Another week wraps up in our corner of Baja California Sur, and Todos Santos keeps its steady pace. It’s been warm, the kind of warm that has you taking midday siestas and seeking out shady spots. The next few days promise more of the same, with a couple of cooler ones thrown in just to keep us on our toes.
There’s been a quiet buzz in town regarding the discussion of land use in Baja. It seems Todos Santos retreats aren’t the only ones appreciating our natural surroundings. The staff of CONANP (The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas) is in a bit of a standoff with a multinational company looking to start an open pit gold mining operation in our UNESCO-certified natural area. The botanists have been called in, and it’s a reminder of the constant balancing act between progress and preservation. A stroll around town and you can’t help but wonder how it will all unfold.
On a lighter note, the sea turtles are doing their part to keep things interesting. With the nesting season in full swing, it seems the females have been quite busy. You see, a female sea turtle mates with multiple males and stores their sperm separately from her eggs, sometimes for years. When she’s ready to nest, she releases the sperm to fertilize the eggs. This results in what scientists call ‘multiple paternity’ for her offspring. It’s a fascinating piece of trivia for the turtle lovers among us.
Speaking of the water, free diving champion, Estrella Navarro Holm, was in town and shared some insights about her experiences in the depths of the ocean. Her description of the first few meters of a dive being the hardest, then that moment of free fall at about 30 meters where the water in her body merges with the ocean, was a reminder of the extraordinary experiences to be had beneath the surface. If you happen to be by Punta Lobos, take a moment to appreciate the vastness of it all.
On the cultural front, the Friday Wine Club at Las Tinajas was a delightful blend of tapas, live music, and, of course, wine. The sunsets from the vineyard are something to behold, and there’s something about the combination of good food, great company, and the magic hour that makes it a must-do experience.
A little further afield, the music scene in nearby Pescadero had a good run. The adios concert at La Morena was a fitting send-off for a venue that had given the town so many memories. The local music scene is always shifting, always evolving, and it’s exciting to see what’s next.
Meanwhile, the market at Calle Benito Juárez is brimming with the season’s bounty. The stalls are full of fresh, local produce, and a visit here is a weekly ritual for many. Walking back home with a bag full of fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the simple pleasures of life in Todos Santos.
And there you have it, another week in Todos Santos. Whether it’s a shift in the weather, a quiet art opening, or what’s growing at the market, there’s always something happening in our little retreat. Here’s to another week of observing and appreciating the rhythms of this town we call home.