Monthly Archives: July 2009

WFO! Full Report for SQ Trip with K&M 7.25 and 7.26

By Chad Baron

Full Report for SQ Trip with K&M 7.25 and 7.26

Full Report for SQ Trip with K&M 7.25 and 7.26

I woke up super-amped at 5:30 AM Friday, with visions of the south swell pumping along the coast and pelagics gathering offshore under floating kelps. I had a bear of a work week, having been in Palm Beach, Florida on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and then working long hours on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. I was ready to get this baja adventure started!

Having already packed the night before, I effortlessly headed across the 10 to pick up Scott Hall, who was, likewise, packed and ready to go (except for his nine-foot jig stick which proved to be a pain in the butt by sticking out the shotgun window the whole trip! OK, so it wasn’t that bad and at least he got plenty of serious bendos with it, but next time eight foot rods are the max!)

We quickly loaded his gear into my Avalanche, knowing that we’d reorganize when we picked up Reid in San Diego. The goal was to sneak into North County before the morning commute got nasty and we managed to do just that. Along the way we were treated first to Trestles showing us a taste of the south swell and then Oceanside truly announcing the swell’s energy level in the form of exploding white wash larger than the waves’ faces. read more »

Mayors Of The Californias Meet In Ensenada For First Binational Forum

Rosarito's Mayor C.P. Hugo Torres Chabert

Rosarito's Mayor C.P. Hugo Torres Chabert

ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO—Government officials from California and Baja California met last week in this port city for the first Binational Forum of Mayors of the Californias.

Shared interests, dependence and friendship of the two areas were the main themes.

The Thursday and Friday session at the historic Riviera cultural and civic center was inaugurated by Baja California Governor Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan, who noted that Mexico was the primary trading partner for California.

Representatives of Baja’s five cities as well as ones from Santa Ana, West Covina, Signal Hill, South El Monte, Redondo Beach, Fullerton, El Centro and Duarte were among those attending. read more »

How to dial a Cell Phone in Mexico? By: Miguel Sedano.

Dial mexico

Dial mexico

If you are reading this Blog, probably you already try to call a Mobil phone in Mexico without luck and you might be thinking what you did wrong. Don’t panic calling a cell phone can be tricky at the beginning but with this quick guide things will be easier.

First the prefix to dial a cell phone is 044 when calling a cell phone located on the same city (locally) or 045 to call a cell phone in another city (long distance) + Area Code (usually 3 digits, but Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara use only 2 digits) + the cell phone number (7 digits on all Baja cities), the question will be when to use which prefix and here is the tricky part.

The rule is when you dial a same area code phone you use 044 and when you are calling from or to a different area code use 045.

Example:

• You need to call 664 321 7461 and you are in Rosarito Beach Baja.

The area code 664 = Tijuana and Rosarito area code is 661, so you will use 045.

Dial 045 664 321 7461.

• You need to call 664 321 7461 and you are in Ensenada Baja.

The area code 664 = Tijuana and Ensenada area code is 646, so you will use 045.

Dial 045 664 321 7461.

• You need to call 664 321 7461 and you are in Tijuana Mexico.

The area code 664 = Tijuana and you are in the same area code 664, so you will use 044.

Dial 044 664 321 7461.

If all this information seems to complicated for you, at Palacio del Mar only 35 minutes south of the border you will have a 24/7 concierge service that will be more than happy to assist you with any small or big request.

If you want to discover the only truly concierge service in the Rosarito area, as well as all the amenities of a 5 star resort, just call Miguel Sedano (619-200-7408) or email (miguel.sedano@bajarealestategroup.net) for a private tour of Palacio del Mar Condos & Spa.

Broswe for Homes for sale in Rosarito, Homes for sale in Baja and Homes for sale in Mexico.

Rosarito’s FRAO Changes Location

Playas de Rosarito - IV Ayuntamiento

Playas de Rosarito - IV Ayuntamiento

In order to improve City services for the foreign community, please be informed that the  Foreign Residents Attention Office -FRAO- , for four years  at City Hall, now changes location to be part of the “Attention to the Tourist” Department.

FRAO is now located in  the premises of  the  Visitors and Convention Bureau (COTUCO ), located in suite 14 of  Oceana Plaza Mall, 907 Benito Juarez  Boulevard.

In following the steps of Marisa Molina, Fernando Toledo will now continue with the accustomed guidance  and orientatation offered by the City to  the foreign resident in addition to bilingual personnel at city hall that can also help. New telephone number for FRAO  is (661)  612-0396 email: fernando@rosarito.org   Hours:   mon-fri 8-5 p.m.;  sat. 10-4 p.m.

Thank you.

CITY OF ROSARITO

Social Communication Department

OLIVIA DEL CORRAL
Jefa de Relaciones Públicas
IV Ayuntamiento de Playas de Rosarito
(661) 614-9600 x 2241
http://www.playasderosarito.gob.mx/

Rosarito Beach Mayor Tells International Law Enforcement Group Of Police Reforms

Rosarito Beach Mayor Tells International Law Enforcement Group Of Police Reforms

Rosarito Beach Mayor Tells International Law Enforcement Group Of Police Reforms

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO—Mayor Hugo Torres told an international law enforcement organization of the many improvements made in his city’s police force in the past 18 months.

“I ran for office because of the problems in the police force,” Torres told a July 9 meeting at the Chula Vista Golf Course of the International Liaison Officers Association, which represents Southern California and Baja agencies.

The changes have come with the support of the Mexican federal and Baja state governments, which are working together on fighting organized crime influence and reforming police departments, he said. read more »

Why Is This A Good Time To Buy Real Estate In Mexico

Why Is This A Good Time To Buy Real Estate In Mexico

Why Is This A Good Time To Buy Real Estate In Mexico

With the current uncertainty in the U.S. stock and real estate market, property values going down and the cost of living going up from every direction, where can you turn to for some market stability and economic relief? Look south of the border, invest your money in the many real estate opportunities on Baja, Mexico.  Where there is more than great weather, no hurricanes, a peaceful atmosphere, it’s close to the border plus many different things to see and do.

Reasons to invest in Baja Real estate :

1) Mexican real estate is not affected by the current housing crisis afflicting the U.S., it’s a totally different market with a different economy, separate laws as well as separate governments. This means that your property value will not go down because U.S. properties are, and decisions made by U.S. government officials do not affect the conditions of your Fideicomiso or Trust Agreement . read more »

Baja California, Mexico: Impact of U.S. Media, an Analysis

Prepared by Scott Hanning and Jeffrey Werner, Emerson Strategic Communication Group

Baja California, Mexico: Impact of U.S. Media, an Analysis

Baja California, Mexico: Impact of U.S. Media, an Analysis

Executive Summary: Through selective reporting, presenting information without context and insufficient analysis, U.S. media outlets have helped perpetuate the mistaken perception that Mexico, including all of Baja California, is a “drug war crisis zone” unsafe for visitors.  The net result is the conflation of President Felipe Calderón’s campaign against the drug cartels with tourism in the minds of millions of ordinary Americans, who have chosen to travel elsewhere or stay home.  Media coverage of the drug war crisis has thus spawned a second, equally urgent one: Rosarito Beach’s economy, like those of other areas almost entirely dependent on American tourism, has suffered a devastating revenue decline of more than 75%.

Rosarito Beach and Baja California’s other coastal towns have for decades been a popular destination for U.S. tourists.  Their economies are largely dependent on American tourism, especially road-trip vacationers from southern California and the Southwest U.S.  The region also has a high number of permanent American residents: an estimated 14,000 Americans (nearly 10% of the population) make Rosarito their home today.  These communities’ fortunes are therefore directly linked to how Americans view them. read more »

Fourth Of July Brings Rosarito Best Tourism Figures Of 2009

Rosarito Hotel Occupancy at 70 percent on 4th of July weekend

Rosarito Hotel Occupancy at 70 percent on 4th of July weekend

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO—Fourth of July brought this seaside city 30 miles south of San Diego its best tourism of 2009, with hotel occupancy at 70 percent on the holiday and some near capacity.

“This is encouraging to us and indicates some comeback, although we remain well below years past and need more gains,” said Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres.

Concerns in the United States that Mexico’s crackdown on drug cartels has made the area unsafe for tourists have been a main cause of the decline in tourism this year. Most Rosarito visitors come from the U.S.

“But time has shown emphatically that our visitors are not at risk,” Torres said. “We have had no major incident.”

“Our frequent visitors and thousands of expatriate residents are among those who have helped us convey the fact that Rosarito is safer and more welcoming than ever. We know that more needs to be done to convey that message.” read more »

Calafia Paradise Resort hosted a charity event to benefit Responsibility

Calafia Condos Club House

Calafia Condos Club House

By Melinda Bates

Recently, Calafia Paradise Resort hosted a charity event to benefit Responsibility, an organization that’s been educating the children who live at the Tijuana dump for over 20 years. They give hope and a chance for a better future to the poorest of the poor.

Guests enjoyed a fabulous paella lunch, sponsored by Ron and Marilyn Simon, and a speech by Melinda Bates, the Ultimate White House Insider. Melinda’s back-stage stories about her years in the heart of the Clinton White House entertained, engaged and informed a large and enthusiastic audience. After the speech she signed copies of her book, Clintonista, a White House Memoir. The event raised almost $1,000 – a respectable amount of money in Mexico!

Melinda travels extensively, speaking about the adventures of her life making history at the world’s most famous house.� When she’s not traveling, she makes her home in beautiful Baja.

For more information about Responsibility, see: http://www.responsibilityonline.org/

For more information about Melinda Bates and her book, and photos of her White House years see: http://www.WhiteHouseBook.com

read more »

Weekly Fishing Column: Mexico is safer than you think

Weekly Fishing Column: Mexico is safer than you think

Weekly Fishing Column: Mexico is safer than you think

Written by: Phil Friedman

Mexico has been reduced to a single, small, geographical piece of this earth. If there is a murder in Michoacan, then the presumption of the 24-hour news cycle has been that it is too dangerous to travel to Rosarito Beach even though it is thousands of miles away.

According to Arturo Martinez from the Mexican Tourism office, no tourists have been killed in the drug war violence throughout Mexico.

Still, on a recent CNN news report, U.S. citizens were warned not to travel to Mexico. Well what part of Mexico was CNN referring to? Mexico is a huge country and to say travel to Mexico is dangerous is not only inadequate information but very misleading.

Please do not misunderstand me. If you want to find trouble in Tijuana, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, I have no doubt that with the proper directions, you will find trouble and the dregs of society you seek.

If however, you use common sense, stay out of bad neighborhoods, do not travel at night etc., your journey to Mexico should be not only safe, but a memorable trip with lifetime memories.
read more »