Edition 10 - March 2008

ww w. mexico livin g.in fo No. 10

FREE/GRATIS March / marzo 2008

SAN FELIPE 250 IS BACK! SCORE Returns Baja 250 to San Felipe, Baja California

Baja’s Majestic Whales: Whale Watching on Pacific Baja and the Sea of Cortez

Gracious Men of the Mexican Military Puerto Peñasco The Growing Infrastructure

Chef Martin Colman Savoring Life and Freedom

NEW GOLF SECTION: Tough Turf - Keeping it green in the unique and hostile environment of Mexico’s upper Sea of Cortez region.

2008 MEXICO LIVING HOME SHOW GET ANSWERS - INSIDE ON PAGE 40

• SAN FELIPE MANAGEMENT SERVICES • 10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE MOVING TO MEXICO • THE MEXICAN LABOR LAW - Employee Rights

2 - Mexico Living

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Mexico Living - 3

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

4 - Welcome

Mexico Living - 5

Table of Contents Website: www.mexicoliving.info Email: sanfelipebaja@gmail.com USA: 800-576-0919 Ext. 3 Ensenada: 646-192-6965 San Felipe: 686-577-1377 Puerto Penásco: 638-109-4771

______

This months cover image original was photographed

by Francisco Romos Victorio

Mexico Living Mexico Living Magazine’s Mission: We are committed to promoting Northwest Mexico to the limits of our abilities; to highlighting the amazing natural beauty, friendly people, opportunities and lifestyles of one of the most unique places on Earth; and to showing that Northwest Mexico is a great place not only to visit and play, but also to live and work – a place to call home.

Editorial Coverage: We inform and entertain through in-depth feature articles, comprehensive guides and community spotlights on business, real estate and lifestyle. Each edition provides up-to-date news and information on travel, immigration and law. We provide in-depth monthly features on events and community stories on people, business and the arts. To provide our readers with the most comprehensive guide to Northwest Mexico possible, each edition includes city maps, dining and lodging, guides, comprehensive English language Yellow Pages, classified ads and hundreds of real estate listings (Greensheets).

30,000 Readers Monthly and Growing: Distributed in the high traffic, high tourist areas of Rosarito, Enseñada, San Felipe and Puerto Peñasco.

Subscription Readership Monthly 2,700+: Distributed through direct mail in the form of electronic PDF delivery.

Mexico Living magazine is published by John Benjamin Pack, a Mexican business in San Felipe, Baja California.

Mexico Living magazine began as San Felipe magazine in February 2007 in San Felipe, B.C., the home of publishers and owners John and Rachel Pack.

John and Rachel have spent years traveling the region falling in love with the people, the landscape and the Gulf of California John & Rachel Pack (Sea of Cortez). The magazine and website are a way to combine their passion for travel, exploration, writing and photography with their desire to share their joy and showcase all the beauty and wonderful things to do and see in Baja California, Sonora and the northern Sea of Cortez, Mexico.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Welcome ............7 Northwest Map ..8 Ensenada ..........10 Ensenada Map .11 Majestic Whales... ...........................12 San Felipe .........16 San Felipe Map..... ...........................17 Travel Logs ........20 Puerto Penasco...... ...........................23 Puerto Penasco Map ...........................23 Puerto Penasco Infrusctructure ..25 Tidbits & News...... ...........................26

USA Mailing Address: John Pack/Yetmail #460 PO Box 9019, Calexico, CA 92232 Mexico Mailing Address: John Pack/Yetmail #460 Av Mar de Cortez Sur #1049B San Felipe, B.C. Mexico 21850 Published by John Benjamin Pack (dba Pack Publishing) ______ Publisher Rachel Pack, sanfelipebaja@gmail.com Editor John Pack, packmagazines@gmail.com Office Manager Armando Rubio, r.mando2008@gmail.com Arts Editor Robin Waters, digitaldesignsbyrobin@gmail. com

Calendar............30 Unplanned trip under the Mexico Big Top ..............34 Baja 250............36 Home Show .....40 Art & Design .....48 Food & Dining...50 Golf....................54 Hotel & Lodging ...........................56 Greensheets .....58 Yellowpages......66 !0 Things to do before moving to Mexico ..............74 Mexico Law ......75 Blogs.................76 Classifieds .......78

Golf Editor Hal “Paco” Clark, bajapaco@gmail.com Sales Bill Maine, Sale Manager bill@mexicoliving.info Rachel Pack, sanfelipebaja@gmail.com Roberto Rodriguez, roberto@mexicoliving.info Jim Moore, jim@mexicoliving.info Writers Robin Waters, John Pack, Benjamin Eugene, Rachel Pack, Ron Saunders Photography Victor Rodriguez Ratliff, Ron Saunders, John Pack, Rachel Pack, Francisco Romos Victorio Contributors Denny & Sandi Flannigan Distribution Armando Rubio, r.mando2008@gmail.com

NOW OPEN DAILY at 9AM! Come and enjoy a wide The Best Choice in San Felipe for specialty variety of seafood! retail and professionals seeking a high traffic location.

• High Visibility (Mar de Cortez) • High Traffic (several businesses and a restaurant).

• Security (gated at night).

Call for information: 686-577-2119

WINNERS! SAN FELIPE’S BEST BURGER 2007

San Felipe’s new home for: • Fresh Salads • Mouth Watering Gourmet hamburgers made from 1/3 lb. pure beef, ground fresh daily • Ice-Cold Beer & Margaritas • On the second floor overlooking Mar de Cortez.

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

Yuma

6 - Mexico Living

Welcome to Northwest Mexico

Mexico Living - 7

San Diego Mexicali Rosarito Beach

Ensenada

SEA OF CORTEZ Gulf of California PACIFIC OCEAN

San Felipe

Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point)

copyright John Benjamin Pack

T

he Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora make up Northwest Mexico as covered by our magazines. The region features an enormous diversity of landscapes, like no place on earth. A land of quiet, colorful deserts, endless beaches, majestic mountains, forests, unexplained rock formations and brilliant clear skies with an average temp of 75 degrees and some of the most welcoming people in the world.

Northwest Mexico is the destination of choice for retirees, investors, entrepreneurs, travelers and vacationers alike. The U.S. State Department names Mexico as the retirement home of more Americans than anywhere on the globe; 51% of U.S. retirees living outside the U.S., live in Mexico.

Mexico is economical: the dollar goes further here than Europe, Canada, and the most popular destinations in Asia. Mexico is convenient: more than just its proximity to the U.S., Mexico’s long relationship with America and the large Mexican-born population living in the U.S. means that Mexico is accustomed to Americans and vice versa. Mexico welcomes American retirees and tourists and is prepared, more and more, to offer foods, goods, and services that Americans like and expect.

Whether you’re looking to retire, invest, vacation, or operate a business; Northwest Mexico is the place.

We hope our guide helps you to enjoy Northwest Mexico to the fullest. Explore.

TOURISM & VISTITOR INFO Detailed information about Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada can be obtained from the following Baja tourist offices: Tijuana Convention and Visitors Bureau: 011-52-664-684-0537 or -684-0481 or 634-6330 or toll free from the U.S. (888) 775-2417; www.tijuanaonline. org.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Rosarito Convention and Visitors Bureau: 011-52-661-612-5222 or (800) 962-2252; www. rosarito.org Ensenada State Tourism Office: 011-52-646-172-3022 or (800) 310-9687; www. enjoyensenada.com Baja California State Tourism Office: 011-52-664-634-6330, -634-6918 or -634-6574 or toll free from the U.S. (888) 775-2417; www.turismobc.

gob.mx

RECENT U.S. PASSPORT NEWS

PASSPORTS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR CAR OR FOOT TRAFFIC INTO OR OUT OF MEXICO. Passports are ONLY required for air and sea travel. The full

implementation of the WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) requirement is scheduled to take place during the summer of 2009. The date is yet to be determined.

However, U.S. citizens should be aware of the following dates: January 23, 2007: A passport will be required for re-entering the United States by air from the following destinations: Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Bermuda, in addition to all other foreign destinations that already require a passport.

January 31, 2008: U.S. citizens must be able to verify their identity and citizenship when crossing land borders and sea borders to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. A combination of identification documents such as a U.S. Drivers License and U.S. Birth Certificate may be presented. Note that a U.S. Passport or Passport Card is proof of both identity and citizenship.

This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all U.S. citizens entering the United States from foreign countries.

To get a copy of your birth certificate, click here. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm

EXPLORE NORTHWEST MEXICO Mexico visitmexico.com Baja California State Tourism Secretariat www.discoverbajacalifornia. com Ensenada Baja California www.enjoyensenada.com Located 62 miles from USA Rosarito Baja California www.rosarito.org Located 20 miles from USA. San Felipe Baja California sanfelipe.com.mx Located 122 miles from USA. Tecate Baja California tecatemexico.com.mx Located at the USA Border

WHAT DO I NEED TO ENTER MEXICO?

You are required to get a tourist card (tourist visa) if you are planning to stay longer than 72 hours, or you plan to travel south beyond Ensenada, San Felipe or Puerto Peñasco. Tourist visa are available at all border crossing and are $21.65US. You will have to pay a bank and return for stamp on visa.

Vehicle Permits are not required in Baja California Norte or Sonora. Temporary permits are required to bring in foreign plated vehicles into Mexico if you travel south beyond Ensenada, San Felipe or Puerto Peñasco.

Auto Insurance is always required, and is a

Tijuana Baja California seetijuana.com Located at the USA Broder Mexicali Baja California mexicaliturismo.com/cotuco/ prueba/ingles. Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California. Located at the US border.

Hermosillo Sonora http://www.gotosonora.com/ hermosillo-son-mx.htm Hermosillo is the capital of the State of Sonora. Located 160 miles from the border with AZ. Puerto Peñasco www.cometorockypoint.com Puerto Peñasco is a newlydiscovered paradise for tourists to Sonora. Located 62 miles from the US border.

good idea to drive anywhere, especially in Mexico.

Remember your Canadian or US coverage is NOT VALID south of the border! Get coverage prior to crossing the border, or order online; www.bajabound. com is a good place to start.

Fishing Permits are required and boat permits are required for boats that have fishing tackle aboard.

Check for local regulations, shore fishing reqiures no permits.

Single parents traveling with a minor child will need to have a notarized letter from the absent parent giving permission to the minor to enter Mexico. Canadians and other non-nationals need the equivalent identifications.

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

8 - Mexico Living

WHAT CAN I BRING INTO MEXICO?

DO NOT BRING EITHER GUNS OR DRUGS INTO MEXICO. You will go to prison even if you were not aware of the Mexican law. Do not bring quantities of anything that looks like its for resale. Beside, you’ll want to make your purchases south of the border; you’ll get more and you can buy all you want.

As you approach Mexico by road, choose the lane carefully before you cross; either “Nothing to Declare - Nada que Declarar” or “Declaration Lane - Carril de Declaración.” The lane you will choose depends upon what you are bringing into Mexico.

The “Nothing to Declare - Nada que Declarar” lane is used when you are bringing, as a tourist your personal luggage and other merchandise up to the allowed exemption of US $50 per person.

Allowed items include personal items such as, new or used clothes, shoes, and toiletries (quantities not for resale); two used sports equipment items, You can also bring in two cartons of cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 2.2lbs of tobacco (1 kilo), one liter of wine or hard liquor, twelve rolls of film, a computer, camera equipment, a musical instrument (that you can carry – really that is the law).

Medicine for personal use. Note: Be careful not to bring a large quantity of your prescription medication.

Mexico has laws concerning prescription drugs.

You must declare more than $10,000 in foreigner currency or equivalent of checks, and/or other monetary instruments.

Mexico Living - 9

The “Declaration Lane - Carril de Declaración” lane is if you are bringing more than US $50 worth of merchandise per person, but not more than US $1000, you may declare it by driving into the customs facility thru the declaration lane (carril de declaración). You will need to fill out some documents, and determine the value of your merchandise. The duty is usually between 15% - 25% of the value of the merchandise and must be paid in a nearby bank (usually located near customs). Once your duty is paid, you’ll need to show customs the receipt of payment, and you’ll be on your way.

Be aware of the Red Light/Green Light as you cross the border, because you can still be randomly selected for secondary inspection. If you get a green continue to pass through, but if you get a red light, or a customs official flags you over for a secondary inspection, drive to location as identified by the officials. They will generally want to look into your trunk and inside the vehicle to see if you are bringing anything that should have been declared. This usually takes only few seconds, unless they find something undeclared.

If you did not declare something that you should have, depending upon the items you may have to pay the required duty, pay a fine, risk getting your merchandise confiscated, or go to jail.

World Class Blues San Felipe Baja California Saturday April 19th

WHAT CAN I TAKE HOME?

You can bring back $800 of duty-free merchandise per person, per month, including one liter of alcohol.

Mexican arts and crafts, including handcrafted furniture, are duty-free and do not count toward the $800 limit.

Chet Cannon

145th Street

Agave Blues

Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz

Shelle

PASSPORTS

ARE NOT Johnny Mastro

• • • • • • • • •

Vatos Locos

Michele Lundeen

Backwater Blues Band

REQUIRED

The 145th Street Band – Where the Blues lives.

Agaves Blues - Beachside blues done San Felipe style.

Aunt Kizzy’s Boys – Winners of the 2007 IBC Regional Award for Best Blues Band.

Chet Cannon – Named San Diego’s best blues band of 2007 by the San Diego Music Association.

Johnny Mastro and Mama’s Boys – LA’s Best Blues Band 2 years running.

The Backwater Blues Band – founders of the the Backwater Groove.

Michelle Lundeen – Queen of Steam and veteran of last years Blues & Arts Fiesta.

Shelle – One-name wonder of the Blues world with a sultry sound.

Vatos Locos - San Felipe blues power trio.

* bands are not listed in playing order. Lineup subject to change without notice.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

THE MUSIC CHARITY EVENT TICKETS

ONLY $10

Proceeds for San Felipe community health & medical care.

BLUES FIESTA QUESTIONS USA 1-800-576-0919 EXT. 5 or MEX 686-230-9933 The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

ticketalternative.com bluesandarts.com Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

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Getting to Ensenada has never been easier or faster. A US driver license is valid in Mexico, so you can drive your own car or a rental car. Driving gives you the freedom to explore and discover Ensenada.

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ENSENADA TOURISM TRUST Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas 609 - 5 Ensenada, B.C. Mexico 22800 Toll Free U.S.A :1 (800) 310-9687 Toll Free Mexico : 01(800) 025-3991 Phone/Fax: (01152646) 178-8588 Phone: (01152646) 178-8578 Email: fideicoens@prodigy.net.mx

Mexican auto insurance is required by law if you drive in Mexico.

If you’re interested in visiting Ensenada, but not doing any driving you can contact Eaton International Tours and Passenger Services. San Diego pick and return. Fast and secure. Call 619-479-1536 / 646108-8538.

Taking The Bus from San Diego is another option.

If you would rather not drive, and want to leaving the driving to someone else, take the San Diego Trolley to San Ysidro, then walk across the border to the small Plaza Viva bus station. ABC (Autotransportes Baja California) buses depart for Ensenada every half hour beginning 6AM - 9:30PM, you can call (664) 683-5681. ABC buses arrive at the Ensenada Central Terminal. Fare is approx. $6.50dlls 1-way.

Greyhound Bus Lines (U.S. toll free: 800-2312222). Greyhound Lines will take you to Tijuana’s Central Bus Terminal (Central Camionera) from anywhere in the US and connect to any major Mexican bus line, including ABC. The Ensenada Airport is located three miles south of town. The runway length is 5,271 FT and is for private and military only. No commercial flights.

If you Arrive By Ship to the Ensenada port terminal, which holds two ships and each pier has shopping for Mexican curios and other items. Most cruise tourists arrive on the three and four night cruises from Los Angeles by Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas and Carnival Paradise from Long Beach or Carnival Elation from San Diego. Expect to pay about $2 for the five-minute ride to downtown shopping.

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nsenada is the third-largest city in the Mexican state of Baja California. It is located 116 km (about 70 miles) south of the San Diego/ Tijuana border crossing. The city had a 2005 census population of 260,075. Ensenada is also the municipal seat of Ensenada Municipality, one of the five into which the state is divided. The city is home to immigrants from other parts of Mexico and from all around the world.

Located in the Bahía de Todos Santos — an inlet of the Pacific Ocean — Ensenada is an important commercial and fishing port as well as a cruise ship stop. There is also a navy base, an army base and a military airfield, which functions as an airport of entry into Mexico.

The city is backed by small mountain ranges. Due to its location on the Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean latitude, the weather tends to be mild year-round.

For additional, up-to-date information on Ensenada contact:

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12 - Mexico Living

Baja California

Baja California (English: Lower California) is the northernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California. It has an area of 71,576 km² (about 27,600 sq mi, or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico) and comprises the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula. The state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Sonora, the U.S. State of Arizona, and the Sea of Cortez or Gulf of California, and on the south by Baja California Sur. Its northern limit is the U.S.-Mexico border, adjacent to the U.S. state of California.

The state has a population of 2,844,469 (2005 census), much more than the sparsely populated Baja California Sur to the south. Over 75% of the population lives in the capital city, Mexicali, or in Tijuana. Both these cities are close to the U.S. border. Other important cities include Ensenada, San Felipe, and Playas de Rosarito and Tecate.

GETTING AROUND TOWN

The healthiest and most personal way is ON FOOT. Ensenada is a great city for getting around on you own energy. Most of the shopping is at sea level and easy to navigate with all numbered streets running north and south and celebrity named streets running east and west.

I would suggest jumping ON THE BUS if you’re on a budget, want some adventure, or want a great sightseeing opportunity. Fare is 7 pesos ($0.65).

Buses are called “micro” instead of “bus” or Autobuse. Bus Terminal 646-121-2982 al 87 Calzada Lazaro Cardenas & Rio Alamar La Mesa.

IN A TAXI is a great way to get from point A to point B, especially with cabstands located throughout downtown and at major hotels, shopping and tourist areas. Taxis Amarillos (Yellow Taxi) is available 24 hours with local and unlimited service available; they will drive you anywhere. Ave. Lopez Mateos & Miramar. English spoken. 646-178-3475.

Try RENTING A CAR if you want to get out and explore on your own. Fiesta Rent-A-Car at 646176-3344, located at 1442 Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas or Renta-Car Ensenada at 646-176-3344, located at 582 Lopez Mateos.

DINING OUT

Ensenada offers a wide variety of dining opportunities for a range of tastes; from fast-food brand names to world-class fine dining; including one that has been named top 10 in the world.

Visit the Dining section for a directory and dining suggestions.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Mexico Living - 13

WINERIES

Although the winter rain season is short and the area is prone to prolonged droughts, Ensenada sits in the heart of a wine country that is widely regarded as the best in Mexico. It is said that the first Vitis vinifera made it to the peninsula (specifically to the San Ignacio Mission) in 1703, when Jesuit Padre Juan de Ugarte planted the first vineyards there.

Baja California Wine Country is blessed with some of the most ideal Mediterranean climate for grape growing. Nearly ninety percent of all Mexican wine grapes are grown in Baja California within 120 miles of the west coast, in three wineproducing areas; San Antonio de las Minas (which includes the Valleys of Guadalupe and Calafia),

Baja California Wine Country Tecate, Mexicali & Tijuana

San Jose de la Zorra

Hotel Domecq Winery Chateau Camou Paralelo

LODGING & ACCOMMODATION

Ensenada has the accommodations to meet any level of comfort or amenities. Prices can range depending on the time of year from $30 to $250+ depending on the hotel. The best hotels in Ensenada are located to the north and south of town along the beach and are not within walking distance from downtown shopping and attractions. Taxi and shuttles are available in some locations.

Baron Balche Winery

Monte Xanic Winery

L.A. Cetto

Dona Lupe Winery Vinicola Suenos

TIMELINE OF HISTORICAL DATES

1542, September 17th – Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, sailing under the Spanish flag discovered Ensenada and named the area San Mateo.

1602 – Spanish captain and explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno rediscovered the area and renamed it Ensenada de Todos Los Santos 1821 – Mexico won it’s independence from Spain.

1848 – After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico sold a large portion of its northern territory for fifteen million, including California, to the United States making Baja California the northernmost frontier of the Mexico.

1882 May 15th – Ensenada became the capital of the Northern Territory.

1892 – Hussong’s Cantina is opened.

1973 – Mexico 1000 Rally sanctioning is handed over by Baja California governor Milton Castellanos to non-profit Mexican corporation Baja Sports Committee (BSC). BSC renamed the event to Baja Mil (Baja 1000) and moved it from Tijuana to Ensenada.

1975 – SCORE takes over operation of the Baja 1000.

1990s – Tuna embargo imposed Mexico caused much of the fishing fleet to relocate to the ports of Guaymas, Sonora, and Mazatlán.

2005 – The city had census population of 260,075

January: Grey Whale watching February: Carnaval – 2008 90th Anniversary of Carnaval in Ensenada. 250,000 people attend the week long festival.

July: Mexico Living Home Show August: Fiestas de la Vendimia - A must see during the summer is the vintage festival, which is fun for both locals and tourists alike.

April 25: Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race May: Tecate/Score Baja 500 September: Rosarito Ensenada Bike Race November: Tecate/Score Baja 1000

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SAN FELIPE AVAILABLE AT THESE GREAT WEBSITES:

Mexico Living Magazine Online www.mexicoliving.info Ensenada Website www.ensenada.com

Museum Restaurante Laja Vinos Bibayoff

Ensenada Tourism Board www.enjoyensenada.com

El Mezon de Vino Mogor-Badan Winery Three Woman Winery Valley Winery Vinas Pijoan

ABOUT ENSENADA BAJA CALIFORNIA

ENSENADA ANNUAL EVENTS

Mustafa Restaurant Casa de Pierda

Quinta Maria Luisa La Hacienda Restaurant Vinisterra Winery

Rosarito/Tijuana

Valle de Guadalupe Baja California Ensenada

San Vincente Valley, and Santo Tomás Valley.

Only one hour from (50 miles) San Diego and you’re in Mexican wine country. Consider a day trip to the beach and wineries. There are very few microclimates in Mexico that combine the very unique characteristics of elevation, soil, season, and temperature.

California wine connoisseurs are making this a regular trip, complete with tours and tasting, Baja California is producing wines of the same quality and consistency as some of its northern neighbors.

USA PASSPORT UPDATE LAND AND SEA TRAVEL The following information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website. www.dhs.gov JANUARY 31, 2008 U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

JUNE 2009 Passports may be required Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

14 - Mexico Living

Baja’s Majestic Whales:

Mexico Living - 15

Whale Watching on Pacific Baja and the Sea of Cortez

by Alexi Holford

From December to mid-March, Mexico’s Baja California is one of the best places to see whales as they visit during their annual migrations. Gray, blue, fin, Bryde’s, humpbacks and other leviathans are frequent travelers to the waters off Baja on both the Pacific side and in the Sea of Cortez. On the West, there are three areas that offer boat trips to see and even touch whales: Scammon’s lagoon, San Ignacio lagoon, and Magdalena Bay. Each of these locations is known for their ideal whale watching opportunities.

While on such a trip, you will certainly see other wildlife, such as seals, sea lions, and dolphins.

You will also have the chance to explore the diverse habitats of the Baja ecosystem, such as mangrove estuaries.

An ocean voyage in search of whales might reveal the elusive blue whale, but gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) are more likely, more friendly, and certainly more accessible. Each year a gray whale travels up to 10,000 miles, which is the longest migration of any mammal (although some experts say the northern elephant seal comes close). The migrations of gray whales take them from their summer feeding areas in the Bering and Chukchi Seas of the Arctic to their winter breeding and nursery grounds in the nutrient-rich lagoons of Baja California. Just imagine… you could actually pet a gray whale mother with her calf nearby.

Gray whales are named for the gray patches and white blotches on their otherwise dark skin. These patches are largely due to barnacles and other common whale parasites. Adult gray whales are 3545 feet long. They weigh between 45,000-55,000 pounds as adults. Although they are not well known for their songs, these social animals make grunts, clicks, and whistling sounds to communicate.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

On their southbound journeys, gray whales generally stay within six miles of the coastline. The whales remain in the lagoons of Baja for two to three months, allowing calves to build up a thick layer of blubber to sustain them during the northward migration. Sadly, it was this blubber that caused the gray whale to be been hunted for thousands of years.

The breeding grounds of the eastern north Pacific population were discovered in the warm waters off of Mexico around 1846 by North American whalers. In just sixty years the population of 30,000 was decimated, with only a few thousand remaining. But in the 1970s Mexico declared the gray whale breeding grounds at Lagunas de Ojo Liebre, Guerrero Negro, and San Ignacio gray whale sanctuaries.

Today gray whales have recovered to over 25,000 individuals—close to what their population was before commercial hunting. The eastern north Pacific gray whale was recently removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife, but they are still protected in the United States under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

Whales play a crucial role in the balance of ocean life, and there is still so much to be learned about these magnificent animals. We have come a long way from the days of whaling, but we still have a long journey ahead in understanding and conserving these gentle giants. Perhaps seeing a whale on an expedition in Baja is one way to increase one’s appreciation of these remarkable creatures.

Alexi Holford is the communications manager at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

DRIVING DISTANCES

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SAN FELIPE AVAILABLE AT THESE GREAT WEBSITES: Mexico Living Magazine Online www.mexicoliving.info

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There are military checkpoints along the way.

These check points serve the same purpose as the California and Arizona highway inspection stops you’ll encounter on the return north. The soldiers will be carrying weapons, but there is nothing to be concerned about, the soldiers are looking for

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MILITARY CHECKPOINTS

The San Felipe Arches monument at the entrance of town, was built in 1980 to represent the commitment of the four states around the Sea of Cortez (Baja California Norte, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Sonora) to promote tourism and the regions beauty and charm.

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You do not need a tourist visa to visit San Felipe for 72 hours or less. You can obtain a tourist card in Mexicali at the Aduana (Customs) office building located just left of the border gates. Parking is available on the street, across near the bank (which is where you will be going after customs.

US born citizens are required proof-of-citizenship documents: A valid U.S. passport; birth certificate issued by a federal, state, county, or city governments’ agency. Copies are not acceptable unless the issuing authority has certified it.

Tourist visas are no longer available in San Felipe.

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The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

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San Felipe sits on the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) in the Mexican state of Baja California, 118 miles (190 km) south of the US border and within the municipality of Mexicali.

Directly behind San Felipe to the west is Sierra San Pedro Martír, the tallest mountains in Baja, forming a protective wall from Pacific storms and then softly slopes to the warm sandy beaches of the Sea of Cortez.

San Felipe has 23-foot tides (7-meters) exposing a kilometer or more of ocean floor. One of the largest tidal bores in the world due in part to the Colorado River delta to the north.

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The Blue Roadrunner www.blueroadrunner.com

Driving to San Felipe is straightforward, because all roads lead south. The Mexicali/San Felipe highway is a breath-taking visual experience from wetlands to moonscapes to vistas that fall off the horizon. And with the recent upgrades, it’s becoming that much more enjoyable.

If you’re driving a rental car, you MUST purchase Mexican Auto Insurance at the time you rent the car.

Most car rentals in El Centro, San Diego, and Yuma Airports sell Mexican Auto Insurance.

The San Felipe International Airport has a runway of 4850 feet that is in excellent condition. The available oriented 310° and 130°, coordinates 30°57’ lat. 114°51’ long. The radio control tower operators are bilingual.

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The Official San Felipe Website www.sanfelipe.com.mx

GETTING TO SAN FELIPE

Avenida Fresnos Avenida Copales Avenida Laureles Avenida Moreras Avenida Eucaliptos Avenida Tabachin Avenida Pirues

San Felipe is a small fishing village that historically has been economically dependent on fishing, however today tourism and real estate provide the economic base. Even as it grows into the next century with four-lane highways, multi-pump fueling centers that shines bright even after the moon has drop behind the majestic Sierra San Pedro Martír mountains it will remain a small fishing village in its heart and soul.

Today San Felipe is maturing into a sophisticated resort community with destination resort developments, luxury condos, fine restaurants, sport fishing charters and world-class off-road adventures.

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San Felipe, Baja California

Mexico Living - 17

El Centro, CA ..........................137 Miles Los Angeles, CA .....................350 Miles Phoenix, AZ ............................375 Miles San Diego, CA ........................236 Miles Tucson, AZ .............................446 Miles Yuma, AZ................................184 Miles

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MAPS / Mapas 1616 - Mexico Living

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Hwy 5 to Airport, South Campos & Puertocitos Old Road South Campos & Puertocitos

Marina Resort

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info www.mexicoliving.info

18 - Mexico Living

Laguna Diablo Dry Lake Bed offer wide-open spaces for feeding the need for speed. This is a hard Yuma, AZ packed lakebed, cracked, flat CA San Diego, and perfect for doing just about Calexico, CA anything you’ve always wanted Av. Colon to do in your car.

Blv d. L ope Off Road adventures, zM ate os await you beyond every horizon, which is why Calz. Independencia San Felipe is home to the SCORE International Baja Calz. Independencia 250. The desert terrain surrounding San Felipe Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas is vast and offers Blv incredible trails and d.

La zar oC exploration for ATV’s, are na dirt bike or off-road s vehicle. Just south MEX .2t of San Felipe are o Sa n Lu is R extensive sand .C a nd P uert o Pe dunes ideal for nas co drugs and guns and are there for your buggies and rails. protection. You’ll find them to be polite ATV Rentals are and friendly. They may ask to look inside also available. your vehicle or RV. Check points on both SHOPPING sides of the border, are an agreement between What would be a day at the beach without the United States and Mexico to doing some shopping? San fight drugs.

Felipe offers great shopping IMPORTANT NUMBERS ATM/GETTING CASH Emergency Help (Like USA 911) .... 066 for bargain, souvenirs, arts Because of the close Airport ..............................686-577-1368 and much more. Much of proximity of Northwest Mexico the shopping can be found Civil Protection Unit ........686-577-1433 to the USA, most invoices, and downtown on the Malecon, Mar Comision Federal de Electricidad ... 071 de Cortez, or Chetumal leading receipts at restaurants, hotels, District Attorney................686-577-1110 into town. However, all around gas stations, etc., will be in both dollars and pesos. It is Fire Dept. ........................ 686-577-1182 town you’ll find great finds. a good idea to convert your Health Dept. ....................686-577-1521 La Plazita is San Felipe’s only money into pesos for local Hospital ........................... 686-577-0117 shopping mall and is located purchases. You will likely save Immigration Office ..........686-577-1083 on Mar de Cortez, across from money. ATMs at Banamex Bank Mayor’s Office.................686-577-1021 Bancomer Bank. La Plazita on Chetumal, Bancomer Bank Police Local..................... 686-577-1134 offers both professional and on Mar de Cortez and Chetumal Police Federal .................686-577-1045 retail, including two San Felipe or AM/PM on Mar Caribe Sur. award-winning businesses.

Police State Judicial .......686-577-1203 Hair by Nancy won San Felipe Port Captain ....................686-577-1577 Best Haircut 2007 and Chilis THINGS TO DO Red Cross .......................686-577-1544 & Beer restaurant offering San San Felipe offers endless things to do and or not do Secretary of Tourism....... 686-577-1155 Felipe’s Best Hamburger 2007 depending on your personal Telnor...............................686-577-1000 and both are on the second goals.

Tourism Dept................... 686-577-1155 floor.

San Felipe beaches extend Copicentro on Chetumal Tourist Assistance (Green Angels).. 078 north and south for over fifty before reaching Mar de Cortez miles on shoreline to explore offers a huge variety of unique and splash in. Whether you’re looking for a banana items, paper products and craft supplies and right boat rides, beach bars, and crowds or an isolated next door they offer one-hour film processing for paradise to share with someone special - San Felipe those images you can’t wait to see. has it.

When north of town, it’s a good idea to visit

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The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Baja Nueva on Hwy 5, at KM 183 and see what new and creative pieces they have on display. Candles, sculptures, glass art, prints and one of kinds. Each visit is a new discover, and they even offer complete home decorating and interior design.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

It is home to four highly endangered species including the endemic Gulf of California harbor porpoise or vaquita and the totoaba.

The northern Gulf of California is an area of extreme temperatures, salinity, and tides (23 ft. maximum). Many unique organisms have adapted to these conditions, some with seasonal cycles of abundance.

The Valley of the Giants: The natural reserve of the thousand-year-old Cardon Cactus has become a major attraction after the transport of one of these giant specimens to Seville, Spain for World Expo ‘92. The area has also become a favorite spot for photographers worldwide.

In March of 1991, the three levels of Government and the San Felipe community organized a program of artificial reefs to attract fish and provide better sport fishing.

TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT DATES

1535, May 3 - Hernán Cortés discovered the Baja California Peninsula.

San Felipe’s original name was Santa Catalina.

Christened San Felipe de Jesús by Father Ferdinand Konščak in 1766 - Wenceslaus Linck was the first person to reach San Felipe by land.

1772 - Lt. Governor of the Californias, José Joaquín Arrillaga, named it a port and began using it as such, sending ships as of 1794 - He also established the land route between San Felipe and Ensenada through Valle de la Trinidad.

1925 - during the administration of General Abelardo L. Rodríguez, territorial governor, the first fishing camps were established and the government organized the first sub-delegation and school.

1920s, - San Felipe had nearly 100 permanent inhabitants.

1940 - San Felipe appeared for the first time in the census with 287 inhabitants.

1948 - The Mexicali-San Felipe highway began paving.

1951 - The Mexicali-San Felipe highway began paving is completed.

1950s - First tourist facilities.

1959 - the motel El Cortés was opened to the public.

1963 - the port had electricity.

1967 - piped drinking water.

1970s - the government building, a small boat anchorage, airport, sea walk, main boulevard and sewage system, restaurants, bars and gas stations.

1980s - The La Hacienda opened.

1993 - the Marina Resort and Spa Opened May of 1994 - Pat Butler acquires El Dorado Ranch.

Mexico Living - 19

Call Margaret Realty JARDIN DEL MAR S.A. DE C.V.® R.F.C. JMA950828-C27

Glenda Rohner & Margaret Miller Glenda@CallMargaretRealty.com

Congratulations Glenda!

Reader’s Choice Best Real Estate Agent in San Felipee

Huge lot in town, Down from Banamex $150,000

Great little Fixer-upper in the village $60,000

From San Felipe

577-1156 or 577-2090 Phone/Fax 577-2090 Ave. Mar de Cortez Sur 1040 San Felipe, B.C. Mexico 21850

From United States

011-52-686-577-1156 Phone/Fax 011-52-686-577-2090 US Mailing P.O. Box 4861 Calexico, CA 92232 Glenda After Hours#044-686-140-9811

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

20 - Mexico Living

EL GULFO ROAD TO PUERTO PENASCO Not ready for prime time...yet.

by Baja Benjamin

Travel Logs

Our men from ‘Checkpoint Charlie’. Denny Flannigan and soldiers between Mexicali and San Felipe.

GRACIOUS MEN OF THE MEXICAN MILITARY Military assistance helps insure our safety.

by Denny Flannigan

At approximately 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 3rd, our car ran over a large metal obstacle in the highway on the way to Mexicali blowing out both tires on the right side of the vehicle. In shock and without enough spare tires to repair ourselves, we flagged down the third car that went by.

The Jeep turned around and asked if there was a problem. Lt. Col. Moran from the Army assessed our situation and took me back to the military checkpoint n i n e kilometers away. Five of his men were given orders to insure our safety until we were out of harms way.

These soldiers helped us for about four hours.

They put one spare tire on the rear and then took The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

me back to the military checkpoint where another tire was purchased and put on the last good rim.

When it was repaired we drove back to the car and they put on the new tire.

We were able to drive back to San Felipe.

We want to give our sincere thanks to Lt. Col. Moran and his men who came to our aid: Roberto Noriega, Genaro Teran, Angel Manuel Santiago, Roberto Lopez Flores, Antonio Sarabis. Again our most sincere Thank You! Here are a few photos of the breakdown and the courtesy with which it was handled.. Lt. Col. Moran told me it was his pleasure and that they liked to help Americans whenever possible to let them know that they are in a safe area... Very gracious men. Muchas Gracias!

Denny Flannigan, is host of producer of Name That Tune Baja. http://www.NameThatTuneBaja.com.

When a Green Angel suggests four wheel drive, listen. Myself, my wife and friend had heard about the new road to Puerto Peñasco through El Gulfo, it was going to take two and half hours off my trip.

I had heard through the Baja grapevine that several people were using it already.

So, why not try it?

The road is being built from both sides El Gulfo simultaneously, and two months ago, I heard it only had 10 miles before the two San Felipe (20 miles) ends would meet, somewhere in the middle. Here I am two months later, thinking to myself “they must be much closer by now.”

Reluctantly, the passengers went along (I was driving) and some hours later, after circling back to the same dusty intersection, we got going in the right direct. The problem is time had been lost, and we still hadn’t found the new highway. By the time we did find the highway (back tracked again), the sun was setting, and we had to turn east away from the sun.

It only took a moment or two to realize I had new problem I wasn’t aware of, the road had not been painted. When you have darkness on black asphalt, the road and desert start to become one in blackness. About the time we realized that is was a new moon and that it was going to be black outside - the asphalt ended.

When I say “ended” I mean it the road stop dead and the earth disappeared beneath us.

Fortunately, due to the blackness of the desert night, I had slowed down and when we went over the edge it was a long slope downward, and we only see about 30 feet until headlights lost their effectiveness.

Some say stubborn, same would say stupid, but I figured I had enough momentum to try to continue forward and for a brief moment, my passengers seemed to be with me. It ended in about 150 yards when the car stopped.

Okay, I should let you know at this point that it is not a four-wheel drive vehicle. It is however a great

Mexico Living - 21

vehicle that made it 30 kilometers off the Baja Track last year (when it was moved to Ensenada.

I again got us on a road alone in the middle of nowhere), so I figured nothing can stop me.

We got out to assess the situation, it was like standing in talcum power. It was the finest, softest sand I had every felt, even lighter than the freezing night air, creating a eerie fog as it past through the headlights.

It turned out that we had gone into a silt bed (something new to me at the time) and were sunk in good.

We immediately let the majority of the air out of tires, about down to 15 psi and attempted Puerto Peñasco to move forward that’s right forward. I was still determined to go this route. After some discussion [see stubborn, stupid above] we decided our only option was to back out and back up onto the road. After several attempts we had only moved a couple of feet.

The night was getting very cold, and there was no chance of help coming by, no one would drive this road at night not knowing where it goes - that would be stupid.

Our friend suggested we make a fire and camp out until morning, after all, they are supposed to be working on it, someone had to be by in the morning. I was still in the drivers seat, disappointed I couldn’t continue moving forward and was formulating “plan B”, when like an angel offering a miracle, my wife suggested “we should try the floor mats.”

We proceeded to back up the 150 yards one floor mat at a time, “steading and slow will get us there” my wife kept annoyingly saying, but it was her idea and she was in control - so we did as commanded.

Back up, move the mat, rock for traction, back up, move the mat, rock for traction, and so on for two hours until I noticed both my wife and friend couldn’t keep up - I has really again. Back, back and up. I was back on the road.

Six hours later (remember we had to go back to the beginning) we arrived in Puerto Peñasco. Next time I will listen when the Green Angels, when they say I should have four-wheel drive...well probably.

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

22 - Mexico Living

Puerto Peñasco, Sonora

Mexico Living - 23

Photos by Robin Waters

PUERTO PENASCO SONORA MEXICO

Puerto Peñasco, commonly known among many of its English-speaking visitors as Rocky Point, is a small city of approximately 42,000 people in the northern state of Sonora, Mexico. Located on the shore of the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortéz), the town is known for its fishing and tourism industries.

It is a popular destination for tourists, particularly those from Arizona, for Puerto Peñasco is nearest beach. This is why it is such a popular Spring Break destination with students from Arizona, New Mexico, and California. Puerto Peñasco is located in the ‘free zone’ where tourists are not required currently to obtain immigration papers in order to visit. However, U.S. Border Patrol agents advise that as of January 31, 2008 a driver’s license and a birth certificate will be required to re-enter the USA. Puerto Peñasco is has new fuel docks and other boat-related developments as part of the country’s ‘Escalera Nautica’ efforts, which call for a chain of ‘touristclass’ marinas sprinkled up and down the Baja coast in an effort to promote nautical tourism.

P u e r t o Peñasco has two main beach areas. To the west of the Old Port area, there is a wide, flat area known as Sandy Beach. This is the home to several large hotel/resorts, and more are under construction. East of Puerto Peñasco, there is a long coast with several areas, known in parts as La Mirador, Playa del Oro and then Las Conchas, an area of beachfront and near-beach condos, homes and timeshares.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

PLACES OF INTEREST

• • • • • • • • • •

Statue of Benito Juarez on Malecon SCUBA diving The Malecon in Old Puerto Cholla Bay The CEDO Museum in Las Conchas The Playa Bonita The CET MAR Aquarium The Golf Courses The Pinacate Reserve The Choya Mexican Curios Mall

Puerto Peñasco is in the same time zone as Arizona observes, and does not observe rules for Daylight Saving Time same as Arizona.

GETTING TO PUERTO PENASCO FLYING

Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) now has flights to and from Los Angeles (LAX), twice daily; one leaves Puerto Peñasco at 11:40am, and arrives in LAX at 12:10pm and the other leaves Puerto Peñasco at 4:30PM and arrives in LAX at 5:30PM, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sundays.

DRIVING

Visitors to the interior of Sonora are now able to drive directly to such cities as Guaymas, San Carlos, Hermosillo, Bahia de Kino, Caborca, Father Kino Missions, Magdalena, and Santa Ana without the time-consuming process of obtaining a car permit.

With the movement of the “Only Sonora” vehicle checkpoint, visitors to the state will no longer have to obtain a car permit in order to travel south of Nogales.

Puerto Peñasco From Phoenix travel west on I-10 to State Route 85, continue southbound on SR 85 to Gila Bend and turn right at a sign stating “Mexico” and “SR 85 Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

24 - Mexico Living

SONORA MEXICO Sonora is a state in northwestern Mexico, bordering the states of Chihuahua to the east, Sinaloa to the south, and Baja California to the northwest. To the north, Sonora accounts for a long stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S. states of Arizona and New Mexico; to the west, it borders the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez).

Cities with airports serving as points of entry include Hermosillo (the state capital), Ciudad Obregón, Nogales, Puerto Peñasco (aka “Rocky Point”) and Guaymas. Smaller towns popular with tourists that have airports included Navojoa and Álamos.

South” before McDonalds. Continue southbound on SR 85 through Ajo, Why and the Organ Pipe National Monument to the border at Lukeville, Arizona.

From Tucson, take State Route 86 westbound to “Why”, Arizona and go south on SR 85 through Organ Pipe National Monument to the border at Lukeville, AZ. From Yuma, go eastbound on I-8 from Yuma to the SR 85 to Gila Bend and turn left at a sign stating “Mexico” and “SR 85 South” just past the DRIVING DISTANCES Ajo, AZ ......................................94 miles Albuquerque, NM ....................678 miles Caborca, MZ ...........................108 miles Guaymas, MX..........................345 miles Hermosillo, MX .......................270 miles Las Vegas, NV .........................475 miles Los Angeles, CA ......................550 miles Lukeville, AZ .............................68 miles Nogales, MX............................294 miles Phoenix, AZ .............................215 miles San Carlos, MX .......................357 miles San Diego, CA .........................445 miles San Francisco, CA ...................927 miles Salt Lake City, UT ....................890 miles Sonoyta, MX..............................66 miles Tucson, AZ ............................. 170 miles Yuma, AZ.................................271 miles McDonalds. Continue southbound on SR 85 through Ajo, Why and the Organ Pipe National Monument to the border at Lukeville, Arizona.

From Ensenada or San Felipe take the Mexico Route 2 (MR-2) towards San Luis Rio Colorado and continue on MR-2 to Sonoita.

From the border, you will continue southbound two miles to a three-way intersection in Sonoita.

Merge LEFT towards Caborca for one until the road splits into a “Y”, stay to the RIGHT and you’re on your way. Continue southbound approximately fifty miles to Puerto Peñasco.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

TAKING A SHUTTLE

If you want get to Puerto Peñasco and don’t want to drive, you can consider taking a shuttle for fast trouble free travel.

Head out to Rocky Point (www. headouttorockypoint.com) is offering 15-person chartered vans to Puerto Peñasco out of Phoenix.

Also, Kona Shuttle (www.konashuttle.com), which offers $179 roundtrips from Tucson and Phoenix in their Mercedes-Benz mini coaches. Both companies are based out of Phoenix.

THINGS TO DO

Puerto Peñasco has a wide variety of activities available for everyone, from the lazy days relaxing in the sun, to the action filled wild ride. Activities including shopping, scuba diving, sport fishing, sunset cruises, off-road adventures, horseback riding, kayaking, parasailing, watercraft rentals and much more.

and charted the hill in present day ‘Old Port’ as “Rocky Point” shortly after Spanish charts referred to the same hill as “Puerto Punta Peñasco.”

1900 - Mexico was nearing a second revolution and its new leader Francisco Pancho Villa saw the value of Puerto Peñasco area with harbor and US trade routes.

1920 – Settlers such as American John Richardson arrive, who built the first hotel. During prohibition U.S. citizen would cross over for beer & alcohol. Even Al Capone was in the hotel business in Peñasco.

1930s - The harbor and old port area grew.

1940 - Railroad linked to Mexicali.

1941 – After Pearl Harbor attack, The United States Government took control of Puerto Peñasco harbor for part of its pacific naval fleet.

1952 - Puerto Peñasco recognized as a city. Local government was established and Victor Estrella Bustamante was appointed.

1965 - Shrimp industry was growing worldwide.

Commercial fisherman came from throughout Mexico.

1969 - 1st High School completed 1971 – First radio station ‘XEQC’ and still broadcasts on AM 1390.

1975 - Completion of pipeline bringing water from underground springs 40 miles north and public sewer system.

1979 - Diesel electricity generator plant was closes and Peñasco connects to the National Electric System.

Mexico Living - 25 1979 - Paved main boulevard and built new Police, Fire, and Hospital faculties.

1980 – The city continued to grow with quarter of a million tourists visiting annually and lots of new development followed.

1990 - Mexican Federal Government declares the area a “Conservation/Biosphere Zone” protected by very strict regulations on commercial fishing.

1995 - Cholla Bay was subdivided into 1,268 lots, of which approximately 800 have been sold.

1997 - Hurricane “Nora” hits Peñasco and San Beach Resorts begins “Costa Diamante” project on 80 acres 2000 - Corporations begin building huge hotels.

2006 - Census puts Peñasco population 42,000 IMPORTANT NUMBERS Emergency Help ........................................................ 060 Same as 911 in USA City Police Department..............................638-383-2492 Red Cross .................................................638-383-2266 Fire Department ........................................638-383-2828 Forest Fires (only in Mexico) ................ 01 800 007 7100 Social Security (IMSS) ..............................638-383-2677 City (Municipal) Hospital ...........................638-383-2110 AISD Line (Only in Mexico) .................. 01 800 712 0886 Power Company .......................................638-383-2492 State Police ...............................................638-383-2783

RULES TO KNOW

Here are a few basic rules to follow to avoid trouble: • NO drinking and driving vehicles of any kind including ATVs. • No drinking under 18 years of age.

• All vehicles are prohibited on the beach.

• No riding ATV’s after dark, on the beaches or on Blvd Juarez.

• Fireworks in designated areas until 10:00 PM • No possession of drugs, guns or weapons.

• Speed limits (25 MPH) and drivers must be 16 years old.

• All fines are paid at the police station. Do not pay officers.

• Littering is illegal (bad is so many ways).

TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT DATES 1698 - Padre Kino lands in area.

1700 - Spanish Army Lt. Diez surveyed of the area on their way to California. Records in Spain record battles being fought during this period in the area.

1826 - Privateers Capt. ‘Red’ Hardy visited Peñasco Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

26 - Mexico Living

Puerto Peñasco Infrastructure

Mexico Living - 27

by Charlie Luse

Infrastructure consists of basic installations and facilities on which a community’s continued growth depends, such as roads, schools, transportation, communication commerce and business services.

Here are some businesses that are either in Puerto Peñasco or are coming soon, to offer services that make the city a desirable place for permanent residents and vacationers.

Puerto Peñasco has several ongoing and/or planned initiatives. An extensive project paving city streets is underway. Large water lines are being installed to provide the additional water the city needs. A desalination plant is planned to provide drinking water from the Sea of Cortez. The park at the town’s entry is being refurbished, and workers are cleaning some of the major streets and roads.

The airport, which is 6km (3.72 miles) north of the city on Highway 8, serves Los Angeles on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays under the name AeroMexico Connect. Flight time is approximately 1 ½ hours with a round trip fare of $318, with schedule and fares subject to change. Aeroservicios Guerrero also flies to the capital city of Sonora, Hermosillo every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The popular Alamo car rental is now operating at the airport. The new International Airport across from the Mayan Palace resort now has a completed runway, with the remaining services to be completed in 15 months. The new airport will accommodate major airlines.

The fishermen’s dock, where many shrimp boats operate, is frequently visited by tourists, so the city recently removed almost 2 ½ tons of waste and debris to make the area more attractive.

The new Coastal Highway will connect Puerto Peñasco through El Golfo to Southern California.

When complete, the drive from Southern California or San Felipe to Puerto Peñasco will be approximately 4 ½-5 hours. A new highway is planned to connect the Peñasco-Sonoyta and Peñasco-Caborca highways, and will provide access to the new International Airport.

We now see familiar businesses opening, such as Meineke Car Care Center, with all new state-of-the-art

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

equipment, and several Circle Ks and large Mexican brands such as the new modern supermarket, Super Val, with a new pharmacy adjacent to the store that is open 24/7, with a Domino’s Pizza and a Chinese restaurant opening next door.

A new medical clinic operated by an English speaking doctors has modern equipment such Xrays, a laboratory, ultrasound and the city’s only CT scanner. In addition to routine care, the clinic offers annual coverage for both families and businesses.

A multi-use spa will open this summer. It includes medical facilities and traditional spa services such as massages, sauna, etc. One wing is dedicated to plastic surgery with facilities including apartments for clients to stay in during recovery. Plans also include a dermatologist, dentist and other medical disciplines.

Another development is planning a plaza with shopping, markets and a movie theater!

CIMA, a private school that opened last year, is adding a middle school to its curriculum. This modern facility offers two hours of English each day for elementary aged children, and one hour for preschool children.

During the past year a modern Burger King opened with children’s birthday party facilities, including the apparatus for piñatas.

A Cuban restaurant recently opened and on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, it has a live musical show with local dancers performing typical rhythms of Cuba such a Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, Tango, etc.

An important initiative for Puerto Peñasco was cleaning the beaches, a project undertaken privately by residents in the Sandy Beach area.

A new cigar store recently opened, “La Casa del Habano,” selling authentic Cuban cigars, including the famous Cohiba. It has a refreshment bar, and lounge furniture with a TV so customers can buy cigars, then smoke and relax in comfort in the store.

We are now seeing many things that will make Puerto Peñasco appealing to live in and visit.

Charlie Luse is a real estate broker and full time residence of Puerto Peñasco. Charlie owns Buena Vista Real Estate and Property Management, he can be reached at 638-110-4127.

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28 - News & Tidbits

& Tidbits Do you have news or tidbits?

Email: tidbits@mexicoliving.info

MEXICO AND NORTHWEST REGION Mexican President Felipe Calderón Speaks on the Promotion of Investment and Infrastructure in Tourism

Mexican President Felipe Calderón

February 11, 2008 (Speech) “I am delighted to be here with this select group of businessmen from the tourist sector and to be able to analyze the many opportunities Mexico provides as regards to investing in tourism and infrastructure.

“By 2012, we want Mexico to have achieved at least US$20 billion in private investment in

tourism.

“That is why we are making every effort to create a suitable business environment for investment in our country.

“In five years I am sure we will be able to transform Mexico through new ports, capable of receiving more cruise ships, and therefore more visitors; more modern highways, new roads that will reduce transit times between cities and tourist centers; and more and more modern airports that will enable us to receive visitors from the five continents.

“The goal we have set is to turn Mexico into a Latin American leader as regards to infrastructure.

According to some estimates, we were in seventh or fifth place a couple of years ago.

“This year, the National Tourism Fund, FONATUR, alone will receive over a billion dollars more, over twice the amount it was assigned last year.

“At the same time, we will implement a strategy that will guarantee more attractive traveling conditions to tourists from the regional market of the United States and Canada, and of course from Europe, where I see an enormous potential for growth in the number of visitors to Mexico.

“Rest assured that government is making every effort to give the tourist industry the boost it deserves, and to provide all the necessary guarantees for the investment decisions you are making or decide to make later so that your business will prove successful within the market conditions.

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News & Tidbits - 29

“For Mexico, tourism is a powerful engine for generating the income the country needs, attracting new opportunities for investment and employment while its development is a response to the opportunities available to Mexico, as well as providing another alternative for coping with the short-term conditions of the international economic sphere.”

Press Release: Presidency of the Republic, February 7, 2008, Mexico City

5.4-magnitude California

quake

rattles

Baja

From the Associated Press

February 9, 2008 - A moderate earthquake rocked Baja California in Mexico late Friday night, shutting down factories near the U.S. border and leaving 400,000 people without power, authorities said.

However, no major damage or injuries were reported.

The quake that struck at about 11:12 p.m. Friday had a preliminary magnitude of 5.4, said Jessica Sigala, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colorado.

It was centered 16 miles southeast of the border town of Mexicali and about 100 miles east of Tijuana.

“It has been felt pretty widely in Southern California, southwestern Arizona and probably northern Mexico,” Sigala said.

It was followed by at least 25 smaller aftershocks.

The quake left about 400,000 people without electricity and 1.2 million without cellular telephone service, but service was restored at around 4 a.m. local time, said Fire Capt. Rene Rosado, director of civil defense in Mexicali.

About 80,000 workers were evacuated or were unable to enter local factories for Sony, Honeywell and other major corporations that typically run 24 hours a day until the buildings could be checked for damage, he said.

Many residents had returned to work this morning, and a group of 70 rescue workers traveled from Tijuana to Mexicali to assist in assessing the damages, Rosado said.

Two bridges showed 2- to 3-inch cracks and were closed until engineers could determine they were safe, he said.

Rescue workers were examining Mexicali schools, many of which are made of adobe, for cracks and other damage so students could return to classes safely Monday, said Alfredo Escobedo, director of Baja California civil protection.

A magnitude-5.4 temblor struck the Mexicali area in 2006, but there were no injuries or damage.

HISTORY OF MARGARITA - Fact or Folklore In 1948 Margarita Sames created this drink in Acapulco, Mexico using her two favorite spirits; Cointreau and tequila. Legend says her husband gave the drink its name by presenting his wife with glassware etched with “ Margarita”.

Another popular myth states that restaurant owner Danny Herrera, of the Rancho La Gloria near Tijuana, Mexico, mixed and named this cocktail specially for American actress Marjorie King, since she was allergic to every spirit except tequila. Margarita is Mexican for Marjorie.

There are variations, both regarding its origins and the proportions. However, the manufacturers of Cointreau designated 1998 as the official 50th anniversary of the invention of the Margarita.

In 1969, an estimated 45 million margaritas were sold in the United States. By 2000, that number had increased to 800 million.

The margarita’s phenomenal popularity has made it the country’s most frequently requested cocktail during warm weather, and second only to the martini when there’s a chill in the air.

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30 - Calendar of Northwest Mexico Events

What’s Happening - 31

March / Marzo 2008

1 5:10 9:54 4:23 11:24

WEEKLY CALENDAR EVENTS ENSENADA BAJA CALIFORNIA

Tuesday: • Jazz Cafe - Cine de Arte Wednesday: • Jazz Cafe - Trivia Thursday: • Jazz Cafe - Jazz Friday: • Jazz Cafe - 8pm Salsa dance classes Saturday: • Jazz Cafe - Oldies but Goodies -The live music of

“Nuevo Concepto”

SAN FELIPE BAJA CALIFORNIA

Friday: • Jimmy’s BB&G - Live music of “Third Generation” • Los Archos - Karaoke & 5.95 Steak Dinner • La Vaquita - Live music “Vatos Locos” 6:00PM • Al’s Backstreet (Feb2 & 18) - Mike & the Machine Saturday: • Jimmy’s BB&G - Live music of “Agave Blues” Sunday: • Fandangos - Arcade Bowling 2:00 PM • Jimmy’s BB&G - Open Microphone 4:30 - 8:30 • Los Archos - Live Music LIST YOUR EVENT: If you’re not listed, it’s only because you haven’t told us. calendar@mexicoliving. info. Include event name, dates and times, description and contact info.

San Felipe Fine Arts Association - art show 2nd Sat. of every month at Rosarios Art Studio - on the highway in the Ejido. 10-4

PUERTO PEÑASCO SONORA

WEEKLY IN SAN FELIPE

• JC`s Bar - 3:00 PM Darts Tournament

Monday: • Fandangos - “9-Ball Tournament 6:00PM • Jimmy’s BB&G - Poker Tournt. Win Prizes!

Tuesday: • Jimmy’s BB&G - Karaoke • Fandangos - Darts 7:00 PM • Al’s Backstreet - Darts Wednesday: • Fandangos - Live Music of Mikey and The Machine 6:00PM • Jimmy’s BB&G - “Bunko” & “Ladies Night” • Al’s Backstreet - Live Music by Ed G. Thursday: • Fandangos - Live Music of The Beach Bums • Jimmy’s BB&G - Line Dance 5-6:30pm • Jaunito’s (El Dorado) - “Name That Tune” • Los Archos - Bingo & Lions Meeting (2nd & 4th Thurs.)

• - Live Music by Ed G. The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Thursday: Friday:

• Dugout - 7:00 PM Billiards Tournament Saturday:

• Oldies Bar - 7:00 pm Live Pop Rock Music

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the Republic, as well as his efforts to modernize the country, Juárez is often regarded as Mexico’s greatest and most beloved leader by the pro-american republican partisans. He was also the first Mexican leader who did not have a military background, and the first full-blooded indigenous national to serve as President of Mexico, and the first to lead an American Country in more than 300 years.

15: St. Patrick’s Day 16 – 22: Semans Santa Week 21: Viernes Santo / Good Friday.

23: Domingo de Resurreccion / Easter Sunday

22: Holy Saturday (Judas Day) 30: Dia de los Niños Funcionario

April 10: Mexican Revolutionary hero General Zapada is assassinated on this day in 1920.

19: Day of the Indians

ENSENADA BAJA CALIFORNIA

May 1: Dia de Trabajo - Labor Day - National appreciation day of all the many workers of Mexico that have gone before, and today make the country the special place that it is.

5: Cinco de Mayo 10: Dia de las Madres / Mother’s day in Mexico 11: Mother’s Day 17: Armed Forces Day 26: Memorial Day observed March 1-31: Grey Whale Watching Tours. Watch the gray whale crossing the bay with narration and an

MONTHLY CALENDAR EVENTS

NATIONAL DATES & HOLIDAYS March 9: Daylight Savings Time Begins 14: Aniversario de Mexicali 21: Natalicio de Benito Juarez - President’s Day. Benito Pablo Juárez García (March 21, 1806 – July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Amerindian who served five terms (1858–1861 as interim), (1861–1865), (1865–1867), (1867–1871), and (1871–1872), as President of Mexico. For resisting the French occupation, overthrowing the Empire, and restoring Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info www.sanfelipebaja.info - 31

32 - Calendar of Northwest Mexico Events education on the crossing. Sergio’s Sport Fishing, Gordo’s Sport Fishing, & several private charters 15-23: Spring Break. Tourism season is officially here with it spring breakers and lots of libation and good times. Book ahead.

April 19: 29: Spring Rosarito-Ensenada Fun Bicycle Ride http://www.rosaritoensenada.com/ 25-27: 61st Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race May 2-3: Cabalgata Vaquera El Alamar in the Sierra de Juarez 10: J.D. Hussong Baja Internacional “CHILI COOKOFF�. http://www.hussongs.com/chilicookoff.html 11: Fiesta of the Flowering Vineyards in Ensenada’s Wine Country. fiestasvendimia@hotmail.com 25: 6th Annual Festival del Caballo, Arte y Vino in Ensenada’s Wine Country 30-June 1: 40th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada. www.score-international.com

SAN FELIPE BAJA CALIFORNIA

March 8: 2nd Annual Cancer Walk in San Felipe Caminata Cancer Walk The Arches to The Malecon 8:00 AM - Noon. Last year’s walk - from the Arches to the Malecon – netted a sum that has enabled the Committee, which includes Dr. Olvera Director of Centro de Salud de San Felipe, to pursue a dedicated program of local contact, cancer education, screening, treatment and follow-up activity for those local citizens who cannot otherwise afford it. Come and join us in this effort to put an end to needless suffering among those who can least afford it.

What’s Happening - 33 29-2: March Midwinter West Hobie Catamaran Regatta. Regatta Headquarters at El Cortez Hotel, room 134.

1: San Felipe Home Show 2008. Everything you need to know to live, work or play in Mexico. Tickets are only $5 and all pre-sale tickets go to local service organizations.

7-9: Festival Del Tequila 9-15: Score Baja 250 Pre Run Week. Saturday 15th at 6AM. 11: Steak in the Park Municipal Park 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 15-23: Spring Break starts and lasts approximately six weeks.

21: Sand Drag’s Carreras Promotions 22 – 29: The Baja Travesia A five day race starting in San Felipe and finishing in Ensenada. A team of three races through four skills; kayaking, trekking, mountain biking, & desert auto rally.

April 2008 1: April Fool’s Day 4-6: Code Tecate Race “MEXICALI 500.� Mexicali to San Felipe 5: Sand Drag’s Carreras Promotions 12: Woofstock is a Music Festival, comedy night, classic car & motorcycle show as a Spay/Neuter Fund Raiser Saturday, in the Ejido Salon in San Felipe.

National Agrario 19: Blues & Arts Fiesta. The San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta. www.bluesandarts.com TBA: Festival Hipico This is a festival of the Horse this is in the planning stage with the Ejido Plan May 2008 TBA: Laguna Percebu Poker Run TBA: Club de Pesca 6th Annual Chili Cook off

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PUERTO PENASCO

March 1: Las Conchas Home Tour. Visit the most expensive homes around. Tours from 11am to 3pm. Tickets are $15 (US) and available at the Cedo Gift Shop. Call 520-320-5473 (US) or 638-382-0113 (Penasco).

6: Day of Xalpa - Celebration and appreciation of this Aztec God & of Mexico’s Aztec roots.

8: Seaside Saturdays is a great way to learn about the Sea of Cortez and it’s inhabitants starting at 11am every Saturday.T. Contact Center for Deserts & Oceans http://www.cedointercultural.org/.

11-19: Spring Break breathes a new life into all of the northwest Mexico’s favorite hot spots, but Puerto Peùasco may take it for the largest number of college & high school students. Libation and hormones fly freely.

27: Whiplash Rock to Rock Race. This is like the ‘good old days’ in the U.S. before they became illegal. Dune buggies, dirt bikes, all ages & classes of participants in the 100 mile & 200 mile events. The event is lots of fun for spectators too. Call Lynn @ 602-971-3730 for details.

April 5: Experience the beauty of a Puerto PeĂąasco coastal wetland. Tour from 8am to 11am with trained guides of Center for Deserts & Oceans. $20 adults, $10 kids.

8: Old Boys Social Club is having their Annual BBQ bash at 2PM in Cholla Bay. Fun and games, beer and food.

9: Mexico Enters World War II this day in 1942 after the Mexican oil tanker Aztecta was torpedoed off the of the Sea of Cortez by a German submarine. Mexico declares war on Germany and joins the U.S. 23: Las Conchas Annual Golf Tournament

Mar de Cortez at the end of “El Malecon�

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We Welcome Visa & Mastercard

May 1-2: Sand Drag Races is a fun time at Sandy Beach.

Watch the racers in their sand rails roar down the beach.

1-7: Mayan Culture Appreciation Week is a celebration and remembrance of Mexico’s pre-conquest culture.

6: One Club Open Golf Tournament in Cholla Bay out on beach in front of JJ’s Cantina. Bring a golf 10 iron, a ball and a good attitude.

8: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s Marine Life Tour. Join naturalists from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum on their annual tour of Puerto Peùasco’s tide pools and mud flats. Call 520-883-3025 13-14: Sailboat Races is a JJ’s Cantina/Cholla Bay area event that fun for all. Participants & spectators having a good time all day.

14: Fiesta of St. Isador is a celebration of Saint Isador.

27-29: Memorial Day Weekend (U.S.) Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

34 - Calendar of Northwest Mexico Events

What’s Happening - 35

Our Unplanned Stop Under the Mexican Circus Big Top

by Laura Comstock

Last Sunday, late in the morning, my husband, of the animals, including the tiger, as close as six feet Dave, and I were driving into San Felipe from the away from us - unrestrained! Of course, between the north. Soon after passing Los Arcos, there it was, other acts, there were clowns. Their antics, including down a dusty side street on the left - a circus tent! the classic bucket of water/confetti, had all the Unable to resist, we made a quick turn and soon found children screaming with laughter. ourselves parked in front of the big top. The large sign During the intermission there were pony rides on the trailer in front said Circo Rex Y Su Anaconda around the ring for the niños for five pesos, snacks de Venezuela, but and toys for sale. The second half of the show had no people seemed more trained animals and a balancing act, with a to be up and about man performing handstands that ascended higher yet. Luckily for us and higher and, of course, more clowns. The a handsome young most unusual act was a brave man who crouched couple came strolling underwater in a barrel coated with fuel and set afire, down the street just while holding his breath. then. The husband It must have been several was a clown with the tense minutes until the circus. He graciously fire burned off and he showed us into the emerged, but it felt much big top, explained longer. the various prices for Finally came the grand seats, and knocked on The author Laura clowning around finale, when six men at the circus. another trailer to let us carried out a giant albino purchase tickets right away, so we wouldn’t have anaconda. The children to stand in line that evening. We decided to splurge were invited to the edge on ringside seats for 60 pesos each. of the ring to see and The show started with a beautiful young woman The author Laura clowning around touch the huge snake as on the trapeze. Next a handsome young man in a at the circus. it was carried around. leopardskin loincloth was introduced as Tarzan.

From Ringling Bros., He also did some beautiful aerial tricks using cloth Barnum and Bailey to Cirque de Soliel, they’re all streamers instead of the trapeze, including taking incredible, awe-inspiring shows. However, if you a señorita from the audience for a spin through the want an intimate, interactive experience with no nets air. Neither of the two aerialists, who looked like or barriers, join the families of San Felipe at the next brother and sister, had a net beneath them. Tarzan small traveling circus that swings through town. We also brought out various trained animals to do tricks, got as much enjoyment out of seeing the local kids including a baboon, bear, camel, buffalo, longhorn having so much fun as we did from seeing the show, steer, pony and a tiger; alas, no lion, despite the and so will you. article’s title. Sitting ringside gave us a close-up view The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

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36 - Mexico Living

SAN FELIPE 250 IS BACK! SCORE Returns to San Felipe, Baja California for March race By: Off-Road Racing

Following lengthy negotiations, SCORE International has officially announced that the location for the popular ‘Spring Break’ desert race held annually in March in Mexico’s Baja California peninsula will return to San Felipe for 2008. The 22nd Annual Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 will be held March 14-15 in the quaint fishing village on the East coast of Baja California along the tranquil Sea of Cortez.

Because of significant political situations beyond its control, SCORE was forced at the last minute to move the 2007 event to the West coast of the peninsula, where it started in Ensenada and finished in Santo Tomas.

With the location finalized for the March race, SCORE International is ready to launch its six-race 2008 SCORE Desert Series.

Keeping the same venues and all but one of the same race weekends for its five open desert races and one stadium-style short-course event as the past three years, the 2008 SCORE Desert Series will again feature three races in Southern Nevada and three in Mexico.

“We were forced to move the 2007 spring race on less than 10 days notice and we are confident that the issues that affected us have all been resolved,” said Sal Fish, CEO/President of SCORE, which is based in Los Angeles. “We never wanted to leave San Felipe in the first place so we are obviously very excited to return to San Felipe where we have had such great races over the years. We are finalizing details with Mexican authorities that will enhance some of the spectator areas for the race.”

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Juan Gallo Team of San Felipe Photo by Francisco Romo Victorio

In confirming, the commitment of the Mexican authorities to bring this popular race back to San Felipe, Rodolfo Valdez, Mayor of the city of Mexicali that has jurisdiction over San Felipe, expressed complete cooperation from all parties involved to execute the final permits for the event.

“We want this race to return to our area where it has grown to be one of our very best special events and the economic impact of the race speaks for itself,” said Valdez. “We have the full support of state and federal authorities. We are committed to have this spectacular event in San Felipe for the full three years of our term in office and into the future beyond that.”

In 2006, the last time the race was held in San Felipe, there were a race-record 341 starters. That number was topped in 2007 in Ensenada when a new record of 394 starters took the green flag in the race.

The SCORE Desert Series, which features 28 Pro and six Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycle and ATVs, will kick off Jan. 24-27 with the popular 14th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in the Southern Nevada resort city of Laughlin on the banks of the Colorado River. The season will conclude Nov. 19-22 with the 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, the granddaddy of all desert racing, in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

“The SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is the most unique and increasingly popular desert race in the U.S. and the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 is the best known desert race in the world,” added Fish, who has been at the head of SCORE since

Mexico Living - 37 1974. “These two races provide wonderful ways to and scheduled the race to run on the original dates chosen by NORRA. Though NORRA held a competing start and finish our SCORE racing season.”

The 22nd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 is set for event in the United States that same weekend, BSC March 14-15, followed by the 40th anniversary of the successfully ran the race from Ensenada to La Paz vastly popular Tecate SCORE Baja 500, May 30-June like the years prior. Unaware of the challenges, BSC found promoting Baja races more difficult 1, in Ensenada, Baja California. than anticipated.

The seasonInstead of giving ending Nov. 19up the race, 22 with the 41st the Mexican Tecate SCORE government Baja 1000, a loop requested help race, starting from Short and finishing in Course OffEnsenada, Baja Road Enterprises California.

(SCORE) in hosting SCORE and promoting International, future Baja founded in 1973 races.

Through by the late Mickey negotiations with Thompson and Mickey Thompson headed by Sal and his SCORE Fish since 1974, organization, continues today the Mexican as the premier Juan Gallo team hits it hard. Photo by Francisco Romo Victorio Government agreed sanctioning body to give exclusive in the sport of desert racing. SCORE races feature 18 Pro and three rights to SCORE to hold Baja races and also reluctantly Sportsman classes for cars and trucks in the U.S. allowed SCORE to cancel the event for 1974. SCORE with 10 additional Pro and three more Sportsman hired Sal Fish as president and took control of the classes for motorcycles and ATVs competing in the Baja 1000 from that year on with the Baja 1000 race races in Mexico. SCORE races in the U.S. average resuming under new control in 1975.

200 entries while the average in Mexico, with motorcycle and ATV classes running as well as the 2008 SCORE Desert Series cars and trucks is 350.

For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Jan. 24-27 14th Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Laughlin, Nevada official website of the 2008 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

The SCORE on off road racing in Baja

Is could be said that off road racing began in Tijuana, Baja California on October 31, 1967 with the first official race of the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. The course length that year was 849 miles (1,366 km) and ended in La Paz, Baja California Sur with the overall winning time of 27 hours 38 minutes (27:38) set by Vic Wilson and Ted Mangels while driving a Meyers Manx buggy.

From 1967 to 1972 the race was organized by the National Off Road Racing Association (NORRA). In 1973, Baja California governor Milton Castellanos handed over sanctioning of the event to a non-profit Mexican corporation called Baja Sports Committee (BSC). BSC renamed the event to Baja Mil (Baja 1000)

March 14-15 22nd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico May 30-June 1 40th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

July 17-19* SCORE Las Vegas Terrible’s Cup IV* Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 5-6 13th SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300 Primm, Nevada Nov. 19-22 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico *select classes, closed-course event

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

38 - Mexico Living

Mexico Living - 39

One and Two Story Models

Playa San Rafael Multiple Floorplans Available

24 Turn-Key Homes in Gated Seaside Community 24/7 Security Sea and Mountain views U.S. Financing First American Title Insurance Pre-Construction Pricing for a Limited Time only!

Spacious Floorplans with Two Car Garage

Starting in the low 200’s!

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Hwy 5 Km. 178 San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico Sales Office 011-52-686-576-0223 U.S.A - 888-433-5473Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

40 - Mexico Living

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? SATURDAY MARCH 1ST

check for updates www.mexicoliving.info

Find the Answers at the Home Show

Legal rights of the workers in Mexico

Attorney Carlos Alberto Martinez will discuss legal rights of the workers in Mexico. Learn how to properly hire and have workers in Mexico. Know what rights are entitled to all workers and how to avoid mistakes or legal issues.

Presented by Attorney Carlos Alberto Martinez Monges. Born and raised in Mexicali, Baja California, lived in England, where he learned to speak English.

A graduate of Law at the University of Baja California in Mexicali. His firm specializes in Real Estate Law and Civil Law and Labor Law and other areas of the Mexican Law.

Carlos Alberto Martinez Monges, born in Mexicali, Graduated Law in U.A. B.C. (initials for the University), contact info: Tel 686552-80-52 and Cell. 686120-16-50 e-mail law_martinez@yahoo.com

SPEAKERS & PANELS

You can’t afford to miss this show!

Finally get all those questions answered in 1-DAY at the Mexico Living Home Show.

TICKETS ARE ONLY $5

Live The Dream!

Get Answers, Find Solutions and Live Your Dream. The San Felipe Home Show is an event designed for anyone considering playing, living, or investing in Mexico.

Expert Speakers Discuss • • • • • • • • • • • •

Moving to Mexico Buying & Selling Property in Mexico Building a Home in Mexico Owning & Operating a Business Importing or Exporting Remodeling Landscaping Decorating Your Home Investing in Mexico Healthcare & Medicine Leasing Land Working

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Attorney Fernando Aguilar of LEX CORP, a Mexicali law firm will discuss purchasing Ejido property, importance of trust agreements, current immigration law as it applies to foreigners

moving to Mexico.

LEX CORP specializing in Corporate, Labor, Real Estate, Immigration, Customs, Tax, Commercial, Civil and Criminal aspects of Mexican Law. Active in this region for over twenty years counseling mostly foreign owned firms and individuals in their legal and administrative needs.

They have experience in dealing with Ejidos or communal land properties and can counsel a client when acquiring land in an Ejido and the issues that he must consider in these purchases.

Clients include Thomson Electronics, Monterey Mushrooms, Inc., Cooper Lighting, Inc., Acer Electronics, Hikam Electronics, Yurosek Farms, Muranaka Farms, TRW Automotive, U.S., L.L.C., and various other medium and small companies.

Expertise in all Trust Agreements.

Calzada Justo Sierra y Honduras 377-7, Centro Comercial La Plazita, Colonia Cuauhtémoc Sur, Mexicali, B.C. 21200.

Phones: 686 568 2541 and 42, facsimile: 686 568 2546, mobile phone: 686 569 1309. Nextel: 152 asterisk 131214 astserisk 1.

U.S. mailing address: 233 Paulin Avenue PMB 5830 Calexico, California 92231-2646.

A

Mexico Living - 41

Real Estate

Uria Amor - Tips on Buying and Selling your Property in “Today’s San Felipe Market “ What is the current Real Estate Story for San Felipe based on today’s Market in 2008. Uria Amor from Amor Property will suggest “Tips for Selling your Property and pricing it correctly in this market”. Uria will also give Tips for Buying Property in San Felipe, what to look for and what to buy now?

Uria Amor, Owner of Amor Property, is licensed in California and has served the San Felipe Real Estate Community for the past 4 years. The Amor Property Office is located Downtown below Baja Java and has 11 Agents to serve you. The full Service Real Estate office, includes Fideicomiso, and Mexican Corporation procedures, as well as all Transfer of Title Documents. Amor Property has won the Title of “Best Broker” in San Felipe for 2007.

Navajo Electric Benefits of Solar

Panel Presentation:

Importing Your Household Goods

The San Felipe Storage Company team is the area’s most experienced moving company. They can pick up your household goods and transport them to Mexico, providing maximum security, and all the intricacies of crossing the border and unloading them at your new home.

Moderator: Sam Grubb – semi retired ne’er do well, a venerable old man

The uses and benefits of solar. As presented by Walt Wands, owner and engineer for Navajo Electric. Walt also hosts an annual 2-day solar seminar at the South Campos Community Center.

Financing your dream home in Mexican

Presenters: Eduardo Ruiz – Manager of San Felipe Storage Company. Eduardo is an experienced mover, and an expert in the process of moving materials across the border.

Presented by Janet Silva.

ConfiCasa Mortgage International, the pioneer in financing Mexican properties for Americans and Canadian dreamers. Whether primary, secondary, or an investment property, we understand the Mexico home buying process. Phone: (760) 8616773 www.conficasamortgageinternational.com

Julia Barboza Tello – President of Agencia Aduanal Hodoyan Navarro. Julia is an experienced broker experienced in household goods importing.

Proper Home Wiring & Electrical

They also have climate controlled storage. They also have covered parking for your boat or RV. Their facility features state of the art security, and clean, secure storage for all of your possessions.

686-576-0432 sfelipe3@telnor.net on HWY 5 at KM 181, San Felipe.

Presented by Vincent Reed of Professional Audio-Visual Solutions

A full service audio-visual and project management company with twenty-five years of audio visual experience in San Felipe. Complete solutions with Lifetime Warranty on installation workmanship and wiring. Extensive inventory.

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

42 - Mexico Living

Adobe Block Works Construcciones Pai Pai

Mike & Mary Whittaker of Baja Lending Company can make your dream of owning in Baja a reality. A local San Felipe company, here to help you with your financing needs.

Exhibit #:49 Mexico Cell # 1-686-1525233

Source for Pai Pai adobe blocks and custom adobe homes. Leaders in green building.

Photos, plans, adobe literature. Samples from Ensenada architectural artist Alfonso Arumbula and Rosarito interior finishes specialist Aida Valencia will also be on display. Exhibit #:15 • Phone: MX 044-686-165-8966

Amor Property

A full service Mexican Real Estate Corporation. On-site attorney to assist. A premiere Real Estate Company committed to giving our clients an ethical and honest transaction from start to finish. Amor Property has won the Title of “Best Broker” in San Felipe for 2007.

Exhibit #: 8 • Phone: 686-577-0689

Mex: 686-577-0611 or

Exhibit #:

Baja Nueva Decorating and Design Studio

Services include complete home decorating and design.Custom designed and special order furniture, turnkey program - we do it all. Home decorating accessories, original art, potpourri & scents, candles and holders, ceramics, decorative art glass, unique gifts. Exhibit #: 68 • Phone: 686-211-4676

Baja Chocolate Lovers

Dedicated to the care of Chocoholics. The affliction of Chocoholism is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. It can strike anyone at any time! Baja Chocolate Lovers are dedicated to Chocoholics, to care and supply them with their daily Chocolate 011-52-686-576requirements. Exhibit #: 48 • Phone: 0348

4

• Phone:

Baja Diamante

An exclusive community in San Felipe, Baja California situated between the Sea of Cortez, northern Baja’s first 18-hole Nicklaus Design golf course, now under construction, and the majestic San Pedro Martir mountains. The Diamante Estate encompasses the San Felipe Marina Resort. Beachfront dining, activities, tennis, golf, concierge services. Booth - # 47

Baja Home Improvement Services

82 • Phone:

“A hands on approach to all that we do is our UTMOST priority in business.” We do not hand off your business to anyone else.

Your satisfaction is our pledge. 3rd year of operation. Live and work in San Felipe.

Please see our ad in the magazine for the products and services we offer. Exhibit #: 686-222-4507

BluWood is a non-toxic, GreenSpec lumber coating that provides the homeowner with a lifetime warrantee against mold, wood rot, termites (and other wood ingesting insects), and fungus. BluWood is a fire retardant which presently has a Class B flame spread rating.

Exhibit #: Racecar Exhibit • http://www.bluwood.com • baja-chris@cox.net

Cancer walk: Walk

Casa de Fe-San Felipe is a philanthropic organization whose first project is an orphanage. In the process of raising funds for materials to complete construction. They will home 36 children with house parents to care for the children. Our goal is to have the first building ready by summer. Exhibit #: 94 • Phone: 686-577-0050 One wall converts itself into a work of art or a canvas, on top of which can be displayed framed art or other adornments. At Casa Valencia we create distinctive textures with plasters, acids and glazes. We take advantage of the form and material of walls as well as lighting and dimensions of interior and exterior space in order to make every work unique. Exhibit #: 94

FREE. Exhibit #:

Century 21

#:

5

Capt’n Tolken’s Baja Express

A fleet of safe, exhilarating, 35-to-85mile-per-hour express boats with all the amenities. Tenacity: seats 10 with 400 mile range. Nauti One: 45mph smoothly and effortlessly. Nauti Too: 1500hp, 85mph machine, a unique adventure awaits. Come shake the Captain’s paw! Exhibit #: 21 686-116-6977

The official real estate office for El Dorado Ranch with the largest available new and resale inventory. Their newest development is “Las Conchas del Mar” with beach front estates, villas and condos. Century 21, the largest real estate company in the world, service all your real estate needs. Exhibit • Website: www.sanfelipebaja.com

Coldwell Banker

Capistrano Casa Del Regalo

Capistrano has all the decorative and Interior design services. We specialize in a variety of styles such as contemporary, casual, modern, country and Mexican rustic. Condo and home packages and also include warehouse storage in Calexico, C.A. and Mexicali, B.C.. importation of merchandise into Mexico. Transport / shippings to San Felipe. Exhibit #: 58 • (686) 56966 12. Calling from U.S. 01152 1 (686) 569-6612

High quality stone and home concept products from the Far East, Brazil and India. Concepto Casa the largest supplier of Granite in Baja California. Distributorships in San Felipe, Puerto Penasco and Cabo San Lucas. Affordable prices and professional Granite installers. Exhibit #: 31 • Phone: Mex 686577-0252

Cruz Roja

The Cruz Roja, like the American and Canadian Red Cross, assists at disasters, but additionally acts as an Emergency Medical Service. By Mexican law, it is the only organization, outside of big cities, authorized to render first aid to anyone injured in an auto accident or in the commission of a crime. Exhibit #: Vehicle Section

Desert Mother Real Estate & Solar

686-577-2552

Casey’s Place

Elegant & Affordable, Vacation Rentals on the Beach, Downtown San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico and other locations around San Felipe Hola From Casey’s Place On the Sea of Cortez in beautiful downtown - San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico. Units for up to ten people and bring your pet 87 • Phone: 686-577-1431

#:

22

The best choice for your real estate needs.

Whether you are investing, buying or selling, Coldwell Banker Coastal Properties offers world-class service to help you buy or sell in San Felipe. Please ask us about Closing Services, Escrow, Property Management, Rentals, Home and Car Insurance. Exhibit • Phone: 686-577-7779 / 686-577-0779

Conficasa

Welcome to ConfiCasa Mortgage International, the pioneer in financing Mexican properties for Americans and Canadian dreamers. Whether primary, secondary, or an investment property, we understand the Mexico home buying process. Exhibit #: 20 • Phone: (760) 861-6773 - Janet Silva

Mexico Living - 43

Concepto Casa

Casa Valencia

San Felipe Cancer

“La Caminata Contra el Cancer” The San Felipe Cancer Walk was the idea of breast cancer survivors Alfreda Barber and Michele MacDonald and now deeply involved in preparations for their 2nd annual walk, which will occur during the morning of March 8, 2008.

Booth #93

• Phone:

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Baja Ranch & Sea Realty have the expertise to guide you smoothly and happily every step of the way. Kathy, Margaret and John Pilato, Owner/Broker of the company to bring the highest of professionalism to each transaction. 40 years years experience, 20 years experience in San Felipe. Exhibit #: 686-577-1304

Casablanca is a beautiful Mediterranean style develoment on the point of San Felipe Bay. Heated indoor and outdoor pools, health spa, fitness center, mini golf, jogging trails and a beautiful beachfront restaurant.

Developers 2nd project in San Felipe, rest assured of project completion as promised.

• Phone: 686-157-1728

Casa de Fe-San Felipe

Bluwood - The Color of Protection

Baja Design

A unique business, specializing in American Kitchen and Bath cabinets. Design and installation. Windows and doors replacement. Specialty door hardware, Lighting, Decorative Silk Plants, and more.

Showroom opening soon. Exhibit #: 45 • Phone: 480-766-9627

1

Baja Ranch & Sea Realty

Baja Bill’s Property Management

Vacation rentals homes and condos in San Felipe. Do-It-Yourself Equipment Rentals, Household Rentals, Also offering cleaning services and pet boarding. Exhibit #: 66 Phone: Mex:577-4014 Mex Cell:686-1521689 US:909-522-4781

Casablanca

Baja Lending

con

Our mission at Desert Mother is to provide specialized services to all clients with honesty and integrity. We have the largest inventory of commercial property in the Baja. Baja’s most outstanding attorneys and professionals. We also have financing available. Exhibit #: 13 & 14 • Phone:

Diamante Residential

Exhibit #:

This beautiful development features gated security, underground water, sewage and electric utilities, planned green areas and paved streets. A large community center, swimming pool and tennis courts are slated for 2008. All homes sites are ready for home construction.

39 • Phone: 619-607-1349

El Centenario

Commercial and real estate developer group. Enrique Humaran Lizarraga, Alfonso Aguilar Romero, Ramon Moreno Orozco.

Exhibit #: 2773

16

• Phone:

686-565-

Java Jitters B.C. Bistro & Baja Furnishings

No rice, no beans! San Felipe has a brand new flavor. Now serving breakfast, lunch & dinner! Also dine in furniture that is all hand crafted in southern Mexico. In order to keep our prices low, we have reduced our overhead by not providing a large show room. You can view sample pieces and a complete catalog in the bistro. Exhibit #: 35 • Phone: 686-114-7735

ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS La Perla Del Mar

La Perla del Mar is the pearl of a development IT’S NOT TOO just south of San FelipeLATE at KM 6, this is a small private luxury beachfront community.

Their sales office is open daily or visit their website www.laperladelmarsf.com.

Exhibit #: 2 • www.laperladelmarsf.com

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

44 - Mexico Living

La Sombra de la Elegancia

• Phone:

The Panama Hat has covered many famous heads, for example those of Ernest Hemmingway, Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and Paul Newman to mention a few.

The sole distributor in Mexico is La Sombra De La Elegancia of Mexicali. Exhibit #: 23 686-554-9798

Las Caras de Mexico Championship Golf Course

MexQuest Mortgage

MexQuest Mortgage is a full-service mortgage brokerage company providing a comprehensive selection of competitively priced loan products to borrowers in North America purchasing real estate in Mexico.

From Residential to Commercial and Development loans, we will match your needs. Exhibit #: 9 • Mex 686-211-9520

LAS CARAS DE MEXICO golf course is an 18-hole Championship golf course located within the Beach and Golf Resort of La Ventana del Mar at El Dorado Ranch. The course offers unparalleled views of the sea and mountains. We offer daily, weekly, monthly and annual rates.

Exhibit #: 37 • Mexico 686-576-0517 www.lascarasdemexico.com

The uses and benefits of solar. As presented

by Walt Wands, owner and engineer for Navajo Electric. Walt also hosts an annual 2-day solar seminar at the South Campos Community Center. Exhibit #: 40 • Phone: 686-111-1834

Nudura Integrated Technology

Las Villas Condos at La Ventana Del Mar

Condos ideally situated on the beachfront or on the golf course in the gated and private seaside community of La Ventana Del Mar. Designed by the prestigious Woodley Architectural Group, Inc., recipient of numerous awards and recognition for its superb architectural work. Exhibit #: 37 • www.eldoradoranch.com/Real_Estate/ Condos.htm

Lions Club of San Felipe

The Lions Club San Felipe, B.C. provides humanitarian assistance to the people of San Felipe through projects such as sponsoring the Flying Samaritans, Blues & Arts Fiesta and others. Distributing donated medical equipment and supplies, and holding eye clinics. This club made history by claiming the largest charter membership of any Lions Club ever in the State of Baja California. Exhibit #: Food Court

Magic in Nature Photography

Since 1970’s she has photographed the wildlife, including the Sierra Nevada mountains, the southwestern U.S., and the rugged scenery of Baja. Also, Kenya and Tanzania, Costa Rica, Kauai, the Galapagos Islands, and the southern coast of Alaska.

Exhibit #: 30 • Phone: 686-111-1426

Mar De Cortez Water Adventures

Swim with the Dolphins, snorkeling, scuba at the islands south of Puertecitos. Sail on Klanoki 36 Foot Trimaran. Fishing trips, water sports, waterskiing, or sightseeing on the water. Exhibit #: 42 • Phone: US 760554-7626 or MX 686-573-0124

Myrna Romano DVM – VetLab

Let us pamper your pet. Because your pet deserves to be taken seriously! We use the clinical pathology to detect on time and with precision all kind of diseases in your pet.

Complete chemistry, along with vaccination, urgent care, surgery and grooming. MVZ Myrna Romano Osuna, Patologa clínica veterinaria. Mexicali, BC Exhibit #: 29 • Tel. 554-0645 www.vetlab.com.mx

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Exhibit #:

43

A full service audio-visual and project management company with twenty-five years of audio visual experience in San Felipe. Complete solutions with Lifetime Warranty on installation workmanship and wiring. Extensive inventory. Exhibit #: 33

Reel Screens

Navajo Electric

Building

We have the total building package from the most efficient materials available. Our goal is to make your building project a pleasant experience. Energy Efficient Materials.

Presented by Hass Invesntments SA de CV. • Phone: 686-573-0124

PC Pérez Construction

From a family of homebuilders in Mexico for two decades. Provides timely project reports, digital photos and ready access for questions and feedback. Call us for a personal tour of Casa Buena Vida, an example of the workmanship that is the hallmark of Pérez Construction.

Exhibit #: 50 • Phone: 686-576-0650

Pisos y Recubrimientos

Three stores in Mexicali, one in Tijuana, Ensenada, San Felipe and Los Cabos in Baja California Sur, under the name of Desert Tile with the best show rooms in the State. We exhibit the largest variety of domestic and international products, distributing world class leading brands. Exhibit # 41 • 686-577-0932 Pittsburgh® Paints We believe that choosing color is a personal and collaborative experience. Our mission is: To provide color palettes that convey individual style and personality. To offer the most current color research and trends for our users to always have the best. Visit our website, voiceofcolor. com to find a path for discovering color in a

whole new way.

Exhibit #: 73 • 686-577-0932

Mexico Living - 45

Professional Audio-Visual Solutions

Our screens virtually disappear when retracted. Our Screens will provide the best, most attractive solution to letting the outside in. Professional Installation for a perfect fit.

Barry Christian. Exhibit #: 74 • 011-52686-576-0277 or US Cell 714-319-3141.

Redwagon Enterprises

Helping and assistance absentee homeowners for 12 years. Professionally trained staff provide construction cleaning, regular weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cleaning, or for events. Services include everything. We are a full service Property Management Company - that means full service. Exhibit #: 44 • Phone: 686-576-0081

San Felipe Home Builders Dedicated to building quality homes with American standards and greater attention to detail. A team of Mexican professionals; an engineer, architect and attorney, make sure you are protected in all respects. We take care of you from the conception of your home to handing you the keys.

Exhibit #: 10 • Phone: 686-577-0050

San Felipe Management Services We are an experienced, professional management team who are experts at building your San Felipe home on time, within budget and with American standards of quality.

Our experienced Project Managers, Certified Building Inspectors, and professional processes work together to make sure you can leave the worrying to us.

Exhibit #: 2 • Phone: 686-212-3599

Rotary Club of San Felipe

Pleased to let you know that their famous Biscuits and Gravy will be available from 10:00 am to approximately 11:30 am. At noon, they will serve chili and beer - yes beer. Also, of course their Malecon Special, “Popcorn” throughout the day. Come and see us at the Food Court.

Exhibit #: Food Court • Phone: 686-216-3237

San Felipe Animal Rescue Started in 2002 and became a 501(c3) nonprofit Corporation in 2003. They need your help to spay or neuter 75% of this prolific animal population, they will achieve zero population growth, therefore getting ahead of the “production line”. Approaching 3600 surgeries, at 100 per month they reach the goal by 2010.

Exhibit #: 55 • Phone: 686-577-2708

San Felipe Development Tours Offering real estate buyers the ability to tour all the different developments available in San Felipe with no sales presentation and 100% disclosure and an unbiased opinion.

Make informed decisions, and save. Eight years of Mexico real estate experience and over $15 million in closed real estate transactions in San Felipe.

Exhibit #: 34 • Phone: 686-171-6898

San Felipe Storage Company The area’s most experienced moving company. Pick up your household goods and transport them to Mexico, crossing the border and unloading them at your new home or their climate controlled storage.

Covered parking for your boat or RV. State of the art security and clean.

Exhibit #: 46 • Phone: 686-577-2639

SeaMexico Realty

Exhibit #:

Sieesa

The group of Society of Engineers was constituted legally in February of year 2000, despite already having been in operation in the area of the service and the construction from January of 1998 under the name of Specialized Services of California. Clients like Chemical Calavo Foods, Multialambres, Nestlé, Cements. Exhibit #57 • 686-157-6288

Sonshine Hacienda

Playa del Paraiso

Playa del Paraiso is a full service resort and luxury condominium development located on the beach directly adjacent to the marina.

Five minutes from downtown and just two hours south of the border on the Sea of Cortez.

Exhibit #: 6 • www.playadelparaiso.com

A joint project of Marketplace Mission, Inc. and 99Plus 1, Inc. These two organizations have joined together to build a home for high risk children in San Felipe. Our goal is to provide a safe, nurturing environment for children at risk. Gary & Karen Lewis;

San Felipe Disposal S.A. de C.V. Construction, commercial and residential.

Locally owned and operated. Dependable service at affordable rates. Fully licensed and insured. Facturas available. Portable Toilets, 3, 6, and 40 Yard containers, 68 gallon containers and septic pumping.

Working to keep San Felipe clean.

Exhibit #: 17 • Phone: 686-212-3599

American owned with its founder in San Felipe real estate since 1994, SeaMexico has the experience and integrity you can trust. SeaMexico Realty has put in place the safeguards required for a safe and secure purchase. SeaMexico Realty have taken the unknowns and out of property ownership.

12 • Phone: 686-576-0223

0050

Exhibit #:

92 • Phone: 686-577-

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

46 - Mexico Living The Net – Home of San Felipe Official Website

Sweitzer Construction Management

Eight years in San Felipe working directly for the client. Our company believes the clients receives what they contract for and the contractor is paid for the work that they do. My business is to find the best way to serve you and to do it with honesty, integrity

and commitment. Exhibit #: 75 • Phone:

0195

686-577-

The Net is a nonprofit organization (a nongovernmental organization, NGO) dedicated to bringing technological information, educational opportunities and community recognition to the San Felipe area of Baja California. We offer a full range of services for members, nonmembers (visitors) and commercial accounts. Exhibit #:

38 • Phone:

• Phone:

B.C.

686-577-1600

Every thing you need to make your house into a beautiful home. Tile, sealant, paint, custom window coverings, Hunter Douglas blinds, window cleaning, carpet cleaning, and much more. Free in home consultation.

0041

686-577-1253

 

Real Estate for Smart People

Exhibit #: 88 • Phone: 686-577-



Versoleil Landscaping

Los Azulejos - Talavera Tile In business for 15 years in Tecate, Mexico.

We’re now open at our new San Felipe branch, offering the same great customer service and quality products. Hand painted tile, sinks, murals, bath accessories, equipales, furniture, cantera, products, fountains, columns, balustrades, door & window, window surrounds, etc. Exhibit #: 28 • Phone: 686-577-

0828

To The Top Elevators Seventeen years of residential elevators and accessibility lifts withan additional eleven years of living and doing business in Baja.

Rosarito, BC Exhibit #: 63, Phone:

661-614-1434 / US 1-619-342-2183

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL: 686-230-9933 or 686-577-1377

Commercial and residential properties; design and maintenance services. Guillermo William Duclos, owner of VERSOLEIL, is a 25 year career professional, and comes to you with an internationally renown reputation, in the Landscaping industry. Trust VERSOLEIL to make that critical first impression, a Great One! Exhibit # 24

686-576-0664

•

No Pressure Honesty

•

Integrity

Wendy Doman

•

Complete Disclosure

•

No Obligation

•

No Gimmicks

41 686-144-4976

Also Exhibiting: • Bob Cornell BBQ’s – out door kitichens - spas sauna – 686-577-3089 Exhibit #: 18 • Casanova Furniture: Exhibit #: 76 • Rogers Septic & Water Treatment Exhibit #: Vehicle Exhibit Area San Felipe Arches 5 miles

FREE TOURS A thorough knowledge of the available real estate in San Felipe is extremely important to making an educated and informed decision before purchasing.

Pink Church

Radio Tower

Mercado Gonzales

Ejido Park Under Construction We Need Trees Donate a tree at the home show.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

No Sales Presentation

•

KM 182

Red House

•

686-573-0526

Life long advocate of holistic health. Certified for the last 14 years in Reflexology, Intra Sound Therapy, Reiki, and Heated Stone Therapy; teacher of Vibrational Healing with Flower Remedies and works with many different plant medicines. Mentored under Robert Peters “Medicine Man” of the Ojibwa Tribe. Exhibit #

M E X I C O H I G H WAY 5

El Dorado Ranch 1 mile

Mercado Moto 2000

DEVELOPMENT TOURS

Tropical Home Improvement

Tafoya e Hijos, S. A. de C.V. Construction 40 years experience in San Felipe. Virtually no job is to large. Specializes in major remodeling and completing unfinished projects. From legal assistance in Mexican Land Purchases though completion. The most dependable and cost effective choice. Exhibit #: 32

Mexico Living - 47

Mexico Living Home Show

Join San Felipe Development Tours on a fun, relaxing, stress free tour of all the developments, and along the way we will give you Kyle Crawford Kyle Crawford USA (480) 236-074? an honest, unbiased opinion of what we see day to S (686) ( ) 171-6898?

MEX day. This tour could literally save you hundreds of Ron Campbell thousand of dollars.

MEX (686) 125-6436

Isn’t that worth a few hours of your time?

info@sanfelipedevelopmenttours.com www.sanfelipedevelopmenttours.com

Ejido Agrario Salon Building

O VER $15,000,000

IN CLOSED REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS IN

S AN F ELIPE

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

Art Editor: Robin Waters 48 - Mexico Living

Art & Design

Mexico Tourism Board presents toy expo in the United States

By Mexico Tourist Board

Galeria De Perez Meillon ....................(646) 174-0394 Galeria De La Cuidad .........................(646) 177-3130 Galeria La Esquina De Bodegas .........(646) 178-3557 Taller De Artesanos Indigenas............(646) 178-8780 Art Gallery / Studio Los Arcos .......... (646)-154-2066

Puerto Peñasco

Aleman Art Studio & Gallery ..........(638) 512-0669 Bermejo’s Galeria del Mar .............(638) 383-3488 Casa Bonita ..................................(638) 383-5372 El Tenichee....................................(638) 383-5421 Old Port Galería .............................(638) 383-6321 Port O’ Call Studio.........................(638) 383-3243 Victoria Hormiga ...........................(638) 383-3707

C

hildren across the US will soon be able to experience and witness the wealth and colors of Mexico’s most popular toys with a traveling show being carried out in the US with the help of the Mexico Tourism Board.

Mexico’s Festival of Toys presenting the Children’s Kite Museum will take place over a period of three years in several American cities and will showcase a total of 600 pieces that form part of an important collection of traditional art of the Latin-American country.

Visitors to the expo will enjoy toys from the “Celebrations” collection, which are toys derived from Mexican festivities such as Christmas, Day of the Dead, Holy Week and Carnival. There is also a recreational area where children can play and interact with replicas of the toys.

The presentation is part of a collection of Popular Art Mexican experts such as Carlos Espejel and Teresa Pomal and is in conjunction with the Children’s Kite Museum that has been enriching children over time.

The exhibition, which opened its doors on December 14th in the Art Museum of The Americas, in Washington D.C., will remain there until March.

Workshops developed to help children learn to make toys run from Wednesday to Saturday.

Among other toys, children will learn to produce the famous piñatas that are used so much throughout year-end celebrations, as well as childlike festivals.

Children will also learn to assemble a rag doll and inside the IMAX theatre, kids can watch a video of The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

MEXICO where they will learn about and appreciate the wealth and beauty of their neighboring country.

Among other activities that will develop in Washington are the distribution of 10,000 coloring books with images of destinations in Mexico that will help children identify with the patrimonies of the Latin-American country.

Espejel, one of the most important experts in the Mexican toy arena, said of that Mexican toys have three essential characteristics: “Color, candor and ingenuity, and for their manufacture the materials are utilized that the artisan has by hand.”

Within these, the materials used include clay, vegetable fibers, cloths, wood, copper, lead, tin, wax and many more.

In short, this is an adventure adults and children alike, should not miss this is a must see event for toy lovers as well as art lovers in general.

San Felipe

G A LLE R IE S

If you’re in San Felipe you have to visit Baja Nueva.

Baja Nueva is the result of years of design experience in Arizone and the decision to move and open a studio in San Felipe. Its a lovely shop with beautiful artwork, paintings, glass work, home accessories, candles, and gifts! Call for info (686) 211-4676.

Luis Cogley Studio ........................(686) 577-2944 People’s Gallery ........................... (686) 577-2898

Ensenada Museum Of History ...............................(646) 177-0594 Regional History Museum ...................(646) 178-2531 Ex-Aduana Maritima ..........................(646) 178-2531 Science Museum ..............................(646) 178-7192 Estero Beach Museum ......................(646) 176-6225

Mexico Living - 49

EVENTS & ACTI VI TES

Ensenada Festival Nativa (Native Festival) is an annual events where natives of Baja California present their work to visitors of this exhibition. Participants perform elaborate skirts in traditional costumes. For more call Instituto Cuna: (646) 178-8780 or info@ adesu.org.

The San Felipe Fine Arts Association hosts a monthly art show on the second Saturday of every month between 10AM-4PM at Rosarios Art Studio - on the Mex Highway 5 in the Ejido (north of town).

Watch for the sign on the west side of the highway.

Attention All Artists Saturday April 19, 2008 San Felipe Baja California San Felipe’s Lions Club actively looking for artsts of all mediums and genres to participate in the San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta in San Felipe Baja California. Space is limited so register soon.

Additional info: Robin Waters robin@bajabuddies.com Mexico 686-577-0773 USA 1-800-576-0919 Ext. 5

www.bluesandarts.com Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

50 - Dining Guide to Northwest Mexico

ENSENADA BAJA CALIFORIA

La Vendimia brings you the finest dining and best gourmet dishes, along with a large selection of fine wines. Here, you will find an elegant atmosphere with a touch of class that will surely impress a special someone or important guest. Seafood specialties, Mexican cuisine, steaks, and pastas all prepared with fresh regional products. Located at Riveroll 85.

Tel: 646-174-0969.

Martin Colman Chef Martin Colman Savoring Life and Freedom

by Robin Waters

B

efore the age of thirty, Martin Colman became President of the Century City Shopping Center and Merchants Association. At that time, Century City was the only shopping center in the West side of Los Angeles. During Colman’s tenure, Century City went from being a middle-class mall to the cutting edge, luxury center that it is today.

Chef Colman refined the related functions of retail service to create a new standard of dining where hospitality customer has a seamless experience of excellence. He is now a chef renowned for his cutting edge culinary innovation who has catered to a long list of world leaders and business celebrities, including Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Michel Douglas, Julie Andrews, the news caster Walter Cronkite, Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Queen Noor of Jordan, and Vaclav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic.

Martin Colman is a philanthropist who campaigned for freedom and was instrumental in the fall of the Berlin Wall. Throughout his business life, Colman devoted substantial time and resources to the cause of freedom in countries engulfed with communism. In 1985, the leaders of democracy movements in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and other communist countries asked Colman to put together an organization to help overthrow communism. Colman sold his business and devoted himself full time to the now famous cause known as Resistance International (AFRI). It may seem quite a contrast between creating the finest artful cuisine and leading freedom movements against repressive governments, but both of Colman’s life endeavors reflect his passions. One is to create and savor the The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

finest things in life, and the second is to be free to do it. “I see no contradiction‌different though they areâ€?, Colman said in an interview with the French newspaper, Le Quotidien.

Martin Colman is a successful businessman who returned to the retail business in the 1990’s, and owned or operated Cabo Restaurant, The Wine Room, the Baja Grille, and The Jockey Club in Washington D. C., which received rave reviews as the “Best Bar in Washington� from the Delta Flyer Magazine, and “Culinary Genius� from the Golf Magazine.

An aficionado of the Escoffier method, he is also responsible for Everything To Its Own Perfection™ in culinary production, and designed numerous kitchens using these most advanced methods. He developed the “Bin Systemâ€? for wines which integrated varietals, regional and blended wines in a seamless system for storage, care, paring and service. His system offers a broad selection in every major category, and begins with very reasonably priced wines; surprisingly, none of these are less than 85 points Chef Colman leaves in May for France to receive a coveted award for being one of the “Top 100 Chefs in the Worldâ€?. When he returns, it will be to Las Vegas to his new restaurant and another wonderful adventure.

Of the many interesting people that come to the Baja, Chef Martin Colman is definitely one among them.

DINING GUIDE ROSARITO BAJA CALIFORNIA

El Pescador Seafood Restaurant. Open from 8:00 AM. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located just

ENSENADA LISTINGS

Coffee & Breakfast La Casa Antigua ......................... 646-175-7320 Mexican Hussong’s Cantina ................ 646-178-3210 La Puerta ............................ 646-178-3637 Oxidos Cafe ..................................... 646-178-8827 Steak & Seafood Costa Azul ........................... 646-154-2540 Haliotis ................................ 646-176-3720 La Tertulia ........................... 646-174-6344 La Embotelladora Vieja ......... 646-174-0807 La Mansion de Ensenada ..... 646-178-3271 Brisa del Mar ....................... 646-108-4702 Broncos Steakhouse ............. 646-176-4900 Las Cazuelas ........................ 646-176-1044

SAN FELIPE BAJA CALIFORNIA

Al’s Backstreet Bar & Jimmy’s Backstreet Patio Grill have it all, the location is picturesque. The patrons are—well—colorful. It’s a must for outof-town guests. No tour of our village is complete without it. Whether it’s an amazing dinner at Jimmy’s or a homemade tequila that Al calls Cholla, this is an experience not to be missed. Al, his wife, Amapola,

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Dining & Food

)

68 ( 6

Dining Guide to Northwest Mexico - 51 1/8 mile North of Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village at El Pescador. Enjoy great Happy Hours, Mon - Fri. Dance the night away on Fri & Sat with two of Baja’s hottest bands & special appearances. Enjoy “All that Jazz� on Sundays (3:00 to 7:00 PM), with the velvet voice of Mike Jones, and the Joe Cool Band. This is the late-night fun spot. Tel: 661-614-1976.

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52 - Dining Guide to Northwest Mexico and Jimmy make this the place to be. Call 686-1397575 for reservations.

Java Jitters & BC Bistro, a coffee shop and bistro featuring Mark Dille, former owner and chef of Baja Bistro. The menu includes stuffed cabbage rolls, Cobb, Caesar, and other fresh salads, plus a burger and fries basket. Saturday and Sunday brunches feature Italian and Mexican fusion dishes. “The two foods cross paths well,” says Mark.

Jimmy’s Beach Bar & Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with both Mexican and American cuisine.

If you want to have a drink with a friend, you do it at Jimmy’s. Winners of San Felipe Best Happy Hour, plus the best live entertainment in town, featuring Agave Blues and Third Generation. Tel: 686-5760454.

If you’ve been to San Felipe, you’ve been past Los Arcos and Happy Jackass, both are on your right as you reach the Arches at the entrance to town. Cliff and Sue offer a wide variety menu items, from fish and chips, seafood and pasta to steak, chicken, and pizza. All the food is good and they give you plenty of it. They know how to put on a spread, and in addition to their special holiday dinners, they offer weekly and monthly specials. Tel: 686-577-2858.

Lighthouse Restaurant offers seafood, steak, and Mexican specialties (just to name a few of the menu items). Full bar and fine dining in a romantic

Dining Guide to Northwest Mexico - 53 atmosphere with live entertainment nightly, featuring Eduardo G. They serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner and are the host of the monthly Mexico Living Business Breakfast. Overlooks San Felipe, just below the Lighthouse. Call 686-577-2540 for reservations.

The International Rosita Restaurant is a familyowned waterfront restaurant located downtown on the north end of the Malecón. You’ll find a fun and friendly atmosphere all year round. Rosita Restaurant features a large banquet facility and affordable onand off-premises catering for receptions, rehearsal dinners, family reunions, class reunions, company parties, and any other special event. Call 686-5771903 for reservations.

SAN FELIPE LISTINGS

American Chilis & Beer ............... 686-577-2465 Coffee & Breakfast Baja Java .................................. 686-577-2465 Tattoo Rose Cafe ....................... 686-577-8004 Latin Fusion The Latin Garden ........... ...... 686-209-6369 Mexican Don Jesus .................... 686-577-0080 El Capitan ...................... 686-577-1304 El Cortez ...................... 686-561-8324 Jimmy’s Beach Bar & Grill ......................................................... 686-576-0454 George’s .............................. 686-577-1057 La Palapa Bar & Grill ...... 686-200-4083

Rancho Alegre ............................. 686-576-0648 Rice & Beans ............................... 686-577-1770 Rosita ................................... 686-577-1903 Taco Factory ......................... 686-577-2648 Spanish Miguel & Paco ........................ 686-111-2257 Steak & Seafood Als Backstreet Cantina .......... 686-139-7373 Baja Mar Steak House ............ 686-573-0202 ....................................... 686-577-1028 El Nido Jimmy’s Beach Bar & Grill ......................................................... 686-576-0454 Juanito’s Grill ........................ 686-200-4059 La Vaquita Resturant .............. 686-577-2837 Lighthouse Restaurant .......... 686-577-2540 Los Arcos ............................. 686-577-2585 Fine Dining Baja Mar Restaurant ...... 686-577-2648 Pavillion Restaurant . ..... 686-577-0022

PUERTO PENASCO, SONORA

Mexican Aztlan Cafe ....................................... 638-383-2027 Betos Place ...................................... 638-383-5198 Cocodrilos ....................................... 638-383-6376 El Galeon ......................................... 638-383-2818 La Curva .......................................... 638-383-3470 Manny’s Beach Club ........................ 638-383-3605 Rocky Garden Restaurant ................. 638-383-5442 Steak & Seafood Costa Bravo ..................................... 638-383-3130 Friendly Dolphin ............................... 638-383-2608 Happy Frog ...................................... 638-383-6249 Lighthouse ....................................... 638-383-2389 Lillys ................................................ 638-383-2510 Chinese Rocky Point Chinese ........................ 638-383-5940

PUERTO PEÑASCO

Puesta del Sol in Playa Bonita is one of the Best Restaurants in Town, offering a great atmosphere for private parties and weddings. Full menu serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have a great Happy Hour and a patio with a gorgeous view. If you are planning to stay in town after diner, then consider Playa Bonita Hotel with accommodating staff, beautiful surroundings, and very nice accommodations.

Puesta del Sol in Playa Bonita is also the host of our monthly Mexico Living Business Breakfasts. Call for more information.

Now serving...

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner!

(686) 114-7735 for reservations or take-out.

Dine-ins and Walk-ins always welcome Located in front of San Felipe Storage

Egg MexMuffin Hash Brown 12oz Coffee...

$3.50

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

1/3lb Sirloin Cheeseburger with fries...

$5.50 Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

54 - Mexico Living

Northwest Mexico Golfing

Golf Editor: Hal â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pacoâ&#x20AC;? Clark

The Baja Country Club Golf Resort is an oasis of recreation and relaxation. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find their community and spectacular golf course nestled in the scenic canyon of south Ensenada in a fertile valley blessed with abundant water and endless sunshine.

Located just 20 minutes from downtown Ensenada and 10 minutes from beautiful Estero Beach, The Baja Country club offers an opportunity to invest in a lifestyle in the fastest growing area of Baja California.

Tough Turf:

Keeping it green in the unique and hostile environment of Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upper Sea of Cortez region.

The desert of northwest Mexico around the upper Sea of Cortez is a unique and hostile environment. In itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural state this beautiful meeting of land and sea is relatively inhospitable to man and his attempts to change this landscape. While the ports of San Felipe and Puerto Penasco were primarily known for their commercial fishing, they have spawned a rapidly growing tourist industry.

Some of the more challenging of the new developments are golf courses.

It may be surprising to many that this harsh desert setting is extremely sensitive to manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence and more so that Mexico has taken a strong position in establishing high environmental standards to preserve and protect the land and sea. A natural concern in the desert is water conservation and the use of pesticides that may be potentially harmful to the eco-structure. In meeting these challenges golf course designers and developers have focused on a new variety of grass.

This grass is called Seashore paspalum and is widely used in the newer golf courses in Mexico.

A newly released hybrid of Seashore paspalum is called SeaDwarfÂŽ paspalum. As a golf course turf the developers of SeaDwarfÂŽ claim itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s characteristics are unsurpassed. The blue-green color provides excellent striping with varied mowing patterns, its density allows quick recovery from divots and traffic and perhaps most importantly the new grass is drought and salt tolerant. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high level of saline tolerance means the golf course can use non-potable saline water and preserve the local fresh water resources. The high salinity of the water used for The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Baja Country Club

irrigation also minimizes the need to use potentially harmful pesticides. Those of you familiar with golf courses in other desert areas of the US southwest know that they require winter over seeding, another major benefit is itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold weather tolerance and color retention eliminate the need for winter over seeding.

This not only saves the golf course operation time and money but also saves the golfer the inconvenience and disruption of play that results from annual winter over seeding.

Two courses using this grass include Las Caras de Mexico in San Felipe, Baja California and The Links @ Las Palomas in Puerto PeĂąasco, Sonora, Mexico.

Both of these courses face extremes of high salinity, water shortages, high desert temperatures, high humidity and strong winds.

The developers of Las Caras de Mexico participated in the research and development of SeaDwarfÂŽ, and make this comment regarding their selection: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being in a desert Biosphere Reserve zone here at San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico; we had no choice but to use a paspalum grass. We chose to use SeaDwarfÂŽ wall-to-wall on our new Las Caras de Mexico (the Faces of Mexico) golf course, because of itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; unique and environmentally friendly characteristics. We are very happy with our accomplishment (the first golf course in San Felipe) and also very proud to be a part of the new environmentally aware Mexico.â&#x20AC;?

This thoughtful interaction with our planet will allow all of us to live in joy and harmony.

Golf Course Directory Course

Mexico Living - 55 The bay of Ensenada lies only 1 hour by car from the San Diego border along one of the most scenic toll roads on the west coast.

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for a great investment or a place to call home, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll discover that the area offers a wealth of recreational opportunies. Golf Course Living with homes with lot included start from under $200,000. See their listing below for additional information.

City: Ensenada Baja California Phone: 686-111-2257 Website: http://www.bajacountryclub.com/index.php

Hole

Course Type

Phone

18 27 18 18 18 18 18 18

Semi-private Public Semi-private Semi-private Semi-private Public Semi-private Semi-private

646-177-5523 619-425-0081 686-576-0517 686-563-6170 888-217-1165 800-662-6180 638-108-1072 638-383-0400

Baja Country Club Bajamar Golf Club Las Caras de Mexico Campo de Golf Club Campestre de Mexicali Tijuana Country Club Real del Mar Golf Resort Links at Las Palomas Golf Club Mayan Resorts Golf

City Ensenada Ensenada San Felipe Mexicali Tijuana Tijuana Puerto Penasco Puerto Penasco

ĂŁWAYSĂŁTOĂŁWORKĂŁUPĂŁANĂŁAPPETITE ĂŁ ĂŁDELICIOUSĂŁWAYSĂŁTOĂŁSATISFYĂŁIT If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever experienced the acclaimed Las Caras de MĂŠxico championship golf course at El Dorado Ranch, you know that playing 18 sun-drenched, seaside holes can really get your appetite going. So after youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve conquered the back nine, be sure to make time for a satisfying meal at one of our restaurants. No matter which one you choose, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be treated to a flavorful, filling meal in the delightfully relaxed setting that made Baja famous.

JUANITOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CANTINA

LA PALAPA BAR & GRILL

Steak, Seafood & Mexican Specialties 686-200-4084

Casual Mexican & American Cuisine 686-200-4083

LA LANGOSTA ROJA

THE PAVILION

Gourmet Italian Cuisine 686-577-0483

Gourmet Global Cuisine 686-577-0022 (ext. 4122)

For tee times, call 686-577-0088 x4052 or visit www.eldoradoranch.com.

Seaside Resort. Condos. Homes.

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

56 - Mexico Living

Hotel & Lodging

vacation rental homes. RV camping and beaching camping is also available.

Casey’s Place has a huge inventory of rental homes and condos available to meets most party sizes and needs, they can be found online at www. sanfeliperealestate.com or by calling 686-577-1431.

Another excellent option is Red Wagon Enterprises Services, offer a large variety of rental properties and big smiles, give Pam or Barbi a call 686-576-0081 or visit them online at www.sanfelipepropertyservices. com RV Park/Parque de RV Club de Pesca .................................. 686-577-1180 Rentals Casey’s Place ................................ 686-577-1431 Rancho del Sol ............ 686-231-4921 Red Wagon .................................... 686-576-0081

SPOTLIGHT HOTEL The Corona Hotel in Ensenada

Corona means crown, when translated from Spanish to English. Corona Hotel may be the crown of the Ensenada harbor and marina, standing majestic and tall with its red terracotta tiled roof, visible by all, even from a distance.

Whether in the Hotel or RV site, the Corona Hotel offers breath taking views of the harbor and marina, large cruise ships, Pacific Ocean and beaches.

The Corona Hotel is only blocks from the center of Ensenada shopping with several shops, boutiques, curio stores, markets, restaurants and more.

The rooms at the Corona Hotel have pleasant decorations, comfortable furnishings. Rooms are fully air conditioned, flat screen televisions with satellite cable, telephones, WiFi Internet access, plus all the usual room amenities. The RV park has 60 large RV parking spaces with water and electricity hookups, showers and toilets provided by the Hotel Corona for RV park guests and they have a large recreational hall.

In addition, the Corona offers low rate, corporate rates.

CORONA HOTEL Blvd. Costero 1442 Ensenada, B.C. Mexico Phone: 01152 (646)176-0901 to 05 01152 (646) 172-4800 to 05 Email: hcorona@telnor.net Capacity: 100 rooms with 2 queen beds, junior suites, Presidential suites

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

ENSENADA B.C.

Ensenada has the accommodations to meet any level of comfort or amenities.

The best hotels in Ensenada are located to the north and south of town along the beach and are not within walking distance from downtown shopping and attractions. Taxi and shuttles are available in some locations.

RV Park/Parque de RV Baja Season RV Parks ...................... 661-628-6128 Motels/Moteles Rudis Motel ............................... 646-176-3245 Ensenada Inn ................................... 646-176-1361 Essence Spa .................................... 646-174-0816 Hotel El Joker ................................... 646-177-5151 Posada Don Fernando ...................... 646-177-0127 Azteca Inn ........................................ 646-177-4015 Casa Del Sol .................................... 646-178-1570 Cortez.............................................. 646-178-2307 Best Western El Cid .......................... 646-178-2401 Hotel Corona Hotel ............................ 646-176-0901 Costa Azul ....................... 800-800-9632 Hotel Coral & Marina ........................................................ 646-175-0000 San Nicolas Hotel ............................. 646-176-1901

SAN FELIPE B.C.

The beauty of San Felipe accommodations is there is more than people know. Larger more established resort hotels are available along the shore south of town, with smaller hotels in town on Mar de Cortez, Chetumal and peppered around town. Due to San Felipe’s large residential developments such as El Dorado, La Ventana del Mar and Playa de Oro, the real lodging secret is the vast number of private

Motels/Moteles El Capitan ................................. 686-577-1303 Mini Posada de Don Jesus ............... 686-577-0685 Motel El Pescador ............................ 686-577-2991 Posada del Sol ................................. 686-577-1727

Mexico Living - 57

Cortez Beach Rentals ....................... 638-383-6209 Sylvia’s Condos ............................... 638-383-5429 Twin Dolphins Rentals ...................... 638-383-3919

Motels/Moteles Alexander Motel ............................... 638-383-3749 Baja Hotel ........................................ 638-383-6878 Balboa’s Restaurant ......................... 638-383-5155 Best Western/Playa Inn .................... 638-383-5015 Carmelita Motel ................................ 638-383-2570 El Faro Motel .................................... 638-383-2005 El Mirador Village ............................. 638-383-6333 El Ranchito Motel ............................. 638-383-5103 Playa Azul Motel .............................. 638-383-6296 Playa Bonita Hotel ............................ 638-383-2586 Sandy Beach Resorts ....................... 638-383-1111 Sonoran Spa Resort ......................... 638-383-1044 Playa Inn/Best Western .................... 638-383-5015 If you have question please call Mexico Living Customer Service USA 800-576-0919 Ext. 3 / Mexico 52-686577-1377, 9:00AM - 3:00PM Mon-Fri.

Hotel Baja Palms ............................... 686-576-0276 Costa Azul ....................... 686-577-1702 El Cortez ............. 686-577-1055 Goerge’s .................................. 686-577-1970 Hacienda Don Jesus ................. 686-577-0080 Langosta Roja ..................686-577-0483 Las Palmas ............................. 686-577-1333 Riviera Hotel .................... 686-577-1185 San Felipe Inn ........................... 686-577-1608 Marina Resort .................. 686-577-1569

PUERTO PENASCO, SONORA

Discover for yourself why Puerto Peñasco Mexico is such a great place to stay. Whether beach camping or seaside resort, the views are always amazing. Watch the sunset drop behind San Felipe and San Pedro Martir, Baja’s tallest mountain. Puerto Peñasco offers choices of lodging from “this’ll work” minimalist accommodations that cost nearly nothing to the luxurious resorts, condos and hotels.

There are many hotels, condos and houses in Puerto Peñasco for rent. There are a wide range of hotels, some of the more popular are the Sandy Beach, Cholla Bay and Las Conchas areas. No matter what your comfort needs or tastes, Puerto Peñasco Sonora Mexico has something for everyone.

RV Park/Parque de RV Bonita RV Park ................................. 638-383-1400 Desert Oasis Resort ......................... 638-102-0222 Playa Bonita ..................................... 638-383-2596 Rentals/Se Rente Casa Encanto Beach House.............. 638-383-4549 Cyndi’s Beachfront Home Rentals..... 638-383-5145

www.SanFelipeRealEstate.com www.SanFelipeBiz.bz Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

58 - Real Estate in Northwest Mexico

N O RT H W E S T M E X I C O

Real Estate & Home

R E A L E S TAT E & R E N TA L Greensheets Real Estate Listings - 59 website), resolve issues and concerns among team members, control payments to the contractor, and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. We monitor the payment of social security and withhold final payment to the contractor until the Letter of Liberation is in hand—a worry free experience.

San Felipe Management Service is increasingly involved in managing custom homes, homes for developments, managing commercial projects, and inspecting homes for lending agencies. Next month, four homes will be completed and work on several new houses will begin.

Kristy and Stan call San Felipe home and with it being designated a “Destination Point” by the Mexican government, they expect the building market to explode in the next few years. “San Felipe is Palm Springs with an ocean. How can you beat that?”

Kristy says with her warm smile.

Mexico real estate is always going to be in high demand because of its weather, beauty, and welcoming people. However, there are laws foreigners interested in buying Mexican Real Estate in should know.

Until the Mexican congress passed the Foreign Investment Act in 1993 to promote foreign investment and the North American Free Trade Agreement of January 1, 1994, foreigners could not own property in Mexico.

These changes in law allow foreigners to own 100% of the shares of a corporation and purchase property.

Now under Mexican law, foreigners may not obtain direct ownership of Mexican property inside the area known as the “Restricted Zone.” This is the area 100 kilometers from the border or 50 kilometers from the coastline.

Foreigners can however obtain indirect ownership and hold of the title via the long-term irrevocable bank title transfer trust “Fideicomiso” which is the legal equivalent of deeded ownership (commonly referred to in the U.S. as fee simple) or via a Mexican corporation.

In the trust, the Mexican fiduciary bank holds the title for the foreigners and performs all acts considered real rights, per the instructions of the beneficiary of the trust (the foreigner). The beneficiary of the trust

GREEN SHEETS GREEN SHEETS Kristy Deegan and Stan Shifflet of San Felipe Management Services San Felipe Management Services is the result of sixty-five years in managing people and projects and two lives uniting in a shared goal to help San Felipe.

Kristy came to San Felipe in 1998, having seen an advertisement for Mexican resort property selling for only $39.99. She fell in love with San Felipe, and in 2005 became a full-time resident.

Stan was a National Pen Company prize winner and paid his annual dues for ten years. In 1999 he attended a sales presentation, “upgraded” his lot, and decided to go see what he had bought. He came to San Felipe and, like Kristy, he fell in love. In January 2002, he too became a full-time resident.

Prior to moving to Mexico, Kristy had had an executive coaching business in the US and once moved had taught English to the children at DIF and employees at El Dorado Ranch.

Stan spent forty years in the aerospace business in Southern California and held numerous management positions, which included over thirty years of project management experience.

They decided that in San Filipe there was a need for a professional construction management company to be the eyes, ears, and voice for absentee owners during construction. In May of 2005 they launched the San Felipe Management Service. The SFMS team consists of the owner, the architect, the contractor, the legal team, the interior designer, the finishing contractor, and the building inspector.

“People hire us for peace of mind,” says Kristy.

Many fall in love with the area, and buy a piece of Baja - Then What? This is where San Felipe Management Services comes in.

They have detailed processes and procedures that bring the team together in two phases: Phase I converts the owners’ dreams into drawings that meet their cost and schedule goals and comply with all developer and government regulations. In Phase II, team members oversee the construction, provide detailed reports and pictures of the progress (via a

Buying Mexican Real Estate

Whether in Sandy Beach, Puerto Peñasco, the south beaches of San Felipe, or the Gold Coast between Rosarito and Ensenada, people from the United States and Canada are buying real estate in Mexico in record numbers. For those new to the experience, the process can be frustrating and confusing.

TEXT REAL ESTATE LISTINGS: All listings are $2 per line. Each line is approx. 40 characters, up to 5 lines or 200 characters maximum. $10 minimum per listing per month. One30,000 Readers Monthly Time, One-Year (or until sold) $100.

REACH MORE WITH A SINGLE Call 686-577-1733

Welcome to

GREEN SHEETS $10 AD

Rosarito Beach, Ensenada, Puerto Penasco TEN RULES TO GREEN SHEET LISTING: 1. All listings must contain a price; & San Felipe 2. One property per listing; Beginning January 1st, 2008.

3. No Generic Ads - specific property and price; PACKPUBLISHING.INFO/GS.HTM 4. No Bolds, Italics or ALL CAP WORDS; 5. Magazine reserves all rights; ALL ADS MUST BE SUBMITTED 6. All listings are $10 per month; ONLINE: http://www.packpublishing.

7. All listings are 200 characters; info/aform/GS.htm or by phone MX 8. All listings are responsibility of listing party.

686-577-1377. FREE Classified 9. John Benjamin Pack and this magazine are Listings do not print in magazine only not responsible for content of listings.

GREEN SHEETS get printed.

10. All listings are prepaid.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

O N L Y $10 PER LISTINGS UP TO 5 LINES

• ROSARITO • ENSENADA

• SAN FELIPE • PUERTO PENASCO

Get more info: www.greensheets.info

60 - Real Estate in Northwest Mexico

N O RT H W E S T M E X I C O

can exercise the personal rights regarding the trust and the property placed therein.

Here’s how it works; upon the purchase of Real Estate in Mexico through a Fideicomiso, the Mexican government issues a permit to a Mexican bank of the buyer’s choice. The property title is then delivered to a Mexican Bank which acts a “Trustee”. The Bank then designates the buyers as the beneficiary of the trust. The beneficiary now can use the property. The beneficiary has the same rights to lease, mortgage, sell, inherit, will and improve the land as any other real estate owner in Mexico.

The banks must be authorized by the Mexican government to hold the Real Estate Fideicomiso. The process of getting authorization is very strict. The bank reviews property documents to ensure that they are complete and legal.

Scannell call at Platinum Captial, he’s in the Puerto Penasco area, but serves all of Mexico and his numbers are US 602-692-8523, MX 01152-558525-6490 or email jscannell@platinumcapital.com.

If you’re looking for a local agent or broker, there are several to choose from, but here are a few to get you started: In San Felipe Uria Amor at Amor Property located on Mar de Cortez and Chetumal has a complete staff of professionals to help you find the home of your dreams. Winner of San Felipe Best Broker 2007. Their phone is US 602-606-7423 / Mex 686-577-0611.

Casablanca is a Mediterranean development located at KM 5 south of San Felipe, with sales offices located on Mar de Cortez and Chetumal. Meet Russ and his team. Call 686-157-1728 or US 760554-1898.

San Felipe Development Tours is now offering tours of the more popular develops throughout San Felipe. Great way to shop. Call Kyle at 686-171-6898 or Ron at 686-125-6426.

On the way into San Felipe, you can stop at either Playa de Oro, at KM 179 or Playa San Rafael at KM 178 on the MX Highway 5 and speak to the folks at SeaMexico Realty. They can show you around Playa de Oro, the Winners of the Best Development of San Felipe 2007. Their number is 888-433-5473 or Mex

R E A L E S TAT E & R E N TA L Greensheets Real Estate Listings - 61 011-52-576-0223.

Whether you’re looking for real estate or just looking to cheer up your day, you have to visit Glenda at Call Margaret Realty on south Mar de Cortez in San Felipe. There is a good chance she’ll have your dream home, but if not you still leave happy. Mex. 577-1156 or 577-2090. Glenda@callmargaretrealty.com.

Baja Ranch & Sea downtown on the north end of Mar de Cortez, offers a complete line of professional real estate services and years of San Felipe real estate experience. Give John Pilato a call at 686-5771304 or US 760-545-4275. Be sure to tell him you saw him in Mexico Living Magazine. John knows the importance of monitoring his advertising.

If you’re looking for commercial property, stop by and see Donna Roberts at Desert Mother on Chetumal in San Felipe. She has a huge list of commercial properties and campos. Her number is Mex office number 686-577-2552, US 760-554-6769.

You can not enter San Felipe without passing Desert Realty, on the right past PEMEX 7-lleven. Desert Realty know San Felipe and Baja and specialize in Sea of Cortez real estate and developer parcels. Call 686-577-6336 or US 619-567-4317.

La Perla del Mar is the pearl of a development just south of San Felipe at KM 6, this is a small private

luxury beachfront community. Their sales office is open daily or visit their website www.laperladelmarsf. com.

BUILDERS & CONSTRUCTION

Also on the north end of town is California Real Estate & Construction. This is a full service company that can either sell you finished home of your dreams or they can build it for you. You can visit them at KM 183 in San Felipe, call 686-576-0420 or online www. californiarealestateconstruction.com.

Bill and Carol at San Felipe Home Builders are a couple of builders passionate about their work and their community. They offer a full list of professional service from custom homes, to interior design and home repair. Call 686-577-0050 US 619-920-2292. www.sanfelipehomebuilders.com.

Tafoya E Hijos Constructora is the company. They have been a family business in San Felipe for over 30 years. They can handle a job of any size. Call 686577-1253 or 686-221-2424.

If you’re in the market for something fast, simple yet beautiful than contact HouSing in San Felipe for manufactured homes starting at $30,000. The can be found at KM 187 on Mex 5 Highway in San Felipe or call them at 686-564-0863 or email housing_mx@ hotmail.com.

GREEN SHEETS GREEN SHEETS

REAL ESTATE & PROFESSIONAL COMPANIES

The northwest region of Mexico has hundred of real estate, legal and financial professionals to help find you solutions and get you answers. Always research and confirm information and “facts.”

The following are few companies that can help get you started down the right path.

If you have question about Financing, give Jim

DESERT MOTHER

If You Can t Trust Mother, Who Can You Trust?

• Largest inventory of commercial property in the Baja, including San Felipe, North & South Beaches, Gonzaga Bay, Rosarito Beach, Ensenada, Bahia de Guadalupe and Bahia de Los Angeles • Six of Baja s most outstanding attorneys will guide you through the entire process.

• Financing available through 4 sources • Affiliation agreement with numerous Real Estate offices throughout Baja.

• President of Marshall Development LLC, Mexican Division Desert Mother Calzada Chetumal 248 #9 San Felipe, B.C., Mexico

Office 686-577-2552 • Mex. Cell 686-169-5267 •US Cell 760-554-6769 www.DesertMother.net • BajaDonna@gmail.com The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

• ROSARITO • ENSENADA

Housing San Felipe, Baja Av. Mar Caribe #158 San Felpe, B.C. MX Office 686-564-0641 Cell 686-119-3691 housing_mx@hotmail.com

• SAN FELIPE • PUERTO PENASCO

Get more info: www.greensheets.info

62 - Real Estate in Northwest Mexico

N O RT H W E S T M E X I C O

Ian at Baja Home Improvements has what it takes to make the new home beautiful. Complete window blinds service; measure, order, deliver and install.

Plus electrical and more. His number in San Felipe is 686-222-4507 or his cell 686-222-4507.

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

Trailer; cyclone fence w/ gate to access the property.

Water & Electric. $65k Call 805704 5547 or e-mail melodya2004@yahoo.com Ejido 80 x 80 corner lot. Lot w/ water & electric. $40k Call 805-704-5547 or e-mail melodya2004@yahoo. com

R E A L E S TAT E & R E N TA L Greensheets Real Estate Listings - 63 services. Teresa Hutt, Amor Property, US 760-4943639, MX 577-0611 Spectacular Sea View $125,000 1 BR, 1 BA, Furnished. Detached, oversized single garage (art studio) Joe Artale, Amor Property, US 760494-3639, MX 577-0611

Brand New House – In Town $116,000 2 BR, 1 BA. 7 Blocks to Beach & Downtown. Upgraded Kitchen w/Granite Counters, Private Patio, Garage. Great Buy!! Gary Gold, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 577-0611 Great Condo Site – Sea View $575,000 RV Park, over 48,000 s.f. Two blocks to beach & downtown; 20 spaces, 4 bathrooms. Gary Gold, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 577-0611

GREEN SHEETS GREEN SHEETS SAN FELIPE BAJA CALIFORNIA

San Felipe Beach Front Home

Mexican style casita on the beach

$250,000 or Best Offer

Beautiful Mexican style casita on the beach. App. 1600 sq.ft.incl. front terrace. 2 bdrms, 2 full baths, large laundry room (with closet and trundle bed). Open design perfect for entertaining. Tile floors, Mexican brick archway divides kitchen, dining and living room area. Land lease from Club de Pesca. In San Felipe contact Francisco Sosa or Rosalina Ramos (686)577-0624 or US 503 784-0834. jbmmans@aol.com

House for Sale - 2 BR 1 BA 50 Yards from the beach!

Kitchen, living room, & backyard. KM 33 to Puertecitos Exterior is deorated with stone - very beautiful. Approx.

800 sqft $69,000 Campo La Roca Call Jaito (686) 1794611 Solar powered home at El Dorado Ranch! 1 Lg. BR, living rm, dining rm area, lg. kitchen, 2 full BA - 1 in the garage, hot water heater, & tiled roof. On premises: golf, lounge, tennis courts, pool, & more. Excellent condition! Only $120,000. Call (686) 576-0309 or sohnenschein1937@ aol.com.

El Dorado Ranch, Rancho Del Sol 3, Mexican Hacienda Style. 3 BR 3 BA, fireplace, private courtyard, AC/ Heat, garage $295,000 Call Mx (686)131-0576 or US (715)891-6209 E-mail: jspinner4@hotmail.com El Dorado Ranch, Vista Del Mar, 3 BR 3 BA, Den, 2 fireplaces, & 2 stall garage. Great Views! Under construction w/o Cabintery $395,000 w/ Cabintery $425,000 Call Mx (686)131-0576 or US (715)8916209 E-mail: jspinner4@hotmail.com El Dorado Ranch, Rancho Del Sol 3, 10-09 3BR, 2BA, music, dining, & living rm, 3 storage rm, huge 2-car garage, pure water sys, lg tiled roof dk. $315k Call EZ 686- 576-0141 Open house: Sat & Sun 12-4.

El Dorado Ranch, Rancho Del Sol 3, 10-07 2BR, 2BA, great room kit/liv/din), carport, pure water sys, roof deck. Fully furnished & equipped. $185k Call EZ 686576-0141 Open house: Sat & Sun 12-4.

80 x 80 Landscaped Corner Lot with Hitch Hiker The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Ejido 40 x 40 Lot w/ water & electric, $22k. Call 805 704 5547 or e-mail melodya2004@yahoo.com

Ejido Half Lots 20 x 20 - Water & Electric, Lot361 split into 2 1/2 lots; 20 x 20 w/ water & electric. Asking $16K for each. Call 805 704 5547 or e-mail melodya2004@ yahoo.com Ejido 40 x 40 corner lot w/ electric $22K,Call 805 704 5547 or e-mail melodya2004@yahoo.com

Ejido 6 lots hand cleaned and fenced, possible financing. $82,000 Please e-mail melodya2004@yahoo.com or call 805 704 5547 (Ref#B235&244) Ejido 40 x 40 Corner of lot of Blk 235. Hand cleared & fenced. $12K. Call 805 704 5547 or e-mail melodya2004@yahoo.com Ejido 40 Corner of lot of Block 244, Hand cleared and fenced - $12K. Call 805 704 5547 or e-mail melodya2004@yahoo.com

16th Fairway Villa at La Ventana del Mar - $499,000 3 BR, 2-1/2 BA, Turn-key, 3-car Garage, Fireplace, s/s BBQ. Unobstructed views from all living areas! Nate Morace, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 577-0611 2 Master Suites + Separate 1 BR Apartment $229,000 REDUCED! Furnished with fantastic views of the Sea & Mountains. Exceptional value! Teresa Hutt, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 577-0611 El Dorado Ranch, Los Viajeros South - REDUCED!! $80,000 RV Ramada (great room with office, bath & Murphy bed); outdoor kitchen & living areas Mike Deegan, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 577-0611 Playa de Oro – Steps to the Beach $580,000.

2 BR, 2 BA, Extremely Unique Home with Extensive Landscaping & Outdoor Living Areas, Completely Turn-key, Double Garage. Nate Morace, Amor Property, US 760-4943639, MX 577-0611 Cozy 1 BR, 1-1/2 BA. Main Bathroom is extra-large with bear-claw tub & separate walk-in, tiled shower. Bill Maine, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 577-0611

Rancho del Sol $320,000 3 BR, 3 BA. New kitchen & appliances, granite counters, 1 bedroom w/private bath & entrance, center atrium. Beth Karoll, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 577-0611

ROSARITO BEACH BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO CALL TO POST YOUR LISTING (686)-576-1377 OR (686)230-9933 ENSENADA BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO CALL TO POST YOUR LISTING (686)-576-1377 OR (686)230-9933

CARE ABOUT YOUR HOME AND OUR PLANET

PLEASE DON’T LITTER

40 x 40 lot 1 block from power in Ejido. & cleared & fenced. $5K Please e-mail melodya2004@yahoo.com or 805 704 5547.

40 x 40 with Electric. Lot#397 Manzanatt #47. For more information Please e-mail melodya2004@yahoo. com or 805 704 5547.

Large 3 Bedroom, 2-1/2 Bath, Turn-key $199,950 Oversized Garage, 2 Lots, Outdoor Entertaining, InTown Uria Amor, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 5770611 Playa de San Felipe – Better Than New, Fabulous View $699,000 Large upscale 4 BR, 2-1/2 BA home; Luxurious Great Room with Granite Kitchen; Separate 1 BR Apartment; Oversized double-car garage. This home MUST be seen!

Uria Amor, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 5770611 Best Buy in Playa de San Felipe - Spectacular $299,000 2 Master BR, 2-1/2 BA. Swimming Pool; Marina View Uria Amor, Amor Property, US 760-494-3639, MX 5770611 Playa de San Felipe $95,000 Lot, 12mx30m. Unobstructed Sea View Lot. All city

• ROSARITO • ENSENADA

• SAN FELIPE • PUERTO PENASCO

Get more info: www.greensheets.info

64 - Real Estate in Northwest Mexico

N O RT H W E S T M E X I C O

R E A L E S TAT E & R E N TA L

Mexico Living - 65

PUERTO PENASCO (ROCKY POINT) SONORA, MEXICO Single family home FSBO, $227,500 USD. Less than 2 years old, gated dev., w/planned pools, SPA with Medical Center nearly complete. 3 br, 2 ba, air/heat. Ten minutes from downtown and 5 min. from new plaza. Charlie Luse-Mex cell 638-110-4127, cglpuro@netscape.net

GREEN SHEETS Condos (2) in Las Cupulas, SFBO, $178,900 USD ea. for 2 identical condos in one building. 2 story, 2 br, 2.5 ba, completely furnished including all appliances. One is rented, other is vacant and never lived in. Less than one year old.

Gated development with heated pool, Jacuzzi, security.

Close to downtown and beach area. Charlie Luse-Mex cell 638-110-4127, cglpuro@netscape.net

GREEN SHEETS

EASIEST, CHEAPEST WAY TO LIST AND SELL PROPERTY IN NORTHWEST MEXICO TEXT LISTING: $10 FOR 50 WORDS NEW G1 IMAGE LISTING - $770 pesos PER BOX

(2.375 x 1.875) Ad must contain: One specific property - No Generic Ads. Picture, Price, & 200 characters; including contact info

30,000 Magazines Monthly ONE Listings THREE Cities Rosarito, Ensenada, Puerto Peñasco & San Felipe

San Felipe 686-577-0050 San Diego 001-619-920-2292 www.sanfelipehomebuilder.com

General Contractor WE DO IT ALL, FROM START TO FINISH

SAN FELIPE

HOME BUILDERS

• ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES • CUSTOM HOMES

WE CAN BUILD YOUR BAJA DREAM HOME TO AMERICAN CODES

• INTERIOR DESIGN & FURNISHINGS • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

LOCATED AT

CLZ Chetumal 228 Mar Del Coral Y Mar De Corte San Felipe, BC, CP 21850 The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

• ROSARITO • ENSENADA

• SAN FELIPE • PUERTO PENASCO

• REMODELING •

HOME REPAIRS Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

66 - Mexico’s Smart Yellow Pages

Northwest Mexico Business Directory - 67

NORTHWEST MEXICO BUSINESS

YE L L OW PA G ES If you’re not listed, you’re losing business.

PHONE IN MEXICO Mexico’s telephone network is one of the most well-developed in Latin America. Mexico offers a whole range of telephony services from simple land-line telephone services to high-speed internet (ADSL) services as well as the latest GSM mobile technologies.

Keeping in touch in Mexico is easy.

Hotel Phones Most major Hotels in Mexico, from mid-range prices upwards, will provide an in-room telephone which can be used for local, national and international phone dialing. If you are going use your hotel for long distance or international calling, use a Calling Card.

Public Phones in Mexico Coin operated phones exist in small quantities for local calls and reverse charge calls. Most pay phones in Mexico only operate with pre-paid phone cards.

Call Charges in Mexico Local Calls - There is a fixed charge for a local call, regardless of how long the call lasts. Pay phones cost more.

National and International Calls - These vary in price according to time of day and distance.

International calls are very expensive by US, and Canadian standards.

DIALING INSTRUCTIONS:

USA to MX Cell Phone: 011+52+1+Area Code+(Tel #) USA to Mexico: 011+Area Code+(Tel #) Mexico to USA: 001+Area Code+(Tel #) MX Landline to MX Cell Phone: 044+Area Code+(Tel #) MX Cell Phone to MX Landline: Area Code+(Tel #)

! day7 List your business for as little as $4 dlls a line ! o T us 37

-1 l Cal86-576 6

Reach readers in Rosertio-Ensenad San Felipe-Puerto Penasco !

TELEPHONE DIRECTORY / DIRECTORIO TELEFONIO

SAN FELIPE

YELLOW PAGE / PAGINAS AMARILLAS ACCOUNTING/CONTABILIDAD CP Erich Zorr.......................................... (686) 576-0141

ADULT CARE/ATENCION DE ADULTOS San Felipe Adult Living Facility ..........(686) 173-0424

DIALING 800 NUMBER: 800 DIALING to the US From Mexico (dial 001+) To Dial USA 800 ................................. dial 880 To Dial USA 866 ................................. dial 883 To Dial USA 877 ................................. dial 882 To Dial USA 888 ................................. dial 881

IMPROTANT NUMBERS: MX 411 (Spanish only)...................................040 Tourist Assistance Hotline ..............................076 Check Time....................................................030 Emergencies ..................................................060 Tourist Safety ...........................1-800-5903-9200

TELEPHONE DIRECTORY / DIRECTORIO TELEFONIO

ALARMS/ALARMAS Del Desierto (SEE AD BELOW) ..........(686) 577-1486 ARCHITECT/ARQUITECTO Freddy Hernandez .............................(686) 946-7897 Licensed, CAD, Blue Prints, Graphic Design Rosa Lina Ramos Lazcano ................(686) 184-6172 ARTIST/ARTISTA Andrena Joyce .....E-mail: andrenajoyce@yahoo.com Melody Ashley ..... E-mail: melodya2004@yahoo.com Robin Waters ....................................(686) 115-0526 Watercolors by Mary Lou ..................(686) 171-5513 ATTORNEY/ABOGADO Carlos A. Martinez Monges ...............(686) 120-1650 Lic. Francisco Sosa Mendez ..............(686) 577-0624

AUTO REPAIR/REPARACIÓN DE AUTO Automotive PIT STOP ........................(686) 173-0424 Km 183.3 Repair & Services-All electronic & Mechanical Reasonable rates. Call Now! BAKERY/PANADERÍA Panaderia Especial ............................(686) 577-2948 BANDS/BANDAS Agave Blues ......................................(686) 184-9237 BARS/CLUBS Bar Mirama ......................................r(686) 577-1192 Pool tables, Entertainment, And FREE WIFI Fandango’s .......................................(686) 577-0060 Jimmy’s Beach Bar & Grill .................(686) 576-0454 Los Arocs - Happy Jack Ass..............(686) 577-2585

ENSENADA/ROSARITO YELLOW PAGE / PAGINAS AMARILLAS

DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT/MANEJO DE FRACCIONAMIENTOS Baja Mar Country Club ...................... 1-800-434-2252 REAL ESTATE/BIENES RAÍCES Ensenada Remax ...............................(661)-612-1132 RESTAURANTS/RESTAURANTES La Vendimia ....................................... (638) 174-0969

ENSENADA/ROSARITO BEACH LIST YOUR BUSINESS!

Call us Today!

686-576-1377

CONNECTING THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE MONTHLY WITH SMART BUSINESS THROUGHOUT

NORTHWEST MEXICO - AND GROWING! GET LISTED TODAY 686-577-1377 / 686-230-9933

68 - Mexico’s Smart Yellow Pages BEAUTY SALONS/SALONES DE BELLEZA Hair By Nancy ...................................(686) 573-2352

Northwest Mexico Business Directory - 69 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT/MANEJO DE FRACCIONAMIENTOS Sea Mexico Realty............................. (686) 576-0223

San Felipe Home Builders..................(686) 577-0050 GLASS SHOP & GARAGE DOORS/VIDRIERA Y PUERTAS DE GARAGE Ka-Va Hermanos ...............................(686) 147-3145 GYNECOLOGIST/GINECÓLOGO Annel Becerra Prado..........................(686) 577-6350 HEALTH & BEAUTY/SALUD Y BELLEZA Sea Star ............................................. (686) 577-6250

Lilly Ana’s Day Spot ..........................(686) 577-6253 BUILDING MATERIALS/MATERIALES DE CONTRUCCIÓN Pro-Construction................................(686)576-0430 Building Materials, Plumbing, Paint supplies Brick Block, Wood,, & Hardware. Delivery Services Call us!

CATERING Java Jitters & BC Bistro .....................(686) 114-7735 CHOCOLATE/CHOCOLATE Baja Chocolate Lovers.......................(686) 576-0348 CITY SERVICES/SERVICIOS DE LA CIUDAD District Attorney’s .............................(686) 577-1110 Mayors Office ...................................(686) 577-1021 COFFEE & TEA/CAFÉ Y TE Java Jitters & BC Bistro .....................(686) 114-7735 Tattoo Rose Cafe ...............................(686) 577-6004 COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS/ ORGANIZACIONES DE SERVICIO A LA COMUNIDAD Club Las Amigas ...............................(686) 202-0455 San Felipe Lions Club ........................(686) 212-3599 San Felipe Rotary ..............................(686) 576-0112

DEVELOPMENTS/FRACCIONAMIENTOS Casablanca .......................................(686) 157-1728 Diamante Residencial ........................(686) 569-2347 El Dorado Ranch ...............................(686) 577-0015 La Perla Del Mar................................(686) 140-4626 Playa de Oro .....................................(686) 576-0223 Located Seaside of Highway 5, South of Km#179 Just 6½ miles North of San Felipe. USA (509) 280-7517 San Marino .......................................(686) 577-0611 San Rafael ........................................(686) 576-0223 Playa San Rafael is a 64-acre community only 3/4 mile north of Playa de Oro. Calling from the USA (509) 280-75-17 Website: www.mexico-real-estate.us DOCTORS/DOCTORES Dr. Victor Abasolo .............................(686) 577-1706 ENTERTAINMENT/ENTRETENIMIENTO Name That Tune - Denny Flannigan....(686) 576-1683 FINANCING/FINANCIAMIENTO Baja Lending Company ......................(686)152-5233

INTERIOR DESIGN/DISEÑO INTERIOR Baja Nueva........................................(686) 211-4676 INTERNET SERVICES/SERVICIOS DE INTERNET The Net .............................................(686) 577-1600 LANDSCAPING/JARDINERÍA Mauricio’s Lanscaping ......................(686) 151-8002

(686) 577-6250 HEALTH FOOD STORE 1088-1 Ave. Mar Caribe Sur San Felipe BC 21850

Versoleil ............................................. (686) 577-1408

USANA Health Sciences ....................(686) 116-3982 Call Beth for all your suplemental needs like: nutritional supplements, skin care products, ask about RESET. elisabethan236@uasna.com 686-116-3962 HEALTH & FITNESS/SALUD Y EJERCICIO KenSue Martial Arts ..........................(686) 577-6023 Exercise, Taewaondo , and Mixed Martial Arts HOME BUILDERS/CONTRATISTAS California Real Estate & Contruction ..(686) 576-0420 HouSing ............................................(686) 577-0810 San Felipe Home Builders ..................(686) 577-0050 HOME CLEANING/LIMPIEZA DE CASAS Redwagon Proerty Managment .......... (686) 576-0081 LAUNDRY SERVICE/LAVANDERÍA Wash Tub..........................................(686) 577-2001

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT/MANEJO DE CONSTRUCCIÓN San Felipe Management Services ......(686) 576-0553 FISH/PESCADERÍA Ruben’s Fish Market..........................(686) 577-0810 FILM DEVELOPMENT/IMPRESION DE FOTOS Fotografia Alvarez ..............................(686) 577-1144

LIFEGUARD/SALVAVIDAS San Felipe Lifeguards ........................(686) 233-7730 Ask for Franscio LIQUOR/LICORERÍA Tecate Six - Julio ...............................(686) 119-0030 HOME IMPROVEMENTS/MEJORAMIENTO CASERO Baja Home Improvment .....................(686) 222-4507

LOCKSMITH/CERRAJERO Gomez Locksmith .............................. (686) 221-8337

HOTEL/HOTEL See the Lodging Guide on Pages 56 CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT/MANEJO DE CONSTRUCCIÓN Oscar Parra .......................................(686) 163-6514 Tafoya E. Hijos ..................................(686) 221-2424

IMPORT SERVICES/SERVICIOS DE IMPORTACIÓN San Felipe Storage Company .............. (686) 576-0432

CONSULTING-THERAPY/CONSULTA TERAPÉUTICA Inner Connection ...............................(686) 202-1208

FURNITURE/MUEBLERÍA Muebles Coloniales Rosy ..................(686) 577-1214

DENTIST/DENTISTA California Dental Spa .........................(686) 577-0708

GENERAL CONTRACTOR/CONTRATISTA GENERAL California Real Estate & Construction.(686) 576-0420

CONNECTING THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE MONTHLY WITH SMART BUSINESS THROUGHOUT

D! ay!

STE s Tod377 I L GET Call 6u-576-1 8 6

NORTHWEST MEXICO - AND GROWING! GET LISTED TODAY 686-577-1377 / 686-230-9933

70 - Mexico’s Smart Yellow Pages

Northwest Mexico Business Directory - 71

MASSAGE/MASAJE Casey’s Place (Massage) ..................(686) 577-1431 y ( g )

PIZZA/PIZZA Los Arcos - Happy Jack Ass .............(686) 577-2585 Popeye’s Pizza ..................................(686) 577-1122

Victor Rodriguez Ratiliff .....................(686) 573-0222 POSTAL SERVICES/SERVICIOS POSTALES Yetmail ............................................... (686) 577-1255

MEAT MARKET/CARNICERÍA La Vaquita II ......................................(686) 577-1718 MEDICAL/MEDICO Ambulance........................................(686) 577-0500 Red Cross .........................................(686) 577-1544 San Felipe Hospital ............................(686) 577-0117 MOTEL/MOTEL See the Loding Guide on Page 56 PEST CONTROL/FUMIGACIONES Bichos Fumigaciones ........................(686) 209-9764

Mexico Living Magazine ..................... (686) 577-1377 San Felipe Newsletter ........................(686) 577-2898 REAL ESTATE AGENTS/AGENTES DE BIENES RAÍCES Bill Maine ..........................................(686) 231-4921 Darryl McDondgh .............................(686) 150-1052 Kathy Preppernau..............................(686) 210-4458 Katy Asimus .....................................(686) 211-5474 Michelle Walters ................................(686) 222-3002 REAL ESTATE/BIENES RAÍCES Amor Property ..................................(686) 577-0611 Baja Ranch & Sea Realty .................... (686) 577-1304

BAJA

RANCH & SEA REALTY MX 686-577-1304

Ron Saunders ...................................(686) 576-0007

U.S. 760-545-4275

#1 Mar de Cortez San Felipe, B.C. 21850 Ph/Fax: 011-686-576-0077 E-mail: info@bajareflections.com Website: bajareflections.com PO Box #9011 PMB #151 Calexico CA 92232

PRINTERS/IMPRESORAS Papeleria Copicentro .........................(686) 577-1402 The Print Supplier ..............................(686) 230-9933 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT/MANEJO DE PROPIEDADES Casey’s Place ...................................(686) 577-1431 Redwagon Enterprises.......................(686) 576-0081 PUBLICATIONS/PUBLICACIONES Gringo Gazette ................................... (686) 111-3692

Victor Rodriguez Ratliff ......................(686) 573-0222

California Real Estate & Construction...(686) 576-0420 Call Margaret Realty ........................... (686) 577-1156

Desert Mother ...................................(686) 577-2552 Desert Realty ....................................(686) 577-6336 Gary Gold ..................................... (686) 211-9952

Nate Morace ................................. (686) 1713257

Sea Mexico Realtiy (SMR) .................(686) 576-0223

PET CARE/CUIDADO DE MASCOTA San Felipe Animal Rescue .................(686) 111-2499 PHARMACY/FARMACIA Botica Sagrado Corazon ....................(686) 577-1294 PHOTOGRAPHY/FOTOGRAFÍA Casey Hamlin.com ............................(686) 577-1431 FOTOVIA ...........................................(686) 157-9080 Francisco Romo ................................(686) 577-1193

RECREATION/RECREACIÓN San Felipe Sailing-Call Felipe .............(686) 114-3259 RENTALS/RENTAS Casey’s Place ...................................(686) 577-1431

! day7 List your business for as little as $4 dlls a line ! o T us 37 Reach readers in Rosertio-Ensenad

-1 l Cal86-576 6

San Felipe-Puerto Penasco !

CONNECTING THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE MONTHLY WITH SMART BUSINESS THROUGHOUT

NORTHWEST MEXICO - AND GROWING! GET LISTED TODAY 686-577-1377 / 686-230-9933

72 - Mexico’s Smart Yellow Pages RENTALS/RENTAS Rancho del Sol Vacation Home ..........(686) 231-4921 Redwagon Rental Property ................(686) 576-0081

Northwest Mexico Business Directory - 73 SHOPPING MALL/CENTRO DE COMPRAS La Plazita ..........................................(686) 577-2119 SOLAR Navajo Electric ..................................(686) 111-1834 SPANISH LESSONS/CLASES DE ESPAÑOL Kelly Walsh .......................................(686) 209-9564 STORAGE/ALMACÉN San Felipe Storage Company .............. (686) 576-0432

Sandollar Beachfront Condos ............(686) 576-0081

YELLOW PAGE / PAGINAS AMARILLAS

ARCHITECT/ARQUITECTO Punio Rivero ................................. (638) 383-4710

FINANCING/FINANCIAMIENTO Platinum Capital..................................(602)6928523

ROOFING/TECHOS San Felipe Professional Roofing .........(686) 590-6818 SAILING/NAVEGACIÓN Sail San Felipe - Felipe........................ (686) 114-3259

TATTOOING/TATUAJES Baja Ink Spot Tattoo & Body Piercing(686) 577-2538

IF YOU’RE READING THIS so is a potential new customer.

TRANSLATION/TRADUCCIÓN Carlota Villagran B ......................... (686) 212-9951

Advertise your business here, this size is only $50 monthly and you’ll reach Rosarito Beach, Ensenada, San Felipe & Puerto Penasco in Full Color and Any Design.

TRANSPORTATION/TRANSPORTACIÓN Airport .......................................... (686) 577-1368 Taxi Service .................................. (686) 577-1293

SCREEN PRINTING Nava T-shirt Screen Printing ............... (686) 577-0075

P UERTO PEÑASCO DEVELOPMENTS/FRACCIONAMIENTOS "Parayso" Desembembogue Devept.....(638) 3885707

RESTAURANTS/RESTAURANTES See Restaurant Guide in Page 50

US 800-576-0919 Ext. 3 / MX 686-230-9933

TELEPHONE DIRECTORY / DIRECTORIO TELEFONIO

REAL ESTATE/BIENES RAÍCES Buena Vide Real Estate .................. (638) 110-4127 Majestic Realty ............................. (638) 388-1120 Mexican Beach Developers............. (638)383-8417

PUERTO PEÑASCO

Get Listed for as little as $4 dlls a line !

CALL US NOW! 686-576-1377

Rates can be found online

www.mexicoliving.info

or call the office 686-577-1377

REACH 30,000 READERS MONTHLY FOR LESS THAN $50 PER YEAR. THE SMARTEST , LEAST EXPENSIVE MARKETING YOU CAN DO . Get Listed! Call us Today! 686-576-1377

UTILITIES/UTILIDADES Electric Company (CFE) ................ (686) 577-1060 Propane Gas ................................. (686) 577-2373 Telnor Phone Co ............................ (686) 577-1000 Water Company ............................ (686) 577-1022

WE’LL BEAT ANY COMPETITORS QUALITY, SERVICE & TURNAROUND

VETERINARY/VETERINARIO Hospital Animal ............................. (686) 577-1688 PETS ............................................ (686) 577-2155

THE PRINT S UPPLIER

WASTE MANAGEMENT/MANEJO DE DESHECHO San Felipe Disposal ....................... (686) 121-1004 WELDING SERVICES/SERVICIOS DE SOLDADURA Waldo The Welder ......................... (686) 226-3127 WINDOW CLEANING/LIMPIEZA DE VENTANAS Pro Window Cleaning .................... (686) 590-6594

THE ONLY NORTHWEST Get Listed!

MEXICO Call us Today!

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The Nation’s Best Choice is 4-Color Business Printing Full Color Tri-Folded Brochures With free AQ Coating.

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Full Color Business Cards 14 or 16 pt. with free AQ Coating.

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Full Color Postcards 14 or 16 pt. with free AQ Coating.

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2-4 DAY STANDARD TURNAROUND

PLUS: Rackcards, Doorhangers, Catalogs, Presentation Folders, Greeting Cards, or anything!

WE ALSO PROVIDE: Complete In-House Mailing, CD Replication & DVD Replication

USA OFFICE - 800-576-0919 MEX CELL - 686-230-9933 MEX OFFICE - 686-577-1377

559-862-1201 O R 800-395-6896 www.theprintsupplier.com THEPRINTSUPPLIER . COM

NORTHWEST MEXICO - AND GROWING! GET LISTED TODAY 686-577-1377 / 686-230-9933

74 - Mexico Living

10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE MOVING TO MEXICO Do your research. Spend time in some of the different areas of Mexico to discover which areas you feel most comfortable. Most people who retire here have had many prior visits on annual vacations and have experienced Mexico first hand.

Pick your climate. Decide what sort of climate you are most comfortable living in, depending on the area the weather ranges from year round spring-like weather to warm sea front locations and dry desert heat.

Will you be a permanent or part time resident?

Depending on your personal choice, you may decide to live here permanently or only a few months out of the year, and renting the rest of the time. Some also rent their permanent homes to offset the costs of their temporary Mexican residence.

Purchasing real estate in Mexico. There are a myriad of real estate opportunities available, but be certain you are dealing with reputable agents on both sides. You may also find it easier to finance your purchase at a bank back home. There are properties available to suit every need including, apartments, resorts, condos and beachfront homes.

Choose the location that suits you. Whether you want city living or a secluded property surrounded by

nature, there are plenty to choose from.

Learn the language. It’s much easier to assimilate into your environment if you can speak the native language; as a result, many of our visitors enroll in classes to learn Spanish.

Consider turning your hobby into a business.

Many of our retirees turn their hobbies into small businesses once they set up residence. Others get involved in social work in their local communities.

Make sure your income qualifies. You will need to research the various government requirements for foreign retirees and ensure that you qualify. You must have a proven fixed income of at least 400 times the daily minimum salary per month, and 200 times the daily amount for each dependent. If you own, your Mexican home, opposed to renting, these figures are reduced.

Health care considerations to remember. Most U.S. or Canadian health care plans do not cover your medical requirements in Mexico. Make certain you arrange for medical insurance to cover you during your stay in Mexico. There are numerous medical facilities and hospitals, but they are private and require payment in full.

Paying taxes in both countries. If you plan to work in Mexico or collect any sort of income such as rental income, sale of artwork, handicrafts, etc., you will require an FM3 Retirement Permit. This will allow you to work or run a business, but you will have to pay Mexican tax on any income earned.

THE MEXICAN LABOR LAW - Employee Rights The Mexican Labor Law is paternalistic with regard to employees. It strongly protects the rights of its employees. In addition to the Labor Law, the Mexican Constitution establishes rights for employees. Section IX of Constitutional Article 123, for example, specifies that employees are entitled to a share of all profits that the employer obtained in the previous year. As a rule, profit sharing occurs in May each year. Even though employees need to follow certain procedures and meet certain requirements for profit sharing, employees find this right very accommodating.

Sections XXI and XXII of Article 123, in turn, states that if an employee is unjustly dismissed from his job, the employer is obliged to pay the employee an amount equal to three months of salary and twenty days of work for each year that the employee worked, as well as a proportional amount of any vacation and/ or Christmas bonus to which the employee was then entitled. Furthermore, the employee may file a labor suit against the employer if he thinks he was unjustly dismissed from his job and the employer has not complied with this obligation.

Mexico Living - 75 When an employee files a suit against his employer, he may choose (pursuant to Article 48 of the Mexican Labor Law) to request the Labor Authority to obligate the employer to reinstate him to the same position he had held when he was dismissed. This is very interesting because if the Labor Authority resolves in favor of the employee, and the employer does not want to reinstate the employee, the employer has to pay off the employee in accordance with the law provisions referred to in the above paragraph.

There are other legal rights for employees, but I would need several pages to explain them.

On the other hand, employers do not need to be afraid; employees have rights, but they also have obligations. Therefore, employers have a legal way to protect themselves in any labor dispute that may occur, and the Mexican Labor Law also states rights for employers. Hopefully, I will have an opportunity to write about rights for employers in the near future.

Carlos Alberto Martinez Monges; born in Mexicali; graduated from law school in U.A. B.C.; contact info below: Tel: 686-552-8052, Cell: 686-120-1650, law_ martinez@yahoo.com.

Beach Front and Ocean View Lots for Sale FROM THE US DIAL:

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Oral and maxillofacial surgery services: • • • • • • •

Wisdom and impacted tooth removal Dental implant placements: to replace missing teeth or provide a stable base for detures Bone grafts to restore quantity and quality of bone prior to implant placement Apical surgery: removal of root tip infection Oral pathology: cyst and tumor removal, biopsies Traumatic facial injury treatment Under and over bite correction surgery

Marco Antonio Mora Rubio D.D.S. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Services will be available Saturdays in our office.

Please call for appointment: 577 07 08.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

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76 - Mexico Living

Mexico Living - 77

Welcome to Mexico Living Magazine

Next Month:

COMMUNITY BLOG Reach the World

Create your own blog and share your business, ideas, travels, experiences or whatever you wish, with others that love Mexico as much as you.

Each month beginning in February, we will feature your blogs in the magazine.

Registrer for your Blog Today. It’s FREE.

There are no limits to the people you can reach.

Have you Blogged Today?

Monthly excerpts from our blogs. www.mexicoliving.info ’Round town with The Goddess Posted by: BajaGoddess 2/17/2008 12:00 AM Too Busy a day It’s been quite a day, started out quietly, I take my coffee out front to watch the sun pop up and enjoy the morning, my friend and neighbor whom I call Wolfie joined me, don’t bother to ask why I call him Wolfie, anyway sun up and he’s says “Are ya ready?” for what I say, “ to go to the Swap Meet” OOOOO well can’t miss that. Off we go along with Joe, Lana, and David.... It’s still very cold. I hate the cold. Hmmmm the best I could do was buy veggies, a burrito, some chapparado, and of course Chocolate, I’m addicted to Bob & Yolanda’s chocolate, especially the Bark, as a matter of fact I’m nibbling now.... ...Steven was having a cinnamon bun break before going back to pimping Bitchy Bingo. Quite nice. Just as I was about to leave Michael the tattoo artist says “Can I do ya today?” so I run inside. Darn again he meant work on my tattoos... ...Al’s was really jumping... Mikey and the Machine was scheduled to play but he had a little heart attack a couple weeks back, and has had to rest up a bit....

OOOO I do so love my little village...Living in Mexico isn’t for everyone. But it is PERFECT for me...

-----------------------------------------------------------Just the beginning...

Mini Molly the Mexico Minimalist Posted by: minimolly My name is Mini, and I’ve decided to write a blog about living in Mexico on a fixed, minimal income.

This doesn’t mean I’ve moved to someplace cheap, so I could bum around and live on what I could catch The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

and or steal...oh no. Instead I want to talk about how I can live abundantly, and enjoy traveling, dining and consuming my fair share of the rich bounty of life Mexico provides.... I need to warn you ahead of time...Until the next cheap tip Mini ------------------------------------------------------------

April will be our biggest issue to date! It’s all about music and will be our Special San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta Edition.

Just a few of the stories for April: The Life of June Snow - Publisher of the Gringo Gazette (San Felipe edition), a patriarch of San Felipe south campos and life long singer. Take a look at her life.

Blues in Baja - Interviews with the bands of San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, April 19th.

Young Music - A band of young musicians in Ensenada are about to make it big in Mexico, but they’re all immigrants to Mexican, each member from a different country.

Bandas - The music from the street. A look at the street musicians and their music, their lives and their stories.

Golfing in Baja - NW Mexico Posted by: BajaPaco 1/8/2008 1:51 AM Where to play?

At last count there appear to be about seventeen golf courses in the vast area of the Baja Peninsula and North West Sonora. My goal is to play them all... ...My home course is Las Caras de Mexico Campo de Golf in San Felipe, B.C. Mexico....It is a very challenging course designed by Bradford Benz and is a real test for the best of players. I have enjoyed watching the development and growth of the fairways and greens over the last three years. The extensive practice facility provides me the opportunity to improve my game, which seems to be more difficult all the time, but made more enjoyable by sharing the game with good friends. I wold like to hear from you if you have played this course or others in NW Mexico...

These are excerpts of the Mexico Living Blogs. Blogging is a fun, and easy way to share your thoughts, ideas or activites.

FREE, FUN & EASY. Do be shy, start blogging today. www.mexicoliving.info Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

78 - Mexico Living

Mexico Living - 79

CLASSIFIEDS

PLACE ADS BY PHONE San Felipe: 686-577-1377

Puerto Penásco: 638-109-4771

USA Phone: 800-576-0919 Ext. 3

C L A S S I F I E D S

JOBS

FREELANCE WRITERS For Ensenada Baja, San Felipe Baja, Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) Sonora. This is a freelance writing position for writers passionate about Baja and northwest Mexico. Nearly every topic covered. Work from anywhere on your own time. applicants must have a working FM3 or other legal residence; Serious Only: 686-230-9933 packmagazines@gmail.com.

ADVERTISING SALES For Ensenada Baja, San Felipe Baja, Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) Sonora. Long-term income, job security, and unlimited growth potential. Must be self-motivated, have reliable transportation, good communication, and Internet skills. applicants must have a working FM3 or other legal residence; Serious Only: 686-230-9933 packmagazines@gmail.com.

BAJA BUG RACER extremely well built baja bug - full cage w/ race buckets and belts, fuel cell, bfg all terrains, recent brake work, strong 1776cc. $2,300 obo. Call for more info 686165-8966

OTHER

GENERATOR Like New Mitsubishi 16,000 kw generator 68amps, 175 gal. fuel tank, elec. start, Only 2400 hours. $8,500 US. US 909-354-7559 Mex 686-573-1007.

WANTED

Wanted all and any vichicals working or not $$$. Please call 686-173-0424 ask for Ray.

SERVICES

ACCOUNTING SERVICES

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR Applicants must be familiar with basic accounting, Internet skills, be highly organized and have a good people person. Bilingual helpful but not required.

Must be self-motivated, have reliable transportation. applicants must have a working FM3 or other legal residence; Serious Only: 686-230-9933 packmagazines@gmail.com.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER This position is for San Felipe Baja only. Applicants must be familiar with Adobe publishing products.

Applicant must be self-motivated, creative, and meet deadlines. applicants must have a working FM3 or other legal residence; Serious Only: 686-230-9933 packmagazines@gmail.com.

DRIVERS Drivers needed monthly. Three Routes Avail: 1. San Felipe to Riverside; San Felipe to Ensenada; 3. San Felipe to Puerto Penasco. Applicants have legal residence (FM2, FM2 or national) own truck or van with cap. of 1 ton and legal ownership of vehicle and be fully insured. applicants must have a working FM3 or other legal residence; Serious Only: 686-230-9933 packmagazines@gmail.com.

MOTOR VEHICLES

DIRT BIKE 1979 Yamaha 250 2-Stroke. Needs some TLC but it runs. $200 obo. 230-9933.

PRINTING SERICES NEED BUSSINESS CARDS OR BROCHURES? Go to www.theprintsupplier.com or 800-576-0919 Ext. 3 or 686-577-1377. DELIVERY TO SAN FELIPE.

ENTERTAINMENT

The BEST Karaoke in town at Juanito’s Cantina hosted by Maria Arnold; Wed. nights 6:00pm - come and sing like a STAR! Check us out online, we’re building something special

VW THING TYPE 181 Newer restoration, engine rebuilt, 1600cc engine, nice original stock Thing, fiberglass hardtop w/ soft removable windows, stereo. Perfect for the beach, town, or the desert. Cadillac of the baja! $8,500 obo.

Call 686-165-8966 for more info.

The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico

Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info

80 - Mexico Living

A

Real Estate

In Town, Brand New, Blocks to Beach

Spectacular Sea View!

2 Bed, 1 Bath $116,000

1 Bed, 1 Bath $125,000

El Dorado Home Sites .......................................................................................................................... $ 23,000 San Marino Home Sites Starting at ......................................................................................................$ 29,950 El Dorado Ranch Homes from ..............................................................................................................$ 49,000 Playa de San Felipe Lots from ............................................................................................................. $ 57,000 Furnished Beach Access Home .......................................................................................................... $ 115,000 New Construction Homes in Town Starting at ................................................................................... $ 116,000 In Town Condos Starting at ..................................................................................................................$ 119,000 Large Land Parcels Starting at ............................................................................................................ $ 120,000 La Ventana del Mar Golf Course Home Sites from ............................................................................ $ 137,500 New Playa de Oro Homes Starting at .................................................................................................. $ 399,000 New Golf Course Condos Starting at .................................................................................................. $ 429,000 4,000 sf Home, Apartment, 2 Lots

Total Real Estate Services (T.R.E.S.) "For Sale by Owner" Packages Fideicomisos Mexican Corporations Developer Closing Packages 577-2307 From U.S. 760-890-4179 Just Reduced!! $950,000

U.S.760-494-3639 Mex. 577-0611 www.AmorProperty.com The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico