Feliz Navidad

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas
 from La Paz, Mexico

Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year in Mexico and is rich in traditions. It is celebrated in a variety of ways, starting in early December when homes and businesses are decorated with poinsettias, which are called “noche buenas” from the Spanish phrase “good night” (Mexico is the origin of the poinsettia). From December 16 to 24 there are a series of procession called Las Posadas (from the Spanish word “inn”). The posada is a recreation of Mary and Josephs' searching for a "room at the inn." Two children are selected to play the rolls of each Mary and Joseph, accompanying them in their travels is a choir of small children who knock on three or more doors asking for lodging for the weary couple. By previous arrangement, there are no takers. At the last house the procession is invited in. There all the children enjoy a festive pinata party.

Christmas Pinata

The Mexican interpretation of the pinata rests on the tradition of man's struggle against temptation. The seven points on the pinata represent the seven deadly sins. The pot represents evil and temptations. The person with the stick is blindfolded to represent faith. The turning, the singing and the shouting represent the disorientation that temptation creates. As the participant beats the pinata, it is supposed to represent the struggle against temptation and evil. When the pinata breaks, the treats inside represents the rewards of keeping the faith.

Rosca de Reyes

Many Mexicans open their Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve (“Noche Buena”) as well as have a large family dinner that may last all night. There are some families, however, that prefer to wait and open their Christmas gifts on January 6^th, “Día de los Reyes” (Day of the Kings). It is on this day many believe the wise men arrived in Bethlehem bearing gifts for the Christ Child. Dia del los Reyes includes eating of the “Rosca de Reyes”, a ring shaped sweetbread, similar to a bunt cake containing small bits of fruit and candy. One of the special traditions in eating this cake is a small plastic doll representing the baby Jesus hidden inside. The one receiving the doll is responsible for hosting a party on and making the tamales for the “Fiesta de la Candelaria” (Day of the Candles), which is held on February 2nd.

Santa's Workshop where the elves
are counting down the days 

Fiesta de la Candelaria falls forty days after Christmas, and is celebrated as the feast of the “Purification of the Virgin” or as the “Presentation of the Lord”. According to Jewish law a woman was considered unclean for 40 days after giving birth so it was customary to bring the new born baby to the temple after that period of time had passed. Thus, Mexicans believe Jesus would have been taken to the temple on this day to be blessed. It is called Day of the Candles because Mexicans take candles to the church on this day to be blessed. Tamales are the preferred food of the day. It should be noted that February 2nd also marks the mid-way point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. This may be a vestige of an old pagan tradition given that this day has long been thought of as predictor of the future weather conditions. In the United States, for example, February 2nd is celebrated as “Groundhog Day”.

In keeping with Mexican tradition we will spend Christmas with family. Thus, Monday, December

22^nd we will travel to Utah by plane to be with our children. It is interesting to note that it took us 2 ½ months to travel the 1,607 miles to La Paz. It will takes us 3 hours to fly from Mexico to Salt Lake City. After the holidays we will return to La Paz to travel further north to explore the islands in the Sea of Cortez. Until then, we on “Little Lara” are wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We pray for the Lord's continued blessing on each of you this coming year.

Remember, Jesus is the gift of Christmas!

City of Peace

Old Man and the Sea

Jay's Post: After motoring up the inside of the Sea of Cortez  we finally arrived in La Paz (Peace) Friday, December 5, 2014. Along the way we stopped to anchor at Bahia Los Frailes (The Friars) and Ensenada de Los Muertos (Bay of the Dead). Frailes lies 59 miles north Cabo San Lucas with scrub-covered sand dunes that lie behind a white sandy beach. RVs and campers line the shoreline. We did not go ashore here, but we did enjoyed the beauty of the surroundings. We do not know where Muertos got its name, but the locals do not like it, as they have tried to change it to Ensenada Los Suenos (Bay of Dreams) with little success. I think the name “Muertos” adds a certain charm, if not mystery, to the area. Perhaps the name comes from the fact that there is not much here at this small pebbly cove, which lies 47 miles north of Frailes. This was once a thriving port for the silver and salt mines in the area. Now all that is left is the remains of an old stone warehouse and stone pier.

La Paz is 55 miles north of Muertos. We were excited to arrive here, as we intend on spending

Ruins at Muertos

several weeks here. There is a Stake and five Wards in this city that boasts a population of 250,000. La Paz has a fascinating history. It was first inhabited by Neolithic hunter-gatherers at least 10,000 years ago who left traces of their existence in the form of rock paintings near the city and throughout the Baja California peninsula. On May 3, 1535, Hernán Cortés arrived in the nearby bay naming it Santa Cruz. He attempted to start a colony here but abandoned his efforts after several years due to difficulties obtaining supplies. In 1596, Sebastián Vizcaíno arrived, giving the area its modern name, La Paz. Other explorers came however, since Baja California Sur is one of the most isolated parts of Mexico, there were no serious efforts at colonization until the late 17th century. Until then, English and Dutch pirates in the Sea of Cortez, plundered Spanish galleons, while the local Indians remained unfriendly towards settlers.

Little Lara with the big boats in La Paz

At the conclusion of the Mexican-American War in 1847, the United States withdrew its troops that had occupied the area during the war. The following year the two countries signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which Mexico agreed to sell to the United States the land that now comprises the modern states of California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. In return, the United States acknowledged Mexico’s ownership of the Baja Peninsula. Despite the treaty, in 1853 a journalist named William Walker, who was dissatisfied with the treaty and hoping to add another slave-holding state to the United States, led a group of 45 Americans to capture the city of La Paz. From January 10, 1854 to May 8, 1854 La Paz served as the capital of “Republic of Sonora” after he proclaimed himself as president. Because the expedition did not have the official support of the United States government, the Mexican Army quickly drove out these Americans. Walker fled back to the United States where he was tried for violation of neutrality laws and fined. Two years later he was executed by the Nicaraguan government for attempting a similar takeover there. La Paz is featured in John Steinbeck's novel The Pearl and is mentioned extensively in his travelogue The Log from the Sea of Cortez. Today, there are many foreign visitors to the town, but La Paz is primarily known as a Mexican vacation area.

At the Plaza

Peggy's Post: I am in a celebratory mood! It's hard to believe we are really here! After traveling for 2 ½ months we are finally in the Sea of Cortez (or Gulf of California as it is also known). It feels so good to be staying put for a few weeks and not to have to worry about storms, anchors dragging, submerged rocks and ships in the night! Our leisurely travels had the benefit of being able to stop along the way and enjoy many towns and picturesque anchorages, but also allowed us to time our arrival in southern Baja AFTER hurricane season was over. We have seen the effects of hurricane Odile in Cabo Sa Lucas and in La Paz, and though services are back to normal here, they are still cleaning up and repairing the damage.

One of the things I really enjoy about La Paz is the Malecon which is a 3 ½ miles long paved walkway that runs in front our Marina all the way along the city's waterfront. There are statues and

Yahoo, Santa says
Jay has been good this year

palm trees and little parks along the way while

Peggy rides in Santa's Train

across the street are shops and restaurants. The city is all dressed up for Christmas with decorations on the lamp poles and in these little parks. There is an area near our marina that has a little Christmas village, a train, Santa's house and workshop with elves, reindeer with sleigh, and a nativity. At night it is lit with thousands of lights... looks just like some of the fancy neighborhoods back in the states. La Paz is much different than Cabo San Lucas. It is more laid back, less touristy, and no in-your-face hucksters. And the people have been very helpful and friendly. We will enjoy exploring this area and seeing all the historical buildings while we are here, so stay tuned for more on La Paz.

Below is a video of us leaving Cabo San Lucas

Red sky at night, sailors delight: