I know, I know, it's been awhile.  Life has been busy here on the Baja, perhaps not busy, but too fun to write blogs every night.

The water has been clearing up & the hotels have been filling making my job easier and more enjoyable.  I've seen seahorses, sting rays, stonefish, octopus, lobsters, a sea lion, a turtle and more fish then I could even begin to count.  I have no doubt as the months progress to fall jumping into the sea will be more like jumping into a giant, warm bathtub full of exciting creatures.

I've had more days of water shutting off (due to running out rather then missed bill payments), as well as propane.   Minor inconveniences to remind me I'm not at home.

My friend Tammy came to visit and do a couple of dives with the shop!  We met back in the Seychelles during GVI.  It's awesome to see people years later and instantly reconnect.  Unfortunately I didn't get to dive with her, but next time!  And we're going to find a whaleshark!

Mexico Face 3:

Addresses?  Who needs them!

Oops...

First off, I'm so sorry for totally neglecting my blog!  Life's been pretty busy & exhausting.  Between the heat, working at resorts or in the wild unpredictable ocean, and hanging out with new friends - I just haven't had the drive.

I haven't been diving as much as I had hoped.  My main job is clearly recruiting people to take out on Resort Courses - $115 dives for people who have never been diving before.  It's not too bad of course because I sit in awesome resort pools and talk to people from all over, but I'm itching to get into the sea && hopefully with some certified experienced divers!  I really want to be able to explore the area some more and get some good GoPro footage rather then just filming customers.

The sea has been heating up a bit though thankfully!  Visibility has been improving as well.  September/October is supposed to be when it get's stunning & I can't wait! Whale sharks also begin making their appearance in La Paz around that time.  My first chance I'll definitely be hoping onto a snorkel boat, whether it's as a guest or an employee to swim with some of those guys.  I never had a chance to see one so it's high up on my Cabo bucket list.

I also got paid for my first two weeks.  While the pay is less then half I made the last couple summers working at Bremerton Yacht Club teaching sailing, I'm pretty happy.  I've already made enough to cover rent and bills for this month & for food and adult beverages I can easily buy using my tips from each day.  Plus, walking back from the dive shop all I could think was that I already had everything I needed.  I live in a stunning area, spend all my time doing things I love and am getting a killer tan.  The only thing I really could ask for is dive gear, a nice underwater camera & maybe a plane ticket to see Tom,  guess I'll have to get saving!

I'll try to upload pictures soon, the internet in my apartment is a bit slow, but for now here's an image from my commute to work!

xx 

Sara

The 4th & Other Shenanigans

4th of July was awesome.

Not only did I make my first 3 sales (woooo go me!)  but I also got to watch some awesome fireworks with new friends.  Cabo goes pretty wild on the 4th because of all the tourist,  and American apparel was rampant.

My apartment complex houses two guys from another dive shop, and through them I was able to meet quite a few people.  We got some drinks from Oxxo (like 7-11) and headed out to watch the firework display.  We got to the beach just in time and had some of the best seats in the bay.  It was pretty great to feel at home in a place that seemed so foreign when I first stepped off the plane.

Today I took out my divers,  the water was a bit murky and it got stressful when they wouldn't stay at the anchor line.  One of the girls decided she didn't want to do it, but the couple continued on.  I'd say the bad visibility was worth it because of the awesome bait ball I stumbled upon.  Though everyone, including me, was pretty frustrated at the beginning of the dive we had all happy campers by the end =)

I finally unpacked all my stuff and pulled out all the decorations for my room today.

Looks like Cabo really is becoming a home.

xxx

MEXICO FACT 2:
No mail boxes in Cabo, if you have a bill to pay they'll just slip it under your door!

First Ocean Dive

This morning I woke up bright and early at 6 a.m. to get to the dive shop before 7:30.  Unfortunately, as I turned my shower on, I realized the agua was M.I.A.  And it hasn't showed back up since, which means I don't have to wash dishes! Yay!  So after another 15 minutes snoozing in bed I was on my way.

Working in a dive shop with so many people (about 15 working at different times) is bound to be hectic but obviously the language barrier makes a fun extra little twist.

Once everything was on the boats and sorted though, it was pretty stress free.  I was a bit nervous going to brand new dive sites (and having to wear two layers of six mm wetsuits GROSS).  But I was pumped.

The first dive I will admit, was less the inspiring.  The visibility was majorly lacking and i was having a bit of mask and fin issues.  I did spy a bump head parrot fish out in the murk!

The second dive was freaking AWESOME though.  It was located at Land's End which is the bit of rock at the very end past the Lover's Arc (picture any post card from Cabo).   We spotted a flight of rays, a ton of torpedo rays and at least 3 guitar shark.

Apparently a hurricane just hit a bit offshore which is why the visibility is so whack.  It's also supposed to get warm enough to dive in shorts!

After work I headed to the beach to work on my tan and read some Game of Thrones (nerd alert).  After a couple dips in the ocean I headed back home where I was greeted with an invite to a bonfire tonight.  

My neighbors and their friends are all awesome and super outgoing, two of them even know a friend from my GVI trip!  I have a feeling I'm going to be making some great friends here.  We all have such similar lifestyles it's insane, and it will be good to have people to hike and camp with.  Well, I'm exhausted!  But before I go, I decided each blog I'll try and find one interesting "Mexico" factoid & do a marine animal spotlight from my dive.  I'm too tired for the spotlight tonight but ....

MEXICO FACT 1:
In Cabo, you don't get parking tickets, they just take of your liscense plates if you're illegally parked.  To get them back you have to go to the police station and dig through a pile to find them, then pay the fine.


Besos!

Sara

First day of "Work"!

So, I thought I would hate having to work in the pool & recruiting people to try out diving.  Turns out, it's pretty awesome.  Hanging out in a pool from 10:30 until 230 isn't too bad at all, and neither is going up and talking to people.  Sure, a lot of people just laugh and say "Maybe next time" but when you find someone who actually wants to dive and is really excited, it kinda makes your day.

The first couple we had today were on their belated honeymoon. They were about my age and from Kentucky "Yep, the same town as Kentucky Fried Chicken was founded".  Apparently the girls dad even had his prom in Colonel Sanders house!  She said their KFC isn't very nice though, and hasn't been remodeled since the day it opened.

The second group was a really ecstatic family from California.  The younger kid said he had only seen two fish on his first dive ever in Cancun and really wanted to get in the water again and have a better experience.  Hopefully we find lots of cool stuff tomorrow when I head out with them for my First CSL ocean dive!!!!

xxx

Love from Sara & The Gecko, all my other roommates are missing tonight.

And so it begins!

After a total of maybe three hours of sleep last night & two crowded plane rides I'm safe and sound in Cabo San Lucas.  

It's my first time in Mexico since I traveled to Juarez when I was three-months-old with Mom and Dad and let me tell you, it doesn't disappoint.  Even before we left the plane the flight attendant had everyone do three cheers for tequila.  

I was met at the airport by Coco, whose real name is Jorge, a super friendly 29-year-old skipper for the dive shop.  We made a pact I would help him with english if he would help me with spanish and we were on our way.  

I always find driving around new places to be exhilarating, looking out the window and taking everything in, making mental notes for places to revisit. The 40 minute ride from the airport was no exception.  With every mile in that air-conditioning-less Jeep the ride got better, the views more beautiful & me just getting happier and happier.

We arrived to Cabo and stopped at the shop for a brief second before Coco and I made our way to go apartment hunting.  I changed my mind about a million times between the apartment with a small swimming pool, air conditioning, and a fold out couch and the apartment with internet that was dirt cheap and HUGE. Finally deciding on the cheaper $220 apartment.  

After settling, and sweating, I took a walk downtown to find some food and explore.  The marina is absolutely beautiful and built up like Vegas with restaurants matching the price.  The cool breeze is really nice, especially after being in my apartment, and I'm sure I'll be strolling down that way nearly every night (even if people do try to sell me trips, bracelets, and marijuana at every turn).

I had an awesome dinner of pollo fajitas, though I was a little bummed to be sitting alone.  I can't wait to start work tomorrow and see the (dive) sites of Cabo.  I have a feeling I'm going to be loving it here.

Well that's it for now!  I'm absolutely exhausted.  I'll try and post pictures and such later this week.

Goodnight from Sara, Gecko, Cricket and Cockroach.  

(Those are all my friends I've spotted in my room so far tonight)

xxxx