Rosarito Art Fest 2013: A Delight for the Senses

The Fourth Annual Rosarito Art Fest was a big success this year, with initial estimates forecasting an attendance of 18,000 people over the past Memorial Day weekend. This number has grown exponentially since the event’s inception in 2009. The actual numbers are not yet available as of this post, but from what your Gringo could see, they weren’t far off the mark. A festive crowd of locals from Tijuana and the region mixed with visitors from north of the border and the area’s ex-pat population to enjoy the work of Baja-based artists, performers, artisanal food vendors, craft breweries and regional winemakers.

Something’s Fishy (and Very Tasty) in Popotla

Your gringo has always loved seafood. And in my quest for the good stuff, I’ve learned many times over that the BEST seafood is caught, cleaned, cooked, served and enjoyed in the same place. From Baja-style lobster in Puerto Nuevo, to fresh almejas chocolatas (chocolate clams) in La Paz and many ceviches, grilled fish, clams, shrimps, mussels, abalones, fish tacos and pulpos in between, we’ve been fortunate to enjoy a lot of mariscos (seafood) in Baja California. And some of that seafood your Gringo has even caught himself (see San Felipe: So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!).

Avoiding the All-Inclusive Crunch in Playa del Carmen

When my sister Jen invited us to join her family for a vacation in Playa del Carmen last summer, I was suspect at first. After all, “Playa” (as it’s known to those in-the-know) is just south of Cancun on the Riviera Maya…a stretch of gorgeous Caribbean beachfront with a reputation for overdevelopment, ginormous all-inclusive resorts, and gung-ho American partiers and Spring Breakers (a travelers hell, in my mind). Further, my son Wolfie had just turned three and had a penchant for disruptiveness and running away from us at inopportune times in most public places (parks, streets, zoos, you name it).

Baja Sur Road Trip: Todos Santos, Los Cabos & La Paz

When your Gringo visits Mexico for more than a few days, he has a hard time staying in just one place! That’s why when my sister invited us for a week at their timeshare on the beach in San Jose del Cabo, I parlayed that into a Baja Sur Road Trip, with stays in Todos Santos, San Jose del Cabo and La Paz, as well as stops at some fairly remote and amazing spots in between.

Dia de los Muertos in Michoacan

As the air begins to cool and the nighttime arrives much sooner, October and November herald the onset of Fall and the arrival of Halloween in the US. Like most other Holidays we observe here, the pagan origins of Halloween have become muddied amidst an onslaught of candy, parties, costumes and the consumption of really bad American beer. In many cities, towns and villages across Mexico, however, the ritual of Dia de los Muertos (or “Day of the Dead”) maintains most aspects of its origins as a spiritual gumbo of post-invasion Spanish Catholicism and pre-Hispanic pagan ritual.

Morelia: Around Michoacan’s Stately & Historic Capital

Although our plans were originally to visit Oaxaca for Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos observance, political unrest there (and a State Department warning) made us change our destination at the last minute. The change was more than fortunate. We enjoyed the week-long celebration in Morelia and Patzcuaro Michoacan with a second week bussing to Cuernavaca and Taxco in the states of Morelos and Guerrera, respectively.

San Felipe: So Long. And Thanks for All the Fish

Just back from a four night trip last month with two old buddies from Back East to San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico. Both Steve and Alan were glad to be rid of their winter existences back in Ohio and Colorado, respectively, and after a very busy few months with my business, San Felipe provided just what we all needed.