SVSoulsticeAdventures: ENSENADA, MEXICO

ENSENADA- Our 1st port of Entry to Mexico

November 16 to November 25

Welcome to Mexico! Ensenada is full of friendly and helpful folks and it ALWAYS has something going on to keep it lively! This was our first port of entry to Mexico and we knew it would come with some challenges. We arrived to Baja Naval Marina on November 16, 2018, in the morning with SV Arctos after an easy night departure from San Diego. After arrival, we hurried to get to the port offices to start our arrival paperwork. A boat arrival is just like a plane arrival and requires a visit to customs. It also includes a visit to the Port Captain, Immigration ( get your 180-day visitor visa), Customs (Aduana) and the Banjercito (pay for your entry and your TIP - temporary import permit). Stephen and I knew this would not be an "in and out" like other boats that had not previously been to Mexico.

Soulstice, previously known as Hello World and previous to that, Shadow, had been in Mexico with each prior owner ( we are the 3rd owners). This complicated things as our boat have previous TIPs that were never canceled by the previous owners. Many owners often do this because the TIP is good for 10 years and what the heck... who knows if you would return to Mexico in that 10 year period? So, it is often not canceled. Folks..... if you have a boat with a TIP on it and go to sell it, PLEASE! PLEASE! cancel it to avoid a HUGE hassle on the next owners. Also if you plan to buy a boat, you definitely should inquire about this little tidbit.

Stephen and I knew the previous owners had a TIP, so we proactively went to Ensenada in February 2018 to cancel that TIP. If the previous owner cancels it, it is no problem. If the new owner attempts to cancel the TIP is it difficult, to say the least. Well, we ended up successful on that journey ( it was not easy and I will not get into the details) only to find out when we wanted to apply for our new TIP that ANOTHER TIP was still on the record. How? What? Wtf!!! How could Hello World get a TIP when the TIP on Shadow as not canceled??? A different Mexican government agent handled the TIP prior to 2008 and records were not merged until we attempted to apply for us. We left in February feeling a success that one TIP was canceled and another still pending as we THOUGHT we completed the paperwork to get that arranged prior to our arrival this November.

"Your paperwork was lost, " we were kindly told by the Banjercito, who we befriended after our February visit. This then delayed our Ensenada stay with the filing of new paperwork and several days wait due to "business days" to process and a weekend that included a celebratory holiday of Revolution day. We eventually got our TIP!!! Truly, the Banjercito, Beatrice was amazing and we are so grateful for all of her efforts to expedite the process. We have a kinship as she has many dogs including German Shepherds, a Schnauzer, a Husky and a Basset Hound and as anyone knows Stephen and I, we love dogs and miss our Petra very much. The night of celebration was with some other cruisers on the dock, Temoc ( our Harbor Master and it was his Birthday too) and Victor ( one of the many hardworking folks at Baja Naval Marina).

I want to plug the Baja Naval Marina! Temoc and Victor, whom we interacted with the most, truly are kind souls. Temoc is the Harbor Master and maintains the character as your best friend here and it is genuine. He helps everyone get their paperwork done on entry when it is a simple case as most are and completes your exit paperwork, just as a courtesy. He is available and interested in all the folks who spend time in his marina. We were very impressed with his professionalism and efficiency but more importantly his extremely kindhearted nature. Victor is another friendly face you see daily working hard on the dock, always smiling and willing to help out in any way to make your stay pleasant. We would recommend the marina to anyone who brings there boat down to Ensenada without a doubt!

Our extended stay in Ensenada was due to our TIP process, Mexican Revolution Day, weather and unfortunately Stephen succumbing to gastroenteritis we suspected was infectious. Our buddy boat, SV Arctos checked in and checked out (Nov 15-Nov 16) and we did not want them to wait for us since we knew we would be delayed. We were already surrounded by familiar faces on the dock with SV Nanatuck, a Canadian couple from the Yukon ( Mike and Heather) we met back in Morro Bay as well as SV Calypso, another Caliber 40, Robert and Karen, who we also originally met in Morro Bay. Additionally, every day there were more and more cruisers pulling in to add to a list of friendly faces.

This stay included one of our most social stays filled with many potlucks on other folks boats including ours and many nighttime taco outings! We normally try to cook and eat on the boat to save money but when 75 cent tacos are staring you in the face it is hard to say no:) We had some great local food and shared some fabulous meals with folks. We had tacos the night of Thanksgiving and that seemed perfect to us, but we were lucky enough to have some turkey the next day on Amante, a large catamaran, that hosted our entire dock to a Thanksgiving dinner. We enjoyed the regular fixings and other delicious dishes supplied by other cruisers. It was a great party and even though I love our space on Soulstice, a catamaran is definitely a better venue for hosting a large group of cruisers for a party! I do have to apologize as I did not get pictures at all of these events. I am practicing Mindful travel which includes just enjoying where you are and not documenting everything despite my blogging responsibilities - ha! That's my way of saying I forgot, I was lazy, I was truly being in the moment, etc....

Stephen and I did venture out for a touristy day of wine tasting in the Guadalupe Valley. Stephen may deny this but he was whining initially about my purchase of this touristy day. He will then tell you he had a great time and it was truly one of the highlights of our stay. Guadalupe Valley produces over 90% of the wine in Mexico. We went on a tour with a company called the Wine Route and went to 4 wineries. Our favorite was called the Missiones de California, which is organic. The winemaker, Raoul was a delight and started out in his vineyard discussing his winemaking and harvesting process. We enjoyed the most intimate tasting we have ever had. We sat at a table with 5 others and him. He taught us how to taste the wine and it was complimented by fig and guava marmalade, olive tamponade, and olive oil, all homemade by his daughter and wife. Stephen and I have been to many wine tastings but never anything so authentic and a genuine exhibition of someone's passion of winemaking.

We are looking forward to heading farther South and getting to some warmer weather to allow for some snorkeling, diving, and spearfishing. I did get a fishing rod and we will continue to troll with handlines on the way hoping to get some dinner. Keep ya posted on any success! We only have a tiny freezer so we are mindful of fishing practices. Not sure of our next stop, we are thinking San Juanico to get caught up with our surfer friends, possibly Magdelena Bay and then Cabo San Lucas should be soon. It has taken us quite some time to get down the coast but we are going at the speed of life as Stephen likes to say.

The marina is right next to this very LARGE Mexican Flag! It is a gorgeous flag and this picture does not do it justice but the sky was very attractive that night! The marina is right by this flag so it was easy to find always and you could not help but be impressed by this flag.

Guadalupe Valley

Painting at the Wine Museum in Guadalupe Valley I liked

Again, another painting I liked in the Wine Museum

In the cellar of one of the wineries and above you can see they use bottles to enhance the light that shines through

Colored water fountain in the plaza with flag and right next to the marina. I found this fountain mesmerizing every time. Everyone should have one in their back or front yard:)

Caught a great sunset with Soulstice in the marina

Raoul!

My favorite winery and tasting of the day!

Revolution Day Parade

Our Heroine! Beatrice the Banjercito!! We are sooo grateful to her! She helped us tremendously

The TIP celebration and Temoc's Birthday night out!

I needed to hang a line so we could put our Mexican Flag and Stephen also requested a little 303 action on the radar reflector and tricolor light ( 303 is a UV protectant spray on product we love)