A Tale of Two Cities

Cabo San Lucas is a popular tourist area for the  rich and even for the not-so-rich.  The spectacular rock formations were right outside our window this morning.

Our boat, and the other two large cruise ships in town today transferred passengers to town in tenders, also known as lifeboats.  These are not the open boats of days past, but sturdy enclosed boats with seating for 200 people plus a sun deck for hearty souls.

Tourists flock to the area for sun, trinkets, parasailing, snorkeling, whale watching and sailing in an area teaming with hotels and souvenir shops of every variety.  New hotels are under construction everywhere.  English is spoken and US dollars are welcome.  Even though today was a national holiday (New Year's Day) the shops were open and inviting customers to spend, spend, spend.

We walked a short distance to our bus which whisked us through the city and out into the countryside.  Well, it would have whisked us, except there was a problem with the muffler, so we stopped and waited 45 minutes for a new bus to pick us up.

This is a desert with 10 inches of rain  per year.  It is so dry that all new hotels are required to have desalination equipment to provide water for all their uses.  We drove north along the sea of Magellan to the sleepy town of San Jose del Cabo with its picturesque church on the village square.  As we approached town, new construction blossomed up.  At this rate, it will soon be solid hotels and condos for the entire 35 minute drive.  However, today, a Sunday as well as a holiday, the town square was almost empty except for tour groups.  The square is being renovated.  Soon it will be covered with paving blocks dotted with flowers and trees.

 Restaurants and souvenir shops were open, but no one insisted that you come in and buy.  Browsing was OK, or even just sitting in the shade in the benches provided.  It was only 35 minutes away from Cabo San Lucas, but a world away in style.

The Altar of the Catholic Church

Outside the Church

City Hall (notice the lack of tourists)

Mexico is very Catholic.  I saw a manger scene in the church, outside of the church and in front of the city hall.

To balance it off, they also had a tall green, lighted Christmas tree in the city square!