UPDATE on Hurricane Jimena and Rocky Point, Mexico

How quickly things can change!

As many local storm watchers predicted, Hurricane Jimena has given indications of taking a jog to the north/northeast and its predicted path now takes it across the Baja Peninsula to the Sea of Cortez, where it is expected to move north/northeast, making landfall as a weak tropical storm or a tropical depression along the Sonoran Coast somewhat to the south of Puerto Penasco.

If Jimena approaches Puerto Penasco closely, even as a weak tropical storm, we can expect some heavy rains, big waves and windy conditions by Saturday, Sept. 5, which is part of the Labor Day Weekend. Storm surge caused by high surf combined with the high tides expected over the weekend could cause some problems along the Malecon and some beachfront properties, so it is best to be prepared just in case.

Parts of Arizona are also likely to see some rain, with the possibility of local flooding.

According to the latest information released at 2:00PM PDT, Hurricane Jimena is an extremely dangerous storm exhibiting 155 mph winds, nearly a Category 5, about 305 miles from the southern tip of Baja. The storm is moving northwest at 10 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75KM) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220KM).

Jimena is expected to make landfall Tuesday night or Wednesday morning slightly to the north of Cabo San Lucas, perhaps in the vicinity of Todos Santos. The computer models have come into better agreement with their latest 12Z runs, giving confidence that a landfall north of Cabo San Lucas will occur, and Cabo is now outside of the NHC cone of uncertainty. Cabo San Lucas has a 13% chance of receiving hurricane force winds, according to NHC's wind probability product. Serious flooding due to heavy rains will occur across all of the southern Baja Tuesday and Wednesday. Jimena is of similar intensity and is following a similar track to Hurricane Juliette of 2001, which brought 17.7" of rain to Cabo San Lucas. Juliette killed 7 people and caused $20 million in damage to Mexico, mostly due to flash flooding and mudslides from the heavy rains.

Make sure you have your emergency preparations in place to last at least a couple of days, with extra water, batteries for flashlights and other important battery-operated items, and charge up your electric toothbrush and digital camera, etc. It is not likely at this point that Jimena will hit Rocky Point as a major storm, but it's always better to be prepared.

The Tides will keep you posted about the status of Hurricane Jimena, so come back often for updated information.

Hurricane Jimena Not Seen as Threat to Rocky Point, Mexico

Hurricane Jimena, which formed off mainland Mexico south of Acapulco, has intensified overnight and is classified as a Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of about 135 mph. At 8 a.m. Sunday, August 30, its center was located 515 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas and was tracking to the northwest at about 9 mph.

Jimena is a small storm; hurricane force winds extend up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center of Jimena, and tropical storm force winds up to 80 miles (130 km) from the center.

The National Hurricane Center currently predicts it will skirt the Baja California peninsula before making landfall Tuesday night in the Magdalena Bay area. This is by no means certain, however, and some models show the hurricane taking other tracks that could possibly veer the storm into the Sea of Cortez and over mainland Mexico.

None of the models bring it close enough to Puerto Penasco to do more than cause possible rain, windy conditions and some high surf.

The hurricane has already tracked slightly more eastward than originally forecast, and many storm watchers in northwestern Mexico (the states of Baja, Baja Sur and Sonora) have been commenting on the similarity of its track to Hurricane John, which wreaked havoc in Baja Sur in August/September 2006 before heading into the Sea of Cortez as a tropical depression that brought rain and high surf to the Sonoran Coast and caused flooding in parts of the USA.

According to the National Weather Service, the future track of Jimena appears to depend on two main factors: A mid- to upper-level low near the southern Baja California peninsula and a mid-level ridge over the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico.

The global models show the low drifting westward and weakening with the ridge building westward, whereas the HWRF (the purple line in the graph above) and GFDL (the blue line) models do not weaken the low or build the ridge as much. Consequently, the GFDL/HWRF take Jimena between the low and the ridge and over Baja or Mainland Mexico, while the global models predict Jimena to move to the west of Baja.

As a compromise, the official forecast lies between these two possible scenarios and moves the hurricane near the southwest coast of Baja. A hurricane watch is likely to be issued for portions of Baja Sur later on Sunday.

It should be noted that GFDL usually has historically been the closest with their forecasts in recent years, weather watchers in the Los Cabos area are keeping an especially close eye on Hurricane Jimena.

We will keep you updated on the status of Hurricane Jimena if it looks like there is any threat to Puerto Penasco.

Jet Rescue Air Ambulance Adds New Learjet 35-A to its Fleet

Scottsdale, AZ, 08/28/2009 - Just in Time for our busy winter travel season Jet Rescue Air Ambulance Proudly announces the addition of its 2 Learjet 35-A in Mexico.

Jet Rescue International, an air ambulance company with its headquarters in Scottsdale, AZ has proudly presented the latest addition to its fleet; a Learjet 35-A (XA-USD).

This Learjet will be the second air ambulance Learjet stationed in Mexico. This air ambulance will be stationed at the Toluca International Airport (MMTO), a few miles from Mexico City.

The Learjet 35-A medical Interior is custom made and has a Life port plus Stretcher system, dedicated medical cabinets and full modern ICU equipment. In addition the aircraft avionics allow for worldwide missions.
These 2 Lear jets 35 make the perfect aircraft to evacuate patients from South/Latin America and Mexico back to the United States or Canada.

The air ambulance aircraft will be crewed by 2 highly experienced pilots, 2 ICU trained medical personnel and will be operated by Mexican DGAC Part 135 equivalent Certificate Holder Aero Jl S.A.

Jet Rescue Air Ambulance specializes in long-range air ambulance transports and is one of the most experienced air ambulance companies in the world. Thanks to the excellent quality of our services we have been chosen as a official providers for major insurance and assistance companies around the world.

Several years ago a group of doctors had a shared vision: to create a better International Air Ambulance Repatriation Service. They believed that very sick patients who need to be moved between hospitals should be attended by critical care specialists who could perform “physician only” procedures. From this vision, Jet Rescue was born.

The Experts in Long-Distance Critical Care Air Ambulance.
Although we fly all over the world, No one knows Mexico and Latin America as we do.

From our different Mexican locations we offer the most reliable air ambulance service from Mexico, Central and South America to any destination worldwide. By choosing Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, you can be sure that your patient or loved one will be in the hands of the most experienced, highly trained medical team in the industry. Our medical teams and support staff provide specialized compassionate care for both the patient and companion.

Jet Rescue Air Ambulance (jet-rescue.com) can offer you the best response time in the industry (less than two hours) to common tourist destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean such as Cozumel, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Ixtapa, San Felipe, Puerto Peñasco, Guerrero Negro to name just a few.

Over the years Jet Rescue Air Ambulance has developed the connections and expertise to open non-24hr airports in Mexico and Latin America.

Press Release Source: Jet Rescue Air Ambulance

Why Not Puerto Penasco?

-by El Gitano Peñasco, "The Peñasco Gypsy"

Being a certifiable member of the Baby Boomer Generation (BBG) and knowing that in just the S.W. USA there are millions of us out here, I decided to go on an Expedition and googled “Retire in Puerto Penasco (or Rocky Point)” to see what I could find. Low and behold the results were about as barren as sections of the Sonora Desert.

Conversely if you Google “Retire in Mexico” you get about 3 Million organic listings but doing the same for our beloved PP you only get about seven (7) organic returns with no real information.

Here is how lacking it really is: One listing from ‘Boomers Abroad’ has about 150-200 words to describe all of PP and then under the heading “Why Retire in Puerto Penasco” they say, now brace yourself Niños y Niñas: “Puerto Peñasco is the ideal retirement haven for people that are active and love aquatic sports. Here you will find Scuba Diving, Sunset Cruises, Deep Sea Fishing, and Snorkeling available in most places.” That’s all, the whole tamale!

Well I’ll bet the old Rancho when Boomers come across that little tidbit of exhilarating information they’ll scrap any other nonsense notions or plans about retirement destinations in Mexico, such as Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, etc., immediately tell the kiddies Adiós and pack the bags to begin heading to PP in masses even before the Mexican Immigration officials have time to gear up for the influx…

But what the heck, the BBG only represents about 30% of the total US population of about 300 Million and one report I just read says the BBG spends, annually, a mere 2 Trillion dollars or so. What the heck, we all know you can barely run the US Federal Government with that sort of chump change!

Of course if Puerto Penasco could attract, say, just 1% of the BBG to just come on down for a look-see, and then if 1% of those folks set up their ‘golden years’ here we’d have about 7,500 new year-round residents who could add a couple hundred million $USD into the business/community coffers…

Never mind, let’s stick with the big-bucks like the annual spring break crowd!

Viva México!

Email me: El Gitano Penasco

Upcoming Events in Rocky Point/Puerto Penasco, Mexico

-by La Huerita

This is the place to find a listing of events in Rocky Point/Puerto Penasco, Mexico. It will be kept up-to-date, and all you need to do to find out what is scheduled for the current/next month is to click on the EVENTS link in the navigation bar under the header! Special events are at the top, regularly scheduled events at the bottom.

Got an upcoming event you'd like to publicize? Send it to lahuerita2@gmail.com for inclusion here.

SPECIAL UPCOMING EVENTS for OCTOBER, 2009:

• October 9, 10 & 11: Angler of the Year Tournament Phase III at JJ's Cantina. For information contact JJ's at jjscantina@yahoo.com
  
• October 31: Luminary Cancer Walk and Mass. It will start at Our Lady of Guadalupe Temple on Simon Morua at 4PM and continue on to Benito Juarez Blvd. to the Malecon Fundadores where the luminaries will be placed on the esplanade. There will be a mass at 3PM for the blessing prior to the walk for those who wish to participate, and gospel singing in the walk with music. At the malecon the walkers will be greeted by a mariachi band and following the lighting, Father Noriega will hold a Universal prayer for all the victims of cancer and for us all. Luminaries can have the name of your loved one. The cost for each luminary is $50. pesos. Tee shirts cost $100. pesos and are now for sale. The final goal for this group is to constuct a fully equipped hospice for the terminally ill in Rock Point. For further information and to buy luminaries or tee-shirts please call Mariadela Arocha @ 638-113-6756 or 638-104-5379. From the U.S. call between 10AM and 5PM @ 602-324-3545.
• October 31: Halloween Party and Bathtub Races at JJ's Cantina. For information contact JJ's at jjscantina@yahoo.com

Camarones al Ajillo: Shrimp in Garlic Sauce

Sometimes simple recipes are the best, but they are also unforgiving. With only a few ingredients, you have no chance to hide mistakes. So it is with this delicious and classic dish: You must pay attention to both the ingredients and the cooking instructions, or you will end up with tough shrimp and burnt garlic. Not good.

Having said that, there are few better meals on the planet than a quick and simple Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, and you will look like a gourmet cook to your admiring family and friends when you serve this. Go ahead and bask in the glow. If you cook this right, you will have earned the praise!

You're going to LOVE this!

Beach Buzz: Trike Races in Rocky Point, I Kid You Not

-by La Huerita

We like to have fun in Rocky Point and we like to support the community's charities, too. Why not do both at the same time, expanding the growing network of events in town that make you laugh while you're doing good deeds?

So what are you doing over Labor Day Weekend? If you have a sense of humor and haven't forgotten how to play, the good folks over at RockyPointTalk.net may have just the thing for you. Hold on to your hats for this one...

In a last-moment stroke of genius, the folks at Rocky Point Talk have decided to try to put together an adult tricycle race over that weekend, with the end result to raise money to help Rocky Point's kids. Maybe start a new tradition (actually continue an old one-- read the thread) called Beers for Cheers, with grown up people racing sturdy kids' trikes for glory and charity. They're having quite a good time with it over at the forum, but they're also darned serious. Camel Toe Cantina would sponsor the event. Says Seadweller, who is doing the organizing: "I was thinking like 4 to 6 trikes to start and the bigger the better... I know my knees don't bend as well as they used too... and I'm sure if there are any extra trikes they would make some little tikes happy..."

And rockyptjoe: "Just a thought....when I was involved in some jetski racing (endurance), we were in classes (based on age).... if you can get enough entrants (crazy people... LOL), split it up so that some of the old farts have a chance and don't have to race against any young'uns.... then have a race of all the winners for "King of the Trike".... by that time, the young'uns should all be so drunk and dying from laughter, the old farts will take it all!!! Just a thought!"

Seadweller again: "these will be multi lap races, and since these will be alcohol fueled trikes, there will be pitstops involved to refuel... the young'uns will either need more pitstops or need to take on more hi-octane fuel while in the pits..."

And: "this is our first attempt and it is on a short notice... so even if all we accomplish is having some fun, and starting a new tradition (trike races) it will be all worth it..."

The event is really coming together in record time, and it looks like it's actually going to happen-- with prizes and everything. I'm laughing just thinking about it. More fun than a human being should be allowed to have!

Never heard of Tricycle Racing? Here's how they do it in San Francisco, racing down Lombard Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iE9j7oECWM

And you must watch the CAPS Race, sponsored by US Airways: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlJrO7ssiAE

Think it's just too hot to go to Rocky Point? Well, if you're going to be hot anyway would you rather be hot where you are or hot at the seashore in Mexico? Hmmm? Make your reservations and just DO IT! And bring along that old trike that's been gathering dust in the garage...

Release your inner child: Join the conversation at RockyPointTalk, see what you can contribute (even if it's just your presence!), sign up to be a participjavascript:void(0)ant and join the party at Camel Toe Cantina (it's air conditioned). Who says you're too old to be a kid???

Or, as Seadweller said, "Gentlemen Start Your Peddles! and Ride It Like You Stole It..."

And that's all the Buzz on the Beach for today (isn't that enough?!).

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. Have opinions to air, anecdotes to share, tips or tidbits to contribute? I'd like to hear from you!

Email me: La Huerita

Rocky Point Boat Charters Teams Up With 98 KUPD to Promote Rocky Point

Rocky Point Boat Charters and Phoenix, AZ radio station 98 KUPD ("Arizona's Real Rock"), in conjunction with Corona Beer and AM/PM Markets, have teamed up to present a new contest promoting Rocky Point to Arizona residents.

Using the catch phrase "Win A Trip To Rocky Point", the contest will run in September and October, 2009.

Mark and Barb, of Rocky Point Boat Charters, were emailed by the radio station last spring and asked if they could coordinate a weekend water sport package to be used as a prize for a contest on 98 KUPD and sponsored by Corona Beer and AM/PM Markets in Arizona. Since Rocky Point Boat Charters www.rockypointboattrips.com operates as a booking service and does not own the boats, Mark went to work getting prizes from their friends in exchange for a promotion of the business' involved and to promote Rocky Point in general.

After many months of negotiations and attending to details, the promotion is now a go and in the first week of September the on-air and retail promotions will be rolled out. Phoenix area AM/PM stores will be putting up special Corona Beer Displays with sweepstakes rules and the prize packages to be given away at that time.

Among the prizes Mark was able to put together are two seperate promo packages for 2 people each, and each package will include the following:

Accomodations
A suite for 2 nights at the Playa Inn Hotel

Fishing
A charter for 2 passengers aboard CUATES a 30 foot cruiser with Captain Rick Hammer of Hammer Scuba and Fishing

Entry Scuba or First Time Dive Experience
This includes basic scuba instuction for 2 divers from Sun and Fun Dive and Activity Center by a certified dive instructor, all scuba gear needed for the dive, and a boat trip aboard "Sirena del Mar" to Bird Island where they will be led on a dive with their instuctor.

Sunset Cruise aboard the CARNAVAL Catamaran

Dinners
They can also include dinner for 2 at Al Capones Pizza and Beer Co. and also at Sr. Amigos on the waterfront in Old Port.

Mark and Barb have long been active in the Rocky Point community, with both of them strongly supporting the charity Adopt A Classroom in Rocky Point. Mark also operates a special YouTube channel called "Just Add Saltwater" using the handle "Two Pesos", that contains videos of Rocky Point designed to make viewers feel they are actually aboard the boat, chasing dolphins or experiencing the feeling of free diving and swimming with the sea lions at Bird Island (Isla San Jorge), or just enjoying a relaxing sunset cruise and taking in the beautiful scenery of and around Rocky Point.

98 KUPD, also called The Big Red Radio, is part of the MediaSpan Online Services, offering a full contingent of online goodies 24/7. The station broadcasts an Active rock format. Licensed to Tempe, AZ, USA, the station serves the greater Phoenix, AZ area. The station is currently owned by Tempe Radio, Inc., a division of Sandusky Radio.

Tacos a la Puerto Penasco

-by El Gitano Peñasco, "The Peñasco Gypsy"

Always thinking of ways to get the word out about Rocky Point, I think it would be a hoot if one or more restaurant owners got together to set an official record for making the world’s largest taco!

Although I can’t confirm that it ever made it into the Guinness Book of World Records, in 2004 chefs in Monterrey, MX made a taco around 15 meters long (a little over 49 feet) that they claim is the biggest taco ever (8,000 people then helped to eat it!)!

Elsewhere and along the same line, various claims about who (so far) has eaten the most tacos within a specific time period range from the low 30’s consumed to a young woman devouring 48 soft chicken tacos in 11 minutes.

Now if you think I’m loco then ponder for a moment the little obscure town of Baker, California, located between Barstow, Ca. and Las Vegas, Nevada where they erected the world’s tallest outdoor thermometer and that visitors from all around the world stop there every day of the year on their way between the West Coast and Las Vegas just to grab a photo of the thermometer, a bite to eat, some trinkets, top off the gas tank…

I can see the t-shirts now: "Rocky Point, Mexico: Home of the World's Biggest Taco".

Of course the ‘shelf life’ of the world’s biggest taco wouldn’t last but a day, so we’d have to invite the good folks from the Guinness World Records and have them verify that such a taco was made and then keep them on hand while Penasco held a taco eating contest to see who could either consume the most tacos in the shortest period of time or better yet, see who would have the wherewithal to devour the ‘Big One’!

Money to promote the event would be a snap, too, as RP city officials could contact sponsors such as Mexican food manufacturers (Ortega, Mission Foods, Chata, Juanita’s, et al) as well as (e.g.) Pacifico Beer (nothing quite like a cold-one with a fish taco) and/or the ‘Tecate Girls’, Sabritas etc. and it wouldn't be a bad idea to touch base with the Association of Independent Competitive Eaters or the International Federation of Competitive Eating to get the RP event sanctioned and of course all the major hotels in PP could comp reporters from the big newspapers such as LA Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Las Vegas Review Journal, etc.

Then each year RP could follow it up with an annual taco eating contest, specializing one year with tacos de pescados, then the following year tacos de pollo and/or each year introduce the world’s biggest burrito, then the world’s biggest enchilada…

After all, everyone loves food and as Mark Twain allegedly said: “Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.”

Viva México!

Email me: El Gitano Penasco

7-Layer Dip and Fresh Peach Salsa

Today is "Dip and Salsa" day. Partly because I'm feeling too lazy to do anything complicated, and partly because I recently prepared both dishes and they were big hits.

First is Ortega Foods' famous 7-Layer Dip, not exactly a traditional Mexican dish but with football season and tailgate parties on the horizon it's always a good choice. The second dish I pretty much made up myself when I had some fresh peaches and decided to be adventurous with ingredients I had on hand. This is a Fresh Peach Salsa, with a can of diced peppers to cut its sweetness. Don't be alarmed by the ingredients-- my nieces and nephews loved it cold with white tortilla strips, and I loved it warm with grilled chicken. It's not as sweet as it sounds.

Here we go:

Sonora, Mexico to be the Site of Two October Mexico Manufacturing Events

Detailed information on establishing and maintaining production facilities in Mexico to be provided at two Offshore Group industry events.

GUAYMAS, Sonora, Mexico, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Mexico's rapidly developing aerospace industry will be the topic of discussion on October 21st and 22nd at the Aerospace Manufacturing in Mexico Conference. This gathering will be organized by the Tucson, Arizona-based Offshore Group, and will introduce top industry executives to one of the largest aerospace manufacturing clusters in the country. The conference will highlight the benefits enjoyed by manufacturers that choose to operate in the low-cost environment of The Offshore Group's world-class Mexico industrial parks.

The 15th Annual Manufacturing in Mexico Summit is scheduled for October 22 - 24. Since its inception, this event has become the premier gathering of top ranking executives in the manufacturing for export, or "Maquiladora Industry". It is the foremost forum at which representatives of manufacturing firms from all major industries have the opportunity to gather comprehensive Mexico manufacturing information in an frame.

Both events will be held at the San Carlos Plaza Hotel and will present a roster of knowledgeable industry speakers. The Manufacturing Summit and Aerospace Conference will offer attendees the unique opportunity to tour manufacturing facilities currently in production, speak to active plant and corporate level executives, as well as have cost analyses performed by Offshore Group senior staff. These detailed studies will enable attendees to project accurate cost structures for any Mexico project that may be under consideration.

Information on both events can be accessed at:

http://www.offshoregroup.com/summit-conferences.asp

About The Offshore Group

The Offshore Group has enabled companies to establish and maintain manufacturing facilities in Mexico at low cost and risk since 1986. Currently it services over 50 clients in the aerospace, automotive and transportation, electronics, medical device and general manufacturing industries. Visit http://www.offshoregroup.com

Press Release Source: The Offshore Group

Sunset on the Malecon, Rocky Point, Mexico

Life in Rocky Point can be pretty decent. Here is Two Pesos' "Just Add Saltwater" production of an average summer evening on the Malecon, aka Old Port in Rocky Point. Nice music, too. See what you've been missing? Don't you wish you were here?



Come on down. Awaken your inner beachbum...

Uptick in Mexican Tourists Noted in Puerto Penasco

According to a report in De Frente, Puerto Peñasco has seen 10% more tourists this summer than during the same period in 2008, predominantly comprising nationals from Baja California, Chihuahua and throughout Sonora.

According to Rafael Gonzalez Valenzuela, the director of the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Puerto Peñasco has benefited from an influx of approximately 18 thousand tourists so far this summer and the town is expecting an additional 12 thousand by the end of the Summer holiday season. The total number in the 2008 Summer season barely exceeded 25 thousand tourists total.

Gonzalez Valenzuela said occupancy rates for hotels, rental houses and condominiums has fluctuated between 58% and 75% during weekends and around 54% during the week days. Not included in those figures is the number of visitors who make up the "informal" tourism population, comprising those who camp on the beach, or stay in homes of relatives or friends. That number is expected to range between 3 thousand and 5 thousand people by the end of the holiday season.

The statement by Gonzalez Valenzuela appears to be born out by anecdotal reports of greater numbers of Mexican license plates from out of the area that have been noted in the parking lots of condo resorts and hotels, as well as the number of vacationing Mexican families enjoying the beaches, the malecon and some local restaurants.

Gonzalez Valenzuela also indicated that the recent spate of violence in Rocky Point did not seem to have affected the national market, as nationals see those events as isolated and not a factor in their choice of a vacation destination. He said the CVB has not registered any cancellations attributable to violence in Puerto Peñasco.

Mokil or Puerto Penasco: Tercera parte!

-by El Gitano Peñasco, "The Peñasco Gypsy"

On August 9th by Beachbum45 (in response to Part 2 of this series) left this comment: "...it sounds like you go for little out of the way places? If so, you must feel right at home in RP, haha." Beachbum45 was absolutely correct and sums up these brief three pieces perfectly…

Yet if you add up the total population of the three nearest US states to RP of Arizona, New Mexico and just Southern California and then tally the population of the nearest Mexican States, too, it is almost unbelievable just how few visitors actually travel to and vacation (or set up business) in Puerto Penasco each year!

From a marketing perspective Puerto Penasco is basically in the infancy stage but it is also, IMHO, stuck in a rut in that the ‘movers and shakers’ pretty much ‘banked’ the RP ‘tourist’ (and new business, real estate…) industry on those from the Phoenix area.

Conversely, the ’powers that be’ of Mokil, and more specifically The FSM, decided decades ago to spread the ‘word’ but not in just ‘one’ market such as Japan but also to visitors from Australia, the Philippines, Korea, etc. and because they did (and do so to this day) their tourist (and business) industry continues to thrive decade after decade.

I would like to think that those in the Penasco business community (and government officials too), who pretty much sat on their laurels this past 10 years, have finally awakened to the reality that RP needs to reach out way beyond the Arizona market if the community is going to compete for those highly prized tourist (and business) dollars/pesos.

I say this because at the end of the day, every day, whether it is Mokil or Penasco, Cabo or Cancun, Madrid or Paris… ‘travelers’ are making decisions and if Rocky Point doesn’t start getting the word out we’ll continue on our merry little way into an obscure corner of the ‘travel’ (and business) market and only be known, as Beachbum45 put it best, “a little out of the way place”.

Viva México!

Email me: El Gitano Penasco

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail and Coctel Campechana

While many Mexican recipes can be complicated and take a long time to prepare, there are also plenty of them that you can whip up in 15 minutes or so, and they're just as authentic, just as delicious. Mexican housewives like to take shortcuts and keep things simple just as much as housewives everywhere else do. After all, a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving or tamales at Christmas time are not something you want to labor over every day.

Here are two simple recipes for seafood lovers that are perfect for those hot August days and nights. (OK, so they'll take a little longer than 15 minutes, counting the chilling time; they're still simple and quick.) One is an authentic Shrimp Cocktail, the other a seafood cocktail called Campechana that is usually made of oysters, baby octopus, mussels, shrimp, squid and scallops. Campechana (which originated in the state of Campeche) is prepared in its broth with vegetable juice, lime juice, ketchup, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, avocado and cilantro.

Both dishes are traditionally served in big ice cream soda glasses, though you might also find campechana served in a big soup bowl. If you're a true Mexicophile, you've probably had dreams about that perfect shrimp cocktail or campechana you had under a palapa on some beach somewhere, with sand between your toes and the smell of the ocean and tanning oil on the breeze, but have never found again. Well, here they are, especially for you. (Note: This is NOT the same thing as ceviche)

Beach Buzz: Tucson Shuttle, Starting a New Business, Cellphone Registration

-by La Huerita

First up for Beach Buzz today: Tucson is finally going to get a shuttle to Rocky Point! Eduardo and Alicia have formed a company called Rocky Point Rides, and they will take you from door to door in a very comfy 15-passenger van-- just like Phoenicians have enjoyed for a long time. They hope to inaugurate their service over Labor Day Weekend, which falls on September 5-7 this year.

Sit back, relax, leave the driving to them! They will pick you up at your home or hotel in Tucson and take you to your accommodation in Rocky point. Rates for a group of people are based on the number of people going from Tucson to Rocky Point and returning on the same date. A minimum of 2 people are required per trip.

It's about darn time someone began to offer this service from Tucson, and I wish them great success! For more information visit http://www.rockypointrides.com/

Next up: If you want to start a business in Mexico, it may have just become easier. President Felipe Calderon has unveiled a plan to allow businesses to register online via the government Web site http://www.tuempresa.gob.mx This means that the time it takes to complete federal registration requirements should drop from the current 22-34 days (sometimes longer) to a mere couple of hours. The process will also avoid duplication of processes and reduce the possibilities for corruption.

Any businesses that have been registered with a notary public are eligible to complete the federal government requirements online. Calderon hopes that State governments will follow this example.

Anything that makes doing business in Mexico easier is a GOOD thing.

And finally: Registering Mexican cellphones. In yet another attempt to throw a wrench into the operations of drug cartels and other illegal operations, Mexico is changing its laws on the use of cellphones. It started back in April, with all new Mexican cellphones being registered with a new government agency (RENAUT). The user and the assigned number are thus uniquely identified. Number portability services will also be introduced so that you can maintain the same cellular number even if you change phones or providers. All existing Mexican cellphones not registered by April 10, 2010 will be deactivated on that day.

Note that cellphones from other countries that are roaming in Mexico are not affected by the new regulations and are exempt from registration. So what's to stop criminals from going that route, I ask myself?

Anyway, according to RENAUT, people who have a contract with the mobile companies where charges are billed to a credit card will be contacted by the service provider to bring their identity cards (e.g. FM-3, Acta de Nacimiento, Carta de Naturalizacion, etc.) to the office and have their phones registered. Those on a "pre-paid" basis, where they buy refill cards at local businesses, will need to send a text message to the government agency to get their phones authorised and submit their Unique Population Identification Key (Clave Unica de Registro de Población , "CURP"). If you lose your phone or have it stolen from you, you must promptly notify your carrier and they will inform the government to deactivate it and prevent it being used in a crime. Each mobile telephone that you have must be registered in the name of the user, not in the name of the buyer. If you have more than one phone, all must be registered.

If you have a Mexican mobile phone and have not yet registered it, you've got most of a year left to get it done, and it's entirely possible that more details and procedures will be made clear in the meantime. No need to panic, but eventually you WILL have to get 'er done.

And that's all 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. Have opinions to air, anecdotes to share, tips or tidbits to contribute? I'd like to hear from you!

Email me: La Huerita

Mexico to Electronically Screen All Southbound Vehicles Crossing the Border

In an effort to stem the southward flow of illegal weapons and money to the drug cartels, Mexico is implementing a new electronic inspection procedure for all vehicles crossing into their country. The screening procedure will weigh, measure and photograph every vehicle crossing the border, checking for abnormalities in each and every vehicle, checking for stolen or other suspect vehicles and noting any suspicious weights or unusual crossing patterns. Inspectors would take a closer look at vehicles that trigger warnings.

The plan has generated protests from business groups and political leaders on both sides of the border, who fear the move will cripple border commerce and tourism. Especially at busy border crossings such as San Ysidro and Otay Mesa in California, a Caltrans study shows that a delay of just seconds per vehicle could spell lengthy backups. The study showed that if the wait time became more than 10 seconds, then the backup on the California side of the border would be 2 1/2 to three miles long.

Customs officials have vowed to limit electronic inspections to five seconds per vehicle, down from the previously stated limit of eight seconds.

The new system, known by the acronym SIAVE, is part of a $1 billion effort to beef up customs facilities across Mexico. The system began operating at the Laredo, Texas/Nuevo Laredo main border crossing in April. During peak times at that crossing, the wait now stretches to 90 minutes. The solution there is to build five more crossing lanes.

The implementation along the entire border will be gradual, but it is expected to begin at some ports such as the Tijuana crossings as early as next month. There is no word as to when the system will be installed at the Lukeville/Sonoyta point of entry.

U.S. authorities, who have also stepped up southbound checks on the U.S. side of many border crossings since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, say their inspections will be coordinated with Mexico to avoid duplication.

As they change to the new system, Mexican customs officials say they are open to the possibility of a southbound fast-track lane for prescreened travelers and other features.

Mokil or Puerto Penasco: Segunda Parte

-by El Gitano Peñasco, "The Peñasco Gypsy"

I was glad to read that “anonymous” did some homework about last week's column "Mokil or Puerto Penasco (Part 1)" and discovered that Mokil is located in The Federated States Of Micronesia (FSM), but unlike its neighboring big island of Pohnpei (aka: Ponape), with its approximately 80 mile circumference, Mokil is an Atoll that is only about one mile long by a quarter mile wide.

Having lived on the Atoll (and Pohnpei) many years ago during a tour of duty as a Peace Corp Volunteer, I can assure travelers that to this day traveling to anywhere in The FSM is a ‘journey’ in and of itself. Yet at the same time more people from around the world travel throughout Micronesia for ‘holiday merry making’ (and business) each year than travel to Puerto Penasco.

Now bear with me for a moment as in order to get where I’m going you need to know that the FSM is just a few degrees above the equator and “comprises approximately 607 small islands in the Western Pacific spread over almost 1,700 miles (2,700 km) from east to west ”. It is located “some 2,500 miles (4,000 km) southwest of Hawaii and about 1,800 miles (2,900 km) north of eastern Australia…” with an “estimated total land area of only 270 square miles” spread out over “one million square miles of the Pacific Ocean”.

When I first traveled to Micronesia back in the mid ‘70’s I flew on a commercial Continental Airliner (aka: ‘Air Mike’) Boeing 727-100 and although Penasco now has a ‘big’ airport I’m having a difficult time seeing a time in the near future when Penasco will have, like The FSM did back some 35-40 years ago, NLT three (3) weekly flights loaded with ‘travelers’…

And what really boggles my mind is that unlike The FSM, which is literally thousands of miles away from any populated land mass, RP is basically a stone’s throw from a combined Mexico, Canada and USA market of millions and millions of would be visitors…

Next week in “Mokil or Puerto Penasco; Tercera parte” we’ll explore how business interests here in RP can capture a slice of that huge untapped market…

Stay tuned.

Viva México!

Email me: El Gitano Penasco

Russ & Naomi Black Take Promotions Para Penasco On the Road

Most business owners in Puerto Peñasco agree that our community needs more visitors to fill our resorts, our hotels, our rental homes and casitas, our restaurants and bars. More visitors to rent cars, go on our fishing boats and sunset cruises, to enjoy the beach and all of the other wonderful activities that our Beach Town has to Offer! Then to return and buy condos or homes and spend more time here.

After brain-storming with Rosie Glover and Manny Sanchez, two of the founders of the new Tourism & Visitor’s Assistance Office, Russ & Naomi Black of Penasco Recreation decided to implement a program to promote Puerto Peñasco by attending a series of tourism trade shows this fall and winter. The shows are in Nevada, Arizona and California. Each show focuses on a diverse group: (1) travel retailers such as travel agents, (2) winter visitors & Arizona travelers, and (3) our new “closer-than-ever” California audience!

The first 3-day show they will be attending is THETRADESHOW (Travel Retailing and Destination Expo) held mid-September in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is focused specifically towards 2,000 travel agents and other travel retailers in the tourism field which should get promotions off to a good start for this winter season!


This aggressive promotional campaign is called Promotions Para Penasco. The Blacks are actively requesting sponsorship from local businesses to cover the trade show costs. Sponsors may provide business cards or sales literature about their businesses, show “give-aways”, travel & safety information, items for an attractive booth display, or “comp” accommodations, meals or activities to offer travel agents who are seriously interested in visiting & experiencing Puerto Peñasco first hand!

The Blacks have traveled and/or lived in Mexico for over 25 years. Their past business included an RV Caravan business which brought hundreds of “first-time to Mexico” travelers to Peñasco and beyond. Through this experience, the Blacks comprehend the mind-set of the timid Mexico traveler. They are also experienced trade show exhibitors. They do not own resorts, hotels or restaurants or any specific local retail business and therefore, promise to be unbiased promoters of our tourist town of Puerto Peñasco. This promotional campaign should be good for everyone in our community.

For details: www.promosparapenasco.com
Or contact Russ Black at mexicoruss@gmail.com

Source: Promotions Para Penasco

Pollo Almendrado: Mexican Almond Chicken

Mexicans use almonds in a lot of recipes, often ground into a powder, and the almonds lend a subtle flavor to dishes that can be difficult for the novice to identify. Perhaps surprising to many who are not all that familiar with real Mexican cooking, cinnamon is also a frequent addition to many dishes, including several that contain almonds.

This Chicken Almendrado is one of those dishes that contains cinnamon, but if you think of cinnamon as being only for desserts then you must think again. The almonds and cinnamon combine with the other ingredients to give this delicious dish a warm and homey flavor that will have you coming back for more. I use stick cinnamon here, but if you don't have it on hand then ground cinnamon will still do the trick.

Serve this to guests at your next "special" dinner party. They'll be asking for your recipe!

Sorry, no photo today...

No Damage in Rocky Point From 6.9 Earthquake in Sea of Cortez

-by La Huerita

There was a lot of chatter yesterday, August 3, about the big earthquakes that struck in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) late in the morning. There were four earthquakes over a 45-minute period, clustered off the Baja coast near the Bahia de los Angeles (commonly referred to as BOLA by Baja aficionados). The USGS reported that all four quakes occurred at a depth of about 6 miles.

Most folks in Rocky Point didn't feel anything, though there are reports of some swaying in some areas, including in some of the highrise condos as evidenced by a comment from Amateur Hedonist at Las Palomas.

The second quake, the biggest one, struck right around 11:00AM at a whopping 6.9 on the Richter scale and was felt as far away as San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Tucson, though people in areas much closer to the event noticed nothing. There have been no reports of serious damage anywhere from BOLA to San Felipe on the Baja side, and from San Carlos to Rocky Point on the Sonora side. None of the Rocky Point resorts or condos have reported any damage.

There was definitely a whole lotta shakin' goin' on in BOLA, though.

In terms of the quakes' proximity to Puerto Penasco on the Sonoran side of the Sea of Cortez, they were centered to the northwest of Bahia de Kino (where the local residents DID experience some scary shaking). If you don't know where that is, you haven't been in Sonora long enough. (Just kidding-- Bahia de Kino is west of Hermosillo, north of San Carlos.) That's in the vicinity of 300 miles south of Rocky Point, more or less.

For what it's worth to you, the picture above shows the general location. If you want to see a really good map of the location (and see everywhere else an earthquake has hit recently on the planet) go to http://liveearthquakes.appspot.com/ and zoom in (hat tip to Terry C for the link).

As for the tsunami issue that had many people worried-- stop worrying. These earthquakes occurred along the San Andrea Fault, which is where the Pacific Plate and North American Plate slide past each other as opposed to a fault that shifts vertically. Earthquakes from this kind of fault rarely cause tsunamis, though there may be some heightened wave action locally. A good way to remember it: Plates that slide= rare tsunami; plates that go up and down= more likely tsunami. We're located along the sliding kind.

Bottom line for Rocky Point: No damage, no tsunami, have a Pacifico and chill out. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Biggest Torta Ever?

Check it out: One hundred and fifty cooks and volunteers in Mexico City on Friday, July 31, prepared a gigantic Mexican sandwich, possibly the largest of its kind ever made. (This is raw video; there is no sound)



Looks pretty good, doesn't it? Look closely and you'll see they're using pan telera (torta rolls), not bolillos. If you want to make your own homemade pan telera, I've got the recipe for you. Pan Telera: Make Your Own Torta Rolls

No Shortage of Sand on Rocky Point, Mexico's Beaches

-by La Huerita

As I've described previously in The Fabulous Beaches of Puerto Penasco, there is no shortage of sand in Rocky Point. The beaches in the area span at least 30 miles, from above Cholla Bay to San Jorge. It just depends on how far you want to go. Just look at this picture. Looks like a pretty good stretch of beach to me, and it's the same everywhere you look. And just look at how uncrowded it is!

Unlike poor Cancun, which has been having a sand shortage problem ever since Hurricane Wilma blew through in 2005. Now an article by the Associated Press is reporting on legal actions taken against a hotel for stealing sand from other hotels. I kid you not! Authorities actually roped off the resort's beach area with crime scene tape, which didn't make the tourists staying at the resort very happy.

"Today we made the decision to close this stretch of ill-gotten, illegally accumulated sand," said Patricio Patron, Mexico's attorney general for environmental protection. "This hotel was telling its tourists: 'Come here, I have sand ... the other hotels don't, because I stole it.'"

Patron said five people were detained in a raid for allegedly using pumps to move sand from the sea floor onto the beach in front of the Gran Caribe Real Hotel. The hotel is also suspected of illegally building a breakwater that impeded the natural flow of sand onto other hotels' beaches, he said.

I don't mean to gloat over the misfortune of Cancun or the tourists who have been discomfited by that scenario, I'm just pointing out that every destination has its good and bad points and that one of Rocky Point's really good points is its beaches.

What are some of our other good points? A range of accommodations from the sublime to the funky; food from 4-star restaurants to fish tacos and everything in between; live music all over the place; people who are warm and friendly and eager to please; great fishing, diving and other water sports; world class golf; ease of getting here; and a laid back atmosphere that has not yet been lost to overdevelopment and phoniness. Add your own favorite things about Rocky Point-- the list could be very long.

So come on down to Rocky Point. We've got the welcome mat out for you!

And we've got BEACHES!