Message From U.S. Consulate - August 1, 2008
Possible Demonstrations Arising from the Scheduled Execution of Jose Ernesto Medellin
The U.S. Embassy has received information that numerous demonstrations may occur in Mexico on or around August 5, 2008, to protest the scheduled execution in Texas of prisoner José Ernesto Medellín, a Mexican citizen. The Embassy urges all U.S. citizens in Mexico to be especially mindful of demonstrations taking place in their town or city, or in areas to which they intend to travel.
Travelers should be aware that various political activists abroad frequently seek to use public demonstrations to forward a variety of political objectives and that it is likely that such activists may use the occasion of anti-execution demonstrations to raise other issues involving the United States or to incite anti-U.S. sentiment in general.
The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation. Travelers should avoid political demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by the Mexican authorities. We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if in the vicinity of any demonstrations.
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's travel website, http://www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Please visit the Safety Issues section for additional safety information.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
To contact U.S. Consulate General Tijuana
Call (52) (624) 622-74-00
To contact the U.S. Consular Agency in Cabo San Lucas
Call (52) (624) 143-35-66
- John Stoltzfus, todossantosinn[-at-]gmail.com, 145-0040, Todos Santos
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Long Distance Calls - I will be spending a month in Todos Santos and will need to make some long distance calls to California while I am there. There will be a land line at the house, however no wireless service. I am not sure if my cell phone will work down there. Any suggestions on the least expensive way to make calls to the States? Can anyone tell me how the Telcel card works? Thank you! - Jud Loring, judyloring[-at-]earthlink.net, 415-892-8447, Todos Santos
Cell Phone Co. For Us in Todos Santos? - Does anyone know of a great cell phone that gets connection in Baja and U.S. that is worth the deal....or is it still best to just get one for each country like I've been doing... - Christine Douglas, cdoug1946[-at-]yahoo.com, Todos Santos
Share Mail Box - Looking for someone who lives in Todos Santos or Pescadero to share a mail box located in Cabo. You would have a U.S. mailing address. - Sylvia Redondo, cigar00[-at-]hotmail.com, 612-142-8249, Pescadero
Question - I would like to know if anyone out there has knowledge of crossing the Sea of Cortez on the ferry. My question is: On what level is your car when you have a dog on board? Is the area air conditioned, can you take the dog out of the car, she weighs 5 lbs? Can I visit the dog in the car, or can I stay with the dog? Anything information will help. - Carol Kelly, dalencarol[-at-]prodigy.net.mx, 612-130-3288, Pescadero
Baja Ferry To and From The Mainland (Courtesy Baja Pony Express) - Taking the Baja Ferry from the mainland to La Paz is pretty safe, and cuts off the whole of northern Baja. It is roughly a 500 mile ride from Nogales to the ferry. There is certain documentation that you need to prepare to take to the ferry from Topolobampo to La Paz, and La Paz to Topolobampo (this is the port city on the mainland where the ferry takes off from to sail to La Paz). The ferry leaves Topolobampo at about 11PM and arrives La Paz (an overnight cruise) at about 6:00AM, disembarking about 7:00AM in La Paz. The ferry leaves La Paz at 3PM, and arrives at Topolobampo at about 9PM. These hours are all approximates as it sometimes leaves a bit late.
IF you travel with pets, they have to stay in your vehicle, they do not allow pets in the guest quarters on board the ferry. There are accommodations for pets on board that consist of a wired kennel, (different sizes for large/small pets), with water and someone in the area to keep an eye on the animals. You can leave your pets in your vehicles. Once you arrive at either port you MUST tell the attendant who measures your vehicle that you have a pet in your car/truck, and they will put your vehicle on the very next level below the passenger deck with plenty of 'air'. If you do no tell the attendant that you have a pet on board, (they are not mind readers, and they are busy) then there is a good chance that your vehicle with your pet inside could end up in the belly of the ship, where there is lack of air. So, with these thoughts in mind, please for your pets sake and for your peace of mind tell the attendant who measures the trucks/vehicles that you have a pet in your vehicle. Once you leave your pet in your vehicle and you are on the passenger decks of the ship, you cannot return to your vehicle until it is time to disembark.
Documentation for your ride on the ferry and to obtain an auto permit:
I make several copies as each time I go on the ferry its a different amount of copies needed, so to be on the safe side, and to not have to pay for copies there, I make 5 copies (before I get to the border): drivers license, registration, (if you are towing boat, quad, etc, copies of those, too), pet medical certificates, copy of US/Canadian or whatever country you are originally from passport, FM2 or FM3, Insurance from US/Canada or wherever your vehicle is insured, copies of your Mexican Auto Insurance. You will also need the ORIGINALS of all these documents, so put them in a folder and keep them close by when you buy your auto permit to board the ferry. (The auto permits are purchased at that check point which is about 20-25 miles into the country on your right hand side of Mexico 15 as you travel south.
So, be prepared with copies of all this documentation, as you will need it to get your auto permit to get your vehicle and yourself on the ferry. When you cross over the border through Nogales (or wherever you cross into mainland Mexico) heading to La Paz, this documentation is needed at the 20-25 mile check point, which is on your right hand side of Mexico 15, you MUST stop to get your auto permits there, and present all the documents listed above. You also need to have a credit card handy as they do not accept CASH. This is how they ensure that the vehicle you are riding in and obtaining a permit for, and you are driving on the mainland heading to the ferry returns with you when you make your return trip. You cannot board your vehicle on the ferry without an auto permit. For those of you who take the ferry to Baja, but do not return via the ferry, I suggest you call/visit the Baja Ferries office in La Paz, corner of Rubio and Allende (they speak English) and find out what is necessary for you to return the permit if you are NOT returning via the ferry. It changes year to year; I can't keep up with all information/misinformation, and I do return via the ferry, so I just drop it off at the DROP OFF check point that is clearly visible on left side of Mexico 15 on my return back up the mainland towards Nogales.
If your auto permit runs out while you are in Baja and plan on returning via the ferry, then you take your old permit, and get a new one issued in La Paz. at Pichelingue the port of departure, or at the Baja Ferries office. But hold onto that old permit, as you need to return it at aforementioned check point. If you plan on returning to Baja before your current permit expires, then you don't need to get a re issue, again when you head to the ferry via the mainland, but you need to turn in that old one that expired before you do leave the country or you may have trouble making the ferry trip in the future.
Once you are at the port of Topolobampo, on your way to the Baja this is where you inform the attendant who measures your vehicle about your pet inside. Same deal, when you are Pichelingue leaving Baja taking the ferry to go to the mainland arriving at Topolobamp and points north to Nogales or south to Mazatlan. So, this is quite a bit of information, and I would be more than happy to help anyone out who is traveling via the Baja Ferries, but I have covered quite a bit here, so take your time and read it all. You will be able to access this information on BPE Archives for future reference. Some useful phone numbers and the address of Baja Ferries Headquarters in La Paz.
PHONE NUMBER PERTINENT TO THE BAJA FERRIES:
Baja Ferries Office in La Paz, huge building in big blue letters, lots of parking. On corner of Allende and Rubio in La Paz. If you are out of Mexico and you want to call the Baja Ferries Headquarters in La Paz, you are going to have call the local phone number as the toll free numbers are not accessible from the US or out of Mexico. The phone number is: 612-125-7443 or 612-123-1313, the toll free number inside Mexico is: 01-800-122-1414.
Hotel Marina in Topolobampo, the ferry from La Paz arrives quite late sometimes, and maybe you want to secure a room with your pets, and that number is: 52-668-862-0100, you can usually make a reservation at the Hotel Marina without a credit card, you just tell them when you will be arriving, and that you are arriving late on the Baja Ferries and they will save a room. They do have dog rooms, practically no where to walk the dogs, but at least you can have your pets in the motel room with you. I ended up walking my dogs across from the hotel in an empty field.
The phone numbers in Los Mochis, which is the headquarters for Baja Ferries on the mainland, and services the port of Topolobampo is: 52-668-817-3752 or 668-817-3864, and their toll free number for inside Mexico is: 01-800-012-8770. If you take the ferry either way, do yourself a favor and pick up a Baja Ferries little blue flyer, with all these phone numbers I just gave you. I do believe this is the phone number for those who want to travel via the ferry to Mazatlan. Their web site is: www.bajaferries.com
The California Star is the only ferry that I have ever been on going to and from La Paz, if there is another ferry, I believe it goes to Mazatlan, and I don't have any info on that ferry, but there is a phone number on the Baja Ferries flyer, and that number is: (Mazatlan #) 669-985-0470
Another question I have heard asked. Is there any particular day that is better than another to travel on the ferry? I will tell you what I do, and you can make up your own minds according to your schedules of travel. I usually cross the border on a Sunday around 10:00AM, and when I arrive at the check point where I need to get my auto permit, its Sunday, and for whatever reason there are no waiting in lines and I zip through. I am traveling with my dogs, and don't want to leave them in my truck for too long. I drive as far as San Carols about 250 miles into mainland Mexico, and I stay at the Best Western Tetakawi, on the main road into San Carlos, nice, clean, a bit pricey, I deserve the best, and I am not in any hurry, they have a RV park on premises, and nice restaurant, TV, a place to walk the dogs, a swimming pool (I go in December so too cold to swim). San Carlos is beautiful and about half way between Nogales and Topolobampo. The next day, I have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, and leave about 9:00AM, and I am at the ferry dock about 5ish. Way a head of time. I get my ticket, inform the attendant measuring my truck that I have dogs on board, and I am one of the last to load onto the ferry, I usually park my truck right by one of the door ways to the upstairs entry to the ferry, lots of air for my dogs, crack a window and leave my moon roof cracked open a bit, kiss the dogs on the lips, leave minimal water, put the parking brake on, lock the doors and I am off to my cabin(prepaid when I buy my ticket, for $70, comfortable for two people and your own bathroom) to relax before dinner (cafeteria style hot meal) which is gratis with a purchase of a ticket on the ferry. The great part of parking your vehicle with your dogs on the upper decks of the ferry, is that if you are one of the last to load on board, you are then the first off the ship and down the road to Los Barriles before noon day of arrival.
Looking For Book - I am looking for The Baja Survivor's Guide edited by Lee Moore. If you would like to sell this book please email me with your phone number and I will be happy to pick it up. - Nina, ninac[-at-]webportdata.com, Todos Santos
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Tuesday Movie Night At Buena Vida - This Tuesday we are showing an excellent documentary called "638 Ways To Kill Castro" If the title of this extraordinary film sounds ludicrous, don't be fooled. This film looks at the incredible story of the 638 alleged plots by the CIA and Cuban exiles to kill the Cuban leader Fidel Castro. It reveals every conceivable method of asassination from exploding cigars to femme fatales, a radio station rigged with noxious gas to a poison syringe posing as an innocuous ballpoint pen. If you think this sounds like something out of a James Bond film from the days of Cold War spies, then you're not far from the truth. John F Kennedy even asked Bond-creator Ian Fleming for his advice on how to oust Castro. We will open at 6:00 pm for dinner service andthe film will start at sundown - Jessie Rutowski, Jessierutowski[-at-]hotmail.com, 6121343100, Todos Santos
Vonn Cafe - Vonn Cafe is going to close August 3rd and the Vonn cafe´s team wants to say thank you to all our dear customers for you´re preference throughout this more than two years. We thank god who permitted us to meet so many nice, kind and lovely people here. We are leaving Todos Santos. Hugs, Ivonne and Graciela
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I Need A Used Laptop - I am located in Todos Santos and need a good used computer. I have cash, also a couple of new things, in the box, cameras: Fuji and Poloroid, 8.3 and 7.0 mega pix respectively. Also new tools. Call me at 612-152-3564, Ask for mike - Mike Johnson, Todos Santos
Husky 315 Piece Mechanics Tool Set - I have a new, in the box 315 piece mechanic's tool set by Husky. Has everything a person needs for work on cars or business. $ 200 dollars - Mike Johnson, 612-1523564
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Pescadero Dream - Pescadero Beach Dream - Announcing three new beach front vacation rentals in Pescadero overlooking San Pedrito Beach with a direct view of the famous surf break. Built on the footprint of the first house built on the beach, this is certainly "the jewel of the crown." Beautifully renovated into three discreet rentals, available individually or together for larger groups. Spacious, private1-2 bedroom units each with full kitchen, and living/ dining areas, patios and magnificent views from San Pedrito to South Pescadero and the Sierra Laguna mountains. Available for long or short term rental, private parties, events and weddings. Call or email for more detailed description and photos. Low introductory summer rates. Call Leslie Lambert for information. - Leslie Lambert, bajaosprey[-at-]gmail.com, http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=dhtrgtbw_0cj4crgg9, 612-135-3302, Pescadero
Looking For A Place.. - We are looking for a house or apartment for rent or to manage in SJD -near by, professional, newlywed couple and a two-month old baby boy. My husband is general manager of a hotel & restaurant in SJD. Please contact Sasha Quijada, s.q.o[-at-]hotmail.com, 624 154 0120 , San Jose Del Cabo
House Sitter Needed - For a week in October, we need a fabulous house sitter who loves cats and dogs, has references and will sleep at our house for the entire week. - , PepsiJones[-at-]gmail.com
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Seeking Todos Santos Investor/Partner For 3 Bdrm, 3 Bath House - Looking for real estate partner for beautiful, furnished residence/vacation rental. Great financial opportunity for personal/commercial use, vacation/long term rental. Casa Rayo del Sol is a place to heal yourself. It is a restorative environment where your spirit can be lifted. Here you will discover a timeless quality and the simple desire to rest, love, and play. Casa Rayo del Sol is situated on a lush oasis, with an exquisite view of a fresh water lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. It is an ideal location for strolls on the beach at sunset, swimming and kayaking in the lagoon, and whale watching from the terrace. It has many amenities including large fireplace, three bedrooms, and luxurious bathrooms, washer and dryer, full kitchen and breakfast nook, private tropical gardens, satellite TV, high speed internet. Ideal for long term rental or simply as a restful vacation for small groups, couples or families. Please contact property managers Steve or Rhoda at Baja phone 044-612 157-6088 barakabaja[-at-]gmail.com. and from the United States, 1-415-259-5537. - Beverly Benoit, pathwaystojoy[-at-]pon.net, Web site for pictures http://www.casarayodelsol.com/, Todos Santos
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Dig/Dive/Plunge Into The Mysteries - In the Seeds Of Civilization novels, a Seattle aerospace engineer and his team of amateur investigators follow a trail of strange artifacts in a search of the truth about the age and origin of Earth’s earliest civilizations. Each new investigation reveals clues that are truly “out of this world!”
Dish Network SUMMER SPECIAL - $200 OFF! - Dish Network Satellite TV receiver with remote control and 6' dish.
Complete package includes standard roof mount with up to 50' of cable, connection to one TV, and complete Dish Network account set up for your choice of programming. Monthly programming fees not included. - Todos Santos Technologies, alan[-at-]todossantostechnologies.com, MEX: 612 145 0364, US: 530 313 5225, www.todossantostechnologies.com, Todos Santos
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Quote of the Day: " The future is much like the present, only longer. " - Dan Quisenberry
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