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A message from this feed's publisher: La Paz Baja California Sur Mexico on the Sea of Cortez / Gulf of California site of the southern Baja Peninsula
Current Feed Content
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Stronger fines – nuevas multas
Posted: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:03:57 +0000
Fines are increased if you get caught violating traffic laws and regulations in La Paz. We did NOT independently verify the accuracy of a report by B. Crawford we seen at the cat-litter-box liner. We usual use that pamphlet laying out at some supermarkets aimed at gringos and consists of advertisements and other BS. Take one from 2002 and a 2012 issue. Same doo-doo!! Anyway, talk is about traffic laws and increased fines IF you… before we get into that I like to address a connected issue. very often you hear, mainly at online publications / foras this “La Paz police all corrupt etc.” talk. In a very simple way own experience: Foreigner, living almost 11 years Baja Sur (2 y. Loscabos, 9 y. La Paz). In this almost 9 years La Paz I got pulled over 3 times by La Paz traffic cops (in uniform) and 1 time by PGR at a street-block/control. All of the pull-over been 100% justified. 3 times I did cleary violate traffic rules. At the PGR control it was around midnight in a part of La Paz you rarely expect a foreigner, they stoped EVERY car and i could not produce the vehicle documents. I been also living in the USA for many years. I got tickets for way less (like not having a license-plate at front of vehicle as example). In none of the cases i got a ticket, they advised me of my violation and warned me that a repeat will be fined. The PGR guys drive with me to fiances house, checked registration and DL and that was it. There was never any attempt to get a “mordida” out of me!
So far about that. Now about the new fines. The heaviest fine is for those operating a vehicle while under the influence (DUI). It supposedly coast now 908$US. No clue what it was before, never worried about that. If I do a “internal Pacifico” cleansing i just dont drive. Common sense. Should be for everybody that way. Who wants to live with the thought to run somebody over cause he was not capable to operate his vehicle correct??
make sure you park your vehicle at the correct location!!250$ US if you transport construction materials without permission or you caught to dump garbage in the wrong spot.
455$ US if you park in a bus stop of a marked handicapped parking zone. Same fine will be applied to graffiti taggers who screw up public transit property.
Other fines for not stopping at crosswalks, speeding, not having current registration, driving with your children in your arms, talking on cell phones range from 20$ US to 70$ US depending on the infraction.Stronger fines – nuevas multas
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Trying to link the abandoned marijuana to the drug cartels
Posted: Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:42:13 +0000
Officials in Mexico have seized more than two tons of marijuana found floating off the coast of tourist hotspot Los Cabos. The following is the best line we seen so far and, as we informed by sources in a news outlet, was so supplied by authorities. “Law enforcement authorities are trying to link the abandoned marijuana to the drug cartels”… really??? Hmmm…, we thought this was the friendly neighborhood mom & pop pot dealer that went out squid fishing and took 2 tons of marijuana with them to wash of the dust… geeze! Is that all they can come up with?? Is that part of the 6-digit US $ paid north of the border media campaign to create a better image looking at the southern Baja and La Paz??
La Paz is a safe place to visit but a few more of that incidents as 2 weeks ago the shooting and now a rather large drug find, even if 200km away in Cabo San Lucas and La Paz will appear on the “do not go” radar with the rest of BCS. Who they want to fool with such a line our Mexican friends ask as much as we?? What about them cheezy videos published a few days after the shooting showing a bunch of liquored up cruise-ship visitors on a 200 meter stretch of beach and asking them how they like it and what date it is??? They probably did not even know there was some incident. So the tourism marketing spin-doctors, in that case we assume state / Baja California Sur, really need to do some reality checks and may do a little profiling on who they reach out to with such messages. This is about the lively-hood of a whole region and many jobs related to visiting tourists. Quit treating people like they are fools. You want to sense what people (foreign visitors) think?? How about fly 10 times to LA and listen to what the folks talk about. That may serves as a wake-up call……
Source: Baja Leaks
Trying to link the abandoned marijuana to the drug cartels
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Major gun-battle Cabo San Lucas military and narcos
Posted: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:25:27 +0000
A major gun-battle took place past night in Cabo San Lucas Prisas Pacifico area (general/near Sorianas) between Mexican military and assumed narco trafficantes. Out inside source (CSL city government personal) informed us that the shot-out lasted about 4 hours from 23:00hr to 3:00 am. One soldier dead, one kidnapper dead and 2 police seriously injured. A independent observer put this video on YouTube. One can expect that this will not remain single incidents.
As we write, 14:40 hrs. Saturday 29. October 2011 we receive information that at this moment at the area of the Plaza Sendero (dont know exact name, general area Sorianas / Prisas Pacifico) is another – related – gunfight with the military taking place. The road to Todos Santos and Aguajito Avenue, just off Plaza Sendero, have been completely closed to traffic. Gunshots can be heard (3:39 pm).
Mexican military is evacuating Plaza Sendero. This information is NOT official! We are informed by telefon from a person in the very near area. Thanks Salvadore R.!! Keep us posted but foremost: be save and stay out of harms way!Some people may ask: “How come now Cabo? This was all mainland so far.” Our opinion: the “squeeze” from the government activities of the last years slowly shows impact. Cabo San Lucas and all of the Loscabos area was attractive to the narcos for the money laundering via real estate investment opportunities. All those expensive, overpriced real estate and hotels etc. Additional, for the second and third league criminals/dealers there is/was also a huge domestic drug market in CSL supplying some locals and the tourists. In general CSL and BCS are not in a corridor for drug trafficking past the drugs consumed in the area. Turf-battles will occur more often as the economy goes further down…. the market they can invest in just get’s smaller or is hibernating as well the “real” (real as of people visiting versus what the media spin-doctors try to sell) visitor numbers are down i.e. also less “customers”. Maybe they (“investors”) take over some of the “white elephants”…..??
Report in spanish here: El Universal News
Major gun-battle Cabo San Lucas military and narcos
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Mexico Independence Day Grito de Dolores
Posted: Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:39:32 +0000
Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon gives the traditional “El grito,” or shout, to kick off Independence Day celebrations at the Zocalo in Mexico City, late Thursday Sept. 15, 2011. Mexico is marking the 201st anniversary of the “Grito de Dolores,” honoring the call to arms made by the priest Miguel Hidalgo in 1810 that began the struggle for independence from Spain, achieved in 1821. In the early hours of September 16th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato, rang the church bell to gather the townspeople. He called for the people of Mexico to rise up against the Spanish Crown, thus initiating Mexico’s War of Independence. The country did not achieve independence until 1821, but it is this event, known as the Grito de Dolores which is commemorated every year in town squares across Mexico.
The largest Independence Day celebration takes place in Mexico City’s Zocalo, which is decorated from the beginning of September with red, white and green lights and Mexican flags. On the 15th, at 11 pm the President of the Republic goes out onto the central balcony of the National Palace (Palacio Nacional), rings the bell (the same bell Hidalgo rang in 1810, brought to Mexico City in 1886) and cries to the people gathered in the square below, who enthusiastically respond “¡Viva!”
The words of the Grito may vary, but they go something like this:
¡Vivan los heroes que nos dieron patria! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Hidalgo! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Allende! ¡Viva!
¡Vivan Aldama y Matamoros! ¡Viva!
¡Viva nuestra independencia! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!
At the end of the third ¡Viva Mexico! the crowd goes wild waving flags, ringing noisemakers and spraying foam. Then fireworks light up the sky as the crowd cheers. Later the Mexican national anthem is sung.
The celebrations continue on the 16th with civic ceremonies and parades – the largest taking place in Mexico City, but perhaps the most touching festivities are those in small communities in which school children of all ages participate.Mexico Independence Day Grito de Dolores
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6.0 magnitude earthquake 60 miles east of La Paz
Posted: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:50:57 +0000
A strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Sea of Cortez off Baja California, 60 miles east of La Paz, Mexico, the U.S. Geological Survey reported on Tuesday. The quake occurred at 11:44 a.m. local time (1744 GMT) at a depth of 3.1 miles. 86 km (53 miles) SW of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico 138 km (85 miles) NNE of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
La Paz BCS Infotheque is not aware of any damage. We did not even feel it at the Fidepaz area…. – La Paz, a good place to be
6.0 magnitude earthquake 60 miles east of La Paz
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Tourist boat capsizes off Baja California peninsula
Posted: Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:55:22 +0000
One person drowned and six were missing after a fishing boat carrying 27 American tourists capsized in a storm and sank off Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, authorities said on Monday. The 115-foot (35 meter) chartered boat left the port of San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez, a haven for windsurfers and sports fishermen, on Saturday but was struck by an electrical storm and capsized early on Sunday, port and navy officials said. Emergency services officials in San Felipe said 27 of the 44 people on board were U.S. citizens.
The U.S. Coast Guard, which is sending a helicopter to help with the rescue, said one person was dead and authorities were still searching for six others, but had no information on their nationalities.
“(The helicopter) should be there around 0800 (Pacific time) to assist with rescue efforts,” Coast Guard official Benny Minton said. The boat, called the Erik, was found around 87 miles south of San Felipe, a popular holiday and fishing resort located south of Mexicali. According to an Internet advertisement, the Erik has been operating in the Sea of Cortez since 1989 and can sleep up to 42 guests. “We are still looking for the rest of the people. The weather is really bad right now, with strong wind,” said local port official Felipe Vallecillo.
Vallecillo said weather conditions were normal when the boat set sail on Saturday.The services offered for this boat been described as “You live aboard the 105 foot ERIK in air-conditioned bunk rooms for 2, 3 or 6. Travel to the midriff island area where you fish from pangas. The boat is your floating hotel and restaurant. The food is excellent quality Mexican and American cuisine, all cooked fresh”
Vessel information: The Erik
- The ERIK has been in the Sea of Cortez liveboard since 1989.
- The vessel has a length of 115′ with a 24′ beam. Built in Holland, she was equipped with stabilizers to handle the turbulent North Sea.
- 9 air-conditioned staterooms will each sleep between 2-4 people. 1 large air-conditioned stateroom, located behind the wheelhouse, can accommodate up to 6 people.
- 5 bathrooms and 3 showers are located on the main and upper decks.
- The galley and outdoor eating area, with light breezes and sunset views, are located on the main deck near the bow.
- The ERIK will carry 9 pangas, accommodating either 2 or 3 fishermen(plus 1 guide). Each panga is equipped with a bait tank.
Tourist boat capsizes off Baja California peninsula
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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La Paz gastronomy in critical situation, make or break time
Posted: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:48:58 +0000
You propably seen them baskets with gratis pamphlets at some locations in La Paz, we had our find @CheDrauiBaja and this article catched our attention. Not that it was somethings new – you walk across the city with open eyes the past 2 years and that is a ongoing situation, and not just with the restaurants… But now it’s the malecon and areas targeting tourists and worth some attention and to talk about….. Ok, let is quote – the author of the article us named as “TBC” and therefore full credits for this content to “TBC”. Saul Nunez, president of the national chamber of the industry of restaurants in La Paz (CANIRAC) predicts that summer 2011 will be a difficult time for his fellow members in the restaurant industry.
With some restaurants and bars recently closing their doors in the capital, including Caprichos on Madero, Time Out on the Malecon and Papas & Beer Nightclub, summertime is a make or break time for the industry. According to Nunez, some members of the local 119-member chamber will have to decide whether they will be able to keep their doors open.“Now, it is a critical situation for everyone, the economy in general is slow. Families, in times of financial difficulty, tighten their wallets and one of the first things they stop is eat out at restaurants. That has hurt the industry but on top of that, summertime is especially a difficult time for restaurants. August and September have traditionally been the slowest month of the year. Our cost go up, electricity to name just one factor, and we are seeing food and drink consumption down. I know some members are right now trying to decide if they can stay open or not.”
Nunez also mentioned that La Paz is a very paycheck-to-paycheck town. Members of of CANIRAC have noticed that on paydays, their restaurants have people entering their doors. But a few days after payday, very few people are visiting restaurants. At a time of downturn in the economy, people are buying the basics; food, clothes for school, hygiene products. Taking their family to a restaurant and eating out is the last thing that they are going to do or can do, on a restricted budget.
“We see less people coming into our restaurants. Of those people who are coming in, they are spending less money on their meals, less time in restaurants. Instead of ordering an appetizer, the main dish and a dessert, more are just ordering a main meal or sharing a main meal among the group” Nunez explained.
Several restaurants have had to already cut back on staff and extend or cutback on hours of operation, depending on demand and the staff available. In several restaurants run by families, at least one member of the family has had to look for other sources of employment.
Also, most people do not understand that it is very difficult to maintain a legalized business in Mexico. There are higher rates for businesses in regards to phone bills, electricity bills and water. Rent can be very expensive in La Paz. Labor laws are very strict and unions are very strong. Restaurants, like all businesses, need to be very careful with their staff.“It is a difficult situation. Fewer people are eating out and our bills to maintain our businesses are higher, especially over the summer month. Decisions will have to be made by members or whether they can continue to run their business. We just need to keep working hard and do the best we can.”
Addition by the editor: This situation is not just limited to the restaurants. Living 10 years in the city and having build up relationships with many “day-to-day” enterprises the general trend is the same with the lavandaria, the taxista, the gardener, the shoe-maker, even the tienda at the corner. All face the same dilemma with reduced income and increased overhead.The global economic crisis is exact that: global! La Paz is not spared from it and in our humble opinion do ongoing promotional activities to rekindle the economy not consider data, research and expertise from unbiased sources.
La Paz gastronomy in critical situation, make or break time
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Who is that guy??
Posted: Wed, 04 May 2011 16:55:39 +0000
Some of you probably see him more more often than me 
, his name is Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin (March 24, 1829 – September 8, 1862) and he looks at you every time you pull a $500 peso note out of your pocket! He was a general in the Mexican Army. On the 5th of May 1862 he defeated the invading French forces in the “Battle of Puebla” and became one of Mexico’s most celebrated heroes. Zaragoza was born in the town of Presidio de la Bahia de Espiritu Santo, now the city of Goliad, in southeast Texas. He moved to Monterrey, Mexico in 1844 when he was 15 years old and entered the seminary. Unsure of the rigors of a religious life he enlisted in the militia of nuevo Leon. At the age of 24 he decided to pursue a career in the army. he was rapidly promoted to the rank of Captain. Zaragoza was a strong supporter of Benito Juarez, a lawyer calling for changes in the constitution and separation of church and state. When Juarez became the Presidente of mexico in the mid-1850s he invited Zaragoza, who was now a General, to join his cabinet as the minister of war.It was a challenging time for Mexico. Juarez and his cabinet had to contend with an empty treasury, a wrecked economy, a problematic infrastructure and declining agriculture production. Mexico’s main European creditors, England, Spain and France, sent troops to Mexico to collect their financial claims against the Mexican government. As troops continue to increase, it became clear that France, under the rule of Napoleon III, were more interested in war rather than debt collection. Spain and England quickly withdrew, as the French advanced toward the city of Puebla on the road to Mexico City. Zaragoza resigned his political post as minister of war to take charge of Puebla’s defense. On the morning of May 5, 1862, Zaragoza’s outnumbered troops collided with the French invaders. They fought valiantly causing a French retreat to Orizaba.
Although this was not to be the final battle in stopping the French aggression, it inspired Mexicans to rally for the defense of their land and created immense national pride. Zaragoza was awarded the distinguished honor of Benemerito de la Patria from prsedente Juarez due to his success. Shortly after his famous victory, Zaragoza contracted typhoid fever. He died at the age of 33. His famous quote, “Las armas nationals se han cubierto de gloria” (the national army is coverd with glory), comes from the letter he wrote to presidente Juarez to inform him of the victory over the French. it is used to remember the battle and is included next to his image on the $500 peso note.
Who is that guy??
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Carnaval La Paz 2011
Posted: Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:06:39 +0000
The city’s biggest street party and entertainment festival starts Thursday, March 3, and continues through Tuesday, March 8. There’s also a one-day Carnaval for Children March 13. This year’s theme is “Naturaleza Viva” (Nature Alive), putting the focus on environmental conservation and ecology. Parades are March 6, 7 and 8 (note that this year the parade starts at El Molinito March 6 and 8; it starts at Márquez de León March 7). Most of the action is along the Malecón, where the street is blocked off for live entertainment, midway booths and parades. The main stage is at the kiosko on the Malecón at the foot of 16 de Septiembre. Live performances start at 6 p.m. with the evening’s main attraction at 9 p.m. The entertainment is free and the crowds later in the evening can be daunting. You’ll find Carnaval highlights listed in the day-by-day event calendar. ( Click here… )
Official dates for Carnaval 2011 will be 3.-8. March 2011.The theme this year is “Naturaleza Viva” or “Nature Alive”. Carnival usually ends on Fat Tuesday (8. March 2011) This will make Carnaval later than usual, the weather will be great and the event more appealing to visitors to Baja. The correct spelling is – “Carnaval” meaning the end of carne (meat) for the period of Lent. Despite the correct spelling we use also the common sprelling of carnival so the search engine crawlers have somethings to index (and you as interested carnival visitor find the info.)
This year the Carnaval Parades on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday is scheduled to start at 17:00 but we advise to verify this times short term at local sources. It will alternate starting ends of the Malecon as usual, but this year will start the first and third nights from the ‘Molina’ or ‘windmill’ NE end of the Malecon and on the second night from Marcos de Leon.
Most of the events are centered around the Esplanade and along the Malecon, although events and stages will be in place in many locations along the waterfront. The Parades will be Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, starting from opposite ends of the Malecon. Vendors will begin setting up as early as Monday, February 28 and traffic will be narrowed to one lane along the Malecon on Wednesday.
Carnaval La Paz 2011
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Fuego Cruzado
Posted: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:34:16 +0000
Headlines heralding violent news of Mexico’s drug war splash across the front pages of the country’s newspapers. Government tallies list more than 34,600 deaths since President Felipe Calderon began a crackdown on cartels in December 2006. Luckily this situation is in NO WAY occurring in La Paz or BCS and is related to certain areas at the Mexican mainland and the border areas to the USA. The United States are the main recipients of the smuggled drugs and the routes to deliver are the areas of conflicts. A comprehensive official database of drug-related killings around Mexico providing a new insight into the complexity of the conflict with criminal groups that traffic drugs into the United States has been released not long ago. But many stories behind the statistics are never told states Mexican journalist Marcela Turati Munoz.
“More of a voice has been given to the violent people; more of a voice has been given to the drug traffickers, and the victims really have not spoken,” Turati said.
Through stories in her new book, “Fuego Cruzado” — Spanish for “Crossfire” — Turati said she hopes long-overlooked victims finally will be heard. Turati conducted interviews in 10 Mexican states while researching the book, which hits shelves Tuesday, 18 January 2011.
In one chapter, she describes a woman, Nicole Polito Malaga, who keeps an altar to honor her three fallen children inside her wood hut. They were among 24 construction workers whose bodies were found in a forest in the Mexican state of Veracruz in 2008. “We do not want their memory to be stained. They were not involved with drugs. They were poor, humble people,” she says.
A wife describes her family’s collapse after her husband disappeared. A pathologist explains what goes through his mind when he examines a decapitated head.
Other stories are told in Turati’s voice, like that of 10 children killed by an explosion in Durango state while on their way to receive “Opportunities” scholarships from the government. Unable to afford coffins, their families shrouded them in blankets, she writes.
In another chapter, “No place for the children,” Turati takes readers to an interrogation room inside a Laredo, Texas, police station, where a Mexican teenager tells authorities about the first time he killed — when he was 13 years old. “I thought I was Superman,” Rosalio Reta says. “I loved doing it, killing that first person. Then they tried to take my gun, but it was like taking candy from a kid.”
Turati said she hopes the stories in the book will not only “make victims visible” but encourage others to act. “We still have time to see what is happening, reflect on what happened before and think about what type of society we are forming, with so much suffering, so much pain and so many losses,” she said.Fuego Cruzado
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