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Free / Gratis
December 2017 January 2018 Issue No. 81
Holiday Art Festival
at Colina del Sol
Just a short ride north of ‘downtown’ Los Barriles, you will find the neighborhood of Colina del Sol. There, in the clubhouse of Colina del Sol, you will enjoy the Asociación de Artes Holiday Art show, Sunday, Dec 3rd, 10am – 3pm. This show provides a showcase for local artists to present their creations to the public, and just in time for the holiday shopping season and your shopping pleasure!! You will find artists such as jewelry by Elizabeth Perkins, wooden bowls that are pure works of art, art by Mary Naylor – who did our poster, clothing by Victoria, Steven King art, designer pillow cases and aprons, metal work, Way Cool Clothing, just to name a few of the artists showing. Not only can you shop, but you eat delicious burgers from Gourmet Pizza of San Antonio, Sausage Ladies and their delectable sausages and Carmen and her smoothies and coffee. Come for breakfast – yes, Cesar will bring his strudel, and then stay and enjoy your lunch there. You can enjoy a refreshment from our beer garden, also serving water and soda, and take opportunity to meet with old friends and make new friends in the park like setting of Colina del Sol Clubhouse. Make sure you stop by and get a raffle ticket, or 20, for your opportunity to win a basket stuffed full of great gift possibilities, dinner certificates, adventures certificates, food and lots of great items all generously donated by our local merchants, all of whom want to help with the mission of the Asociación de Artes The December art show is one of Asociación de Artes major fundraisers for the programs we support here in the East Cape area. Along with our Artist Home tour February 7th, and our huge Art Festival, March 18, 2018, we are able to provide enough moneys to provide art supplies to all the local schools in the East December 2017 January 2018
Cape area, support two baseball camps to local communities, Easter Sports in LB and a summer program Cursos de Verano where they do arts and crafts, sports and learn about the environment. Asociación de Artes also puts out the East Capers periódico, four times a year publication providing information and articles to make living in the East Cape area better. We appreciate the support from the local residents—full and part time– and the visitors. We are always looking for folks that want to help out, and have a good time doing so. Just send us an email, and you can join the fun! For more information on any of the shows, volunteering or to become a vendor, please contact
eastcapearts@gmail.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 Asociación 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 2017/18 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-deductible 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
Thank You!
This publication is possible with the help of the board members of the Asociación de Artes and members of the community.
East Capers Periódico Publisher Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C., Los Barriles, BCS, Mexico Editor
Christine Kenck-Courtright
Copy Editor Eliza Mendoza
Circulation
Brian Cummings
Advertising Contributors
Gary Graham Theresa Comber Christine Courtright Urmas Kaldveer Seddon Wyldes Kim Schoenfield Jackie Reeves Sefi Held Lynne Collins & Mary Joanis Renee Lagloire Josefina Ruiz Tamayo Encylopida Britannica JP Patches Eastcape.com Wikipedia Whychristmas.com East Capers 2009
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
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The Mission Site on Ensenada de las Palmas East Capers - Summer 2009
When Ugarte, in 1721 departed for the Golf (of California) to explore an overland route from Sonora to Baja California, he left instructions for founding another Mission along the Gulf south of La Paz. He assigned young Padre Ignacio Maria Napoli, who had arrived in Loreto some months previously. Napoli met Padre Jaime Bravo and Captain Estevan Rodriguez Lorenzo at La Paz and, together, they sailed southward until arriving at a lovely sandy shore called BahĂa de las Palmas, where they arrived on the 24th day of August. No Indians appeared to meet them. Finally, on the fourth day after their arrival, when the discouraged young Padre was walking along the beach at a good distance from their encampment, he was terrified to see a great hoard of savages bearing down upon him. These were led by a man of giant stature who bore on one arm a bright cluster of plumes of birds, while in the other he carried a bow with an arrow drawn and pointing at the frightened Padre. All the while this huge savage was emitting horrendous yells which were answered in a chorus by his companions, in a manner perhaps reminiscent of a cheer leader and students at a modern-day rally.
When the Mission was well begun Padre Bravo and Captain Lorenzo returned to La Paz, to discover in their absence the Indians from the nearby islands of Espiritu Santo and Cerralvo had raided this Mission, murdering four Christian Indians and carrying away whatever they could in their canoes. Captain Lorenzo departed in all haste for Loreto, returning with a dozen soldiers to search out the marauders from their caves and other places of hiding on the islands, killing a number of them and capturing others, so quelling this minor rebellion. In the year 1723, Padre Napoli transferred his Mission to a site farther inland, erecting here a substantial Mission building which he dedicated to Santiago Apostol, which was also called Santiago de los Coros for the name of the sub-tribe of Pericues living there. Within a short time, he had baptized 500 Indian children, and had begun the indoctrination of the adult Indians. In 1726 Patre Napoli was transferred to Sonora on the mainland, being succeeded by Padre Lorenzo Carranco from Cholula in the Province of Puebla.
Terrified, Padre Napoli must have been in no mood to appreciate this style of drama, for he dropped to his knees, expecting to offer himself as a sacrifice to his Maker. Then, remembering the stern advice given to him by his Superior, Padre Ugarte, that he must face these heathen Indians boldly, he arose and walked forward as calmly as possible to meet them. As they gathered about him, he began to show them various trinkets he carried in anticipation of a meeting (but, hardly such a meeting). As they became friendlier he induced them to accompany him to the encampment. Here they accepted some corn porridge (pozole) prepared for them, and departed saying they would return soon with others of the Pericue Nation to which they belonged. Complying with their wishes, Padre located a suitable spot along the shore with fresh water nearby and began the construction of a little chapel (capilla) and living quarters for he and his soldiers. December 2017 January 2018
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THIS IS GONNA BE THE BERRIES! By: Kim Schoenfield
Baja Shakespeare’s 18th annual production is promising to be lively, entertaining and brand new! Our inspirational Director, Camilla Ford, has adapted the 1994, seven-time Oscar nominated film, Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway” into our very own “BULLETS OVER BAJA SHAKESPEARE.” Our plot has local playwright, Billy Shakes, wanting to produce his ‘Romeo & Juliet’ with our local community theatre company, Baja Shakespeare; a play within a play, set in the roaring ‘20’s. Our local bearcats (“spirited women”) and bimbos (“macho men”) [It’s 20’s lingo – study up!] will keep you laughing at the antics, local jokes and comical slapstick for which Baja Shakespeare is known!
Our creative Musical Director, Greg Herback, will have you singing and toe tapping along to the ragtime blues. Our Costume Designer, Colleen Baltzer, is delighted by the ‘20’s Flappers and Zoot Suits and will make all actors look as “hotsy totsy” as possible! This show is guaranteed to be another spectacular hit and the troupe is excited to begin the creative process. Auditions will be held with Director Camilla, on Friday, December 29th, 10am, upstairs at Sara’s Café Los Angeles, in Los Barriles. Baja Shakespeare has always been welcoming
to new, fresh faces, no experience in the theatre necessary. Singers and dancers are always appreciated. More the merrier! We are also looking for backstage assistance. Folks seeking fun, fulfillment and laughter please apply, don’t be a bluenose (“prude or killjoy”)! If you’ve been sitting in the audience for the past 17 years, this could be your year to get up on stage! Opening night is Friday, March 9th, Saturday March 10th and Sunday 11th. The following week will have 4 shows, Wednesday March 14th, Thursday 15th, Friday 16th and Closing Night Saturday March 17th. Shows will begin at 7pm, doors open 6pm. Tickets remain the same, $20. Stay tuned for more information! If you have interest in being a part of your community theatre company, please email Kim: tyfield1@hotmail.com
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WEAVING IN SAN ANTONIO, BCS By: Seddon Wyldes
Since 2009, I have been going to San Antonio once a week from November to April to teach weaving on shaft looms. Presently, there are four students from San Antonio and a fifth lives in La Paz. They all share 3 looms at the Centro Cultural in San Antonio and 2 students have their own looms in their homes.
One of the objectives of my students is to introduce a new young student from San Antonio to learn the Art of weaving. Last year, I gave an introductory lesson to the sister of the La Paz weaver. The sister, in turn showed her daughter the simple way to weave on cardboard. The daughter who lives in Brazil showed her daughter’s teacher and now all her students are weaving. This year we will try and recreate the same magic in San Antonio. On Sunday, December 10, 2017, 10am—4pm San Antonio will have their Festival de Artes in the main plaza. The Centro Cultural, where the Weaving studio is situated, is located on the south side of the church, 500 steps from the plaza. There will be demonstrations of the use of their looms, exhibit and sales of their summer’s work: Ponchos, table mats, scarves and pillows. Please come and meet these talented weavers and hopefully purchase their art. They are: Maryzonia Diaz Lecona Nancy Neidi Cosio Ruiz Rosa Manriquez Flores Rosa Isela Olachea Aguayo Trinidad Manriquez Four of these weavers have earned their Certificado de Excelencia para Tejido Básico. Besides weaving, they are also experienced embroiderers. On display will be their napkins and tablecloths.
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It’s like ‘springtime’ in the El Nino Cycle A Mermaid’s Summer on the Sea -II By: Theresa Comber
“Hanging” in the deep blue with rare toothed dolpins A goddess of the sea, my girlfriend Leeanne Kooi and owner of the B & B “Casa Kootenay” on the bay in La Paz is a preeminent Master Diver and an expert on dive locations from the coasts of Alaska to the island archipelago of the Revillagigedo located 250 miles south of Baja’s tip, considered Mexico’s Galapagos. Aboard ‘Too Awesome’ and under Captain Adan’s kind and watchful eye, were on an overnight trip to dive, snorkel and swim, two wannabe mermaids with a love of the sea. We had already dived ‘La Reinita’, the small reef midway up Isla Cerralvo and had a mind-blowing time at ‘La Reina’, the incredible pinnacle where currents collide at the north end of Isla Cerralvo, the 24-milelong island to our north which the Mexican government has christened ‘Jacques Cousteau Island’. A lovely overnight anchored at the Bay of Dreams had given way to Adan’s love of fishing and we were offshore,
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eyes strained, Adan tried to make out what exactly, but Leeanne and I we were hitting the deck to get into our snorkel gear and as Adan slowed toward the buoy we went overboard and swam forward. Leeanne slipped in first; I was two seconds behind when we could see three dolphins, lolling horizontal in the water, very near the buoy, clearly not concerned with us. What was hard to grasp were the two that were hanging completely vertical, with their noses pushed right up to the floating buoy – a bit surreal, strange really, we slowed and were observing them when Leeanne kicked ahead. Well, that was IT! The bigger of the two hanging dolphins was NOT happy being disturbed and zipped over to Leeanne to let her know, making two fast 360-degree circles around her and creating a bit of an underwater hubbub. WOW, that was crazy! Fifteen feet away I could see the dolphins gather, and five abreast they headed south. Longing to have our own tails, we did our best to keep up but soon they disappeared in the distance. Yet we didn’t recognize this dolphin. We were ready for a long swim so we spied the next buoy and swam a half mile to it, Adan slowly trolling for blue marlin as his mermaids swam along in the deep blue heaven of the endless water below. Our Sea of Cortez guide book proved to us it was the rough toothed dolphin, a rare visitor to our waters and I was grateful for the bountiful springtime in the El Nino cycle. Fingertip to Fin – swimming with a humpback in the Tahitian Islands A long dreamed journey to Tahiti and the Society Islands came to pass in September, in pursuit of diving, fishing, kiting, exploring and fingers crossed - swimming with humpbacks – as well as uncovering the history of my husband’s Great Uncle who sailed on vacation to Tahiti in March of 1939, and overcome with the island’s beauty, never returned to the US. On the top of my list was swimming with a whale, a permitted opportunity that can regularly happen here, and Tonga. I’ve been in the Sea of Cortez with our humpbacks which summer in the Arctic, and wanted to experience the Southern Hemisphere humpbacks that summer in the Antarctic. Our first day on Moorea was diving and on our first dive in a virtual aquarium, we were joined by five black tip sharks, following us like they were our shark dogs. Topside we moved to a mooring for our second dive, warming with tea and cookies when the Captain saw a humpback whale, making my heart skip a beat as it came straight toward us. I was in the water in 30 seconds and it seemed she was looking for a playmate. From deep below its enormous shape gained clarity and it just came straight to us. Fingertip to fin, her long, white arm stretched out toward mine and the magic was clear. She moved around us, turned on her back, came alongside eye to eye, spun around then away, diving almost out of sight. But there was more play time to be had so she came back again, spy hopping her nose out of the water, lolling in circles, side to belly to back and the sense of awe and wonder and gratitude of being with this immense creature like we were old friends from the playground was set. December 2017 January 2018
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The Intimate and True Adventures of “El Ballenero” By: Urmas Kaldveer, PhD
Episode 17: Aggressive Behavior Amongst the Humpbacks Some years ago, my gosh it must be 10 by now, I was on a whale search with my panguero Vicente Lucero. As we neared the southern point of my grid (about “The Pyramids”) we spotted a number of blows further south and I decided to investigate. Well, it turned out to be a “competitive group” – that is, a group of male humpbacks competing to be the primary escort and possible mate of the one female they were all following. It was the first, and only, large competitive group I have experienced in my 13 years with the humpbacks here on the east cape. Groups of up to forty males in a competition or fighting pod have been observed in some parts of the world. As we followed them so I could get ID’s (that is the focus of my work with whales) we witnessed all the classic male fighting techniques and strategies used by the humpbacks during a fight for dominance and mating privilege. As with almost all of earths creatures, reproductive rights are most often determined by combat (for those interested in why this is so I highly recommend the book “Demonic Males” by Richard Wrangham – for the males out there who may be offended by the title please believe me its purpose is NOT to demonize us). This is also the case with the marine mammals and the great whales are no exception. The battles within a competitive group may involve dozens of whales and last for hours….and they can get bloody! The group we followed for 4 hours yielded 7 world class (best ID so far obtained for a particular whale)
ID’s and the unique and privileged opportunity to watch this combat of leviathans up close. Being a “colega” of Dr. Jorge Urban at UABCS I have license to approach the whales more closely than most and do not recommend it for the casual observer for both the sake of the whales and one’s own safety. It is actually illegal so best stay a good distance away. Classically, the female is not caught in the melee trailing her and does not seem to have much of a say in who her eventual escort will be. She is rarely harmed during the battles behind her but that is not always the case. If she is with a calf it becomes more dangerous for the female due to the need to protect her calf from accidental injury (the collisions between the males are at times very close since the primary escort attempts to “shadow” the female as a sign of dominance). There is no biting involved as these are baleen whales and have no teeth. The damage to another whale is inflicted in a number of ways however and as I said before, “can get bloody”. It is also possible that the outcome will not involve actual physical contact but intimidation only. Size, song strength, breaching prowess, pectoral and fluke slaps and trumpeting (a high pitched and loud expelling of breath) are just a few of the techniques for intimidation. If things get more serious then the head, lower jaw, pectoral fins and flukes become very effective weapons. And it is not uncommon for two or more whales to “gang up” on the primary escort of the moment and even “pancake” the escort by attacking from below and above at the same time. These combats generally take place at the latter end of the breeding season. Close examination of the bodies of adult males often show numerous scars and gouges, and some display dorsal fins that have been sheared off during past confrontations. “It’s an underwater football game with 40-ton players,” states Maui Ocean Center Aquarist Jen Kogan, “It’s a period of constant collision and physical contact to become the primary escort male, a position that can change at any minute.” Continued on page 8
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Humans are rarely if ever victims of aggressive attacks by humpbacks. When divers approach whales in t he ocean the diver is generally so small that whales do not feel any threats towards them. It is also important to point out that humans are too large for whales to consume. Most species have relatively small throats that are incapable of swallowing anything close to the size of a human. While whale attacks occur on an extremely rare basis it is important to acknowledge that these situations can and do happen every once in a while, although these behaviors are very rare. A rare but fascinating fact is that it appears that humpbacks (and other large whales) sometimes come to the aid of another species when they are attacked by Orcas. In the last 62 years, there have been 115 interactions recorded between humpback whales and killer whales, according to a study published this July in the journal of Marine Mammal Science. The most logical biological explanation for the humpbacks’ vigilante-like behavior is that the whales receive some sort of benefit from interfering with orca hunts.
To hear more about this tune in to episode #18. My work is self supported by donations. Checks may be sent to: MioSah, 20 Highland court, Ukiah, CA 95482 or direct to my GoFundMe account at: gofund.me/6j0prg
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Cabo Pulmo National Park From Wikipedia
Cabo Pulmo National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Cabo Pulmo) is a national marine park on the east coast of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, spanning the distance between Pulmo Point and Los Frailes Cape, approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Cabo San Lucas in the Gulf of California. Bahía Pulmo is home to the oldest of only three coral reefs on the west coast of North America. Estimated to be 20,000 years old, it is the northernmost coral reef in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The reef has a number of fingers of hard coral atop rock outcroppings that run parallel to the coast, occurring in progressively deeper water offshore. The area was designated a national park in 1995, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2008. On June 5th, 1995, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo declared the 71.11-square-kilometre (27.46 sq mi) area surrounding Cabo Pulmo a federally protected National Marine Park. On May 2nd, 1997, Jose Luis “Pepe” Murrieta was the first volunteer Park Director appointed by the INE (National Ecological Institute). The non-profit organization Patronato Cabo del Este, founded in 1997, was (and still is) Cabo Pulmo's primary supporting organization while the federal government built a budget for the park. A community organization known as Amigos para la Conservación de Cabo
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Pulmo ("Friends for the Conservation of Cabo Pulmo", or ACCP) was founded in 2002 to promote conservation of the natural resources of the park. Carlos Narro was appointed the first official Park Director by the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP), a branch of the federal Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, in 2004. In 2005, Cabo Pulmo was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of a larger serial property known as the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, in recognition of the Gulf's exceptionally rich biodiversity, high marine productivity, species endemism, and striking natural beauty. In his book The Log from the Sea of Cortez, American author John Steinbeck described Cabo Pulmo reef as follows: "The complexity of the life pattern on Pulmo Reef was even greater than at Cabo San Lucas. Clinging to the coral, growing on it, burrowing into it, was a teeming fauna. Every piece of the soft material broken off, skittered and pulsed with life, little crabs and worms and snails. One small piece of coral might conceal 30 or 40 species, and the colors on the reef were electric.” Conservation: Before establishment of the park the area was heavily overfished. Creating the national park and policing it has been beneficial to the marine ecosystem. During the first decade of the 21st century, the area has seen an increase in total biomass of more than 400%. The increase is attributed to the healthy condition of the reef itself.
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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com Laguna Park for community activities, enhancement of our volunteer program for remote teaching services, enhancement of the "Women's Care" programs offered by East Cape Health Center, ongoing support of no cost health care for children under 18, and the support of our new Club Rotario Interact.
When we each give a little, we can do a lot. The hardships of our East Cape communities are many and severe, but the rewards can be even greater when neighbors come together for a common cause. Our challenges continue to include poverty, a minimal education system, isolation, health issues, and inadequate water systems. We’re a small but ambitious club, surrounded by friends generous in deed and spirit. When we see a need, we do our best to find a way to fill it. Never forget, we are not just a social club. We are Rotarians, and Rotarians make changes in the world. Come walk with us. Wherever we are, you will always be welcome.
THANKS FOR LAST SEASON; HERE’S THE NEXT!
By: Josefina Ruiz Tamayo President Rotario de Los Barriles Cabo Este BCS Thanks to all of you who contributed to our recent successful season here in East Cape. Several Rotarians visiting from California joined friends and families here to complete several projects. The Madera Rotary Club and their Interact participated in the creation and support of our new club for local youths. Our new season is already upon us. It includes some ongoing projects, like maintenance of our Technology Centers, where local students can access the internet for their studies. The future of many youths now depends on competent computer training. We also provide and support programs for school-age children who are often left alone day after day until evenings. Our clean water projects continue with no end in sight. Many of our smaller communities and individual ranchos continue to rely on unclean water sources, and the distribution of healthful water filters remains a high priority. New projects include Senior Care for those quietly among us who become isolated as their families move away, programs to improve literacy and basic education for adults, projects to improve baseball and soccer fields for our youth, the reconstruction of the stage at our December 2017 January 2018
Oscar the Mechanic WE WORK ON CARS & TRUCKS Behind El Toro Y La Luna
Open Monday thru Saturday 8am to 5pm Call us at: (cell) 624-117-3412 11
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Mexican Retablos – 19th Century Devotional Art
COPPER RIVER DESIGNS JEWELRY
East Capers Magazine Spring 2009
Retablos, which means “Behind the altar”, are small oil paintings on tin, zinc, wood or copper, were used in borne altars to venerate the almost infinite number of Catholic saints. Retablos are a type of folk art that is deeply rooted in Spanish history. They represented the heart and soul of traditional religious beliefs in the 17th, 18th and 19th century Mexican culture. Colorful, spiritual, symbolic, allegorical, historical, folkloric and charming are just a few of the words that best describe this unique art form.
CHRISTINE ROGERS
christinerogersbaja@yahoo.com US CELL (206) 669-1675 VONAGE (775) 772-0906 MEX. LANDLINE (624) 141-0014
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The process of retablo painting was originally introduced to converted Indians by the Spanish. With the introduction of inexpensive mediums such as tin, they reached their pinnacle of popularity in the last quarter of the 19th century. Small retablo factories were established with a hierarchy of trained and untrained artists who worked to produce and reproduce the same images. A typical “retablero”, was seldom recognized as an artist. He may have reproduced the same image hundreds, if not thousands, of times in his career.
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saint of farmers, is venerated for good weather, and prosperous crops. He is often called upon before picnics
or just before harvest. San Jeronimo, the patron saint of scholars and philosophers, spent four years in the forest as a hermit. He is called upon for protection against temptations and want. Counterpart to the retablo, are ex-votos, which are devotional paintings on canvas or tin, which offer thanks to a particular saint in the form of a short narrative. Perhaps a small child becomes ill, a favorite animal finally wanders home of a family narrowly escapes the clutches of death after their small house burns to the ground. An individual, grateful for a miracle received, dedicates a small painting with a short testimonial to the respective saint. One of our talented local artists, Seddon Wylde, does retablo and ex-voto painting which can be seen on the Artist’s Studio tour in February.
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Posada In Mexico By: Whychristmas.com
From December 16th to Christmas Eve, children often perform the 'Posada' processions or Posadas. Posada is Spanish for Inn or Lodging. There are nine Posadas. These celebrate the part of the Christmas story where Joseph and Mary looked for somewhere to stay. For the Posadas, the outside of houses are decorated with evergreens, moss and paper lanterns. In each Posada, children are given candles and a board, with painted clay figures of Mary riding on a donkey and Joseph, to process round the streets with. They call at the houses of friends and neighbors and sing a song at each home. The song they sing is about Joseph and Mary asking for a room in the house. But the children are told that there is no room in the house and that they must go away. Eventually they are told there is room and are welcomed in! When the children go into the house they say prayers of thanks and then they have a party with food, games and fireworks. Each night a different house holds the Posada party. At the final Posada, on Christmas Eve, a manger and figures of shepherds are put on to the board. When the Posada house has been found, a baby Jesus is put into the manger and then families go to a midnight Church service. After the Church service there are more fireworks to celebrate the start of Christmas. One game that is often played at Posada parties is piñata. A piñata is a decorated clay or papier-mâché jar filled with sweets and hung from the ceiling or tree branch. The piñata
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is often decorated something like a ball with seven peaks around it. The peaks or spikes represent the 'seven deadly sins'. piñatas can also be in the form of an animal or bird (such as a donkey). To play the game, children are blind-folded and take it in turns to hit the piñata with a stick until it splits open and the sweets pour out. Then the children rush to pick up as many sweets as they can.
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Captain Jesús Araiza, a Baja Legend By: Gary Graham
I began writing my “Road Trekker” columns in 2008 and Jesús Araiza was often mentioned in them; several times he was even the main topic. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 79 on April 8th, quietly at his home in Los Barriles, BCS, surrounded by family members. One of the oldest remaining charter boat captains in Baja’s East Cape Region, Jesús held a remarkable front row seat to the evolution of Baja sportfishing stretching back to 1955, the early days of Rancho Buena Vista Hotel; his journey was well documented and filled with fascinating tales that only being there could provide. Not only was he one of the first “Tag & Release” captains in the East Cape area, he was also awarded the High Skipper Award for “Tag & Release” 19 different years during his career. His reputation as one of the top captains at the “Ranch” was legend and he was so popular that he was often booked several seasons in advance. It’s no wonder he fished with so many of the WON Baja columnists throughout their careers and was acquainted with the others. This accounted for the fact that he was mentioned in most of their writings over the years: Ray Cannon, followed by Tom Miller, Fred Hoctor and then Gene Kira, who assumed the Baja column upon Hoctor’s death. Jesús retired in 2008 from Hotel Buenavista Beach Resort, a neighboring hotel, leaving the day-to-day fishing to his sons; today his grandson, Tony, captains the “Retriever” a 66-foot Viking fishing out of Cabo San
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Jesús could often be found each afternoon in the front yard of his corner family compound sitting beneath his favorite shade tree enjoying the afternoon breeze. Last summer, I visited Jesús for the last time. He seemed happy, quite content, and of course we shared many of our amusing East Cape fishing tales. I’m honored to have been Jesús’ friend over the past 37 years. I always enjoyed seeing him and learning his perspective about the many changes in East Cape and beyond. In addition, his sportfishing experiences had earned him the respect and admiration of the many friends and acquaintances we shared and we had many stories to compare, both on the water and off. Continued
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The news of his passing reverberated throughout Baja in general, and specifically among his many friends and admirers in the sportfishing community. “He was a great man. I was very lucky to spend time on the water with Don Jesús. The stories he told of the golden age of East Cape fishing are burned into my brain forever! Gary, you may recall when you had your tackle stored at Jesús’s house in Los Barriles? There was a real Baja treasure in that storage room. Jesús's dog eared copy of The Sea of Cortez, signed to Jesus by Ray Cannon and Harry Merrick.”… Lance Peterson “R.I.P. Jesus.”… Bill Harris “I just wanted to tell you how much the article that you wrote meant to our Captain Tony Araiza, his grandson and the family. They were astonished to learn things they didn't know.”… Martha Macnab Vaya Con Dios Sr. Araiza! … Tuna Dave “Very upsetting. I lived across the street from him a few years ago in Los Barriles and remember when I first arrived there I would see him out in the yard, just sitting there for hours on end with his dog. “After about three weeks I finally went over and introduced myself on my way out to the beach. On my ATV was my fishing gear and he proceeded to ask me where I was going to fish?
THIS ACCOUNTED FOR the fact that he was mentioned in most of their writings over the years: Ray Cannon, followed by Tom Miller, Fred Hoctor and then Gene Kira, who asumed the Baja column upon Hoctor’s death. Photo credit Jonathan
Roldan
“From that day on I would stop by on my way out or in and listen to one of his stories or pieces of local advice about fishing. Occasionally, I would take him some mahi fillets or cabrilla that I would catch on the beach. He will be missed and may he rest in peace.” … Kyle Banashek “Great guy and a great fisherman.”… Andrew Hughes “I remember this very distinguished man. I never knew him. I could tell, by looking at him, that he had a rich history. So sorry to hear of his passing.”… Diane Staley Aerts I had the privilege to know and fish with Jesús. He was my skipper in 1963 at the Ranch when I caught my first marlin when I was 5 years old, unassisted. He had me bear down and do it by myself. R.I.P. Jesús. You will be missed by all.”… John Duckett “Amazing fishing family.”… Thomas Neikirk Araiza’s sportfishing legacy is secure in the family dynasty of 7 children, 14 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, some of whom work within the recreational sportfishing industry which will benefit from his heritage; the Araiza family will continue to influence East Cape and Baja for future generations.
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AGING ACTIVELY Sefi Held, A.C.E., CanfitPro Certified Personal Trainer
I have been very fortunate in my 45 years of fitness training to be able to attend one of the biggest Fitness Conference every year in Toronto to stay current and certified in the latest, up to date research and trends in this industry. Researchers and presenters from all over the globe attend this event drawing an approximate 7,000 eager participants to take part in new classes and seminars ranging from Pound, STRONG Zumba, HIIT, Build, Bootcamp, Zenga, Pilates, and many disciplines of Yoga to name just a few. One of my big take always from this four-day conference was that “Age is a limiting belief and ability is unlimited. Your chronological age is only a number. Aging is an Attitude”. Yes, aging is defined by physiological declines in function and presence of disease, it is what is happening at the cellular level, as a result of lifestyle behaviour - our habits and choices that we make every day result in these declines that occur as we age. We know that our health isn’t just about a system of anatomical parts, it is an integration of the mental, physical and spiritual and determined by our attitudes and belief systems as well as genetics and environmental systems. The biggest factor in the decline to physical capacity with age is level of physical activity. When we remain active throughout adulthood, we can retard the aging process and continue to live a life worth living. I personally know 70-year-old participants that are fitter than some 30 and 40-year old’s. We need to get up and move. It has been proven that sitting over 31 minutes at a time can cancel out the positive effects of exercise. Move every 30 minutes even if it’s only for one minute! You need some aerobic exercise for your heart. A minimum of 30 minutes 5 to 7 days a week of brisk walking, jogging, biking, pickleball, tennis and swimming are all great options especially here in beautiful Baja.
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Build lean muscle and strength - you can even use your own bodyweight to achieve amazing results! Physiologically we reach our peak in muscular strength in our late 20’s after which our muscles begin to atrophy (shrink) at a rate of 1- 2% per year. For the older adult, the rate of muscle atrophy accelerates after the age 60. In both men and women, lower body strength declines much more rapidly than upper body strength. Core stability, strength, power and posture defines you! As well, dynamic and static balance training are under appreciated and necessary to prevent falls and injuries. Imagine your core like a tree trunk - you want that to be strong so that it stabilizes movement in the extremities (arms and legs) throughout your daily activities. Pilates, Yoga, and Tai Chi are a few of the disciplines that address these functional needs. Although many physiological factors decline with age, up to 50% of this decline is due to de-conditioning rather than aging. With a bit of training, you can lessen the effects of aging and remain fit and functional. Continued on Page 18
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Cardiovascular exercise will always be more important than strength training throughout your life because heart disease is the most common cause of death in both men and women. No one that I know of has ever died of a weak biceps muscle but people die of weak hearts daily. We can not live well or long without a strong heart. The impact of physical activity for older adults reaches far beyond day to day health. Physical activity not only supports quality of life, independence and improved function in adults over 50 and older, it also impacts virtually every aspect of society. Physically active lifestyles lower the costs that inactivity imposes on the healthcare system - about $780 billion a year in the United States alone! Just think what your life would be like if you were to lose your ability to function day to day. I know from personal experience how quickly this can be lost and the effort and dedication needed to regain those functions again. We are fortunate here in Los Barriles to have two fantastic yoga studios that can address all of your lifestyle needs. Varieties of classes are available such as Beginner to Intermediate, Flow, Gentle, and Restorative Yoga, and Meditation as well as Pilates, Stability Ball, Tai Chi, Barre and Line Dancing. Check them out and let’s all get FIT TO LIVE!!
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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com warm, usually, calm waters of the bay. The bay is a great place to snorkel as the waters are teeming with tropical fish. A semi-permanent fish camp is based here and fresh fish can usually be bought from the fishermen when they return with the day’s catch.
Cabo Pulmo and Los Frailes From EastCape.com
Cabo Pulmo is a Mexican National Marine Park located 16 miles south of La Ribera. The first 11 miles of road are paved, the next 5 are usually in better shape than the rest of this road. Cabo Pulmo is home to a living coral reef and millions of tropical fish, which makes for some fantastic diving and snorkeling. Everything you could wish for, as a diver, is nearby – tropical fish, game fish, manta rays, sea lions and even the rare Golden Grouper. You may also get really lucky and see a visiting Whale Shark. This protected area has flourished and is an example of what the entire Sea of Cortez was like in the not-so -distant past. The village of Cabo Pulmo (pop. 150 + or -) seems like it has not changed for years. Yes, there are now different classes of lodging available and there is a choice of pretty good restaurants, a cantina, some small stores and a few more activity providers, but it is still like taking a giant step back in time. The people who live in this area are rugged, helpful and extremely friendly. All of this is a really good thing; Cabo Pulmo is a part of “The Real Baja” just waiting to be enjoyed. There are a few first-class accommodations if you plan on staying in the area for a few days. Most visitors come to Cabo Pulmo for one reason, to experience the incredible diving and snorkeling. I know of divers who have spent over three weeks in Cabo Pulmo and have gone diving almost every day. The diving is, simply put, incredible! A friend who just spent 10 days on the East Cape (his first visit) told me recently… “If you don’t fall in love with the East Cape, there is something REALLY wrong with you. “Bahía Los Frailes is a large white sand bay, 5 miles south of Cabo Pulmo. Here you will find a beautiful crescent shaped bay with a rocky point on the north end. This is a great place to camp and enjoy the December 2017 January 2018
Fishing, sea kayaking, diving and snorkeling and just plain relaxing are the activities most often practiced at Bahía Los Frailes. This is a favorite protected anchorage for yachts and they will sometimes use their launches to water ski in the bay. There is a huge drop-off that goes quickly down to a depth of 1,000 feet. This drop-off will produce some incredible fish stories to take back with you. You can catch dorado, tuna, grouper, wahoo, sierra and others within the bay. A mile or so further out will produce sailfish, marlin and some really big tuna. There is a small hotel (very nice, but often closed) that can help with boat rentals. There is a Sea Lion colony located within the rocks at the north end of the bay. You can climb over the rocks and find it, but the best way to see the Sea Lions is from the water. They are normally friendly (unless it’s mating season) and will be curious when they see you coming. Swimming with these wonderful creatures is an experience you will not soon forget.
Festival de Artes 2018 Our 25th Anniversary! March 18, 2018 Hotel Palmas de Cortez 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the Festival de Artes in Los Barriles. Asociación de Artes is so proud to bring you a celebration 25 years in the making! Watch for details in upcoming weeks and mark those calendars! ~ For more information ~ Vendors - festivaldeartes20@gmail.com Sponsors and General Information festivaldeartesinfo@gmail.com www.eastcapearts.com 21
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! from sea level to 5,000 meters (more than 16,000 feet) in mountains of Europe and North and South America. A few species live as far north as southern Canada, southern Germany, and Russia. Breeding is seasonal and generally occurs during the warm months, ranging from late spring through early fall. Males may travel hundreds of meters to find receptive females. It appears that males find females by localizing a pheromone that the female emits from the end of her abdomen. Males that remain near females after mating are sometimes killed and eaten. The mother invests a great amount of time and energy in her offspring. Unlike most nonmammalian animals, scorpions are viviparous, giving birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Once fertilized, the eggs are retained in the female’s body, where the embryos are nourished in utero for periods varying from several months to a year. The birth process itself may last from several hours to several days. Temperate species usually give birth in spring and summer, whereas tropical species give birth throughout the year. Litter size averages 25, with a range of 1 to more than 100. At birth a young scorpion is white and enveloped in a membrane.
Scorpion 101 – Everything you need to know BEFORE you get bitten! Scorpions are relatively large among terrestrial arthropods, with an average size of about 6 cm (2.5 inches). Scorpions exhibit few sexual differences, although males usually are slenderer and have longer tails than females. A few precursors of modern scorpions were comparative giants. Fossils of two species measure from 35 cm (14 inches) to a meter (3.3 feet) or more, and an undescribed species is estimated to have been 90 cm (35.5 inches). Most species from deserts and other arid regions are yellowish or light brown in color; those found in moist or mountain habitats, however, are brown or black. In addition to desert habitats, scorpions have adapted to temperate, subtropical, and tropical environments such as grasslands, savannas, and forests. They live on all major landmasses except Greenland and Antarctica. Their range extends from Canada and central Europe to the southern tips of South America (Tierra del Fuego) and Africa, and they have been accidently introduced into New Zealand and England. Scorpions have been found at elevations
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Scorpions are opportunistic predators that eat any small animal they can capture. Common prey includes insects as well as spiders and other arachnids, including other scorpions. Less-common but regular prey includes pill bugs, snails, and small vertebrates such as lizards, snakes, and rodents. Most scorpions are sit-and-wait predators that remain motionless until a suitable victim has moved into an ambush zone. Scorpions can sense tiny ground vibrations, and some can detect airborne vibrations of flying insects. These behaviors are sophisticated to the extent that scorpions can determine the precise distance and direction of their prey. Once the prey has been detected, the scorpion turns, runs to the prey, and seizes it. The prey is stung if it is relatively large, aggressive, or active. Otherwise it is simply held by the pedipalps as it is eaten. Scorpions are largely nocturnal and hide during the day in the confines of their burrows, in natural cracks, or under rocks and bark. Individuals become active after darkness has fallen and cease activity sometime before dawn. Because scorpions fluoresce under ultraviolet light, biologists can study their natural behavior and ecology by using portable camping lights equipped with ultraviolet (black-light) bulbs. On a moonless night, scorpions can be seen at distances of 10 meters (33 feet). Other species show adaptability in habitat use. Many species can locally attain densities of one or more individuals Continued on Page 25
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Scorpions Continued From Page 24
per square meter. Vaejovis littoralis, an intertidal scorpion from Baja California, Mexico, exhibits the highest density, from 2 to more than 12 per square meter along the high-tide mark. Since adult scorpions commonly weigh 0.5 to 5 grams (0.02 to 0.2 ounce), the biomass of the population is high. In some desert areas the biomass of scorpions exceeds that of all other animals except termites and ants. Several factors contribute to scorpions’ evolutionary success. Although they are not particularly diverse morphologically, scorpions are quite adaptable in terms of ecology, behavior, physiology, and life history. Some species can be supercooled below the freezing point for weeks yet return within hours to normal levels of activity. Others survive total immersion under water for as long as one or two days. Desert scorpions can withstand temperatures of 47 °C (117 °F), which is several degrees higher than the lethal temperatures for other desert arthropods. Despite being venomous predators, scorpions are valuable as prey because many are relatively large and quite abundant. Birds (mostly owls), lizards, a few small snakes,
frogs and toads all eat scorpions. A few vertebrates even specialize on scorpions, at least seasonally. Some scorpions are their own worst enemies, with both cannibalism and predation on other species being common. Such predation can be a major mortality factor and may limit the abundance and distribution of some species. A few large arthropods (spiders, solpugids, centipedes) also eat scorpions.
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! We also want to give a big shout out to our sponsors JA Custom Home Designer/Builder, CMC Construction, Tienda Popular, LB Property Services, Valentin Lucero, Hot Dogs y Tacos Dylan, Materiales Gonzalez for the new uniforms and shoes! We look like an official little league team and the pride the uniforms bring is huge. Support our local kids by coming out and watch them play. It is good ole’ fashioned baseball with lots of action, celebration of the players on good plays and a good afternoon at the field. We will continue to try to have a concession stand at all the home games, which supports our players, so buy some snacks while watching the game!! We will keep the BPE updated on the dates of upcoming games in Los Barriles! And we will see you at the field!
Little League Baseball in Los Barriles – Meet the Bandidos! By: Lynne Collins & Mary Joanis
Los Barriles has their first official little league baseball team! Coached by Oscar Higuera and his assistants Paco, Earle and Doug, the team consists of 6 to 11-year old’s. The Bandidos will start the second half of their season with 6 home games at the Rincón field which is in Los Barriles, off the dirt by-pass road. We owe much of the success of the team to Oscar, our coach, who has taken our team and made them into baseball players! It all started after the first Sawyers Baseball Camp in November 2014, when Oscar approached the camp leaders and requested that the second camp would be held in Los Barriles. So, in April 2015, Oscar said he would have kids here and he came throughwith 50 boys and girls at the 2nd Sawyers Camp. The Camp left all the gear a team would need with Oscar, and he formed a team and got going. The coaches were very patient as many of our kids never saw a glove or held a bat! After months of diligent practice, practice, practice, these boys have learned the game. If you went to their first game, and come to a game now, you can see their understanding of the game has increased and they foresee where the play is, and know when to back up each other on the field. And we can say that we have some decent batters and our pitchers are coming along very well. And as for the name, well, the kids came up with it and thought it was the perfect name!
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Breathe Deep and Carry On By Jackie Reeves
When did the face in the mirror become my grandmother's? As we age, it's human nature to be more conscious of our mortality. It slaps us in the face every time a parent, family member, friend, or other— perhaps younger—person succumbs to life's inevitable outcome. We become acutely aware of every ache and pain. Perhaps we also start to identify how our diet, exercise, sleep patterns, and attitudes impact our overall well-being. Our social and family connections become more important, too, satisfying our inherent need to feel connected, heard, validated, and a part of something bigger. Lately, I've been reflecting on my own transformation from Twenty-Something to Medicare Recipient. The evolution taught me two simple truths to maintaining and improving the quality and longevity of life. •
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Breath is the window to the body and soul. As you age, if you change nothing else, change the mindfulness of your breath. It is easy to learn the basic breathing techniques taught in yoga and other meditative practices. It can also help identify symptoms of critical health issues. Co-Conspiracy is key. Prior to 1386, the word conspire simply meant to breathe together. Staying connected through classes or group activities gives us the confidence of being co-conspirators in life. Modern research shows that group participation in a shared vision of health is a powerful antidote to many issues that we face as we age.
The emphasis on breathing and awareness during a regular yoga or meditative practice can enhance your life in many ways. As you stretch and strengthen your muscles, yoga also helps you improve balance and physical endurance, both of which decline with age. Practicing with focus helps you develop a calmer, more centered mind, able to notice and counteract negative emotions that produce stress. It also helps you tune into subtle, physical sensations, such as an irregular heartbeat, enabling you to act on suspicious symptoms sooner. Regular mindful meditation heightens our sensations of peacefulness, joy, and contentedness. Yoga prompts us to use our senses in a more profound way—delighting in the brilliance of a sunset, the wind in our hair, the smile of a baby, the smell of the sea. Your learned skill of conscious breathing will help you settle yourself in times of anger, pain, fear, or other stresses. I find it particularly beneficial when I am
The Importance of Planning Ahead By Char Wenger
East Cape Health Center, going on 5 years strong as the medical hub serving the East Cape Community. Uniquely situated between SJC and La Paz, located in Plaza Libertad, our medical and dental clinic are about to merge. Offering programs for the community at large, we also provide medical and dental care for all the children at no cost for the families. With unprecedented one on one health educational programs, we offer the same to all age levels in the schools. By allowing new opportunities for children, we feel we make a significant difference. We seldom miss offering innovative ways to open their eyes, minds, and hearts to conscious healthy living, which contributes to their overall health and welfare. Empowering the less financially fortunate or providing those children in neglected, abusive homes, we feel this is a contribution for our next best generation to lead our community. But, we need continuous funding. Our goal has always been to provide a unique preventative children's health program along with affordable medical and dental care to the families and Expats in the area. Our local diagnostics are complete, including X-Ray, Ultrasound, Laboratory and full Pharmacy with the available special order, name brand and con trolled medications for your convenience. Each season, as we meet more and more newcomers to the East Cape, we realize another clinic expansion is essential for our success. Growth in the community has given us more reasons to improve and expand our medical and dental services. Our expansion focusses this year is to better equip and enlarge our emergency room, improve our diagnostic capability, offer medical specialists office space, including a new optical center and International Health Insurance office. By creating professional space for specialists, EMERGENCY Information Center and enrollment of International Health Insurance, we are hopeful this topic will be taken very seriously. Considering coverage with one of our many International Health Insurance Plans and or TravelMedEvac, the gold standard in the Medical evacuation, we hope to consider all the needs of Expats living abroad. The proposed site for medical expansion is the corner unit next to our existing clinic this would allow space for our Dental Clinic to relocate into our existing space. This will allow for better continuity of care utilizing our solar panels and generator to benefit us in this area of the plaza. Please join in our efforts by considering tax-deductible contributions to International Community Foundation ( www.icfdn.org ) contact Alana Ortiz email: alana@icfdn.org ph: 619-336-2255 or Char Wenger email: charlene.wenger@gmail.com ph: 624-157-0081. Please stop by the clinic for more details ph: 124-8203
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Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Paz
Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Paz, built in 1861 stands at the corner of Revolución and 5 de Mayo in La Paz, Baja Sur, on the site of the original mission church constructed in 1720 by the Jesuits. Attempts by Spain to establish a La Paz settlement in 1535, and again in 1633, failed due to the harsh environment and hostile Indians. A permanent settlement was not established until 1811. In 1695, at Loreto, Father Salvatierra established the first permanent European settlement in all of the “Californias,” and it became the peninsula’s religious and administrative capital. The cathedral built in 1697 is still standing. The Jesuits founded 23 Baja missions over the next 70 years. Unfortunately, along with agriculture, government and religion, the Spanish brought new diseases, and by 1767, epidemics of smallpox, plague, typhus, measles and venereal disease had reduced an Indian population of about 48,000 to only 8000. When rumors of Jesuit fortunes in gold and pearls reached Spain, the King had the Jesuits expelled from Baja and replaced by Franciscans, and later, Dominicans. In San Diego, the first Alta California mission was established in 1769 with the help of skilled Baja Indians brought north by Father Junípero Serra. After Mexico gained its independence from Spain, all mission property was broken up into ranchos and sold to Mexican Citizens. Breathe Continued from page 27
having my blood drawn or in the dentist’s chair. The slow, deep breathing calms me and slows my heart rate, relieving my stress. It's purely physiological: a long and sustained exhale triggers the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system, slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. This parasympathetic branch is connected to the yin--the body impulses that control rest and digestion. But what would our lives be without experiences that cause our hearts to race or the hair to stand up on the back of our necks? Our goal should not be to avoid physiological, emotional, or spiritual stress, but to feel the whole gamut of what it means to be human. All of it. The whole catastrophic enchilada! Research shows that people who engage in social and physical activities with others, regardless of intensity, live longer, healthier lives. The Baby Boomer generation is responsible for explosive growth in athletic and outdoor activities as we doggedly pursue life after retirement.
Embrace the benefits that come from engaging with your natural co-conspirators—people and activities that “float your boat,” whether those be yoga, meditation, or a highspeed race over the waves on a windy Los Barriles day. “There are so many ways to kneel and kiss the ground” the poet Rumi says. Find your path, your way, breathe deep, and carry on!
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Gulf of California By: Encyclopedia Britannica
Alternative Names: Golfo de California, Mar Bermejo, Mar de Cortés, Sea of Cortés Gulf of California, also called Sea of Cortez, Spanish Golfo de California, or Mar de Cortés, large inlet of the eastern Pacific Ocean along the northwestern coast of Mexico. It is enclosed by the Mexican mainland to the east and by the mountainous peninsula of Baja California to the west. There are two schools of thought as to the origin of the gulf. One holds that it is structurally a part of the Pacific Ocean; the other is that Baja California is slowly pulling away from the continent as it moves north along the great San Andreas Fault system. Over the last 100 million years the peninsula’s movement has probably totaled 300 miles (480 km). There also may have been some vertical movement forcing the peninsula upward and the gulf downward. The gulf is about 750 miles (1,200 km) long and an average of 95 miles (153 km) wide (about 200 miles [320 km] at its mouth). The gulf has a total surface area of 62,000 square miles (160,000 square km). It is divided into two sections separated by a narrowing marked by the large islands of Angel de la Guarda and Tiburón. The northern portion is shallow, seldom exceeding 600 feet (180 metres) in depth. In the south are several depressions, the deepest of them reaching to more than 10,000 feet (3,000 metres). A powerful tidal bore rushing between the two creates the treacherous Salsipuedes Basin, long an obstacle to navigation. The gulf receives the Colorado River through a large delta at its head and the Fuerte, Mayo, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Yaqui rivers across a wide coastal plain from the east. Ports along its shores include La Paz, on Baja California peninsula, and Guaymas, on the mainland Mexican coast. The gulf has some
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of Mexico’s richest commercial fishing grounds, with shrimp, tuna, and sardines among the leading species caught. Many small ports along the gulf have sportfishing fleets that are dependent on game fish. Some pearling is done along the southwest coast. An expedition commanded by Nuñez de Guzmán and dispatched by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés reached the gulf in 1532 but did not realize that it was a gulf. Three years later Cortés himself led a second party across the gulf to the Baja peninsula, which was then believed to be an island. In 1539 Spanish explorer Francisco de Ulloa proved that Baja California was a peninsula rather than an island, and he named the gulf Mar Bermejo (“Vermilion Sea”) because of the impressive red plankton that is found in its waters. Nevertheless, the myth that the gulf was an island perpetuated into the 18th century.
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Quick Facts About Baja California Sur State: • •
Capital: La Paz Area: 44 380 miles² (71 430 km²), 3.7% of the national territory • Topography: Mountains and coastal plains with altitudes ranging from sea level to a maximum of 6,857 feet above sea level in the Sierra de la Laguna (2,090 m) • Climate: Most of the state has a dry, desert climate. Maximum temperatures may exceed 104ºF (40ºC) in the summer and the minimum is less than 32ºF (0ºC) in the winter. In Los Cabos the climate is hot with an average annual rainfall of 10 inches. • Flora: The arid soil favors cacti like the cardón (giant Mexican cactus), shrubs and sagebrush, and trees like torote (elephant tree), oak and pine
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Fauna: Numerous species of reptiles, coyotes, bighorn sheep, raccoon and deer, migratory birds like golden eagles and ospreys, and marine life including grey, blue and humpback whales, and orcas.
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Los Barriles Community Market is the Place to be on Saturday Morning! By: JP Patches
th
November 18 , was the opening day for the Los Barriles Saturday Market in the 2017-18 season. And what a market it was! For this 7th season, the New City Park at the former Lagoon was full of vendorsmany of our faithful supporting vendors and an entire array of new vendors with exciting and different things to see, drink and taste! There are more vegetable vendors, metal art, coffee, non-profits, arts and crafts, jewelry and many other great things for you to buy. The market starts at 9am until 1 pm and will run every Saturday until April. Don’t miss your opportunity to check it out. If you don’t know where the new park is, well it is behind El Vejio, Plum Loco and around the corner of Faylas Store (you know the liquor and Mexican ware store). We will see you at the market, not only the place to get great stuff, but the place to run into most of Los Barriles!!! Questions? losbarrilescommunitymarket@gmail.com
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The Hydrophilic Chia Seed By: Renée Lagloire, Buen Provecho, San Bartolo
The flowering plant Salvia hispanica is an herb in the mint family that is native to Mexico and Central America. Its tiny white and black seeds are called chia or chia seeds. Amazingly, for thousands of years chia provided nourishment to the inhabitants of Mexico. Chia first appears in the archaeological record in Mexico around 5,500 years ago. It is known to have been cultivated by 4,500 years ago. By the time of the Spanish conquest 500 years ago, chia was one of the basic ingredients of Mexican cuisine. The Aztecs, who held power at that time, used chia in the nourishing gruels that made up a large part of their diet, and in drinks mixed with fruit. The word “chia” translates to “oily” in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. Chia played an important role in Aztec religious and social ceremonies. At the time of the Spaniards’ arrival in Mexico, the Aztecs’ 200-year colonial expansion had resulted in the formation of 38 provincial states. Each of these was required to pay tribute to the rulers who lived in the Aztec headquarters, Tenochtitlan (near today’s Mexico City). The Codex Mendoza (written in 1541) tells us that each year significant quantities of four major grains were received as tribute from
these provincial states: over 6000 tons of maize, over 4000 tons of beans, over 4000 tons of chia, and over 3000 tons of amaranth. Tribute in the form of chia was recorded for 21 of the Aztec provincial states (55%). To ethno-botanists, this suggests a huge agricultural growing area for chia that would have covered most of north-central Mexico. Of the four tribute grains that were deeply interwoven into the political and religious fabric of the Aztec culture, the Spaniards chose to only outlaw chia and amaranth. In the case of chia, this meant that cultivation became hidden, or was restricted to unconquered areas. Figuratively speaking, chia went underground for centuries. In recent history, chia has had a resurgence in popularity, partially due to an interest in ancestral foods. Because of its strong nutritional profile, chia is sometimes referred to as a super food. Analysis of clinical indicators related to the few studies on the health benefits of chia seeds show promising but inconclusive results. Regardless, chia seeds pack a nutritional punch. A oneounce serving (2 tablespoons) contains 138 calories and 9 grams of fat (of which 5 are Omega-3). The same serving has 10 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and 18% of daily value for calcium, 30% for manganese, 30% for magnesium, 27% for phosphorous. One of the properties of chia seeds is that they are hydrophilic – they can absorb up to 12 times their weight in liquid. When soaked, the seeds develop a mucilaginous coating that has been compared to small frogs’ eggs. This gives chia-based beverages a distinctive gelatinous texture that is unexpectedly pleasant. It has been suggested that this property of the seed is an adaptation to growing in unstable soils in that it anchors the seed, buying it some time to lay down some roots. The gel that is formed by mixing chia seeds with liquid can be used as a substitute for eggs (6 parts water to 1 part chia seeds, let rest for 10-15 minutes, one tablespoon is the equivalent of a large egg). It can also be used to thicken soups or sauces, to replace pectin in jams, or to serve as a binder in veggie burgers. Some years ago, a book, “Born to Run” was published, telling the story of a western man, a runner, among the indigenous Tarahumara people of the Copper Canyon in northern Chihuahua in Mexico. The author marveled that Tarahumara runners, who have a long tradition of foot races, seemed to enjoy the grueling 100+ mile runs in which they participated. The author partially credited their stamina to the custom of drinking iskiate (a mixture of water, lime, sweetener and chia seeds) before the races. Iskiate, in other parts known as agua de chia, is enjoyed throughout Mexico. Here is the recipe for Continued on Page 33
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Iskiate. Try it. It would not be surprising if it improved your stamina, but for sure in the moment it will quench your thirst. Iskiate/Agua de Chia - Lime Cooler with Chia Seeds 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice 5 cups water + 4 cups for soaking chia seeds ½ - 1 cup sugar (to taste, or use other sweetener: maple syrup, agave, honey, etc.) Ÿ cup chia seeds Soak chia seeds in 4 cups of room temperature water for at least one hour or until they puff up and become gelatinous. Overnight soaking, in the pitcher you plan to use for the limeade, is optimal. Stir occasionally to avoid clumping. Combine freshly squeezed lime juice, 5 cups water, and sugar, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Add to pitcher with water and chia seeds. Serve with plenty of ice.
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Feliz Navidad Traditions in Mexico
From: Why Christmas.com The first thing to know about celebrating Christmas in Mexico is that most everybody takes off the last two weeks in December to spend more time with the family, visit with old friends, even make new friends. In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from the December 12th to January 6th. Nativity scenes, known as the 'nacimiento', are very popular in Mexico. They are often very large, with the figures being life size! Sometimes a whole room in a house is used for the nacimiento, although this is less common now. The figures are often made of clay and are traditionally passed down through families. As well as the normal figures of the Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Shepherds and Three Kings, there are often lots of other figures of different people, including women making tortillas, people selling food and different animals and birds, like flamingos! The figures can be bought from markets in cities all over
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Mexico. The baby Jesus is normally added to the scene during the evening of Christmas Eve. The Three Kings are added at Epiphany. Christmas Eve is known as 'Noche Buena' and is a family day. People often take part in the final Posada and then in the evening have the main Christmas meal. At midnight, many people go to a Midnight Mass service, known as the 'Misa de Gallo' (Mass of the Rooster). There are lots of fireworks to celebrate Christmas Day. Poinsettia flowers are known as 'nochebuena' (Christmas Eve) flowers in Mexico. People in Mexico also celebrate 'los santos inocentes' or 'Day of the Innocent Saints' on 28th December ad it's very like April Fools Day in the UK and USA. 28th December is when people remember the babies that were killed on the orders of King Herod when he was trying to kill the baby Jesus. In some states in Mexico children expect Santa Claus (Santo Clós) to come on December 24th. In the south of Mexico children expect presents on January 6th at Epiphany, which is known as 'el Dia de los Reyes'. But, where there is not a lot of Western influence, Santo Clós is not so popular. In Mexico, presents might also be brought by 'El Niñito Dios' (baby Jesus). On el Dia de los Reyes the presents are left by the Three Kings (or Magi). If you've had a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, you might also get some candy on el Dia de los Reyes! It's traditional to eat a special cake called 'Rosca de Reyes' (Three Kings Cake) on Epiphany. A figure of Baby Jesus is hidden inside the cake. Whoever has the baby Jesus in their piece of cake is the 'Godparent' of Jesus for that year.
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