Intrepid traveller Ian Wright begins his
journey down the peninsular of Baja California in the border
town of Tijuana. This is the place where
hundreds of thousands of Mexicans risk their  lives every year
attempting to cross into the United States. Ian is challenged
to run through no-man's land and having survived the armed
air and land patrol he begins hitching south on Baja's only
highway.
After miles of uninterrupted cacti, Ian has a sea-spray shower
at one of the world's best blowholes, and then ends the first
part of his adventure at San Quintin - a
typical Baja one-horse town. The only accommodation available
in San Quintin is a faded hotel originally built for Hollywood
stars.
After a short stop in the beautiful Bahia de Los
Angeles, where travellers sleep in huts on the beach
Ian continues south on the back of a motorbike, through more
desert landscapes to the mission oasis of San Ignacio.
Here the over zealous religious imperialism of the Catholic
missionaries is evident: the cemetery holds the remains of
the indigenous people who refused to convert.
 One of the highlights of Ian's journey is a whale
watching trip with two local fishermen in Mulege.
Not content with simply swimming around the tiny boat, the
whales actually come close enough for Ian to touch them.
Ian also goes in searches of the perfect beach, experiences
a true ranchero style dance - complete with
a hangover the following morning, and enters into the spirit
of a wild and hedonistic carnival at La Paz on Baja's southern tip.
The last part of Ian's journey involves a ferry ride east
across the Sea of Cortez to mainland Mexico,
where he ventures into the stunning Copper Canyon.
Here he meets real cowboys who give him very useful lessons
on picking up senoritas. Finally, Ian climbs high into the
mountains where he is privy to an ancient ceremony of the
cave dwelling Tarahumara Indians - the ritualistic
killing of a goat - something which has rarely been witnessed
before by a white person. |
