edition 31 - december 2009

No. 31 - www.mexicolivingguide.com

FREE TAKE ONE

■ Holiday Traditions ■ Unique Gift Ideas ■ Shopping in Baja ■

December / diciembre 2009

Plus:

■ Mexico: Gold’s Next Powerhouse Player

■ Snorkeling in the Underwater Playgrounds of Pacific Baja & the Sea of Cortez

Christmas in Baja

Baja News & Entertainment

2 The Monthly Guide to Pacific Baja & the Sea of Cortez MEXICO LIVING – December 2009 CALL US 1-877-LUVMEX1

New Coastal Hwy

2D

8

Bahia Asuncion

Bahia Tortugas

Bahia de Sebastian Vizcaino

Laguna Ojo

de Liebre

Bahia Rosario

Bahia Blanco

Bahia Maria

Bahia Santa Rosalillita

Bahia de Los Angeles

Bahia San Luis Gonzaga

Bahia Colonet

Bahia Todos Santos

Bahia las Palmas

Bahia Muertos

Bahia la Ventana

Bahia de la Paz

Bahia Santa MariaBahia Magdalena

Bahia San Nicolas

Bahia San Basilio

Bahia de Concepcion

Bahia Santa Ines

Bahia San Rafael

Tijuana Tecate Yuma

Hermosillo

Santa Ana

Nogales

Carborca

San Quintin

El Rosario

Guerrero Negro

SonoytaLukeville, AZ

La Paz

Loreto

Santa Rosalia

Douglas

Gulfo de Santa Clara

MulegéEl Coyote

San Ignacio

Todos Santos

San Jose del CaboCabo San Lucas

LA BOCANA

PUNTA ABREOJOS

PUNTA PRIETA

PUNTA FALSA

PUNTA EUGENIALighthouse

BAHIA TORTUGAS

Santa Rita

CIUDADCONSTITUCION

Ciudad Insurgentes

Rosarito Beach

Ensenada

Puerto de Santo Domingo

Bahia Almejas

Puerto Penasco(Rocky Point)

Guaymas

Tucson, AZ

San Carlos

GD

GD

GD

Colonia Vicente Guerrero

GD

ColonetGD

GD

GD

Villa Jesus MariaG

BAHIA ASUNCION

GGD

GD

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GD

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La PurismaG

Baja California Sur

Baja California

Sonora

Sinaloa

GU

LF OF CA

LIFORN

IA (Sea of Cortez)

PACIFIC OCEAN

Bahia de Ballenas

Bahia San Hipolito

Bahia de Ballenas

www.mexicoliving.info

Purple area represents the region covered in Mexico Living.

San Felipe

MexicaliLos Algodones

TIJUANA

ENSEN

ADA

COLONET

SAN QUINTIN

EL ROSARIO

CATAVIN

A

BAHIADE LO

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GUERRER

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SANTA ROSALIA

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137*221*

* Mexico Highway 19 is only 96 miles/154 km.

MEXICO HIGHW

AY 1 DISTANCE CHART

www.mexicolivingguide.com

MEXICO LIVING – December 2009 www.mexicolivingguide.com 3CALL US 1-877-LUVMEX1

T he Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur and Sonora make

up Northwest Mexico as covered by our guide. The region features an enormous diversity of landscapes like no place on earth—a land of quiet, colorful deserts, endless beaches, majestic mountains, forests, unexplained rock formations, brilliant clear skies, an average temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit and some of the most welcoming people in the world.

Northwest Mexico is the destination of choice for retirees, investors, entrepreneurs, travelers and vacationers alike. The U.S. State Department says that more Americans retire in Mexico than any other place on the globe; 51 percent of all U.S. retirees who live outside of the U.S. live in Mexico.

Mexico is economical; the dollar goes further here than it does in Europe, Canada and the most popular destinations of Asia. The people of Mexico are accustomed to Americans and vice versa. Mexico welcomes American retirees and tourists and is increasingly prepared to offer the foods, goods and services that Americans like and expect.

Whether you’re looking to retire, invest, vacation or operate a business, Northwest Mexico is the place.

We hope our guide helps you to enjoy Northwest Mexico to the fullest. Explore!

Welcome to Northwest

Mexico Live, Work and Play in Paradise!

visitmexico.com

WHAT DO I NEED?PASSPOrT. On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government

implemented the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The new rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security. Additional information can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/passport. WHAT CAN I BrINg INTO MEXICO?

As you approach the border, there are generally multiple lanes labeled “Nothing to Declare - Nada que Declarar” and “Declaration Lane - Carril de Declaración.”

Nothing to Declare Lane This lane is used when you are bringing, as a tour-

ist (FMT) $75 or less. Your personal luggage and other merchandise up to the allowed exemption - US$75 per person. The amount is cumulative per num-ber of people in the vehicle. For example two people would have a $150 exemption. You must have receipts and invoices to qualify for the exemption.

Personal Items Allowed:New or used such as clothes, shoes and toiletries in •quantities that would be considered not for resale.Two photographic or video cameras and charger.•Two cellular phones or walkie-talkies. •Laptop, notebook, etc. •Two sports equipment items. •Portable radio recorder and/or player, speakers and •accessories.Five laser discs, 10 DVDs, 30 CDs or cassette tapes. •Five storage devices or memory cards.Books and magazines in quantities that would be •considered not for resale.Five toys, video game console and video games.•Medicine for personal use, one blood pressure •instrument, one glucose testing device. In the case of psychotropic drugs, make sure you bring the prescription. Note: Be careful not to bring a large

quantity of your prescription medication.One set of binoculars, one telescope.•Two cartons of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 grams •of tobacco if you are of age (if bringing more than allowed, you must declare it and pay duties).Up to three liters of liquor and six liters of wine (if •bringing more than allowed, you must declare it and pay duties).Strollers and baby walkers.•Two musical instruments and accessories.•Tent and equipment for camping.•Crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs for per-•sonal use.Tool sets including hand drills, wire cutters, •wrenches, screwdrivers, cables, etc.Bedding sets including one sheet set, one towel set, •a set of table linens.Two dogs or cats and pet items.•Up to $10,000 in U.S. currency or equivalent in other •currencies, foreign or national checks, and/or other monetary instruments.

Declaration Lane ($75–$1,000)If you are bringing more than US$75 worth of mer-

chandise per person, but not more than US$1,000, you may declare it by driving into the customs facility through the declaration lane (carril de declaración). There you will be able to fill out the proper documents and pay any duty. Duty can be between 15 percent and 25 percent of the value of the merchandise.

IMPOrTANT NOTES:Guns are illegal in Mexico. Do not attempt to cross the •border with a gun and/or ammunition. You will be put in jail even if you were not aware of the Mexican law.If you have more than $10,000 in U.S. currency or •equivalent, or other monetary instruments, you must declare this with Mexican customs, otherwise it is a crime.You must declare if you are bringing any animals, •agricultural products or medicines for other than personal use.

Amounts over US$1,000 require the use of a •Mexican customs broker.

WHAT CAN I TAKE HOME?You can take home US$800 of duty-free merchandise

per person, per month, including one liter of alcohol. Mexican arts and crafts, including handcrafted furniture, are duty-free and do not count toward the $800 limit.

TOUrIST VISATourists staying 72 hours or less within “the border

zone” do not need a visa. Those traveling beyond the border zone or entering Mexico by air must pay a fee to obtain a tourist card, also known as an FMT, avail-able from Mexican consulates, Mexican border cross-ing points, Mexican tourism offices, airports within the border zone and most airlines serving Mexico. The fee is generally included in the price of a plane ticket for travelers arriving by air. Please note that travelers not in possession of their FMT card at the point of exit from Mexico may face a fine from Mexican Immigration.

VEHICLE PErMITSTourists traveling with their vehicle beyond the border

zone north of Ensenada, San Felipe or Puerto Peñasco must obtain a temporary import permit or risk having their vehicle confiscated by Mexican customs officials. MILITArY CHECKPOINTS

There are military checkpoints along the way to all the northwest border cities. These checkpoints serve the same purpose as the California and Arizona high-way inspection stops you’ll encounter on the return north. The soldiers will be carrying weapons, but there is nothing to be concerned about, the soldiers are look-ing for drugs and guns. You’ll find them to be polite and friendly. They may ask to look inside your vehicle or RV. Checkpoints on both sides of the border were established based on an agreement between the United States and Mexico to fight the war on drugs.

VOTINg ENDS DECEMBEr 4th


As a child, I couldn’t wait to write my letter to Santa, which, of course, included my “wish list.” But, my favorite memories are the letters FROM Santa. He replied to each and every one. Somehow he always knew what I did that could potentially put me on his “naughty” list; however, he told me

if I continued to be good the rest of the year that he would forgive me. Wow . . . Santa really does know everything and is quite serious about that “naughty and nice” list!

That was then . . . now, as an adult, there are two other things that I look so forward to during this holiday season. The first is hearing from friends and family that I haven’t seen or talked to in a while. One of my favorites . . . now, before you laugh, I’m serious . . . is getting Christmas letters. After reading a letter, it always makes me take a few minutes to call them. We reminisce and it unlocks old memories lost in the back of our minds, and ensures we stay in touch for at least another year.

Forgetting all the hustle and bustle of this hectic time of

the year, my second favorite part is that people become so generous during this holiday season. A great example was just last Christmas. My friend’s husband was laid off, she had a part-time job, and they had five kids. She was at the grocery store and a man asked if she would buy a turkey for him. There was a limit per customer and he had a big family coming for the holiday dinner, and he noticed that she did not have a turkey in her cart. He gave her the money for it said he’d meet her outside.

She finished her shopping and went outside to wait for him. After about 10 minutes, she realized that there were a couple of other women with a cart full of groceries, and they were obviously looking for someone. They were all waiting on the same man. After 20 minutes, they decided he wasn’t coming back and they had to get home. The next day, the news reported that a man went to almost every store in town buying turkeys for what he considered needy families. This Secret Santa’s identity is still unknown. Now, that’s a holiday memory that will be hard to forget!

Take the time to create new holiday memories this year . . . it can be something as simple as giving a letter to friends and family, or something as elaborate as becoming a Secret Santa.

No matter how you choose to create your memories, be sure to enjoy this magical season, and have a SAFE and Happy New Year!

P.S. As always, I’m interested in hearing from you, what you think of Mexico Living and any ideas or comments you may have to improve YOUR GUIDE TO THE GOOD LIFE. So, send your suggestions and comments to [email protected].

Christmas Memories EDITOR’S

ANGLE

“Take the time to create new

holiday memories this year . . .

it can be something as simple

as giving a letter to friends and

family, or something as elaborate

as becoming a Secret Santa.”

Publisher/Editor John Pack [email protected]

Publisher Rachel Pack [email protected]

Editor, Brenda Judy, [email protected]

Published by John Benjamin Pack

Mexico Living is a guide committed to promoting Northwest Mexico to the limits of our abilities and to provide a valuable resource to visitors and residents, while showing that Northwest Mexico is a great place not only to visit and play, but also to live and work—a place to call home.

U.S. Toll-free: (800) 395-9019 Ex.3San Diego, CA: (619) 550-2730San Felipe, BC: (686) 230-9933

Mexico City, DF: (558) 421-4027Website: www.mexicolivingguide.comEmail: [email protected]

regional Sales ManagerLisa Shannon, [email protected]

regional Sales AssociatesRosarito Beach, Rachel Pack, [email protected], Kris Clark, [email protected] Felipe, Bill Maine, [email protected] California Sur, Rachel Pack, [email protected]

DistributionRegional, Carlos DuránSan Felipe, Bill Maine, San Felipe

WritersSteve Dryden, Carlos Durán, Benjamin Eugene, Steven Forman, Rosie Glover, Bob Ham, Lynn Hamman, Stockton Hill, La Huerita, Lucy E. Jackson, Anita Kaltenbaugh, David Mandich, Penny Nask, John Pack, Rachel Pack, Rita Pizarro, Lynn Prince, Lisa Shannon, June Snow, Christa Thomas, Cai Tierra and Robin Waters. Production Layout, Carolyn Sheltraw, [email protected]

Mexico Mailing Address Mexico Living / Yet Mail, Etc.Ave. Mar de Cortez #1049, San Felipe, BC 21850

USA Mailing AddressPO Box 9019, PMB#460, Calexico, CA 92232

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. All contributors and advertisers assume responsibility and liability for the accuracy of their statements and claims. All readers assume responsibility for actions or decisions they might make as a result of reading this publication. We reserve the right to refuse any advertising.

p. 6–9 NewS

p. 26–29 placeS to Stay & eat

p. 34–35 caleNdar

p. 18–25 Marketplace Norte

p. 30–33 Marketplace Sur

p. 10–17 FeatureS

p. 36–37 people & VoiceS

p. 38–39 FiShiNg

p. 40–41 thiNgS to do

p. 42–43 claSSiFiedS

Find it OnLinewww.mexicolivingguide.com

Mexico Living WeeklySubscribe and start receiving your personal copy of Mexico Living Weekly every Monday morning. Our weekly newsletter contains exclusive articles, current events, coupons and discounts to your favorite establishments and destinations, and much more.

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As always, we’re interested in your HONEST feedback. So, send your opinions and comments to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for length and content. Make sure to visit us online or pick up a copy of next month’s edition to find out what others REALLY THINK!

MailbagAT KIKI’S IN SAN FELIPE

By now, we are out of Mexico and are settled in Tucson for the winter. We sure enjoyed our vacation in Baja—we’ll be back! We can see why people like San Felipe and the whole of the Baja for that matter.

We went to the National Park at Sierra de San Pedro Martir on our way north. We stayed at Meling Ranch and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

We saw Mexico Living in lots of places, and people we talked to sure seemed to like it. Good luck with everything!

—Cheri and Ray, Tucson, AZ

Cheri and Ray, thank you for letting us know how much you enjoyed your vacation in Baja. Hope to see you again next year!

MEXICAN ATTOrNEY AgrEES Thanks for the fresh and informative reporting about

Americans owning real estate in Mexico and enjoying the benefits and avoiding the pitfalls.

I am a Mexican lawyer living in La Mision; my practice stretches up and down the peninsula. Along with my gringo husband, I am truly enjoying the good life here in paradise.

—Pilar Villazón, Ensenada

Pilar, it’s nice to hear that Mexicans agree with our reports.

Thanks so much for taking the time to let us know. TIjUANA STErILIzATION PrOgrAMSI just happened across a copy of the April edition. I found an

article, “Animal Advocate Edward Coward of Tijuana Cannot Do it Alone!” The article states that “it doesn’t appear that Tijuana has a consistant ongoing surgery program, which is critical to population control.”

Tijuana does have sterilization programs, and has had for years! The give Some Life Foundation has sterilized thousands of pets and street dogs for FREE for over 10 years, in six northern Baja cities, including Tijuana.

The Humane Society of Tijuana, www.hstj.org, also holds FREE monthly spay/neuter clnics and FREE mange and tic clinics. They take their clinics to Tijuana’s poorest neighborhoods every month and have been active in the city for about five years.

I am a writer specializing in Baja animal issues, and would be happy to share news of the wonderful things happening in pet rescue in Tijuana and Rosarito.

—Marlene Dunbar, Rosarito

Marlene, I know that the author of that article already personally apolo-gized for any misinforma-tion given in that report. However, the publishers and I would like to extend our apologies as well. In addition, please, feel free to send news and articles to [email protected].

KUDOS I have been meaning

to write and thank the publishers as well as compliment your contributors. I so much enjoy each and every month, and the new look and feel is simply wonderful! Thank you again for all that you do!

—Nina Joy and Family, Puerto Peñasco

Nina, thank you! We’ll definitely pass along the “kudos” to all of our contributors.

OP-ED S o . . . W h at d o You R E a L L Y thin k ?

Send Us Feedback

The opinions expressed in the OP-ED section are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. Opinions are published to allow you, the reader, to decide.

However, I would just like to take a moment to clarify a few statements made. We did not run anything on IMSS or the farmacies because we have already ran those stories. You can view all back issues at www.mexicolivingguide.com.

Mexico Living does not investigate every advertiser; however, we do our best to ensure “false” news or anything that may cause harm is not included in our guide. It is up to the consumer to consult their physician and do research before considering any medical procedure. Good advice is to be smart and don’t believe every “elixir” salesman.

—Brenda Judy, Editor

The October edition is the first issue of your paper that I have seen. Much of it is interesting and worthwhile, though I had wished you might have sung the praises of both the Seguro Social Health Service and that pharmaceuticals are much cheaper here than in the States, especially when bought at Farmacia Similares or at the ISSSTE Farmacia. Of course, those of us in the national health service plan do not need to pay for our drugs, but we do for our pets and at Similares they are cheap.

I would not ever put too much hope in the abil-ity of using Medicare in Mexico. That has been being worked on for at least 10 years, probably more, and little progress has been made. I doubt that anyone in congress would support that, con-sidering they seemingly do not give a damn about those millions of citizens living in the U.S. who have no health care.

However, what I do care very much about are any of the health scams that are perpetrated on unsuspecting and ill-informed people who spend their time and effort and a lot of cash giving mon-ey to charlatans such as the one advertising in your paper, and getting a blurb looking like a le-gitimate news item right next to the advert. There is no such thing as an anti-aging serum, nor do most of the items listed in the ad itself have any

use in human health. All of them are scams to extract money and have no redeem-ing value. By the way, that is the U.S. Supreme Court’s definition of obscenity. I know your purpose is to do your job and to make money selling your paper or from the ads, but it would be worthwhile to avoid the obvious crooks who prey on the unknow-ing, the unknowlegeable and the gullible, of which there are hordes.

Those of us who watch U.S. TV see deceptive ads all the time, such as the Campbell Soup ad noting they use sea salt and, therefore, have low-er sodium content; though one does know that all salt is sea salt, whether gotten by evaporation of sea water at guererro negro or mined in the mid-dle of the U.S., and that the lower sodium if true is on the order of an insignificant few tenths of a percent with the remainder salts of other metals. That is a deceiving but relatively harmless ad.

An anti-aging serum injected into your body probably is a much more serious thing—not

knowing what is being injected and what bad effects it could have on any individual, including killing the injectee. Even our safest and most tested vaccines, and most necessary ones that we used to eradicate smallpox and infantile paralysis have had that serious effect in some people, not many, but it did happen for we are all not iden-

tical. Now here we have criminals injecting an unknown, untested, unproved substance into hu-mans for profit only. The results at best are none, the worst death. One could hope that all they are using is sterile water, and sterile needles.

As the owners and editors, you must assume some of the responsibility and might find that out in a big hurry if one who is hurt decides to in-clude you in the wrongful hurt or death suit. The world has become a litigious society and no one is really out of bounds anymore.

Bad Drugs submitted by Ellis Glazier


{NEWS}}

T I J UA NA343 Pounds of Sea Cucumbers Seized at Border

Customs officials say they seized 343

pounds of sea cucumbers at a San Diego

border crossing as smugglers tried to bring

the Asian culinary delicacy into the U.S.

from Mexico.

Inspectors found the undeclared sea

cucumbers in a minivan at the San

Ysidro port of entry. The oblong marine

animals were hidden in the luggage of

two Chinese citizens, a 51-year-old man

and his 24-year-old son. The two were

fined $15,264, and their U.S. visas were

canceled.

Sea cucumbers are eaten in soups in Asia,

where they are harvested from the ocean

bottom and dried. They go for about $45

per pound in the U.S.

r O S A r I T OU.S. Rotary Sponsors Event To Show the Region Is Safe

The Rotary Club of Cambria, California,

co-sponsored with its Rosarito counterpart

on Nov. 14 beach maintenance day—but

its main purpose was to show this area is

safe for U.S. visitors.

They’re hoping events like this and others

they’re planning will help spread a more

accurate perception in the U.S. Rosarito

Beach Mayor Hugo Torres praised the

Cambria club’s effort and expressed his

gratitude.

For information on future events,

including lodging discounts, contact

Jack George at [email protected] or,

in the U.S., Bruce Howard at bruce@

brucehowardrealtor.com.

Baja Governor Wants More Details About Deported Felons

The governor of Baja California pressed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Tuesday to offer his state more details about Mexicans released from California prisons and deported into Mexico.

“What interests us is the biometric information—the faces, fingerprints and the information on file about what they’ve done in the United States,” Governor Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan said in Spanish in a talk with reporters before meeting with Schwarzenegger at the Capitol.

The two governors signed agreements on a range of shared border interests, including mutual

aid to fight swine flu and fires, improvement of food safety and the possible supply of Baja wind energy to California.

Osuna Millan said federal and state authorities in Baja could benefit from details about deported felons so they can identify fugitives wanted within Mexico and deportees with ties to organized crime that plagues both countries. Such information now is shared only in cases involving the most notorious deportees.

Mexican media reports, he noted, have documented how some deported prisoners have committed crimes in Tijuana and other cities where they were dropped off. Baja California governor jose guadalupe Osuna Millan

Mexico’s PRI Won’t Approve Calderón’s 2 Percent Tax Plan

Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the largest party in the lower house of Congress, won’t accept President Felipe Calderón’s proposal for a 2 percent consumption tax to fight poverty on Oct. 19, the Finance Ministry said.

Progress was achieved in talks on the majority of Calderón’s proposals, excluding the sales tax, the Finance Ministry’s Public Credit Department said in an emailed statement.

The tax, which would be used to fund social programs, is part of a package of proposals

submitted to legislators on Sep. 8, along with the 2010 budget. Calderón is seeking spending cuts, a wider deficit and tax increases as revenue falls because of declining oil output and the global economic slowdown.

The PRI and the department are continuing discussions and analyzing fiscal alternatives, according to the statement.

Photo of President Felipe Calderón

NEW BRIEFSTOP STOrIES, LOCAL UPDATES

AND MEXICAN NEWS IN ENgLISH SEND NEWS TO [email protected]

Dog Roundups Need To Stop!Americans are Outraged by San Felipe’s Cruel Approach to Population Control

by Steven Forman, Founder of ZAPP

I’m really angry and I’ll tell you why. A woman came up to me with tears in her eyes to report that she was completely traumatized by having to witness five dog catcher trucks leaving San Felipe, each one full of innocent animals that were destined for euthanasia in Mexicali.

Americans contribute greatly to this community throughout the year, and we continue to voice our opinions about how we feel about the mistreatment of dogs. These roundups are totally disrespectful to Americans and what we believe in. I understand that we live in a foreign country, but the Americans that live here respect our Mexican neighbors and everything they believe in—so why is there such a blatant disregard of this issue? Why do we have to witness trucks speeding through our streets, lassoing dogs and tossing them ruthlessly onto trucks, where they are then taken off to be killed?

Another ZAPP supporter called that afternoon to report that dog catchers went on her friend’s property and removed her pet from her front porch. The lady was beside herself, as you can well imagine, and then had to go to Mexicali and pay to get her pet back.

The zAPP Animal Center will be open in the next few weeks and we will work hard to remove all these “at risk” animals from our streets and deserts. If officials feel the need to continue roundups, then we ask that these animals be delivered to our site, where we can proceed with adoption and relocation, spaying and neutering, and transition into the States. Officials need to be aware however, that we will never again pay for the animals’ release, but we will accept them with open arms.

For more information, email [email protected].

Animalandia Clinic in Loreto a Success

by Lynn Hamman

Another successful clinic was held on November 2–3. This was a short clinic; however, 50 animals were spayed/neutered. Two first-time veterinarians to Loreto, Lance and Abby, volunteered for this clinic, thanks to the efforts of Carol Boyd. We’re hoping these two wonderful people, Lance and Abby, will return in the near future.

Liz Bracken, a newcomer to Loreto (vet in the States), dropped by and neutered some cats for us. A big thanks to Liz! Also, a big thanks to our volunteers. You are so appreciated. Next clinic will be held the second week of January. More information will be sent later.

Thank you all for your help and continuing support.


Baja’s Deep-Water Port Gets Resurrected Mexican officials are reviving plans for a deep-

water shipping port located on the Baja California coast 65 miles south of Ensenada, Mexico, at Punta Colonet, a sparsely populated town of about 2,500 people.

The project came to a halt because of the glob-al economic downturn but Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation published new bidding specifications this week for companies seek-ing to build and operate the port and the rail line that would move cargo shipped in from other nations.

The ministry’s announcement resurrects one of the proposed routes that would bring the rail line up from Punta Colonet through the Ensenada area, up

through San Felipe, Baja California, then east to San Luis Rio Colorado in Sonora, where it would turn and cross the border east of Yuma on the way to the United States.

This could be very good news for those who care about conservation in Baja California. The construction of a megaport in Punta Colonet would change the Baja California coastline forever. It would mean the development of hundreds of miles of coastline north and south of the port; the construction of a port larger than Los Angeles port will bring a migration flux of thousands of people with the subsequent enormous need for services, housing and natural resources.

San Diego to Assist In Training New Tourist Police

The San Diego Police Department will

help train members of a new Mexican

metropolitan tourist police force that will

patrol from Tijuana to Ensenada. The

training agreement was formalized in

a letter of intent signed Monday at San

Diego City Hall by Mayor Jerry Sanders

and mayors of the Baja California cities

of Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada. The

new force will patrol primarily the 50-mile

coastal tourist corridor from the U.S.-

Mexico border to Ensenada. The goal is to

have the force in operation by early next

year.

Torres said that visitors always have been

safe in Baja but the new metropolitan

tourist police would help make them

feel more comfortable, secure and

welcome. Rosarito in 2008 started its own

30-member tourist police force, a special

city department for attention to tourists, an

ombudsman’s office to assist visitors and

now issues bilingual traffic tickets that can

be mailed in with fines from the U.S.

E N S E N A D A

Mexican Banks Support Condo Construction

Development plans for luxury properties in

Baja, Mexico, are moving forward, despite

the slowing pace of construction across

the border.

American developer CDDG recently

announced that it received financing

approval to complete construction on The

Residences, a beachfront condominium,

villa and penthouse complex with six spas,

two swimming pools and a nine-hole putting

green. Banorte Bank, one of the top banks

in Mexico, funded the deal, confident that

peninsula region will only continue to attract

visitors and homeowners in coming years.

La Elegancia, a 19-floor tower with rooftop

pool and movie theater, is also working

with Banorte to wrap up construction

within a year. About 65 percent of the

project’s 109 units have already been sold.

Riding high on the success of her new single “3,” the songstress

headed south of the border with her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James

last month, carving out some much-deserved vacation time in Mexico.

She made sure to show the world what she’s got—in a tiny black bikini.

{{NEWS}

Britney Spears Takes Vacation in Mexico

¿Qué Pasa Puerto Peñasco?by Rita Pizarro

December is here, time to get ready for the holidays and the end of another year, time to make new plans and goals for 2010. But don’t wait until the new year to start with your good intentions: the holidays are a great time to give to those who have less. There are many charities in town dedicated to bringing a brighter Christmas to those in need. Anything you give, including your time, will make a positive difference in someone else’s life. If you want to make a donation of any kind or volunteer, email Maru at [email protected].

One of the biggest international festivals, held in the state of Guanajuato since 1972 to promote cultural and artistic communication, came for the first time to Peñasco: The International Cervantino Festival. We had several entertainers, a coral group, exhibits from local artists, and Orquesta Tipica Fernandez Fierro from Argentina and Egiptanos, an ensemble formed in 2003 by various gypsy families. After this year’s

success we expect this festival to continue in a much larger scale in the coming years.

The 4th Annual San Peregrino Walk for Hope to Cancer patients gathered a large group of people; many that have survived cancer and others who have lost loved ones to cancer walked from The Church of Guadalupe to the Malecon where luminaries were lit in honor of those who have lost their lives. A non-denominational ceremony followed and volunteers helped arrange the candlelights with the ribbon that symbolizes the fight against cancer and the word HOPE spelled in English and in Spanish. It was a beautiful, touching event and the funds collected will help build a hospice that is greatly needed.

Our good friend, Maru zacatelco, had a beautiful and fun baby shower at giuseppi’s Espresso where guests were treated to a soup and salad bar, entrées and a cake by acclaimed Chef Mickey. Maru received several cute presents, including a diaper cake and a pizza

made out of baby blankets. She looked adorable in her purple dress and can’t wait to have Little Michael in her arms!

Tradition lives in Peñasco and this past Day of the Dead there were several demonstrations of this ancient tradition. The Public Library had an altar contest that turned the entire parking lot into a cemetery!

Have a Wonderful Holiday Season and Very Prosperous 2010!

The luminaries at the Malecon after the 4th Annual San Peregrino Cancer Walk


The bank is also helping to untangle the

complicated title and trust processes for

Las Palmas condos in Rosarito.

LO S C A B O S Five People Rescued After Sailboat Capsizes

A helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard

Air Station San Diego rescued five Bay Area

sailors after their sailboat capsized 197

miles southwest of San Diego on Oct. 28.

The Coast Guard received a distress signal

from the Crosswave, a 40-foot sailboat

homeported at Marina Village in Alameda.

The boat and its crew were participating in

the Baha Ha Ha race shortly after 10 a.m.

when they hit trouble.

On the scene, the helicopter crew found the

five people in a life raft and hoisted them

into the helicopter.

The Baha Ha Ha is a sailboat race from

San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

The cause of the accident is under

investigation. Gale force winds were fierce

in the area where the accident occurred.

S O N O r AMexican Farm Leader and 14 Others Killed

The leader of a Mexican farmworkers’

organization and 14 other people were

killed in a mass shooting in the northern

Mexico state of Sonora. Victims include

farm leader Margarito Montes, 10 other

men, one woman and three minors. Most

were believed to be Montes’ relatives or

employees.

Montes was the leader of the General

Popular Union of Workers and Farmers,

which claims tens of thousands of

members, mostly in southern Mexico.

Local news media reported that Montes

had led peasant and squatters’ movements

involved in land seizures and that his group

has sometimes had violent clashes with

rival claimants to land.

Around Town in Loreto with Lynn HammanLet’s Zumba! Certified Instructor Erika Plascencia is teaching the classes

here in Loreto. WOW! If you haven’t tried Zumba, which is sweeping north and south America, you should! Erika’s classes are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. She teaches all the classes and can really move. If you are uncoordinated like some of us, she takes the time to make sure you “get it.” Some of us planted Loretanos like Barbara jordan, Birdie Culver, Sue grace, Barbara jones and Diane Brodwolf (and many more) join in for a real workout. No age requirement . . . young and old are welcome. The classes take place off Independencia behind the Al-Anon building between Padre Kino and B. Juarez. Cost is only 50 pesos per week! Just show up, sign in and take off those pounds.

Loreto was founded on October 25, 1697, and every year the city celebrates this event with great gusto! There are a lot of activities from performances by the local children and adults to displays by GEA headed up by

Fernando Arce. Vendors line our main street of Salvatierra by the Mission and have everything from tacos, tamales, water-color paintings, jewelry, handmade kitchen towels . . . you just name it. Everything was made or prepared by locals. My favorite this year was a family from Santa Cruz, a small village south of Loreto close to Agua Verde in the hills. The entire family was here to sell their handmade “servilletas” . . . while continuing to make more. This year’s event was very successful and enjoyed by all.

There were many places to go for Halloween . . . Stroker’s reef, Augie’s Bar, La Mision Hotel, giggling Dolphin, Black & White, just to name a few. You just had to show up in a costume and get a free drink and food at most establishments. Lots of music, great food and the costumes were very creative. Contests for best costume were held at each place.

One of the local vendors with Martina Ozuna.

First Place goes to the “good Witch” (on the left) Kent Brodwolf. Ph

oto

by R

andy

Ham

man

.

Good Deeds to Good Times in San FelipeOctober marked the beginning of the great fall activities in San Felipe.

The Flying Samaritans were in town on October 16 to have an eye clinic for residents who wouldn’t be able to otherwise afford eye care. There were several surgeries and follow-up procedures done, as well as prescription eye glasses.

Lighthouse restaurant hosted a Miss/Ms. Tequila Pageant. Miss Te-quila and Miss Lighthouse were local girls from San Felipe. The Ms. Tequila

Pageant was held the following week and featured many members of the San Felipe Ladies Yacht Club. Ms. Tequila is joyce Holt and Ms. Lighthouse is Kathy jo Preppernau. All the ladies are winners in our book! They were truly amazing!

Agave Blues had their biggest night ever the night of October 9! Standing room only for this band, who can be seen each Fri-day at the JollyMon from 6:30–10:30 p.m. jollyMon also features

the music of Vatos Locos after their summer hiatus every Saturday night from 6–10.

The Lighthouse Tequila Festival was October 23–24 and featured some AWESOME Tequila. You can still get your tequila barrels at the Lighthouse with their very own brand of Tequila inside. Contact them for more information.

Halloween was a BLAST out north, with Mac and Nan’s Karaoke Halloween Party at Playa de Oro. The winners of the costume contest won 500 pesos! Latin Garden hosted Denny Flannigan’s Halloween Bash, which was also a packed event. Great food prepared by jesus Camargo was served buffet style, and if you came in costume, you got a free drink! They also had several costume contests. jollyMon had Vatos Locos playing their tunes all through the night, with rick rudd in DRAG! He was surely a looker!

Be sure to see Baja Boys at La Vaquita on Friday nights. Wednesday night you can see Tom and Al’s 2AM at jollyMon. See what I mean? There is so much to do in this town! Happy Holidays, everyone!

Ms Tequila Pageant

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Vatos Locos

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{NEWS}}


Gold’s NextPowerhouse Player

As the world’s key gold producing nations struggle mostly in vain to replenish dwindling below-ground supplies, Mexico is bucking the trend in a big way.

That’s right. It’s not a typo. We are indeed talking about gold, not silver.

Even factoring in the world’s other emerging gold producing nations, Mexico still stands head and shoulders above the crowd. In fact, only Mexico has experienced impressive year-on-year production growth over the last decade. This has culminated in an almost doubling of output since 1998 to 1.59 million ounces last year. No other nation comes close to matching such a promising statistic.

It is worth noting that global gold output hit an all-time high of 68.83 million ounces in 1999. Yet, worldwide production last year represented an almost 20 percent shortfall at 55.30 million ounces, which clearly illustrates a troubling trend. The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that the world’s top trio of gold producers—South Africa, the U.S. and Australia—are losing their luster. In fact, they have seen their combined output slump even more precipitously than elsewhere over the last decade. Dropping from 35.12 million ounces to 21.66 million ounces in 2008; this amounts to a 62 percent slide.

This is all the more problematic for the mining industry when considering the fact that gold prices have more than tripled over the last decade. This represents a decline in revenues of around US$14 billion (based on current bullion spot prices).

Yet, there’s nothing but “blue sky” upside for Mexico’s ever-expanding gold mining industry. Especially since only about 15 percent of this mining-friendly, geologically fertile nation has ever been systematically explored for the yellow metal. This is largely because the country’s foreign investment laws were prohibitively restrictive for centuries until it signed the North American Free Trade Agreement in the early 1990s. Only then did Mexico finally adopt transparent mining legislation that offers a level playing field to foreign investors, which is also sweetened with plenty of business incentives, such as a very competitive corporate tax structure.

This pivotal development ushered in a modern-day Gold Rush that now involves over 250, mostly Canadian, foreign companies with at least 600 projects underway—the vast majority of which were financed on Toronto’s two mining-oriented stock exchanges. And, at least US$6.5 billion in mining investment has poured into Mexico in 2008–2009 alone.

Further reinforcing Mexico’s ascendancy to the prestigious ranks of the world’s leading gold producers is the fact that 2010 promises to be a banner year. (Figures for 2009 are obviously not yet available but are expected to reveal yet another boost over the year before, albeit a modest one). In fact, output is expected to jump by an additional 860,000 ounces next year, representing a 54 percent increase over 2008’s figure.

However, it must be noted that Mexico is by no means one of the most prolific producers in the world—at least not yet. Its output in 2008 was eclipsed by the world’s top three producers, as well as Peru, which earned fourth place at 5.78 million ounces.

Mexico’s production last year was also still well below Canada (3.04 million ounces) and Ghana (2.58 million ounces). It is now jostling for position a short distance behind with only about half a dozen

other emerging gold producing nations—all of whom have more or less comparable production numbers. Yet, while Mexico’s annual output is accelerating, the other players are showing signs of fatigue, as demonstrated by their mostly unvarying year-on-year output figures or by numbers that are clearly falling off the pace.

So how is Mexico managing to reinvent itself as a high-octane gold producer after being so synonymous with silver mining for the past five centuries? Well, a number of North America’s high-flying gold producers and legions of junior gold explorers are increasingly viewing Mexico as the optimum mining jurisdiction to do business, says Jeffrey Christian, Managing Director of the New York-based CPM Group, a leading commodities research, consulting, asset management and investment banking organization.

“Mexico represents one of the most attractive places in the world for mining, not only in terms of geology but also for its political, economic and regulatory environment. There is also a pro-mining mentality in Mexico. The country is very much open for business,” Christian says. “Also many good quality deposits have gone relatively unexploited over the centuries.”

Conversely, an increasing number of other emerging gold-producing nations are beginning to raise barriers to the building of mines by foreign mining companies. In extreme cases, this involves the nationalization of rich mineral finds that have been developed by well-financed North American mining companies, Christian adds. Ironically, these protectionist regimes include underdeveloped economies that have benefited from an increase in gold output in recent years thanks to the influx of North American investment dollars.

North American mining companies are not having much better luck on their own soil, he says. “Even in the United States and Canada the barriers to obtaining mine production permits have become greater and greater,” Christian says. For instance, “anti-mining groups” can use the legal system to win a succession of court injunctions, which may delay the commissioning of a mine for years on end, he explains.

Hence, an increasing number of frustrated mining companies are turning their attention to Mexico, where they are mostly developing large silver deposits—ones where gold and base metals constitute meaningful by-products. But low-cost, near-surface primary gold deposits are also being targeted—some of which are under-developed past producers that historically suffered from a lack of investment capital.

Perhaps the best example of how this strategy is paying off in a big way involves the world’s

fifth largest gold producer, Vancouver-based Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE: GG) (TSX: G), which just initiated production at its world-class gold/silver Penasquito mine in Zacatecas State in October. The mine hosts at least 13 million ounces of gold and is scheduled to start yielding up to 500,000 ounces of gold per year in 2010.

Meanwhile, Vancouver-based Timmins Gold Corp. (TSX.V: TMM) is scheduled before the year’s end to become Mexico’s next primary gold producer. One of only several junior mining companies to date to earn this distinction, Timmins Gold just announced a US$15 million debt financing to commercialize its open-pit (low cost) San Francisco mine, which is situated near the U.S. border in Sonora, Mexico. The company is on target to produce up to 100,000 gold ounces a year.

Company President Bruce Bragagnolo says Mexico is an ideal mining jurisdiction to work in, especially due to its streamlined mine permitting process. This is illustrated by the fact that his company will have gone from a standing start to pouring its first gold bar in three short years. This is approximately half the time it typically takes to clear all the legal and political hurdles involved in developing a gold mine in North America.

“It’s been a relatively easy process from a mine permitting standpoint,” Bragagnolo explains. “Also the local government and the local population are on-side as we’re in an underdeveloped area that needs jobs. Additionally, there’s great infrastructure in place, we can even work year-round. We’re also benefiting from low capital costs and we’re going to be producing as inexpensively as around $400 an ounce.”

Unlike various other junior gold miners that also aspire to become mid-tier producers, Timmins Gold has no intention of diversifying into projects elsewhere in the world, according to Bragagnolo.

“We have all the right dynamics right here in Mexico for us to grow into a much bigger company by way of organic growth and through property acquisitions,” he says. “In the near-term, we have excellent exploration potential around the mine. So our immediate goal is to double our reserve base and therby double the mine life.”

Meanwhile Toronto-based Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) is also set to begin full-scale production at its Pinos Altos gold/silver mine in the coming weeks. The mine is expected to generate 190,000 ounces of gold a year. Moreover, Idaho-based Coeur d’Alene (NYSE: CDE) (TSX: CDM) is aiming to produce 72,000 ounces a year from its new Palmerejo gold/silver mine, which was commissioned last spring.

{{NEWS FEATURE}

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by Marc Davis


{SHOPPING IN MEXICO}}

a true and successful blend of cultures

and heritages has become apparent

in the beautiful landscape of secluded Baja.

This area, historically left desolate, is a haven

of opportunity and splendor. While some may

have seen Baja as an escapist dream destination

that was out of the loop or a leap away from the

mainstream, it is now an

oasis where two very

different cultures feed off

of each other and depend

on the picturesque

slice of heaven for their

livelihood.

Since its inception in

1994, NAFTA has created

a virtual firestorm of

controversy. There are

fervent camps that argue

whether it has brought

new opportunity or

economic downfall to

Mexico in general. While

Baja sits apart from the

rest logistically, it has not

been immune from the

affects and controversies

NAFTA has had on the

business climate there.

NAFTA’s preamble still

shines through as its

central mission and

testimonial as to what

it can and has brought

Baja and surrounding

areas. It boldly states

NAFTA primarily seeks to

“strengthen the special

bonds of friendship

and cooperation” for

the nations it affects.

NAFTA also sets forth the goal to “enhance

competitiveness,” “foster creativity and

innovation,” and “create new employment

opportunities” amongst other mutually beneficial

ideals.

While some may argue how these goals have

played out for some areas involved, no one can

argue that NAFTA is responsible for tripling the

amount of trade for the areas it has affected.

While some analysts see it as detrimental that a

local Walmart or Home Depot pepper the crisp

blue sky, others see it as advancement. Baja is

perfectly situated to embrace Applebee’s and

Walmart while fully supporting the custom-

made furniture store that encompasses the local

culture. It has the largest bilingual population in

the country and its easy accessibility to Southern

California makes it still a number one tourist

shopping Mecca. These factors and ability to

meet the demand for both American goods from

big chains like Walmart and need to keep the

local business alive is being accomplished in this

pro-business climate.

While some argue these large American

corporations only offer low-wage job

opportunities, there is still a demand for the

goods and services these American corporations

offer. Rather than hordes of Mexican citizens

making routine trips across the border to stock

up on American goods, they can buy them locally

and know a fellow citizen is employed. Luckily

for business in Baja, the general population is

armed with a higher education level and skill

level compared to other parts of Mexico. Even

when sprinkled among high-end shops and high-

tech industries, these somewhat lower paying

opportunities in American chain stores in Baja

are still generating new jobs. Their sophisticated

means of shipping may give them a competitive

edge, but the appetite for traditional goods from

the local boutiques still lure in visitors looking to

ship unique gifts to friends and family.

Regardless of whether you are a local or a

visitor, anything you can possibly need can easily

be acquired in Baja. The American corporations

can supply the locals with quality American goods

that used to be somewhat unattainable. The local

small businesses offering traditional goods and

hard-to-find cultural arts are still thriving and

attracting both local customers and tourists.

If you are looking for interesting and traditional

flare to take back to the United

States, you can find yourself

easily enraptured with the

amount of choices at every

corner. Rosarito Beach alone

has many small craft stores

located near the most utilized

hotels and restaurants of

tourists. If you venture a few

blocks south from the brick-

lined sidewalks in front of

upscale boutiques, you are

sure to find bargains. Just

taking the time to browse the

streets less traveled can open

up a new world of great deals

on beautifully made local

goods.

Rosarito Beach is known

for its furniture shops and art

galleries. The high quality and

cheaply priced custom-made

furniture from this region is

world renowned. You will find

many Southern California

homes fully decorated with

custom-made furniture from

this area. Other collectible

items, which will allow the

local tourist to easily and

economically complete all of

their holiday shopping, are the

fountains, hand-painted tiles

and traditional pots.

Ensenada has something for everyone,

because when you’re in Ensenada you must go

shopping. Just about anything you are looking for

can be found in Ensenada at a bargain. The main

shopping area is the tourist zone from the cruise

ship docks to the beautiful boutiques that line the

brick-paved sidewalks of Lopez Mateos. In the

tourist zone, you can expect to pay higher prices,

but the area is nice and cleaned every morning,

and is lined with bars, restaurants with street-side

Great Shopping Opportunities

in Bajaby Benjamin Eugene


{{SHOPPING IN MEXICO}

seating, and lots of shopping. Streets are packed

with tourists when the cruise ships are docked

Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

San Felipe has a small shopping district, but

makes up the size in the number of treasures

available, many created by the large fine arts

community in the town. In a two-block area of

the beach, along Mar de Cortez and the Malecon,

San Felipe offers some real gems, including art

gallery, gourmet foods, furniture, and amazing

home decor, all tucked between restaurants and

nightclubs and lounges. In recent months, many

new businesses have opened or expanded to the

northern end of town offering additional products

and services.

In the area of Loreto you can come across

unique local gifts that are made with high-

end quality materials and are sure to appeal

to everyone. You can find an excess of leather

goods and woodcarvings. Old world techniques

of hand-blown glass produce treasures you

can’t even begin to compare to a standard mass

produced piece, handmade bath products, ladies

boutiques and wonderful gift stops and specialty

grocers. The creativity of this local culture shines

through in every aspect of the artful pieces that

can be found.

La Paz may be a more trendy rather than an

artsy destination for both the tourist and local

shopper. There are many appealing high-end

boutiques, which give fashion lovers many hours

of enticing window shopping opportunities. La

Paz has many large department stores that will

lure in anyone looking to outfit themselves in the

latest styles and trends.

If you are looking to imbibe the favorite drinks

of the local cultures, you need look no further

than Cabo San Lucas. Cabo San Lucas is hailed

by some visitors as home to simply the best

tequila ever made, although it’s Baja and not

Jalisco. Anyone with a distinguished pallet and

love of the traditional drink may want to check it

out and stock up for that tequila aficionado you

know.

Todos Santos is one area of Baja that has

seen tremendous growth. The opening of new

boutiques, retail stores, restaurants and galleries

has revived the local crafts market. There are even

locally made surf boards sought after by novice

wave riders and those with years of experience

under their belts.

Roaming around all the small communities

peppered throughout Baja, one can stumble upon

endless treasures. The creativity and artistic

nuances of this part of the world are like no

other. The silver jewelry and traditional weavings

and blankets have been made masterfully and

using methods that have been handed down for

generations.

You can use the American dollar to pay at

almost any establishment, but will end up paying

an exchange rate that compensates the business

for accepting the dollar. To guarantee the best

exchange rate between the dollar and peso, you

will want to visit the local bank. This is especially

recommended if you are looking to purchase a

high priced item. Naturally you want to seek the

best means of payment when dealing with a lot

of money. However, if you are spending smaller

amounts at several shops and only in the area

for a short time, like a weekend, seeking out an

exchange at a local bank may not be worth the

time. When it comes to shopping in the local

boutiques and craftsman shops, you really will

not save a huge amount by converting. There is

typically such a small day-to-day fluctuation in

exchange rates and you will not save a substantial

amount of money.

When you travel to this area, whether for a

unique holiday shopping extravaganza or for

longer, you will want to be prepared to buy from

both familiar American retailers and the Mexican

retailers. This holiday season, stock up on those

hard to get items at the big guy, then stroll the

local shops, politely negotiating with local

artisans, and enjoy yourself; it’s the best way to

get the most for your money, have the most fun

and enjoy your time shopping in Baja.

Trying on Hats

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iver



ask about our affordable Condo & Home paCkages

011-52-1-686-569-6612 or [email protected]

To schedule an appointmentplease call or email:

We have all the decorative & interior design possibilities

that will fit your lifestyle.Not only do we strive tosatisfy each customer’s

needs, but also make surethat you receive quality

work at competitive pricesto fit your budget.

Baja Nueva Premier Shopping in San Felipe

Eclectic, innovative, interesting, exciting, and colorful are just some of the

thoughts that strike you as you walk into San Felipe’s premier store for custom furniture, home décor, gift items, clocks, scented candles, art glass, and now European sipping chocolates and gourmet jams, jellies, dressings, grilling sauces, mustards, chutneys, salsas, and herbed oils.

Located in the Plazita, 614 Mar de Cortez, Baja Nueva is filled with sights and smells that will perk your interest and excite your senses. It takes multiple visits to see everything in the two stores and new items come in weekly to renew the inventory.

The brainchild of Sherry and Jerry Lankin, they work hard at selecting interesting and exciting items to tempt everyone who enters their beautiful stores. In addition to being chosen best Home Decorating Store, Baja Nueva was also voted best Art Gallery for the past two years. Most of San Felipe’s finest artists and craftsmen have been shown here in addition to some well-known artists from the U.S. Monthly art events are always a hit with the locals and tourists who flock to see the latest in innovative ideas and to partake of the delicious food and wine.

Baja Nueva offers complete decorating services. Turnkey packages for condos and homes are designed to match every budget. All of the contemporary custom-made and hacienda furniture is constructed in Mexico. You can choose colors and fabrics to suit your taste. Custom paintings, blinds, shutters and shades, are also available.

This month’s Art Event features the pottery of the Pai Pai Indians, whose reservation is in the Santa Catarina mountains near Ensenada. Daria, their master potter, will display her unique collectable clay pottery available only at Baja Nueva.

Capistrano Décor & More Design and So Much More

Capistrano Décor & More offers a range of professional interior design

services, including a wide variety of window coverings from bamboo blinds to curtains. They also offer beautiful pieces of wall decor, mirrors and other handmade wall art.

They started in the wood frames business, then continued working for big hotels selling mirrors and wall decor (lithographs). When the owners’ daughter, Viridiana, wanted to have a interior design store in Mexicali, the entire family helped her get into the business.

After the store opened, they began decorating big and new developments in Mexicali; at the same time they had some friends in San Felipe that needed assistance decorating their rental home and Capistrano Décor & More has been working in San Felipe ever since.

Capistrano Décor & More is located in Mexicali and has been serving the area, including San Felipe for over eight years.

Their complete line of services include upholstery, furniture, ornaments, bedspreads, floral arrangements, table lamps, rugs and iron plaques. They provide consultation and selection of paint for your inside and outside walls, carpentry services, sealing floors and handmade sofas.

Viridiana suggests you ask about their affordable condo and home plan packages; they have complete turnkey programs—they do it all.

Capistrano Décor & More also specializes in a variety of styles, such as contemporary, modern, casual, tropical, Mexican rustic, Santa Fe, etc.; all styles can be customized to fit your lifestyle and packaged for your home or office.

You can visit their showroom in Mexicali, with a lot of decorative accessories and catalogs at Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas # 3132 Local # 7, or contact them for interior design services at (686) 569-6612, or email [email protected].

San Felipe

Mexicali


El Caballo Blanco

Five years ago, after 15 years of Baja adventures, El Caballo Blanco moved their bookstore from New Mexico to Loreto. Wild natural beauty drew them to Loreto and friends helped them sink roots. The owners enjoy the best of all lives; fascinating people, new ideas from distant places, and neighbors who became family.

In El Caballo Blanco, browse the best Baja book selection. Thousands of used books fill the palapa room, with new Baja books, art and maps in the second room. They carry favorite things; art supplies, pottery, and fabric, comfortable chairs and their ever-ready coffee pot. Stop in for coffee and a chat; bring along this month’s edition of Mexico Living and receive a 10 percent discount on all items during the month of December.

Sea of Cortez Salt Just One Taste . . . and You’ll be Hooked


San Felipe

Loreto

Why is San Felipe shrimp so delicious? It’s the salt! It’s the Sea of Cortez natural sea salt.

The San Felipe Salt Company harvests natural, solar-dried, Sea of Cortez salt from salinas (salt farms) located north of San Felipe. The rich waters from, as Jacques Cousteau referred to the Sea of Cortez, the “world’s aquarium” is pumped into small ponds, and with the natural energy of the hot Baja sun and moving air it soon becomes one of mankind’s most important nutritional needs—SALT.

An analysis of San Felipe’s Sea of Cortez natural sea salt shows it is high in essential trace elements. Sodium chloride content has been tested to be as low as 83 percent; whereas 99.7 percent sodium chloride is normal for regular processed salt. Those essential trace elements also impart a different flavor—a smoother . . . sunny . . . fresh flavor.

San Felipe Salt Company packages their salt in attractive, blue tinted, handmade, glass bottles with an adjustable spice grinder top. The artist in you will appreciate that the gorgeous labels are hand painted. These salt “shakers” are definitely table ready.

The folks at San Felipe Salt Company have also blended their salt with a host of flavorful spices. Roasted, crushed garlic blended with natural Sea of Cortez salt is a kitchen must. You can grind it on, rub it on or pack it on—especially on a loin of pork, leg of lamb or fresh San Felipe shrimp. Delicious!

They have two very Mexican blends. Their first is crushed, chipotle chile and cacao—cacao is the bean chocolate comes from. WOW! This is an amazing mix of flavors. You feel the experience of the chipotle, which is quickly balanced with the mellow, rich essence of the chocolate bean.

Carne asada, pork or chicken, with Chipotle Sea Salt . . . Mmmm, good. Believe it or not, grind it on fresh fruit for a bit of fresh fruit with a kick. Nice combination.

Then for those who love chile—and I mean CHILE—try CHILTEPíN blended with sea salt. Chiltepín chile is one of those things where a little goes a long way. Chiltepín registers between 50,000 and 100,000 Scoville Heat Units on the international chile hotness scale. It scores up there with habanera chile peppers. HOT! Along with spicing up your favorite Mexican dish, the ground Chiltepín Salt makes a perfect rimmer for a Michelada or a Chavela. If you haven’t tried one, these are spicy Mexican beer drinks with a spiced salt rim on the glass.

San Felipe Salt Company has a retail store located in La Plazita shopping center on Ave. Mar de Cortez in downtown San Felipe. There you will find their full assortment of gourmet salt as well as gift baskets for every purpose. Tasting is highly encouraged. I understand that they even have some fine tequilas to taste along with their full assortment of San Felipe’s Sea of Cortez natural sea salt. Check out the decorative ceramic containers full of The Official Margarita Salt of Baja.

When visiting the store mention that you saw this article in Mexico Living magazine and you will receive a free six-ounce refill package of Sea of Cortez Natural Sea Salt when you purchase any one of their gourmet salts. You don’t even have to bring a coupon—just mention Mexico Living.

You can also find their salty products on line at www.sanfelipesalt.com but, unfortunately, no tasting system has been developed yet for online tasting.

Enjoy!

Bring this ad in for a 10% discount

Expires Dec 31st



Popular Mexican Christmas Gifts The custom of putting up a Christmas tree has become very popular in Mexico, so we thought we’d share a few popular Mexican Christmas gifts that you may want to add to your Baja holiday gift shopping list.

Oaxacan Wood Carving

Oaxacan folk art wood carvings or “alebrijes”

have been produced by the same families in the

small town of San Martin Tilcajete for decades.

Each piece is carefully carved with amazing detail

from copal, a soft wood found in Mexico. Then

it is hand painted in bright colors and patterns.

www.sunriseimports.net/oaxacanwoodcarvings.

html

Beaded Mask

Created by the Huichol Indians, a small tribe

of approximately 10,000 Indians living in central

western Mexico, this beaded mask is made by

overlaying the carved mask with a beeswax and

resin mixture. Then tiny glass beads are placed

by hand on the sticky base, one at a time, until

the pattern is complete. The Huichol create these

sacred objects of beauty as a way of honoring

the life-giving forces of the universe.

Aztec Dolls

Aztec Dolls are 100 percent handcrafted by the

Mexica (Ma-she-ka) Indians of Central Mexico.

The Mexica are the descendants of the the great

Aztec Empire, but in today’s world they struggle

for existence. The craftsmanship of these dolls

are so intricate that their arms and legs actually

move. www.aztec-empire.com/dolls.htm

Mexican Bubble glass

Mexican blown glass was called Mexican

bubble glass because of all the bubbles produced

when blowing the molten glass. The blown glass

technique consists of blowing through a pipe

onto a red-hot glass mass, heated in a special

oven. Pitchers and glasses can be clear or with

rims and bases in cobalt, turquoise and amber.

Mexican bubble glass will add a bit of the Mexican

culture to your home.

Dia de los Muertos, Mexican Day of the Dead Folk Figures and Sculptures

The skel-

eton figures

and sculp-

tures are

made from

a variety of

m a t e r i a l s

i n c l u d i n g

hand-painted

sheet metal,

paper mache

and clay. The

skeleton figures are created and painted by hand

by the folk artists of Mexico. Many of the painted

clay skeletons (esqueletos) are fashioned to

depict the activities the deceased enjoyed while

alive.

Virgen De guadalupe T-Shirt

The Virgen of Guadalupe is universally revered

in Mexico, which doesn’t mean her image is

somehow sanctified. It is everywhere, though

it is never used in a commercial manner to sell

anything. A tasteful T-shirt or blouse with an

image of the Virgen de Guadalupe will help your

traveler feel right at home in Mexico.

Sterling Silver jewelry from Taxco

Artisans from Taxco, a beautiful town located

in the mountains of the west coast of Mexico, are

world famous for their handcrafted sterling silver

jewelry. They transform pure silver into lovely

jewelry with either classic or trendy designs. The

complete collection at Silverzeal is 925 sterling

silver.



Throughout history, Mexico has made numerous gifts to its big neighbor to the north. Tomatoes, avocados and chiles all came from Mexico, and the state of Baja California alone has contributed fish tacos, Caesar salads and margaritas. Over the years, the U.S. has received many Mexican sons and daughters; and even, following the Mexican-American War, gave Americans the entire state of California.

But the most colorful gift that wended its way north is the flaming red poinsettia, that ubiquitous holiday plant that entices Christmas shoppers in malls and supermarkets everywhere. The poinsettia, which blooms in December, lends a festive air to homes and businesses on both sides of the border. And its origins are as Mexican as mariachi music.

Native to the area around present-day Taxco, the Aztecs cultivated the plant they called Cuetlayochitl (Cuetlaxochitle in some references), using the sap to control fevers and the bracts (modified leaves) to make a reddish dye. The plant was so popular that even Montezuma had them caravaned into Mexico City as they could not be grown in that high altitude.

After the Spaniards arrived, in the 17th century a group of Franciscan priests that settled near Taxco began using the red flowers for the Fiesta of Santa Pesembre (Feast of the Holy Manger), the first known holiday usage.

What is a Mexican tradition without a supporting legend? The poinsettia legend has a poor Mexican girl named Pepita walking with her brother (or cousin, versions vary) Pedro to Christmas Eve services at the village church where people made gifts to the Christ Child. She was sad as she had no gift.

Pedro said consolingly, “I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes.”

So Pepita knelt by the roadside and scooped a handful of common weeds and tried to fashion them into a presentable bouquet. In the chapel, Pepita placed the makeshift bouquet at the foot of the Nativity scene. Suddenly the weeds burst into beautiful red blooms and all who saw were certain they had witnessed a miracle. From then on, the flower in Mexico became known as the Flor de Nochebuena, or Flower of the Holy Night. The botanical name is also colorful (for Latin) and the plants were named Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild (pulcherrima means most beautiful) by German botanist Wilenow who was dazzled by their color. The Mexicans have their name for the flower and the scientists have their identifying moniker, but how did Americans come to know it as the poinsettia? Enter John Roberts Poinsett.

Born in South Carolina in 1779, Poinsett became a special agent to South America, served in his state legislature, and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives before heading to Mexico as special envoy. He was the first American ambassador to Mexico (appointed by Andrew Jackson) and was later a Unionist in rebel South Carolina. His outstanding career also included serving as Secretary of War under Martin Van Buren (1837–1841).

But Poinsett is best known for the flower that bears his name. An accomplished botanist, in 1825 he sent some of the brilliant flowers from Mexico to his own nursery in South Carolina, and also to other friends and American horticulturalists, and they thrived. As the plant became more popular, historian and horticulturalist William Prescott was asked to give the plant a popular name. He chose poinsettia, honoring Joel Poinsett’s contribution.

A little known fact is that Poinsett was also the person who introduced the American Elm to Mexico, with the end result being a literal swapping of botanical gifts.

The present-day poinsettia has been hybridized greatly in the U.S. and Europe from the original Mexican plant. Today there are over 100 varieties, with varying heights, colors (red, pink, white), bract width and flowering habits.

Today 90 percent of all poinsettias are grown in the United States. They are commercially grown in all 50 states, with California top producer. One of the world’s largest commercial growers is the Paul Ecke Ranch in nearby Encinitis, which grows over 80 percent of the U.S. wholesale market. In fact, 90 percent of all flowering poinsettias in the world got their start at Paul Ecke Ranch in north San Diego County.

The Ecke Ranch originated in 1902 when Albert Ecke started growing poinsettias in Eagle Rock, now a community of northeast Los Angeles. In 1909, he and his son specialized in poinsettias. They moved to Encinitis in 1923.

Paul Ecke poinsettias are known for huge, giant bloom centers and a unique single stem presentation.

December 12 has been designated National Poinsettia Day and the flower represents 85 percent of all potted plant sales during the holiday season. Hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of poinsettias are sold during the brief six-week season.

Poinsettias grow rapidly in Southern California, and do well in coastal areas. That simple holiday pot, planted in a yard will, in a few short years, be a flowering tree.

The cost of a poinsettia is determined by the number of blooms. Red rules as 74 percent of all Americans prefer that color to white (8 percent) and pink (6 percent). Women purchase 80 percent of America’s best-selling potted plant.

In the large supermarkets and wholesale outlets like Costco, poinsettias are as ubiquitous at yuletide as chewing gum at the checkout counter, except because of the size and brilliance, the poinsettias are much more obvious and shopping carts quickly get filled with them.

I don’t know what use the Mexicans made of the American Elm, but without their Flor de Nochebuena, the holiday season just wouldn’t be the same for millions of Americans.

Greg Niemann has written extensively about Baja California for numerous publications, and is the author of Baja Fever, Baja Legends, Palm Springs Legends, and Big Brown: The Untold Story of UPS. www.gregniemann.com

The Holiday Poinsettiaby Greg Niemann


{COVER FEATURE}}

Famous for world-class resorts, big game fishing, golf, and fine dining, Cabo is also known as a place for exclusive shopping. International designer apparel, watches, jewelry, art, shoes, fashion accessories and more can be found at Puerto Paraiso Mall, Luxury Avenue, Marina golden zone, Embarcadero and galli Plaza—all located around and about Cabo’s marina waterfront. On the east end of the Tourist Corridor that separates Cabo from San Jose del Cabo, one will find The Shoppes at Palmilla and San jose’s Historic District—both good bets for holiday shopping adventures.

Puerto Paraiso Mall features upscale brand boutiques such as Tommy Bahama, Hugo Boss and La Coste as well as many Mexican artisan shops and galleries. Don’t miss the exclusive store full of Seville armor, swords, blunderbusses and replica sailing yachts for the men (boys at heart) in your life. You’ll find scores of unique shops, restaurants, coffee, ice cream, sushi bars, theaters and more. If you still have dinero at the end of the day, you can try double it at the Vegas-style casino located upstairs next to Luxury Avenue mall.

Luxury Avenue, Cabo’s newest locale for sport shopping, features designer boutiques offering famous brands such as Rolex, Monte Blanc, Coach, Fendi, Gucci, Movado, Chopard, Tissot and more. These precious indulgences

can range from the very affordable to “sell the kids and mortgage the house.” One can never go wrong when one buys quality, as quality and style simply outlast imitations. Besides, owning the real thing is much more fun than paying for the kids’ college education!

Immediately past Luxury Avenue and Puerto Paraiso Mall is the start of the Golden Zone. Here below the Marina Fiesta Resort and Spa facing the Malecon, one can visit an authentic Indian crafts shop filled with woven fiber and embroidered dresses, beads, turquoise and silver jewelry and more made by indigenous Huichol Indians from the mountainous regions north of Guadalajara.

A nearby silver and glass-art shop features upscale Mexican fine jewelry, whimsical ceramic and glass sculptures; however, on the next corner past the waterfalls, you’ll not want to miss the informative Tequila Museum featuring a selection of premium labels available for tasting. Have your picture taken next to the Mexican colonial figure sculptures seated on the bench out in front. You’ll find several places to take a break from shopping to enjoy a margarita, coffee or meal ranging from a deli to fine restaurants—all with seating overlooking the yachts and people strolling by. Don’t miss the unnamed canopied bar suspended out over the water at the south end

of the Malecon in front of the new Baja Lobster Company and Los Deseos Mexican restaurants. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a cold one while watching the sunset over the Land’s End mountains.

Newer Embarcadero and adjacent Gali plazas on the marina’s south side feature designer shops, Duty Free stores, tequila, cigar shops, dive charter businesses, jewelry, coffee bars, an Irish pub, Senor Frog’s boutique, and art galleries with local and international painters and sculptors represented.

The Shoppes at Pamilla on the east end of the Tourist Corridor at Km. 27.5 features a score of boutiques with offerings ranging from upscale designer home furnishings and décor to fine art, jewelry, famous designer watches, and shops featuring Mexican designer apparel made of natural fibers and dyes. There’s sportswear, beachwear, tableware and more including private banking for f o r e i g n e r s , two great restaurants and a coffee/juice bar set amidst a secret garden. The plaza is set

in a quiet lush Hacienda-style hillside complex in the middle of the One and Only Palmilla resort community.

San Jose del Cabo’s quaint Historic and Art districts are nice places as well. Behind the Cathedral and surrounding the plaza in front are numerous shops featuring silver and Mexican fire opal jewelry, Talavera ceramic ware from Puebla, apparel boutiques, artisan and art galleries featuring local and international artists. Take a break at the new Baja Brewery—a micro-brewery behind the Cathedral—their pub, food, handcrafted beer and homemade root beer will make your holiday shopping even more fun. You’ll enjoy the evening dining at the Tropicana Hotel or Don Emilianos’ across the street, where Mexican Posadas and traditional music and dance performances can be seen during the holiday season.

Feliz Navidad!

Holiday Shopping by David Mandich Cabo Style


{{COVER FEATURE}Holiday Traditions of Mexico“Feliz Navidad”Holiday Shopping

by David Mandich

“La Posadas,” the remarkable buildup to Christmas Eve, is perhaps the most delightful and unique Mexican tradition. Beginning December 16, it commemorates the events in the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

After dark, each night of the “Posada,”

a procession begins led by two children. The children carry a small pine-decorated platform bearing replicas of Joseph and Mary riding a burro. Other members of the company, all with lighted long slender

candles, sing the “Litany of the Virgin” as they approach the door of the house assigned to the first Posada. Together they chant an old traditional song and awaken the mast of the house to ask lodging for Mary. Those within the house threaten the company with beatings unless they move on. Again, the company pleads for admittance. When the owner of the house finally learns who his guests are, he jubilantly throws open the doors and bids them welcome. All kneel around the manger scene or “Nacimiento” and offer songs of welcome, Ave Marias and a prayer.

Now it’s time of the “Pinata,” refreshments and dancing. The Pinata is a pottery (or paper) container, brightly decorated and filled with candy and toys. It is hung from the ceiling or a tree. One by one, the children are blindfolded, turned around and instructed to strike the Pinata with a stick. Usually several attempts are made before the container is broken. Of course, when that happens, there is an explosion of goodies and a scattering of children.

On Christmas Eve another verse is added to the Ave Marias, telling the Virgin Mary that the desired night has come. Small children dressed as shepherds stand on either side of the nativity scene while members of the company kneel and sing a litany, after which the Christ child is lulled to sleep with the cradle song, “El Rorro” (Babe in Arms).

At midnight Christmas is announced with fireworks, ringing bells and blowing whistles. Devout worshipers surge into churches to attend the famous “Misa de Gallo” or “Mass of the Rooster.” Following Mass, families return home for a tremendous dinner of traditional Mexican foods. The dishes vary with the different regions. However, somewhat common are the tamales, rice, rellenos, “atole” (a sweet traditional drink) and “menudo,” which is said to be more sobering than strong coffee.

Christmas Day has no special celebration though many have adopted the American-style Christmas with a Christmas tree and Santa Claus.

Arroz Dulce (Sweet Rice)

3/4 cup rice 2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla 4 cups milk

1 cup rich cream 1/4 teaspoon salt

Scald milk. Put the rice into a deep baking dish, cover with

the hot milk and bake in a moderate oven for 3 hours, or until the

rice is soft. Stir occasionally during the first hour to prevent sticking.

If necessary, add more hot milk. When almost done, add vanilla,

sugar and cream, and finish baking.

Champurrado (Chocolate Atole)6 cups whole milk 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed1 cup masa harina (corn flour) 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, grated2 cups water 1 cinnamon stick

Heat the milk and chocolate in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve the chocolate. When the chocolate is completely dissolved, remove from the heat and set aside to keep warm. Mix the masa harina with the water in another saucepan; place over low heat, add the cinnamon stick, and cook until the mixture has thickened and the masa becomes translucent. Add the chocolate milk and sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar and simmer for a few minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and serve the champurrado hot in cups or mugs.

Visit http://community.mexicolivingguide.com to download a fresh and refreshing surf tune for the holidays.

Tim Smith’s Primal Sky “Riding Christmas Waves” is smooth, soothing holiday music that we guarantee you’ll be listening to even in July! Simply check the audio section for all the latest music and talk.

Happy Holidays!

FREE MP3 Christmas Music!

Hot bowl of champurrado as served at a Mexican breakfast.

Phot

o by

Tom

Whi

te


MarketPlace News

DIALINg INSTrUCTIONS

Mexico City: (011) 52-55, plus the 8-digit telephone number.

Guadalajara: (011) 52-33, plus the 8-digit telephone number.

Tijuana: (011) 52-664, plus the 7-digit telephone number.

USA to MX Cell Phone: 011+52+1+Area Code+(Tel #)

USA to MX Landline: 011+52+Area Code+(Tel #)

MX to USA: 001+Area Code+(Tel #)

MX Landline to MX Cell Phone: 045 or 044+Area Code+(Tel #)

MX Cell Phone to MX Landline: Area Code+(Tel #)

DIALINg 800 NUMBEr:

Some charges may apply when call 800 numbers internationally, please check with the telephone carrier.

800 DIALING to the USA From MX (dial 001+)

To Dial USA 800 ..............dial 880

To Dial USA 866 ..............dial 883

To Dial USA 877 ..............dial 882

To Dial USA 888 ..............dial 881

IMPOrTANT NUMBErS:

MX 411 (Spanish only) .......... 040

Tourist Assistance Hotline ..... 076

Green Angels (MX Toll-Free) ......................... 1-800-903-0092

Worldwide Emergency No. for Mobile is ............................... 112

Emergencies ...............060 & 066

Sky Medical (from MX) ..................... 001-866-805-9624

Air-E-Vac ....... 001-880-321-9522

ZAPP Animal Center Opening this Month in San Felipe

by Steven “Dogman” Forman

San Felipe Pizza Shuffle

Great news for dogs and cats in San Felipe. The new ZAPP Animal Center is opening for intake this month. With the help of an anonymous donor from California, who has been rescuing animals for more than 30 years, this important project has come to life. ZAPP is honored that this man chose us to expand his vision by opening this satellite location for San Felipe. The ZAPP Center is located on seven and a half acres in a remote section of the desert, just two miles off the main highway.

The Center will have an open-door policy for any and all dogs, cats, puppies, kittens . . . even horses, if they are in need. Need implies animals at risk of euthanasia by Animal Control as a result of a roundup; need also includes animals that have been injured, abandoned, are sick, starving or otherwise cannot survive on their own. Our mission is to remove all “at risk” animals from jeopardy, perform spay/neuter surgery on each and every one, and provide them a safe, loving environment that improves their quality of life, with the goal of placing as many of these animals as we can in loving, secure homes, shelters and rescues in California and Mexico.

The Center will also be a rehabilitation and adoption facility for special needs animals. An assisted living community for geriatric animals that are less adoptable is also part of the overall plan. Some of these older animals may be transported

to a care for life sanctuary in California. Others will stay with us. The Center is a “no-kill” facility, and unless circumstances are dire, we will adhere to that policy to the best of our ability.

The ZAPP Animal Center will also provide much needed Board and Care services for travelers, and grooming services, too. And although a “lofty” goal, we will do everything possible to have 24-hour urgent care services for emergencies, working with our vet, Dr. Antonio Solis, and his staff. We are also committed to holding workshops and on-site classes for students in our community, in an effort to teach everything we can about humane animal treatment and animal population control.

If you’d like more information about our project, please contact us at [email protected], or visit our website at www.sfzapp.com.

Fatboy’s Pizza has expanded and opened a new store at Playa de Oro at km 179 in north San Felipe, replacing the recently vacated Sand rail Pizza, which moved up the road to the Jolly Mon Bar in the Plaza Paraiso at km 178.5.

Voted the Best Pizza in San Felipe 2008, Fatboy’s now has two locations in San Felipe offering pizza, sandwiches, salads and more, the original location on the corner of Chetumal and Mar de Cortez and now in the former Sand & Sea

Deli at Playa de Oro. Every Sunday morning, Fatboy’s offers FREE

breakfast with the purchase of any alcoholic beverage.


rOSArITO DIrECTOrY

- Accept Credit Cards

- Wi-Fi / Internet

- Kitchen/Restaurant

# - Map Number

- Pool/Spa

- Pet Friendly

- Serves Breakfast

- Beer/Spirits

- Reader Poll Winner

ICON Descriptions

PLACES TO EATSee the Dining guide on page 28.

PLACES TO STAYSee the Dining guide on page 26.

BUSINESS DIrECTOrY A-zDOg grOOMErS

D’ Groomer Dog Grooming .................661-100-6218

661-100-6218 • 125*317*7317

Dog Grooming - Estética Canina

CertifiedMaster

Groomer

Located just south of PEMEX AM-PM across from Tacos Jr.Libre Km 28.5, Popotla Blvd. Rosarito, Appts: Tues, Weds and Thurs

661-100-6218 • 125*317*7317


CertifiedMaster

Groomer


661-100-6218 • 125*317*7317


CertifiedMaster

Groomer


ELEVATOrS/ELEVADOrES To The Top Elevators .................................661-614-1434

FINANCINg/FINANCIAMIENTO Baja Lending Company ....... ......................686-576-0653

FISH/PESCADErÍAVince's Old Peir ........................................661-612-1253

INSUrANCEJorge Cuadros y Asociados ....................... 661-612-1295 Lynda’s Insurance (English speaking) ........ 686-577-1622

INTErNETClick On .............................................661-614-0513

MAILINg SErVICESClick On .............................................661-614-0513

rEAL ESTATE AgENTS/AgENTES DE BIENES rAÍCESNicolas Santos (Rosarito) ..........................619-917-5695 Laura Miller ................Rosarito Beach 661-612-5844.............Member NAR (US) AMPI (Mx) US 619-888-6171

rEAL ESTATE/BIENES rAÍCESEnsenada Remax ......................................661-612-1132

rEAL ESTATE SErVICESBaja Closing & Escrow Services ................760-494-7053

SATELLITE TV INSTALLATIONCisco-Sat ..................................................661-616-0779

STOrAgE SErVICESBaja Public Storage .......... 619-272-3271, 661-614-1642

UTILITIES/EMPrESAS DE SErVICIOS PúBLICOSCFE ..............................612-143 0064 or 612-142 0237 TELMEX ................................................... 612-142 0001 CALIGAS ................................................... 612-142 0122

Playas de rosarito Associate Publisher rachel Pack

MX 686-230-9933 / [email protected]/rosaritobeach

Get the Guide At:La Bamba Restaurant

Medio Camino (Halfway House)Rosarito Beach Hotel Lobby Coffee Shop

D’Groomer - dog groomingClick On - Puerto NuevoBaja Open House, km 38

Bobby’s Baja by the Sea, km 42

{{ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA}rOSArITO BEACH BAjA CALIFOrNIA

Playas de Rosarito, or Rosarito Beach as it

is referred to in English, is a city in the Mexican

state of Baja California. It is located between the

Pacific Ocean and the coastal foothills, just 20

minutes south of the U.S. border in Tijuana and is

a popular destination for tourists, snowbirds and

expatriates from the United States.

With 20 miles of white, sandy beaches with

endless activities, Rosarito offers a large variety

of places to stay and things to do, including

incredible shopping in the Artisan shops with

some of Mexico’s finest leather goods, furniture,

wrought iron, pottery, marble and traditional

Mexican crafts.

You’ll find a culinary paradise of international

cuisine from traditional Mexican, sensational

seafood and delicious steaks to American,

Chinese, French and Italian specialties. Be sure to

visit the well-known lobster village, Puerto Nuevo,

just 15 minutes south of Rosarito—a tourist and

culinary destination. Whether staying for vacation

or life, you will enjoy Playas de Rosarito.

ATM/gETTINg CASH

Banamex, Bancomer and Bital have 24-hour

ATMs that accept most U.S. bank cards all along

the Tijuana–Rosarito–Ensenada corridor. Only

pesos are dispensed; you can get dollars from an

HSBC ATM. Your account in the U.S. is charged

that day’s rate of exchange. A service fee will

also be deducted from your account.


ENSENADA DIrECTOrY


- Wi-Fi / Internet


# - Map Number

- Pool/Spa

- Pet Friendly

- Serves Breakfast

- Beer/Spirits


ICON Descriptions



BUSINESS DIrECTOrY A-zAErOPUErTO/AIrPOrT

Aeropuerto ...................................................646-273-1984

ArT gALLErY Garery Art & Stuff .........................................646-175-8859

ArTIST Alfonso Arambulua ........................................646-149-3866

DEVELOPMENT MANAgEMENT/MANEjO DE FrACCIONAMIENTOS

Baja Mar Country Club ....................... 1-800-434-2252

FINANCINg/FINANCIAMIENTO Baja Lending Company .................................686-576-0653

HEALTH SPA La Fonda .......................................................646-155-0394

INSUrANCE Lynda’s Insurance (English speaking) ............686-577-1622

MEDICAL SErVICES/SErVICIOS MÉDICOS ISSSTE ........................................................646-176-2230 IMSS ...........................................................646-120-7771 Centro de Salud ............................................646-152-1371

MUSIC/MUSICA Pharmacy Regia & House of Music ...............646-174-0557

PrOFESSIONAL SErVICES PSN Mexico Professional Services ................646-178-8280Legal/Immigration Assist FM3/FM2/FMT Import documentation www.psnmexico.com

POLICE/POLICÍA Policia Ministerial ..........................................646-176-3636 Policia Federal Caminos ............................... 646-683-8040 Policia Federal Preventiva .............................646-176-2579 Prefectura Naval ......................................... 469-0376/2948

PUBLIC TrANSPOrTATION/EL TrANSPOrTE PúBLICO Terminal de Buses .........................................646-224-1041

rEAL ESTATE AgENTS/AgENTES DE BIENES rAÍCES Nicolas Santos (Rosarito) ..............................619-917-5695

rEAL ESTATE SErVICES Baja Closing & Escrow Services ....................760-494-7053

UTILITIES/EMPrESAS DE SErVICIOS PúBLICOS CFE ..................................612-143 0064 or 612-142 0237 TELMEX ....................................................... 612-142 0001 CALIGAS ....................................................... 612-142 0122

WINErY Vinos Fuentes Winery .............................646-171-7070

Ensenada Associate Publisher Associate rachel Pack

MX 686-230-9933 / [email protected]/ensenada

{ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA}}

Get the Guide At: Baja Country Club

El Rey Sol Hotel

El Rey Sol Restaurant

CasaMar Restaurant

Happy Pharmacy

Hotel St. Isabel

The Main Tourism office (by the Pemex)


The San Felipe Arches

The monument at the entrance to San Felipe was built in 1980 to represent the commitment of the four states around the Sea of Cortez (Baja California Norte, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Sonora) to promote tourism and the regions beauty and charm.

San Felipe Associate Publisher Bill Maine

686-231-4921 / [email protected]/sanfelipe

California Dental Spa & California OpticalONE CONVENIENT LOCATION!

www.CADentalOptical.com (686) 577-0708

Complete Eye ExamsVision Problem Evals Frames and LensesContacts

YOUR VISIONSOLUTION

OPTICAL SERVICESLicensed OptometristEfrain Castellanos, OD, FCOVDWhite Fillings

Teeth WhiteningCosmetic DentistryRoot Canals ImplantsPermanent Bridges

Removable Partials ExtractionsDenturesMetal and Porcelain Crowns

DENTAL SERVICESMelina California Fierros Z., DDS

E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected]

COME SEE USTODAY!

Mar Caribe Sur #1088-4Across from

ABC Bus Depot

Visit us online or e-mailfor more information

SEE your way to better DENTAL care!

{{SAN FELIPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA }

Get the Guide At: Baja Nueva

Blowin’ Smoke BBQBotica Sagrado Corazon

Charley AM/PM Airport RoadChumpos Pizza & Ice Cream

CSI BajaFat Boy’s Pizza

Juanitos RestaurantLillyana’s Day Spa

LighthouseLos Arcos Happy Jackass

Maderas de San FelipeMaxivision Optical

Oasis MarketPlaya Azul RestaurantRancho Otro Market

RedwagonRosita Resturant

Santa Fe Ph.SunRunner Mail Srvc.

Yet MailZ Market

SAN FELIPE DIrECTOrY


- Wi-Fi / Internet


# - Map Number

- Pool/Spa

- Pet Friendly

- Serves Breakfast

- Beer/Spirits


ICON Descriptions



BUSINESS DIrECTOrY (A-z)

ACCOUNTINg/CONTABILIDAD CPE&A Accounting ........................................686-577-0836

ALTErATIONS/SASTrESan Felipe Seamstress (Vickie Silva) .........686-175-5420

ArCHITECT/ArQUITECTO Rosa Lina Ramos Lazcano ........................686-184-6172

ArT gALLErYOasis Fine Art Gallery ................................686-221-1245

ArTIST/ArTISTAAndrena Joyce ......E-mail: [email protected] Ashley ...........E-mail: [email protected] Waters ............................................686-115-0526Sandy Colomb "The Gourd Lady" ..............686-576-0384Watercolors by Mary Lou ..........................686-171-5513

ATTOrNEY/ABOgADOCarlos A. Martinez Monges .......................686-120-1650Lic. Francisco Sosa Mendez ......................686-577-0624


{SAN FELIPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA}}ADULT CArE/ATENCION DE ADULTOS

San Felipe Adult Living Facility ...................686-576-0661

BAKErY/PANADErÍAPanaderia Especial .............................686-577-2948

BANK/BANCOBBVA Bancomer ........................................686-577-2224 Silvia Elizabeth Urbea, Preferred Customer’s Unit Ext. 13

BANDS/BANDASAgave Blues ..............................................686-184-9237

BArS/CLUBSAl’s Backstreet Cantina ..................686-577-1580The Beach Bar and Grill . ......686-577-3144 The Green Door Bar (Los Algodones) ........... 658-517-7347

Fandango’s ....................................686-577-0060JollyMon ...................................................686-213-5647

Los Arcos - Happy Jackass ...........686-577-2585V Lounge ............................................707-237-1906

BEAUTY SALONS/SALONES DE BELLEzALilly Ana’s Day Spot ...........................686-577-6253Hair By Nancy ....................................686-113-3682

BUILDINg MATErIALS/MATErIALES DE CONTrUCCIÓNMaderas de San Felipe .......................686-577-1515

CATErINg The Latin Garden .......................................686-209-6369

CHOCOLATE/CHOCOLATE Baja Chocolate Lovers ........................686-576-0348

Thank You ROTARY!The Rotary Club

of San Felipe Meets every

Monday 8 AM at the

Barefoot BarEl Cortez Hotel

For Information call 686-576-8974

CHUrCHMission San Felipe ....................................686-577-0877

CITY SErVICES/SErVICIOS DE LA CIUDAD District Attorney’s .....................................686-577-1110Mayors Office ...........................................686-577-1021

COFFEE & TEA/CAFÉ Y TE

The Bistro (Java Jitters).............................686-114-7735

COMPUTEr SErVICES Computing Integral Solutions ..................... 686-577-2370 CSI Baja .................................................... 686-577-2928

CONSTrUCTION MANAgEMENT/MANEjO DE

CONSTrUCCIÓN San Felipe Management Services ..............686-576-0553

Sweitzer Construction Management ....686-577-0195

SWEITZER CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT COMPANY

BJ Sweitzer ConsultantCarlos Mora Contractor

Phone: 577-0195 USA: 011-52-686-577-0195 Email: [email protected]

Perez Construction ....................................686-576-0650

COUNSELINg-THErAPY/CONSULTA TErAPÉUTICA Inner Connection .......................................686-172-8851

DELISand & Sea Market & Deli ...................686-577-3168SunDance Deli ....................................686-576-0369

DENTIST/DENTISTA California Dental Spa ...........................686-577-0708Consultorio Dental Y de Ortodoncia ..........686-577-6212

Dr. Felix Rodriguez .....................................686-577-1919Dr. Mario A. Garibay DDS (Los Algodones) ..658-517-3286

DEVELOPMENTS/FrACCIONAMIENTOS Casablanca ...............................................686-157-1728Diamante Residencial ................................686-569-2347El Dorado Ranch .......................................686-577-0015La Perla Del Mar ........................................760-458-7602Playa de Oro .......................................686-576-0223Playa del Paraiso ............................. 888-647-5292 x 704San Rafael ................................................686-576-0223

DISCOUNT STOrE

El Cheap-O ................................................686-577-6263

DOCTOrS/DOCTOrES Dr. Victor Abasolo ......... 686-577-1706 or 686-573-0174

ENTErTAINMENT/ENTrETENIMIENTO

Name That Tune - Denny Flannigan ............686-576-1683The Singout Sisters & Chuey (Karaoke) 686-576-0047

EVENT SErVICES/SErVICIOS ACONTECIMIENTO Produciones Baja ......................................686-576-1683

FINANCINg/FINANCIAMIENTO Baja Lending Company ....... ......................686-576-0653

MexQuest Mortgage Corp .........Toll Free: 1-888-257-9162

FILM DEVELOPMENT/IMPrESION DE FOTOSFotografia Alvarez ......................................686-577-1144

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w.m

exico

livin

ggui

de.c

om


15%OFFHomeownersInsurance

Mail - YETMAIL [email protected]

Call or e-mail TODAY!

DRIVER LICENSE INSURANCE

686-577-2464 • FAX 686-577-2916Lynda’s Insurance (English speaking) ........686-577-1622Orval Insurance [email protected]

INTErIOr DESIgN/DISEÑO INTErIOr Baja Nueva................................................686-211-4676

INTErNET CAFE/CAFE DE INTErNET Soluciones Integrales en Computacions .....686-577-2370

jEWELrYBajaTreasures ...........................................686-122-2668

(686) 122-2668

Silver and Bone-carvedJewelry Creations

KITCHEN/BATHCocina/Bano Concepto Casa ....................686-576-0731

LANDSCAPINg/jArDINErÍA Mauricio's Landscaping .............................686-151-8002Prestige Landscape and Maintenance ........686-170-8651Your Paradise...My PassionVersoleil ............................................. 686-576-0664

LAUNDrY SErVICE/LAVANDErÍA Wash Tub .................................................. 686-577-2001

LIFEgUArD/SALVAVIDAS

San Felipe Lifeguards ................................686-233-7730Ask for Franscio

LOCKSMITH/CErrAjErO gomez Locksmith ..................................... 686-221-833724 HR Service, Professional Service. Homes, Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, English Spoken

MArKETS/MErCADOSHipon/El Pelicano .............................686-577-0104/0204Oasis BEST CIGARETTE PRICES ...............686-577-1276

{{SAN FELIPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA}

FUrNITUrE/MUEBLErÍA Baja Nueva .........................................686-187-7795

gIFTBajaGlitz....................................................686-175-5420

Unique Glitz Clothingand Accessories

(686) 175-5420gOLF/gOLF

Las Caras de Mexico .................................686-576-0517

grAPHIC DESIgN/DISEÑO gráFICOGreetScape ...............................................686-188-2393

gYNECOLOgIST/gINECÓLOgO Annel Becerra Prado..................................686-577-6350

HATS/SOMBrErOS

Band It ...................................................... 686-123-5147

HEALTH & FITNESS/SALUD Y EjErCICIOSquats Gym ....................................... 686-125-1555

HOME BUILDErS/CONTrATISTAS M & O Construction ..................................686-124-3908Oscar Parra ...............................................686-163-6514Oscar Perez ..............................................686-120-6506

Perez Construction ....................................686-236-4927

PC PPéérreezz CCoonnssttrruuccttiioonn““BBeesstt iinn BBaajjaa””

* * * * * El Dorado Ranch 5 Star Contractor

Lupe Pérez, General Contractor 011.521.686.170.3979

Jane Allen, Contract Manager US: 480.600.2114 or MX: 011.521.686.236.4927

www.sanfelipehomesbyperez.com

[email protected]

* * * * * El Dorado Ranch 5 Star Contractor

Lupe Pérez, General Contractor 011.521.686.170.3979

Jane Allen, Contract Manager US: 480.600.2114 or MX:

011.521.686.236.4927www.sanfelipehomesbyperez.com

[email protected]

Pérez Construction“Best in Baja”

PMD Developments ...................................638-105-9182San Felipe Home Builders ..........................686-577-3176

Home Builders inSan Felipe

www.SanFelipeHomeBuilder.com

ProvidingQuality, Integrity and

Professionalism since 2005San Felipe (686) 577-3176 San Diego (619) 920-2292

HOME CLEANINg/LIMPIEzA DE CASAS Redwagon Property Services ....................686-576-0081 Housekeeping - Jackie’s Home Help ..........686-228-7480

IMPOrT SErVICES/SE rVICIOS DE IMPOrTACIÓNSan Felipe Storage Company ..................... 686-576-0432

INSUrANCEAlani’s Mexican Insurance .........................686-577-2464


MASSAgE/MASAjE Casey’s Place (Massage) ..........................686-577-1431

Massage Therapy

686-577-1431Call for an appointment

www.sanfelipe.tv

FULL HOUR - ONLY $35

MEAT MArKETS/CArNECErIAS MErCADOSZsamaniegos Carnecerias (Z Market) ......... 686-577-1676

MEDICAL SErVICES/SErVICIOS MÉDICOS Ambulance................................................686-577-0500Baja Medical Center ..................................686-576-0200Health Center ........................................... 686-577-1521Red Cross .................................................686-577-1544Dr. Victor Abasolo ......... 686-577-1706 or 686-573-0174

MOVINgSan Felipe Moving & Storage .....................686-576-0432

OPTOMETrISTS/OPTHAMOLOgISTSCalifornia Optical .......................................686-577-0708MaxivisionOptical = OpticaMaxivision .......686-577-0320

PHArMACY/FArMACIABotica “Sagrado Corazon” .........................686-577-1294

Santa Fe Pharmacy ..................................686-576-0546

PHYSICAL THErAPYAdrienne Streppel ....................................(686) 576-0339

POLICE/POLICÍA Federal Preventive Police ..........................686-577-1045Police ......................................................686-577-1134

PrINTErS/IMPrESOrAS

Papeleria Copicentro .................................686-577-1402The Print Supplier ......................................686-230-9933

PrOPErTY MANAgEMENT/MANEjO DE PrOPIEDADES

Casey’s Place ...........................................686-577-1431Custom Vacation Homes ...........................928-277-6863928-277-7559 & visit www.sanfelipevacations.com Enjoy Baja .................................................686-576-0697Redwagon Property Services ....................686-576-0081

POSTAL SErVICES/SErVICIOS POSTALES

Yet Mail ..................................................... 686-577-1255

Sand & Sea ............................................... 686-577-3168SunRunner Mail Center ....................... 686-147-6752

PUBLICATIONS/PUBLICACIONESGringo Gazette .......................................... 686-111-3692

Mexico Living Magazine ............................ 686-577-1377San Felipe Newsletter ................................686-577-2898

rEAL ESTATE AgENTS/AgENTES DE BIENES rAÍCES Bill Maine ..................................................686-231-4921 Jim Moore ................................... MX Cell 686-184-9237 US 619-209-8486

rEAL ESTATE/BIENES rAÍCESAmor Property ...................................686-577-0611Baja 24/7 Construction & Real Estate ........686-577-6196

Desert Hawk .............................................686-577-1244Sea Mexico Realty (SMR) ..........................686-576-0223

rEAL ESTATE SErVICES/SErVICIOS DE BIENES rAÍCESBaja Closing & Escrow Services ................686-576-0653

rECrEATION/rECrEACIÓNSan Felipe Sailing-Sailing Lessons .............686-114-3259 Aerodynamic - Ultralight flights .................686-116-2933

SATELLITE TELEVISION & INTErNET/ TELEVISION SATELITALES Y INTErNET

CSI - Computer & Satellite Installation........686-577-2928

Computer &Satellite Installation

Satellite Internet

Also Computers, Cell Phones, and DVD RentalsAv. Mar de Cortez, Plaza San FelipeVisit us Online: www.csibaja.com

686-577-2928 [email protected] OrgANIzATIONS/

OrgANIzACIONES DE SErVICIO Club Las Amigas .......................................686-202-0455San Felipe Lions Club ................................686-212-3599

{SAN FELIPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA}}

San Felipe Rotary ......................................686-576-0112

SHOPPINg MALL/CENTrO DE COMPrASLa Plazita ..................................................686-577-2119

SOLArBaja Solar Systems ...................................686-111-0504BC Solar Cooking ......................................686-106-9693

SPECIALTY STOrESSea of Cortez Salt .....................................686-209-0074

SPOrT FISHINgAzteca Sport Fishing and Tours. ................686-577-0741


{{SAN FELIPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA}STOrAgE/ALMACÉN

San Felipe Moving & Storage ..................... 686-576-0432Move from ANYWHERE in the USA to ANYWHERE in Mexico!

FromA Zto

Let our team of professionals handle everything for you

MX (686) 576-0432E-mail: [email protected]

www.sanfelipesafestorage.comTATTOOINg/TATUAjES

Baja Ink Spot Tattoo & Body Piercing .........686-577-0746

TIrE SHOP/LLANTErALlantera Aguilar .........................................686-192-8462

TrANSLATION/TrADUCCIÓNCarlota Villagran B .....................................686-212-9951

TrANSPOrTATION/TrANSPOrTACIÓNAirport ......................................................686-577-1368Taxi Service ..............................................686-577-1293Bus Station ..............................................686-577-1516

UTILITIES/EMPrESAS DE SErVICIOS PúBLICOS Electric (CFE) ................ 686-577-1060 or 686-577-5602 Estrella Azul (Water Dispensery) ................686-577-1314Propane Gas .............................................686-577-2373State Com. of Services Public ...................686-556-1383Telnor Phone Co ........................................686-577-1000Water Company ........................................686-577-1022

VETErINArY/VETErINArIODesert Veterinary Group ..........................(760) 355-0141

Hospital Animal .........................................686-577-1688PETS ........................................................686-577-2155Veterinaria Mundo Animal ..........................686-577-2663

WASTE MANAgEMENT/MANEjO DE DESHECHOSan Felipe Disposal ...................................686-121-1004


PLAYAS DE rOSArITOrV Park/Parque de rV Baja Season RV Parks ...............................661-628-6128 Popotla R.V. Park ...................................... 661-612-1501Motel Camino Inn ............................................... 661-612.2803Hotel / Condo Baja Rentals ................................. www.BajaCatalina.com Bobby’s Baja by the Sea

................661-614-1135

{PLACES TO STAy}}

El Dorado Ranch invites you to the 2010 International Blues & Arts Fiesta

Saturday - March 27, 2010

Book your accommodations NOW and Receive a

15% Discount*Reservations must be booked by Feb 15, 2010

1-800-404-2599 or 011-526-86-576-0717 ext. 4026

[email protected] or [email protected]/vacations/accommodations.htm

El Dorado Ranch SMALL RV PARK WITH BIG SPACES FOR PERMANENT LIVING

http://www.haciendad-sol.com/earl/La Paz, Baja California Sur Mexico

Amenities available to all guests:

Solar Heated PoolShady PalapaBBQ

•••

TEL: 011-52-612-123-5440 & [email protected]

11 Miles North of Town in a very quiet community.

Only 9 Permanent spacious RV lots. Close to the BEACH!

Costa Azul ........................................800-800-9632 Grand Baja Resort (Puerto Nuevo)

............................................877-315-1002

ENSENADArV Park/Parque de rV Mona Lisa RV Park ........................................646-177-5100 Popotla R.V. Park ...........................................661-612-1501

Motels/Moteles America Motel ........................................646-176-1333 Rudis Motel ...........................................646-176-3245 Ensenada Inn ................................................646-176-1361 Hotel El Joker ................................................646-177-5151 Posada Don Fernando ...................................646-177-0127 Azteca Inn .....................................................646-177-4015

Hotel Best Western El Cid .......................................646-178-2401 Corona Hotel ........................................646-176-0901 Costa Azul ...................................800-800-9632 Grand Baja Resort (Puerto Nuevo)

...............................................877-315-1002Hotel Coral & Marina .......646-175-0000 Hotel La Fonda .......................646-155-0007 Posada El Rel Sol ...................................646-178-1601 San Nicolas Hotel ..........................................646-176-1901 Oxidox Cafe...................................................646-178-8827rentals Baja Rentals .....................................www.BajaCatalina.com


Hacienda de la Langosta Roja by Benjamin Eugene

The Villa Group Announces Updates on Loreto Projects

Hacienda de la Langosta Roja, aka the Red Lobster, is a newly refurbished hotel, under new management! Located centrally in San Felipe, only two blocks from the beach and downtown shopping and dining.

The hotel has just been renovated and reopened to offer their guests the most comfortable setting available in San Felipe. All the rooms have been recently restored with new furniture and are kept very clean.

Don’t expect anything luxurious, with many frills or pool. You won’t find a phone in your room either, but, who do you want to call anyway? However, what you can expect are rooms that are always clean and comfortable, and at a great price. You can also expect the reception staff, housekeeping, security, wait staff, bartenders or any staff member you meet to always be helpful and cheerful.

The rooms have a small 19-inch TV with about 15 channels; but, you’re on vacation in Mexico, so who really cares?

There are alcove closets without doors; you’ll always have hot water in the shower, with great water pressure; and air conditioning that works.

The hotel is a short two blocks walk to the beach on San Felipe Bay. There is always plenty to see on the beach; banana boat rides, the Pina Colada trucks, street vendors, Panga fisherman and lots of families! Spring through fall the water is warm, but anytime of year the huge tide change makes for fun beach exploration. There is also

sailboat rides and fishing trips, and you can also rent four-wheelers and cruise around the streets and boardwalk.

Below the hotel is one of the premiere restaurants in San Felipe that offers Italian-style seafood unequalled in the area. The restaurant serves delicious steaks, chops and chicken, pasta, and more at reasonable prices.

If you are looking to hang out, there are lots of great bars and clubs in the area including the comfortable V Lounge, Lighthouse Restaurant and the world-famous Backstreet Cantina, or you can stroll the Malecon, which is always full of activity.

Rates for Single/Double Rooms (U.S., including tax) are $49 Sunday–Thursday and $59 Friday–Saturday.

Come and stay at the comfortable La Hacienda de la Langosta Roja and let them spoil you with their warm Mexican hospitality. Reservations: (800) 967-0005 or email [email protected].

Owen Perry, a partner in the highly successful The Villa Group, one of Mexico’s leading privately-owned real estate development companies, has announced a number of updates in its Loreto, Baja Sur, Mexico projects.

The first is the opening of the Hotel Santa Fe, a 125-room hotel in downtown Loreto; its sister property, also owned by The Villa Group, is located in Cabo San Lucas. The Hotel Santa Fe is located at the entrance of town next to the famous Domingo’s restaurant.

The downtown area of the resort town has been completely renovated. In addition, a new passenger terminal opened, which gives Loreto’s international airport state-of–the-art facilities.

The new five-star Villa Del Palmar-Loreto is under construction and is scheduled to open in October 2010.

The property, themed as eco-friendly, is designed so the colors of the property blend into the natural scenery; low-density lights allow the stars themselves to be the show at night.

The property will be the largest of all The Villa Group’s properties with 161 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas with a large common area and pools.

Perry says the group has US$60 million invested in Loreto and is strongly committed to the location.

{{PLACES TO STAy}

RV PARKS

SAN FELIPE, BCKiki’s rV Camping Hotel on the beach, near downtown and shopping. Nicely maintained park right on the shores of the Sea of Cortez and near the baseball field, making it an ideal RV spot for the Blues and Arts weekend.

RENTALS/PROPERTy MANAGEMENT

SAN FELIPE, BCMySanFelipeVacation.com provides you a pleasurable stay in San Felipe, with their fabulous El Dorado Ranch homes. San Fe-lipe Vacation Rental Homes provide the finest luxury available. Long- and short-term rent-als include single-family homes and the very popular golf course.

Redwagon Property Services has been of-fering rental services since 1999. They have beachfront condos, long-term rentals, vaca-tion rentals, property for sale, property man-agement and complete cleaning services.

Sandollar Condotels has luxury beachfront accommodations, gated and secure with two-bedroom units, a private beach and amazing views. It’s conveniently located close to town with handicap access and FREE WiFi.

LORETO, BCSStainloreto.com offers beachside vacation living, either in a house or condo. Enjoy luxu-ry living with a full kitchen, private patio, WiFi high-speed Internet access and solar heated swimming pool. $72 per night, or $900 per week.

HOTELS/MOTELS

PLAyAS DE ROSARITO, BCPoco Cielo Hotel, loosely translated, means “little heaven.” Their small, private hotel has nine intimate guest rooms, an on-site restaurant and cantina. Located halfway between Rosarito and Ensenada in the La Misión area. $56–$123 depending on the theme of the room.

LORETO, BCSLa Damiana Inn offers a unique and intimate stay in the heart of the historic district. Origi-nally built in the 1930s for a General in the Mexican Army, the house was renovated into an Inn in 2005. Six beautiful rooms with private bathrooms, living room, kitchen and more.

Motel El Dorado is the newest addition to the picturesque historic district of Loreto. Just across from the beautiful Loreto Mission and a block from the Malecon.

SAN FELIPErV Park/Parque de rV Club de Pesca ...........................................686-577-1180Kiki's RV Park on the Beach .......................686-577-2021rentalsBaja Bill's Property Managment .................686-577-4014Casey’s Place ......686-577-1431 MySanFelipeVacation.com .......................(686) 109-0579Rancho del Sol ....................686-231-4921 Sandollar Condotels ..................................686-123-7688Places to Stay…Rentals…Sandollar Condotels Seaside Shangri-La Apartment ..................686-577-1573 Su Casa Elegante ........................686-577-0745Motels/HotelsLa Hacienda de la Langosta Roja ...............686-577-0483Marina Resort ..........................686-577-1569 Olympia Motel (Los Algodones) .................658-517-7347

MULEgÉBed & Breakfasts Clementine’s B&B ......................................615-153-0319 Casa del Los Suenos B&B ..........................615-155-4087

Hotel Desert Inn ..................................................200-124-9122 Hotel Serenidad ..........................................615-153-0530 Mulegé Hotel ..............................................615-153-0090 San Buenaventura Hotel .............................615-153-5616 Terrazas Hotel ............................................615-153-0009

rV Oasis Rio Baja ...........................................615-153-0425 Villa Maria Isabel RV Park ...........................615-153-0246

LOrETOMotelMotel El Dorado .................................686-613-135-1500 HotelHacienda Suites .........................................613-135-1693 Hotel Coco Cabana ....................................613-135-1729 Hotel Luna .................................................613-135-2288 Hotel Oasis (in Mexico) ........................ 01-800-624-9449 ............................................Toll free US: 1 866 482 0247 La Damiana Inn ..........................................613-135-0356 La Daminanas ............................................613-135-0356 La Mision Hotel ..........................................613-134-0350 Tripui Hotel .................................................613-133-0818Rentals Coco-cabanas............................................613-135-1729 El Tiburon Casitas ..............................US (805) 748-4566 Hamman’s Vacaciones ...............................613-135-0791 Villas de las Palmas ...................................613-135-2256 ............................................................ US 760-603-8313

LA PAzHotelsAraiza Inn Palmira .....................................612-121-6200Club El Moro .............................................612-122-4084Crowne Plaza ............................................612-124-0830La Casa Jalisco ..........................................612-12-84311La Concha Beach Resort ...........................612-121-6344La Posada de Engelbert .............................612-122-4011La Posada de Las Flores ...........................612-125-5871Los Arcos .................................................612-122-2744Marina Hotel .............................................612-121-6254Mediterrane ...............................................612-125-1195 Seven Crown Hotel ....................................612-128-7787

CABO SAN LUCASHotel Baja Vacations. .........................................877-462-2226Barcelo Hotels and Resort .......................(624) 146-7500Cabo Surf Hote .........................................624-142-2666Desire Resort & Spa..................................624-142-9300Posada Chabela ........................................624-172-6495Posada Real Best Western ................................................ ...............................................................624-142 - 0155Suites Las Palmas .....................................624-142-2131

SAN jOSE DEL CABOHotel Bahia Hotel ...................................... .........624-143-1888Best Western Cabo Las Flores Hotel ..........624-143-6199Casa Pablito ..................................... .........624-143-1971Hotel and Plaza Los Arcos ........................624-143-0702Mar de Cortez Hotel ......................... .........624-143-0032Siesta Suites Hotel ........................... .........624-143-2773

Villa Del Palmar-Loreto

Phot

o by

GBG

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Memphis is a city that takes great pride in its barbecue. They claim to have the best in the world and have become famous for it. But what most people don’t know is that Memphis-style Barbecue is available in San Felipe, at Blowin’ Smoke BBQ & Grill.

Memphis barbecue sauce has its own distinctive flavor. Though the specific ingredients will vary from cook to cook, Memphis sauce is usually made with tomatoes, vinegar and any countless combination of spices. It is generally thin, tangy

and somewhat sweet, and when Memphis sauce is poured over pulled pork—OH YES, BABY!

Blowin’ Smoke BBQ in San Felipe knows how to serve up a BBQ feast with all the best BBQ sides, like coleslaw, corn on the cob and baked beans. Their Memphis-style slow smoked BBQ, pulled pork or smoked beef sandwich are a flavor to savor. When the plate hits the table, conversations stop and the feasting begins.

Great Memphis-style BBQ, ice cold cerveza, comfortable dining and reasonable prices. If

you’re looking for some finger-licking good BBQ, stop by Blowin’ Smoke BBQ in San Felipe, just north of town in front of Playa San Rafael on highway 5 at KM 178, or give them a call at (686) 576-0710, or email [email protected].

Loreto has some great restaurants offering cuisine to satisfy most culi-nary desires. How-ever, finding a great breakfast can be a chore. Don’t get me wrong, Loreto offers some great break-fast choices, but a favorite would have to be at restaurant Sagitario, located at the Rivera del Mar RV park.

They’ve been in business for four years now, and offer

an authentic “breakfast Americana” with eggs, a choice of bacon, real sausage, potatos, pancakes or toast for only 45 pesos. Of course, in addition to breakfast, they have spectacular Mexican food including chile rellenos, shrimp tacos, and even hamburgers, too.

Everything on the menu is delicious and at a good price. The most expensive items on their menu are rib eye and T-bone steaks for only 110 pesos. The restaurant is run by Yolanda and Yola, a mother and daughter team that know how to provide great food and great service. Enjoy your meal either indoors or on their outside patio.

Just two blocks from the beach, on the north end of Francisco I Madero. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can reach them at (613) 135-0718.

SAN FELIPE, BCBlowin’ Smoke in north San Felipe offers true Memphis-style slow smoked ribs, pulled pork, chicken parts and award-winning beef tri-tip. Healthy portions and great atmosphere, homemade coleslaw, potato salad, corn on the cob, and very cold beer.

Sundance Deli in north San Felipe offer deli meats, cheese, as well as regular prepared meals, such as meatloaf, sandwiches, hot wings, pizza, soups and breads, all made from scratch. They’re also a complete grocer with dairy, vegetables and all your staples.

The Pavilion restaurant on Las Cares de Mexico Golf Course at La Ventana del Mar has a full menu of meats and seafood dishes and a great affordable breakfast. Mariscos La Morena More than clams at La

Morena, their beef, chicken and shrimp is sure to delight. Great service and perfect location for entertaining out-of-town guests..

Fatboy’s Pizza downtown on the corner of Chetumal and Mar de Cortez offers great pizza, excellent salads, delicious hot and cold sandwiches, and more. And now you’ll be able to find Fat’s downtown and north at Playa de Oro.

LORETO, BCSFamily owned and operated restaurant Sagitario at Rivera del Mar RV park in downtown Loreto opened last month, offering true Mexican value and incredible flavor.

Augie’s Bar and Bait Shop on the Malecon is always a favorite for locals and visitors alike, wonderful sushi, Mexican favorites as well as burgers and breakfast. Augie even has free food

during happy hour Monday through Friday, plus extremely cold beer, full bar and good friends.

Loreto Islas is aptly named; a seaside restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that face east onto the Malecon, the Sea of Cortez and Isla del Carmen. Loreto Islas’ menu is simple, made with the freshest produce and ranch-fresh eggs and chicken. Islas also serves the freshest seafood available, caught and prepared the same day.

PUERTO PEÑASCO, SONORAgiuseppe’s Coffee on Fremont is a family-owned and operated coffeehouse and diner with great coffee and wonderful breakfast and lunch. Check out the Sunday breakfast buffet.

Thirsty Parrot upstairs on the Malecon of Old Port is great fun for everyone. Wonderful food, atmosphere, people and view. Come for the food, full bar and good time.

Finger Licking Memphis-Style BBQ in San Felipeby Benjamin Eugene

Great Breakfast at Restaurant Sagitario in Loretoby Benjamin Eugene

{PLACES TO EAT}}PLAYAS DE rOSArITO

American Food La Bamba ..........................................661-100-2560Steak & Seafood Bobby’s Baja by the Sea .....................661-614-1135 Vince’s Old Pier ...........................661-612-1253

ENSENADAMexican Casa Mar Restaurant Bar ...............................646-174-0417 www.restaurantcasamar.com Magana’s ......................................................646-155-0586Steak & Seafood El Rey Sol .....................................................646-178-1601 La Mansion de Ensenada ................646-178-3271

SAN FELIPEAmerican Los Arcos ............................686-577-2585 Baja Java .....................................686-577-2465 Baja Jimmys ..............................................686-139-7373Beach Bar & Grill . .................686-577-3144 Blowin’ Smoke BBQ .................................686-576-0710Breakfast The Bistro “Java Jitters” ........686-114-7735Burgers Baja Burger ................................................686-577-2465 Chilis & Burgers .........................................686-577-6196Ice Cream Chumpo’s Pizza and Ice Cream ..................686-577-0085japanese Oshii Japanese Restaurant .........................686-184-9790Mexican The Beach Bar and Grill . ........686-577-3144 El Apetito ...................................................686-139-1943 El Club .......................................................686-577-1175 Juanitos (El Colorado) .......................686-133-6500 La Palapa Bar & Grill ..............686-200-4083 Mi Casa es Tu Casa ....................................686-577-1495 Rancho Alegre ........................686-576-0648 Restaurant Playa Azul ........................686-120-9051 Rice & Beans ..................... ..................686-577-1770 Rosita ...........................................686-577-1903Pizza Fatboy’s .............................686-577-4092 Los Arcos - Happy Jackass ............686-577-2585 Popeye’s Pizza ...........................................686-577-1122 Rabbit Pizza Delivery ..................................686-577-0987Seafood MariscosLaMorenaSpanish Miguel & Paco ................................686-111-2257Steak & Seafood Al’s Backstreet Cantina .................686-577-1580 Green House ..............................................686-181-6358 El Nido ................................................686-577-1028 Lighthouse Restaurant ............686-577-2540 Los Arcos .....................................686-577-2585Fine Dining The Latin Garden ........................................686-209-6369 2-Highway 5 KM 183, San Felipe, BC Pavilion Restaurant . ..............686-577-0022

MULEgÉMexicanLa Casitas ..................................................615-153-0019 Tacos y Pollos “Del Castillo” .......................615-153-0378

LOrETOBar & SeafoodAugie’s bar & Bait Shop ............................613-135-1224Breakfast Restaurant Sagitario ...................................613-135-0718 MediterraneanMediterraneo .............................................613-135-2571Mexican1697 .........................................................613-135-2538La Cascada Restauran .............................. 613 135-0550 Mita Gourmet ............................................613-135-2025

LA PAzCafe Capri ..................................................624-123-3737Gorilla’s Grill1 ............................................612-128-8095Le Bistrot Francais .....................................612-125-6080

CABO SAN LUCASAmericanApplebee’s .................................................624-172-6472AsianBaan Thai Pan Asian Restaurant and Bar.....624-142-3344Burgers & MoreBaja Brewing Company ..............................624-146-9995


Great Breakfast at Restaurant Sagitario in Loretoby Benjamin Eugene

Loreto’s best Happy Hour Everyday 4pm - 7pm

Augie’s Free Happy hour SpecialsMon - Gringo TacosTues - Ceveche & 1/2 off SushiWed - ClamsThurs - PizzaFriday - Hot Wings

Augie’s Bar & Bait Shop!

Where it feels like Home!

www.augiesBARloreto.com 613-135-1224

Cactus Jack's Bar and Grill .........................624-142-5601Die Trying Cafe...........................................624-142-5657Coffee & Baked Correcaminos Cafe ....................................624-142-3510InternationalLocal Eight Restaurant................................624-142-6655Havana Supper Club ...................................624-142-2603Italian & PizzaBuon Appetito ............................................624-142 4040La Dolce Italian Restaurant .........................624-142-6621MexicanDon Emiliano Restaurant ............................624-142-0266Casianos Restaurant .................................. 624 142 5928Brisa Beach Club and Restaurant ..................624-142-244Habanero's Restaurant ...............................624-142-2626Jazmin Restaurant ......................................624-142-1760

Restaurant Sagitario & Rivera del MarFrancisco I. Madero Norte No. 100

C.P. 23880 Loreto, BCS Mex.Telephone 011 52 613 13 50718

www.riveradelmar.comEmail: [email protected]

Good American breakfast and Mexicanfood, we have very good service.

Restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

4 years in business 8 years in business

Lorenzillo’s .....................624-105-0212The Blue Turtle ................624-143-1118Villa Serena .................. ...624-145-8244InternationalPeacocks ........................624-143-1858

PUErTO PEÑASCOAmericanMaxs Cafe ......................... 638-383-1011Breakfast Giuseppe’s Coffee .............. 638-383-5181Marios Coffee – On the entrance to the MaleconCharbroiled Chicken Pollo Lucas – Blvd Benito Juarez “under the big Palapa”Cuban Food Restaurant Habana Vieja ..... 638-383-6909 Leon de Barra #161 and Guillermo Prieto -Col CentroInternational Aladinos Restaurant ............ 638-383-6175 Changos Bar and Cantina .... 638-382-8648 In front of Sonora Spa Debbie’s Restaurant – On the Malecon upstairs Old Port Thirsty Parrot ............... 636-388-7068On the Malecon Mexican Betos Place ........................ 638-383-5198 On the Malecon Old Port #40 Charros Restaurant – Blvd Benito Juarez in the Jim Bur Plaza Cocodrilos ......................... 638-383-6376 La Cocina de Ramon – Ave FCO Gonzales Boca Negra #261La Curva ............................ 638-383-3470 Manny’s Beach Club .......... 638-383-3605Viva Mexico Taco stand just off the Malecon FundadorePizza Augustin’s Pizza and Wings 638-383-1699 13th Street in front of Kenos Capones Pizza – Sinaloa Street next to Playa InnSteak & Seafood Bestos Place ....................... 638-114-3917El Conchal Seafood ............. 638-383-8173Friendly Dolphin .........................................638-383-2608 Jerrys Restaurant – On the Malecon Old Port

Lighthouse .................................................638-383-2389 Latitude 31 Rest. & Sports Bar ...................638-383-4311 Mariscos el Conchal – Blvd Benito Juarez #79

{{PLACES TO EAT}

Excluding shrimp or scallops dishes. Not valid with any other special. Items only

discounted off regular price.

20% off Any breakfast, lunch or dinner

Contact [email protected]

The Pavilion Restaurant

expires 31-Dec-2009

MEXICOLIVINGBest of2008P

IZ

ZA

Free Breakfast Sundays*Tortilla Soup DAILY

Baked Ziti!

*with purchase of one (1) alcoholic beverage

(686) 577-3168 (686) 577-4092

Mar de Cortez & Chetumalfor

At Playa de Oro next toSand & Sea Market

for PIZZA TAKE-OUT!

NEW SPOT!Now in TWO LOCATIONS

*with purchase of alcoholic beverage

North Phone In-town Phone

What’s Healthierthan a Salad?

Giuseppi’s Soup and Salad Bar

www.giuseppis.info

Giuseppi’s Espresso

Blvd. Fremont, Puerto Peñasco

SeafoodLa Panga Antigua Restaurant and Bar .........624-142-4041SteakLa Bodega Steak and wine house ...............624-142-6619

SAN jOSE DEL CABOMexicanPanchos ....................................................624-143-2891 Ay... Chihuahua ..........................................624-143-3280Baja Cantina ...............................................624-143-0225Margaritaville .............................................624-143-7401Mi Casa .....................................................624-143-1933Restaurant Pancho’s & Tequila Bar .............624-143-2891SeafoodLa Golondrina ............................................624-143-0542




BUSINESS DIrECTOrY (A-z)AIrPOrT

Loreto International Airport ........................613-135-0565

BUSLoreto Bus Terminal .................................. 613-135-0767

TOUrISM

Loreto Tourism Office .................................613-135-0411

MEDICALRed Cross ..................................................613-135-1111

HOSPITAL

Centro de Salud

TOUrS/ADVENTUrES

Baja Tropicales ............................................... 615-153-0320 Mulegé Sportfishing ...................................615-153-0482 Cortez Explorers .........................................615-153-0500

Beach-side Vacation condo or house rentals

www.stayinloreto.com ContaCt Lynn Hamman [email protected]

Holland America Cruise Ship 2010 ScheduleFebruary 8 • 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.March 5 • 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.March 30 • 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.April 29 • 8 a.m. – 5 p.m

www.mexicolivingguide.com/loreto

{LORETO, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR}}

MULEgÉ DIrECTOrYPLACES TO EAT

See the Dining guide on page 28


www.mexicolivingguide.com/mulege

{MULEGé, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR}}

When in need of an ambulance, please call the Police number first (they will dispatch the call) and then the Fire Department number. Police number is 135-0035 or 135-0036. By following this procedure, you can be assured of being assisted.

MULEgE BAjA CALIFOrNIA SUrMulegé is situated at the mouth of the Río Santa

Rosalía(26°53´17˝N111°58´53˝W),inthestateofBaja California Sur, 38 miles south of Santa Rosalia, at the mouth of Bahía de Concepción. In 2005, the reported population was 3,317.

Nestled between two hills in a lush tropic palm

oasis divided by a shaded river that runs towards an estuary that flows to the sea, Mulegé is rich in history with lots of great sites to see, including the Misión Santa Rosalía de Mulegé, founded in 1705; the old state penitentiary, finished in 1907; and the Sierra de Guadalupe cave paintings.

Outdoor activities abound, from mountain biking,

scuba diving and kayaking to deep sea fishing. The cold northern current and the warm southern current come together to create an environment great for catching some of the 100 different species of fish in the Mulegé waters.

By land, Mulegé is 650 miles south of the San Diego/Tijuana border crossing on Mexican Highway 1,

and in 2010, via Highway 5 through San Felipe.By Air, Mulegé is served by three airstrips: Hotel

Serenidad Airstrip (El Gallito), the Mulegé Municipal and Punta San Pedro. Regional flights are available at the Palo Verde Airport, and international flights are available at the Loreto Airport.

LOrETO BAjA CALIFOrNIA SUrLoreto, founded in 1697 by Jesuit missionaries,

was the first Spanish settlement on the east coast of the Baja California peninsula. Loreto, situated on the Sea of Cortez, 26º00’46” N 111º20’36” W, served as the capital of the province of Las Californias from its founding until the capital was moved to Monterey on February 3, 1777.

The 2005 census reported a population of 10,283. Today Loreto is a tourist resort, catering mostly to U.S. travelers, with daily flights from California arriving at Loreto International Airport. Many of the American

tourists enjoy fishing in “pangas” for “dorado” (Mahi-mahi or Dolphin Fish). Local restaurants will even

prepare the daily catch of the tourists. Loreto has an excellent museum alongside the historic, but still active, parish. The Spanish Fathers found a steady spring of fresh water on this site.

Loreto’s climate is hot and humid, with abundant sunshine (desert with some rainfalls in summer). The medium temperature is 76 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures are hot from June through October. These summer days have highs around 93 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity.

BUSINESS DIrECTOrY (A-z)TOUrS/ADVENTUrES

Baja Tropicales ............................................... 615-153-0320 Mulegé Sportfishing ...................................615-153-0482 Cortez Explorers .........................................615-153-0500

Coco CabanasHotel TipuiSilver ShopLa DaminanaLoreto IslasTiburon RentalsRentals LoretoDali’s Alexander Real EstateMita Gourmet

El Dorado MotelEl CanaveralAugie’sBar and Bait ShopMission HotelOasis HotelDesert InnDel BorrachoRivia del Mar RV Park

Get the Guide At:


www.mexicolivingguide.com/sanjosedelcabo SAN jOSE DEL CABO DIrECTOrY

PLACES TO EAT

See the Dining guide on page 28.

PLACES TO STAY



DENTISTSCabo Cosmetic DentaL ...............................624-143-0520

LA PAz DIrECTOrYPLACES TO EAT



BUSINESS DIrECTOrY (A-z)FErrY SErVICE

Baja Ferries ................................................612-125-7443

www.mexicolivingguide.com/lapaz

{{LA PAZ, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR}

{{SAN JOSE DEL CABO, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR}

LA PAzLa Paz (“The Peace”) is the capital city of Baja

California Sur located at 24.1405°N 110.3123°Wand is an important commercial center. Its surrounding municipality, which is the fourth-largest municipality in Mexico in geographical size, in 2005 reported a population of 219,596 living on 7,828.2 square miles of land.

La Paz is typically dry and warm with averages of 75–77 degrees Fahrenheit, and 300 days or better of sunshine annually. Summer months are often in the 90’s and can be humid. The winter months can drop below 60, but stays mostly in the mid-60’s. During the summer the cooling Coromuel winds, a weather phenomenon unique to the La Paz area, blow from Bahia de La Paz keeping the temperature mild.

By Air, La Paz is served by Manuel Márquez de León International Airport with flights to the U.S., Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Two ferry services operate from Pichilingue outside the city, connecting the Baja California peninsula to the mainland at Mazatlán and Topolobampo.

By Road, La Paz is served mainly by two highways, Highway 1 that links the south of the state from Cabo San Lucas to the north of the peninsula until Tijuana, and Highway 19, which connects La Paz with the population of the South Pacific towns like Todo Santos and El Pescadero.

SAN jOSE DEL CABOSan José del Cabo is located in Baja California

Sur and is the seat of the municipality of Los Cabos at the south end of the Baja California peninsula. In the 2005 census it had a population of 48,518. Together with neighboring Cabo San Lucas it

forms a major tourist destination for travelers, particularly from North America. The two cities are served by Los Cabos International Airport.

San José del Cabo offers you tranquility and old world charm, wonderful gift shops showcasing the art of Mexico, fabulous restaurants, fishing, golf, surfing and all the nighttime entertainment

you seek. Or you can just relax on one of our many pristine white sand beaches.

For nature lovers, a beautiful protected estuary with a variety of fish, turtles, dolphins, exotic marine animals and over 100 species of birds is located on the southeast edge of the city. And the historic artist colony of Todos Santos is an

easy one-hour drive to the north, along the scenic Pacific Ocean.

Local residents take pride in restoring the town’s 18th century architecture and preserving its quiet, laid-back ambiance.

Charter SailingThe Sea of Cortez

from La Paz in aMacgregor 26x or Herreshoff H28FG

http://www.sailing-baja.com

More info [email protected]

Omni Services Your Mexico Real Estate Specialists In La Paz, Mexico

Baja Mexico Real Estate! La Paz Mexico Real Estate! Your Buyer’s Broker!

[email protected] (612)123-4888 www.osmx.com

gOVErNMENTSEMATUR ..................................................612-125-8899Baja California Sur State Government .........612-124-0199La Paz Post Office

rEAL ESTATE SErVICESOmni Services ...........................................612-123-4888


Santos Degoliado Ave.

Oscar Verdugo

Camino de la Poza

Punta Abreojos

Baja

Califo

rnia

Rafae

l Pedra

jo

Agustin O

lachea

Radio Antenna

Raul A. C

arrillo

Benito Ju

arez

Colegio

Milit

ar

Miguel Hidalgo

Alvaro Obregon

M. Marquez de LeonJose Maria Morelos Pavon

Av. Ignacio Zaragoza

GD

Todos Santos

{TODOS SANTOS, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR}}BUSINESS DIrECTOrY (A-z)

ArT gALLErIES Galeria La Poza ..........................................612-145-0400Charles Stewart Gallery/Studio ...................612-145-0265Colores de Mexico .....................................612-145-0106Ezra Katz Gallery ........................................612-137-3473Galeria Arturo ............................................612-145-0773Galeria de Kathleen Gambogi ......................612-145-0460Michael Cope .............................................612-145-0500Galeria Logan .............................................612-145-0151Galeria N. E. Hayles ....................................612-145-0183Galeria On-ce Photography .........................612-145-0550Galeria Wall ................................................612-145-0527Contemporary Mexican art .........................612-145-0215La Polilla ...............................................01-331-255-7965Wendy Faith, artist in glass .........................612-145-0255

SHOPPINgCactus Arte Mexicano ................................612-145-0771Casa Juanita ..............................................612-140-0069La Canada del Diablo Muebles Rusticos .....612-140-0069Curios Tony ................................................612-145-0356El Perico Azul .............................................612-145-0538Fenix de Todos Santos ................................612-145-0808Galeria Santa Fe .........................................612-145-0301Mangos .....................................................612-145-0451Manos Mexicanas ......................................612-145-0538Regalos Diana-Dos Glorias .........................612-145-0324Uguet Tiles and Marble ...............................612-127-2776Hotel California Emporium ..........................612-145-0525

rEAL ESTATEKing Y Asociados .......................................624-151-5840Amerimex ..................................................612-145-0050Maya Roca ................................................612-145-0464Milagro Real Estate ....................................612-145-0219Moniely Real Estate ....................................612-145-0540Pescadero Properties .................................612-145-0756Ricardo Amigo Real Estate ........................612-145-0551

www.mexicolivingguide.com/todossantosTODOS SANTOS

Named “Pueblo Mágico” in 2006, is a small coastal town at the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, on the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula, about an hour’s drive north of Cabo San Lucas and an hour south from La Paz. Located at 23°26′56′N110°13′32′W,TodosSantosisveryneartheTropicofCancer in the municipality of La Paz. The population was 4,078 at the census of 2005.

During the 19th century Todos Santos thrived as the Baja sugarcane capital. Now the rich farmlands have been reworked and the town prospers from an abundance of avocado, vegetable and chili farming, papaya and mango orchards, fishing and ranching.

The mission Nuestra Señora del Pilar de La Paz was founded by father Jaime Bravo in 1723. This mission contains the statue of the Virgin of Pilar, which is the focus of the town’s main festival in October.

More recently, there has been an increase in tourist activity and a boom in real estate development. Handicraft shops, art galleries, upscale restaurants, boutique hotels and restored colonial buildings have contributed to the gentrification and redevelopment of the town.

There are many beautiful beaches within a 30-minute drive. Playa Las Palmas and Playa Los Cerritos are great beaches for swimming and shell collecting, and Los Cerritos attracts surfers from around the world.

CABO SAN LUCAS DIrECTOrYPLACES TO EAT



BUSINESS DIrECTOrY (A-z)POLICE

State Police ................................................624-143-0296 Highway Patrol ...........................................624-143-3977 Federal Police .............................................624-143-1210

MEDICAL

Alcoholics Anonymous ...............................624-147-5516Ambulances ...............................................624-143-4020Social Security Hospital ..............................624-143-1548 Health Center .............................................624-143-0102Red Cross ..................................................624-143-3300

CITY

Chamber of Commerce ..............................624-143-0437Family Protection .......................................624-143-0586Gas Leaks ..................................................624-143-1292

MArINE

Harbor Master ............................................624-143-4771

Cabo San Lucas Marina .............................624-143-1766

UTILITIESTELMEX .....................................................624-143-0001Tourist Assistance ......................................624-143-0016Drinking Water ...........................................624-143-0228 Electric Power Co. ......................................624-143-0064

TOUrISM & IMMIgrATION SErVICES

Public Services ..........................................624-143-2786 Immigration ...............................................624-146-5229

www.mexicolivingguide.com/cabosanlucas

{CABO SAN LUCAS, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR}}

CABO SAN LUCASCabo San Lucas (aka Los Cabos or San José

del Cabo in Mexico, and Cabo in the U.S.) is at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula at 22.88°N 109.90°W, in the state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2005 census, the population was 56,811. It is the largest community in Los Cabos, and the second-largest in Baja California Sur.

The warmth of the waters, the beauty of its beaches, the abundance of fish, the raucous party atmosphere, a resort studded Tourist Corrider that stretches between the twin towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo in miles of pristine white beaches, and other qualities is quickly making Cabo San Lucas a highend vacation destination.

Cabo San Lucas has the largest Marlin tournament in the world. In the winter, pods of whales can be observed in the ocean bearing their calves in the warm waters.

Served by the Los Cabos International Airport for general aviation flights and air taxi service, the town is also a popular port of call for many cruise ships.

Exclusive hotels and gated residential communities attract the rich and famous in this wondrous region known as “The Corridor.” Considered some of Latin America’s top resorts, many of these properties have become havens to Hollywood stars, Fortune 500 CEOs and even the U.S. president during the 2002 Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC).



CHUrCH/IgLESIA

Family of God Christian Fellowship Non-Denominational

..........................................................044-638- 107-7150

Church Worship Services, Sundays at 9 a.m. Placita

Melanie, Suite #211 Bblvd. Fremont

FIrE DEPArTMENT/DEPArTAMENTO DE BOMBErOS

Fire Department .................................638-383-2828/068

INSUrANCE SErVICES/SErVICIOS DE SEgUrOS

Lynda’s Insurance (English speaking) .........686-577-1622

MASSAgE/MASAjE

Rita Pizarro ................................................638-386-5203

rEAL ESTATE/BIENES rAÍCES

Baja Lending Co .........................................760-494-7053

Century 21 Puerto Peñasco ........................638-388-1295

USA Office # 480-626-4687

rECrEATION/rECrEACIÓN

Kayak Rocky Point .....................................638-103-2038

Ramas del Mar Ocean tours – At the Marina ... 638-107-3739

UTILITIES/EMPrESAS DE SErVICIOS PúBLICOS

Power Company..................................638-383-2492/071

Propane .....................................................638-383-2630

Telephone Office.........................................638-383-2288

Water Co ....................................................638-383-2060

WINDOW COVErINgS

Seaside Window Covering

Get the Guide At:

La Cocina de RamonMariscos el Conchal

Jerry’s Restaurant-BarPollo LucasBetos Place

Home Plate SeafoodAladinos

Reggies 8-12 on Sinaloa StReggies 8-12 on 13th St

Capones PizzaDisenos Furniture

Hotel Playa InnChangos bar

Debbies RestaurantThirsty Parrot

CharrosJJ’s Cantina

Tienda La ChollaPlaya Inn - in the Mirador

Sonora MarketViva Mexico Taco Stand

Cosmos 2000 PharmaciesLicores el Crucero

Restaurant Habana Vieja Boo Bar

{{PUERTO PEÑASCO, SONORA}}

♦ Wings

♦ Pizzas

♦ Salads

♦ Appetizers

♦ Sandwiches

♦ Full Bar

♦ Daily Specials

♦ Sport Specials

♦ All PPV Events

♦ 7Days a week

Bikers: Buy any pizza and get a dozen free wings

♦ Wings

♦ Pizzas

♦ Salads

♦ Appetizers

♦ Sandwiches

♦ Full Bar

♦ Daily Specials

♦ Sport Specials

♦ All PPV Events

♦ 7Days a week

Bikers: Buy any pizza and get a dozen free wings

Phone: 638-383-3712

PUErTO PENASCOPuerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point,

is a small city of approximately 42,000 people in the northern state of Sonora. Located on the shore of the Sea of Cortez, the town is known for its fishing and tourism industries. It is a popular destination for tourists, particularly those from Arizona.

There are a wide variety of activities available for everyone, from the lazy days relaxing in the sun, to the action filled wild ride. Activities include shopping, scuba diving, sport fishing, sunset cruises, off-road adventures, horseback

riding, kayaking, parasailing, watercraft rentals and much more.

Puerto Peñasco is located in the “free zone” where tourists are not required currently to obtain immigration papers in order to visit. Puerto Peñasco has two main beach areas. To the west of the Old Port area, there is a wide, flat area known as Sandy Beach. This is the home to several large hotel/resorts. To the east there is a long coast with several areas, known in parts as El Mirador, Playa del Oro and then Las Conchas, an area of beachfront near condos, homes and time-shares.

www.mexicolivingguide.com/puertopenasco


New Year Eve Parties - December 31 make your reservations at local venues. Celebrate 2010 in the company of your

family and friends!

PLAYAS DE rOSArITODec 5: Cruz roja Thrift Shop Christmas

Sale From 10am-2pm. More Info 661-612-5365

Dec 5: Friends Of The Library Present Their Holiday Home Tour. 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. More Info 661-613-1285

Dec 5: La Casa Vieja - Christmas Festival Of The Arts 11am-8pm More Info 646-155-3153

Dec. 5–6: Fall Motocross Series round 4. A specially designed race track with jumps and obstacles in a circuit of approximately two miles. U.S. (619) 819-6323

Dec 12: USBC Holiday Ball. Dinner & Live Music. Featuring; 5:30 To 12:00 At Rosarito Beach Hotel, More Info 619-213-2575.

Dec. 18 - 20: The rosarito Theater guild Holiday Show, It’s A Wonderful Life – The Radio Show. Fri & Sat 7 p.m. & Sun at 2 p.m. More Info (664) 631-3009.

Dec. 17: Portofino restaurant Pairing Dinner. $38, 7 p.m. at the Hotel Festival Plaza. Reservations required. U.S. (800) 453-8606

LOCAL WEEKLY EVENTSSee the Community Calendar on

www.mexicolivingguide.com for a weekly schedule of events for each city.

IMPOrTANT DATES

Dec. 12: Día de Nuestra Señora de guadalupe

(Our Lady of guadalupe Day in Mexico)

Dec. 16–24: Christmas Posadas. Candlelit processions from house to

house for the nine days prior to Christmas.

Dec. 21: First Day of Winter

Dec. 25: Navidad/Christmas Day

Dec. 28: The Holy Innocents/April Fools Day (National Holiday in Mexico)

Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve

jan. 1: New Year’s Day

jan. 17: Feast Day of San Antonio de Abad (Mexico). A Mexican religious

holiday during which the Catholic Church allows animals to enter

the church for blessing.

jan. 18: Martin Luther King Day (U.S.)

Send your calendar event to [email protected]

Serena Full Assistance and Ensenada’s Velmar Hospital invite you to a free Health Fair on Thurs-day, December 3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get to know the doctors and staff of Velmar; have your blood sugar and blood pressure checked; and listen to brief English-language talks on topics like “Heart Attacks, Symptoms: How Men and Women Differ”

and “Alzheimer’s and Other Forms of Dementia.” Enjoy a short presentation “How Serena Helps in Medical Emergencies” with a Q & A period and also a short tour of Velmar facilities. Refreshments will be served.

The Health Fair takes place in the conference room of Velmar Hospital, located one block east

of Blvd. Costero (Lázaro Cárdenas) on Arenas #151, Fracc. Playa Ensenada, Ensenada. Seating is limited. For reservations or more information, call Serena Full Assistance at Mexico toll-free 01-800-030-0070 or Rosarito telephone (661) 612-9090.

Free Health Fair at Velmar Hospital on December 3

by Connie Ellig, Editor of Ensenada Gazette

{CALENDAR}}

lighting the group’s diversity of media, plus Guest Artists.

Their inaugural October show fea-tured Ron Saun-ders’ photography, Andrena Joyce’s whimsical “Day of the Dead” pieces,

Robin Waters’ digital art and portraiture, Wendy O’Neill’s beautiful mosaic and glass creations, Jim Mann’s watercolors of local flora and fauna, Paul Preppernaus’s DeCoursey wood sculptures and

Mac Davis’ turned wood bowls and keepsake box-es. The guest artist was Laurie Braal who show-cased her unique decorative crosses.

In November they had a group display at the Mexico Living Home Show, and are planning a De-cember exhibit at the Baja Mar Restaurant banquet room (date to be determined), on the Malecon in San Felipe.

Look for their monthly show posters, to enjoy the arts and be part of the growing art community of San Felipe Baja.

For more information call Robin Waters at (686) 115-0526 or email [email protected].

The Art of Cooperation in San Felipeby Robin Waters

When you’re purchasing all your special Christ-mas presents this year, be sure to include tickets to this event and enjoy a highly anticipated benefit to help the women of San Felipe! They will be putting on the Ritz, so dress up and join the festivities.

Browse the works of over 30 of Baja’s most outstanding artists. Listen to the fabulous “Opera

de Mexico,” a Tango Group from Rosarito, which includes learning basic dance steps after the show. This event will also feature a classical piano and violin performance, wine tasting, great food, as well as drawings, raffles, door prizes, silent auction and a free door prize for Food Bank donations.

When: December 4, noon until it ends

Where: El Dorado Ranch Pavilion

Tickets: $30 or $35 at the door

Information: 576-0089, (686) 169-5267 or (760) 554-4994.

Desert Mothers Presents “Classical Art Meets Classical Music”

by Donna Roberts

There is a new art group in San Felipe that was formed in the late summer; calling themselves ART EXPO, An Artists Co-op. They plan on having a monthly art show, October through March, high-


ENSENADADec. 11–13: race ready 250 Ensenada-

San Felipe. Off-Road Race, Ramón Castro Rangel, (646) 176-1637

Dec. 16: 12th Annual Mexican Posada At Ensenada’s Centro Artesanal, (646) 171-6127

Dec. 26–Mar. 2010: guided Whale Watching Tours

SAN FELIPE Dec. 4–6: “race ready 275” Mexicali-

San Felipe CodeDec. 5th: Art Expo December Show.

BajaMar Restaurant (upstairs banquet room), on the Malecon. Noon to 5 p.m. Find that Xmas gift for some one special. For information call 686-577-0773

Dec 6-8: Desert Mothers Playshop 5. By Alfonso Arambula. Play starts around 9 a.m. more infr (760) 554-4994

Dec. 11–13: Ensenada record to San Felipe race ready

Dec. 12: Pai Pai Art Show featuring Pai Pai artisan Daria Mariscal, starting at 10 a.m. in Baja Nueva in La Plazita. More info (686) 211-4676 or [email protected]

TBA: Parade of Lights/Desfile de Lucesjan. 17: Cowboy Ho-Down at the Casa

de Fe Orphanage construction site. 4–7 p.m. Contact Jeri (686) 120-2369

jan. 25: Disco Decadence Presented by zAPP. Miss Tootie and the Divas from San Diego’s LIPS. Contact Steven Forman, [email protected]

LOrETODec. 5: San Fransisco javier Fair and

Festival

LA PAzDec.–Mar. 2010: Whale Watching

Season. Different tours are available at La Paz Bay.

LOS CABO Dec. 4–9: People versus Pros at Los

Cabos. A tournament features amateur golfers. www.peoplevsthepros.com

Dec. TBA: Festival of rhythm, Color & Flavor. Showcasing Cabo San Lucas’ innovative cuisine.

Every Thursday Night: San josé del Cabo Art Walk along Obregon Street behind the church, sipping wine and viewing fine art. 5–9 p.m.

jan. 10–15: Puerto Los Cabos World Pro-Am. www.golftournamenttours.com

TODOS SANTOSjan. 30–Feb. 6, 2010: Annual ArT

FESTIVAL

Send your calendar event to [email protected]

{{CALENDAR}

The Mexico Living Home Show for 2009 was situated at an especially scenic location this year --the Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch’s Las Caras de Mexico golf course.

The guest speakers, who talked about the logistics of retiring to Mexico, buying property, building a home, starting a business, importing your possessions, remodeling, investing, leasing land, healthcare and other subjects crucial to be-ginning a new life south of the border, seemed to be well appreciated.

Exhibitors ranged from interior finishing op-tions, cabinetry, ornamental iron works, solar battery solutions, a wireless water pump control, custom window shades, art works, pottery and ceramic creations, earth-friendly solar ovens, wireless security systems, even a selection of chocolates for your home’s sweet tooth. Con-struction companies and real estate develop-ments were also well represented.

Ed Meders was there selling the NEW Baja Al-manac (yes, it’s finally out), along with Graham MacKintosh and Greg Niemann, both with copies of the numerous Baja books.

Food and beverage venues were on hand for the mid-day and late afternoon hunger pangs.

The turnout wasn’t overwhelming but there was a steady trickle of more than 500 people showing interest in the various kiosks and tents. By late afternoon fatigue got the better of some of the exhibitors and they called it a day.

The local ultra-light pilot made the Home Show part of his tour and flew overhead several times with his passengers.

On the whole, the show appeared to be a suc-cess. It fell on a day when there were several other events happening, including Baja Java’s Wine Tasting and Opera, and the Turkey Trot Pok-er Walk. Later in the early evening, there was a Rodeo at the baseball diamond in town. Possibly the Home Show would have had a larger audi-ence if the locals didn’t have to choose between so many events.

More information on the Mexico Living Home Show is available at www.mexicolivinghome-show.com. The Blue Roadrunner photos of the Home Show are available at http://blueroadrun-ner.com/homeshow09.htm.

Mexico Living Home Show at La Ventana del Mar is a success, despite the competition

by Randy Kerr, Blueroadrunner.com

People relaxing in the Pavilion during the Home Show.


Centavo’s Two CentsAnother C hristmas in Baja . . . “Can You Hand Me the Suntan Lotion?”

by Penny Nask

Centavo aka Pamela Esther Nask (“Penny”)

Co-owner of Simpatico Arts, she is a writer and an art historian, whose luck in these fields has given her an early

retirement. She attributes “laughter” as the best possible stimulus for life. [email protected]

Ode to No Lutfisk for Christmas

by La Huerita

When I was a kid my little Swedish granny lived with us. That was great, until the Holidays rolled around and we were subjected to the annual ritual of consuming a vile Scandinavian food called Lut-fisk. It was a special thing for granny, but for us? Not so much.

For those lucky enough not to know, lutfisk is cod (or other whitefish) that has been preserved in a lye concoction until it is caustic. To make it edible, it must be soaked in fresh water for five or six days, changing the water daily; at the end of the soaking period it is translucent with an unap-pealing gelatinous texture. Mom would then par-boil it briefly, taking care that the pieces didn’t fall apart, and serve it up with peas and new potatoes in a white sauce that included some of the pun-gent water in which the fish had been cooked. Oh yum.

It was nasty stuff, and it smelled foul, too. The kitchen smelled like rotten cod for days right around Christmas time. Even the dog made her-self absent from her customary spot under the kitchen table on lutfisk day. It’s so potent that if you don’t clean all of its residue from plates, pans and utensils immediately, you’ll NEVER get it off. And it will permanently ruin sterling silver. Mom claimed to love it, but we all took quiet notice that after Granny passed away lutfisk never darkened our dinner table again.

With that memory haunting me, it is with great pleasure that I embrace the holiday culinary tradi-tions of Mexico, not one of which smells or tastes bad!

Christmas is wonderful in Mexico, and the celebrations last a full three weeks, ending with Three Kings Day on January 6, so you can really get into the swing of things. And accompanying every celebration is an abundance of succulent

foods that makes me drool like Pavlov’s dogs just thinking about it.

Instead of a traditional north-of-the-border Christmas dinner this year, why not give some of Mexico’s traditions a try, whether you’re here or stuck in “the old country”? Here are some ideas for you (you can find the recipes on the Internet):

TO DrINK: Chimayo Cocktails (an authentic but not well-

known apple cider with tequila) Atole Champurrado (made of chocolate, cinnamon

and corn flour) Ponche Navideño

TO EAT: Chiles en Nogada Tamales: Chicken, pork, beef, vegetarian,

choose your fillings Romeritos with Mole (potatoes, shrimp and

peppers in mole sauce) Posole (delicious soup perfect for those

suffering from hangovers)

DESSErTS: Mexican Christmas Cookies Rosca de Reyes (a wreath-shaped sweet

bread) Buñuelos de Navidad (Christmas sweet

fritters)

You can’t go wrong with any of those delicious dishes. Make a party out of it by inviting your friends over for Christmas Eve, and have each one bring a Mexican dish. It’s lots of fun, lots of good eating, lots of laughter.

And the very best part? NO LUTFISK!

{PEOPLE & VOICES}}

Chile en Nogada.

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As Wyoming welcomes its first snowstorm of the season, I am sequestered in my living room wondering what I did with my flip flops. They have become invaluable to me, even if I have to hunt them down every day. A quick slip on my feet and I can water the yard, do my laundry, take a trip to my mailbox, store, bar stool or swimming pool. I can wander down the beach, sail my kites and live my dream. Flip flops are the greatest invention ever!

Now that autumn is here there is a chill in the air, a welcomed occurrence after a long hot summer. It is time for me to get out the jackets, sweaters, socks, sweat pants, warm hats and boots that I also love. They will find an easy comfort on my body after a preposterous sojourn in my closet all summer.

My neighbors will be arriving back here, expecting my Christmas tree to be up and running like a store window display. Hundreds of collected ornaments tell the tale of my life, our vacations, our interests, our professions and my childhood. Every year I am reminded of how lucky we have been to have family, good friends and celebrated memories.

So . . . on go my flip flops to wander into that no-man’s land called a “garage” to locate the box that miraculously contains the nine-foot tree that I had to buy . . . What? Well, it already had lights strung on it, and it fulfilled my dream. My partner chuckles. She does not value my traditions and would prefer that the decorations stay in their ancient boxes. Christmas, she says, has been over for her for years.

But I know I can count on her to decorate the tree if I spend the good part

of an hour bending the branches around by myself. After a crushing year in surrounded cardboard this will take time. We discuss how real and beautiful it looks when I finish. We put on the Christmas music, I fret about plugging the tree in to see if all the lights will work and, of course, I say, “Aren’t you glad that we got one with the lights already attached?” I will say this every year forward. She agrees penitently, because nothing will ease the torture of the task ahead and she knows this. But she agrees. The lights were the actual dilemma. The ornaments? . . . a piece of cake.

There really is something wonderful about the memories of a given ornament. They are treasures of a fortunate life; always a story or event behind each one.

I will light my fireplace, welcome family, neighbors and friends to spend a Christmas moment at my house. It will be much like last year . . . a Holiday in Baja where I can see the ocean. If we are lucky, there will be snow on the mountain. Stop by. I’ll be wearing mistletoe and flip flops.

Happiest of Holidays to all!


john & rachel Pack

After marrying John & Rachel traveled the United States full time producing live events, until moving to San Felipe Baja to slow

down. That only lasted a couple of months. Since then they’ve dedicated themselves to sharing life in Mexico with the world. They have fallen in love with so many of you that they want you to join them as they explore the wonders of Mexico living.

If you Love Shrimp, Like I Love Shrimp . . . by John Pack

JOURNAL DATA

I love shrimp. I think the best tasting shrimp in the world comes from the northern Sea of Cortez. I’ve had shrimp from other parts of the world. I ate more than my share when Rachel and I lived along the gulf in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Bubba said it best, “Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That . . . that’s about it.”

Bubba forgot about the San Felipe bacon-wrapped blue shrimp, the single most common recipe of the annual San Felipe Shrimp Festival, now on it’s 17th year. The smell of bacon is carried on the sea breezes as you walk the Malecon past the many vendors of this shrimp delicacy, so prevalent you’d think they were caught that way.

If you love shrimp, like I love shrimp, you’d travel 800 miles for a couple days of these tasty blues, and many do. The event has become an annual Baja pilgrimage for many, including Rachel and myself. Shrimp season is a great time of the year on the northern sea: great weather; returning friends; and wonderful, wonderful shrimp.

Every time I think of shrimp, I think of a trip Rachel and I, and our friends, Gene and Darcy Jensen took. We spent a week at Alfonsina’s on Bahía San Luis Gonzaga, or Gonzaga Bay as it’s commonly referred. A wonderful little hotel and restaurant on the shores of the bay and longtime stopover for off-road racers and adventurers.

On the beach Rachel and I found an old, molded kayak, it was tandem with an open deck, sort of resembled a canoe, something you might use on the lake. It belonged to the hotel and they said we could use it, so we decided to explore the barren rocky cliffs and the cactus that cling to them. We had paddled nearly to the bay opening, examining the rough terrain and the sea life that moved in and around the rocks below us in the crystal blue waters, when we noticed three shrimp boats making their way into the bay. By the time we paddled our way into the center of the bay to investigate the boats; they had already anchored and gone ashore.

When we got to the shore, Gene had mentioned the fishermen were making their rounds selling shrimp—hallelujah! I immediately scanned the beach up and down like a junkie looking for his dealer; I almost felt ashamed, but that quickly passed when I noticed the soldiers and their machine guns just a couple yards away. Apparently, while my mind wondered about shrimp a federal boat had landed with about a dozen armed soldiers, they too were looking for the fishermen.

The fishermen returned shortly thereafter, they were empty handed. The soldiers on the beach

were there only to watch the boat, and while they and I waited, their comrades had found the fishermen and purchased the last of their load.

I was disappointed as I watched them walk by with empty boxes. I asked one of them, “¿Tiene más de camarón?”—Do you have anymore shrimp?—and he replied in English, “No, but we will trade for some chocolate.” They then continued to the shore and their waiting dingy.

“Did you hear that?” I asked Gene, more as a statement, than a question. “Let’s go get some chocolate!” We both leapt to our feet and headed to Gene’s truck and the area’s only store, where we stocked up on Hershey bars and anything else we could find dipped in chocolate. Of course, it hadn’t dawned on us how we were going to make the trade. Were they going to wait for our signal and bring their dingy ashore, or did we have to go to the boat?

When we got back with candy in hand, one of the boats was already leaving the bay and there was no way we would be able to signal them from their distance; swimming was out of the question; we had no way to keep the chocolate dry (as if that was really an option); we were left with only the molded plastic kayak.

This kayak was not meant for the sea, and although this was the bay, the swells were building and white caps could be seen near the bay mouth. The kayak was still sitting on the sand where Rachel and I had left it.

“Come on Gene, let’s take the kayak!” Gene looked at Darcy, as if waiting for her to give him an excuse why he shouldn’t go, but none come. Gene climbed in up front and I pushed him out into the water and climbed in back.

“How much do you weigh?” Gene asked me over his shoulder. I knew he was looking at the weight capacity label attached on the molded plastic in front of him. “Don’t worry about that,” I replied, “we were over the limit before you got in.”

As we slowly paddled our way to the nearest fishing boat, the swells were rolling into the boat. Our combined weight had the deck of the kayak about even with the waterline, so every swell would put a little more water into the kayak. When we got

to the boat, I was surprised to see it was in worse condition than it appeared from shore—surprised because from shore it looked like it had seen better days—but along side it, I wondered how it floated. The hull was nearly all rust; in places I could see where the rust had eaten all the way through. Fortunately for them it was above the waterline.

I grabbed a rope hanging over the side and hung on as the swells rose us up and dropped us down. The same fisherman we spoke to on the beach leaned over the railing and grabbed the candy. The whole time I’m trying to keep from rubbing against the boat in fear of getting scratched or cut by one of the many sharp, rusty edges. The candy cost us about $10, but we had no idea how much that would get us in shrimp. “Hell, he could bring back two,” I thought to myself. “What would I be able to do about it?” Moments later the fisherman was back, and when he reached over the rail this time, he had close to three kilos of beautiful, frozen Gulf of California blue shrimp. We said thank you and slowly and carefully turned our nose back towards shore.

By the time we made it back to shore, the kayak was half filled with water and both Gene and I were exhausted from protecting our bounty, while fighting the growing swells. But, if you love shrimp, like we love shrimp, it’s all worth it. We made it to shore and that night we had a shrimp festival of our own on the shore of Bahía San Luis Gonzaga.

{{PEOPLE & VOICES}

gULF OF CALIFOrNIA SHrIMPThe shrimp fishery is one of the most important fisheries in the Gulf of California. Blue shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris (Stimpson, 1874) is the target species in the catch, in bays and coastal lagoons and represents about 30 percent of offshore fishing along the coast of Baja and Sonora.

Strengths: Fishing authorities recognize the need for changes in the management of the fishery in order to optimize the economic benefits, reduce the environmental impacts and mitigate the social conflicts. Shrimp stocks have high growth capacity and high resilience to intense exploitation.

Weaknesses: The fishery is overcapitalized. Expansion of fishing capacity beyond the growth rates of the shrimp species favors over exploitation. At present most of the shrimp stocks are believed to be fished too hard to obtain stock levels. It is a sequential fishery (juveniles are captured in coastal lagoons and shallow waters; and adults are captured offshore) with participation of two sectors with different levels of organization, different needs and problems. Currently it is not possible to control overcapacity and overexploitation, at least in part due to competition among the participating sectors. There is a continuous illegal and furtive fishing effort. Enforcement resources are insufficient. There is a lack of fishing effort control, particularly for small-scale vessels. By catch rates and amounts are large; and physical damages to the sea bed may be occurring.

Options: Reduce the industrial fishing effort by 40 percent to 50 percent. Incentivize the use of fishing gear improvements to reduce environmental damages. Restrict areas that are sensitive to bottom trawling.

BAHIA SAN LUIS gONzAgA (gonzaga Bay)Bahía San Luis Gonzaga is two separate bays. They provide excellent places to drop anchor, and have two air strips. By road it is a slow, rocky, unpaved along the coast 100 miles south of San Felipe; the last 45 miles between Puertecitos and Gonzaga are known to be some of the toughest roads in Baja. The drive from San Felipe to Gonzaga Bay generally takes about five hours.

ALFONSINA’S rESOrTLocated at Gonzaga Bay, Sea of Cortez, in Baja California, Mexico, Alfonsina’s Resort offers you single, double and triple bedrooms, with bathroom and hot showers in the room. Alfonsina’s Resort is a great place to enjoy nature, go fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, or just kick back and relax. You can drive there, or simply land your plane and start enjoying the adventure; great food, drinks and friendly people.

Resources: FishSource™ with status and environmental performance of fisheries worldwide, Wikipedia, BajaExpo.com and Alfonsina’s Resort.


Kona Blue Expands Open OceanKona Blue Water Farms announced that it has

secured funding and is proceeding with developing

a second mariculture farm in Mexico’s Sea of

Cortez to expand the company’s production of

Kona Kampachi®, a premium tropical yellowtail.

The company is planning to deploy the first net

pens later this year at the new site in the Bay of

La Paz, five miles off the coast of the Baja Cali-

fornia peninsula. The pens will be stocked with

fingerlings before the end of December 2009.

The yacht The Bottom Line is resting on the

bottom of the Sea of Cortez. Minutes after the

shotgun flare starting the 29th Annual Bisbee’s

Black & Blue Marlin Tournament doused in the

ocean, one of the participating sportfishing

boats, already miles away, caught fire and sank.

All seven crew members aboard were rescued

by Sneak Attack, another tournament contestant.

Mexican rescue boats and tournament officials

were also quickly on the scene.

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{FISHING}}

Fiery Start to Bisbee’s Black & Blue

by Dave Lear

DICIEMBRE 2009 CICESEOceanografía Física

Bahía de los Angeles, B.C.(28 57 N, 113 33 W)

Hora del Meridiano:

Nivel de Referencia:

1er Cuarto: 24Luna LLena: 1 , 313er Cuarto: 8Luna Nueva: 16

013 236

620 47

1128 164

1753 -66

054 248

704 45

1208 163

1834 -72

137 251

751 47

1251 159

1919 -68

224 245

840 50

1337 151

2006 -53

312 232

934 52

1431 140

2058 -31

405 216

1035 51

1537 128

2157 -3

501 198

1143 44

1704 120

2308 26

601 181

1252 33

1856 125

037 50

707 166

1356 18

2040 144

214 63

814 155

1453 2

2154 169

341 65

914 147

1543 -12

2249 192

451 62

1004 142

1628 -23

2335 208

544 59

1046 138

1708 -30

014 218

627 57

1121 137

1743 -35

047 221

701 57

1151 138

1815 -37

117 221

730 57

1219 139

1845 -38

145 219

757 56

1247 140

1914 -35

212 215

826 56

1318 139

1943 -29

241 208

857 55

1352 135

2015 -16

311 198

933 56

1429 127

2047 1

343 184

1013 57

1511 117

2121 23

415 168

1101 57

1603 107

2159 46

448 153

1156 54

1724 100

2254 69

525 139

1253 46

1939 106

030 87

618 129

1347 32

2117 128

224 91

729 124

1437 12

2206 155

34885

840 126

1525 -12

2247 184

447 72

937 132

1612 -38

2327 212

536 59

1028 141

1659 -62

009 235

621 45

1119 149

1747 -79

051 250

704 34

1207 157

1833 -88

120 W.G.

BMI

http://oceanografia.cicese.mx/predmar MAR V0.7 2006 J.I. González

1Dom Lun Mar Mie Jue Vie Sab0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18





6

Dom Lun Mar Mie Jue Vie Sab0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18 0 6 18

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Ensenada, B.C.(31 51 N, 116 37 W)

Hora del Meridiano:



046 59

713 198

1432 -32

2057 109

124 61

752 204

1514 -38

2143 109

207 63

834 205

1600 -39

2235 109

256 66

922 198

1648 -34

2330 110

354 69

1014 186

1739 -25

028 115

502 72

1111 167

1832 -13

128 122

627 74

1217 145

1927 1

226 132

809 67

1338 123

2022 16

320 144

947 52

1513 108

2118 30

409 155

1104 32

1646 101

2211 43

454 165

1204 12

1804 102

2300 53

536 174

1252 -5

1906 104

2346 60

615 180

1334 -16

1957 107

027 65

652 184

1412 -23

2038 108

104 67

727 186

1448 -26

2116 108

139 68

801 185

1522 -25

2153 107

213 69

833 182

1556 -21

2229 106

246 70

905 175

1628 -14

2304 104

321 72

936 165

1700 -6

2341 105

359 75

1008 152

1732 4

021 106

448 78

1043 137

1805 15

105 110

551 81

1124 120

1841 25

151 116

724 79

1224 102

1921 36

239 124

921 69

1403 87

2008 46

325 134

1046 50

1606 81

2101 55

408 147

1141 29

1738 84

2156 61

450 160

1225 7

1842 90

2250 65

532 175

1305 -13

1931 96

2340 65

615 189

1344 -30

2012 103

029 63

659 201

1424 -43

2053 108

119 58

745 209

1505 -50

2133 114

120 W.G.

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150

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NMM

PMS

0

75

150

0

82

145

cms

23 31

9 37

16 14

4 0 3

11 13


San Felipe, B.C.(31 01 N, 114 49 W)

Hora del Meridiano:



022 467

638 23

1210 385

1817 -74

058 487

715 15

1247 392

1855 -85

137 495

754 14

1328 389

1939 -86

222 489

840 21

1414 374

2030 -75

312 470

931 32

1507 350

2125 -50

407 439

1029 45

1613 324

2226 -12

508 403

1135 55

1734 305

2342 32

615 368

1255 54

1905 306

119 66

728 341

1419 40

2031 326

246 79

839 327

1524 18

2147 358

356 78

940 323

1617 -2

2247 391

455 71

1032 326

1658 -16

2334 420

543 61

1116 332

1734 -27

013 443

623 50

1155 339

1806 -34

048 456

657 41

1229 344

1835 -39

120 460

727 36

1301 346

1903 -41

150 454

756 36

1331 341

1931 -38

219 439

823 40

1359 330

1959 -29

247 416

851 47

1426 314

2027 -12

314 390

921 57

1454 294

2056 12

339 362

953 69

1526 271

2126 42

406 334

1030 81

1614 248

2202 80

441 305

1116 93

1738 231

2252 123

537 275

1220 100

1923 236

041 161

716 256

1411 91

2059 268

319 156

842 259

1529 60

2208 316

426 128

945 278

1617 23

2256 366

515 96

1035 306

1655 -14

2336 414

555 62

1120 338

1734 -50

014 458

634 30

1203 369

1814 -82

053 493

714 1

1247 396

1859-106

120 W.G.

BMI







6


7


0

200

400

BMI

NMM

PMS

8 9 10 11 12

13 14

0

200

400

BMI

NMM

PMS

15 16 17 18 19

20 21

0

200

400

BMI

NMM

PMS

22 23 24 25 26

27 28

0

200

400

BMI

NMM

PMS

29 30 31

0

200

400

BMI

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0

200

400

0

204

408

cms

23 31

9 37

16 14

4 0 3

11 13


Mariculture into the Sea of Cortez{{FISHING}

A land-based hatchery is also planned for con-

struction. This expansion to a site within easy

trucking distance of the U.S. mainland is a key

element in the company’s plans to increase pro-

duction volumes, reduce delivery costs for the

fresh product and reduce the overall carbon foot-

print of the company by minimizing the airfreight

requirements.

Kona Blue’s mariculture operation in Hawaii

is also currently undergoing a reconfiguration of

offshore pens, which will replace the submersible

Sea Stations™ with more robust surface pens.

The new pens will take advantage of the latest

Norwegian surface cage technology, and will also

utilize ultra-sturdy, innovative Kikkonet material.

This new net pen configuration will remain on the

company’s current site, and is expected to result

in considerable operational improvements and an

increase in the farm’s sustainability quotient.

“We’re very pleased that our expansion

plans are progressing,” said Neil Anthony

Sims, President and CEO of Kona Blue. “These

improvements in Kona and expansion into Baja

California are significant steps in furthering our

mission of ‘expanding the environmentally sound

production of the ocean’s finest fish.’” Sims

stated that the company will hold to the same

rigorous standards of sustainability of feeds,

operating procedures and product quality at the

new location in La Paz.

Because of the reconfiguration of the Hawaii

site, there will be a short-term gap of market

availability of Kona Kampachi over the next six

months, beginning the end of November 2009.

The popular sashimi-grade fish will be back on

the market in May 2010.

Kona Blue currently operates an array of

submersible net pens in waters over 200 feet

deep, with strong currents over a sand bottom, a

half-mile offshore from the Kona coast. The site

was carefully selected to minimize potential for

environmental impacts, and to avoid conflicts with

existing uses or cultural concerns. The company

undertook three years of extensive community

consultations and outreach before the lease was

granted in 2004. The farm has been in operation

since 2005, and produced around 500 tons of

Kona Kampachi in 2008.

Fiery Start to Bisbee’s Black & Blue

by Dave Lear

“It was miraculous no

one was seriously injured,”

said tournament director

Wayne Bisbee, as he and

the rescued anglers watched

the burning vessel slowly dip

below the surface aboard the

tournament committee boat,

Team Baja Cantina. “It was

a tragic and a very humbling

experience.”

A total of 94 boats

competed in the world’s

richest sportfishing event.

Anglers vyed for nearly

$2 million in prize money.

The Bottom Line, a 50-

foot Hatteras convertible

homeported in Cabo was

coming off a 2nd Place win

in the Bisbee’s Los Cabos

Offshore Tournament.


Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S.(22 53 N, 109 55 W)

Hora del Meridiano:



047 42

704 155

1413 -26

2034 95

120 43

739 160

1451 -30

2115 93

156 44

818 160

1531 -28

2200 90

236 46

859 154

1614 -21

2248 88

323 50

945 143

1702 -11

2344 87

420 55

1035 127

1754 2

052 89

535 60

1134 108

1851 15

201 94

729 60

1257 90

1955 28

303 103

933 49

1501 78

2101 38

356 112

1057 33

1653 78

2205 45

443 121

1154 17

1807 81

2259 50

525 130

1238 4

1901 86

2346 51

605 137

1316 -7

1942 89

025 51

642 144

1350 -14

2016 92

100 49

717 147

1422 -18

2048 93

134 48

750 149

1453 -19

2118 93

205 48

821 147

1523 -17

2146 92

234 48

849 143

1551 -12

2215 91

303 49

917 135

1619 -5

2244 89

333 51

944 126

1646 3

2315 88

406 54

1010 114

1713 13

2352 88

449 58

1039 100

1741 24

040 88

552 62

1115 84

1814 34

144 91

819 61

1232 67

1901 44

253 97

1052 47

1616 61

2019 52

353 106

1145 28

1756 68

2154 56

444 117

1223 9

1847 75

2300 56

528 129

1258 -9

1927 82

2350 53

610 142

1333 -24

2003 88

034 47

653 152

1409 -36

2037 92

118 41

735 159

1445 -41

2112 95

105 W.G.

BMI







6


7


0

60

120

BMI

NMM

PMS

8 9 10 11 12

13 14

0

60

120

BMI

NMM

PMS

15 16 17 18 19

20 21

0

60

120

BMI

NMM

PMS

22 23 24 25 26

27 28

0

60

120

BMI

NMM

PMS

29 30 31

0

60

120

BMI

NMM

PMS

0

60

120

0

61

122

cms

0 31

10 37

17 14

5 0 3

12 13


La Paz, B.C.S.(24 10 N, 110 21 W)

Hora del Meridiano:



125 51

724 137

1519 -23

2200 74

156 53

757 141

1600 -26

2245 71

227 54

833 141

1641 -24

2333 68

300 55

911 135

1724 -19

022 67

345 57

951 124

1807 -11

115 68

442 60

1034 109

1852 -0

214 72

608 62

1123 90

1938 12

312 78

810 59

1231 70

2029 25

400 85

1052 45

1610 55

2124 37

441 93

1213 26

1834 58

2224 47

517 101

1305 9

1951 63

2321 53

551 108

1346 -4

2040 68

009 56

622 113

1424 -13

2114 70

049 56

653 118

1457 -17

2142 70

122 53

722 120

1527 -19

2208 69

153 51

752 121

1555 -19

2234 67

221 49

820 120

1621 -17

2300 65

249 48

848 117

1645 -13

2326 63

316 48

914 111

1707 -8

2351 63

343 49

940 102

1728 -1

016 63

418 51

1005 92

1748 6

045 65

511 53

1029 79

1808 14

125 69

634 54

1053 66

1830 24

219 74

855 50

1052 51

1856 33

318 81

1223 34

1838 43

1930 43

409 90

1247 17

1956 53

2208 51

455 101

1322 -0

2031 61

2325 55

539 112

1400 -16

2104 66

022 55

624 123

1440 -28

2136 69

108 53

709 131

1519 -36

2208 70

153 49

754 136

1557 -38

2238 71

105 W.G.

BMI







6


7


0

50

100

BMI

NMM

PMS

8 9 10 11 12

13 14

0

50

100

BMI

NMM

PMS

15 16 17 18 19

20 21

0

50

100

BMI

NMM

PMS

22 23 24 25 26

27 28

0

50

100

BMI

NMM

PMS

29 30 31

0

50

100

BMI

NMM

PMS

0

50

100

0

54

107

cms

0 31

10 37

17 14

5 0 3

12 13


Loreto, B.C.S.(26 01 N, 111 22 W)

Hora del Meridiano:



038 56

654 103

1505 -32

2313 61

057 60

723 107

1544 -34

753 108

1627 -32

825 105

1711 -25

858 97

1800 -14

928 86

1847 -3

953 71

1931 10

428 64

2015 22

437 68

1424 32

1800 37

2053 34

453 73

1321 19

2001 45

2136 44

513 79

1316 4

2108 52

2226 52

534 86

1338 -8

2201 58

2319 57

600 91

1406 -16

2238 61

2355 60

629 96

1436 -22

2315 61

022 61

659 99

1506 -24

729 101

1536 -24

758 100

1606 -21

825 98

1635 -16

851 93

1702 -10

915 85

1728 -2

933 76

1749 6

947 65

1804 14

655 54

1758 22

256 57

1556 26

317 63

1400 19

351 70

1321 5

430 78

1329 -10

512 86

1355 -25

2232 58

2319 58

556 94

1427 -36

2241 60

019 59

642 101

1502 -43

2310 60

103 58

726 104

1539 -44

2341 59

105 W.G.

BMI







6


7


0

40

80

BMI

NMM

PMS

8 9 10 11 12

13 14

0

40

80

BMI

NMM

PMS

15 16 17 18 19

20 21

0

40

80

BMI

NMM

PMS

22 23 24 25 26

27 28

0

40

80

BMI

NMM

PMS

29 30 31

0

40

80

BMI

NMM

PMS

0

40

80

0

44

88

cms

0 31

10 37

17 14

5 0 3

12 13


Snorkeling Baja & Sonora by Andrea Morton, for Baja Bound

What better way could there be to escape from the pressures of daily life than to jump into azure waters and enter another world entirely? Snorkeling in Baja California and Sonora offers travelers the chance to shed their land-legs and resist the pull of gravity while experiencing the exotic colors of living coral reefs and 600 dazzling species of marine life for a fraction of the price of a standard scuba diving tour. Best of all, snorkeling requires no special training or expensive equipment. If you can swim and breathe through a tube, you’re all set to begin your first undersea adventure!

Many of the outstanding scuba diving locations that Baja California and Sonora are famous for also make wonderful places to snorkel. From thriving kelp forests and cool water marine life in the protected Pacific-side waters south of Ensenada (from Punta Banda peninsula to La Bufadora) to exotic tropical creatures frolicking in the warm water of world famous Cabo Pulmo Marine Park (Sea of Cortez) there will always be something new and exciting for even the most experienced of snorkelers to enjoy. Beginners may choose to stay close to shore and explore rocky tidepools and craggy islands, while some advanced snorkelers can even try amateur free-diving!

A wide variety of snorkeling options in Baja California and Sonora will fit the needs of all underwater enthusiasts. Many excellent companies (listed below) offer snorkeling packages or tours, some of which also include sea-kayaking and/or scuba diving. Other travelers may prefer to chart their own course through the Baja waters, either alone or with their family and friends.

Whether you choose to take the plunge on your own or as part of a guided tour, we highly recommend that you grab a snorkeling buddy and a good pair of swim fins and dive into one of the following underwater playgrounds on Pacific Baja and the Sea of Cortez! You won’t regret it.

recommended Snorkeling Spots: La Bufadora, Baja California: Not only does

this small town south of Ensenada boast excellent boat diving in the Pacific Ocean, it also makes a fantastic spot for snorkeling in the right weather conditions. Snorkeling adventurers will be amazed by underwater kelp forests, vivid orange garibaldi, schools of sardines, sheepshead, starfish, sea urchins and excellent visibility to the ocean floor ranging from 25 to 50 feet below. Water temperature is similar to that of San Diego (mid-fifties to low-seventies) and weather is generally mild. Coastal camping is available.

San Felipe, Baja California: Dolphin lovers will be thrilled by the opportunity to snorkel in and

around the waters of San Felipe, especially near the rocky islet of Rocas Consag where bottlenose dolphins feed and leap by the hundreds. However, conservationist adventurers may be equally impressed by sightings of two increasingly rare endangered species: the totoaba and vaquita. Vaquita, a species of porpoise first identified in 1958, are now found nowhere on Earth except in the waters off of San Felipe. In fact, scientists estimate that only about 400 of these beautiful creatures remain due to their tendency to become “by-catch” in mesh gill nets used by fishermen and shrimpers throughout the northern Gulf of California. Totoaba are 300-pound corvina fish that spawn in the upper gulf’s shallow, sediment-laden waters, and like the vaquita live only off the shore of San Felipe. Unfortunately, although formally protected by the Mexican government, they too get caught in nets before they have a chance to reproduce. With the population of each species dwindling rapidly, encountering a totuaba and vaquita may prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

San Felipe snorkelers will also take pleasure in viewing yellowtail, cabrilla, white seabass, snapper, squid and countless other species endemic to the region. In summer months, snorkelers may be treated to unique views of other migratory surface species exploring the northerly limits of their ranges—including dorado, roosterfish, sailfish and even marlin.

Puertecitos, Baja California: A small arid desert enclave on the bay, the best beaches in Puertecitos are those just to the north and south of town. Although there are two camping locations in Puertecitos, snorkeling enthusiasts may wish to enjoy Puertecitos as a day trip and camp in the slightly more organized and better equipped San Felipe or Gonzaga Bay locations

nearby. Novice snorkelers may enjoy poking around the rocks at the south and east ends of the harbor, especially during high tide. Experienced snorkelers sometimes hire local boat owners to take them out into the Sea of Cortez for a morning or afternoon, perhaps to Las Islas de las Encantadas located just south of Puertecitos. You can relax in local hot springs after a refreshing day in the sea. A word of caution: Bring your own snorkeling equipment with you! Due to its remote location and lack of major touring companies, it is better not to depend upon renting your gear in Puertecitos.

Isla Angel de la guardia, Baja California: Although most of the northern Gulf of California is quite shallow (with depths less than 100 feet), it may surprise you to learn that a 4,800-foot deep channel, Canal de Ballenas, divides the Baja California peninsula and Isla Angel de la Guardia. The warm, deep waters of this abyss boast an incredible abundance of marine life that feed off of local phytoplankton blooms otherwise known as “red tides” that occur thanks to upwelling from below. Snorkelers in this channel and off the shore of Isla Angel de la Guardia will love spending time around La Ventana (window rock) where they can interact with Finback whales, California sea lions, Sargassum, and many brightly colored fish and invertebrates. As the largest of the 11 Midriff Islands, Isla Angel de la Guardia is actually a volcanic mountain top rising from the northern Gulf waters, and can only be reached by boat.

Santa rosalia, Baja California Sur: Only 12 miles ashore from wonderful snorkeling in the coves of Isla San Marcos, the bustling town of Santa Rosalia provides a commercial center for inhabitants of all towns in the surrounding area. You will find wonderful bakeries, schools, banks, restaurants, markets, a library, the ferry to

Guaymas on the mainland and a fascinating 19th century metal church designed by Gustav Eiffel. The town itself was once prosperous, established in the late 1800s by a French mining company and originally inhabited originally by Europeans. Santa Rosalia makes a great place for snorkelers to stop for equipment and supplies before hiring a local panga boat to reach rocky Isla San Marcos. One exceptional underwater attraction to watch when snorkeling near the island is the Humboldt squid, named for the Humboldt current off of Peru. This startling creature can grow to be 7-feet long and 100 pounds! The Humboldt squid has begun to replace local game species such as hammerhead shark, tuna and marlin whose numbers are rapidly dwindling due to years of overfishing. Although the squid feed mainly at night, they make an impressive sight under any conditions and may try to touch you with their tentacles! Note: Avoid snorkeling at the beach right in front of Santa Rosalia, as there is very little sea life to view.

Mulegé, Baja California Sur: Mulegé heralds your true entrance into the snorkelers’ paradise for which the Sea of Cortez is famous around the world. Among the stunning reefs you will find throughout the tranquil and warm waters between Mulegé and Loreto you are guaranteed to encounter wonderful species such as vividly colored angelfish and damselfish, starfish and sea urchins, green and brown moray eels, puffer fish, wrasse, dorado, sergeant majors, barracuda and sweet lips; as well as turtles, sea lions, manta rays, octopus, mobula, whales and even (infrequently) yellow bellied sea snakes! Both beginning and experienced snorkelers will delight in the highest levels of pelagic invertebrate diversity in the Gulf of California found from Bahia Concepción to La Paz.

{THINGS TO DO}}


{{THINGS TO DO}

Loreto, Baja California Sur: Loreto National Marine Park is home to over 800 species of fish, as well as invertebrates, Humboldt squid, sea lions, dolphins, sea turtles, whales, hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. There are also wonderful colored sea fans and black coral. Sea temperature ranges from 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and visibility ranges from 30 to 60 feet in colder months and 50 to 120 feet in the warmer season. Popular snorkeling locations include Puerto Don Juan, Isla Del Carmen, Isla Danzante and Nopolo Beach, all of which are nearby and easily accessible by boat. For those who would rather stick closer to town, you can enjoy fun snorkeling just off of the Malecón sea wall in the center of the city.

La Paz, Baja California Sur: It is widely agreed that the most phenomenal underwater habitats of Baja California can be found in the lower Gulf of California, from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas. In this tropical marine environment, coral bottoms are common. Set against the Sierra de La Giganta, lucky snorkelers in the Sea of Cortez will definitely come across moray eels, sea lions, dolphins, manta rays, and a wide variety of tropical fish and other marine species. You may even enjoy sighting hammerheads and whale sharks; blue, gray and orca whales! The further offshore you go, the more likely you are to increase your odds of experiencing a high diversity of habitats and organisms. While the Bay of La Paz does not

offer much, your snorkeling experiences will continuously improve as you go out to the end points of Playas Tecolote and El Coyote, and offshore islands Cerralvo, Espiritu Santo and Los Islotes.

Los Cabos, Baja California Sur: The Cabo San Lucas region offers wonderfully diverse marine life. Cabo Pulmo (only a two-hour drive from Cabo) has the only living coral reef on the Pacific side of North America. Fishing is not allowed in the Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, ensuring that snorkelers will enjoy swimming through 10 miles of pristine waters while viewing the golden, green and rust colored coral outcroppings often described as looking like “huge heads of cauliflower.” Amid large forests of seaweed, you will see and interact with whole schools of tropical fish including puffers, angelfish, spiny blowfish, needlefish, eels, damselfish, parrotfish, fluorescent fish and game fish. In addition, there are many rays, turtles and pristine beach coves to explore. Water temperature in the area (about 70 degrees Fahrenheit) stays fairly constant year-round, and for those who would rather not take a tour or boat, much of this incredible reef is accessible directly from shore.

Puerto Peñasco, Sonora: Puerto Peñasco (aka Rocky Point) is a small fishing port and resort town located 60 miles south of the U.S. border in Arizona. Long known for its abundant fishing, Puerto Peñasco is also gaining international

recognition as a center for marine research. While the large tidal change in the upper Gulf of California (as much as 30 feet) does limit the diversity of marine life found near Puerto Peñasco, there are many intriguing rocky tide pools to explore where you will likely come into contact with several of the 2,500 vertebrate and invertebrate species that populate the upper Gulf. Fortunate snorkelers in this area may also enjoy an increasingly rare opportunity to encounter two highly endangered species: the totoaba and vaquita (described in detail under “San Felipe”). Puerto Peñasco offers wonderful camping areas in addition to coves and islands. It is easy to reach, thanks to a very modern four-lane highway that stretches through the Piñacate Desert into Puerto Peñasco. With good accommodations and plenty of options

for dining out, Puerto Peñasco offers plenty of relaxation and culture to round out any snorkeling adventure!

San Carlos, Sonora: The San Carlos area is uniquely beautiful and offers some wonderful snorkeling and a large variety of fish and other sea life, including conch, moray eels, crabs, croaker, octopus, sea urchins and sting rays. Martini Cove located at Catalina Island immediately southwest of the mouth of San Carlos Marina is a favorite of local snorkelers and dive shops as well as sail boaters and kayakers. Martini Cove is good for beginners and experts and the walls and boulders make for fabulous dives. The best time of the year is between June and September, and even when exposed locations become difficult in weather, Martini Cove will remain calm.

blues & arts


Across1: Italian sports cars6: Ticked off11: Not against14: Professional slang15: Flush or blush16: ‘PUSH FOR ___’17: Idol worshipper?19: Just released20: Lion’s pride21: Fish tank plant life23: Sports injuries, often27: Clement29: Aspiring doc’s course30: Think over31: Coated with hoarfrost32: Hospital sections33: Links tee36: Computer signpost37: Smooths, in a way38: Scottish hillside39: Half a score40: Frenzies41: Savoir-faire42: Unwelcome looks44: Hags45: Bicarb, e.g.47: Bridge support48: Flourless cake49: It’s not good to have in one’s mouth50: Some gametes51: Committee head

58: Chess piece59: Distinctive atmospheres60: Summer ermine61: Go down62: Right-hand page63: Agent’s take, maybe

Down1: Jack Sprat no-no2: Wrath3: Historical period4: Bon or won follower5: Left clueless6: Computer symbols7: Lassoer’s cord8: Mont Blanc, for one9: Water temperature ‘gauge’10: Gofers’ tasks11: Its arch might be plain or tented12: Dolphins’ home13: Keep on dunking18: Wedding entertainment22: A white one is small23: Yardarm24: Number on a tag25: Expostulatory26: Last word in prayer27: Prayer preceder28: Budgets make them meet30: Glass squares32: Carried on

34: Stand for a portrait35: They honk and hiss37: Bombay garment38: Spooks’ sounds40: It may be found in a pit41: Diagnostic school exam43: Feline, to Tweety44: Cut short45: Matter makers46: Super stars47: Human trunk49: That’s an order52: Tint53: Eyebrow shape54: Map abbr.55: George W. Bush, to George H.W. Bush56: Feed seed57: Utmost

FrEE CLASSIFIED ads can now be submitted via email, [email protected].

All ads must be 60 words or less and contain phone number, city and price.

PETS

rottweiler in San Felipe needs a new home. I have a nice Rottweiler that needs a new home. He is not a problem dog. He has a sweet and gentle disposition and loves people. My problem is that I have 5 other dogs. He figures that all of the dog food is his, which does not set well with the other 5 dogs. He really needs to be with a single person or a family that does not have any other dogs. I only want a good home for him. If you take him and he does not work out for you, I will gladly take him back. I’m not trying to unload a problem, I just want what is best for the guy. (686) 151-7631 or email [email protected]

ITEMS FOr SALE

Ponga for Sale in Loreto. 22-foot Panga, with 75 HP Mercury, runs great, 71/2 Mercury kicker, side console, live bait well, self bailing, bilge pump, fish finder (2), VHF radio, built-in gas tank, storage under front deck with cushioned top, easy load galvanized trailer. LOTS OF EXTRA STUFF TOO! A steal at $3,900. 13-30343 in Nopolo, email [email protected]

Colisiones Corona: Genuine and after market auto body parts, Radiators, Hoods, Headlamps, Taillaps, Fenders, Grilles, Bumpers, Signal lamps, Door handles, Mirrors, AC condensers. (Auto Wrecking). 428-C, Blvd. Benito Juarez, Playas de Rosarito B.C., 152*14*19670 (661) 613-1109

rEAL ESTATE

San Felipe: Ejido property. 1 acre outstanding view lot, no util. $35,000. 120’ x 120’ lot with util, may divide $23,000. 60’ x 60’ lot, septic installed, water & elec., fenced $16,000. 2 acre blk of lots, no util. $39,000. Contact [email protected] (686) 210-4598

San Felipe: Pete’s Camp. This Great Home is just 75 yards from the white sandy beach. This beautiful two-bedroon, two-bath home has a two-car garage attached and is appointed with a true Mexican feel. Rooftop patio has panoramic views. The property is on leased land and has renewable 10 year leases. $185,000. [email protected]. http://jimmoore3.point2agent.com. (686) 184-9237

On the golf Course, La Ventana Del Mar, San Felipe. Beautifully appointed, and tastefully furnished two story, #2 plan, condo is located at El Dorado Ranch. Private patio, gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops, G.E. Low Profile Stainless Steel appliances, oven, cook top, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator, stacked washer/dryer. $255,000. [email protected], http://jimmoore3.point2agent.com. (686) 184-9237

La Ventana Del Mar, Sea-View Condo, San Felipe. Two Master Suites, 2 bath, and No stairs to climb! Water-view patio overlooking new proposed event lawn. Granite countertops, breakfast bar, entertainment alcove, electric start fireplace, stacked washer/dryer closet, alarm system, satellite TV, two-car garage, reverse osmosis drinking water system and more! $325,000. [email protected]. http://jimmoore3.point2agent.com (686) 184-9237

Loreto: Property in the central district, $160,000. Near beach/harbor. Residential or Comm.Cleared and filled lot between the Harbor and Mission in the central district. Utilities and mature fruit trees. Full title, 160,000. Liz or Jack, U.S. (805) 748-4568

Classic Spanish Beauty, El Dorado ranch, San Felipe. Beautiful, fully furnished home located in Eldorado “Rancho del Sol 1.” Constructed with the fabulous TRI-D paneling. Laundry room with washer/dryer, carport, porch, landscaped backyard with a Palapa and rooftop deck for mountain, Sea of Cortez and sunset views. Complete furnishings including linens and full outfitted kitchen. $349,000. [email protected], http://jimmoore3.point2agent.com, (686) 184-9237

San Felipe: Largest Condo plan, Professionally Furnished, La Ventana Del Mar. This beautifully appointed 2-story home is steps to the pool and beach. Includes the 18 hole championship golf course. Master bath includes a shower, sunken tub and walk-in closet. Large guest bedroom, gourmet kitchen. Three-car garage. 2,890 sq. ft. More amenities than can be listed. $395,000 [email protected] http://jimmoore3.point2agent.com. (686) 184-9237

San Felipe: 9 Large electric lots in Ejido Plan de Ayala, Reduced to $15,000. These lots are first come first served. 17,000 Sq. Ft., 131’ x 131,’ These oversized lots are in the emerging community next to El Dorado Ranch. Just 1 mile west of highway 5. Many homes surrounding these lots are under construction. Just reduced! These are the cheapest electric lots in the Ejido! Just reduced to $15,000.00 ea. Jim Moore (686) 184-9237, [email protected]

rENTAL PrOPErTY

San Felipe: 3Br/4Br long-term rental WANTED. Looking for a modern, well-built 3 or 4 bedroom home for long-term rental in San Felipe. Principals only please call Bill at (686) 577-6228 (MX) or (408) 868-4992 (U.S.)

La Mision: 2 bed, 2 bath House for rent. Large house with view, carport, fenced yard ,fireplace, utility room, glassed in porch. $600 per month plus utilities. (619) 270-8991 or email [email protected]

San Felipe: 1, 2 and 3 Bedroom Luxury Beach Front Condominiums. Summer Rate starting as low as US$100 per night. Playa del Paraiso, (888) 647-5292 San Ignacio: Ignacio Springs after Hurricane jimena is ready with 5 rooms. Only one month after Jimena’s rain was to the tops of the doors in our office/kitchen, we are open for business thanks to the great support from our good friends, who were customers first, family and our staff. www.ignaciosprings.com, email [email protected] or [email protected]

Loreto: Casitas by week or month. Fully furnished steps from Harbor/Beach. New 1–3 person casitas with full kitchens, AC, pool and BBQ area. www.eltiburoncasitas.com, U.S. (805) 459-3100

Puerto Penasco: Vacation rentals from $106. Las Palomas www.postlets.com/rts/1978829 and Bella Sirena www.postlets.com/rts/1965187 or call (520) 490-3420

VEHICLES FOr SALE San Felipe: 1989 Toyota 4Runner, 4 banger. Needs TLC US$2,400. (686) 171-6885

San Felipe: 2000 Honda 500R - 2 stroke motor. Needs a little work for flawless performance. US$800. (686) 171-6885

San Felipe: 1980 Chinook 19’ Motorhome. Oldie but goodie California Titled. Rugged all fiberglass construction. 360 V8 Dodge chassis. Condition is OK with some TLC. (686) 171-6885

San Felipe: V.W. powered “Sand Rail” for sale! Great toy for the beach or desert! 1835cc VW engine. $3,200 OBO. Jim Moore (686) 184-9237, [email protected]

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS San Felipe: Charity Cookbook - Benefits the food-related charities in San Felipe. I am collecting recipes for appetizers, potluck dishes, main dishes, desserts and drinks. Recipes will go into a delightful cookbook with proceeds going to the San Felipe Food Bank. Send your contributions to [email protected]. Debbi Moore and the Cookbook Crew.

FrEE CLASSIFIED ads can now be submitted via email, [email protected]. All ads must be 60 words or less and contain phone number, city and price.

All ads must be placed online at www.mexicolivingforum.com. All Ads Must be posted by the last Friday of each month. All ads must be specific, no generic ads, All ads

must contain contact info and price. Mexico Living reserves the right to edit all ads for length, or to refuse any ads. We will not print ads submitted with ALL CAPS.

Free classIFIeD aDs


OPeN HOuse us$499,000

www.MeXIcOlIVINGGuIDe.cOM/OPeNHOuse

A Peaceful Paradise in Vista Del Sol, El Dorado Ranch, San Felipe

One can truly appreciate the beauty

and peace of Baja from this gorgeous

property. From the covered front patio

you can almost see forever. The Sea of

Cortez fills the horizon from mountain

range to mountain range. The quiet

desert is all that you hear.

Completed in September 2005, this

2,100 sq. ft. home was designed and

built with comfort and utility in mind.

The outdoor living area is over 9,000 sq. ft. of finished surfaces including pool, spa, shower, full kitch-

en, five different seating areas, fireplace

and lots of privacy.

The two-bedroom, one-bath casita

has private entries for each room and

separate energy system, so they are

only used when occupied.

The list of amenities on this property

is extensive; fully upgraded furniture

and kitchen appliances, 18-inch floor

tile, 12 premium ceiling fans, entertain-

ment center (DVD, HD Dish receivers)

and 109-inch Surround Sound Projec-

tion DLP Home Theatre. Outdoor kitch-

en has a TV, all stainless steel BBQ,

four-burner cooktop and oven, sink,

refrigerator and microwave.

Landscaping has complete automat-

ic drip system, Hague water condition-

ing system with UV filter and reverse

osmosis in kitchen, five-ton and 3-ton

heat and air conditioning, 2–40 gallon

hot water heaters, 37 exterior lights and numerous solar yard lights, and many more than can be

listed here.

This million dollar property is available

for only US$499,000. The home comes

completely and fully TURNKEY to start

living your DREAM! Just show up with

your bags. If you’re interested in tour-

ing the home, please contact Bill Maine

in Mexico at (619) 203-5129; from

the U.S. at (760) 688-6238; or email

[email protected].

San Felipe, Baja CaliforniaCasa de Llantas FOR SALE by Owner. Contact [email protected], (686) 210-4598. Artist designed, custom-built tire home in the Ejido. Two master suites, two baths, spacious open floorplan, tiled, fenced and landscaped, garage. Furnished and ready to move in. Owner will carry with substantial down. You must see this unique home! $149,000

San Felipe, Baja California Great Retirement Home located in the fully Gated Community of El Dorado Ranch.Two bedrooms,two baths, kitchen, dining room, fully furnished, sleeps four, great room with combination fireplace (propane and wood), central HV/AC, blue water view, Palapa and BBQ, 2,500-gallon cistern. Plus,potable water and grey water system, Master Trust Status can be automatically assumed by new owner without fees. Fideicomiso (Bank Trust) available to purchaser at buyer’s expense. Owner Financing (Lease Option) available to qualifing buyer. $185,000. [email protected], http://jimmoore3.point2agent.com, (686) 184-9237.

San Felipe, Baja California Located in Pete’s Camp, this near new home is designed for privacy! Two master suites at either end with a great room in between. Fireplace, breakfast bar in kitchen. Rooftop patio with views of the Sea of Cortez, the golf course and the mountains! One car garage, lots of custom built-in cabinets. A must see! Priced to sell. Located in the most trusted of campos, with 10-year renewable land leases. $125,000. [email protected], http://jimmoore3.point2agent.com, (686) 184-9237.

San Felipe, Baja California Campo Ocotillo, San Felipe. Great views and comfort! This two-bedroom home has a great patio view of the Sea of Cortez. A large great room with lots of windows, includes the kitchen, dining area and living room with a fireplace. The guest bedroom has two beds and is very cozy. The master bedroom has a sitting area and a second fireplace. The home has city water and underground electricity. The carport has a large rooftop patio for viewing the Sea and the mountains. Priced for a quick sale. Make an offer. The lease is around $750 a year and is located in a secure,well-trusted and developed campo. $59,500. [email protected], http://jimmoore3.point2agent.com, (686) 184-9237.

San Felipe, Baja California El Dorado Ranch, Del Sol I, San Felipe, Corner Lot for sale! Great buildable corner lot in established neighborhood. Electric kiosk already built. Unobstructed views of the San Martir mountains. Close to all community services, swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course, restaurants, stores and gas station. 10,000 sq. ft. lot. Priced to sell at $29,500. [email protected], http://jimmoore3.point2agent.com, (686) 184-9237.

OPEN HOUSE PHOTO ADSPublish your real estate photo

ad for ONLY $50. Simply email

your copy and photo to sales@

mexicoliving.info and Mexico

Living will contact you. If you

have questions, please call

686-230-9933 in Mexico or

877-LUVMEX1 from the US.

44 The Monthly Guide to Pacific Baja & the Sea of Cortez MEXICO LIVING – December 2009 CALL US 1-877-LUVMEX1 www.AmorProperty.com

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR OVER 100 LISTINGSU.S.760-494-3639 Mex. 577-0611

FEATURED HOME

mor PropertyReal EstateReal EstateReal EstateReal EstateA

Voted Best Real Estate Broker2007 & 2008

San Felipe

Beachfront Beauty!

New Home 2 Bed + Office, 2 BathUNBELIEVABLE for $399,000!

Happy Holidays to you and your family!We have several great Real Estate OpportunitiesNow is the time to buy in San Felipe, Baja Mexico

Build Your Dream Homefrom $65 per square foot!

Beachfront Lots with Electricand Water from $120K

Golf Course Seaview Lots from $59,000!

PO Box 9019-460Calexico, CA 92232

MEXICO LIVINGG

uide to Pacific Baja & T

he Sea of Cortez

edition 31 - december 2009

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