s, no gringo hotels, very little English. Congrats, Escondido, keep up the good work. The locals juggle work and play.

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We’re in a part of a family compound building. No TV or hot water but otherwise upgraded to spiffy. Job 1?----go to grocery store and load up on home-cookin’ comfort-foodin’, fruit-juicin’ supplies. Pat is back in her domain, even with only 1 knife and 1 pot.

Only 2 blocks downhill to the dawn ritual of fishing boats roaring onto the beach with literally the Catch-of-the-Day. You want that gutted and scaled? More colour than a carnival, more frenzy than a funhouse.

Lots of walking options but do it before the heat builds up by noon. You can go up 150 steps to check out next year’s bungalow, or teeter along olde rock trails by the seaside.

Fireball sunsets light up the Pacific, leaving us like dear in the headlights.