Monday - Downtown Shopping and SO MUCH MORE

Monday happened to be the day I usually dread on any vacation… Shopping Day!  However, there were two things on the Plan of the Day that peaked my interest - A visit to a local glass factory and a very special dinner.  We headed downtown armed with the knowledge that there would be two cruise ships in port, but all would be okay because I was fortified with the knowledge that there will be a great meal at the end of the day

Driving in Cabo is really not that bad.  The major roads are really nice in fact, while the roads in town would benefit from some TLC.   Once you are in town there are a bunch of “topes” (speed bumps), and they can sometimes be hard to spot, especially when the sun goes down.  Lucky for us (and the rent-a-car) Rum and Sugar knew where all topes were to and from the villa.   The ALTO (stop) signs appeared to me to be more of a suggestion than a rule.  As in many countries the biggest vehicle has the right way, and one must be somewhat aggressive behind the wheel.  The most treasured find in downtown Cabo San Lucas is a parking place.  Rum was the designated driver, and I happily sat in the back reading signs and looking for parking spots.   The signage and buildings along the road offer entertainment to all as we continued on our mission.

 While on the way to the glass factory, I saw my favorite sign for a business maybe ever.  The name of the business was “Husband Daycare”.  Wives could drop their husbands off and go shopping.  It was a bar, but upon closer examination, it turned out to be (using polite words) an Adult Entertainment establishment.  Our ladies decided we could stick with them and go shopping, and not being a big fan of that particular industry, I was more than happy to ride on.  But, you got to admit that someone had to be an entrepreneur with a vision when they came up with that idea.

Our first stop was the glass factory.   The factory included a store front, rooms of glass products, examples of windows and wall art, and the factory itself.  

 The workers were literally only feet from the patrons watching them do their craft. 

One can stand mesmerized by the process and craftsmanship involved while feeling the heat of the ovens.  The roof of the showroom was made from colored glass that the sun shone through diffracting the morning sun. 

The whole place provided me a sensory overload - clinks of glass could be heard, smells of burning silicon, the different textures of products one picked up, and of course the many colors of glass all made me stand in awe.

Departing the glass factory, it was a short ride downtown, followed by a long search for a parking place.  Albeit one was discovered and conveniently near a tequila tasting room.  Well you cannot leave Mexico without a bottle of Tequila.

I think the ladies were just trying to get us in a good place before the serious shopping began.   Following a wonderful tasting and with bottles procured, we marched on into the shopping district.   Choices, choices... so many choices

In actuality, it was a fairly pleasant day with lots to see and experience.   A late and very slow lunch finished our day downtown, but dinner lay ahead…  J

Our dinner destination was on the resort compound.  Named La Frida after the famous Mexican surrealistic artist, her influences in art, as well as all things in Mexican heritage including culinary art, can be experienced at this 5 Star restaurant.  We had three courses, skipping dessert for an evening coffee that tasted even better than show that was performed as part of the preparation.   The movie is a little long but what a treat at the end.

 

Here were my choices of the menu, and each course was enjoyed with a wine perfectly paired with the dish.  

The service… Amazing, The wine selection… Excellent, The Ambiance… Wonderful, and the food DAMN GOOD!  

The moon now on our side of the mountain guided us back to Villa Vaca.  Another very special day in Los Cabos.