Grupo Posadas Offers 50 Percent Discount at Mexican Properties

Alas, Grupo Posadas doesn't have any hotels or resorts in Puerto Penasco yet, but if you're thinking about spending a little upscale time elsewhere in Mexico (you traitor!), then this is a heck of a good deal for you.

Essentially, when you stay at one of the 'elite properties' listed below, Grupo Posadas, Latin America’s leading hotel operator, will pick up half your tab AND give you discounts on dining, drinking and spa services.

Guests at Posadas’ elite resorts, including AQUA Cancun and the Fiesta Americana Grand and Fiesta Americana properties, can enjoy 50 percent off their nightly rate as well as an additional 25 percent discount on dining, beverage and spa services at the following select hotels:

• AQUA Cancun, starting from $172 per night
• Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun, starting from $170 per night
• Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort, starting from $130 per night
• Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun, starting from $83 per night
• Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta, starting from $81 per night
• Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort, starting from $55 per night

Says the PR for Grupo Posadas: "As the Latin American leader in hospitality and hotel operations, we are taking the lead in welcoming back travelers to our fabulous destinations and resorts, offering both extraordinary deals as well as the highest standards for health, safety and hygiene,” said Javier Barrera, company spokesperson. “Grupo Posadas is setting the standard for other Mexican hoteliers, implementing all preventative measures and precautions to ensure the safe return of our guests. We are confident that our hotels will lead the way for encouraging tourists to return to Mexico, and what they will find here is a vacation experience at a never before seen value, while maintaining the same level of quality and service that first brought them to our resorts.”

This promotion is based on single or double occupancy for travel now through Dec. 23, 2009, and is subject to availability at the time of booking. This offer does not include taxes, tips and other service fees, does not apply for group reservations and is not applicable with any other promotional or discounted rate.

Travel reservations must be booked on or before July 31, 2009, by calling 800-FIESTA-1 or by visiting www.fiestamericana.com/halfprice.

Grupo Posadas, with more than three decades in the hotel marketplace, operates 111 properties and more than 19,600 guestrooms in 50 beach and city destinations in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile. In Mexico, the company operates 20 percent of its rooms in the tourism segment. Its seven hotel brands are AQUA, Fiesta Americana Grand, Fiesta Americana, Fiesta Inn and One Hotels in Mexico, and in South America, the company operates Caesar Park and Caesar Business, making Grupo Posadas the leading Mexican hotel operator in Latin America. Grupo Posadas has been listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange since 1992, with the ticker symbol “POSADAS.” For additional information, visit its website http://www.posadas.com.

Landmark Conservation Effort Launched In Mexico

QUINTANA ROO, México– The World Wildlife Fund, along with the Fundación Carlos Slim and the Mexican Federal Government, has launched an initiative that aims to establish Mexico as a global model for conservation by protecting its rich natural heritage and promoting sustainable development within six priority regions that collectively represent 30 percent of the country.

The new alliance plans an initial investment from the Slim Foundation and other donors of US $100 million to support and significantly advance ongoing efforts at the local, national and global levels within Mexico. This work will include efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, develop comprehensive water management policies, strengthen civil society, develop innovative financial mechanisms, and invest in local sustainable economies.

The six regions the alliance will initially focus on are:

• The Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez)
• Mesoamerican Reef of Mexico
• The Chihuahuan Desert
• The State of Oaxaca
• The Monarch Butterfly Reserve
• The State of Chiapas

“Mexico is home to 10 percent of the Earth’s species and this wealth of diversity is important not only for Mexico’s ecosystems, but for the people here who depend on these resources for their social, economic and physical well-being,” said WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts. “This alliance also underscores Mexico’s rising leadership in global negotiations on the design of new financial mechanisms to help developing nations confront and adapt to climate change.”

The goal is to support biodiversity preservation in areas of exceptional natural richness. An assessment of the major issues and recommended actions was developed based on consultation with more than 100 government and civil society experts across the selected regions: the Gulf of California, Chihuahuan Desert, Mesoamerican Reef of Mexico, Oaxaca, Monarch Butterfly Region and Chiapas (Lacandona Forests and El Triunfo).

“Matching funds from the Slim Foundation represent the largest private financial commitment from an individual ever made in support of conservation and sustainable development in Mexico,” said Omar Vidal, director of WWF-Mexico. “This alliance between the private sector, NGOs and government is exactly the kind of partnership that WWF sees as the model for transforming the way we conserve our special places and balance the needs of people and nature around the world.”

In 2009, the alliance is working in coordination with federal, state and municipal governments, civil society organizations, local communities and academia to establish the basis for the preservation of priority protected areas within the six regions by strengthening local organizations and communities and supporting management strategies for land and water conservation, threatened species protection and climate change adaptation.

For more information contact:
Steve Ertel
steve.ertel@wwfus.org
(202) 495-4562

Source: World Wildlife Fund

Let's Kick the Phoenicians Out of Puerto Penasco!

-by El Gitano Peñasco, "The Peñasco Gypsy"

Just kidding, but for too many years those of us who hail mostly from the Phoenix, Arizona region have had our cake and eaten it, too, with heaps of delicious and colorful frosting on top. Especially those who purchased property in RP ‘back in the day’ for centavos on the Peso.

Let’s be honest now folks, many with real estate interests (locals, too) told anyone and everyone who would listen that Puerto Penasco was destined to be the next Cabo, Cancun, Vallarta, etc. but now that our “dirty little secret” is out it is time to embrace and promote Rocky Point for what it really is: ‘A Taste Of Mexico’.

Frankly speaking, that is Puerto Penasco’s greatest ‘selling’ point. It may be ‘Arizona’s nearest beach’ but with the highway being operational from the West Coast of Mexico and the USA and the new International airport getting ready to ‘kick-off’ it is time to rid ourselves of those out-dated marketing and sales jingles.

Seriously, promoting Rocky Point as “Arizona’s Beach” to potential visitors from outside the immediate region has no pizazz, no cachet at all. It needs to be much more than that to get people’s attention as a vacation destination. Let’s not forget that Puerto Penasco is in Mexico, with all the cachet that brings, and play up the positive aspects of that. And while we’re at it, let’s not develop the place as though it were a suburb of Phoenix. It’s MEXICO. Let it BE Mexico! Bring on the Ballet Folklorico, the festivals, the mariachi bands and more!

For those who disagree, and I’m sure there are a few out there, allow me to highly recommend that they drive or fly to other destinations within Mexico and then maybe they will they ‘get-it’ and embrace Penasco for its true value…

Viva México!


Contact me: moc.liamg@ocsaneponatigle

Homemade Chilorio: Decadently Delicious

If you are on a low fat diet, then I'm sad for you because you will never be able to enjoy the true succulence that is chilorio. You can read on and drool, or figure out a way to make it without the fat, or just call it a day and move along to another recipe. It's OK. I'll still respect you in the morning. ;-)

Chilorio is a pork dish originating in the Mexican state of Sinaloa (on the Pacific coast, where Mazatlan is located). To make chilorio, pork is slow-simmered in water and lard until it falls apart, generally at least a couple of hours. It is then drained, shredded or broken into bite size pieces, fried in lard, and cooked in a chile sauce made from re-hydrated dried ancho chiles. The sauce is usually flavored with onions, cumin and garlic. The dish ends up a rich deep red in color and in taste it is positively decadent. Besides making a great filling for tacos, burritos, tamales, empanadas, gorditas, etc., it is also great in chili, pasta salads and as many more dishes as your creative juices can concoct.

Straight Talk About Puerto Penasco, Mexico

Let's be real. The city of Puerto Penasco is not beautiful. I'm not sure that it could even be described as "charming" or "quaint". As a young city (less than 100 years old) it lacks any of the glamour and cachet of Mexico's colonial history and architecture. Nor is it "picturesque" in the same way as more established coastal destinations such as Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta or Cozumel. And it is definitely not "tropical" in appearance, surrounded as it is by one of the driest desert areas in North America. Its streets are dusty, its architecture mostly unimpressive, its amenities and services scattered and its shopping uninspiring.

And a pet peeve of mine: As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 44,875, so all you promoters who insist on calling it a "village" please stop. That term implies tinyness and "quaintness", and as I've already noted Puerto Penasco ain't quaint.

But before you all get your knickers in a bunch over any perceived insult to Rocky Point, take a deep breath and read on because the drawbacks to the place are also positives.

How so? I'm glad you asked. It is because the town's young age and relative lack of a historical core, which means that Rocky Point is in a position to determine what it wants to be when it grows up. Does it want to be a bedroom community to Arizona, full of weekend warrior investors who have no intention of living in the fancy condos they've purchased? A retirement community for aging gringo baby boomers? A Spring Break destination? A full fledged tourist community with upscale hotels and timeshares? Does it want to look like the stereotype of a Mexican city with faux colonial buildings, or does it want to go all modern with lots of steel and glass and highrises-- or some kind of combination? All of the above?

Especially if you live in the Southwestern USA, it's been difficult to resist the hype that has been spread about Puerto Penasco during the last several years. Most of the promotional materials, both print and online, primarily show magnificent photos of the growth in the Sandy Beach area northwest of town. Indeed, the huge condo developments that have risen there in the last half dozen years are pretty impressive, and they are the first glimpse you'll get of Rocky Point as you approach town from the Arizona border. You can see them from as far out as 10 or more miles.

But Sandy Beach is not Rocky Point. Though the city itself has experienced a boom, it is still a dusty, ordinary little Mexican beach town struggling to deal with its sudden growth and the change from a fishing-based economy to a tourism-based economy. The photo above, which shows an overview of the Mirador, is pretty much what most of the city of Rocky Point looks like.

Puerto Penasco started out as a fishing and shrimping port, and like Topsy it just "growed". The oldest parts of town are the Malecon area of Old Port and the El Mirador section, locally called simply "the Mirador". Both areas are currently in the process of being "redeveloped", which can be described as "spruced up" or "ruined", depending on your point of view.

The vision of recent developers seems to be all for turning the beachfront area of the Mirador into modern-looking high rises, as evidenced by the Los Corales project (See Omega Commercial Finance Receives Bank Commitment for Over $50 Million) and the La Perla del Mar, which promoted itself as Puerto Peñasco's first in-town luxury high-rise resort before the financial crunch brought its construction to a halt.

Developer Larry Large's Suenos del Mar project, a 102± acre tract with 100 ft. of beachfront at Playa Mirador, was drawn up as a comprehensive, master-planned community, envisioning a variety of projects: residential homes, condominium projects, hotels, commercial centers and more. This kind of development would have made a major impact on what is now the main "entertainment" district in town, but the financial meltdown seems to have put the screws to this development, too. The property is currently for sale at a listing price of $48 million; an attempt to sell it at auction on June 4, 2009 brought no takers.

Many long-time aficionados of Rocky Point hate to see any of that kind of development within the city, especially in the Mirador. They like it little and funky, as it has always been. But allowing unbridled development of luxury condos, hotels and retail along the northern and southern corridors outside of town while ignoring the town itself presents dangers to the city. It could result in Rocky Point becoming a sort of "slum" center, something that is not attractive to tourists and would not allow modernization in a way that would be truly beneficial to the local populace. One only needs to look at the difference between the Cancun Hotel Zone and Cancun City to get an idea of how negative that could be. To me, the best option would be to develop it with a mix of projects that would be attractive and beneficial to both the local Mexican population and to visitors and potential retirees, not just for luxury-seeking gringos.

So it seems that development of tourist facilities, hotels and housing development within the city itself is important for its future health and well being if it wants to stay the kind of place where people actually enjoy living. The question is, what kind of development will the city fathers choose? Or will they allow it to continue to "just grow" like Topsy?

Beach Buzz: Hurricane Season, Lifeguard Towers and More

-by La Huerita

With hurricane season upon us, it's reassuring to remember that Puerto Penasco rarely experiences hurricanes (though they do occasionally hit us). Just in case, you should always keep emergency supplies on hand, such as extra water, canned foods, toothpaste-- you can find a good list of what you need at the NOAA website's Hurricane Supply Kit (warning: PDF file). Keep those items on hand and you can sit back and smirk at all the poor saps who are trying to stock up at the last minute if disaster does strike.

More good news is that Puerto Penasco is, in the words of TheLog.com, "emerging as an ideal 'hurricane hole' for boaters":

Puerto Peñasco is emerging as an ideal “hurricane hole” for boaters, thanks to at least three features. First, it’s located in the upper end of the Sea of Cortez, where hurricanes seldom reach. Second, the harbor is enclosed to all directions of wind and seas. Third, it has a nice new marina and floating fuel dock.

Even before the new yacht marina opened two years ago, the anchorage inside Puerto Peñasco’s harbor had long been considered a secure refuge from storms — from both the southerlies of summer and the screaming blue northers of winter. The harbor is surrounded by high ground, and the narrow entrance channel opens only to the northwest — where it is shielded by Punta Choya and 5 miles of beach.

Do read the rest of that article, especially if you're a boater.

In semi-related news, kinda sorta: According to an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune Puerto Penasco is going to be the recipient of some brand new used lifeguard towers. Sixteen towers, which made it across the border into Baja on June 17, are destined for Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, Ensenada, Puerto Peñasco and Punta Abreojos in Baja California Sur. They were donated through SDALERT, a coalition of San Diego lifeguard agencies. Rosarito Beach is getting 6 of the towers; the article didn't say how many Puerto Penasco will get. Will these be the first lifeguard towers in Rocky Point? I don't recall seeing any on our beaches...

Here's an article I highly recommend if you want to understand about purchasing real estate within the restricted zone in Mexico: How To Lose Your Entire Investment In Mexican Real Estate. It really isn't as dire as the headline sounds, and it's full of good information and advice, a dose of reality, and anyone who is thinking about a real estate purchase (and some who already have made a purchase) should find it useful. Here's just a little tidbit from this rather long article:

A key fact that many buyers do not fully appreciate is that under Mexican law (as in most, if not all, U.S. states), in order to be effective against third parties, an interest in real estate must be registered in the public registry for real property in the jurisdiction where the property is located (the “Public Registry”). Without a registered title or trust, the buyers’ rights can be trumped under Mexican law by claims by third parties, especially if those third party rights have been registered in the Public Registry. In other words, if you don’t have a registered title or trust, you don’t own it, even if you’ve paid for it.

How can this situation arise? It is possible under Mexican law (as under U.S. law) for more than one person to have a legally valid claim against the seller. The seller might have entered into purchase contracts with more than one buyer. The seller might have voluntarily allowed a lien to be placed on the property, such as a lien in favor of a lender. Or a lien might be imposed by a Mexican court to satisfy a judgment or imposed by Mexican law (e.g., for unpaid taxes or labor or social security claims). The seller might go bankrupt. Or, if the seller dies before the title transfer is legally completed and registered, the seller’s estate or heirs may have claims to the property.

In not-so-important news, I'm working on a new design for The Tides that is more efficient than the current one. I like the one I've got, but it's difficult to organize it properly so I'm hoping the new iteration will be better at that. And of course, since people hate change, I hope it won't spook you when I roll it out around the end of this month (assuming I get it done by then, of course. It's been giving me fits, and I'm working on Mexican time.).

And that's the Buzz on the Beach for today.

Peace out...

About Beach Buzz: Not necessarily the news, this is a place for information, opinion, speculation, gossip, tips and other good stuff about Rocky Point, and Mexico in general. If you have something you'd like to share, I'd like to hear from you!

Contact me at lahuerita2@gmail.com

A jaunt 'Over There': Puerto Penasco to San Felipe, Baja

-by El Gitano Peñasco, "The Peñasco Gypsy"

After many years gazing out across the Sea of Cortez towards where San Felipe is located in Baja California, Mexico, I often wondered what it was like ‘over there’ but always decided that it couldn’t possibly be that much different than Penasco and so, well, ‘why bother to go?’

And yet a couple of weeks ago I did just that. I loaded up mi burro and after coordinating the exact latitude and longitude readings in my newly acquired GPS handheld tracking device I mounted up and was San Felipe bound…

To get a feel for the area I first rented a little Casita north of town in the area known as El Dorado Ranch and for the rest of the expedition I picked up a good deal on a room about one block from the beach in the center of town at El Capitan Motel.

San Felipe seems much smaller than RP and yet it, too, has several distinct areas. I preferred ‘El Centro’ and also what I’ll call their ‘Gold Coast’ region (they call it 'The South') which begins south of town where the beaches are unspoiled, barren and seem to run all the way to “Land’s End” (aka: Cabo San Lucas— a very long way away).

To tell you the truth, I absolutely loved it ‘over there’, had a wonderful time and would highly recommend the adventure to anyone who adores jaunting about Mexico and especially those who appreciate ‘The Baja’.

True, San Felipe is no Penasco (but then again, Rocky Point will never be a ‘San Felipe’) but damn near everything from the weather to the beaches, the tides, the air quality, restaurants, people (foreigners and locals alike), choice of accommodations, shopping, fishing and even the taco stands offers a unique experience.

Now if someone would just start up a ferry service I’d buy a ‘forever’ pass and take the (guestimate) 80 mile sea venture several times a year because I already need another ‘fix’ on the Malecon de San Felipe…

In fact if I were there today I’d head over for another lip smacking dinner at “Rice & Beans and Rositas” and then to top the night off-- with some intermittent stops for a bevy here, a chat there-- I’d continue strolling down the Malecon and make my way to one of the oldest beach front watering holes in San Felipe, the ‘Bar Miramar’ and enjoy some great music, dancing, drinks and good conversations…

It’s good 'over there'. It’s VERY good!

Viva México!

elgitanopenasco@gmail.com

Carne Asada Nachos, Grilled and Loaded

Sorry, no photo of the actual dish this week. Next time I make these, I'll remember to get the camera...

Though nachos were invented in Mexico, it is not a wildly popular dish in Mexico and rarely contains the number of ingredients and the inventiveness found in recipes in the USA-- where it IS wildly popular. So you could say that nachos are not really a 'traditional' Mexican dish, but there's nothing better for a tailgate party or for lunch on a hot summer day.

Originally 'invented' by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya in Piedras Negras, Mexico, the orignal dish consisted only of tortilla wedges, longhorn cheddar cheese and jalapeno peppers, baked in a hot oven until the cheese was melted. In Mexico that is how they are generally served today, though tortilla chips have largely replaced the fresh tortillas originally used. (At the end of this post you will find a good history of nachos, courtesy of Wikipedia.) In the USA, however, there is no end to the number of recipes for nachos; you are limited only by your imagination. Note that nachos made with lots of ingredients are referred to as being 'loaded'.

I like to make them 'loaded', using carne asada rather than the more prevalent hamburger, or sometimes shredded chicken or pork depending on what I've got on hand. And I like to make them on the grill, both for flavor and to avoid using the oven on a hot day. So today's recipe is for

CARNE ASADA NACHOS, GRILLED & LOADED:

RCPM Rocks the House at Circus Mexicus 2009

Couldn't make it to this year's Circus Mexicus with Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers? Me neither, dadgummit. But here's a nice video taken by someone who did, so without further ado enjoy Roger and the boys performing "Hello New Day". The crowd was into it big time, and behind the stage you can clearly see the lights of the Sonoran Sea and Sonoran Spa resorts. (4:13)




Video courtesy of okeeffe921, uploaded to YouTube June 8, 2009. Thanks!

In the DEEP THOUGHTS category: Back when Cabo San Lucas was still little more than an up-and-coming backwater, Sammy Hagar opened the now famous Cabo Wabo Cantina. Wouldn't it be a kick in the pants to have our own "Circus Mexicus Cantina" here in Rocky Point? Maybe somewhere in the Mirador or in Old Port (parking's a problem there, though)? Most likely RCPM doesn't have the deep pockets that Sammy Hagar has, but I'm of the notion that such a place could be a money maker for them AND for the community, with regular events scheduled to provide a venue for bands from Mexico as well as the USA.

Just a thought. Rock on!

2008 was a tough year for Tourism in Rocky Point

Press Release written by Steve Schwab
Monday, 15 June 2009

2008 was a difficult year for Puerto Penasco, Mexico in the area of tourism as 250,000 fewer visitors made there way to the area compared to the year before. This decreased represents a drop of at least 16% and had a domino affect throughout the city, reports Rafael Gonzalez Valenzuela, Director of the City Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV).

The OCV Director stated that, according to report from the port of entry in Lukeville, Arizona, which is the principal port accessing Penasco, they registered nearly 1.3 million foreigners passing through, when compared to 1.55 million in 2007.

He indicated in the area of national tourism the situation was a bit different, as the numbers of visitors in this realm was maintained at nearly 1.75 million. Nevertheless, this phenomenon was not sufficient to reverse the negative impact of the drop in foreign tourism.

Gonzalez Valenzuela explained in the area of hotel occupancy, 2008 ended with an average of 43%, compared to 58% from the previous year, reflecting a 15 point drop.

Based on this, he added, the final evaluation highlight for 2008 was generally a poor year for Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point).

Among expectations for 2009, which is sure to be a complicated year and one in which it will be difficult for the situation to improve, they are still anticipating results from the intensive campaign to be carried out in California following the opening up of the coastal highway.

Gonzalez Valenzuela stated they have not done a full evaluation concerning the negative economic impact due to the drop in foreign tourism, but undoubtedly this has taken its toll on practically all service providers and businesses in the city.

The OCV Director remarked that based on this, the task is to strengthen promotional campaigns in order to promote the area in any way possible, given that the economic crisis is likely to last through 2009.

Mexico Realty Executives for Mexico Real Estate or for setting up your own Mexico Real Estate Franchise. If you've been perusing homes for sale in Mexico, please, let Realty Executives Mexico be your guiding light. We can find your dream home for you! Contact us today at http://www.realtyexecutivesmexico.com

Call us today:

Realty Executives Mexico
P.O. Box 560 PMB 21
Lukeville, Az. 85341
Phone us at: 638-383-5856
From the U.S.: 011-52-638-383-5856
Author: Steve Schwab

http://www.realtyexecutivesmexico.com

Mexico blames swine flu for 'lost summer'

Mexican authorities have blamed the swine flu scare for the largest drop in tourism revenue since records began in the 1980s.

Tourism officials talk of a "lost summer", after visitors - particularly from the United States and Canada - cancelled their holidays in droves during the peak of the swine flu crisis in April.

They are not expected to return in large numbers until December.

Some airlines have dramatically reduced their scheduled flights to Mexico's beach resorts.

Cruise liners are still avoiding Mexican ports.

Alecia Del Vila from Mexico City's tourism association admits that any recovery will be slow.

"The Mexico City authorities closed everything - restaurants, bars and banquet rooms, so it was really a big shock," she said.

"We lost all the business and little by little we are recovering."

Luxury hotels in the capital were reporting just 4 per cent of their rooms were occupied at the height of the crisis.

Read the rest of this BBC report here: Swine flu strikes Mexico tourism

Just how bad is it? Here are some links to other stories on the subject:

South Baja tourism pros say 'Come on down'

Flu fears blamed for continuing drop in tourism to Mexico

Mexico Trying to Revive Tourism After Flu Scare

There's more, but we don't need much more to know how hard hit Puerto Penasco was hit by all the negative news promulgated by the mainstream media. Good publicity, special deals and time are key elements to repairing the damage.

Beach Buzz: Pot Seizures, Los Corales, Circus Mexicus and...

-by La Huerita

I know it's Friday and El Gitano is supposed to have a column, but he got that itchy foot feeling and decided to scratch it by heading off to San Felipe to see how the other half lives. Hmmm. I wonder what's up with that??? Hopefully he'll let us know next week...

In the meantime there's a bit of buzz from the beach to report.

First up, the company that owns the Los Corales project in the Mirador is expanding elsewhere, which is kind of interesting. Omega Commercial Finance Corp. has signed a letter of intent to acquire the majority interest of a 440 acre development project in Fresno, CA.

The development called Running Horse consists of 440 acres of prime real estate complete with an 18 hole PGA sanctioned golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Current plans call for 620 single family homes, 140 (2 unit) townhomes, 400 apartments catering to senior citizens, 96 apartments for workers to the area, a clubhouse/pro shop, a hotel/conference center, gas station, restaurant and 180,000 sq. ft. of retail commercial development. Omega has also announced the signing of a letter of intent to acquire the Ruby Trust gold mine in Cusco, Peru as part of an effort to enter the gold commodities market.

This is all swell, leading one to assume the company doesn't have money problems. But when are they going to start finishing Los Corales?

Circus Mexicus, with Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, was a big success last weekend. I've seen a few reports that attendance was down over prior years, but one of the event organizers says attendance was actually up over 30% over last year. I hope the latter is accurate, but however it turns out there is no denying that everyone had a great time-- as usual! Kudos to the organizers, the participating bands and all the RCPM fans who showed up! For those of you (us) who couldn't make it, well, there's always next year...

Down in the Playa Encanto development the electrification project is moving along. CFE has decided to build the substation on the Caborca road instead of the original plan to hook on to the Mayan substation, which I mentioned in a previous Beach Buzz, so pedestals are being installed again on the beach. I don't know why the change was made, but the plan seems to suit everyone and they are still on budget so it probably doesn't matter. With all of the electric construction and moving of main roads within Playa Encanto, keeping the roads passable has been a challenge but they seem to be up to it. Nevertheless, I'd imagine everyone will be glad when it's all done.

As for the auction of 175 acres of land on June 4, most of it owned by Larry Large, there were no buyers. None, zero, zip. The land (and the two commercial buildings) is still on the market. And the crunch is not being felt only here. Across the Sea of Cortez, in Loreto, Baja, TSD Loreto Partners has informed its clients and stakeholders that, "due to the challenging situation in the international real estate and financial markets", all operating and construction activities for Loreto Bay Villages have been suspended. The company has been unable to find a new buyer or new investor to infuse enough money in the project to keep it going. Very bad news for owners there, especially those with half finished homes.

A communication from the company said, among other things: "The Company understands that individual homes are at different stages of construction and as such, the Company is diligently working with several third-party construction management companies that will provide homeowners feasible alternatives to finish the construction of their homes." Whoopee. Fonatur, the government agency originally in charge of developing Loreto (and Cancun, Los Cabos, Huatulco and Ixtapa) has asked the government to allow it to take the project over so it can be kept open until a buyer is found...

In border news, US Border Patrol agents made a couple of major pot seizures, south of Why, AZ and at the Aqua Linda Checkpoint. The haul netted nearly three tons of marijuana with an estimated street value of around US$4.5 million. Over at Rocky Point Talk ernesto recalls having a large pot seizure himself during his college days... :-)

And that's it for Beach Buzz this week. Maybe next week El Gitano will fill us in on what the heck he was doing in San Felipe and what he found there.

Peace out.

About Beach Buzz: Not necessarily the news, this is a place for information, opinion, speculation, gossip, tips and other good stuff about Rocky Point, and Mexico in general. If you have something you'd like to share, I'd like to hear from you!

Contact me at lahuerita2@gmail.com

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Did you know that chicken enchiladas are not always prepared with a tomato-based sauce? Well, here's a traditional recipe, cooked in Mexican kitchens all over the country, that uses butter, broth, and sour cream to form the sauce. There is no tomato at all in it, unless you choose to add some pico de gallo on top or as a side dish. It is really really REALLY good, and once you've fixed it I guarantee that it will become a favorite with your family, too.

Note that if you want to take a shortcut you can substitute 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup and 1 Cup of chicken broth to replace the flour, butter and broth "gravy" mixture called for in this recipe. It's still very good, and it's quicker. This recipe makes 6 servings (2 enchiladas per person).

Mexico's Northwest Coastal Area Facing Climate Change Challenges

ALCOSTA (the Alliance for the Sustainability of the Northwest Mexican Coast) has put out a call for urgent concerted action among all sectors to achieve an adjustment of production activities along the Northwest Mexican Coast, citing the effects of climate change and the need to mitigate its impact on humans and the ecosystems on which the region's inhabitants depend for their welfare.

Among the sectors at risk is regional tourism, which could be severely affected.

In a press release issued June 5, which was World Environment Day, ALCOSTA said climate change, caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases, is a phenomenon that is beyond dispute and that will affect the entire planet for several millennia, its effects worsening in coming decades with higher temperatures, erratic rainfall, stronger hurricanes, droughts and rising sea levels.

The Northwest Mexican Coast, comprising the coastal states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Nayarit, Sinaloa and Sonora will be severely affected by phenomena such as low agricultural productivity, increased insecurity in the supply of drinking water vulnerability, extreme weather events like droughts, heat waves, floods and hurricanes. It is likely to include new challenges to public health by the spread of vector borne diseases like dengue and malaria(1), according to data from the National Climate Change Strategy published by SEMARNAT(2).

"The tourist industry based primarily on regional sun and beach tourism, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change without a concerted strategy to mitigate emissions and adapt the infrastructure, activities and services to the new conditions," said Rene Cordova, Executive Coordinator of ALCOSTA.

Rising sea levels, which could increase by up to one meter in the coming decades according to the Fourth Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(3), threatens not only the infrastructure built on the beachfront, but the quality of aquifers that feed the drinking water and port infrastructure.

The same infrastructure will be subject to the onslaught of more frequent and possibly severe hurricanes, so that the protection of mangroves, wetlands and coastal dunes becomes an urgent need beyond the mere intention expressed in the National Strategy for Climate Change Plans public works budgets, said the Executive Coordinator of ALCOSTA.

The increase in temperature would reduce the season when visitors from the cold regions of Canada and United States remain in the region due to the presence of earlier heat and longer, warmer summers, according to Cordova.

The availability of fresh water is very low in the region and depends on a delicate balance where it is abundant, so that droughts, reduced rainfall and increasing irregularity that could be presented in the form of flooding add to the growing challenges faced by local authorities and inhabitants of this region.

On World Environment Day, ALCOSTA's Rene Cordova called on people "to learn to take personal actions to reduce energy use and fossil fuels, and participate in an organized manner in the promotion of local government policies, state and federal mitigation and adaptation Climate Change."

"Only concerted action by employers large and small, local and federal authorities and organized citizenry can meet this challenge armed with the best available scientific information in a transparent and timely manner," he added.

"Tourism is one of the most dynamic economic activities in the country and an opportunity for regional development that needs to diversify supply, take and pass the cost to consumers of the environmental services you use and promote equitable welfare of local people to increase their competitiveness in an increasingly globalized market," he concluded.

[1] El Cambio Climático y la Salud Humana. Gaceta Ecológica del Instituto Nacional de Ecologia, 2002. http://redalyc.uaemex.mx/...
[2] http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/....aspx
[3] http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-syr.htm

ALCOSTA is a coalition of 22 environmental organizations in the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Nayarit, Sinaloa and Sonora since 1998 that promotes policies supporting sustainable development and conservation of the Mexican Northwest, with the participation of its inhabitants and visitors.

For more information, contact:

Mtro. René Córdova Rascón
Coordinador Ejecutivo de ALCOSTA, A.C.
Panderos 172, Hermosillo, Sonora, MEXICO CP 83288
Cel 662 163 44 99
alcostamx@gmail.com

Thoughts on the Perception of Danger in Rocky Point, Mexico

-Editorial by La Huerita

About an hour south of Puerto Penasco, on the newly renamed Sonora Hwy. 003 (formerly Hwy 37), you will reach a stop sign at a Y-shaped fork in the road. Continue on to the left for about 40 miles and you will reach the city of Heroica Caborca. Make the sharp turn to the right and you will be heading toward the beaches at Desemboque.

A small town is located at that fork in the road. Officially named Plutarco Elías Calles (after the president of Mexico from 1924 to 1928), the town is locally known as La Y Griega ("the Greek Y"), or even more informally simply as "the Y", due to the shape of that fork in the road. With a population of around 3,000, this peaceful little community boasts little in the way of services other than a Pemex station, a police sub-station, some mini supermercados and mechanic/tire repair shops.

On Wednesday, June 3, 2009 the tranquility of that little town was shattered when a convoy of vehicles filled with armed men rolled in, reportedly kidnapped several employees of a local tire shop at gunpoint, shot up the police sub-station, several parked cars and nearby businesses and houses, then fled. The Mexican Army, AFI, PESP, Policía Federal, municipal police and a helicopter were promptly called in to help search for the criminals. To say that the town was traumatized by the event would be an understatement.

At about 6:00 the next morning one of the vehicles used in the attack was spotted by a Highway Patrol officer and a chase ensued. The driver apparently leaped out of the vehicle at some point and fled on foot, leaving the engine running. Inside the stolen Yukon SUV 11 bodies were found, along with some sort of drug-related messages which were not made public by authorities.

Through all that, 60 miles away life went on as usual in Rocky Point, which was buzzing with anticipation of a big concert scheduled for June 6. Rocky Point, blissfully unaware of the incident in Y Griega, was not directly affected by it at all.

The incident was covered well and accurately in Rocky Point News Online. It was covered briefly and less accurately by Channel 12 in Phoenix, AZ, which followed the usual US media pattern of scaring people to death about violence in Mexico without presenting the whole picture or, frankly, any perspective at all.

Is there an uptick in drug-related violence in the Caborca to Sonoyta area? It's beginning to look like that may be the case. Does that mean Puerto Penasco is a dangerous place to visit? Perhaps-- if you are connected to the drug culture.

Let me put it this way. Reports of gang/drug-related violence in the greater Los Angeles area do not stop tourists from flocking to the beach communities and theme parks within an hour's drive. The very high level of violent crime in New Orleans does not stop tourists from enjoying the French Quarter. The fact that Atlanta is the new drug-cartel capital of the USA does not deter people from visiting that city to enjoy all it has to offer.

Yet the well-publicized drug-related violence in Mexico, which affects Mexican citizens involved in the drug trade almost exclusively, prevents potential visitors to Mexico's resort communities from even considering a vacation there.

The only connection between Y Griega and Puerto Penasco is that they are Sonoran towns that happen to be on the same highway. But the PERCEPTION, fueled primarily by sensationalist news coverage that promotes hysteria at the expense of facts, is that if you visit Puerto Penasco you will be taking your life in your hands. Ignoring that perception will not make it go away, it must be countered as publicly as possible and as often as possible with facts and proper perspective. Otherwise, as is too often the case, perception will become reality in the minds of many, and that perception, left unchecked, could become more of a danger to the future of Puerto Penasco than the drug trade itself.

In the meantime, the much anticipated Circus Mexicus with Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers was well attended last night (June 6), and this morning the revelers have been enjoying the Mananathon after-party at JJ's Cantina. No one got killed, no heads were chopped off, and other than some pretty bad hangovers everyone is still having a good time today.

Around town, the Camel Toe Cantina still has live music three nights a week (Thursdays: Akustikos (Mexican and American Rock) and Banda Sinaloence (Traditional Banda Music). Friday: Grupo Norto (Nortena Music). Saturday: Akustikos again).

The Baja Cantina still has its pool tournament every Tuesday at 6:00PM.

Each Wednesday and Thursday you can enjoy the Horseshoe Tournament at the SandBar Paradise Beach Club in the Mirador and a Jam Session in the Crows Nest at the Lighthouse Restaurant is ongoing on Wednesday nights at 9:00PM.

There are more regularly scheduled events-- and SPECIAL Events-- listed on our Events page; they are not stopping because of any unrealistic perception of danger.

And every day there are beaches to enjoy, tide pools to explore, good food to eat and new friends to meet in Puerto Penasco.

As I have said previously:

The usual caveats apply when you visit Puerto Penasco: Don't leave your brain at the border; don't flash money around; be aware of your surroundings; don't go to the kinds of places you would never visit at home; don't forget you are in a foreign country with its own laws and customs; don't bring weapons or do drugs; if you're nervous, stay with a group and don't go out on your own at night; try real hard not to drink so much that you get totally stupid.

Puerto Penasco is as safe as any other tourist destination, probably safer than many of them, and you are not risking life and limb by visiting. The vast VAST majority of gringos who visit or live in Puerto Penasco rarely suffer anything worse than a bad hangover, a sunburn, and maybe paying too much for a bad hamburger or a trinket. There is no cause to believe that your own experience will be any different.

See you there!

Email: lahuerita2@gmail.com

Veinte Veinte Retrospectiva!

-by El Gitano Peñasco, "The Peñasco Gypsy"

Around 4:00 in the morning this past Tuesday, while sitting in the lotus position and burning candles and incense, I was staring deep into my ancient crystal ball when an impression appeared through a grayish cloud and I saw what could be the future of Puerto Penasco, Mexico.

Ommmmmmmmmm… And there in front of my eyes, spanning all across the Rocky Point region, was an American Expat community of retirees, in record numbers, living and enjoying their golden years…

Studies suggest that the largest assemblage of (US) Gringos anywhere in the world (outside the US) have chosen Mexico as their Elección número uno retirement haven, with an estimated 1 million (US) Expats living ‘the good life’ in any one of the country’s 31 States (and the D.F.).

From Baja California Sur to Sinaloa, Quintana Roo to Veracruz and beyond, Gringos continue to pull up their ‘roots back home’, tell the kids ¡hasta luego! and, draped in their colorful sombreros and serapes, they’re loading up their burros and heading to Mexico in record numbers.

As I was contemplating that image it rapidly dissipated and another cloud formed. In that revelation a plethora of other retirement destinations appeared and I found myself contemplating those choices, too, wondering why US retirees would select Puerto Penasco over the many other wonderful communities Mexico has to offer?

And that is the thought I leave you with this week: Will Penasco "carpe diem" or will Rocky Point remain, for the most part, what it is today-- a convenient little border town hawking fish tacos and cold beers to weekend warriors and spring breakers?

Viva México!

elgitanopenasco@gmail.com

Pescado Veracruzano

Along with ceviche, Pescado Veracruzano (fish, Veracruz style) is perhaps the most well-known and well-loved fish dish in all of Mexico. There's a good reason for that: It's really, really good! If you are truly interested in Mexican cuisine then you simply must learn how to prepare it.

Originating in the city of Veracruz, in the Gulf coast state of the same name, the dish has a distinctly Spanish influence. The basic ingredients are the same with all cooks, though individual recipes may have variations in the details. Get yourself some good fresh fish fillets or a whole fish-- cabrilla (sea bass), dorado (mahi mahi) or red snapper (huachinango) are most often used-- and cover it with a rich, slightly spicy tomato-based sauce. It's simple, quick to make, and if you like fish you will love this!

Addressing the Safety Issue in Puerto Penasco

-by La Huerita

Lately there have been two opposing camps arguing about safety in Puerto Penasco. One camp is mostly of the "It's perfectly safe, absolutely nothing to worry about" variety; the other insists "It's dangerous, full of crooks, murderers, drug-related crime and I may never return".

Both camps have plenty of anecdotal evidence to support their positions. Both are partly right and partly wrong.

Is Puerto Penasco perfectly safe? No. Is it a dangerous place to visit? No. Let's address the issue objectively.

Right now, due to the state of the economy, Puerto Penasco is tense. Construction jobs have disappeared, tourism has dried up, business in the local restaurants and bars has nosedived, no one is buying souvenirs and generally speaking things are not looking good for the Mexicans who live there. Add to that a well-publicized drug-related assassination (four people who had been followed to Penasco from Caborca and were gunned down in their car, shocking because of the rarity of such an event), the lingering effects of the swine flu scare and the misleading travel warnings from the US State Department and college officials and it's safe to say that the local populace is worried. If you are in town for longer than a weekend and have any meaningful interaction with the locals it is impossible not to notice it.

Given those conditions, it would be unnatural if crime did not increase. But what kind of crime are we talking about? Murder? Mayhem? Gangs? Drug cartels fighting it out on the street corners?

For the most part it involves petty crimes such as theft, burglary, drunk and disorderly, that sort of thing. Mixed up in that is the increasing use of methamphetamines among younger people, which inevitably leads to various types of theft. Except for the occasional theft/burglary most of it rarely affects tourists and the weekend warriors.

In other words, it's pretty standard stuff for a city of 45,000 anywhere in the world, and for a coastal town making a transition to tourism as its major source of income it is unexceptional. As of now Penasco has not become a hotbed of drug cartel violence, its violent crime rate is low and there has been no kidnapping or major harassment of tourists. Does that mean that you are perfectly safe in Penasco? Of course not, but keeping things in perspective you are almost surely not perfectly safe where you are now, either.

The biggest dangers to tourists and gringo residents in Penasco are the same as those throughout the country: Motor vehicle accidents and drowning, which are by far the leading causes of non-natural death among foreigners in Mexico. In both cases, records indicate that excessive alcohol consumption is usually a contributing factor.

Memorial Day Weekend recently passed and the town was pretty full of tourists having a good time. None of them were murdered. Coming up on June 6 is the highly anticipated Circus Mexicus with Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers; hopefully the town will be packed again for this event, and the odds of anyone experiencing violence at the hands of Mexicans are very slim.

The usual caveats apply when you visit Puerto Penasco: Don't leave your brain at the border; don't flash money around; be aware of your surroundings; don't go to the kinds of places you would never visit at home; don't forget you are in a foreign country with its own laws and customs; don't bring weapons or do drugs; if you're nervous, stay with a group and don't go out on your own at night; try real hard not to drink so much that you get totally stupid.

Puerto Penasco is as safe as any other tourist destination, probably safer than many of them, and you are not risking life and limb by visiting. The vast VAST majority of gringos who visit or live in Puerto Penasco rarely suffer anything worse than a bad hangover, a sunburn, and maybe paying too much for a bad hamburger or a trinket. There is no cause to believe that your own experience will be any different.

Of course, dealing with US Immigration at the border when you're trying to get back into the USA, well, that's another story... ;-)

New Passport Rules in Effect Today

New rules requiring passports or some other secure means of identification at land-crossings along the Canada-U.S./ Mexico-U.S. border took effect today.

The law falls under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Department of State anti-terrorism policy known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which were rushed through following the 9/11 attacks.

U.S. citizens are now required to present a passport or other secure identification when returning to the U.S. after visiting Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean through sea or ground routes. Among the acceptable forms of secure identification are a passport, an enhanced driver's license or a "trusted traveler card."

The rule already is in place for people traveling by air.

Customs and Border Protection agents say they will be lenient for a time and work with people lacking proper documents, using government databases and other tools to verify citizenship. Those without proper paperwork will be given "non-compliance notices" -- a written warning without consequences -- before they are allowed into the country.

The list of acceptable documents for land and sea travelers includes:

• Passport: The standard citizenship proof for travelers, recognized worldwide.
• Passport card: They're cheaper and look like a driver's license, but require the same background information as a passport. The card is accepted at land and sea ports for travelers from Canada and Mexico, but is not allowed for air travel.
• Enhanced driver's licenses: Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington state issue special motorist licenses embedded with technology that refers border agents to a stored record in a government database.
• Trusted Traveler Cards: SENTRI cards allow expedited passage through border crossings from Mexico for pre-approved applicants who have undergone extensive background checks. Commercial truckers may obtain FAST cards for the same purpose.
• Special groups: Children under age 16 may use birth certificates as proof of citizenship when entering the U.S. at land and sea ports from contiguous territories. Alternate identification papers also may be valid for student groups, Native Americans and "closed-loop" cruise-ship passengers.

PASSPORT FACTS

• Passport book cost for people 16 and older, $100; under 16, $85.
• Passport card cost for people 16 and older, $45; under 16, $35.
• Cost of passport card if requested with new or renewed passport book, $20.
• Passport cards are not valid for international air travel.

Online: For more passport information, go to:
http://travel.state.gov or
http://getyouhome.gov

Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection