Christmas in Baja, Mexico

I'm sure to many, the Baja Peninsular on Mexico's pacific coast might seem an odd place to wish to spend Xmas.

I have long been a fan of Rosarito Beach with it's endless variety of arts and crafts and as I discovered on my Christmas outing this year some exciting new restaurants. As always I was drawn to the Rosarito Beach Hotel, which since 1925 has attracted the cream of Hollywood's crop. Alas no longer - the place, despite the delightful staff is in great need of some TLC (tender loving care) Unfortunately in an attempt to cash in on the frantic real estate boom of a few years ago the owners decided to put their funds into a spectacular new Hotel/Condo tower which is truly a mixed use facility - timeshare-fractional ownerships and outright Condo sales!. For this writer however it only serves to highlight the sad state of the parent property. The new tower is however spectacular!

But I digress -, my Christmas was spent in search of my long time idle "Don Quixote del la Mancha." My collection of Miguel de Cervantes' image includes plates and goblets from his home in Spain to my Mexican paper machete figurines and paintings. Along with his trusty companion Sancho, Don Quixote adorns the walls and shelves of my home in Las Vegas. Few if any are aware that in his after life he took up residence in Rosarito Beach. I'm told on good authority he dines each evening in the charming restaurant called Susanna's and that in reality the owner, Susanne, is in fact his Dulcinea.

From my table next to a roaring fire I could just make out his almost indistinguishable personage seated in a booth opposite. Alas by the time I strolled over to pay my respects - he had vanished and is possibly charging windmills here on the Baja coast as I write!After dining on roast lamb and a superb chocolate cake that was to die for; the food at Susanna's was I'm sure the reason he choose here instead of La Mancha to spend his after life! Or perhaps like me he chooses Rosarito Beach, in Mexico to spend his Christmases also.

Dr.Peter J. Shield (http://pjshield.com)