Your Baja Connection

Vendimia and Other Festivals

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:02:00 GMT

In Vino Vendimia

The Fiestas de la Vendimia is the best wine, food and music festival you've never heard of—maybe that's because it takes place in Baja

by BARBARA THORNBURG

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Fiestas de la Vendimia. You know, the two-and-a-half-week harvest festival held between the first Friday and the third Sunday in August that combines visits to state-of-the-art wineries, Italian tenors, alternative-style circuses, Kafkaesque plays, mime, modern dance and performance art?

Not ringing a bell? Valle de Guadalupe—the 14-mile region about 90 minutes south of San Diego and four hours from Los Angeles—is arguably Mexico's premier artisanal wine–growing region. The valley and the nearby city of Ensenada are where the majority of the fiestas take place, bookended by the Muestra del Vino—showcase of wines—and the Concurso de Paellas, an über-paella contest featuring more than 80 equipos, or teams, making every conceivable incarnation of the dish. Gargantuan pans filled with seafood, rabbit, sausage and cordonices—valley game hens—fill the air with heavenly aromas. But don't get too excited. Paella tickets are long gone at this point. We'll get to that later.

Good wine in Mexico, you're thinking? Tequila-laced margaritas, for sure. Tall glasses of icy cerveza—of course. But good Mexican wine seems like an oxymoron. Not so, says Steve Wallace, owner of Wally's Wines & Spirits in Los Angeles. "Mexico is making some impressive wines. We have plans to carry a number of them."

We'll give you a moment to reconcile Baja California with the idea of what's being called a nascent Napa. Because the quiet valley, with its rusty-hued boulders—large as bulldozers—that sit among vineyards and groves of olive trees, is a revelation light-years from the margarita ambience of the touristy coast.

So how come there's such an absence of good Mexican wines in California—a mere five labels at the Wine Bank in San Diego and zero bottles at Silver Lake Wine, both shops specializing in wine from around the globe? "The big distributors don't want to invest in marketing until they have a proven product," says Wallace. Throw in the small wineries' limited production and the Mexican government's hefty 25-plus percent IEPS tax on special products and services, and you get two more reasons for the dearth of Mexican vino stateside.

Oscar Escobedo, secretary of tourism for Baja California, says Baja wines, which make up 90 percent of Mexico's production, have garnered more than 230 awards worldwide in the last four years. L.A. Cetto, one of the largest valley wineries, won the coveted gold medal for its petite syrah last March at Paris' Vinalies Internationales. "We're starting to make some great wines and get the word out," says Escobedo.

"If you come down, you'll get to see the birth of a region," says leading valley wine enologist Hugo D'Acosta, whose wine school Estacíon de Oficios del Porvenir—aka La Escuelita, or little school—has both educated and assisted in the production of wine for a crush of would-be vintners.

The destination is worth the drive. After exiting the new four-lane Carretera 3 that goes through the valley, you take washboard dirt roads peppered with sleeping Mexican dogs, and at the end of that bone-jarring trip, you're rewarded with such wineries as Paralelo, designed by Ensenada architect Alejandro D'Acosta. It's a modern-day Mayan temple, rammed-earth walls imprinted with nopal cactus, olive branches and rubber tires found on the site, with function following form in the guise of a ramp to the roof, enabling trucks to ascend to offload grapes into waiting stainless-steel vats below.

Although big commercial wineries such as Domecq and L.A. Cetto have been around since the 1970s, and Santo Tomás since 1888—not to mention the Spanish friars who planted vines in the 16th century—the Guadalupe Valley's boutique wineries have largely evolved since the late 1980s. "At last count there were 38," says D'Acosta, "and if you look under that rock over there, you'll probably find another one."

One of the first boutique wineries making quality wine in the valley was Monte Xanic. Tomás Fernandez, director general of Baja Naval marina and boatyard in Ensenada, started the winery in 1987 with four others, including renowned enologist Dr. Hans Backhoff. "My friends at the time said to me, `You're doing what?' Mexican wines had a very bad reputation."

Fernandez was one of the members of the Ensenada wine society Cofradía del Vino de Baja California that sprang up in 1986. The common denominator: a passion for food and wine among well-educated, well-traveled Mexicans. "The idea of the fiestas started in the wine society," says Dr. Fidel Cantú, who led the popular paella contest for the first five years of the festival and has watched the event grow from a single day into a weeks-long maridaje—harmonious union—of wine, food and cultural events.

"We are working to protect the valley long term," says D'Acosta, who headed up the first harvest-festival events two decades ago. "We think a wine festival will help. People who attend become ambassadors for the region."

Most of last year's roughly 20,000 attendees hail from Ensenada and other areas of Mexico, says Gloria Acosta of RCV Travel Shop, which provides some tickets for the events. "In the last two years, the demographics have changed vis-à-vis the Americans…the biggest problem is the economy—they have to pay for a hotel, food, tickets," she says. Throw in last year's swine-flu scare and the continuing concern about the war on drugs, and many Americans who actually knew about the festival just stayed home.

"I would argue it is more likely for a tourist to have some kind of incident in California—drive-by shooting, carjacking, robbery—than here in Baja," says Escobedo. "We have 25 million people a year visiting us from all over. According to U.S. Homeland Security, there has been a 25 percent increase in Americans coming between January and May of this year. We are getting our message across that Baja is safe."

"Sometimes when foreigners come, events become more touristy. The most important thing is that the fiestas stay authentic, a unique expression of each winery."
The reality is that the Mexicans don't need gringos to make their festival a success. And in fact, some see it as a celebration for Mexicans first, and if others come, well, fine. One longtime Guadalupe Valley resident, Natalia Badan, general coordinator at CEARTE (Ensenada's new modern center for the arts) says, "Sometimes when many foreigners come, all of a sudden events become more touristy. The most important thing is that the fiestas stay authentic, a unique expression of each winery."

Her own event—500 visitors sitting under fragrant Mediterranean pines listening to jazz at sunset at Mogor-Badan winery—is a case in point. Appetizers from the winery's organic garden—cherry tomatoes, olives, figs and grapes—accompany its light, dry Swiss Chasselas, followed by homemade empanadas, all served by family and friends. "The purpose of the Vendimia is to take time out and be joyous about all the hard work and the harvest to come."

The good news is that Vendimia events are far reaching and have something for nearly every gusto and pocketbook. The Verbena Santo Tomás, a street fair held in downtown Ensenada, and the Fiesta en el Valle, at a park in El Porvenir, feature local food, wines, games and music—free to all.

Pricier events—in the $100 range—taking place at upscale wineries include sunset concerts at Monte Xanic and Château Camou, the alt-circus Zirk Ubu at La Villa del Valle and a formal dinner and wine auction at Adobe Guadalupe. Nearby Bibayoff winery, with its Russian legacy of 20th-century Molokan pacifists turned winemakers, features a fun-filled fusion evening of Russian-Mexican music, food and wine.

Tickets for smaller, more exclusive engagements are rarely—if ever—available. Events at Casa de Piedra, one of the leading vineyards, are as progressive as the sustainable winery fashioned of corrugated metal and local amber stone. One year, Mexico City actor Humberto Dupeyrón provided food for thought, performing "The Gorilla," based on a Kafka story. Last year, the L.A.-based avant-garde music group String Theory played a harp-like instrument whose strings stretched more than 100 feet into the air. After the performance, guests donned gloves and took their turns on the stage playing the harp, then descended to the courtyard for steaming bowls of seafood pozole and music by a local rock band.

So just how do you get tickets? "It can be frustrating," says seven-year Baja resident Carla White, an American who writes for the Baja Times. "Years ago, I would call the travel agent Viajes Damiana every week starting around March 1, to see if the schedule was out. When tickets came in, we'd literally run down to get them. In those days, you had to physically stand in line—it was like buying tickets to a rock concert."

Things have improved, although it can still be a task for out-of-towners. This year, the schedule of 41 events with 22 wineries was released mid May, with tickets available to buy mid June, just a month and a half before the opening event. All this puts wannabe fiestagoers in a catch-22, since hotel rooms in Ensenada and the valley have been booked for months.

Part of the conundrum lies with how the tickets are distributed. "Each winery determines its event and the number of tickets," says Gerardo Alcalá, Provino events and public relations coordinator of the arm of the Asociacíon National de Vitivinicultores that officially runs the fiestas. "Some give us tickets to distribute, and others don't. Some tickets are given to Ensenada travel agencies but not all." More intimate events—such as Pau Pijoan's dinner and wine pairing at La Contra (formerly Restaurante Del Parque), one of the most popular eateries in Ensenada—are sold privately and never distributed at all, period.

This year for the first time, Vendimia tickets are available on the Internet. That's the good news. The bad news is a few of the wineries are not participating in online sales. Tickets are sometimes available by contacting the wineries directly and getting on a list—speaking Spanish is always helpful. Or you can plan a visit to the valley beforehand. That's not too bad a choice—spend a lovely weekend touring the wineries that are open all year and sample delicious vintages.

And if you've a little moxie like Carla White, you can just show up at a winery event at the last minute and hope for a ticket. "It's always challenging," she says, "but in the end it's so worth it."

BARBARA THORNBURG is a freelance writer who cooks up stories—and orange marmalade—on her Baja ranch. She is the author of L.A. Lofts.

Insider's GuideReally want tickets to XX Fiestas de la Vendimia (August 6–22)? Some can be had—alas, as we said, most hotels are booked. Here are a few tips—but if the fates don't shine on you, there's always next year.

Provino: The arm of the Asociacíon National de Vitivinicultores, which runs Vendimia events, has 2,000 tickets each for the opening Muestra del Vino ($30) and closing Concurso de Paellas ($35)—but they go faster than a Mexican roadrunner. Not a prayer for this year. Call in April 2011 to get on their waiting list, 646-178-3038, info@provinoac.org. Provino carries other Vendimia tickets. Stop by the downtown Ensenada office to buy them—cash only; 496 Teniente Azueta and Virgilio Uribe.

Fiestasdelavendimia.com: Press Google Translate if you don't read Spanish. Click Calendario de Eventos to order by credit card or PayPal. Note: If there is no shopping cart at the end of the description, tickets aren't available. (But check back—they're sometimes added). Tickets can be mailed or picked up at Provino.

Winery: At the Website above, click on Vinicolas Participantes for a list, then call to see if any are selling tickets—some do, some don't. You may have to send a wire transfer to a Mexican bank and/or go to the Guadalupe Valley beforehand, pay cash and pick up your tickets the evening of the event. Be sure to bring your receipt with you!

Travel Agents: RCV Travel Shop and Viajes Kinessia are given a certain number of Vendimia tickets. They can also help find a hotel and, occasionally, even find rooms in local homes. Contact Gloria Acosta at RCV Travel, 646-174-0072, gloria.acosta@rcvtravel.com; Viajes Kinessia, 646-152-1800, viajeskinessia.com. Also, discoverbajacalifornia.com lists area hotels.

Wing It: Like an out-of-towner who wants to get into that sold-out Broadway play—locals occasionally stop by at the last minute to see if anyone has an extra ticket. If you don't have a place to stay, this is probably not such a great idea. Still, tickets are sometimes available. Buena suerte!

Pedestrian toll bridge proposed at Otay Mesa

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:18:00 GMT

An investor group involving billionaire Sam Zell
received a key federal approval needed to proceed
with its plans for a cross-border pedestrian bridge
that would link San Diego to Tijuana's Rodriguez
International Airport.

If built, it would be the first of its kind in North
America and give San Diego-area travelers easier
access to flights at the Mexican airport.

Last month, the U.S. State Department said it finds
"no significant impact" for the for-profit proposal
submitted by Otay-Tijuana Venture, which is led by
Chicago-based Equity Group Investments and
several board members of the company that
operates the Tijuana airport. Zell, a real estate
investor who owns the Los Angeles Times, is the
chairman and founder of Equity Group.

San Diego International, which has only one
runway, is expected to reach its capacity as early as
2025. Squeezed in by the Pacific Ocean and the
city's downtown, it has little room to grow. But
Tijuana's airport, which is immediately across the
border from San Diego, has a longer runway and
can provide more international flights, leading to
proposals for a cross-border facility.

San Diego aviation officials pursued a similar
project several years ago, but abandoned it. They
would be supportive of Otay-Tijuana's facility if it's
built, says Keith Wilschetz of the San Diego County
Regional Airport Authority.

The State Department says Otay-Tijuana's facility
would provide "a more convenient, cost-effective,
reliable and secure crossing" of the border and
eliminate "long and unpredictable border waits and
congestion" without compromising security.

The facility would include the bridge, a 75,000
square-foot building and a parking garage. It would
serve up to 17,000 travelers daily. The building
would house U.S. Customs and Border Protection
facilities, retail shops and offices.

The enclosed and secure bridge between the facility
and the Tijuana Airport would be about 525 feet
long and charge a toll for users. It would be divided
into two corridors that would prevent contact
between northbound and southbound pedestrians.
The project still requires local approval.

Is Mexico the "New" China?

Your Baja Connection Team — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:50:00 GMT

According to corporate consultant AlixPartners, Mexico has leapfrogged China to be ranked as the cheapest country in the world for companies looking to manufacture products for the U.S. market. India is now No. 2, followed by China and then Brazil. In fact, Mexico's cost advantages and has become so cheap that even Chinese companies are moving there to capitalize on the trade advantages that come from geographic proximity.
When it comes to global manufacturing, Mexico is quickly emerging as the "new" China.

In fact, Mexico's cost advantages and has become so cheap that even Chinese companies are moving there to capitalize on the trade advantages that come from geographic proximity.

The influx of Chinese manufacturers began early in the decade, as China-based firms in the cellular telephone, television, textile and automobile sectors began to establish maquiladora operations in Mexico. By 2005, there were 20-25 Chinese manufacturers operating in such Mexican states Chihuahua, Tamaulipas and Baja.
The investments were generally small, but the operations had managed to create nearly 4,000 jobs, Enrique Castro Septien, president of the Consejo Nacional de la Industria Maquiladora de Exportacion (CNIME), told the SourceMex news portal in a 2005 interview.

China's push into Mexico became more concentrated, with China-based automakers Zhongxing Automobile Co., First Automotive Works (in partnership with Mexican retail/media heavyweight Grupo Salinas), Geely Automobile Holdings (PINK: GELYF) and ChangAn Automobile Group Co. Ltd. (the Chinese partner of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) andSuzuki Motor Corp.), all announced plans to place automaking factoriesin Mexico.

Not all the plans would come to fruition. But Geely's plan called for a three-phase project that would ultimately involve a $270 million investment and have a total annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles. ChangAn wants to churn out 50,000 vehicles a year. Both companies are taking these steps with the ultimate goal of selling cars to U.S. consumers.

Mexico's allure as a production site that can serve the U.S. market isn't limited to China-based suitors. U.S. companies are increasingly realizing that Mexico is a better option than China. Analysts are calling it "nearshoring" or "reverse globalization." But the reality is this: With wages on the rise in China, ongoing worries about whipsaw energy and commodity prices, and a dollar-yuan relationship that's destined to get much uglier before it has a chance of improving, manufacturers with an eye on the American market are increasingly realizing that Mexico trumps China in virtually every equation the producers run.

"China was like a recent graduate, hitting the job market for the first time and willing to work for next to nothing," Mexico-manufacturing consultant German Dominguez told the Christian Science Monitor in an interview last year. But now China is experiencing "the perfect storm … it's making Mexico – a country that had been the ugly duckling when it came to costs – look a lot better.
"
The real eye opener was a 2008 speculative frenzy that sent crude oil prices up to a record level in excess of $147 a barrel – an escalation that caused shipping prices to soar. Suddenly, the labor cost advantage China enjoyed wasn't enough to overcome the costs of shipping finished goods thousands of miles from Asia to North America. And that reality kick-started the concept of "nearshoring," concluded an investment research report by Canadian investment bank CIBC World Markets Inc. (NYSE: CM)

"In a world of triple-digit oil prices, distance costs money," the CIBC research analysts wrote. "And while trade liberalization and technology may have flattened the world, rising transport prices will once again make it rounder."

Indeed, four factors are at work here.

Mexico's "Fab Four"
• The U.S.-Mexico Connection: There's no question that China's role in the post-financial-crisis world economy will continue to grow in importance. But contrary to the conventional wisdom, U.S. firms still export three times as much to Mexico as they do to China. Mexico gets 75% of its foreign direct investment from the United States, and sends 85% of its exports back across U.S. borders. As China's cost and currency advantages dissipate, the fact that the United States and Mexico are right next to one another makes it logical to keep the factories in this hemisphere – if for no other reason that to shorten the supply chain and to hold down shipping costs. This is particularly important for companies like Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE:WHR) and even the beleaguered auto parts maker Delphi Corp. (PINK: DPHIQ) which are involved in just-in-time manufacturing that requires parts be delivered only as fast as they are needed.

• The Lost Cost Advantage: A decade or more ago, in any discussion of manufactured product costs, Asia was hands-down the low-cost producer. That's a given no more. Recent reports – including the analysis by AlixPartners – show that Asia's production costs are 15% or 20% higher than they were just four years ago. A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report from March reaches the same conclusion. Compensation costs in East Asia – a region that includes China but excludes Japan – rose from 32% of U.S. wages in 2002 to 43% in 2007, the most recent statistics available. And since wages are advancing at a rate of 8% to 9% a year, and many types of taxes are escalating, too, East Asia's overall costs have no doubt escalated even more in the two years since the BLS figures were reported.

• The Creeping Currency Crisis: For the past few years, U.S. elected officials and corporate executives alike have groused that China keeps its currency artificially low to boost its exports, while also reducing U.S. imports. The U.S. trade deficit with China has soared, growing by $20.2 billion in August alone to reach $143 billion so far this year. The currency debate will be part of the discussion when U.S. President Barack Obama visits Chinastarting Monday. Because China's yuan has strengthened so much, goods made in China may not be the bargain they once were. Those currency crosscurrents aren't a problem with the U.S. and Mexico, however. As of Monday, the dollar was down about 15% from its March 2009 high. At the same time, however, the Mexican peso had dropped 20% versus the dollar. So while the yuan was getting stronger as the dollar got cheaper, the peso was getting even cheaper versus the dollar.

• Trade Alliance Central: Everyone's familiar with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). But not everyone understands the impact that NAFTA has had. It isn't just window-dressing: Mexico's trade with the United States and Canada has tripled since NAFTA was enacted in 1994. What's more, Mexico has 12 free-trade agreements that involve more than 40 countries – more than any other country and enough to cover more than 90% of the country's foreign trade. Its goods can be exported – duty-free – to the United States, Canada, the European Union, most of Central and Latin America, and to Japan.

In the global scheme of things, what I am telling you here probably won't be a game-changer when it comes to China. That country is an economic juggernaut and is a market that U.S. investors cannot afford to ignore. Given China's emerging strength and its increasingly dominant financial position, it's going to have its own consumer markets to service for decades to come.

Concerts and Gourmet Cuisine in Mexico's Wine Country

Your Baja Connection Team — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:48:00 GMT

Baron Balch'e will host another major concert event on August 21st, part of Mexico's Fiestas de la Vendimia, at the Baron Balch'e winery in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, featuring the acoustical guitar music of Paco Renteria.

Paco Renteria is a talented musician who has played with Carlos Santana and Luciano Pavarotti, and he wrote the original composition, "El Mariachi," that was used as the theme song for the film Desperado. In addition, he wrote and performed the promotional sound track for Steven Spielberg's "The Legend of Zorro." Paco has received many international awards, including a 2002 Grammy nomination. As well, he has performed over 2,500 concerts around the world, and written more than 300 original musical compositions for guitar. His style of music is a masterful blend of gypsy, flamingo, African, oriental and progressive jazz.

Paco has performed in the Napa Valley wine country, receiving rave reviews from concert goers and the media alike. According to Napa valley publications: "Profound and electrifying … pure exhilaration, taking tradition as a blueprint for ecstasy," said the St. Helena News Times. And, the Evening Sun of Napa Valley commented, "Paco's guitar music is fit for kings…those listening to Renteria were held transfixed as he dazzled and hypnotized with delicious ease…he built a transcendental holding pattern of reminiscent spiritual nourishment."

Paco started playing the guitar at age 7, graduated from the Music School by age 14, holds two university degrees, one in Law and the other in Business Administration. He is the first and only artist of any nature that has been invited to perform at the National Palace of Justice, and the National Supreme Court of Justice, both in Mexico City.

Limited tickets are still available for this Fiestas de la Vendimia event at the Baron Balch'e winery vineyard grounds in Valle de Guadalupe. Tickets are US$125 per person, includes the concert, a catered dinner and four bottles of wine per table of eight people (1/2 bottle per person). Seating begins at 6 p.m., with the concert/dinner beginning at 8 p.m. and lasting until 11 p.m. You can purchase advance tickets: www.ticketmovil.com.mx, or get more details from: Alejandro Robles 760-557-3588 or (011-52) 664-630-0604; Cell: (011-52) 664-312-1909 or Nextel: 125*321403*14.

The concert at Baron Balch'e will be filmed for The Grapevine TV Series (El Ocho, or 8) Cable TV in Ensenada, and it will be broadcasted globally.

L.A. Cetto winery will be offering concerts in Valle de Guadalupe on August 14th, during Cetto's Annual Fiesta de la Vendimia in Guadalupe Valley; and on October 2nd, with the Concert Cierre de Fiestas, with Raul Di Blasio (011-52) 646-155-2264 or www.cettowines.com .

La Villa de Valle, a popular B&B in the heart of Mexico's premier wine country of Valle de Guadalupe, is now offering breakfast, lunch and dinner to non-overnight guests who want to sample gourmet cuisine. This is the perfect escape for those wine and food lovers seeking personal attention, privacy, romantic ambience and artisan cuisine in a natural, remote setting with vineyards and an artisan winery.

Talented chef Jose Maria Garcia Ramos, or "Chema," creates elegant meals with a focus on promoting the full flavors of the original or main ingredients. His cooking light style in orchestrating gourmet cuisine is not overwhelmed with spices, herbs or sauces, thus allowing culinary explorers the ability to discover the full flavors of fresh Baja California products. He enhances his art with a blend of local, national and international cooking methods he fondly calls "Mexi-terranean." The secret to his culinary success is the use of fresh produce from onsite gardens, local products, and the composition of innovative recipes.

The final magical touch is provided with their own wines that pair well with all their culinary delights. Owner/winemaker Phil Gregory makes premium wine from Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, and various blends of Syrah, Petite Sarah, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.

According to Eileen Gregory, "we can cater to one person or groups of up to forty people, but we definitely need reservations and advance notice. We'll be hosting our own event for Fiestas de la Vendimia on the 21st of August, featuring one of the top 100 chefs in the world — Enrique Olivera from Pujol Restaurant in Mexico City." You can contact La Villa from the US at (818) 207-7130; in Mexico at 646-156-8007; or www.lavilladelavalle.com.

For those who are still seeking events, or want tickets for La Vendimia Festival programs in August 2010, you still have a short time to make that happen. Some tickets are still available for other Vendimia events at www.fiestasdelasvendimia.com.

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For a Baja California Wine Route map, click on MexiData.info "Links," and go to "Mexico Maps and Time Zones"

Steve Dryden is a wine, food and travel writer living in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's premier wine country in northwestern Baja California, where he guides individual and small group wine tours. He can be reached at sbdryden@hotmail.com. For current and updated Mexican wine country information please visit: www.bajawineandcuisine.com and www.winefoodguide.com.

Mexico's Fine Wines are gaining Worldwide Appreciation

Your Baja Connection Team — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:46:00 GMT

Every vintage of Mexican wine brings pleasant surprises as the wines from this northwestern growing region of Baja California, that is contiguous with Southern California, evolve into a global phenomenon. The real news about Mexico is that the wine and culinary culture is advancing at a rapid pace, thus fueling our "silent revolution" in creating premium wine.

However, we've been discovered by serious connoisseurs who are finally listening to what we local promoters, wine makers and vineyard managers have been saying for years: "Mexico has the potential to [make], and is making, world-class wine."

In fact, this country has received over 300 international awards for quality in global wine competitions held in the best wine regions of the world. Serious international wine and food lovers have awoken to the stark reality that Mexico is more than tacos, beer and tequila! And 2010 is "the year of discovery" for the distinct wines being produced by talented winemakers in Baja California.

The word is out, the secret has been revealed, prepare yourselves.

This year the popular Guateque artisan wine exposition was held at Bibayoff Winery in the Valle de Guadalupe. The stars were the handcrafted, artisan wines created by a diverse collection of passionate people who have recently embraced the art of making wine. Some of these rising stars are self-taught, and many are graduates of our local wine school La Escuelita, with a few certified by the new wine making program at UABC in Ensenada.

Winemakers at all levels of accomplishment in Mexico are blessed with ripe fruit of superior quality, giving them an important element needed to create high quality wine. The task is to take this treasured juice and implement artisan techniques to make drinkable wine. Lately, it seems most folks are getting good with the art form of making good wine from great fruit.

Sometimes it's hard to get serious to work at these events, especially after a plate of seafood paella and a few glasses of wine. Despite that, I didn't come across any wine that wasn't drinkable, in reality most were emerging in quality from better than average to very good.

One outstanding wine comes from Encino, or Jorge Cortés of Rancho Cortés. His 2009 Tempranillo is excellent with a nose of plums, black and red cherries flavors, soft and balanced, with hints of vanilla. A little time in the bottle will make this a superb example of what artisan winemakers in Mexico can achieve. Samples of his 2007 Tempranillo simply explain to your palate why Tempranillo is becoming a "star" varietal in Baja California.

In past events, Jorge has been a standout with his high quality handcrafted wines, and most likely he'll go on to become another of the stars among Mexico's best winemakers. In addition, his family produces superior cheese and olive oil in Valle de Guadalupe.

Another popular handcrafted wine and beer maker is Almixia, where the passion for producing a diversity of quality products is amazing. Almixia 2008 Grenache shows great promise, with a nose of sweet, lush cherry with black raspberry, followed by the same flavors and ending with an elegant finish. The 2009 Almixia is a remarkable blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo and Zinfandel.

Several other good wines were found, especially a delicious 2007 Petite Sirah from Terra Nostra; a "sweet" Zinfandel from Temptation; a full-flavored 2009 Tempranillo from Aledu, with smoky notes and racy tannins; and a nice 2009 Cabernet/Petite Sirah blend from Vino Sant Jordi (aka Vinicola Parres).

Winemaker Laura Chanes has another winner with her newest 2009 Algo Petite Sirah, spicy fruit flavors, black cherry with hints of caramel and vanilla, aged in toasted French oak barrels for eight months. Plus there is Paulette 2009, a wonderful 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, fruit forward with hints of cocoa followed by soft tannins.

I also enjoyed the wine from Plata .925, a blend of Zinfandel 33% and Tempranillo 67%, and I was impressed with Tardio 2008 Merlot, as well as wine from Vayu 69. Finally, on my way out the door I tasted two delightful wines from Abel Bibayoff, and an awesome Tempranillo from Eva Cotero Altamirano of Tres Mujeres winery.

As well, I want to mention a newcomer to the Baja California wine scene — Madera 5. Their 2008 Tempranillo/Cabernet blend is a palate pleasing wine of good balance with lots of depth and character. The Tempranillo comes from old vines in Valle de San Vicente adding some structure and complex flavors. This blend was aged for ten months in new American and French oak barrels. Madera 5 is one of those wineries that you might want to follow as they continue to improve and evolve with each vintage.

Guateque 2010 presented a collection of handcrafted wines that further illustrates the vastly improving quality of wines coming from Baja California, Mexico. Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Carignan and Petite Sirah appear to be gaining popularity with winemakers and growers as well. Furthermore, the quality of local Cabernet and Merlot continues to improve with intensive vineyard management, the use of new technology, and the creative skills of innovative winemakers.

Serious wine lovers from around the world are now discovering Mexico's premium wines, so it might be time to fill your cellar with your favorite local wines while you can still find them. Hopefully, the rest of the world won't discover that Ensenada has become the Wine and Food capital of Mexico. Due to the proximity of the wine country from Ensenada, our chefs have established personal relationships with winemakers and wineries, tasting the available wine inventory daily, while perfecting their skills at matching regional culinary delights with our best wines.

Now that our well-kept secrets are out, let's hope that the U.S. finishes its border wall before we're invaded with wine fanatics and food junkies craving our best wine and gourmet cuisine. Thankfully for us locals, foreigners are only allowed to take one liter of Mexican wine across the border into the U.S.

——————————

For a Baja California Wine Route map, click on MexiData.info "Links," and go to "Mexico Maps and Time Zones"

Steve Dryden is a wine, food and travel writer living in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's premier wine country in northwestern Baja California, where he guides individual and small group wine tours. He can be reached at sbdryden@hotmail.com. Visit his blog at www.winefoodguide.com. For additional information about Baja California wine and gourmet food visit bajawineandcuisine.com.

Single Story For Rent/Lease in Baja Del Mar

YBC Admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:53:00 GMT

Incredible Oceanfront Home

• 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story - $1,250Monthly - Rent Negotiable Longterm

Baja Del Mar, Playas de Rosarito - This lovely oceanfront home is perfect for that family wanting a change in lifestyle and an opportunity to live in a beach front home. The beach is only a few steps away, you could almost fish from your patio area. This 3 bedroom home is perfect for retired couples, as second home or as a vacation rental.

This home is located in Baja del Mar, in the north end of the city of Playas de Rosarito. It is just minutes away from the largest shopping center in Rosarito, El Pabellon. This shopping center has a Home Depot, WalMarts, Jackpot Bingo, Cinepolis (movie theather) and the newest sports bar in town, "Que Paso!!"

Baja del Mar is one of the smaller development communities in the area, which is seen is it's friendly neighborhood appeal. Your neighbors will soon be your friends in this tranquil and peaceful community.

The rent is negotiable on long term leases only!!

Property information

Tijuana violence slows, drops from spotlight

Your Baja Connection Team — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:19:00 GMT

Decline in slayings follows arrests of 3 drug-gang leaders

By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Monday, April 26, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.

ON THE DECLINE

Law enforcement authorities say the detentions of top members of a drug gang this year have contributed to a drop in the number of killings. Homicides in Tijuana in recent months:

December: 132

January: 120

February: 63

March: 62

April (as of Friday): 48

SOURCE: Baja California Attorney General's Office

The spectacle of decapitated victims, bodies hanged from bridges and threatening narco messages has been on the wane in Tijuana in recent weeks. The drug-related brutality that for months dominated headlines has given way to lower-profile killings.

Law enforcement authorities say the detentions of top members of a notoriously violent drug gang this year have changed the dynamics of violence: If members of organized crime once sought the spotlight, they now appear to be avoiding it.

"They want to handle themselves with greater discretion," Fermin Gomez, Baja California's deputy attorney general for organized crime, said in an interview. "We're not seeing the previous modus operandi, with very dramatic conditions, with mutilated bodies, cut up and beheaded."

The drop in the number of deaths follows the detentions of Teodoro García Simental in January and his brother José Manuel García Simental and top deputy, Raydel Lopez Uriarte, in February. Under their leadership, the gang had been blamed for more than 300 homicides, including dozens of police officers.

Since then, the killings have continued, though at a slower pace and out of the public eye, and police have not been targeted.

Homicide figures from the Baja California Attorney General's Office show that after spiking in December and January, with 132 and 120 killings, respectively, the numbers have fallen in Tijuana.

In February, there were 63 slayings, in March there were 62 and by Friday night, the total for April is 48, the agency said. Gomez said the great majority of January's slayings were drug-related, but the proportion in recent weeks has dropped to about half.

David Shirk, a University of San Diego professor who has studied drug-related violence in Mexico, warns against any early celebrations. "The patterns of violence and peace tend to reflect the dynamics among the cartels more so than the effectiveness of law enforcement," he said.

Authorities say the killers are using different methods, often opting for smaller weapons such as 9 mm handguns rather than powerful automatic weapons that draw more attention. Rather than the brash assaults on busy thoroughfares or restaurants, the killings often take place in the city's periphery, drawing little notice.

The fight has been for control of domestic drug markets, leading to the killings of many neighborhood drug dealers from both sides, investigators say. Although the top leadership of García Simental's group is behind bars, the remnants are still operating, Gomez said.

"It seems that they've been keeping a very low profile, so that they can keep doing business without drawing attention," said Victor Clark, a Tijuana human rights activist and longtime observer of the region's criminal trends.

Violence in the region has risen and fallen in recent years as rival groups vie for control of Tijuana region, a key smuggling corridor for illegal drugs headed for the United States.

Tijuana was long dominated by the Arellano Félix drug organization, but in 2008, a former lieutenant, García Simental, broke away and found backing from a powerful Sinaloa-based group. The feud between the two groups led to record killings that year, 844. In 2009, the total dropped to 664.

Across Mexico, drug-related violence has soared since President Felipe Calderón declared war on drug-trafficking organizations after taking office in December 2006, dispatching troops and federal police to hot spots across the country.

The Mexico City newspaper Reforma reported this month 2,904 drug-related deaths across the country during the first quarter of this year, citing a confidential government report. Leading that list was Ciudad Juarez with 620 drug-related homicides, followed by Culiacan with 193 and Tijuana with 153.

Critics of the Calderón strategy say it has failed to reduce violence in border cities. But unlike in Ciudad Juarez, where the military is being phased out, the military has maintained public support in Baja California. The head of military forces in the region, Gen. Alfonso Duarte Mugica, has forged close alliances with civilian authorities.

Eusebio Villatoro, a military lieutenant colonel who heads the Baja California State Preventive Police, said authorities are aware that other criminal groups may try to move in, and that could once again change the dynamics. But, he added, "we're going to work so that this does not happen."

Sandra Dibble: (619) 293-1716; sandra.dibble@uniontrib.com

Baja California's Wine and Food Festival Season is Here

Your Baja Connection Team — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:18:00 GMT

'Vino-Tourism' by Steve Dryden

The time is here, once again, to start making plans to attend this year's many wine and food events in Baja California, Mexico, especially in and around Ensenada. Over 60 wine and food extravaganzas will take place from April through October. Tickets sell out fast, so reserve your tickets for events and book your lodging well in advance.

More than 50,000 wine and food lovers attended the annual wine and cuisine festivals held in this region last year. Those who planned in advance with the purchase of event tickets and accommodations were able to enjoy many exciting events.

The majority of the 2010 festivities are being presented by Fiestas de la Vendimia (Pro Vino) and the CANIRAC restaurant association. Fiestas de la Vendimia features over 45 events in and around the wine country of Valle de Guadalupe or in the neighboring seaport of Ensenada. This diverse collection of festivities holds something for everyone, including wine seminars, award presentations, golf tournaments, vineyard concerts, bullfights, tango dancing, food and wine pairings, country picnics, fiestas, a winery inauguration, wine and lobster festival, paella competition, and more. The 19th annual Concurso de Paellas festival in the last week of August will celebrate the end of Fiestas de la Vendimia for 2010.

Plus there are added attractions, as three new wineries made their debuts last year: Hacienda La Lomita, La Escuelita (Escuela de Oficios de El Porvenir), and Villa Montefiori.

The final schedule for 2010 is not yet complete, but it will soon be posted at www.fiestasdelavendimia.com.

Members of the Asociación de Vinicultores de Baja California are the main organizers of Fiestas de la Vendimia, spending much time and labor to create a successful series of wine and food events each August. Last year ticket sales went smoothly with the early production of the event schedule, giving eager guests plenty of advance opportunity to purchase tickets and plan for the events.

Even lodging sites in Valle de Guadalupe and Ensenada were able to meet the demand for overnight and multi-day quarters. Many hotels were entirely booked for the month of August, thus boasting the local economy and bringing back smiles of local proprietors who had endured a slow 2009 season in tourism.

One of my favorite events is the La Cofradia food and wine event (Noche de Cofradia en Ensenada), featuring about 30 of the top wineries and restaurants in the region. During a random drawing held before the event, wineries and restaurants are matched to compete in the contest. The winemakers and chefs meet, select the best wine to match with a gourmet delight, and thus the challenge begins. This is a great opportunity for local, regional, national and international wine and food lovers to investigate the "bottled gems" from local wineries and sample culinary delights from the top food establishments in the region. These masters of food and wine have become so good in pairing fine food with excellent wine that it has become extremely difficult to pick a winner.

CANIRAC and Proturismo de Ensenada will sponsor and present several food events during the next several months, to include the Mushroom Festival, Mussel Festival, Asian Cuisine Festival, Food and Wine Festival at Capricho's, and a Best Chef Competition. For details, dates and ticket information visit: www.caniracensenada.com and www.proturismoensenada.org.mx.

L.A. Cetto Winery is featuring several events during the coming months: May 30th: Festival of Paella and Wine at the Tijuana winery. Details: (664) 685 3030. June 26th: Mariachi Vargas y Guadalupe Pineda Concert at L.A. Cetto in Guadalupe Valley (646) 155-2264. July 17th: Valley Sunset Concert at L.A. Cetto in Guadalupe Valley. July 28th: Contemporary Wine Art Show at Cetto's Winery in Tijuana (664) 685-3030. August 14th: Cetto's Annual Fiesta de la Vendimia in Guadalupe Valley. (646) 155-2264. October 2nd: Concert Cierre de Fiestas with Raul Di Blasio in Guadalupe Valley

Events like these make a point that Ensenada has become the food and wine capital of Mexico. Our close proximity to the wine country, an abundance of fresh seafood, gourmet cheese production, premium olive oils, superior baked goods, and organic fruits and vegetables — all blended and prepared by passionate culinary wizards (from many ethnic backgrounds) — are fueling the emerging food and wine culture.

Ensenada and the wine country of Baja California are shining brightly this year, with a newly expanded La Ruta del Vino highway, and with the addition of new wineries and culinary establishments.

The XIX Fiestas de La Vendimia was very successful last year, capturing the attention and enthusiasm of national residents and welcome guests as they discovered and explored wines from Mexico. It's an exciting time to enjoy the lifestyle of the Mexican wine and food culture, so please celebrate with us in 2010 — but remember to plan ahead and make your reservations early.

Health Care in Mexico for Americans

Your Baja Connection Team — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:17:00 GMT

By Lynne Friedmann

Health care reform, when fully enacted, will provide an estimated 30 million uninsured Americans with access to medical coverage. But where will cost-effective services come from to meet the needs of this influx of patients into the medical system? Part of the solution could be south of the border.

That's the goal of government officials, medical providers and the private section in Baja California who have joined forces in a coalition to enhance and promote cross-border health care to U.S. retirees living in Mexico (many of whom return to the United States for health care), baby boomers (looking to manage health care costs) and Southern California's large Latino work force (who are comfortable crossing the border and familiar with the culture).

"Cross-border health care may turn out to be a blessing to California," said Frank Carrillo, chief executive of SIMNSA Health Plan at a daylong conference on April 21 sponsored by the Institute of the Americas, on the UCSD campus. SIMNSA is the first Mexican HMO to be licensed as a health-care service plan by the State of California and sells group insurance to U.S. employers whose workers receive medical care in Mexico.

In addition, there are 500,000 people who cross the border annually for medical check-ups, surgery, dental work, or to fill prescriptions.

"The aim is to increase that number," said Oscar Escobedo, Baja California's tourism secretary.

In order to do so, a number of issues need to be addressed. Among them: Long waits at border crossings (in both directions) and concerns for personal safety.

Steps taken to mitigate these challenges include access to a fast lane at the border, with a wait time of 20 minutes or less, for individuals receiving medical services in Mexico.

Acknowledging that violence south of the border is a major concern, plans are being discussed for the creation of a medical tourist zone near the border that would offer increased security, better signage, and additional comfort.

"The United States is a country of choices and freedom," said Carrillo. "Cross-border health care is a viable option."

To assure Americans of the health care quality in Mexico, a certification process for Mexican doctors is already in place and accreditation of private hospitals is underway. This will also play a role in any discussion of extending Medicare benefits for services received south of the border. Mexico President Felipe Calder-n is expected to present a proposal on the topic to President Obama, when the two meet in Washington in May.

"Congress is not going to approve Medicare for Mexico until (it is) very comfortable that the quality of medical care is there," said Paul Crist, president of Americans for Medicare in Mexico.

Lynne Friedmann is a science writer based in Solana Beach.

Mexico Simplifies Visa Procedures

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:27:00 GMT

Mexico's National Immigration Institute (INM) has announced a range of amendments to its immigration and internment procedures to be implemented starting May 1, 2010. Although the amendments do not significantly alter the core rules and regulations which underpin current immigration law, the changes will make the paperwork and procedures less complicated for foreigners wishing to enter Mexico; particularly for those coming to Mexico to do business and those who wish to live, work and retire here.

The current entry form completed by all foreigners entering Mexico and traveling beyond the 20km `frontier' zone, known as FMT-Forma Migratoria Turista-will be replaced by a FMM, or Forma Migratoria Multiple.

The new FMM will cover visits of up to 180 days for tourists, business visitors and technical visitors, with sections on the form for each category type. Business and technical visitor categories are clearly defined and the entry extension to 180 days is a significant change to current regulations which allow business visitors only a 30-day window to remain in the country.

The new FMM forms are scheduled to be introduced on May 1 and the new FMM-based procedures will be available to visitors who are passport holders of countries eligible for entry to Mexico under the current FMT. People entering Mexico as well as those who have applications for FM3 and FM2 visas in process to April 30, will be treated and processed under the current procedures.

For people who are staying in Mexico longer than 180 days using FM3 or FM2 visas, the current paper booklets will be replaced with plastic cards, and holders will no longer need to have their change of address, change of business activity, marital status, et al, annotated on the document proper. Resident foreigners will still be required to file notification of changes in personal and professional circumstances, but the procedures which required the surrender of the document to the institute for a period of up to several weeks while changes were annotated will no longer be required.

Mexican consulates based overseas will no longer issue FM visa booklets. They will, instead, issue a sticker that is placed into the applicant's passport once the INM has approved an overseas application. The applicant will then need to enter Mexico within 365 days and obtain the new FM visa card within 30 days of internment, by visiting a local office of the INM.

In summary:

Tourists: If you enter Mexico as a tourist, your entry will remain virtually unaffected by the new procedures. You will simply need to complete the `Tourist' section of the new FMM visitor's card (which replaces the FMT) at the port of entry, and when you enter the country you will be granted leave to remain in Mexico for no longer than 180 calendar days.

Business Visitors: If you visit (or plan to visit) Mexico to undertake business activities or to undertake work in Mexico for periods of 180 days or less, you will enjoy greater flexibility by way of these new arrangements.

Long Term Visitors and Residents: If you remain in Mexico for longer than six months, there are some welcome simplifications being introduced to the FM3 and FM2 visa procedures, especially in relation to doing-away with the process of surrender and re-issue of paper booklets.

Mexico's big hope: get 5 million U.S. retirees

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:21:00 GMT

BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER (The Miami Herald)

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico is silently working on proposals aimed at drawing millions of U.S. retirees to this country, which could eventually lead to the most ambitious U.S.-Mexican project since the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.

President Felipe Calderón is likely to propose the first steps toward expanding U.S. retirement benefits and medical tourism to Mexico when he goes to Washington on an official visit May 19, according to well-placed officials here. If not then, he will raise the issue later this year, they say.

``It's one of the pillars of our plans to trigger economic and social well-being in both countries,'' Mexico's ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhan told me. ``We will be seeking to increasingly discuss this issue in coming months and years.''
Calderón brought it up during a U.S.-Canada-Mexico summit in Guadalajara in August last year, but President Barack Obama asked him to shelve the idea until he was able to pass healthcare reform, another official told me.

Now that Congress has passed healthcare reform, Calderón is preparing to charge ahead.

A GROWING MARKET
There are already an estimated 1 million Americans living in Mexico. And according to Mexican government estimates based on U.S. Census figures, that number is likely to soar to 5 million by 2025 as the U.S. population grows older and more Americans look for sunny, cheaper places to retire.
The U.S. Census projects that the number of U.S. retirees will soar from 40 million now to nearly 90 million by 2050. Already, 5 million American retirees live abroad, of whom 2.2 million are in the Western Hemisphere -- mostly in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Brazil. Another 1.5 million live in Europe and 850,000 in Asia.

The key to luring more U.S. medical tourists and retirees to Mexico and other Latin American countries will be getting hospitals in the region to be certified by the U.S. Joint International Commission, which establishes that they meet U.S. hospitals' standards. There are already eight Mexican hospitals certified by the JIC and several others awaiting certification.
According to Mexican government estimates, healthcare costs in Mexico are about 70 percent lower than in the United States. And from my own experience, those estimates are right: As I reported at the time, when I was hospitalized in Mexico two years ago for an emergency operation, my hospital bill was indeed about 70 percent lower than what it would have been in Miami.
So what will Calderón specifically propose to Obama? Most likely, the Mexican president will suggest starting with a low-profile agreement that would allow the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration to pay for Medicare benefits to U.S. retirees in Mexico. Under current rules, Medicare only covers healthcare services in the United States.

IT JUST MAKES SENSE
My opinion: Mexico and much of Latin America are bound to become growing U.S. retirement and medical tourism destinations, much like Spain has become a permanent living place for Germans, Britons and Northern Europeans.
You won't read much about it now because neither Calderón nor Obama will emphasize it publicly while the drug-related violence in northern Mexico is making big headlines, and while the political wounds from the recent U.S. healthcare debate are still open in Washington, D.C.
But I'm increasingly convinced that, as the violence in Mexico subsides and the healthcare debate becomes a distant memory in Washington, medical benefits' deals will become a top U.S.-Latin American priority. Just as free-trade agreements were the big thing of the 1990s, healthcare agreements will be the big deal of the coming decade.
I wouldn't be surprised if Calderón and Obama take the first baby steps toward a U.S.-Mexico healthcare agreement by finding a way to pay for Medicare benefits for U.S. expatriates in Mexico, or getting U.S. states to allow similar payments. Then, most likely after the 2012 presidential election in both countries, the two would start negotiating a more ambitious deal.
Demography, geography and economics are pointing in that direction. With the U.S. population getting older, a record U.S. budget deficit, rising U.S. healthcare costs, and Mexico and other Latin American countries badly needing more tourism and investments, this should be a win-win for everybody.

For more information on moving to Mexico, see www.yourbajaconnection.com.

Merger Creates Baja’s Real Estate Powerhouse

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:28:00 GMT

One of Rosarito Beach’s Star Brokers Joins RE/MAX!!!!

One of the largest and most successful independent real estate offices in northern Baja, Your Baja Connection, has joined the RE/MAX network.

Victor Loza, on behalf of his partners in Your Baja Connection, negotiated the merger of their multi-agent office with RE/MAX. Loza along with Don and Sharon Heafey and Miles Smith have owned and operated one of the top producing Real Estate agencies in Baja for the last three years. Victor had the following comment: “We chose RE/MAX over others because it allowed us to place our efforts on our first priority -- helping buyers and sellers accomplish their ultimate goals.”

Gustavo Torres, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Baja Realty had this comment on the merger between Your Baja Connection and RE/MAX; “We are going to see a lot more mergers like this around the country. RE/MAX excels at giving their brokers and agents the most extensive training, the best technology, and the best systems in the real estate industry. In Northern Baja we have experienced an increase in market share as more and more agents have realized the advantages that RE/MAX provides for them, especially in today’s real estate market.”

Loza went on to say, “We won’t need to be involved in the day-to-day operations of an office; instead we’ll be free to do what we do best, and that is interacting with people and helping buyers and sellers achieve their dreams in Baja.” We had different choices, but after weighing them all, RE/MAX gave us the freedom and the tools we needed to be successful. With RE/MAX we receive an international exposure, marketing tools, a well-established website, and the world-wide recognition that comes from a well-respected company like RE/MAX. We’re very thankful for the warm welcome we’ve received from our new broker and colleagues.”

This merger is part of an ongoing strategy from RE/MAX Baja Realty’s growth initiative that began last year. RE/MAX Baja brokerage was established in 2004 when Rosarito Beach Real Estate, the most successful Rosarito real estate office, became a REMAX office.

“Victor, his partners, and their agents will be a tremendous addition to our expanding team. They have relentless energy and Victor is a nonstop marketing machine,” says Gustavo Torres, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Baja Realty. “They do whatever it takes to help clients sell or find the homes of their dreams. They don’t simply list a property; they follow through until the home is sold. This level of energy and extra effort is why Your Baja Connection has been a top real estate company and why RE/MAX is the right place for them.”

Sharon Heafey, one of the principals of Your Baja Connection, had the following statement about the merger: “We chose to be affiliated with RE/MAX because of Gustavo Torres’ wonderful background and strong community ties,” adding that “Gustavo has done everything possible to make us feel at home and able to get up and running immediately. The merger gives us the opportunity to provide the highest level of service to our buyers and sellers. We are looking forward to working with the respected professional agents that are part of the RE/MAX network.”

Don Heafey added, “After being involved in real estate in the United States, we moved to Baja and found real estate an exciting opportunity for our clients and ourselves. I look forward to joining the Ensenada office and working with Arturo Novelo and the other professionals there.”

RE/MAX Baja Realty is the second-largest real estate office in Baja and #1 in sales in Rosarito Beach, with over 44 percent of the market. With the addition of Your Baja Connection’s team, RE/MAX Baja Realty is poised to become the leader in Baja California. The firm is an attractive option for real estate agents looking to relocate with a proven successful broker.

“By Your Baja Connection joining RE/MAX, it proves once again that the RE/MAX system is the best for all real estate professionals who want to succeed and operate their own business. Most of all it allows us to work with other successful top professionals,” affirms Ana Minondo, Top Chairman’s award of RE/MAX.

“This is a true merger.” Blanca Guerrero, RE/MAX Baja Popotla office’s president, told the Baja Times Journal. “We chose to be a stronger force, and that says a lot. Instead of cutting costs, we chose to grow.”

Ensenada is Emerging as Mexico's Wine & Gourmet Capital

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:28:00 GMT

'Vino-Tourism' by Steve Dryden

Varivision de Baja California, a cable TV station in Ensenada, Mexico, began filming a unique new series in November featuring the wineries and gourmet culinary establishments in this region. The Grapevine is a promotional adventure show featuring an in-depth investigation into Mexico's wine and food cultures. Cable TV 8 producers decided to add some local flavor for their viewers by creating a bilingual program on wine and food awareness by offering Spanish and English hosts with bilingual subtitles to reach each specific audience, and to build a bridge of understanding between the two cultures.

Every show features a different winery matched with a local restaurant, offering the audience an educational insight into wine and food pairing. The real "stars" of The Grapevine are the winemakers, chefs, and other members of our regional wine and food cultures. Currently showing on Cable TV 8 is part one of the series containing footage of Roganto Winery and El Rey Sol restaurant.

Ensenada has been the "Sleeping Beauty of the Pacific" for many years, which makes it a real treasure in the eyes of lucky beholders. Our secret is that we're blessed with near-perfect weather, affordable cost of living, an abundance of fresh produce and seafood with numerous international chefs blending it together into culinary delights of great quality.

Due to the proximity of the wine country many local chefs are extremely good at matching premium Mexican wine with gourmet creations. This is the second key element for the new feature show series. During each show the hosts and crew visit a winery, interview winemakers, select a wine that they appreciate, and venture off to a local culinary establishment that carries the wine. The hosts and film crew go behind the scenes into the kitchen (with help from the chef) to bring alive the art form of creating gourmet cuisine while pairing it with premium wine.

Varivision Cable TV 8 generously offered local communicators and promoters a stage to perform on with an opportunity to tell the many unique stories about our wine and food cultures. General manager Lorenzo Cardenas Zertuche, business partner D. L. Streets Johnson, and operations manager Keith Cossairt Maillie of Cable Channel 8 are committed to producing shows using local talent harvested from people residing in the neighborhood. They didn't have to look far in their talent search due to the fact that our region is blessed with an abundance of chefs, gourmet culinary establishments and winemakers that are supported by a large number of wine and food lovers. The timing for this feature show is perfect as Ensenada quietly emerges into the wine and food capital of Mexico.

The Spanish speaking host of the show is winemaker Veronica Santiago, with English language hosting by wine writer Steve Dryden.

Host Veronica Santiago fills the gap with her Spanish dialog and English subtitles, enhanced by her Masters' degree in Enology. She's currently an assistant winemaker for Vinisterra Winery. In addition, her studies in the artisan wine and food cultures of Australia, Europe, Napa Valley and her native Mexico give her an in-depth view into the dynamics of the international wine and food industries.

In June of this year Veronica will host a special production within this series entitled "Wine Country Women of Mexico." In the meantime, she's managing her own vineyard in San Antonio de las Minas, with plans to create artisan wines that reflect the terroir of the family ranch, express the essence of the grapes, and are influenced by the hand of the artist.

One important revelation observed while filming this show is that we've discovered real people (with dedication and passion) are actually shinning stars amongst us. This is the premise and message of the series on Mexican wine and food. You won't find any Hollywood makeup here, just the plain truth of simple living.

The emerging Mexican wine industry is unique in that most of the operations here are individually and family owned businesses. In a wine world that is quickly becoming globalized with corporate ownership, we're still small and personal here in Baja California. That fact makes this region special because many winery owners, grape growers and vineyard managers actually depend on the income from their operations to support their families, and they take great pride in what they create.

What we get in Mexico are handmade wines from dedicated artisans versus wines that are over-manipulated, mass-produced and mass-marketed. We've proven that wine is not limited to the wealthy, that real people have a right to enjoy drinking and making wine, and we can produce high quality wines on a grassroots level. Winemakers in Mexico have blended old world methods with modern technology, financing this on limited budgets.

The Grapevine will feature any winery and culinary establishment in Baja California that wants to be acknowledged on the show. This is an inclusive community service for the regional wine and culinary industries without any fees. Channel 8 allows public access (at no cost) for those who produce interesting content.

Despite the fact that we have a limited local audience, we're taking this program around the world via friends, family and networking. Join us in our grassroots effort in telling our story to wine and food lovers everywhere. For interested readers who are not hooked into Varivision Channel 8 in Ensenada, who need information on how to receive copies of the show, or if you want permission to broadcast this show, please contact me directly. In addition, we are looking for sponsors or advertisers willing to make a minimal investment to help pay for the cost of our productions and to promote this region in a positive manner.

For more infomation, contact Your Baja Connection at www.yourbajaconnection.com

Private hospitals prepare for medical tourism boom, Medicare

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:07:00 GMT

The rising cost of health care in the United States is forcing an increasing number of U.S. citizens to turn their sights on Mexico for expert and cost-effective medical attention.

Research done by the Association for Private Hospitals in Jalisco reveals that of the 21.5 million tourists who visited Mexico in 2006, about 160,000 – mostly Americans – came for medical attention.

“We hope to increase medical tourism by seven percent each year, a goal we believe is easily attainable,” says Dr. Dagoberto Garcia Mejia, the association’s president and the director of the Lomas Providencia Hospital in Guadalajara.

The Jalisco state government also sees the benefits from promoting medical tourism and recently announced it would be investing 4.35 million pesos to bring private hospitals up to the standards required for certification by the Joint Commission International (JCI), an institution that accredits hospitals in Canada and the United States.

Although the health sector here is regulated and certified by the Mexican General Health Commission, the task of getting JCI certification for Jalisco’s private hospitals is of prime importance, says Garcia.

“One of the main reasons for pushing for certification is that the North American Free Trade Agreement obligates the Mexican medical system to be on a par with the United States and Canada, allowing for the free flow of patients from border to border and for fair trade, much like in other economic sectors.”

But there is another huge reason for this interest in JCI certification and that is Medicare.

According to Paul Crist, the founder and president of Americans for Medicare for Mexico (AMMAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing Medicare coverage to seniors living in Mexico, of the 800,000 American citizens living in Mexico approximately 200,000 are over 60 years old and thus are at or near eligibility for Medicare benefits.

Crist, a former senator’s aide in Washington and now a hotel owner in Puerto Vallarta, says if Medicare is extended to Mexico, the program would only work with health care providers approved by JCI.

He revealed that ten hospitals in Mexico have JCI accreditation but another 23 are seeking approval. Among those already approved are the American British Padre Hospital and the Santa Fe Hospital in Mexico City and the Christus Muguerza Hospital and the Hospital Tec de Monterrey in Monterrey.

All Jalisco’s private hospitals are still seeking JCI accreditation.

The approval of Medicare would greatly benefit hospitals such as Christus Muguerza, a Texas chain that now has seven hospitals under construction across Mexico.

“Christus Muguerza stands to be a big player in the future,” says Crist. “They have the advantage because their headquarters is in Texas, which gives Medicare a bit more confidence in the quality service they are going to provide.”

Interestingly, Crist says Mexican hospital accreditation standards match JCI’s requirements in almost every respect.

“We are now asking that Medicare do their studies to accept Mexican accreditation instead of the JCI accreditation,” he says. “Then there will be plenty of hospitals that can be Medicare providers.”

Since he founded AMMAC last March, Christ has lobbied 85 members of the U.S. Congress and prepared a 34-page proposal in which he outlines the pros of making of extending Medicare to Mexico.

“Medicare is now spending 6,700 dollars per year per beneficiary in the United States. For the same care in Mexico, my estimate is that it will spend only 3,400 dollars, which translates to a very substantial saving.”

In a recent interview with Forbes magazine, David Warner, a professor of health care policy at the University of Texas at Austin and a specialist on Medicare in Mexico, stated that an in-depth pilot project is needed to better understand the economics, determine whether Mexican heath care meets Medicare’s quality standards and determine if the payment system is sufficiently free of fraud.

According to Forbes, the U.S government is concerned that creating a Mexican medical exemption might be too complicated and costly to implement and would open the door for Americans in other countries.

Crist figures that if Medicare were accepted in Mexico, the 64 percent of American retirees currently flying back to the United States for expensive care would opt for treatment nearer their homes, cutting Medicare overall costs by a minimum of 22 percent.

Though Crist remains positive of Congress’ response to his lobbying efforts, sympathetic legislators have also said that this year they have too much on their plate and that it would be politically wiser to introduce a stand-alone Mexico-Medicare bill next year.

Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride To Top 20 Million Mile Mark This Sept. 26

Your Baja Connection Team — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:16:00 GMT

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---Now in its 30^th year the Rosarito-Ensenada 50-Mile Fun Bicycle Ride will surpass 20 million total miles covered with its Sept. 26 event.

About 5,000 riders are expected for the festive scenic ride, much of it along a coastal route from Rosarito to Ensenada, said ride organizer Gary Foster.

During the past 30 years since 1979, the iconic twice-yearly event has been held 52 times and almost 400,000 riders have participated, Foster said.

“This great anniversary edition of the ride will be as festive as years past, both for our many riders and the thousands of people who come to view the event and cheer on the participants,” Foster said.

Added Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres, whose city hosts the event: “The ride is one of the signature events for Rosarito and this region of Baja. It attracts excellent people and creates a great atmosphere. We’re greatly looking forward to it.”

Participants can register online for $45 through www.BetterSignUp.com, or they can register on the day of the event for $50 at the Rosarito Beach Hotel. More information is available at www.RosaritoEnsenada.com as well as www.rosarito.org

The Rosarito-Ensenada ride has been called the Original Party on Wheels. Revelers in costume roll along, tossing candy to children along the course. Beach cruisers strap boom boxes to their handlebars. Parents tow children.

Racing teams form pace lines, trying to beat the official record of 1:52:54 set in April of 2007. Other participants just ride for the enjoyment and atmosphere.

Transportation packages from the United States are available, Foster said. Tour companies transport riders’ bicycles at no extra charge, and because the buses return to the United State through the rapid SENTRI lane, cyclists avoid a wait at the border.

Many hotels offer special rates and are participating in the Border Fast Pass program which can cut border waits by half, especially on the weekends, Foster said.

The Finish Line Fiesta is free for participants and spectators, overlooking the Ensenada harbor with panoramic views of the cruise ships at sunset. Live rock-n-roll, jazz and salsa plays into the night while local chefs serve their best.

Massage therapists are available to work out every knot, and there will be a lot
of celebrating with ice cold beer and award-winning wines from Baja’s wine country, Foster said.

Shuttles are available on the event course from the finish line to the start line before and after the event. So if participants stay in Rosarito Beach, they can take the shuttle back to Rosarito after the event.

“The corridor from Rosarito Beach to Ensenada is safe for tourists, and Baja remains a beautiful and affordable destination for travel with friends and family," Foster added.

Foster said that this recent e-mail from a frequent ride participant summed up the spirit of the event: “Thanks for another great experience! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve done this ride since the early 1990’s. All I know is they keep getting better!”

MEDIA CONTACT: Ron Raposa

ronraposa@hotmail.com

The New Global Economic Reality

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:50:00 GMT

Real estate opportunities in Mexico! How to prosper & avoid the coming storm and prolonged economic stagnation in the USA.

First: A reality check on Mexico
Mexico is in a unique position to reap many of the benefits of the decline of the US economy. In order to not violate NAFTA and other agreements the U.S.A. cannot use direct protectionism, so it is content to allow the media to play this protectionist role. The U.S. media – over the last year – has portrayed Mexico as being on the brink of economic collapse and civil war. The Mexican people are either beheaded, kidnapped, poor, corrupt, or narco-traffickers. The American news media was particularly aggressive in the weeks leading up to spring break. The main reason for this is money. During that two-week period, over 120,000 young American citizens poured into Mexico and left behind hundreds of millions of dollars.

Let's look at the reality of the massive drug and corruption problem, kidnappings, murders and money. The U.S. Secretary of State Clinton was clear in her honest assessment of the problem. "Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent the weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians," Clinton said. The other large illegal business that is smuggled into the U.S.A. that no one likes to talk about is Human Traffic for prostitution. This "business" is globally now competing with drugs in terms of profits.

It is critical to understand, however that the horrific violence in Mexico is over 95% confined to the three transshipping cities for these two businesses, Tijuana, Nogales, and Juarez. The Mexican government is so serious about fighting this, that they have committed over 30,000 soldiers to these borders towns. There was a thoughtful article written by a professor at the University of Juarez. He was reminded of the Prohibition years in the U.S.A. and compared Juarez to Chicago when Al Capone was conducting his reign of terror capped off with The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. During these years, just like Juarez today, 99% of the citizens went about their daily lives and attended classes, went to the movies, restaurants, and parks.

Is there corruption in Mexico? YES !!! Is there an equal amount of corruption related to this business in the U.S.A.? YES !!!. When you have a pair of illegal businesses that generate over $300,000,000,000 in sales you will find massive corruption. Make no mistake about the Mexican Drug Cartel; these "businessmen" are 100 times more sophisticated than the bumbling bootleggers during Prohibition. They form profitable alliances all over the U.S.A. They do cost benefit analysis of their business much better than the US automobile industry. They have found over the years that the cost of bribing U.S. and Mexican Border Guards and the transportation costs of moving marijuana from Sinaloa to California have cut significantly into profits. That is why over the past 5-7 years they have been growing marijuana in State and Federal Parks and BLM land all across America. From a business standpoint, this is a tremendous cost savings on several levels. Let's look at California as an example as one of the largest consumers. When you have $14.2 billion of Marijuana grown and consumed in one state, there is savings on transportation, less loss of product due to confiscation and an overall reduction cost of bribery with law enforcement and parks service people. Another great savings is the benefit to their employees. The penalties in Mexico for growing range from 5-15 years. The penalties in California, on average are 18 months, and out in 8 months. The same economic principles are now being applied to the methamphetamine factories.

FOX News continues to scare people with its focus on kidnapping. There are kidnappings in Mexico. The concentration of kidnappings has been in Mexico City, among the very rich and the three aforementioned border Cities. With the exception of Mexico City, the number one city for kidnappings among NAFTA countries is Phoenix, Arizona with over 359 in 2008. The Phoenix Police estimate that twice that number of kidnappings goes unreported, because like Mexico 99% of these crimes were directly related to drug and human traffic. Phoenix, unfortunately, is geographically profitable transshipping location. Mexicans, just like 99% of U.S. Citizens during prohibition, go about their daily lives all over the country. They get up, go to school or work and live their lives untouched by the border town violence.

These same protectionist news sources have misled the public as to the real danger from the swine flu in Mexico and temporary devastated the tourism business. As of May 27 2009 there have been 87 deaths in Mexico from the swine flu. During those same five months there have been 36 murdered school children in Chicago. By their logic, if 87 deaths from the swine flu in Mexico warrants canceling flights and cruise ships to Mexico, then close all roads and highways in the USA because of record 43,359 automobile related deaths in the USA in 2008.

What is just getting underway is what many are calling the "Largest southern migration to Mexico of people and real estate assets since the Civil War" A significant percentage of the Baby Boomers have been doing the research and are making the life changing decision to move out of the U.S.A. The number one retirement destination in the world is Mexico. There are already over 2,000,000 US and Canadian property owners in Mexico. The most conservative number of American and Canadian Baby Boomers who are on their way to owning property in Mexico for full or part time living in the next 15 years is over 6,000,000. Do the math on 6,000,000 people buying a $300,000 house or condo and you will understand why the U.S. Government is trying to tax this massive shift of money to Mexico through H.R. 3056. The U.S. government calls this "The Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007". Those who will have to pay it are calling this the EXIT TAX.

Mexico: A better economic choice than China
Another large exodus from the U.S.A is high paying skilled jobs. The job shift in automobile sector, both car and parts manufacturing, is already known by most investors. In the last few months as John Deere and Caterpillar have been laying off thousands of workers in the U.S.A., and hiring equal numbers in Mexico. The most recent industry that is making the shift is the aerospace manufacturers. In the city of Zacatecas there is currently a $210 million aerospace facility being built. With the 11 U.S. companies moving there, it is estimated to provide over 200,000 new high paying jobs in the coming years. One of the main factors for the shift in job south to Mexico instead of China is realistic analysis of total production, labor and delivery costs. While the labor costs in China are 40% less on average, the overall transportation costs and inherent risks of a long distance supply chain, and quality control issues, gives Mexico a distinct financial advantage.
Mexico's real economic future

Mexico has avoided completely the subprime problem that has devastated the U.S. banking industry. The Mexican banks are healthy and profitable. Mexico has a growing and very healthy middle and upper middle class. The very recent introduction of residential financing has Mexico in a unique position of having over 90% of current homeowners owning their house outright. U.S. banks are competing for the Mexican, Canadian and American cross border loan business. It is and will continue to be a very safe and very profitable business. These same banks that were loaning in a reckless manner have learned their lesson and are loaning here the old fashioned way. They require a minimum of a 680 credit score, 30% down payment, and verifiable income that can support the loan. In most areas of Mexico where Baby Boomers are moving to, with the exception of Puerto Penasco (which did not have a national and international base of buyers), there is no real estate bubble. The higher end markets ($2-20 million) in many of these destinations are going through a modest correction. The Baby Boomers market here is between $200,000 and $600,000. With the continuing demand, that price point, in the coming years, will disappear.

The other major area where America has become overpriced is in the field of health care. This massive shift of revenues is estimated to add 5-7% to Mexico's GDP. The name for this "business" is Medical Tourism. The two biggest competitors for Mexico were Thailand and India. Thailand and India's biggest drawback is geography. Also recent events, Thailand's inability to keep a government in place and the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, have helped Mexico capture close to half of this growth industry. In Mexico today there are over 56 world class hospitals being built to keep up with this business.

Mexico is currently sitting on a cash surplus and an almost balanced budget. Most Americans have never heard of Carlos Slim until he loaned the New York Times $250 million. After that it became clear to many investors around the world what Mexicans already knew: that Mexico had been able to avoid the worst of the U.S. economic devastation. Mexico's resilience is to be admired. When the U.S. Federal Reserve granted a $30 billion loan to each of the following countries Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, and Brazil, Mexico reinvested the money in Treasury bonds in an account in New York City.

According to oil traders, Mexico's Pemex wisely as the price of oil shot to $147 a barrel put in place an investment strategy that hinged on oil trading in the range of $38-$60 a barrel. Since the beginning of 2009 Mexico has been collecting revenues on hedged positions that give them $90-$110 per barrel today. Mexico's recent and under reported oil discovery in the Palaeo Channels of Chicontepec has placed it third in the world for oil reserves, right behind Canada and Saudi Arabia.

The following is a quote from Rosalind Wilson, President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on March 19, 2009. "The strength of the Mexican economic system makes the country a favorite destination for Canadian investment".

Mexico, with the world's 13th largest GDP, is no longer a "Third World Country", but rather a fast growing, economically secure state, as the most recent five-year history of its financial markets when compared to the U.S.A.'s financial markets suggests.

Impact of U.S. Media in Mexico without context and insufficient analysis

Your Baja Connection Team — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:21:00 GMT

“Baja (California) Media Analysis,”

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

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.

Tourism to Baja California started to decline in mid-2008, as southern California media such as the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and local TV news devoted more space and time to rising levels of cartel-related violence in some areas of Mexico. The story gained some national coverage during the year but it remained largely limited to outlets like the wire services and The New York Times. Consequently, it remained underreported to the vast majority of the American public. It should be less of a surprise, then, that Mexican tourism as a whole actually increased slightly in 2008 and the beginning of 2009 as Americans sought out high-value, low-cost destinations near home in the midst of the ongoing worldwide recession. ARE YOU SURE ON THIS? However, Rosarito, given its proximity to Tijuana, an area perceived by Americans to be under constant siege, did not share in this increase.

The situation abruptly worsened in late 2008 and early 2009, when media outlets across the U.S. began releasing stories en masse related to President Calderón’s now-two-year old campaign against the drug cartels. A “perfect storm” of factors caused the increase. First, a US military report released in November, the “Joint Operating Environment 2008” (JOE 2008), outlined 25 years worth of speculative strategic scenarios including Mexico’s “sudden rapid collapse” as one among many other more serious and likely possibilities. Second, as Calderón’s campaign succeeded in capturing or killing cartel leaders, those that took their place displayed a level of brutality unknown to their predecessors. Third, a wave of kidnappings centered in the Phoenix, AZ area almost exclusively among people involved with drug and/or human smuggling fueled unsubstantiated fears that violence could “spill over” the border. All of this occurred as violence levels skyrocketed in border communities like Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juarez, and to a somewhat lesser extent, Tijuana.

As the story evolved from a pattern, to a trend, to ultimately a crisis, it gained ominous-sounding series names that did little to clarify its true complexity: “Mexico Under Siege” (LA Times), “Mexico at War” (Washington Post), “The War Next Door” (CNN), etc. The lack of context in most of these reports, especially prior to Secretary of State Clinton’s visit in mid-March, only compounded the problem. In the case of the 56-page JOE 2008 report, for example, the contingency of Mexico becoming a failed state is mentioned in only two paragraphs. By contrast, the same possibility in Pakistan takes up a page and general issues concerning Russia and China, 3 pages each. Moreover, the report specifically disclaims, “this document is speculative in nature and does not suppose to predict what will happen.” This was mostly ignored in ensuing news coverage, and instead the hypothetical case was reported and re-reported as a likely near-term event.

A U.S. State Department travel “alert” posted on February 20, 2009 – right before the crucial Spring Break season – for certain areas of Mexico was similarly misreported. One of two types of State Department notices, an “alert” suggests that travelers exercise caution in specific portions of a country due to a short-term condition, while a much stronger “warning” recommends avoiding an entire country because of endemic instability. This alert, essentially a renewal of one first issued almost three years prior, was regularly and inaccurately characterized as the latter. A State Department spokesman’s March 6 clarification that the alert was not intended to direct tourists to completely avoid Mexico was often overlooked. Additionally, the limited geographic nature of the alert was often ignored: although Tijuana was mentioned by name (with qualifications), Rosarito was not, and the alert focused mainly on the hazards of travel to Juarez, a city over 600 miles away and never an American tourist destination to begin with. This would be akin to warning tourists away from the Jersey Shore in the 1920’s because of mob clashes with the FBI in Chicago.

Another type of problematic reporting involves the recycling of high-drama crimes, usually involving Americans, without regard for when they actually occurred. While these stories are typically tied into ongoing coverage of the drug war, links to the cartels are made tenuously if at all. A December 28, 2008 “ABC World News” report told of a San Diego-area couple brutally robbed by armed men who broke into their RV, and also sexually assaulted the woman. Crucial background was omitted, however: the incident occurred 13 months prior and they were alone, away from tourist zones in an isolated area south of Ensenada, over 40 miles away from Rosarito. Further, they were extensively profiled by both local and national media in early 2008. Similarly, Anderson Cooper interviewed the crusading family of a kidnapped and murdered Mexico City businessman as part of an early 2009 “60 Minutes” piece. He, too, failed to mention that the incident occurred in 2006, before Calderón took office, and was already well publicized.

Because most news media tend to focus on conflict, but not places where conflict is absent, towns like Rosarito are rarely depicted. American audiences don’t read, hear, or see that fighting between and against cartels is generally concentrated in far-away places and has not affected daily life on the ground there, especially for tourists. People uninvolved with drugs have not been targeted or victimized, nor have tourist areas been the site of violence. Even the recent assault in Acapulco was in the run-down former tourist corridor, which is several miles away from its current core. It is extremely unlikely that a foreign visitor would inadvertently end up in such an area. Similarly, the current front line of the campaign, Ciudad Juarez, is hundreds of miles away from Rosarito. Little or none of this below-the-surface detail makes its way into most media reports. Consequently, readers, listeners, and viewers are left with the impression that all of Mexico is a violent, lawless place ready to collapse, which is simply not supported by evidence.

Media rhetoric has evolved notably over the course of the crisis. Initially, it amounted to little more than occasional mention of a “Mexican” problem, then gradual recognition of its worsening even as it remained “theirs”. This changed amid a climate of fear at the first signs the problem could potentially become an “American” one also. The narrative shifted dramatically after President Obama’s inauguration, however, when he unprecedentedly acknowledged that American demand, rather than Mexican supply, fueled drug smuggling into the U.S. as well as its side effects in both countries. Secretary Clinton then explicitly proclaimed, “We stand with you!” during her March visit, a sentiment repeatedly bolstered by the President during his trip in April. Afterward, coverage of cartel-related violence began to include more nuance and careful reporting, but stories quickly faded in the early panic over the H1N1 (originally “Mexican”) flu, which incidentally is now theorized to have originated in Asia.

U.S. media have largely focused on other topics since then, but the damage to Mexico is done: the entire country has been painted as a war zone, a depiction detached from reality in places like Rosarito. With the flu-related furor now abated, drug war stories are trickling out once again. Given the decline in extreme episodes of violence relative to earlier this year, coverage now centers on corruption and weapons trafficking. To be sure, the drug cartels remain a serious threat. As Secretary Clinton pointed out during her visit, these highly organized criminals use vast sums of money from American drug consumers to buy high-powered weaponry and ammunition in the U.S. and to smuggle them back over the border to circumvent Mexico’s strict gun laws. Drug money is also used to buy off government and law enforcement officials, although Calderón’s anti-corruption thrust now shows some signs of success.

One critical fact remains clear, however: there is no evidence or history of tourists being harmed by cartel-related violence. Further, the threat of so-called “spillover” violence into the border states that spawned a great deal of coverage in the pre-April period has failed to materialize. Nor has Mexico become the failed state so vigorously predicted earlier in the year. None of these facts are actively reported to the American public.

Rosarito has in fact taken an approach to press coverage that is uncharacteristically proactive for Mexican communities in a crisis. Specifically, Mayor Hugo Torres has aggressively attempted to meet and dialogue with journalists about problematic stories and factual inaccuracies. This important relationship, an essential component of effective crisis communication, has been mutually beneficial: journalists and interest groups have official input from the municipality and the Mayor, along with his staff, have developed a better understanding of the dynamics of today’s media environment.

While violent confrontation between cartels and the military continues in parts of Mexico, the conflict has a minimal effect on life in Rosarito. The current plunge in tourism revenue is the unfortunate side effect of inaccurate reporting, speculative scenarios described as near-term probabilities, and the failure to put facts in their proper context. There are fewer camera crews and reporters in Mexico now, and in most cases, they never visited places like Rosarito in the first place. Unfortunately, the people of Rosarito are unfairly suffering the loss of their livelihood because Americans have been given the false impression that their lives are at risk if they visit. It is hoped that a calmer, more critical analysis of the facts can emerge, one that does not hide the truth, but accurately depicts life in Rosarito as welcoming, safe, and affordable

Quick Escape: Savor a perfect weekend in Ensenada

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:02:00 GMT

Casa Natalie is perfect luxury hideaway in Baja

Buried under the rubble of home improvement projects and work deadlines, my husband John and I needed a break, a quick getaway that would refresh and replenish us.

Searching for sun and sea, relaxation and a little stimulation, we decided to head to Ensenada.

Our late Friday morning 90-minute drive was a breeze. The ocean sparkled beside us all the way, an enticing fusion of azure blue and seafoam green. Breathtaking vistas beckon around every bend, from bucolic scenes of cattle grazing on a hillside to dramatic, craggy cliffs reminiscent of Big Sur.

We stopped at km 84 on the Tijuana-Ensenada toll road, a viewing spot that some call El Mirador (the observation point), though it isn’t actually labeled as such. A cluster of cheerful, sherbet-toned concrete structures, all angles and curves, highlight a magnificent view of the coastline and the uninhabited Todos Santos Island 12 miles offshore.

Continuing on to Km 103, we arrived at a shimmering oasis amid a lineup of industrial-looking buildings.

Casa Natalie

Casa Natalie, in the El Sauzal area just outside Ensenada, is excellently situated between town and the Ruta de Vino (Wine Route) of the Guadalupe Valley.

When owner Marco Novelo says “Mi casa es su casa,” he isn’t kidding. With the help of San Diego architect Perry Jacobs, he converted his private oceanfront home, named for his 16-year-old daughter, Natalia, into an intimate luxury boutique hotel.

The inn opened in February, 2006. Currently there are seven suites; the plan is for a grand total of 16.

“I see a lot of stress in life,” says Marco, whose family has been in the hotel business since 1941. “People need to slow down, have a place to relax and not worry about anything. We’re offering top service. I want you to feel at home, like you’re at a friend’s house.”

We got just that kind of warm, jovial welcome from chef Luis Carvajal, an expansive man, quick to laugh, happy to cook and dying to know what guests think of his creations.

His food is wonderful and obviously prepared with love. Forget your diet; no unadorned fare here, though the complex sauces never overpower the dish. Don’t miss his mango shrimp, avocado omelette and filet mignon with pistachio sauce. The table settings are vibrantly colored, and the immaculate wood kitchen is in plain view; one could probably hop in and help Luis chop.

Every suite is spacious, with a comfortable four-poster bed.

Myrna’s classy touch

Extraordinary care has gone into every design detail. Marco’s wife, Myrna, an interior designer, chooses each item, and she has impeccable taste. The floors are travertine, the walls dimensional, textured concrete or cantera stone.

In every suite, there are four-poster Heavenly beds, romantically draped with diaphanous white curtains. Each room has a different look, with wood furnishings, beautiful decorative objets, stunning vessel sinks and contemporary bath fixtures. It’s a lovely combination of modern and organic, all done in soothing earthtones. Only the striking, woven-rope Indonesian chairs are not created by Mexican artisans.

Each room is named for an indigenous plant; ours was Cactus. It’s a standard room; all the others are suites. (Sandra Bullock favors the Presidential Suite.)

Ours was the smallest room, but its view was spectacular, and we had our own table, chairs and umbrella on the grass just outside the door.

The infinity pool stretched to forever...

The infinity pool was steps away, and when we sat in the water, the edge of the pool met the horizon; it looked as if we could swim to the end of the world. Instead, we lounged on the double-sized outdoor beds, packed with pillows and draped with gauzy curtains. Deliciously decadent.

Casa Natalie is designed for privacy, serenity, and adults only. (Families might try Marco’s other venue, Las Rosas, less than a mile down the road. The inviting pink-and-green inn has 48 rooms and two infinity pools. And don’t miss the Sunday brunch there; it’s diverse and delicious.)

Start at the spa

We started our stay at Casa Natalie with spa treatments. We couldn’t get the advertised simultaneous ‘Massage Duet,’ since there was only one (on-call) masseuse available. Still, our massages were excellent, as was my caviar facial, a yummy experience — but the first time I’ve ever had a mask that covered my eyes and mouth; I felt mummified as it hardened.

Marco plans to expand the spa, adding a sauna, steam room and gym. “I’m taking it slow,” he says. “This is my dream, and I want to get it right.”

Guadalupe Valley

Eventually, we tore ourselves away from luxuriating - and ventured out to the Baja wine country.

Armed with maps, we got on the scenic Ensenada-Tecate Road (#3), but had a heckuva time finding various vineyards, most inadequately marked.

L.A. Cetto Winery was easy to find. It’s one of the largest producers in the area a half-million cases a year). After an informative 20-minute tour and explanation of the wine-making, our handsome, articulate guide, Gilberto, took us to the tasting room.

We were delighted when he brought out the reserve, a Viognier called Don Luis Cetto, with its light, fresh taste, both fruity and dry, which he described as “chispitas … small sparks. When I drink it, there’s a tingling in my palate.”

L.A. Cetto’s 2004 Petite Syrah and 2001 Private Reserve Chardonnay have received international awards.

A wine critic from L.A. told me that when she first visited Ensenada in 2005, there were 15 wineries; now there are 27. Baja wines are competing with the best of the best worldwide. No trip to Ensenada would be complete without a vineyard visit.

Every August, the valley celebrates its annual Fiestas de la Vendimia. Savvy travelers know to book accommodations well in advance for the 17-day festival.

Downtown Ensenada

Our forays into downtown Ensenada focused on shopping and eating. We love Manzanilla, an informal place where the food is fresh, surprising and brilliantly paired with wine.

We searched out the un-advertised seisveintitres (623), owned by well-known vintner Hugo D’Acosta of Casa de Piedra Winery. It apparently doesn’t need the advertising; the place was booked solid. The chichi nouvelle Mexican food was variable, the service extremely attentive, the ambiance fantastic: high-tech, high-end, sleek, modern and minimalist.

One of my favorite Ensenada discoveries is a mega-talented young jewelry-maker, Cristina Rendón Calabú, who twists treated copper wire in exciting three-dimensional shapes, creating outrageous, awe-inspiring designs. I was thrilled to find her creations at Spirit Gallery on Lopez Mateos.

Equally unique, Galeria de Pérez Meillón displays magnificent earthenware by indigenous artists, including the Pai-Pai and Kumiai Indians of Baja, and the incredibly intricate Mata Ortiz pottery of Chihuahua, Mexico.

Stuffed, sated, stocked up and stress-free, we made our way home, already planning our next Baja breakout.

IF YOU GO

Know before you go: New rules that went into effect in June require U.S. citizens returning from Mexico to present either a U.S. Passport or a U.S. Passport Card – a new, limited-use travel document that fits in your wallet and costs less than a U.S. Passport. It is only valid for travel by land and sea. Some states (not California) offer an “Enhanced Driver’s License “(EDL), which is specifically designed for cross-border travel into the U.S. by land or sea. Learn how to get a passport in San Diego.

Staying there: Casa Natalie, km 103 on the Tijuana-Ensenada toll road. Rooms for two range from $180 to $380, including continental breakfast and a welcome cocktail. (Prices seem fluid, so visitors might try negotiating.) 888-562-8254; www.casanatalie.com. Spa treatments range from $30 (manicure) to $170 (duet massage).

Las Rosas, Km. 105 on the Tijuana-Ensenada toll road. 48 rooms, from for two start at $112 weekdays Setptember through June and go to $446 for the w0-bedroom penthouse suite in summer. 866-447-6727; www.lasrosas.com

Guadalupe Valley : Adobe Guadalupe, 6 rooms, winery/B&B. Rooms for two run $168, plus tax per night, including breakfast. Dinner, with wines, costs $70 per person. www.adobeguadalupe.com
La Villa del Valle, 6 rooms. Rooms for two, including breakfast, run $175 per night weekdays, $195 on weekends. www.lavilladelvalle.com

Wineries: L.A. Cetto Winery, free wine tasting and tours, 10am-4pm daily. At Km. 73.5 in the Guadalupe Valley (Highway 3). 011-52-646-155-2264.
The 2009 Guadalupe Valley Wine Festival, La Fiestas de la Vendimia, is set for Aug. 7-23. 011-52-646-178-30-38

Playing there: La Bufadora, one of the world’s three natural sea blowholes; newly renovated with gardens and observation decks; 22 miles south of Ensenada.
Rosarito Beach Pro Surf competition, August 7-9, 2009, outside the Rosarito Hotel.

Dining there: Manzanilla - 122 Riveroll in downtown Ensenada; exceptional cuisine paired with excellent wines; 011-52-646-175 7073.

Seisveintitreis (623) at 623Moctezuma in Ensenada; sleek design, interesting food, wonderful wine shop; 011-52-646-156-5030

Shopping there: Art & Stuff, next to Casa Natalie, km. 103, coast hwy.; modern and primitive Mexican folk/decorator art. 011-52-646-175-8859.

Galeria de Pérez Meillón, at the Centro Artesanal, Costero & Castillo Aves., Ensenada. Native Baja Indian crafts/pottery. 011-52-646-175-7848; adalbertopm@hotmail.com

Spirit Gallery, 871 Lopez Mateos; international items, including Baja jewelry-maker Cristina Rendón Calabú; 011-52-646-178-8492

The Baja Tequila Dance Project!

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:14:00 GMT

A few years back, Baja was booming with popularity.

You could hardly get a room at most hotels on a weekend unless you made reservations months in advance. The restaurants and taverns were full, and people were flocking to Baja in droves to retire and live the rest of their lives in Mexican bliss. Then the U.S. economy went belly up and things started to change pretty fast. The U.S. corporate media began sensationalizing stories about drug violence in Baja and how “dangerous” it was to come here. Before we knew it, our popular paradise by the Pacific, which is largely dependent on tourism, began to fall into what the local Mexicans call “La Crisis”. It´s been a rough year for Baja. Many businesses that did not have a strong local clientele didn´t survive and we lost so many of our beloved restaurants, hotels and shops, putting thousands of people out of work.

Last March, things were just beginning to improve. The media let up on their negative reporting about the drug violence, and there were signs that life was beginning to return to the peninsula with the arrival of warmer weather. But then, news broke about the dreaded Swine Flu outbreak and Baja was once again plunged into an economic crisis like none it had ever seen before. We´ve been absolutely devastated by all the negative press generated by the U.S. corporate media.

Those of us who live here kept scratching our heads when we looked around our beatiful Baja paradise, we didn't see the so called violence or even any swineflu cases, yet our families and friends refused to visit us and countless vacations were cancelled.

I Began to think of how we could possibly combat all the negative media about Baja.

Then somebody sent a link to a video on YouTube, a commercial for T-Mobile that gave me a terrific idea (Watch the video here). The commercial had hundreds of people in a popular Lindon train station, sudenly they break out into a choreographed dance that dazzled and amazed unsuspecting bystanders. This video quickly went "viral" and before long, everyone was talking about it, millions of people had seen it.

I thought, what if we did something like that here in Baja? It doesn´t have to be as grand or elaborate as the T-Mobile commercial, but there´s no reason why we can´t get a bunch of people together, teach them all a little line dancet o a popular song and put it up on Youtube for everyone to see. How do we combat the corporate media´s coverage of Baja – with a little non-corporate media of our own!

I talked to a few neighbors and friends, secured their support for creating a Baja promo video inspired by the T-Mobil dance (as it is now known), and the Baja Tequila Project was born.

The project is not meant to be a political protest or demonstration against anything. It is merely a way to present a positive and fun image of Baja to the public that will hopefully inspire people to return to our community and help improve our damaged economy.

The video will be free to the public on YouTube, so people can share it with friends, even post it on their websites if they want. all participants are volunteers - no one! is making any money off the video (not counting offcourse the local businesses who will benefit from Baja's increased popularity). Watch the Baja Tequila Dance video here.

Wouldn´t be great if the Baja Tequila Dance was to become widely known around the world and people came to see the birthplace of such a sensational phenomenon?

If nothing else, it will be totally fun and a great way to do something positive and maybe even lose a few pounds in the process.

Taking a vacation in a high crime city! No way.

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:58:00 GMT

By Patrick Osio

You’re planning a vacation trip; you want to stay relatively close to home, no overseas travel, not this year. Maybe Mexico or in the U.S. – but it has to be affordable and with plenty to do. So you’re reading about some cities. You find one of interest, but on reading other information lo and behold you find that the chances of becoming a crime victim in that city are 1 out of 4 – a whopping 25% chance of being a crime victim. That ended that city as a destination.

You select another city, it sounds interesting, but now you also want to check up on how safe it is. Oh my gosh, you read that the chances of being a crime victim are also 1 out of 4. Scratch that one too. You go to the next city of interest, this one has great beaches, from good to excellent sea food restaurants, but before you book rooms, you check the safety. This one is better but still the chances of being a crime victim are 1 out of 5 – a 20% chance. What the heck is going on? Scratch that city.

Now you start checking other cities but begin with the safety factor first – you find that some are 1 out of 7, or 1 out of 8, or 1 out of 9, or 1 out of 10 – one out of ten people that’s 10% of people being victims of crime in that city – that is scary you think and decide maybe you and your family should stay home. The cities checked before giving up are Chicago, Cincinnati, Miami, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Kansas City, Memphis, Dallas, Richmond, St. Louis, Little Rock, Philadelphia, Tampa, New York, Orlando, Cleveland, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Detroit – you had no idea that the chances of being a victim of crime in those cities was that high. What an eye opener. But is it really an eye opener or are those cities “guilty by association”? All the mentioned cities are great places with much history and plentiful things to do and enjoy.

The high crime rates are true, but within certain, but not all in fact few, neighborhoods in each of those cities. The odds for being a victim of crime in those neighborhoods fall on the neighborhood residents not the tourists who visit the city and don’t travel into those affected neighborhoods. New Orleans and Miami, as examples, were suffering from a drop of tourism due to high crime reports leading city officials in New Orleans to explain that the French Quarter where tourists congregate and spend their visiting time are very safe provided they are not involved in criminal activity.

All cities mentioned are victims of generalization that the media portrayed and people believe that the entire city is not safe due to some neighborhoods having high crime rates. Similarly, Baja California has been victimized by an unknowing, some would say insensitive, press that Tijuana, with a population nearing 2 million, covering over 400 square miles with dozens of neighborhoods, has neighborhoods with high crime rates wherein the drug cartels are entrenched, but it does not affect the entire city.

Where tourism congregates is relatively free of crime, and other than petty thefts, most other crimes against tourists are negligible in proportion to the number of visitors. The press reports high profile gang wars, and law enforcement shoot out encounters with drug cartel members as though it is the entire city by not identifying affected neighborhoods or even the size of the city where these confrontations take place.

Like the French Quarter of New Orleans the Tijuana sections wherein visitors congregate are as safe as the French Quarter. It is unfair to generalize about the entire city of New Orleans, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Dallas and all the others due to high crime in some of their neighborhoods, it is also unfair to generalize about Tijuana.

It is an even greater injustice that in generalizing about Tijuana the nearby municipalities of Rosarito Beach, covering close to 200 square miles, and Ensenada, a giant at over 20,000 square miles of territory, are drawn into the same generalization as Tijuana because travelers are under the impression that to reach them they have to cross Tijuana – not true, but the US press has never corrected the perception. Going to Ensenada from the US-Mexico border one takes a highway that skirts around Tijuana to a very safe toll scenic highway to both Rosarito Beach and Ensenada. Like in Los Angeles, using a freeway that crosses Watts (350% greater homicide rate than rest of L.A.) on the way to Disneyland.

These types of generalizations hurt everybody – the potential visitor to a great city in the US or Baja California because they miss out on a great experience; the city who loses the income that is spent by tourists that create employment and better life for residents; and by workers whose livelihood depends on visitor’s expenditures.

A report says the U.S. failure to curb smuggling has strengthened drug cartels

YBC Admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:38:00 GMT

By Josh Meyer
Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Washington -- June 17, 2009 -- The United States lacks a coordinated strategy to stem the flow of weapons smuggled across its southern border, a failure that has fueled the rise of powerful criminal cartels and violence in Mexico, a government watchdog agency report has found.

The report by the congressional Government Accountability Office, the first federal assessment of the issue, offered blistering conclusions that will probably influence the debate over the role of U.S.-made weaponry as violence threatens to spill across the Mexico border.

According to a draft copy of the report, which will be released today, the growing number of weapons being smuggled into Mexico comprise more than 90% of the seized firearms that can be traced by authorities there.

The document also cited recent U.S. intelligence indicating that most weapons were being smuggled in specifically for the syndicates -- and being used not only against the Mexican government but also to expand their drug trafficking operation in the United States.

"The U.S. government lacks a strategy to address arms trafficking to Mexico," the report said in blunt terms. "Individual U.S. agencies have undertaken a variety of activities and projects to combat arms trafficking to Mexico, but they are not part of a comprehensive U.S. government-wide strategy for addressing the problem."

Obama administration officials said that, although they could not comment on the report before it was released, they have taken steps to reduce the flow of weapons, long a source of frustration to Mexican authorities.

This month, for instance, the administration announced a Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy that included a section on arms trafficking.

The GAO report's authors, however, said that strategy and similar Obama administration efforts were in the early stages and unlikely to significantly improve the situation quickly. They also said the Merida Initiative -- $1.4 billion in initial aid allotted under the George W. Bush administration -- had provided no dedicated funding to address the issue of weapons trafficking.

In the meantime, illegally obtained U.S. weapons -- including an increasing number of automatic rifles -- are being used to kill thousands of Mexican police, soldiers, elected officials and civilians, the report said.

Jess T. Ford, the GAO's director of international affairs and trade, is scheduled to deliver testimony on the findings at a House hearing today.

Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere that is holding today's hearing, said he was troubled by the findings.

"It is simply unacceptable that the United States not only consumes the majority of the drugs flowing from Mexico but also arms the very cartels that contribute to the daily violence that is devastating Mexico," said Engel, who requested the report.

The GAO singled out the two agencies primarily responsible for combating weapons trafficking for criticism -- the Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The auditors said those agencies had not effectively coordinated their efforts, in part because they lacked clear roles and responsibilities and had been operating under an outdated interagency agreement. As a result, the agencies duplicated one another's initiatives, leading to confusion.

They also lack the kind of systematic analysis and reporting of weapons trafficking data -- such as how many firearms they have seized that were destined for Mexico -- that would allow authorities to better investigate and prosecute cases.

In response, Justice Department and Homeland Security officials acknowledged that they were working to address some shortcomings the GAO identified.

ATF Assistant Director W. Larry Ford said that his agency and ICE were working to complete a memorandum of understanding "to maximize our joint effectiveness to combat violent crime along the Southwest border."

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said interagency cooperation "has been a priority of mine since I became secretary."

"Any agreement between ICE and DEA will increase our ability to secure the border, curtail drug trafficking and make our country safer," Napolitano said in a statement. "I am very optimistic that we will reach an agreement soon."

But the GAO criticisms go beyond operational concerns. Some findings cited laws and policies in the U.S. and Mexico that could make it difficult to institute lasting reforms such as lax U.S. laws for collecting and reporting information on firearms purchases, and a lack of required background checks for private firearms sales.

Moreover, they said, the United States was not doing enough to help Mexico with fighting weapons trafficking and related corruption on its side of the border.

The two countries have not established a bilateral, multiagency arms-trafficking task force, and Mexico has not fully implemented the ATF's electronic firearms tracing system -- "an important tool for U.S. arms trafficking investigations in the United States," Jess Ford planned to say in his testimony, according to the report.

Another significant challenge, according to Ford, was corruption within the Mexican government.

"Despite President [Felipe] Calderon's efforts to combat organized crime," Ford will say, "extensive corruption at the federal, state and local levels of Mexican law enforcement impedes U.S. efforts to develop effective and dependable partnerships with Mexican government entities in combating arms trafficking."

Be neighborly, go to Mexico

Your Baja Connection Team — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:12:00 GMT

There are several goodreasons Americans should help out the Mexican economy with a trip south of theborder.

By Andrés Martinez - Los Angeles Times
June 9, 2009

Your neighbor needs your help. Do you have it within you to lend ahand? Will you book yourself a week on the beach in Cabo or Puerto Vallarta, orexplore Mexico City or one of the colonial cities in the heart of Mexico? Youknow, for the common good.

This has been a banner decade for empathy tourism -- many Americans flocking toNew York after 9/11 and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina did so with asense of public service. Mexico now needs a similar surge.
Our neighbor to the south is having an annus horribilis, as a Britishmonarch might say. These were never going to be good times down there, withMexico's economy so intertwined with ours, but growing concern aboutwar-on-drugs violence, the decline in oil prices and the advent of swine fluhas further dented "brand Mexico." Adding insult to injury,Washington earlier barred Mexican trucks from coming into the United States, aflagrant violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and, as of lastweek, Americans crossing over to Mexico were required to have a passport toreenter the country, a change expected to deepen the slump in border townsfrequented by Americans.

The tourism sector is the largest employer in Mexico and the third-largestsource of foreign currency for the trillion-dollar economy, after oil exportsand remittances sent home by Mexicans working in the U.S. It is estimated thatthe swine flu alone will cost the country about $5 billion in tourist revenue(and bear in mind that travel to Mexico was already down significantly as aresult of the U.S. recession). Hotel occupancy rates in Cancun in May didn'teven reach the 30% mark. The all-clear has been sounded on the virus, but noone knows for sure how long-lasting the impact on tourism will be. Mexico'sgross domestic product, meanwhile, is expected to contract about 12% in thesecond quarter of this year.

Why should Americans care? Well, for starters, there is the national securityimperative. Say what you will about Mexico, and there is plenty negative to besaid, our southern neighbor has been a fairly reliable, stable and friendlypartner for more than half a century, and it is in our interest to keep it thatway. Our nation's political discourse may not always reflect our goodgeographic fortune, which we take for granted, but the United States is blessedto have Canada and Mexico as neighbors. Is there another developing nation ofmore than 100 million people we'd rather have on our southern flank? Putdifferently, how many other global powers in history have had the luxury of along land border that doesn't need to be protected by a large standing army?

Suddenly this year, thePentagon and many pundits on the right have been raising the specter of apotential "failed state" on our border, the result of the lawlessnessbred by powerful drug cartels. The rhetoric is a bit overheated, thecomparisons to Pakistan misplaced, but the concern about what is happening inMexico, our third-largest trading partner, is laudable. We have a strong nationalinterest in seeing Mexico remain a peaceful, ever-prospering democracy.

The importance of Mexico to the United States is a truth not often voiced, butoccasionally acknowledged by deed. Mexico traditionally ranks somewhere betweenJordan and Argentina on the foreign policy establishment's list of priorities.The amount of resources devoted to cross-border development or mutual securityis pitiful (even in the aftermath of the anti-drug initiative known as theMerida plan), compared with development or military aid distributed elsewhere,not to mention compared with regional development transfers within the Europeansingle market.

But a far more robust commitment to Mexico does assert itself when required, aswe saw during the 1990s, when the Clinton White House, bypassing Congress, madeabout $20 billion in Treasury reserve funds available to Mexico during thatcountry's last financial crisis. And this year too, Mexico is proving itself tobe, not unlike AIG or Citigroup, too large to fail from Washington'sperspective, as the Federal Reserve has made available to Mexico a $30-billioncurrency swap facility, which gives that nation's central bank privilegedaccess to credit from the Fed in order to stabilize the value of the peso.

It would improve the overall health of the relationship, and our ability tothink strategically about Mexico's (and hence regional) development ifpresidents were more transparent about the country's true stake in Mexico(sorry, Jordan), rather than make such commitments on the sly.

The fact that the United States bears some responsibility for Mexico's currentwoes is another reason to invest in our neighbor's stability and prosperity.

Unlike previous financial crises that have roiled Mexico, this one can't bepinned on its macroeconomic sins. If in the mid-1990s it was fashionable totalk about the "tequila effect" to describe the global financialcontagion spreading from emerging markets, this crisis is more like a"Budweiser effect," in that it was Uncle Sam's reckless insistence onliving beyond his means that caused the mess. Washington, irresponsiblyover-leveraged to support an unsustainable standard of living, failed topractice what it preached over the last decade, to abide by the so-called, um,Washington consensus on economic policy.

Mexico, for its part, has enacted prudent fiscal policies, shored up itsforeign reserves and remained a faithful adherent to the free-trade gospel,continuing to open its economy to foreign goods and investment. The nation hasalso become a great deal more democratic in the last decade. Still, despitedoing all the "right" things according to the Washington consensus,Mexico's economy (and currency) has been harder hit by the WallStreet-triggered crisis than the United States'. No one said life was fair.

Americans also share some of the responsibility for the mayhem unleashed by theshowdown between the Mexican state and its rapacious drug cartels, as bothSecretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and President Obama were right to pointout in recent months. Drug users in this country are underwriting the war inMexico -- and that war is being waged largely with guns brought in from thiscountry.

The United States is not about to criminalize guns and legalize drugs to helpout Mexico. But you can do your part to help out a good neighbor -- book a tripsouth. Pronto.

Andrés Martinez is asenior fellow at the New America Foundation.

Recession's Grip May Be Weakening

Your Baja Connection Team — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:26:00 GMT

Jobs may appear first in construction, manufacturing, transportation

Glimmers of an economic recovery seem to be emerging, though older Americans may continue to feel the pain for months to come.

Economists say signs of a rebound are mounting, suggesting the recession may be close to bottoming out. But it could be another nine to 12 months, or longer, before widespread corporate hiring freezes are lifted and employers begin to fill vacant job slots.

Although the unemployment rate hit 8.9 percent in April, the highest level since 1983, companies have shed fewer jobs in recent months. About 539,000 jobs were lost in April, compared with nearly 700,000 in March.

“We’ve seen a slowing of downsizing. It’s not coming at the same pace that we were seeing before,” says John Challenger, chief executive at Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., a consulting firm in Chicago.

“Things are still tough out there, but we may have passed the bottom,” Challenger says. “There are still more people chasing fewer jobs, but it does feel to me that our out-of-work clients are finding and getting more interviews than they were from November to February. Countless clients had situations where they were in the running for a job but were told the job was put on hold and the company decided not to hire anybody. That was the story then.”

The employment picture may be opening up ever so slightly. Economists say employers are likely to begin hiring cautiously in the first half of next year, though the unemployment rate could still continue to climb. After the recession that lasted from March to November 2001, the national unemployment rate continued to rise and didn’t fall back to its November 2001 level until July 2004, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Not all recessions have the same outcome, however. In the downturn that began in July 1981 and ended in November 1982, the unemployment rate began to decline just two months later, in January 1983, BLS data show.

Regardless of the economic climate, finding a job tends to be more of an uphill battle for older workers. Challenger says it typically takes those 50-plus about four months to find work, compared with about three months for younger job seekers.

In a downturn, however, it takes both younger and older workers even longer to find a job. To help the unemployed get through the recession, President Barack Obama outlined steps last week that would allow them to pursue education and training and still retain their jobless benefits. Currently, people who are out of work and want to go back to school must give up their monthly unemployment checks.

Ken Goldstein, an economist at the Conference Board, a private group that publishes information on the marketplace, says lines at the local unemployment office may still be long, but the outlook for employment is much less negative now than it has been. He predicts that the recession will be officially declared over between October and next March.

When employers begin to hire again next spring or summer, he says, look to the construction and manufacturing industries, the transportation sector and to wholesale and retail jobs to open up the most. Jobs related to the new federal spending to build and repair roads and bridges, part of the $787 billion stimulus plan, could also provide up to 3.5 million people with work by the end of next year.

Aside from the employment picture easing, Andrew Policano, dean of the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California at Irvine, says other economic indicators point to an end this year to the deepest recession in recent memory. He says banks have eased up on credit and lending practices, spurring modest consumer spending. He also says home buyers are taking advantage of low mortgage rates and declining values, leading to a reduction of record inventories from last July.

Higher than expected earnings on the part of some U.S. companies in recent weeks also added to the few bright spots in the economy. But he says a question mark going forward is whether consumer spending, which drives about two-thirds of the economy, will hold up.

“Consumer confidence for two months now has moved into positive territory,” he says. “Consumers usually are the drivers of a recovery, so when they’re looking more confident, you have hope that they’re feeling like they want to spend and getting into more normal kinds of behavior.”

Carole Fleck is a senior editor at AARP Bulletin.

NEW PHONE LINE TO REPORT CRIME IN BAJA FROM THE US

Your Baja Connection Team — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:16:00 GMT

Residents fromthe United States now have a toll free number to complaint against common andorganized crime within the Mexican territory.

The number1-866-201-5060 is for residents of California and the rest of the UnitedStates, who can provide the authorities in Baja California, in an anonymousway, information about organized crime and common crime located in Mexico.

Daniel de la RosaAnaya, Secretary of Public Security in Baja California and Mexican ConsulRemedios Gomez Arnau, presented the new toll free phone service1-866-201-5060 at the Mexican Consulate in San Diego; which can be used toexpose criminals located in Mexico or to report if they have been the victim ofa crime when transiting through Baja or while living here.

De la Rosaexplained that when a caller dials 1-866-201-5060, the call comes into theprogram 089, operated by the state government of Baja California, specializingin bilingual telephone operators who immediatelytransfer the complaint to Mexican authorities for their attention. The serviceis 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

The program isconfigured to block phone numbers from which the calls are made, they are notrecorded and the telephone operators may not ask the complainant's personaldata.

This service willbe introduced in coming days in the consulates of Mexico located in Calexico,California and Yuma, Arizona, to spread mostly among the Hispanic community inthese cities and their surrounding regions.

Note that the anonymous reporting service via toll-free number 1-866-201-5060is available for use from any phone located on the mainland and islands of theUnited States, including Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska.

Clearing a Path for Development at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Your Baja Connection Team — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:04:00 GMT

California and Baja are Merging to Become Cali-Baja!! This is amust read article by the N.Y. Times If you are planning on doing business inBaja. See why Baja is going to become a "Global Powerhouse for CommercialGrowth"

TIJUANA, Mexico — On a recent weekday morning, Mexican soldiers carrying automatic weapons stood in a thin line along a vehicle checkpoint at the busy border crossing from this Baja California city into Otay Mesa, Calif.

Enlarge This Image

The New York Times

A new border crossing in Otay Mesa would speed truck traffic.

While the military presence partly reflects the highly publicized drug violence in Tijuana and other Mexican border cities, it is commerce and the development of commercial real estate that has become a chief focus for business interests in the southernmost area of California.

In the last year, economic development officials and local elected leaders in San Diego County, Baja cities in Mexico and the sprawling Imperial Valley about 90 miles to the east have used a grant of $220,000 of government and private seed money for an initiative aimed at turning this area into a global powerhouse for commercial growth.

The idea is that a concerted effort will produce more manufacturing in Mexico, more research and development in San Diego and more alternative energy in Imperial County.

The area is formally known as the Cali Baja Bi-National Mega-Region, covering roughly 27,000 square miles. Late last month, Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diego, Mayor Jorge Ramos of Tijuana and economic development leaders from both sides of the border announced a marketing effort that, so far, is aiming to attract companies from China and the Pacific Rim.

Central to the effort is a planned new border crossing, which may be completed as early as 2012, about two miles from the current Otay Mesa port of entry. To be known as Otay Mesa East, it is expected to become the most technologically advanced crossing in the region, with waits for commercial truck traffic of 20 minutes or less, compared with the current three or four hours.

Christina Luhn, director of the Cali Baja initiative for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, was at the border recently to meet representatives of KyoceraMexicana in Tijuana, a unit of the Japanese company Kyocera, which manufactures solar panels and other clean-tech products that are shipped into the United States through Otay Mesa.

Dr. Luhn says she is hopeful that new cooperation between Mexico and the United States under the Obama administration will help to bring the drug cartels to heel and ease the task of convincing global companies that the region is right for them as a gateway to United States markets. “I tend to be more optimistic about this than I was even six months ago,” Dr. Luhn said.

John V. Bragg, vice president of Kearny Real Estate in the city of Otay Mesa, is also hopeful that development will help address problems that include an aging industrial base, the underuse of strategically located land, and environmental challenges.

His optimism is more than theoretical, he said. His company recently purchased 311 acres of land in the United States near where the new Otay Mesa East crossing is expected to be built.

Besides constructing the new crossing, which is now the subject of environmental impact studies, the California transportation department is preparing to build state highways to accommodate increased truck freight, Mr. Bragg noted.

That will give rise, he said, to the construction of several million square feet of warehousing and distribution facilities to handle goods made with low-cost labor in Mexico. In turn, retail stores and hotels are expected to be built nearby, as happened near the current Otay Mesa crossing.

“What we want to see now, as a developer and land owner, is infrastructure so that people can move better,” Mr. Bragg said. “We want to see the two countries get together to improve the border crossing and to build then whatever is appropriate.” He added that Kearny hoped to build two million to three million square feet of logistics-related facilities on its newly acquired property.

Mr. Bragg conceded that vacancy rates for existing warehouses in Otay Mesa were 17 to 20 percent, but he said that occupancy would increase as the transportation services are improved and more modern technology was introduced.

Ninety minutes to the east, just over the border from Calexico, Calif., at Mexicali, the capital of Baja California, infrastructure is already in place for the new 10,000-acre Silicon Border Science Park. Silicon Border announced last year that Q-Cells of Germany, a leading maker of solar panels, would build a new manufacturing facility there.

Mike Oliver, executive vice president for business development at Silicon Border, said Phase 1 infrastructure like roads, sewers, water treatment and recycling, lighting and fiber optic cables had been completed, with “tens of millions in initial financing from ING Clarion,” a division of ING, the Dutch bank. “By the time we are finished, we will have had investment of hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said. “We have room for about two dozen Q-Cells type facilities.”

Other new commercial developments are also on the drawing board in Calexico, said Danny Fitzgerald, director of the city’s enterprise zone. Projects under way include Calexico Mega Park, a 157-acre mixed-use retail, business and residential development by Westmount Properties; Calexico 111 Center, with more than 65 acres of commercial and 58 acres of industrial development; and Los Legos, some 500 acres that will include residential and commercial components.

Tim Kelley, president of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation, said cooperative work between his organization, the San Diego County Economic Development Corporation and the city of Mexicali on the Silicon Border development helped the Cali Baja initiative.

Since then, the concept of Imperial Valley as a haven for alternative energy — solar collection, wind energy farms, geothermal heating and biofuels from algae — has taken off.

Despite the economy, Mr. Kelley said, “we’re getting more expressions of interest than we have ever gotten before. The phone is ringing constantly.”