Two Apostolics in the Mexican Wine Country and Colitis in the Outback!!

We picked up our rental car on Saturday morning; we knew where to go, but our taxi driver (not Jesus, who usually takes us) didn't listen to Brother Sacker's directions and ended up driving way out of the way! So, we get our car (a little white Dodge Attitude...I didn't know there WAS such a car!) and start the drive to wine country. We were hungry, so decided to eat as soon as we found the restaurant that we were looking for...El CorreCaminos (The Roadrunner), which is a popular eating place! The road to the wine country climbs through some mountains, winding it's way gradually upwards...it was awesome! We drove around looking at different vineyards and casas and then decided to eat. Let me say this...when you tell someone you are visiting the wine country, they immediately tell you their favorite vineyard to visit or favorite wine to taste...to which we answer, of course, that we do not drink. Naturally, we got funny looks and a lot of "you don't drink? Just try a sip or two of the wine!". Um, no...SO not gonna happen!! Anyway, we find El CorreCaminos and place our orders for a late breakfast with freshly squeezed orange juice...oh, so good! We started talking to our waiter, Francisco, who was very knowledgeable and gave us directions and maps to different places. We both use the bathroom (remember, we are way out in the mountains!) and leave and get back on the road (yes, I got a menu!). So, we're driving around and exploring when we drive up to a military checkpoint. Even if you (like us) have nothing illegal in your car, this is a daunting experience! There are soldiers demanding that you stop your car. Then, they demand that you open the car trunk. During all this, they are carrying machine guns and have NO smiles on their faces. You just do want they ask and don't say a word. Sometimes they have you get out of the car to look inside...they only looked in the trunk of our car. Now, I have colitis...a colitis attack can be brought on by eating the wrong foods, maybe something greasy or in a tomato sauce or by a stressful situation! Being an American in a rental car at a military checkpoint is a stressful situation!! At least in my book! I feel the first rumblings of a colitis attack coming on as we are sitting there. I had taken two Immodiums at the restaurant to help prevent an attack...mountainous area, no bathrooms...you get the picture! So, we pass out of the checkpoint and drive for awhile. Then Brother Sacker says he thinks we should turn around cuz we might be someplace we shouldn't be! Huh...ya' think?! We are so far out in the middle of nowhere!! So, we finally find a place to turn around (on this winding mountain road) and drive for awhile and lo and behold...we are right back at that stress inducing military checkpoint! Oh, joy! I think they remembered us because they wave us through and we drive on. By this time, I tell Brother Sacker that I might need to use the bathroom soon...not immediately, but soon! We are taking a different route home and are driving through an area that doesn't have a bathroom that I would ever use! By this time, I tell Brother Sacker that I am out of the grace period and approaching panic mode to find a decent bathroom! Ah...there up ahead is the sign to Laja...a rather exclusive looking restaurant. There is a small tour getting out of their bus and going into the restaurant, so we park and follow them inside. David goes in and requests a table...we are thinking dessert. I find the ladies bathroom and join the line outside only to find that the bathroom is inside the doors we are waiting outside of! So, I FINALLY get inside to use the bathroom!! Before leaving, I took a little toilet tissue (ok...the truth...I took about half a roll! Don't laugh! Think mountain area, think remote area!). I was really feeling horrible and dehydrated. I sit down and find a large bottle of filtered water and practically guzzle it down! Brother Sacker has ordered dessert. Come to find out; this is the restaurant I read about that only serves a limited menu of a few dishes and all at a fixed price that includes, of course, your wines! Our waiter very graciously just serves the dessert items to us and only charges us for them. And, he gave Brother Sacker a menu for me! We leave there (after drinking lots of filtered water and taking two more Immodium) and we are once again on our way. We double back to where we were going before and it is an uneventful and beautiful drive back to Ensenada. Brother Sacker took me to the top of a lookout point and I could see all over Ensenada and the ocean. We stopped briefly at our hotel (all that water drinking!) and then we drove to Navico, so I could see where Brother Sacker goes everyday. Then, we decide to find the supermarket...Soriano. I really need some yogurt, juice and fruit (we have a small fridge in the suite, but no microwave!) Well...Brother Sacker missed his turn and goes to the next side-street, where there is a no U-turn sign posted, which he sees AS he is starting to make a U-turn! So, instead of making the U-turn, he just turns onto the side street. And, the side street is a one way street...NOT going the way we are driving and is a two lane street and is starting to be a street packed with cars during rush hour! Amidst several car horns honking and several drivers and pedestrians laughing...Brother Sacker pulls into a driveway like place and gets us going in the right direction! There were people on the sidewalks just laughing at Brother Sacker (notice I didn't say us?!)...no one was mean about it...they just laughed! They must see that often! We are looking for a grocery store called Soriano. We pass one, then another one about two blocks down, then another one about two blocks down...until we have probably passed five or six! We finally see one on our side of the street and stop there. This place is really cool...there are security guards in the parking lot, helping with groceries and directing traffic...with whistles! It is just so cool! The cashier offered us their frequent buyer card, so now we have that for the next time we're here! We decided to have fish tacos for dinner and went back to Mahi-Mahi. I love Mexico!

Welcome to the wine route

Our rental car, a Dodge Attitude (it wishes)

Vineyards in the wine country

El Corre Caminos (The Road Runner)

Military Checkpoint (stress factor)

Don't kid around with these guys

Mountains in the wine country

Laja Restaurante (and bathroom)

Thank you for visiting

Back in Ensenada (scenic viewpoint)

Scenic viewpoint

Food from Sorianos