Mexico Travel…. Risk and Reward

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I know this is an ongoing topic on our blog and many others, but since I just returned from Mexico, it seems completely relevant to me. I had lunch with friends today and was talking all about my trip, and, of course, the topic quickly jumped to the violence in Mexico. This subject always puts me on the nearest soapbox. So make room… I’m coming up!

So this is how it went… Someone had read on Facebook that someone had canceled a trip to Puerto Vallarta because of all the “murders” in Mexico. Let’s be real for a moment, and let’s take the time to read our news, understand some geography and put things in perspective. Are you going to skip that trip to L.A. at Christmas because you heard some gangs are killing each other in Oakland? It’s really the same thing, but since most people are geographically challenged when it comes to Mexico, things always have a negative spin. Mexico gets singled out over and over again by press who are determined to make sure you hear every detail so readers can perpetuate the “bad” while the country is fighting so hard to do some good. Okay, I understand the topic of danger in Mexico is once again front page news after the sad news out of Guadalajara last week. I get it. People are getting killed… and we all know how the American public has a morbid obsession with anything having to do with murder.

A Letter From the Mayor of Ensenada

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Dear Ensenada U.S. Friends and Neighbors, 

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Americans have been setting aside a day away from their normal activities to give thanks for the good in the world.  
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You can imagine the struggles these first settlers faced in a harsh New World environment; yet they were determined to appreciate the blessings in their lives. Just as you are here in this your new land, Ensenada.
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Today, despite the struggles that many of us are confronted with, we should pause to ponder and appreciate our friends and families, the roofs over our heads, the food we are privileged to eat, and the spirit of hope still alive and strong in the American soul, now shared among your new friends, us Mexicans that join this American tradition to Thank God, Thank you for being a Special Ambassador of Good Will for our land.
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Thank you for your support to this great land, your land, our Land .... Ensenada!!
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Have a happy Thanksgiving. 
Warm regards, 
Mayor Enrique Pelayo and all of us at City Hall !

20% Additional Discount 

For Coral Marina Cruisers & Guests

  The Antares restaurant has been voted the best buffet selection in Ensenada.

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Stuffed Turkey - Hawaiian Turkey - Pork Loin - Salad & Pasta Station - Yummy Deserts

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Serving from 12.00 Noon to 9.00 PM

NOVEMBER 17 - 20 - ENSENADA

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Fact Sheet for the 2011 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

WHAT: 
44th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race Final event of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series 
WHEN: 
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 16-20, 2011 
WHERE: 
Ensenada-Baja California, Mexico (65 miles south of U.S./Mexico Border) 
WHO: 
Over 275 entries from 34 U.S. States, and 16 countries, competing in 36 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs 
COURSE: 
TOTAL MILEAGE: 692.82 miles (6 checkpoints plus the finish line, 64 virtual checkpoints). 
Starts and finishes on Blvd. Costero, adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in Ensenada. From the start in Ensenada the course will go east to Ojos Negros for just over 35 miles which will be raced in both directions during the race. From Ojos Negros, the course will travel in a clockwise direction. From Ojos Negros, the course turns South to El Alamo and then east up through the Summit and makes a South turn at Cohabuzo Junction and on to the the infamous Laguna Salada, paralleling Mexican Highway 5. Next is San Felipe loop where the course will cover some of the rugged MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 course including the magnificent Matomi Wash. 
After the San Felipe loop, which travels in a counterclockwise direction from and back to Borrego, the course will head north and northwest, joining Highway 3 for a short distance to the Mike’s Sky Ranch turnoff. Then the course heads to the Pacific Ocean below San Vicente and past Erendira, back inland up through Santo Tomas then turning northeast just past Uruapan winding its way back to Ojos Negros for the final charge back to Ensenada. 
This year’s race course will feature 6 outlying checkpoints where each vehicle is required to quickly stop before continuing on. The checkpoints will be located as follows: Checkpoint No. 1—No. of Santa Catarina (race mile 82.49), No. 2—West of Borrego (rm 213.70), No. 3—South of San Felipe (rm 319.40), No. 4—West of Borrego (rm 464.75), No. 5—South of San Vicente (rm 559.20), No. 6—South of Ojos Negros (rm 651.92) 

PRE/POST RACE SHEDULE: 

Thursday, November 24

Buffet Menu

*Roast Turkey   *Roast Beef  *Baked Honey glazed Ham  *Roast Leg of Lamb

*Mashed Potatoes w/Turkey gravy     *Turkey Dressing

*Sweet Potatoes   *Potatoes Au gratin    *Sweet Corn Casserole

*Green Beans    *Asparagus w/Hollandaise Sauce   *Cranberries whole or jelly

*Corn Bread and Rolls w/butter

*Apple Pie    *Sugar free apple pie      *Pumpkin pie

*Beverage/coffee/Soda        *BYO Wine

$200.00 pesos Per Person

Novemeber 25th

Santo Tomas Winery - Located on Miramar, Ensenada

MAP LOCATOR

VIP Seating @ $250 pesos - Regular Seating @ $150 pesos

More Info - Contact Margit - 174 7969 (MX) - 646 191 3565 (US)

In Flanders Field the poppies blow........

Presenting

"CAST CALL"

They are all eager, hopeful, and a little desperate.

They need a job, this job, ANY job!

How will they try to impress the Talent Agents?

Who will get the nod?  Who won't?

See the results of this very entertaining CAST CALL

Will a STAR be found?

FRIDAY 11/11 - 2:00 pm     SATURDAY 11/12 - 7:00 pm      SUNDAY 11/13 - 2:00 pm

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Ticket donation - $8.00

For more information contact   - Irka Davis - irkad2005@yahoo.com

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Authentic Mexican Art

The Huichol or Wixaritari are a native American ethnic group of western central Mexico, and are decendants from the Aztec empire. The Huichol number in the raange of 18,000, most of whom live in the Sierra Madre Occidental range in the Mexican states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas and Durango.

Even though the Spaniards conquered most of Mexico, the extreme remoteness and rugged mountain ranges of the Huichol Indians spared them from Spanish colonization, and left them substantially unchanged from their Mexican culture. They remain one of the last tribes of people in North America who still live much as they did in pre-Colombian times, maintaining the same ageless rituals and beliefs. The Huichols are considered by many anthropologists to be an invaluable window to the past.

  

Their masks and figures are created by pressing beads, one at a time, into a beeswax-pine resin covered wooden art form. Each piece is exquisite and "one of a kind." One of their major art-forms – the beaded mask, is used for sacred rituals. Gourd bowls, and spirit figures are prominent in their work, and are created with the aid of "visions."Beaded gourd bowls are often left as offerings during pilgrimages, and can be found on the altars of Huichol homes and temples. Beaded masks and spirit figures record the dream visions of the women and men who create them. Designs emphasizing --Grandfather Fire, Double-Headed Eagles, Deer, Serpent, Lighting, Wands, Corn, Nierikas -- tell the story of Huichol mythology.

What is a Freddy Fudpucker?

If you are a tequila drinker, you might wonder what types of tequila will give you a hangover and how many different types of drinks, using Tequila, have been invented? There are literally hundreds of tequila brands, and the quality of a given tequila actually depends on the type and brand. Tequila isn't really meant to be shot. If you get the right tequila type, you should be able to sip it just like a good bourbon. However, for most party goers cheap tequila is often served in a shot glass, with some salt and a lime, to hide the taste.

Really good tequilas are made from the agave plant commonly referred to as blue agave, mezcal or maguey. There are two main types of Tequila: 1) 100% agave, which is made entirely of Blue Weber Agave -- richer with bold flavors; and 2) mixtos. Rule of thumb, if “100% de Agave” is not on the label, it’s probably mixtos. Mixtos fermentation generally constitutes alcohol production from ~51% agave sugars (or more), with the rest coming from fructose and glucose sugar.

Tequilas can be classified further according to their aging process and bottled in five categories:

November 20 commemorates the 101st anniversary of the Mexican Revolution which started on November 20, 1910 when Francisco I. Madero planned an uprising against dictator Porfirio Díaz's 31-year-long iron rule. Article 74 of the Mexican labor law (Ley Federal del Trabajo) provides that the third Monday of November (regardless the date) will be an official holiday in Mexico. This was a modification of the law made in 2005, effective since 2006; before then, it was November 20 regardless of the day, and all schools gave extended holidays if the day was a Tuesday or Thursday. Although November 20 is the official day, the uprising started on different days in different parts of the country and was the start of the popular movement which led to the overthrow of dictator José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori after 34 years of military rule but ushered in over a decade of civil war which ultimately led to the promulgation of the nation’s constitution in 1917 and the 1920 ascension to the presidency of General Álvaro Obregón.

Pre-Running Starts Friday for 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race                       

Official Race Start - November 18

Sturdy adventurers and the world’s best desert racers will begin practicing Friday as official pre-running on starts for November’s 44th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. With over 250 entries expected to compete in 36 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, the granddaddy of all desert races will be held Nov. 17-20 in Ensenada, Mexico. Completing its 38th year as the world’s foremost desert racing sanctioning body, the iconic racing extravaganza event is the finale of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series. To date entries have come from 32 U.S. States and 15 countries. This year’s race will be a loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

The race itself starts on Friday, Nov. 18 and official entry forms are available online along with all pertinent race information and pre-running rules on the SCORE website at www.score-international.com.

This year’s race will start for the 37th time and finish for the 21st time in Ensenada. The race will start and finish on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the picturesque Bahia de Todos Santos in front of the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada. With late entries accepted up until race morning, the 692.82-mile race course this year is a combination of much of the 2008 and the 2009 courses.