August 2024:For my daughter Indie’s first birthday, my family and some friends rented a beach house on Playa Baja, south of Ensenada, Mexico, for the weekend. Despite living less than 20 miles away from Mexico, this was Indie’s first trip there and her tenth country overall. Baja Beach is a stunning natural stretch of sand tucked between the coastal mountains and Ensenada, where you’re likely to have the whole beach to yourselves. We enjoyed a large beachfront beach house for two nights, where we had bonfires on the patio facing the ocean each evening and swam in the Pacific Ocean during the day. It was a fun and relaxing weekend in Baja, one of many we’ve been lucky to experience over the years.
Abandoned Beach
One of the reasons we had most of the beach to ourselves was the presence of numerous abandoned beach houses and a large, derelict resort. This beach is one of the nicest along the Ensenada to Tijuana coast and has significant tourist potential, making it surprising to see so few visitors. The abandoned buildings add to the intrigue of the experience, lending a haunting element to our time there.
I learned from a local resident that a large development project in the early ’90s saw hundreds of Americans purchase homes in the area. However, the developer didn’t have proper ownership of the land, leading the government to deem the sales fraudulent. The military eventually intervened to seize the homes and the mega resort. Some people managed to repurchase their homes, while others abandoned them and the resort entirely, leaving the structures in ruin to this day.
My friend Dan and I decided to explore the mega resort, climbing through its hallways, which were beginning to be overtaken by nature. The beach was gradually reclaiming the hotel, with vegetation starting to grow over the structures. We managed to explore for about an hour before a security guard spotted us and asked us to leave. It turns out the hotel is for sale, and security is on-site to prevent vandalism and squatting.
Abandoned mega resort
Abandoned mega resort pool
Happy Birthday to My 1 year Old Daughter
For Indie’s birthday, we enjoyed a weekend at a beach house on Playa Baja, south of Ensenada, Mexico. We swam in the ocean, had bonfires, decorated the house, and dressed Indie in a beautiful traditional Mexican dress. Her mom made her a delicious low-sugar cake, which was perfect for the occasion. In the afternoon, we celebrated with dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant, where a live band sang the traditional Mexican birthday song to her. It was a joyful and memorable celebration, filled with love and laughter!
Our outdoor beach patio
Paula and Indie on the beach
Beach time
Indie and Daddy
Indie and Daddy
The last sunset of Indie’s 1st year of life
Indie and Momma in our amazing bedroom facing the ocean in the morning
Birthday party
Birthday party
Birthday party
Birthday party
Birthday party
Birthday party
Birthday party
Birthday party
At a local restaurant featuring a live Mexican band, I asked if they could play a special song for our 1-year-old daughter. To my surprise, they performed “Las Mañanitas,” a traditional Mexican birthday song that I had never heard before. This beautiful song, over a hundred years old, carries a melancholic tone as it honors the departed souls of children. When I inquired with my Mexican friend about why such a somber song is played at many children’s birthdays, she simply replied, “This is just Mexico. We like depressing.”
Birthday Dance Indie and Momma-Las Mañanita Traditional Mexican Birthday Song