Baja Midnight

The phrase “Baja Midnight” is widely known, respected and laughed about down here. It refers to the time at which “everyone” goes to bed! Baja California (the northernmost of the two Mexican states on the Baja Peninsula) operates on U.S. Pacific Standard Time, so the sun currently rises about 5:30am and sets around 5:45 pm. Consequently, cocktail hour begins about 4:30 or 5:00 pm, everyone heads for dinner about 6:00, and people are in bed between 8 and 9pm. Baja California Sur (south), operates on U.S. Mountain Time, so the sun rises and sets about an hour later, cocktail hour begins at 5:30 or 6:00, dinner is around 7:00 or 7:30, and everyone heads for bed between 9pm and 10pm. To further reinforce this schedule, most of the men and some of the women at all of the beaches are ardent fishermen/women, and the best fishing time, before the wind comes up, is early in the morning. So here in Bahia de Los Angeles, the campground comes alive starting at 5am, and by 6am people are launching their boats to head out for 4-5 hours on the water, returning with yellowtail and other delicious fish to share with those of us who don’t fish. It only took us a day to adjust to the Baja California schedule after coming back north, and last night we were heading for bed at 9pm, substantially earlier than our bedtime at home. As we were sitting around a campfire with six of our neighbors tonight, everyone started yawning at 8:30, and pretty soon someone stood up, announced it was “Baja Midnight”, and headed to their rigs and bed. Sweet dreams!