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Have I ever told you the story of my one and only trip to La Paz Mexico? It was in December 1974. I was living in a small town in Chihuahua Mexico called Matachic. My mother-in-law at the time bought into a small fishing venture just out side of La Paz. My ex-husband, Isaias was not real thrilled to learn of this, and even less thrilled to learn his mom never even seen this tiny fishing village. So he packed us up to head over to see for himself just what his mother had bought. 

The first part of the trip was by train that took about 8 or 9 hours. We traveled from the city of Chihuahua over the Sierra Madre mountains and Copper Canyon to Los Mochis. We traveled in the economy section which was packed with locals. Some of whom were traveling with their chickens. The train was so packed that many had to stand in the isles. It was very uncomfortable, and stuffy to say the least. The train stopped at thirteen stations along the way. By the time we arrived in Los Mochis I was exhausted. I barely remember how we arrived at one of Isaias’ cousins house. It was a tiny fishing hut on a steep hill is about all I can remember about it. We stayed the night then booked passage on a ferry to La Paz. The ferry took 11 hours to cross the Gulf of California, it was long and boring. I sure could have used an iPhone back then. 

Once we arrived in La Paz we found a hotel within walking distance of the harbor and then went to find a restaurant to have dinner. We found an open air restaurant by the market. I had my first and last taste of raw fish, including abalone, I was not impressed. We strolled the market area with all the brightly colored booths. There were so many of them, all selling various things like clothes, hats, toys, jewlery, and souvenirs. I bought a poncho. 

On our way back to the hotel, My ex-husband’s hand began to squeeze mine very tightly, to the point of causing pain. I had been so engrossed with all the scenery I hadn’t noticed a car following us. The driver and two male passengers were talking to him, in Spanish. My Spanish was very limited at the time, I hadn’t as yet learn to be fluent in it. So I had no idea what they were saying. I only knew it wasn’t good because Isaias was shaking and yelling at them. I asked what was happening, but instead of telling me he turned us around and starting walking very fast, pulling me along with him. The car followed us. The driver and passengers were blowing kisses at me and yelling, who knows what, at me. 

We crossed the street and headed to a building where there were police cars parked in front. We climbed the stairs to the police station, two officers were standing at the top of the stairs. My husband spoke to them, and pulled me inside. I noticed the car doubled parked in front of the station, blocking the police cars, The two officers Isaias talked to and at least four more, were yelling at the men in the car and pulling them out. I was completely confused and worried, mostly because I had no idea what was going on. My husband and I were lead into the police chief’s office. Isaias was explaining to him what was happening when an officer brought the driver, an older man, into the office. He kept smiling and staring at me while the police chief talked to him. I found out later he was telling the Chief he just wanted me for the night. I hid behind Isaias. The two other younger men were arrested. I think we were there only fifteen minutes. They took the older man away and let us leave. 

Our hotel was just a couple of blocks from the police station. On our way back Isaias told me what was going on. The three men in the car wanted to buy me. They kept offering him money. If we hadn’t gone to the police they would have taken me. When we got back to the hotel Isaias left to find a safe place for us. He told the hotel manager to keep an eye out for those guys and told me to stay inside, lock the doors and keep the curtains closed. I was terrified at that point, my whole body was shaking and I couldn’t sit still. An hour or two passed, all kinds of bad images popped into my head during that time, there was no T.V. to distract me. By the time Isaias got back I was a basket of nerves. He managed to find a church family for us to stay with. As we left the hotel in their car, we noticed the old man in the managers office. He was trying to find us. I ducked down in the back seat as we drove passed. 

We stayed at this family’s home for two days while Isaias made arrangements to go to the tiny fishing village. When we arrived I was kind of amazed at what we found. Calling this place a fishing village was being very kind. There were two small trailers and a hut by a small bay, and a small boat. We had to drive a couple of miles down a dirt road to get to it. We stayed in one for the trailers, it was the kind that fits in the back of a pickup truck. There were no bathrooms, not even an out house. There were no trees to speak of, just lots of bushes. I got to know quite a few of them. We spent about two weeks there, swimming, fishing and playing on the beach. I started my Spanish lessons there, and practiced pronouncing each word correctly. 

I have no idea what happened to that little fishing venture of my ex-mother-in-laws. I know Isaias was not all that impressed with it and suggested to her to sell her share in it. The one good thing that came out of it was my desire to learn Spanish. After living in Mexico for the better part of four years I was very fluent with it. My accent was so good it was hard to believe I wasn’t from Mexico. I was often asked where I was from when I spoke Spanish, I was told I had a Northern Mexican accent. Who knew there were different accents in Mexico? Not me. 

Well there you have it. My adventure to La Paz Mexico. Do I ever have the desire to go back? No, not really, once was enough. Do I have any paintings from that era of my life? No, not any more. I left them all in Mexico when I moved back to Lake Tahoe. Including my very first oil paintings. I don’t even have photos of them.