Heaven is a Place in Mexico

by Megan Foster
I didn't think it would be that easy. It was a silly idea between my best friend and me, that mushroomed into something else. Let's take a trip. Get lost in Mexico. And we giggled like school girls as we planned on sunning ourselves on pristine beaches, sipping on pina coladas, and the occasional (not!) Bloody Mary.

Then miraculously, both our schedules at work cleared up. We had three days free to make our impromptu vacation a reality! You wouldn't believe the excitement that spilled over from us as we set out to prepare for our trip. Since we have been hearing nothing but good things about Baja California, we decided to spend our unexpected vacation at Rosarito in Baja California, Mexico.

So we took Diane's trusty Beetle, loaded it up with our stuff and took the hour-long drive to paradise. Needless to say, we were as excited as two college students out on summer vacation.

As soon as we got to Rosarito, we immediately looked around for a hotel to stay in. We drove around town for a while, then found it. It looked like a beacon in the desert. It was a couple of yards from the beach and it was bustling with life. Diane and I turned to each other and smiled. This was it - The Festival Plaza Hotel. This was the perfect place to rest after our adventures on the beach. We immediately got ourselves a room at the hotel. Fortunately, it was the off-season, so we didn't have a difficult time getting rooms. We were happy we chose this particular hotel. From the outside, we could see that it was located near commercial establishments. The bars and restaurants situated near the hotel were familiar from all the stories we've been hearing from co-workers and other friends. We made a mental note to try authentic Mexican tacos over at Rock and Roll Taco, which looked to be a fun place to hang out in. We could actually hear lively Mexican music blaring from the restaurant as we passed by with the Beetle's windows rolled down.

The ocean smell was invigorating. We couldn't wait to take a dip in the pristine waters. From our room balcony (room with an ocean view, natch), we could see the glittering seas and immaculate beaches. We immediately donned our bikinis and trooped to the beach.

The beach was a wonder. There were few people dotting the shores that fine Friday morning. We spread out our towels, slathered on some sunscreen and proceeded to bask in the perfect Mexican sun.

After about half an hour of tanning, Diane and I decided we needed a drink. So we walked to the nearest bar and ordered drinks, as we looked out on the vast seas. A little Mexican boy approached us and showed us a crude sign written on a piece of cardboard: Surfing Lessons, ask for Luisito. Diane looked at me with a twinkle in her eye, and told the boy in her faltering Spanish where to find Luisito. The boy eagerly nodded his head and ran to a small shack a few feet from the bar. He ran inside and a few seconds later, a man emerged from the shack. Thankfully, he was fluent in English. Diane arranged for us to have surfing lessons, and we jumped right into it immediately.

If there was one word that would describe those lessons, it would have to be: exhausting. I wiped out more times than I could recall, and paddling in the open seas on my surf board was extremely tiring for my arms. But I had the greatest time ever. The waves were just right. The weather was fine, and the company was perfect, since we took lessons with a group, and got introduced to a few locals and other vacationers.

After that, our surfing "class" met up to party the night away. We went from one bar to another and tried out the amazing Mexican cuisine. Needless to say, the calories we burned while learning to surf were replenished with our food and alcohol binges every night.

It was the most fun Diane and I have had in a long time. By the time we were heading back to California, we were sorry our vacation at Rosarito was going to end. But we were happy. We were glad we made this impulsive vacation happen, because those are three days in heaven worth experiencing over and over again.
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Packing Light for Your Camping Trip

by Greg Hansward
An outdoor vacation of camping in the great outdoors is sure to be a nice reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life. While many campsites don't require hiking much further than your automobile, they don't provide you with seclusion and adventure of hiking to more remote campsites. The downside of hiking to remote camping locations is that you have to carry your belongings and camping gear on your back. Here are some tips to downsizing your load but still ensuring you have the essentials.

First off, do some research and see if your campsite will have running water and showers. The more remote ones rarely do. Even if there is water it may not be suitable for drinking and cleaning cuts and scrapes. If needed, bring enough bottled water for your hike or consider purification tablets.

Check the climate and weather report before you leave and pack accordingly. Even if the weather report doesn't forecast it, be prepared for rain with at least a light poncho or rain resistant jacket.

Bring an appropriate sleeping bag for the climate and conditions of your camping location. If it's a warm weather destination then a lightweight sleeping bag can be cheap and easy to find. If you'll be camping in a cold climate then it's wise to invest in a lightweight yet well insulated and water resistant sleeping bag.

A lightweight tent made of durable material is essential for camping. While it's nice to have a huge tent it's not necessary and less is more. In remote campsites you can change your clothes and keep your belongings outside your tent. You may also consider purchasing a tent that is self-assembly and requires very little time and effort to set up and take down.

A well-stocked first aid kit is also a must for camping. Make sure you have various sized bandages and disinfecting spray or ointment. Also carry some antihistamines and pain relieving medication. Have some small scissors or a Swiss Army knife and some tweezers which come in handy when dressing wounds and doing a multitude of tasks.

Your fully loaded backpack will weigh no less that 20 pounds and should weigh no more than 40 pounds. That may not seem like a lot but if you have hours of trekking to do then it's sure to feel like twice after an hour or two.

Taking a camping holiday in more remote areas can be the adventure and seclusion you're looking for but it will require hiking with your equipment. Pack wisely and only bring the essentials.
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Don't Forget These Camping Essentials

by Eric Slarkowski
A camping holiday can be fun for the entire family. They provide an opportunity to commune with nature and have quality bonding time with the family. Planning and preparation is key to ensuring you have what you need for your outdoor vacation. Bringing too little with you may leave you with not enough of the camping essentials while bringing too much may make it impossible to carry everything on your back.

If you'll need your own shelter then choose a tent that is an adequate size and is easy to assemble. Look for a sturdy tent made of waterproof material. The more elaborate, the more assembly time and effort is usually required. Consider purchasing a self-assembling tent that has a collapsible frame all in one unit. It will save time putting up and taking down.

"Roughing it" doesn't mean you have to sleep on the bare ground. Purchase an inflatable mattress and a comfortable sleeping bag. If you're hiking with your gear then buy a lightweight yet well insulated sleeping bag and a sleeping mat to sleep on. If you'll be sleeping in cold weather then spend the money to get a well insulated sleeping bag; it will be well worth the investment.

Camping doesn't mean you also have to eat cold, pre-packaged food. Bring a cooking stove and some basic cooking utensils. Bring just enough to get by especially if you'll be hiking with your gear.

Make sure you take a first aid kit that contains the necessities. You'll need various sized bandages and antibacterial cream or spray. Ibuprofen is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory so it's a beneficial to stock your kit with a bottle. Also bring some anti-histamine; not only is it good for treating allergies but also as an itch reliever.

Insect repellent is important as well as sun block. Bring some basic tools such as scissors and a Swiss Amy knife. Bring a flashlight which comes in handy for walks at night and when looking for something in your tent. Cleansing towelettes are useful for cleaning soiled hands and small scrapes.

Most campsites have a water supply but if you prefer purified water then you'll need to bring in your own. Bottled water also comes in handy for cleaning first aid cuts and scrapes.

Don't over pack especially if you'll be hiking with your camping gear. Give yourself plenty of time to pack and plan and bring only the essentials.
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