San Jose del Cabo (Mexico) | Chili Rellenos - Day 19

 

Who knew that San Jose del Cabo had a Walmart? Both San Jose del Cavo and Cabo San Lucas are parts of Baja that have been Americanized. It is, however, still relatively easy to get away from these Americanized parts once I walk a few blocks from the primary concentration areas.

This afternoon, I walked 2 km (1.5 mi) to the Aguila bus station, which happens to be across from Walmart. I intend to locate the bus station for my trip tomorrow, check the itinerary, and walk some kilometers today. I love to walk in my travels and feeneed to do morealking since the Camino. Part of that is intentional. I really want to give my legs a break. For me, walking is how I love to travel. It is an essential part of my travels. In addition, walking allows me to connect with different cultures in a more complex way than when I use other forms of transportation. 

Along the way to the bus station I stop to eat at a local seafood taco place, Claro Fish Jr. I start off with a refreshing Mojito. This Cuban cocktail is popular in Mexican culture and very refreshing. It consists of white rum, sugar, soda water, lime juice, and mint. This hits the spot on this warm day! Yum!

I order three tacos. Two grilled fish at 30 Pesos ($1.60 USD) each and one grilled garlic octoat pus taco 65 Pesos ($3.60 USD). After I fill the tavariousariety of toppings, I sit back and enjoy the feast!

When I arrive at the bus ststarted, I start to check the window for the itinerary. I notice a woman standing outside, then she walks into the station to chat with her husband. "Do you speak English? How about Spanish? Sorry my name is Kathy, and we need help," the woman says. Sure, I am willing to help, I tell her. Between us, I am far from being fluent in my Spanish, but it has improved to a point where I no longer sound like a caveman. 😂 Gone are the days of uttering a single word to get what I need. I got by for many years by uttering words like "Banos? (Bathroooms), La Cuenta (the check), etc." The other day, a waiter told me that he was impressed by my Spanish, as I was actually placing the words correctly. "Most people get the order of the words all wrong," he said. 

As a self-appointed expert with Aguila bus, I follow Kathy into the reception area since I've used their service many times since being in Baja. I notice Tim, a big andtall man, who speaks less than caveman Spanish is trying to communicate with the clerk by typing into Google translate. Once Kathy grabs his attention, he steps away from the desk. The older couple is from Manitoba, Canada, and wants to explore Baja but are unsure about many things. 

The first thought that crosses my mind is WOW! Incredible the number of Canadians I keep encountering in my travels. Noelleline and Patrick working at t,he hostel are from Québéc, Canada too. More to come on these two later. I digress. Back to Tim and Kathy. I spend the next 20 minutes getting Tim and Kathy all lined out. They want to spend a day in Todos Santos and another in La Paz. I explain to them how the bus system works. When and where to buy tickets. Options for activities in each town. And which town would be best to stay in. I enjoy sharing my experiences with others and notice that although Tim and Kathy are adventurous, they feel like fish out of water when using the Aguila bus system. You guys will have a great time, I tell them. "We are so used to having our kids do all our planning and taking care of us that we just aren't very good with cell phones," Tim says. When they feel comfortable with the information,, Tim says "Thank you so much. This was so helpful. I think we have a plan now." I shake there and hands as I wish them well and safe travels before parting.

I am in the mood for something other than tacos tonight. I love tacos and simultaneously feel I need to have different food experiences. I head south of the plaza to a restaurant I've passed a few times. The waiter, Dennis, who you I assure is Mexican, and not a Gringo hands me the menu. After a few minutes, I know exactly what to order, Chili Rellenos. This dish consists of two ancho chili peppers coated in egg and stuffed with cheese before being fried. The chilis are smothered in a red sauce. There is nothing spicy about this dish. It is a culinary delight! Tonight is hands down the best Chili Rellenos I have ever eaten. The chilis are cooked perfectly. They are delicious, the egg coating is very light, and the cheese stays melted long after serving the dish. Dennis, this was fantastic! I tell the waiter. "Gracias! Glad you enjoyed it."

I love great food, and today, I was blessed with two fantastic meals. As I read through my posts, I enjoyed reading the posts where I shared local culinary treats. I love traveling to an area where I can eat local cuisine every day without crossing into the usual go-tos for most cultures, such as pizza and hamburgers. Yes, those are both available here, but there is no need when you have great food! The last time I ate local cuisine every day while traveling was in Albania. 😁 Days like these is why I enjoy traveling so much.