Entrepreneurs in Mexico

The following article is an email from my pal Ed who is having an interesting time in Mexico this year.




Thanks everybody for the responses to my first report from Baja! Now it is time for an update.

Eileen is back from the Yucatan and is now selling Chiclets at the Tijuana border crossing. I’ve lost my singing and dancing job at Buzzard’s so I sold all my fishing gear and bought a second-hand Snap-On rollaway tool box, a Coleman stove and a lantern. I’ve converted it all into an “Ed’s Best Beans and Tacos” stand. Viva free enterprise and an honest peso!! Eileen is complaining about driving the Subaru because I used the bumper jack to make my tortilla press. She has negotiated the wholesale purchase of nine large portraits of Elvis on black velvet. I told her “Don’t let your business expansion replace quality”. Chiclets to Elvis is a big jump.

Slim, the Mexican communications magnate, came into town and bought a taco. I told him how my wife and I got into business and asked him if he would care to franchise the Best Beans and Chiclets enterprise. He noticed one of the velvet Elvis paintings so I told him the story. He was interested but wanted his portrait sold as opposed to Elvis’……It was decision time for Eileen………………

Love, Ed

USA Today Gives Mexico Positive Press

My friend Jim sent me this today. It bears reading if only to feel better about the treatment we receive from the US press.  It's about US citizens retiring in San Miguel.  Not only does the article paint a fairly accurate picture, there is a side-bar that gives you some honest questions to ask yourself before coming.

The church La Parroquia in San Miguel

Merry Christmas!

East Cape Kiting and Windsurfing

The area around Los Barriles is world famous for its kiting and windsurfing. The main reason naturally is the WIND! How clever is that? Actually the best part is that the wind is generally parallel to to beach. Not offshore; not inshore. That means you can take off from the beach, go groove in the wind for awhile and sail back in without a bunch of brutal tacking maneuvers. During the winter, the wind is from the North mostly; summer it comes mainly from the south.

The most well known area is called "North Beach." It's located North of Los Barriles. Go figure. A newer hot spot is between Los Barriles and La Paz called "la Ventana." Great winds and less well known.



This video is from Exotikite. They have a school and store in Los Barriles. I can't recommend one school over another from personal knowledge but my grand daughter and her boyfriend both work for Exotikite. What are ya gonna do?

If you're a kiter or windsufer, check out the Lord of the Wind contest being held here in January. This is going to be huge, get your hotel reservations soon.

Stuff To Do Around The East Cape

 Some folks have the idea that there's nothing to do out here but fish and kite. In fact a buddy in San Jose del Cabo calls our area "Los BORE-ilas." Hardly.  Maybe a little slower paced but there's plenty to do.

How about I start with the obvious:  Fishing!!! Of course there's fishing. World class it is. You can charter a boat from several different hotels and private operators. Here's a list that I compiled in a few minutes with Google. It's pretty good and I've undoubtedly left folks off.

Agave Hotel
Baja Marlin
Hotel Buena Vista
East Cape Resorts
East Cape RV
Los Pescadores
Martin Verdugo’s
The Reel Baja

Several restaurants around town will cook your fish for you. (Googly, Googly Batman, I'm not going to do ALL the work for you.) You can also get your fish smoked over at Smokey's Cantina.

I'll tell you where the good hot springs are, where to dig a hot tub on the beach, where to kite, where to ride horses, where to rent quads, where to ride bikes, where to find the waterfalls and where to rock and roll. Just don't hold your breath; I'm a slow poster.....

Music Night

Thanks to those who skipped the ball game and joined us last night. We had a nice crowd and a truly unruly bunch of musicians.  The songlist was all over the map with country hick songs requested by yours truly to nice jazz standards like "girl from ipanima." This week our "band" lineup included  Maya (percussion, guitar, vocals, 3 or 4 other things), Jennette (guitar, percussion and vocals), Big Jim (guitar, standup bass, vocals and safety supervision), Ray (standup bass) Mary Mary (guitar and vocals), Mad Mike (drums) Vinnie (accordian and vocals), Easy Ed (harmonica), Dave (guitar and vocals), Rio (vocals).  (I think I left somebody out. If I did, email me.  I'll mention you twice next time.) There is lots of talent within our little community and lots of talent that passes through.   Huge thanks to the musicians. Great job. Only a couple of us practice together on a regular basis. 

Next week Roadrunner Cafe will serve dinner. The restaurant will be open to serve you at 6PM on Wednesday the 3rd.  I don't have the complete menu but the main course is spiral ham. We also have great desserts and cerveza, wine and well drinks.

Music will start about 7; we'll play until 9 or so.  Musicians: Please come a bit early if you can.

Music Night returns at Roadrunner

The Roadrunner Cafe will be hosting her first open music night of the season next Wed, Oct 27.  If you never made it last year, bring an instrument or your voice and join in.  If you want to do a particular song that is not in our songbook, make at least 10 charts to share with the other musicians. If you have questions, click on the "comments" at the bottom of this post and leave them there.

We'll try and get started about 7PM.  There will be a special food menu and drinks available.

Old photos of Baja California

While I was trying to find info about the subject of my last post, I stumbled across a great photo site. This photo purports to show the execution of one of the fellows involved in "Cabo Fierro."

Click here for more photos.