The Baja peninsula crosses the Tropic of Cancer, but it never really gets . . . Tropical. It’s a desert environment all the way down. Now that we are on the mainland and heading south, things are starting to get a bit more Jungl-ey. (Jungle-ish? Jungle-riffic!) These tightly packed, bustling tourist towns are redolent of the tropics, with thick-leaved trees heaving through the sidewalks and birdsong everywhere. Abundant shops and restaurants (a fair amount of fancy stuff though, quite touristy in that way). Humidity and heat are up, and we like that just fine.

We spent a couple of days on the beaches, in the towns, and drinking it all in. Love the vibes there. Packed with tourists, though. Who are these people, lol? (I guess we are!)

Today we had a great lunch with friends in Puerto Vallarta (way too big and bustling of a city for my taste-quite the challenge to drive through), Then we drove over some mountains and have stopped in the tiny quiet town of Pérula. (Again on the beach, seems like a theme I know.) Tomorrow I think we are heading for our settling place in Barra de Navidad. The driving has been beautiful and uneventful and the roads have been fantastic. We are ready to settle in for an extended stay for a while, though.

Here’s a photo dump of the past few days for your eyeballs.