After La Paz we drove across the peninsula to the ocean side town of Todos Santos. Todos Santos was more touristy, but a bit more laid back at the same time. Because we were no longer on the Sea of Cortez the beaches here were rougher and the water was little colder, overall not really tropical like La Paz. That said we still had one of the best beach days of the whole trip here. After 45 minutes of driving down dirt roads, sandy patches where we thought were going to get stuck and laughing about how we couldn’t believe this was the first time we got lost we found the beach we were looking for! One of the things I treasured most about the trip was how nothing was crowded. Baja’s high season doesn’t really pick up until October so everything was incredibly slow quiet (a welcome change from the ultra-condensed crowds of San Francisco). And this beach was no different. There was one other family of four there and that was it! We all hung out together, but also broke off in pairs and trios to do things that interested us. Some walked on the beach and pet the wild horses, others laid in the sun reading, while some went hiking above the shoreline to take in the view from the top,  but we all went body surfing because the waves were huge! 

Because the beaches weren’t quite as good for hanging out on in Todos Santos we spent more time in town, at our Airbnb, and eating. Almost everything we ate in Baja was very seafood heavy and so fresh. I had more tacos and shrimp ceviche than I can count and loved every minute of it. Oh yeah, and some of the best tortilla soup I’ve ever had! Mmmm, I could go for some right about now. I’ve been trying to stay away from gluten and dairy when I can (not super strict) and it was surprisingly easy to do on our trip. Cheese was rarely used in the cooking and the grain they use most is corn.

We’ve only been home for a week and I already miss it. You know how after vacation when you get home and reminisce you would usually change a couple things now that you know the lay of the land? Well, we got so incredibly lucky and everything worked out perfectly the first time around and I wouldn’t change a thing. Plus, it was so special to get to spend so much time with Xan’s twin brother. They were so close growing up and now live on opposite sides of the country that our quality time together is one of the things I’ll miss the most.