The Baja Citizen
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Statue of Jacques Yves Cousteau Unveiled on La Paz Malecon

June 3, 2012

Just last week the statue of Jacques Yves Cousteau, located on the malecon and Republica, was unveiled. The state of Baja California Sur commissioned sculptor Salvador Rocha to help pay homage to the world famous French explorer. Cousteau spent a great deal of time exploring the Sea of Cortez and described it as the “aquarium of the world”.

: Local News
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RED LAUNCHES “VOLUNTOURISM” ADVENTURE IN MAGDALENA BAY

June 3, 2012

Jaime Campos
This summer, RED Sustainable Travel is partnering with Grupo Tortuguero‘s ProCaguama (Operation Loggerhead) to offer the travel experience of a lifetime. This adventure makes you part of one of the most exciting and successful sea turtle conservation projects on the planet. Join the ProCaguama team in its effort to rescue endangered loggerhead turtles on the Pacific Coast of the Baja California Peninsula. Pacific loggerheads nest along the Japanese archipelago and as juveniles, some travel thousands of miles to Mexico, confronting threats from both predators and incidental capture in fishing gear. ProCaguama and partners discovered that juvenile loggerheads could spend several decades foraging their way to maturity at a hotspot in the legendarily rich waters of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, offering an extraordinary conservation opportunity.
The ProCaguama loggerhead project partners with local fishermen in Magdalena Bay to reduce bycatch, while increasing the sustainability of fisheries and the wellbeing of local communities. ProCaguama works with women and youth, and through outreach, education, and support for sustainable economic alternatives, is gaining ground on recovering this endangered species.
This summer join Dr. Hoyt Peckham, Director of Fisheries and Science at Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias and leader of the ProCaguama project, and work alongside his team of scientists (ranging from biologists to economists), fishermen and community members in Magdalena Bay. You’ll head offshore to capture, study, and release turtles.  You’ll also visit the historic lighthouse of San Lazaro, and participate in the Annual Sea Turtle Festival – a natural and cultural celebration.
The RED Sustainable Travel project was founded in 2009 with the idea that conservation and socioeconomic well-being go hand in hand. Since its founding, the RED project has shattered paradigms, changed lives, and created natural resource stewards in rural communities throughout NW Mexico. We are strident in our commitment to local people as the solution to long-term environmental conservation issues.
For more information, visit the Loggerhead Turtle Conservation Team Adventure webpage or contact us directly to red@redtravelmexico.com.
: Local News
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LORETO TO BE NAMED “PUEBLO MAGICO”

June 2, 2012

Governor Marcos Covarrubias Villaseñor has just announced that on June 5th, the Secretary of Tourism, Gloria Guevara Manzo, will be in Baja California Sur to declare Loreto a “Pueblo Mágico” or Magical Town.
Being a “Magical Town” is a recognition awarded by the federal Secretary of Tourism, under one of their flagship programs that started in 2001, to those towns that have preserved their great cultural and historical wealth on which they base their identity.
Secretary Guevara Manzo and her committee spent time in February of this year in Loreto.  The committee visited with local Loreto businesspeople as well as municipal and state government officials, who all have been working for over a year to complete and meet all the requirements of an official nomination for the “Magical Village” designation. The nomination papers were received last month in Mexico City.
The designation recognizes Loreto’s rich cultural heritage as the first mission settled in the entire Baja California peninsula in 1697, which from this base all other missions across California were established.  Also, Loreto was the first capital of Baja California and as a “Pueblo Magico” a commitment will be created to maintain and take care of their cultural and historical patrimony.
Mexico’s Magical Towns range from tiny, almost undiscovered villages on the coast to sizeable inland cities. What they all have in common is that they have some truly special cultural, historic or social importance.  As of March 2012, there were 53 designated “Pueblo Magicos” in the country.
Baja California Sur’s only other “Pueblo Magico” is the town of Todos Santos.
Towns accepted into the program generally have access to federal funds for publicity and improvements.  In January of this year, for example, it was announced that the federal government, though FONATUR (National Agency for the Promotion of Tourism) was spending 163 million pesos in rehabilitating tourist infrastructure in the city; 141 million pesos had been earmarked for special projects and 22 million for maintenance of existing infrastructure.
“With great satisfaction we can announce that Secretary Guevara Manzo will be in Loreto on June 5th to declare that Loreto will enter the program of “Pueblos Magicos”. This will be a benefit not only to tourism for the region but also to the people of Loreto,” Governor Covarrubias said.
: Local News
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Music Festival Tomorrow at Coromuel Beach In La Paz

June 2, 2012

Support marine mammals tomorrow, June 2nd at Coromuel Beach at the first ever Music Festival in La Paz in support of our national treasures.

Music will start at 2:00 pm and the line up includes Riddim Forz, The Good All Times, Silver Band eden and Bipolar.

A 50 peso donation would be gladly received.

: Local Events
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La Paz Ladies Luncheon slated for June 7th at Trocadero’s

May 31, 2012

Louiza Lanoy
I’ve been waiting a long time to bring you to this incredible restaurant, TrocaderO’s. Why? Well it is smaller than most other places and therefore better to keep this gem for the summer months when our numbers dwindle somewhat.
Finally, Thursday, June 7th is the day and 12:15 pm. is the time. Chef Marie Fimbre is preparing a special menu for us. The price will be $150 pesos including the tax but not the tip. They have a great red and white wine for $50 pesos a glass. The appetizers and desserts are extra. Her tuna ceviche and scallop appertizers are incredible and worth the price. A table of 4 might want to share, or not.
Chef Marie tells me they can accommodate 40-45 people. Some may have to be seated at the bar and other perhaps outside. Please reserve now at luizalanoy@yahoo.com. Remember ALL are welcome!
: La Paz Ladies Luncheon
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Mexican Association of Real Estate Agents Sworn in at Beachside Breakfast in La Paz

May 31, 2012

Susan Fogel
With contributions by John Glaab, Director Emeritus
Ceremonies and rituals help us mark passages in life. And last Saturday on the patio of the beautiful Playa de La Paz condo development, the board of directors of Asociacion Mexicana Profesionales Inmobiliaria (AMPI) was sworn in. Even though the board was elected in the Fall, they waited to hold the Toma de Protesta or swearing in ceremony until May, the anniversary month of the La Paz chapter of AMPI.
Founded in 1956, AMPI is the association of real estate agents here in Mexico and they are affiliated with the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And AMPI members may join NAR and also use the big blue R Realtor trademark to describe themselves. Mexico is on the short list to host the 2014 congress of the International Land Federation.
But the board members weren’t sitting idly by waiting to be sworn in.
They have continued to work to elevate the level of professionalism and ethical practices within the real estate group, and to inform the public that AMPI members are the only real estate agents they should be working with.  They have staffed a booth promoting La Paz at a real estate expo in Van Nuys, CA and have contributed money towards campaigns to keep their industry vital.
Many sectors of La Paz municipal and state governments were represented including Lic. Sergio Gutierrez La Barrera representing our mayor, Esthela Ponce. Gutierrez also administered the oath to the board members. Jose Luis Gaytan is the president, Victor Granados, vice president, Susan Fogel, secretary and Eduardo Ramirez, treasurer. Other board members sworn in were Brian Westerlund, Gordon Herpst, Carolina Ortiz and Luis Rojas.
It was a gorgeous day at the beach, the water sparkled, the white tents billowed in the breeze, and a lovely breakfast was served. How better to mark a special occasion then at the beach?  Jeffrey Curtis, the developer of Playa de La Paz, hosted and underwrote the entire event.
For more information about International and National real estate happenings email John Glaab: John.glaab@settlement-co.com and follow AMPI on Facebook.
Susan Fogel is the broker of www.Prestigepropertygrouplapaz.com
: Real Estate News
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The Baja Citizen in El Centenario

May 31, 2012

The May 29th, 2012 edition of the Baja Citizen is on the street. Pick up your copy at your favourite place today, including at Paradise Found Roadside Grill & Bar in El Centenario.

: Administration
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Frank Hills `La Cruz Roja es La Paz´ Unveiled

May 27, 2012


 TBC
 The Cruz Roja (Red Cross) offices on Avenida de los Atleticos, just off of Colosio and across the Municipality of La Paz Building, just got a little bit happier.
 Thanks to local artist Frank Hills, a large, bright mural painting now makes the entrance to the once somber building much more pleasant, not only for the workers but for visitors as well.
 Hills was asked by Dr. Enrique Tuchmann, President of Cruz Roja La Paz, to help make the offices of Cruz Roja more inviting.  After showing three different ideas, the two agreed upon the backdrop of the Kiosko on the malecon and 16 de septiembre in La Paz circa 1940 with a Red Cross ambulance in the foreground.
 At an unveiling ceremony in honor of Hills and the mural, Dr. Tuchmann had these kind words, “We really appreciate the work of Frank. We love it. Thank-you on behalf of the Red Cross. We also would like to invite you Frank to become a part of the Red Cross and our volunteer committee. We would like to involve the English speaking community in our activities.”
An honored and humble Hills said, “This is a pleasure. Several people have asked me how long it took me to get this mural painted. I always answer that it took 5 days to put it on the wall, but it took me about 40 years to get ready to do it.  I thank all of you for coming today.  I really appreciate it.”
During the event, Hills also explained how the mural was named. “The employees named the mural as it belongs to them, to everyone who is a part of this organization.  I asked them to think it over and let me know what they would like to name it. They informed me today that they would like to call the mural La Cruz Roja es La Paz. So there you have it.”

Photos courtesy of Thomas Ireton
: Local Events
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Thinking of putting up a lemonade stand for extra cash?

May 27, 2012
·SOMEONE MAYBE WATCHING YOU
Theo Breadguy
Already in Loreto and in Todos Santos, complaints have been registered denouncing criminal activity by foreigners. “They are taking our jobs and livelihood away” is the sort of rhetoric heard by the city council members and the National Immigration Institute, or INM by its initials in Spanish.
Recently here in La Paz, voices were raised via a radio talk show, concerning the presence of unlicensed and/or unregistered foreigners doing business at the post office park’s Tianguis Natural farmers’ market.  The program host Miguel Angel Ojeda, as his custom, read aloud text messages received by listeners.  The concern was that it was unfair and illegal that residents were not being allowed to sell their wares and that foreigners were verbally abusive and receiving money that should be going to the local citizenry.
Mr. Ojeda also accepted telephone calls from supporters of the farmers’ market, rebutting the claims by the texters. One such caller stated,  “I am a Mexican citizen and am proud to associate with the foreigners who created the market and come to sell their organic and natural products. They operate licensed businesses, pay taxes and observe all rules and requirements for lucrative activities in Mexico,” The caller, Cristina Campos the marmalade lady, also suggested that the persons doing the complaining and who had been refused space at the market were street artisans, who already had been granted designated areas to display and sell their wares…
Persons sympathetic to the efforts put forth by the organizers of the Tianguis Natural notified steering committee members of a planned inspection by officials of immigration.
In the established guidelines for the participants in the Tianguis Natural, acknowledgement is made that all persons who sell hold themselves responsible for having all necessary permissions and paperwork in place.
A uniformed inspector for the National Immigration Institute presented himself to one of the steering committee members on the next market day, presenting documents issued by the regional director authorizing him to review the immigration status of the vendors.  With total professionalism and courtesy on the part of the inspector, he discreetly began to examine sellers’ paperwork.  A total of three of the twenty-some participants of the market were asked to report to the immigration office at their earliest convenience to respond to apparent irregularities in their permissions.  No one was detained or arrested and no property or money was seized.
The Tuesday and Saturday markets will continue over the long heat season, however the venue for the Tuesday market will change. For fresh produce, cheese, breads and artwork and ware, sellers will congregate on the shaded patio of Sabores de Mexico, located on Madero at Constitucion, directly across the street from Pan D’Les Bakery and Las Manitas ARTesanias. The markets begin at 9:30, with all vendors in place by 10 a.m.
: Local News
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Grand Opening of Sierra Laguna Vineyards in Todos Santos during Gastrovino 2012.

May 27, 2012
Todos Santos isn’t the first place that comes to mind in Baja if one mentioned an up and coming winery, but that’s just what Zach and Kristianna Everett have set out to change.
Owners of the new Sierra Laguna Vineyards, they are on a mission to make quality sustainable wines right in our backyard and give us a few new surprising tasting possibilities in the process.
The grand opening and first tasting of their uniquely made wines will happen on May 20th from 1-7pm as part of the Gastrovino Festival in the plaza of Todos Santos. The festival will boast 5 of Baja’s best wineries, with winemakers on hand to pour samples as well as 10 of the best local restaurants to sample some great culinary creations.
Sierra Laguna Vineyards is looking forward to debuting the first fruits of their labor right next to some of Mexico’s top wineries, and share the wines with as much personality as the community in which they were made.
For more information about Gastrovino, visit www.gastrovino.mx
for Sierra Laguna Vineyards, visit www.facebook.com/SierraLaguna
: Local Events