Welcome to June. Summer is upon us and the weather is perfect. The water has warmed up so people are enjoying the ocean and the water-sports. Memorial Day weekend was huge here with an estimated 35,000 people showing up to have some fun in the sun. And, other than a bit of a wait at the border and a couple unfortunate traffic accidents, everyone seemed to have a great time. 

Meeting new people - especially first time Rocky Point visitors, just never gets old. And, it never gets old hearing them say "WOW! I had no idea that this place would be so nice!". Playing tour guide can be a lot of fun and hearing how people found out about us and where they are from is fun and sometimes pretty amazing too. It can be very surprising, as we are seeing more and more people from all over the world. Still mostly from Arizona, but things have changed and the word is leaking out about our little paradise. 

Sales have been very strong this year - in fact, this year-to-date, we are quite a bit ahead of where we were over the past couple years - and those were good years as well. Prices continue to slowly move up and the best deals now seem to sell almost as soon as they hit the market. Times are good in Rocky Point.

Of course, any talk of sales seems to bring up talk of the future of Rocky Point. And, of course, any talk of the future of Rocky Point seems to bring up questions about the Home Port project. In fact, I am probably asked 40 or 50 times a month "What's going on with the Home Port and why haven't you written about it for so long". In truth, I haven't included anything about it because I don't have verified facts - and I do not want to lead anyone astray by repeating rumors. There are plenty of people who do a very good job at that and I don't want to be one of them. 

I have lived here full-time for almost 10 years now and I do keep my ear to the ground so, obviously, I have heard things. Some of the things come from reputable people whom I trust. But, again, without some verification, I just don't want to put my name on any information that may or may not be true. Suffice it to say that it is still in the works and the government all the way from our Mayor, to the Sonoran Governor (and other State Governors), all the way up to the Federal level still support the project. Personally, I do believe that it will be completed and that it will be a great addition to our city. Beyond that, I will share any actual verifiable information as soon as it comes available. Stay tuned...

With the increase in tourism, especially on the holidays and weekends, we have seen a bit of a wait at the border - in both directions these days. Having a wait coming into Mexico is something that most of us are not accustomed to seeing, but we have been seeing times with a backup of cars on the US side waiting to cross. The wait after a weekend, especially a holiday weekend, going back into the USA has become a given and most people either try to avoid it by leaving super early or staying an extra day. Those that don't have that option, have just learned that it is a small price to pay for being so close to such a wonderful place to visit. At this time, the Sonora-Arizona commission and others have been looking into ways to help speed things up and at least one of our well known local business people have also taken it upon themselves to help push some reforms or improvements to help speed things up. In the meantime, just remember that both sides of the border are doing what they do to keep everyone safe and help to prevent illegal items or substances from crossing. It's their job and the vast majority of the time, they are friendly and very accommodating. 

I'll wrap up with a request for plastic bottle-tops. The local schools and other organizations are again collecting the tops from soda bottles, milk jugs, etc. to be used in exchange for cancer chemotherapy treatments for people here who can not afford them. It's a great cause and it is easy to help. By all means, recycle the rest of the plastic as usual, but please throw the tops in a bag and drop them off at one of our Sonoran Resorts sales offices. Every little bit helps - Thank You in Advance. 

Don't forget to mark your calendars for our 6th annual Las Vegas Night event which will be held at the Beachfront Restaurant at the Sonoran Sky Resort on Saturday, July 1st. Tickets are available at the Sonoran Sky sales office, just off the lobby. You can also buy them at the door on the night of the event. If you have never attended one of our Las Vegas Night's, please try to come. Almost everyone who attends tries to come again the following year. Hope to see you there! 

 

Enjoy your month, come to Rocky Point if you can, and if you need anything don't hesitate to ask. Let me put my experience and expertise to work for you, and remember, as always, I've been here full-time for almost 10 years and I am more than happy to help you with whatever you need, whether Sonoran Resorts related or not.  

 

Just give me a call or send me an email any time and I will do my very best to help you. If I can't help you myself, I'm sure that I can point you in the right direction and help find you someone who can. 

    

2017 CIRCUS MEXICUS XXVI

 
  

 Story by Rockypoint.com   Photo courtesy Kiko Munro 

 

Medical entrepreneurs toured the city of Puerto Penasco this week. On their agenda was finding support for a clinic designed to tap into the market for high end medical services.

 

According to a recent study, 'Medical Tourism' is expected to grow by 25% over the next 10 years. Traveling to another country for treatment is usually based on finding better prices, or procedures that are not available at home.

 

Dr. Wu Chul Moon of Korea, and Dr. Javier Magrina of the Mayo Clinic, met with various members of the Rocky Point business community. They explained their vision for providing care, and why Penasco makes a great destination.

Dr. Moon is a specialist in cancer research, and has a number of patents for original treatment technologies and protocols. His long affiliation with the Mayo Clinic brought him in contact with Dr. Magrina.

 

Dr. Moon's innovative anti-cancer treatments were discussed, as well as anti aging and aesthetic surgery options. The Physicians feel that Rocky Point has the potential to become, like Rochester Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic, a destination for those seeking the highest standard of medical treatment. It was mentioned that families tend to travel with patients seeking many of these treatment services. Rocky Point is a natural location to accommodate extended stays in a beautiful setting.

 

In meetings arranged by the cities Director of Economic Development, Jorge Valdes, the doctors sought out insight from the local community, as well as support for the future project.

 

Topics discussed included using existing facilities to 'start small', and the investment for needed equipment. The concept of a development where families could own housing, and maintain a stem cell bank was also discussed.  

City Council Unanimously Approves New Municipal Public Safety Commissioner

 

 

 

Members of the Puerto Peñasco City Council unanimously approved designation of Marcos Alejandro Preciado Valenzuela as new Municipal Public Safety Commissioner.

 

Mayor Kiko Munro detailed the new Safety Commissioner's profile fulfills requirements of the Puerto Peñasco Seguro Plan, goal of which is to transform the city into the safest tourist destination in Mexico.

 

The mayor detailed the incoming Commissioner has served as commander at different bases across Sonora, and possesses the requirements and abilities to further safety goals outlined within the comprehensive growth plan of the current administration. This will guarantee improvements to the quality of life across the community in making the destination more attractive to investors and visitors.

 

In compliance with Article 83 of the Sonora State Public Safety Law, Mayor Kiko Munro formally swore in Marcos Alejandro Preciado Valenzuela in the Council chambers.

Mayor Kiko Munro Obtains Approval of 18 Million Pesos for Infrastructure Projects

 

 

 

In furthering the historic transformation on the city's infrastructure, Mayor Kiko Munro announced approval of 18 million pesos for important projects to improve streets and boulevards across Puerto Peñasco.

 

The projects approved at the federal level, detailed the mayor, are for the repaving of Blvd. Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez from Blvd. López Portillo to Blvd. Sonora, as well as Calle Revolución between Blvd. Benito Juárez and Juventino Rosas, Calle Miguel Hidalgo between Blvd. Benito Juárez and Blvd. Kino, and Calle Nicolás Bravo from Blvd. Benito Juárez to Juan de la Barrera.

 

The repaving of Blvd. Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, infrastructure of which has not been maintained for nearly 20 years, will significantly improve conditions along this important city route.  Work is set to begin within the next 3 weeks, and should take approximately 3 months.

 

In addition to these projects, the mayor added they have submitted proposed infrastructure projects for over 100 to 150 million pesos to the different levels of government and are awaiting authorization.

 

In its first year and a half in office, the present administration has invested over 440 million pesos into 70 infrastructure projects, including 13 paved and repaved streets, potable water, renovating public spaces, extending the electric, water, and sewage lines, as well as installing street lights, among others. 

How Much Do Dentists Charge in Mexico?  

 

Medical and Dental procedures in the USA are notoriously expensive and many people have discovered Mexico as a professional alternative for a fraction of the price. While taking advantage of medical procedures and general medical practices in Mexico are a growing trend, the dental profession has been booming with those North of the border for several years. And, the trend continues to grow.  

 

So, saying that the majority of dentists in Mexico (and Rocky Point) have modern facilities, modern equipment, very comprehensive training, speak English, and take better care of their patients is good to know, what about the prices? Everyone has heard that the procedures are "cheaper", but what exactly does that mean?   

 

Well, wonder no more. Here is a list of the most common procedures and a comparison of average prices in USA versus prices in Mexico. You might not be buying a condo with your savings, but it will very likely be worth the trip down to have your dental work done. And, who knows? You might just fall in love with Rocky Point and buy a condo anyway... 

 

Procedure	Price US	Price Mexico
Regular teeth cleaning	$140	$35
Deep Cleaning, Scaling & Root Planing (per quadrant)	$800	$60
LANAP (per quadrant)	$1,000	$190
Laser Cleaning	$400	$190
Laser Teeth Whitening	$900	$200
Teeth Whitening, in office	$550	$170
Teeth Whitening, take home kit	$500	$150
Composite Filling	$165	$45
Extraction (simple)	$150	$48
Extraction (Surgical or impacted) starting at	$420	$80

 

Crowns and Veneers

Both of these procedures are highly popular for the people who come to Mexico for dental treatments. These procedures represent solutions to fix a damaged smile by providing a natural look and comfort.

 

Procedure	Price US	Price Mexico
Porcelain Fused to Metal Crown	$1,250	$180
Porcelain Fused to Metal Bridge *Each crown	$1,250	$180
Porcelain Fused to Gold Crown*	$1,700	$600
Full Porcelain/Ceramic Crown	$1,500	$340
Zirconia Crown	$1,600	$450
Porcelain Veneer	$1,100	$350

 

Dentures

Dentures are a perfect solution for a set of teeth that are completely damaged and need replacement. This treatment is the preferred for people who don't want to go under an implant procedure.

 

Procedure	Price US	Price Mexico
Partial Denture, Metal Frame	$1,550	$480
Partial Denture, Flexible Frame	$1,400	$480
Full Denture, Immediate or healing (upper or lower)	$1,500	$250
Full Denture, Acrylic teeth (upper or lower)	$1,850	$250
Full Denture, Porcelain Teeth (upper or lower)	$2,150	$350

 

Implant Procedures

This is the most popular procedure for medical tourists. Implants can replace permanently from one tooth to an entire set of teeth. This treatment is one of the reasons why Mexico has become such a popular destination for dental tourism.

 

Procedure	Price US	Price Mexico
Standard Titanium Dental Implant (implant only) starting at	$2,250.00	$750
Standard Implant Crown (including abutment) starting at	$1,650.00	$470
Bone graft (per unit)	$1,600.00	$400
Sinus Lifting (starting at)	$3,900.00	$700
Implant Supported Overdenture, removable (with 2 implants)	$2,550.00	$2,550
Implant Supported Overdenture, removable (with 3 implants)	$12,300.00	$3,650
"All on Four" System with fixed acrylic bridge (upper arch or lower arch)	$27,000.00	$8,950
"All on Six" System with MegaGen Implants (upper arch or lower arch)	$23,500.00	$7,980
"All on Six" System with Nobel Biocare Implants (upper arch or lower arch)	$29,000.00	$11,280
"All on Eight" System with fixed porcelain bridge (upper arch or lower arch)	$27,000.00	$10,280

Mole Poblano: Mexico's National Food Dish

History Of Mexico's Most Famous Culinary Preparation:

 

Most people associate mole with either with Puebla or Oaxaca , but the origin of mole poblano, the thick, rich, chocolate-tinged sauce made so famous in the colonial mountain city of Puebla, Mexico, is still disputed, and generally involves these two versions of the legend:

 

The first says that 16th Century nuns from the Convent of Santa Rosa in Puebla de los Angeles, upon learning that the Archbishop was coming for a visit, went into a panic because they had nothing to serve him. The nuns started praying desperately and an angel came to inspire them. They began chopping and grinding and roasting, mixing different types of chiles together with spices, day-old bread, nuts, a little chocolate and approximately 20 other ingredients..

 

This concoction boiled for hours and was reduced to the thick, sweet, rich and fragrant mole sauce we know today. To serve in the mole, they killed the only meat they had, an old turkey, and the strange sauce was poured over it. The archbishop was more than happy with his banquet and the nuns saved face. Little did they know they were creating the Mexican National dish for holidays and feasts, and that today, millions of people worldwide have at least heard of mole poblano.

 

The other legend states that mole came from pre-hispanic times and that Aztec king, Moctezuma, thinking the conquistadors were gods, served mole to Cortez at a banquet to receive them. This story probably gained credibility because the word mole comes from the Nahuatl word "milli" which means sauce or "concoction". Another connection could be that chocolate was widely used in pre-columbian mexico, so people jumped to that conclusion.

 

Diana Kennedy, the famous cookbook author and television chef, adds a third, less plausible version in her book The Cuisines of Mexico, "This time it was Fray Pascual who was preparing the banquet at the convent where he (the archbishop) was going to eat. Turkeys were cooking in cazuelas on the fire; as Fray Pascual, scolding his assistants for their untidiness, gathered up all the spices they had been using, and putting them together on a tray, a sudden gust of wind swept across the kitchen and they spilled over the cazuelas." Thus mixing together such an unheard-of combination of ingredients.

What do the real experts say? "The idea of using chocolate as a flavoring in cooked food would have been horrifying to the Aztecs - just as Christians could not conceive of using communion wine to make, say, coq au vin. In all the pages of Sahagun that deal with Aztec cuisine and with chocolate, there is not a hint that it ever entered into an Aztec dish. Yet, today many food writers and gourmets consider one particular dish, the famous pavo in mole poblano, which contains chocolate, to represent the pinnacle of the Mexican cooking tradition. ...the place of origin of the dish and its sauce, the Colonial Puebla de los Angeles; this beautiful city, unlike others in central Mexico, has no Aztec foundations - and neither does the dish, regardless of what food writers may say.

   

THE OTHER MOLES

 

No story about mole poblano would be complete without talking a little bit about the other moles. There is a lot of misinformation about mole out there, in general. Most culinary experts agree, there are 6 moles and as Susana Trilling describes in her book, My Search for the Seventh Mole: A story with Recipes from Oaxaca, Mexico, [self-published, 1997], she is looking for that elusive seventh mole. Does she find it? You'll have to read the book to find out, and the recipes are fantastic, so you can try your own mole at home, if you dare.

 

All moles are very time consuming, labor intensive and require many ingredients. Some sources state that some moles have as many as 100 ingredients, but that's an exaggeration. But 30 ingredients is not unheard of, and some mole recipes contain 10 different varieties of chiles alone. Other ingredients include: peanuts, almonds, fried bread, plantains, lard, sugar, bittersweet chocolate, cinnamon, cloves and many more. For those willing to give it a try, following is a less elaborate recipe for Mole Poblano with chicken.  

 

Each Mexican woman has her own mole recipe, probably passed down from her mother. Because mole takes so much time to prepare, it is usually made in huge batches, too large for the home blender to handle. Therefore, women take their mole ingredients, all cooked and ready to blend, to large "molinos" or grinders in their neighborhood. The mole is passed through the grinders and comes out smoother than you could get from your home blender. It is not unusual to see women walking home from the molinos with buckets of mole for a fiesta.

 

And be sure to have plenty of napkins nearby when eating any mole. As you dip your warm, homemade tortilla into the wonderful sauce, you are bound to take some home with you on your shirt, your arms and under your fingernails. Now you know you're enjoying mole!

Recipe:

Mole Poblano
(Chicken with Chocolate Sauce) 

• 4 tb Olive oil
• 1/4 c Raisins
• 2 Cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 ts Cumin
• 1/4 ts Nutmeg
• 1/4 ts Ground cloves
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 1/4 ts Cinnamon
• 1 Green pepper, chopped
• 1/2 ts Salt
• 3 Slices canned pimento, chopped
• 1/4 ts Pepper
• 1 ts Sugar
• 2 Large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
• Grated rind of 1 orange
• 2 Squares bitter chocolate, chopped
• 2 tb Chili powder (or to taste)
• 2 1/2 c Chicken broth
• 1/4 c Light rum
• 1/4 c Slivered almonds

In casserole, heat oil and cook garlic for a few moments to flavour oil; add chicken and brown. Remove chicken.

In remaining fat, cook onion, green pepper, pimento, and tomato over gentle heat for 10 minutes. To onion mixture, add chili powder, blending well. Add broth, almonds, raisins, seasonings, and rind; simmer, covered, 30 minutes longer. Add chocolate, stirring until melted.

Replace chicken, spooning sauce over. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until chicken is tender. Warm rum, ignite it, and pour over contents of casserole; allow to stand for a few minutes.

Five Free Ways to Improve Your Spanish

A couple of extras:

Beyond that, just make every effort to use what you do know at every opportunity. Most are patient and friendly and eager to help. Most of all, enjoy the journey into another world. When you begin to understand and speak another language, the culture and people seem to open up a whole new experience, unlike the "normal" tourist experience that most limit themselves too. It takes time and effort. But, it is so well worth it. What are you waiting for?