More Todos Santos People and Animals

Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. The whole Pueblo turns out carrying braided palmfronds, bouquets of hisbiscus and bougainvillae, participates in a short procession from the plaza into the church, buys Virgens of Guadalupe made of bleached straws and commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The rest, as they say, is biblical history. However, Todos Santenians know, that just in a week's time all the sacrifices will be over, and the resurrection will occur, at least here in church.

This is Palomo, Jorge's dog. Jorge lives in a shack located beside bean, squash and cilantro fields. His job is to keep cows and horses away from the crop.

Jorge owns Palomo. Palomo has the body of a white German Shepherd dog and the legs of a Dachshund. He is most charming, and adopts any neighbour, who offers food or shelter. Overall he lives a charmed life. Apart from that, he is gentleness, kindness and gratefulness all rolled into one sweet package.

At Punta Lobos, where the fishermen bring their catch ashore, landing their pangas charging through crashing surf.

Pelicans wait for offal, gulls scream fighting over a share of the spoils. And there are the beach dogs. Their number has diminished, many of them have been 'adopted' by Todos Santos expatriats, tourists, and long term visitors. Now they are enjoying a life of domestic bliss. These two are still on the beach. They are shy and wait their turn for the fish left-overs.

The fishermen all pile into the bed of open half-ton trucks after finishing their day. No seat-belts here, not even seats. However, this is the first year that I have seen 'enclosures' made of steel pipes, to give the passengers something to hold onto, and anyway, keep them inside the truck-bed. Definitely a neccessity, as Baja potholes and bumps in the sand roads can catapult riders into the great beyond quite easily. The fishermen wear kerchiefs over their nose and mouth, because nothing can keep the dust down, especially given the way these people thunder through the desert.

Strawberry Festival in Pescadero saw people from the pueblo, from the mountains and the ranches and farms, all enjoying delicious, sweet, fresh, aromatic, delightful strawberries fresh from the Pescadero fields. What can be better?