Sabor a Cabo – Food Festival 2011

If you consider yourself a foodie or simply enjoy good food, “Sabor a Cabo” is a must. This annual food festival will be held December 1st, 2011 in Puerto Los Cabos and you can taste the creations of several of the most renowned chefs and restaurants in Cabo. Some of them include Edith’s, The Office, Mango Deck, Billigan’s, El Medano Beach, Mi Casa, Sunset Monalisa, Nick San CSL, Nick San Palmilla, DOC La Panga Antigua, 7 Seas, Las Quesadillas, 12 Tribus, Baja Cantina, La Taquiza, Denis Catering, La Esquina, Café Cabo, Boston Dogs, Deckman’s, Baja Cantina .

Part of the profits go to the local Fire department and Red Cross, so not only you’ll be enjoying delicious food, your karma levels will raise considerably, kudos! And who doesn’t like to listen to good music while eating? This year’s entertainment will be in charge of the “Magnificent Seven” a rock band formed by international musicians of great bands like Guns ‘n Roses, Velvet Revolver, The Cult and more.

Tickets are $1,200 pesos each, and you can buy them by calling (624)143 3944 or through their webpage http://saboracabo.com/home.html#3

Sport Fishing News

There’s been some monster numbers at the scales in the last fishing tournaments, just to mention one, the big winner of the 2011 Bisbee’s Black and Blue Tournament was the team that reeled in a very respectable 409 pound Marlin. But in this tournaments it’s not just the weight it matters, it’s important to sign up for all the jackpots. Because in terms of money the second place of the tournament landed the very respectable figure of $1,162,842 usd for a great blue marlin weigh-in 395 pounds.

And even if Bisbee’s is the most known tournament in Los Cabos, there are several other tournaments that bring big money (and fish) to sport fishing teams.  For example, the “Los Cabos Offshore” tournament held the second week of October in its tenth edition brought us a monster yellow fin tuna that weigh-in 409 pounds (that’s a lot of sashimi!) And how about the 557 pound blue marlin of the East Cape Offshore? That baby landed $238,569.00 to “La Hielera” team and Capt. David Almanza.

My point here is not to make you drool at the possibility of that amount of delicious ceviche or the jackpots pocketed by the fishing teams,  but it’s that despite the rumors, the fish are here, they are big and they are just waiting for you to go and try to catch it. Book your fishing trip at the concierge office or dial 2000 from your residence. Happy fishing!

For more news on the fishing tournaments in the area, here.

San Jose del Cabo Art Walk

For those who have been too busy at the fabulous Cabo beaches and haven’t notice, behind the town square in San Jose del Cabo, there are several fine art galleries that found their home in old downtown adobe houses, now known as the Art District.

You will find several art galleries offering everything you heart could desire to finish furnishing your amazing residence. Local and international artists welcome you to admire the talented and inspired artists’ work, from paintings to clothing.

The beautiful restored old residences which are a delightful sight by itself, now house fine dining restaurants as well as galleries, which makes this a worthy stroll at all times. But from November to June, Thursday nights from 5 to 9 pm, you’re in for a real treat.  Why, you might wonder? Well, that’s when all the art galleries of the area get together and host the San Jose Art Walk , where everybody stays open till 9 pm, they offer wine tastings, special events, like “artist in attendance” and other surprises.

So next Thursday remember to visit the Art Walk at the Historic Art District of San Jose del Cabo, it’s definitely a fresh way to finish another great day in paradise.

San Jose Farmers Market is Back!

With the organic vibe in its full hype, the San Jose Organic Market just started the season last Saturday November 9, with more than 200 vendors offering their veggies, poultry, eggs, meat baked goods, clothing, jewelry, art, books, maps, goat cheese and even handmade soaps. So, it’s not only about the veggies, you could shop for handmade souvenirs for people back home, and avoid the “made in China” sticker in the bottom.

And even if you’re not there to shop, you could stop by to enjoy yourself with performers and live music; anyway you look at it, it’s a great way to spend a Saturday morning.

Find them every Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm behind the Jockey Club, in San Jose del Cabo. For driving instructions and more info please visit www.sanjomo.com  or ask the concierge office for help. If you wish to buy something, remember it’s a cash only market, so make sure you stop by the ATM before.

Tecate SCORE Baja 2011 Off Road racing, or you can call it Baja 1000

Like every November for more than 40 years, the spectacular Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race will take place in all the Baja California peninsula. All the way from Ensenada  to La Paz, hundreds of cars, trucks and motorcycles will compete in 15 different categories in an exciting 1000 miles race.

This race, also known as Baja 1000, is a harsh off road rally where drivers from all over pursuit glory through the tricky Mexican desert, full of dunes and ditches, with only 10 checkpoints along the way. Only the strongest, most skilled off road teams adventure to drive the approximately 18 hours that it takes. Every year near 250,000 people camp for days, not only at the goal line, but all along the way, to marvel at this incredible motorized show.

Don’t miss one of the most amazing off road races, the kickoff is November 17 in Ensenada and the goal line is in La Paz, where the first racer is expected somewhere after 19 to 20 hours after the kickoff. Last year, the first Mexican team to ever win the Baja 1000 (Tavo y Gus Vildosola) finished with a time of 19 hrs 00 min 04 sec, 20 minutes ahead of the 2nd place.

Who knows what surprises the Baja 1000 will have for us this year, one thing is for sure, it will be an exciting one. To learn more about the Baja 1000 and other off road races, visit http://www.score-international.com/

Vacations may be closer than they appear – Winter Special

Have you been planning your escape from shoveling snow, heater bills and gray skies? Alegranza gives you the opportunity of stop dreaming and spend a well deserved vacation in this little piece of paradise we call home. With blue, clear skies and an inviting weather, Los Cabos is a perfect option for a Holiday Getaway. Enjoy of a 4 night, 5 day vacation for 4 people in a fully equipped luxury residence for only $1,196* total! Call us now, and give yourself a treat this holiday season.

 *Price is for 2 bedroom residence and does not includes taxes.

Cabo Pioneer Dies – Rest in Peace Don Luis Bulnes Molleda

Los Cabos lost one of his founding fathers when Don Luis Bulnes Molleda died at age 83 in a hospital in Los Angeles, US  on October 10, 2011.

Don Luis Bulnes is the mastermind behind the Solmar empire which includes the “Solmar Beach Club Resort” “Playa Grande Resort”, “Hotel Quinta del Sol”, the “Solmar Sport fishing” fleet and the restaurants “El Galeon”, “La Fonda”, “Hacienda el Coyote” and “Romeo y Julieta”.

He arrived to Cabo San Lucas with his bride Conchita in 1955, to an obscure fisherman town with 400 inhabitants, no paved roads, electricity or restaurants. Despite the desolating welcome, Don Luis Bulnes saw the potential and helped turn Los Cabos into one of Mexico best destinations.

In 1969 joined forces with Luis Coppola and started the construction of the Hotel Finisterra, few months later he sold his interest  and started the first phase of the “Solmar Beach Club Resort”.

He was also a great advocate of responsible fishing and his employees remember him as wonderful boss, many of them have been with Don Luis since the very beginning.

If you wish to know about the influence of Don Luis  on the sport fishing in Cabo, there is a great piece of mexfish.com entitled “Luis Bulnes and the Marlin that Changed Cabo San Lucas”.

For a more detailed profile and background of Don Luis as a developer I invite you to read Sandra Berry’s interview in 2007 here.

Rest in peace Don Luis.

Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead, a Mexican tradition and its significance

Tonight, the souls of the deceased will come down to earth to visit the ones they left behind and their family will welcome them with altars and gifts. Well, maybe not all over the world, but at least in Mexico this is a tradition that survived the Spanish conquest and dates back to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, queen of Mictlan, the Aztec underworld.

With an altar and gifts full of significance, this Mexican holiday mystifies and marvels foreigners, who feel captivated by the way we Mexicans experience death: by challenging, flattering and laughing at it to defeat the fear and embrace it.

It all starts with a visit to the cemetery to clean the tomb in preparation for the altar. Then, it’s decorated with cempasúchitl flower (Mexican marigold) whose fragrance is believed to lead the deceased and also represents the brevity of life; and black tissue paper (papel picado) cut into elaborated designs representing the land of the dead. Five candles need to be placed on top of the altar, representing the five cardinal directions in which the Aztecs believed (the four we known and a fifth one representing the afterworld) so the soul of the deceased can navigate its way back.

After such a long trip, the soul will be hungry and thirsty, therefore we must offer the favorite dishes of the deceased as well as his/her favorite beverage (usually atole, tequila or pulque). Bread, water and salt are must-have in all altars, as they represent the food and water needed for survival, and the salt is to purify the altar. Finally some decorated sugar skulls, pictures of the deceased, personal items and tools they could need in the afterlife are added. Once the family and friends finish the altar, they will sit in vigil to wait for their loved ones to come back to their world. All over Mexico, cemeteries are full with families paying respect to their dead as well as finding closure. Preparing for the return of the spirits each year it’s not only a tradition, but an opportunity to heal.

And once the night of November 2^nd has passed, the living rejoices and celebrate that they have triumphed over death once more.

Mexico’s Popular Los Cabos to Host G20 Summit

President Calderon announce Los Cabos as the next location for the G20 summit, something that talks of the safety and security that we enjoy here in San Jose del Cabo / Cabo San Lucas.

Leaders from the 20 most powerful economies, which collectively represent more than 90 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), around 80 percent of world trade volume and more than two-thirds of the world’s population, will discuss polices to achieve international financial stability, among other global issues.

With over 16,000 people attending the summit, new infrastructure was necessary, therefore Los Cabos received $180 million for the construction of a new convention  center and the building of the second four lane highway from San Jose to Cabo San Lucas.

Other projects of infrastructure include the first stage of paving the south to east main road to the East Cape where new  housing developments, five-star resorts and commercial areas have started to blossom. Also, the tiny Cabo San Lucas airstrip will benefit from this construction boost, where many foreign dignitaries will probably arrive to assure more privacy.

Whether the  G20 summit solves the world economy or not, everybody in Los Cabos, myself included agree that this is a unique opportunity for the destination, because once the G20 people is gone we get to keep  and benefit from all the infrastructure left behind.

Alegria Ristorante Italiano

Alegranza’s onsite restaurant it’s been renewed and just opened under a new concept of gourmet Italian cuisine. Using only the best local and organic produce, chef Apostolis’ new creation will offer delicious salads, pizzas, pasta and more. Alegria Ristorante Italiano will be open starting October 1st and will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner with reasonable prices.

Open from 8 am to 11 pm. For reservations please call (624) 10 4 32 75