BY CLAY LARROY
Make
the most of your travel experiences. Taking a cruise is a great
way to see many different places when you travel. Cruises offer many activities
and things to do while on the ship, while offering you the opportunity to
explore different locations each time you arrive at a port. Travel is a great
opportunity to learn more things. Time spent abroad helps you understand and
appreciate diverse cultures. In addition, it encourages an acceptance and
tolerance of ways of life that differ from your own. Whenyou want to plan a vacation contact me!
Ensenada
Overview
Just south of the
border, on the Baja Peninsula, lies the flourishing, friendly port and holiday
destination of Ensenada. It's a 90-minute drive south of San Diego and joined
to Tijuana by the spectacular Trans-Peninsula Highway, with its breathtaking
ocean views. The first visitor to this beautiful bay was Spanish explorer
Sebastian Vizcaino, who set ashore in 1602 and named the spot Ensenada de Todos
los Santos, which means 'inlet of all the saints'. The saints have indeed been
kind to Ensenada, which today has progressed from a Spanish mission station
through fishing village status to become Mexico's second-most visited port of
call for cruise liners and yachts, an extremely popular holiday destination for
land-based tourists, and a leading convention center. The secret of Ensenada's
success as a tourist magnet is simple: the resort town basically has it all.
The weather is bright and sunny throughout the year, and the Pacific beaches
are magnificent. These basic ingredients have been enhanced by some wonderful
natural and man-made attractions, great restaurants serving up fresh seafood
and local wines, and amiable local tour operators providing a huge array of
outdoor recreational activities and excursions. Even the town's industry, which
consists mainly of fishing, wine-making and canning, has become a lure for
visitors, who can visit factories and wineries and liberally sample the
delicious wares.
Shopping
in Ensenada
The eyes of avid
bargain-hunting tourists glitter when they see Ensenada's broad shopping
avenues, lined by shops literally bursting with a massive array of Mexican arts
and crafts, from elegant Taxcosilver jewelry in the boutiques of the Avenida
Lopez Mateos, to a selection of 'below $5' curios in the stores along First
Street. Best buys to look out for in Ensenada are leather goods (bags, purses,
jackets, belts etc.), hand-blown glassware, woodcarvings, and ceramics. Those
who enjoy local color can browse through the bustling Los Globos flea market
where occasional treasures can be found. Due to its popularity as a cruise
port, Ensenada offers great shopping opportunities, but it can be very
expensive.
Dining
in Ensenada
No matter what your taste in food, from hamburgers to
haute cuisine, you will find it while on holiday in Ensenada; however, because
of its seaside location and local fishing industry, nearly all restaurants
offer some sort of fresh seafood on the menu, and most include traditional
Mexican fare. Highly recommended is a visit to the fish market (known as the
'Black Market') where delicious and cheap fish tacos are sold at several
stands. Lunches are best enjoyed at one of the myriad sidewalk cafes: relax and
watch the passing parade of people along a leafy boulevard while sipping a
glass of wine. When it comes to dining, the choice is vast. LG Restaurant or
out-of-the-way Manzanilla in the port area are great places to try local
cuisine, and those hankering for formal dining can enjoy award-winning French
cuisine at El Rey Sol on Avenue Lopez Mateos. For a taste of the traditional,
fun comes along with the food at Bronco's Steakhouse, which serves a great
Mexican buffet at weekends.
Activities
in Ensenada
Holidaymakers will
enjoy the nightlife in Ensenada, which sizzles after dark, especially during
weekends, with discos, karaoke bars and cantinas rollicking into the early
hours. An unmissable night spot is Baja's oldest cantina, Hussongs, which was
established in 1892 as a stage coach stop and is still partying today in
traditional Mexican style. Tourists should spend at least a few hours at Hussongs,
swigging margaritas as mariachis stroll the sawdust-strewn, rough wood floors.
Things
to be aware of in Ensenada
Being something of
a tourist Mecca, Ensenada tends to be more expensive than other towns in
Mexico.
Experience
life by traveling with friends and family!
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