Welcome to the pictures from my trip to La Mision in Baja California, Mexico.  It was a quick weekend trip south of the border for a friend's wedding, but a good time was had despite racing down and then racing back to California.  My sister and I drove down to Mexico on a Friday, attended the wedding on Saturday (for which my sister was the photographer!) and then we drove back up to San Diego on Sunday, where I then left back up to San Francisco later that evening.  Quick, but fun!

Driving south down Highway MEX 1-D looking at all the election campaign billboards.

How can you go wrong with a guy named Nacho?!

In English: "Thank you for visiting Tijuana"  ;-}

Heading south along the Pacific toward Rosarito and then further onto La Mision.

"We don't accept crumply torn bills or denominations greater than $200 pesos or $20 (US) dollars"

A highway toll booth heading south.

Be sure to come with a lot of US $1 bills unless you want a pocket full of Mexican money!

A new suburban housing development on the edge of a big fat hill that, without vegetation to keep it in place, doesn't look too terribly stable!

Rosarito straight ahead, and La Gloria to the right

Now this is something that I didn't see much of when I went south of Tijuana the last time back in 1993 right before NAFTA was enacted.  While there is apparently no landscaping to speak of and the houses don't look all that luxurious, these middle class housing tracts are an excellent sign of economic development, something which was painfully absent 15 years ago.  Good for Mexico!

The better Mexican economy becomes, the less compelled Mexicans will feel the need to leave and head north.

At first I mistakenly thought this was a garbage man standing on the side of the road until I pointed my camera, focused and saw his GUN, his wavering finger, and the sign behind him that says "Military Zone."  OOPS!!!  MY BAD!!!  ;-}

More hillside suburban housing developments.  These places look pretty nice actually.

The other side of Mexico. . . which doesn't look all that bad in pictures, but in person it appears quite depressed.

One look at these flimsy shanty-type houses and you can see why so many Mexicans leave the country seeking greener pastures.

One pleasant surprise I came across while driving through Mexico is that Jesus has apparently relocated from Israel to North America to reside over the kind folk of northern Baja California.  Who knew?! 

km 66: La Mision!

SCROLL RIGHT ---> --->  the venue for my friend's wedding.  Not too shabby, eh!

An excellent place to spend the weekend!

SCROLL RIGHT ---> ---> a panoramic shot of the secluded coastline just down the hill from our hotel, which also served as the backdrop to the wedding.  Swanky!

BELOW: all wedding pictures by Amy Lynn Schereck until noted otherwise

Above and below: the bride Tiffany and groom Tony

Tiffany and I turning on the tears at the reception toast

Mingling before the ceremony

Pictures from here on are all my own!

Random hallway!

MasterCard and VISA are definitely accepted in Mexico!

Some guests at the wedding reception water fountain doin' their thang

Reflection

Above and below: a boat load of flower pics for my mummy who loves flowers from around the world

And if anyone knows the names of all these flowers, feel free to email me!

Flowering ice plant

The lavender, orange, blood red and green look quite beautiful together.

Color abounds

Our hotel room overlooking the ocean below

A Mexican toilet ;-}

I love tile bathrooms!

A neighboring hotel

Me on the beach in Baja California

I assume it's purpose is no longer functionality

Random black limo pic with contrasting white mermaid

A little hillside ledge to relax on in the sun

Location of the wedding ceremony and reception

Interesting interior shot

three quarters sky

View of the hotels from down on the beach

I don't know why, but I love this shot.

Maybe it's the sharp plant, the wispy clouds and the different colors and textures?  Hmm. . .

Tiffany and her hair

Tiffany, my sister and Mexico

The "town" of La Mision

Heading back north toward Tijuana and then further onto San Diego in the good ol' United States of America!

While in San Diego, my sister and I took a nice two-hour long cruise around San Diego Bay

The slightly more industrial side of the bay. . .

As San Diego is a military city to a large degree, battle ships and other military craft abound.

Crazy giant cranes used for ship building

A floating hospital as big as a sky scraper!

Japan!

Old Glory flapping in front of the San Diego - Coronado Bridge over the bay

Our little cruise boat on the bay

Two incredibly huge aircraft carriers

Clearly the fake owl isn't scaring anything away!

The San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum, the USS Midway

Jets parked along San Diego Bay

Above and below: the military's presence can definitely be felt in San Diego

Above and below: sea lions in the bay.  A common sight along the California coast from north to south

Big crazy buoys in the bay that look like giant sausage links

San Diego Bay, heading out toward the Pacific Ocean where our tour boat turns around and heads back to town.

Downtown San Diego from offshore

On the tour boat

Two old boats in great shape at the harbor which apparently could be rented out for parties.

My sister and I in San Diego!  Fun fun!

I'm not sure what to say about this pic. . . hmm. . . I should have made sure my shirt collar was sticking out. . . ;-}

Me and San Diego Bay!

The good ol' American flag over San Diego Bay!

Our boat's tour guide informed us that the buildings of San Diego resemble the items one would possibly find in a tool kit

Above: two cigarette lighters

Above: flat head screw driver and wedge

A collection of hexagonal bolts

Hmm. . . which tools would these be?!

Phillips screwdriver

Condos along the waterfront.  Not a shabby view, eh!

Cigarette lighters from a different angle

Sailboat sailing past Coronado Bridge

The 11,288ft / 3,407m San Diego-Coronado Bridge

And according to Wikipedia, the third deadliest suicide bridge in America.  AAACK!!!

Downtown San Diego in all its watery glory

Wells Fargo!

Above and below: if I'm not mistaken, the USS Ronald Reagan

Above and below: pictures from atop the The San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum, the USS Midway

The harbor beside the USS Midway

Hangar Deck and beginning of the self-guided tour.

A thorough tour is estimated to take approximately 3 hours.

Our tour: 60 minutes.  ;-}

A PDF map of the USS Midway can be found HERE

Sleeping quarters

Re-enactment in sick bay

Descending into the 2nd, 3rd and 4th decks

Missile elevator

Looking out through a netted portal in the ships exterior out onto the bay and the USS Ronald Reagan

Above and below: the USS Midway

Above and below: atop the flight deck

The flight deck, which is HUGE!!!

Giant statue of a sailor kissing his girl beside the USS Midway

Atop the flight deck

Explanation below

Above and below: things that will make you feel uncomfortable if they are trained on you!

I hope you enjoyed the quick tour around La Mision, Baja California, Mexico and San Diego Bay, California!

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