Daily Archives: December 16, 2009

Baja Mexico News from Rob Cromwell

December 16, 2009

Monday Morning – 9:20 AM
December 14, 2009

Dear Friends,

A view of Calafia

A view of Calafia in Rosarito

In today’s LA Times Newspaper ‘Online’ – there was a brief article about U.S. Americans living in Baja-Mexico by Richard Marosi.  A ‘fair & balanced’ article about what some U.S. Americans think is the ‘truth’ about living in Baja.

Highlighted were several Americans – including my neighbors, Bob & Carol Dawson of Las Gaviotas.

(links below)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-baja14-2009dec14,0,4471195.story?page=1&track=rss

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-baja14-2009dec14,0,4471195.story?page=2

What is ‘really terrific’ is the short 6 minute video clip – which you find ‘online’ showing more in-depth – the surrounding views with audio clips from several U.S. Americans now living in Baja. read more »

Posted in: americans living in mexico, baja communities, Baja Personalities, Baja Real Estate, baja real estate agents, Ensenada, Ensenada Real Estate, Living In Mexico, Mexico News, Mexico Real Estate, Mexico Tourism, retiring to mexico, Rosarito, Rosarito News, rosarito real estate, rosarito tourism – Comments Off

One man’s war zone is another’s paradise

December 16, 2009

Originally Posted on the L.A. Times.

By Richard Marosi
December 14, 2009

From the insulated safety of Baja’s luxurious seaside gated communities, American expatriates say reports of kidnappings and violent drug cartels seem a world away.

Beach in Rosarito

Beach in Rosarito

Reporting from Rosarito Beach, Mexico – Bob and Carol Dawson love living in Baja California, but the region’s violent reputation has put them on the defensive. They have been called delusional and reckless — all because they choose to live in an oceanfront gated community about 30 or 40 miles and a world away from the U.S. border.

Americans living in this part of Mexico are often grilled, half-jokingly, about their sanity. They get asked whether they’ve seen decapitated heads rolling down the street. Friends wonder whether they wear bulletproof vests or drive around in armored cars.

When the Dawsons moved here in 1999 to retire, they were enticed by the area’s charm and peacefulness. They bought an expansive home with ocean views for $175,000. “Live like a millionaire without a million bucks” is the local real estate mantra.

In recent years, the tranquility has been eclipsed by the mayhem of battles between the Mexican government and organized crime. Military trucks brimming with heavily armed soldiers have rumbled through the manicured grounds of luxury developments; gunmen pepper local police stations with automatic-weapon fire; and Baja California’s most notorious crime boss once eluded authorities by running through a beach popular among American retirees. read more »

Posted in: americans living in mexico, baja communities, Baja Real Estate, Ensenada, Ensenada Real Estate, las gaviotas, Living In Mexico, Mexico News, Mexico Real Estate, Mexico Tourism, retiring to mexico, Rosarito, Rosarito News, rosarito real estate, rosarito tourism, Stories, Tijuana – Comments Off