|
||||||||||
That picture to the right? It's the view of calle Jose Ma. Morelos from a table full of tacos. Look closely to notice another taco stand across the street! Here's the bottom line: Unless you're a chump who fears an awesome sense of otherness, you should spend part of almost every day exploring Cabo. If you're a chump, stay at the resort. |
Did you know Cabo's child labor laws aren't particularly
stringent? You'll encounter throngs of young kids trying to sell you useless
trinkets.
They're affectionately called 'chicklets' by locals, but we're not sure if they're talking about the kids or their schlock. If peddlers bug you, pull a Nancy Reagan and just say, "No!" Or you can invent your own special buzz-off language. That's fun!
|
|||||||||
![]() Taking the time to walk around Cabo allows you an extended dip in a river of culture, enabling you to better recognize patterns so unified as a whole that their properties cannot be derived from a simple summation of those parts. But what does that mean? It means don't be a fat, lazy chump. Walk around Cabo. Take it all in. But where to start? Start here, and then get a map! There are several different places to grab many different maps of Cabo. We recommend grabbing several map-opinions. Toss the failures and savor the treasure maps. Other than the town itself, there are two other key areas to hit. Explore the marina and beach on foot. Both are particularly knockout gorgeous during a sunset. They're also safe bets for attentive service during the daily siesta, which leaves much of the city devoid of activity for an hour or so after the midday meal. Siestas are cool. Give'm a shot.
Mexican candy takes the whole 'sugar and spice' thing to the next level. We heartily recommend the many chili / fruit products available. (Tamarinds are hot in Cabo this time of year.) It's like a party in your mouth and all your best friends came! Ah... but seriously, there are countless creative and seemingly frightening candy options. Spend a few pesos and see what you like. Buy several of the nastiest samples you discover and bring them home as cheap gifts for 'friends.' Speaking of school kids, when they're not in school, we found high concentrations of them on the rocks between the old tuna factory and Lovers Beach. It's a breathtaking moderately easy hike/climb, and you get to see where the kids go to eat their candy. Is that a euphemism? We don't know! But candy or not, food should be a huge part of your walking tour, so head over to the food section when you're done here.
It's especially wise to purchase your groceries and sundries in town if you're staying at a house or a resort. Boutique stores can get away with charging up to ten times as much as the neighborhood hole in the wall. Our favorite street for, well, just about everything, is Jose Ma. Morelos. There are a few fun flea markets in Cabo too, and while they're fun to visit, you'll sometimes get a sense of deja vu because of the repetittion. Wares vary from stall to stall but you'll notice that some suppliers deliver goods to dozens of merchants.
The Cabo Marina area is chock-full o' shops awaiting your pesos. There's even an honest to goodness first-run movie theater megaplex at the marina. No matter where you shop, remember to dicker. Read our section about bargaining on the Cabo Basics page.
|
Our attorneys would fly into conniptions if we didn't include this section. As much as we're telling you to walk and then walk some more, we're not necessarily telling you to stick to the sidewalks. Then again, we're not going to suggest specific alternatives either. Sidewalks are passé in Cabo for a few reasons. Look twice, step once. That's our motto!
Sidewalks surrounding parks and other areas are frequently lined with coconut trees. Ask around town about the legend of the unfortunate gringo who didn't look up often enough. It's a real knee-slapper and it helps to explain why our litigious society doesn't allow the same ornamentation! Be careful when crossing streets too. Cars are big and fast and stop signs are a rare pedestrian's luxury. But the greatest walking hazards in Cabo are the timeshare/activity pitchers. They're animals! Stray a few blocks from the touristy areas and you'll quickly ditch those chumps.
Dogs aren't the only animals you'll see. Chickens and other birds live side by side with their human Cabo counterparts and we've heard tales of giant squids and lions near the marina. If you want more in the way of winged creatures, there's a decent bird sanctuary and estuary up the coast near San Jose Del Cabo.
The other remarkable park in downtown Cabo surrounds La Casa de la Cultura, a museum of sorts on a lonely little hill. You can see most of the city and the sea from this excellent vantage point. Don't bother trying to go after dark though, as they keep sissy hours. If you feel like knocking back a few beers while you're at a park, go ahead. The five-0 leave the gringos alone for the most part.
|
|||||||||