Baja compare and contrast with Hood River  

        

            Baja, Mexico and Hood River Oregon are two places that my family has vacationed multiple times. They do however, have vast differences as they are in different countries, but they are similar in some regards as well.              

          We drive in our large white Eurovan (VW) whenever we go on vacation, because there are five members of our family and we need a lot of space, and so we start off both of these respective vacations the same, just in opposite directions. From there on, we have a lot of different experiences. In Baja, Mexico, it is sandy and borderline desert along the Sea of Cortez, and we camp in tents and a RV alongside the coast.

The atmosphere is relaxed and carefree, and we engage in sports all day and go spearfishing every so often. In Hood River, we stay with friends whom we had met when passing through town a few years back, and so we get the comforts of their house when there. It is green and luscious there, and we regularly go berry-picking as a fun and delicious way to bond. We have a great bond with the daughters of our friends, and we spend time with each other and use their trampoline a lot. It is also a relaxed and fun atmosphere there, although it is closer to the rules of our civilization, and so not quite as carefree.

         In Baja, the rules are relaxed and it really feels like a true vacation. We are mostly unplugged, we walk around barefoot or in sandals, and we do whatever we feel like. Years before I ever had my license I was able to practice driving our car in Baja, and so it really feels like a second home there. But there are some stark similarities between the places and our experiences there. For instance, my dad and I both kiteboard in both areas, and we are with close friends in both locations. Many people from the Bay Area vacation down in Baja with us yearly, and so it is a welcome get-together every year. 

         Because Baja is in Mexico and Hood River is in the US, they are fundamentally different. Obviously in Baja the signs are in Spanish and there are many Mexican restaurants, but besides that there are other

features that stand out, including: dirt roads at some points, military checkpoints and an altogether larger military presence, and a more relaxed atmosphere. Hood River is a hub for kiteboarders, and so the town is polished and is friendly towards visitors, and it also is more developed. It is a nice small town and we have had some great times there.
      Our diets are different as well. In Mexico, breakfast is usually some papaya and yogurt, which is followed by quesadillas, fish (bought or caught), and then some dinner at a local restaurant which usually includes a chicken or beef dish. In Oregon we usually have cereal and berries or cherries, and then lunch can

be sandwhiches or someting else. So we definitely adopt a different diet while in Baja.