We had some of the coldest temperatures in a long time for Puerto Penasco last month. Add a little wind to that and it was downright miserable for part of the month. The State even called off school for several days because most of the classrooms are not heated. Then it was in the high 70's for almost a week before we got a couple days of rain. The weather has been very different this January. Now that we're into February, we'll have to see how it shapes up, but one thing is certain; the nice weather is near again and I, for one, can't wait.

Our booth at the Barrett-Jackson show was a huge success and we talked to literally thousands of people about Mexico, Rocky Point, and specifically the Sonoran Resorts. Most of the people that we spoke with had good things to say - it seems that people are starting to feel comfortable coming here again. I want to thank those of you who stopped by to say HI and chat. Our Agents saw many owners and newsletter readers during the week long event, and it was nice to put the face with the name for some of you.

We're on a roll and we don't intend to stop now. This month, we will be selling at the world famous Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show from February 14th through the 24th. The show is being held at Westworld in Scottsdale (same location as the Barrett-Jackson show). Please stop by to see us if you have the chance. Like the Barrett-Jackson show, this event is sure to bring people from all over the world. After that we have a National RV show in Tucson in March and we plan on a show or two in Las Vegas in April. Then we are putting together the 2nd Annual Las Vegas Night for the Saturday night of Memorial Weekend in May.     We do try to keep busy...

I understand that they have officially opened the bidding process for the selection of contractors for the construction of the Home Port, and progress continues on the Convention Center. I will continue to watch and listen for developments and report them as they come in. If you're on Facebook, you can check in with Puerto Penasco Home Port from time to time. There are quite a few concept photos recently posted there. Overall, everything looks very promising and things are definitely moving in the right direction.

Once again, I hope that you enjoy the newsletter, and recommend it to your friends. Thanks for the help in spreading the word. 

Don't forget, if you have email service through Yahoo or Gmail, please scroll to the bottom of this email and click "View Entire Message" to see the entire newsletter. For some reason, those email providers tend to cut part of it off.

I was fortunate and honored to be invited to two private meetings with the new Mayor of Puerto Penasco, Prof. Gerardo Figueroa, and the new Director of Tourism, Miguel Guivara on the 21st of last month. The first meeting included the presidents from the HOA's in and around Puerto Penasco, and the second included members of AMPI, Mexico's version of the Association of Realtors.  

 

There was also a meeting the following day with local business owners. The purpose of these meetings was to allow some of us from the business and tourism sector of the community to get to know our new public officials. It was an informal seeing in which we were allowed to ask questions and make comments. The interaction was lively and much information passed back and forth. To me, it felt as if we all truly learned something from each other. 

 

To everyone's delight, both Sr. Figueroa and Sr. Guivara were very frank and forthcoming in their answers and discussions. It was clear from the start that they care deeply for this City and want to do what is best for the overall good of everyone. That includes Americans living here, and tourists from the USA, Canada, Mexico and other parts of the world. It also includes the locals who live and work here. The fishermen, the construction workers, the shop owners, and the single mothers. If you think about it, this really is a daunting task as each group of individuals have their own set of wants and needs, and the government coffers are only so deep.

 

One of the most prevalent topics was how to increase tourism, and how to let potential tourists know how safe it really is here. Every year, just before Spring Break, we see another travel warning issued and another round of bad press. I could set my watch by the stories that come out before every major US holiday. Most of us know that the warnings and the press in Arizona unfairly crucify us, but there were many differing opinions as to how to combat the problem. I can't say that there was a clear decision made but everyone agreed that we need to be proactive. They did make a welcome announcement, confirming that this is the first administration in Puerto Penasco to set aside an annual budget specifically for the promotion of tourism. $500,000 Dollars for this year. In the big picture, that doesn't sound like much, but it is a great start and  there are other sources of funding as well such as the OCV and the State and Federal Governments so we can expand on the already returning tourism. I understand that there is at least an additional $1,000,000 coming available.   

 

Other topics included beautification of the city through trash pickup, road improvements, infrastructure and projects,  the Malecon adding another exit, taxes, checkpoints, beach cleaning, City logos, health care, etc. etc. Of course, the Home Port, Convention Center, and flights from Las Vegas were also discussed, but I will include more on them below in a separate article.

 

Overall, it was a very productive meeting and the Mayor made it very clear that he is open to meet with his constituents as often as needed to make as many positive changes as possible during his term. In my opinion, he is off to a great start.  

The biggest thing to come out of the meeting discussed in the previous article in regards to these projects was the confirmation that they are really going to happen. There were a few more details discussed, but for the most part, the wheels are in motion and updates will come as things progress.

The Home Port has in fact been approved and $191 Million Pesos have been appropriated by the Federal Government for this year. There is talk that in the second semester, it is possible that more Federal funding will become available as other projects around the country are completed with a surplus of funds left over. The photo above is one of many conceptual drawings to depict what the project will really look like. If you have a Facebook account, you can go to the Puerto Penasco Home Port page for many more photos. Information is updated on that site as it comes in.

This photo shows machinery currently working in front of the Reef

The details so far are as follows:
* The master plan is for the port to accommodate 2 ships of 330 meters each with a capacity of 4000 passengers and 2500 crew members each.
* This is the first time that the Federal Government has made a substantial investment in Puerto Penasco. There are no other home ports in Mexico - in fact this will be the only home port from San Diego to Argentina.
* Winning bidders will be decided in time to begin construction by mid year. They are making a special effort to use local Sonoran companies.
* Expect a press conference very soon to announce the project and also to announce the cruise line company or companies.
* The master plan calls for the dock, platform, terminal and ample parking. Access will be at the location of the current Wrecked at the Reef bar.
* Credit is to be given to the President, the Governor, the Mayor, and to Gus Brown and SBR for the donation of the land. Many thanks to you all.

The Convention Center phase II has been funded and is scheduled for completion by the end of this year. The current plan is for the State of Sonora to promote and operate the facility for the first two years. The city also plans to pave the road from "Rodeo Drive" curios shops past the convention center and to the T turnoff towards Sandy Beach. I drive by often and there is lots of activity and people working.

The proposed flights are about 95% of the way to reality. This flight will be from Las Vegas to Puerto Penasco and then to Hermosillo and back again.
Currently it is expected that two or three flights per week will be available. The expectation is to sign an agreement very soon and flights will commence 90 days after the agreement is signed. They will be guaranteed for 6 months at which time, Aeromexico will review the route and determine if it will become permanent. We all have great expectations that these flights will be a success, and they will become an absolute necessity when the other projects in town are completed.

 

The National Association of Realtors® has announced a new program to Spotlight A level affiliated, premium countries. During the first year (2013) the Spotlight will be on Mexico. Australia will be the featured country in 2014, and Canada in 2015.

 

The Spotlight program has multiple features all of which will have a positive impact on the Mexican real estate market. In addition to promoting Mexico around the world, there will be an International Real Estate Forum in Cabo San Lucas, later this year.

 

Commenting on the new program, Jeffrey Hornberger, Director Global Business Alliances at NAR said, "We are pleased to name Mexico as the first Spotlight country. Our members and our affiliates around the world will "discover" Mexico and the many opportunities it offers for investment."

 

Linda Neil, Head of the International Commission of the National Association of Real Estate Professional (AMPI) and Presidential Liaison for NAR to Mexico commented, "It is a true honor for NAR to select our country. The Spotlight program will bring substantial benefits to our AMPI members."

 

 

 

We all know how much Rocky Point has changed since our first visit whether that visit was 2 years ago, 5 years ago, 10 years ago or even 15, but, do you have any idea of how much it has changed since October 1957? Above is a link to the October 1957 edition of Desert Magazine. In this edition, you can get a feel for just how different Puerto Penasco, or Punta Penasco as it was known then, really was then compared to now. The entire magazine is very interesting but starting on page 17, you will find an article about our favorite little city on the Sea of Cortez. 

 

I highly recommend that you click the link and take a little trip back in time.

1. The city was founded officially in 1928, although unofficially for centuries before many humans traveled here and called it home.

2. Inhabitants of Rocky Point were once referred to "as people in the sand". In 1698 Padre Kino created this name for the early settlers.

3. Whale Hill and parts known as old town had rock caves and flesh eating creatures. According to research compiled by a Brown family history page, what we know as Whale Hill was once a beacon, a landmark reaching out in the middle of the sea attracting traveling tribesman and other nomadic tribes. Native Americans, specifically the Hohokam Indians from Arizona are said to have journeyed down to the sea for trade, salt, and fresh fish as well as many other adventurous wanderers. One historical document describes very early visitors practicing cannibalism. I like to think, luckily, the sweetness of the Rocky Point shrimp helped changed that.

4. In 1826 Lieutenant William Hale Hardy, a retired official from the Royal Naval English Army visited Penasco and charted the hill in present day Old Town as Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco). Shortly after, Spanish charts referred to the hill as Punta Penasco.

5. The Al Capone connection- yes, the notorious mobster Al Capone visited Rocky Point. His excursions to Rocky Point have been cited in several historical sources. Go try a slice of pie at Capone's pizza place and ask for the history or stop by La Roca hotel in Old Port and talk to the owner. He will give you the facts, a few stories and if you're lucky enough (or if you book a night at the hotel) he might just give you the tour. During prohibition Al Capone and numerous prominent friends gambled, drank and partied the night away in Puerto Penasco. You can even stay where they partied. Check out some prohibition gangster history while in town. Just goes to show, even a guy from Chigago back in the late 1920's knew a good thing when he found it.

6. Rocky Point's first airline service was Scenic Airlines. In the 1920's and 1930's an American, John Stone established an airline called Scenic Airlines offering direct flights from Tucson and Phoenix. (Hmm...sounds like a man before his time. Where are you now Scenic Airlines?)

7. Americans traveled to Mexico to drink alcohol in the 1920's. John Stone, who owned Hotel Cornelia in Ajo Arizona journeyed down the road and built a hotel with gambling, and of course alcohol, attracting American tourists who were not legally allowed to drink in the USA. (History does repeat itself)

Mexico has long been known for Bullfights, Cockfights and even Dogfights. This has been a part of the culture and, in the past, going to a Bull Fight was no different to some Mexican Nationals than going to an NFL Football game is to most US Citizens. Time and sensitivities have changed and it has become very rare to see that kind of event in most modern Mexican Cities. But, the laws had not changed - until now, in Mexico City.

For years Mexico City considered animal cruelty a civil offense and citizens were punished with fines. All that has changed now that the Mexican capital has approved prison terms for people convicted of hurting animals.

 

Lawmakers assembled last month and agreed that current laws were not doing enough to deter and prevent animal cruelty.

 

 










 

 

Jorge told me his farm alone seeds about 100,000 oysters every year.  Roughly 75% grow and are eventually harvested.  Yes, that's 75,000!  There are hundreds of wood structures similar to shipping pallets stacked on top of one another sitting in shallow water.  As the oysters grow they are rotated enjoying both cool water and just the right amount of sunlight.  Jorge's family times each harvest knowing when they'll be ready to sell.  Each structure is kept out of the sand and allows the water to flush out debris like sand and other ocean floatables.  For those who have ever been stuck eating an oyster (or clam) that included even the smallest amount of sand, the texture is pretty nasty.  Ostionera Acuamar takes pride making sure that doesn't happen to their oysters.

 

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Here's one for all you guilt-laden fishermen
    Fish cannot feel pain say scientists

At the top of the wish list of many residents of Puerto Peñasco is to see a whale frolicking this far north in the Sea of Cortez. While pods of dolphin surface, feed and play incredibly close to the beach often enough, we usually have to board a fishing vessel and head for someplace like Bird Island to get a good sea lion fix.  Sometimes, even rarely, en route to or from that destination we might be lucky enough to cross paths with a curious whale shark, maybe one of the two or three species of whales known to migrate this far north in the winter.

 

It's very rare indeed to spot any species of whale so close to Sandy Beach that you can see them from the balcony of your condominium, but, not for just a fleeting moment, not just a glimpse on a Sunday afternoon, but all afternoon Sunday and all afternoon Monday, spouts of sea water shot 30 feet into the air announcing the presence of either a blue whale, the largest mammal on the planet or the fin whale, second largest mammal. Since the fin whale is sighted far more often this far north, and some are known to live in the Sea of Cortez year around, even though the whales we saw exhibited signs of both species, we're going with the most logical assumption that they were fin whales that chose to dine and play in front-right in front-of the Sonoran Resorts, to slurp krill and small fish in quantities beyond our imagination.  

 

It was more than exhilarating to finally accept that the huge water spouts we could see from our balcony at the Sonoran Sea on Sunday had to be from the famous blow hole of a whale. We could finally check off the number one item on our wish list-and little did we know that it was about to become even better than we could have imagined; served up right from our balcony, justifying every decision we ever made that led to living right here, in a condominium with a view overlooking soft Sandy Beach, steps away from the serene Sea of Cortez with almost daily sightings of the acrobatic antics of playful dolphins, diving pelicans, flitting terns, graceful herons and egrets; all performing before us on that infinite aqua stage... 

 

 

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For many first time visitors to Rocky Point, the military checkpoint just outside of town may come as somewhat of a shock. After all, we don't have check points in the USA manned by armed guards, do we? Wait a minute, yes we do. In fact, last time I went to Phoenix, I had to pass by three of those checkpoints. Wow, maybe it isn't so different after all.

 

OK, maybe a little dramatic, but I think that we are all used to the Border Patrol and Homeland Security checkpoints throughout Arizona. Well, in Mexico (and almost all foreign countries) there are checkpoints as well. Sometimes they are manned by local or State police, but most of the time they are manned by the military. Do not let this alarm you. It is very normal and once you have gone through one time, you will feel much more at ease. The men (I haven't seen any women yet) at the check points are very courteous and polite. They have a job to do and that's it.   

 

And, exactly what is their job, you may ask? Their main job is to look for weapons, drugs and criminals. That's about it. They are not traffic police and they don't care if your tags are expired or if you have an extra 50 pound bag of dog food. The bottom line is that they are there for your protection. Just be friendly and they will return the favor times two. I always try to bring them a couple bottles of water or a soda, especially when they are standing there during the heat and humidity of an August afternoon.  

 

Rocky Point has exactly three roads into and out of town. There is a check point just outside of town on each of these roads helping to keep the riffraff away. Just think about the good that they are doing for our little city. So, next time you come through, instead of grumbling about the extra hassle, be grateful that  they are doing their job keeping us all safe.   

 

One thing that the Sonoran Resorts is doing right now is working with the appropriate officials to donate some highway signs to be placed before the check point. I, for one, think that seeing a couple signs telling you that there is an upcoming check point, and that it is an official, government sanctioned check point, there to help keep you safe, may take some of the "shock and awe" away compared to just rolling up to a mysterious roadblock. We hope to have the signs made and installed before Spring Break vacations start.  

The encyclopedia defines superstition as "belief, half-belief, or practice for which there appears to be no rational substance". There are probably as many superstitions in this world as there are people to create them or pass them on. But where did they come from? The answer to this question varies from one superstition to another. While you may have grown up hearing of or perhaps even believing these superstitions, you most likely have no idea where they originated.

Don't open an umbrella in the house! Heartburn for the pregnant means a baby with a LOT of hair! Do not, I repeat DO NOT walk under a ladder! Spill some salt? Quick, throw some over your left shoulder! These are some of the superstitions that you may have grown up with living in the USA.

Here are just a few myths and superstitions that you may have experienced if you had grown up in Mexico:

*don't eat avocados while you are mad or fighting, if you do you will have a terrible stomach ache

*if you dream of cows or bulls chasing you, it means someone is very jealous and wants to hurt you.

* If a lechuza (bird) arrives outside of your house and it starts whistling, someone you know will die soon.

* Having a baby? Remember not to cut his/her little fingernails before age one! Or else the child will have impaired eyesight

* If someone gives your child a compliment, he/she must touch the baby while doing so or else he/she has just given your child the evil eye!

* If your child is suffering of nausea, crying fits, high fever or any type of swelling. These symptoms are thought to be a result of "mal de ojo" or evil eye in Spanish. To break the "spell," simply rub 3 mouthfuls of water on the affected areas.

* To protect you and your children from the "mal de ojo," you could also wear red bracelets

* Here's another "universal" Mexican superstition: Dropped a tortilla? That's good luck! Means you will enjoy lots of company.

* Putting Rosemary in your wallet brings you money.  Or, put Rosemary by the front doors so nobody steals from you and it keeps the witches away.