Good Eats for Good Deeds By: John Plotkin

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Free / Gratis

The Fourth Annual Taste of the East Cape is just th around the corner! Saturday, December 7 in De La Laguna Park, fifteen great chefs will be offering tastes of their menus to raise money for Rotary’s projects benefitting the local community. Finish the night with home-made ice cream and fresh brewed coffee and dancing to local favorite “Revolving Door.”

The bar opens at 5pm. Food is served at 6pm and the

music, by Revolving Door, starts at 8pm. Each at- tendee gets 10 tastes and one free beverage. A Fifty/ Fifty raffle will offer attendees the opportunity to win while donating. The Taste is a Fun Raising Fund Rais- er!

Here’s the lineup

Restaurants: Aguacatering, Beans & Rice, Carmen’s

Place, Casa Las Flores at Tres Palapas, La Casita, Ce- sar and Trini from Pizza Gourmet, Costa Palmas (La Ribera), El Gecko, Restaurante Green’s, La Hornilla (El Cardonal), Joe’s Pizza, El Minero (El Triunfo), La Playa, La Providencia (La Ribera) and Smokey’s Grill and Cantina.

Dessert: by Zopilotes (San Bartolo) and coffee by Café Encinalito.

Drinks: Beer from Baja Brewery, wine from Los Bar-

riles Wine and Tequila plus Rotary’s famous margaritas.

This event is an annual sell out so don’t procrastinate! Tickets are 30USD or 600 Pesos. For tickets, stop by e cember 2019 January Issue2020 89 the offices of Land and Homes, come by the Saturday

D Community Market or contact Ian Gibson

([email protected]) or John Plotkin ([email protected]).

Please help Rotary and our generous restaurant, dessert, coffee and beverage sponsors help our

community. Rotary’s mission is to meet the health

and wellbeing needs of the East Cape community

with an emphasis on the East Cape’s youth.

40 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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Advertising in East Capers East Capers Periódico Advertising in the East Capers gets the word out Publisher about your business AND your ad money supports the 3 week 'Cursos de Verano' summer school, for Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C., over 120 local children, provides art supplies for 19 Los Barriles, BCS, Mexico

East Cape public schools, baseball camps, just to name a few things the Asociación de Artes does! Editor Christine Kenck-Courtright In addition to space in the printed version, your color ad appears in the online version at no addi- Copy Editor tional cost. You can download the 2019/20 Advertis- ing Kit by visiting our website at: Eliza Mendoza

www.eastcapearts.com Circulation Brian Cummings

Tax-deductable Contributions

Advertising to the Asociación de Artes

The Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C., Contributors Los Barriles, B.C. Sur, Mexico is a legal non-profit Gary Graham Mexican corporation not affiliated with any other or- ganization, association, club or business. Christine Courtright Camila Ford The Asociación is in full compliance with the terms Jill Borggreve of the NAFTA agreement of January 1, 1994. As Sefi Held such, contributions made to the Asociación de Lane Sykes Artes are tax-deductible in the United States, Mexi- John Plotkin co and Canada. For more information visit: Club Rotaro www.eastcapearts.com or the NAFTA Website at: Claire Little http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade- Renee Lagloire agreements/north-american-free-trade-agreement- Steve Reed nafta. Theresa Comber

Mazatlán Post Volunteers Needed! Norman Roberts

The Asociación de Artes needs volunteers to help Ava the Puppy Penny Nichols support their programs that bring the arts to the local communities and the schools. To learn more Pepe Murrieta about these programs, visit: www.eastcapearts.com. WhyChristmas.com If you would like to volunteer, send an email to: East Capers Anthology [email protected] .

Treasurer Wolf Property Management www.wolf-pm.com Call for Articles Los Barriles, BCS, Mexico East Capers is looking for fiction and true stories about our region and items that affect our residents. Printer

If you are interested in submitting articles, recipes, Imprenta Ciudad Los Niños, La Paz, BCS, Mexico stories or your personal experiences in Baja, email To learn about Ciudad Los Niños, visit their website at: your 1,000-words or less article to: http://ciudadninoslapaz.org/english/home.htm [email protected] ——————————— The opinions expressed within the articles in

East Capers are those of the author and do not

Thank You! necessarily reflect the opinions of the This publication is possible with the help of the Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C.

board members of the Asociación de Artes and members of the community.

Newsletter Email Address

[email protected]

2 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020 39

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com mature plants may lengthen as much as 3 cm in a year. you the same, if not better, show you were treated to Asociación de Artes last March – and we are planning some fun surprises! The stock, fragrant flowers are white tinged with rose By: Chris Courtright and appear Mar-June. They are open in the late after- We will have the great traditional Mexican Folkloric By the time you read this, the first Asociación de Artes entertainment, the great selection of food booths, the noon through midday of the next day and are visited by bats at night, birds and insects during the morning. The event, the Holiday Art Show at Colina del Sol, will be beer/wine garden and once again, the hand selected

fuzzy, tan fruit, with bristles rarely more than 1 cm long history. As always, it is a great time to catch up with vendors with the one of a kind products. We have friends, see great one of a kind handmade items, shop for gone back to our roots with verifying that you are see- and pale pink to bright red flesh, matures during the gifts or yourself and get in the festive mood for the up- ing the best of the artists available in the Baja who summer. coming holidays. I venture to say that it was a great will be showing the best and widest variety of prod- Cardón , a near-endemic, is found mainly in BC on fundraiser for us, just in time to pay for the school sup- ucts. most of Gulf islands and coastal Sonora south to Guay- plies shopping that we do in the fall. mas. It grows on rocky southwest hillsides of Sierra de Festival de Artes is where we have our big Silent Auc-

San Pedro Mártir, in the southern Desierto de San Feli- tion and Raffle baskets which is a huge fundraiser for Our next event is the Artist Studio Tour on February pe, and level plains from San Felipe and El Rosario us. Our team scours the area to get some fantastic 12th, from 10am – 4pm. This unique show allows you to southward to the tip of the Cape Region. It is found things donated – the stuff you want and are going to go to about 15 different local artists homes to see where most abundantly in the deep soil of alluvial fans. Trave- buy anyways. This is your opportunity to get the the magic happens. And as a bonus, there are more than ling south, the first real cardinal (Cardón forest) is found things you need and at the same time, help us fulfill in Arroyo El Rosario 16 km east of the town. Cardón is one artist at many of the homes. So, you can see many the mission of Asociación de Artes – which is to help

often mistaken for the Saguaro of Sonora and Arizona, more artists for no more travel! The homes are in Los the children and youth of the East Cape area. We al-

Carnegiea gigantea, but the Saguaro does not grow in Barriles to Buena Vista, so it is easy travel, and all close ways have lots of shade so you can hang out all day BC. by. And as luck would have it, many of the artists are and shop, eat, drink, be entertained and repeat it all clustered together or side by side. Pre-sale tickets are several times that day! If you have friends coming for Birds often peck at the fruit, exposing and eating the in- st available at Baja Beach Boutique – starting Feb 1 . a visit, tell them to plan their trip around March 15th ner pulp and black seeds. Other animals visit the Cardón Make sure you mark your calendars for this fun day! so they can go to the Festival de Artes too!! including several species of woodpeckers, orioles, doves, bees, flies, and butterflies. Hawk’s nests can oc- Then we go into BIG Festival de Artes at Palmas de Cor- Each year we find something new we need to do to th casionally be seen in the higher branches. Sometimes tez on March 15, 2020. This is the 27 annual - which is help the school kids. Our big push this year for the 19 deep scars can be seen in the cactus flesh where cattle amazing to be around for so long! We will provide for

have browsed. In the Cape Region, iguanas can some- Continued on Page 4 times be seen peering out of vacated woodpecker holes.

Cardón Mission documents report that aborigines used the prick-

ly Cardón fruit as a staple food and ated them after Pachycereus pringlei grinding into a pinole or poured water through the By: Norman Roberts - BC Plant Field Guide ground fruit and drank the joice. There is little suste- Cardón dominates many of the deserts of BC; some are be- nance to the limited fleshy part of the fruit. The areolae lieved to be over 200 years old and to weigh 10 tons. The and spines are readily brushed away when the fruit is pale green-to-grayish columnar trunk may be 1.5 meter ripe. Today the fruit is of little interest to locals as a thick and contains the plant’s photosynthetic tissues (there food source because it ripens at the same time as Pitaya are no leaves). There are 11 – 17 vertical ribs on the trunk Dulce, which is far superior. Cardón fruti was more im- and branches. The skeleton consists of a circle of hard- portant in the north of the wood rods alternating with the ribs, separate above but peninsula, where Pitaya fused below into a cylinder that thickens with age. The Dulce was absent. spongy pulp readily absorbs water, allowing an accordion- Ranchers cut thin slabs of like action of the ribs with the intake and los of water. cactus flesh to wrap Spacing between the ribs depends on the water available around wounds. It ap- and decreases as water become scarce. The many massive, pears to act as a pain kill- upsweeping branches have 10-15 vertical ribs and may be er, disinfectant and heal- 2.5 cm in diameter and reach a height of 20m. Areolae of ing agent. The dried ribs 20-30 gray spines are widely separated when the plant con- make a very hot fire and tains abundant water. Once the spines are destroyed they are also used for fish do not return, a fact not lost on the aborigines who often spears, poles for hooking found it necessary to climb the trunk in order to reach the furit, fences, corrals, fruit. This effort was aided by using a long pole consisting house walls and rafters. of a Cardón rib with a hook formed by tying a short branch Beds are also made from to one end. The shallow root system aids in rapid absorp- the dried, rot-resistant tion of the unpredictable rains. Seedlings grow very slow- ribs. ly, less than 2.5 cm per year, but vigorous branches on

38 3 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com Wildest Dreams Continued From Page 36 bringing the school supplies to the schools. It is a great experience to see the excitement of the kids (and teachers) lake and it was a little noisy and I heard them say it was

as we bring them boxes of school supplies! Even when a boat race.. whatever that is?! Well, the noise scared me and the thought of leaving these nice people and my the paper we bring means that the teacher can print more best friend JoJo scared me a lot. I met my new humans, schoolwork or tests! Please help us help make the community we live in even better by improving the education- and they were nice, I especially felt safe with the man human. He had a nice voice. At my new home I found I al experience in the local schools. For more information had two other dogs that looked just like me! There were on volunteering, email [email protected] Really, lots of toys, food, the soft green grass and tons of cud- you won’t regret the few hours you volunteer and it will be dles! I have great adventures and I even have my own a great time for a great cause! little life vest for when we go kayaking. I love kayaking

as I get to ride in the front with my new friend! I even know how to swim now!

Napping in my motorhome at a boat race Life for me started out pretty scary, I was always hungry and never felt good. Now, I am the luckiest girl in the Baja Fun Facts world. I have a great life! I have an exciting family –  The coat of arms of Baja California Sur emphasizes we are boat racers after all! I have 3 great friends just the region’s connection to the sea. Silver fish against a like me, everything I need and lots of love from my hu- blue background stand for the ocean and its abun- mans. I am so grateful to all the humans who rescued dance, while a silver shell recalls the border battle me and gave me a life that is better than I could have waged by the inhabitants of Baja California Sur. A ever dreamed of.

narrow golden border symbolizes the region’s rich soil, and a wider blue band signifies the virtues of loy- This is just one of the hundreds of stories that are made alty, justice, and truth. In the center, a gold panel rep- possible from the help of Cortez Rescue and the many

resents wealth and value, while a red panel suggests folks that take the time to care and give the chance for

unity and daring. “the best life that a dog/cat could ever dream of”.

 Baja California Sur, bordered by two seas, has the Please do your part to help. For more information on longest coastline of all the Mexican states at more than how to help email: [email protected] or go 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles). Kayaking with my friend and my cool vest! to the their web site: Asociación De Artes Continued From Page 3  Baja California Sur features more islands than any www.cortezrescue.org other state. Although most of the islands are located in East Cape Schools we support is to provide for them new or gently used Spanish language library books. While the Gulf of California, the largest one is Margarita Is- land, on the Pacific side. delivering school supplies last spring, we learned that the  library books are literally being loved to death. Once a The cardón cactus, the world’s largest species of cac- book is in unusable condition, it is gone as there are not tus, grows on the Baja California peninsula. It can funds for replacement. The teachers asked if we could reach heights of 21 meters (70 feet). help them get new books. Over the summer we discov-  Every year from mid-December to mid-April, hun- ered, it is not as easy to find the Spanish language books dreds of gray whales arrive off the coast of Baja Cali- up north to bring down so why not buy them here? fornia Sur from the Alaska shores. Whale-watchers flock to Guerrero Negro and Laguna San Ignacio, Walmart, Costco, City Club, bookstores and many of the larger stores have books. Pick up a few, have your guests where they can see whales jumping up to 40 feet in the air. pick up a few and then drop them off at the Mercado la  Costa (Joes Pizza) in Los Barriles where there is a drop Rock shelters in the Sierra de Guadalupe and Sierra de off box. They need books for all reading levels, kinder- San Francisco feature larger-than life cave paintings of garten to high school. Recent books – like Harry Potter - humans and animals. Loreto Bay, in Baja California or the classics - like Charlottes Web or just books that Sur, was the setting for the final episode of season sev- look good. All books are greatly appreciated by the en of the ABC television show, “The Bachelor.” schools, so help us rebuild their libraries! If you want

more information, email us at eastcapersmaga- Capital: La Paz [email protected] Major Cities (population): La Paz (219,596) San

And finally, my continually repeated subject, please help Jose del Cabo (164,162) Ciudad Constitución us help the kids. We have a lot of fun volunteering op- (63,830) Santa Rosalia (52,743) Loreto (11,839) portunities available. Nothing requires a strong body,

strong mind or lots of time…. well except for this editor Size/Area: 28,369 square miles

job, and luckily for you, it is filled and without a strong Population: 512,170 (2005 Census) mind! We have 2 hours shifts at the festivals, and other Year of Statehood: 1974 simple jobs thought the year and even the great job of 37 4 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com had lots of food, spoke softly, held me and rubbed me. East Cape Guild Not in Even in My They were nice, but there was a Gato there and I think By: Jill Borggreve she did not really like me and being scared, I just stayed

Wildest Dreams in that crate that had been my home for the last few days. East Cape Guild, A. C. keeps busy doing two important

By: Ava the Puppy (as told to Chris Courtright) things: raising money to help keep our local teenagers in Each day I felt better and those people were so nice and school…and providing fun events for the community. Mark My name is Ava. I am an adorable long-haired Dotson chi- gave me food…. several times a day and for the first your calendar for our very popular Monte Carlo Night com- huahua mix and this is my story. time in my life, I was not hungry. I had things to play ing up on February 22. This event lets you play craps and I will start at the point when my life took a turn for the bet- with, and even the Gato was something for me to investi- blackjack to win prizes and is always a sellout. Tickets in- ter. Last May, when I was three months old, I was dropped gate. There was a big place for me to play and lots to clude a Mexican buffet and will be on sale early in Febru- off at some Gringo’s house, which might have been great, explore. One day I was showing off how fast I could run ary. There is also a silent auction with golf, fishing, hotel but they were gone. I did not know what to do, so I just when got too close to this horrible cactus that attacked stays and many other fun prizes. Don’t delay, get your tick- went to the gate and waited for my humans to come back. me and left all kinds of sharp things in my fur! I ets as soon as they go on sale. Watch the Baja Pony Express

After a day or so, the humans next door, started talking to screamed, my humans screamed then took me to their for when and where tickets will be available. kitchen and pulled the sharp things out of my fur and me, but being scared, I ran and hid. They brought me food skin. I have never hurt so much or been so scared in my In case you are a new member of our community or have and water. Then another lady came and grabbed me from life! After what seemed like hours, I was cleaned up, been living under a rock and don’t know what the Guild behind the washing machine. This nice lady took me to her blood was gone along with the sharp things. I got does here it is. The East Cape Guild was established 22 house and gave me a bath – well 3 baths with some funny years ago as a Mexican registered non-profit for the purpose wrapped in a soft towel and held and that made me feel smelling soap. I was so scared, but after all the bath’s I did better. It was a traumatic day! of providing scholarships for high school students to attend not itch, I ate and felt better. Then she took me to a guy and school. This is for US grades 10, 11 & 12 which the Mexi- can government does not provide for free. The students’ he poked and prodded, looking all over me. I heard them My life was looking up, I was feeling good, when I families need to cover tuition, transportation, supplies, uni- say I had fleas, ticks, and worms! That next morning the found myself in this big purse next to the Gato in her forms and other costs. The Guild requests applicants to pro- purse on the way to the airport. I was scared and excited first nice humans came and took me to their house, and they vide a copy of their grades, family situation and income, and at the same time and experiencing things that a recommendation by a non-family community mem- were never in my wildest dreams.. was I be- ber. We set the bar high by requiring no grade lower than an coming a ‘jet set’ perra?? After what seemed 8 out of a possible 10 score. From this information we pro- like days, we ended up in this cold place, and vide scholarships for as many students as our fundraising the humans took me to a tree with the funniest will cover. This past May we awarded 161 scholarships to green stuff around it. It was soft and fun to run high school and 18 to college. This is the first year we have in… and it was all over. been able to cover so many college scholarships. We be-

lieve that our community benefits by a more educated local At this new house, the Gato told me she was the population. If you agree, we invite you to visit our website Queen of the home, and that the upstairs was at eastcapeguild.com.

Her area, and stay out, but eventually I would sneak up there! The next day another human came and I met my new best friend, JoJo, the cutest chihuahua dog who was just my size. It was so great to have someone to finally relate

to, play with, rustle with and chase. This was my first best friend ever! Life was great with lots of fun adventures and I discovered that I was smart. My humans put a fence around my special area and would put me in that area when they left. Well, I wanted to get out, so I did. It

was fun to see the look on their face when they got home and I was on the outside of the fence. I immediately would show them how I got out and had lots of fun playing with stuff that I think I am not supposed to play with. They

would change the arrangement, and then next

time I figured it out again. Pretty good for such a small dog to get over a 24” fence!

Then one day we went on a really long drive,

they said to my ‘forever home’. We get to this

Continued on Page 37 36 5 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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I’ve explored lots of southern Baja beaches and I can say our show as well. that very few of them do not have evidence of kitchen mid- When I first saw this show at age thirteen, I was so in- dens, mounds of shells from shellfish which sustained per- spired, I vowed to be in it before age 30. I was lucky haps hundreds of early tribes of visitors from Hokkaido to enough to reach that goal and played the role of Bebe, Chili. dancing the original choreography and singing: At the Bal- A couple of miles from my house there is a large, well pre- let (which we will change to: At Smokey’s). I am so excit- served early man surface site that holds literally thousands ed to transform this show with my beloved Baja friends of worked hand tools and many kitchen middens which who feel like ‘family’ and create something truly Ba- might be evidence of either large or extended occupation. I ja. This is our year to celebrate and honor ourselves as think these people were here 4,000 years ago (Mexican Nat- individuals and also as proud members of A Baja Chorus ural History dept. tagged them as Las Palmas Group) be- Line!

cause the site is only 5 meters above sea level – 10,000 th th th th Write the dates in your calendars: March 6 , 7 , 8 , 11 , years ago the sea level might have been 60 or 70 meters 12 th, 13 th and closing on the 14 th, 2020. For information higher. Thank God these folks were few and primitive be- contact Kim at [email protected] or Camille at ba- cause about that time in history the Albans pushed the wal- [email protected] rus to the brink of extinction in the northern seas. Only very recent visitors have had the luxury, the freedom, the permis-

sion to loot and pollute this little sea. Baja Invasion I contacted Mexico’s Natural History Department (INAH) From East Capers Anthology in La Paz several times about this important site, giving Baja Shakespeare 2020 All of us Bajaphiles complain about the hordes of new va- them the GPS numbers, photos of the middens, the site, the cation visitors and retirees from the north cluttering up our By: Camila Ford tools. After a long silence I wrote to an archeologist friend formerly pristine Baja California. In my case it was Vini, in the states who contacted them directly and he reported Vidi, Velcro, I Came, I Saw, I Stuck Around. We should Welcome to Baja Shakespeare's 20th season! Yes back to me that The Las Palmas group was way down on 20! A miracle built on blood sweat and tears, as well not complain. We are all Johnny Come Lately’s. their very long list of “Things to Do”. Now, after reading as on play, fun, dance and alcohol. This year we are New discoveries reveal that island hoppers in boats have the mountains of new scientific evidence stacking up about doing: "A Baja Chorus Line," inspired by and based been coming here from all over the Pacific rim for the last shore hopping voyagers from all over the globe showing loosely on the musical "A Chorus Line." incursions here, I’m beginning to think that somewhere in 40,000 years. 8,000 years ago it was like Easter Week here. Lots of vacationers in love with the sea life found the the future, Baja California’s antiquities may be a close sec- After months of considering various scripted plays, I kept feeling a block. At first, I thought it was pres- seas full of good things to eat, the climate moderate, no ond draw for world-wide tourism. sure from the 20th show. But, finally, I realized that time share PC guys and gals pulling their sleeves. I won’t be here to see it and, of course, I could be wrong. It I wanted something that honored our local troupe or I think most of these early visitors came just as the mam- might not even come close to Cabo specials at Easter Week troubadours: the people who have made this contin- moths, camelids, sloths, etc. of the Ice Age were disappear- on the regular $14 dollar margaritas = 2 for $25 bucks. ue "through thick and thin." Can’t beat that. ing. I believe there might have been many more deer and "A Chorus Line" is about auditions, and performers, antelope but early spring breakers would have had a hard time roundin’ them up to make stew. It is hard to say what This was written before 2009 , but in our current growth and the process of getting cast or not. How people put themselves out there and still may riches the seas might have held way back when but if you phase here, nothing changes!!! let your imagination run it will give new meaning to the not get recognized or seen. How we words “wide open”. are individuals, but also part of the whole: or a chorus line. All equal. I’ve explored lots of southern Baja beaches and I can say All different. All creating together.

that very few of them do not have evidence of kitchen mid- The original show was created in dens, mounds of shells from shellfish which sustained per- haps hundreds of early tribes of visitors from Hokkaido to workshop which took the performers Chili. by surprise. So, our Baja version too will be created in this way. We will have a structure and will then give it our own Baja flair. Actors will explore what drew them to participate in Baja Shakes in the first place: a desire for connection? Partying? A chance to explore hidden desires: dancing,

singing? To show off? To escape

something? To face something? These are questions that all of us here

in Baja might ask ourselves. These

kinds of questions were part of the original show and will be examined in

6 35 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

Behind El Toro Y La Luna

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10 – 2) located at Mercado la Costa in Los

Barriles, near Chapito’s. She has ex-

panded to not only her own one of a kind creations– and yes, she does not like to do the exact same item twice – to also import- ing some Italian clothing, some shoes, purses and accessories.

Born in the Soviet Territories, later living in Moscow, she is an accountant by pro-

fession (with 3 master’s degrees from

Univ of Ukraine & Moscow) but an artist by nature. Growing up in Soviet Territo- ries, where you could not get pretty clothes, Victoria started making her own at age 12. By her early 20’s she was mak-

ing custom designed leather motorcycle jackets. She has an eye to be able to mix

and match fabrics that are beautiful together and her dresses, which she totally designs herself, are comfortable and flatter- ing to all body types.

In Victoria’s Boutique you will find a good collection of fashion focusing on comfortable, natural and easy to travel with clothing. You can also go to her Sun- ny Dresses Studio (open Mon – Thurs 11 –

5) in the Esmeralda neighborhood, and she will sit down with you and design the perfect piece for you and your body type. Victoria also works at the boutique on Fri- day and Sundays and will work with you

as your personal shopper and help you

complete the perfect outfit. You can contact Victoria at 624-110-6992 or email [email protected] to make an appointment for the custom work at her design studio.

Victoria’s Sunny Dresses

Designs Studio & Boutique By: Chris Courtright

I remember when I first met Victoria Olenich at the Farmers Market in Los Barriles. It was both our first markets and she had some lovely dresses and these wonderfully painted cattle skulls. She was cheerful,

and always had a smile on her face. It did not take long for her dresses to hit the fancy with the women in LB. They were colorful, beautifully sewn and perfect design for our summer lifestyle here. Her adventure started out as creative outlet, fun and sharing your designs with others, to a successful full-on business taking up her time and house!

Having outgrown her home, Victoria’s Sunny Dresses added a new location and opened Victoria’s Boutique (open Mon – Fri 10 – 6, Sat

34 7 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com mostly women - are given information about the benefits of CLEAN WATER FOR drinking healthier water, how to assemble/disassemble the system, and the importance of cleaning it regularly. Our fol- THE EAST CAPE low-up efforts show that about 50% of the filters are still in use after a few years and that problems with them are usually solved easily or a new filter is given to them if they want it. By: Club Rotario Los Barriles

In Baja California Sur there are over 2300 isolated com- We will begin distribution events again in February in munities with 100 or fewer residents who struggle with the Santiago area and then move up into the Sierra la La- obtaining healthy drinking water. Often their water guna behind San Antonio de la Sierra in March and source is a spring or stream they share with goats, cows April. Our objective is to provide 400 families with clean water this year. Subdelegados have already provid- and other animals that contaminate the water before it ed us with an extensive list of ranchos and communities enters miles-long black tubing that services a community or family. The water may look clean but often carries that are in need. Some recipients make a great effort to giardia, fecal materials, unhealthy bacteria, high levels of get to the distribution site and all are incredibly apprecia-

arsenic, and a host of other nasty stuff. According to tive, warm, and kind. We have had several youth groups BCS ’s Departamento de Salud, gastro-intestinal illnesses come down to help and for many this is their first contact

among rural people are many times higher than those with people who live in houses with thatched roofs, dirt

who have the luxury of drinking treated water. This floors and no plumbing, electricity, or internet. They means loss of work time/income, missing school, medical return home profoundly and permanently changed. expenses, and generally not feeling well. Club Rotario Los Barriles is committed to continuing this Basic requirements for life are just two: clean air and program for many years to come and welcomes dona- clean water. Recognizing this, one of the top worldwide tions of any amount. For more information on this or our priorities of Rotary International is to provide clean water club’s many other community service projects, to donate,

for those in need. Club Rotario Los Barriles embraced or to volunteer, please contact Chris Geyer at

public health as a primary focus for our East Cape service [email protected]. area over ten years ago and became involved in healthy water five years ago.

Rural water treatment plants are very unlikely due to ex- pense, but there are a number of other ways to attack the problem including sterilization with chemicals (they hate

the taste), new wells (not cost-effective.), better catch-

ment systems (helps, but not a lot.), commercially puri- fied water (an economic drain on low-income people.), and filters. We have chosen to distribute filters because they remove almost all contaminants found in the Baja Sur peninsula, are low-tech, and are relatively inexpen-

sive. The water filter we have selected has a ceramic core that was developed for kidney dialysis. It’s a simple but effective gravity-feed system that uses a five-gallon bucket, flexible tubing, and a filter cartridge that is easy to use and maintain. Multiple filters are sometimes attached to a tinaco, allowing several people to draw water

at the same time. Also, there is an adapter with which a filter can be attached to a faucet. If back-flushed regularly it can last up to five years and produce up to one million gallons of clean water. Cost per filter and bucket is about $30.00 USD.

Over the last few years we have reached out to many oth-

er Rotary Clubs in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washing-

ton, and Idaho as well as private donors for financial sup-

port. Through their generosity we have distributed over

600 filters in East Cape communities and ranchos. We have formed partnerships with Mexican team leaders who organize distribution events in rural areas. Attendees -

8 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020 33

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com There’s a Word for it in Mexico Traditionally, Mexican men have expected and demanded respect for their virility and their success in seducing – Respeto women. They have also expected respect for their courage Summer 2008 and fearlessness, especially in the face of death. Mexican Respeto (ray-SPAY-toh) or “respect” is regarded by Mexi- bus and taxi drivers have been traditionally notorious for cans as one of the most important elements in Mexican cul- cowling death, driving as if they were being perused by ture and therefore on of the most important words in their demons. The demand by Mexican men for respect for their sexual prowess is far less observant these days. Bus language. One of the cultural values where Mexicans and North Americans often misunderstand each other is in the drivers, particularly those serving the travel industry, no

matter of respeto. There are significant differences between longer feel compelled to act like wild men. They now the meaning of respect and respeto. North Americans tend expect respeto for their professional status.

to respect people if they are talented, law-abiding, diligent, Interestingly, Mexicans have never viewed physical productive and successful. Mexicans primarily respect peo- toughness, fearlessness and strong masculine behavior as ple for their social status, their level of attention to personal precluding them from having an equally strong intellectual relationships and if they are loyal, generous, and kind. If and philosophical side. Ernest Hemingway was especially they have, “soul” and “character.” They also respect people admired by Mexicans because he was a fighter, adventur- fo their age, their professional position and their power. er, a drinker, a lover of women and a prize-winning author Developing and nurturing respect in Mexico therefore re- of deeply humanistic works of fiction. Like the Samurai quires more of a personal, emotional investment than it nor- warriors of feudal Japan who prided themselves as much mally does in more “logic oriented” societies. for the ability to write poetry and appreciate art as for their Mexicans have never shaped their lives around mechanical, skill with the sword, most macho Mexican men like to absolute rules and limitations. Their world is based on emo- think of themselves as poets, singers and philosophers.

tional needs first and material needs second. Mexicans tend Generally speaking, Mexicans do not judge people on the to look upon the North American way of life as too robotic, basis of their accomplishments, but on the kind of person too devoid of emotion and spiritualism, the very things that they are. This is one of the many reasons why Benito Jua- give life its flavor and make it worthwhile. One of the big- rez, the Zatopec Indian who became the president of Mex- gest mistakes that North Americans make in their business ico in 1858, is regarded by most Mexicans as the greatest relationships with Mexicans is presuming that they can win statesman in the country has ever had. His philosophic

and keep the respect of the Mexican counterparts or employ- creed was, “Respeto for all people is the foundation of ees by setting an example of hard work and sacrificing their peace.” persona lives for their companies. To Mexicans that kind of behavior is more than foolish. It is highly detrimental to

one’s own character and personality because it prevents one from enjoying life. Mexicans have traditionally regarded

the enjoyment of life as more important than work.

For A Wonderful

Friend

Author Unknown

Its wonderful to have a friend. With whom you feel at ease. Who lets you talk and think and act, exactly as you please.

Who under stands your quiet moods and doesn’t mind your chatter. And when you do some thoughtless

thing- Just says-“It doesn’t matter”.

Its wonderful to have someone.

Who cheers you when you’re blue.

In other words its grand to have

a “perfect friend” like you!

32 9 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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as the normal figures of the Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Shepherds and Three Kings, there are often lots of

other figures of different people, including women

making tortillas, people selling food and different animals and birds, like flamingos! The figures can be bought from markets in cities all over Mexico. The baby Jesus is normally added to the scene during the evening of Christmas Eve. The Three Kings are added at Epiphany.

Christmas Eve is known as 'Noche Buena' and is a family day. People often take part in the final Posa- da and then in the evening have the main Christmas meal. Popular dishes for the main Christmas meal include Pozole (a thick soup made with hominy,

chicken or pork and chilies with is topped with

greens), roast turkey, roast pork, tamales, bacalao (salt cod), romeritos (a green vegetable that's cooked in a mole sauce with potatoes and shrimps) and there are normally salads served as side dishes such as Ensalada Nochebuena (Christmas Eve salad). For Christmas Day. dessert Buñuelos are very popular, they are fried pastries sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon or a hot In some states in Mexico children expect Santa Claus to sugar syrup. Buñuelos come in two shapes flat and come on December 24th. In the south of Mexico children round/ball! To drink there might be Ponche (a warm expect presents on January 6th at Epiphany, which is

Christmas punch made with fruit) and Rompope (a known as 'el Día de los Reyes'. On el Día de los Reyes the presents are left by the Three Kings (or Magos). If you've drink like egg nog which often has rum added to it!). had a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, you might also

get some candy on el Dia de los Reyes! At midnight, many people go to a Midnight Mass service, known as the 'Misa de Gallo' (which means It's traditional to eat a special cake called 'Rosca de

Mass of the Rooster as people are up early like Reyes' (Three Kings Cake) on Epiphany. A figure of Baby Jesus is hidden inside the cake. Whoever has the baby

Jesus in their piece of cake is the 'Godparent' of Jesus for that year.

In Mexico most people speak Spanish so Happy/ Merry Christmas is 'Feliz Navidad'. In the Nahuatl (spoken in some parts of central Mexico) it's 'Cualli

netlācatilizpan' and in the Yucatec Maya language

(spoken in some parts of the Yucatán Peninsula) it's 'Ki'imak "navidad"'.

Interesting fact: The largest ever Angel Ornament was made in Mexico. It was made in January 2001 by Ser-

gio Rodriguez in the town of Nuevo León. The angel

was 18' 3"" high and had wing-span of 11' 9"! Per- haps the most amazing thing about the angel was that

it was completely made out of old beer bottles, 2946

of them!

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Christmas in Mexico From WhyChristmas.com

In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th. From December 16th to Christmas

Eve, children often perform the 'Posada' processions or

Posadas. Posada is Spanish for Inn or Lodging. There are nine Posadas. These celebrate the part of the Christ- mas story where Joseph and Mary looked for somewhere to stay. For the Posadas, the outside of houses are decorated with evergreens, moss and paper lan- terns.

In each Posada, children are given candles and a board, with painted clay figures of Mary riding on a donkey and Joseph, to process round the streets with. They call at the houses of friends and neighbors and sing a song at each home. The song they sing is about Joseph and Mary asking for a room in the house. But the children are told that there is no room in the house and that they must go away. Eventually they are told

there is room and are welcomed in! When the children

go into the house, they say prayers of thanks and then they have a party with food, games and fireworks.

Each night a different house holds the Posada party. At the final Posada, on Christmas Eve, a manger and fig-

ures of shepherds are put on to the board. When the

Posada house has been found, a baby Jesus is put into the manger and then families go to a midnight Church service. After the Church service there are more fireworks to celebrate the start of Christmas.

One game that is often played at Posada parties is pi-

ñata. A piñata is a decorated clay or papier-mâché jar filled with sweets and hung from the ceiling or tree branch. The piñata is often decorated something like a ball with seven peaks around it. The peaks or spikes represent the 'seven deadly sins'. Piñata's can also be in the form of an animal or bird (such as a donkey). To

play the game, chil-

dren are blind-folded and take it in turns to hit the piñata with a stick until it splits open and the sweets pour out. Then the children rush to pick up as many sweets as they can!

Nativity scenes, known as the 'nacimiento', are very popular in Mexico. They are often very large, with the

figures being life size! Sometimes a whole room in a

house is used for the nacimiento, although this is less

common now. The figures are often made of clay and are traditionally passed down through families. As well Continued on Page 31

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The Whale Shark Baja’s Archaeological 10 Foods Popular in Mexico (Señor Big) Complexes For Christmas By: Pepe Murrieta - Fall 2006 .

One of the main tourist attractions of the region is Tamales. Tamales are beautiful cornmeal Known as Pejesapo (Angler) by local people in Baja Las Palmas, a prehistoric archaeological complex. dumplings with a variety of fillings inside California, the whale shark is the biggest fish in the Located on the southern Cape and nearby islands them. ocean. It looks like a shark and is as big as a whale. in the Gulf of California, the site features caves Ensalada de Noche Buena. Mexican Christ- The species is believed to have originated about 60 and rock shelters containing secondary burials of million years ago. The largest specimen accurately human bones painted with red ochre. mas Salad is a festive combination of colorful recorded is 18 meters (60 feet) long and probably fruits and vegetables that are served every weigh more than 21.5 tons. The Comondú Complex gives evidence of late pre- Christmas after dinner. historic occupation throughout the central portion The whale shark is found in tropical and warm Romeritos is Mexican greens for holiday ta- oceans. They cruise along from the surface down to of the peninsula. It is characterized by small, trian- ble. the depth of about 700 meters (2100 ft.) they are of- gular projectile points may demonstrate the intro- duction of the bow and arrow into the region. Bacalao is dried cod fish. ten seen by divers in Thailand, the Maldives, the Red Sea, the Ningaloo Reef in Australia, the Gladden Spit Pozole is a traditional soup or stew. The Great Mural Rock Art, dating to around 1700 Marine reserve in Belize, the Galapagos Islands and Pavo is turkey stuffed with mushrooms. the Sea of Cortéz. The migration of the whale shark B.C., is the best-known archaeological artifact in into the Sea of Cortez starts from May to July. They northern Baja California Sur. Numerous rock shel- Ponche Navideno a hot spiced punch. swim in shallow water during the day, diving to depts ters in the Sierra de Guadalupe and Sierra de San Buñuelos is a light fried dough. of 700 meters at night. During the Baja “season”, Francisco mountain ranges are adorned with larger they will travel as far north as Bahía de los Angeles. -than-life paintings of humans, deer and other ani- On the return trip south, they will pass by East Cape mals. from late September through October.

The whale shark moves gently, feeding on phyto- plankton, macro-algae, plankton, krill or small squid and vertebrates. The whale shark is not dangerous to human beings. Divers and snorkelers can swim around unintentionally being hit by its large muscular tail fin. Re- this giant fish without problems apart from the risk of cently, a whale shark became marooned on top of the Cabo Pulmo Reef. Divers came to the rescue, gently rocking the big fish from side to side until it was able to break loose and

swim out into the sea of Cortéz again.

12 29 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com Most attendees are participants, families and friends . The Thrill of It All who are laser-focused on the tournament. They fish Gary Graham-That Baja Guy hard and there is a whirlwind of components that go into being successful. Preparations are endless, from The last two weeks of October in Cabo San Lucas are tackle, and intel, to pre-fishing; registration is always a well-known for big money sportfishing tournaments. “must-attend-and-be-seen” angler event.

So, what does that have to do with those who don’t Their popularity has become increasingly widespread even like to fish for billfish, let alone plunk down hard- over the years since all of them are at least 20 years old, and one of them has the distinction of being the largest earned money for the considerable entry fees that can sportfishing tournament in the world in terms of dollars exceed $100,000 (in the Black and Blue) to enter across the board?

paid out.

For some competitors, “party harder” is still on the Los Cabos Billfish was first up mid-month with 51 teams agenda, like the anthem of the Western Outdoor News/ competing, despite losing one day to foul weather. The Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament in early Novem- winners pocketed $785,550 in cash and prizes. ber. Spectators are welcomed and yes, even encour-

aged to join in the festivities of most tournaments. The Perfect Day Continued From Page 27 Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore, a two-day affair that fol-

lowed LCB by a day, attracted 120 teams. The Day One Open to the public are the events following the Cap- we’d better swim back. Remarkably a north swell literally winner received $444,550 for the Day 1 Daily Jackpot, a tains Meeting, which in some cases includes a Color lifts us up and propels fins and arms and what took an hour 328-pound blue marlin. Total cash amounts for the Guard presenting the host countries’ colors, local danc- to go north turns into a ten-minute sled ride back. Friend- Bisbee Offshore amounted to $1,274,150. ships deepen further over lunch and we nod toward our de- ers and or musical entertainment; and, during Bisbee parture. We admire Captain Adan as he pulls up the anchor tournaments, the ceremonial lighting of a torch that and we head south. The Bisbee Black and Blue, the last week of October – burns until the completion of the event. the granddaddy of big money tournaments which will th The shoreline and mountains are verdant. We’re marveling celebrate its 40 anniversary in 2020 – doled out $4.5 Teams are up before the crack of dawn, with more to million in prize money, the most paid for a sportfishing do before heading out to the starting area to check-in at how the steep spine of Mother Nature’s Sierra de la La- tournament anywhere on the planet, according to Wayne guna mountains grow so densely green after multiple sum- Bisbee. mertime storms. We promise ourselves to go visit again the petroglyphs hiding up in those green rocky slopes. We swing in close on glassed seas, dorado flags flying, waving and smiling at our friend’s Agua de La Costa beach front

houses. Nearly home we catch site of people waving and smiling from the shore on the Buenos Aires beach front - we see a group of our own awesome horse riders returning from their incredible day riding to the SECRET waterfall lagoon. Even from a distance it’s easy to see their day on the

‘Tommy Bahama’ picnic ride was as exciting as ours and we wave and hoot and holler. We think again – how blessed can this life really be! AND, Check out the pictures on line to see the brilliant colors the day is still young - just 2 pm and we’re dip- ping our toes back into

the sand at Point Awe- some. To cap off this awesomeness? The first dorado dinner deliciously prepared at Campestre

Triny and the second

night at La Casita. Seri- ously. This is an awesome life!

Picture— lots of blue dolphins to see!

28 13 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com The Thrill of it All Continued From Page 13 A Perfect Day on the before the always exciting “flare gun” start, usually at 8 a.m. Sea of Cortez By: Theresa Comber For a small fee, early risers can ride out on the Official Start Boat to watch the “flare gun” start. Usually leaving The perfect day on the Sea of Cortez? A lazy the dock at 7 a.m., the double-decker craft has plenty of start at 8 am, take a heading offshore toward the room for the tournament staff, local and state dignitaries, families of the teams, plus the public. series of shark buoys stretched just 12 miles away, a bit north and east. Use Captains Luis After the flare shoots across the sky, the deafening roar of and Adan’s skills to know exactly where to drop a hundred or so boats going from dead stop to full throttle in a >>>>>> line and come up with 6 plump bonita, live bait that’s candy for dorado. Dump is a heart-pounding experience. For photographers, it is an opportunity of a lifetime, like being allowed to be on the their frantic bodies in the bait tank, rig up a cou-

start line of the Kentucky Derby. The mood of the start weigh a minimum of 30 pounds; the weight is much higher ple and toss them over boat - BANG! BANG! Two rods go off, double hook up on a pair of do- boat is celebratory which tournament officials are happy to for black and blue marlin – 300 pounds rado that fight hard to stay away from the gaff. share. Owner/angler Shaun Speer’s happy to be on the

While the teams begin an intense day of fishing for “the Throughout the afternoon and evening, the monster fish pa- fight and close friend Dan Meehan’s on the other big one,” spectators and families are free to spend the day rade continues. While in-between, onlookers can check out side of Awesome’s 12-1/2-foot beam. Fish final- by a pool, on the beach, shopping, sightseeing, or just the tournament sponsors’ tables piled high with the latest ly surrender and show they are picture perfect, 25 hanging out. fishing tackle as well as tables laden with wares of local pounders, healthy, plump and dazzling in color.

cessful teams with high expectations, in hopes of snatching dock-to-scale is barely passable, and the tournament team’s like she should be a model on the cover of Sport- fishing Magazine) wrangles the very acrobatic the brass ring, is riveting. Since most of the events enforce staff struggles to make their way through the crowd to the fish toward the boat. We all agree - if it’s a fe- strict penalties for fish that don’t meet the minimum- awaiting scale where the catch is hoisted and weighed. weight requirements, the arriving fish are monsters of their Cheers, laughter and groans are heard, based on the weight male she’s going to stay in the water and keep species. Dorado, tuna, and wahoo, if included, must of the fish, and the teams are photographed before returning spawning. Another flying display out of the wa- weigh . to their boats. ter and we see by her sloping head that she’s a

female, so off she goes at the leader to live and Behind the scene, thousands of pounds of fish are donated support the fishery. each year by the teams to “Hope for Los Cabos,” whose staff and volunteers clean and deliver the meals for the kids Next step? Head toward our NEW Awesome SECRET Spot for a snorkel adventure which is and their families; they’ve served Children’s Rehab and as good as it gets on the Baja. Just before arrival feeding centers in the less fortunate neighborhoods sur- rounding Los Cabos. Many volunteers are recruited from and close to shore, Neptune intervenes and offers the crowds of spectators who want to give back. To volun- up an enormous school of bottlenose dolphin teer, contact http://www.hopeforloscabos.com/ yearning for a bow ride. And a wake to jump! Thirty minutes later we’re all still squealing with delight! It’s a remarkable experience when humans and wild animals blend and bond to remind us we’re all connected. The Captains finally peel away after going hither and fro to keep our sea bound friends with us and then ON to Awe- some’s secret spot, accessible only by boat.

Sharing this place is a gift to ourselves and an acknowledgement to Jacques Cousteau. It’s filled with fish, abundant with the healthiest coral on the East Cape, full of structure that makes the swimming and snorkeling an adventure to find

crevasses and caves and winding peek-a-boo-

hello-more-fish-spots. An hour zooms by kick-

AFTER THE FLARE shoots across the sky, the deafening roar of a hun- ing north through the aquarium when a lift of the

dred or so boats going from dead stop to full throttle is a heart-pounding head shows the boat is a dot to the south and experience.

Continued on Page 15 Continued on Page 28 14 27 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com Last year we established a new 3-5-year vision to guide The Thrill of it All Continued From Page 14 us. Specific areas of focus are Healthcare, Education, and ROTARY CELEBRATES NEW LOCATION!!! Community Kids. Some of this year's projects include, The entire spectacle in October is a captivating experience 15 YEARS but are not limited to, providing a Global Grant for the wrapped in festival – appealing to both competitors and ob- By: Steve Reed East Cape Health Center that will include vision care, servers alike. Like other themed festivals held around the Oscar the continuing our distribution of water purification systems world, it provides a unique opportunity to share an intense th This 2019-2020 season marks the 15 anniversary of to rural residents within the East Cape area, funding Uni- sportfishing challenge with onlookers.

Club Rotario Los Barriles Cabo Este serving Los Bar- versity scholarships for our local youths, assisting in the *For more information regarding the three events mentioned. Mechanic riles and East Cape area. We began in response to the Los Cabos Billfish http://www.loscabostournaments.com/los- implementation and construction of the new Regional needs brought by Hurricane Juan in 2004. We look back cabos-billfish-tournament Community Center and Athletic Complex, offering health at that small beginning distributing blankets and realize Bisbee Los Cabos Offshore https://www.bisbees.com/home WE WORK ON CARS & TRUCKS we’ve come a long way, and our growth is entirely be- checkups for all the kids of East Cape, and initiating vari- Next to Freddy’s Key Shop on 20 Novembre ous other projects in concert with other Rotary clubs visit- cause of you. In November, our own Western Outdoor News/Los Cabos

ing from the United States and Canada. Tuna Jackpot Tournament welcomes the public to attend our Many of you pitched in and helped make last season a Open Monday thru Saturday huge success. First, thanks to our community, who time Our two largest events each season are our Taste of East activities that are open to those not participating in the event. th 8am to 5pm after time volunteered support both physically and fi- Cape on December 7 and our WinterFest on February http://www.loscabostunajackpot.com/ th nancially. Thanks to the businesses who gave so much 8 , 2020. The Taste this year will feature fifteen restau- Call us at: (cell) 624-117-3412 rants competing for the title of Best Taste of East Cape. so many times, thanks to our mayor and government who continue to contribute to the betterment of our Our WinterFest Dinner and Auction celebrates all who gather in the East Cape area for fine wines and cuisine, community, thanks to our club members for all your Baja California Sur Will progress of the destination, and maintain the safety of musical entertainment, and the widest variety of desirable hard work, and lastly, thanks to Jean'e Harkleroad and the inhabitants. her Board of Directors for all they’ve done and continue items ever assembled for auction in East Cape. Be sure to Charge Foreign Tourist a watch for alerts and banners – you won’t want to miss to do. And one more thanks to our new Board for step- The charge of 350 pesos per visitor will form the Baja ping up and taking a turn: Josefina Ruiz Tamayo, Jean’e these events. $350 Pesos Tax California Sur Sustainability Fund with which pub- Harkleroad, Bob Adams, Elaine Koehn, Chris Geyer, We regularly meet every Wednesday morning at 8:30am By: Mazatlan Post lic security, healthcare, education, housing, employ- Mike Koehn, Chris Scurr, Francisca Olachea, Ian Gib- at La Playa Restaurant in Los Barriles. Join us for break- ment, sports, culture, agriculture, fishing and tourism, son, John Plotkin, and Steve Reed. fast and discover what your Rotary club is all about. Our It’s official: starting November 9th, Baja California Sur as well as social infrastructure will be strengthened,” vision is simple: To help ensure the health and well-being will charge foreign tourist $350 additional pesos (18 USD the state government posted on Twitter on Friday Oc- approx.). of our East Cape community, with a special focus on our tober 31st. Starting this November 2019, foreign tourists visiting Baja youth. Rotary stands for Service Above Self, and wherev- California Sur will pay an additional 350 pesos tax. The governor has previously justified the imposition er we are, you will always be welcome. The tax will apply to all foreign tourists who stay in the state of the tax by pointing out the poor quality of life of https://losbarrilesrotaryclub.org/ for more than 24 hours. many people who live in tourism-oriented parts of

La Paz, Baja California Sur (BCS). As of this November 9, Baja California Sur such as Los Cabos.

the tax to the foreign visitor in Baja California Sur will come The decision to enact the tax was made despite a rec- into force, which provides for a collection of more than 490 ommendation by the Mexican Senate not to introduce million pesos, an amount that will be used in different pro- this fee on the basis that it could frighten off tourists grams and works, announced the governor of the and cause unemployment. State, Carlos Mendoza Davis. The state’s announcement came a week after the low- Therefore, the initial platform to collect the fee will be re- er house of the federal Congress approved steep hikes leased, at a rate of 350 pesos per person, which will consti- to two taxes that foreigners have to pay when entering tute the Sustainability Fund of Baja California Sur. Mexico: the DSM immigration services tax and the The payment will be made through the modules and digital DNR non-resident tax. booths that will be opened with the support of the Pacific The Rotary Club above and Airport Group (GAP ) at the international airport of San However, the Senate voted against the pro- testing the vision with the school children José del Cabo, which is the first place where they will be posal following strong criticism of the increases by the tourist installed. This tax can also be paid online www.travelerfundbcs.gob.mx official state government web- industry and business site. groups. Foreigners who fly into Baja California Sur will be able to

pay the tax at Los Cabos or La Paz airports, while the state’s port authority will be responsible for collecting the tax from travelers who arrive by sea. Hotels and other accommodation

providers will charge foreign visitors who enter via land.

Due to AMLO federal budget cuts, Baja California Sur is the first state in Mexico that implements the collection of a social contribution to support the tourism development and

26 15 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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are certain that it's valid. Do not download attachments unless you know who it came from and what it contains.

Windows 7 end of life has been established by Microsoft on 14 January 2020. Windows 7 users will no longer re-

ceive security updates making your computers vulnerable

to attack. You can still get a free upgrade to Windows 10 using the following link: https://go.microsoft.com/ fwlink/?LinkID=799445 I just upgraded a friends computer, it works.

Printers here in our area of Mexico present unique prob-

lems due to the summer heat that never seems to cool. Ink Jet print cartridges and printer heads dry out over time with lack of use. Replacing the cartridges will help but

cleaning the heads is often required. That can be done

through the printer software using the head cleaning portion but that uses a lot of ink. Another method is to clean Success Continued From Page 24 the head with alcohol (not scotch) with Qtips. If you don't need to use color, then the laser jet is a great alternative. Safety first should be your motto - always be conserva- No ink, no heads. I use Brother Laser Printers here and in tive when starting/resuming activity. Doing an extra five Computer Thoughts the US. Bring an extra print cartridge with you. Epson minutes or an extra rep or set will not get you to your makes Eco Tank printers that are a bit more expensive but goals faster. Exercise safe or you may not be exercising From the Computer Guy come with ink wells that hold large quantities of ink at a at all!

By: Lane Sykes reduced price for replacement ink. Epson makes color When we move better, we feel better. According to a

printing a lot more affordable. Again, if you leave ink jet Tired of all the small print on the computer screen? Hold study at Harvard University, just 15 minutes of rhythmic printers over the summer, the heads will tend to dry out. down the Control key and tap the Plus key, the font size will activity is like taking an anti-depressant and not moving increase. If you get carried away, hold down the Control is like taking a depressant. Notice your energy and mood Chromebooks are a great key and tap the Minus key, everything gets smaller. That before and after a bit of exercise. A little goes a long alternative to Windows or way! works on Mac and Windows, same keyboard strokes Mac computers. They are There is no need to buy an antivirus. For Mac users, there extremely secure, no antivi- Remember to find the right balance of volume and inten- are no viruses in the wild that can infect your computer un- rus needed and not hackable. sity of the exercise. Too much too soon usually result in less you are deep in the dark web. If you are using Win- Chromebooks can be pur- injury and psychological and emotional exhaustion. Be- dows 10, there is a free antivirus that is included in Win- chased for $200 usd. You ing active only creates the potential for fitness but true fitness and health improvements occur when you are al- dows 10 that is all I use. Here is where most viruses start: can create a Guest account Teenagers who download spyware/adware/virus looking for lowed rest and recovery periods. that erases everything they free stuff on the web. Create a guest account for them, that do when you close the com- I can’t stress enough the importance of just keeping ac- will prohibit them to download anything without your per- puter. Chromebooks make a tive your way and finding what works for you. I always mission. Write your passwords in cursive, teenagers can't perfect back device. get the question “what is the best exercise” - the answer read your notes. Do not click on links in email unless you is simple, it’s the one that you are going to enjoy and can

stick with.

16 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020 25

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As we age, Dose and Density need to decrease. Dose

SUCCESS IS IN is the controlling variable and the more intense the activity, the less frequently you need to workout.

THE DOING The body needs time to recover and heal after exer- By: Sefi Held cising. The body’s strength/activity adaptation to

exercise occurs during recovery time and the less “You are not old until age becomes your excuse” Joe Friel physically conditioned you are, the longer you need to recover. We should all look forward to getting old because the alternative, death, is not much fun. Most people fear getting Sustainability and consistency of doing the activity old. They associate advancing age with chronic illnesses or exercise are necessary to have beneficial health such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, dementia and loss affects. of independence. However, for most of us, it does not have As we age, Dose and Density need to decrease. Dose to be that way. I say most of us because there are certain is the controlling variable and the more intense the things that we cannot control such as our genetics that can activity, the less frequently you need to workout. predispose some of us to certain illnesses.

The body needs time to recover and heal after exer- Research has and continues to confirm that our lifestyle cising. The body’s strength/activity adaptation to (diet, sleep and activity level) plays a critical role in deter- exercise occurs during recovery time and the less mining the quality of our golden years. How can we max- physically conditioned you are, the longer you need imize our athletic activities to maximize health benefits? to recover.

Did you know that Training = Stress + Recovery and two Sustainability and consistency of doing the activity common activity/training mistakes that results in injury or exercise are necessary to have beneficial health and illness are: affects.  Doing the activity too hard, too long, too frequently You must get the intensity of the activity or exercise and too soon. correct; too much too soon = body breakdown, and;  Dose = intensity + duration if not intense enough = you don’t achieve the full  Density = how many workouts you do in a given time benefit of the activity. (see the chart below). period (a week)

Continued on Page 25

24 17 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com Yes, Living Is Cheaper 46 percent of Americans surveyed fall into the “much Squash and Corn In Mexico less” category, while just 38 percent of Canadians feel the same way. Delight: The Mexican Even in Cabo, and you don’t A few other interesting findings from the survey: Colache have to eat rice and beans • Women's expenses dropped the most with 43.3 per- By Renée Lagloire By: Penny Nichols - Gringo Gazette April 2018 cent reporting a greater than 50 percent reduction in ex- Colache, a scrumptious vegetable stew, is quintes- If you’re contemplating making a permanent move down to penses, while only 35.6 percent of men reported a 50 per- sentially northern Mexican. Typically served as a cent or greater reduction in expenses. Baja, or if you’ve already pulled the trigger, one of the big- side dish, it can easily be a main dish; or rolled into gest factors to consider is the cost of living. Sure, we’ve all • The group reporting the biggest drop in expenses was warmed tortillas, it becomes a very satisfying taco heard it’s cheaper to live in Mexico, but just how much divorced people at 50.5 percent followed by singles (44.7 filling! cheaper? percent) and then married people (36.6 percent) The ingredients for colache have deep roots in Mexi- Expats from the S.S. reduced their expenses much more co, where its campesinos worked small family plots A new survey from Best Places In the World To Retire than Canadians, with 44.5 percent of Americans reporting found the answer is, to put it simply, a lot cheaper. known as milpas. Typically grown, in addition to a greater than 50 percent decrease, and only 29.6 percent other foods and herbs, were corn, squash, beans, pep- Almost half of the 1, 129 expats surveyed reported that their of Canadians reporting the same thing. pers, and tomatoes. cost of living was reduced by more than 50 percent when If you’d like to see the survey’s full findings, visit they moved to Mexico. And of the expats surveyed who live The tasty Mexican colache has its origins in the mil- in Baja California Sur, more than 90 percent said they have a www.bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com and download a pas of the state of Sonora. It is thought the dish orig- free copy. Just click on Newsletters/Studies/eBooks and lower cost of living. i nated among the Yaqui people who in pre-conquest then scroll down to “Is It Cheaper To Live In Mexico?” Up in Baja California, almost 75 percent of expats surveyed times lived in the Sonoran desert, with many com-

said their cost of living decreased by 50 percent or more. munities settled along the Yaqui River. In the Yaqui language, the word for this dish is “colachi.” Because they’re living so thrifty, survey respondents said they were able to purchase more goods and services, which While some colache recipes include cheese and increased their standard of living. Those services included cream, the recipe below keeps it simple, and deli- cious! Enjoy! things like lawn care and housekeeping (tasks they might

normally do on their own back home), allowing them fewer Mexican Colache

chores and more free time. (The survey didn’t report just 2 Tbsp. olive oil how people spent that extra free time, but we’re willing to 2 Tbsp. butter bet its on the beach, or at the bar or on a golf course.) 1 cup onions, diced Given this information, it should come as no surprise that 1 bell pepper, diced

respondents said they don’t stress out over money as much 5 tomatoes, cut in sixths Optional jalapeno or serrano pepper, finely diced down here, with more than two thirds saying they worry “much less” or at least a little less” about dinero. More than 1 ½ cups corn (cut off of the cob or frozen or canned) Salt and pepper to taste 6 cups cooked winter squash (like butternut) or raw summer squash (like zucchini)

Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet. Add the onions and cook until they are golden. Add the bell pepper and the tomatoes and the optional jalapeño or serrano and cook for a while to cook off some of the juice from the tomatoes. Add the corn and either cooked winter squash or raw summer squash. Continue cooking until the winter squash is warmed through or until the summer squash is cooked. Add salt and pepper.

18 23 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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Mercado La Costa By: Claire Little Yea! A New

There is always something to do, and something new, at Mercado La Costa in the heart of Los Barriles. Eat, Restaurant in Town drink, shop and relax with us. We can look after you from top -to-toe, inside and out! Gourmet Pizza San Antonio By: Nevr’ Full

Bring friends. Start your day right with a chat over hot or cold drinks and a sweet treat from Pancho’s Café. Indulge We have a new restaurant in Los Barriles! Well, new to in some important self-care with a treatment at Aloe Spa Los Barriles, but a familiar name to all. Gourmet Pizza and Nails. Take your time to peruse our shops for gifts… San Antonio, yes, the same one you know from the LB or get something for yourself. Find a fabulous new holi- market and his location in San Antonio. César & Triny day outfit from Victoria’s Sunny Dresses, accessorize it Rosales Rojas have brought their gourmet style pizza, apple strudel and Italian food to Los Barriles – that we with stunning jewelry, hats and more from Joyeria y Ac- can enjoy 6 days a week not just on Saturday! cesorios Frida’s and find exclusive apparel and gifts in

Only Los Barriles Souvenirs. We are now also home to Located in at the intersection of 20th Novrembre and East Cape Pharmacy for your personal care needs. Enjoy Costa Brava Street (next to Homes and Land), Pizza dinner at Joe’s Pizza, there is some tasty new menu choic- Gourmet San Antonio has an expanded menu, with 19 es to tempt your taste buds like chicken wings - they will varieties of pizza (or design your own), 4 different spa- make them as hot as you like. Wash it all down with a ghetti’s and six salads options. They have a selection of refreshing cold drink from La Catrina Taproom & Bar. beer, wine and other drinks and yes, you can get the to Serving all your usual mixed drinks, beers, wine and Baja die for apple strudel – by the slice or the whole thing! Brewing Co beers on tap. Sit back and relax in our en- You can also get products from the gourmet line of breads, dressings and preserves. closed courtyard, now with seat cushions, or chill out on our new deck out front and watch the world go by. César’s love and passion for cooking is a legacy of his

mother. He was put in the kitchen since he was eight

years old, “it's a legacy she left me” César says. César is a university teacher and social anthropologist by profession with a postgraduate degree in ecology from Europe, but he says he is “definitely I am a cook it in my heart”! Professionally he started cooking it in his spare time, opened Pizza Gourmet San Antonio about 5 years ago. César was a professor at University of La Paz Mon- day – Friday and opening his San Antonio location Fri- day – Sunday (I know, you are all thinking, now I under-

stand his hours of operation). Now, he has dedicated his

profession to solely being a chef. Cesar says “I realize that we who cook with passion do it because we love to do it and when we brighten the hearts (and stomach I add) of the people who eat what we create -that is our best payment!”

César’s wife Triny, is by profession an architect and a very talented weaver and the one who created the preserves and sauces they sell. In her own right a multi- talented artist who warms the heart of all who have the

chance to visit with her…. and a good cook herself! If

you have not tried Gourmet Pizza San Antonio before, go down and check it out. You will not be disappointed.

Hours of operation are: Los Barriles Tuesday thru Sun- day 1 – 9pm. In San Antonio Saturday and Sunday 12 –

6pm. Have questions? Contact them at Email prod-

[email protected] or Cell 612-177-5806 or

612-136-7636

22 19 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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Attention Deficit Disorder -- Silent night, Holy oooh look at Christmas Carols the froggy – can’t I have a chocolate, why is France so far away? for the Disturbed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Schizophrenia – Do you hear what I hear?

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Multiple Personality Disorder -- We three kings Disori- Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, ented are Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Dementia -- I Think I’ll be home for Christmas

Narcissistic – Hark the Herald Angels Sing about me

Manic -- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and office and Town and Technology Thoughts From Cars and Buses and Truck and Trees and….. The Computer Guy Paranoid - Santa’s Claus is coming to town to get me

Borderline Personality Disorder -- Thoughts of Roast- Phones and TV By: Lane Sykes ing on an Open Fire

Personality Disorder -- You better Watch out, I’m When you come to Mexico bringing your cell phone with a US carrier, don't expect to see Verizon, T mobile, etc on your Gonna Cry, I’m Gonna Cry, I’m Gonna pout, Maybe I’ll Tell you why phone. It will most likely show Telcel or Telefonica and is some cases ATT. These carriers have joint use agreements with the US carriers. Make sure you have the appropriate international

plan from your carrier.

As we get older, loved ones like to know where we are. I use a cross platform App called Life 360 (works on android and apple OS). Not only does it allow your selected

folks to follow you, but you can find your phone of lost or stolen.

Routers are the essential ingredient in WiFi. Routers have gotten more expensive and a lot better at what they do. The best ones are

“mesh” routers that blend the signals rather

than wait for input then output that extenders use and that slows speed. The Mesh Routers use a back channel that allows send and re- ceive simultaneously. The signals strength is much higher reaching great distances. My personal favorite is the Netgear Orbi routers. The Orbi has the fastest through put speeds. Best yet, they are programmed using your portable device and can be monitored and

controlled from anywhere in the world.

Not all HDMI ports on your TV are equal. Some TV's will on have only two ports that are 4K compatible. Others TVs require you to activate the 4K port through changes in the

settings portion of the software. There seems to be no standard.

These are challenges and questions that seem

to pop up everyday as regards to technology

here in Mexico. Each East Capers Magazine

issue, Lane will cover a different topic or set of topics that will make your life easier in the world of technology in the Baja!

20 21 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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Narcissistic – Hark the Herald Angels Sing about me

Borderline Personality Disorder -- Thoughts of Roast- Phones and TV By: Lane Sykes ing on an Open Fire

plan from your carrier.

As we get older, loved ones like to know where we are. I use a cross platform App called Life 360 (works on android and apple OS). Not only does it allow your selected

folks to follow you, but you can find your phone of lost or stolen.

Routers are the essential ingredient in WiFi. Routers have gotten more expensive and a lot better at what they do. The best ones are

“mesh” routers that blend the signals rather

controlled from anywhere in the world.

Not all HDMI ports on your TV are equal. Some TV's will on have only two ports that are 4K compatible. Others TVs require you to activate the 4K port through changes in the

settings portion of the software. There seems to be no standard.

These are challenges and questions that seem

to pop up everyday as regards to technology

here in Mexico. Each East Capers Magazine

issue, Lane will cover a different topic or set of topics that will make your life easier in the world of technology in the Baja!

20 21 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

Recycle by sharing with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com

Mercado La Costa By: Claire Little Yea! A New

There is always something to do, and something new, at Mercado La Costa in the heart of Los Barriles. Eat, Restaurant in Town

drink, shop and relax with us. We can look after you from top -to-toe, inside and out! Gourmet Pizza San Antonio By: Nevr’ Full

day outfit from Victoria’s Sunny Dresses, accessorize it Rosales Rojas have brought their gourmet style pizza, apple strudel and Italian food to Los Barriles – that we with stunning jewelry, hats and more from Joyeria y Ac- can enjoy 6 days a week not just on Saturday! cesorios Frida’s and find exclusive apparel and gifts in

mother. He was put in the kitchen since he was eight

stand his hours of operation). Now, he has dedicated his

chance to visit with her…. and a good cook herself! If

you have not tried Gourmet Pizza San Antonio before, go down and check it out. You will not be disappointed.

Hours of operation are: Los Barriles Tuesday thru Sun- day 1 – 9pm. In San Antonio Saturday and Sunday 12 –

6pm. Have questions? Contact them at Email prod-

[email protected] or Cell 612-177-5806 or

612-136-7636

22 19 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

18 23 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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As we age, Dose and Density need to decrease. Dose

SUCCESS IS IN is the controlling variable and the more intense the activity, the less frequently you need to workout.

THE DOING The body needs time to recover and heal after exer- By: Sefi Held cising. The body’s strength/activity adaptation to

Continued on Page 25

24 17 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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are certain that it's valid. Do not download attachments unless you know who it came from and what it contains.

Windows 7 end of life has been established by Microsoft on 14 January 2020. Windows 7 users will no longer re-

ceive security updates making your computers vulnerable

to attack. You can still get a free upgrade to Windows 10 using the following link: https://go.microsoft.com/ fwlink/?LinkID=799445 I just upgraded a friends computer, it works.

Printers here in our area of Mexico present unique prob-

lems due to the summer heat that never seems to cool. Ink Jet print cartridges and printer heads dry out over time with lack of use. Replacing the cartridges will help but

cleaning the heads is often required. That can be done

By: Lane Sykes reduced price for replacement ink. Epson makes color When we move better, we feel better. According to a

stick with.

16 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020 25

we’ve come a long way, and our growth is entirely be- checkups for all the kids of East Cape, and initiating vari- Next to Freddy’s Key Shop on 20 Novembre ous other projects in concert with other Rotary clubs visit- cause of you. In November, our own Western Outdoor News/Los Cabos

ing from the United States and Canada. Tuna Jackpot Tournament welcomes the public to attend our Many of you pitched in and helped make last season a Open Monday thru Saturday huge success. First, thanks to our community, who time Our two largest events each season are our Taste of East activities that are open to those not participating in the event. th 8am to 5pm after time volunteered support both physically and fi- Cape on December 7 and our WinterFest on February http://www.loscabostunajackpot.com/ th nancially. Thanks to the businesses who gave so much 8 , 2020. The Taste this year will feature fifteen restau- Call us at: (cell) 624-117-3412 rants competing for the title of Best Taste of East Cape. so many times, thanks to our mayor and government who continue to contribute to the betterment of our Our WinterFest Dinner and Auction celebrates all who gather in the East Cape area for fine wines and cuisine, community, thanks to our club members for all your Baja California Sur Will progress of the destination, and maintain the safety of musical entertainment, and the widest variety of desirable hard work, and lastly, thanks to Jean'e Harkleroad and the inhabitants. items ever assembled for auction in East Cape. Be sure to her Board of Directors for all they’ve done and continue Charge Foreign Tourist a watch for alerts and banners – you won’t want to miss to do. And one more thanks to our new Board for step- The charge of 350 pesos per visitor will form the Baja ping up and taking a turn: Josefina Ruiz Tamayo, Jean’e these events. $350 Pesos Tax California Sur Sustainability Fund with which pub- Harkleroad, Bob Adams, Elaine Koehn, Chris Geyer, We regularly meet every Wednesday morning at 8:30am By: Mazatlan Post lic security, healthcare, education, housing, employ- Mike Koehn, Chris Scurr, Francisca Olachea, Ian Gib- at La Playa Restaurant in Los Barriles. Join us for break- ment, sports, culture, agriculture, fishing and tourism, son, John Plotkin, and Steve Reed. fast and discover what your Rotary club is all about. Our It’s official: starting November 9th, Baja California Sur as well as social infrastructure will be strengthened,” vision is simple: To help ensure the health and well-being will charge foreign tourist $350 additional pesos (18 USD the state government posted on Twitter on Friday Oc- approx.). of our East Cape community, with a special focus on our tober 31st. Starting this November 2019, foreign tourists visiting Baja youth. Rotary stands for Service Above Self, and wherev- California Sur will pay an additional 350 pesos tax. The governor has previously justified the imposition er we are, you will always be welcome. The tax will apply to all foreign tourists who stay in the state of the tax by pointing out the poor quality of life of https://losbarrilesrotaryclub.org/ for more than 24 hours. many people who live in tourism-oriented parts of

La Paz, Baja California Sur (BCS). As of this November 9, Baja California Sur such as Los Cabos.

leased, at a rate of 350 pesos per person, which will consti- to two taxes that foreigners have to pay when entering tute the Sustainability Fund of Baja California Sur. Mexico: the DSM immigration services tax and the The payment will be made through the modules and digital DNR non-resident tax. booths that will be opened with the support of the Pacific The Rotary Club above and Airport Group (GAP ) at the international airport of San However, the Senate voted against the pro- testing the vision with the school children José del Cabo, which is the first place where they will be posal following strong criticism of the increases by the tourist installed. This tax can also be paid online www.travelerfundbcs.gob.mx official state government web- industry and business site. groups. Foreigners who fly into Baja California Sur will be able to

pay the tax at Los Cabos or La Paz airports, while the state’s port authority will be responsible for collecting the tax from travelers who arrive by sea. Hotels and other accommodation

providers will charge foreign visitors who enter via land.

Due to AMLO federal budget cuts, Baja California Sur is the first state in Mexico that implements the collection of a social contribution to support the tourism development and

26 15 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

craftsmen and entrepreneurs. Drop the line back in BANG! Another beautiful Weigh-stations are open to the public at 2 p.m. The festi- blue dolphin this time, bestie Kym Meehan val-like atmosphere when catches are brought in by suc- When a team arrives with their catch, the walkway from (clearly NOT her first time on a rod and looking cessful teams with high expectations, in hopes of snatching dock-to-scale is barely passable, and the tournament team’s like she should be a model on the cover of Sport- fishing Magazine) wrangles the very acrobatic the brass ring, is riveting. Since most of the events enforce staff struggles to make their way through the crowd to the fish toward the boat. We all agree - if it’s a fe- strict penalties for fish that don’t meet the minimum- awaiting scale where the catch is hoisted and weighed. weight requirements, the arriving fish are monsters of their Cheers, laughter and groans are heard, based on the weight male she’s going to stay in the water and keep species. Dorado, tuna, and wahoo, if included, must of the fish, and the teams are photographed before returning spawning. Another flying display out of the wa- weigh . to their boats. ter and we see by her sloping head that she’s a

crevasses and caves and winding peek-a-boo-

hello-more-fish-spots. An hour zooms by kick-

AFTER THE FLARE shoots across the sky, the deafening roar of a hun- ing north through the aquarium when a lift of the

dred or so boats going from dead stop to full throttle is a heart-pounding head shows the boat is a dot to the south and experience.

Continued on Page 15 Continued on Page 28 14 27 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

paid out.

aged to join in the festivities of most tournaments. The Perfect Day Continued From Page 27 Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore, a two-day affair that fol-

and smiling at our friend’s Agua de La Costa beach front

ping our toes back into

the sand at Point Awe- some. To cap off this awesomeness? The first dorado dinner deliciously prepared at Campestre

Triny and the second

night at La Casita. Seri- ously. This is an awe-

some life!

Picture— lots of blue dolphins to see!

28 13 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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The Whale Shark Baja’s Archaeological 10 Foods Popular in Mexico (Señor Big) Complexes For Christmas By: Pepe Murrieta - Fall 2006 .

swim out into the sea of Cortéz again.

12 29 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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Christmas in Mexico From WhyChristmas.com

In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th. From December 16th to Christmas

Eve, children often perform the 'Posada' processions or

there is room and are welcomed in! When the children

go into the house, they say prayers of thanks and then they have a party with food, games and fireworks.

Each night a different house holds the Posada party. At the final Posada, on Christmas Eve, a manger and fig-

ures of shepherds are put on to the board. When the

One game that is often played at Posada parties is pi-

play the game, chil-

dren are blind-folded and take it in turns to hit the piñata with a stick until it splits open and the sweets pour out. Then the children rush to pick up as many sweets as they can!

Nativity scenes, known as the 'nacimiento', are very popular in Mexico. They are often very large, with the

figures being life size! Sometimes a whole room in a

house is used for the nacimiento, although this is less

common now. The figures are often made of clay and are traditionally passed down through families. As well Continued on Page 31

30 11 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

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as the normal figures of the Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Shepherds and Three Kings, there are often lots of

other figures of different people, including women

chicken or pork and chilies with is topped with

get some candy on el Dia de los Reyes! At midnight, many people go to a Midnight Mass service, known as the 'Misa de Gallo' (which means It's traditional to eat a special cake called 'Rosca de

Mass of the Rooster as people are up early like Reyes' (Three Kings Cake) on Epiphany. A figure of Baby Jesus is hidden inside the cake. Whoever has the baby

Jesus in their piece of cake is the 'Godparent' of Jesus for that year.

In Mexico most people speak Spanish so Happy/ Merry Christmas is 'Feliz Navidad'. In the Nahuatl (spoken in some parts of central Mexico) it's 'Cualli

netlācatilizpan' and in the Yucatec Maya language

(spoken in some parts of the Yucatán Peninsula) it's 'Ki'imak "navidad"'.

Interesting fact: The largest ever Angel Ornament was made in Mexico. It was made in January 2001 by Ser-

gio Rodriguez in the town of Nuevo León. The angel

was 18' 3"" high and had wing-span of 11' 9"! Per- haps the most amazing thing about the angel was that

it was completely made out of old beer bottles, 2946

of them!

10 31 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

ple for their social status, their level of attention to personal precluding them from having an equally strong intellectual relationships and if they are loyal, generous, and kind. If and philosophical side. Ernest Hemingway was especially they have, “soul” and “character.” They also respect people admired by Mexicans because he was a fighter, adventur- fo their age, their professional position and their power. er, a drinker, a lover of women and a prize-winning author Developing and nurturing respect in Mexico therefore re- of deeply humanistic works of fiction. Like the Samurai quires more of a personal, emotional investment than it nor- warriors of feudal Japan who prided themselves as much mally does in more “logic oriented” societies. for the ability to write poetry and appreciate art as for their Mexicans have never shaped their lives around mechanical, skill with the sword, most macho Mexican men like to absolute rules and limitations. Their world is based on emo- think of themselves as poets, singers and philosophers.

and keep the respect of the Mexican counterparts or employ- creed was, “Respeto for all people is the foundation of

ees by setting an example of hard work and sacrificing their peace.” persona lives for their companies. To Mexicans that kind of behavior is more than foolish. It is highly detrimental to

one’s own character and personality because it prevents one from enjoying life. Mexicans have traditionally regarded

the enjoyment of life as more important than work.

For A Wonderful

Friend

Author Unknown

Its wonderful to have a friend. With whom you feel at ease. Who lets you talk and think and act, exactly as you please.

Who under stands your quiet moods and doesn’t mind your chatter. And when you do some thoughtless

thing- Just says-“It doesn’t matter”.

Its wonderful to have someone.

Who cheers you when you’re blue.

In other words its grand to have

a “perfect friend” like you!

32 9 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020

among rural people are many times higher than those with people who live in houses with thatched roofs, dirt

for those in need. Club Rotario Los Barriles embraced or to volunteer, please contact Chris Geyer at

public health as a primary focus for our East Cape service [email protected]. area over ten years ago and became involved in healthy water five years ago.

Rural water treatment plants are very unlikely due to ex- pense, but there are a number of other ways to attack the problem including sterilization with chemicals (they hate

the taste), new wells (not cost-effective.), better catch-

Over the last few years we have reached out to many oth-

er Rotary Clubs in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washing-

ton, and Idaho as well as private donors for financial sup-

port. Through their generosity we have distributed over

600 filters in East Cape communities and ranchos. We have formed partnerships with Mexican team leaders who organize distribution events in rural areas. Attendees -

8 December 2019 January 2020 December 2019 January 2020 33

Behind El Toro Y La Luna

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10 – 2) located at Mercado la Costa in Los

Barriles, near Chapito’s. She has ex-

panded to not only her own one of a kind creations– and yes, she does not like to do the exact same item twice – to also import- ing some Italian clothing, some shoes, purses and accessories.

Born in the Soviet Territories, later living in Moscow, she is an accountant by pro-

fession (with 3 master’s degrees from

ing custom designed leather motorcycle jackets. She has an eye to be able to mix

and match fabrics that are beautiful together and her dresses, which she totally designs herself, are comfortable and flatter-

ing to all body types.

as your personal shopper and help you

complete the perfect outfit. You can contact Victoria at 624-110-6992 or email [email protected] to make an appointment for the custom work at her design studio.

Victoria’s Sunny Dresses

Designs Studio & Boutique By: Chris Courtright

I remember when I first met Victoria Olenich at the Farmers Market in Los Barriles. It was both our first markets and she had some lovely

dresses and these wonderfully painted cattle skulls. She was cheerful,

started out as creative outlet, fun and sharing your designs with others,

to a successful full-on business taking up her time and house!