Before I delve into the real question of whether we will see Santa this year or not, let me first ask you if you have heard of any of the following "end of the world" predictions:   

The Prophet Hen of Leeds, 1806; The Millerites, April 23, 1843; Mormon Armageddon, 1891; Halley's Comet, 1910; Pat Robertson, 1982; Heaven's Gate, 1997; Y2K, Jan. 1, 2000; May 5, 2000; Nostradamus, August 1999; God's Church Ministry, Fall 2008; Harold Camping, 2011.

12-21-2012 Just Another Day (Updated version)

Now here's a holiday story worth the read! It goes to further prove our long time claim that good will abounds among the American community here in Puerto Peñasco. This story is about a group of owners in the Sonoran Spa, headed by our friend, Spa owner and local photographer, Tony Ballesteros, who last year had the idea to cook and serve a Thanksgiving Dinner to the workers at the Spa, mainly to thank them for all the work they do during the year for the owners.

The first year he recruited about 10 owners and long term renters to assist with the food, preparation and service to 62 very appreciative employees. It was such a success, in fact, that Tony knew it would be much bigger this year, requiring more food and more volunteers.

For this year's event, Tony recruited approximately 40 volunteers and officially named the group the "Sonoran Spa Pilgrims" with  most of them owners at the Spa along with some resident friends from downtown. He was also right about the increased interest in guests as they invited employees from the Sea, as well as the employees from Rocky Point Reservations who do so much for owners and guests alike at both these neighbor resorts.

With their experience from last year, the Pilgrims were prepared with carry out type  plates for the late shift workers also. In addition they served a dozen or so workers down at the docks.

 Read Entire Story: 

As difficult as it is to describe without photos the atmosphere of this, the largest event of the year for our otherwise quiet little slice of paradise, it is effortless to show and tell the tale of how friendliness flows through our annual Bikers Rally with a few hundred photographs.

Thus, keeping with a yet young tradition of the Sonoran Resorts Blog, we bring you visual proof of the color, the fun, the frolic of fans, a fantastic foray into the creatively manifested machines, the unique minds behind them, and the mutual admiration of the art that keeps a throng of thousands even-tempered and fun loving through nearly three days and over 18 events that no one wants to miss.  We've given you the pictorial low down from Friday night in our previous blog at http://www.sonoranresorts.mx/?p=6937 in case you missed it.

Click below for our final edition of images depicting a party so hardy it's a good thing you can't break the Fun Meter!

While there are surely good ones all around town, the one we're featuring in today's story is the El Come Más Chile Dogo and Taco Eatery located just east of Benito Juarez where Sinaloa and Lázaro Cardenas meet behind the big Pemex station that's located south of the baseball stadium.   

El Come Más ( The Eat More "Eatery") is owned by Bartolomé Moreno Moreno (nicknamed Bimbo-after the Mexican bread company, not the connotation used in the U.S)  who has been there for 12 years and runs it himself from 6pm until 4am every day.  He employs at least four others who serve and run the taco stand located right on the street, all part of his operation. As far as street food businesses go, Bimbo has a large operation.

Where Have All of Rocky Point's All You Can Eat Friday Night Fish Fry's Gone?   

And if you're a fathomless fried fish fan you're going to be pleased to know the tradition is alive and well in our little slice of paradise! Not only that, but the original four restaurants are all still offering the Friday specials: Pink Cadillac, frying fish on Friday's for 12 years now; Black Dog Bar and Grill (and now Sports Book and Casino) still serving since 10 years ago; Rosy's Restaurant; and Ramon's Restaurant(s) make up the tenured foursome.

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Jesus' great grandfather, Rafael Vargas Vargas, opened La Tapatía near the old port 63 years ago introducing his own unique method of baking bolillos, the Mexican all purpose bread.  About six years later he moved the bakery to its present location on Venustiano Carranza, the next street east of Luis Encinas. You turn east at the corner where the big new "La Luz del Mundo" Church is and the La Tapatía sign is just south on Carranza.  (There is no street sign on that corner but you can see the La Tapatía sign.) You have to enter the bakery along the south side of the building.

Jesus still uses the original brick oven that contributes to the unique flavor of his baked goods. But, as rare as the antique baking oven is, that isn't the entire "secret" to their six decades of maintaining a large base of loyal customers. The rest of the secret is in the use of the hard woods, mesquite and ironwood, to bake their breads. Of course, it's not really a secret; it is just that few, if anyone, employ these difficult to handle woods for baking.  Just to master the skill of using mesquite and ironwood for baking is a tedious trial and error undertaking even under a master's supervision and tutoring. However, once mastered, the finished bread products are baked to an art-like quality with a flavor all their own.

Ah, but wait; there's more to the baking artistry of La Tapatía.  Just when you think you've seen the entire process, Jesus starts stacking the most recent hand-formed bolillos on 1 X 8 boards near the glowing mouth of his oven, still in the form of dough. These are always the last items on his daily baking agenda, which begins at 6:00 AM and ends with the bolillos at approximately 1:00 PM, a dedicated ritual Jesus has performed daily for 28 years and his patriarchs before him have done for an additional three and a half decades...  

Read Entire Article: 

Well, not exactly. But it is the creative name for a new and needed regularly scheduled artist showcase called Mermaid's Market conceived and organized by Russ and Naomi Black of Peñasco Recreation. Russ and Naomi are long time residents of Puerto Peñasco and are known for their creative contributions to the organization of many events that benefit and promote the community.

Russ went through all the official channels to obtain the correct permits to set the precedence for a long term event in the highly visible venue of Shrimp Park, right on Benito Juarez between Bancomer Bank and Fremont Street. It's the park with the large blue shrimp statue looming from the middle.  In case you still can't place the park in your mind, another landmark is the Municipal Building which is south of the Park on the other corner of Fremont Street.

Russ wisely waited until the proper permits were issued before officially announcing the market and dates, and already has 14 of the 20 spaces committed for the first one, which should fill up by the end of the week.  The inaugural showcase of artists will take place on Saturday December 1 from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. The next event is sure to fill up with our lot of eager local artists, both American and Mexican, and will take place on Saturday the 15th of December, and then two Saturdays per month each month thereafter through May of 2013.

Russ and Naomi hope that such a cross cultural showcase of artists will bring together more connectivity among the artists from different countries that live here. To do their part, Russ and Naomi are donating a portion of the vendor fees to the 35 year old Municipal Family Assistance Charity known as DIF.

By the way, if you happen to be an artist with an interest in sharing your work with the public here in Puerto Peñasco, give Russ a call at 638-113-4591 (his local Mexico cell number)  or email mexicoruss@gmail.com to see if space is available at one of the future shows. For more information about this timely and important new event in our little slice of paradise, visit www.facebook.com/mermaidsmarket.

If you're in town over the weekend of December 1st or 15th or during the 1st or 3rd Saturday of any month afterward through May, plan on spending a fun time at this event and meeting some really nice, creative artisans. 

Idioms are phrases, sometimes unique to particular cultures, that have a different meaning than the literal phrase. English idioms you may recognize are, "It's raining like cats and dogs," and "mad as a hatter."

Here are a few entertaining Spanish idioms and their English equivalents.

La carne de burro no es transparente.
Literal translation: The flesh of the donkey is not transparent.
English equivalent: You make a better door than a window.

Sacarse el gordo.
Literal translation: To draw the fat one.
English equivalent: To hit the jackpot.

Gato escaldado del agua fria huye.
Literal translation: The scalded cat flees cold water.
English equivalent: Once bitten twice shy.

Cada perico a su estaca, cada changa a su mecate.
Literal translation: Each parrot on its perch, each monkey on its rope.
English equivalent: To each his own.

Comer frijoles y repetir pollo
Literal translation: To eat beans and belch chicken.
English equivalent: His bark is mightier than his bite.

Da un beso a la botella.
Literal translation: Give the bottle a kiss.
English equivalent: Take a swig.

Claro como el agua de Xochimilco
Literal translation: Clear as the water of Xochimilco
English equivalent: Clear as mud.

Está pensando en las musarañas.
Literal translation: He or she is thinking about the creepy-crawlies.
English equivalent: He or she is daydreaming.

And, finally, a common Spanish text message: Everyone please qt1bd    

HAVE A GOOD DAY = Que tengas un buen dia = qt1bd is made up of the first letters in the words for "have a nice day" = Que Tengas Un Buen Dia  and the number one , in Spanish pronunced "uno" from which"un" meaning  "a"  derives from.