One man's war zone is another's paradise

 

From the insulated safety of Baja's luxurious seaside gated communities, American expatriates say reports of kidnappings and violent drug cartels seem a world away.

Reporting from Rosarito Beach, Mexico - Bob and Carol Dawson love living in Baja California, but the region's violent reputation has put them on the defensive. They have been called delusional and reckless -- all because they choose to live in an oceanfront gated community about 30 or 40 miles and a world away from the U.S. border.

Americans living in this part of Mexico are often grilled, half-jokingly, about their sanity. They get asked whether they've seen decapitated heads rolling down the street. Friends wonder whether they wear bulletproof vests or drive around in armored cars.

When the Dawsons moved here in 1999 to retire, they were enticed by the area's charm and peacefulness. They bought an expansive home with ocean views for $175,000. "Live like a millionaire without a million bucks" is the local real estate mantra.

In recent years, the tranquillity has been eclipsed by the mayhem of battles between the Mexican government and organized crime. Military trucks brimming with heavily armed soldiers have rumbled through the manicured grounds of luxury developments; gunmen pepper local police stations with automatic-weapon fire; and Baja California's most notorious crime boss once eluded authorities by running through a beach popular among American retirees.

Since 2008, more than 1,000 Mexicans in the northern Baja California area have died in the drug violence. Rarely does a week go by without news of another person being beheaded or dissolved in acid or chopped up and left in a parked car.

But for most expatriates the violence seems as distant as headlines from Iraq. Along the 70-mile stretch of coastline from Tijuana to Ensenada, 14,000 Americans live in a bubble of relative security, many in gated developments or high-rise condominiums where they run a greater risk of being sideswiped by a golf cart or a wave-tossed surfer than staring down an AK-47-toting drug trafficker.

Not that expatriates are oblivious to the drug war. Bill Kirchhoff, the former city manager of Redondo Beach, said he suspects that some of the boaters speeding by his seaside house at Playa La Mision are drug traffickers. He's not moving back to the States any time soon, though, saying a few precautions can keep people out of harm's way.

"A lot of people simply don't understand the level of danger that exists in this kind of environment," he said. "But if you're aware of it, you can manage it to a great extent."

Bob Dawson, 66, said the dangers are exaggerated, but shares a pioneer attitude. "We're a different kind of breed even to try this," he said.

From the balcony of their home one row back from the ocean, the Dawsons can see dolphins dancing in the waves and pelicans gliding low over the surf break. Carol keeps watch for the first signs of migrating whales; Bob pours his locally famous margarita mix -- dubbed Bobby-Ritas -- for neighbors.

They just don't get many visitors.

Loved ones beg them to move and many won't visit, including their son-in-law, who for much of the last few years has refused to bring their grandsons to visit. "He thinks we live in a dream world," said Carol, 65. "But if I feared danger to my life, I wouldn't be here."

The curving, craggy coastline of northern Baja California, a one-hour drive from San Diego, was once a popular getaway for Southern California residents. They came for the solitude and the surf. They would unwind at gringo bars and spend weekends at funky beachfront hotels.

In recent years, the coastal stretch has taken on an upscale look with condominiums, spacious homes, bed-and-breakfasts, and spas rising on bluffs. In the nearby Guadalupe Valley, hacienda-style inns and wineries sit amid vineyards blanketing the tawny hills.

The area attracts a range of Americans. Young telecommuters and Internet entrepreneurs live alongside artists and urban refugees in hillside villages. Retirees enjoy five-star luxury resorts with vanishing-edge pools, private beaches and shuttle service to the border.

For less than $300,000, people can buy a spacious home on an 18-hole golf course at Baja Mar. Ocean-view houses with balconies and gardens can be had for $400,000.

"Look at this. I can't live in La Jolla like this," Richard Cargill, 66, said as he took in the ocean views from his deck at the Palacio Del Mar resort. The retired mortgage banker paid $490,000 for the 2,300-square-foot condominium one year ago. "I call this the smart man's San Diego."

For the Dawsons, the appeal was an early retirement. Bob, who used to own a paper packaging company, and Carol, a former flight attendant, cut their expenses 30% when they moved down from Santa Ana. They live in the Las Gaviotas development about six miles south of Rosarito Beach, where 298 homes sit behind high walls and visitors must pass through a gate manned 24 hours a day by security guards. There's a clubhouse, a pool, tennis courts and a promenade lined with mini-mansions that overlook the palapa-dotted beach.

After the Dawsons bought their home as a weekend getaway in 1996 they passed out keys to relatives, and their two daughters brought friends down on weekends. "This was a party house," Bob Dawson said.

In those days the beach and pool at Las Gaviotas teemed with families and children on weekends. "It was filled with laughter and noise," Carol Dawson said. "It was fun."

Five years ago, anticipating more visitors, the Dawsons expanded their house, adding two bedrooms, a bathroom and an elevator. They started a property management business catering to Americans who owned second homes in the area.

Then the troubles started.

The Mexican government's crackdown against organized crime struck Baja California in 2007. A few Americans fell victim to the upheaval late that year, when heavily armed men dressed as police pulled over a San Diego-area family on the coastal road. They pointed guns at their heads, pocketed cash and jewelry, and stole their truck and trailer.

That attack, along with the robbery of a surfer and the rape of his girlfriend on an isolated beach, was repeated in media accounts of Baja California violence. Though the situation has calmed considerably, some media outlets continue mentioning the incidents, angering residents and Mexican officials.

To the Dawsons, the recycled reports give the distorted impression that Americans are constantly under siege. Media coverage of "a shootout in the States lasts one day," Bob said. "We have a shootout here, and it lasts for years."

The negative publicity has taken its toll. At Las Gaviotas, dozens of houses sit empty, many with "For Sale" signs. Of the 11 homes managed by the Dawsons, not one was rented in September and only a few have been leased since.

Passing through the development's tall gates for a quick trip down the road to Rosarito Beach, the Dawsons encounter a somewhat shabby landscape of roadside coconut stands and shanties. They drive by construction-supply and appliance stores, restaurants and other businesses where owners have downsized or closed down because the expected influx of baby boomers never materialized.

The Dawsons point to the fancy Las Rocas resort, where their nephew's wedding was nearly spoiled in April when the maid of honor considered canceling because she was worried about crime. Security concerns have contributed to a shutdown of filmmaking at nearby Baja Studios; entertainment-industry workers on movies such as "Titanic" and "Master and Commander" once injected millions of dollars into the local economy.

Outside the studio gates, where a replica of a tall ship is docked, the Mexican military runs a northbound checkpoint. Masked marines with assault weapons question drivers. In the distance, another marine mans a .50-caliber machine gun.

A marine quickly waves the Dawsons through. "It makes me feel safe," Bob said as he passed the military's sign: "Welcome to Baja California. This is a routine military checkpoint."

Kirchhoff, the retired Redondo Beach city manager, feels uneasy whenever he comes to a checkpoint. "They're there for a reason and it's not a good one," he said.

Earlier this year, Baja California crime boss Teodoro Garcia Simental was believed to be at a party at an oceanfront resort a few miles from Kirchhoff's property, but he escaped onto the beach, according to officials and media reports.

Kirchhoff said federal police and soldiers scoured the area in helicopters, boats and trucks, and walked up the sand to search neighboring properties. "They were chasing some of the most heinous criminals in Baja. That ought to give anybody cause for concern," said Kirchhoff, 67.

But it's not enough to get him to leave his sprawling home perched over the beach and his four-acre ranch near- by. Kirchhoff and other expatriates who have been touched by crime -- usually home break-ins or petty theft -- have adapted to the risks. They drive junky cars, avoid late-night trips and stay away from crime hot spots like eastern Tijuana.

The Dawsons also have their own rules. They never carry large amounts of cash, and they keep a stash hidden in the car just in case they're robbed. The couple says they use the kind of common-sense rules that people follow in any community affected by serious crime, like Los Angeles or their former hometown. Carol says she feels safer in Las Gaviotas, where she leaves her front door unlocked.

"I heard gunfire in Santa Ana. I've never heard gunfire here," she said.

It's a point she's made countless times to her son-in-law, without success. "He was very hard-nosed about coming down here," she said. "He thought people were putting their children in danger."

A few weeks ago, Carol was returning from an errand when she was greeted at the front door by squeals of excitement. "Surprise, Grammy," yelled her two grandsons. Her son-in-law, seeing that crime has declined significantly from two years ago, made the trip from Laguna Niguel with his family.

It was like old times. The boys batted a Wiffle ball on the putting green, took walks on the beach with their three golden retrievers and played in the pool. Carol's daughter and son-in-law got side-by-side massages at a spa, played golf at Baja Mar, and the family dined at the La Fonda restaurant down the coast.

Carol Dawson and other expatriates see signs that things may be turning around. Some hotels are selling out on weekends and there are more surfers trickling down south of the border. Then there's her son-in-law's change of heart.

"I think he finally realized," she said, "that it can't be all that bad."

Cuba Gooding Sr. Realizará una Serie de Conciertos en Rosarito

El famoso cantante de “The Main Ingredient”, Cuba Gooding Senior realizará una serie de cinco conciertos en la ciudad de Playas de Rosarito del 4 al 6 de diciembre de este año.

Cuba Gooding, quien se hiciera famoso en los años 70’s por su canción “Everybody Plays The Fool” entre otras, y por ser el padre del famoso actor de Hollywood del mismo nombre, recibirá de manos de Hugo Torres Chabert alcalde de Rosarito, las llaves de la ciudad y la proclamación como “Embajador de Buena Voluntad” durante uno de los conciertos.

“Me gustaría que esta oportunidad de servir como embajador de esta ciudad fuera más allá” comentó Cuba Gooding, “y para ello estoy dispuesto a ser el mejor vocero en beneficio de Rosarito y de Baja California” expresó.

“Yo crecí en Nueva York, y he viajado mucho a lo largo de mi trayectoria artística; tengo casas en varias ciudades incluyendo el Caribe, pero es en mi casa en Rosarito donde disfruto de relajarme tranquilamente, por lo que me siento mucho más feliz aquí que en ninguna otra parte del mundo” afirmó.

Cuba Gooding, quien visita a su familia regularmente en los Estados Unidos, aclaró que se siente muy contento cuando sus hijos y nietos lo visitan aquí, y que le encanta México, por lo que estos conciertos serán sólo el inicio de una serie de eventos musicales que pretende lanzar para verano y otoño de 2010.

“En está ocasión me acompañan mis músicos quienes vienen desde Nueva York únicamente a esta serie de presentaciones, pero para el año que viene tengo programado traer artistas muy importantes para crear una serie de eventos musicales de gran calidad, que atraigan al turista y contribuir así al beneficio económico de la región” puntualizó.

Por su parte el alcalde se comprometió a apoyar incondicionalmente esta iniciativa, y se mostró muy contento del ofrecimiento hecho por el cantante, a quien invitó a acompañarlo a sus giras por el extranjero para promover la ciudad y difundir el mensaje de que Rosarito es un destino turístico de calidad, hospitalario y sobre todo seguro.

“Importantes temas de los años 70’s se han convertido en clásicos y se están poniendo de moda entre las nuevas generaciones, por lo que me gustaría enfocarme mucho en invitar a Rosarito a los estudiantes universitarios” dijo muy entusiasmado el artista.

Los conciertos serán en dos horarios 6 y 9 de la noche. El costo del boleto es de $35 dólares e incluye cena de cinco tiempos con langosta o prime rib como plato principal.

Para mayores informes acerca de la serie de conciertos comunicarse con Kimberly a: goodingdevelopment@hotmail.com

Rosarito Beautification Effort Underway With Popotla Boulevard Projects & Others

A section of the city best known for housing the creation of beautiful things is the first to benefit from a new volunteer city beautification effort.

Sculptures including Neptune and others created by local artists have been installed along Popotla Boulevard, south of the main downtown, over the past several years.

Popotla is a section of Rosarito known for handmade furniture, metal sculpting, tile and glass work, art galleries and much more. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rosarito.

Now the effort, organized by Juan Bosco president of AFAMARO, the Rosarito artisans’ association, is expanding to include Benito Juarez, which is the name of Popotla as it runs though the center and north of Rosarito.

A non-profit group is being formed to lead the project. It will consist of four subcommittees, one each for Rosarito north, Rosarito downtown, Popotla Boulevard and the Puerto Nuevo area.

Along the boulevard three murals will be painted, several fountains, old doors, sculptures and more will be installed, as well as plants, pots, banners and more.

Donations including materials are being sought to assist in the project. Anyone wanting to help can contact Laura Wong at bajatimes@prodigy.net.mx, Citlalitl Pereda at presidente@rosarito.org, or Bosco at juanbosco@afamaro.com

U.S. Rotary Club Helps Maintain Beach & Makes Statement on Safety of Rosarito

Seven members of a California Rotary club joined with about 20 local Rotarians and Rosarito residents Saturday in an event to demonstrate this tourist area is perfectly safe for visitors.

The event organized by Rotarians from Cambria, California was officially a beach maintenance session but Bruce Howard, past president of that club, said its main purpose was to help eliminate inaccurate perceptions that have developed in the U.S.

“We want to tell people that Baja is safe,” said Howard, who owns a vacation home in Rosarito. “We’re coming down, we love coming down and we feel safe and welcome and comfortable here.”

Howard said media coverage of the Mexican government’s aggressive crackdown on drug cartels, including some sensationalized stories, has created the impression among some in the U.S. that the area is unsafe for visitors.

“Those of us who love this area and visit it often know that is not true,” Howard said. “But unfortunately the perception is seen as reality by many and it has badly hurt the economy and many people here.”

Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres thanked Howard and those attending for their effort: “We appreciate you thinking of Rosarito and trusting us when we say that we’re truly safe for visitors.”

Howard also urged all the Rotarians to send news of the event to their local papers in the U.S. Joining Howard for the trip from Cambria were Sharon Harvey, Socorro Simmons, David May, Tommy Howard, Vikki Hansen and Dennis White.

Members of the two local clubs, Club Playas de Rosarito and the Rotary Club of Rosarito, also helped organize the event and participated. The clubs will join together for future events also, said Rosarito Rotarian Jorge Villanueva.

Some of the Rotarians wore yellow vests for the beach maintenance, which took about two hours. “The beaches are cleaner here than the ones at home,” Howard said.

Some local residents as well as Rosarito Rotarians and members of the city’s Convention & Visitors Bureau also joined in. Howard said several Rotarians from clubs in Southern California as well as Wyoming also participated.

(Attached photo includes Villanueva, far left; Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres, center in striped maroon sweater; and Bruce Howard, far right in yellow vest).

Rosarito Event This Saturday Has 2 Purposes: Maintain The Beach & Support The Region

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---The Rotary Club of Cambria, California is co-sponsoring with its Rosarito counterpart this Saturday a beach maintenance day --- but its main purpose is to show this area is safe for U.S. visitors.

“Any beach can benefit from a clean-up day, but the ones here are maintained very nicely,” said Bruce Howard, past president of the Cambria club. “Our main goal in bringing Rotary members down is to help correct misperceptions in the U.S.”

Participants in the beach maintenance day will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday on the beach in front of the Rosarito Beach Hotel. Local residents can join the effort just by showing up.

One group will head south, towards Rene’s Campo, while the other group will head north to clean up as much of the beach as possible during the two-hour event, according to Edson Ruiz, the President of the Rotary Club of Rosarito.

Ruiz is asking all youth and service groups, clubs and organizations in the area, including members of Rosarito’s large expatriate community, to participate.

Further information on the event, including lodging discounts, is available by contacting Jack George at; jeg925@yahoo.com or, in the U.S., Bruce Howard at; bruce@brucehowardrealtor.com.

Howard, who has a vacation home in Rosarito, said media coverage of the Mexican government’s aggressive crackdown on drug cartels has created the impression among many in the U.S. that the area is unsafe for visitors.

“Those of us who love this area and visit it often know that is not true,” Howard said. “But unfortunately the perception is seen as reality by many and it has badly hurt the economy and many people here.”

“We’re hoping events like this and others we are planning involving club members and their families will help spread a more accurate perception in the U.S.,” Howard said.

“It’s also a great way to strengthen our relationship with clubs in Mexico,” he added. “Many members of California Rotary clubs and their families love this area and have enjoyed visiting here for decades.”

Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres praised the Cambria club’s effort and expressed his gratitude.

“This is a bad time to be involved with organized crime in Mexico,” said Torres. “But for our millions of visitors the area is as safe or safer than ever. Still, it is difficult to overcome negative perceptions.”

“We are extremely grateful to the Cambria Rotary Club and other U.S. groups who love Rosarito and have stepped forward to help us convey an accurate picture,” Torres added. “We know they are among our best ambassadors in the U.S.”

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held For Rosarito Beach Boys & Girls Club

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO—The first phase of a $1 million Boys & Girls Club designed to eventually serve 1,000 children a day in this city is scheduled for completion in late summer of next year.

The goal of the Boys & Girls Club of Rosarito is to provide positive activities and experiences for children, including ones from needy families, said club president Rosy Torres.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the club on a hillside east of the Sharp Electronics facility was held last Thursday. State and local officials and about 200 people attended the ceremony, which included a gymnastics demonstration by school children.

About $100,000 of the $1 million has been raised, Ms. Torres said.

That includes about $80,000 from the office of Baja California Gov. Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan; $10,000 from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mexico, which was represented by Enrique Gamboa; and a $10,000 personal donation from Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres.

At the ceremony Mayor Torres spoke of how the club will provide positive experiences for children, while keeping them from bad influences that could lead to delinquency and experimentation with drugs.

The first phase of the club will include reception and administrative offices, library, computer room, dance/music/ martial arts studio, arts and crafts room, multi-purpose classroom and restrooms.

Also part of the initial phased will be a basketball/volleyball court, skateboarding area, and swings.

The second phases will include large multi-purpose room for events, garden with Baja California flora and a small football field. The third phase will include two racquetball courts and an open-air theater.

”Since there are two different school hours, we plan to host up to 500 kids in the morning and 500 kids in the afternoon,” Ms. Torres said. “We will probably start with 250 in each time frame.”

The Secretary of Education for Baja will pay for at least three full-time teachers; the governor’s office will pay up to half of operating costs. The club will serve children between the ages of 6 and 16.

Marathon On November 7 Runs From Rosarito Beach Downtown To Puerto Nuevo

More info www.rosarito.org

U.S. Rotary Club Sponsors Rosarito Event To Show The Region Is Safe For Visitors

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---The Rotary Club of Cambria, California is co-sponsoring with its Rosarito counterpart a Nov. 14 beach maintenance day --- but its main purpose is to show this area is safe for U.S. visitors.

“Any beach can benefit from a clean-up day, but the ones here are maintained very nicely,”

said Bruce Howard, past president of the Cambria club.

“Our main goal in bringing Rotary members down is to help correct misperceptions in the U.S.”

Howard, who has a vacation home in Rosarito, said media coverage of the Mexican government’s aggressive crackdown on drug cartels has created the impression among many in the U.S. that the area is unsafe for visitors.

“Those of us who love this area and visit it often know that is not true,” Howard said. “But unfortunately the perception is seen as reality by many and it has badly hurt the economy and many people here.”

“We’re hoping events like this and others we are planning involving club members and their families will help spread a more accurate perception in the U.S.,”

Howard said.

“It’s also a great way to strengthen our relationship with clubs in Mexico,”

he added.

“Many members of California Rotary clubs and their families love this area and have enjoyed visiting here for decades.”

Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres praised the Cambria club’s effort and expressed his gratitude.

“This is a bad time to be involved with organized crime in Mexico,” said Torres. “But for our millions of visitors the area is as safe or safer than ever. Still, it is difficult to overcome negative perceptions.”

“We are extremely grateful to the Cambria Rotary Club and other U.S. groups who love Rosarito and have stepped forward to help us convey an accurate picture,”

Torres added.

“We know they are among our best ambassadors in the U.S.”

Participants in the beach maintenance day will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 on the beach in front of the Rosarito Beach Hotel.

One group will head south, towards Rene’s Campo, while the other group will head north to clean up as much of the beach as possible during the two-hour event, according to Edson Ruiz, the President of the Rotary Club of Rosarito.

Ruiz is asking all youth and service groups, clubs and organizations in the area, including members of Rosarito’s large expatriate community, to participate.

Further information on the event, including lodging discounts, is available by contacting Jack George at; jeg925@yahoo.com or, in the U.S., Bruce Howard at; bruce@brucehowardrealtor.com.

Marathon On November 7 Runs From Rosarito Beach Downtown To Puerto Nuevo

A half-marathon on Nov. 7 will run from the downtown area of the popular tourist city of Rosarito Beach to its famous Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village to the south. Registration is underway.

This is the fifth edition of the popular event along the Pacific Ocean.
Categories for the event are men or women ages 18 to 24; 25 to 29 30 to 34; 35 to 39; 40 to 44; 45 to 49; 50 to 54; 55 to 59 and over 60 years. There also is a wheelchair category so that athletes with special challenges can participate.
Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category, including wheelchairs. Cash prizes for the winners are first $400, second $300 and third $ 200.

For winners in the wheelchair categories first will be $150, second $100 and third $50. The winning Rosarito residents in men and women’s categories will each receive $200. They must prove at least three years of residence.
Commemorative medals will be awarded for the first 150 men and 50 women who finish and shirts given to each participant.
Entry fee is $100 pesos or $10 U.S. and registration is available at the Rosarito Convention & Visitors Bureau or the Institutes of Sport in Mexicali, Ensenada and Tijuana.

The last day to register will be Friday, Nov. 6 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the race pavilion. More information is available by calling 661-614-1454 in Puerto Nuevo, 661-612-0396 in Rosarito or emailing promoter@rosarito.org
From the U.S. people can phone 1-800-962-BAJA.

Management of the event is provided by the State Association of Athletics of Baja California and the event is endorsed by the Mexican Federation of Athletics.
"This event is a tradition in Rosarito and people are excited about another great event with a large of number of participants,” said Gerardo Medina, president of the State Association of Athletics.

Rosarito’s Year-To-Date Crime Total Declines To Lowest Level In 5 Years

The number of crimes in this city from January to August of 2009 compared to the same eight months of 2008 declined by 24 percent, according to state government figures.

Rosarito had the largest decrease of any of northern Baja’s five cities --- which had an average decline of 10 percent --- and it was the only city where figures reached a five-year low.

“We are proud of the decrease,”

said Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres.

“We attribute it to improving our police force and expanding its size from about 140 officers to about 230, better equipment and expanded citizen watch efforts.”

“Police Chief Jorge Montero also has done an exceptional job,”

he said. Montero, a former Army captain, was brought in as chief in December of 2007.

Torres also cited strong support from the state attorney general’s office and arrests of high-level criminals by the Mexican military as reasons for the decline.

“We know there is much additional work to do, as there always is in fighting crime, but these are some very solid and encouraging numbers,”

added Torres, who took office in December of 2007.

The total number of crimes throughout the state declined from 92,060 to 83,155, with Rosarito accounting for 3 percent. Almost every major category declined with the exception of homicides, which went from 417 to 482 in Baja and 17 to 19 in Rosarito.

“The increase is primarily due to members of rival drug cartels killing each other as it becomes tougher for them to function because of the government’s crackdown on organized crime,”

Torres said.

“We hope to see a significant reduction in that category in the future. Currently it’s significantly higher than the U.S. average although lower than 2007 figures for cities including New Orleans and Baltimore, and about the same as Washington, D.C.”

A friend told me today

"A friend of mine who lives in Northern California, but spends half the year in Baja, was asked by somebody at home, “Isn’t it dangerous to go to Mexico?” And my friend said, “Yes, it is. You have to pass right through L.A.” -- Steven Sorensen

Registration Underway For November 7 Rosarito-Puerto Nuevo Half Marathon

Registration is underway for the fifth Rosarito-Puerto Nuevo Half Marathon on Nov. 7, an event that organizers hope will attract 600 participants in various categories.

Categories for the event along the Pacific Ocean are men, women 18 to 24; 25 to 29 30 to 34; 35 to 39; 40 to 44; 45 to 49; 50 to 54; 55 to 59 and over 60 years. There also is a wheelchair category.

Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category, including wheelchairs. Cash prizes for the winners are first $400, second $300 and third $ 200.

For winners in the wheelchair categories first will be $150, second $100 and third $50. The winning Rosarito residents in men and women’s categories will each receive $200. They must prove at least three years of residence.

Commemorative medals will be awarded for the first 150 men and 50 women who finish and shirts given to each participant.

Entry fee is $100 pesos or $10 U.S. and registration is available at the Rosarito Convention & Visitors Bureau or the Institutes of Sport in Mexicali, Ensenada and Tijuana.

The last day to register will be Friday, Nov. 6 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the race pavilion. More information is available by calling 661-614-1454 in Puerto Nuevo, 661-612-0396 in Rosarito or emailing promoter@rosarito.org

From the U.S. people can phone 1-800-962-BAJA.

Management of the event is provided the State Association of Athletics of Baja California and the event is endorsed by the Mexican Federation of Athletics.

"This event is a tradition in Rosarito and people are excited about another great event with a large of number of participants,” said Gerardo Medina, president of the State Association of Athletics.

More info: www.rosarito.org

San Diego To Assist Baja California In Training New Tourist Police Force

The San Diego Police Department will help train members of a new Mexican metropolitan tourist police force that will patrol from Tijuana to Ensenada.

The training agreement was formalized in a letter of intent signed Monday at San Diego City Hall by Mayor Jerry Sanders and mayors of the Baja California cities of Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada.

The new force will patrol primarily the 50-mile coastal tourist corridor from the U.S.-Mexico border to Ensenada. Exact size of the force and other details will be developed in the next few weeks prior to the start of training.

The goal is to have the force in operation by early next year. It will be designed primarily to deal with visitors from the U.S., Baja's traditional main market.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on our working relationship with our friends to the south,”

Sanders said, adding that the economies of the two regions are closely tied and both benefit from binational tourism.

“What’s good for Rosarito and Tijuana and Ensenada is good for San Diego,”

he said.

Sanders also commended the three Baja California mayors on their “very courageous” efforts in Mexico’s crackdown on organized crime elements involved in the international drug trade.

Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres said that having San Diego police, who are very experienced in dealing with international and U.S. tourists, assisting with training would be a great benefit.

“It will help us find out how American police work so we can provide better services,”

Torres said.

Torres said that visitors always have been safe in Baja but the new metropolitan tourist police would help make them feel more comfortable, secure and welcome.

Rosarito in 2008 started its own 30-member tourist police force, a special city department for attention to tourists, an ombudsman’s office to assist visitors and now issues bilingual traffic tickets that can be mailed in with fines from the U.S.

Rosarito’s Year-To-Date Crime Total Declines To Lowest Level In 5 Years

The number of crimes in this city from January to August of 2009 compared to the same eight months of 2008 declined by 24 percent, according to state government figures.

Rosarito had the largest decrease of any of northern Baja’s five cities --- which had an average decline of 10 percent --- and it was the only city where figures reached a five-year low.

“We are proud of the decrease,”

said Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres.

“We attribute it to improving our police force and expanding its size from about 140 officers to about 230, better equipment and expanded citizen watch efforts.”

“Police Chief Jorge Montero also has done an exceptional job,”

he said. Montero, a former Army captain, was brought in as chief in December of 2007.

Torres also cited strong support from the state attorney general’s office and arrests of high-level criminals by the Mexican military as reasons for the decline.

“We know there is much additional work to do, as there always is in fighting crime, but these are some very solid and encouraging numbers,”

added Torres, who took office in December of 2007.

The total number of crimes throughout the state declined from 92,060 to 83,155, with Rosarito accounting for 3 percent. Almost every major category declined with the exception of homicides, which went from 417 to 482 in Baja and 17 to 19 in Rosarito.

“The increase is primarily due to members of rival drug cartels killing each other as it becomes tougher for them to function because of the government’s crackdown on organized crime,”

Torres said.

“We hope to see a significant reduction in that category in the future. Currently it’s significantly higher than the U.S. average although lower than 2007 figures for cities including New Orleans and Baltimore, and about the same as Washington, D.C.”

In other categories in Rosarito, total crimes of violence went from 40 to 39 (-3 percent), robberies and burglaries (combined) from 1,657 to 1,178 (-29 percent), vehicle thefts from 768 to 430 (-44 percent) and home burglaries from 362 to 364 (+1 percent).

Rosarito’s World Famous Puerto Nuevo Celebrates 17th Annual Lobster Fest Oct. 11

You very well may have enjoyed Puerto Nuevo-style lobster at many restaurants in California and Mexico --- on Oct. 11 you can eat it at a festival where it was invented.

That Sunday from noon to six on Renteria Street (the main thoroughfare) the 17th annual lobster festival will be held in the Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village. Cost for a plate of lobster and three drinks will be $15.

It is the latest edition of the annual festive celebration of the delicious spiny crustacean that helped make Rosarito a popular tourist destination.

The festival is organized by the Puerto Nuevo Restaurant Union and Rosarito’s Convention & Visitors Bureau. Restaurants participating include La Escondida, Puerto Nuevo II, Casa de Langosta, Villa Ortegas, Susanna’s and the Grand Baja Resort.

“Supporting these type of events is fundamental for Rosarito; we want to show to our visitors the real side of Rosarito, its food, colors, culture and warmth of our people,” said Daniel Cortes, President of the Rosarito Chamber of Restaurants.

The family friendly festival will include Baja wine tasting, Baja beer breweries and traditional Mexican Candies, as well as Mexican dance numbers, live music, raffles, prizes and much more.

“Millions of people have visited Puerto Nuevo over the past five decades,”

said Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres.

“It has become world famous and one of the attractions for which Rosarito is best known. The festival is a great way to enjoy it.”

Puerto Nuevo, about 10 miles south of downtown Rosarito on the Free Road, began as a simple fishing village. For local fishermen, in the days before refrigeration was common, a meal of fresh fried local lobster, rice, beans and tortillas was common.

Fishermen’s wives also served this delicious meal to many Americans who came down for the day to fish --- and fame and demand for luscious lobster prepared Puerto Nuevo-style grew.

In the early 1950s a small stand opened near a Newport cigarette billboard there (which gave the village its name and which translates into Puerto Nuevo in Spanish) and many restaurants opened soon thereafter.

The cigarette billboard is long gone but more than 30 restaurants and many shops now dot what has become one of the most famous lobster destinations in the world.

More information about Puerto Nuevo and the 17th annual lobster festival is available by dialing toll free 1.800.962.BAJA or visiting www.rosarito.org

Legendary Hotel Offers Chance to Rediscover Rosarito

For $19.25 a Night, September 14 Through October 29

The legendary Rosarito Beach Hotel is offering the chance to rediscover the resort and the tourist city for $19.25 a night Sundays through Thursdays from Sept. 14 through Oct. 29, 2009.

The rate applies to select rooms in its oceanfront Coronado Tower, one of three at the 500-room resort which, not coincidentally, opened in 1925. U.S. holidays and special events are excluded, and reservations must be made by Sept. 14.

“The $19.25 price is the lowest we have offered in decades,” said hotel Executive Director Laura Torres, a third-generation owner of the landmark hotel. “The weather is perfect and it’s a beautiful time to be here.”

“The price of $19.25 is a reminder of the year we opened,” Ms. Torres said. “More importantly, we want to give people an irresistible incentive to rediscover this wonderful area and the resort. That’s why we’re calling the program Rediscover Rosarito.”
The hotel also will offer lower rates on attractive packages and suites, including the 271 in its 18-story luxury condo-hotel Pacifico Tower, which opened in 2007.

Rosarito, 30 miles south of San Diego, is known for its pristine beaches, surfing, fine dining including the famous Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village, exceptional shopping and original arts.
It also home to Baja Studios, where James Cameron’s Titanic and Master & Commander were filmed and which now offers tours and a museum of Titanic sets and memorabilia.

The city has been so popular with its many visitors that an estimated 14,000 expatriates now call it home.
The hotel opened in 1925 and become the resort for Baja and Southern California, including Hollywood. Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Gregory Peck and John Wayne are among the galaxy of stars who have been guests.

The hotel has a quarter-mile fishing pier, two restaurants, including Chabert’s, the world-class Casa Playa Spa located in the former family mansion, world-class music and dance events, bars and fine shops. It also is a popular wedding destination.
Advance registration is required to take advantage of the $19.25 offer. People can visit www.RosaritoBeachHotel.com or call 1-866-ROSARITO

Baja Charity Golf Tournament

AMPI, Rosarito Board of Realtors invites you to enjoy a fabulous day of October golf over the Columbus Day weekend at the beautiful Real Del Mar Golf Course. Your day will include 18 holes of golf with cart, continental breakfast, lunch at the turn and ending with a catered steak and shrimp dinner plus dancing to the sounds of a big band. Save the date of Sunday, October 11th. Golf is open to all who want to play for $125 USD pre-registration, or $150 USD day of the event.

Please register at www.BajaCharity.com

This will be a 4 person scramble with check in at 8:30 AM. Play begins at 10:00 AM. There will be prizes, contests, silent auctions and all around great fun for a field of 144 golfers.

Dinner and dancing will be open for non golfers as well and we encourage the community to join us for this festive evening. Dinner and dancing for non-golfers is $40 USD.

The tournament will benefit three of the City’s most involved charities; DIF Rosarito, Flying Samaritans, and Boys & Girls Club of Mexico.

Summary

What: AMPI Charity Golf Tournament & Dinner Ball
Where: Real Del Mar Golf Course – just 12 miles south of the border - www.realdelmar.com
When: Sunday, October 11, 2009
For: To Benefit the children and their families from Rosarito Beach
Charities: DIF Rosarito, Flying Samaritans and Boys & Girls Club of Mexico
Price: Pre-registration is $125 USD. $150 at the day of the event
Time: Check-in at 8:30 am. Play starts at 10:00 am

Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride Draws 5,000 In A Full Weekend Of Tourism Activities

The Rosarito-Ensenada 50 Mile Fun Bike Ride had 5,000 participants --- an increase of more than 40 percent from the April edition --- as the event in its 30th year passed the 20 million mile mark.

The Saturday ride along a scenic route from the seaside resort area to the port city of Ensenada was one of several high-profile weekend events for Rosarito, including the first in a planned annual sand sculpture contest and the annual steak and lobster festival.

Bike ride organizer Gary Foster attributed the ride’s increased attendance to the growing awareness that Mexico’s highly publicized crackdown on organized crime did not affect visitors or daily activities.

“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 said.

Foster also thanked the Baja Secretary of Tourism and the city of Rosarito for their support.

Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres was the official starter as a sea of cyclists filled Boulevard Benito Juarez from the starting line near the Rosarito Beach Hotel and stretched blocks to the north.

“I want to thank you all for coming to Rosarito and for trusting us,” Torres told assembled cyclists.and their many supporters “Enjoy the ride and come back every year --- or more than twice a year.”

Cyclists came from throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America. Abut 400,000 riders have participated in the event which began in 1979.

This year’s riders included men and women of a wide variety of ages. The youngest rider in the iconic and festive event was 7.

Following the successful bike ride, Rosarito on Sunday hosted Baja Sand 2009. The event sponsored by the State Secretary of Tourism and the city is the first in what is hoped will become an annual event for Rosarito.

As well as a competition between more than 20 amateur teams, Baja Sand 2009 also featured an exhibition by Archisand.

Archisand, a team of architects and craftsmen, was founded by in 1989 by Greg LeBon. It has won the 10-man division of the U.S. Open at Imperial Beach six of the past nine years. More than 300,000 people attend that annual competition.

“This is a great venue,” LeBon said Sunday. “We’ve been tremendously impressed by the hospitality of the people and the cleanliness of this beautiful stretch of beach.”

Raul Aragon, Rosarito’s state tourism delegate, said the number of participants exceeded expectations. The first full-scale sand sculpting competition is scheduled for May 2 of 2010, he said.

While the sand sculpture competition was taking place, people walked the nearby grounds of the Rosarito Beach Hotel and sampled food from Rosarito restaurants during the city’s annual steak and lobster festival.

The Mexico Promotional Event to take place in San Diego, California

SAN DIEGO,CA — THE MEXICO PROMOTIONAL EVENT, presented by the Mexico Tourism Board and AeroMexico Airlines, will take place at Liberty Station in San Diego on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Event will feature exhibitors promoting Mexico travel/tourism, culture, and real estate products from over 20 destinations. Entertainment will include traditional music and dancers plus authentic Mexican food samplings.

Sponsors include: AeroMexico Airlines and the Mexico Tourism Board.

Exhibitors to date from 20 destinations including Baja California, Colonial Mexico, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta, the Riviera Maya, Rocky Point, San Miguel de Allende and the Yucatan will be present. More destinations are expected to be announced in the near future.

In addition to the Event, a series of complimentary seminar presentations on tourism destinations, Mexican culture, authors, and real estate in Mexico will be offered throughout the day. Various raffle prizes will also be given away throughout the Expo including round-trip tickets on AeroMexico Airlines and hotel stays.

For additional information including exhibit and sponsorship availability, contact Ana Bravo at 619.584.0829 or by email at mexicoexpo@yahoo.com. Information can be accessed at www.themexicoevent.com. The event will be held at Liberty Station Convention Center in Point Loma near the San Diego Int'l. Airport.

Sand sculptures in Rosarito Beach

Rosarito Beach held a sand sculpture contest this weekend, and the builders were still busy at work by the time I got there around 2:30 p.m. that Sunday. Shortly afterwards, the mayor of Rosarito Beach, Hugo Tores, inspected the 30+ entries as journalists chased after him with their cameras. The winning entry for the Baja Sand contest was an octopus. Second place went to a version of the Titanic and third place went to a design with an eco-friendly message created by employees of the Baja California water agency.

Original Feed:
http://acrosstheborder.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/sand-sculptures-in-rosarito-beach/

Several Hundred Attend Mexican-Themed Fashion Show At San Diego’s Mingei Museum

SAN DIEGO, CA---Several hundred people attended a Friday evening fashion show by Mexican design house Pineda Covalin at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park which also featured a variety of food from Rosarito restaurants and Baja wines.

The Baja State Secretary of Tourism, Rosarito Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Rosarito chamber of restaurants were among sponsors of the three-hour event. Other sponsors included Union Bank and AeroMexico.

As well as viewing the fashion show by the internationally acclaimed designers Cristina Pineda and Ricardo Covelin, guests also sampled seafood and traditional Mexican dishes from numerous Rosarito restaurants and enjoyed wines from Baja’s Guadalupe Valley.

The colorful and elegant fashions were inspired by traditional Mexican culture. Mexican music accompanied the event, which was the second that Baja tourism groups have helped sponsor at the elegant Balboa Park museum in the past year.

“It’s a great way to introduce or remind people in the San Diego area of all the great attractions that our region of Baja has to offer,”

said Jesus Santos, manager of the Rosarito Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Additional information about Rosarito, a popular seaside tourist destination 20 miles south of the border, is available at www.rosarito.org

Rosarito’s 199th Independence Day Celebration Largest In City History

The celebration on Sept. 16 of the Mexico’s 199th Independence Day --- which included a parade and other festivities --- was the largest in city history.

Sept. 16 is the anniversary of Mexico’s independence from Spain. The bicentennial celebration will be next year.

Among those viewing the parade were Brig. Gen. Alfonso Duarte, commander of the 2nd Military Zone; Hugo Torres, mayor of Rosarito; Santos Humberto Gomez Leyva, commander Naval region II; and Jorge Montero, Rosarito’s secretary of public safety.

A large number of military units participated in the parade, a sign of support for Rosarito’s role in Mexico’s crackdown on organized crime as well as the city’s significant public safety improvements.

“This was the largest participation ever of military units, recognizing our efforts in security and crime prevention,”

Torres said.

Mayor Torres said next year’s Independence Day celebration, to mark Mexico’s bicentennial year, likely will be even larger:

“We already have many activities planned to honor those who made independence possible and helped build the nation.”

Get Your Approved Travel Document: Attend a San Diego Passport and Passport Card Fair

SAN DIEGO - In an effort to assist all travelers in becoming compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and in obtaining approved travel documents for crossing into the U.S. by land and sea ports of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is teaming up with the U.S. Department of State to host a U.S. passport card and passport fair in the San Diego area on Monday, September 28.

Since June 1, U.S. and Canadian citizens have been required to present an approved travel document when entering the United States at a land or sea port of entry. These travel documents include a U.S. passport card, passport, as well as a Trusted Traveler Card (SENTRI, NEXUS or FAST) or an Enhanced Driver's License.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is encouraging travelers who do not already have approved travel documents to take advantage of this convenient opportunity to apply

with the U.S. Department of State for a passport or passport card.

The event will be held:

Monday, September 28, 2009 - 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
South County Career Center
1111 Bay Blvd., Suite E
Chula Vista, CA 91911

Applicants can bring photos, or have them taken onsite for a fee. They also need to bring evidence of U.S. citizenship, a document establishing identity, and a check or money order to pay for application and execution fees. Full details on requirements for applying for a passport or passport card are available at www.travel.state.gov. For more information on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit www. GetYouHome.gov.

CBP encourages individuals to apply for the passport card enabled with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. When read by CBP, an RFID chip embedded in these documents transmits a unique number to a secure database as the traveler’s vehicle approaches the border, enabling CBP officers to verify the traveler’s identity and citizenship more quickly than ever. No personally identifiable information is stored on the chip or transmitted when the RFID chip is read.

Facilitative technologies, such as RFID, provide CBP officers the ability to remain more attentive and vigilant during the inspection process, focusing more time and attention on travelers, with less time spent performing manual data entry queries.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terriost weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws. www.cbp.gov

Baja Sand 2009

Amateur Sand Figure contest, At The Rosarito Beach Hotel Beach, the 8 time international champion team will be there, Steak & Lobster event, live music, free workshops, and much more.

info@rosarito.org caniracrosarito@hotmail.com rosaritotur@baja.gob.mx

ROSARITO ENSENADA BIKE RIDE PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT

Viva La Fiesta!

Since 1979, bicyclists have headed to Baja California for a legendary tour along the
Pacific Coast Highway and inland through rural countryside from Rosarito Beach to
Ensenada. You’ve probably heard about it—maybe event rode it back in the day: the
award-winning Rosarito Ensenada 50 Mile Fun Bicycle Ride®. Each April and
September, thousands of cyclists still ride this iconic cycling event.
Over the last 30 years, the event has been held 52 times, hosting almost 400,000
riders. On September 26th, the total number of miles ridden by Rosarito Ensenada
participants will surpass 20 million miles!

If you’ve already done it, it’s time to ride again. And if you never have, you’re in for the ride of your life. One of our participants, John from Laguna Beach, sent us an email,saying “I rode for the fist time and had a blast! Your event was a well-oiled process honed by years of experience, and it really showed!”
The event course is fully supported with purified water, Powerade, bicycle repair, sag trucks for tired riders, and emergency medical crews, and every participant receives a commemorative Finisher’s Medal.

Rosarito Ensenada really earns its reputation as 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. Racing teams form pace lines, trying to beat the official record of 1:52:54 set in April of 2007. And parents tow toddlers in bicycle trailers.

John from Laguna Beach also wrote,

“After years of riding, I was
reminded of the pure joy and outright fun a bike ride can bring a family!”

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 will play into the night while local chefs serve their best fish tacos and carne asada.

Massage therapists will 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.
Transportation packages from Coach America are available for participants who prefer
to NOT drive into Mexico: one day round trip and also a weekend tour including hotel
and round-trip bus from San Diego. Tour companies transport riders’ bicycles at no
extra charge, and because the buses return to the United States through the rapid
SENTRI lane, cyclists avoid the traditional wait at the border.

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.

And if participants stay in Ensenada, they can take the shuttle to Rosarito in the morning for the start of the event.

In addition to the bike ride, there are a lot of fun activities to choose from. Visit the wine country and taste for yourself why it has reached international acclaim for its high quality of wines. Go sport fishing and catch your limit in the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Visit the 80 foot geyser at la Bufadora or the movie studio where Pirates
of the Caribbean was filmed. Or stroll along the streets of Rosarito and Ensenada,
shopping for hand made arts and crafts.

Malcolm F. from Placentia, CA wrote us to say,

“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!”

Participants can register online for $45 through BetterSignUp.com, or they can register on the day of the event for $50 at the Rosarito Beach Hotel.
Come to ride, or just come along for the ride. Visit Mexico and discover Baja California.

Join our Party on Wheels on September 26 at the 30th Anniversary Rosarito Ensenada
50 Mile Fun Bicycle Ride.

www.rosaritoensenada.com

Te invitamos a participar en los talleres de escultura de arena.

Los fines de semana del 11 al 13 y del 18 al 20 de septiembre de 9:00 am a 1:00 pm
Frente al Hotel Rosarito Beach, Costo Gratuito.

¡Prepárate para que participes en el primer concurso amateur de figuras de arena, que se llevara a cabo en el día mundial del turismo el próximo 27 de Septiembre a partir de las 10:00 a.m. en la playa frente al Hotel Rosarito Beach, habrá premios sorpresa!

Más información: (661) 612.03963 / (661) 612.0200 info@rosarito.org, rosaritotur@baja.gob.mx

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

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---Now in its 30th 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!”

Baja California Medical Tourism Association is a state of California non-profit association

California association formed to promote Baja California medical tourism.

Baja California Medical Tourism Association is a state of California non-profit association

From the Mexico border north through the Greater Los Angeles Region there are 24 million residents millions of them are faced with the need for affordable high quality medical services. To reach this vast audience the Baja California Medical Tourism Association (BCMTA www.BajaCaliforniaMedicalTourismAssociation.org) was organized as a state of California non-profit association for mutual benefit with offices in Tijuana and San Diego.

BCMTA becomes the only association outside the Republic of Mexico totally dedicated to advocating and promoting medical services, including veterinarian, for the entire state of Baja California. BCMTA as a non-profit California association plans on becoming the “Seal of Approval” to the general public seeking medical services information and referrals in the Western United States, with emphasis in California’s vast Hispanic and non-Hispanic population.

The organizers are prominent leaders in various fields – law, accounting, web design, tourist auto insurance, tour operations, media communications and marketing. The first Chairman of the Board is Judith Wilson, the managing partner of the Tijuana law office of Bryan, Gonzalez Vargas & Gonzalez Baz. The Secretary is a partner in the San Diego office of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, a U.S. national firm. The other organizers and board members are: Mauricio Monroy, the former managing partner of the Tijuana office of Deloitte, who left to start his own Mauricio Monroy Contadores with offices in Tijuana. Another Tijuana personality is Carlos Rosette, co-owner of Hi-Tek Mexico web designers and web hosting. Baja Bound, a major seller of Mexico auto insurance on the internet is represented by Hank Morton, President, and Geoff Hill, Vice President. For organizing the first of its kind, Medical Tours, Alfonso Hernandez the General Manager of Five Star Tours based in San Diego. And Patrick Osio, writer and radio host, and Hector Molina, television and Spanish language radio personality both with TransBorder Communications round up the Board.

“Ideas are plentiful, what is needed by the Baja medical cluster is action,” said Patrick Osio. What BCMTA will do is go directly to the California consumer with attendance at health expos, television and radio spot advertisements, news releases, commentary articles, networking with other organizations, and as guests on television and radio programs, as well as reviving The Baja Connection radio program over the Internet. And an important element is the organizing of medical tours, several of which are already in the works.

“BCMTA is actively inviting for membership medical institutions and practitioners who have a proven track record, and are accredited,” said Carlos Rosette, the Chairman of the BCMTA Marketing Committee. By having only those with full accreditation the California non-profit will sustain a high degree of credibility with the U.S. public.

Of importance, Molina said is that BCMTA will represent all of Baja California not just one municipality. Each municipality has or is organizing its own Tourism Medical Cluster to promote its own services. BCMTA will work with each of them while being a promoter for all of them. “It is of course important for each municipality to have its own medical tourism cluster, but it is not the same as having a presence in the market place where the consumer of medical services is found,” added Molina.
BCMTA as a California non-profit association brings credibility as California regulations are strictly enforced and monitored. “This separates BCMTA from all other out of country efforts providing the association with the advantage not available to those not directly present in the market place,” Molina added.

BCMTA will also advocate in California for further recognition of medical services in Baja by more health insurance companies; it will work with other organizations in promoting and lobbying for Medicare payment approval for services in Mexico; and with local authorities to expedite border crossings. BCMTA by being a California entity can also better promote the benefits of for retirees to consider buying a home and living in Baja California to avail themselves of a higher quality of life at lower costs than those in the U.S. and the availability of very good medical services and assisted living facilities for those in need of extra assistance in their daily activities.

Baja California Forms Public-Private Partnership To Promote Filmmaking In The Diverse Region

ROSARITO, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---A major public-private partnership has been formed to promote filmmaking in the diverse region and make it more competitive with other countries in attracting international productions.

The Cinematographic Cluster of Baja California (Cluster Cinematografico De Baja California) will include industry representatives, heads of the business councils of Baja’s five cities as well as their convention and visitors bureaus.

Baja Film Commissioner Gabriel Del Valle also will be a member, said Conrado Acevedo, president of the group that formed in July and is finalizing its formal structure. Acevedo’s family has been involved in production in Mexico and the United States.

Acevedo also is owner of Rosarito’s Calafia hotel and an historian.

“This group is a very important step for Baja in realizing its filmmaking potential,” said Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres. “The region has had some major successes but there is room for tremendous growth. It can be a major segment of our economy.”

Acevedo said the group’s goal is to create $1 billion in annual spending from filmmaking in 10 years.

Baja has had some major filmmaking successes in the past. Rosarito is home to Baja Studios, which has huge salt-water tanks and where Titanic, Master & Commander and other blockbusters were produced.

Also, the region offers great diversity of settings, from the sea to mountains to deserts, a skilled workforce and is about two hours from Los Angeles, where many of those involved in the industry live.

But Mexico must get more competitive with other countries including Australia, Canada and India. Baja Studios recently lost the latest installment of the Chronicles of Narnia because of security concerns and because Australia offered $15 million in tax breaks.

The security concerns were caused by Mexico’s crackdown on drug cartels but “we can prove that no actor or anyone involved in a production has ever been affected,” Acevedo said.

Rediscover Rosarito Project Recognizes Achivements By Students of 2009 Class

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---In a Sunday screening at Baja Studios the 10 students who participated in this year’s Rediscover Rosarito Film Project were honored and best films from the session selected.

Mayor Hugo Torres gave the welcoming remarks to those attending, and thanked both the participants and the organizers of the film project.

The seven-day filmmaking class was organized by Emerson College Professor Gregory Payne, who leads a project dedicated to conveying an accurate picture of the city in the United States. Students ranged from ages 17 to 28.

“You’re all leaders,” Payne told the student film makers Sunday night.

This year’s intensive class, the second annual, was led by independent Hollywood producer Michael McManus, who worked closely with students on scripts, production and editing of the short films.

Campus MovieFest, the world’s largest student film festival, provided HD Panasonic Cameras supplied cameras, Apple laptops, and other equipment for the local and high school and college students.

The LA Program, a private international student exchange, also assisted. Emerson College students and alumni also participate.

Payne and others donate their time for the class and there is no cost to students or to Rosarito. The Rosarito Beach Hotel donates facilities, lodging and food. Baja Studios, where Titanic and Master & Commander were filmed, donated it theater facility.

Taking the class this year were Armando Calderon, Viktor Gonzalez, Lucas Seamanduras, Alberto Martinez, Guillermo Jimenez, Antonio Mendoza, Dalia Salazar, Samuel Paredes and Michelle Hinojo.

Corina Martinez, who took the class last year, also participated and served as an assistant instructor.

Most students worked as two-person teams and produced six short films of several minutes each. A behind-the-scenes look at this year’s project also was produced and shown to the 80 people at the two-hour ceremony at the Baja Studios auditorium.

The best film award was shared by two works. One was Rediscover Rosarito by Hinojo and Parales; the other was Pasado Meridiana by Martinez and Jimenez.

Judging the entries were Payne; McManus; Janice Payne of the LA Program, Baja Studios manager Rolando Navarro; Pedro Rodrigues, a master’s candidate at Superior Escuela de Communicaciones in Lisbon, Portugal; and Ron Raposa, Rosarito’s international public relations representative.

The David Twomey Award for Creativity in Advocacy went to Paredes and Hinojo and the Michael McManus Acting Award to Calderon.

Payne, whose family has a vacation home in Rosarito and who has visited the city for years, said he started the RediscoveRosarito project because many people in the U.S. were not receiving a full and accurate picture of life in area.

the Mayor of Rosarito, Baja California, Hugo Torres Chabert, visited Huntington Park and Glendale

On August 11th, the Mayor of Rosarito, Baja California, Hugo Torres Chabert, visited Huntington Park and Glendale, California to strengthen political and commercial ties, as well as links with the tourist industry with the two Californian cities, which have a “Sister Cities Agreement” with Rosarito. During the visit, Mayor Torres Chabert joined Huntington Park Mayor Mario Gómez in conducting a conference in the Huntington Park City Council. Mayor Torres also participated in a Glendale City Council session, which was headed by Glendale Mayor Frank J. Quintero

Eric McHenry takes the 2009 Rosarito Beach Pro-Am

McHenry Cruises In Finals, takes 1st Annual Rosarito Beach Pro Am Presented by Monster Energy

Residents and tourists of Rosarito Beach were treated to a one of the most talked about surf contests the City of Rosarito has ever hosted, as everyone in attendance was one hand to witness former ASP surfer and two time Puerto Escondido Champion, Eric McHenry (USA) cruise to one of the most memorable finals in recent memory.

McHenry, who was one of the early favorites to win the contest, pulled off two backside 360’s, and one aerial maneuver on back to back waves to beat out Jose Manuel Trujillo (MEX), Julio Quinones (MEX), and Sam Baugh (USA) in a brilliantly surfed thirty minute final by all competitors. With scores tight, and waves reaching as high as 6’ to 7’, McHenry was able to pull off some maneuvers that has made him famous in the world of surfing.

“The progressive level of surfing, combined with the sick waves made for an exciting contest and I was really stoked to win”, said Eric Mchenry. He continues on to say, "A huge thanks to all involved in putting on the Rosarito ProAM, all the sponsors, the city, the hotel and all the locals who supported the event. This couldn’t have been done without their support.”

The contest in Rosarito won’t be the last, as FDt Marketing, event organizers for the contest plan to continue negotiations with the City of Rosarito to make sure this contest becomes an annual event for the city and the surfers.

To find out more about the City of Rosarito or FDt Marketing please visit their respective websites www.rosarito.org, and www.fdtmarketing.com


Finals:

1st Place: Eric McHenry (USA)15.06

2nd Place: Jose Manuel Trujillo (MEX) 11.75

3rd Place: Julio Quinones (MEX) 9.26

4TH place: Sam Baugh (USA) 9.03

Thank you!

Hi Laura,

Another big thank you! I posted Fernando on the Carnival Cruise Connection.
Laura, he really was the highlight of our trip...he was like family. He took us to La Cetto winery,Rosarito Beach, & my daughter is still talking about the fish tacos we had.

My sister & will be planning another outing with Fernando next year.
A superb recommendation, no one wanted to go back to the cruise ship!

Thanks so much,
Jackie

Letter written to Laura Wong, President of the Rosarito Beach Visitors Bureau


http://www.carnivalconnections.com/cruisetalk/forums/t/78343.aspx

Congrats to Eric McHenry, who took first place at the 2009 MONSTER ENERGY/Rosarito Beach PRO-AM

Congrats to Eric McHenry (USA), who took first place at the 2009 MONSTER ENERGY/Rosarito Beach PRO-AM

Second Place Jose "Yuco" Trujillo (Mex)
Third Place Julio Quiñones (Mex)
Fourth Place Sam Baugh (USA)

PROXIMOS EVENTOS EN ROSARITO

>Rosarito Beach Pro-Am / Agosto 22 y 23 | Primer Evento Anual de Surfing Pro-AM, el cual reunirá a los Surfistas profesionales de América que competirán por una bolsa repartida de $10,000 dolares. A celebrarse en el Muelle de Rosarito. >Más información

>Noche Flamenca / Agosto 22 | Presentando Guitarra y cantante españoles, danzantes flamencos. Bajo las estrellas en la alberca Azul de la nueva Torre Pacifico del Hotel Rosarito Beach. >Más información

>Festival de la Comida Mexicana / Septiembre 5 | Festival de la Comida Mexicana, mismo que se desarrollará sobre el Blvd. Benito Juárez, frente al hotel Festival Plaza en Playas de Rosarito, el sábado 5 de septiembre de 1:00 a 10:00 de la noche. >Más información

>Serie Motocross Otoño / Septiembre 5 | Los mejores competidores de ambos lados de la frontera, compitiendo en una pisa de rampas y obstáculos especialmente diseñada a circuito de aproximadamente 2 millas. Participantes de todos los niveles compiten, niños en categoría peewee, hasta los adultos en categorías profesionales. >Más información

City of Rosarito gearing up for Rosarito Beach- Pro AM, Aug 22-23

Aug 5th, 2009- The City of Rosarito Beach and FDt Marketing, organizers of the 1st Annual Rosarito Beach Pro-Am presented by Monster Energy, are gearing up for the surf contest on Aug 22-23, and anticipate a huge success in its first year. The city has not had much to get excited about in the way of new events over the last year or so, due to all the media attention surrounding Mexico.

“As always we are ready for the challenge of a new event. We feel the table is set for success, we have promotional parties set up for Saturday Aug 22nd , and beach activities happening during the event. I think everyone will be excited to be a part of this event. I know me and my staff are excited to be working with this event, and look forward to the day the contest starts”, said Jeff Stoner President and event organizer for FDt Marketing.

Event will be webcast live on www.surfshot.com . Registration for the contest is still open, and still has spots remaining for all those surfers interested in competing for the prize of $10,000. Registration is available on www.active.com (keyword search: Rosarito Beach), or by contacting the FDt Marketing offices directly at 858.272.2191. Registration fees are $100. Hotel accommodations and discounts are provided by the Rosarito Beach Hotel, and can be made by calling (866) ROSARITO. Shuttle services provided to and from the US Border to Rosarito Beach Hotel. Passports are required.

For more information on the Rosarito Beach Pro-AM surf contest, please visit www.rosarito.org/surf or call FDt Marketing at 858.272.2191

CONTACT:
FDt Marketing
858.200.7619 (P)
858.408.2495 (F)
info@fdtmarketing.com

Rosarito Beach Pro Am Adds Quiksilver Mexico and Swatch as Sponsors

CONTACT:
From Downtown Marketing
858.200.7619 (P)
858.408.2495 (F)
jeff@fdtmarketing.com

July 28, 2009- The City of Rosarito and FDt Marketing, organizers of the Rosarito Beach Pro-Am are excited to announce that two new sponsors have been added to the Rosarito Beach Pro-Am presented by Monster Energy. FDt, with the help from Monster Energy, has added Quiksilver Mexico and Swatch Watch as official sponsors to the Rosarito Pro Am.

“We have made some large strides in the last week or so with this contest, and feel that with the new additions of Quiksilver and Swatch will not only help with the branding and promotions of this year’s event, but helps the idea that this could be an annual event for the City of Rosarito. I can’t express enough how excited we are that these two companies have decided to join Monster on the partnership of this event”, Jeff Stoner, Event Director.

The event which is set for August 22-23, 2009 in Rosarito Beach at the Rosarito Pier is open to all Professional and Amateur surfers. Registration is available on www.active.com (keyword: Rosarito Beach), or by contacting FDt Marketing directly at 858.272.2191, or events@fdtmarketing.com

For more information on the Rosarito Beach Pro-Am presented by Monster Energy please visit www.rosarito.org/surf

Mayors Of The Californias Meet In Ensenada For First Binational Forum

ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---Government officials from California and Baja California met last week in this port city for the first Binational Forum of Mayors of the Californias.

Shared interests, dependence and friendship of the two areas were the main themes.

The Thursday and Friday session at the historic Riviera cultural and civic center was inaugurated by Baja California Governor Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan, who noted that Mexico was the primary trading partner for California.

Representatives of Baja’s five cities as well as ones from Santa Ana, West Covina, Signal Hill, South El Monte, Redondo Beach, Fullerton, El Centro and Duarte were among those attending.

Panels focused on topics including the border crossings, tourism, shared culture, history, family ties and economic interests.

Mexicali Mayor Rodolfo Valdez Gutierrez called for improvements to make border crossings faster, stating that current waits are “damaging the economic capacity we have as a region”

Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres spoke of the importance of promoting more understanding and cooperation among cities in the closely-linked region, and asked California mayors to share their impressions of Baja at home.

“Please go back and tell people what you saw.” he said, noting that some stories about Mexico’s crackdown on organized crime have created the false impression that Baja is not safe for visitors.

Torres since taking office in December of 2007 has been a strong proponent of binational cooperation and understanding between the U.S. and Mexico.

Cooperation between all regional cities was a common theme. “We need to work together, we need to trust in each other,” said South El Monte Mayor Blanca Figueroa.

Added Ed Wilson, vice mayor of Signal Hill: “I am not Hispanic but I consider myself part of the California family.”

Steve Diels, mayor pro tem of Redondo Beach, suggested increasing air transportation between the two Californias while noting: “It is very obvious that we are linked, that we must work together.”

Diels also noted that both Californias have challenges they are facing: “I would like to report to you that we also have problems in L.A.”

Ensenada Mayor Pablo Alejo Lopez Nunez and Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez were among those who called for ongoing meetings and other actions including possibly forming a binational league of cities with expanded membership.

“We have to get organized,” Alvarez said. “There is much work to be done.”

Rosarito Beach Tourism Hits Summer High

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---Tourism hit its summer high here this past weekend with hotels recording 65 percent occupancy on Friday and 93 percent on Saturday, city and tourism officials said.

The occupancy figures topped even Fourth of July weekend, which was the best weekend of the year to that point.

“It has been a challenging year for tourism so we’re very encouraged to see this ongoing rebound,” Mayor Hugo Torres said of the popular resort city 30 miles of south of San Diego, where the economy is largely dependent on tourism.

Convention & Visitors Bureau President Laura Wong praised both private and government promotional efforts for helping bring about the rebound. Businesses also have been offering some exceptional deals to attract visitors.

A slow U.S. economy has contributed to the decline, but Torres and others say publicity about violence among rival drug cartels and authorities as the Mexican government cracks down on organized crime has been the main factor in the decline.

“But as time passes, people have realized the scattered violence in Mexico does not affect them nor is it anything they will even see,” Torres said.

“Tourists are not targets. In fact, our visitors are safer and more secure than ever, and they’re passing that information on to friends and relatives who in turn are coming to visit us and having a wonderful time.”

Rosarito’s estimated 14,000 expatriate residents also have helped greatly in getting the positive and accurate message out about the attractions and benefits of the seaside city, the mayor said.

“We look forward to an even stronger rebound as more people realize this,” he said. “We still have ground to gain to reach our past level of tourism and repair the economic damage that has hit many of our businesses and residents.”

Rosarito last year started a special Tourist Police Force, city office for tourist assistance and created an ombudsman to help visitors with any problems.

Rosarito Beach Pro-Am Registration Made Easy

July 14, 2009- FDt marketing, organizers for the Rosarito Pro-Am, is excited to announce that they have made registration for the event even easier. FDt marketing has applications available to all surfers interested in the contest. While registration is always available on www.active.com (Keyword search: Rosarito Beach), surfers will now be able to contact FDt Marketing directly for all registration information and payment. Once registration form is completed, FDt will complete the registration process for them.

“We want the registration process to be as easy as possible for the surfers. Knowing that www.active.com is used more by endurance athletes, I want to make sure that there is no confusion when registering for our event.” Jeff Stoner, FDt Marketing event manager.

Registration for the contest is $100 and is open to all surfers through August 4, either via www.active.com or through FDt Marketing directly. All heats and schedules will be posted on the Rosarito website once registration is complete.

For more information on the Rosarito Beach Pro-Am please visit www.rosarito.org/surf or call FDt Marketing at (858) 272-2191.

CONTACT:

FDt Marketing

858.200.7619 (P)

858.408.2495 (F)

info@fdtmarketing.com

EL REY DEL BOLERO, CARLOS CUEVAS EN CONCIERTO EN PLAYAS DE ROSARITO, ESTE 24 DE JULIO

El Comité de Turismo y Convenciones de Playas de Rosarito anuncia la presentación de Carlos Cuevas, concierto a celebrarse el 24 de julio del año en curso.

Venga a disfrutar de una velada romántica frente al mar con Carlos Cuevas, ganador del festival OTI en 1990 es uno de los máximos exponentes del bolero en nuestro país. El “Rey del Bolero” estará presentándose en el quinto municipio en punto de las 8:00 p.m. en el Hotel Las Rocas Resort & Spa, km. 38 en Playas de Rosarito.

El costo del boleto es de $390.00 pesos por persona, acompáñenos a disfrutar de este magno concierto con músicos en vivo, mientras disfruta de la selección más fina de vinos del Valle de Guadalupe, en el mágico escenario frente al mar de Las Rocas Resort & Spa.

Para más información y boletos comunicarse al Comité de Turismo y Convenciones de Playas de Rosarito: (661) 612.0396 www.rosarito.org y Las Rocas Resort & Spa: (661) 614.9867 www.lasrocas.com/eventos




SEMBLANZA DE CARLOS CUEVAS

El 1º de Diciembre de 1990, ante un público latino que lo aplaude extasiado y nostálgico en Las Vegas, Nevada, gana la fase internacional del Festival OTI y desde entonces no ha parado de trabajar incansablemente, cantando por convicción y no por moda el bolero por todo México y varios países de habla hispana, respetando este género musical e interpretándolo como es, sin deformar su esencia, aunque eso sí, con un toque actual, porque todo tiene que evolucionar y actualizarse.

En su afán de difusión del Bolero, ha hecho giras Internacionales a Nicaragua, El Salvador y Guatemala, sumándose a estas las realizadas en diferentes puntos de la Unión Americana, como los Ángeles, Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, El Paso y Houston, Texas, y Chicago, además de haber sido invitado por Armando Manzanero para cantar en Madrid, España, en el teatro Lope de Vega, al inicio del Siglo XXI.

También se ha presentado en Sevilla, durante la Feria Internacional, así como en Cádiz.

De sus más grandes satisfacciones ocurridas durante 1995, Carlos Cuevas ha señalado a los duetos que realizó con Armando Manzanero y con Julio Iglesias, pero, sobre todo, el haber cantado con Plácido Domingo en Acapulco el 30 de Diciembre de ese año, logrando una extraordinaria actuación, al grado de que al final de su recital, fue buscado amablemente por el primer tenor del mundo para felicitarlo.

Para Carlos Cuevas, el bolero no es solamente una manera de cantar, es un ritmo latino especial y es la expresión misma del sentimiento romántico hispanoamericano, que sabe hablar del amor y el desamor con la veneración y el respeto a la mujer, al hombre, y a la vida misma.

Entre las dos fases, la Nacional y la Internacional, IM Discos (Ignacio Morales) lo firmó como artista exclusivo y así comenzó su carrera discográfica en plan grande y desde entonces Don Nacho y Carlos hacen un dueto formidable para realizar discos.

Playas de Rosarito a 8 de Julio de 2009
Comité de Turismo y Convenciones de Playas de Rosarito
publicidad@rosarito.org
(661) 612.0396

Fourth Of July Brings Rosarito, Best Tourism Figures Of 2009

Fourth of July brought this seaside city 30 miles south of San Diego its best tourism of 2009, with hotel occupancy at 70 percent on the holiday and some near capacity.

“This is encouraging to us and indicates some comeback, although we remain well below years past and need more gains,” said Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres.

Concerns in the United States that Mexico’s crackdown on drug cartels has made the area unsafe for tourists have been a main cause of the decline in tourism this year. Most Rosarito visitors come from the U.S.

“But time has shown emphatically that our visitors are not at risk,” Torres said. “We have had no major incident.”

“Our frequent visitors and thousands of expatriate residents are among those who have helped us convey the fact that Rosarito is safer and more welcoming than ever. We know that more needs to be done to convey that message.”

The drop in visitors has had a harsh effect on the economy of the city, which is significantly dependent on tourism.

“We believe that in part because of some unbalanced stories, some people remain uneasy about visiting Baja,” Torres said. “But we hope that responsible U.S. media will join with us in conveying the message that the area is safe.”

“It was so good to see our hotels, restaurants, shops, spas and other attractions busy again,” he added. “Not only are people secure here, they’ll find extraordinary bargains this year.”

Rosarito under Torres’ leadership in the past 18 months has created a special Tourist Police Force, city office for tourist attention and special ombudsman to assist visitors.