Spring in the Valle de Guadalupe

This may be the best time there’s ever been to dine at Laja. I verified this yesterday, relaxing on the patio in perfect weather.

I have always enjoyed eating there in the early spring, when the garden is providing great lettuces, baby carrots, flowers, and the first of the spring vegetables like asparagus. And now, as the weather turns warm and the valley is still green from the winter rains, I can’t imagine a more picturesque location.

This year offers a rare opportunity, however, as most Americans are staying home which means that the local bed & breakfasts, which recently would have a many-month waiting list for a weekend stay, now have rooms available for more impulsive visitors.

(If you’re wondering about whether it’s dangerous for tourists in Ensenada and the Guadalupe Valley, I’ve kept visiting during all the hype and haven’t seen any reason to think it’s unsafe. And it’s obvious that American TV news has a strong incentive to make its audience afraid to leave town, so they’ll stick around and watch more TV.)

Additionally, after the world premier of Great Depression 2: This Time It’s Global, the peso is at a low of 15 against the dollar. Which means that a couple can dine at Laja for 75 bucks (pre-bev, tax & tip), for a meal that would cost three times that in Northern California.

Laja’s food and vibe are as inspiring as always, and now the world’s circumstances have made it and the Valley incredibly accessible. I was too busy soaking in the beauty of yesterday to take pictures, now that I’m posting this I wish I had a couple. But it’s amazing, and I hope more of us can take advantage of the moment.

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