Baja Bound (Part 7)

This entry is part 7 of 23 in the series Baja Bound

April 11, 2023

By Simon J. Lau

Today, I visited Isla Coronado. The island and the waters around it are part of a protected area, and the first thing you notice is the water itself. It’s unbelievably clear, shifting from turquoise shallows to deep blue channels, and warm enough to swim in. Schools of fish were visible right through the surface, as if the whole place were a natural aquarium.

Sea lions seemed to be everywhere, hauled out on the rocks, diving and barking in the surf, or slipping into the water with surprising grace. Colonies crowded the shoreline, their noise carrying across the island, while pelicans and sea birds circled overhead.

On my tour, there were two groups: a Mexican-American couple from LA and a Filipino family. The couple was especially sweet. They’d been married for 40 years, and when I asked them the secret to marriage, Sal (the husband) smiled and said, “I never argue. Patty is always right.” 😅

The Filipino family was fun too. At first, I thought they were a group of friends, but it turned out one of the women was actually their mom. When I found out, I joked, “When did you have your first girl, when you were 12?” She laughed and said, “When I was 10, and I adopted her when she was 8.” 😅 She looked so young it was hard to believe. (She’s second from the right in the photo.)

I also managed to get a pretty bad sunburn on my arms and legs. 🌞 Thankfully, my face was spared since I’d been religious about applying sunscreen there. 🧴 Now it’s aloe time, covering myself head to toe to take the sting out.

Finally, I made it to the seafood grill I’d been turned away from twice. The first time they closed early for Easter Sunday, the next time was their Monday closure.

I’d been craving clams before I even got here, so that’s what I ordered first. They came baked in their shells, covered with melted cheese that bubbled and browned on top, with a dipping sauce in the middle. Rich, briny, and a little smoky from the char, they were exactly what I had been hoping for.

What surprised me, though, were the tacos. They turned out to be surf and turf, grilled shrimp paired with beef, stacked high with guacamole, sprouts, and fresh toppings. Juicy and full of flavor, they ended up stealing the show. As good as the clams were, the tacos were even better. 9/10 🤤