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Issue No. 74
Free / Gratis
Artist StudIo Tour February 12th 10am—4pm in Los Barriles
Ever wonder what your favorite artist’s
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studio looks like? Ever wonder where they get the inspiration for the treasures they create? Well, here is your chance to see the home studios of about 15 different artisans who reside in the Los Barriles area. Catch a glimpse of where it all becomes a master piece and see what new things they are creating. Artists on the tour vary from fabric, wood, bead or soft goods, oil and water color paintings, ceramics to name a few.. Tickets are only $5.00 or 80 pesos and are pre-sold at Baja Beach company or you can buy them, day of the show at Homes and Land of Baja Real Estate Office (next to Campestre Triny Restaurant). Tickets are sold on day of show from 9:30am—2pm. Always in conjunction with Valentines Day, the Artist Studio Tour, in its 6th year, is presented by Asociacion de Artes, an official Mexican Non-Profit
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Corporation, devoted to bringing art, sports and other activities to the East Cape area. The Asociacion de Artes provides school supplies for 19 East Cape area schools, Saturday art and crafts for LB students, the Summer program Cursos de Verano , kids baseball camp for the local communities, and the Spring Art Festival, just to name a few of the projects supported by the Asociacion de Artes. Visit our Website: www:eastcapeartes.com
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Advertising in East Capers
Advertising in the East Capers gets the word out about your business AND your ad money supports the 3 week 'Cursos de Verano' summer school, for over 120 local children, provides art supplies for 18 East Cape public schools, baseball camps, just to name a few things the Asociacion de Artes does! In addition to space in the printed version, your color ad appears in the online version at no additional cost. You can download the 2015/16 Advertising Kit by visiting our website at: www.eastcapearts.com.
Tax-deductable Contributions to the Asociación de Artes The Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C., Los Barriles, B.C. Sur, Mexico is a legal non-profit Mexican corporation not affiliated with any other organization, association, club or business.
The Asociación is in full compliance with the terms of the NAFTA agreement of January 1, 1994. As such, contributions made to the Asociación de Artes are tax-deductable in the United States, Mexico and Canada. For more information visit: www.eastcapearts.com or the NAFTA Website at: http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-tradeagreements/north-american-free-trade-agreementnafta.
Volunteers Needed! The Asociación de Artes needs volunteers to help support their programs that bring the arts to the local communities and the schools. To learn more about these programs, visit: www.eastcapearts.com. If you would like to volunteer, send an email to: eastcapearts@gmail.com.
Call for Articles East Capers is looking for fiction and true stories about our region and items that affect our residents. If you are interested in submitting articles, recipes, stories or your personal experiences in Baja, email your 1,000-words or less article to: eastcapersmagazine@gmail.com
East Capers Periódico Publisher Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C., Los Barriles, BCS, Mexico Editor Christine Courtright Copy Editor Pako Ford Circulation Brian Cummings Advertising Kathy Obenshain Denise Linnet Contributors Ann Hazzard Renee Lagloire Jorge Bergin Chris Courtright Kim Schoenfield Steve Reed Christene Constock Adam Greenberg Steve Chism Connie Heinen Theresa Comber Sefi Held Walter S. Zapotoczny Jr. Megan O’Leary East Cape Guild Joann Hyslop Veronica Velasco John David Lionel Brooke
Printer Imprenta Ciudad Los Niños, La Paz, BCS, Mexico To learn about Ciudad Los Niños, visit their website at: http://ciudadninoslapaz.org/english/home.htm ——————————— The opinions expressed within the articles in East Capers are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C. Newsletter Email Address eastcapersmagazine@gmail.com
Thank You!
This publication is possible with the help of the board members of the Asociación de Artes and members of the community.
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Festival de Artes The 23nd Annual
Festival de Artes to be held at the beautiful Hotel Palmas de Cortez from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday, March 20, 2016 This popular event sponsored by the Asociación de Artes on the East Cape, is known as the premier showcase for local artists who display and sell their original art. The food court will feature local restaurants cooking all your favorite festival foods! And of course, our great beer garden and bar that is second to none. On the main stage, will feature BLUZ EXPOLSION from LaPaz with their great mix of music.
History of the Festival
Funds from the Festival de Artes go to support the community activities of the Asociación de Artes which include: Arts and education supplies for East Cape schools, Sponsorship and participation in the Los Barriles "Cursos de Verano" summer vacation program, Local Artist Studio tours, Baseball Camp for town in the surrounding communities and our ever popular Saturday Arts and Crafts at the DIF for the local children.
In February of 1992, a small group of residents in the East Cape region of BCS, Mexico formed a committee to organize a spring “Festival de Artes.” The purpose of the event was to give local artists an opportunity to show and sell their original work and to raise money to support art programs in the schools. Twenty four artists attended with their original work and 250 members of the community came to enjoy the event. At the end of the day, $2500 pesos had been raised to purchase art supplies for the Los Barriles Elementary School. It was a modest but encouraging beginning. The spring “Festival de Artes” has grown over the years, attracting artists and visitors from Los Cabos , La Paz and beyond
Accommodations ar e available at Hotel Palmas De Cortez or Hotel Playa Del Sol. Call 624-141-0044 or US 877-777-8862 for reservations. Booth fees ar e $450 mxn/ $30 usd paid in advance Prior to March 15, 2016 or $550 mxn/ $35 usd, the day of event providing there is space available!! Pre-Pay locations ar e as follows: 1. Baja Beach Company in Los Barriles at Plaza del Pueblo. 2. Baja Books & Maps, San Jose del Cabo 3. Saturday Market at the new park in Los Barriles For complete vendor information and applications, go to www.eastcapearts.com
Questions email: festivaldeartes22@gmail.com February/March
By 1998, the number of artists had tripled and the number of visitors had climbed to over 1500. Funds earned by the event were now able to buy more art supplies for the schools. In 1999 the committee decided to form a private Mexican non-profit organization (an Asociacion Civil) and establish a formal Board of Directors. The Asociacion de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C. Has been developing programs for the benefit of East Cape communities along the Sea of Cortez ever since. 3
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Lord of the Wind 2016 By: Steve Reed
The Sixth Annual Lord of the Wind Competition closed on Sunday night, January 17th with an Awards Banquet at the Los Barriles Laguna Park. The six-day event moved rapidly from competitor Registration through qualifying heats earlier in the week and finished with the Finals Sunday. The finalists pulled out all the stops competing for $22,000
of the best of the best competitors, the racing site was well prepared and fan friendly, and the wind obliged and blew. Professional images were provided by Icarus Sailing Media who filmed all events and created fresh streaming video every day for the LOW website, and Lori Makabe Photography who shot and posted action stills daily as well. Many thanks to the members of Rotario de Los Barriles, the eighty volunteers from our community, the vendors and all support staff for a job that was fun and well done. Special thanks goes to Susan Evans, who recruited and organized the volunteers, and to Carlene Lokey, who solicited and organized the auctions, and to Jack Lentz, Steve and Barbara Fowler, Ian Gibson and Ken Phillips who together organized and successfully pulled off the largest fund raiser of our year. The week of festivities generated $11,000 USD from auctions at the social events and attracted much more revenue for the community. The proceeds from the LOW Competition go to support
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USD prize money and the prestige of being named the Lord and Lady of the Wind for our 2016 season.
Photo by Lori Makabe
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Beginning with 67 contenders, the leaders entered the last day neck and neck. A large crowd cheered their favorites on in the Slalom Final (pro class), Slalom Final (open class), Big Air Final (pro class), and Big Air Final (open class). Once the wind and white caps settled Sunday, the new champions of the 2016 Lord of the Wind IKA Kite Foil North American Championships were crowned at Laguna Park. The 2016 Lord of the Wind is a repeat performance by Julien Kerneur and the Lady of the Wind is our own Los Barriles local, Cynthia Brown. Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up. To view the complete results by class and competition, as well as great action visuals, just follow this link: http:// lordofthewindbaja.com/daily-results/ The event flexed its muscles with polished professionalism and sheer numbers. Sanctioned by the International Kiteboarding Association as the North American Kite Foil Championship, races attracted 67
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the Los Barriles Technical Center, where youth may use computers and access the internet for free, with over 100,000 hours logged since it opened. “This year's LOW was the best ever,” said Chris Geyer, President of the Los Barriles Rotary. “A record number of competitors provided our community with a tremendous event. Much thanks goes to our volunteers, our vendors and our organizing team as well as thousands of spectators who made this event so successful. We live in a community that supports our nonprofits and Club Rotario of Los Barriles is thankful to be a part of this family.” Photos by Lori Makabe
Lord and Lady of the Wind
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CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PAST By: John David Lionel Brooke
Time - dotted with the connect the dots Of events, and actions, and crisscrossed space Each tiny fragment of an instant lingering Like a hole—or a kiss Imprints on the mantel of life, reflecting back The feelings and passions and hopes of lost moments Where we moved on and something else moved in Like a thief—or a vision Interconnection of living breathing matter We revolve around each other—thinking only yourself Egocentric and strange and important and meaningful Like a Pulitzer—or a Nobel Here in the quiet webs of us we feel the vibrations And sensations of long lost happenings that still Cause panging and desire and regret and sorrow Like a sin—or a smile We sit in the dark having conversations with the past Social in every way but reality—and we listen To lessons that at the time we were too deaf to hear Like those from parents—or our children We look back to each junction of streaming lines We trace the static realism and dynamic repercussions We think back to smiles, tears, soft voices and hard Like sand—or screams Our conversations with the past are so often one-sided No other blip on our chronology seems to care So we reflect on our own thoughts - try to find sense Like school—or religion We find answers that only stick to our own reason We answer questions that nobody else knows or hears We find truths that never last in the real world Like faith—or science Perpetual repetition—doomed to repeat history Forever and ever in the hell of a mind rent by regret And the conversations with the past are hollow Like drums—or souls Conversations with the past - lessons in reverse And we find ourselves still talking in black rooms To ourselves.
I am a Seenager. (Senior teenager)
Author Unknown I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don't have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don't have a curfew. I have a driver's license and my own car. I have ID that gets me into bars and the wine store…. I like the wine store best. The people I hang around with, are not scared of getting pregnant. They aren’t scared of anything. They have been blessed to live this long, why be scared? …..And I don't have acne. Life is Good! Also, you will feel much more intelligent after reading this, if you are a Seenager. Brains of older people are slow because they know so much. People do not decline mentally with age, it just takes them longer to recall facts, because they have more information in their brains. Scientists believe this also makes you hard of hearing as it puts pressure on your inner ear. Much like the way your computer struggles as the hard drive gets full, so too, do humans take longer to access information when their brains are full. Researchers say this slowing down process is not the same as cognitive decline. The human brain works slower in old age, said Dr. Michael Ramscar, but only because we have stored more information over time. The brains of older people do not get weak. On the contrary, they simply know more. Also, older people often go to another room to get something and when they get there, they stand there wondering what they came for. It is NOT a memory problem, it is nature's way of making older people do more exercise!
Joels Palm Trees and Desert Plants Royal Palms or Coco Palms 10’ – 30’ tall Zabals Fan Palms Terotes Cactus Cecas or Elephant Foots
~ Delivered and Planted! ~ Over 200 Palms to Choose From
ronlaribera@yahoo. com
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Expatriated Americans... or ...As the Palapa Turns, Down East Cape Way
A Tribute to Steve Chism from Agave Sunsets 2001 By: Ann Hazard Expatriated Americans. Beginning in my 20s I fantasized about living in Mexico. I had to raise my kids first, but I did get there, three decades later. For those of you who live in Baja, people always ask you, why? Why do you want to live in Mexico? We all know that we do it for a million different reasons—but mostly because we can’t help ourselves. Something deep inside an expatriate relaxes once he or she finds that perfect spot on the planet. The simpler lifestyle, closer to the whims and moods of Mother Nature, beckons. Instead of being stuck inside a cubicle, a car or a condo ... you can live on the beach, or within sight of it. The lack of pretense beckons too. In Baja you can reinvent yourself. You can be whoever and whatever you want to be—as long as you’re cool about it. It doesn’t matter if you were a banker, a truck driver or a drywall hanger in your previous life. In Baja, you’re accepted for you. The labels are left behind—with the three-piece suits and the pantyhose. The expatriates I’ve known over the years have something else in common. They’re almost uniformly eccentric—in one way or another. Check out some of the synonyms for this word and you’ll pretty much have a rundown on the cast of characters you’ll find living in the outposts of Baja. How about this: kook, nut, oddball, rugged individualist, renegade, nonconformist, freak, maverick, and weirdo. Expatriates all pretty much march to the beat of their own inner drummers ... and they like living somewhere where their idiosyncrasies are not merely put up with, but applauded. One of my favorite expatriates is Steve Chism. He’s about 10 years older than I am and lives in Los Barriles, near the Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort where he’s worked since 1981. He has (at least) eight dogs. He has really long gray hair and a really long gray beard. He’s wiry, he’s funny and he’s a walking encyclopedia. He spends a good part of every day during fishing season in a little shack right on the beach in front of the hotel, repairing fishing gear and renting masks, snorkels and fins, jet skis, ATVs and kayaks to the hotel patrons. Most of the time, he’s reading. He has a library in that beach shack that boggles the mind. It includes vintage Baja books, maps, and books on the area’s history, its geography, birds, plant life and fish. He knows them all inside out. I met him early (make that way too early) on a cold, blustery February morning in 1982. I was with my boyfriend at the time. It was my first trip to Cabo and it was super windy the whole time. But we wanted to go fishing and
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my dad had told us about this new hotel, the Spa. . He said to go in and ask for Steve, and for sure we’d get a fishing boat. There were no phones in Buena Vista until 1995, so they had no clue that we were coming. In those days, all reservations were made through a stateside office and the information was snail-mailed to the Valdez family in La Paz. We could’ve called their stateside number before we left, but my dad assured us that just mentioning his name would open all the right doors and grease all the wheels that needed to be greased. So, on that recommendation, we got up before dawn and made the hour-long drive to the East Cape. We got there in time for breakfast. I found Steve. “Hi,” I said. “I’m Togo Hazard’s daughter. He said you could get us a boat.” Steve gave me a withering look. “Who?” I back-peddled. “Togo Hazard. He’s a good friend of Chuy’s.” Another one of those looks. I kept on. “You know, the owner of this hotel. My dad comes here once or twice a year with a huge group of construction guys to fish.” Third withering look. “Sorry. Never heard of him.” He turned and walked away.
Boy, did I feel stupid, but I wasn’t giving up. “Wait,” I said, tugging at his arm. “Can we get a boat anyway?” It was a lousy day for fishing, so of course we got a boat. I’ve never been on seas as rough as those—ever. Thankfully, I didn’t get seasick, but I couldn’t sit down either. I had to stand up, my legs braced against the side of the boat, and I had to hang on with both hands. I had to use the tiny head in the cabin at one point. Just getting down in there was a challenge. Sitting on that toilet was like an “E Ticket” ride (back when they had E tickets) at Disneyland. The fish were not biting. We were desperate to catch something, however. Our capitán took us to the north end of Bahía las Palmas and let us troll right offshore. My boyfriend caught a needlefish—skinny as a pencil, less than two feet long and good for absolutely nothing—not even bait. But it was a fish, right? I’ve gotten to know Steve a lot better in the last two decades. Now we laugh about that first encounter. Over the years, as the hotel grew, he’s worn a lot of different sombreros. He ran the boats for a while. After that, he helped check guests in and out. I can vouch for the fact that he is the person most responsible for transforming an expanse of naked sand into the lush oasis that is now the hotel grounds. I saw him planting purple, pink and red bougainvillea, hibiscus and oleander several years’ back. I saw him coordinating the workers as they planted coconut palms, aloe and grass. Over the years fountains sprang up—some with dramatic metal sculptures of flying fish, some with cherubs. Steve found his niche. This was and is a place he could study, work and create beauty from nothingness. These days, the hotel is magnificent, with a swim-up bar and Continued on page 8
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to the Eastcapers Rack. Steve Chism Continued from pg 7 plenty to offer guests like me, who come for something other than world-class sport fishing. In the off-season, during the winter, Steve and his expatriate buddies go four wheeling. Sometimes he goes solo; sometimes they travel in groups as large as 20. Most of the time they have a destination in mind. As Steve told me, “Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t. We’ve been to ranchos that have existed for 200 years or more and operate much the same as they did back then. We’ve seen tame deer, quail, playful raccoons and a flock of ostriches. We’ve also been to gold mines, Indian cave paintings and kitchen midden sites, and seen more streams and waterfalls than you’d believe exist in these mountains.” These guys have traveled up and down both coasts of Baja Sur and through the mountains that separate them. As he said, these mountains are surprisingly full of water. There are stone pools big enough to swim in year-round. Palms and jueribos—similar to cottonwood trees, line the banks of these streams. There really are orchards and farms latticed along the mountainsides where families nurture livestock and grow tropical fruits, just as their ancestors have for generations. And all of this in a land that looks from the air to be utterly barren and devoid of life. My favorite of Steve’s Baja stories is the one about the ladder. The way he tells it, he and his buddy, Dewaine took off late one afternoon and headed up an arroyo toward the mountains on their ATVs. When they couldn’t drive any further, they got off and started climbing up through a field of boulders. After picking their way through a dense palm grove, they found themselves in an orchard. There were oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, papaya, avocados, guava, mangos and sugar cane. And even more amazing— there was a drip irrigation system! They helped themselves to a couple of grapefruits. Dewaine picked a dozen or so to take home and left behind a half-empty bottle of tequila. They visited the orchard off and on throughout the winter. Each time, they’d take fruit and leave a bottle of tequila, whiskey or vodka behind. According to Steve,
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“One day, Dewaine went by himself. He ran into an old man up on a rickety wooden ladder picking fruit. He introduced himself, told the old man what he’d been doing over the past few months and offered to pay for the fruit he’d taken. The old man told him that he was welcome to take as much fruit as he wanted. His family couldn’t eat it all, and they had no way to get it down the mountain to market. He didn’t even have a ladder tall enough to get the fruit off the top branches. “The next time Dewaine went stateside, he bought an 18-foot orchard ladder. The following December, a few of the guys moved the ladder up to the orchard and propped it against a tree so the old man would find it. “In late January, Dewaine told me he thought maybe the old man was dead. ‘Why?’ I asked. “Because I haven’t seen him all winter and I’m the only one using the orchard ladder”. Steve chuckled. “One day he went up there and ran into the old man. He was on top of the rickety old ladder picking fruit. You have to understand. This old ladder wasn’t just rickety; it was damned dangerous! My buddy asked the old man why he wasn’t using the new ladder. “It’s a fine ladder”, he said. “But it isn’t mine, señor!” There’s another punch line to this story too, believe it or not. One night (whether it was before or after the last incident, I don’t know) Dewaine was at Mañana’s Pizza Parlor in Los Barriles having dinner. The waitress came over to him and shook her head at him. “I see you’ve been to my grandfather’s again,” she said. “How do you know that?” he asked. “Because he’s drunk.”
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to the Eastcapers Rack. The World's Aquarium and
The Life Changing Whale Shark By: Theresa Comber
On the crystal blue waters of the Sea of Cortez, we pressed against the railing with our binoculars strained on the horizon aboard the 110 foot ship ‘Adventure’. Topside, the third level deck allowed 360 degree views as we searched near and far for the world’s largest fish, the incredible, elusive, whale shark. Having set out the previous day, we were now offshore near Espiritu Santo Island, in the archipelago outside La Paz, Baja California Sur’s beautiful capital city. In thousands of feet of water, the energy and excitement onboard was as buoyant as the salty waters we were plying in our hunt. Our goal? Find and record information on the enormous, migratory pregnant females, the largest, most mature whale sharks which return during May and June to these safe, warm waters. The previous year none had been spotted so hopes were high for a sighting. During the third week of May this past spring, I had the incredible privilege of joining a Whale Shark research trip led by Dra. Dení Ramírez. Equally as beautiful as she is passionate, Dr. Dení is a world-wide expert based in La Paz who is dedicating her life to uncovering the mystery of this gigantic animal. Our mission was being sponsored by Lela Sankeralli with Canadian-based “Panterra Eco Expeditions”, an international educational company bringing British Columbia’s high school students to La Paz to learn and explore the waters and islands. Their work brought them together and now the symbiosis of their shared passion and interest is underscoring research opportunities. There is very, very little known about whale sharks, which are found around the globe in temperate waters and Dení is determined to shed light on them, especially pregnant females
been recorded. Most whale sharks in the rookery are known to Dení by name and she’s most affectionate toward ‘Flavio’, a male she jokingly says has ‘failure to launch’; he’s 29 feet, around 22 years and still enjoying the sweetness of his extended youth. Their backs are dark grey to blue with white bellies; it’s easy to see that nearly all are scarred, having suffered some sort of prop damage. Dení’s research efforts have helped to raise environmental awareness in this 29 square mile area by controlling boat speeds, limiting one boat per shark and the number to 6 swimmers with any individual whale shark. She longs to see buoys placed to define the otherwise invisible line delineating the feeding area and hopes that more awareness will create heightened interest and better ad hoc compliance. What I didn’t realize is that Dení is an actual mermaid, with legs that propel her like a fish. Her natural ability has helped her constant pursuit of whale sharks who although enormous are agile and quick moving. On the surface and below, our strong swimming abilities were closely matched, while staying ahead of the bubbles created by her turbine legs was my constant goal. Continued on page 11
One really big fish!!
We had our first swim in the early morning with young whale sharks in the near shore waters of the long, white sandy beach called “Mogote”. Whale sharks don’t mature for reproduction until nearly 22 years old, so ‘juveniles’ can reach 25 feet long and still be reliably found during fall and wintertime in this rookery of shallow, plankton rich waters. Dení was clearly testing our water skills, and as a self-proclaimed mermaid I was determined to keep up with her. We went overboard together with a 6 foot long stick to measure the dorsal fin and an underwater camera to photo identify each animal. Like a thumbprint, each whale shark’s vertical stripes interspersed with a row of dots creates its uniqueness. A photo just behind its head to its large gills allows an upload to the global database to determine if this fish has
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Whale Sharks continued from page 10
I felt like a fireman while we searched the seas for a dark spot, or perhaps a dorsal fin - our gear was ready and I was poised to jump into my full length rash guard, don my mask, fins, snorkel, and be the first one to the awaiting panga. Then BANG! There she was! Our first sighting happened nearly alongside the ship, incredibly close and the action on the deck was fast and furious. We boarded and were barely pulled off port side before we were overboard. Dení was beyond happy. We now had the first female whale shark in two seasons and in minutes we were swimming alongside her. I had the measuring stick, Dení had the camera. This female was moving fast and we were swimming really hard and hard pressed to keep up. Seriously, in the desire to get the dorsal fin measured the enormity of the fish almost, just almost, escaped me. Holy s*#t! I was swimming as hard as I could next to a nearly 40 foot animal whose girth was so large I couldn’t see around it. “Swim Theresa, stay up, get the measurement, pull away, breathe.” JOY filled me. When she sounded so deeply that we couldn’t hold our breaths, we gasped to the surface. The ship was close in sight and those onboard were waving and calling and dancing and the spirit of this experience was electric across the water. Back on board, back to the rails, our passion for finding her again coursing our systems. Within minutes the ships
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engines lit up and we were speeding away on a banking turn that belied the length of this vessel. I own fishing boats and could feel exactly how fast and capable this ship was. Clearly our Captain Martin, a calm man with endless experience and a lifetime of trained eyes had a whale shark in his sights. Hammer down we were moving far away from the first female and traveled another two miles before settling down and like a gift from the sea, another whale shark was in our midst. Now all guests on board were ready and 6 in each panga we gently came close. This time Dení was really stepping up her game, adding a tissue sample to our goals and as a long shot, should she be a particularly accommodating and friendly mature female, we would attempt to get a length measurement.
Continued on page 12
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to the Eastcapers Rack. Whale sharks continued from page 11 Our first overboard was for ID pictures and the dorsal measurement – WOW, 4-1/2 feet at the base. This female seemed to enjoy our presence and stayed near the surface, submerging only 25 feet or so before resurfacing. Again, swimming hard, she was even bigger, and very pregnant. Dení turned on her jet legs and swam below her to assess her girth. We climbed back aboard the panga and were ferried in front of her and then overboard we went again. This time, Dení with the tissue sample stick and my task was to photograph her. Diving down, she was in front of the dorsal fin and jabbed the point into the skin, as thick as 4" and the thickest of any creature. As I was above and behind, I realized that should this kind whale shark take an exception to being poked, I might be whacked with her enormous tale. Likely 25 feet down, I could see Dení try again, but the end was not piercing. We surfaced, climbed back onboard, changed the point, and down again we went. I captured a beautiful picture of Dení at her very best and the first time with the sharpened point was a success. For Dení, Christmas morning came early when onboard she withdrew the three inch piece of tissue and slid it into a vile. We have now
They are filter feeders, with enormous mouths to consume plankton, krill, larvae, small fish and fish’s eggs. At 36 feet long, she probably weighs at least 25,000 pounds and likely is carrying 300 babies. She’s ‘vivipary aplacented’ – an enormous term describing the profoundly incredible ability to house eggs inside her body and then self-inseminate, using sperm she holds from a previous mating. She then incubates and gives birth to live young, producing and delivering them over a prolonged period of time. Wow, survival of a species in a remarkable reproduction. The entire trip, the entire journey, absolutely incredible. My head is still spinning with awe and my life, changed. Swimming in thousands of feet of water alongside the world’s largest fish, being honored to accompany this profoundly gifted woman and chase her passion for the illusive whale shark was a gift beyond measure. Now the goal is to assure the project Whale Shark Mexico as part of the nonprofit organization ConCienciA Mexico. Dení and Felipe, with Lela’s encouragement, can continue their quest and unfold the mystery of the Whale Shark .
been in and out of the water likely 5 times, swimming with all our might. But back overboard we went again to get the
measurement. Deni’s partner, Felipe, her passion equal for the sea and whale sharks, moves like a dolphin in the water and unfurled the measuring wheel while many hands made for successful work in this attempt at stretching the tape, and, got it! 36 feet! All the while alongside this enormous animal swimming as hard as we can.
As I climbed back aboard I handed my fins to the pangero telling him not to let me have them back. I could barely breathe, my heart was pounding out of my chest. Seriously. It was late afternoon, we were hours in the water and into this day and I was toast. Until this gorgeous creature surfaced alongside us and in a second I yanked back my fins and overboard again.
A successful tissue sample!!!
How old was she? Where has she been? How many babies is she carrying? How much does she weigh? How can she be so enormous and yet so completely unperturbed by us? With her gentle nature and docile spirit, how does she survive in our seas which are so rife with danger? My head was spinning and I wanted inside Deni’s to learn what she knows. Whale Sharks have been on the earth for 60 million years. So incredibly unique, they are the sole member of their genus. They can live to be at least 70 years old, but with such little known, like whales, they may actually live much longer, perhaps 100 years.
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An Introduction to Achiote
By: Renée Lagloire and Denise Elliott Buen Provencho Baja
Mexican Holidays Semana Santa Semana Santa is Mexico’s second most important holiday season of the year, behind only Christmas, and runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. This year that is March 20 – 27. In addition to attending Mass on Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, many Mexicans will also take advantage of the holiday and go on vacation. If you’re planning to visit Mexico during Semana Santa, make sure you check in advance, as many places are closed. Not so much in this area which is so dependent on tourism, but you will see the effects of the holiday in many businesses. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, celebrates the Christian holiday of Easter. Mexico is nearly 90 percent Catholic, so this religious holiday takes on a special meaning that the entire community shares and participates in. Live representatives of Jesus Christ’s Crucifixion take place in many little towns, including Los Barriles. It is like a live play where people from the town assume the roles of Jesus, Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. John and many other characters. It is well worth watching the passing procession, which has run from the Leguna Park to the Catholic Church on the highway. Here in the East Cape area, you start seeing the tents go up on the beach about the Wednesday before Easter Sunday . You see everything to 2 person tents to large party tents complete with the living room couch and dining table. It is wonderful to watch the Mexicans having a great time. Sunday afternoon, the party packs up and folks head back home. I equate it to our July 4th holiday in the States – the one holiday where everyone wants to go on vacation.
In the Yucatán, there are whole stalls in the public markets dedicated to seasoning pastes named recados. Basic to that region’s cuisine, recados are pastes that are rubbed on meats prior to cooking. A visit to a recado shop shows dozens of different combinations of ingredients. The three most common recados are the Rojo (Red), the Bistec (Steak), and the Negro (Black). While basic ingredients make up each of these recados, there are as many variations as there are cooks. Outside of the Yucatan, and by far the most commonly used across Mexico is the Recado Rojo. Most commonly referred to as A chiote or Pasta de A chiote throughout Mexico, this recado typically is a mix of ground annatto seeds with vinegar, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, clove, cumin, black pepper, salt, and garlic. The annatto seed is rich in carotenoid pigments, turning other foods it touches to varying shades of yellow to red brick colors. For this reason, it’s been called the poor man’s saffron. In modern times, the annatto seeds are a commonly used coloring agent in manufactured butter, cheese, and popped corn, while the pulp surrounding the seeds is used in the making of dyes. In more ancient times, the annatto seed was used as a body paint, as well as a seasoning. The leaves of Bixa orellana, the small tree that produces these seeds, were also used in traditional medicine throughout the tropical areas of Mexico and Central America. Achiote, the processed seeds of the tree, derives its name from “achiotl” in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec people who were in power when the Spaniard conquistadores arrived in Mexico. While most often bought in brick-red colored bars in most Mexican grocery stores, achiote paste can also be made by cooking and soaking the annatto seeds overnight, grinding them and adding the other ingredients. The achiote paste can be rubbed directly on the meat, but more often is mixed with lime juice and is used as a marinade for meat or fish which is then grilled, barbecued, broiled or baked. The taste of achiote in cooked foods is earthy and delicious. We invite you to experiment with it. We present this recipe, one of our favorites at our Buen Provecho Mexican cooking and culture classes. Continued on page 14
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Achiole continued from page 13
Yellow Rice - Arroz Amarillo
The Garlicky Achiote Paste: 2 tablespoons achiote paste 2 teaspoons allspice 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, preferable Mexican 3 tablespoons cider vinegar 6 garlic cloves, peeled (if doing without mortar and pestle, chop finely)
Combine the achiote paste, allspice, pepper, oregano, vinegar in a small bowl and mix well to create a smooth paste. Dribble in and work in enough water (usually about a tablespoon or 2) to give it all the consistency of a thick but spreadable paste. You will need ¼ cup of this achiote paste. Store the rest in the refrigerator for other uses. The Rice: 2 Tbsp olive oil 2 cups rice, preferably medium grain 2 small white onions, finely chopped 3 ½ cups chicken broth or water 2 tsp salt 4 medium carrots, chopped into 1/4-inch dice 2 cups fresh green beans cut into ¼ inch pieces, or fresh peas Chopped cilantro, for garnish 1. In a 2-quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat and add the rice and onion. Cook, stirring regularly and scraping up any sticky bits from the bottom of the pan, until the rice is chalky looking and the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the broth and the ¼ cup of achiote paste, along with 2 tsp. salt. Whisk the broth mixture well, then add to the hot rice pan.
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Achiote Continued from page 13
3. Add the carrots and the green beans or peas. Stir once, scrape down any rice kernels clinging to the side of the pan, cover and cook over medium-low for 15 minutes. 4. Uncover and bite into a grain of rice: It should be nearly cooked through. If the rice is just about ready, turn off the heat, re-cover, and let stand for 5 -10 minutes longer to complete the cooking. 5. Fluff the rice, scoop it into a warm serving dish, sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
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Sepia Mood
By: Jorge Bergin Power went out at 4 this morning. It was not just local but regional so when I stumbled around, found a light and went outside I could tell it was complete. The full moon made it possible for one to walk about safely in the moonlight; the inside of my little Mexican house was like a bat cave so I chose to sit outside hoping for an errant breeze.
find food by sight in the dirt yards. That woke up the rest of the dogs and soon I could see the headlights of cars taking people to early jobs. Minutes after another glorious amanecer the power came on and ruined the rest of a very nice change of pace, the village in its sepia mood.
No breeze came but the perfect silence was so complete I could hear the Eagle Ray ballet, the flips and flops of the crazy dance in the dark , 700 meters from the house. When they were no longer jumping I would hear my own shallow breathing, a puppy barking for no reason in another part of the village. After an hour the wondrous albedo of our moon hid all the fury of the distant stars. No generators humming yet --- as usual I felt clumsy in my skin, somehow a stranger moving in the wrong biome, a poor and portable temporary dynamo, useless, out of place. Some cocks sensed the still hidden dawn and began to celebrate the security of another day where they would
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Descansos – Historic Folk Art By: Joann Hysolp
When we drive along the Baja Highway 1, we often encounter decorated crosses and small shrines along the road. If we stop and look closely, we see that people’s names are inscribed on them. These are “Descansos” which comes from the Spanish verb “desconsolar” (to grieve).
These crosses represent a family of five that was killed in a head on collision. Two other crosses on the left side of the highway represent two travelers on vacation. If you drive down the Baja, on a particularly windy section, you may remember the large Descanso, a replica of a flat nosed semi truck, which is a tribute to Hector, that truck driver. These Descansos are a serious reminder to drive carefully on Baja Highway 1.
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Desconsos are part of the Mexican’s cultural traditions which honor Death as a part of life. The ritual of Dia de los Muertos is another. Roadside Descansos are an ancient custom, marking hallowed ground where someone died in an accident. They are not only reminders of a journey never completed, they are also historic works of art, created out of love in a time of pain. As artistic earthworks, they represent unique relation to the land and the environment. Some are carved on poured cement or built out of rocks. They may also be assembled out of the parts from a wrecked car. Small shrines are often filled with candles, plastic flowers and the name and photo of the deceased.
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As you enter the village of San Bartolo north of Los Barriles you will notice a prominent Descanso in the front yard of the casa on the right. North of San Bartolo, just beyond the entrance to Rancho Verde, there is a sharp curve. On a hill to the right five simple white crosses overlook the highway.
May 10
Upcoming Mexican Holidays
February 24 March 21 May 1 May 5
Dia de la Constituition—Document written after the end of the Revolution Dia de la Bandera—History of the Mexican Flag Benito Juarez birthday—First indio Presidente of Mexico Dia de Trabajo—World Labor Day Cinco de Mayo—victory against the French at Pueblo in 1862 Dia de las Madres—Mothers day
You may want to note these days as they may be school, bank and government holidays.
Located next to East Cape Health Center Our management services include the following:
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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com were wide spread along the gulf shores of the Baja peninsula. From present day Los Barriles on the Bahia de Palmas a few miles north of the Tropic of Cancer, to beyond La Paz, pearl oysters were located at depths up to a hundred feet on rocky bottoms in almost any place protected from the violent actions of waves and currents.
East Cape Vignettes By Walter S. Zapotoczny Jr.
Mexican Retablos: 19 Centur y Devotional Ar t As you travel around the East Cape visiting its many quaint shops, you are bound to come across Retablos, which means “ Altarpieces” in Spanish. They are small oil paintings on tin, zinc, wood or copper. Used in home altars to venerate Catholic saints, Retablos are a type of folk art, which is deeply rooted in Spanish history. They represented the very foundations of religious beliefs in the 17, 18 and 19-century Mexican culture. These colorful and charming unique art forms are a mixture of century’s-old Catholic iconography and indigenous art. The historical and cultural links between the "old" and the "new" worlds are reflected in this art. With the introduction of inexpensive mediums such as tin, Retablo as an art form flourished, reaching its pinnacle of popularity in the last quarter of the 19th century. With some exceptions, mostly untrained artists worked to produce and reproduce these sacred images. Some artists painted more prolifically than others painted and where known to have duplicated the same image hundreds, if not thousands of times in his career. The Black Pearls of the East Cape When Herman Cortez visited Bahia de La Paz at the beginning of the 16th century, he and his soldiers encountered several hundred naked Indians fishing in the clear aquamarine water of the bay. Cortez was not looking for fish though. He had heard about the beautiful black pearls of La Paz from other Spanish adventurers. He was after the riches they would bring. He and his men rounded the tip of a large island on their way to the pearling grounds. He then gave Isla Espiritu Santo its first name - Isla de Perlas. To this day, some still call La Paz by its nickname - La Perla. From the time of their discovery, to the last half of the 19th century, black pearl beds February/March
La Ribera “Three Rivers” La Ribera is Spanish for “the shore.” Originally, this little East Cape fishing village was known as Tres Rios (Three Rivers). Although there are no rivers near the town today, it is easy to imagine how the town got its name. Three broad arroyos fan out from the slopes of the nearby La Laguna mountain range and run to the Sea of Cortez on either side of the town. When the canyons high up in the Lagunas absorb more rainfall than they can hold, these arroyos run like shallow rivers. Many years ago, the main village of La Ribera was located on a flat shelf of land touching the beach. Over the years, hurricanes and monsoonal rains flooded the area, devastating the town. As a result, residents were forced to abandon the site and rebuild their homes and businesses on higher ground. The skeletons of two or three crumbling concrete and brick structures remain to mark the site. Crossing the Sierra de la Lagunas Hiking the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range is a perfect way to enjoy the East Cape and Southern Baja. The mountains are southern Baja’s only granitic range. The highest point is about 7,000 feet. The Sierra de la Lagunas receive more rainfall than any other place in Baja and once hosted a series of lakes. The largest drained around 1870 when a rockslide opened a path on the east side for the water to pour down Cañon San Dionisio. This event left a flat, grassy depression near the top of the peak. Two small streams flow through the meadow, one toward the Sea of Cortez and the other toward the Pacific. The Sierra de La Laguna range is a protected biosphere reserve. Several rangers watch for fires and tend a weather station in the meadow. During your hike, you will enjoy the diversity of flora. At the beginning of the ascent, you will find barrel cactus, thorn shrub and palo verde. As you climb higher, you will encounter new and different species of shrub, trees and wildflowers. At the top, you are surrounded by madrone, oak and piñon. The Beaches of East Cape Generations of local residents have identified the East Cape beaches as the area along the western edge of the Sea of Cortez between Punta Pescadero on the north and Cabo Pulmo on the south. Los Barriles, Buena Vista and La Ribera are located within the East Cape, Continued on page 18
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on the shores of Bahia de Palmas. Visiting East Cape beaches is a seasonal experience. North winds between November and March make the beaches a perfect launching pad for wind surfers. The rest of the year, those who prefer less strenuous activities populate the beaches. Day access to most of the beaches in the East Cape is not restricted. A visit to East Cape beaches would not be complete without a trip to the Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park. One of the largest coral reefs in the world is located off the beach at Pulmo, within an underwater ecological reserve. Fishing, spear fishing and shell collecting are not permitted here. It is also one of the most famous diving locations in the Sea of Cortez. Baja California Sur: Land of Big Horn Sheep Big Horn Sheep have been part of Baja California Stir’s landscape for many years. They arrived here after the ice age. They settled in the northern Mexican State of Sonora and the costal fringe of the peninsular mountain ranges of the Baja California Sur. Big Horn Sheep are found as far north as the San Francisco mountain range between Guerrerro Negro and San Ignacio and as far south to an area at the northern fringe of the East Cape near the Bay of La Paz. The sound of their large horns clashing during mating season echoes throughout the canyons and ravines of the rugged mountain ranges. Thanks to the structure of their hooves, Big Horn Sheep have a remarkable capacity for climbing and jumping. The halves of each hoof separate, so the feet can cling firmly to the rocky terrain. The soles are soft and like a cushion, allowing the Big Horn to keep its balance as it moves across uneven or slippery ground. Males have thick spiral horns, measuring up to four feet.
Snow or Sand? By: Christine Courtright
I love the snow. The cleanness, the silence, the peace of it all. I also love all winter clothes, winter foods and especially winter sports. I could not wait to ski every year. I would start watching the skies in November, and when the white stuff came, the dancing began! I was not lucky enough to grow up in ‘powder country’ – I grew up in ‘mash potato country’ - the Seattle area. In the good ole days in the late 70’s – 80’s after facing ‘mash potatoes’ for most of ski season, we would make our yearly spring break trek to powder country and ski for a week on glorious powder and sunny skies. We would get our fill of the great snow and could return the next season to mash potato snow, knowing powder came at the end of the season. Those were great times! As we all do, we grow up and responsibility comes in, and for me, less time to ski. Then after being out in the ‘real’ world of adulthood for several years, I would have to destroy my shoulder for the final time and get the dreaded words “Can’t risk skiing again”. What!? No skiing, no gliding down the hill, no glistening crystals, no more of that sound (skiers know that sound) the one your skis make as you cut left and right and the powder flows like the rooster tail of a speeding hydroplane. This was a tragic time for me and I went through all the stages of loss: disbelief, anger, grief, and finally sorrowful acceptance. Years went by and my equipment sat in the corner of the basement, me being unable to let it go. I was at a loss of what to do for the winter. That is when I found the East Cape. I replaced snow with sandy beaches, glistening crystals with the glistening Sea of Cortez, peaceful silence with sunrises and cutting swoosh with lapping seas. Warm lodge fires were replaced by warm weather, furry boots replaced with flip flops. Is it so bad? No, because I love it here and my older body loves the warmth, my mind loves the activities and the friends I have made and my spirit loves the happiness of the Mexican people. On this cold January day, as I sit (freezing) in front of the Lodge fire at a North Central Washington ski resort, watching the nephews love skiing as I once did, I realize snow maybe beautiful, but there is something to be said for warm beaches!!!
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Bikes for the Orphanages
By: Adam Greenberg It all started on a perfect Baja afternoon one day in midDecember, 2011. I was at the beach bar now called Lazy Daze when a VW microbus pulled up. A Mexican man and several children spilled out came over. The man introduced himself as Roberto Osuna and showed me some beautiful wooden jewelry boxes and handmade pens that the children made. I was a bit confused because these were some pretty young kids but with the language barrier impacting conversation, my daughter getting restless and my beer getting warm, I bought a nice wooden box for my wife for $40US and thanked him. When I returned to our Casa I gave Tracey her gift and explained how I obtained this local treasure. Inside the box was a card. It explained the box was made by the children of the Nuevo Creacion Orphanage. My wife then insisted we visit so we called the number on the card and went the next day. When we arrived at the orphanage I found the place to be clean and the kids well cared for but it was obvious that they could use some help. The kids were housed on two floors of a concrete building. The adults were housed in small camper trailers. The only common area was a mobile home with a thatched roof and screened porch. This served as a kitchen and a social area. There were a few toys and the odd soccer ball but nothing close to what I had growing up.
When we left, Tracey and I committed to visit often. A few months later we started a fundraiser to buy the kids each a new bikes for Christmas. Here is the link that that fundraiser. https://www.youcaring.com/other/bikes-for-orphans-/65059 Fast forward to October 2014. Hurricane Odile hit. Seeing the images on the news I was deeply concerned. It took almost a week of frantic calls before finally connecting with Josefina Ruiz, our property manager from Seven Seas Property Management who immediately made the trip to La Paz and sent back pictures and details of what was needed. The news was devastating. Many of the windows where the children slept were smashed, mattresses were soaked. The common area roof was ripped off. Interior and electrical badly damaged. The shop where they build the boxes, clocks and pencils – there only real source of income was completely destroyed. Vehicles damaged, water pumping system broken, gardens and chicken coop destroyed. Bikes in bad shape too. My wife and I immediately went to work, setting up a new fundraiser and within 2 weeks, we were able to raise 20K. We were also introduced to Bob and Elizabeth Pudwell the owners of La Venta resort. Bob is in the construction business among other things. He assembled a local crew and they went to work rebuilding, using the funds we raised and money they raised also. Here is a link to that fundraiser https://www.youcaring.com/other/rebuilding-the-orphanagehurricane-relief-fund-la-paz-mx/237531 It’s been almost 4 years since I first met Roberto at the beach bar and today, we consider him, his wife Alma and the 30 kids that live there a part of our family. During our last visit this past January we purchased all the parts to repair the bicycles and posted another add in the BPE seeking assistance. We received many replies to that post and a crew made the trip on Jan 21 with the tools, parts and expertise to get those kids riding again. We have now setup a facebook site for Nuevo https:// www.facebook.com/newcreationkidsmexico and are building a web site so the kids can sell their treasures on line. Please visit often and reach out to me if you would like to get involved. adamg@dccnet.com
Adam with kids from the orphanage and a future fundraiser
What can you do to help make the lives of children in the Baja better?
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SIERRA DE LA LAGUNA MINING DEVASTATION IN NUMBERS By: Verónica Velasco
“OH NO! IT’S TOO CONTROVERSIAL!” that´s what I heard while some people turned their backs, rejecting to receive a simple flyer with information about the dangers to our communities of mining megaprojects, at the last Art Festival in Los Barriles, like if I was giving them a live grenade!! Only 3 out of 10 cared… I was mad and disappointed, but now I understand most of them are retired foreigners, looking in Baja for a tranquil place to live the rest of their lives; they’ve already fought their battles in their own country. Why they should care? Others may even have money invested in mining shares!! Thanks to those 3 that helped me keep my faith in mankind. A man told me “This is a matter Mexicans should deal with”. Really? THIS IS A MATTER WHERE HUMANITY SHOULD FIGHT BACK. The corrupt politicians that are giving up our natural resources for nothing but devastation are Mexicans, I agree, but the big power and investors behind these projects are American, Canadians, and Chinese… this goes on and on in many countries. If we just watch and say and do nothing we become responsible.
This is a life or death dilemma. Our Sierra De La Laguna mountain range has been named as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO and is the watershed for the entire state of B.C.S. The Canadian Mining Company intends to develop a huge open pit mine for gold extraction. How Big? As big as downtown La Paz, for a start…. WHY ARE WE SO WORRIED? WATER: -The mine needs 1lt to wash 1kg of crushed stone (Keep this number in mind). -To extract 1gr of gold they need to crush 1TON of stone (YES!! 1000Kg stone x 1gr of gold). -So, for 1gr. of gold 1000lts of pure mountain water will be polluted with cyanide (needed for the lixiviation process).
-They intendto extract 10kg of gold per DAY!! Make
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If you are one of the 7 that did not care, maybe you have not yet understood what is on the line. I´ll put this in numbers with pears and apples, clear and simple. This may be my last chance in East Capers to wake one´s conscious under the “it´s too controversial” argument. But believe me, there are no gray areas about the irreversible damage Baja Sur will suffer if we allow Open Pit Gold Mining.
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Mining continued from page 21
your math… means 10,000,000 lts of water. This will be enough to supply a small city of 50,000 people, 200lts per capita. A MEGAMINE USES IN ONLY 10hrs THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER THAN THE AVERAGE FAMILY USES IN 20 YEARS!! DEFORESTATION: -Just to start mining operations they´ll need to clear 500 hectares (1,236 acres). -10TONS (10,000KG) of explosives PER DAY!! Will be used to break 10,000TONS of stone with gold and 40,000TONS of sterile stone=50,000TONs per day of ground. The big problem with stone is that inside it, arsenic and other heavy metals are encapsulated. When you break, it those mix with air and water creating “Acid Drainage”. -Daily 10,000TONS or more of “Toxic Mud” (after-product of washing pulverize stone with water and cyanide, rich in arsenic and heavy metal,) will be disposed of in bottom plastic covered ditches to open sky!! I don´t think that’s very smart in a seismic and hurricanes sensitive area like ours. ARE YOU GETTING THE POINT? Let´s have some more… ELECTRICITY: -Los Cardones will need 528Megawatts per day, enough to supply
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a city with 100,000 habitants. -According to CFE the production cost of watt per hour is $4pesos= $2,112,000pesos per day… the problem? Government subsidize electricity to mining industry!! So, who´ll pay for it? US, TAX PAYERS!! LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Hotels provides direct employment to thousands of people and much more indirectly from tourist services. Mining will ONLY EMPLOY 200 FOR 10 YEARS. BCS is the biggest organic produce grower in Mexico, that industry and employment will be lost. Mining pays to the country only .6%... YES!! .6% AT THE MOST of the extracted production. 5 out of 10 cancer diagnoses in BCS are from communities that had mining activity in the past. (Centro Estatal de Oncologia) Our home (the only one we locals have), your retirement paradise is in danger. A growing group of committed Mexicans are fighting back from Congress to the streets, not just in Baja, but all over the country, let´s hear your voice too. TO LEARN MORE VISIT US ON FACEBOOK: Frente Ciudadano en Defensa del Agua y La Vida en BCS.
February/March
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Stolen Bicycle Caper By: Jorge Bergin
The police in small villages here in Baja Sur are principally traffic guys. They have limited training and/or authority outside the dirt streets and paved boulevards in and around their place of work. That said, public safety and security including assault, burglary calls are not ignored and they do the best they can. In burglaries they often lack the tools to see things through to an end; response, arrest, investigation and the gathering of information and evidence, when and where possible are left to the ministerial police. Since the ministerial police are few they must roam from district to district – it is just dumb luck when they happen to be near a village which has a crime of harm to persons or loss of property, to do all the things that end up with an arrest and the bad guy in the local hoosegow or the regional prison. I am always happy to report I have few “Mexican Police” stories or essays. This little piece shows why I feel that way. I parked my oldie but goodie, a Schwinn bike with puncture proof tires, just inside the block wall around my house. One fine morning I woke up, went out to gather up the now empty trash cans and saw that the bike was missing. I went to the Commandancia to report it stolen – it holds little value for me but crimes unreported are signals to criminals that they may steal anything in this little village and nobody will care. There were the usual cops at the station and when I told them what happened, that I wanted to make a report, one tall ugly guy showed me a chair, took out a form and began to fill it out with a pencil. It was slow going because reading, writing were not what he did best and I rather think he was a newbie forced to deal with this clumsy old gringo on a nuisance crime none of his superiors wanted to deal with. I signed the form but they had no copy machine so I didn’t get a copy. Another cop took the completed form (such as it was) and announced that he and some others would follow me back to my house to investigate the crime. I stretched the hell out of my pueblo Spanish to tell them that was a waste of time, that I described the bike, it was gone and there was no evidence or information waiting for me and them at my little casita..
house following the bike’s distinctive tracks in the dirt street. At the end of the block they turned, returned to get their vehicle. I went in the house, made some iced tea then relaxed on the patio to read a book until they finished their rustic investigation. Just as I poured my second glass of icy tea, the truck pulled up to the gate and brought my unharmed bike and back to its rightful owner. When I went out to get the bike, thank them, they asked if I wanted to press charges against who they believed stole the bike. I said I didn’t want to press charges and with that they rolled away into what was left of the morning.
The next day I learned that Luis Enrique, one of my old drinking pals, had taken the bike. He was obviously Mexican midnight drunk, afoot he came to ask me for money for more beer, saw the bike and rode it, downhill, to the beach. When he awoke he was muy crudo, unsure about the bike and unable or unwilling to pump it back uphill to my place. Sooo another happy ending thanks to dedicated if not well paid, crime fighters of the Southland.
They all smiled and gave me the kind of look you reserve for babies or really old people. Four of them got in the police truck and followed me home – they indicated I should park across the street from my house. When we all met at my gate I realized I had overlooked one very important item in the crime, the scene; the dirt. This part of the village has yet to have a paved or concrete street, boulevard or avenue. All four of the cops walked away from my February/March
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to the Eastcapers Rack. Quality control is a huge concern. You are at risk of ingesting contaminated dietary supplements or not getting what you paid for in terms of quality, quantity and potency. It is up to the consumer to remain vigilant since the manufacturer is NOT required to prove the efficacy and safety of any dietary supplement. The four most popular types of supplements used to enhance physical performance are: 1. CAFFEINE: increases muscle contractibility, improves aerobic endurance and improves fat metabolism. Consistent benefits have been shown with only mild side effects and caffeine is legal.
ERGOGENIC AIDS By: Sefi Held, A.C.E. Professional Trainer, Sukhasana Yoga and Pilates Studio With the Lord of the Wind competition having descended upon Los Barriles, several discussions have taken place regarding the use of supplementing to enhance athletic performance Dietary supplementation has been around for many years and is widespread, especially among professional and recreational athletes - some are safe and then some require further research. Due to the lack of government regulations and quality control, it is important that the consumer is educated before buying or taking any kind of supplementation. Ergogenic aids are a type of dietary supplement that can increase the capacity for bodily or mental labor, especially eliminating the signs of fatigue. Nutritional ergogenic aids refer to substances that enhance performance and are either nutrients, metabolic by-products of nutrients, food (plant extract) or substances commonly found in foods that are more concentrated than normally occur in the natural food supply .
2. CREATINE: improves repeated highintensity activity endurance. Benefits have been shown but no data as to the safety of this product for teens. No short term side effects have been shown but long term results are unknown. Creatine is a legal supplement. 3. CARNITINE: increases fat metabolism but research is still inconclusive - some findings show consistency in improved recovery from resistance training. No known side effects and it is legal. 4. AMINO ACIDS: delays fatigue and increases the secretion of anabolic hormones. Research is still inconclusive but athletes do benefit from proper protein intake and timing. No known side effects and it is legal. It doesn't matter if you are a professional or recreational athlete, finding a place where you can go to train and work out with peers and professional instruction will help you accomplish your athletic and health goals. Find a certified trainer and stick to a program designed for you and you will enjoy good health, strength, happiness and obtain the ability to have peace even through the stress of modern life. .
How do you know if certain supplements are safe and effective? In the past, the FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) regulated dietary supplements under the classification of foods to ensure that these aids were safe for human consumption and that package labeling was truthful and not misleading. This is no longer the case. In 1994, Congress enacted the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which limits the FDA's ability to regulate these products. Many nutritional experts believe that you are now more vulnerable because under this Act, there is no requirement to prove claimed benefits of dietary supplements as there is with drugs.
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Hydrofoil / Foilboarding By: Megan O’Leary
much less wind during to the lack of drag from the board being above the water versus on the water. Generally one would need 15-20mph to kiteboard on regular equipment. Foilboarders can go out in as little as 10mph. This drastically increases the days on the water and this alone is a major reason many kiteboarders start to foilboard. All of the competitive foilboarders also use foil kites. These kites lack any hard structure to hold the shape of the kite. Versus the inflatable kite that holds its shape by the leading edge and struts being filled with air. The foil kite holds its structure by cells created by the top and lower part of the canopy being sewn together. When it is launched the cells fill with air creating a wing. Because of the type of material used the foil kites are much lighter and more efficient for racing.
The 6th annual Lord of the Wind has just come to an end. One of the most exciting events was the race for the North American Hydrofoil Championships. This year Joey Pasquali of USA took first place followed by Julien Kerneur of France in 2nd and Nico Landauer of USA in 3rd. Many of the spectators had never seen foilboarding before. Watching it is both beautiful and awe inspiring. The riders use a board that sits a couple of feet above the water when moving. It looks much like a surfboard. Attached to the board is a mas, fuselage, and front and back fins, typically made of carbon fiber. This is by far the most expensive part of the foil board ranging anywhere from $800-$3000USD. The mast measures about 3 feet, however this measurement varies between manufacturers. Located at the bottom of the mast is the fuselage, front wing and back wind. The fuselage is approximately 2.5 feet, the front wing 22” and the back wing 15”.
Many schools now teach foilboarding as well. Figuring out the balance, board position, and lift out of the water isn’t as easy as it looks and finding a good instructor with beginner gear can increase your learning progression immensely.
Photo from www.surfertoday.com
This could be your next big adventure!! Maybe better give it a try!
When the board is planning the mast is completely out of the water and the rider balances on the fins and they slice through the water. Foilboarding has been compared to flying. The board hovers over the water and there is essentially no noise, no chop and no resistance. You can also use foilboards in February/March
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The Lost Barrels of Pleasure Island HOT OFF THE PRESS! By: Kim Schoenfield
Due to sell out performances last year, Baja Shakespeare has added a 7th show! No disappointments this year: Opening Night, Friday March 11, Saturday 12th and Matinee Sunday 13th. The added show will be Wednesday the 16th, followed by Thursday 17th, Friday 18th and Closing Night Saturday March 19th. Doors open at 6pm, shows begin promptly at 7pm. For those who do not wish to drive in the dark, the Sunday Matinee on the 13th will commence at 1:30pm, doors open at 12:30pm.
Will Call Tickets are available by emailing Anne: nanatembden@ymail.com or call: 624-141-0314. Ticket prices remain the same at $20 or 350 pesos. Our theatre is located at the Hotel Buenavista Beach Resort (Spa). The Hotel will be offering dinners and hotel specials. Please contact them directly for reservations and information: info@hotelbuenavista.com or call: 624-142-0099. For special perks, such as Preferred Seating, and some insider fun, please consider joining the Friends of Shakespeare, Patron of the Arts Program. For more information please email Anne at: herschleb@gmail.com
Our Baja rich comedy, “The Lost Barrels of Pleasure Is land” takes its roots from the 1883 adventure novel, Treasure Island, written by Robert Louis Stevenson. If you have read this novel, you may recall the famed characters, Jamie Hawkins, Long John Silver, Billy Bones, along with the pillaging pirates! X marks the spot of the booty! Baja Shakespeare would like to extend our sincere apologies to Robert Louis Stevenson for the outrageous liberties we have taken with our adaptation. The East Cape Gringos and Pirates set sail to Pleasure Island, on the Sea of Cortez, in search of the lost riches of past Spanish folklore. Director Camilla Ford brings richness, tenderness and hilarious slapstick comedy to the stage. Musical Director Jeanette Grittani and her band, The Pirate Heads, will have you singing and tapping along to familiar live songs and music. Choreographer Robin Jackman has the old salt dogs dancing! Costumes are being sewn, the set painted and Baja Shakespeare is raring to perform our 16th annual production!
These shows will sell out! Get your tickets early or you’ll be walking the gang plank! Tickets go on sale Monday February 15th, at our two Los Barriles outlets: Homes and Land of Baja and Sara’s Café and Galeria Los Angeles. February/March
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What does Anti-Aging Really Mean?
By: Connie Heimen References By: Elaine Linker Increased life expectancy has changed the concept of aging and, in turn, has propelled anti-aging research, leading to a multitude of topical applications. However, “anti-aging” is a controversial topic. Aging is a natural process. No living organs have ever reversed the signs of aging, although medical science is in the midst of several theories that hope to prolong life and minimize diseases that are more prevalent as cells age. Wrinkles and poor skin texture are among the earliest signs of aging. Throughout time, the skin becomes thinner, drier and less elastic. Although genetic predispo-sition is a factor, it is now believed that environmental irritants play a much bigger role in the aging of the skin. Overexposure to sunlight is the main culprit of premature age-related changes: wrinkles, roughness, pigmentation, loss of tone and dilated blood vessels. The first and most important anti-aging ingredient is a good sunscreen that is used properly. Proper use means applying enough and as often as every two hours when in direct sunlight. Next is health habits, such as exercise, which facilitates blood flow and helps bring nutrients to the skin. Optimize your immune system by eating fresh, organic produce and drinking plenty of water to hydrate the cells. Along with the proper topical skin care, whole-body wellness is crucial when developing an age-prevention strategy.
older skin has a drier, rougher look and feel. This dryness also impedes the ability of the skin to absorb moisture and active ingredients. The primary function of AHAs is to help increase the exfoliation of dead skin cells to reveal a younger, healthier, more hydrated complexion. Exfoliation of dead skin cells gives immediate visibly younger-looking skin. Antioxidants These powerful free-radical fighters are in almost every anti-aging formulation. Antioxidants help to stabilize free radicals by donating one of their electrons. Free radicals are known to damage healthy skin cells, thereby making antioxidants heroes in the fight against the signs of aging. Some of the most popular antioxidants found in anti-aging formulations are vitamin C, co-enzyme Q10, grape seed, zinc, lutein, ferulic acid, green tea and pine bark extract.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). A powerful pro-hormone that accelerates natural anti-aging functions, DHEA is known as the “youth hormone” because it is abundant in young skin and decreases with age. It acts as a defense against environmental aggressors that can age skin by boosting immunity while increasing the efficacy of other actives. Essential fatty acids It is a well-documented fact that inflammation in the body is the cause of most disease and cell deterior-ation. This is true for the aging of the skin and its ability to repair itself. Omega-3 taken both systemically and added to the base formulations of anti-aging skin care has been shown to help not only reduce the wrinkling of the skin, but also to aid in the prevention of eczema and psoriasis. As powerful as Continued on page 29
The Seven Signs of Aging Forget about anti-aging; instead, focus on minimizing agerelated signs of both intrinsic and extrinsic aging. Learn how to prevent the signs of aging and remember that your
true biological age is determined not by your years, but
by the state of your body’s structure and function, as well as your emotional and psychological well-being. That means that the more the body is supplied with healthy nutrients to protect cells from environmental damage, the younger it will look and feel at any age.
The skin is the largest organ of the body and the outward manifestation of inner health. In the cosmetic world, there are seven signs of aging that are traditionally accepted. 1. Fine lines and wrinkles 2. Uneven skin texture 3. Uneven skin tone 4. Surface dullness 5. Enlarged pores 6. Age spots 7. Loss of elasticity and firmness There are a bevy of ingredients that can be used to help strengthen the skin.
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) These are a group of acids— glycolic being the most popular because of its smaller mo lecular size. Skin cell turnover rates slow dramatically as a person ages, which is why
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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com Anti—Aging continued from page 28 naturally occurring ceramides, these fats hold the cells of the epidermis together to reinforce the skin’s protective barrier while helping to reduce its inflammatory process. Hyaluronic acid Young, healthy skin has a dewy and moist look and feel. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule found naturally in the skin that increases its ability to hold moisture. Capable of holding 1,000 times its weight in water, hyaluronic acid is found in almost every quality anti-aging product. Available as part of serums or creams, this ingredient can be used by even oilier skin to help retain moisture. Peptides Loss of elasticity and firmness lead many women to stand before the mirror and hold up their faces. Peptides are natural or synthetic compounds containing two or more linked amino acids. These ingredients stimulate collagen production.
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Retinoids A derivative of vitamin A, retinoic acid is the functional form of vitamin A in the skin and is considered to be the gold standard anti-aging ingredient. Retinoids stimulate the production of collagen and are also known to increase the production of epidermal hyaluronic acid. With continued use of good skin care products, alpha hydroxy skin peels, drinking plenty of water, and exercise. You can change the texture and the look of your skin and reduce the signs of aging.
I have to admit Catwoman, you are not as I expected
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Carnival Parade Change Delegada Francis Olachea has a surprise for LB kids – young and old! La Paz Carnival is coming to Los Barriles! Now, you just have to wait until Saturday, February 20th instead of the traditional February 9th. There will be prizes for the best costume and entry, festivities for the kids and much more. Beginning at 4pm at the Fountain and proceeding to Laguna Park. Watch for details on the BPE and mark your calendars for this great Carnival Parade! And yes, you can take a day off if you gave up margaritas for lent!!!!
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A Man (and a tree) for all Seasons By: Jorge Bergin
Steve Chism was a man of many talents. He might have thrived anywhere he chose to settle but, lucky for those who knew him, he picked this little place on the beach. I didn’t know him well but enough to know we shared a curiosity about Baja Sur and the many exotic plants and animals that we found around us in our travels. His two favorite authorities on those things were Ira Wiggins and Norman Roberts --- I remember the names because he often pulled em’ out like pistols, like weapons against false information about the subjects he loved so much. I can imagine him reading his big hardbound dog-eared editions of their reference books in the dusty darkness of his humble Buena Vista digs as though they were Hammurabi’s immutable pronouncements. Many times Steve and I shared small snippets of information about plants and animals and people; usually it was in between Jimmy Smith’s Mittyesque tall tales about Arabs and airplanes. We never got around to talking about the Zalate tree so I’ll take a minute to do just that. All through Baja California you can find one or two species of the tree and they often appear to be strangling, crushing the rocks beneath and around them with their strange and powerful roots. In some lofty canyons, if you put your mind to it, you can imagine these long-lived giants creating cactus, hardwood and scrub forests from what once was a long sinuous ridge of pure granite and sandstone by reducing the rock to a usable soil, an overburden the other plants can thrive in.
periods of time and simply sought a way to hedge its bets (pardon pun). It stands as a living symbol of survival and its adaptability mirrors that of the Steve Chisms and Choyeros who change when they must to meet the everyday challenges of this spiky, hot finger of land. I’d say Steve was tailor made for his particular chunk of rock and he made the best of all that he found around him.
A Letter to the Higher Power Author Unknown
Dear All-knowing Universal PowerSo far today, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, haven’t lost my temper, and haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or even indulgent. I’m very thankful for that- But in a very short time, I’m going to get out of bed, and from that moment on I’m going to need a lot of help! Your Friend,
I’m not the only one who wonders about the power of the roots, how deep they go to reach water. On some cliff sides one may climb below the big trees and eventually find the roots at the bottom of the canyon. Now botanist spelunkers have found a new depth record they can rely on --- at 700 feet they have found the roots in a deep, narrow subterranean cavern. In my mind the record is for the spelunkers, not for the tree, the roots. Why does the tree send roots deep into pure rock, splitting, crushing, and taking decades to find water? The answer is too complex for me but I would guess that when the seed germinated, the plant began to grow, it eventually reacted to what food and water was available right at its base over long February/March
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Encounters with Beauty
By: Renée Lagloire I lived with an indigenous family in Guatemala many years ago. They were Cak’chikel-speakers from Santa Catarina Palopó, one of the Mayan villages around Lake Atitlán. I rented from Doña Marcelina, and lived on a compound with her assorted children and grand-children. I worked and slept in a stand-alone room with a magnificent view of a volcano framed by a huge window. Thinking back on the time spent there, it was an amazing and mind-expanding six months for me, but challenging in so many ways.
There were of course cultural differences that arose. Some were around laundry, grooming, and food. I think that most of the time, my host family was amused by my strange ways. Once in a while, though, it was clear that I’d overstepped the boundaries. I bet if someone could frame a question that was understandable to Doña Marcelina about my worst cultural faux-pas, she’d bring up the time, she and three comadres, had to do an intervention with me. I’d love to hear her version of this story, but can only offer mine. One of the resident daughters, Katrina, happened to be beautiful by any western standard. She was fifteen at the time, had a slim frame, and a flawless complexion.
Her face reflected an appealing mixture of playfulness and innocence. She looked stunning in the blue, turquoise and silver traditional clothing of her village. Hers was an exotic beauty that was accentuated by shiny black hair woven through her colorful headdress. I’d been living there about three weeks when a delegation, consisting of Doña Marcelina and three of her comadres, came to my door. I initially thought they wanted me to donate towards the upcoming parade in the village. But no, they were there because they had an issue with me. Doña Marcelina, after the required introductions, jumped right into it, describing three different times when I said that Katrina was very pretty “muy bonita.” It took me a while to figure out what was going on. Her Spanish was not strong, and my Cak’chikel was really weak. But at some point, it came together for me. It was bad behavior (muy malo) to praise the physical beauty of people. It had to stop, and they were there to make sure I understood that. The women were so patient with me. One brought me over to where Doña Marcelina’s daughter-in-law was weaving. Role-modeling appropriate praising behavior, she said that the weaving was “good work” (buen trabajo), and that the weaving was pretty (bonito). By then, all five of us women were around the weaver, who’d joyfully joined in the conversation. I surmised that they were brainstorming “good work” scenarios for me to learn to praise. They would speak for a few minutes, laugh and joke around, interrupt each other, and finally someone would summarize in Spanish for me: “good tortilla making work”, and “good wood gathering work.” In this way I was taught that it was acceptable to praise the good work inherent in making various foods, including those they specified: fish, goat, sheep, greens, and mushrooms. It was also good work to prepare the corn for tortillas, to wash clothes, and to gather wild foods. Doña Marcelina ended the conversation by saying that bringing children into the world was good work. On hearing this, the five indigenous women all solemnly agreed, silently nodding their heads. Before leaving, each of the comadres held my hands and asked me if I understood. “Entiendes? I told them I did. But rhetorical questions were flooding my head. Having been reared in cultures that venerate their beautiful people, could I ever really, really understand?
Renee Lagloire is an Anthropologist
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Benefits of Massage By: Christene Comstock, LMT
I used to think that massage was something wealthy people did to pamper themselves. When I received my first massage I was amazed at how much better I felt. After doing some research, I realized how many systems in my body benefited from the work. Massage lowers the blood pressure and heart rate to a resting state which greatly reduces stress in the body. It also moves the lymphatic fluid cleansing toxins from the body. Soft tissue, muscles, connective tissue and organs are like a sponge. When they are squeezed they excrete toxins and when the massage therapist releases the pressure the tissue is able to draw in fresh nutrient rich blood. Massage lowers cortisol, which is a hormone that is produced by the body in response to stress and triggers the fight or flight or freeze mechanism when we are truly in danger. Often we are not really in danger but still our nervous system reacts as if we are. Massage also stimulates a hormonal response of increasing levels of Serotonin; a mood boosting neurotransmitter, which is a natural anti-depressant. Massage also increases Dopamine and Oxytocin levels in the brain. These are all “feel good” hormones. Facia is the most pervasive tissue in your body. It envelopes all your muscles, tendon, ligaments, and even organs. When you have an injury, (which could be over-use, repetitive stress or an impact injury) the tissue contracts and the facial envelope shrinks to accommodate the new shape, limiting the range of motion. Massage stretches the facia back to the full range of motion of the muscle. Massage straightens out the natural grain, so to speak, of the muscle. Often people say “I feel all knotted up”. A healthy muscle looks like a box of spaghetti and a damaged muscle looks like a bowl of cooked spaghetti with the muscle fibers crisscrossed, knotted up and stuck together. We tend to think of our bodies as a bunch of separate parts, and when we have an injury in one area that it only effects that area. In fact the compensation that occurs, effects the whole body’s balance. An example of this is, if you strain your lower back, it effects your gait, potentially causing issues with your foot, ankle, knee, hip, or radiating all the way up your spine and impacting your neck. This domino effect can go up or down the whole body, front or back, side to side and also has a huge psychological impact, causing fatigue, anxiety, depression, disease. In other words the whole body is connected on a physiological, neuromuscular, skeletal, psychological, energetic and emotional level. Other benefits of massage include reducing pain and swelling, improving digestive issues, helping with sleep disorders, decreasing anxiety and increasing energy levels. February/March
Many body working systems address the flow of energy in the body. Eastern cultures recognize the connection between the physical body and the energy flowing through it. Chi or Prana are known as the life force energy we all have. Acupuncture and acupressure and many disciplines of massage use these forms to promote healing. Studies have shown that the power of touch is beneficial to our health and development in early childhood, and refusing to give touch has a very negative outcome causing learning disabilities, arrested development and emotional problems. The skin is the largest organ in the body and the largest sensory connection with the world. Many people think body work is only beneficial when you have a problem…in other words “don’t fix it ’til it’s broke”. Actually being proactive and getting regular massage prevents problems, and promotes good health.
Christene Comstock “Enjoy the best of health”
Therapeutic Massage Treat your sweetheart with the gift of massage – Gift Certificates available now! Massage Swedish Thai Deep tissue Reiki Rain drop Facials Aroma therapy Acupressure Body Scrub
spadecortez@yahoo.com (044) 624-160-1203
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EAST CAPE GUILD HAPPENINGS Hola Fellow East Capers! The Guild is in full swing promoting East Cape Guild fundraisers as we approach the scholarship application deadline in march. We wanted to share with the Baja community our list of events that anyone can participate in and help our cause in supporting the students. Why is this important? The Mexican government requires school attendance only up to the 9th grade, and provides free education only to that level. The cost to attend high school includes tuition, bus costs, uniforms, gym clothes and other school supplies. The largest expense is often the bus cost depending on how far the student lives from the high school. To support a student attending high school averages $500 each. This is a burden that many of our local families cannot afford. Below is our current activities planned for the first half of 2016. February 6 Join in the Rotary's Mardi Grass Parade February 10 Guild General Meeting ( Public welcome) March 5 Baja HaHa golf mixer March 16 Guild General Meeting (Public welcome) April 14 Bocce Ball Tournament April 20 Guild General Meeting (Public Welcome) We encourage you to check the East Cape Guild Website or like our facebook page East Cape Guild A.C. Thanks for your support! East Cape Guild
I’ve decided to teach her to talk, what harm could it do?
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2016 Season Calendar February 4 ECRB Recycle Day February 6-7 Los Barriles 300 Race February 11 ECRB Movie Night February 12 Asociacion de Artes
Artist Home Tour
February 20 Carnival Parade and Celebration March 3 ECRB Recycle Day March 5 Guild Baja Ha Ha Golf March 10 ECRB Movie Night March 10 – 14 Rotary Workdays at the Alburgues March 11-13 Baja Shakespeare Play – “The Lost Barrels of Pleasure Island” March 17-18 Baja Shakespeare Play – “The Lost Barrels of Pleasure Island” March 20 Asociacion de Artes
March 24 April 7 April 14 April 19 April 22 May 5 May 14
Spring Art Fair
ECRB Movie Night ECRB Recycle Day Guild Bocce Ball Tournament ECRB Movie Night Rotary Earth Day Clean-up ECRB Recycle Day Guild Scholarship Awards
If you are an organization with an event date, please send it to u s and we will put it on our long range calendar! Email— eastcapersmagazine@gmail.com
February/March
Signs, Signs & More Signs Reprinted from Summer 2005
One of the joys of driving the Baja peninsula is trying to decipher the signs we encounter on our travels. For example, the sign for “speed bump ahead” is reductor de velocidad. Here is a list of other common signs you will see on your travels. disminuya su velocidad precaucion zona de Ganado utilizar el cinturón de segurida obedecer las señales maneje con precaucion Si toma no manaje
= = = = = =
precaución zona de deslaves conceda combino de luces precaución cruce de peatones curva peligrosa
= = = =
slow down caution livestock use your seat belt obey the signs drive with care if you drink don’t drive washout ahead dim your lights pedestrian crossing dangerous curve ahead
2005 Editor’s Note: Mexican roads are very well signed. It is especially important to take them seriously since doing so will prevent accidents and help you have a safe trip. We really do want you to come back and enjoy another holiday in BCS. 2016 Editor’s Note: Reading the note from 2005, I am guessing that the signs that were from that year have all rusted and are no longer there. From my experience, if you see a sign, do take it seriously – if it is there, it is probably worth heeding!
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