Baja Mexico Mio

MEMORIAL DAY, SEASON'S END FOR MOST!

2011-05-30T00:01:00.003-07:00

San Felipe, El Dorado and the South Campos are once again full of people for the last big holiday weekend and San Felipe's official end of season.

Sad to say, a younger generation doesn't really understand the meaning of the Holiday, which is in honor of those who have gone long before they were born, and those young men and women who  have died in all wars, and are still dying to this day.

It was originally called "Decoration Day". I can remember, as a young girl in Chicago, that we would always purchase a Decoration Day Poppy, with the funds going to help servicemen and their families. I haven't seen one in years. There would be a big Parade down State Street and families would go to cemeteries to place flowers on servicemens' graves.

Originally the day was observed starting on May 30, 1868, by the Southern States to honor those who had died in the Civil War.    All of the Northern States adopted the May 30 observance in 1890.

After World War I all States recognized the day to honor all men and women who died fighting in any war. However, to this day, some of the Southern States separately honor those who died in the Civil War, but not on May 30. It's celebrated on Jan. 19, in Texas; April 26, in Alabama, Florida, & Georgia & Mississippi; May 10, in South Carolina and June 3, in Louisiana and Tennessee.

A poem written by Moine Michael,  in 1915 simply puts this day in it's true perspective:

"We cherish too, the Poppy Red
That grows on fields that valor led
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies"

She conceived the idea of selling red poppies on Memorial Day, wearing the first one and selling others to friends. All proceeds went too servicemen in need.

The meaning of this day began to fade when holidays were moved to the first Monday of the week of the Holiday, thus making it a three day holiday. It didn't take long for many to forget the true meaning and now it seems to only mark the start of summer for them, a 3 day vacations and barbecues.

In San Felipe it marks the end of our regular tourist season as well.  Most Americans and Canadians have either left for the summer or will leave over the next few weeks to return in October.

Our last group of regular renters will be here the 4th of July, however, we will be out and about New Orleans, Corsicana, TX, Kansas City MO, Santa Fe, NM, Sedona, Prescott, Dewey & Phoenix, AZ and then back here in August.

We are fortunate to have new guests from San Diego this weekend.  One of the best parts about having a rental, is the renters. True, there haven't been as many as in years past, however, things have finally picked up this year.  Many of our renters have become regulars and close friends. If it weren't for them, this would have been a very lonely place these past three years, as business declined dramatically in Mexico. That and the fact that many of the regulars are not coming down as often as in the past, so there's a bit more solitude than I would like on a regular basis.

This past week was "dog week". Our guests, Jeanette & Scott, brought their well behaved bull dog/ranch dog mix, named Pepperoni.

Our neighbors Rich and Mary Ann came in at long last for about 9 days, with their dog Pan, a grey German Shepherd.   Then there's our faithful, kind, beautiful Ita.    Just think about it, "Pepperoni, Pan, Ita" sounds like a new pizza. Two males around the same age and a female, a bit older. Just didn't know how that would turn out. It took about 5 minutes of sniffing, checking each other out and then down to the ocean to swim, fish, play and really enjoy "their vacation" and new friends.

I tried taking photos of the three of them together, but just getting a good photo of Ita and Pan, sitting still for a moment, was not an easy task.  Pan is on the left.

Frank is holding biscuits for them!!

When I asked Jeanette if she could help with a photo of Pepperoni, she said "sure", "sit Pepperoni" and he did, just like that.

Nothing Ita would ever do, that's for sure. Pan kinda does his own thing, but does listen. Mary Ann taught me a hand signal to get Pan to sit, a closed fist over his head. It worked, especially if I had a biscuit in my hand. For Ita, well it worked, but I think she thought she was going to get hit on the head, but when she saw Pan get the biscuit, she got the idea and it worked.

Pepperoni and Pan outran and outplayed Ita very quickly -- so Ita retired to her papasan pillows up on our desert desk. They played themselves out several times each day but then, Pepperoni had to go home on Monday, Pan had to go home on Wednesday, that's when Ita went into her reclusive state. All her great friends went home and now she was Queen of her beach again, but lonely, one more time.

Fortunately for Ita, that didn't last long, as her favorite trainer, Darlene showed up later in the day.  When Darlene is ready for her daily walk on the beach, she gives a whistle and there's Ita all ready to go. I have a feeling Darlene has a few treats for her as well.

It's good to have people back on the beach and the weather's been great again. What more can we ask for!

Marino & Carol arrived Friday afternoon, after a very long absence, both extremely happy they were back in their favorite place. Their pets, Blue, Blanca and Easy, along with "the old man" (cat) were just as happy to be back where they spent so many happy years. Ita has friends again.

Spence and Diane from Campo Azul came in earlier, however, we didn't see them until breakfast at Chelo's Sunday morning. The last Sunday of her season, as well as Marina's. They will both open again the first weekend in October.

The day before we worked the annual Playa Hermosa dinner hosted by campo owners, David & Joan Minney & Richard & Betty Davis. This is the 6th year they have provided this great event for all of their homeowners, plus their family and friends. It's a great dinner and dancing party, with more chicken and ribs than most can consume, drinks by Alejandro manning the bar, with the very best margaritas I've had in Mexico; and Arturo (our local lumberyard owner) manning the band, bringing in the best dance music from San Felipe. The eating, drinking and dancing lasted for hours on end. One of the South Campo treats if your fortunate enough to live at Playa Hermosa.

Sunday was Frank's first day out and about as he's been very ill for about 6 days. Dr. Lopez said there is something going around and Frank caught it head on. Fortunately I did not. He's had a rough week, but was able to go to Chelo's for breakfast this morning and had one pancake, his first real food in over a week.

After breakfast, we headed over to the Annual El Vergel Volunteer Fire Department Fund Raiser which was a huge success. Didn't have my camera, but there were over 150 in attendance. Drink tickets were $1, a food donation for a very healthy looking plate, was by donation. Everyone was able to buy tickets for gifts and a 50/50 drawing. Darlene Shaw won a large Pyrex set of modern bake ware, so she'll have to make a dinner to break in the new cookware and I won (wouldn't you know) 2 bottles of very good Cabernet. So, I shall either make a pasta dinner to go with the Cab, or bring it to Darlene's to go with her dinner. There were more than 30 gifts given out plus the cash and a few names were called more than once.

Again, good food, great music and good company closed out the season in the South Campos. We saw people from El Dorado, a 35 mile drive, and the owners of a great new barbecue restaurant, BLOWING SMOKE, on the North side of town, right hand side of the road on the way to El Dorado. It's great when people from all over the area come in to help support another community. Kudos go to the owners of El Vergel, all the volunteer firemen, Mexican, American and Canadian, and all the people responsible for putting on this well organized event. Will have my camera next year!

Weather is still perfect here, great warm days, very little wind, and lovely cool nights. Not a place to leave right now!!!! I know I've mentioned the weather several times here, but it does take me a few days to write this, and the weather could change.

We'll be leaving here on the 6th, hoping to meet up with our Grandson, Jimmy, on leave from am Army tour in Afghanistan; his new son, Cayden and beautiful wife and princessa, Audriana, in So. California and then on to a small family reunion with Frank's sister Nat and brother Manuel in Walnut, CA. We'll be back in Baja in August. August, yes I said August! I know, but we're kind of use to it, and we'll be ready for some solitude and will just work on the heat factor.

LAST STOP ALASKAN CRUISE - VIVACIOUS VICTORIA, B. C., THE CROWN JEWEL

Back to our July 4, 2010 cruise. I should just about finish this as we go on our June 26 Carribean cruise out of New Orleans.

Our last stop was Victoria, B.C., the oldest city in, and Capital of British Columbia. While it only has a population of 78,000 residents, they have 3 million visitors each year. This is by far one of the most beautiful cities we have seen and if we were 10 to 15 years younger, and a little richer, we would make this our summer home.

A City established in 1850 as Britain's first Crown Colony, actually founded by the Hudson Bay Company in 1843 as a trading post and port, it has grown into an a very elegant jewel. Each summer they create 1,600 beautiful hanging flower baskets, which line the harbors, downtown and civic areas. We also saw this in a section of Seattle, but nothing to this extent. These baskets are watered several times each week until early fall.  What a special touch to a special City.

The elegant Empress Hotel still holds afternoon tea and it too looks very much like it's right out of the English Countryside. Half of the rooms face the Inner Marina, which the other half face manicured gardens full of flowers, ferns, plants we've never seen and trees.

A typical afternoon tea, little cakes and crumpets is about $60. As most of you know, Frank drinks tea daily, green tea, has for the 24 years I've known him, however, this was not to be one of his tea experiences.

Instead, we opted for dinner in a fairly formal Engish pub with Scottish Lassies as waitresses.  We had to wait out front in a long line of very young people, and were finally "let" in. We were by far out of our age group, but had a grand time nonetheless. We may only come this way once, so why not!!!

This was one of the many times we would have preferred to travel by car, to spend a few extra days and have time to really explore more than 6 hours on shore offered by NCL our cruise line.

Walking along the Inner Marina with hundreds of travelers and residents, filled with yachts, restaurants, elegant buildings and shops was amazing, or "bloody" amazing as Annette might say.

Following is a photo I took of the Parliament Building where the Legislative Assemby of British Columbia meets. Would have given anything to go inside, but of course, it was Saturday and time did not permit us to stay over. What a historical mixture of a totem pole, representing the hundreds of Indiga Tribes of Western Canada, rising high out front of a very formal Parliament Building one might see in England.

British Pub

Overlook of the city to the Ocean., Bay and Mountains.

Since we docked rather late in the day, I have fewer photos than usual, but trust me, this is a place you need to put on your "bucket list". We want to go back someday, as it was one of the two favorite places of many we visited in Canada.

Until next time!!!

SAN FELIPE SEMANA SANTA

2011-04-27T15:01:00.001-07:00

I'm back, thanks to so many of you who asked why I stopped blogging about San Felipe and our travels, so I've decided to pick it up again for as long as we're in Baja. It could take up to three years for real estate to level out and that's fine with us, as we absolutely love it here, just as we absolutely love being in Palm Desert (PD in the future) when we're there. We will always have a place in Baja, just much smaller than we have now.

I'll be writing this in two parts, the first of which will be about Baja, San Felipe, our great guests and what's current down here. I'll then do a second part, about where I left off, last July since I have some great photos to share from our Alaska, Canada & U.S. trip. I'll also be writing about our next Cruise out of New Orleans, in June. I will combine several travel stops, write a little less about them but post the photos.

SEMANA SANTA IN AND AROUND SAN FELIPE!

"They" say they expected about 80,000 persons to come into the area from Wednesday the 20th of April, throughout this week. As most of you know, the bad publicity in the U.S. media, word-of-mouth rumors, and none of the "good stuff" has created what I refer to as "dead zones" (no pun intended) throughout Mexico. All this, of course, has been brought about by the very real drug cartel issues that have plagued Mexico for the past several years, only to be compounded by the bad economy in both Countries.

I'd like to put that in some perspective. First of all, San Felipe has been and still is, incredibly safe. We still don't have to lock our doors when we go out, to town or visiting neighbors. We've been doing that for over 23 years. Nothing has changed.

"They" say there have been over 36,000 deaths in Mexico since the Drug War began, and that is probably close to the truth. But, did you know that there have been more than 36,000 violent deaths in the U.S. over the past four years? They just haven't been clumped together in the same manner, and yet we would never think to stop traveling in the U.S. We are just careful about where we travel, just as one should be in Mexico.

It's obvious we're not going to cross at El Paso and drive down through what has become one of the most dangerous places in Mexico. We would not be going back to my beloved Michoacan, Acapulco, and the incredible vacation spot for those living in Mexico City (D.F.), Cuernavaca, where the wealthiest Mexicans vacation. Those places, plus several others are just not the places to travel these days, yet there are millions of people living and working in those areas, sharing a very good life, as there are in and around L.A., San Bernardino, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and the many other cities with large gang populations in the U.S. The unfortunate spot is being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We were in Vallejo, CA last August, visiting with family and we had to leave before dark, for safety sake. We were wearing "bad colors" and our family said it wouldn't be safe. We've never had to do that in Mexico, and we do drive after dark, but only where we feel extremely safe, like the Mexicali Road to San Felipe.

While I know I can't dissuade those who are firmly convinced all of Mexico is bad, perhaps they'll have a glimpse here, of another first hand point of view.

Now back to Semana Santa! It appears from all reports some 60,000 people rolled into town at the rate of 700 per hour at the highest. Many of those came South to camp along the more tranquil beaches towards and beyond Puertecitos. There were no bad incidents!!! It was just a very crowded weekend and we still have crowds in town which has been wonderful for business. It's like the stock market going up!

Semana Santa is the number one Mexican family holiday of the whole year and while many Americans came to visit, the majority were Mexican families who ended their work week on Wednesday and headed for the Sea of Cortez, from Mexicali, Ensenada, Rosarita and TJ. Fewer are camping out however, opting to stay in the many new hotels in town, or camp much further South. Don't get me wrong, the Malecon is still full, there's just more people coming in so they have to find other places to go. We went grocery shopping on Wednesday afternoon and all the stores were packed. I met a woman from Modesto, CA who was thrilled at the prices and buying meat, dairy and vegetables for her very large group who had just arrived and ready to have a great family vacation on the Sea of Cortez!

We had incredible weather with some wind in the late evening, a full moon, very high tides and we were fortunate to have "The Oakland Girls" with us for a week. Four private school teachers who flew in to San Diego, rented a car and drove down to Baja for a warm, sunny, peaceful vacation, which is exactly what they had.

We also had a couple and their two young children in the rental house next door, who arrived a few days earlier and who booked an extra day after they arrived. Everyone was delightful and no one got in any one's way. It was a great week overall.

The young family left on Monday, driving up to the Military checkpoint and taking the new bridge turnoff over to Ensenada. This is a great scenic drive and the desert was in full bloom from the winter rains in that area. After lunch, they drove up the beautiful coastal highway to TJ, where they live.

The Oakland Girls, left early on Saturday and had an uneventful ride back up to the border. They did have an hour wait to cross, however, that wasn't bad for a holiday weekend. Right place, right time! We hope to see them again.

This might be a good time to mention that the Sentri lines were almost empty at both East and West gates. Many of our friends have Sentri passes, however, you need one for each vehicle you use to drive across the border, and only the people who applied for the Sentri, for that vehicle, may use the "no wait" (at least at the present) lines. You must apply on line and you will be notified on line of the "interview appointment" you must attend at the border in order to finalize your application. Sounds complicated, but it's quite easy.

The best thing is that the price is being TEMPORARILY LOWERED TO $42.25 PER PERSON from $122.50 per person! It has not been decided when that will happen or for how long it will be in effect. The reduction will only apply to San Ysidro, Otay Mesa and Calexico gate applications. The Border Patrol agency is slashing the price to encourage more people to sign up. As soon as I find out about the time frame for this decrease in price, I'll let you know.

It's much quieter now, although there are still many more people around than there have been for the last 3 years. As people leave, the City workers have done an excellent job of cleaning up the Malecon, beaches and campgrounds, something that hasn't always happened in years past.

We will be going back to town this evening to have dinner with a few friends at LaVaquita, just off the Malecon. Wednesday night is ONE DOLLAR NIGHT between 5:00 and 7:00, even the Margaritas. Many business have special offers now, to try to help them survive in this economy and we are certainly taking advantage of the lower prices when available. Groceries are a bit higher however. Most expensive being butter and bacon!!! Meats and vegetables are plentiful and reasonable. We have several markets now and competition has caused them to really clean up their stores and have fresher stock. Best buys are still tortillas and beer, even though those prices have gone up a bit.

The very best buy in Mexico however, is GAS & DIESEL. Magna is $2.93, Premium is $3.31 and Diesel is $2.92 a gallon. We always fill up just before we cross into the U.S. Gas is going up several pesos a month, all this year, but I don't think it will ever catch up to current U.S. prices. When we're in the States we go to Sam's Club in Palm Desert for diesel. Today's price is $4.44, while other stations in the Coachella Valley are charging as much as $4.80 a gallon. For us, that's almost a $2.00 per gallon difference. Gone are the days when we see three and four cent differences. No big deal! The best buy we've ever made was our 2002 VW Jetta TDI Stationwagon. At 52 miles to the gallon, we are extremely fortunate.

This has been the very best April that I can remember in some time, over these 23 years. The next two months are a perfect time for great swimming, playing, beach combing, fishing from shore or renting a fishing boat or kayak and just hanging out at great restaurants and bars, and taking a break from the outside world.

Next Sunday, May 1st - MAY DAY is a National Holiday here in Mexico, followed by Cinco de Mayo, celebrating the Battle of Puebla, marking General Zaragoza's victory over superior French forces in Mexico's eventual ousting of the French Occupation. Not at all like the U.S. 4th of July in that few Mexicans in Mexico celebrate this day, and even fewer of the French/Mexicans settled around Mexico City. However, as you all know, it's a huge, what I call "beer marketing" holiday in the U.S., that only rivals St. Patrick's Day in beer sales.

A Casino Day at the Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch will be held from 10:00 to 1:00 on Wednesday, the 3rd of May and the Annual Club de Pesca Chili Cook Off on the 7th of May. The Memorial Day weekend will close out the month, starting on the 27th.

June can be a bit iffy, weather-wise, but still pleasant with ocean breezes.
July 4th will bring in the braver souls and then Mexican families will hit the beaches again as soon as school is out. August brings in Europeans, especially from England, who absolutely love the hot days and nights and actually sit out in the sun most of the day.

Overall, things are looking up in San Felipe and that's a great relief to the locals, the housing market and businesses throughout the area, as well as the Americans and Canadians who live here full time.

PART II - SKAGWAY SCENIC TRAIN RIDE - JULY 2010

This was a great scenic ride, which we took later in the day, to our benefit as the early morning risers climbed up the grades through fog and mist, and this is what they missed! Four trains were running about a half hour apart all day.

The flags representing Canada & the U.S., Alaska, Skagway and British Columbia.

The unmelted snow on the highest peaks laced over the frozen waterfalls which were running full at lower levels. Hard to realize that the snows would come again as early as September, less than two months away and turn this all into a new winter wonderland.

This was a great ride with incredible scenery, one of the few times we benefited from sleeping in.!

Take a closer look at the last photo here, seems as if the NCL Cruise ship we arrived on, is giving our train a bit of a push.

Lots more photos and info to come!

It's great to be back.

DAY AT SEA & JUNEAU!

2010-10-12T17:32:00.001-07:00

MONDAY, JULY 5, 2010 FULL DAY AT SEA!

Slept in this morning, why not? No sand to move, no house to clean, windows to wash, no water to haul, no house repairs, no clothes to wash, no babysitting -- some people just have to learn how to vacation!!

The day was spent exploring the ship, which continually amazed us. A city within! There wasn't anything you could want for. The rest of the day was spent meeting people, having some wonderful meals and ended up with one of many great nightly shows in the huge Showroom! Frank talked to more staff and I spent some time in the Casino.

When we returned to our room, beds were made, bathroom cleaned and there was a plate of goodies on the table. What more could you ask for.

Late night movies and off to sleep again.

TUESDAY, FIRST STOP JUNEAU--

We slept in again, this could be habit forming. We watched a funny movie, Sandra Bullock, going to Alaska—just like us, only Frank is already a citizen. We would be arriving in Juneau at 2:00. Went down for brunch and ate lightly, at least I did – chicken soup and a piece of chicken, as it’s chilly – really chilly. But then, that’s what I wanted this summer.

A couple from Dwight, IL, outside of Chicago, joined as, as it was misting outside and the Garden Café, which has about 500 plus seats, was packed. Elaine is the head cook at a local grade school and her husband Jim, is a farmer. She’d like to retire, but she’s only 60 and farmers don’t have health insurance so she would have to continue working to provide health insurance for both of them, until they reached 65.

Like us, this was their first cruise, however, they came with their daughter, son-in-law and their 2 and 4 year old grandchildren (they said they won’t do that again).

There are babies, toddlers, and kids of all ages. Why they are on a ship, even one with lots to do, is to me, like taking a one year old child to Disneyland.

LOCAL HEADLINES-JULY 6, 2010
JUNEAU EMPIRE - "CRUISE SHIP COMEBACK!!! CHA-CHING"
Fewer ships mean fewer berths and higher ticket prices –

Business is finally improving and the economy is rebounding. Alaska had proposed a controversial cruise ship head tax. They rolled back a portion, only to notice that the largest cruise lines to dock here, simply raised their prices to accommodate the new tax. Bookings improved, so go figure!

Juneau, the capital of Alaska only has 30,000 residents and can only be reached by air or sea. It has a renown gold mining history which has created it’s place in history. They have a Costco and a Wal-Mart, but the town retains its charm on an old fashioned main street, geared strictly to tourists. Being the State Capital, one out of every second person is employed by City, State or Federal government. It would be a prosperous town by any measure, with or without tourism.

The fascinating part of Juneau for us, was the incredible fresh air and the greenery. The docks had 3 huge ships, two Norwegian and one Princess, the largest company to come into the area. There was a continuing mist the whole time, it was about 53 degrees at 3:43.

We had 7 hours on shore. We did not take the ship’s $49.95 tour, but we did purchase a 45 minute trolly tour for $19 each. Our driver was a native Tiklict, who was well versed on his own roots and the history of the town. He told us a story about the Ravens and the Eagles. Every native here was one or the other. Ravens only married Eagles and Eagles only married Ravens, so they wouldn’t marry their relatives. Your heritage was determined by whatever your Mother was.

The Red Dog Saloon -- split a hamburger, and two beers. The place was packed, all tourists of all ages. The walls were full of trophies, bears, elk, Rams (not Frank’s) Beaver, Wolves, etc. There was deep sawdust on the floors and it looked quite authentic. We had to wait in line at the flipping red doors, but it was worth the great hamburger, beer and live music. Just a bit of Alaskan tourism!

The ocean came up to the base of hills and then higher up, green mountains which would be snow packed in just a few short months. There were beautiful hillside houses, but the best, the very best, were the waterfalls high above the town, that rolled right down to the sea.

WEDNESDAY, GLACIER BAY
We sailed this area, but all stayed on board. Incredible sights as far as the eye could see. Glacier Bay has many inlets, lagoons, islands, and channels many of which you can see from the ship. It is one of the most popular cruise ship destinations during the summer, by far. So much so, that the National Park Service has set restrictions on the numbers of vessels in the area daily. Limits allow 2 cruise ships, 3 tour boats, 6 charter vessels, and 25 private boats, daily. In 2009 Glacier Bay had 444,653 visitors. Of those, 422,919 arrived via cruise ships.

As beautiful as it was from the ship, I would imagine that coming in on a charter and being able to reach into the inlets, lagoons and islands would have been far more exciting than seeing it all from the deck of huge ship. In any event, it was an exciting day, there was so much to see, even from the decks which were packed. On any given day there were great sightings of whales, fishermen, small tour boats, etc., quite a busy place overall.

Another great evening of fine dining, a show, a little visit to the Casino and Frank still checking out the ship, as we head towards our next port Skagway, on Thursday.

Every night seems like "date night" and this was "dress up, or not night" -- great fun and when we returned to our Cabin, we found some more goodies and a complimentary bottle of very fine red wine, my favorite!

ALASKAN CRUISE & CANADIAN POINTS EAST!

2010-10-09T17:20:00.008-07:00

As you can see we sailed on the NCL Norweigan Pearl, one of a fleet of ships covering Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Europe.

Sunday Boarding -- We arrived around 12:00 per directions; the lines were incredible, all three of them, one luggage check-in; one for Passports and one for the Ship's Purser (there were about 20 of them). The plan was that I'd drop Frank off with our luggage as close to one of the lines as possible, drive down the street, take a U-turn and drive the car to the parking garage across the street. There was no opportunity to take that turn until about a mile, due to the hotels and businesses along the ocean front. I finally got back and went into the garage, following cruise ship parking directions again. The signs led me to the highest inside level, to the very back of the garage, about a block and a half from where I had dropped Frank and the luggage. When I got out of the car, I could see that I could have left the luggage in the garage, as they had vans waiting to take them across the street. Oh well, a new lesson learned for the next time.

I made my way back to where Frank was. The line to check luggage actually took about 45 minutes due to one malfunctioning scanner, then all lines converged to have our Passports checked; about 35 minutes. After that, it was time to provide the Purser with our credit card. I was happy to see there were about 20 "Pursers", as that just took about 15 minutes. By the time we actually boarded the ship for our very first cruise, it was close to 3:00.

Keep in mind that Frank was never interested in going on a cruise and in some 22 years, always refused to consider it, at least not until I "won" a cruise and told him I would take my daughter, Deb, or my sister-in-law Kathy if he didn't want to go. He has since changed his mind and we're going to the Caribe next June, from New Orleans -- finally, I get to see New Orleans!!!!

As we arrived on board, we met our first "happy, happy, washee, washee" stewards who absolutely insisted on spraying our hands as quickly as we arrived on deck. We soon found out they were stationed everywhere. As we entered dining rooms, climbed stairs, entered and exited elevators, played bingo, near the Casino, etc. You name any activity and they were there! Not bad considering there were over 2,000 persons on board. If I can do it after I leave Wal-Mart, I certainly can do it on board a ship of that size. However, wouldn't you know it, some people refused! Go figure.

We were a little tired upon boarding, and since our staterooms were not quite ready, we headed to the lounge. We left shore exactly on time but never realized we were moving untl I saw the Seattle skyline in the distance from the beautiful, center of the ship, lounge and showroom.

I was ready to start enjoying my "cool" summer, so much so that we decided to order some coffees with liquer. Almost everyone knows Frank is a died in the wool Starbucks person, so we were expecting something special on board. We received our drinks in two paper cups, with handles of course, and were a bit surprised. Although they were delicious and did the trick, our bill was about $15.00 -- a bit more than we anticipated for the paper cup drink.

We heard the call for our cabin and headed to our room. First lesson learned, upgrade to a cabin with a balcony. Seeing something virtually, on line is not the same as walking into a very small room with a bed, closet and bathroom, but all very well done and which we now love, although we didn't spend too much time there.

We found a tray of "welcome aboard" goodies along with an envelope from Casino staff. We each had players' cards, those that you put into slot machines to record your play, and the source of how I won this cruise to begin with. A chain was attached to the player card with another card. I just glanced at it, but never realized how valuable it was until later. It simply stated "compliments and free drinks", while I was playing. I soon learned that was about the only time I would drink, as liquor had to be the most expensive commondity on board, outside of diamonds and artwork.

There was an issue with our luggage, one piece short and the Steward said we'd have to go and reivew it with staff, as it might contain "contraband"! Wow that was a surprise, although a few of our friends told us exactly how to bring contraband (liquor) aboard, we did not do it. After they opened my luggage, with Frank standing by and checked it, nothing found, they apologized and they released it.

We quickly unpacked, stowed the cases under the bed where they fit perfectly, hung up our clothes and set out our personal items, we were surprised to find that everything fit very well and we had a great bed, TV and I could hook up my computer as well, which I didn't need to bring aboard.

We started our first little tour of one very small part of the ship and then ate in the Garden Dining Room, where to usually had our breakfast or lunch. The array of every kind of food could rival Bellagio, Venetian or Caesar's Palace in Vegas. There was not one disappointing meal in the whole trip.

There were 12 restaurants on board, but we never had time to hit all of them even though it was all inclusive and there were no additional fees charged, unless we had alcohol. Five were speciality places where an additional fee of $10, $15, or $25 per person was added and were well worth it. We tried the French Restaurant at $10 extra, and the service and food were the very best we've ever had. With the $10 extra fee you could order as many entrees or any other thing on the menu that you wanted. We tried to stay under control however.

After dinner, we somehow landed in the Casino which didn't open until 8:30 that evening. That's when I put my card in the machine and just as quick, a waiter was by my side asking what I wanted to drink. They never forgot either! I could just walk in, any time of day or night, and they would bring my favorite wine to me -- that was cool, and they all knew me by name, just after one evening. Frank seldom drinks and doesn't gamble, however, he received the same kind of service. I didn't gamble that much (stop the laughter) but it didn't seem to matter. (Hey, I couldn't blow our travel money as we had two months ahead of us, so I was quite good overall.)I won that first evening and played with their money -- the best way to do it.

Staff was so incredibly congenial, smart and attentive. Frank and I both spent time, at length, talking to them about where they came from, what ship life was like and why they were on board. They were all very well educated and came from Indonesia, India, Pacific Islanders, Africa and many other Countries. There were only three or four American staff, who were in higher positions. Most had families back home and they actually supported large numbers of family members, even their own children, from their salary on board. They worked for nine straight months and then were off three. They took turns going into each of the ports the ships traveled to so became very knowledgeable overall, and world travelers at best.

They were impressed with the U.S. and Americans in general, even though they have experienced time with the best and the worst as Americans are sometimes prone to be when they leave their shores. They were full of questions about us, our families, what we had done for a living -- but not in an intrusive way. They shared family history, and the history of their Countries. So many were amazed that we had left the U.S. retired to Mexico, and wanted to hear about that as well.

At 8:00 every evening there was a show in the concert hall. We had great seats and settled in to see a great musical, a comic and a few other attractions. I lost sight of what was going on, on stage, as we started some big time rock and rolling - I don't know how the dancers were staying on their feet. It felt like an 8.2 to me that went on for about 5 minutes. I checked later that evening and found we had moved into open seas and it was not uncommon. Outside of that first bumpy evening, all was smooth sailing for the next seven days!

We ended up the first evening, very, very late, back in the mid-ship lounge. By then Frank had done a great deal of exploring on his own, as I was otherwise occupied. He knew where all the free food and drink was on evey deck of the ship. We had a nightcap and off to bed for our first night at sea.

Next -- Ports of Call, Juneau, Glacier Bay, Ketchican, Skagway, Victoria.

BACK IN BAJA!!! HOT! HOT! HOT!

2010-09-22T16:16:00.002-07:00

Well, we're back in Baja and it's hotter than most Septembers and a new "heat wave" is expected to arrive this weekend, so we really didn't escape all of it, but had a great time in all our travels, which I will write about later.

THE ROAD TO SAN FELIPE IS FINISHED!!!! But, there are some major drop offs in places and some of it wasn't marked yet, as we came through. No center stripes and side lines. The new Military Stop is also finished and provides great shade for the soldiers and those of us waiting for inspection, which is alot more thorough, in both directions, than in the past.

Thanks for all of the emails asking when I'm going to finish writing about the trip. Cruise to Alaska and traveling across Canada from Vancouver to Calgary and then South into the U.S.in July. It was incredible -- more to come. Then we took off for the month of August, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah -- can you believe we have children in all of those States but three? Amazing and fun trip.

For today I'd like to give the Baja followers a little update. Overall, other than being hot, it's very, very quiet. Most Campos have only one or two open houses. Hopefully the rest will return in October when it should cool down.

Chulu and friends were down for the weekend and had a great time with Adam and his boyhood friends, Sammy (the great cook) his lovely wife and 5 yr. old son, who just about lived in the water were his guests. First visit in five years for them. Then our eleven guests, the Washburn families, from Orem, Utah, 3rd trip here, arrived to stay in the Apartment and Kennys place for 2 weeks. Out in the water every day and taking side trips -- Mike & Ali and family members are on their way to Gonzaga today. We hear that road is finished to Huerfinito -- I'll let you know when they return. By the way, they ate in town at Chuey's since Chelo, Marina and Aniseto's have not opened for the season. They said the free appetizers were great (and still free) and the meal was delicious. The week before, we had guests from England who were staying with family in Oceanside and wanted some heat, so we agreed to let them come in early as we don't usually rent early in September. They ate at the Mini-Mart, almost daily and just loved it.

Brian Fuller and several of his off-road friends came in last week and left just as quickly on a bike ride down to Cabo. John Harshbarger came in earlier, by car to help set up the house and gets things ready for the riders next leg of the trip. They stopped in the Tecate area the first night (the 16th)and just about froze, then arrived here a bit late the next day after running into some fences up at Hanson Lake. Of course they were all warm enough for their night at the Fullers and left mid-day on the 17th when the rest of their group arrived. They are expected back around the 23rd. We'll hear more about that trip shortly.

Les & Bruce stopped for a moment yesterday at the gas station and said hi to Frank. Les may not be talking to me at this point as Kansas City is FINALLY in first place in "their" division. It's really "our" division Les. We'll see how that goes next week. That hasn't happened in years and years, as San Diego is always up there.

They are here on a brief trip. Les & Darlene will be back around the 1st of Oct.; Dick & Fran will be arriving Oct. 6th or 7th, and Marino and Carol should be in around the same time, so this end of the beach will fill up quickly.

We'll have guests from Monterey and Saltillo, Mexico, on the 1st of October. Dr. Ruben Rivera's family who are arriving for his Church wedding to Laura, Dr. Lopez and Chelo's oldest daughter, finishing up her residency in Monterey, but returning home for the big day. Can't wait! Maybe Chelo's will open after that!!!

Town, was extremely quiet, little traffic and fewer people on the Street. It was Tuesday and the Veggie Lady was set up on North side of Chetumal in her usual spot. I went to Rivera's for some groceries and prices seem to be holding. My total bill was $24.59. That included about 16 items, including a half gallon of 2% milk at $2.14; half pint of sour cream @$1.39; half pint of Crema @.67; Kilo of Puerco (Pork) Adobado @$3.74 or $1.87lb; 1 kilo Cucumbers @$.95; 1 lb of beautiful big tomatoes @$.83. Best buy of course is limes $.38 for half a kilo -- got Rum? Clorox, a poor grade of plastic baggies and a bottle of Maestro Limpia (Mr. Clean) were the higher priced items at, $2.50; $2.09 and $1.72 respectively.

We bought propane for the Kenny's 45KG tank, now at $39.60. A small tank is $8.80. Five gallons of purified water is 8 pesons or $.66. We bought our usual 15. The big water plant in town, off Chetumal is now closed and you have to go around the Glorieta and up the hill, to the water & ice company on the left. So hard to get in and out of the place. There is another water place coming into town, near the new OXXO, but their price is almost double. Sad -- this is a heavily populated Mexican area, most of whom don't have jobs now. Gas is at 8.2 pesos a liter and 9.5 for the higher octane. Diesel is $2.52 a gallon. The Peso is at $12.20 to one as of 9/21/2010.

I also stopped in to pick up my FM3 which I had left with Hugo, who has now moved next to the Pioneer Cemetery on Chetumal. Great A/C and beautiful office. The process has changed considerably. He gave me a sheet of paper and I have to take it to Immigration to get my new FM3, which is a Credential. A card if you will, much easier to deal with overall, but easy to lose as well. I'll tell you more about it, when I get it, as it was 1:00PM and Immigration is now open from 9:00 to 1:00 daily, so I'll finish that up on my next trip before the end of the week.

In the meantime, the Ocean has been extremely restless. Between the banging surf at night, making it very hard to fall asleep, much stronger than we usually have, and some of the largest waves we've ever seen -- surfers could have a heyday. There's a great deal of erosion going on this week, with tides, moon and storms all in the right place at the right time. Tropical storm Georgette is just a bit South of us and should hit the Sonoran Coast today, and run over Hermosillo through central Mexico. We are "scheduled" HA!!! to have rain by tomorrow evening. I'll let you know how that goes.

A "tidbit" we've heard-- we understand all Ejidatarios must provide us with a special receipt, written in duplicate, on a special form, when we pay our rent starting in January, 2011. A new law from the Hacienda (MX IRS) to make certain all taxes are paid from our rentals, to the government. That's a good note to end on -- aren't we all thinking of taxes in some form or other these days?? Take care. More to come.

JULY TRAVELS FROM TEXAS! HOT TEXAS!!!

2010-08-17T22:14:00.000-07:00

It sure doesn't pay to get behind in my writing. It's like having a big basket of ironing waiting that just has to be done. Not that I have any big baskets waiting for me anymore, but it always seemed to pile up and sometimes, like now, I just didn't know quite where to begin.

I think I left off in Roseburg, Oregon, where Frank was staring down that huge plate of biscuits and gravy. It seem so very long ago, but I'll try a recap from there.

We left Baja on June 30th and drove to Seattle. It was a great ride after we hit Oregon and then on to Washington. Our daughter had made arrangements for us to stay at a Sheraton for two nights so we could spend a little time exploring before our July 4th cruise.

On Saturday morning, we headed down to the waterfront and of course the first stop was at the world famous Elliot's, a must for oyster lovers like me.

This was my breakfast! There were 32 varities to choose from and if I could have afforded to eat all 32, I would have. As it was I tried about 16. They were huge and absolutely delicious. I followed that with chowder and salad. Frank was busy eating warm, home made bread and a fantastic sandwich.

The waterfront was crowded and we could see all kinds of activites from our table. There were several tour boats going around the bay and I thought maybe we should try one and get our "sea legs" started, so that was our next stop.

The weather was perfect with only a slight sea breeze. The Seattle city scape from out in the bay was beautiful.

That ship you see at dockside was an NCL (Norweigan Cruise Line) ship that had arrived that morning and was being readied for sailing that same afternoon.

After we returned from our little bay cruise we hopped a double-decker bus for a two hour ride throughout the downtown area, by the Space Needle, Shopping Districts, Old Town and even along the coast. We found the parts of the City we visited to be extremely clean and fresh, and full of flowers and pretty happy people overall.

Headquarters to Microsoft and Starbucks, just to name a few, make Seattle an incredibly charming and expensive place to live, full of casual professionals who take health, recycling, exercise and good living, very seriously. If I were twenty years younger, I'd love to live here!

We took a ride down to our Pier to take a look see at where we'd park in the morning and approximately how long it would take to get there from our hotel. After that we parked the car near the main market which was packed with people, as were all the streets in the neighborhood. We went further on foot to hunt down a dinner restaurant in a commercial alley, on a tip from our neighbor, Darlene. It was called, THE PINK DOOR. Only one problem -- you had to find a pink door, as it didn't have a sign of any type. We went in and out of all the doors of funky pubs, restaurants and shops in this very narrow alley. Half way down a car parked in the middle of this pedestrian only alley, and we had to walk with our backs to the wall to get by it and continue our search. It was getting a bit tight when I saw an open door and stepped back into it. It was PINK! We had inadvertently arrived. Walking down a stairway and out and up to a deck, we were lucky to get a table, without a reservation as it was already packed. Maybe it was because I told them we had heard about them in Baja and had just driven a few thousand miles to get there.

Our dinner was delicious and well worth the alley squeeze!

From there we drove around the city and headed back to our hotel, to get ready for the really big day, July 4th and our first Alaskan Cruise. Could hardly wait.

A FEW PHOTOS

2010-07-30T16:41:00.009-07:00

I just had to publish this photo of Frank, waiting for me in the lingerie department at Macy's in Montclair. I referred to our "first vacation stop" in my last blog, over a month ago. I caught it on my new phone, then my granddaughter, Sara Skye, in San Francisco showed me how to get it to my email, then I opened it on my new computer here in Palm Desert, and was finally able to publish it in my blog. This only tells me, I sometimes figure out some of the newer marvels of technology in order to save precious photos like this one! PRECIOUS & OBLIVIOUS!

We're back, temporarily, ------- sort of, at least for a week or so, and then head East to Texas. We've traveled over 4,323 miles from Baja to Seattle, to Vancouver, to Calgary, down through Montana, Idaho, Nevada, San Francisco and here we are in Palm Desert, on our way to Mexico for a few days before we head out again. Our VW TDI (diesel) has saved our budget. We've only spent $322 so far. Not bad!

I'll get as much writing done as possible, along with some great photos of the cruise, Canada, which we fell in love with and the rest of our trip.

Don't have much time, but thought I'd catch up with a few photos I referred to in my last blog -- this was our first stop in Oregon, on a tip from Les!

This was the place with the BIG HAMBURGER -- REALLY BIG --

AND THEN, we ordered -- or "he" ordered -- he's not asleep - but I think the thought of "eating the whole thing" put him in this state.

Hope everyone is having a cool summer and enjoying family and friends. Until later ---

UPDATE!!

2010-07-02T21:46:00.002-07:00

Had breakfast this morning in Sutherlin, Oregon, at Digger Don's!! It was great. Frank had biscuits (a half loaf of bread) and gravy. I had 2 huge pancakes and bacon. We knew we weren't going to eat for the rest of the day, or at least until dinner.

The Hamburger Special was not $21! It was $22.95 and served with french fries and 4 forks and one knife. NO, WE DIDN'T ORDER IT. We just read about it.

Drove up and hit our first traffic jam in Portland -- was like crossing the border -it took forever and it was at 2:00 in the afternoon. I have never seen so much green - not even in Yellowstone. It's so incredibly beautiful and there's rain -- cool, cool, rain which started shortly after we crossed the river into Washington State, as we continued our drive North. We really slowed down again for an accident about 5:30 near Tacoma, but arrived in Seattle in a light rain about 7:00.

Staying at the Sheraton, compliments of my daughter, Deb, who works for Starwoods. Less expensive than Motel 6 and 50% off for meals. Great room - then had dinner at the -- Azteca. Yes, I know, but it's Friday night and no Chelo's in sight, so we made do. Great dinner and Margarita. We went for a long walk after dinner, beautiful damp evening, easy to love this place. Tomorrow off to tour Seattle and check out two more restaurants -- The Pink Door and Eliott's, that is if we can do two in one day. I kind of doubt it at the rate we're going.

Still no photos, but hopefully I can get it all together tomorrow, as I have some great ones -- mostly of Frank eating and those almost nude mannequins.

Until then ---

WAIT A MINUTE HERE!!!!

2010-07-01T21:43:00.004-07:00

I know I write as much as I talk sometimes --- but one needs to read the whole thing to get the real jiest of things. I'll try to keep the blogs shorter in the future.

First of all, WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE at the moment!. For now, we just have another home, in the States, like the rest of you. We aren't moving any time soon --- Carol Fuller wanted me to give her keys to Pat & Jack and a few others are saying goodbye, sadly, etc. We need to sell our present house in Baja. It's summer, it's hot, we're not there. and I don't see anyone chomping at the bit to make us a "healthy" offer, yet! For others, well, don't get too happy to soon. We'll be back after our cruise, trip to Canada, etc.

There is ONE BIG DOWNSIDE to all of this. We can't take Ita with us, if and when we sell. We'd have to cut her down to 12" high and she'd have to lose about 60 lbs. (thank goodness there was no height & weight requirement for me - had to say that before Les did). Anyway that's one of the reasons we hope we don't sell for awhile unless we can come up with a really good home, for a really sweet, but big and healthy Ita! We thought Juanita & Mike could add her to their family of 3 dogs or maybe she'd stay in the Poblado with Chelo who has lost 4 Chihuahuas to coyotes -- Ita could protect her little ones, however, I think she needs to be nearer to the water to fish and swim three or four times a day -- enough of all that, we'll work it out, eventually.

June 30, 2010-WE’RE ON OUR WAY!!!

We arrived in Palm Desert late Tuesday after we ran around town trying to pay our Gas, Water and Electric, in advance, since we wouldn’t be “home” for our first bills, something we’re not use to paying, for the past 11 years.

Believe it or not, we found out at the last place that there’s a great Mexican market very close to our house, on Hwy 111, and not only can we pay all utilities there (until I set them up on bill pay), they have the best meat market and other delicacies we’re use to buying in San Felipe. Mexico is everywhere!

Washed and dried two loads of clothes (no generator or water truck needed) and ended the evening sitting on the patio with Frank’s favorite sherbet, enjoying the cool evening breeze in the moonlit night, mountain views, and finally turning in around 11:30.

Woke up at 6:00, finished packing, loaded the car, posted some “Baja For Sale” brochures in the Club House and we headed out of town. I love driving almost anywhere, except the road to L.A. Frank bought a newspaper for me to read along the way and I found this great sale at Macy’s in Montclair. That was our first “vacation” stop. Was able to buy a beautiful comforter set, (no bedroom set for the 2nd bedroom yet) on sale of course; some makeup I can only buy at Macy’s and then stopped in the Lingerie Dept., where Frank caught up with me. He found a seat and barely noticed the three scantily clad mannequins around him in black nighties. Others noticed however, and big smiles greeted him, as it all flew right over his head. I have a great photo, but it’s in my cell phone. When I figure how to get it from there to here, you’ll see it. (Anyone have any suggestions for me? I have a "droid".)

We had planned to take I-5 to Stockton for the first night, but then Frank remembered a great Basque Restaurant in Bakersfield, so we ended up on the 99 – we arrived around 3:00 in the afternoon, closing time for most, but ended up at the BASQUE CHALET a restaurant that figured out, business is good anytime of day in this economy.

An Asian owner was busy learning about her hormones from a salesperson and a Mexican bartender, waiter and cook finally took our order (1 man, 3 jobs). We were totally disappointed in the food, but we had a very good time and we didn’t even have a drink!! We now know, Frank’s memory of THE BASQUE RESTAURANT, has somewhat faded in 25 years, so we were in the wrong restaurant. Next time, whenever that is – it’s NORIEGA’S. But you must be there at serving time, one serving time for breakfast, one serving time for lunch, closes at 2:00, re-opens at 5:00 for dinner, one serving time. Communal eating at long wooden tables, all served family style. If there’s room you get to eat, if not and/or you’re late, you don’t! We do remember it as THE BEST. Another time.

We arrived in Stockton before dark, checked in and found that my camera needs a different kind of battery, therefore, no photos. Will buy them in the morning on our way to Roseburg, Oregon, the next stop for the night, on this great, long overdue vacation.

Before we left Mexico, I checked the Food Network for “Drive-Ins-Diners and Dives”, along the way. Places with great food, off the beaten track in places that look a bit beaten, but with great food. I have them worked in and out of our travels.

Les and Darlene told us about a place North of Roseburg, called Digger Dan’s. That will be our Thursday evening or Friday morning stop. Les said it wasn’t much to look at, but sure was a great place to eat and we just needed to order one meal for the both of us. Will let you know how that turns out. What he didn't tell us was that they had a $21 hamburger. With our budget, that should last 3 days. By then I should have Wi-Fi in our room and my camera hooked up.

Until then!

July 1, 2010 - still no camera!! We drove from Stockton this morning into Oregon. Frank was last on this road, on his way to Ft. Lewis in Washington, back in 1961, when he was drafted. I have never been here. It's absolutely beautiful, but most importantly, I've achieved my goal for this summer. It's cool!!!!!!!!

A beautiful drive, all the way. I have a GPS I "won" at Harrah's. How fitting to use it to get to Seattle, for the cruise I "won" at Harrah's. However, my GPS reflected the fact, under ENTERTAINMENT that we passed at least seven Casinos along the way. Frank, yes Frank, not me, suggested we take a break for lunch along the way. He stopped at Win River Casino -- hour and a half lunch and you know what break. Didn't win another Cruise however, we had a great lunch.

We traveled on, past the snow capped Mt. Lassen and Shasta Lake. They were incredible. Such green beauty is amazing for a desert lover.

Les told us he was born in Grant's Pass, Oregon -- so, in his honor, we stopped and I got a pedicure. Thanks Les, the people are great -- made no mention of the Chargers or short people and loved Mexico.

From there we went on to Roseburg, where we stopped for the night. Can't wait to go to DIGGER DAN'S and see if Frank will actually pay $21 for a hamburger, beans maybe, but a Hamburger, not my guy!!

More tomorrow and maybe photos -- from Seattle, where we'll check out some more great restaurants, as we have 2 nights there before we board the ship.

By the way, I recently found out that Internet runs $100 per hr. on the ship - along with the mandated gratuities of $12 per day per person -- can you tell I've never done this before? Frank thinks he'll get even with them, by eating everything in sight, but I don't think that's a win-win situation. Better I win in the Casino.

Almost all for now, but thanks again, for all of the supportive emails you've sent about our new home -- just remember, we're not quite ready to leave the old one! Saludos a todos!!!!

Well, Here It Is!!!!! Our Newest Front Yard!!

2010-06-25T23:33:00.000-07:00

My Blog Mentor, Annette, said I should introduce everyone to our new place – yes, our NEW PLACE, in Palm Desert, CA., via my blog. It was signed, sealed and delivered on June 15, 2010 - our excuse for being out of contact with so many of you. We had a 15 day escrow and it wasn’t easy, but it’s done and we absolutely love it.

Our front yard is at the 2nd Tee and has a lake with a fountain. If I try real hard, and have a couple of glasses of wine, it could be my new ocean.

We will be living at the Suncrest Country Club, in Palm Desert, CA – 73-450 Country Club Drive, No. 119, PD, CA 92260, if you want to visit, but call the same old number first, as we may not be there.

We decided to do this now because the market is “right” for buyers. If we were to wait until we sell our home here in Baja, we couldn’t afford to do this, so it was now or never. This was an incredibly good deal that started out at $169,000, 3 years ago. It was well under $100,000.

It’s a 2,000 sq. ft, 2 bedroom, 2 bath home, fairly well furnished,

with a great kitchen, of course --

patios on the golf course

magnificent views of the Santa Rosa Mountains --

and all the amenities we’ve learned to live without these past 22 years in Baja. We’ve only slept there 3 nights, but it was absolutely wonderful.

A new neighbor entertained us one afternoon -- almost walking into our house, uninvited of course,

but then had a little bout with a giant cat, whom he treed. When the cat got a chance, jumped down and ran across the golf course at breakneck speed, to the safety of his home. Oh, if I only had a camcorder for that one, but I'm sure we'll see more

We have so very much to do here in Baja and between the regular maintenance, all our additions and the everyday cleaning, and shoveling sand, it became as tedious as those winter days I remember in Chicago and Kansas City, shoveling snow. So it’s time to downsize and live in a place where water is plentiful and Frank doesn’t have to drive the truck to get it here and when we turn on the lights, I don’t have to be concerned about anything.

Most importantly, Frank won’t have to catch the wind generator anymore.

We have put our house on the market, sort of!!! No great hurry to sell it, in fact it's fine with us if it takes 2 or 3 years, as I don't think we'll ever be done with Baja. It's been a great ride lasting almost 23 years this October, with 11 of them permanent, even in the summers.

Speaking of the summer, we're on our way to Alaska, not to see Russia or you know who on her front porch, but just to finally go on a Cruise. What better place to go and board on the 4th of July to sail the inside passage. Then we're on to Vancouver on the 11th and Calgary, the 13th or 14th and hopefully Edmonton. After that we'll head South into Montana and might even see the notorious Glen & Judy, semi South Campos residents. Then we head over to San Francisco and Reno -- all in all, there's A/C everyplace we intend to go, while Jose and Eduardo hold down the fort here in Baja, feed Ita, and enjoy the summer ocean breezes under our palapa.

BAJA TIDBITS -- Although I've mentioned we are in no hurry to sell our place, two very nice places in Campo Azul, were on the market. One has been sold and another is pending. We'll be missing Dan & Steph and soon Mark & Becky. One more will go up soon, but I'm not sure if it's in Agua Azul or Cadena. Will let you know when the owner says it's okay. So, while the market isn't good for sellers, it's still on for some. Just need to be in the right place at the right time, as we were in Palm Desert.

Marino & Carol are back in Temecula for a bit and Les & Darlene came in Thursday with the last load of tile, Les so graciously donated along with the grout and thinset, to the Orphanage that Lana, her Church and Martin have been working on for several years now. Lana envisioned tile of many different colors and sizes and had planned to come down and work out patterns in the huge building. However, to her pleasant surprise, all the tile was the same size and it all matched. It's nice to have such generous neighbors who really work hard for the community as a whole. That doesn't happen in all the Campos even though there are a great many Americans helping out in many ways down here, on a regular basis.

Speaking of helping out. ZAPP, our dog and kitty refuge in the very hot desert, West of town, is sorely in need of funds, dog food, building materials, volunteers, etc. Go to Facebook and check out their page. You can even drop off SHOES which are sold on EBAY with the proceeds going to ZAPP. Better yet, go to PayPal and make a monthly pledge to help them stay in business, especially throughout the summer. For those of you who have pets, keep in mind what dog food costs for one, let alone the more than 200 they're trying to feed, water and keep cool, but most of all, keep alive.

Don't know exactly what's happening, but there are three work crews North of KM 23 on the road to San Felipe. I just came back from town, but they set up yesterday and look like they're here to stay for awhile. Each one is in a fairly bad vado (dip). Even the famous one with the naughty name which evokes much worse names when an unsuspecting driver hits it at more than 25 mph. The crews are set up in old army tents and have some very old equipment. Don't know what it is, but it's a very tall, metal tripod and almost looks like a well driller -- no, no, no, they are not drilling in our beautiful Sea of Cortez. All I can surmise is that they are going to install some huge drains similar to those on the Mexicali highway, and run the roads over them, in hopes that water, rocks, trees, etc. flow through and voila -- no more "Oh S---" dips. In any event, this may take awhile and traffic in all 3 areas is down to one lane, so just watch out for on-coming traffic, when you travel through this area. Perhaps they're getting ready for all the visitors who will come South on the new road to Chapala -- but it sure won't slow down the speed of all local and long distance travelers.

Town was extremely quiet yesterday and today, however, people were coming in as I started to head back to Cielito Lindo. It's a full moon, high tide special time of month and it's a weekend, so maybe there will be some business for the locals. They are desperate. If anyone comes to town, please buy all your groceries and anything else you need, locally. Yes, it costs a bit more, but it's all good and if you want to insure stores stay here and open, we need to support them.

Had a great Father's Day barbecue Sunday, for Frank, Pepe & Karin's (Chelo's Restaurant) Dad. The kids cooked for a change and we had a great afternoon.

The day before, our Godson, Allan celebrated his 4th birthday!

Can hardly believe it. His little sister, Sofia, "innocently" sipping her juice, on his right, will be 3 next month. All the kids in the Poblado came along with their Moms and Allan greeted everyone at the door of the Patio and thanked them for coming to his Cumpleanos and showed them where the gift table was.

Chelo, now walking with a cane from her broken leg, which isn't healing very well, and in physical therapy all week in Mexicali, made shredded beef empanadas which were delicious. A giant pinata topped off the evening, followed by a huge Chocolate Cake and Pistachio Ice Cream. As a side note, there's no way on earth one could lose weight down here -- there's always a party -- somewhere!

Now, we're off to Alaska!

Until next time!!

TIDBITS!!!!!

2010-06-07T20:29:00.003-07:00

Today I spent a couple of hours in San Felipe, renewing my FM3. Many of you may have already done this, but just in case there are some new regulations which I'd like to share with you. The new law went into effect April 30,2010.

Wondering why, after 22 years down here I still have an FM3 -- me too -- but my Immigration papers are somewhere in Mexico City, along with a few of our neighbors, after a five year wait, but they say "very soon" -- so I continue to apply for my annual FM3.

We will no longer have the green passport-like books we've had all these years. We're going to receive a laminated card, something like a "Mica" or a "Green Card" which immigrants carry in the U.S. While the process here in San Felipe is relatively simple if you have the right specialist preparing and submitting your paperwork, expect some glitches somewhere along the way, AFTER, you receive your new FM2 or 3, mainly in airports. That doesn't apply to most of us here in San Felipe, but if you're flying in and out of Mexico, retain your boarding passes, as proof of entry and exit, should you need them in the future. You can read more about this issue at www.bajanomad.com.

Mexicans carry a "Credencial". This entitles them to vote, and is what they must have in order to apply for a Passport to travel outside of the Country or obtain a Visa to cross the border. They also must have one to receive packages from mail services like UPS -- yes -- I know it sounds odd, but true. When we worked at El Dorado and packages were delivered via UPS, Frank almost always signed for them, as most of the Mexicans we worked with didn't carry their Credencial with them. It has all his pertinent Mexican birth information, address, brigh green hologram, signature and a fingerprint. When Frank votes (coming up on July 4th) he must present this laminated document which is then compared to voting books. He must sign the book before voting and provide his fingerprint before he gets his ballot. If there are any disputes later on, they actually check the book against the records in Ensenada. It appears they have less voting fraud than we do -- remember, I grew up in Chicago!

So, we'll all have our own FM2 or 3 card, sans fingerprint, however, we have to provide a great deal of information which was never asked of us before.

First you need to have the letter from the Bank-- that states you have sufficient funds -- $1,300 for individuals and $1,500 for couples. The Bank provides them free of charge. Your next stop should be the Delegacion -- or, City Hall. It's right next to the Fire Department. Stop at the desk on your left as you enter the door and ask for a "CURP" FOR YOUR FM3 OR 2. They will take the information from your current FM document and enter it in the State Computer and you will be assigned a number. It takes just a few minutes and is also free of charge.

You then take your U. S. Passport, current FM book, four "Infantil" photos (these are not your baby photos, these are just little photos), from CopiCentro, black & white only, front and side views, along with the bank letter, Curp document, and proof of address. Your electric or tax bill, or in the case of those of us who live in the South Campos, a letter reflecting you are a "rentista", name of Campo, address (KM) signed by your Campo owner, and copy of both sides of his Credencial.

The FM Fee, processing and photos, cost exactly 2,000 pesos. We use Hugo Valenzuela Q. on Chetumal, across the street from the Red Lobster. He's the former Immigration Officer at the Glorieta and I've found he gets the job done quickly and correct the first time. He also knows who to call about what, in the various governmental offices, if there are any special issues.

Then the questions: Height (he actually measures you); weight in kilos (he converts). He notes whether or not we are fair or dark skinned, eye and hair color, City, State & Country of birth; highest level of school completed; job title prior to retirement; number of children; any scars or tats -- I said no and he reminded me of my accident. Those on my shoulder have disappeared and then I remembered the
7" long scar on my left knee from my knee replacement. The last question was what was my monthly income. He completes the form, enters the information directly into the Immigration data files in Mexicali and I sign a few pages and I'm done. I'll have my very own "Mica" in about three weeks.

It was a fairly simple process, just a bit more personal than in the past. Remember, do not let your FM lapse -- all of them have an annual expiration date. There is a fine and extra charges are imposed and truly aren't worth the extra expense and concern of not getting it done in time.

If you have any questions, just call Hugo at 577 0710, or email him at hugovalenzuelaq@hotmail.com. He speaks perfect English and is easy to deal with.

A FOND FAREWELL TO AN OLD FRIEND

2010-06-03T02:25:00.003-07:00

Last Friday evening, May 28, 2010, several friends got together to say a very long overdue and fond farewell to one of our former Agua Azul residents, Donald Frank Paquette, 72, of Yuba City, CA, who passed away on November 19, 2008.

It was Don's desire to have a portion of his ashes spread in the Sea of Cortez, but for some reason, that did not occur until this past week. Four couples met on the ocean front patio of Dan & Steph Leidecker's home. Dan made his always great Margaritas and we shared appetizers, as we reminisced about Don, his wife Bernie, who had predeceased him, and our many adventures together over the years.

Don and Dan were next door neighbors and Steph could remember those early morning taps on her window to see if they were up yet -- that was Don, just jumping at the bit to start the day.

Frank and I first met Don & Bernie when a Catamaran sailed up in front of our house in November, 1988. They climbed up the hill, introduced themselves as neighbors from down beach and we became late in life-long friends.

We both had a great deal in common and shared stories about our families. Spent almost all Thanksgivings together at our Annual Thanksgiving Dinners, played cards, and mostly laughed as we enjoyed those early, really good days, in Baja.

Don always remembered my mother, Raffaella, especially when he was in a Casino, as he thought she'd bring him good luck. Later when he met my brother, he just loved to sit there and referee our sibling differences. The four of them would take cigarette breaks together after dinner. Don and Bernie's girls, Debra, Tami, Cindy, and Kim and their families always visited when they came down to the Baja. Their son, Randy, never made it to Baja.

Don and Bernie took a leap of faith and on limited income, retired early in Campo Agua Azul. They, like all of us, worked diligently on their house, although Don took a few shortcuts here in there -- like the shock you might get when washing their windows. They did a lot, with very little. Their love of this place was unequaled and each year they spent more and more time here.

They weren't slackers during their time away from here either however. Don read a great deal and they loved to go out with their Geiger counters, looking for all sorts of treasures. He staked a gold mining claim in the hills of Northern California, and regularly panned and found Gold. When he found out that Frank went to school in Amboy, CA., a spot on old Highway 66, he was chomping at the bit to go look for treasure that he had read about, further West, in Bagdad, where Frank's family had lived and worked for the Santa Fe RR.

The four of us and Blossom, their faithful dog, took off one weekend, and camped out under a railroad tressel. After a great T-Bone steak dinner, shared with a Santa Fe RR checker, we "attempted" to go to sleep. I struggled as trains roared by every 15 minutes or so, they slept soundly and safely in their truck. Frank was use to sleeping next to train tracks in the middle of nowhere, but not me. In the morning I was only too happy to make breakfast and get moving. Of course we started off with the Geiger counters.

Frank recounted where the General Store and Restaurant was, but Don & Bernie wanted to know where the dump was, as that's where you find the best treasures, but it appeared that it had been well searched, many times before.

We found the old, carefully laid, stone surrounded, campsite of General Kearney and his troops. They were on their way to fight at the start of the Mexican War in 1846-1848, where, as a young boy Frank had found a bayonet and traded it to a railroad worker for two bottles of Coke. A Coke, was a greater treasure to a young boy in those days, than the actual one he had found. But this day, we didn't find much of anything except for some beautiful old glass which Bernie collected.

We learned a great deal from them with regard to rock formations and bright terra cotta colors that might indicate mineral sites, even gold. I think of them often as we drive to Mexicali, past the Gold mine back in the terra cotta mountains to the West, near ElChinero. Don was never far off, just not quite close enough to the right place at the right time.

We then drove East, as Don had researched the area where General Patton's troops were trained in the desert, during World War II, near Essex. Once again, treasures lie ahead, in the form of military vehicles, tanks, etc. It was a published fact that hundreds, maybe even thousands of items were buried out there, in the middle of nowhere.

At this point Bernie and I took our truck and headed for civilization -- Laughlin to be exact and Don and Frank stayed behind to continue the hunt, and meet us a day later. Bernie and I were only too happy to get to our hotel room, shower and cool down in the Casino. The guys came in late the next day, dirty, dusty without a military vehicle or tank in tow, but happy to have had the adventure.

Don was forever hunting anything he had read about. The Sacramento Wash was flooded back in the late 1800s -- once again Gold Bullion flowed with the flood waters and Don had some old maps of the area, which Frank was familiar with as well -- off they went again and again with Geiger counters and Blossom, to keep them company. They always came back dirty, dusty and empty handed, but happy with the quest.

One of our best outings however, took place South of here, up towards what "we" called the Cimmaron Mountain. Our 14 yr. old Grandson, Cameren, had come to spend a week with us and wanted to go camping out in the desert. Steph was in Rancho Mirage that week and Bernie was no longer with us so there were just the five of us.

Don & Dan drove in Dan's "G-Man" special and we took our yellow dune buggy and all the gear we could carry. Dan also had charge of Steph's miniature white poodle, Buena. As we drove across the desert, we stopped in a great shady place to have lunch and Dan & Don had a few beers. We cleaned up our campsite and took off to find our all night camp. We kept in contact with radios, when after about a half hour out, Dan radioed us to turn back to last campground, and to hurry! We had no idea of why, but we turned and looked for the site -- which isn't always easy out there. They soon caught up with us, with a somber look on their faces. We asked what was wrong and Dan said they forgot Buena and we had to find her before she became a taquito for a hungry coyote. We arrived at the campsite, and there she was sitting under a shade tree, like a little queen. Little did she know she saved Dan's life that day!!!

We found our evening campsite in a beautiful canyon. We set up camp had a great dinner and some other libations. We had a tent and cots, but our Grandson Cameren, decided to stay with the "old guys". We could hear the laughter during the night, as the three of them sat up around the campfire, all night and told stories -- one of the best nights Cam had while he was here with us, and one of his best childhood memories.

Now, we are back to today, and our mission. Changes become a part of all of our lives as time marches on! So now it was time to comply with Don's wishes as his ashes and rose petals are readied for his last journey.

He will now become a treasure of the Sea of Cortez.

Dan was the "designated swimmer" for this event. Here he is heading down the hill as we, Steph, Pat & Jack, Carol & Marino and Frank & I say our last goodbye!

Dan is going out on the evening tide, at this point --

On his way back, a friend at rest!

Don and Bernie's house has since been purchased by Spence & Diane Carter.

Although they just had real estate dealings with him and didn't get to know him well, Diane is happy that we finally put him out to sea, where he wanted to be. She's hoping her lights will stop going on and off by themselves in the middle of the night. We shall see -- Don never wanted to leave here, so maybe, just maybe his spirit is still with us. Farewell dear friend, we miss you!

MORE TIDBITS --

2010-05-26T23:33:00.000-07:00

First of all the weather is absolutely incredible!! We've made up for the horrendous hot summer we had last year. It's still cool at night, days are bright and sunny and (all please knock on wood) the wind "seems" to have left us. Last winter brought us the worst winds we've ever seen in the 22 years we've been here, and at last, it's peaceful.

Aftershocks from Easter Earthquake Sunday continue in Mexicali and the countryside, but not here, so we're fortunate in so many ways. Dr. Lopez was attending a trauma class at the University in Mexicali on Saturday, when another 5.2 hit. He was quite surprised, but said that everyone kept order, no one panicked and they all moved out of the building quickly, in single file.

He was happy to get home on Sunday and came over for the "GRADUATION, NEW JOB & GOING WAY" party for Carlos, (Doctor's son-in-law) which was a bit belated, since we were at our nephew's wedding in Mesa, AZ the same day Carlos was graduated. We were joined by about 18 of his Ensenada training classmates and I cooked his favorite foods - Sausage Lasagna & Fried Chicken -- I know, I know, not too healthy overall, but haven't done it since Thanksgiving!

Carlos has been attending training classes in Ensenada for the past four months, for the Federal Electric Commission. After graduation on June 4th, he'll be leaving San Felipe, to work in the State of Mexico. Not Mexico City, which is the Federal District or Districto Federal - DF as they call it here, but in the State that surrounds DF. In any event, it's a big move and a long, long way from here.

Addy, Dr. Lopez & Chelo's youngest daughter, will graduate in December and will take our two beautiful Godchildren, Allan and Sofia, to be with Carlos, as he begins his new career. We're really happy for both of them, but wish they could leave the little ones. We will miss them and wish them well.

WELL, IT'S UP AGAIN!!!!

The WIND GENERATOR folks!!! Frank has been working on and off, since the January winds too down our infamous wind generator. Our good Canadian friend, Benny in San Felipe took on the job of strengthening and re-building it and then our friend, Don Fredell brought back the newly fortified 28 foot pole, on his truck. Frank had it placed on wooden horses at the site and painted the first coat or primer, a bright red. When I saw that color, I told him the color just wasn't earth friendly and that it would look much better if it was white or silver.

Since he needed to do a second coat, that worked out just fine. It took much longer however, to reconnect wires. Our neighbor Chulu and his friend Uzi worked with Frank for several days to pull and connect the wires.

Frank knew I had written a blog about the pole coming down. His "catching" it hit "You Tube", thanks to Annette's film work and David's computer skills. However, it didn't occur to him that getting it back up there would create great photos as well. While my sister-in-law, Kathy, and I were playing Rumicubes I looked out the door, and there it was -- a tall beautiful silver pole standing up -- no photos of them pulling it up with a wench and Chulu's buggy.

I had a few choice comments about it, but in the end they wouldn't take it back down, so I could get a photo of it going up, so this is the best you're going to get. At least it's up and running and this one is going anywhere!

Thanks to all of you who helped take it down, repairs, transit and getting it back up there. The equivalent of 7 extra large panels -- well worth it!

BACK TO THE WEDDING! Our nephew, Enrique Garza was married to his beautiful fiance, Dawn Marie, in a lovely ceremony in Mesa, AZ. on May 7th.

Afterwards. there was a reception at Dawn's parents' home, in the shadows of the spectacular Superstition Mountains. We both love that area so much, we returned on Saturday, hoping to find a "little" place further out in the desert that we'd like as much as we love our home here in San Felipe. That didn't happen, but we did have a wonderful evening at the reception, with great food and visiting with family and meeting new friends. We wish Enrique and Dawn and her beautiful daughter and dapper son, a wonderful life together.

After we got back to our son Frank's house, we stayed up "talking" to put it mildly until about 4:00AM. We were to leave on Sat. and be home for Mother's Day -- that too didn't happen, as we woke up fairly late, to find our other nephew, Frank who was out front visiting with Dolores and her Frank -- wow, Frank, Frank & Frank -- here's a photo of two of the three Franks --

the familiar one is mine, and the other one is Frank's nephew Frank, who was best man at his brother's wedding. The three Franks, Dolores, grandson Keanu and I all went out for Saturday morning menudo.

There was a barbecue that evening, after our return from the Superstitions and then we left, very early on Mother's Day, before anyone else was up. Had dinner in Yuma, crossed the border at San Luis, and arrived home before dark. Great little weekend and Mother's Day.

ECONOMY --- Mexico, is still taking a big hit because of the economy and the always bad press Mexico gets in one form or other in the U.S. If they really want people to stay here and work in a Country where tourism is one of it's greatest income producers, they need to stop with the overall warnings that scare tourists away. It's absolutely true, that there are unsafe places here, like Juarez, TJ and a few other Northeastern cities. But that's also true of the U.S. and no one issues travel warnings for parts of LA, San Bernardino, New York, Chicago, etc. San Felipe, and many other places here in Mexico are safe and better places to be at times, than in the U.S. They are just hanging on here, but once the summer heat hits, more businesses may have to close and more people may have to seek other means of making a living -- maybe in the U.S., to take care of their families, because it just isn't happening here. Hasta la vista!!!

"THE" DESIGNATED DRIVER

2010-05-16T14:59:00.008-07:00

I know it's been awhile and you may think I've had nothing to say, (ha!) but the problem is that I've so much to write about, I didn't know where to begin.

I have a dilemma with regard to writing something political and I haven't solved it yet, maybe by the next blog.

We had my sister-in-law, Kathleen, here with us for 3 weeks and I tried to force her to take a vacation. it wasn't easy, she loves to work and has a hard time slowing down. We had a good time however and I taught her Rumicubes -- Frank was so thankful. I think I wrote about our trip South to see how far the road is paved and our hot dogs at the Cow Patty. It seems like so long ago as time races on.

It's the time of the year when everyone, or almost everyone goes home, but not us, we're home, for now! They leave because they live in better climes, but you can't beat ours right now. The heat has not arrived. We can hardly believe it. I had already sweated off 10lbs by this time last year and I'm eagerly awaiting the same result, but I don't have much time left to do it.

Dick and Fran Burkes left while we were on a trip to the States for a root canal. We never got to say goodbye, -- sorry! We also didn't get to say goodbye to Don and Penny, who had not such a good season down here, except for the fact, that they are permanently back in their house, apparently without further problems, other than the Easter Sunday earthquake we experienced with them. We will miss everyone, as we roll into the usual very quiet summer doldrums.

We hear, because of climate change, the hurricanes will be in the Eastern Atlantic this year. Let's wait and see if we just have rough seas here, or???

I know, I know, it's less expensive in Mexico, however, we have some kookie insurance called Safeguard that covered the whole thing. However, they wanted $200 for Frank's extraction and $750 for our crowns, so we came back to Melina, our wonderful Dentist here in San Felipe whom Dick and Fran became well acquainted with for the last several months. She charged $50 for Frank's extraction and put that ugly thing in a cute little green mouse box that scared the life out of our Godson, Allan. The gold filling however, just happened to fall out while he was eating breakfast the morning of his appointment. I think it's worth about $1500 and I'm waiting to see if I'm going to get a gift of sorts.

He has many gold fillings, compliments of the U. S. Army back in the sixties. Bet they don't do that anymore. My crown was only $200, so we saved a great deal by getting it done in San Felipe. If you need a really good Dentist, who sings well, while she's working on you, is young, beautiful and very competent, you should go to Melina California, here in San Felipe. Excellent work, no pain, the newest equipment and great staff.

After all that it was time for Stan and Sharon to leave. Stan was at the Dentist too, however, Sharon, Kathleen and I wanted to have a "going away" party in town. Of course we recruited Frank as our designated driver as Stan didn't think he wanted to go through this with the "ladies". In the end, he may have been right.

We picked up Sharon around 1:00 in the afternoon and off we went to town. First stop was Vaquita II on the corner at the end of the Malecon. A great restaurant and fun place to go. We started off with Margaritas. Frank took off for some errands.

I think we had about 3 rounds of Margaritas with my oysters and their guacamole & chips before I switched to wine and we ordered dinner. Kathleen was not happy about the raw oysters I happen to love, something her husband, my brother, and I had in common. There are/were oyster and clam "joints" all over the Italian neighborhood we grew up in, in Chicago. During all of my pregnancies, oysters were my equivalent to others' pickles.

As we were finishing up with dinner, Frank returned and announced he went out and had a Pizza at Fat Boys, known to us as Mandilles, back in 1988. We spent a whole day right after Frank proposed to me here, in the back booth. He hired two high Mariachi players to sing to me, to "cement" this event. They were way off key and began to hit each other and got into a fight until someone put something in the jukebox and they were drowned out. It was hilarious, but it did cement the deal.

Frank appears to be giving us a lecture, but we don't remember much of this. After all, he was our designated driver.

I'm not sure what time it was when we left there, and went to North San Felipe across the road from Dr. Lopez' Urgent Care Center, to a place called the Jolly Man Bar & Restaurant. There was a great group playing, but I can't quite remember what they were playing. Frank stayed with us (wonder why) as we had a few more Margaritas and we all danced -- with Frank of course -- he could hold us up!!!

As we headed back towards town, "we" decided we should try one more place -- still don't know what time it was.

We went to an old hangout, The Barefoot Bar at the El Cortez. A few more Margaritas and lots of singing. The singing didn't start until after the head honchos from El Dorado, whom we had worked with for 2-1/2 yrs, had left. We were surprised to see them there and greeted them appropriately, as is the custom down here, and they us. We, I'm sure, had been the fly in their ointment, as we worked with them and made many needed changes, however, graciousness always prevails especially since we had one of their children in our English classes when we taught English at San Felipe de Jesus for a year.

Kathleen was talking to Frank about something or other. No other comment necessary, although Frank is quite attentive or is it incredulous?

Obviously I have no more photos, as I was so busy singing, I really didn't have time.

As the night went on, and on, and on, Frank started talking to the men I was singing with. They all looked like young professionals on vacation. There was a great Karaoke Machine, but by that time I had to get very close to read the lines -- all in Spanish. My Spanish becomes excellent, the more I drink, so they were quite impressed with my Spanish, or at least I thought so. The next morning my sister-in-law told me they were Priests on vacation! They just didn't start as early as we did.

We dropped Sharon off around 2:30 in the morning and we didn't pick up our truck which Frank had left there until 2 days later. Such is a BAJA GOODBYE!!! You should all try it sometime. BUT, NEVER, NEVER, UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF A DESIGNATED DRIVER!!!!! THANKS FRANK, AS USUAL. M/

TIDBITS---- or a bit of this & a bit of that!

2010-04-26T10:28:00.000-07:00

ROAD SOUTH - Last Sunday, April 18th, we headed South, with my sister-in-law, Kathy, who is visiting with us for about three weeks. The last time she was here, the road to Puertecitos was shale and rock after KM 63 or Campo Los Olivos. We decided to take the NEW road as far South as they have gotten since our last trip, just 3 weeks ago.

We were amazed, again, as we traveled South on this incredible highway with the most fantastic views and great workmanship.

We had decided to grab a hot dog and beer at the Cow Patty on the way back, as we thought we would be traveling only a few miles South of Campo Christina, where they were working on our last trip.

But, we drove and drove, a full 20 miles from Puertecitos -- all the way to the Hufertinos, up and over the Three Sisters range, and ended up at the flats that take you into Gonzaga, the easy part of the 69 mile trip from San Felipe to the Highway 2 Junction at Chapala.

The road was very well done and it looks like it will be only a month or so before you can go directly to Gonzaga, on pavement. What an accomplishment. Far better than the road to Ensenada from the turnoff to Mexicali. Maybe they will start that one next as it's heavily traveled.

But, be forewarned, there are no open restaurants between the Cow Patty at Puertecitos to the end of the paved road. By the time we returned, those hot dogs with all the fixings and cold beer really tasted good - they also have wine and chips. We thought we'd find the Mex-trans workers restaurant, however, never saw one, so stop at the Cow Patty or bring your lunch! Either way it's a beautiful ride. The other good news is that it won't be long before we can run down to Alfonsina's for lunch or dinner, fishing or camping, within a very reasonable timeframe.

CUCAPAH EARTHQUAKE UPDATE

Later in the week, on our way up to the States, we stopped in the Cucapah Village on the curve, after you go through the Salada. We wanted to drop off some supplies and see how they were doing. The Tribal Chief, Francisco Cecena Diaz, was at the Secondaria (Grades 7,8 & 9) along with Mextlio, (interesting Indian name). She was the head of the school and an intern, Heberto Castillo, who is also an Engineer, serving in two capacities. There were 11 students in Secondaria, and about 30 students in the Premaria. There are about 60 families in this community of approximately 300 persons.

The school is also serving as the collection and distribution center for those hit hardest by the quake. This was the group I referred to in my last Blog who had set up tents on the mesa, which was the only solid ground near there. All of the tents are off the Mesa, however, they are now sitting in the front yards of their houses. They have had continual aftershocks (replicas) and they are still sleeping outside.

Inspectors came in and checked each of the houses and graded them "A", "B" or "C". Owners were permitted to re-enter, cook, bathe, etc. in all houses marked "A". Those with a "B" required structural re-building of some sort or another and those with a "C" were scheduled to be torn down.

They explained to us that the waters "came up out of the ground" and some of it was very hot, when the 7.2 hit. Their damages were not from the Rio Hardy or the canal, as in La Puerta, thus the decision to move everyone to the solid higher Mesa across the highway where they would all be much safer during the first week when there were more than 3,000 aftershocks.

This is not a farming community. The majority of the Cucapahs are fishermen who are allowed two fishing seasons a year. We were a little confused by this as there's no water around here. They actually drive South to KM 77, turn left and go another 25KM East, out to the sea. This brings them to the upper part of the Biosphere, which is heavily protected, where they are permitted to fish for Corvina only twice a year. The roads in were impassable at this point and this was at the beginning of their first season, so they will have no income of any sort, until, and if the dirt roads to their fishing sites are repaired, by the 2nd allowable season. When they can fish, they bring in their catch daily, it's iced and sent off to Mexicali or packing houses. They have no idea of how they will survive until then.

The collection center had bottled water, flour from friends in Yuma, lots of rice, but no beans, a mainstay. We brought in clothing, face and hand soaps, shampoo, conditioner, body lotions, toothpaste and other toiletries. They will need more soap, both laundry and hand, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, diapers,toilet paper, juices, boxed milk, maseca (to make tortillas and tamales), potatoes, onions and of course beans, lard or oil and canned goods, as time goes on. It wouldn't hurt to buy extra when you drive North or South and drop it off at the collection center. This might be a good time to visit the Mercado on the West side of Mexicali and buy a few very inexpensive cases of fruits and veggies for yourselves and them. I'll write more about the Mercado in a few weeks.

They asked if we wanted a receipt and of course we said it wasn't necessary. They keep a ledger of all distributions by family name, item and quantity and appear to be very judicious in the distribution of all donations. Who knows how long it will take for them to become self-sufficient again. A good and easy chance for all of us to pay it forward. Don't forget them!

THE REST OF THE WAY!
For all of you who drive the Mexicali Highway fairly regularly, you're well aware of the new construction North of the Ensenada turnoff. That is now complicated by additional new construction between the Cucupah village and La Puerta, caused by earthquake damages. They are working hard to make these repairs, but it's a slow, tedious trip in places, similar to the old road South from San Felipe to our Campos, pre-highway.

La Puerta residents are still in their tents and their disaster distribution center was the largest of the three we saw up to the outskirts of Mexicali. These areas encompass many different Ejidos and are the farming communities of the Valle de Mexicali. Here again, no one can tell us how long it will take to clean fields, repair canals, re-direct waters, attempt to seed new crops and have a harvest. It's too bad that all we hear about in the U.S. media are the drug cartels of TJ and Juarez, and all too little about the hundreds of thousands of good, hardworking Mexicans who were hard hit by this disaster. Old news after the first few days, while Cartels stay in the limelight and keep Americans, Canadians and others fearing Mexico, at this most beautiful time of year.

EARTHQUAKE INFO - DELAYED!!

2010-04-16T14:12:00.004-07:00

Sorry I haven't written since Easter Eve. As I let all of our family and friends know, the earthquake was a dilly!!! The fact that I haven't reported anything on it is due to the fact that I wanted some good photos, but didn't get them, so I'll just let you know what we know and saw, to date.

We were up beach at Don & Penny Fredell's for Easter Dinner, with six other guests. Just sitting under the patio, (under their brick arches) on a beautiful, sunny, warm day. All of a sudden there was earth movement and I was out in the sand, Margarita in hand, telling the others to get out from under the patio and yelling for Penny to get out of the house, where she was finishing up our dinner. As we all stood on the sand, it moved steadily, along with the ocean, for what seemed like an amazingly long time -- it was the longest earthquake I've ever experienced. Big ones in Mexico City, Uruapan, Guadalajara, and of course Palm Springs had never lasted this long.

We all kind of joked for a bit, and then the intensity became a bit sobering -- then I saw Don's huge propane tank bouncing as it continued, on and on. We talked about the fact that if this wasn't the epicenter, someplace else was being hit very hard and hoped it wasn't a big city where so many could get hurt. Finally, as quickly as it started, it stopped. At that point,I remembered that we had five lovely ladies staying in the apartment, so I asked Frank to run home to see if they were all right --Frank found all five of them and our dear neighbors, Rich and Mary Ann Kenny, their dog Pan and our dog Ita, sitting in the sand in front of both houses, by then, just having a good time. All was well and Frank returned for dinner.

Everyone but Judy and I, returned to the patio and had a great Easter dinner -- we sat on chairs, well out in the sand and enjoyed our dinner without further excitement.

We expected aftershocks that night, but they never happened. We had taken some general precautions like moving the cars out from under the carport, and facing away from the house, towards the road out, just in case. Also checked everything to see if all was well, keys, money, purses, cards, etc. were at hand. As the days passed, we never felt one aftershock, although I understand there have been over 3,000, many over 5.2 and felt in Mexicali, Calexico, Yuma and San Diego. Deb, my daughter in Palm Sprigs, felt several good ones, but none here in San Felipe.

During the week I began to receive photos of the damage throughout Northern Baja. The epicenter was to the North and East of us, in Colonia Oaxaca, East of the San Felipe-Mexicali Highway, in the middle of many small villages, farming communities and the Poblado La Puerta.

It was devastating to small farmers and workers in the rural areas in between here and Mexicali. Later in the week as we drove up to the States, and passed the Military checkpoint at the Ensenada turnoff, the roads were fine, except for the construction in and around that area and we traveled on.

We headed towards the Laguna Salada, the source of the the quake and the first time this fault had activity in over 100 years. Then off in the distance, on a mesa to the West, we saw about fifty tents set up and a few outhouses, where the Cucapas (Indigina Tribe) were staying, on very solid ground, compared to the low level areas of their village. From then on we saw all kinds of damages, collapsed houses and as we approached Rio Hardy, where the Colorado River Delta flows in Mexico, we could see there was a great amount of flooding. Deep water on both sides of the road or alkaline dried mud in most of the front yards. The quake was strong enough in this area, to change the flow of water in the Delta.

We received photos of many of the homes along the river, which rose three feet in less than an hour and people were able to get to high ground as quickly as possible. The photos reflected all of the damages we couldn't see from the highway, but the devastation was complete. All of Campo Mosquedo, and their newly remodeled restaurant and cantina, along with new floors and palapas at dockside, were under water, as were all of the homes close to and river side. There's a large continget of avid American fishermen and retirees living along both sides of the river. Everyone was getting ready for their big annual Memorial Day bash.

As we traveled further North, big cracks in the medium and along side of the road began to become very apparent, along with deep water on both sides. Mex-tran (road workers) were working well into the night, creating detours where necessary and making road repairs where possible. As we approached La Puerta, almost every home had two to three tents out front, but on muddy ground. Their homes were intact, however, the Canal Pacifico had broken and they all had at least three feet of water flood through the whole area, and now five days after the earthquake, families could not return to the swollen-walled homes, with all of their lifework and property inside, soaked in muddy waters and probably fertilizers. Now they were left with tents and the clothes on their backs.

There was an emergency station set up at the fire department and there were long lines of people waiting for food and clothing. We don't know where it came from, other than it wasn't North of the Border, which was disappointing at best.

As the canal broke, most of the fields were completely flooded in the Mexicali Valley, a huge part of the agricultural growing area, destroying all of the crops ready for harvest. At this point we understand that there is very little help coming into this area, from anywhere. However, 128 Baja California Senators, donated one day of their salary, $33,000 in all, to create a rebuilding fund. It will provide materials to rebuild homes, along with 216 pesos a day per person, IF THEY REBUILD. That's $22. What can I say.

We also heard that Sal Fish of SCORE, head of the Baja 250, 500 and 1000 road races, which I wrote about a few blogs back, is in the process of collecting money, food and clothing, in Orange County, CA., for distribution to those most affected by the quake. If you're interested in donating anything, go to the Score website. www.score.com.

We continued our drive to the Border and although there was substantial damage and flooding all over Mexicali, we stayed on the outskirts as much as possible. Several families, returning to the States on Easter Sunday, who were on the road during the quake and drove into Mexicali, went through flooded streets where water mains had broken and it took them almost 4 hours, for the normal 30 minute through town trip.

We passed the largest glass plant in Baja, where they had emptied their huge warehouse onto their parking lots and loading docks, only imagining what kind of damage they had to clean up. We continued on through an industrial district and saw the fallen facades of buildings. LG has a major plant on Caranza and all we could think of is thank goodness this happened on a Sunday, as we saw the whole side of the office portion of the building had fallen away and you could see desks and wires and re bar hanging from each floor. The front of the fairly new B. F. Goodrich plant was gone as well.

There was major damage all throughout the City, especially in the central district, which parallels the border and Calexico, CA, which was so badly damaged and only partially re-opened yesterday, thirteen days after the quake.

There were two deaths reported in Mexicali and hundreds were hurt during and after the quake. It is absolutely amazing there were so few fatalities and injuries considering the magnitude and depth of the quake in a City of one million persons and maybe another fifty thousand in the outlying areas. To say that those of us in San Felipe were extremely fortunate, is all at once an understatement and a blessing.

Hopefully, all will remain quiet for a long, long time!

HISTORY AND TRADITION!!!!!

2010-04-03T21:00:00.001-07:00

There is a very old tradition in our family that started long before I was ever born. It began in the Provence of Potenza, Basilicata, in the Village of Calvello, next to the more renown Provence of Calabria, in the arch of the boot of Italy. This is where my Grandmother, Felicia Locaso Carbone, was born and raised until she, as a very young girl, along with her younger sister, Carmela Locaso (later Guanci), got on burros, high in the Vulterino Mountains, with my Uncles, Frank and Michael, ages 2and 3, and headed for the Port of Naples, to come to the United States, in 1895.

We were told this trip of 131 miles, may have taken more than a week, from Calvello, down through the winding mountain passes, across 3 Provences, to the Port in Naples, where more than 5.4 million Italians immigrated at the end of 1870s to 1920.

Frank and I took that trip in 1998. It took 4 hours by train from Naples, 2-1/2 hours by Taxi from Potenza, for a total of 6-1/2 hours. We were in awe that my very young Grandmother, her two babies and her younger sister could even make such a trip.

My Grandfather, Rocco Carbone Sabatini, had left my Grandmother and their two sons in Calvello, with her Mother, my Great Grandmother, Giovanina Picerni and her other daughter, Madeline, for a promise of a paid voyage to the United States, where a job would be waiting, in a placed called Chicago.

My grandmother's two brothers left Italy at about the same time, but they went to Argentina to seek their fortune. Unfortunately I learned they were not successful and returned to Italy after several years, without a penny, and never married. The only vestige of their existence was a souvenir, a metal sugar & creamer set on a tray, on the table of my cousin, Madeline in Calvello, that said "Argentina". It was handed down from her mother, the sister of my Grandmother, who never left Italy. Little was said about them.

Recruiting agents in the Southern part of the Country, through friends and word of mouth actually created a mass exodus, if you will, of people who had long struggled on farms in villages in the South of Italy and nearby Islands, like Sicily, where Joseph LaLima and Lena Aleo, the paternal Grandparents of my three children, came from when they were only 16 years old. Joseph found work in the mines in Southern Illinois, however, his marriage to Lena Aleo had been planned by their parents, long before they left Sicily. They were married at a very young age in DuQuoin, IL and had four sons.

This exodus from Italy was due to hunger, more than anything else, and the great need for workers to build a new County, called "America". This would create a new future for all and fortunes for many. Although conditions under which they, and millions of Immigrants from all over the World, worked and lived were deplorable by any standard, their work ethic and hope to build a new life in a new land and the fear of failing or having to return to Italy, penniless, like my Great Uncles, kept them moving forward and upward.

My Grandfather went to work as a stone mason, and started saving all he could in order to pay the for the passage for the voyage of my Grandmother, my Great Aunt Carmela and my two young Uncles. I marvel at the courage of these two young girls, along with millions of others, leaving the only life they had ever known, to get on a ship and travel to a land where another language was spoken; one which they never learned, English.

Those arriving after 1885 were greeted by the Statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor as ship after ship moored in the lower bay of New York and immediately placed the immigrants in quarantine. They were given green ID numbers and placed on barges to be moved to Ellis Island for processing. At the height of this huge immigration up to 5,000 persons from all over the world were processed DAILY.

The Carbone (later changed to Carboni) family worked hard, as did most immigrants. My Grandmother had 9 children. My mother Raffaella, was the first to be born in the United States. She was forced to quit school in the 6th grade to help take care of the younger children. They purchased their first house in the Italian neighborhood off of Halstead St. The family lived in the basement, rented the upstairs, and raised and sold pigs in the backyard. That house is still standing, from the early 1900s. When we last visited there with my Uncle John, the owners came out, but my Uncle couldn't talk to them, but we could, they were Mexican Immigrants. They were pleased to hear the history of the house and to know there were people just like them, almost 100 years ago, who came to the U.S. for the same reasons, and were very successful. I wonder how many immigrant families lived in that house over those years.

When my Grandmother sold the Halsted St. house, she invested the proceeds in her next house in a very nice, non-Italian neighborhood, on Ridgeway Avenue, in the Lawndale district. It was a big two-flat with a basement. Once again, she rented out the top 8 rooms to a family, lived on the first floor and rented out the basement.

Many years later I was born in that house, and my Uncle John, who passed away 2 yrs. ago at 97, and his wife, Aunt Helen, lived upstairs. The downstairs was large enough to be divided into two apartments. After I was born, we lived in the front and my Uncle Frank, the one who had come from Italy via a burro and a ship to Ellis Island and his wife, my Aunt Lottie, lived in the back half.

Retaining the second house for her older children, my Grandmother and my Uncles then built a beautiful 3 story 17 room house, of quarry stone, on the very outskirts of Chicago, exactly one block from the City limits at Harlem Avenue.

My Aunt Marie & Uncle Rip lived their whole married life in the 5 room top floor; my Grandmother and two unmarried Uncles lived in the 8 room, main floor; and various Cousins lived in the 4 room basement apartment over the years. After my mother became a widow, and my grandmother began to age and became ill, my mother, in the Italian tradition, as the oldest daughter, moved back into one of her childhood houses and took care of my grandmother, and her two brothers, until all had passed away. I sold that house in 1995, to ---- yes, Immigrants from Peru. Ancient descendants of the Incas. No problem speaking to them either.

As a baby and a young child, I stayed with my Grandmother, and my Aunt Marie, upstairs, in the early 1940s in that last house on Neva Avenue. Our days were spent walking over a mile and a half, to the Italian Meat Market, the Italian Fish Market, the Italian Fruit & Vegetable Market. It's called Caputo's, and it's still in the same place, on Harlem Avenue, only ten times larger and caters to Italians, and ---- yes, Immigrants, Mexican. I think you get the idea.

I did the required translating, just in case we couldn't find an Italian store for something or other. The rest of the time we picked dandelions for salads, in the spring, in the empty fields all around us and tended to a huge garden where she grew everything that she could possibly grow in Chicago's very short growing season, and then canned it all for the winter.

At the same time, my Great Aunt Carmela, the sister who came to the U.S. with my Grandmother, lived in her own house, a few blocks down the same street, raised chickens, and of course, there were eggs and that goat, for milk, for her equally large family. Between the two of them, no one ever went hungry. I was told they used to take the streetcar to the big market and buy cases of grapes. No one knew how they got them loaded on the streetcar, only that my Uncles and Cousins would come with wagons to take them home, a few blocks away and they would make wine, for the year. There were four big barrels in the cellar. Tables were always brimming with food, wine for special occasions and especially on Sundays.

My Grandmother baked her own bread, daily. She made her own pizzas as well. Of course, none of that was unusual in those days almost all immigrant and non-immigrant families did the same. I use to sit on the stairwell in the basement, where she did her cooking, as a child and watch her pour a huge amount of flour into her bread pan, which I still have and use, along with her bread board,

then she'd make a deep well in the center, add salt and water, then the yeast, (and sometimes eggs) and she would knead the dough for a very long time, or at least it seemed to me to be a very long time, and make the most wonderful bread and pizza I've ever had. She also made the dough for her pasta in that pan and there was always a gravy (we never called it spaghetti sauce -- you put gravy on pasta not sauce) cooking on the stove, almost daily, made with pork neck bones, which I still do today.

As time passed and I married into the Lima Sicilian Family (formerly La Lima, but changed at Ellis Island, to Lima). I continued with my Grandmother's traditions, but now I had to learn new ones, these were Sicilian and never the twain shall meet. I was such a young bride I never understood the differences until many years later. Actually, there were no differences, just cultural stubbornness. An example; my Grandmother could not understand my husband's grandmother, and vise versa, so we did the translating. Think about it, if I could tell my husband what my Grandmother had said and then he could tell his Grandmother, the only issue here was that they refused to talk to one another.

I soon learned to make "their" raviolis, with spinach and meat, 1" square, with a ruler; instead of "our" raviolis, with ricotta cheese in various sizes; "their" gravy, with tomato sauce, but without tomatoes, instead of "our" gravy with tomatoes and tomato sauce, and so on. However, there was one thing I never changed and that was "EASTER BREAD". I didn't have to as they didn't make it. Each and every year, without fail, my Grandmother would make her usual bread dough, but not make them into her usual large wonderful round loaves of bread. The night before Easter was almost like Christmas Eve to me and my brother Bob, as we knew Grandma would have Easter Bread waiting when we arrived.

She would take pieces of dough and roll them into balls, and then roll the balls into long pieces of dough. When she had three pieces, she would bring the tops together and make a braid. She would then take the braid and make a circle. She would put a hard boiled egg in the middle of the circle, put an egg wash on the round loaf, and then put sesame seeds on top of that and let it rise. She would then bake it. On Easter Sunday morning we all received our own loaf of Easter Bread.
What a treat, but most of all tradition, that I've carried on through the years as have my sons, with their families.

This was also the time of year she'd make Calzone as well. Same dough, two large pieces. Place a mixture of ricotta and cooked Italian sausage on top of one piece, place the other piece of dough on top of the first piece and close it all around by pressing with your hands. This would make a very large loaf of bread. Let it rise, bake and while still warm slice into 1 or 2" pieces. You have a wonderful warm piece of bread with sausage and cheese inside. If there's ever any left, you put it in the frig and it's good cold, but you can always warm it up.

Throughout the years I've made Easter Bread for my children, my stepchildren, grand kids, nieces, nephews, my staff, their kids, my neighbors, etc. Last year, my niece Penny in Santa Fe, emailed me and asked if I'd send her the recipe as she wanted to make it for Easter. She did, and sent me photos and she's at it again this year. My brother would be really pleased to know that she's making one of his favorites, and something so special handed down from her Great Grandmother. It's amazing how childhood memories come back when you least expect them.

Overalll, it's been a big deal with a great deal of work, but that was then, and this is now. It's difficult to make and mail the bread to say the least. We have, 8 children, 18 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, need I say more? I still do it, but I have severely limited the loaves I make and the method. If you're here in Baja, you get one!

My Grandmother went through a tremendous amount of work, but that was circa 1945, and this is circa 2010.

I don't even make my own bread dough. I buy frozen bread dough and go from there. You can buy Bridgeford or Rhodes frozen bread dough in white or whole wheat. Each package contains 3 loaves. I changed it up a bit by personalizing each loaf and coloring the eggs beforehand. I make much smaller loaves, a double braid, instead of a triple (except for Frank, who loves------------- bread) as follows.

THE DAY BEFORE:

Hard boil as many WHITE EGGS as loaves you want to make.
Let them cool down.
Write the name of the person who is to receive the bread, WITH A CRAYON, on the egg.

Color the eggs, either with food coloring or a commercial package of Easter egg dye.

THE DAY OF, OR LATER IN THE SAME DAY, keeping in mind that the bread needs time to rise and you're not baking it at 11:00 at night.

Make certain you've defrosted the bread according to directions and watch it!!! If you leave it in the frig overnight and part of the day, it WILL GROW AND GROW. You can still salvage it, by kneading it down, letting it rest and going from there.

Preheat oven to 365 or follow directions on bag and prepare two or three baking sheets by spraying them with Pam, or olive oil, and then sprinkle corn meal over that. If you don't have corn meal, sprinkle flour over it and shake until it's fairly even.

Take the bread out of the plastic bag by cutting the bag with a knife or scissors. Leave it in the trays. Score all 3 loaves -

How you score them depends on the number of loaves you can make and whether or not you double or triple braid them. My two packages created 1 triple braid (Frank's) and 15 double braided loaves.

You can then cut them accordingly and roll each piece into a long length of dough, like a rope.

You will then take 2 or 3 of these pieces and braid them into an individual long loaf. Then take each end and pinch together to make a circle. Place the round loaf on the prepared baking sheet and place a colored egg in the middle, with the name facing up.

After you've made all your loaves, take an egg wash and brush it over each loaf. Try not to get the Easter Egg wet at this point.

Then take a hand full of Sesame Seeds and sprinkle over the top and sides of each loaf. It will stick to the egg wash.

You will then take your trays to a non-drafty place, cover the loaves with a clean kitchen towel (bath towels are too heavy) and let them rise until more than double in size, at least 2 to 3 hrs.

Place each pan in oven, bake at 365 or according to directions (brands differ on this, wheat at 350 and white at 375 -- but 365 has worked well for me). Remove from oven when done and let them cool.

You can then wrap them individually in plastic wrap with a pretty ribbon and hand them out, or put them in an Easter Basket.

And that is TRADITION! Over 111 years after my Grandmother left Italy for the U.S., I'm still using her bread pan, bread board, and a few modifications, and hopefully making some people as happy as she made me as a child on Easter Sunday.

Happy Easter to everyone and I especially hope my children and grandchildren enjoy the history lesson.

KINDER SPRING FESTIVAL IN THE POBLADO!!!!

2010-03-23T12:05:00.019-07:00

SPRING HAS ARRIVED IN BAJA! While spring flowers are a bit more difficult to come by in the desert, our four good rainy nights have created an abundance of color along the trails and mountains. Purple Verbena framing the roadsides and in the Campos makes up for a fairly windy March.

Spring is celebrated in the "KINDERS" (kindergarten) throughout the Country and primary schools. Children are decked out as spring flowers, animals, trees and anything relating to spring. Their artwork depicts spring in it's fully glory.

It's one of those fun days all kids look forward to, just before Semana Santa - Holy Week or Easter. There are special programs all over; each school in San Felipe and the one we attended, in the Poblado Delicias in the South Campos, held them last Monday, March 22nd.

In larger cities there are huge parades which are quite impressive and not just limited to the little ones. Each school has their own theme and music. There are smiles from ear to ear, on parents, teachers, spectators and especially the children. There are no better "drama queens" anywhere in the world, like Mexico. They sing, dance, march, and recite with the gusto of their "novelas" (soaps). In other words, they can really do quite a professional job.

"Our" Kinder is quite small, but their clever Maestra (teacher) Elsa Benitez, didn't let the small number of pupils stop her from putting on a great program for the community. There was a Queen of the Spring, Mariana, who looks quite pensive as she waits to begin the program, with a few of the "mice".

The 3 Blind Mice, (Julio, Allan (our Godson) & Chuy) take off on cue ---

There were a couple of well feathered chickees (this one is driven the 25 miles daily, from Puertecitos, South of here );

a fish (we're on the Sea of Cortez and we have more fish in the Spring);

and an older group of 2nd graders - marimba dancers whose Moms created cute costumes, on their very limited income. The dancers put on a really great show and never missed a beat!

The 3 blind mice, did two shows, the first among themselves; the second one had a huge cat following them and chased them off stage, presumeably for dinner!

After the show, we had a special Mexican lunch, cooked by the Mamas and Abuelas (Grandmothers) of some of the Children. Meat empanadas, tamales, refried beans and rice -- all dangerous stuff weightwise, but oh so good! However, we exercised restraint and only had one serving of each.

Most of the Moms who weren't working were there along with their brothers and sisters. Frank and I, our local hardware store owner, John, two women from the South Campos Community Center, and another husband and wife brought their beautiful twin granddaughters to enjoy the show and good food. Probably a treat for the twins, as there's little entertainment available like this, on a regular basis, for younger children.

By the way, the children in this kindergarten class are 3 years old. One of many not so well known facts about the Mexican school system is that children have 3 years of kindergarten. By the time they start, First Grade in Premaria, they know their numbers, colors, the alphabet, print their letters, names and start off reading.

We've had first hand knowledge of this as Frank and I taught English at San Felipe de Jesus Catholic School several years ago and were quite impressed with the Mexican school system overall. I taught First, Second & Third, and Frank taught Fourth, Fifth and Sixth. My third graders could do their times tables up to 15 -- that really amazed me. They are ten year olds. Many of the 14 to 21 year olds we enrolled in summer youth programs in the States, had to pass a short, simple math and reading test -- set to 6th grade levels. More than 75% had to take remedial classes in math and reading as they were substantially below this level. Some of our enrollees each summer were College Freshmen -- one really needs to think seriously about that.

While more young people in Mexico are going to University than ever before, there won't be jobs for all of them upon graduation and yet there is still a huge gap in those going on to higher education. There are both Private and Public Universities. One must pass the entrance exam in their chosen career in the summer prior to the start of school. Yes, they must choose their career BEFORE they enter a University.

The word College never reflects University attendance as College is generally a private grade school, but can include all four segments of the Mexican education system. It merely means it's private and one must pay tuition, similar to the U.S., it just has a different name.

The gap however, comes after they finish Premaria, which is 6th grade, especially in more rural areas. While that sounds extremely minimal overall, those 6th graders have much higher reading and math levels than the majority of our High School students and many graduates. I've had many students from Mexico with only a 6th grade education in my office skills classes in the U.S., which included accounting, and not one of them ever had a problem getting a job, and were much further ahead than my U.S. students, either high school drop outs or graduates.

A few facts about the Mexican school system:
1) All schools use the same books, Public, Christian, Catholic, Private, nationwide;
2) If a child transfers mid-year, he's within a Chapter in each subject of where he
left off in his prior school. Each school is heavily monitored to make certain the
curriculum is being strictly adhered to in the required time frame.
3) Many schools are on double sessions. School starts at 6:45AM - that's at dawn in
the winter, and they get out around noon. The second group starts at 1:00 and
they get out around 7:00PM, after dark. That's 6 solid hours of school and includes Saturdays. There are also two sets of teachers, one for each session.
4) All children through High School wear uniforms, which are school specific.
5) All in all, there are three years of serious Kinder; 1st to 6th grade is Premaria; 7th to 9th is Secondaria; 10th to 12th is Prepa.
6) Public Universities are free, however, you must pass an extrance exam in your chosen field, prior to acceptance.
7) If you change your mind (major) about what you want to be after you start
your University classes, you can switch careers, but you lose any credits you may have already earned; must take a new entrance exam and pass it, and
begin again. This could delay your education by a year or more. A really good example of this is Jose Manuel Lopez, our Doctor's son from the Poblado. He took and passed the test for Engineering, the summer after his graduation from Prepa. He finished 2 semesters and decided he wanted to be a Doctor, like his father, sister and grandfather. He had to wait a half a year to take the test among 500 others. They would only accept the top 100. Jose will graduate from Med school this November and start his internship in Mexicali and he doesn't even mind that he lost almost one year of credits and had to wait another half year to "begin again".
8) After you receive your Degree in your chosen field, it's only good in that
field. For example, we have Business Administration Degrees and Vocational
Education credentials, which are accepted in Mexico however, that does not qualify us to teach English for a living, in Mexico.

In mainland Mexico, most parents really push their children to get the best grades possible in the first 3 levels, to insure they get into Prepa, which means preparation for University entrance and the good grades insure that they will be accepted, if they pass entrace exams in their chosen profession. For those who don't make the grade, there are really good vocational schools in the larger cities.

As I mentioned above, rural Mexican children seldom have the opportunity or the money for their families to send them to University. Our Poblado Delicias is no exception in this regard for the majority of the youngsters who go to school here. We have no secondary --, so if parents can't make the 25 mile drive to San Felipe twice a day, or move there temporarily, they are unlikely to go beyond 6th grade, which extremely limits their futures.

However, the Poblado Delicias, as unlikely as it seems, has so far produced, six University students, who have either graduated, or are still in school. That's no small feat in this area. I've already mentioned the soon to be Dr. Jose Manuel Lopez, who has followed his sister, Dr. Laura Lopez Rivera, finishing up her last year of residency near Monterey, MX, and their sister, Addy Lopez Hernandez, in her
3rd year in Business Administration,(who has a 2 & 3 year old, our Godchildren) which is even more amazing) and the son and twin daughters of the former Profe. Martinez and his wife, both school teachers.

We have great hope as this class of three year olds continue with school, that maybe a third of them might go on to the University. At the very least, we are positive that one of them will, as he goes to Kindergarten daily, in his uniform, proudly wearing the ties we've given him, as one day he says, he will be a Doctor, just like his Grandfather, Tia and Tio. He knows his alphabet in English and Spanish, so he's well on his way. We are sure that will happen. Happy Spring!!!

OFF TO THE RACES !!!! PART II

2010-03-22T09:34:00.013-07:00

This is Part II of the Baja 250 Race ----- as they say in Spanish "siga" - continue.

We eat our snacks, lunch, and drinks, anxiously awaiting the sound of something, anything, from off in the distance. Of course, we discuss what we're going to eat at the next race -- think we're cooking out at that one. Alan, one of ur neighbors from Agua Azul, favors hot dogs. I favor hamburgers, only until I see the hot dogs cooking on someone else's grill.

It's already 12:45, and finally -- the first motorbike rolls by

not so quickly, as they are pretty far behind in the race so may have had trouble along the way, or the course may have been a bit more than they anticipated.

Then, off in the distance, we can hear it before we see it.

The first car coming through and it's really moving-- people head towards the course (not a good idea) to get a better look and all of a sudden it's there right in front of us, for only a second, and takes the hill in between the peaks,

as fast as it came off the flats and becomes slightly airborne, but never losing control. Unless that car had trouble further North, it would be difficult for anyone to catch up.

Thirty or so cars, trucks, quads and motorcycles came through, but well behind the first one. It came so fast, we had no idea of who it was, but may have well been the winner in that class. BUT, WAIT A MINUTE -- that black car was not the first car, it was a red one -- this was the second car and a photo blip for me as I missed the red car as it came barreling through, and spectators ran up to watch. I ended up with several photos, however, mostly rear ends -- those of the people in front of me, who really wouldn't appreciate my publishing them here, instead of the fast moving red car. Sorry about that I'll stand on our tailgate at the next race in November.

Following are a few more who made it through this far

We had heard that one of the favored racers had a problem with his GPS and received a 30 minute delay from race officials. There's a GPS tracking system set up with SCORE in each vehicle which insures no one leaves the course at any advantageous point which could lead to a short cut and quick win.

Well, WAIT A MINUTE AGAIN -- it looks like I did get a photo of that first red car -- here it is!!! Once I uploaded the photos and tried to pick out what I wanted to print -- I had missed this one -- perhaps because it's a bit dusty -- but this is it, and he did win!

The best of the best have the chase cars set up at strategic points, with radios constantly monitoring them for any signs of trouble and to make certain any unplanned breakdowns can be quickly taken care of. One of the cars pulled over a few feet off the course and came to a stop. But, no chase car.

--

By then a group of spectators ran towards the car and in less than a minute, Jose, a young man from the Poblado Delicias ran over to his group and grabbed a few tools and ran them back to the driver. We couldn't see what the problem was, but he was down for a very short time and back in the race. It's not unusual for spectators to come forward and help racers with unexpected problems, help fix them and get the going again.

Shortly after that we could hear something else coming, louder and closer. This time it wasn't a car, it was a helicopter, running just ahead of their car and letting them know what was ahead of them. An expensive, but tremendous advantage for any racer.

There have been at least three at each of the races we've seen. Today I only saw two, but we left before the last of the cars came through. Most years the whole race is filmed from a helicopter and can be seen on TV or at special events. We were able to see most of the 2008 race in Rosita's Restaurant on the Malecon in San Felipe.

Cars kept coming through -- and by late afternoon, we knew the race was over at the Finish Line, however, cars, quads, trucks and bikes would be coming through until dark -- just to stay in and finish the race. When we left, there was still a large group of spectators, but we had a great time and beautiful afternoon in the desert. We're looking forward to the November race, just before Thanksgiving.

I understand the "red" car was driven by Collins, who has won many desert races, -- won the race in his category. You can go on the SCORE or Desert Racing websites where all of the winners are listed, although it took several days to post as they experienced some computer glitches.

I could also "try" to be at the Finish Line next race and get some good photos of winners in every class, however, I doubt that I could even get close enough to get a photo, as the crowds are just too packed to get through. I could, however, post the winners in the "comments" section, as a follow up.

One of the many joys of living in Baja and in the South Campos, is avoiding large crowds and enjoying beautiful days out in the desert in our buggies, quads or truck, a cookout or Frank's favorite burritos and a glass or wine, along with good friends. Until the next adventure ---

OOPS - WIND GENERATOR POLE FOLLOW-UP:

For those who read the "taking down" and Frank "catching" the wind generator, I have a brief note. It's on it's way to town on top of Don Fredell's truck to be repaired????? Our guests, the Torres' family, Frank and Don were able to pick it up and place the 30' long pole on top of the truck. Hopefully, our good Canadian friend, Benny can repair and/or reinforce it, so we can begin again.

We're off to the Poblado for the Annual Kindergarten Spring Parade. All the kiddies dress up as flowers and animals and have a program -- I'll have a few photos on it later today. Our Godson, Allan is going to be a "raton" -- I don't think anyone told him, they're around all the time, but each child can pick what they want to be, so think of those pretty little mice running around, whom seem so cute at the first moment!

OFF TO THE RACES!!!! PART I

2010-03-18T18:43:00.021-07:00

Saturday, March 13th, was the famous, 24th Annual Baja 250, more formally known as the "2010 MASTERCRAFT SAFETY TECATE SCORE SAN FELIPE 250". This race begins at the Arches in San Felipe, well known for its off road races, through a difficult course; over desert, mountains, the worst boulder filled trails and a few so called "roads', like the old Puertecitos Road. It featurs some of the best high-powered beautiful and not so beautiful off road racing machines around. They're always on display on the Friday prior to the race in downtown San Felipe and drew extremely large crowds this year, despite the economy and negative press about Mexico.

There are two other well known Baja races in addition to the 250. One, the 42nd Annual TECATE SCORE BAJA 500. They run from Ensenada on June 4-6, 2010. The 500
runs through La Valley Trinadad, which is midway on the San Felipe-Ensenada Highway, and brings racers and spectators in to Ensenada and East towards La Valle. The other is the the 43rd Annual, TECATE SCORE BAJA 1000, from Ensenada to LaPaz, Penisula Run, Nov. 17-21, 2010. The 1000 will be running by us in November, and we'll be out to see that one with our neighbors once again.

The 250 course passes within 3 miles of our house, here on the Sea of Cortez, and we generally "tailgate" it with a group of neighbors. We all met at Dick & Fran Burkes' house in Campo Cielito Lindo, around ll:30, along with the Torres Family from Rosarito and TJ, who were guests in our apartment. it was a beautiful warm, sunny day, and for a change, no wind.

That yellow buggy is Alan's not ours -- we were following them in our truck, as we headed out to the course.

Dick and Frank led the group, followed by Spence & Diane,
first time race spectators. That's Dick sneaking into the background.

Fran, Alan & Ginette and Dick just waiting for something to happen

---

Then Miguel Angel Torres' Family, Wife, Mom, Daughters & Niece, umbrellas, snacks, sodas, still waiting -----

!!!!

Miguel is checking out the course, as we've been here for awhile and haven't seen a spec of dust, indicating the first group is on it's way.

Obviously we were there too and Mary Harrell, a neighbor from Playa Mexico took our photo, however, when I uploaded them, all that was there was Frank's bright orange shirt -- but I assure you, we were there.

When we arrived, there were canopies and umbrellas set up all over the East side of the course, with family and friends, cooking, eating (maybe a little drinking) music, etc.

Our Mexican neighbors from the Poblado Delicias had the largest contingent of onlookers and came well-equipped with a huge canopy, quiet generator, music, barbecue, tables and chairs. Their setup was the equivalent of one of our tailgate parties in the parking lots, during the Sunday Football games, in the U.S. But, the best spot appeared to be on top of the two peaks to the North of where we parked, already full of onlookers, waiting for the first cars to come through. The course goes in between the two peaks, so those willing to climb them, have a great view of oncoming racers, long before we do, and then once they hit that hill, they can keep them in view on the flats for about a mile, if they can see through the trailing dust.

The race started at 6:00AM at the Arches in San Felipe with quads and motorcycles leading the various groups, divided into several classes, including cars and trucks. From the Arches, they drive about 35 miles North, before vering off to the West, then come South through the Diablo Dry Lake, through Morelia Junction, all the way down to the big wash, Matomi, at the 120 mile marker. At this point they head East towards the old Puertecitos Road, which is a bumpy bear of a rock strewn road and head North at KM59. By the time they reach our group of spectators, they have already traveled 160 of the 250 miles, providing they haven't dropped out along the way.

I've been trying to publish this for over a week and ran into a problem uploading the photos and just found out, there is a limit -- so I'll continue by making this a 2 part series -- see you soon with Part II>

ONLY 3 TURNS AND YOUR AT THE NEW PORT & THEN WE WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!!!

2010-03-06T02:07:00.016-07:00

For those of us who travel back and forth across the border at any time, getting through Mexicali, and then getting in that long, long line to cross, is for us, the only negative thing about crossing the border.

It's become increasingly busy, no matter what time we arrive, day or night. We absolutely stay away from 3 day MEXICAN HOLIDAYS (puentes -- bridge meaning more than a 2 day holiday); U.S. HOLIDAYS; Mexican paydays, the 1st & 15th of the month and all Sundays as well, if possible. That doesn't leave much leaway in picking a really good time to cross, unless you have a SENTRI PASS.

Before I explain SENTRI here, from information I copied from www.cbq.gov, I'd like to tell you how to get to the new border crossing, with some photos, and only 3 turns, then I'll get back to Sentri.

Leaving San Felipe is getting better every day.

The "Mex Trans" workers are working seven days a week and we've even seen them at night. The new overpass at the Ensenada Junction was connected on our last trip --

It's a little rough through this area and to the North, where they have temporarily moved the Military checkpoint, but then you're on your way again on a fairly solid road.

A warning however. You need to slow down through the Salada, during and after wind storms, as sand drifts on the East side of the road have been fairly deep. This causes some North bound traffic to move into South bound lanes, without slowing down, and we've seen some pretty close calls and one accident so far. I'm sure there have been others.

Once you get closer to Mexicali, driving under the bridge and tollway, which takes you to San Luis or TJ. If you want to go to either of those two places, you must go about a half block up, make a U Turn, and go back to the tollway entrance, pay the fee and be on your way.

When you come to an area called "Robledo" an industrial district, you come to your FIRST STOP LIGHT, on the outskirts of Mexicali. Although it's not posted, the street name is CARRANZA. There's a PEMEX station across the street on the right, and you make your first turn here, TO THE RIGHT!

You stay on Carranza all the way across the South end of town, through the industrial district, past B.F. Goodrich on your left, over the railroad tracks and the

LG plant on your right.

Just STAY ON CARRANZA, until you get to what I call the "crazy" intersection, crossing Cardenas. At this point there's the Bimbo Bread plant on your right; a MEGA (bright orange pelican sign) store on your left; a huge Coca Cola plant across the street on your left, and a University on the right.

Just follow the signs and stop exactly where it says to stop, as "crazy" traffic patterns will be passing very close in front of you. After you cross the intersection, there's another light, where traffic cuts across in front of you.

In a few blocks you'll go by a Calimax Center on your right, which crosses the street Eucaplito.

You're still on CARRANZA, the same road that you turned on to from the San Felipe Highway.

You continue North on this road and then you will see a blue and white Meyers Lab sign and Biennavides Farmacia on your left, and a big street sign that says GARITA INTERNATIONAL II on your right.

MAKE YOUR SECOND TURN HERE, TO THE RIGHT.

You'll pass a Toyota Dealership; and a beautiful Kindergym on your right; a Pemex on your left; a large white Mosque like Hotel EL MORO on your right; and then come up to your first LIGHT where you make the THIRD TURN TO THE LEFT.

This is CALLE NOVENA, and eventual entrance and exit to the new port. There's one more light, and then a stop sign at the Truck entrace to the Border, which is always busy, except for Sundays, when it's closed. After you stop, move to the far right lane and turn into the border crossing area, making a right turn. You're just coming in from the East side of the Port instead of the West. Watch for traffic on your eft.

This has been the fastest and easiest route we've found in order to by-pass most of Mexicali, the traffic, bridges, etc. The new Port is open from 6:00AM to midnight, seven days a week.

If the lines are moving slowly, and you can't "wait", there are two very clean rest rooms on your right, at the end of the last building on the Mexican side, right after the stop sign and you go over the "tope" (bump)on the road.

THERE ARE ONLY 2 LANES OPEN NOW, DUE TO THE SOON TO OPEN SENTRI LANE -- this is a bit more congested, but when you get close to the U.S. Customs & Immigration building on your right, it fans out into 8 lanes, with the furthest lane on the left becoming the Sentri lane and the closest lane on the right for RVs, trailers and buses, as in the past.

For the best Sentri info, go to the website I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, however, following is some basic information on the procedure, cost, etc., which I copied directly from the Sentri website. It's rather lengthy, but you'll get an idea of what you need to do to accomplish this and hopefully get you across the border, much faster.

SENTRI Program Description
Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection

SENTRI provides expedited CBP processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Applicants must voluntarily undergo a thorough biographical background check against criminal, law enforcement, customs, immigration, and terrorist indices; a 10-fingerprint law enforcement check; and a personal interview with a CBP Officer.

Applicants may not qualify for participation in the SENTRI program if they:

Provide false or incomplete information on the application;
Have been convicted of any criminal offense or have pending criminal charges to include outstanding warrants;
Have been found in violation of any customs, immigration, or agriculture regulations or laws in any country;
Are subjects of an ongoing investigation by any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency;
Are inadmissible to the United States under immigration regulation, including applicants with approved waivers of inadmissibility or parole documentation;
Cannot satisfy CBP of their low risk status or meet other program requirements.

Once an applicant is approved they are issued a Radio Frequency Identification Card (RFID) that will identify their record and status in the CBP database upon arrival at the U.S. port of entry. An RFID decal is also issued to the applicant’s vehicle or motorcycle. SENTRI users have access to specific, dedicated primary lanes into the United States.

SENTRI was first implemented at the Otay Mesa, California port of entry on November
1, 1995. SENTRI Dedicated Commuter Lanes also exist in El Paso, TX; San Ysidro, CA; Calexico, CA; Nogales, AZ; Hidalgo, TX; Brownsville, TX; and Laredo, TX.

Technical Process
When an approved international traveler approaches the border in the SENTRI lane, the system automatically identifies the vehicle and the identity of the occupants of the vehicle. This is accomplished by the RFID cards file number that is read upon arrival.
The file number triggers the participant’s data to be brought up on the CBP Officer’s screen.
The data is verified by the CBP Officer and the traveler is released or referred for additional inspections.
All of the applicant data is stored in the secure CBP database. It is not stored on the card, and it is not transmitted with the RFID (With RFID technology there is potential for tracking an individual’s movements, profiling an individual’s habits, and allowing for secondary uses of information).

Simultaneously, license plate readers and computers perform queries of the vehicles and their occupants against law enforcement databases that are continuously updated. A combination of electric gates, tire shredders, traffic control lights, fixed iron bollards, and pop-up pneumatic bollards ensure physical control of the border crosser and their vehicles.

Participants in the program wait for much shorter periods of time than regular lanes to enter the United States, even at the busiest time of day. Critical information required in the inspection process is provided to the Officer in advance of the passenger's arrival thus reducing the inspection time from an average of 30-40 seconds to an average of 10 seconds.

Application Information
Applicants to the SENTRI Program may submit their application online using the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES). Once the application is certified as true and complete, it will be submitted to CBP for processing. Applicants can monitor the status of their application by logging back into GOES, and will be advised of "Conditional Approval", or "Denial" through the GOES account posting. A $25 application fee will be charged at the time you submit your application.

Step 1
To complete a SENTRI application via the Internet, click on the GOES link to be transferred to the on-line application. ( Apply Online for Global Entry, FAST, NEXUS, SENTRI & Access Your GOES Account )

Step 2
Once notification of conditional approval is received, you will be directed to schedule your appointment online through your GOES account. Applicants have 180 days from that date to schedule an interview. Otherwise, applicants will be denied further enrollment consideration for failure to schedule an interview, which is the final requirement in determining program membership. This denial will not prevent an applicant from submitting a new application in the future. However, a new payment fee will be required. At the time of interview, payment of the fingerprint fee, lane fee, and any additional vehicle fee will be required. Applicants must bring with them the following original documents to the interview. Please ensure you bring the exact documents you provided on the on-line application.

Originals of evidence of citizenship that you listed on your application
If not a U.S. citizen, originals of evidence of immigration admissibility to the U.S., that you listed on your application
Valid drivers license (or state identification) issued in state where applicant lives
Vehicle registration and evidence of US automobile insurance by a company authorized to write automobile insurance in the US.
If the vehicle is not registered in the name of the applicant, a notarized letter authorizing its use by the applicant is required. A company vehicle requires written authorization on company letterhead.
Evidence of employment or financial support. (For instance, most recent years tax return, pay receipt, or direct deposit salary statement. Self employed must present business license, current tax information and bank statement)
Evidence of residence, (Mortgage or rent payment receipts)

During the Interview, information provided on the application will be verified and upon acceptance, CBP will:

Take a photograph of applicant for identification card
Take applicant’s fingerprint
Provide terms and conditions of the program
Answer any questions the applicant may have
Issue an RFID enabled identification card

The Enrollment Process and SENTRI Enrollment Centers
Applicants who do not have access to a computer with an Internet connection, may complete the CBP SENTRI program application Form 823S. SENTRI applicants will also need to apply for Dedicated Commuter Lane access. Please read the instructions for Form 823S carefully and fill out items 1-12 AND the section titled, “DEDICATED COMMUTER LANE PARTICIPANTS” found on page 7 of Form 823S. ( CBP Form 823S - SENTRI Application )

Visits to the enrollment centers will be by appointment only. To schedule your appointment, please schedule online, or call the nearest enrollment center. ( SENTRI Enrollment Centers )

Required Fees

Application Fee: $25.00 per person (or a maximum of $50.00 total for husband, wife and minor children)

Fingerprint Fee: $17.25 (applicants 14 years and older)

System Costs Fee: $80.00 per person (or a maximum of $160.00 total for a husband, wife and minor children)

Total Fee: $122.25 per person

If an approved participant wishes to register more than one vehicle for use in the SENTRI DCL lane (maximum of 4 vehicles), or an approved participant wishes to be registered in more than one vehicle (maximum of 8 persons per vehicle), an additional fee of $42.00 per vehicle will be assessed. Enrollees will be charged a $25.00 replacement fee for a lost, stolen, or destroyed card and a $42.00 replacement fee for a lost, stolen or destroyed vehicle ID tag.

Payment of fees may be made by done online, or by cash, check, money order, Master Card, VISA and American Express at the Local Enrollment Center. A $30.00 charge is imposed if a check is not honored by the bank on which it was drawn. All fees are non-refundable. "

At the present time, the old Port has a Sentri lane. It's on the far left side as you "make the race" up to the border.

We'll be crossing again shortly and try to find out when the new Sentri lane will open and keep you posted. For those interested in getting a Pass, now's the time to apply and you'll have it by the time it's opened. I think if we wait for the opening, we will --- wait, wait, wait!

PARA MI NUERA, DOLORES!

2010-03-05T14:11:00.013-07:00

"Mi Nuera" translates to "daughter-in-law" in Spanish, so obviously this blog is for Dolores. She is married to our son, Frank. They live in Phoenix and have 3 beautiful children,

Cameren and their "nuera" Christina,

Kennedy and Keanu.

What a great good looking group and kind of "new" Mexican names, don't you think!

Dolores became quite ill just before her Annual Family Thanksgiving feast, which we attended as my Doctors and "my" Frank (to distinguish from Dolores' Frank" thought it was best that I forgo my Annual Baja Thanksgiving Dinner of 50 or so, which I've done for some 15 years.

Dolores actually did the dinner and we were fortunate enough to see some of our family we hadn't seen in some time. For those who know us, we have a pretty big group. We got to see son, Joe and wife Keri (our newest Nuera who makes "mean" green chili chicken enchiladas, as does my Cousin (sister-like) Marcy in Phoenix);

daughter, Donna; "nuera" Jane and granddaughters, Hannah Jo and Mary Jane Lorenza; on the Martinez side, and the happy, huge, Aboytes Clan, from Dolores' side who drive in from California and over from Phoenix as well. It was a great day, right down to the Aboytes magic tricks, and late night dancing by us, and daughter Donna, all of which Dolores could hear from her bed, as she wasn't able to stay up long after dinner.

Two trips to emergency and an overnight hospital stay could not stop what turned out to be the Swine Flu and she really had a rough time of it. It's just that it went undiagnosed.

Finally I decided to go over and help out in January, as she wasn't doing to much better. She manages the office for their family business, F&D Fire Design, besides being wife, Mom, neighborhood leader, etc. In addition they were about to move their office from a complex, back to their home office. This is truly a family business. Son, Frank is the Head Designer; Grandson Cameren has learned the business as well and is employed as a Designer; 14 yr. old Kennedy has learned to log in jobs and do much of the computer work and will have a full time job there this summer, and 3rd grader Keanu, is the "topo" (gopher).

When Grandma (me) arrived, I became the organizer and the cook. I do believe they preferred my cooking to my organizing, but I'm experienced in both areas and wanted to keep Dolores out of the kitchen, work area, moving, etc.,and some order in the process, as she was still on heavy meds and clearly, not strong enough.

Son Frank was working throughout the move and computers, printers and plans were in transit and in use constantly during the move creating a bit of a crazy week for everyone. I kept current jobs in my VW so they wouldn't get lost in the shuffle. As we went into the 2nd week, Dolores seemed to improve, I cooked more, we watched General Hospital together and everyone learned to play rummycubes. Keanu was a wizard at it! Then Kennedy, taking a "teenager" break joined in and taught her Father late one evening (to go to bed later?).

By the 2nd week, Dolores was not fully recovered, but had improved tremendously -- just slowing down and getting some rest, really helped her get through this. So, this brings us to the subject of this blog, and once again other than this great family of ours, it's food!

I made many different things while I was there, using what neighbors were kind enough to bring over so Dolores wouldn't have to cook and then adding some of my own touches. There were scalloped potatoes & ham; macaroni, cheese & ham and pear & wine sauce over ham, with mashed potatoes -- yes, someone dropped off a very big delicious spiral cut ham and I just had to use it. I also made a few gallons of my spaghetti sauce, for freezing, and meatballs. So there was pasta and meatball subs in between all that ham. But, for some reason, (maybe they got tired of ham?) they absolutely loved my -------------- MEATLOAF??? of all things and Dolores really thought I kept it as some family secret, but I just didn't have time to write it down for her, so here goes Dolores, even though there are a least a million variations on it and everyone seems to have their own special recipe.

MY MEATLOAF

1-1/2 to 2 LBS. GROUND BEEF (15% OR LESS FAT)
2 EGGS
1 CUP FINE BREAD CRUMBS, or 3/4 oatmeal or crackercrumbs
5 YES, 5! (at least) CLOVES GARLIC, finely chopped
1 MEDIUM ONION, CHOPPED
1/3 CUP ITALIAN (FLAT) PARSLEY CHOPPED
1/3 CUP PARMESAN CHEESE
1 BELL PEPPER (any color) or 1 can diced green chiles (that Mexican in me)
SALT & PEPPER TO TASTE
3 TO 4 SLICES OF RAW BACON
1/2 CUP KETCHUP

Add eggs, bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, cheese, bell peppers & salt & pepper to hamburger.

MIX THOROUGHLY WITH YOUR HANDS and shape into an oblong loaf.
Place in a greased (pam, etc.) baking pan or baking dish (glass cooks hotter than metal).
POUR THE KETCHUP OVER THE MEATLOAF
PLACE THE BACON ON TOP OF THE KETCHUP. I know, I know, who uses ketchup, try it just once, as the bacon cooking on top of it, really changes the flavor. You can also use Barbecue Sauce.

It should look like this BEFORE COOKING AT 350 for about an hour and fifteen min. Add some potatoes around the outside the dish on the rack and you'll have baked potatoes with your meatloaf!

Once baked, it should look like this, although "my" Frank says it looks like a scene from CSI, it does taste good:

A couple of variations -- just add a package of dry onion soup mix as seasoning, but add all the ingredients above as well. just less salt; or to make it really Mexican, add a package of Taco seasoning Mix; or just use your imagination, which is the fun in cooking.

By the time I went home, Dolores was doing much better, but still not quite out of the woods. As of today, she's back to her old self and that's what's really important. The best part of all of this, of course, was spending time with Frank, Dolores and the Children and seeing the rest of both families and my short visit with Cousin Marcy to see one of the playoff games and share her good food and now, of course, sharing this with the rest of you.

We're off to Chelo's for our regular Friday night Chile Rellenos -- gosh, we're sure fixated on food here!! Take care and best wishes to all. m/

DR. KEIDEL'S CHIPS & SALSA

2010-02-21T21:02:00.015-07:00

Hello again. It's been about a week since I last wrote as we had to make a trip up to the States. I busied myself on this all-to-often trip, by taking photos of the on-going highway construction, now North of the old Ensenada turnoff.

I envisioned writing about the construction, photos and then another article about
"4 Turns & You're Out", which will be my next blog, as we had an unplanned experience that turned out quite nice and for those of you who know me fairly well, wouldn't you know it would be about food!!! Again!!!!

We were in Urgent Care up in Redlands, where we got to see Dr. Mark Keidel, the Urgent Care physician, whom we have seen rather often lately and wish he was our personal physician, but is not to be, in our HMO. In any event we always end up talking about Mexico in general, while he checks EKGs, etc. and puts us at ease. He is a part of The Flying Samaritans and also a pilot, so makes fairly regular runs to Mexico. He told us he has flown in and out via the Calexico Airport many times, one which we had never been to before.

He said he loves to stop and eat there, on his return trips to the U.S., as they had the best chips and salsa ever and we had to stop there and check it out, on our way home.

As we arrived in Calexico a few days later, we thought we'd check it out, and obviously, from the photo above, we found it and had "Keidel's" Chips & Salsa, and as he said, they were wonderful.

The place was a bit crowded and we sat at one of the last tables in this long, narrow restaurant, built on the edge of the landing strip, aptly named, PLANE FOOD, "ROSA'S PLANE FOOD". I'm not sure, but it reminded me of Sonoran Mexican food, which you can find in Arizona and Sonora of course.

The quaint restaurant, which wasn't easy to find after dark, on a Friday evening with hundreds crossing the border into Mexico, seats about 70 -- and it was packed.

Beautiful plates overflowing with food passed by us and we couldn't just have chips and salsa as we looked over the extensive menu. As our drinks were brought to us, Frank's favorite Horchata (a Mexican rice drink with cinnamon) and my Negra Modelo, one of the best dark beers I know and really enjoy, -- but just one. We took in the atmosphere.

All at once music started and a robust singer with a vibrant voice, started with the very best of Mexican melodies, which made this little big place even more fun. By now there was a waiting line outside, and mostly Mexican families inside and a few pilots -- the atmosphere was great as we ordered our dinner. Frank ordered Carne Asada burritos,

and I had my favorite,

Cheese and Onion Enchiladas. It took a bit of time, but those chips, salsa and music were great while we waited.

While we thought it a bit pricey at frist, we were so surprised when our food arrived. Each plate weighed about 3 lbs. It was absolutely wonderful -- really good Sonoran-like Mexican food with very large homemade corn and flour tortillas. It was well worth the price.

There was so much food we had to ask for a huge to go box as the chips and salsa were so good, there was only enough room for 1 burrito and 1 enchilada each. Sunday dinner was great as we ate our leftovers.

By the time we left, there were at least 20 more people waiting outside in the very cool evening, or waiting in their cars. The hard working staff actually ran to each table with the orders, and people shared tables.

Overall, this was quite a find -- the easiest way to get there is to turn right on Birch St. -- that's the first light after the Wal-Mart intersection if you're going South towards Mexico. Take Birch West and cross the railroad tracks and immediately make a left turn. Take that road to the end (Border) turn right and head towards the airport which will be on your right. It's really worth the stop.

Enjoy!!!!!!

By the way, there were long lines going into Mexico at both crossings - half hour to get in at new Port, and much longer at old Port. We crossed around 9:00PM. However, by the time we reached the San Felipe Highway, we saw very few cars on the road all evening-- only 3 cars passed us in either direction. We remember almost bumper to bumper traffic on that highway on Friday nights, for over 20 years and now, hardly a soul. How sad for San Felipe and its people. Hopefully the American media won't run a negative blitz just before the race and Semana Santa.

VALENTINE'S NIGHT IN BAJA

2010-02-14T22:59:00.015-07:00

A few weeks ago, I sent out emails and a marine radio announcement looking for a Basque Restaurant I had heard about for some time. I want to thank everyone who responded, but all conflicting with regard to location, so Frank and I went on a Basque Restaurant hunt in the Ejido Plan Nacional Agrario, North of San Felipe, and South of El Dorado, last Friday.

After stopping at the Ejido office, Frank was told it was a "few blocks away and had a wrought iron fence". Mind you, we are in the desert, and everything is a "few not too clearly defined blocks away". We decided to crisscross the area and we finally found a black wrought-iron gated place on a corner, with two black metal bulls in the front yard -- about 5 blocks South of Highway 5. TURN IN ON THE STREET IN BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE LATIN GARDEN, another great restaurant.

Finally, BASQUE SUCCESS!!! Not only did we find it, Miguel of "MIGUEL Y PACO" was home and Miguel said Paco would return momentarily -- and he did.

My first photo was of the very personable Paco - Frank's "Tocayo" -- In Mexico, when people share the same names they are referred to as "Tocayos", so Francisco, Paco, Pancho, and Frank are all Tocayos, as they all mean Francisco! Of course, this is just not for nicknames, which are plentiful in Mexico, but if your name was "David" and you meet a Mexican named "David", he would greet you as his Tocayo.

Paco took us on a proud tour of their round, palm covered restaurant, nicely decorated with masks from his travels around the world. He has a great kitchen, which was spotless, and opened the freezer, brimming with pastries on one side and meats and other goodies on the other.

Basques come from an area in between Northern Spain and Southern France, along the base of the Pyrenees Mountains. There have been on-going Basque Separatist movements for Independence since the late 1800s. A very proud, independent group.

My Frank, being the Historian he is, and Paco, quickly got into a historical discussion about a town called Guernica, which is in the Basque Province. In 1937, the Germans, fighting on the side of the Spanish Dictator, Franco, without dissent from the Great Powers, England, France or the U.S., used Guernica, to test their weapons prior to the start of World War II and destroyed the village and an estimated 1600 men, women and children were killed.

Frank explained to Paco that he had a book in his History collection written by two English writers who received a Pulitzer Prize for their investigation of the event and the truth. Guernica is synonymous with large scale bombings of civilian populations. The famous Artist, Picasso was a lone voice of dissent, by depicting this event in his world famous painting, the "Terror of Guernica".

Paco is one of only a few "true" Basques I have ever met - the others being the family of a Basque Sheep Rancher, in Gilbert, AZ whose Estate I probated in Arizona. Gilbert, now a thriving suburb of greater Phoenix, use to be the center of Basque sheep herding areas in Arizona from the 40s. There are also smaller Basque populations in Chino and Bakersfield, California among others. I know those two because of their great restaurants we've frequented over the years.

There were about 60,000 Basque/Americans of full or partial Basque descent listed in the last census. California leads all States, with Idaho, Nevada, Washington and Oregon, following in smaller numbers. Of the 18,000,000 Basques worldwide, the largest population outside of France and Spain, live in Chile. They have a very unique and difficult language, although most speak Spanish and French. Unless it is spoken and taught at home, it is a language that could be lost among the youth in another generation.

So we have in Paco, San Felipe's lone authentic Basque -- among the 1,000,000 living in other parts of Mexico. We told him we'd return with the book on Guernica, and he suggested Valentine's Day, so that's where we spent our special evening.

Miguel and Berta graciously met us at the front door and seated us. The kitchen, which can be seen from any part of the restaurant, was bustling. There were a group of sixteen, well into having a very good time at one corner, another group of four in another, the two of us, and then another group of six, and we were only the 6:00PM group. A really warm and welcoming start to a lovely evening.

We did not order our dinner -- which is common in most Basque restaurants. They just start serving food --- warm rolls and fresh butter to start; then a generous and delicious "callos (scallops) and onion sushi; a colorful, warm salad of potatoes, eggs, spices on romaine and then caramelized onions, mushrooms and shrimp, and of course, more warm bread.

That was just the beginning and although we had planned for this meal -- we could have been well satisfied at that point, but we didn't want to miss a thing.

The main course consisted of 3 types of the very best grade of beef tenderloin. The colorful plate almost reminded me of a "bandera" a "flag" divided into 4 distinct servings, white pastry lines of creamy mashed potatoes artfully used as dividers.

Each tender piece of meat was covered with a natural, brightly colored sauce; one was a light Roquefort cheese sauce; the darkest, an Au jus, slightly thickened and absolutely delicious. The final sauce stumped me a bit, as I'm usually right on with most spices and cooking ingredients. I asked Berta and she told me I had to talk to Paco --

so when he came by he announced what should have been the obvious, a roasted sweet red pepper sauce. The fourth quarter of the plate had a lovely salad, with beefsteak tomatoes.

As if we weren't already stuffed by now, it was time for dessert -- hand made miniature cream puffs, chocolate sauce and home made strawberry ice cream. By then I had forgotten to take another photo, but I think there's enough here to give you a fairly good idea of why we'll be returning and you should give it a try as well.

What a perfect Valentine's Dinner, in a very special place.

Miguel and Paco are open, by reservation only, each Friday and Saturday. They do special events, such as birthday parties, or just a private evening with a good group of friends. Just give them a call. 686-111-2257 or 686-234-7596 You won't be sorry.

By the way, there's many rumors circulating, all the time, but the latest one we heard, is that the Latin Garden is closing. But, the truth of the matter is that they're moving up to the Malecon. Don't know exact time frame, but Jesus and Stephanie confirmed the move, which should be just in time for Semana Santa (Spring Break for non-religious -- Holy Week for others) and the busiest time of the year down here. We wish them well on their next step to further success.

I'll be off line for a few days, unless you want photos of us waiting in line to cross the border, however, I just might do that and take some photos of our "4 turns and you're out of Mexico" route, at the new port. You might check this Blog every 3 days or so, as I'll be writing as I can, while we're on the road for a bit. Enjoy the great weather. m/

OOPS!!!!!

2010-02-11T15:09:00.008-07:00

I'm so sorry, but I forgot two absolutely necessary ingredients for the ALBONDIGAS RECIPE printed this morning.

Add to meatball mixture:
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2-3 cloves minced garlic

Basic ingredients for any kind of meatball.

Well, while I'm here again, it's sunny, warm in the sun, no wind and a great day for kyaking as our guests just finished and are coming up the hill:

Frank did some very light babysitting with Jackson who was busy "building a hospital".

AN ALBONDIGAS DAY IN BAJA

2010-02-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know me fairly well, you know I love to cook. In fact, if Chelo didn't have a restaurant here, I would have started one many years ago. But, many Americans come to Mexico, because it's Mexico and they love the culture, as it is, not to compete and put Mexicans out of business, which happens quite often and then one wonders why they cross the borders to find work. Okay, I won't go there just yet, too much digressing, so lets get back to my love of cooking.

From the early days when I sat on the 4th step in my Grandma Felicia's basement, on Neva Avenue, in Chicago, in the 17 room house she and her sons built of brick and quarry stone, I watched and learned how to make her "daily bread", pasta and incredible other wonderful Italian dishes, she became my "learning tree", my role model and mentor.

Then, about nine years later, when I met my father, I found that he was an incredible Chef - the "old fashioned" kind and that's what he did for a living. While I never forgave him from taking me from my Grandmother's house and Chicago, little did I know how his discipline and skills would join with what I had learned from my Grandmother and make for one of the great loves of my life - cooking.

As my children were growing up and I worked full time, our time together was spent in the kitchen during the week and camping and in Rocky Point on the weekends, and they too became expert cooks, like their Grandfather and Great Grandmother. Both of my sons became Chefs and trainers, at high end restaurants in Kansas City and my daughter is a gourmet cook (a thin one however - a gift she inherited from her Dad). The boys have their own construction companies now, but do most of the cooking at home, as it appears to be one of the strongest genes we possess and enjoy.

My Dad baked all his pies, biscuits, breads and cakes, starting at 4:00AM each morning, in the bake house, on the back lot of our restaurant, in Olathe, Kansas, one of 3 cities he moved us to after leaving my Grandmother's home. We had a really nice restaurant on the "old Kansas City Highway" about 17 miles from KC, and the only place with A/C in those hot Kansas summers. I came home from school at 3:15 and my Dad would leave me in charge, and take a nap, as he'd been working all day since early morning, then he'd return at 6:00 for the dinner hour.

While he was sleeping, I'd do the prep work and wait on tables and do any of the cooking that might be required -- while I listened to the Juke Box near the entrance. I was only 14 yrs. old at that point. I had to have at least 50 salad bowls ready made in the walk-in, plus extra salad, clean & fill all the salt and pepper shakers, fill the napkin holders -- wipe down counters, chairs, tables and set up the dining room -- this was called "side work". If you've ever worked in a restaurant, there is no down time, at least not in my father's place.

Dinner hour would come and we were always busy as he had a great menu and really good food, and of course, A/C. Once an order was in, my father and my Uncle Bob, would really move and put out some incredible plates. To this day, I jump when I hear one of those desk bells ring -- as that was "order up" and if I didn't hit the door within seconds of hearing that bell, he banged on it continuously until I showed up to deliver a very "hot meal". My Mom and another waitress and I took care of the whole place from 6:00 to 7:30, waiting tables. At 7:30 I got to go out back and do the car hopping (taking orders in the drive-in). Making sodas, malts, cherry vanilla cokes with my Dad and Uncle filling hamburger and french fry orders.

Since my father was extremely strict and did not allow me to talk to boys, at all -- I really got to see all the kids from high school as I waited on them -- small consolation, but better than none, and besides, I was making about $100 in tips daily and that was incredible money in those days. When he found out I was making so much, he made me turn it in, and put me on a salary of $14 a week and I got to keep very little of my tip money. But, I did learn that good hard work could provide a very good income. I didn't plan on being a waitress the rest of my life (my Dad had that plan however) but at 14, I knew I could take care of myself.

So, that's the basis for my love of cooking and collecting cookbooks from all over. My favorite Mexican Cookbook, THE CUISINES OF MEXICO, was written by an English woman, Diana Kennedy. She was living and traveling in Mexico with her husband, a NEW YORK TIMES reporter. It's the most worn cookbook I have other than my Mom's original "GOOD HOUSEKEEPING" cookbook. Diana, whom I got to meet in a cooking class in Palm Desert, many years ago, and attended by all of the major Chefs in the Coachella Valley, cooked very much like my Grandmother and even tied a scarf over her head to make certain no hairs would ever be found in her food.

While English cooking certainly has no relation whatsoever to Regional Mexican cooking, Diana made it a point, as she traveled throughout Mexico, to find the best cook in each village and town she visited and actually learned to cook each regional dish, in each town. She's written a really interesting and authentic book anyone would enjoy today.

This brings me to today, in Baja - sunny, cool and windy, due to the rains and snow pelting Southern California, so I decided to make my version of ALBONDIGAS. The word means meatball. Being Italian however, it's a bit different than my meatballs, first of all, in size, so I took a few photos:

A Mexican Albondigas, is a LITTLE MEATBALL, about 1 Tablespoon of the firmly packed mixture, unlike my Italian Meatball, which is more like a QUARTER POUNDER and a completely different mixture.

Now the recipe sounds a bit complicated, but if you think of it in two parts, the broth and the Albondigas and start with the broth, it's fairly simple. Just don't forget the main ingredient that makes it traditional -- and that's mint, dried or fresh! Just don't leave out the Mint. You can buy it dry and where in San Felipe -- known as "minta" but also called "yerba buena".

BROTH:

Make in a large pot, as it freezes well and also tastes better the 2nd day (if you have any left).

1/2 Onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Brown in 2 TBS. olive oil
1 29 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 29 oz. can of peeled tomatoes, run through food processor
4 to 6 cups chicken broth, canned or Knorr dry powder to make required amount
6 TBS. Mint leaves, dry or finely chopped
1/4 TSP. oregano
1 TSP. cumin
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
(if you like the taste of chipotle, cut one up finely and add or use a dry chipotle cube

Add the above ingredients to browned onion & garlic and simmer

ALBONDIGAS
1-1/2 lbs. Ground Beef alone or pork and beef mixed.
(you can try it with turkey but it will taste different)
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
2/3 cup rice -- some cook it first, I do not, I just let it simmer
5 TBS. Mint leaves, dried or finely chopped
2 grated zucchinis (squash) just wash, cut off ends and grate with cheese grater
Salt & Pepper

Mix thoroughly -- hands work best -- if it appears too moist, add some breadcrumbs, but remember the rice will cook inside the meatball as it simmers.

Make SMALL 1 TBS. (tablespoon) meatballs and place, (don't drop) them in the simmering broth, which should have cooked at least a half hour by now.

Let simmer (but carefully stir not breaking up meatballs) for about 1 hour.

Then take 3 or 4 Zucchinis, wash, cut off ends, and slice them about 1/4" thick and place on top of CALDO (soup in Spanish) --

Turn off stove and just put lid back on pot -- the squash will cook just enough to be crunchy when you serve it.

Serve it with a dollop or sour cream or plain yogurt and a sprig of cilantro!

ENJOY!!

SUNDAY MORNING AT CHELO'S RESTAURANT -- AND ---

2010-02-07T10:59:00.002-07:00

Sunday morning breakfast at Chelo's in the Poblado Delicias, is absolutely the best!! It's been a tradition with us and many others for almost 15 years now. Besides having really great Mexican favorites, like Frank's "Machaca Bien Dorado", served with crispy (that's what dorado means by the way - "golden") hash browns, frijoles refritos (refried beans - she uses Canola oil, not manteca-lard) and corn tortillas, they also serve American basics at extremely good prices.

It's the one day of the week you can catch up with most of the regulars down here, as well as meet newcomers and passersby, who could quite possibly end up spending the rest of the day visiting at your place, or theirs.

This restaurant has grown from a little stand I stopped at, on my fist visit South of San Felipe, October 10, 1987, with my very good friend, Deborah Bollinger, to get something cold to drink. We were on our way to look at property at KM40 with Roman Maduena, an Ejidatario (land owner who leases out land to build homes) and one of his Nephews, Marcos, from the Bahia, the Maduena Parents' Campo at that time.

Deb wanted to buy or leases some land so she and some partners could build a house. She asked me to come along and help translate.I had no other intentions, although I had leased land in Puerto Penasco for some 18 years and had sold my home there, 3 years prior. Little did I know how this trip would really turn out and how I would be seduced by the "other side of the Sea of Cortez".

By the end of the day, we both had leased the most beautiful lots, on high dunes, overlooking the Sea of Cortez and a breathtaking stretch of sandy beach, with only one house in sight. Those high dunes, which were cleared to build our homes, are like dry washes and arroyos that fill with water, whenever Mother Nature decides to re-visit. We clear some of the sand that returns each year as the winds blow from the North in the winter and the South in the summer. I remember celebrating this occasion with Coco Locos and going up to San Martin, another Maduena Campo a bit North of KM40, and oddly enough meeting some friends from Palm Desert, who couldn't believe we would be their neighbors to the South.

Deb has since sold her house, next door, and lives at the top of the hills up in the High Desert near Joshua Tree, on the edge of the National Park, an equally beautiful and peaceful place -- but I do miss her company and our Coco Loco time. The last time I visited her, as we were sharing a glass of wine late one night - no moon - she said she can close her eyes and look out for miles around and almost see the Sea of Cortez floating softly by -- one never forgets this very special place.

We worked together for many years in the Riverside County Job Training Dept., now the Economic Development Department, in Indio, CA and for Center for Employment Training, a community based organization where we re-trained farm workers to move up from the fields into the soon to be booming Hospitality Industry in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs). We were the only "gringas at CET", and extremely busy in those days. Later we worked together at the County.

On any Sunday morning I could see her clamming out in the rocks North of us -- she'd bring up a bucket full, along with a stack of files from her place, that I had to review and approve before she'd give me the clams, one of my favorite foods. After I finished the files -- we'd grill the clams, add some garlic, butter, a little green onion, Tabasco, and lime juice - and just maybe a Negra Modelo -- and end our weekend before we returned back to the States and to work on Monday morning.

As usual I digress - but there is so much more to write and I'm hunting for some old photos to make this a bit more interesting for those of you who haven't been here very long, or haven't yet arrived. As you continue to follow this blog, you will also find that much of it will be about food!!! Hasta Manana!

QUIET BEACH & PROJECTS

2010-02-06T15:52:00.001-07:00

The beach is more than quiet, but bright and sunny. The grunion hitting the shores, leaving a silver layer of thousands, as they deposit their eggs and wash back to sea.

There are just a few of us here now, along with some fishing boats out to sea. As long as the sea stays calm, the fishing is great!

Frank is busy, but then Frank is always busy. We're switching out refrigerators today and cleaning and painting a circa 1947 SERVEL propane refrigerator, which we hope to sell at next week's Swap Meet at the Community Center in Polado Delicias, about 5 minutes from here.

We've had it for some time now, about 20 years or so. I bought it in a Thrift shop in Indio, CA. It had come from a grape ranch that was converting to electricity. It was a good buy, especially since they just wanted us to get the 800 pound plus thing out of their store. We used it in our home for many years, and then when our solar capacity was substantially increased, we got an electric refrigerator for the house and put the "big guy" in the apartment.

It's served us well, about 23 cubic ft, with a separate freezer, and amazingly, MADE IN THE USA of course, to last forever. It won't be hard to sell at all, they're in great demand down here.

Has anyone bought anything made in another Country that's 63 years old, still runs and looks great too? There wasn't anything we could not build bigger and better, in this Country. Think of the Craftsmen (probably European immigrants, like my Grandmother, and their children) who took incredible pride in their work, and made those great old standards.

Frank and Ed (an incredible young craftsman who was willing to learn every skill, every American around here was willing to teach him)had a bit of a problem moving the frig out of the apartment, so they just took off for the Poblado to hunt up 3 or 4 more young men, as the dolly,Ed and Frank could hardly budge it. Think we used 6"older" guys (no offense Cielito Lindo neighbors)the last time we moved it from our house into the apartment -- how times change! By the way, Cielito Lindo is the name of our Campo, a little beyond KM40 in Baja.

We even have a beautiful, still working six (6) burner, double oven, double broiler O'Keefe & Merritt Stove,

with a clock, timer and automatic oven -- another marvel made in the USA in the 40s -- it bakes like a dream and it's just time to get something a little smaller. Today, I think that's called "downsizing". One day our kids will be happy we did this.

Well, this is enough for one day -- I'm sure learning alot about uploading and downloading photos and I learned from Annette to always have my camera in hand -- no telling what might come into view.

---Best wishes from another sunny, smooth ocean day in Baja. m/

EARLY MORNING GOODBYES!

2010-02-05T12:30:00.004-07:00

We had a great dinner Tuesday evening, the four of us, David, Annette, Frank and I. That is, the company was great, dinner -- not one of my best. I knew it would be the last time I'd get to spend with a couple we've only known for two months, as our guests. It was amazing and fun, but way too short, just two months. So many good things shared including learning many of the humorous British/Canadian sayings from the "UK BRAT" (Annette's license plate!!!).

We played a "high stakes" Rummycube tournament, which I taught them -- and David wiped us out, as usual. This time, we gave him a run for his money. Maybe I can beat you next summer in Canada, David.

We heard the water pump early this morning and I knew they were up and running. They had packed the car to the hilt the day before and had to leave room for their great Airedale, Sammy, whom we shall also miss. Our dog, Ita has been in her doghouse almost continuously since Sammy left, or sits out front of the apartment and waits, and waits ----.

We said our goodbyes and hope our paths will cross again, maybe this summer when we head North, for our first cruise, out of Seattle, to Glacier Bay -- and hope to venture up and over the other Border, into Canada.

We shall miss them, without a doubt two of the best renters we've ever had and now we hope, life long friends -- a Baja retirement blessing!

WELL, HERE GOES!

2010-01-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Since I've attributed my desire to start this Bloooog (as they would say) to Annette & David, perhaps you'd like a view of them at the Mineral Baths at Puertecitos, about 25 miles South of our home here in Baja.

This was our first trip here, although we've known about it and sent guests here for some 21 years. I know this photo doesn't do them justice -- but just a bit of fun from a great, unplanned, impetuous day, which is "quite Mexico" and we personally don't do things like this, very often.

You have to time the tides as the pools may be full of very cold water. As the tide goes out however, they begin to warm up, and I mean WARM. You can see the steam coming out of the colorful sulfer stained boulders all around. And, it feels oh so good! We'll be doing this again shortly and then have a stop at the Cow Patty for a hot dog and a beer on our way back. Great Day.

By the way -- just a snapshot up top to the right, of our front yard.