August is here and the Summer heat and humidity has definitely settled in to stay for awhile. While the breeze off the ocean does help, basically, it's still just hot. Two months to go until perfect weather arrives again. It's the same every year though, and it's really not bad. We have had a couple short rain showers to break things up, and there is so much to do here, either indoors or in the water, that most people don't mind. Judging by the number of people who have been in town lately, the majority of our visitors must agree.
Our resorts have been super busy every weekend and even most of the time during mid-week. Please remember that if you are thinking of coming for visit and wanting to rent a condo. It's not like days past where the Summers were very quiet and you could just show up and rent a condo. Best to give some notice these days.
There have been many activities going on around town as visitors enjoy the beaches, pools, restaurants, and bars. It has been great to see this little city grow and prosper year after year as more people discover us. At this point, I have lived here full-time for over 15 years and have been visiting regularly for over 25. I have seen so many changes and it's hard not to have mixed feelings about some of them. The growth and prosperity are great, but on the other hand, we've lost a bit of that sleepy little fishing village feel to a more modern tourist destination city. In reality though, the small town charm is still here and you can still enjoy the Rocky Point of the past as well if you just know where to look. Hint: it isn’t in the high tourist areas :).
This is vacation time here, so don't be surprised if your favorite restaurant, bar, or business is closed when you visit. Many try to take some time off to get out of the heat before the kids here go back to school in a couple weeks. Even government office are not exempt from the vacation schedule. Unlike the USA where they will work short-staffed but remain open, many times here, they just close the office and everyone takes a break.
Sales have remained very strong this year and listing inventory is at an almost all-time low. Great time to sell if you’re thinking about it. Remember, that we are exclusive to the Sonoran Resorts, so if you own elsewhere, you’ll have to work with someone else. But, if you own at one of our resorts, I’m your man J
Finally, I know that many people have been asking (and some have even been a bit frustrated by the lack of information), but the new Sonoran Star Resort really is coming along nicely, and it will be well worth the wait. Specific information is still confidential, but believe me when I say that the new resort will be spectacular. Really, I mean spectacular! So, give us some time and I know that you’re going to love it.
Enjoy this beautiful 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 over 15 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.
Besides the links below, you can our listings at the following:
www.sonoranresorts.mx
www.sonoranresortsresales.com
AMPI Puerto Penasco MLS
Point 2 Agent Multinational MLS
Pick up a handout at any of our Sonoran Resorts
Scottsdale Barrett Jackson Show
Various Real Estate and Trade shows in AZ, NV, and CA
Our listings are also shared with the following:
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IMPORTANT: Some email providers cut this newsletter off before the end. If that happens on yours, please scroll to the bottom of this email and click "View Entire Message" to see the entire newsletter.
Sincerely,
Jim Ringquist
Broker/Sales Director
Sonoran Resorts Spa - Sea - Sun - Sky
602-476-7511
rockypointjim@gmail.com
www.SonoranResorts.mx
President/Volunteer
Tourist Assistance Unit Advisory Committee (Tourist Assistance Police)
602-774-1777
www.touristassistancerockypoint.org
touristassistancerockypoint@gmail.com
I hope that you enjoy my newsletter and continue to recommend it to your friends. Please feel free to give me thoughts, suggestions, or ideas for future newsletters. Puerto Peñasco is my home and I love to share the news and goings-on with you.
I do get email requests each month asking me to add someone to my list. While I certainly don't mind doing so, all you really need to do is click Sign-Up for Newsletter below, add the email address, and it will happen automatically. Not to worry - I will not spam you or share your email address, and you will only receive one email-newsletter each month on the 1st.
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Exclusively Serving the Sonoran Resorts
Buy & Sell Direct and SAVE!
22 Years Experience on Sandy Beach
Four Fully Completed Beachfront Resorts
We Have Earned Our Stellar Reputation
Your Only Logical Choice when Buying
or Selling a Sonoran Resorts Condo!
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Tourism Numbers Up in First Half of 2022
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The stats show that 2022 has shown a very positive and continuing improvement in tourism since 2020 with OCV numbers indicating approximately 900,000 visitors during the first six months of the year. This number is up by 10% over last year and it is expected that the trend is expected to continue through the rest of the year.
Héctor Vásquez del Mercado, the president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV), recently announced the numbers, siting the months of January through June of this year and using numbers of rental units occupied as the indicator for the calculation. He also mentioned the higher amount of income flowing into the city this year compared to the last two years.
He explained that, according to the occupancy survey, Rocky Point saw 890,138 registered visitors, bringing an economic gain to the city of almost 1 billion pesos. This means, he added, that the statistics for 2019 and 2021 have already been exceeded and the city has rebounded well after the Covid-19 pandemic, which translates into more tourism and more tax collection. Currently the lodging tax is 2%, meaning the city collected about 9 million pesos through May of this year. That amount is applied to the promotion of tourism for Rocky Point and Sonora.
Since the onset of the new state government, the work on tourism promotion has changed, he said. There is an excellent relationship between the Puerto Penasco administration and the State of Sonora asministration, so the state will certainly continue working towards the growth of Puerto Peñasco as a top tourist destination.
The president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau credits the improving numbers to the promotion, which he says is indispensable tool in achieving better results, and he fully intends to continue the work, already preparing a series of events meant to increase the flow of tourism even more.
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Food and Drink at the Sonoran Sky Resort:
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Puerto Peñasco has the Cleanest Beaches in Sonora
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Puerto Peñasco continues to have some of the cleanest and safest beaches on the entire Sonoran coast, a fact confirmed by recent monitoring of the quality of seawater for recreational use, reported Eduardo Aguirre Ruiz.
The Promotion Coordinator of the Sanitary Control Unit of the State Commission for Protection Against Sanitary Risks in Sonora (COESPRISSON), stated that the tourists and residents of Puerto Peñasco can feel confident that the beaches and the sea here maintain a status free of contamination which could be a health risk to swimmers.
The state official specified that the water quality samples from the main beaches of this resort have resulted in the lowest levels of pollutants, with the presence of unhealthy organisms well below what is allowed by the corresponding Official Mexican Standard. Precisely for this reason, he said, Puerto Peñasco is the only municipality in Sonora that has three beaches certified as clean and sustainable.
He explained that water samples are taken from Sandy Beach, Playa Bonita, El Mirador, Playa Encanto and La Cholla, the most popular beaches, are confirmed to be clean and in a condition to be used without problems by people who like to bathe in the sea.
The Sanitary Control official affirmed that the favorable results of the seawater monitoring in Puerto Peñasco should be a reason for people to remain aware and keep the beaches as clean as possible because the maintenance of a clean sea depends on it.
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Potpourri!
Short Shorts of All Sorts!
Sometimes so much is going on in our little slice of paradise by the sea that we can't address the many short subjects with proper attention. To handle the hodgepodge of dangling subject matter, we invented the Potpourri Page. Here are a few "short shorts" to keep you up to date.
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The Malecon of Rocky Point has a new statue, and it is causing some controversy between some Rocky Point residents. There are those who think that the statue represents the sea and demands attention.
The other camp feels that it is not a good promotion and may make visitors fearful of the sea. They feel that artwork or something more benign would be a better idea.
We have seen situations like this before, (remember the little sales shacks?) so all we can do is sit back and watch the show. Will the shark win, or will it be replaced with something else. Only time will tell...
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Roger Clyne Donation to TAU
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Rocky Points TAU, or Tourist Assistance Unit is essentially police officers who specifically patrol tourist areas and who are specially trained to assist the visitors and residents in those tourist areas. They are always ready to lend a hand when Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers come to town.
During the recent Circus Mexicus event, officers from the TAU were on hand to keep an eye on things, help those who needed help, and to make sure that things ran smoothly.
In recognition and thanks for their good work, Roger's camp has donated new tactical helmets to the officers. Manager, Greg Ross, says that there is another donation coming which has been on backorder. Roger and his people give back to the community, and it is appreciated by the TAU.
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JJ's Cantina is Open for Business
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For all you fans of JJ's Cantina, there's some good news. JJ"s is open again. Completely remodeled but, from what I understand (I haven't been there yet), it still has the JJ's charm and "NO SNIVELING" is still a theme that has survived.
The business is under new management and the intent was to modernize the place, provide more space and amenities, while maintaining the unique atmosphere that has been JJ's for so many years. Stop by when you get a chance. I know that I will.
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La Casa Del Capitan has been a go-to destination for visitors to Rocky Point for many years. The food and drinks are good and the views are breathtaking.
What some people don't know about the establishment though, is that they have a 50% off coupon which has been in effect for years. And, if you use the coupon for a meal, they will give you another one when you leave, so that you can use it next time. Can't beat that deal...
If you can print the coupon from this story, that should work. If not, I can email you a larger version if you'd like. Just send me an email and I'll be happy to do so.
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Puerto Penasco Sea Turtle Season has Arrived
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Rocky Point is preparing for the 2022 sea turtle nesting season on its beaches and an alert has been sent out to all government employees to prepare for the detection, care, and preservation of the eggs in order to successfully hatch the baby turtles for release into the sea, announced Luis César García González.
Garcia, the director of the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat), stated that as well as preparing for the turtle eggs, work continues to ensure that Puerto Peñasco is accredited by the Federal Government as a Tortuguero Center in so that the federal department can help reinforce actions to protect fauna in danger and the environment.
During the sea turtle nesting season, which includes the months of August, September and sometimes October, usually at least 10 nests are detected on the coast of Puerto Peñasco, usually totaling over 500 sea turtle eggs. This information is based on reports by personnel from the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) andProfepa biologist, Itzel Carolina Cárdenas.
He added that they are working in coordination with Profepa, the Vidanta Group, the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans, the Clean Beaches Committee, and the tourist developments themselves to detect and comply with certain protocols if turtles arrive to local beaches to complete their reproductive cycle.
Luis César García recalled that last year the Participatory Environmental Surveillance Committee was formed as part of the process to ensure that Puerto Peñasco is accredited as a Tortuguero Center, since there have now been several years of nesting and release of sea turtle hatchlings. He indicated that last year, the turtle nesting season culminated in the release of 497 hatchlings and the capture and protection of 614 eggs in six nests. The eggs brought to artificial incubation equipment and released upon hatching.
He assured that the Municipal Government and the Clean Beaches Committee are committed to protecting sea turtles and continue to instill in the community the importance of protecting the lives of these animals.
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Mexico Trips Give Chance for Experience, Empathy, Engagement
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Puerto Peñasco, Mexico is a popular vacation destination for U.S. tourists, who simply call it Rocky Point. A few miles from the beach homes, condos, and resorts lies Barrio San Rafael, one of the coastal city’s poorer neighborhoods and site of the Rocky Point Medical Clinics.
There, students and volunteer clinicians from the University of Arizona Health Sciences get a chance to help, teach and gain clinical experience while learning about global health issues in underserved, marginalized communities. Since 2010, the Rocky Point Medical Clinics, and a sister clinic in Sonoyta, Mexico, have partnered with the MexZona student-led clinical program that’s part of the Commitment to Underserved People (CUP) Program at the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson.
“Our clinic is in one of the most needy, underrepresented areas around Rocky Point,” said Tony Rivero, CEO of Rocky Point Medical Clinics. “We help the poorest of the poor, those who don’t have access to either medical or dental care. Our providers, students and other volunteers get to learn more about health care in a different setting. It’s an educational experience, but they’re also truly making a difference in these peoples’ lives and the community. If they’re not involved, these individuals are simply not going to receive health care.”
Cristobal Reyes, a pre-med senior majoring in biochemistry and physiology, is MexZona’s president. Born in Tucson, he grew up in Oaxaca, Mexico, and returned to Tucson for high school. A friend introduced him to MexZona during his first year in college, only months before COVID-19 emerged. The clinics stayed open throughout the pandemic.
“Usually, people who go down with us are pre-health students from any major,” Reyes said. “They can be pre-pharmacy, pre-med, pre-nursing and pre-public health, depending on if they want to go to grad school. On some occasions, as long as they’re translators, we’ve accepted folks who are pre-veterinary. If they have any pre-health interest, we’re OK with that. But we also get grad students, med students, residents and faculty who participate, too.”
Rivero, a former Arizona state legislator, works with medical colleges and others to assure proper physician, nurse and specialty care staffing of the clinics. On average, MexZona provides 15-25 student volunteers for the monthly weekend clinics, which draw anywhere from 150 to 200 patients at Rocky Point and about 60 at Sonoyta.
The MexZona student leadership team includes third-year undergraduates Gina Hoskin, vice president, and Lillian Wu, executive administrator. Wu, from Corvalis, Oregon, is studying biomedical engineering and aiming for an MD-PhD program in medical school. Hoskin, of Mesa, Arizona, wants to be a pediatrician.
“I love speaking Spanish, and getting to go to Mexico, only a three- or four-hour drive away, is an awesome opportunity to incorporate my love for people and children,” Hoskin said. “I’ve really loved working with the different providers who join us. Seeing everything our clinics have to offer is just a reminder I would really love to work with patients when I’m older, specifically children.”
Wu and Hoskin said volunteers come from the University of Arizona’s Tucson or Phoenix campuses, as well as Arizona State, Creighton and A.T. Still universities. Most, though, are pre-med and medical students from the College of Medicine – Tucson. Volunteers get paired with health providers including surgeons, doctors, nurses, dentists and physical therapists. Depending on the student’s skill set, they might help screen, triage and care for patients, or translate for patients.
This year, the Rocky Point clinics also formed alliances with the College of Medicine – Phoenix’s Migrant Health Interest Group (MHIG), run by medical students, and the Global Health Program, for which the clinics are the new medical home for clinical outreach.
Separately, MHIG leaders Maeliss Gelas, Paulo Peña and Natalie Nabaty say their group has taken part in Tijuana refugee medical missions at Thanksgiving, coordinated health screenings in Phoenix for asylum-seeking immigrants and hosted clinics in Phoenix, first through Phoenix Allies for Community Health and now with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. In April, MHIG joined the Rocky Point and Sonoyta clinics, in partnership with MexZona, to explore expanding the group’s outreach.
“There was a surplus of volunteers at the time with nearly 50 students in the waiting room,” Gelas said. “Though the site was brimming with people, including patients, we were able to pair up efficiently with no cohort lacking a Spanish speaker. MexZona students were eager to work alongside Phoenix medical students to provide quality care.”
Nabaty and Cailin Callahan, a 19-time MexZona volunteer and recent graduate of the UArizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, created the initial bridge between Rocky Point Medical Clinics, MHIG and the College of Medicine – Phoenix. And Nabaty, a Phoenix global health certificate of distinction student, introduced the Rocky Point clinics to the college’s Global Health Program, which offers a certificate of distinction in global health.
The Global Health Program, led by director David Beyda, MD, chair of the Department of Bioethics and Medical Humanism, held its inaugural clinics with Rocky Point Medical Clinics the third week of May. They were run exclusively with UArizona faculty including Dr. Beyda, Amy Christensen, MD, Robert Londeree, MD, and Teresa Mills-Murdock, MD, and 17 first-year medical students.
“This clinic is the exact reason why I wanted to go into medicine.” Limya Mathew, BSN, RN
“Our charge was not necessarily to go down and do a slam dunk on seeing as many patients as we could. It was to learn how to use doctoring skills with empathy and compassion without understanding what the other person is saying to you,” Dr. Beyda said. “We learned simple things like what a privilege it is just to hold the hand of someone who comes to you for help. Our students were very much engaged in learning what it meant to be a servant.”
Dr. Beyda said the Rocky Point clinics offer a stable, accessible medical home for the program. The Dominican Republic hosted it previously for several years, but travel restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic made that untenable. His team will make another trip to Mexico in September, he added.
Sommer Aldulaimi, MD, a College of Medicine – Tucson physician in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, has been on a multitude of medical missions as co-director of the college’s Global and Border Health Program. She said the clinics also count toward Tucson medical students’ global health distinction track, as well.
“We are in a unique position in Arizona because we have so many underserved populations in our backyard. These types of experiences are not just great learning opportunities, but a great way to get involved in global health and serve underserved communities close to home,” Dr. Aldulaimi said.
Limya Mathew, BSN, RN, a May graduate of the College of Nursing, took part in a half dozen Rocky Point clinic trips since her first in December 2020.
“This clinic is the exact reason why I wanted to go into medicine,” said Mathew, who starts in August at the Johns Hopkins Hospital as a cardiovascular surgical intensive care nurse. “It provided me the perfect chance to give back to underserved communities. I learned a vast amount about rural medicine and how to work with little or no resources. I feel so much gratitude, and the patients constantly tugged at my heartstrings and amazed me with their resilience. They were so grateful and joyous to have us there. I always left wishing I could do more.”
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City Employees Practice What They Preach
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Good habits start at home, and because of that fact, the direction of Ecology and Sustainable Development has dedicated this month as a month without plastic bags in all offices of the Municipal government. In order to assist personnel, they delivered cloth bags with a dual purpose: to replace the plastic bags commonly used, and to deliver a message raising awareness about the use of reusable bags in order to avoid further contamination of the ocean and the planet.
Alma Yanes, in charge of Environmental Culture of the Ecology department, in coordination with Mariam Arenas of Environmental Education, visited all areas and offices of the municipal buildings to deliver cloth bags with painted designs. The designs were made by students in an arts workshop of the House of Culture.
The idea is that there will be less and less use of disposable plastic bags, and to reinforce the message that it is important to get into the habit of using cloth bags for shopping, trips to the beach, etc.
In addition to the bags, they provided boxes in all the facilities in which to deposit plastic container caps which will be collected and are destined for the Fonsi Foundation program which helps with treatments and services for people with cancer. If you would like to drop off any plastic tops (just the tops, not the plastic bottles), you can stop by the municipal building, or just drop them at any of our sales offices and we will ensure that they reach the appropriate hands.
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Mayor Jorge Pivac Attends 2022 CECOP Meeting
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Mayor Jorge Pivac attended the meeting of the State Council for Public Works (CECOP) which determines delivery of funds from the State Government, led by the Governor of Sonora, Alfonso Durazo Montaño. In this meeting the funds from the 2022 state budget will be allocated to local municipalities. In the meeting, it was decided that the municipality of Puerto Peñasco will receive more than 3.6 million pesos.
The mayor of Puerto Peñasco pointed out that with the allocation of this important resource, the construction of 15 priority social impact works will be achieved for the benefit of schools, religious associations, public and sports spaces, as well as to the improvement of municipal infrastructure. The funds will be deposited in the municipal coffers this month.
"We managed to obtain this important resource that, added to the municipal contribution, will equal more than 4.8 million pesos to be used for improving infrastructure conditions and addressing the most urgent issues that have been pointed out to us," said Jorge Pivac.
He added that he is waiting for the authorization of an additional amount of 3 million pesos that will be allocated to basic infrastructure work based on citizen requests and other executive projects.
At the CECOP 2022 resource delivery event, it was reported that around 136 million pesos were allocated to the 72 municipalities that make up the State of Sonora in order to complete 540 social impact works.
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In the new ¡Que Chilo Sonora! project, reporters and hosts from Televisa News are visiting Sonora to report on the places that they visit. On top of their list is the Pinacate Reserve near Rocky Point. The Puerto Peñasco Convention and Visitors Bureau has called on the tourism and commercial sector to take advantage of this opportunity to promote the area in order to increase tourism to the Sea of Cortez and the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve.
It will be a reality show in which couples travel and document the experience tourist areas, desert area, charming towns and historic sites throughout Sonora. As part of the experience, they will sample local foods, explore traditions, and try to truly get the “feel” of being there.
This programs, which aim to show the most beautiful and emblematic places in Sonora, will at the same time entertain the audience with the surprises that couples will have to face, will be used by representatives from the tourism sector to publicize the area and to promote activities, foods, and services during the program. Chilo Sonora! will air from September to December 2022.
Héctor Vázquez del Mercado, president of the Puerto Peñasco Convention and Visitors Bureau, stressed that this program is a great opportunity to further promote the best of our destination, products, and services offered here. “Now they (the couples) have a responsibility to show the most beautiful parts of the destination and there are many people who are very confident that the show will shine a good light on our area. I don't know which of the couples are going to come, but whoever comes, let them show the most beautiful aspects of Peñasco” specified the president of OCV Puerto Peñasco.
In addition to promoting the benefits and tourist wonders of Puerto Peñasco, the couples will also visit the Pinacate Reserve to show the majesty of this ancestral place nestled in the Altar desert.
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Mayor Jorge Pivac Carrillo Attends Meeting of the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce in Tourism.
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In this important meeting, which brought together the directors of the Mexican chambers of commerce that make up CONCANACO, as well as state representatives and businessmen from areas around the nation, the municipal Mayor Jorge Pivac spoke about the benefits and strengths of Puerto Peñasco. In his energetic speech, he highlighted Rocky Point’s growth rate and development, management and public works, as well as business, investment, real estate, trade, and the great fishing offered in this tourist destination. In addition to highlighting that this port has the largest certified beaches in the world. the country.
“I want to invite you to visit Puerto Peñasco, which is today the main tourist destination in the northwest of the country and is constantly growing and developing. In recent years we have had a sustained growth rate of 8%, and we are a relatively young municipality of under 70 thousand inhabitants. We invite you to get to know and invest in this destination that has a lot to offer”, the mayor specified.
In this meeting, directors of CONCANACO SERVYTUR Tourism and businessmen from many different areas discussed a series of commitments to strengthen and invest in tourist destinations, mainly Puerto Peñasco, which was a highlight of the meeting.
During his stay in the capital of Mexico, Pivac Carrillo had the opportunity to approach the Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Garza, to establish collaborative ties and invite him to visit Rocky Point, remarking that it is currently the fastest growing city in the northwest of the country and that it offers everything that a tourist site should have for national and foreign visitors.
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Buying Gasoline and Using Service Stations in Mexico
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If you live in Mexico and own a car or other motorized vehicle, or if you’re visiting with your car, you’ll eventually have to pull in to a local service station. This article shares helpful tips and information about buying fuel and using vehicle service stations.
Buying gasoline in Mexico
Until 2017, the Mexican government used to set a ‘maximum price’ for the cost of gasoline and diesel in Mexico. In towns and cities along the border with the USA, prices were set to price levels across the US border for local commercial reasons. A staggered price deregulation program started in 2015/16, which transformed Mexico’s gasoline price regime from a government-cap to a market-price system.
Before the changes took place, all gasoline in Mexico was sold exclusively by Mexico’s state-sanctioned PEMEX stations. Today, a wide range of gasoline station ‘brands’ operate in the market and each one sets their own prices for gasoline and diesel. Locals tend to keep an eye on the price boards in their town or city and might fill up if a station they spot a discounted rate.
When you’re on a road trip, your choices will be more limited and, like everywhere else, fuel sold at service stations situated on open highways tends to be more expensive than fuel sold in towns and cities where there is an abundance of service stations competing for trade.
Gasoline service stations in Mexico
All service stations in Mexico are “Full service.” When you pull up to a pump, an attendant will come to you and pump the gasoline into your vehicle.
Here are some tips for using service stations in Mexico:
Check that the counter on the pump is set to zero before the attendant begins to dispense the fuel. Most gas station attendants make a point about showing you that the meter is reset to zero before filling.
Ask the attendant to fill the tank completely, (lleno -“YAY-noh”), or to a specified monetary amount, e.g., “Doscientos pesos.”
Additionally, if you ask, the attendant will provide additional services and consumable products, if you need them, for example: clean the windshield, check/fill your oil, check your tire pressure, and any other minor job that may need doing that won’t take more than a couple minutes at most. Ask about the price of any services that they offer before you agree to take them.
The attendant or someone else may come along and clean your windshield for you. It’s optional to pay a tip, but you may consider giving them 10-20 pesos in return for their efforts if you allow them to clean your car’s windshield.
Tipping gas station attendants
Attendants at gasoline stations should be tipped, commensurate with the amount of work they do for you. 3-5% of the cost of your fuel (as well as any parts, oil, or additives) is normal, 5-10% for additional services like having checked the oil, replaced windshield wipers, etc.
Service station convenience stores
Most roadside service stations in Mexico have a convenient store operating alongside the fuel pumps. These stores are similar to Mexico’s local tienditas—and many are the same national chain brands that operate in local neighborhoods.
They stock a range of convenience foods, hot and cold snacks, coffee and other beverages, plus a limited range of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and personal hygiene products. You can also top-up your Mexican cell phone here. If you need to use a restroom, you’ll find one either inside the store, or adjacent to it.
Paying for vehicle fuel
Gasoline stations in Mexico accept payment in cash and by payment cards—see ‘card safety’ below. It’s also wise to make sure you carry some cash with you on long road trips in case the station you stop to refuel at doesn’t accept cards or (more likely) their card payment system is not working when you visit.
Payment card safety at gasoline stations
Gasoline stations are one of the most usual places where ‘card skimmers’ operate: unscrupulous people who secretly copy (skim) your card’s details and then sell them to criminal organizations. Therefore, here are two recommendations when you use plastic to pay for your gasoline in Mexico:
Use a credit card instead of a debit card. It’s much harder to get your money back from a debit card if the account is compromised by a skimmer; and
Never let the card leave your sight. Don’t hand the card out through the car’s window: climb out of your car, hand the card to the attendant personally, and don’t let the attendant walk away with the card. The attendant should bring a portable payment machine to you where you’ll either sign the piece of paper it dispenses or enter your card’s payment PIN on the number pad in lieu of your hand-written signature.
Be mindful of how the card is handled. ‘Skimming’ devices often rest hidden below or alongside genuine payment terminals. Ideally, your card should use ‘chip and pin’ technology that doesn’t require a ‘swipe.’ If you have one of these ‘chip and pin’ cards, your card should not be ‘swiped’—if it is, it might be getting skimmed.
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Hockey is making inroads in Mexico. Yes, Mexico
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The most popular sport in Mexico is soccer. Fans are passionate about baseball and boxing as well. But another sport is now trying to find its own base: ice hockey. LA Times staff writer Kevin Baxter went to Mexico City to find out how the LA Kings are trying to establish a foothold and an untapped market. Baxter joined Kelvin Washington on “LA Times Today.”
Baxter explained how ice hockey has gained popularity in Mexico.
“Mexico has had a national team for quite some time taking part in international tournaments. But what’s really exciting now is the sport is growing at the grassroots level. In addition to the Mexican Ice Hockey Federation national team, they say that there are 2,690 players in Mexico registered right now. And 1,600 are junior players, kids, essentially. So, 60% of the players in Mexico now are children. I think that speaks to the development and growth of the sport. It’s the kids that are playing now, and the number of players will grow,” Baxter said.
One of the main issues facing young ice hockey players is access to rinks.
“A lot of kids are playing inline hockey out in the streets, which is how the sport grew in Southern California. But when you talk about ice rinks, the ice rink in Guadalajara closed. There are actually more international airports in Mexico than there are ice rinks. So that’s a problem. The ones that do exist by and large are in shopping malls. There are three ice rinks in Mexico City. They’re all in shopping malls,” Baxter explained.
As a result, families travel for hours to get their children to the rink. On top of the time commitment, Baxter explained the financial commitment is sizable.
“For this particular place that the [Los Angeles] King’s work with, it’s in a neighborhood called Santa Fe in Mexico City. You pay a $125 per player to register for a year. It’s $146 a month for ice time and lessons, and then it’s at least $1,000 a year for equipment. More if your son is bullied. There are some women and some girls who play. And the kids outgrow that hockey gear within the course of the year. So, you’re talking about $1,300 a year per kid,” he said.
The LA Kings have a program to help popularize hockey in Mexico and make it accessible to families who can’t afford the rink costs.
“One of the things the Kings are doing is they’re helping to sponsor children. They’re providing equipment to children that can’t buy it themselves. They’re providing uniforms or helping pay for the ice time. They’re also going out and giving clinics. There’s an old saying, if you don’t see it, you can’t be it. If you don’t see yourself on the ice, if you don’t see your friends on the ice, you don’t think you can do that. So, the Kings are coming down and trying to teach ice hockey to kids and show them, yes, you can do this,” Baxter shared.
NHL games have very popular viewing in Mexico. Baxter said there are plans to bring some league games into the country, like the ones the NFL plays there.
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Telmex workers strike for first time since 1985; company says service unaffected
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The union says a hiring freeze has employees stretched to the breaking point
Telmex, one of the largest internet, phone and television providers in Mexico, is guaranteeing that its services will not be affected by a strike of its workers that might head into the weekend.
Owned by Carlos Slim and based in Mexico City, the company was hit by a strike when thousands of members of the Telephone Operators Union of the Mexican Republic (STRM) placed red and black flags in their offices, branches, maintenance sites and service centers.
They are alleging a violation of their collective bargaining agreement with Telmex, which has never had a strike since it was privatized in 1990. The last strike was in 1985 when Teléfonos de México (Telmex) was still a state company.
The main issue, union leaders say, is that the company has failed to fill vacancies created by the retirement of workers, which puts a major strain on current workers trying to fill the void. For three years, the union says, Slim’s company has left up to 2,000 job openings unfilled.
“We are fighting and we are going to defend our rights,” the union said on Twitter. STRM, which represents some 26,000 active workers and more than 30,0000 retirees, alleged other misdeeds by Telmex, including “coercive measures such as withholding wages, and [retirement] benefits, [and] physical and verbal attacks.”
Telmex is a subsidiary of the América Móvil corporation, which is owned by Slim, the Mexican tycoon whom Forbes says is worth US $81.5 billion. Forbes lists “Carlos Slim Helú and family” at No. 12 on its list of global billionaires.
A potential earlier strike was put on hold after the parties reached an agreement in early June to review the collective bargaining agreement. At that time, Telmex promised to increase the salary of active and retired workers by 4.5%, according to news reports.
But union leadership said a hiring freeze has led to 1,942 vacant jobs, and that Telmex wants to put an administrator in charge of personnel who are about to retire and to modify a clause that outlines retirement benefits.
For its part, according to the newspaper Reforma, Telmex is claiming that the financial viability of the company is being hurt by older workers and retirees.
Telmex has been shrinking in recent years while Telcel, a cellphone company also owned by Slim, has grown, Reforma reported. Telcel has another union and a different employment contract, so it is not being affected by the strike, Reforma added.
Telmex has 11.1 million landline phone customers and 10.1 million internet subscribers, Reforma reported. It also offers packages with satellite TV and/or video streaming options.
The company, which said it’s willing to continue negotiations, put out a statement about its service: “Telmex guarantees the quality and continuity of all its telecommunications services thanks to its state-of-the-art technology, which allows it to have a network that operates autonomously.”
According to reports, users waiting in Telmex branches at midday on Thursday were no longer served as soon as the red and black flags went up. However, those who were calling in to set up a new phone line and/or internet service were assisted by Telmex operators.
The Labor Ministry quickly stepped into the fray, suggesting a way to get both sides to the bargaining table that would involve Labor Minister Luisa Alcalde acting as mediator. On Thursday, Alcalde posted on Twitter that “progress is being made” and expressed hope that an agreement would be reached on Friday, followed by a union vote that would end the strike.
Reuters reported early Friday that President Lopez Obrador said he expects a deal to get done soon. “[Carlos Slim] has told me that [Telmex] has come out ahead of competitors because of its workers. So I think they will reach an agreement,” Lopez Obrador told reporters in his daily news conference.
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Puerto Penasco Ranks 2nd Largest Solar Project Initiated Globally in 2022
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Here are the largest solar energy construction projects initiated globally in 2022, according to GlobalData’s construction projects database.
1. Pinnapuram Integrated Renewable Energy Project 5230 MW – $2,000m
The project involves the construction of a 5,230MW integrated hybrid renewable energy project on 1,929ha of land at Pinnapuram village Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh.
Construction work started in Q2 2022 and is expected to be completed in Q4 2025.
The project aims to address the growing demand for power in the region, with 15,000 people to be employed during construction and 3,000 people after construction.
2. Puerto Penasco Solar Park 1000 MW – $1,644m
The project involves the construction of a solar power plant on 2,000ha area in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico.
Construction work commenced in Q2 2022 and is expected to finish in Q4 2027.
The objective of the project is to serve 4 million inhabitants of Sonora and some areas of Baja California.
3. Laizhou Tushan Photovoltaic Power Plant 1000 MW – $790m
The project involves the construction of a 1,000MW solar photovoltaic power plant in Tushan Town, Laizhou, Shandong, China.
Construction work started in Q2 2022 and is forecast to complete in Q4 2025.
The project aims to meet the growing demand for power in the region.
4. Leipzig Witznitz Energy Solar PV Park 650MW – $522m
The project involves the construction of the Witznitz Energy Solar PV Park on a 650ha land with a generating capacity of 650MW on Lake Hainer in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Construction work commenced in Q2 2022 and is expected to be completed in Q2 2023.
The project aims to meet the energy consumption of around 200,000 four-person households. It will save more than 250,000 tons of CO2 annually based on the German energy mix in 2020.
5. Dholera Solar Power Plant 400 MW – $300m
The project involves the construction of a 400MW solar power plant in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Construction work started in Q2 2022 and is expected to be completed in Q3 2025.
The project aims to meet the growing demand for power in the region.
This analysis is drawn from GlobalData’s global construction projects database, which tracks new construction projects over $25m from announcement to completion.
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Meet the Sonoran's Family of Beachfront Resorts
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Hamburger version of chiles en nogada criticized for damaging dish’s reputation
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Restaurant association laments new variations of iconic dish
All one has to do is watch a few episodes of Netflix’s “La Divina Gula“ (Heavenly Bites, in English), to understand that Mexicans love to reinvent and reorder their cuisine - even the most sacred of national dishes. Concha sweetbread fused with corn muffins, chilaquiles served in a bollio (Mexican sandwich bread), and Doritos loaded down with every kind of condiment you can imagine represent the innovation of food on the streets of Mexico that the country is famous for.
But the national restaurant association, Canirac, has drawn a line in the sand when it comes to Mexico’s national dish, chiles en nogada. A hamburger version has not been warmly welcomed.
Chiles en nogada is a mild poblano pepper stuffed with a blend of ground meat, fruit and spices and smothered in a walnut sauce with a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds on top. Because the ingredients are available during the late summer/early fall and because of its red-white-and-green color scheme, chiles en nogada is often considered Mexico’s most patriotic dish and is served during the Independence Day season in and around September 16.
Representatives of Canirac in Puebla are now lamenting newly invented dishes including a hamburger and a cemita, a kind of sandwich special to Puebla, saying that such quirky interpretations are damaging the reputation of the original.
“The restaurants can do what they want. We can’t prohibit anyone from doing anything, but we are calling on them to be clear about the product they are selling called chiles en nogada … This dish is unique, so we must respect its originality. Everything else are just inventions. Canirac doesn’t support these innovations because they only damage the reputation of Poblano cuisine,” said Carlos Azomazo, Puebla’s Canirac chief.
Puebla is particularly attached to chiles en nogada as the dish is said to have been created there by Spanish nuns in one of the city’s many convents.
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Authentic Chiles en Nogada Recipe
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In light of the opinion visited in the story above, here is a traditional recipe for chiles en nogada
Recipe yields 8 servings = 8 poblano peppers
Ingredients:
Filling:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 ¾ pounds ground pork
2 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes
1 ripe plantain, chopped
1 apple, chopped
1 fresh peach, chopped
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped candied orange peel
2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons blanched almonds, chopped
4 whole cloves, ground
salt and pepper to taste
Sauce:
2 ½ cups chopped walnuts
1 ¾ cups milk
¾ cup soft goat cheese
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 (1 inch) piece cinnamon stick
Garnish:
1 ½ cups pomegranate seeds
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
Fresh Onions
Stock up for summer. Everyday Low Prices.
• • •
Instructions:
Step 1
Roast poblano chiles over an open flame on a gas stove or grill until the skin is black and charred on all sides, turning often, 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 2
Place the charred chiles in a plastic bag or in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then open and peel off the skin. Cut a slit in each chile lengthwise and remove the seeds.
Step 3
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add ground pork and cook until browned, breaking up with a spoon while cooking, about 7 minutes. Mix in tomatoes, plantain, apple, peach, parsley, candied orange peel, pine nuts, raisins, almonds, cloves, salt, and pepper. Simmer until filling is cooked through and flavors are well combined, about 10 minutes.
Step 4
Combine walnuts, milk, goat cheese, sugar, and cinnamon stick in a blender; blend until walnut sauce is smooth and creamy.
Step 5
Fill each poblano chile with the pork filling and place on a plate. Spoon walnut sauce over chile and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and parsley.
Notes:
This is a great make ahead dish - you can make the filling ahead of time, roast the chiles ahead of time, then whip up the sauce and assemble at the last minute.
You can use ready-ground cinnamon and cloves instead of grinding the whole spices yourself.
Instead of the candied orange peel, you can use Acitrón, a traditional Mexican candy that is made of crystallized biznaga cactus and used in many sweet and savory dishes.
Nutrition Facts:
Per Serving: 724 calories; protein 33.8g; carbohydrates 41.4g; fat 50.5g; cholesterol 85.5mg; sodium 226.7mg.
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Mexico at the top of the list on Fortune’s 10 best countries for Expats
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According to Fortune.com, more and more Americans are interested in living abroad, from workers joining the Great Resignation to people looking to stretch their paychecks amid the global cost-of-living crisis.
The prevalence of remote work makes it much easier for people to live in a foreign country. Some may find the experience appealing from a purely financial perspective, while others see political benefits. Women are exploring the possibility of moving out of the U.S. after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. One U.K. company that helps people relocate to different countries reported a 193% spike in site visitors from America, mostly millennial women after the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion in late June.
Plenty of countries have tried to capitalize on the work-from-home trend by introducing digital nomad visas, with some even promising a tax-free lifestyle to lure remote workers. As their options grow, prospective expats may be left wondering what place is best suited for their lifestyle and working needs.
Every year, InterNations, an international networking site, asks thousands of expats to evaluate their quality of life abroad and compiles the results into a ranking of the best destinations for people seeking to live and work elsewhere. This year’s Expat Insider surveyed 11,970 expats, who represent 177 nationalities and live in 181 countries.
Mexico ranked highest as the prime destination for this year’s ranking, with 91% of expats reporting being happy with their life there. Expats told InterNations they especially appreciate how easy it’s been to settle in, and how far their money goes.
The cost of living is on the rise around the world, as inflation hits many countries with the worst price increases they’ve seen in decades. It’s no surprise that the cost of living is top of mind for expats when assessing their happiness with life abroad.
More than three-quarters of expats in Mexico said they were generally happy with their financial situation. Only 15% earned more than $100,000 annually, but 90% considered their disposable household income enough or more than enough to live comfortably. That’s in contrast to the over 36% of U.S. employees who make salaries of $100,000 or more, but say they are living paycheck to paycheck, according to a survey that consulting firm Willis Towers Watson released last month.
In Indonesia—which ranked right behind Mexico on InterNations’ list—74% of expats feel positive about their financial situation, compared with 60% globally.
Third on the list is Taiwan, where expats lauded the affordability of health care, sense of safety, and financial stability. In fact, 70% expressed satisfaction with their financial situation.
That’s not the case for expats in countries like Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Luxembourg. There seems to be a strong link between respondents’ financial situations and their quality of life, as New Zealand both ranked second-to-last overall and the worst in terms of personal finance.
Here are InterNations’ best and worst places for expats to live in 2022:
The Top 10
1. Mexico
2. Indonesia
3. Taiwan
4. Portugal
5. Spain
6. United Arab Emirates
7. Vietnam
8. Thailand
9. Australia
10. Singapore
The Bottom 10
43. Malta
44. Italy
45. Turkey
46. South Africa
47. Japan
48. Luxembourg
49. Cyprus
50. Hong Kong
51. New Zealand
52. Kuwait
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We are Rocky Point's one and only exclusive and dedicated team who have always, and will always, sell Sonoran Resorts and ONLY Sonoran Resorts!
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Whether Buying or Selling, no one can serve you better when it comes to the Sonoran Resorts. We have been here since the beginning, and we will be here for you when you need us.
Our In-House closing team will make things happen quickly and professionally and we will save you money. Our attorneys are on salary and no additional attorney fees are charged to our clients. Loyalty to the Sonoran Resorts Sales Team is both appreciated and rewarded!
We don't just sell the Sonoran Resorts, we ARE the Sonoran Resorts. We work directly with the Developers, the HOAs, and the Rental companies.
We really can help you in ways that no one else can.
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Let me know if you would like links to any of the earlier ones. (Over 11 years worth)
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Just for the fun of it...
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Old Documentary about Rocky Point Shrimp Fishermen
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Jim Ringquist
rockypointjim@gmail.com
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