Todos Santos, All the Saints, seems to have been blessed and holy since the beginning of the world, since it holds that most magical substances—water. The nearby Laguna Mountains are just high enough to catch clouds. Far below, near the sea, mountain water seeps to the surface to give life to groves of palms and a myriad of life. Long ago, Indians settled here, and it was an obvious place for a mission.
We docked at La Paz and bussed to Todos Santos. The richly textured desert, green from September’s storm, slid by. Nearing town we saw a huge area covered in palm trees. Though drought-tolerant, these trees need a steady supply of water, and so are a sure sign of an oasis.
Once in town, we split into small groups and toured the mission church and a museum of local culture, then wandered the many arts and crafts galleries of the town. We gathered at Café Santa Fe, a well-known Italian restaurant.
Back in La Paz, we had time to stroll the waterfront, including the fantastic ice cream shop!
Just before dinner, we enjoyed traditional songs played on bass and a trio of guitars by local musicians.
