Sea of Cortez
2010
We took a cruise on a small ship - the M/V Spirit of Endeavour, the same ship we cruised in Alaska's inside passage in 2006.
On this trip, we spent a week with 82 other passangers in the Sea of Cortez, between Baja California and the Mexican mainland.
Sunset at Finisterra (Land's End), the southernmost point on the Baja peninsula...
the Pacific Ocean to the west and Sea of Cortez to the east
Birds at Finisterra
Humpback whale at sunset
Humpback whale at sunset
Sunset at Finisterra
Sunset on the Pacific Ocean side
Sunset off Cabo San Lucas
Sunset on the Pacific Ocean side
Magnificent frigate bird (male)
Emily on the beach at Isla Espiritu Santo
Isla Espiritu Santo
Pataya cactus
Emily about to take the plunge
Flycatcher
Emily takes the plunge
Puffer fish
Tan sea star and urchin
Butterfly fish, king angel fish and brilliant sergeant major fish in the coral
Butterfly fish
Juvenile damsel fish
Juvenile king angel fish and juvenile damsel fish
Crown of thorns sea star - often disparaged because they eat coral
Another variety of sea star
Mature damsel fish
Mature king angel fish
Coronet fish
Brilliant sergeant major fish
Great blue heron at Bahia Magdalena
Our painted panga boat
Note the three noses ---
Pacific bottle-nose dolphins in Bahia Magdalena
-- and they surface
Pacific bottle-nose dolphins in Bahia Magdalena
Pacific bottle-nose dolphins in Bahia Magdalena
Pacific bottle-nose dolphins in Bahia Magdalena
Pacific bottle-nose dolphins in Bahia Magdalena
Male magnificent frigate bird in Bahia Magdalena
Youth rodeo in Constitucion
This is an 8 year old boy
Young senoritas riding sidesaddle
Ah, Spanish eyes....
Superb horsemanship
Early morning over the sea
A fin whale - second largest creature on earth - note the eye and mouth (left) under the water line
Approaching Loreto at sunrise
Loreto
Loreto was the original capital of all the Californias
Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó
Founded in 1697, considered mother of the Spanish missions in California and the start of the Camino Real
Loreto Mission sanctuary
Chapel of the Virgin of Our Lady of Loreto
Another small chapel
Exterior of the mission
Mission grounds
Bell tower
Figure in main sanctuary
Loreto
These cell towers are found all over Baja California
Island in the Sea of Cortez
Island in the Sea of Cortez
Blue boobies
Juvenile brown booby
Brown booby
California sea lions
Kayaking with the sea lions
Pacific bottle-nose dolphins
La Paz - capital city of Baja California Sur
La Paz
La Paz
Misión de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de La Paz Airapí - 1720
Keeping up to date...
Dancer in La Paz
Not sure how "Since 1359" can be, nor what
a "bar and clothesline" are...