Baja Officials Stand United with Baja Love Ride

Baja Officials Stand United with Baja Love Ride San Felipe, Baja California, March 17 - The Baja Love Ride is a 4-day “ride for cause” fund raising bicycling event that will stretch from Rosarito Beach to San Felipe and will also include admission to the 5th Annual San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta. The event is designed to showcase the best of Baja, illustrate public safety and simultaneously promote tourism. This event promises to not only bring the Baja communities together, but also benefit those facets of Baja society that need help the most, the children of Baja. Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Juan Tintos Funcke and the state have all fully supported the idea of the event from its conception. This week, officials with the Baja California Secretary of Tourism office have committed themselves further to the success of the Baja Love Ride, by approving the participation of high ranking state tourism delegates. In addition to escorts by the Mexican Federal Police, Red Cross and Green Angels, state officials Hector Higuera Aguilar, Tourist Assistance Chief, State Secretariat of Tourism and Arturo Martinez Deputy Director of Visitor Assistance and Facilitation, State Secretariat of Tourism of Baja California and other delegates of the state will be joining the riders of the Baja Love Ride for the full 4 days to share in this unique and unforgettable Baja experience. The ride will begin on Tuesday March 22, at 10AM in front of the Rosarito Beach Hotel and will finish Friday March 25, at 3PM at the Arches of San Felipe. All riders will receive complimentary tickets to the Blues and Arts Fiesta on Saturday March 26, another charitable event to help the children of Baja that also draws a huge crowd each year. The promoters of this event want to encourage everyone that loves Baja, whether you own a bicycle or not, to be a part of this event in one way or another. You are encouraged to ride, volunteer or donate. Proceeds raised in each community will remain in each community to support the local children's organizations that desperately need continuous help. This is the time to stand up and be counted. Baja and its residents have been taking a hit from US media, which has led to an undeserved reputation of Baja being unsafe for tourist, an industry Baja relies heavily upon. Now is the time to help dispel reports that lead people to believe Baja is anything but safe, secure and a wonderful place to visit and live. Alongside the event promoters and the Baja California Secretary of Tourism, we all need to stand together and show the world that Baja is a welcoming destination overflowing with people that care about their communities, their children and their country. Taking part in the Baja Love Ride is bound to be a memorable experience for those looking to be involved in improving the lives of children and also looking to take in the beauty, serenity, hospitality and luxury Baja has to offer every step of the way. Helping others and pampering your senses at the same time is what the Baja Love Ride can give to riders, spectators and volunteers all along the route. Please join us. Media Contact: John Pack Baja: 686-230-9933 in Baja US Toll Free: 877-LUVMEX1 www.bajaloveride.com bajaloveride@gmail.com Additional Information on the Blues & Arts: www.bluesandarts.com

Visit Baja in the Springtime

An Invitation from Your Friends in Baja Springtime is high season for Baja Sur tourism with throngs of escaping snowbirds usually flock to our shores and deserts. Removed from the headlines of Cartel violence, Baja California Sur travel providers need their friends to come visit.

Swine Flu Affects Baja California

Last night here in La Paz one of the most popular restaurants in the areas served only a handful of customers. This time, usually very popular with Mexican tourists has been particularly slow with the one two punch of the flu and the economy. Flights in and out of La Paz have a significant number of empty seats. Those to Mexico City were virtually empty. The H1N1 Virus in Perspective First, let us note that no one is predicting the Apocalypse as a result of this outbreak of Swine Flu. Since there are no other significant events currently breaking around the world, the press has jumped all over this story and brought panic to millions around the world. Looking at the facts, the level of hysteria is unjustified. H1N1 Flu virus is a new virus, meaning that it has recently mutated from a previously known virus or series or viruses. Researchers have found human, pig and avian DNA present in the makeup of H1N1. Since it is new to the scene, there will be little or no immunity amongst humans to the new virus. H1N1 is an influenza - it is not the "Black Death", Small Pox or Polio. Although the mortality rate for the virus initially appear to be significantly higher than a standard outbreak of the flu it appears that this high mortality rate, particularly amongst 25-40 year olds is limited to the Mexico City area and may be a result of other medical and environmental factors present in those who succumbed to the disease. I was astounded to learn that every year 36,000 people die in the United States as a result of standard influenza. Most of these fatalities are either in the very young or old, or otherwise medically compromised individuals. This was one of the initial concerns for H1N1, that it seems to attack strong and healthy individuals in their prime. WHO is backing away from this concern now, as further studies have been made. The world wide mortality rate of this new strain of flu does not seem out of line with other strains of the flu virus which attack the world's population every year. We could just be looking at another strain of late season flu that will affect millions world wide with no greater impact that a usual flu season. Prevention, Containment and Treatment Surgical masks are virtually sold out in the US and Mexico. In Mexico City, military units are handing out surgical masks on the street in an effort to contain the disease. However, US health experts warn that a standard surgical mask will do little to prevent you from catching the flu. The size of the H1N1 virus will easily penetrate the standard surgical mask. It will however, contain the virus in a person already infected, when they speak, breath or cough. The mask recommended for some protection from transmission is the N95 Surgical Grade mask. However, if you are not infected this will only protect you from inhalation of the virus. The virus can also infect your through your eyes and ears when wearing the mask. Experts recommend frequent washing of hands or use of hand sanitizer, particularly when using public facilities. If you are feeling sick - STAY CONFINED. Do not take your co-workers a case of the swine flu just to be a trooper and not miss a day of work or school. Unfortunately, the incubation period for the flu can be 3-5 days allowing 2-3 days where the new host can transmit the disease while not feeling particularly ill. If you feel you are coming down with something don't travel by air and use a surgical mask to contain your respiratory fluids, which spread the flu. Treatment for the flu includes the usual bed rest and lots of fluids and anti-viral drugs such as Tamaflu are proving effective against the virus. Hospitalization has only been required in a small number of the cases, therefore the epidemic may be already more wide spread than thought and thusly less of an hysteria than painted by the media. Reports of Swine Flu in Baja As of the writing of this article there have been three reported cases of the new A/H1N1 virus in Mexicali. There are several cases being investigated in Tijuana as well, but not yet confirmed. As of now, there have been no confirmed cases of Swine Flu in Baja California Sur. Although we feel fortunate here in La Paz, this is unlikely to continue indefinitely. In a mailer to his clients, Brian Westerland of Diamante Properties in La Paz forwarded this first hand information; "We have been closely watching the US news, Mexican news and local Baja Sur news , my mother-in-law is the head of the Red Cross for our Baja Sur state and she has been keeping us up to date daily on the new developments here in the Baja Sur and in Mexico City. So far there have been no reported cases in our state, everyone has been taking precautions but common sense and calm is starting to kick in after the initial shock of hysteria provided by the media." What to Do and How to React For those of you over 45, you may remember the outbreak of the Hong Kong Flu in 1968 and 1969. The flu was forecast to devastate older or weaker persons and the government went to great effort to stem the spread and produce a vaccine. In the end, only 36,000 people died from the flu while 7,800+ died from reaction to the vaccine. The Hong Kong Influenza ended up being the mildest pandemic of the 20th century. On the flip side, an Influenza pandemic swept the world in 1918 and was spread world wide for the first time by the returning troops from World War One. Hundreds of thousands died world wide that year, including a young wife who lived at the home later owned by my sister in Vermont. With improved medical treatment and anti-viral drugs available, no one is expecting a repeat of this medical disaster. So, keep your head and take the same preventative measures you would take when traveling at the holidays when colds and flu are readily passed around the traveling public. If you contact the flu, limit your exposure to others and seek medical attention promptly should the illness persist for more than 4 days or significant lung congestion and coughing occurs.

Newport to Cabo race

Light rain this morning with cloudy skies...a welcome change from the heat we have been having. Newport to Cabo race had its first finshers this morning with Stark Raving Mad being the first for line honors (5:12am) and Horizon and Allure closley behind. Many more to come but without much wind it may take some of them most of the day to arrive. With about 40 boats registered it has been one of the larger fleets fro this race in past years. For more infomation on the progress and to track any of the boats yet to arrive go here Congradulations to those that have finshed and to those yet to arrive!

Spring Break and travel warnings

Once again the US government is using fear to keep people from traveling to Mexico. They have now once again trageted Spring Break travelers. Yes there are some dangers as there are anywhere but we feel as many do that it is really blown out of poportion. Cabo San Lucas is gearing up for one of its most populated spring breaks in years. Hotel reservations and travel planners report numbers up significantly over last year. This may be due in part to the very favorable exchange rate of close to 15:1 on the Mexican peso. More than 25,000 visitors come to Cabo each week by air alone. Another 15-25 thousand visit Los Cabos by cruise ship per week, in the peak of the season. With that volume of visitor traffic there are bound to be some incidents. In the last 6 months these were some of the most noteworthy: Last fall two Americans were arrested and one died while in the custody of Cabo San Lucas police. Reports failed to mention that the two were being held for felony assault. The investigation continues as to whether there was any wrong doing by the officers. Earlier this spring, two Canadians were wounded by two Mexican assailants in a Los Cabos Strip Bar. Although the assailants may have been 'connected' the dispute appeared to be over either drugs or one of the strippers. No one was arrested. A recent press report sited that more Americans were arrested by Tijuana police than in any other foreign destination city. Of course! Tijuana was the #1 foreign city visited by Americans, simply because of the ease of it. More than 60 million persons crossed the border into Baja California last year. That is more than 1500 times more than the number who visited London. In 2007 352 people were murdered in greater Tijuana. However, compared to US cities of about the same population, Tijuana falls in the 'also ran' category with 17.5 murders per 100,000 people. This compares to a safer San Diego, on the other side of the line with 5 murdered per 100K. However, a great number of US cities have higher murder rates; like Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas and the winner (loser) New Orleans with more than 3 times the murder rate of Tijuana. Yet there is no travel warning for these cities? 30 of the murders in the region involved government anti-drug officials and police. These numbers and gruesome methods horrify Americans - but this is a war. Most of these were new federal officials sent to clean things up. There were others who's allegiance to which side was in question. Like in the rest of Mexico, kidnapping Baja California increased last year. Less than 20US residents were abducted in the border area last year. Again, looking at the huge numbers of happy Baja visitors, that is half the number of people struck by lightening in the US last year! Kidnappings for cash of foreigners is rare, as they have no idea what you are worth on face value. Two real estate representatives that were rescued by Mexican authorities were abducted by a very amateurish crew that failed to remove the license plates from the abduction vehicle, resulting in the arrest and rescue. These kidnappings are not the work of 'trained paramilitary groups' as some press reports would have you believe. Some of the kidnappings of US citizens involved those in the employ of a Mexican company. It is the employer that is often the actual financial target of the kidnappers. Several others of the missing US persons were tied to potential drug/gang activity. The violence against US border agents makes prompt and colorful headlines in the US press. Rather, this should have been anticipated, when you squeeze a profitable business like the drug cartels which are, supported by American dollars, the bad guys are likely to push back. In looking at the statistics, there was no evidence that ANY innocent US citizen had been randomly killed in drug violence. What is being done... Make no mistake, the government of Mexico is well aware of the importance of US investment and tourist dollars in the development of Baja. Within days of the tragic events of November, the federal government began moving as many as 7000 troops to the region to combat the drug violence and corruption. Nearly half a million dollars was allocated to fund anti crime work in December 2007 alone.

$500,000 Medical Equipment Donation to Local Community in San Felipe, Baja, Mexico

A Medical company owner, a develper and the Los clb teamed up to bring much needed medical equipment to San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico $500,000 Medical Equipment Donation to Local Community in San Felipe, Baja, Mexico

US Invasion of Baja California

The U.S. Invasion of Baja California The current influx of gringos isn't the first time the U.S. has invaded Baja California Sur. During the Mexican American War the Stars & Strips flew over Baja Sur for 14 months.

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Owning Costal Property in Baja California

Owning Coastal Property in Baja California If you own or lease coastal property in Mexico you are required to provide right of way. - What does this mean?

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Baja California Weather

Baja Forecast

Surface Chart / Satellite IR

08AM MST 04/09/07 Much of Baja will be overcast, at least through the morning as Pacific moisture is being drawn across the peninsula to a trough (orange arrow) in the Sea of Cortez. The difference between a High in the Pacific (blue arrow) and a Low over AZ/CA (magenta arrow) is forecast to bring us winds from the SW to WSW through the forecast period to 15kts. Temperatures will remain seasonably cool in both Baja California and Baja California Sur. There is a trough and associated thunderstorms in the  ITCZ (red arrow) about 900 miles SW of Acapulco.

 

 

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Baja California Recipes for Mexican Cusine

Recipes with a La Paz Flavor Author Ann Hazard brings us 3 more Mexican recipes from her latest Cooking with Baja Magic Dos. Get the taste of Baja California and Mexican cuisine at home.

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