The Organic Life Treasures Around Us Fashion & Trends The Real Estate Corner Voices of Old Cabos Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
Letter from the
Editor
Welcome to the first issue of The Good Life Los Cabos! A publication
dedicated to living The Good Life right here in Los Cabos. When we planned this publication the force that drove it was a strong desire to share all the little wonders that fill every day life in Los Cabos, whether you are a permanent or seasonal resident, or a first time or return visitor to Los Cabos; we hope that you will find this publication enjoyable and helpful in discovering more of the good life in this area. In our content you will find regular sections: “The Organic Life” is all about leading a ‘greener’ lifestyle and how this is possible in Los Cabos; “Of Style and Trends” will let you in on the latest trends in the area, whether fashion, interior design, music and more; “Treasures Around Us” features places, activities and little known secrets of the area that are noteworthy; the “Good Life Corner” is a section where you’ll get a glimpse to the finer things in Los Cabos that make life in this area so special; “Voices of Old Cabos” is dedicated to rescuing the tales of long time residents of Los Cabos who will share with us the wonder of Old Cabos and times gone by. We have a strong respect for Los Cabos, its environment and its people, not only because this is a place that has welcomed us and has allowed us to make many of our dreams come true; with this editorial project we hope to be able to share with you the nuances of what life in Los Cabos is all about while providing interesting and entertaining reading material that will inspire you to discover some of the magic for yourself. We want to take this opportunity to thank our contributors. They are all residents of Los Cabos who have had a long love affair with the area and have graciously agreed to share their knowledge, expertise and experience. We are looking forward to a long run sharing The Good Life – Los Cabos with you and know full well that the success of this publication depends on your comments, contributions and ideas! We do encourage all of you to share your good life experiences, comments, and tips to enrich the upcoming issues. We hope you enjoy the First Issue for Fall - Winter, 2014
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Contact
Contributors in this issue
Claudia Velo - Editor -Sabrina Lear The Organic Life -Barbara Cooperman Treasures Around Us -Staci Snider Fashion & Trends -Claudia Velo Editor
-César Chaparro -Sayuri Inukai Graphic Design -Rafael Covarrubias -Loren Iriarte -Luis Rodríguez Editorial Council
Keep in touch TheGoodLife@Discovering-Mexico.com
The Good Life Gazzete es un proyecto editorial. El uso que The Good Life Gazzete da a las imágenes es exclusivamente con fines ilustrativos y la propiedad de las mismas es de las entidades representadas o mencionadas en ellas. Queda estrictamente prohibido el uso del presente proyecto editorial con fines de lucro.
Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
THE GOOD LIFE 1
By: Sabrina Lear
While we’re renown worldwide for our award winning resorts, stellar sportfishing and championship golf, there’s another side to Los Cabos and the surrounding Cape Region. Albeit slowly, we’ve nurtured a culture focused on organic, sustainable living. It really began in 1985 with the visionary Del Cabo Cooperative, a regional pioneer in sustainable agriculture. A major exporter of organic produce to US and foreign markets and certified USDA Organic by Oregon Tilth in 1992, today Del Cabo supports over 400 local farm families. Del Cabo’s hard won success fostered the growth of regional sustainable farming, and contributed to the founding of San Jose del Cabo’s successful organic market. Most visitors to Los Cabos today are surprised to learn that back in 1990, one acclaimed hotel’s executive chef was cultivating an on-property herb and vegetable garden, raising Nubian dairy goats and garnering laurels from James Beard long before “farm to fork” was fashionable at Land’s End. While the revered Corridor property has given way to new development, its chef, and his sway, has held. When the Los Cabos boom hit in the mid 1990s, our goat raising chef, organic farmers, and tight knit wellness community found like-minded company in the stellar talent arriving to build, staff and support our legendary resorts. By 2000, exclusive resorts boasting exquisite spa treatments using local botanical ingredients, and Mexican chefs trained in the art of “Alta Cocina Mexicana,” put Los Cabos on the map as one of Latin America’s “must do” elite destinations. From a hopeful handful of us back in 2004 to today’s bustling organic markets at Huerta Maria and Mar Adentro, we’re tending the land to remain viable and productive, and celebrating each season with the bounty it bears. Organic culinary cooking classes, composting and recycling workshops, and holistic retreats add balance and substance to our lives. We become more mindful of what living the good life really means. So, if you’re accustomed to a sustainable, environmentally friendly lifestyle back home, can you live it here? While leaving organic grocers, curbside recycling and your trusted wellness coach for the unknown may seem daunting; Los Cabos’ vibrant “green network” can show you the way. Asking the right questions and exploring your options through word of mouth and social networking is a good place to start.
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One premium, highly successful resort property in Cabo San Lucas is embracing the idea that today, with close to 90-million Baby Boomers in the US and Canada alone, many are demanding more from gated ocean view communities: Community centers with lots to do, a well stocked organic market and garden, walking trails and bike paths, and parks for their children and grandchildren. For some, that second home will see them into retirement. Copala at Quivira just may be the place.
By celebrating the art of living well, supporting and encouraging our local and regional providers, and seeking the company of those who share your values, you’ll thrive. And should you choose Los Cabos, you’ll have what you need.
It worked for me. Stay tuned to learn more about how it may work for you. Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
THE GOOD LIFE
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RES A
US
U
EAS R T
OUND R
CERRITOS The charm and fascination of
the Los Cabos area includes many fun and interesting places outside of, but nearby. Interesting day or half day trips to these fun, and sometimes, historical sites makes vacationing or living in Los Cabos worthwhile. One of the least known attractions just 45 minutes away from Cabo San Lucas is Playa Los Cerritos (Los Cerritos Beach), officially called Santa Lucia de los Cerritos in Pescadero. Cerritos Beach is a beautiful, sweeping expanse of pristine beach just south of the farming community of Pescadero. Cerritos is a well-known surf spot with a beach break. To visit Cerritos Beach it is recommended that you rent a car for the day. And yes, before you ask, the roads are safe. There is now a new four lane highway from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos passing the entrance to Cerritos on the way. The turnoff is at the top of a hill at about Km. 66. Watch the markers as there is no sign. Drive about 1.7 miles to the beach area. The drive from Cabo San Lucas is an amazing ride. The desert abounds on your right. And on your left you will see the Pacific Ocean in all of its glory. The dark ultramarine blue water kisses the shore with a turquoise blue.
Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
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THE GOOD LIFE
Cliffs are at the western end of the beach with a crescent shaped beach facing the ocean. Located between the hotel and the Cerritos Surf Colony is THE Cerritos Beach Club. The Beach Club is right on the sand and serves excellent breakfast, lunch and dinner, it opens from 7am to 8pm. There is live music on Sundays afternoons. At Cerritos Beach you can also find two surf shops, surf lessons, board rentals, surf contests and celebrities such as Rob Lowe, Adam Sandler, Tommy Lee, Sammy Hagar, among others, who make THE Cerritos Beach Club a fun place to spend the day, but head back to Cabo if you are looking for night life. Cerritos Beach is the only safe swimming and surfing beach on the Pacific for hundreds of miles. However, like the ocean anywhere, please use caution!
If you would like to spend more time at Cerritos Beach engaging in surfing lessons or just relaxing there are overnight accommodations. If you prefer to buy and cook your own food….the Hacienda has two full kitchens and an outdoor BBQ. Each suite has a mini bar/kitchenette with a microwave, coffee pot, toaster and a mini-refrigerator. The Surf Colony studios and one-bedroom villas have kitchenettes, and the two and four-bedroom villas have full kitchens. If during your stay in Paradise you decide to look for a dreamland of peace and tranquility where natural beauty resides; the place to go is Santa Lucia de Los Cerritos, best known as “Cerritos”.
THE GOOD LIFE
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Real Estate Deals are Still Available in the Early Recovery of the Los Cabos Market The real estate market in Los Cabos is on the rise however, there are still excellent deals
out there that make it a buyer’s dream, and this is especially true for those looking to invest in the hottest, most exclusive tourist destination in Mexico while taking advantage of a recovering market that is coming out of a slump and where bargains are still available.
The last nine months have confirmed what many national and international financial publications have been claiming for a while; Mexico rode out the worldwide economic downturn better than many other countries and, while things are still a bit sluggish in the US real estate market, they are picking up much faster in Mexico. There are several factors that contributed to this and perhaps one of the most important ones is that we are living a moment in which thousands of American retirees are looking to make the most of their retirement funds by relocating south of the border. This is particularly noticeable in Los Cabos where several factors come into play to make it one of the hottest, fastest growing real estate markets in Mexico. Its geographic location that makes it easy to access from the US by land, air and sea is one very important consideration that has promoted the return of US buyers.
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THE GOOD LIFE
In the midst of this recovering market trend the fact remains that most of the best deals are usually in older properties, however the good news are that Los Cabos has a particular real estate offer that brings the best of two worlds together to make it a must-see opportunity for those who are seriously considering the purchase of a home in this area. The Copala community consists of one, two, three and four-bedroom condos and free-standing homes. The gated community has swimming pools, BBQ areas, wide streets, parks, beach club, gym and spa facilities, and more. All construction is tied in to the Mexican contemporary architectural style with red tile roofs, wrought-iron and cantera-stone and is designed to include all the comforts discerning buyers have come to expect including garages, storage space, modern kitchen with living areas that are ideal to either relax or entertain. Copala is part of the master planned community
Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
of Quivira, which is located in the heart of the 2,000-acre Pueblo Bonito Sunset development and, as such, residents at Copala will enjoy access to selected Pueblo Bonito amenities, including the stunning Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course;The Quivira Golf Club.
Visit
www.copalaloscabos.com and schedule a tour.
See our ad on the back cover.
The location and characteristics of Copala make it an excellent investment and, to top it all, the developer is offering a unique a 10-year financing plan that buyers can access regardless of their credit score. If that doesn’t get a buyer’s attention this will, the down payment options are still extremely flexible, because in the rapidly changing real estate market of Los Cabos, Copala is a consolidated project that is still offering attractive prices and payment programs. Don’t miss out on this opportunity, the houses, and condos at Copala are being offered at competitive prices and excellent terms developer financing is available to make it even easier to own a home at Copala. Become an owner of this spectacular community and take advantage of both savings and financing. The Snell Group specializes in real estate, luxur y living, commercial and investment oppor tunities and real estate of all genres within Los Cabos, Mexico.
For more information, call (624)173-6146 or email: info@copalaloscabos.com
Th e
Snel l
Gro up
The Shoppes at Palmilla info@snellrealestate.com · in Los Cabos (624) 105-8100 · toll-free U.S. 1-866-650-5845 SNE LLRE ALE STAT E .CO M
THE GOOD LIFE
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Fashion & Trends Photography Copyright Staci Snider
By: Staci Snider
Is there a fashion style in Los Cabos? This is a question that’s coming up more and more these days. As the town progresses there is
more of a population influx of nationals and foreigners bringing with them a fusion for fashion and style all of its own. Many of the locals who have emigrated here are from major cities, whether it is Mexico City, Los Angles, NYC, London, or Guadalajara and they are accustomed to high fashion, trends and style. However, when you live in a desert climate with an average yearly temperature of 80 plus degrees Fahrenheit you must adapt your wardrobe to the surroundings to live the good life comfortably. This is where Los Cabos is quickly developing and defining a unique fashion style.
Just because a person is no longer living in the city doesn’t mean they lose their passion for fashion. It is quite the contrary. There is a demand for quality fashion for both men and women, tourists and locals, who know and appreciate the finer things in life. Los Cabos is a laid back Mexican beach town with a cutting edge personality. Each year Los Cabos raises the bar in becoming a more cosmopolitan community, with new businesses constantly opening providing more goods and services and yet managing to keep that small town charm that we all know and love. Today, there is more quality shopping options available in Cabo that meet the needs of the consumer. The key is providing garments that meet the individual’s needs, work with the climate and personify the pulse of the town. Los Cabos is garnering the attention of the world becoming a sought after destination beach paradise to visit and/or live. More international designer boutiques have opened instilling a level of luxury and will continue to open as the town becomes more cosmopolitan. This service is important to elevate the omnipresence of culture in our town.
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Photography Copyright Staci Snider
The Cabo lifestyle is very special and just became easier as things are more accessible and readily available. There are more visionaries propelling the area increasing the potential for growth and quality of life. Fashion is one of these advantageous pockets with more boutiques opening in Luxury Avenue, Shoppes at Palmilla and El Dorado. Staci Snider Fashion Boutique is a women’s designer atelier that has seen great success. The fashion label, originating from NYC, has brought high fashion to this beach community. The brand compliments and emulates the Cabo lifestyle, with a European sensibility, eclectic elegance, and feminine detailing. Providing true NYC designer fashion in suitable resort fabrics with a fashion forward vision. To live comfortably in Baja it is necessary to dress in lightweight breathable fabrics to stay cool under the intense sunrays. It is this combination that has caught the attention of international shoppers in creating a brand following for Staci Snider. To view the designer’s work visit
www.stacisnider.com
Photography Copyright Staci Snider
THE GOOD LIFE
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The Real Estate Corner Investing in Los Cabos Real Estate
Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
In the past 20 years the value of Los Cabos costal land has increased from $20US a square meter to $2,000US a square meter. The proximity of Baja to the US and California in general, has triggered a booming real estate market, with no end in sight. The Baja peninsula, with its pristine blue skies, fresh air and sparkling turquoise waters, promises land investment opportunities. In real estate, the three biggest factors determining success are said to be location, location, location. While this is very true, in today’s real estate market, the biggest factor determining return is timing. At a time when the real estate market in the US is just beginning to recover but still fairly stagnant, investors are seeking opportunities near shore to invest or diversify their portfolio. With over 30 million people in California, the Baja Peninsula and specifically Los Cabos area promises to be the next generation boom. Cabo San Lucas is the fastest growing resort area in Mexico and North America, growing at 17% annually. Los Cabos now boasts Costco, Wal-Mart, a Home Depot and many more franchise stores from the U.S. making living in Los Cabos easy and affordable. In addition, the four lane highway from Cabo San Lucas to La Paz via Todos Santos is now compete. To add to that the toll road connecting the Los Cabos Airport to Cabo San Lucas is due to be completed next year. A Los Cabos real estate investment can be made within a gated community development, a beachfront luxury house, a spacious villa with a wonderful ocean view, or one of many condos available. A real estate investment in Los Cabos is not just a foreign investment, but a great international investment. A Cabo San Lucas investment home is like buying insurance, with appreciation annually. Prices at all levels give you the opportunity to make real estate investment in Los Cabos something you will never regret.
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Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
A wide price range insure the opportunity for you to be happy with your selection as well as provide an appreciation with your Los Cabos real estate investment property or investment home. In today’s market, select sellers are offering short term seller financing making investment even easier. Los Cabos has transformed over the last decade to become Mexico’s most sought after region for national and international financial investment. Now is the perfect time to buy in Los Cabos since prices still remain about 30% less than a few years ago. Many of the high-end properties are available at below replacement cost. If proposed new taxes on real estate come to fruition, new home construction will slow resulting in remaining inventory prices to escalate, which makes now the best time to invest. Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
THE GOOD LIFE 11
A Glorious New Course by Jack Nicklaus Los Cabos has been known for many years as Mexico’s top golf destination and it can be said that Jack Nicklaus was the man that put this resort area on the golfing map, with close to 100-holes designed by Jack and his design team. Nicklaus’ first golf course in Cabo was Palmilla Golf Club, which opened back in 1993, followed a year later by the world-ranked Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol, and then El Dorado in 1999; and while Los Cabos continues to be one of the world’s premiere golf destinations, it is about to hit a whole new level with Mr. Nickalus’ latest signature course. The latest and most shiny jewel in the Nicklaus crown is the Quivira Golf Club and avid golfers are already salivating copiously at the promise of what is, in the words of the designers, “a most exciting golf experience”.
Construction is complete on the new 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at the exclusive master planned residential development of Quivira. Located at the tip of the Baja peninsula, less than a mile away from the very point where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez, the Quivira Golf Club enjoys a unique setting where large dunes, expansive sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, narrow canyons and the beautiful desert-style vegetation come together to offer an unforgettable golf experience. With seven holes that play to or along the ocean, The Quivira Golf Club has the most oceanfront play of any course in Los Cabos and is the only course with breathtaking ocean views from every hole.
Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
12 THE GOOD LIFE
Photography: Discovering Mexico Image Bank
From the beginning the Quivira Golf Club was planned to become a course that took advantage of the natural topography that the master plan offered and; in the first press conference about the course Jack Nicklaus showed his intentions to honor Mother Nature’s plan by saying: “We have an opportunity here to let this unique and diverse property dictate a course design to take advantage of the natural topography. In the end, the combination of our team and the canvas Mother Nature provided us will allow us to create some of the more spectacular holes you will find in or outside of Mexico.” The course is now ready to play and while details on memberships are yet to be released it is known that owners of the first residential development being built in Quivira will have access to membership benefits. The development is known as Copala at Quivira Los Cabos and it is currently offering freestanding homes and condos at pre-construction prices. If you are looking for the newest and most exciting golf experience in Los Cabos contact the folks at Copala to find out about getting to be one of the first to play what promises to be the crowning jewel in the Nicklaus legacy in Los Cabos.
THE GOOD LIFE 13
CABO UNSTOPPABLE
Photography Copyright The Golden Zone
Rising after Odile As Mexico prepared to celebrate its independence Hurricane Odile made landfall over Los Cabos
on Sunday, September 14. Odile’s direct impact to Los Cabos on a Sunday night right before the long weekend to celebrate Mexico’s independence day brought together a series of elements that amplified the effect of the hurricane and turned it into a situation of social unrest which was fueled by a lack of information and a void in the immediate action of local, state and federal authorities caused by the holiday and the difficulty to reach Los Cabos due to weather conditions. The massive damage to the electric power and telecommunication networks made communications nearly impossible for the first few days and things looked grim. For little over 48 hours the news of the devastation made it look like it would be a long while before Los Cabos got back on its feet. Enter the quick reaction of Mexico’s federal government; on Thursday, September 18 Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto arrived to Los Cabos along with close to 8,000 elements of the Mexican Army, Navy, Federal Police and Gendarmerie that set to the task of restoring the safety conditions and reestablishing the infrastructure in our tourist destination. In his address to the Los Cabos community President Peña Nieto confirmed the commitment of the government to restore Los Cabos to its place as the most exclusive resort destination in Latin America and the stage was set for the fastest hurricane recovery effort in Mexico’s history. By the end of the first week thousands of federal employees from CFE had arrived to Los Cabos to repair the electric power network, which had suffered the most devastating blow in CFE’s history with close to 90% damage to its infrastructure. In 18 days power was completely restored, that is that 7,963 knocked down electric posts were reinstalled. 1,351 damaged transformers were replaced. 108 damaged circuits were restored. The repair of 534 transmission structures that were knocked down will be achieved in a record 90 days with 28% of those repaired in 18 days True, Odile was
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Photography by: Román Romero
the strongest hurricane to hit Los Cabos since 1958 and it tore things up; however the speed of recovery has been astounding. Today, a sense of safety has been restored in Los Cabos, there are permanent patrols by public safety elements and besides fiscal incentives being announced to expedite the economic recovery of Los Cabos and for the infrastructure to be restored within the next 120 days, the people of Los Cabos have all taken to the streets to clean and repair and make Cabos Shine as never before.
The Secretary of Tourism launched a promotional campaign to bring tourists back to Los Cabos before year end and the name of the campaign could not be more fitting: Cabo Unstoppable.... Yes, we are! But don’t take my word for it, come and witness for yourself how when the wills of many come together no natural disaster can keep a community down for long. Plus, let’s face it, in Cabo when we do something we do it with gusto and it has a tendency to shine.
Photography by: Giancarlo Velo
Photography by: Román Romero
Photography by: Giancarlo Velo
THE GOOD LIFE 15
Profile Michael Schaible Baja Properties
When Michael Schaible’s boss sent him to Los Cabos to scout the area, the last thing in his mind was that after a week Michael would return to resign his job, steal his secretary and start a whole new life. During the trip down to encounter his new life the name of Baja Properties emerged and with that Michael opened the first real estate company in Los Cabos back in 1986.
Michael has been in Los Cabos for 28 years and in this time he has consolidated Baja Properties, which now has six offices across the state that offer full brokerage services. In Michael’s own words Baja Properties is a one-stop solution that can handle everything from sales and purchases to finding contractors and builders and brokering all kinds of real estate transactions. According to Michael, Cabo has many things to catch the attention of those interested in investing in Real Estate, other than the most luxurious and exclusive developments in all of Mexico, including the incredible weather, the beautiful surroundings where mountains, desert and sea meet and a community that is always welcoming and, in Michael’s opinion, is one of the most important attraction of Cabos. In Michael’s expert opinion the current buyers are looking for a deal and financing, but most importantly they are looking for a second home that they can enjoy with family and friends and that can provide them with a lifestyle that turns life in Cabos into a reward for their hard work and smart investment. Michael has worked in creative ways to help his clients find, not only the good deals that are still out there, but also financing options that guarantee safe transactions for all parties involved. The one thing that has posed a greater challenge is finding new product since most of the current offers are in older products, however he does mention that there are noteworthy real estate offers that can meet all the requirements and expectations of the new wave of buyers that are turning their eyes to Los Cabos.
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For Michael, Cabos is home – he’s been here half his life – and while he remembers the good old days when life was more relaxed and there were no stop lights, he also acknowledges that now things are a lot more comfortable than they used to be while the town has managed to keep its charm. Now Michael gets to spend his days sharing his love for the place with others and while doing it he offers them an opportunity to live an incredibly good life, right here in Los Cabos. Yes, life is good!
Voices of Old cabos Thomas Ritchie One of Cabo San Lucas’ founding fathers
Ana Sandoval can trace her roots back to the original families of Los Cabos and of course she has many tales about the way things used to be in Cabo, but when I interviewed her, it was her lineage and her heritage that took the stage. She arrived dressed in white looking cool and chic and right away it became clear that she is proud of her family and its history. After a few minutes she decided that before going into the way life used to be in Los Cabos for her in the 50’s and 60’s she needed to talk about the man who helped build Cabo San Lucas and who is the forefather of the Sandoval family; and so she told me about her great great-great-grand-father; Thomas Ritchie, a British boy who arrived to Los Cabos in the late 1820’s at only 17 years of age. He came to these shores on board his uncle’s merchant marine vessel. The ship was en-route to Australia and as luck would have it, a hurricane forced it to seek safe harbor in Cabo San Lucas. After three days in Cabo San Lucas, Ritchie knew this was where he wanted to spend the rest of his life and when his uncle’s ship was ready to sail Thomas hid from his uncle to stay, and stay he did. By 1867, J. Ross Browne, a writer for Harper’s New Monthly magazine visited Cabo San Lucas and wrote about the by then famous, Capt. Ritchie and said: “Captain Ritchie, an old Englishman, lives here; he is the only European settler on the Cape. I can not but make passing mention of him, since he is one of the institutions of the country”; and continues to say “No man is better known on the coast of the Pacific than ¨Old Ritchie¨. Ana tells us that this made perfect sense since at the time Thomas Ritchie was the only person in San Lucas who spoke English and many of the ships that arrived on these shores back then were either American or English vessels. The Harper’s article shows a drawing of Ritchie’s house and Anna supposes that it was located where Club Cascadas now sits. He was a very generous man who welcomed everybody in his home and he was the supplier of fresh water, meat and food for all the ships that stopped in San Lucas bay. At one time, his property was confiscated and he was thrown into prison in Mazatlan. When
an English warship came to replenish its supplies to San Lucas they heard of this and it sailed to Mazatlan and threatened to bomb the city if Ritchie was mistreated or abused anew. This situation caught the attention of the Mexican government, as it feared a foreign invasion in the distant territory of Baja California. Shortly thereafter, Mexican President, Benito Juárez ordered a census of all Mexican citizens in the territory and the census showed ten heads of family in Cabo San Lucas, one of them being Thomas Ritchie, all of them received land titles, including Captain Ritchie who at the time became a Mexican citizen. Ritchie became the owner of 900 hectares of the Ranch of Cabo San Lucas. Thomas married twice and his granddaughter from his second marriage, Inés Gomez Ritchie, later married Rafael Sandoval, they were Ana’s grandparents. There is a fascinating story to be told about Inés and Rafael, but we will save that for the next issue……
THE GOOD LIFE 17
The Good Life Corner
Rámuri
An Unexpected Pleasure
By: C Velo Photography Copyright Rámuri
When I first heard of a restaurant/brewery in Cabo San Lucas I was intrigued; not only did the name had a ring that resonated in a way that seemed to pull me to the place, but knowing that the master-mind behind the restaurant was Edith Jiménez of Edith’s and The Office I was certain the quality of the food was meant to be more than satisfactory, add to that the opportunity of trying beer brewed on-site and the place became a must.
As it turned out, my expectations were not only met, but they were surpassed by much. It so happens that the beer at Rámuri is not just another pleasant homebrewed concoction, instead they are masterfully designed beers made with original recipes for beers of little known styles in Mexico while adding very traditional Mexican flavors to those styles. The result was beers like “Lágrimas Negras” an oatmeal –based Stout dressed with the most Mexican of flavors, cocoa, which was considered as the food of the Gods by Pre-Hispanic Mexicans and “Batari Chonami” a malty London Brown infused with piloncillo and berries. There are a total of 15 beers on the menu of which, five are brewed in the Tijuana facility and bottled and ten are brewed on-site. Sergio Michel is Rámuri’s Master Brewer and General Director and his passion for bringing extraordinary beer to the local market is the driving force behind the spectacular beer that Rámuri’s patrons will enjoy. The secret is in Sergio’s gastronomic background, which has allowed him to become familiarized with the various culinary currents that crisscross the region and have fed his creativity to design recipes that include elements that reflect the flavor palette found in traditional Mexican cuisine to give distinctive notes to the beers manufactured at Rámuri. These flavor accents include a touch of smoky guajillo pepper, the molasses like sweetness of piloncillo, the soft tones of authentic vanilla from Papantla in Veracruz, the aromatic notes of coffee from Oaxaca and the heady flavor of cocoa to gift the palate and surprise us in every drink. Rámuri’s adventure began with Sergio’s curiosity to learn more about beer and unmask its mysteries and that led him down a path that earned his beers accolades and awards from the experts. As luck would have it, when the beers produced by Sergio and his team in Tijuana began to catch the attention of more people, the opportunity to join forces with restaurateur Edith Jiménez in Los Cabos presented itself and that is how Rámuri became to be a pub with a twist that offers, not only delicious food and amazing micro-brewed beers but outstanding service in a beautiful location.
Photography Copyright Rámuri
Photography Copyright Rámuri
As I said before, when I heard the name Rámuri, it resonated as a word that meant something. I associated it with the Rarámuri or Tarahumaras of the northwestern part of Mexico, the natives who live up on the Sierra and are renowned for their running abilities and when I spoke to Sergio, he confirmed that the name evolved from that. As we talked I was fascinated by the way Sergio has managed to reflect his philosophy and the vision for Rámuri in their logo which is all about letting things flow in life, while traversing the space with light feet, and being protected by our own good intentions so that our dreams can take flight and we can shine with our own light. I know it sounds like quite a dream, but I invite you to try Rámuri and see why it all makes sense.
Rámuri is located on:
Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas, the main avenue in Cabo San Lucas, you can’t miss the building and don’t worry about parking, they have valet service and it actually works. The phone for reservations is (624) 105-0163.
THE GOOD LIFE 19