Loreto (or “Baja California for Californians”)

I was thrilled; I arrived to Loreto feeling that I would swim with one of the most diverse sea fauna in the world; but, then, I unpacked and GRRGggrrgrrgRGGGrrr! I forgot my mask and snorkel! How am I supposed to enjoy the “World's aquarium” (according to Jacques Cousteau) without snorkeling gear? I’ll be back in a minute… I’m going to buy one.

Ok, I have it. It is yellow, lovely yellow, which is perfect as safety alert and as defensive strategy against sea predators.

(One day after…) Swimming surrounded of the sea fauna is something I had already done before, but in Mexico you can see a greater diversity than in any other place. There are some tourists, almost all of them European and American hippies who come here to fish, but they aren’t that many after all. I can't quite tell the Spanish accent from the Argentinean yet; but, if I’m not mistaken, all those girls in bikini, getting suntan lotion over their backs (wow!) were either Spanish or Argentinean.

Not so far away from Loreto, some cranes and building structures show what will be “Loreto Bay”, a sophisticated-but-folkloric beach-like town worthy for those who can afford it… something like an American neighborhood, but in Mexico. FONATUR and the local authorities have granted City Group the permit for building thousands of homes on several thousands of acres. As a cheesy joke, it is said that this place will be “the new Mexican border”.

I didn’t book in any hotel because I didn’t want to stay for too long.  My good karma made me shout “Eureka! A cheap hotel!”… Which didn’t have water. The owners told me that the lack was due to the Loreto Bay residential resort complex stealing water from one of the wells of the National Water Commission.

That night I stayed in an American hotel, comfortable and with all the services. From my window I could see the beach, and the building structures of City Group, and a black cloud like fumes from burned tires (which, as a matter of fact, it was) covering the moon. In the morning I asked a few questions and, it seemed like it was something usual, because the wastes problem is more serious than anyone could think of. I made good use of the snorkeling gear and worn it for sleeping and so protecting my eyes: I don’t want to catch an infection when I’m just in the middle of my trip.